SMALL-BIZ@EPA A MONTHLY NEWSLETTER FOR THE SMALL BUSINESS COMMUNITY JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2015 k. NATIONAL AMBIENT AIR QUALITY STANDARDS FOR OZONE Based on its review of the air quality criteria for ozone (O 3) and related photochemical oxidants and national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS) for O 3, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposes to make revisions to the primary and secondary NAAQS for O 3 to provide requisite protection of public health and welfare, respectively. The EPA is proposing to revise the primary standard to a level within the range of 0.065 to 0.070 parts per million (ppm), and to revise the secondary standard to within the range of 0.065 to 0.070 ppm, which air quality analyses indicate would provide air quality, in terms of 3-year average W126 index values, at or below a range of 13-17 ppm-hours. The EPA proposes to make corresponding revisions in data handling conventions for O 3 and conforming changes to the Air Quality Index (AQI); to revise regulations for the prevention of significant deterioration (PSD) program to add a transition provision for certain applications; and to propose schedules and convey information related to implementing any revised standards. The EPA is proposing changes to the O 3 monitoring seasons, the Federal Reference Method (FRM) for monitoring O 3 in the ambient air, Federal Equivalent Method (FEM) procedures for testing, and the Photochemical Assessment Monitoring Stations (PAMS) network. For additional information, see the Executive Summary, section I. A. Written comments on this proposed rule must be received by March 17, 2015. Listen to the EPA Administrator, Gina McCarthy, on proposed smog standards, http s: //www.youtub e. com/watch? v=p s AQULm 5 WcU EPA ADMINISTRATOR MCCARTHY THE 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 enviToiimen tal checklisi 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 NATIONAL STEERING COMMITTEE IS SEEKING NOMINATIONS FOR THE 2015 NSC SMALL BUSINESS AND TRADE ASSOCIATION ENVIRONMENTAL LEADERSHIP AWARDS The NSC Awards are the states' premier environmental award program for recognizing outstanding environmental performance, programs and individual(s). The 2015 awards will be announced at the 2015 SBO/SBEAP Training, June 24-26, 2015 Raleigh, NC. The awards will honor and recognize small businesses, trade associations and assistance programs who have made significant contributions to protecting the environment. Below is the schedule for the awards. Nomination open: February 10, 2015 Nominations close: April 17, 2015 Please consider submitting a nomination in one of the following categories and as outlined in the Nomination Questionnaire PDF (97K), Small Business Assistance Program Small Business Environmental Stewardship Small Business Trade Association Environmental Leadership SMALL BUSINESS AWARDS Contact information to include your name, email address, and phone and submit along with questionnaire to: Edward. Bakos@dep.nj .gov The EPA Small Business Policy (PDF 257K promotes environmental compliance among small businesses by providing them with special incentives. Read more about this policy at: DO YOU HAVE ARTICLES FOR THE SMALLBIZ NEWSLETTER? FORWARD TO: LILLIAN HARRIS AT: HARRIS.LILLIAN@EPA.GOV EPA S OMBUDSMAN: JOANB. ROGERS ROGERS .JOANB @EP A. GO V EPA, OSBP, Asbestos and Small Business Ombudsman - Washington. DC 20460 - Phone: 1-800-363-5888 ------- JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2015 SBA'S OFFICE OF ADVOCACY RELEASES SMALL BUSINESS PROFILES FOR THE STATES AND TERRITORIES The Small Business Administration's (SBA) Office of Advocacy released Small Business Profiles for the States and Territories, the annual snapshots of state- level small business activity. The profiles reported on the number of small firms, employment, and owner demographics. They also list each state's top small business industries by the number of firms and number of employees. The profiles cover the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the United States. They also provide limited information on the U.S. territories. In addition to the profiles, detailed state data is available on the Advocacy's website. To access the book of all small business profiles or any of the individual states, visit www.sba.gov/advocacv/small-business-profiles-states- and-territories-2014. For more information about the Office of Advocacy, visit their website at www.sba.gov/advocacv or telephone (202) 205-6533. EPA FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICES SUBJECT: PROPOSED SIGNIFICANT NEW USE RULE ON CERTAIN CHEMICAL SUBSTANCES http://www.gpo.gov/fdsvs/pkg/FR-2015-03-03/pdf/2Q15- 04406.pdf Federal Register / Vol. 80, No.41 / Tuesday, March 3, 2015 /Proposed Rule AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency. ACTION: Proposed Rule; Extension of Comment Period. SUMMARY: EPA issued a proposed rule in the Federal Register of January 7, 2015, concerning proposed significant new use rules for 13 chemical substances which were the subject of premanufacture notices (PMNs). This document extends the comment period for 45 days, from March 9, 2015 to April 23, 2015. Multiple commenters requested additional time to research and submit more detailed comments concerning the proposed SNURs. EPA is therefore extending the comment period in order to give all interested persons the opportunity to comment fully. SUBJECT: RECEIPT OF TEST DATA UNDER THE TOXIC SUBSTANCE CONTROL ACT http://www.gpo.gov/fdsvs/pkg/FR-2015-02-17/pdf/2015- 03154.pdf Federal Register / Vol. 80, No.31 / Tuesday, March 17, 2015/Notice AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency. ACTION: Proposed Rule; Extension of Comment Period. SUMMARY: EPA is announcing its receipt of test data submitted pursuant to a test rule issued by EPA under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). As required by TSCA, this document identifies each chemical substance and/or mixture for which test data have been received; the uses or intended uses of such chemical substance and/or mixture; and describes the nature of the test data received. Each chemical substance and/or mixture related to this announcement is identified in Unit I. under SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION at: https://federalregister.gOv/a/2015-03154 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 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2015 Be There. Your Competitors Will Be. mm 32Bi Annual National Conference of the Environmental Information Association MmhH-MJOIS • (irond Hyatt Minta in Mlteatl EIA Conferences feature business owners and decision makers in the environments! engineering remediation and analytical fields, with MILLIONS of dollars in buying power, Call 888-343-4342 or email infoleia-usa.org to reserve your booth or sponsorship today.Sponsorships start as low as $150. Environmental Wwimlion Association 6935 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 306 ChevyChaseMD 20815 mv.eia-uu.org ASBESTOS • LEAD ¦ IAQ ¦ MOLD - EMS/ESA THE ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION ASSOCIATION'S (EIA) NATIONAL CONFERENCE MARCH 22-25, 2015 IN ATLANTA, GA The annual EIA Conference & Exposition will be held in Atlanta, Georgia at the beautiful Grand Hyatt Atlanta in Buckhead. The annual conference is the source for information on mold identification and remediation, environmental sampling and analysis, lead-based paint abatement, asbestos management, indoor air quality, regulatory compliance audits, environmental site assessments and environmental management systems Register for the EIA 2015 National Conference & Exhibition: Click here for the EIA Registration Brochure, or visit http://eia- usa.org/meetinginfo.php?id=9&ts= 1397483025 for registration and more information! www.epa.gov/osbp VISIT THE 25™ ANNIVERSARY OF THE GOVERNMENT PROCUREMENT CONFERENCE The Government Procurement Conference is a national conference fostering business partnerships between the Federal Government, its prime contractors, and small, minority, service-disabled veteran-owned, veteran-owned, FIUBZone, and women-owned businesses. Now in its 25th year, the Government Procurement Conference has become the premier event for small businesses throughout the United States. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 15, 2015 WASHINGTON, DC - VISIT THE WEBSITE AT: http://www.fbcinc.eom/e/PROCUREMENT/ Participating firms will have the benefit of marketing their products/services to procurement representatives and small business specialists from government agencies. Companies may choose to set up an exhibit table to showcase their capabilities or simply come as an attendee. ------- |