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GeoInsighter Spring
1999 Newsletter
SBTAP: Small Business Technical Assistance Program
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In 1990, amendments to the Clean Air Act (CAA) introduced many types of small businesses to formal regulatory review and associated permitting processes for the very first time. To address concerns raised by the business community, Congress included Section 507 as part of the CAA to ensure that each State would establish a non-regulatory Small Business Technical Assistance Program (SBTAP) as a dedicated resource to assist small businesses in meeting the requirements of the CAA. If you are (1) an independently owned company with less than 100 employees, (2) a company not dominant in a field, as defined by Section 3 of the Small Business Act, and (3) a business that is not a major source of air pollution, as defined by Titles I and III of the CAA, you may be eligible for the SBTAP in your State.
Generally, SBTAP staff provide confidential information and assistance with understanding regulatory requirements and practical, cost-effective technical assistance on compliance methods and technologies, pollution prevention and toxic use reduction techniques, permitting issues, accidental chemical release prevention practices, and legal rights and obligations under the CAA. However, some States have since expanded these programs to include technical assistance in other environmental areas, such as water and waste issues.
The SBTAP has three main components:
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a Small Business Ombudsman that acts as the business community's representative in matters that affect it under the CAA and other environmental issues. The Ombudsman also provides comments and recommendations to the USEPA and State agency regarding the development and implementation of regulations that impact small businesses;
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technical staff that provide free information and technical assistance to help small businesses achieve environmental compliance; and
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a Compliance Advisory Panel that oversees the SBTAP and the Ombudsman and makes recommendations for improving and determining the overall effectiveness of the SBTAP.
For information on whether your small business qualifies for SBTAP assistance, or the availability and types of SBTAP services offered in your State, contact:
Connecticut: Sharon Roe-Johnson at 1-800-760-7036 or 1-860-424-3302
Maine: Brian Kavanah at 1-800-789-9802 or 1-207-287-6188
Massachusetts: Rick Reibstein at 1-617-727-3260 ext. 688
New Hampshire: Rudolph Cartier at 1-800-837-0656 or 1-603-271-1379
New York: Marian Mudar at 1-800-780-7227 or 1-518-457-9135
Rhode Island: Pam Arrarummo at 1-401-222-6822
Vermont: Judy Mirro at 1-800-974-9559 or 1-802-241-3745
Linda S. Falk
lsfalk@geoinc.com
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