United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance (2201 A)
EPA-300-F-11-006 June 2011
U.S. EPA Small Business Resources
Information Sheet
The United States Environmental Protection Agency provides an array of resources, including workshops, training
sessions, hotlines, websites and guides, to help small businesses understand and comply with federal and state
environmental laws. In addition to helping small businesses understand their environmental obligations and
improve compliance, these resources will also help such businesses find cost-effective ways to comply through
pollution prevention techniques and innovative technologies.
EPA's Small Business Websites
Small Business Environmental Homepage - www.smallbiz-enviroweb.org
Small Business Gateway - www.epa.gov/smallbusiness
EPA's Small Business Ombudsman - www.epa.gov/sbo or 1-800-368-5888
EPA's Compliance Assistance
Homepage
www.epa.gov/compliance/assistance/
business.html
This page is a gateway to industry
and statute-specific environmental
resources, from extensive web-based
information to hotlines and compliance
assistance specialists.
EPA's Compliance Assistance Centers
www.assistancecenters.net
EPA's Compliance Assistance Centers
provide information targeted to
industries with many small businesses.
They were developed in partnership
with industry, universities and other
federal and state agencies.
Agriculture
www.epa.gov/agriculture/
Automotive Recycling
www. ecarcenter. org
Automotive Service and Repair
www.ccar-gieenlink.oig or 1-888-GKN-LINK
Chemical Manufacturing
www.chemalliance.org
Construction
www.cicacenter.org or 1-734-995-4911
Education
www.campuserc.org
Food Processing
www.fpeac.org
Healthcare
www.hercenter. org
Local Government
www.lgean.org
Metal Finishing
www.nmfrc.org
Paints and Coatings
www.paintcenter.org
Printed Wiring Board Manufacturing
www.pwbrc.org
Printing
www.pneac.org
Ports
www.portcompliance. org
U.S. Border Compliance and
Import/Export Issues
www.bordercenter.org
Hotlines, Helplines and
Clearinghouses
www.epa.gov/epahome/hotline.htm
EPA sponsors many free hotlines and
clearinghouses that provide convenient
assistance regarding environmental
requirements. Some examples are:
Antimicrobial Information Hotline
info-antimicrobial@epa.gov or
1-703-308-6411
Clean Air Technology Center (CATC)
Info-line
www.epa.gov/ttn/catc or 1-919-541-0800
Emergency Planning and Community
Right-To-Know Act
www.epa.gov/superfund/resources/
infocenter/epcra.htm or 1-800-424-9346
EPA Imported Vehicles and Engines
Public Helpline
www.epa.gov/otaq/imports or
734-214-4100
National Pesticide Information Center
www.npic.orst.edu/ or 1-800-858-7378
National Response Center Hotline -
to report oil and hazardous substance spills
www.nrc.uscg.mil or 1-800-424-8802
Pollution Prevention Information
Clearinghouse (PPIC)
www.epa.gov/opptintr/ppic or
1-202-566-0799
Safe Drinking Water Hotline
www.epa.gov/safewater/hotline/index.
html or 1-800-426-4791
Stratospheric Ozone Protection Hotline
www.epa.gov/ozone or 1-800-296-1996
Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance: http://www.epa.gov/compliance
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U. S. EPA Small Business Resources
Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) Hotline
tsca-hotline@epa.gov or 1-202-554-1404
Wetlands Information Helpline
www.epa.gov/owow/wetlands/wetline.html or 1-800-832-7828
State and Tribal Web-Based Resources
State Resource Locators
www.envcap.org/statetools
The Locators provide state-specific contacts, regulations and
resources covering the major environmental laws.
State Small Business Environmental Assistance Programs
(SBEAPs)
www.smallbiz-enviroweb.org
State SBEAPs help small businesses and assistance providers
understand environmental requirements and sustainable
business practices through workshops, trainings and site visits.
The website is a central point for sharing resources between
EPA and states.
EPA's Tribal Compliance Assistance Center
www.epa.gov/tribalcompliance/index.html
The Center provides material to Tribes on environmental
stewardship and regulations that might apply to tribal
government operations.
EPA's Tribal Portal
www.epa.gov/tribalportal/
The Portal helps users locate tribal-related information within
EPA and other federal agencies.
EPA Compliance Incentives
EPA provides incentives for environmental compliance. By
participating in compliance assistance programs or voluntarily
disclosing and promptly correcting violations before an
enforcement action has been initiated, businesses may be
eligible for penalty waivers or reductions. EPA has two such
policies that may apply to small businesses:
EPA's Small Business Compliance Policy
www.epa.gov/compliance/incentives/smallbusiness/index.html
This Policy offers small businesses special incentives to come
into compliance voluntarily.
EPA's Audit Policy
www.epa.gov/compliance/incentives/auditing/auditpolicy.html
The Policy provides incentives to all businesses that
voluntarily discover, promptly disclose and expeditiously
correct their noncompliance.
Commenting on Federal Enforcement Actions and
Compliance Activities
The Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act
(SBREFA) established a SBREFA Ombudsman and 10 Regional
Fairness Boards to receive comments from small businesses
about federal agency enforcement actions. If you believe that
you fall within the Small Business Administration's definition
of a small business (based on your North American Industry
Classification System designation, number of employees or
annual receipts, as defined at 13 C.F.R. 121.201; in most cases,
this means a business with 500 or fewer employees), and wish
to comment on federal enforcement and compliance activities,
call the SBREFA Ombudsman's toll-free number at 1-888-
REG-FAIR (1-888-734-3247), or go to their website at www.
sba.gov/ombudsman.
Every small business that is the subject of an enforcement or
compliance action is entitled to comment on the Agency's actions
without fear of retaliation. EPA employees are prohibited from
using enforcement or any other means of retaliation against any
member of the regulated community in response to comments
made under SBREFA.
Your Duty to Comply
If you receive compliance assistance or submit a comment
to the SBREFA Ombudsman or Regional Fairness Boards,
you still have the duty to comply with the law, including
providing timely responses to EPA information requests,
administrative or civil complaints, other enforcement actions
or communications. The assistance information and comment
processes do not give you any new rights or defenses in any
enforcement action. These processes also do not affect EPA's
obligation to protect public health or the environment under any
of the environmental statutes it enforces, including the right to
take emergency remedial or emergency response actions when
appropriate. Those decisions will be based on the facts in each
situation. The SBREFA Ombudsman and Fairness Boards do
not participate in resolving EPA's enforcement actions. Also,
remember that to preserve your rights, you need to comply with
all rules governing the enforcement process.
EPA is disseminating this information to you without making
a determination that your business or organization is a small
business as defined by Section 222 of the Small Business
Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act or related provisions.
June 2011
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