Hot Issues

State

June  9, 2011

Sign Industry Legislation—SB0042

During this year’s state legislative session, the Utah Sign Association worked closely with members of the state legislature to develop and then pass a bill to better control the activities of unlicensed sign contractors.  Contracting without a license is an issue with which we have had serious concern for a number of years.  In January the bill was introduced to the Utah Legislature.  Led by Randy George, USA was responsible for the introduction of this bill and for following it through the legislative process to ensure its passage.

The bill, S.B. 42, makes it unlawful for sign companies to fail to display their contractor’s license number on vehicles.  Sign companies must also carry a copy of their contractor’s license in all other vehicles that the company uses, even those not owned by the company.  Penalties for failing to comply are considered “unlawful conduct” and could result in a fine of up to $2,000 for each day of a continued offense and attorneys fees.  The bill was signed by Gov. Herbert and went into effect on May 10, 2011.  If you have not already done so, please make the necessary changes immediately. 

The sign industry will have to work hard to ensure that the law is enforced by reporting anyone that is not in compliance.  Members of the Utah Sign Association will report any vehicles they see that are in violation directly to USA.  As a benefit of membership, we will handle the reporting to Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing.  DOPL will be responsible for investigating and maintaining the records of any violations.  Nonmembers will report violations directly to DOPL.

Thank you for your support of the Utah Sign Association.  Your ongoing support makes possible the important work of the association on behalf of the industry.

Regards,
Patricia King
Executive Director

http://le.utah.gov/~2011/bills/sbillint/sb0042.htm

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Federal

• HAPS6H also known as the EPA Spray Paint Issue

This rule applies to facilities that use paints/coatings which include the following Hazardous Air Pollutants: chromium, lead, manganese, nickel, or cadmium. If your paints do NOT contain these HAPs, or if you apply the paint by brush or roller, you must file either: 1) petition of exemption, or 2) compliance notification. Owners or operators of a spray coating operation that do nothing may be subject to violation. If you do spray these HAPs, you need to file a notification with the EPA of your compliance with their requirements. These requirements include:

- Employee training
- Efficient spray guns
- 98% efficient booth and mixing room filters
- Approved prep booth (no open air spraying)
- Approved gun cleaner

The rule also applies to any paint stripping operations that involve the use of methylene chloride. You can find an easy to read summary at www.haps6h.com. If companies have met all requirements, the owner/operator of the business will need to fill out and sign a compliance form and submit it to the EPA by January 10, 2011. Click here for the full rule which details exactly who is affected and what needs to be done to comply.

The employee training can be outsourced (some paint suppliers and distributors do these trainings) or can be done in house. If you would like to use a third party, the firm GRC-Pirk will conduct these trainings free for ASA members. They will be conducting an ISA webinar on July 15th at 2:00 p.m. EST, which will provide an orientation and description of compliance requirements for the rule.

www.haps6h.com
EPA rule: Full_HAPs6H_Rule.pdf
EPA information site:  http://www.epa.gov/ttn/atw/area/paint_stripb.pdf
EPA Petition for Exemption form
GRC-Pirk Press Release: Government Pays for Shops to Go Green

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