SMALL-BIZ@EPA A MONTHLY NEWSLETTER FOR THE SMALL BUSINESS COMMUNITY H|i THE U.S. SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION ESTABLISHES POLICY ON NON-RETALIATION AGAINST SMALL BUSINESSES As part of its mission to create a fair, less burdensome regulatory enforcement environment for small business government wide, the Office of the National Ombudsman is working with each federal agency to establish a policy prohibiting retaliatory actions by its employees against regulated entities. This Notice states SBA's policy prohibiting retaliatory action by SBA employees against any small business. If a small business requests Ombudsman assistance or otherwise questions or complains about SBA regulatory or enforcement actions, requirements, or policies, the agency will not retaliate. The SBA has important responsibilities to small businesses in earn ing out its mission to protect, promote, and enhance the role of small business in the Nation's economy and is committed to maintaining an environment in which small businesses are free to challenge SBA regulatory or enforcement actions, requirements, and policies without fear of retaliation. The SBA takes allegations of retaliation very seriously and will thoroughly investigate any allegation of retaliation and take appropriate corrective action. The SBA supports the policy of referring all allegations of threats or retaliation against small businesses to the Inspector General and/or to the appropriate Management Board Member. Any retaliatory action taken by an SBA employee against a small business will be dealt with according to SBA policy and regulations, including 13 CFR Sections 105.206 and 208. The contents of this Notice will be made available to the public on the Web site of the Office of the National Ombudsman. To review a copy of the Notice, go to: https://www.sba.gov/sites/default/files/Policv%20on%20Non- Retaliation%20Against%20Small%20Businesses.pdf. DO YOU HAVE ARTICLES FOR THE SMALLBIZ NEWSLETTER? FORWARD TO: LILLIAN HARRIS AT: HARRIS.LILLIAN@EPA.GOV EPA'S OMBUDSMAN: JOAN B. ROGERS ROGERS. JOANB(3}EP A. GOV Small Businesses Greening Your Business What does it mean to "go green"? EPA's Office of Small Business Programs (OSBP) offers a variety of resources, information and ideas to assist your organization in reducing its environmental impacts. EPA wants to help your business achieve a competitive advantage in the federal acquisition process and world market that is striving to go green. Now available is the Smart Steps to Sustainability 2.0, at: http://www.epa.gov/osbp/pdfs/smart steos.pdf 16 pp, 2 MB,). The updated guide provides greening tools and resources about the most recent changes in federal programs and Executive Orders focused on sustainable business practices. With the help of this guide, your business will develop a step-by-step approach to going beyond environmental compliance and into sustainability. Office of Small Business Program's Green Team Paula Zampieri Hoao. 202-566-2496 (Team Lead) David Allen. 202-566-0913 "DISCLAIMER: The materials listed are presented as an information service for small businesses and otlier parties interested in greening their business, EPA is not responsible for all the content of resources. EPA cannot attest to the accuracy of information provided by links outside of the EPA site. Por more information on external links, please see http://www.epa.gov/epahome/exitepa.htm. EPA, OSBP, Asbestos and Small Business Ombudsman - Washington, DC 20460 - Phone: 1-800-368-5888 ------- SMALL-BIZ@EPA A MONTHLY NEWSLETTER FOR THE SMALL BUSINES COMMUNITY APRIL 2015 WISCONSIN'S DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES BRING RESOURCES TOGETHER TO HELP SMALL BUSINESSES "Wisconsin's small businesses play a critical role in the economy, yet they also face a variety of challenges," said Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Secretary Cathy Stepp, who participated September 10, 2014 in the state's fourth annual Governor's Small Business Summit. "The Small Business Environmental Assistance Program has been expanded to work in partnership with small businesses and support their efforts to grow in ways that create new opportunities while preserving our state's environmental assets." The program features a staff of four employees with experience in regulatory programs who have been brought together in one location to share best practices and advocate on behalf of small business. The program serves companies with 100 or fewer employees that are not major sources of air pollution and do not produce large quantities of hazardous waste. Examples of small companies that might benefit from the program include auto-body repair shops, dry cleaners; gas stations, health care facilities; metal fabricating and machine shops; and printers, to name a few. The Small Business Environmental Assistance Program builds on other DNR initiatives to support Wisconsin's economy while protecting and managing the state's natural resources. These efforts include the Green Tier program, which supports companies committed to going beyond environmental compliance and now counts small businesses as 40 percent of the program participants. DNR also has established sector specialists in key industries such as agribusiness, green manufacturing, energy and printing to provide specific guidance. To learn more about Wisconsin's Small Business Environmental Assistance Program or contact a representative, visit www.DNR.wi.gov and search for "Small. Business." Program representatives also may be reached through the small business hotline at 855-889- 3021 or by emailing DNRSmallbusiness@wi.gov. The EPA Small Business Policy promotes environmental compliance among small businesses by providing them with special incentives. Read more about this policy at: http://www2.epa.gov/enforcement/small- businesses-and-enforcement EPA, OSBP, Asbestos and Small Business Ombudsman - Washington, DC 20460 - Phone: 1-800-363-5888 ------- EPA FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICES Fayetteville, Arkansas Wins "ENVY" Award for 2015 After being a finalist five of the 10 times the award was given, the City of Fayetteville stepped into the winner's circle to receive the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality's 2015 Environmental Stewardship Award for its "Recycle Something" program. The award, commonly called the "ENVY," recognizes a major contribution by an individual or organization for efforts to enhance and protect Arkansas' natural resources. Fayetteville's effort includes financial incentives for the use of smaller trash receptacles and encourages recycling. In 2014 the city saved more than $213,000 in landfill costs and earned more than $598,000 by selling compost generated from yard waste. The city was a finalist in 2014, 2013, 2009, and 2008 for other programs. The other 2015 finalists were: • Camfil Air Pollution Control of Jonesboro • Goodwill Industries of Arkansas • Kraft Foods Group, Inc.'s Fort Smith facility • The Lake Fayetteville Environmental Science Center SUBJECT: Addition of 1-Bromopropane; Community Right-To-Know Toxic Chemical Release Reporting http ://www. gpo. gov/fdsvs/pkg/FR-2015-04-15/pdf/2015- 08664 pdf Federal Register: Vol. 80, No. 72 / Wednesday, April, 2015 / Rules and Regulations AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency. ACTION: Proposed Rule SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to add 1-bromopropane to the list of toxic chemicals subject to reporting under section 313 of the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA) of 1986 and section 6607 of the Pollution Prevention Act (PPA) of 1990. 1-Bromopropane has been classified by the National Toxicology Program in their 13th Report on Carcinogens as "reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen." EPA believes that 1- bromopropane meets the EPCRA section 313 (d)(2)(B) criteria because it can reasonably be anticipated to cause cancer in humans. SUBJECT: Hazardous and Solid Waste Management System; Disposal of Coal Combustion Residual From Electric Utilities http ://www. gpo. gov/fdsvs/pkg/FR-2015-04-17/pdf/2015- 00257.pdf Federal Register Vol. 80, No.74 / Friday, April 17, 2015 / Rules and Regulations AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency. ACTION: Final Rule SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA or the Agency) is publishing a final rule to regulate the disposal of coal combustion residuals (CCR) as solid waste under subtitle D of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). The available information demonstrates that the risks posed to human health and the environment by certain CCR management units warrant regulatory controls. EPA, OSBP, Asbestos and Small Business Ombudsman - Washington, DC 20460 - Phone: 1-800-368-5888 ------- SMALL-BIZ@EPA APRIL 2015 MONTHLY NEWSLETTER FOR THE SMALL BUSINESS COMMUNITY DAN NICKEY, ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF IWRC, TO SERVE ON EPA'S CLEAN AIR ACT ADVISORY COMMITTEE Dan Nickey, Associate Director of the Iowa Waste Reduction Center, (IWRC) has accepted an invitation to serve as a member on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Clean Air Act Advisory Committee. The committee, established in 1990, is a senior-level policy committee that provides advice to the EPA on air pollution issues and plays a strategic role in assisting the EPA in meeting its mission to protect human health and the environment. "Dan's experience makes him more than qualified to serve on this committee," says Jim Olson, Director of the IWRC. Nickey has managed the Iowa Air Emissions Assistance Program since 2001, continually works with businesses throughout Iowa to ensure compliance with the Clean Air Act, and serves as the IWRC's liaison with regulatory agencies and associations. "I am honored to be invited to serve on the advisory committee and hope to continue to provide a voice to small businesses regarding air quality issues and regulations," says Nickey. Mr. Nickey's two-year term will continue through March 2017. www.epa.gov/osbp Marketplace: Procurement Opportunities for Small Businesses Marketplace is a biennial regional "reverse" trade show that allows small business owners like you the opportunity to meet contracting officers from over 50 federal, state, and local government agencies and larse prime contractors. It also gives attendees an opportunity to learn more about how to get government contracts through educational workshops. We have held the trade show since 1989 - at first every 18 months, then every two years after our Asheville, NC-based tradeshow Opportunities came on the scene. On average, Marketplace has over 400 attendees, many of which are small to mid-sized businesses. May 27, 2015 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM Sheraton Imperial Hotel & Convention Center 4700 Emperor Boulevard Durham, NC, 27703 - See more at: http://www.sbtdc.org/business- events/marketplace- 2015/#sthash.21 OnGAPq.dpuf ------- |