What’s New?
Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I Program Solicitation Open
Until 5/11/10
States Encouraged to Use EPA Surveys to Determine Autobody Industry's
Compliance with EPA NESHAP 6H Rule
2010 Wood Design
Awards for NC, SC, and GA Businesses
SBA Names Esther
H. Vassar as National Ombudsman
EPA Opens the National Food Processing Environmental Assistance Center
(FPEAC)
EPA Office of Compliance Develops Industrial Stormwater Compliance
Assistance Tools for Owners and Operators in the Ready Mixed Concrete,
Crushed Stone, and Sand and Gravel Sectors
EPA Helps Supermarkets Save Money and Reduce Greenhouse Gases Through EPA's
GreenChill Program
Region 2 Awards $1.4 Million in Recovery Funding to Reduce Diesel Emissions
and Create Jobs
Region 5 States Environmental Results Program for Autobody Refinishing Shops
Selected in EPA State Innovation Grant Program 2009 Competition
President Obama Signs the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 --
Includes $7.22 Billion for "Green" Jobs
Office of the National Ombudsman Is Available to Assist America’s Small Businesses with Federal Regulatory Enforcement Actions
Administrators Award for Outstanding Accomplishments by a State Group in Providing Technical Environmental Assistance to the Small Business Community
Small
Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I Program Solicitation Open
Until 5/11/10
EPA invites small business firms to submit research proposals under
the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Solicitation. The
SBIR program is a phased process across the Federal government of
soliciting proposals and awarding funding agreements for research (R) or
research and development (R&D) to meet stated agency needs or missions.
EPA is interested in advanced technologies that address priority
environmental issues. The following topics are included in this
solicitation: Green Building, Innovation in Manufacturing,
Nanotechnology, Greenhouse Gases, Drinking Water Monitoring and
Treatment, Wastewater and Sustainable Infrastructure, Air Pollution
Monitoring and Control, Biofuels, Waste Management and Monitoring, and
Homeland Security. The proposed research must pertain to EPA's
environmental mission and must be responsive to EPA program interested
included in the topic descriptions in this solicitation. Go to:
www.epa.gov/ncer/rfa/2011/2011_sbir_phase1.html. Open Date
3/25/10 - Close Date 5/11/10.
States
Encouraged to Use EPA Surveys to Determine Autobody Industry's
Compliance with EPA NESHAP 6H Rule
EPA
has developed survey instruments to measure their compliance assistance
efforts when helping autobody shops comply with the new NESHAP Subpart
6H rule. States are welcome
to use these surveys to help gather feedback on the effectiveness of
their own efforts, and are encouraged to use results to improve their
activities. These surveys
were based on
a checklist that was created through the Common Measures Project, a
multi-state performance measurement project.
EPA NESHAP Subpart 6H Phone Survey
EPA NESHAP Subpart 6H Site Visit Survey
EPA is using these surveys, as approved by the
Office of Management and Budget (OMB), to assess the impact of its
outreach program on autobody shops located in Massachusetts.
The survey questions and details of the EPA project can be
accessed through the Reginfo Page on the GSA web site (www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAViewDocument?ref_nbr=200907-2020-001).
The phone survey takes 10-15 minutes to complete, and the on-site
survey takes approximately one hour.
EPA encourages states to use these or similar survey questions to
help collect outcome measurement data for compliance assistance; by
using these surveys states will add to a growing set of data on how
compliance assistance helps small businesses understand their
environmental regulatory obligations.
For more information, contact Emily Chow at
chow.emily@epa.gov.
2010
Wood Design Awards for NC, SC, and GA Businesses
WoodWorks, a collaborative effort of the major
wood associations nationwide that provides
access to the widest possible range of resources
for architects, engineers, and other building
professionals using wood in non-residential
buildings, is accepting nominations for the
annual 2010 Wood Design Awards now through
January 8, 2010. Award recipients will be
recognized in eight categories including
Institutional Wood Design, Commercial Wood
Design, Green Building, Interior Beauty of Wood,
Multi-family Wood Design, Traditional Use of
Wood, Wood Behind the Walls and Engineering.
The award winners will be announced during a
special ceremony at the Atlanta Wood Solutions
Fair on February 16, 2010, at the Cobb Galleria
Center. Wood Solutions Fairs are free,
day-long educational event focusing on the use
of wood in non-residential buildings. For
more information and to download nomination
forms, visit:
www.woodworks.org/woodDesignShowcase/.
SBA
Names Esther H. Vassar as National Ombudsman
SBA Administrator
Karen G. Mills has named Esther H. Vassar as
National Ombudsman and Assistant Administrator
for Regulatory Enforcement Fairness for the U.S.
Small Business Administration. Vassar
served as commissioner and chair for Virginia's
Alcohol Beverage Control Board, ran her own
business E.H. Vassar Enterprises (a marketing
firm), and was diretor of the Virginia
Department of Minority Business Enterprise.
The Office of the National Ombudsman helps small
businesses with excessive or unfair federal
regulatory enforcement actions, such as
repetitive audits or excessive fines. The
Office also works with more than 35 federal
regulatory agencies to resolve complaints.
For additional information, go to:
www.sba.gov/ombudsman.
EPA
Opens the National Food Processing Environmental
Assistance Center (FPEAC)
EPA has selected
Purdue University to develop and host the
National Food
Processing Environmental Assistance Center
(FPEAC) using 2007-2008 funds. FPEAC
is available to food processors and the public
as a source of environmental regulatory,
pollution prevention, and sustainability
information. Included are federal and
state regulations and publications focused in
helping processors understand related
environmental issues.
EPA
Office of Compliance Develops Industrial
Stormwater Compliance Assistance Tools for
Owners and Operators in the Ready Mixed
Concrete, Crushed Stone, and Sand and Gravel
Sectors
EPA's Office of
Compliance developed a
compliance assistance resource web page for
owners and operators in the ready mixed
concrete, crushed stone, and sand and gravel
sectors to help them comply with the industrial
stormwater permit requirements. The web
page includes federal, state, and other
resources, contacts, and training materials.
EPA
Helps Supermarkets Save Money and Reduce
Greenhouse Gases Through EPA's GreenChill
Program
EPA has expanded
the GreenChill Advanced Refrigeration
Partnership launched in November 2007 by
quadrupling the number of grocery story
participants in the voluntary program to reduce
the use of ozone-depleting refrigerants.
The program now includes more than 6,500 stores
in 47 states. EPA estimates that if all
supermarkets adhered to the GreenChill Program
emissions reductions, the equivalent of 22
million metric tons of carbon dioxide and 240
ozone-depleting potential tons each year could
be saved. The cost savings would be $108
million in refrigerant expenses each year.
The GreenChill Program recently instituted a
Store Certification Awards Program to recognize
stores that achieve a minimum of a 50 percent
reduction in refrigerant charge and 75 percent
reduction in refrigerant emissions. So
far, 7 stores have been awarded the GreenChill
Gold certification, and 3 stores have been
awarded the GreenChill Silver certification.
Top performers will be recognized during the
Food Marketing Institute's 2009 Sustainability
Summit in San Francisco on August 17 - 19, 2009.
EPA is currently considering the inclusion of
smaller food retailers, in particular businesses
with commercial refrigeration units. For
questions about the program or what types of
systems EPA is considering, contact Keilly
Witman of the Stratospheric Protection Division,
202.343.9742,
witman.keilly@epa.gov. To find out
about the program, go to:
www.epa.gov/ozone/partnerships/greenchill/index.html.
Region
2 Awards $1.4 Million in Recovery Funding to Reduce Diesel Emissions and
Create Jobs
EPA has awarded $1.4 million to clean up
long-haul trucks based in New Jersey and New York. “Innovative
clean diesel projects can create jobs, cut fuel costs, keep people
healthy, and move our country into a clean energy future,” said Acting
Regional Administrator, George Pavlou. “Projects like these help
rebuild the economy while contributing to cleaner, healthier air
quality.” The funds are provided under the American Reinvestment
and Recovery Act (ARRA) of 2009 National Clean Diesel Funding Assistance
Program. Cascade Sierra Solutions, a non-profit trucking
organization, will work with truckers in NJ and NY to use aerodynamic
technologies to help lower diesel emissions and fuel consumption.
In addition, 64 manufacturing and installation jobs will be created or
preserved during 2009 and 2010. Finally, the clean diesel projects
will help reduce premature deaths, asthma attacks, and other respiratory
ailments, lost work days, and other health issues. For information
on EPA's clean diesel initiatives, go to
www.epa.gov/cleandiesel.
Region 5 States Environmental Results Program
for Autobody Refinishing Shops Selected in EPA State Innovation Grant
Program 2009 Competition
Region 5
States' Environmental Results Program for Autobody Refinishing Shops was
one of two grants awarded nationally from the EPA's National Center for
Environmental Innovation (NCEI) in cooperation with EPA Regions and
National Program Offices. The grant program supports state
innovation practices through collaboration and partnership. Region
5's pre-proposal was one of 25 applicants who responded to this year's
State Innovation Grant solicitation supporting the theme of "innovation
in permitting." Due to budget limitations, EPA only selected two
pre-proposals totaling $565,000 to proceed to the next phase of the
award process. Congratulations to Region 5 and Renee Bashel for
coordinating on your successful pre-proposal!! For more
information, see the
Letter from EPA
to Wisconsin DNR.
President
Obama Signs the American Recovery and
Reinvestment Act of 2009 -- Includes $7.22
Billion for "Green" Jobs
On February 17, 2009, President Obama signed
the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of
2009 (ARRA). The ARRA
intends to promote technological advances in
science, health, environmental protection, and
other infrastructure that will provide long-term
economic benefits. The ARRA
includes $7.22 billion for projects and programs
administered by EPA, including programs to
protect and promote “green” jobs and a healthier
environment. These programs include the
following:
-
Clean Water State Revolving Fund
and Drinking Water State Revolving Fund:
$4 billion for assistance to help
communities with water quality and
wastewater infrastructure needs and $2
billion for drinking water infrastructure
needs. A portion of the funding will be
targeted toward green infrastructure, water
and energy efficiency, and environmentally
innovative projects. Go to general
information about the
Clean
Water State Revolving Fund and the
Drinking Water State Revolving fund.
-
Brownfields: $100
million for competitive grants to evaluate
and clean up former industrial and
commercial sites. Go to general
information about the
Brownfields program.
-
Diesel Emissions Reduction:
$300 million for grants and loans to help
regional, state and local governments,
tribal agencies, and non-profit
organizations with projects that reduce
diesel emissions. Go to general
information about diesel emissions
reductions achieved through the
National Clean Diesel Campaign.
-
Superfund Hazardous Waste
Cleanup: $600 million for the
cleanup of hazardous sites. Go to
general information about the
Superfund
program.
-
Leaking Underground Storage
Tanks: $200 million for cleanup of
petroleum leaks from underground storage
tanks. Go to general information about
the
Underground
Storage Tank program.
EPA plans to award both the designated funds
to states and the competitive grants as quickly
as possible. All funding will be monitored
by the agency’s Inspector General, which will
receive $20 million for oversight and review.
Announcements of grants will be posted on
www.recovery.gov
to ensure transparency.
Office of the National Ombudsman Is Available to Assist America’s Small Businesses with Federal Regulatory Enforcement Actions
When America’s small businesses face unfair or excessive federal regulatory enforcement actions, the Office of the National Ombudsman at the U.S. Small Business Administration is available to ensure fairness in the enforcement process. Created by Congress through the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act, the Office of the National Ombudsman’s primary function is to work with small businesses and federal agencies to ensure that regulatory or compliance actions are handled and enforced fairly by all federal agencies. The National Ombudsman is empowered to receive, substantiate, and report to Congress complaints and comments from small business owners regarding regulatory enforcement actions taken against small businesses by federal agencies.
It is the primary mission of the Office of the National Ombudsman to assist small businesses when they experience excessive or unfair federal regulatory enforcement actions, such as repetitive audits or investigations, excessive fines, penalties, threats, retaliation or other unfair enforcement action by a federal agency.
Also, the National Ombudsman’s office works with 10 regional fairness boards whose membership is comprised of 50 small business owners from across the country. The ONO works closely with more than 35 federal regulatory agencies to resolve complaints about excessive enforcement of federal regulations brought to the attention of the National Ombudsman during hearings and roundtables held in cities nationwide.
Additional information about the Office of the National Ombudsman is available at
www.sba.gov/ombudsman.
Release Date: Jan. 12, 2009
Contact: Carol Chastang (202) 205-6987
Release Number: 09-01
Internet Address: www.sba.gov/news.
Administrators Award for Outstanding Accomplishments by a State Group in Providing Technical Environmental Assistance to the Small Business Community
This nomination recognizes significant accomplishments realized through the development of an effective and collaborative partnership for a small business component of Region 4’s regulated community. The States of MS, GA, NC, SC, KY and TN contributed significantly to the success of a unique regional initiative, the Region 4 Collision Repair Campaign. The impact of these States' involvement exceeded all expectations of reaching this regulated sector characterized by very small businesses.
The objective of the partnership was to reduce risks from toxic air emissions from auto body shops across the Southeast. This opportunity to provide technical assistance was the result of the January 2008 finalization of a new rule requiring auto body shops to implement a set of “best practices” to reduce risks.
There are over 50,000 auto body shops in the United States that emit hazardous air pollutants (HAP). These shops are often located in residential, commercial, and Environmental Justice areas and the release of toxic chemicals into the air poses not only a health risk to those working in the shops but also to those living and working nearby. Most shops will have up to three years to comply. This Collision Repair Campaign Partnership is an effort to reach out to shop owners to:
- Make them aware of the impact of their shop emissions
- Encourage early compliance with the rule
- Achieve health and environmental risk reductions beyond those called for by the rule
- Reduce operating costs for the shop owner by encouraging adoption of the best practices well in advance of the compliance date for the rule.
A multi-program, geographically diverse EPA Team led this initiative, however without the intimate involvement of the State Small Business Technical Assistance Staff we would not have achieved this level of success. The contributions of several State technical assistance providers include:
- A ‘plain language’ matrix and comments on the proposed rule
- Recommendation for a poster and introductory DVD in English and Spanish to be widely distributed to shop owners across the nation
- Collaboration on the development of the DVD and poster
- Training sessions for 300 diverse attendees including trade schools, paint and equipment manufacturers, Code Enforcers, State Permit and Technical Assistance Staff.
The States are continuing to provide assistance to ease the burden of complying with this regulation by creating check lists and model training classes to fulfill the requirements of the new rule. This is a significant and valuable accomplishment that bolstered the success of Region 4's Collision Repair Shop Initiative.
Recommendation: State Small Business staff should be recognized for their creative and innovative participation to reduce the environmental and human health risk associated with exposure to hazardous air pollutants emitted by collision repair shops. We are proud of the impacts these states efforts have had and will have on awareness and compliance across the Southeast.
Recipients: Randy Wolfe, Linda Sadler, Phyllis Copeland, Tony Pendola, Teresa Shiflett, Kenya Stump