In response to the EPA Cross-Media Electronic Reporting Rule requiring states to provide compliance records similar to the new California Environmental Reporting System regulation, CIECA has assembled an ad-hoc committee to consider the development of reporting standards specific to the collision repair industry.
The Committee is made up of body shop owners, paint manufacturers, and insurance company executives together with regulatory professionals from the EPA Small Business Environmental Assistance Program (SBEAP).
“Why does the collision industry need a compliance reporting standard?” Regulatory consultant Steven Schillinger questioned during the CIECA Conference in September. “State and local permitting agencies are creating questionnaires mandated under the new Federal electronic reporting regulation, which requires data from unrelated industries. Now is the time to work with the regulatory reporting authorities to eliminate non-essential, time-consuming and repetitive compliance data reporting.”
"Implementing compliance reporting standards within collision repair facilities will result in more efficiencies, consistencies, cost savings, and conformity – saving the collision industry time, effort, and money,” said Fred Iantorno, CIECA's Executive Director.
Matt Lynch, Color Software Support Specialist at PPG commented, "PPG is an industry leader that understands and meets compliance standards and determines the best ways to enhance the overall repair process. Most of our California shops are adopting best practices to improve shop efficiency. However, compliance reporting requirements can often be confusing, and compliance processes can be cumbersome and difficult to implement. I’m excited to join the CIECA Committee members in clearly identifying these issues and sharing ideas, so we can continue to provide our customers with clear direction as compliance reporting requirements evolve and expand across the country.”
Robert Turchan, Pride Collision Centers, stated “Local and Federal EPA reporting is about to become incredibly complicated and a CIECA data solution will enable simpler compliance for the nations’ Body Shops. A uniform language for reporting will enable paint companies and regulated industries to quickly offer solutions to body Shops. Without this solution many shops will be at risk for litigation, fines and closure.”
About Collision Industry Electronic Commerce Association (CIECA) – Developer of electronic communication standards that allow the Collision Industry to be more efficient. It is the vision of CIECA to have an eCommerce enabled collision Industry that allows all industry segments to communicate electronically, independent of platform or software used.
About Small Business Environmental Assistance Program (SBEAP) – In an effort to help encourage better communication around the country between state technical assistance programs and the EPA, a national steering committee (NSC), representing state SBO/SBEAPs, and a national compliance advisory panel (CAP) has been formed.
About California Environmental Reporting System (CERS) – A statewide web-based system to support various California regulatory agencies in electronically collecting and reporting dissimilar compliance data. Under oversight by Cal/EPA, reporting authorities implement Unified Program mandates that streamline and provide consistent regulatory compliance.
About EPA Cross-Media Electronic Reporting Rule (CROMERR) – A regulatory standard established as a framework by which EPA will accept electronic reports from regulated entities. CROMERR may apply to any electronic document submission required by or permitted under any EPA program governed by EPA's regulations in Title 40 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR).
