?x EPA
United States Office of Enforcement - EPA#3b5-K-99-001
' Environmental Protection and Compliance Assurance January i999
Agency . wwwiepa.gov
New Projects Under
the Small Business
Regulatory Enforcement
Fairness Act
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New Projects under the Small Business
Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act
n an effort to make the federal.government more responsive to
the needs of small business, Congress passed the Small Business
Regulatory Enforcement, Fairness Act in 1996. The. law is aimed at
encouraging a vibrant and growing small business sector, promoting its effec-
tive participation in the federal regulatory process, and ensuring a cooperative
regulatory atmosphere. Among, the goals of the law are-to simplify the
-' language of federal regulations and to develop more accessible sources of in-
formation on regulatory and reporting requirements. .
Section 215 of the law provides for the development of guides that explain.
and integrate federal and state regulations that, affect, small businesses. A
total of $ 1 million dollars was made available for EPA/in cooperation with
the states, to develop 23 demonstration projects that integrate state and
federal requirements. Each EPA region and headquarters received approxi-.
mately $90,000 for its' projects. , ' - :
An important component of the "SBREFA 215 " projects is the cooperation
of states and EPA regions. The 23 funded projects include 17 state projects
. involving Small Business Assistance Programs, Small Business Develop-
ment Centers, and state regulatory, agencies 5 regional projects, and 1
headquarters project. Most of the projects deal with multiple erivironmenr
tal media. Among the products to be developed are: multi-media compli-
ance guides; compliance checklists and handbooks; training programs and
curricula; seminars; videos; and improved Internet access.
Sectors addressed through these projects include: automotive and truck re-
pair; agriculture; chemical industry; concentrated animal feeding lots; dry
cleaning; electric utilities; printing; and wood manufacturing and finishing.
Descriptions of each of the projects are presented in this booklet. Each project
also includes an evaluation component to measure its effectiveness. A
complete listing of state and EPA regional contacts is; provided at the end.
NEW PROJECTS UNDER THE SBREFA 1
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SBREFA 215 PROJECTS
EPA REGION 1
'Auto Repair & Refinishing, Wood Finishing & Coatings. Two projects were
awarded in Region 1, to be managed by the Northeast Waste Management
Officials' Association (NEWMOA). Both projects will develop how-to-com-
ply manuals for "small businesses, covering compliance with federal and
state regulatory requirements, environmentally preferable alternative tech-
nologies, and pollution prevention. The products will be available in printed
version and electronic" "html" format for Internet access. Complete manu-
als as well as stand-alone fact sheets will, be developed. A m^ail-back survey
card and mail questionnaire will be used to evaluate the materials. To avoid
duplication) wherever possible existing publications will be incorporated
into the manuals. The goal is a "user friendly" plain-English approach which
covers tracking, threshold determinations, applicability, and regulatory op-
tions and information on obtaining on-site assistance.
EPA REGION 2
New York Dry Cleaners Guide: This project will develop a multi-media guid-
ance document for dry cleaners that presents both state and federal regula-
tory requirements in easy-to-understand terms and graphics, the guidance
document will be translated into Korean to facilitate compliance by the
large number of Korean .dry cleaners. The guidance will be distributed at
state/EPA training seminars, conventions, and direct mail. A survey ques-
tionnaire will be included in the guidance document! ,
New Jersey Outreach: This project is intended to augment the New Jersey
Chemical Industries Project (NJCI.P) by: (1) offering outreach, such as
workshops, to industry; (2) developing additional regulatory applicability
flowcharts for the regulated community; (3) refining compliance assistance
materials; and (4) distributing compliance assistance materials to facilities
and trade associations. Survey questionnaires will be mailed to participants
and recipients, of materials.
2 U.S. EPA: ENFORCEMENT AND COMPLIANCE ASSURANCE
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Puerto Rico Automotive Service: This project will develop a regulatory guid-
ance document and brochure for automotive service stations that describes
both federal and Puerto Rico environmental regulations. The guidance will
be distributed at state/EPA training seminars, conventions, and direct mail,
along with a survey questionnaire. The guidance will describe services avail-
able to automotive service stations through the CCAR-GreenLinkฎ Web site,
EPA, and the Puerto Rico Environmental Quality Board.
EPA REGION 3
VOC/HAP Compliance Guide: This project will develop a compliance guide
to determine if a small business is a regulated source under the Clean Air Act
for volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and/or hazardous air pollutants
(HAPs). The materials will describe federal and state requirements separately
as well as provide pollution prevention suggestions. A tear-out survey will be
mailed to users. ' . : '.
EPA REGION 4
Florida Compliance Assistance and Training Program: The Florida Depart-
ment of Environmental Protection will integrate state and federal (EPA and
OSHA) requirements into a.multi-media training program. Local require-:
ments will be included in appendices. The training prototype will concen-
trate, oh printing, but could be applicable to any industry or sector. Printing
was selected because it is prominent in Florida's manufacturing sector,
and approximately 95 ?^ of printers in the state are small businesses em-
ploying 10 or fewer employees, The project will develop guidebooks, Best
Management Practices, checklists, .workshops, and audits. Survey forms
will be completed before and after each:workshop to measure changes in
knowledge levels. . , . _
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University of Kentucky Business Training Program: The Small Business De-
velopment Center at the University of ,;Kentucky will integrate state and
federal-requirements into a multi-media environmental training program
. ' . . NEW PROJECTS UNDER THE SBREFA 3
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for small businesses. This training will be aimed at reducing problems with
compliance, permitting, and notification prior to business start-up. Train-
ing topics will include: storm water disposal, hazardous waste handling,
open burning and fugitive dust emissions. Products will include workshops,
checklists, and fact sheets. A follow-up survey will be mailed to participants
six months after their training session.
EPA REGION 5
Illinois Compliance Guide: Illinois will develop compliance guides to cover
; either specific wastes and industrial processes or specific business sectors,
such as auto repair shops ,and metal finishers. Follow-up surveys and on-
site assessments will be conducted.
Minnesota SBAP Project: The Minnesota Small Business Assistance Pro-.
gram will develop a "Guide to Environmental Regulations for Small Busi-
nesses in Minnesota." This project entails the development of a'single,
. comprehensive, up-to-date guide on environmental regulations for small
businesses. The goal of the project is to produce a cooperative interagency
document; to be distributed via the Small Business Development Cen-
ters, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, other state and local.pro-
grams,-and the Internet. A comment/survey card and an e-mail survey
will help measure effectiveness. ''' -
EPA REGION 6
Texas Integrated Information System: The Texas Small Business Assis-
tance Program (SBAP) has designed this project to assist chemical prepa-
ration facilities, such as,paint manufacturers, that face a multitude of
state, federal, and local regulations. Examples include storm water per-
mitting (federal), air permitting (state and federal), waste management
and disposal (local, state, and federal), OSHA (federal), and wastewater
(local, state, and federal). The Texas Natural Resource Conservation
Commission hopes to integrate the information that facilities need to
4 U.S.'EPA: ENFORCEMENT AND COMPLIANCE ASSURANCE
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understand from these various regulations into one place, possibly on
the Internet. A phone survey will be conducted before and after the .
project to determine compliance rates..
Texas Storm Water Regulations: The Texas SBAP will contract with a local
organization to identify the types of small businesses that-need to meet
local and EPA storm water requirements. The organization will compile
the local and EPA requirements, and then educate small businesses toward
compliance with the regulations. Pre- and postrproject mail survey ques-
tionnaires will be used to determine compliance. .- .
Arkansas Video on Underground Storage Tanks: Underground storage tank
owners need information, on how to comply with 1998 deadlines. With the
involvement of the .state Small Business Ombudsman's office, this project
will develop a video explaining the different federal and state regulatory re-
quirements, as well;as the 1998 deadlines in a simple and clear way. By "put-
ting it plainly" and limiting the information to the precise areas of compli-
ance (such as corrosion: protection) addressed by the 1998 deadlines, smaller
UST owners will receive the information they need to make an informed
business decision whether to upgrade their tanks or dose them permanently.
A mail-back comment card and survey will be sent to video recipients.
New Mexico Green Zia: The goal, of the Green Zia Environmental Excel-
lence program is to provide tools, training, and a support system for busi-
nesses to. increase compliance with regulations and implement pollution
prevention alternatives. This project will compile and produce industry-
specific technical packages of multi-media compliance and pollution pre-
vention information, and market them through/local contacts. Each pack-
. age will include a comment card for feedback on the materials.
EPA REGION 7
Missouri Permit Guidance and Animal Feeding Brochure: Two projects
will be conducted by .the Missouri,Department of Natural Resources
(MDNR). First, MDNR's Technical Assistance Program will rewrite its
NEW PROJECTS UNDER THE SBREFA
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"Permit Guidance Document" to integrate federal and state regulations
and .pollution prevention alternatives. The document covers all envi-
ronmental .permits that small businesses may need from the Missouri
Department of.Natural Resources, -Division of Environmental Quality.
Second, MDNR will update a design reference manual, and produce and
distribute 15,000 copies of a brochure, "Guide to Animal Feeding Op-
erations." The brochure willbe Used to inform the public about Con-
centrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFO.) requirements and pro-
vide, guidance to farmers on preparing and submitting CAFO permit
applications. Evaluations will be conducted on-site at workshops and
through follow-up telephone surveys. -
Iowa Handbook for Agribusiness: The Iowa Waste Reduction Center at: the
University of Northern Iowa will produce a "Handbook of Environmen-
tal Regulations for Agribusiness," The handbook will give Iowa
agribusinesses a single source for referencing state and federal regulations.
A mailed survey questionnaire before and after distribution of the hand-
book will assess changes in knowledge and reactions to the handbook.
IDEA Video on Pesticides: EPA Region 7 and Iowa State University's Inforr
matiori Development for Extension Audiences (IDEA) will produce a 35-
minute video to assist farm dealerships and customers in understanding
federal and state pesticide regulations. On-site evaluations will be conducted
.at workshops.
EPA REGION 8
Community-Based Initiative: The community-based Northeast Metro Pol-
lution Prevention Alliance will develop and present workshops for small
businesses in environmental justice area's of Commerce City and.northeast
metropolitan Denver." The six workshops will concentrate on enhancing
multimedia environmental compliance and demonstrating the usefulness
of pollution prevention in achieving regulatory compliance for key indus-
try sectors. The project will also offer small businesses voluntary regulatory
compliance audits which will emphasize pollution prevention solutions to
6 ' U.S. EPA: ENFORCEMENT AND COMPLIANCE ASSURANCE ' ,
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compliance. Two community meetings with environmental justice com-
munities will provide citizen perspectives on environmental performance
of industry in the two communities. Also, ideas will be solicited for envi-
ronmental improvement within their communities. Telephone and written
.surveys will be used to meet evaluation goals. - .
EPA REGION 9
California Wetlands Guide: The California EPA,'State. Water Resources Con-
trol Board (SWRCB) will develop a "Wetland Protection Practices Hand-
book" to guide builders, SWRCB staff, and local permitting agencies. This
technical resource will streamline the permitting process by providing early
advice to small builders and other permit applicants on how to meet paral-
lel state and federal regulatory requirements for protecting wetlands. An-
other result will be more consistent protection of wetlands in California.
Training and outreach will accompany the handbook. A.follow-up ques-
tionnaire will be mailed to users of the.handbook. " .
EPA REGION 10
Alaska Rural Electric Generators: This project will develop multi-media
compliance assistance information, including fact sheets, checklists, and
services to rural electric generating facilities in Alaska, focusing on genera-
tors and fuel storage tanks up to 40,000 gallons. Information will be deliv-
ered in partnership with the Rural Electric Cooperatives. Materials devel-
oped should also be useful to hospitals, fish processors, remote camps, and
the construction industry in Alaska. On-site evaluations and telephone in-
terviews will be conducted. :
Northwest Pollution Prevention Resource Center Guides: The Northwest Pol-
lution Prevention Resource Center will develop arid distribute pollution
prevention and compliance information for four small industry sectors:
shipyards, fiberglass fabrication, paint and coating manufacture, and. sup-
NEW PROJECTS UNDER THE SBREFA
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pliers and vendors of the aerospace industry. Information will be devel-
oped and distributed in cooperation with federal, state, and regional regu-
lators and industry representatives. Written surveys of participants will be
followed up with telephone calls. .
EPA HEADQUARTERS, OFFICE OF COMPLIANCE
CCAR Model Database: The Coordinating Committee for Automotive Repair
(CCAR), a nonprofit corporation, will design, develop, and implement a
model program integrating state environmental compliance assistance in-'
' formation with federal, environmental compliance assistance information
already available in the information database of the CCAR-GreenLinkฎ. Com-
pliance Assistance Center. Users will be able to acquire both federal and istate
compliance assistance information from a single source, including informa-
tion on new and innovative technologies that enhance opportunities for com-
pliance, Initially, a three-state model will be developed; eventually, involve-
ment is expected to reach all fifty states and six territories. States are expected ,
to remain in- control of their information but would make data available .to
Center users through multiple electronic databases accessed through the Cen-
ter, state Web sites, Enviro$en$e, other federal; state, organizational, and com-
mercial databases, and Internet search engines.
8 U.S. EPA: ENFORCEMENT AND COMPLIANCE ASSURANCE
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