Small Business Environmental Assistance Program Biodiesel Fuel Quality Seminars

1990 Clean Air Act Amendments Brought more small businesses into the regulatory process. Small business definition? Independently owned and operated with <100 employees and is not a major source. Dry cleaners, printers, auto body shops, metal finishers, wood finishers, asphalt manufacturers, gasoline stations, etc.

Section components –Small Business Ombudsman (IEPA) –Compliance Advisory Panel (inactiive) –Small Business Environmental Assistance Program (Dept. of Commerce & Economic Opportunity)

Small Business Regulatory Facts $3,296 per employee per year to meet just federal environmental regulatory burdens. Costs 364% more for small firms than large firms to comply with environmental regulations. Cant afford to invest limited resources for help in understanding their environmental regulatory burdens.

Illinois Small Business Environmental Assistance Program Located in the non-regulatory state agency Annette Fulgenzi Roslyn Jackson FREE and CONFIDENTIAL Goal: Provide technical & compliance assistance to small businesses, focus on air issues

How Do We Determine Environmental Needs? Meet annually with IEPA field inspectors Identify upcoming enforcement activities of IEPA and USEPA Provide feedback to regulatory agencies: –Survey businesses on impact of proposed rules –Contact trade associations Meet with local governments

Regulatory Compliance Assistance Tools Toll-free helpline: confidential -can remain anonymous Environmental recordkeeping calendars -dry cleaners -Stage I and II gasoline stations Quarterly Newsletter, Clean Air Clips (e-copy, web, or hard copy)

Educational Seminars/Workshops Industry-specific workshops -Construction & demolition debris industry -Dry cleaners -Ethanol and biodiesel -Auto salvage yards -Auto body shops

Links to other state & federal resources Fact Sheets Directory of environmental consultants Workshop announcements

Other Services Liaison between Illinois EPA and DCEO Business Development Bureau – Expedited permit assistance – Prospect meetings with permit managers – Letters for incentive packages On-site visits - Free environmental compliance reviews - Free pollution prevention & energy audits

Program Results Over 207,000 clients since program inception Over 2000 trained in construction & demolition debris Last year: – 20 workshops – Almost 5,000 hours of training – Approx. 1,000 annual helpline calls

Have questions? Need help? Toll-free helpline: Website: