SMALL BUSINESS COMMUNITY EPA Holds 2014 Small Business Environmental Training in Washington, DC EPA's Asbestos arid Small Business Ombudsman Hosted National Training Session for Small Business Assistance Providers The Office of Small Business Programs (GSBP), Asbestos and Small Business Ombudsman (ASBO) conducted their annual training for Small Business Ombudsmen (SBO), Small Business Environmental Assistance Programs (SBEAPs) and EPA Regional Small Business Liaisons (RSBL). A special thanks to all that were able to attend the 2014 Small Business Environmental Training on June 2-4. The training was a great success and a variety of EPA offices participated, including headquarters and regional staff, as well as state Small Business Ombudsman and state Small Business Environmental Assistance Program, the Small Business Administration and small business trade association representatives. For more information on the presentations and the agenda, visit: http://www.epa.gov/sbo/environmental training .html SMALL BUSINESS TRAINING Office of Small Business Programs Counseling Session July 17, 2014 EPA's Office of Small Business Programs (OSBP) will be holding its next Environmental Counseling Session on July 17, 2014. The Small Business Administration has designated five socio-economic groups that federal agencies should provide outreach efforts to on an annual basis. These small business groups are women-owned, 8(a), small disadvantaged, HUBZone, and Service Disabled- Veteran Owned. For more information or to registration for the event, contact David Allen at alien.david@epa. gov or visit http://www.epa.gov/osbp/direct outreach.htm The EPA Small Business Policy promotes environmental compliance among small businesses by providing them with special incentives. Read more about this policy at: http://www.epa.gov/compliance/incentives/ smallbusiness/in dex .html EPA, OSBP, Asbestos and Small Business Ombudsman | Washington, DC 20460 | phone 1-800-368-5888 ------- EPA Headquarters Hosts SBA's 2014 National Regulatory Fairness Hearing, June 25, 2014 The Office of the National Ombudsman conducted a hearing for the small business community in Washington, DC National Ombudsman, Brian Castro and the Regional III Regulatory Fairness Board held a national hearing to hear testimony regarding federal regulations, enforcement and compliance actions impacting America's small businesses. SB A Region III Regulatory Fairness Board Chair Muriel Watkins and Board Members Doria A.P. Storey and Marilyn D. Landis also participated. The National Ombudsman convenes regulatory fairness hearings and roundtables across the country to give small business owners a means to comment on unfair enforcement actions, government audits and excessive fines or regulations. Issues reported by participants undergo a high-level fairness review at the appropriate federal agency and the Office of the National Ombudsman works with its federal agency partners to address those concerns, reduce regulatory burdens and help small businesses grow. Members of the small business community, trade organizations and federal government representatives were all in attendance. For additional information about the Office of the National Ombudsman, visit their website at www.sba.aov/ombudsman. NATIONAL OMBUDSMAN HEARING, 2014 DO YOU HAVE ARTICLES FOR THE SMALLBIZ NEWSLETTER? FORWARD TO: LILLIAN HARRIS at HARRIS.: IN0EPA.GOV EPA'S OMBUDSMAN: JOAN B. ROGERS ROGER.JOANB0EPA.GOV EPA, OSBP, Asbestos and Small Business Ombudsman | Washington, DC 20460 | phone 1-800-368-5888 ------- JULY 2014 EPA's Proposed Clean Power Plan Rule On June 2, 2014, EPA proposed a commonsense plan to cut carbon pollution from power plants. States, cities and businesses across the country are already taking action to address the risks of climate change. EPA's proposal builds on those actions and is flexible - reflecting that different states have a different mix of sources and opportunities, and reflecting the important role of states as full partners with the federal government in cutting pollution. This proposal will maintain an affordable, reliable energy system, while cutting pollution and protecting our health and environment now and for future generations. See more on the proposed rule, visit http://www2.epa.gov/carbon-pollution- standards/what-epa-doing White House Strategy to Reduce Methane Emissions in Series of White Papers In support of the Obama Administration's Strategy to Reduce Methane Emissions, EPA has released a series of technical white papers for peer review and public input. The white papers will help EPA solidify our understanding of certain sources of methane and volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions in the oil and natural gas industry. Methane is a potent greenhouse gas, and VOCs contribute to the formation of harmful ground-level ozone (smog). EPA will use the white papers, and the feedback we receive, to determine how to build on the success of our voluntary programs and existing regulations to cost-effectively cut additional methane and VOC emissions. EPA will determine how to best pursue additional reductions this fall. The white papers are available at: www.epa.gov/airqualitv/oilandgas EPA Deputy Administrator's Meeting with Small Businesses On June 10, 2014, the ASBO hosted an informal meeting between EPA's Deputy Administrator, EPA senior managers, and national trade associations representing small businesses. The purpose of the meeting was to allow small businesses and small business trade association advocates the opportunity to meet with the Deputy Administrator and senior agency officials to discuss regulatory concerns impacting the small business community. During the meeting, senior officials provided updates on topics such as Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs); NSPS for Existing Power Plants; Waters of the US Regulatory Proposal; Brick MACT; and Definition of Solid Waste (DSW), to name a few. For more information, contact the ASBO. EPA, OSBP, Asbestos and Small Business Ombudsman | Washington, DC 20460 | phone 1-800-368-5888 ------- |