SMALL-BIZ@EPA A MONTHLY NEWSLETTER FOR THE SMALL BUSINESS COMMUNITY CALIFORNIA AIR RESOURCES BOARD HELPS SMALL BUSINESSES SIMULTANEOUSLY SAME MONEY AND THE PLANET California is the only state in the country with seven areas designated as nonattainment for the 8-hour ozone standard, including two extreme nonattainment areas. So it comes as no surprise that small business owners throughout the state already use clean technologies, products and processes to reduce emissions of criteria pollutants. What does surprise people is how enthusiastic a growing number of California small business owners are about going beyond regulations and embracing actions that also reduce climate pollutants. On February 12, 2015, the California Air Resources Board (ARB) recognized 16 small business owners with a Cool California Small Business Award for exhibiting extraordinary leadership — voluntarily shrinking their carbon footprint while simultaneously managing their business. How did they do it? They used a website resource called CoolCalifornia.org and its associated tools, developed in 2007 as the result of a public/private partnership. The CoolCalifornia.org website provides small business owners with industry-specific connections to other small businesses that have taken steps to become more sustainable. The Small Business Toolkit on the site shows business owners how to save money, get money, measure and reduce their carbon footprint; how to reduce waste and save energy for lower gas, electric and water bills; and offers business owners tips for gaining valuable recognition for their efforts. The 5th Cool California Small Business Awards, held at the ARB's Sacramento headquarters, attracted more than 100 participants, including 22 state legislators, and resulted in great recognition for the business owners. Although this is nontraditional "compliance assistance," much like pollution prevention, it helps small businesses reduce emissions and save money ... and that improves the bottom line for small business and the environment. For more information, visit the following websites: CoolCalifornia.org: http://www.coolcalifornia.org/small-business. California Air Resources Board Ombudsman at: http://www.arb. ca. gov/ba/ omb/omb. htm SMALL BUSINESS AWARDEE IN CALIFORNIA TFIE PENNSYLVANIA EMAP DEVELOPS AN ENVIRONMENTAL CHECKLIST FOR SMALL MANUFACTURERS If you make something, no matter how small your operation, you are likely subject to some environmental regulations. While larger manufacturers have the resources to have in-house or contracted environmental assistance, most small facilities do not. They are often overwhelmed and lack the personnel and the expertise to find out what is required. In Pennsylvania, there are approximately 24,000 manufacturers - 94% have less than 100 employees and 53% have less than 4 employees. To help the sizable population of very small manufacturers better understand and assess their compliance needs, the Pennsylvania Small Business Development Centers' (SBDC) Environmental Management Assistance Program (EMAP) developed a brochure and simple environmental checklist for new and existing businesses. While the checklist is not exhaustive, it is a starting point to help businesses get on the right track, narrow down their potential environmental compliance issues, and know where to turn for additional help. EPA, OSBP, Asbestos and Small Business Ombudsman - Washington, DC 20460 - Phone: 1-800-368-5888 ------- THE TENNESSEE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AND CONSERVATION PROVIDES USEFUL INFORMATION TO SMALL BUSINESSES BUYING AND SELLING FACILITES WITH UNDERGROUND STORAGE TANKS (UST) In the course of doing business, many records are generated and retained. This is especially true when owning a facility that dispenses gasoline. In addition to sales, inventory and related records, owners also have to maintain records of line tightness tests and throughput among other records, in order to be in compliance with the environmental rules that affect a facility. But what happens when a facility is bought or sold? An existing facility's history is told through records. A new owner of an existing facility doesn't start with a blank slate and a newly constructed facility. Similar to when buying a used car and asking for a vehicle history report, some records need to be available to a new owner of an existing facility. Otherwise, they may be running a facility without ever knowing what is in the ground when the last test was conducted or the life expectancy of any protection system. The seller of an underground storage tank (UST) location should give records to the buyer as required by Section 0400- 18-01-.03 of the State's UST rules. Also, within 30 days of the sale, the seller must notify the UST Division using the Seller's Notification for Underground Storage Tanks (CN-09. The seller must inform the buyer of the buyer's responsibility to notify the UST Division using the Notification for Underground Storage Tanks (CN-1260). The seller must transfer to the buyer all documents required to satisfy the reporting and recordkeeping requirements for: (1) Reports of all releases including suspected releases; Corrective action plans, (2) Corrosion expert's analysis of site corrosion potential if corrosion protection equipment is not used; (3) Documentation of operation of corrosion protection equipment; (4) Recent compliance with release detection requirements; (5) Documentation of UST system repairs; and, (6) Documentation related to closure of tanks. For additi onal information on this subject, contact the Small Business Environmental Assistance Program at 1-800-734-3619 or by email at BGSBEAP@,tn gov, or contact the Division of UST at your nearest Environmental Field Office by calling 1-888- 891-8332. TENNESSEE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AND CONSERVATION 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@EPA.GOV EPA, OSBP, Asbestos arid Small Business Ombudsman - Washington, DC 20460 - Phone: 1-800-363-5888 ------- EPA FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICES EPA'S SMALL BUSINESS OFFICE TO HOST WOMEN-OWNED OUTREACH SESSION ON APRIL 28, 2015 The Office of Small Business Programs (OSBP) at the EPA will sponsor a Women Owned Small Business Outreach Session with local small businesses on April 28, 2015. OSBP holds at least four counseling sessions a year for socio-economic groups such as small businesses, 8(a), small disadvantaged, women-owned, service disabled-owned veterans and for businesses located in a hubzone. Small businesses are sourced from the SBA Dynamic Business Search Engine and from email inquiries/requests received from the business community. The session is specific on how to navigate the Environmental Protection Agency's Forecast Database. The sessions are held as time permits and usually last about an hour. For more information, please contact: David Allen at allen.david@epa.gov and/or visit: www.epa. gov/osbp/direct outreach htm SUBJECT: STANDARDS OF PERFORMANCE FOR NEW RESIDENTIAL WOOD HEATERS, NEW RESIDENTIAL HYDRONIC HEATERS AND FORCED AIR-FURNACES http://www.gpo.gov/fdsvs/pkg/FR-2015-03-16/pdf/2Q15- 03733.pdf Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 50 /Monday, March 16, 2015 / Rules and Regulations AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency. ACTION: Final Rule SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is taking final action to revise the Standards of Performance for New Residential Wood Heaters and to add a new subpart: Standards of Performance for New Residential Hydronic Heaters and Forced-Air Furnaces. This final rule achieves several objectives for new residential wood heaters, including applying updated emission limits that reflect the current best systems of emission reduction; eliminating exemptions over a broad suite of residential wood combustion devices; strengthening test methods as appropriate; and streamlining the certification process. Residential wood smoke emissions are a significant national air pollution problem and human health issue. SUBJECT: ITUMAN STUDIES REVIEW BOARD http://www.gpo.gOv/fdsvs/pkg/FR-2015-03-05/pdf/2015- 05068 pdf Federal Register / Vol. 80, No 43 / Thursday, March 5, 2015 /Notices AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency. ACTION: Notification of Public Hearing SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Office of the Science Advisor announces a public meeting of the Human Studies Review Board to advi se the Agency on the EPA ethical and scientific reviews of research with human subjects. 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 MARCH 2015 MISSISSIPPI'S ENVIRONMENAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM TO HOST FREE WORKSHOP FOR CHILDCARE PROVIDERS m MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY MDEQ OFFICE OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT SMALLL BUSINESS ENVIRONMENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM 1-800-725-6112 The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality's Office of Community Engagement/ Small Business Environmental Assistance Program will be hosting a FREE workshop for childcare facility owners and operators. This workshop will be held on Tuesday, May 19, 2015 at the Jackson Marriott Hotel, located at 200 Amite Street in Jackson, MS. Childcare owners/operators will be empowered to create safer, healthier environments for children to learn and grow. The workshop's goal is to provide childcare facilities with policies and procedures necessary to promote good environmental management and to protect the health of children and staff. For more information, email: Taaka Scott Bailey at Tbailev@mdeq.ms.us or Jennifer Carter at icarter@mdeq.ms.us. www.epa.gov/osbp NEW HAMPSHIRE (NH) SMALL BUSINESSES PREFER TRADITIONAL WORKSHOPS Even as society has moved to a digital world of webinars and online training, the more traditional face- to-face interaction continues to be the preferred choice for small businesses in New Hampshire. The NH Small Business Techni cal Assi stance Program (SBTAP) hosted a half-day workshop to over 80 participants to review NH's hazardous waste rules including the proper management of used oil and universal wastes, the NH air rules, such as emergency generator permitting and regulated toxic air pollutants, and OSHA's new record-keeping documentation guidelines. The attendees requested future workshops on used oil burners, aboveground storage tanks, and emission reporting requirements. Workshops remain a helpful forum for educating others and to encourage environmental compliance. For more information, contact Sara.Johnson^des.nh.gov. Small Business Technical Assistance Program Contact Information Concord:(603) 271-1379 Gorham: (603) 466-5380 sbtap@des.nh.gov www.des.nh.gov New Hampshire Department Oi Environmental Service* Small business Technical Assistance Program ------- |