NEW NHRA enviorenmental policy READ IT

[63corvette]

Originally Posted by Bret Kepner

I don't have to rethink it, 63. I was in the middle of it when the EPA took direct aim on indoor motorsports in the late 1980s. I know all about the felonies, the responsibility, the litigation and the unbridled power of a government agency bent on policing a motorsport. I was the guy who (repeatedly) got to tell 10,000 paying fans that the EPA just shut down the event and it was time to go home.

You guys have NO IDEA what you're up against but feel free to "wait 'til November". LMAO!

Brent, I know a little about the situation now and not so much in the 1980's.
When I retired I was responsible for all the environmental permits and issues for a rather large gas pipeline operation in 15 states from Arizona east to the mid-west and up to the Canadian border.
First off the States were delegated the responsibilities for enforcement by the EPA some years ago. The states are first in line with any violations. Most states have a DNR or something like it (Department of Natural Resources) which is the state version of the EPA. The Federal Government EPA sets the rules for the state enforcement as a minimum and the states can add on as they see fit to a certain point.
The states enforce and issue fines and enforcement mandates.
Like I stated earlier the only Felony would be if someone lost their life due to an issue of Environmental Quality. Civil penalties can be issued by the state and federal government but a Felony would have to be a crime of some type.
A Felony must be prosecuted through a Law Enforcement Action and must be proved in a Court Of Law.
Government can make your life miserable and levy fines on top of that but a Felony is a serious charge and a Law Enforcement Action.
If you would like to discuss it give me a call sometime. I am retired and with the cold and snow in the Texas panhandle right now I have lots of time as the shop is pretty cold right now.
Rick Cates
Canyon TX

[Bret Kepner]

Understood, Rick. I will add, however, that a racer who dumped his motorhome tanks in the staging lanes (in a fit of rage) at Gateway five years ago would also have faced felony charges. The track learned this when they contacted the EPA while deciding to press charges.

[7820]

Ed you are the person who needs a wake up call. You wrote that you did know NHRA had the right to fine people. I pointed out that they did in fact fine Don $100K and Don paid it.

[Ed Fernandez]

Originally Posted by 7820

Ed you are the person who needs a wake up call. You wrote that you did know NHRA had the right to fine people. I pointed out that they did in fact fine Don $100K and Don paid it.

You're correct about NHRA levying fines but the subject here is enveriornmental fines not someone bringing his own fuel to the track.That's all.
BTW I'm wide awake.

[tim worner]

I got on line and watched the required video. Logged off. Now I logged back on went to event reg. and the same video came back on. Does this mean that everytime we go to enter an event we have to sit through this video? It is about 15 min. long.

[Rick Bailey]

Tim,
My guess would be no.... once you read the release and then clicked that you agree, this will then go on file. The reason it keeps coming up is, your not going to get any farther in an entry untill you click "agree"

If memory serves me correctly, we have to do the same thing a while back in reguard to some other rule..........I think maybe it was golf cart and such.

Rick

[chris ok]

Both kinds of brake clean are still available.
the best way to test is spray them on brake rotors or any metal surface, chlorinated dries very quickly. squeaky clean surface.
non chlorinated dries slowly, does not work as well.

the chlorinated is very bad for our health. As a mechanic of 20 plus years, I've sprayed a bit of the chlorinated.
When the shop went to the brush on stuff, non spray w a catch tub, the stuff stunk. it took forever to dry. Not a very good job either, needs a lot more elbow grease. Less drum brakes getting cleaned w liquids. better for us anyway.
A lot less of the good stuff is used now.

Dealing w NHRA is better than ANY GOV'T agency.

[Ed Fernandez]

Originally Posted by chris ok

Both kinds of brake clean are still available.
the best way to test is spray them on brake rotors or any metal surface, chlorinated dries very quickly. squeaky clean surface.
non chlorinated dries slowly, does not work as well.

the chlorinated is very bad for our health. As a mechanic of 20 plus years, I've sprayed a bit of the chlorinated.
When the shop went to the brush on stuff, non spray w a catch tub, the stuff stunk. it took forever to dry. Not a very good job either, needs a lot more elbow grease. Less drum brakes getting cleaned w liquids. better for us anyway.
A lot less of the good stuff is used now.

Dealing w NHRA is better than ANY GOV'T agency.

Chris,the pictures on the Pyroil site show both products.The non chlorinated can states so on it above where it says Brake Cleaner.

[Rick Bailey]

Sounds like a ........NHRA Approved List.........is coming.

I was a store earler and was looking at a can of CRC brand.........can said nothing about chlornated or not. Just no CFC's ???? and not for use in Calif.

Rick

[Jason Oldfield]

Originally Posted by 63corvette

Brent, I know a little about the situation now and not so much in the 1980's.
When I retired I was responsible for all the environmental permits and issues for a rather large gas pipeline operation in 15 states from Arizona east to the mid-west and up to the Canadian border.
First off the States were delegated the responsibilities for enforcement by the EPA some years ago. The states are first in line with any violations. Most states have a DNR or something like it (Department of Natural Resources) which is the state version of the EPA. The Federal Government EPA sets the rules for the state enforcement as a minimum and the states can add on as they see fit to a certain point.
The states enforce and issue fines and enforcement mandates.
Like I stated earlier the only Felony would be if someone lost their life due to an issue of Environmental Quality. Civil penalties can be issued by the state and federal government but a Felony would have to be a crime of some type.
A Felony must be prosecuted through a Law Enforcement Action and must be proved in a Court Of Law.
Government can make your life miserable and levy fines on top of that but a Felony is a serious charge and a Law Enforcement Action.
If you would like to discuss it give me a call sometime. I am retired and with the cold and snow in the Texas panhandle right now I have lots of time as the shop is pretty cold right now.
Rick Cates
Canyon TX

What do you know?

As for the fine, NHRA can fine you, but they can't force you to pay. But, if you don't pay (or go through the appeals process) you won't be able to race any NHRA events. Somebody else pointed out that Schumacher had a lot to lose by not coming to some type of agreement with NHRA regarding his fine. He could have just as easily said, "Up yours NHRA" and went IHRA racing. But, I don't think his sponsors would have appreciated that.

In the end, this is DEFINITELY a CYA policy by NHRA. I'd bet that at the Winternationals they were contacted by the EPA, which is why all of a sudden this issue came up, and is being enacted immediately. Had they been proactive about this, and actually did something years ago about the Pros dumping gallons of brake clean on the pavement, they probably wouldn't be in this predicament. But, they turned the blind eye because they were too busy counting their millions.

I can also guarantee you that your NHRA fine does NOT protect you from fines by the EPA. In the end, they have final say. But, in NHRA's defense, would anybody listen to their pleas if NHRA DIDN'T threaten to fine on their own? It's just like telling your kids Santa is watching. Your kids' response? "Yeah, sure he is...I don't see him, so I'll take my chances."

There are SO many issues like this that NHRA could handle better, IMHO. And every time they step on their dick, more and more people become skeptical (they ruined me years ago), and think that the NHRA is out to get them. Why NHRA couldn't have had a meeting with the SRAC and PRO to explain the situation first is beyond me (though the pros probably got more advance notice than we did).