[ADEQ Media] ADEQ Director Owens Announces Initiative to Prevent Contamination from Radiator Repair Shop Waste

[media@lists.azdeq.gov]

ADEQ Director Owens Announces Initiative to Prevent Contamination from
Radiator Repair Shop Waste

PHOENIX (March 19, 2007) - Arizona Department of Environmental Quality
(ADEQ) Director Steve Owens today announced that ADEQ has launched an
initiative to ensure that radiator repair shops in Arizona comply with
hazardous waste rules and prevent contamination from repair shop wastes.


"This initiative will prevent future contamination by stopping releases
of hazardous materials from radiator shops," Owens said. "It also will
help shop owners save time and money by ensuring that they follow
appropriate pollution-control, pollution-prevention and recycling
practices."

ADEQ estimates that there are about 150 radiator repair shops in
Arizona. The major contaminant from radiator shops is lead, which can
threaten the health and safety of shop employees and the public. Other
common pollutants from radiator shops include caustic solutions, sludge
and sandblasting media. Owens noted that many radiator shops inspected
recently by ADEQ were not in compliance with the law due to lead
contamination from poor waste management. 

As part of the initiative, ADEQ is sending a questionnaire to radiator
repair shops to make sure they are complying with hazardous waste rules.
Shops that complete the questionnaire in a timely fashion and respond to
any necessary follow-up questions will not be subject to hazardous waste
enforcement action by ADEQ. 

ADEQ is also inviting radiator shop operators to participate in free
workshops in Phoenix and Tucson that will provide information on how to
handle hazardous waste:

March 22, 9 a.m.-noon; April 11, 1 p.m.-4 p.m.; April 20, 9 a.m.-noon at
ADEQ, 1110 W. Washington St., Phoenix.

April 23, 1 p.m.-4 p.m. at ADEQ's Southern Regional Office, Room 44, 400
West Congress, Tucson. 

More information on the workshops is available from ADEQ, 602-771-4849,
toll free: 800-234-5677 Ext. 771-4849.

"This initiative is modeled after a successful similar effort ADEQ
conducted for the boat manufacturing industry," Owens said. "We want to
give radiator shop owners the information they need to prevent
contamination from hazardous materials at their shops and ensure that
employees, the public and the environment are protected. It is a win-win
for everybody."

-end-

News media interested in additional information on this or any other
topic concerning the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality should
contact the Office of Communications at (602) 771-2215 or via email at
communications@azdeq.gov.