This project will provide technical assistance (e.g., information, training, tools) to businesses to help them develop and adopt source reduction practices (also known as pollution prevention (P2))

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 9 awarded $350,000 under the Pollution Prevention Grants Program (CFDA 66.708) to the University of Nevada, Reno to provide technical assistance to auto body collision repair shops in EPA Regions 9 and 10. The two-year project, effective October 1, 2025, through October 31, 2027, is delivered through a partnership between the University of Nevada, Reno's Business Environmental Program (BEP) and the Pacific Northwest Pollution Prevention Resource Center (PPRC), a Washington State-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. The project aims to help small and medium-sized auto body shops reduce toxic and high-volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions by transitioning to safer alternative coatings, thinners, solvents, and dust control methods.

Primary deliverables include two multiregional conferences covering EPA Regions 9 and 10 (with Region 8 participation), four to six spray efficiency trainings for auto body technicians, three webinars on safer alternative chemical adoption, on-site technical assistance to individual shops, and development of two to four case studies plus at least one success story documenting implementation challenges and best practices. These products and services are designed to enable businesses to reduce operational costs through decreased resource consumption and waste generation while simultaneously lowering their environmental footprints and supporting human health and environmental protection objectives.

P2 means reducing or eliminating pollutants from entering any waste stream or otherwise being released into the environment prior to recycling, treatment, or disposal. P2 practices can help businesses save money by reducing their resource use, expenditures, waste and liability costs, while at the same time reducing their environmental footprint and helping to protect human health and the environment. Specifically, the two year proposed project will be a partnership between the university of nevada, reno's business environmental program (BEP) and the pacific northwest pollution prevention resource (PPRC), a 501(C)3 non-profit organization based out of the state of washington. This collaborative project will manage two multiregional conferences covering the states of EPA regions 9 and 10 (with region 8 states and partners invited). BEP and PPRC will conduct 4-6 spray efficiency trainings for auto body collision repair shop technicians in EPA regions 9 and 10. BEP and PPRC will organize and facilitate three webinars focused on assisting auto body shops to adopt safer alternative coatings, thinners, cleanup solvents, and dust control methods and provide technical assistance to auto body shops. Technical assistance will be provided to auto repair shops. They will develop two to four case studies and at least one success story describing the successes and challenges of an auto shop using and converting to safer alternative chemicals. This assistance agreement provides full federal funding in the amount of $350,000. See terms and conditions. Activities:workplan activities include: 1) organize two multiregional conferences covering the states of EPA regions 9 and 10 (with region 8 states and partners invited) 2) conduct 4 to 6 spray efficiency trainings for auto body collision repair shop technicians in EPA regions 9 and 10 3) organize and facilitate three webinars focused on assisting auto body shops to adopt safer alternative coatings, thinners, cleanup solvents, and dust control methods 4) provide technical assistance to auto body shops 5) develop two to four case studies and at least one success story describing the successes and challenges of an auto shop using and converting to safer alternative chemicals subrecipient:nevada business environmental program, university of nevada, reno will work with pollution prevention resource center (PPRC) to implement the pollution prevention west conference in 2025 and 2026. PPRC will receive a subaward to organize, host and manage the conference. PPRC will use the subaward to provide personnel, travel stipends for conference participants (participant support costs), materials, supplies, and technical support for the conference and auto body spray paint training and refinishing assistance. Outcomes:the technical assistance conducted by the grantee will benefit facilities and communities. The recipient is expected to report on P2 performance measures (outputs and outcomes) and note who will benefit from the technical assistance as well as commit to following-up with facilities to find out whether the technical assistance was adopted and implemented. The anticipated deliverables include semiannual reports and a final report for EPA. They will write two to four case studies, which can be shared with EPA, businesses and the public. They will write at least one success study about an auto repair shop using and converting to safer alternative chemicals. The expected outcomes include reductions of 371,000 to 558,000 POUNDS hazardous materials and 103,000 to 155,000 POUNDS of volatile organic compounds (VOC). Other outcomes like air emissions reduced (POUNDS) and metric tons of carbon dioxide (MTCO2E) will be collected during the grant period of performance. The intended bene