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PANEL SOUGHT NOMINATIONS FOR SMALL BUSINESS ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (507) AWARD Go directly to the 2004 Small Business Awards web page. On January 6, 2004, the Steering Committee for the National 507 Small Business Assistance and Ombudsman Program (SBAP/SBO) announced that it was seeking nominations for the first annual Small Business Assistance 507 Program Recognition Award. The award recognizes 507 Programs and individuals that have shown dedication and commitment to furthering small business assistance and environmental compliance through education and outreach. More than one award may be given. The Steering Committee represents delegated 507 Small Business Assistance Programs throughout the nation and is part of a program that was designed by the U.S. EPA to comply with the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990. The amendments include provisions that direct each state to establish a program to assist small businesses in complying with regulatory requirements under the Act. The 2004 award recognizes exemplary performance in one or more of the following areas: leadership, outstanding service, outstanding accomplishments and/or outstanding achievements. A luncheon to honor the winner or winners was held at the Holiday Inn, Sacramento on June 3, 2004. Individuals, businesses and 507 programs could submit nominations for the award by submitting a completed form or by requesting a nomination form from the Awards Subcommittee Chair. Nominations will be evaluated by a committee of SBAP/SBO representatives, National Compliance Advisory Panel members (small business owners), and the EPA Office of the Ombudsman. PANEL SOUGHT NOMINATIONS FOR SMALL BUSINESS ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP AWARD Go directly to the 2004 Small Business Awards web page. On January 6, 2004, the Steering Committee for National Small Business Assistance and Ombudsman Program (SBAP/SBO) announced that it was seeking nominations for the first annual Small Business Environmental Stewardship Award. The award recognizes small businesses and/or trade associations that have shown dedication and commitment to environmental stewardship. More than one award may be given. The Steering Committee represents delegated 507 Small Business Assistance Programs throughout the nation and is part of a program that was designed by the U.S. EPA to comply with the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990. The amendments include provisions that direct each state to establish a program to assist small businesses in complying with regulatory requirements under the Act. The 2004 award recognizes exemplary performance in one or more of the following areas: pollution prevention, reducing emissions, emission control and/or community air quality leadership. A luncheon to honor the winner or winners was held at the Holiday Inn, Sacramento, on June 3, 2004. Individuals, businesses and organizations may nominate themselves or others for the award by submitting a completed form or by requesting a nomination form from the Awards Subcommittee Chair. Nominations will be evaluated by a committee of SBAP/SBO representatives, National Compliance Advisory Panel members (small business owners), and the EPA Office of the Ombudsman. PLAN AHEAD FOR THE 2004 SBO/SBAP NATIONAL CONFERENCE IN SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA! The Business Environmental Resource Center of Sacramento County (SACBERC) hosted the 2004 SBO/SBAP National Conference on June 2-5 in Sacramento County, California. The conference was held at the Holiday Inn Capital Plaza. For more information, go to the conference web site or contact SACBERC at 916/364-4110, email: sbo-sbap@sacberc. On June 25, 2003, EPA issued a policy regarding the role of the EPA inspector in providing compliance assistance during inspections. Although applicable to EPA, it may be of interest to small businesses who receive EPA inspectors at their facilities. The Policy's major points include:
If you have any questions, contact the Compliance Assessment and Media Programs Division (CAMPD) at: 202/564-2300. To view the memo and Final Policy:
The "Small Business Paperwork Relief Act of 2002 (SBPRA)"
requires that each federal agency designate a single Point of Contact that small
businesses can access regarding their concerns or issues relevant to Information
Collection Requests (ICRs) and paperwork reduction/control. EPA
Administrator Governor Christine Todd Whitman designated Karen V. Brown, EPA
Small Business Ombudsman and Director, Small Business Division, EPA's Point of
Contact with respect to requirements of this Act. The White House Office of
Management and Budget (OMB) is required by the Act to publish a list of the
Points of Contact for all federal agencies. For more information, go to the EPA Compliance Assistance Resources and Agency Contact (Small Business Paperwork Relief Act of 2002--SBPRA) web page on the Home Page. EPA ANNOUNCES UNPRECEDENTED FIRST "DRAFT REPORT ON THE ENVIRONMENT" On June 23, EPA announced the release of the EPA "Draft Report on the Environment"--an unprecedented effort to present the first national picture of U.S. environmental quality and human health. EPA Administrator Christine Todd Whitman commissioned the report in November 2001. The report uses available scientific data, gathered from more than 30 other federal agencies, departments, states, tribes and non-governmental organizations, to answer questions that the EPA and its collaborators have identified as indicators of the nation’s environmental quality and human health. It establishes scientific, consensus-based benchmarks to measure EPA’s progress. This report will be used as a baseline for future evaluations. The report shows that our air is cleaner, our drinking water is purer, our land is better-protected, and the health of the American public is generally good and improving. However, the report indicates that more must be done. The report is part of the “Indicators Initiative” which strengthens EPA’s efforts, under the President’s Management Agenda, to identify priority areas of national concern and focus resources. Visit EPA’s Web site: http://www.epa.gov/indicators to learn more about the Environmental Indicators Initiative. For the EPA announcement about the draft report, and to review the actual draft report, click on the following: EPA Announcement on "Draft Report on the Environment" EPA "Draft Report on the Environment"
EPA
OPENS NATIONAL CENTER FOR ENVIRONMENTAL INNOVATION (NCEI)
The Center's work will span a wide range of programs and projects that bridge traditional organizational and media boundaries and facilitate development of integrated environmental management strategies. Some immediate priorities include strengthening partnerships with eight new industry sectors that have agreed to work with EPA to improve environmental performance, creating new incentives that will enhance membership in the National Environmental Performance Track program, completing EPA's Small Business Strategy, supporting the national Smart Growth Network, working with States and external partners on innovative pilot projects, and promoting EPA's new Public Involvement Policy. EPA is preparing to go forward with the next round of competition for State Innovation Grants. This round will be competed in 2003 and awarded in FY 2004 once funding is provided in the budget. A preliminary notice was published in the Federal Register on June 11, 2003. For more information, visit the State Innovation Grants Solicitation web site at: www.epa.gov/innovation/stategrants/index.htm. For more information about NCEI, visit the web site at www.epa.gov/innovation or call: 202/566-2119. View the following announcement and brochure about the program.
EPA released the 2001 Toxics Release Inventory (TRI)
data. TRI is a cornerstone of EPA's Right-to-Know Program, providing the public
with direct access to detailed information about releases of toxic chemicals in
their communities. On March 13, 2003, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed to establish a partnership between the National Park Service (NPS), Concession Stand Management Program and the EPA, National Center for Environmental Innovation. The purpose of the Network is to promote environmental management system (EMS) approaches that are good for the environment and for business. Goals and actions include sharing information and expertise on opportunities, challenges, and solutions related to improving the environmental performance of businesses, and other organizations in contractual relationships with the government. The MOU promotes the implementation of cost-effective environmental management practices for approximately 600 NPS concessioners that deliver various visitor services in more than 130 national parks. For more information, view the MOU: EPA has formed an internal workgroup that includes representatives across the Agency, including the Office of Prevention, Pesticides, and Toxic Substances; the Office of Water; the Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response; and the National Center for Environmental Innovation. Projects developed under the MOU will assist NPS concessioners, many of which are small businesses, to develop and implement EMSs required under the majority of new concession contracts with the NPS. For more information, contact Eileen Mayer at: 202/566-2812. MARK YOUR CALENDAR FOR THE 2003 SBO/SBAP NATIONAL CONFERENCE! The 2003 SBO/SBAP Annual Conference was held in Baltimore, Maryland from April 13-16. The Clean Air Act, Section 507 program helps small businesses understand and comply with the regulations of the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 while remaining economically competitive. The conference started with training sessions for Compliance Advisory Panel (CAP) members, Building Capacity for Multimedia Assistance, and Newcomers Orientation on Sunday, April 13, 2003. Break-out sessions for State Small Business Ombudsmen and Small Business Assistance Program staff started April 14 with sessions for technical issues, program development, and interesting site visits. Attendees were encouraged to stay for the site visit to the International Fabricare Institute immediately following the conference on Wednesday, April 16. The visit was from 1:00pm-5:00pm. The conference was held at the Sheraton Inner Harbor Hotel, 300
South Charles Street, Baltimore, Maryland. Reservations were made by
calling the hotel at: 410/962-8300 or calling the toll-free Starwood Hotels
reservation hotline at: 800/235-3535. The conference rate was
$137/night plus tax.
p
rate Contact Andrew Gosden, Maryland Department of Environment, Small Business Assistance Program, for more information: 410/537-4158; email: agosden@mde.state.md.us.
BUILDING CAPACITY FOR MULTIMEDIA ASSISTANCE WORKSHOP AT THE 2003 SBO/SBAP
NATIONAL CONFERENCE EPA held a Small Business Innovation Research Program Workshop on March 27, 2003 at the US EPA Business Assistance Center, Temple University Small Business Development Center, Innovation Philadelphia, Innovation Partnership. The target audience was for-profit high tech firms with 500 or less employees that are developing and commercializing cutting edge environmental technologies and are interested in funding for research and development. The workshop location was: In March of 2002 President Bush unveiled his plan to promote a US economic and regulatory environment where small businesses can flourish. In support of the President's Plan, EPA Administrator Christine Todd Whitman convened a " National Summit on Small Business and the Environment" on March 13, 2003 in Washington, DC at the Loews L'Enfant Plaza Hotel. This Summit brought together key leaders from the small business community, EPA, and other federal and state agencies. The objectives of this signature invitation-only event were to demonstrate EPA's commitment to helping small businesses, and to stress the importance of partnerships among all stakeholders, for the benefit of both small businesses and the environment.
Administrator Whitman used the event to highlight EPA's proposed Small
Business Strategy (see article above). All governors and state
environmental commissioners and secretaries have been invited to
participate. Summit participants were briefed on the development,
goals and elements of the revised Strategy, and were asked to provide
suggestions on how to strengthen it for the benefit of US small businesses
and the environment. The campaign was recently kicked off with the release of "Opening Doors for America's Small Businesses," an informative booklet outlining EPA's commitment to small businesses, highlighting some of the ways the Agency supports the President's Small Business Plan to promote their growth and vitality, and its appreciation for the key role played by small businesses in sustaining the health of our national economy. The outreach campaign is being coordinated by the EPA Small Business Division (SBD) in the Office of Policy, Economics and Innovation (OPEI). For further information, see the summit invitation, agenda, and Governor Christine Todd Whitman's remarks:
EPA
REQUESTS PROPOSALS FOR BROWNFIELDS GRANT AWARDS IN FY 2003 EPA was seeking expressions of interest from industry trade organizations to work with the newly reoriented sector program in the Office of Policy, Economics and Innovation (OPEI). This program will have a greater focus on environmental management systems (EMS) and actions that prompt industry-wide environmental gains. EPA would like to increase the number of industries participating in the program. The new sector program will have staff level points-of-contact within EPA who are highly knowledgeable about specific industries. These individuals will play a liaison function among industry trade associations and companies, EPA program and regional offices, state and local governments, and other stakeholder groups. The sector points-of-contact will focus their attention primarily in two areas: addressing regulatory or other programmatic barriers to improved environmental performance; and helping to expand the use of environmental management systems (EMS) by many willing companies in each industry. EPA anticipates that participating industries will benefit from coordinated, cooperative, and constructive problem solving with government. The Agency will invite participating industries to engage in active dialogue, offer their own innovative ideas to reduce environmental impacts, and develop strategies to promote the use of EMS. Because industry-wide performance improvement is a goal, EPA will work with trade associations and others to find creative ways to document environmental progress and burden reductions without creating new process requirements. EPA invites the expression of interest from industry trade associations that would like to explore working with EPA in this way. Industry leaders should consider several factors: the value of having a knowledgeable point-of-contact for their sector within EPA; the industry's potential to address the Administration's current environmental priorities--reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and smog, improved water quality and infrastructure, increased recycling of hazardous waste, and enhanced environmental protection in agriculture; and the potential to expand the voluntary use of EMS among companies in the industry. To communicate your interest to EPA, or for further information, contact: Robert Benson, Director, Sector Strategies Division (mail code 1808T), 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460, telephone: 202-566-2954, email: benson.robert@epa.gov. Also, see the following flyer and Federal Register notice:
EPA’s Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) Program is pleased to announce the development of a pilot program to implement availability of electronic Facility Data Profiles (FDP) for EPCRA Section 313 facilities. An FDP presents the information a facility submitted on the Form R and/or Form A submissions that EPA has entered into the Toxics Release Inventory database during the 2001 reporting cycle. Within an FDP, there may be up to three different types of errors identified: A Non-Technical Data Change (NDC), a Notice of Technical Error (NOTE) and a Notice of Significant Error (NOSE). This new approach will allow a facility to review, download, and print FDPs through the Internet and will eliminate the paper FDP. Although EPA will no longer mail paper copies of FDPs, facilities will continue to receive (when appropriate) hard copy NOSEs. For more information, see the EPA TRI Program letter sent to EPCRA Section 313 facilities:
There was a briefing on new initiatives in small business energy
efficiency. The briefing was held on Wednesday, June 5, 2002 at 9:30 - 11:00
AM in the Hearing Room of the Senate Committee The briefing was sponsored by the Center for Small Business and
the Environment. Co-sponsors are the Association of Small Business Development
Centers, the Environment & Energy Study Institute and For contact and further information: Byron Kennard, Executive Director EPA ESTABLISHES CENTRAL DATA EXCHANGE EPA established a single portal on the internet for industry and other entities to submit environmental data to EPA. This is in response to EPA's proposal to allow electronic documents/records to be submitted/maintained to satisfy federal environmental reporting requirements. The Central Data Exchange (CDX) allows companies, states, and other entities to provide data to EPA quickly, easily, and securely, and includes built-in quality checks, web forms, standard file formats, and a common, user-friendly approach. Data can be reported for different environmental programs, such as the toxic release inventory, unregulated contaminant monitoring rule, risk management plans, and public water system supervision. CDX currently accepts data for certain air, water, waste, and toxic programs and will eventually expand to support all agency environmental reporting by 2004. For more information, see: www.epa.gov/cdx. Also, see the entry on electronic reporting in the Regulatory Updates database under "Miscellaneous." MARK YOUR CALENDAR FOR THE 2002 SBO/SBAP CONFERENCE! The annual conference for the national Clean Air Act, Section 507 program was held in Chicago starting June 30 with training for Compliance Advisory Panel (CAP) members. Sessions for state ombudsmen and small business assistance program staff start July 1 and will be broken out into different tracks for newcomers, technical staff, and professional development. The conference featured a networking session the evening of June 29 for CAP members and concluded with a brunch on July 3. Attendees are encouraged to stay the evening of July 3 for the fireworks over Lake Michigan and to participate in the Taste of Chicago, which coincides with the Annual Conference. The Section 507 program helps small businesses understand and comply with the regulations of the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 while remaining economically competitive. The conference was held at the Westin Michigan Avenue Hotel, 909 North Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL. For information about the hotel, go to: www.westinmichiganave.com. Contact Roslyn Jackson for more information: 217-524-0169; email: rjackson@commerce.state.il.us. Look for more information on the conference in the future at: www.sbapconference.com. For a brochure on the conference, click here. USE THE NEW NATIONAL SMALL BUSINESS ASSISTANCE PROGRAM LOGO FOR YOUR PROGRAM There is a Small Business Assistance Program (SBAP) national logo that you can use for your SBAP program, or in conjunction with an existing logo. You can modify the logo to add your state name, and use on other small business activity materials. Go to the SBAP National Logo page of the Home Page for more information. On June 20-21, 2001, the first meeting of the National Compliance Advisory Panel (CAP) was held in Washington, DC. This panel is comprised of one CAP member and one alternate representing each EPA region. 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 program. Among their many duties, members review and render advisory opinions on their state’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 program. During April’s 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. The first members of the National CAP were:
Also participating in the National CAP meeting were:
National CAP members identified several key action items they will address immediately:
Members also adopted this Mission Statement. The purpose of the National Compliance Advisory Panel (CAP) is to foster small business success through improved environmental performance by:
For more information on the National CAP, please call Elsa Bishop, EPA, at 202/566-2814. RFA/SBREFA TRACKING REPORT FOR RULES AFFECTING SMALL ENTITIES DEVELOPED Following is the latest version of the EPA RFA/SBREFA Tracking Report
for Rules Affecting Small Entities. This semi-annual Report is a
tool developed for EPA's own internal use to track rules of potential
interest to small entities, including rules that may be subject to
procedural requirements under the Regulatory Flexibility Act, as amended
by the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act (RFA/SBREFA). EPA PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT WORKGROUP SEEKS YOUR ADVICE EPA issued its draft Public Involvement Policy on Dec. 28, 2000 and extended its public comment period through July 31, 2001. During July 10-20, 2001, to encourage more discussion on the Policy and its future implementation, EPA will held a 2-week public dialogue on the Internet. To receive a notice of the event, contact Patricia Bonner. See the draft Policy at: www.epa.gov/stakeholders/policy.htm The 2000 draft Policy updates EPA’s existing 1981 Public Participation Policy to reflect:
EPA developed a plan to implement the Agency’s Public Involvement Policy. The plan includes elements of training, information sharing, and evaluation/accountability - to improve the quality of public involvement activities across EPA. EPA requested the following information to help:
For more information, contact Patricia Bonner at: bonner.patricia@epa.gov or 202-260-0599. SUMMARY OF NATIONAL COMPLIANCE ASSISTANCE PROVIDERS FORUM If you missed the National Compliance Assistance Providers Forum in March, you can find out about the key issues, observations, and recommendations discussed at the Forum. Go to: http://mng-unix1.marasconewton.com/caforum for the current web site or go to: http://mng-unix1.marasconewton.com/caforum/summary.htm for the conference summary, highlights, and attendee list. At the Forum, new approaches for compliance assistance were discussed,
as well the development of additional compliance assistance activities
and nurturing relationships with other compliance assistance providers.
The sessions that were held were designed to outline US EPA program and
state priorities and to
determine stakeholder needs to plan future compliance assistance
efforts. EPA issued its Final FY 2001 Compliance Assistance Activity Plan,
which catalogs 368 compliance assistance activities and projects planned
for FY 2001 across 10 EPA Regions and seven Headquarters offices. As announced on Monday, April 9, the President's budget for FY 2002 includes $25 million for grants to state and tribal environmental enforcement programs. Views about options and issues regarding the new program are needed. Review the memo and options framework by clicking on the links below. The options paper can be used for discussions between EPA, states, tribes, and interested stakeholders about ideas for the new grant program. Feedback was to be provided to your region by May 25, 2001.
REGION III GRANT FUNDED COMPLIANCE ASSISTANCE VIDEO WINS AWARD The video, "Environmentally Sound Management Practices in the Homebuilding Industry" won the 2001 Aegis Awards. The video was developed under the Maryland Business-Industry Compliance Assistance Project (MBICAP). The MBICAP is an EPA cooperative grant partnership between the Business Assistance Center, the Maryland Department of the Environment, and the Maryland Center for Environmental Training (MCET). The primary goal of the project is to close the gap that exists between the State’s environmental regulatory agency and the regulated community with regard to the latter’s knowledge and understanding of federal and State compliance requirements and inspection protocols. The creation of training packages, complete with video tapes and instructional handbooks, to reduce pollution generated by four business sectors are the end products of this initiative. In all, four Maryland based businesses sectors are involved: Ready-Mix Concrete, Marinas, Aggregates and Home Building. However, the instructional materials are also applicable outside of Maryland. The completed packages are currently available from MCET at http://www.mcet.org/spec_project/mbicap.htm (Office of Environmental Innovation, Dr. Albert Montague, 4-5562). INFORMATION SERVICE CALLED "OCORELINK" NOW AVAILABLE FROM EPA The Offices of Compliance and Regulatory Enforcement, under EPA's Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance (OECA), offer an email, subscription-based information service. The listserv, called "OCORELINK," provides subscribers with free, one-way information on Office of Compliance products and compliance trends. The service was intended to help the regulated community meets compliance requirements. For more information, including how to subscribe and contacts, link here to see the Flyer provided by OECA. EPA REGION 5 SMALL BUSINESS SET-ASIDE AVAILABLE FOR FEDERAL FACILITY CLEANUPS U.S. EPA Region 5 (includes states of OH, IN, MI, IL, WI, MN) intends to procure Regional Oversight Contract (ROC) services for support in the oversight of Federal facility cleanups. The procurement is a 100 percent Small Business Set-Aside (firms with 500 employees or less). The contract type will be a five year Indefinite-Delivery/Indefinite-Quantity, LOE (Level of Effort) contract, with an estimated LOE of 80K hours. The ROC provides support to EPA's Federal Facilities Restoration and Reuse Office in its mission of oversight and enforcement of both the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) and Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). For purposes of this procurement, EPA considers an offeror to have significant potential for COI if that offeror holds a prime contract or subcontract to provide Responsible Action Contract (RAC) services on a Federal facility anywhere in the U.S. for any Federal agency or department other than EPA. Region 5 posted the RFP at: http://www.epa.gov/oamreg01/01-10719/index.htm. The projected award date was September 2001. When downloading the solicitation, please submit a request to Gene Jackson: Jackson.Gene@epa.gov, including your company name, email address, telephone and fax number, business size, and point of contact. This will place your firm on the 'Bidders List,' which will ensure receipt of attachments and information which may not be available on the Internet. EPA WILL NOT ISSUE PAPER SOLICITATIONS. COMPLIANCE ADVISORY PANEL (CAP) TRAINING SCHEDULED The Compliance Advisory Panel (CAP) training took place on April 2, 1001 in Austin, Texas. The training was conducted immediately prior to the 2001 SBO/SBAP National Conference in Austin, Texas. Concurrent Technologies Corporation's (CTC) Pittsburgh office, through a grant from the U.S. EPA's Small Business Ombudsman's Office, conducted this one-day training for CAP members and their SBOs/SBAPs. This program was designed to assist CAP members in defining their role and carrying out their mission and to share information on the workings of successful, established CAPs. The development of a national CAP was also featured. For CAP presentations available online, please go to: SBO/SBAP NATIONAL CONFERENCE IN APRIL 2001! Hope you made it to the National SBO/SBAP Conference hosted by the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission from April 2 through April 5, 2001 in Austin, Texas. If you couldn't make it, or even if you could, please feel free to download electronic versions of the materials presented from links on the sessions pages: http://www.smallbiz-enviroweb.org/sba/conf2001.html and enjoy photographs from the conference: http://www.smallbiz-enviroweb.org/sba/photos2001.html. EPA CUSTOMER SATISFACTION SURVEY FOR THE HOME PAGE UPDATE--Thanks for your help in completing our Customer Satisfaction Survey. EPA is always looking for ways to improve the Small Business Environmental Home Page and we appreciate your help. Please watch for a summary of web survey results and a list of actions to be taken to improve the Home Page. If you didn't get a chance to fill in the online survey, please don't hesitate to contact Audrey G. Zelanko, CTC (412-577-2649, zelanko@smallbiz-enviroweb.org), with comments, questions, and recommendations on the Home Page. EPA'S PERFORMANCE TRACK PROGRAM On June 26, 2000, EPA launched the Performance Track Program, which will create important partnerships with businesses, local and state governments, and environmental organizations. The program will reward businesses that achieve superior environmental performance. By providing businesses with a comprehensive framework for utilizing new technology and ideas, Performance Track will allow EPA to meet environmental and public health challenges while continuing to strengthen our economy. COMMENTS SOLICITED PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE SMALL BUSINESS POLICY EPA published a FR Notice on proposed changes to the Small Business Policy and is requesting public comments by September 27, 1999. EPA proposed to modify the Policy on Compliance Incentives for Small Businesses to expand options allowed under the Policy for discovering violations and to establish a time period for disclosure. This Policy was intended to promote environmental compliance among small businesses by providing incentives for voluntary discovery, disclosure, and prompt correction of violations. The Policy accomplishes this in two ways: by setting forth guidelines for the Agency to reduce or waive penalties for small businesses that come forward to disclose and make good faith efforts to correct violations, and by deferring to States, Tribes, and local governments that offer these incentives. The Federal Register Notice was published on July 29, 1999 and can be reviewed at: http://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/EPA-GENERAL/1999/July/Day-29/g19437.htm Please note that the due date for comments was September 27, 1999. THE NATIONAL SMALL BUSINESS FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE WORK GROUP EXTENDS INVITATION TO ALL SBAPs/SBOs The National Small Business Financial Assistance Work Group is an informally sanctioned group of individuals who use monthly electronic "bulletins" to share and communicate information about financial assistance programs for small businesses. Currently a monthly electronic bulletin is being sent to all members. A permanent web site was launched on this Home Page (links can be found on the Funding Help and Small Business Assistance subpages). You may read and share the information in the bulletins; contribute information about existing, new or unique financing programs; and be an advocate for financial assistance programs. To join, contact: Patrick.Hoermann@METROKC.GOV and ask to be added to the electronic mailing list. PROGRAM SPOTLIGHTS SUPERIOR ENVIRONMENTAL PERFORMANCE BY VERMONT BUSINESSES In a state known for its environmental awareness, a new program was announced that will help customers, travelers and business people recognize and patronize hotels and businesses that are working to be "green". The Vermont Business Environmental Partnership is initially focusing on the lodging industry with its Green Hotels in the Green Mountain State Program. Green Hotels and Environmental Leaders (for other business sectors) are those businesses that are working to conduct their businesses in a more environmentally friendly manner by reducing wastes, conserving energy and improving their efficiency. This program, sponsored by The Vermont Small Business Development Center and the Environmental Assistance Division of the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources, assisted businesses to demonstrate that good environmental management practices make good business sense, and can save money and expand markets. The objective of this initiative was to assist businesses to operate in an environmentally friendly manner that goes beyond compliance using waste reduction, energy conservation and pollution prevention methods, and to provide the recognition they deserve for these efforts. The Partnership has two levels of participation--an entry level Environmental Partner designation and a more advanced Environmental Leader or Green Hotel level. There were 42 hotels, inns, and bed and breakfasts interested in becoming Green Hotels, with 12 designated as Green Hotels and five as Environmental Partners. Contact Tina LaPerle, Vermont Agency of Natural Resources, at (802) 241-3471 for more information.
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