SMALL-BIZ@EPA A MONTHLY NEWSLETTER FOR THE SMALL BUSINESS COMMUNITY APRIL /MAY 2017 California Air Resources Board (CARB) Announced the Winners of the Seventh Cool California Small Business Awards On March 16, 2017, California Air Resources Board (CARB) announced the winners of the seventh Cool California Small Business Awards, recognizing small businesses that demonstrate leadership and make notable, voluntary achievements toward reducing their carbon footprint. "These award winners are the best examples of how more and more Californian small businesses are making smart, climate-friendly choices," CARB Chair Mary D. Nichols said. "From Areata to Los Angeles, from a craft distillery to a window and solar panel cleaning service, small businesses throughout the state are showing that environmental protection and innovation are also good for the bottom line." The 13 award winners took a number of different actions to save money and become more sustainable while reducing their greenhouse gas emissions and environmental impacts. The steps taken to reduce greenhouse gas emissions include the following: The installation of LED lights 1. The installation of solar panels and energy efficient equipment and appliances 2. Replacing landscape with drought tolerant plants 3. Incentivizing the use of public transportation 4. The purchase of wind power generated electricity 5. Using eco-friendly, recycled/reused/repurposed products 6. Composting food scraps and plant material 7. Implementing water conservation and zero-waste programs Businesses of the Year: Crestwood Healing Center - Pleasant Hill; Toole's Garage - San Carlos Climate Leaders: Atrium Ventures Unlimited, Captain Vineyards, Gaumenkitzel Restaurant, Greenbar Craft Distillery, Greenway Partners, Lafayette Car Wash & Detail Center; McCown + Evans LLP; Mr. Squeegee Window & Solar Panel Cleaning; My Conference Essentials; The Glass Man Professional Window Washing Company, Inc.; and Uptown Studios. For further information visit - www.coolcalifornia.org/small-business-awards DO YOU HAVE ARTICLES FOR THE SMALLBIZ@EPA NEWSLETTER? FORWARD TO: ELNORA THOMPSON AT: THOMPSON.ELNORA@EPA.GOV EPA'S OMBUDSMAN, JOAN B. ROGERS AT: ROGERS.JOANB@EPA.GOV EPA, OSDBU, Asbestos and Small Business Ombudsman - Washington, DC 20460 - Phone: 1-800-368-5888 ------- http://www2.epa.gov/resources-smalI-businesses Oregon DEQ partners with regional nonprofit to launch dry cleaning certification The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is working with the Pacific Northwest Pollution Prevention Resource Center (PPRC) to establish a new EcoBiz certification program for Oregon dry cleaning facilities. DEQ and PPRC staff have been meeting with owners and operators of Oregon dry cleaners to discuss possible program standards, which are designed to encourage businesses to go above and beyond what is legally required. One of the primary concerns is to ensure that alternatives to perchloroethylene (PCE) do not contain toxic components which pose risks to human health and the environment. The group expects to prohibit certain alternative cleaners that continue using these toxic spotting chemicals and to encourage the use of greener alternatives. The certification will also encourage proper recycling techniques, reuse of materials, and employee education. For more information: www.deq. state.or.us/wmc/ cleanup/dryO. htm Relaxation of the Federal Reid Vapor Pressure Gasoline Volatility Standard for Davidson, Rutherford, Sumner, Williamson, and Wilson Counties, Tennessee The Environmental Protection Agency is proposing to approve a request from the state of Tennessee for EPA to relax the federal Reid Vapor Pressure (RVP) standard applicable to gasoline introduced into commerce from June 1st to September 15th of each year for Davidson, Rutherford, Sumner, Williamson, and Wilson Counties (hereinafter referred to as the Middle Tennessee Area or Area). EPA is considering the amendment of the regulations to allow the RVP standard for the Middle Tennessee Area to rise from 7.8 pounds per square inch (psi) to 9.0 psi for gasoline. EPA has preliminarily determined that this change to the federal RVP regulation is consistent with the applicable provisions of the Clean Air Act (CAA). For further information, contact David Dickinson, Dickinson.david@epa.gov EPA, OSDBU, Asbestos and Small Business Ombudsman - Washington, DC 20460 ------- http://www2.epa.gov/resources-smaIl-businesses California Air Resource Board Official Honored with National Karen V. Brown Leadership Award "v «* .... 1 The National Steering Committee (NSC), of Small Business Environmental Assistance Programs, or SBEAP, and Small Business Ombudsmen, or SBO, recognized La Ronda Bowen of the California Air Resources Board, or CARB, as the 2017 winner of the Karen V. Brown Leadership Award. This award honors Brown's leadership, innovation, dedication to environmental protection and high standards for everyone in the states to follow, as well as highlights her efforts to build strong local/state/federal partnerships for small business compliance assistance. Bowen was chosen by a group of her peers on the NSC. Bowen, ombudsman at CARB, was recognized for her accomplishments in small business environmental compliance, sustainability, advocacy, collaboration and assistance programs over the past 25 years. Bowen's mantra, "making sure there is a place in the policy discussions for the voice of small business owners," exemplifies her mindset. Under her leadership at CARB, the Small Business Opportunity and Advisory Panel, or SBOAP — California's equivalent Compliance Advisory Panel, convened its first meeting in 2014 and has been conducting meetings quarterly since. The SBOAP is assisting in development of a robust small business stakeholder engagement process to ensure environmental regulations impacting small businesses are developed in conjunction with small business input and engagement to avoid unintended consequences; create needed tools and resources; and review alternative compliance pathways. Bowen has led controversial stakeholder processes, served as an advisor to the U.S. EPA, and established a nationwide model for small business assistance and compliance with the federal Clean Air Act as the public adviser at the South Coast Air Quality Management District during the 1990s. As public adviser, she directed programs operating at the interface of federal, state and local agency policy, business concerns, and concerns of the non- regulated public, including intergovernmental affairs, environmental justice, children's health, community and school outreach, public records, compliance assistance and business retention programs. Executive director of the California Small Business Alliance, Bill La Marr states "La Ronda has shown leadership by initiating a dialog among the stakeholders in an attempt to enable them to resolve their differences and present local government with a proposal that will improve air quality and public health, without inhibiting economic growth in communities that can least afford it," The NSC Awards are the states premier environmental awards for recognizing outstanding environmental performance, small businesses, trade associations, state programs and individuals that support the small business community. These award winners have made significant contributions to protecting the environment. More information about SBEAPS is available at i:ps://nationalsbeap.org/. EPA, OSDBU, Asbestos and Small Business Ombudsman - Washington, DC 20460 - Phone: 1-800-368-5888 ------- http://www2.epa.gov/resources-smaIl-businesses EPA FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICES SUBJECT: Draft Guidance for Reporting of Chemical Substances When Manufactured or Processed as Nanoscale Materials; Notice of Availability and Request for Comment http://www.epa.gov/dockets/contacts.html SUBJECT: Draft Guidance for Reporting of Chemical Substances When Manufactured or Processed as Nanoscale Materials; Notice of Availability and Request for Comment http://www.epa.gov/dockets/contacts.html Federal Register: Vol. 82, No. 90, Thursday, May 11, 2017/Notices AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency ACTION: Notice of tentative approval SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the State of Idaho has revised its approved State Public Water Supply Supervision Primacy Program. Idaho has adopted regulations analogous to the EPA's Revised Total Coliform Rule. EPA has determined that these revisions are no less stringent than the corresponding federal regulations. Therefore, EPA intends to approve these State program revisions. By approving these rules, EPA does not intend to affect the rights of federally recognized Indian tribes nor does it intend to limit existing rights of the State of Idaho. Federal Register: Vol. 82, No. 93, Tuesday, May 16, 2017/Proposed Rules AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemakng; extension of time for public comments. SUMMARY: EPA is announcing the availability of and requesting public comment on the draft guidance document, entitled: "Guidance on EPA's Section 8(a) In formation Gathering Rule on Nanomaterials in Commerce". This guidance provides answers to questions the Agency has received from manufacturers (includes importers) and processors of certain chemical substances when they are manufactured or processed at the nanoscale as described in a final rule that appeared in the Federal Register of January 12, 2017. That rule involves one-time reporting for existing discrete forms of certain nanoscale materials, and a standing one-time reporting requirement for new discrete forms of certain nanoscale materials. EPA, OSDBU, Asbestos and Small Business Ombudsman - Washington, DC 20460 - Phone: 1-800-368-5888 ------- |