SMALL-BIZ@EPA A MONTHLY NEWSLETTER FOR THE SMALL BUSINESS COMMUNITY ' O ' look for EPA Encourages Americans to Become Leak Detectives Each year, more than one trillion gallons of water are wasted by easy-to-fix household leaks, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's WaterSense Program. That's why U.S. EPA is encouraging consumers to "Be a Leak Detective" during WaterSense's eighth annual Fix a Leak Week, March 14 through 20, 2016, by finding and fixing leaks around the home. "Leaks don't just rob your home of precious water, they could be adding 10 percent to your utility bill," said Jared Blumenfeld, EPA's Regional Administrator for the Pacific Southwest. "By taking just 10 minutes to detect leaks at home, the average family could save more than 10,000 gallons of water per year." Becoming a leak detective can be accomplished in three simple steps: check, twist, and replace: Check for silent toilet leaks by putting a few drops of food coloring into the tank at the back of a toilet; wait 10 minutes before flushing, and if the color appears in the bowl, it's a leak. Don't forget to flush! Twist faucet, shower, and pipe connections tightly to avoid leaking a trail of water waste, or twist on a WaterSense labeled faucet aerator to save water and energy. Replace broken or leaky fixtures with WaterSense labeled models, which are independently certified to use at least 20 percent less water and perform as well or better than standard models. To learn more about detecting leaks or to find a Fix a Leak Week event in your community, visit www.epa.gov/watersense/fixaleak. ********************** 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.JOANBgEPA.GOV NY Department of Environmental Protection Distributes Rain Barrels to 200 Homeowners The New York City Department of Environmental Protection recently joined New York City Council Member Annabel Palma to distribute rain barrels to approximately 200 homeowners in the Castle Hill neighborhood. The 60-gallon rain barrels are easy to install and connect directly to a property owner's downspout to capture and store the stormwater that falls on the rooftop. The water collected in the rain barrel can then be used to water lawns and gardens, or for other outdoor chores. Rain barrels can help reduce a homeowner's water bill as watering lawns and gardens can account for up to 40 percent of an average household's water use during the summer months. They also help to reduce the amount of stormwater that enters the city's sewer system, which helps to protect the health of local waterways including Pugsley Creek and Westchester Creek. Read more at: http://www.sustainablecitvnetwork.com/topic channels/ public works/article cdaba9cc-ea57-l Ie5-a398- 9b3 3 4b a4bb 3 d. html EPA, OSBP, Asbestos and Small Business Ombudsman - Washington, DC 20460 - Phone: 1-800-368-5888 ------- MARCH 2016 U.S. EPA Honors California Department of Water Resources for Helping Fight Climate Change The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is honoring the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) with a 2016 Climate Leadership Award for its innovation in helping fight climate change. DWR—one of just three awardees in California—received an Organizational Leadership Award for KITS T ] Ifi E ' protecting the state's water supply. r V ;9n9'I Hi IB ^ if'I i "This year's Climate Leadership Award winners are setting a 1 ¦¦ I |D ¦ high bar for organizations across the country," said EPA » \ jJT IaLA Administrator Gina McCarthy. "They are proving that climate action isn't just the right thing to do; it's also the profitable I- Wm thing to do." All This is the fifth year of the annual Climate Leadership Awards, E B a partnership between the EPA's Center for Corporate Climate Leadership, the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions and jT The Climate Registry. Seventeen awardees were recognized for managing and reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in Dennis J. McLerran, of EPA presents the 2016 Climate Leadership . . , . , ., , . ,, ... .. Award to John Andrew of the California Department of Water internal operations and throughout the supply chain, as well as Resources, integrating climate resilience into their operating strategies. DWR operates and maintains the State Water Project, which supplies drinking water to over 25 million Californians and irrigation water to 750,000 acres of farmland. DWR has responsibility for 1,600 miles of flood protection levees and structures; prepares the State's strategic plan for water resources; administers over $1 billion in grant funds to improve regional water management; oversees dam safety statewide; and maintains 1700 megawatts of renewable hydroelectric power capacity. DWR was previously recognized with a Climate Leadership Award in 2015 for Excellence in Greenhouse Gas Management—Goal Setting. The awards were presented at the 2016 Climate Leadership Conference in Seattle, Washington. For more information about the conference and other awardees, go to: https://vosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/d02490a60ecbbl228 5257f32005ccl3a/21a8aa4a6b20ccl585257f7700634c22!Qpen Document EPA, OSBP, Asbestos and Small Business Ombudsman - Washington, DC 20460 - Phone: 1-800-368-5888 ------- Environmental Regulations and Their Impact on Small Businesses The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and state environmental agencies regulate the impact of businesses on the environment. The EPA develops and enforces regulations that implement environmental laws enacted by Congress. Likewise, state agencies enforce regulations that implement laws enacted by the state legislature. There are dozens of environmental regulations that apply to small businesses. The EPA and other agencies help small businesses understand their specific requirements by publishing plain-language guides that explain actions business owners must take to comply with federal regulations. Similarly, most state governments provide similar guidance for laws enforced by state environmental agencies. This guide provides a collection of resources available from the federal government that help businesses understand their responsibilities under the nation's environmental laws. For more information, go to: https://www.sba.gov/content/environmental- regulations EPA FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICES SUBJECT: Fluensulfone; Pesticide Tolerance for Emergency Exemption https ://www.gpo.gov/fdsvs/pkg/FR-2016-03- 03/pdf/2016-04757.pdf Federal Register: Vol. 81, No. 82, Thursday, March 3, 2016/Rules and Regulations AGENCY Environmental Protection Agency ACTION: Final Rules SUMMARY: This regulation establishes a time-limited tolerance for residues of fluensulfone, measured as 3,4,4- trifluoro-but-3-ene-l-sulfonic acid, resulting from use of fluensulfone in or on carrots in accordance with the terms of an emergency exemption issued under section 18 of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA). This action is in response to the issuance of a crisis emergency exemption under FIFRA section 18 authorizing use of the pesticide on carrots. This regulation establishes a maximum permissible level for residues of fluensulfone in or on carrots. The time- limited tolerance expires on December 31, 2017. SUBJECT: Approval of Iowa's Air Quality Implementation Plans; Iowa Plan for the 2008 Lead Standard https://www.gpo.gov/fdsvs/pkg/FR-2016-fl2- 26/pdf/2016-04082.pdf Federal Register: Vol. 81, No. 38, Friday, February 26, 2016 /Rules and Regulations AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency ACTION: Final Rule SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is taking final action to approve Iowa's attainment demonstration State Implementation Plan (SIP) for the lead National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) nonattainment area of Council Bluffs, Pottawattamie County, Iowa, received by EPA on February 9, 2015. The applicable standard addressed in this action is the lead NAAQS promulgated by EPA in 2008. EPA, OSBP, Asbestos and Small Business Ombudsman - Washington, DC 20460 - Phone: 1-800-368-5888 ------- SMALL-BIZ@EPA A MONTHLY NEWSLETTER FOR THE SMALL BUSINESS COMMUNITY MARCH 2016 v Small Business Expo in Chicago, Illinois April 21, 2016 Whether you're in the startup phase or a long-established company, the Small Business Expo has the right resources for you. They are the nation's largest business-to-business expo, and they have made it their mission to help small business owners and entrepreneurs like you achieve their business dreams. Their free, one-day expo offers invaluable insights and exclusive networking opportunities with a wide range of business-critical workshops, seminars, and presentations from top industry experts. If you're looking to drive your business forward and take the next step to success, join them at one of their 14 expo locations in major cities across the country for this can't miss event! To see the other locations and for registration, go to: http://www.thesmallbusinessexpo.com/chicago/ M SMALL IS BUSINESS = expo CHICAGO APRIL 21, 2016 UIC FORUM httD://www2.eDa.aov/resources-small-businesses Texas Commission on Environmental Quality Environmental Trade Fair and Conference May 3-4, 2016 Austin Convention Center Visit their Website at: https://www.tceq.texas.gov/p2/events/etfc/etf.html For more information and the agenda, go to: https://www.tceq.texas.gov/assets/public/assistance /events/2016ETFC/TentativeProgram.pdf For registration, go to: https://www.regonline.com/Register/Checkin.aspx ?EventID=l 762907 ENVIRONMENTAL TRADE FAIR & CONFERENCE May 3-4, 2016 Convention Center ------- |