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mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";} </style> <![endif]--> This letter is written by Mike Hilborn, PWNA Executive Director. It was reviewed and commented on by the PWNA Board of Directors. This letter has been approved for distribution by the PWNA Board of Directors (BOD from this point).
This letter is intended to explain the BOD intentions behind the Environmental Best Management Practices (from this point BMPs) and why they are important for members of PWNA and the industry at large. My goal is to explain what the BMPs are and what they are not.
Let me begin that neither the BOD nor I saw that the voting on the BMPs would create such a response. The response was surprising, disappointing, and encouraging all at the same time. Let me address each of these:
· Surprising - we post things almost everyday with little or no notice. The BMPs
that were voted on was part of the process to make the BMPs official so that
we could use those BMPs as part of an Environmental Certification course
currently being developed. Education is one of the "pillars" of the PWNA and is
one of the ways we bring real value to our members. Also, these BMPs have
been around the PWNA for many years. These BMPs are not new, just
reformatted to be easier trained and understood. Nothing new.
· Disappointing - the things that were said about people who volunteer their
time and talents to make our industry better is always disturbing to read and
reflects poorly on our industry.
· Encouraging - it is positive to see such interest in this topic. The BMPs are a
work in progress and the more help we can get the better. Typically, these
sorts of things are worked on by only 1 or 2 dedicated people and then
approved by a group. The BOD welcomes and appreciates the input and
comments from everyone to make these BMPs the best they can be for all
involved.
Let me explain what the BMPs are:
· An educational tool - to be used as part of an Environmental Certification
course. For me personally, I have spent all of my time on residential services
like wood restoration, roof cleaning and house washing. I recently began
commercial exterior cleaning and fleet washing and I had no idea where to
begin as it relates to the Clean Water Act (CWA from this point). I found the
current PWNA BMPs difficult to understand and they left me with many
questions. However, I didn't know where to begin without them. The PWNA is
leading this important topic.
· A resource for your employees - we wanted to have a document that could be
part of every members operation, if they chose. Take these BMPs and use
them as they are or use them to start developing your own company BMPs
based on the services you provide and the geography you serve. They are a
living and open document that can be modified and applied by anyone that
wants them.
· Protection - having BMPs and being Water Reclaimer Certified can be used to
demonstrate to local regulators and municipalities that you are a trained
professional. They will know that you are doing what you can to protect our
lakes, rivers, streams and oceans. The PWNA is here to protect our members
and help them to be more profitable. You may not agree, and that's fine, but
that is what the BOD believes.
· Helping keep our waters clean - Some cities have not developed their own
BMPs, others have. Part of phase 2 of the EPA (as I understand it) requires
cities to develop their own BMPs. If all of us can do the work for them by
writing or at least influencing the writing of their BMPs, better for your city,
better for you the contractor and better for the environment. The services
each of us as contractors perform is to keep things clean and to protect the
health and safety of our customers. No one is more interested in protecting
the environment than those of us in the power washing industry.
Let me tell you what the BMPs are not (based on some of the points I read on the bulletin boards):
· The PWNA is not going to bring, or shop, the BMPs to municipalities, city
leaders or roll them out across the country. That was never mentioned as our
plan and I don't know where that came from. Second, we don't have the
money or resources for such an undertaking.
· These BMPs aren't designed to be the answer for every power washer, in every
part of the country, for every possible cleaning situation or challenge. They are
a guide. They are a resource to develop BMPs specific to your operation.
· They will not solve the Houston problem. These BMPs are written to comply
with the CWA. What is happening in Houston is not about the CWA. As you
can read toward the beginning of the BMP document "[FONT="]If your discharge does not
[/FONT]
[FONT="] reach the waters of the United States, then there are no requirements under the Clean Water
[/FONT]
[FONT="] Act." [/FONT]
· The BMPs are not applicable to residential services such as house washing, roof
cleaning or deck cleaning unless wash water will reach a storm drain. If the
water doesn't hit the storm drain, these BMPs do not apply.
· The BMPs are not about enriching anyone. To be on the BOD, 50% or more of
your revenue must come from contract cleaning. Michael Hinderliter had to
leave the Board when he bought Delux from Robert and the new bylaws were
passed. Although Robert Hinderliter is the Environmental Chairman, he is not
one of the Board of Directors. The BMPs are about education and guidance.
We aren't suggesting anyone buy a particular type of equipment or to buy any
equipment at all. It is up to the individual contractor as to how he or she will
meet the requirements of the CWA.
· We are not submitting these BMPs to the EPA on April 15th or any other date.
We are not submitting these BMPs to any government authority. They will be
available on the PWNA website to anyone who wants to read them. We are
asking for member comments to be returned by April 15th to keep the process
moving.
· The BMPs don't suggest that we are polluters. If I'm mistaken, please email
which line or lines of the draft you are referring to and the correction or
corrections will be made.
It is the position of the BOD that our industry support the Clean Water Act and the PWNA will support rules that are practical, reasonable and economically feasible to protect our lakes, rivers, streams and oceans. If we find municipalities that are overreaching or are unreasonable, we will do what we can to address those cities (this is where we need everyone to be a member, my only plug). Power washing contractors are parents, sportsmen and sportswomen who want to leave our world better than we inherited it. I would like to believe that few of us would disagree.
The BOD would like to get member comments as described in a previous post. Please submit by email, fax or USPS your comments by April 15th. If you have any questions, please call me directly at 612-868-7312. My email address is mike.hilborn@pwna.org. If I did not explain our intentions to your satisfaction or I need to answer questions not answered here, I would appreciate the opportunity to speak to you directly. Thank you.
Sincerely,
Mike Hilborn and the Board of Directors of the PWNA
This letter is intended to explain the BOD intentions behind the Environmental Best Management Practices (from this point BMPs) and why they are important for members of PWNA and the industry at large. My goal is to explain what the BMPs are and what they are not.
Let me begin that neither the BOD nor I saw that the voting on the BMPs would create such a response. The response was surprising, disappointing, and encouraging all at the same time. Let me address each of these:
· Surprising - we post things almost everyday with little or no notice. The BMPs
that were voted on was part of the process to make the BMPs official so that
we could use those BMPs as part of an Environmental Certification course
currently being developed. Education is one of the "pillars" of the PWNA and is
one of the ways we bring real value to our members. Also, these BMPs have
been around the PWNA for many years. These BMPs are not new, just
reformatted to be easier trained and understood. Nothing new.
· Disappointing - the things that were said about people who volunteer their
time and talents to make our industry better is always disturbing to read and
reflects poorly on our industry.
· Encouraging - it is positive to see such interest in this topic. The BMPs are a
work in progress and the more help we can get the better. Typically, these
sorts of things are worked on by only 1 or 2 dedicated people and then
approved by a group. The BOD welcomes and appreciates the input and
comments from everyone to make these BMPs the best they can be for all
involved.
Let me explain what the BMPs are:
· An educational tool - to be used as part of an Environmental Certification
course. For me personally, I have spent all of my time on residential services
like wood restoration, roof cleaning and house washing. I recently began
commercial exterior cleaning and fleet washing and I had no idea where to
begin as it relates to the Clean Water Act (CWA from this point). I found the
current PWNA BMPs difficult to understand and they left me with many
questions. However, I didn't know where to begin without them. The PWNA is
leading this important topic.
· A resource for your employees - we wanted to have a document that could be
part of every members operation, if they chose. Take these BMPs and use
them as they are or use them to start developing your own company BMPs
based on the services you provide and the geography you serve. They are a
living and open document that can be modified and applied by anyone that
wants them.
· Protection - having BMPs and being Water Reclaimer Certified can be used to
demonstrate to local regulators and municipalities that you are a trained
professional. They will know that you are doing what you can to protect our
lakes, rivers, streams and oceans. The PWNA is here to protect our members
and help them to be more profitable. You may not agree, and that's fine, but
that is what the BOD believes.
· Helping keep our waters clean - Some cities have not developed their own
BMPs, others have. Part of phase 2 of the EPA (as I understand it) requires
cities to develop their own BMPs. If all of us can do the work for them by
writing or at least influencing the writing of their BMPs, better for your city,
better for you the contractor and better for the environment. The services
each of us as contractors perform is to keep things clean and to protect the
health and safety of our customers. No one is more interested in protecting
the environment than those of us in the power washing industry.
Let me tell you what the BMPs are not (based on some of the points I read on the bulletin boards):
· The PWNA is not going to bring, or shop, the BMPs to municipalities, city
leaders or roll them out across the country. That was never mentioned as our
plan and I don't know where that came from. Second, we don't have the
money or resources for such an undertaking.
· These BMPs aren't designed to be the answer for every power washer, in every
part of the country, for every possible cleaning situation or challenge. They are
a guide. They are a resource to develop BMPs specific to your operation.
· They will not solve the Houston problem. These BMPs are written to comply
with the CWA. What is happening in Houston is not about the CWA. As you
can read toward the beginning of the BMP document "[FONT="]If your discharge does not
[/FONT]
[FONT="] reach the waters of the United States, then there are no requirements under the Clean Water
[/FONT]
[FONT="] Act." [/FONT]
· The BMPs are not applicable to residential services such as house washing, roof
cleaning or deck cleaning unless wash water will reach a storm drain. If the
water doesn't hit the storm drain, these BMPs do not apply.
· The BMPs are not about enriching anyone. To be on the BOD, 50% or more of
your revenue must come from contract cleaning. Michael Hinderliter had to
leave the Board when he bought Delux from Robert and the new bylaws were
passed. Although Robert Hinderliter is the Environmental Chairman, he is not
one of the Board of Directors. The BMPs are about education and guidance.
We aren't suggesting anyone buy a particular type of equipment or to buy any
equipment at all. It is up to the individual contractor as to how he or she will
meet the requirements of the CWA.
· We are not submitting these BMPs to the EPA on April 15th or any other date.
We are not submitting these BMPs to any government authority. They will be
available on the PWNA website to anyone who wants to read them. We are
asking for member comments to be returned by April 15th to keep the process
moving.
· The BMPs don't suggest that we are polluters. If I'm mistaken, please email
which line or lines of the draft you are referring to and the correction or
corrections will be made.
It is the position of the BOD that our industry support the Clean Water Act and the PWNA will support rules that are practical, reasonable and economically feasible to protect our lakes, rivers, streams and oceans. If we find municipalities that are overreaching or are unreasonable, we will do what we can to address those cities (this is where we need everyone to be a member, my only plug). Power washing contractors are parents, sportsmen and sportswomen who want to leave our world better than we inherited it. I would like to believe that few of us would disagree.
The BOD would like to get member comments as described in a previous post. Please submit by email, fax or USPS your comments by April 15th. If you have any questions, please call me directly at 612-868-7312. My email address is mike.hilborn@pwna.org. If I did not explain our intentions to your satisfaction or I need to answer questions not answered here, I would appreciate the opportunity to speak to you directly. Thank you.
Sincerely,
Mike Hilborn and the Board of Directors of the PWNA