SMALL-BIZ@EPA A MONTHLY NEWSLETTER FOR THE SMALL BUSINESS COMMUNITY ¦4I EPA Funded $100,000 to Syracuse Small Business, Advanced Recovery and Recycling, LLC, for New Approach that Reduces Electronic Waste The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has awarded $100,000 to Advanced Recovery and Recycling, LLC of Onondaga County, New York to continue its development of an efficient technology that recycles circuit board components to reduce electronic waste from going to landfills and incinerators. Advanced Recovery and Recycling was awarded the funding through the EPA's highly competitive Small Business Innovation Research Program competition, which encourages small businesses to research and develop environmental technologies from concept to commercialization. "Advanced Recovery and Recycling is improving the way computers and other electronics are recycled, reducing the amount of harmful pollutants that can end up in the environment," said Judith A. Enck, EPA Region 2 Administrator. "This company's innovations and entrepreneurial spirit are an inspiration for everyone working for a cleaner environment and a source of pride for the people of Central New York" The company's circuit board innovation automatically and rapidly removes electronic parts from printed circuit boards which are found in virtually all electronics, including computers and televisions. The innovation reduces the amount of electronic waste being processed by refineries. This is accomplished without burning, smelting, or using chemicals, which reduces air pollution and electronic waste in landfills and incinerators. Read more on the award at: http://vosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/d0cf6618525a9 efb85257359003fb69d/faa352de5 la2belb85257ed7005dl949!OpenDocument&Highlight= 2, Small, Business DO YOU HAVE ARTICLES FOR THE SMALLBIZ@EPA NEWSLETTER? FORWARD TO: LILLIAN HARRIS AT: HARRIS.LILLIAN@EPA.GOV EPA'S OMBUDSMAN: JOAN B. ROGERS AT: ROGERS. J OANB@EPA. GOV Pennsylvania's Small Business Assistance Program Resources Complying with environmental regulations can be burdensome, especially for small businesses. Recognizing this, Pennsylvania's Department of Environmental Protection created the Small Business Assistance Program. This program assists small businesses with regulatory compliance, provides information about cost saving pollution prevention practices, and ensures that small businesses are considered when new regulations are developed. In partnership with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, the Pennsylvania Environmental Management Assistance Program (EMAP) is providing free and confidential environmental assistance services to small businesses. This partnership replaces Envirobelp. EMAP can be contacted at 877-ASK EMAP (877-275-3627) or visit their website at: http ://www. askemap. orgj EPA, OSBP, Asbestos and Small Business Ombudsman - Washington, DC 20460 - Phone: 1-800-368-5888 ------- OCTOBER 2015 Input Sought on Occidental Cleanup in Tacoma, Washington Report Details Contamination at Former Industrial Site A new report detailing contamination and health concerns at the former Occidental Chemical Corporation site in the Tacoma tide flats will be used to evaluate potential cleanup strategies. The Occidental Site, at 605 Alexander Ave. in Tacoma, was used for industrial activities for decades and became contaminated with chlorine and chlorinated solvents, caustic soda, ammonia, calcium chloride and muriatic acid. Operations at the site stopped in 2002 and the remaining buildings were demolished. There have been several previous cleanups at the site, but a significant level of contamination remains. The Washington Department of Ecology, which is overseeing the cleanup work, is seeking public comments on the report through Dec. 19th. The initial public informational meeting was held on Wednesday, Oct. 28th. Public input on the report will be used in a 2016 feasibility study that will determine the final cleanup plan for the site. The study reports and related material are available at: Ecology's Website: Ecology's Southwest Regional Office, 300 Desmond Drive SE, Lacey; by appointment: 360-407- 6365; Citizens for a Healthy Bay, 535 Dock St., Suite 213, Tacoma; 253-383-2429; and, Mary Rose Kobetich Library, 212 Browns Point Blvd. NE, Tacoma Written comments may be submitted to Kerry Graber, site manager, at: kerry. graber@ecv. wa. gov; and, Department of Ecology, Hazardous Waste & Toxics Reduction Program - SWRO, P.O. Box 47775, Olympia WA 98504-7775 Contacts: .Andrew Wineke, communications. 360-407-6149, @ecologyWA Kerry Graber. site manager, 360-407-0241 Bridgette Valdez-Kogle. public involvement coordinator, 360-407-7616 A 1929 photo of the caustic building at the Occidental site. Photo Credit: Glenn Springs Holdings Archives. Raw materials being loaded in 1951. Photo credit: Glenn Springs Holdings Archives. EPA, OSBP, Asbestos and Small Business Ombudsman - Washington, DC 20460 - Phone: 1-800-368-5888 ------- OCTOBER 2015 DEC to Recognize Seven Innovative Programs Working to Sustain New York State's Natural Resources and Strengthen Its Economy The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) will recognize seven organizations for their innovative programs and commitment to environmental sustainability, social responsibility and economic viability at DEC's upcoming 12th Annual Environmental Excellence Awards ceremony. The event will take place at the Colleges of Nanoscale Science and Engineering, SUNY Polytechnic Institute's NanoFab South Rotunda and Auditorium in Albany at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, November 17.The event will showcase organizations with outstanding innovative and sustainable projects or programs that are improving and protecting New York State's environmental resources and contributing to a stronger economy. Following the awards ceremony, there will be a tour of the University at Albany. The awards ceremony and the tour are open to the public, however, space is limited and those wishing to attend must pre-register. For more information, go to: http://wwv/press/103791.htmlw.dec.nv.go EPA FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICES SUBJECT: Significant New Use Rules on Certain Chemical Substances http://www.gpo.gov/fdsvs/pkg/FR-2015-10- 02/pdf/2015-24S46.pdf Federal Register: Vol. 80, No.l91/Friday, October 2, 2015/Rules and Regulations AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency ACTION: Proposed Rule SUMMARY: EPA is promulgating significant new use rules (SNURs) under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) for 30 chemical substances which were the subject of premanufacture notices (PMNs). Nine of these chemical substances are subject to TSCA section 5(e) consent orders issued by EPA. This action requires persons who intend to manufacture (including import) or process any of these 30 chemical substances for an activity that is designated as a significant new use by this rule to notify EPA at least 90 days before commencing that activity. SUBJECT: Greenhouse Gas Reporting Rule: 2015 Revisions and Confidentiality Determinations for Petroleum and Natural Gas Systems http://www.gpo.gov/fdsvs/pkg/FR-2015-10- 22/pdf/2015-25840,pdf Federal Register Vol. 80, No. 204/Thursday, October 22, 2015/Rules and Regulations AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency ACTION: Direct Final Rule SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is finalizing revisions and confidentiality determinations for the petroleum and natural gas systems source category of the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Rule. These revisions include the addition of calculation methods and reporting requirements for greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from gathering and boosting facilities, completions and workovers of oil wells with hydraulic fracturing, and blowdowns of natural gas transmission pipelines between compressor stations. EPA, OSBP, Asbestos and Small Business Ombudsman - Washington, DC 20460 - Phone: 1-800-368-5888 ------- SMALL-BIZ@EPA MONTHLY NEWSLETTER FOR THE SMALL BUSINESS COMMUNITY OCTOBER 2015 Massachusetts Named Most Energy Efficient State for Fifth Consecutive Year The Baker-Polito Administration announced that Massachusetts has earned the #1 ranking for the fifth consecutive year in the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy's 2015 State Energy Efficiency Scoreccird. Energy and Environment Affairs Secretary, Matthew Beaton, joined ACEEE on a nationwide conference call for the announcement of the annual state-by-state scorecard. "Energy efficiency is the most cost-effective, accessible way for Massachusetts to meet our clean energy and climate goals and help our citizens manage their energy costs" said Governor Charlie Baker. "Being recognized for the fifth year by ACEEE as the nation's leader in energy efficiency underlines the commitment we have made to reduce ratepayer costs and provide a balanced and diversified energy portfolio for now and the future." Through the Green Communities Act, Massachusetts has a statutory mandate to achieve all cost-effective energy efficiency. ACEEE credits the Commonwealth's #1 ranking to its ongoing commitment to energy efficiency under the GCA. Energy efficiency is a low-cost and accessible energy resource, delivering monetary savings for businesses, homeowners, institutions, cities and towns. "Massachusetts' leadership in energy efficiency is anchored by the aggressive and achievable goals we set and meet through our statewide energy efficiency programs," said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Matthew Beaton. "I'm proud to say that our energy savings and benefits goals for the next three years will continue to lead the nation and serve Massachusetts' energy, environmental and economic goals." Read more at: littp://www.sustainablecitynetwork.com/topic channels/ energy/article 0eae3cb6-7dl9-l Ie5-a9d6- 37a2b9a5e8dd.html httD://www2.eDa.aov/resources-small-businesses Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) / Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Innovation Summit SBIR/STTR INNOVATION SUMMIT 2015 DEC. 1-3 AUSTIN. TX The SBIR/STTR Innovation Summit will take place December 1 - 3, 2015, at the IW Marriott in downtown Austin, TX. Attendees will learn from and network with SBIR/STTR leaders and program experts on how to gain access to the $2.5 billion of non- diluted annual capital, the largest early stage seed funding in the world. This event will be co-located with the Defense Innovation Summit which will focus on energy, cyber, medical, materials and systems. The combined event will attract 1,500+ attendees and feature hundreds of business and scientific presentations including an innovation Showcase Hall. For more information and to register, go to: http://defenseinnovation.us/sbir.htnil DEFENSE ENERGY INNOVATION SUMMIT & SHOWCASE 2015 DEC. 1-3 I AUSTIN. TX UfeMM ------- |