RI Agency Begins Certification Program for Auto Salvage Yards

The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management is inviting auto salvage yard operators to participate in a voluntary self-certification program that can helping them come into, or stay in, compliance, while improving environmental and health risk factors associated with such facilities.

The program, funded through a prior grant of $200,000 from the Environmental Protection Agency offers operators the opportunity to self-certify to DEM that they are complying with certain environmental regulations and best management practices.

By participating, auto salvage yard owners can take advantage of an opportunity to come into compliance with all applicable air, water, solid and hazardous waste requirements while receiving free on-site and telephone consultation compliance assistance. Participants will also benefit from guidance documents, such as a certification workbook, brochure, and fact sheets, as well as cost-saving pollution prevention technical assistance. Participation also allows facilities to be placed on a public list of certified auto salvage yard facilities on DEM's website.

According to the DEM there are 73 auto salvage yards in the state. Each must be licensed by the state’s Department of Business Regulation and subject to various local laws. Additionally, they are subject to state environmental regulations.

The University of Rhode Island's Center for Pollution Prevention and Environmental Health is a primary partner with DEM in the project, and is performing much of the work. DEM has designed the program with input from the auto salvage industry, through a formal stakeholder process.

Self-certification booklets and checklists were mailed earlier this month to the operators of the auto salvage yards, with a request to complete the self-audit by the middle of September.