Monthly Reminders

August 2010

- Weeds, weeds and more weeds - stay up with them for a tidy look.

- Do you have a wahser & dryer for your towels? Have you given them any maintenance lately?

- If you have a balck ring in your washer scrup with GP cleaner, then run an empty load with GP & hot water. That should flush it out!

- Do you have tears in your dryer screen? Repair or replace it. Lint in the mechanics will hsorten the dryers life.

- Have an employee refrigerator? Empty it (yuk!). Shut it down for the day, defrost the freezer and give it a good scrup inside and out!

Do you have a reminder you would like us to post? Send it to us!

Summer2010-legislativeupdate

News | NYSCWA Legislative Update

NYSCWA Legislative Update - Summer 2010

Board Members Meet With DEP Commissioner

By William Y. Crowell, III

The New York State Car Wash Association (NYSCWA), pursuant to the direction of the Board of Directors, undertook steps to work with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) to pursue opportunities for public education on the environmentally positive aspects of the carwash industry. To begin a positive dialogue on carwash industry issues, Tom Hoffman, Jr., Christian King, Dennis O'Shaughnessy, Sr. and I met with DEC Commissioner Pete Grannis, along with James Tierney, Assistant Commissioner of the Office of Water Resources, and Julia Tighe, Deputy Director of Legislative Affairs in April.

We thanked Commissioner Grannis for the positive message conveyed by the Department’s website on commercial car washing’s benefits. To support this view, we provided copies of two reports: “Water Conservation in the Professional Car Wash Industry” from the International Car Wash Association; and, “Residential Car Wash Water Monitoring Study” produced by the City of Federal Way in Washington State. These reports confirm the environmental benefits of a professional carwash from both a water savings and diminishment of pollutants viewpoint.

The group also discussed current technologies and operating practices used by the carwash industry in New York State including the use of high water pressure and environmentally friendly chemicals which result in positive environmental benefits, particularly when contrasted against the home carwash.

The issue of charitable carwashes was raised with the Commissioner, who recognized some negative environmental consequences but, applying a common sense approach, did not feel that this was a proper target for enforcement. The Commissioner also felt that the limited resources of the agency needed to be applied to more serious environmental violations and problems. The group informed him of the program where many carwash operators provide wash tickets to charitable groups as an alternative to the actual parking lot wash. Finally, the issue of commercial vehicle carwashing practices and the resultant pollution when these vehicles are not properly washed and the discharge is not emitted to a sanitary sewer, was also discussed.

On the issue of public education, the Commissioner expressed support of the water saving and pollution reduction benefits of commercial carwashes. He suggested that consideration be given by the industry to the establishment of a third party “green” carwash certification program. A third party environmental organization focused on water resources, such as Riverkeeper or Audubon, were suggested as potential option to act as an independent certification of meeting “green” standards. This approach has been used in the building industry where the U.S. Green Building Council has provided LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification standards for “green buildings.” This parallels the WaterSavers™ program operated by the International Car Wash Association. To qualify as a water saver, a carwash must demonstrate appropriate standards for reclaiming or recycling treated water and the discharge of effluent to a sanitary sewer or leech field. The significant difference being that the International Car Wash Association cannot be characterized as an independent third party. The issue of third party certification will be pursued to determine both viability and interest.

The meeting with Commissioner Grannis and his staff represents a positive development for the NYSCWA to work to educate the public about the positive environmental aspects of the commercial carwash industry. The carwash industry in New York State is appreciative of Commissioner Grannis spending time to listen to the industry issues and to dialogue with the industry in a positive way.

William Y. Crowell III is a partner with the Albany-based law firm of Whiteman Osterman & Hanna LLP. He can be reached at 518/487-7677.

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Monthly Reminders

NYSCWA Legislative Update - Summer 2010

Board Members Meet With DEP Commissioner

By William Y. Crowell, III