The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) awarded a $235,391 Project Grant under the Pollution Prevention Grants Program (CFDA 66.708) to the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (VDEQ). The grant will fund a 3-year pilot project to provide technical assistance to automotive repair and maintenance facilities in Northern Virginia.
Specifically, the grant will support the development of a best management practices manual that identifies Virginia regulatory requirements and pollution prevention (P2) opportunities for auto shops, including a P2 checklist. The project will also involve conducting 20 site visits to assist auto shops in implementing the P2 practices identified in the manual. The anticipated deliverables include the P2 manual, two success stories, and one case study. The goal is to establish a replicable program model that can be expanded to benefit environmental justice communities in the region.