The purpose of the National Compliance Advisory Panel (CAP) is to foster small business success through improved environmental performance by:

• Assisting in the development, implementation, and continued improvement of the state CAPs pursuant to Section 507 of the Clean Air Act as amended in 1990.
• Facilitating communication among businesses, state programs, Small Business Ombudsman (SBO)/Small Business Environmental Assistance Program (SBEAP) Steering Committee, and the US Environmental Protection Agency.
• Promoting and marketing existing state program components: SBOs, SBEAPs, and CAPs.

State CAPs are required under the Clean Air Act as amended in 1990, as part of a state technical assistance program, to help small businesses comply with the Act.  Each CAP is responsible for determining the overall effectiveness of its state/territory program.  Among their many duties, members review and render advisory opinions on their state’s/territory's assistance program, ensure that information affecting small businesses is written in a style that is clear and understandable, and serve as an information bridge between small businesses and their state’s/territory's program.

The NCAP was established in 2001.  During the April 2001 national Small Business Ombudsman/Small Business Assistance Program (SBO/SBAP) conference in Austin, Texas, state CAP members in attendance voted to form a National CAP.  This vote also received wide support from state SBOs and SBAPs.  This panel is comprised of one representative from each of the ten regions, two members-at-large, the Vice Chair of the SBO/SBAP National Steering Committee or his/her designee, the EPA SBO, and an EPA NCAP Liaison.  The Steering Committee Vice Chair and EPA representatives are an integral part of the NCAP, but serve in an advisory capacity to the membership, and have no voting rights.  The NCAP is led by a Chair and a Vice Chair elected by the voting members.  The first meeting of the National CAP was held in Washington, DC on June 20-21, 2001.  The group meets quarterly -- in person or by conference call.  The National CAP is supported by the EPA SBO. 

The NCAP's original guidelines were fashioned after the guidelines of the SBO/SBAP National Steering Committee.  Through the past three years, various situations have arisen that indicated that the guidelines did not adequately address the needs of the NCAP.  Thus, a member was assigned to draft revisions that were thoroughly reviewed, discussed, and commented on by all members.  Final revised NCAP Guidelines were approved during the NCAP Annual Meeting held in conjunction with the National Conference in Sacramento in June 2004.  Subsequently, on March 15, 2005, members voted to revise the guidelines to clarify member release language. 

In February 2003, NCAP members met with congressional representatives and/or their staffs in Washington, DC to increase awareness of the SBO/SBAP by high-ranking members of Congress and their staffs; to introduce to them representatives of the US small business community who strongly support and can attest to the benefits provided by the state SBOs/SBAPs; and to provide specific examples of direct assistance.  Members felt that this Congressional Outreach effort was extremely successful and that it significantly raised awareness of the state SBAPs, as well as provided the vehicle for establishing a direct line between actual small business owners and Congress.  Shortly after these visits, Massachusetts re-established an SBO and an SBAP.

The NCAP wants very much to share information and maintain interaction with state CAPs, SBOs, and SBAPs.  Thus, members agreed to have copies of the "NCAP News" sent to all state CAP members, SBOs, and SBAPs, nationwide.  In order to highlight activities undertaken by state CAPs, a new section was created entitled "State CAP Highlights."  State CAPs are requested to provide input for future issues of the newsletter.

NCAP Factsheet

1/5/06 NCAP Recent Activities

Go to National CAP Newsletters web page.

Last Updated: October 26, 2007