NY Junkyards

-Identify automobile recycling facilities;

-Obtain voluntary compliance by working cooperatively with owners;

-Provide facility owners and operators with environmental assistance by conducting nine pollution prevention workshops throughout the State;

-Conduct compliance inspections;

-Enhance enforcement actions where significant threats to the environment or health and safety of the public are identified;

-Aid local governments in regulation of these facilities; and

-Recommend and effect modification of regulations if necessary.

As part of the outreach effort, a pollution prevention manual was developed that summarizes all the environmental regulations that businesses should comply with in order to meet DEC regulations. The manual also includes a list of waste streams that may be generated at the automobile recycling facility along with the regulatory requirement and some pollution prevention methods. Some of the environmental issues that are covered in the manual include:

-Annual Waste Fluids Reporting Requirement

-SPDES General Permit for Stormwater

-Tank Registrations

-Refrigerant Reclamation

-Waste Tire Storage

-Storage and Transportation of Automobile Lead Acid Batteries

-Floor Drains

-Open Burning

-Solid Waste Disposal

-Petroleum Releases

-Automobile Crushers

-Switches Containing Mercury

-Used Oil

One of the biggest accomplishments of the initiative was NYS DEC's development of a comprehensive statewide database of all the known automobile recyclers in New York State. The database can be used to track inspections, facilities with stormwater permits, annual waste fluids reports, or other issues related to the facility. The Department is conducting nine workshops that include the following topics: stormwater management, solid and hazardous waste management, petroleum and chemical bulk storage, spill prevention, pollution prevention, mercury switch collection program, and fire prevention. In addition, a speaker from the Automobile Recyclers Association of New York is participating in the workshops to support the program. Local governments and code enforcement officers are also invited to attend the workshops as a way to encourage community oversight of these facilities.