When most people think about pollution, they usually associate it with large operations, giant manufacturing facilities, large-scale livestock operations or coal-fired power plants, for instance. But the truth of the matter is, even small mom-and-pop businesses that address everyday needs have the potential to negatively impact the environment if the operators don't pay proper attention to details.

The Department of Natural Resources and Environment recently teamed up with the Automotive Service Association of Michigan to honor one small business that is in an industry that is currently in focus by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for potential air pollution problems. That industry is auto body repair, which is being targeted with new rules for how spray paints are used. And Mason Auto Body in Mason, owned by Bruce Wigginton, is an example of a company on the leading edge of environmental responsiveness.

"We want to highlight Mason Auto Body because they're doing it the right way," said Dave Fiedler of the DNRE at a recent awards presentation at the facility. "They're being environmentally responsible."

Ray Fisher, president of the Automotive Service Association of Michigan, agreed.

"Bruce thinks out of the box," Fisher said. "He thinks about ways of improving things, both environmentally and cost-effectively. He's proactive rather than reactive."

Fisher points to Wigginton's decision to change his shop's lighting to a more energy-efficient system several years back as an example of how Mason Auto Body has been ahead of the curve.

"We went through and replaced every bulb in the shop," Wigginton said. "It took four years to pay off, but now we're saving money - about $4,000 a year."

Wigginton serves on the DNRE's Clean Air Advisory Panel, helping the department understand how to best communicate with small businesses about environmental standards as new EPA air regulations come into effect. Small businesses that spray paint will have to be compliant with the regulations within less than a year.

The New EPA rule focuses on metals -- chromium, nickel, manganese, cadmium and lead -- in paints and methylene chloride in paint strippers. DNRE officials sought Wigginton's help in developing a video that will explain to body shop operators what the regulations are and how they can comply with them. Wigginton allowed DNRE officials to shoot photos at his facility, including a state-of-the-art painting booth.

Wigginton has already adopted some of the newly required procedures - all painting must be done within a booth, not in the open on the shop floor -- and air filtering systems are required to prevent pollutants from escaping. Wigginton has already converted to more environmentally friendly paints. He changed to water-borne paints, for instance, because they do not emit the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that solvent-based paints do.

"For every job you're spraying, you're emitting 80 percent fewer VOCs," Wigginton said. "And it's more efficient paint; it's more expensive, but you're using less. It's a trade-off."

The DNRE video - produced by the department's Small Business Environmental Assistance Program will be available on line for other body shop operators (not just in Michigan, but nationwide) to see and become familiar with the new standards. The rules are significantly different than they used to be, said Wigginton, who's been in the auto body-repair business since 1976.

"There was some regulation, but not anything near what we have today," Wigginton said. "But it's all for the good."

In the old day, it wasn't unusual to see a body shop employee using his used solvent for weed killer, Wigginton said.

"We were really harming the environment doing that."

The DNRE's Air Quality Division inspects body-shop painting facilities to make sure the operators are up to snuff as citizen complaints come in," said DNRE environmental quality analyst Jim Ostrowski.

"Hopefully, if they're complying with the new regulations, that will cut down on the number of complaints," Ostrowski said. "And it helps protect worker health, too, with higher quality indoor air."

Ordinary citizens can help assist the drive for better pollution control from these body shops by making sure they patronize licensed facilities when they need auto body work, Ostrowski added.