Capitol Connection Latest Legislative Updates from the Hill and Around the Country
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Finalizes Clean Water Rule
he U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Army have finalized the Clean Water Rule to reportedly ensure that waters protected by the Clean Water Act (CWA) are “more precisely defined, more predictable, easier for busi- nesses and industry to understand, and consistent with the law and science.” The agencies’ CWA jurisdictional determi- nations affect many water regulatory programs, including the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (stormwater) permit program.
T As reported previously, ARA commented on the Clean
Water proposed rule (published April 21, 2014), requesting the agencies withdraw the rule because of the potential neg-
State Issues A
ative impacts it could have on the stormwater program and the businesses of professional automotive recyclers. Many other industry groups also commented similarly on behalf of their member businesses as did the Federal Stormwater Association of which ARA is a member.
In its comments, ARA noted that it believed that the pro- posed changes would add a level of complexity to the already cumbersome stormwater permit process, place unnecessary burden on the backs of ARA small businesses and result in little if any environmental benefits. ARA urged the agencies instead to focus their collective efforts on making the current stormwater program more effective and ensuring that all reg-
ctivity has officially wound down in the majority of state legislatures across the country. Norman Wright, Chair of ARA’s Government Affairs Committee, along with Director of State Government and Grassroots Affairs, Jessica Andrews, concluded their regular weekly state leg- islative update calls in late May. To join these calls in the future, please contact Jessica (
Jessica@a-r-a.org).
Making the Case for Recycled OEM Tires Automotive recyclers in TEXAS, FLORIDA, GEORGIA,
INDIANA, SOUTH CAROLINA, NEW JERSEY and OKLAHOMA all fought and defeated legislation this year seeking to prohibit recyclers’ ability to sell recycled, OEM tires. ARA and its state affiliate chapters uniformly advocated that the liability for inspecting a tire should be placed on the person actually installing the tire on a vehicle, not the person selling it.
Incorporating NMVTIS into State Statute NEW HAMPSHIRE automotive recyclers worked with
state officials on legislation that would require the reporting of the destruction of motor vehicles to NMVTIS. Automotive recyclers in IOWA also secured passage of legislation that would make compliance with the NMVTIS a state requirement for an automotive recyclers license, incorporate an individuals NMVTIS registration number into the licensing application,
require proof of compliance and establish penalties for failure to report. Legislation in TENNESSEE was signed into law and goes into effect July 1 that incorporates NMVTIS reporting in to the state statute and requires the state's Department of Revenue to establish a database for recyclers and scrap processors to check in real-time whether or not a vehicle has been stolen prior to scrapping.
Access to Salvage Automotive recyclers in ALABAMA successfully defeated
three separate pieces of legislation that were designed to eliminate the state’s BID Card. ARA along with its affiliate state chapter, the Alabama Automotive Recyclers Association (AARA), and other stakeholders vigorously opposed the bill in person at committee hearings and in meetings with lawmakers, via telephone calls, emails and letters. After several hearings in the Senate Transportation and Energy Committee, Senate Bill 185 was killed only to be followed by the introduction of Senate Bill 463, a nearly identical piece of legislation. SB 463 was defeated by a vote of 11-2 in the Fiscal Responsibility and Economic Development Committee after an aggressive grassroots campaign by auto recyclers in the state. The next day, House Bill 663 was introduced again proposing to eliminate the state’s BID card. It is not expected to be brought up for deliberation in committee.
May-June 2015 | Automotive Recycling 57
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