As
SWCAA has been successful in working with large emitters to reduce
permitted pollution rates throughout southwest Washington, it
has found a need to redesign its business outreach and assistance
efforts to increase efficiency and cohesiveness with other agency
programs. The businesses assistance web pages have been integrated
into a coherent SWCAA website. In addition, outreach also includes
a regular agency newsletter. Of course, free information and assistance
remains available; simply call us at 360-574-3058 or e-mail us.
As always, your suggestions for what you'd like to see in a continuously
improving business assistance program are welcome.
http://www.epa.gov/smallbusiness/
The EPA's Small Business Gateway offers a centralized location
from which to access a wide range of environmental information
and technical assistance resources. The Frequently Answered Questions
page covers such questions as obtaining permits, registering pesticides,
and what do in the event of an environmental emergency. This site
also provides links to contacts for compliance and technical assistance,
to the laws and regulations affecting your business, and to environmental
programs that can help you save money and improve profits.
The Small Business Ombudsman
Program
http://www.epa.gov/ormisbo1/index.htm
The Office of the Small Business Ombudsman serves as an effective
conduit for small businesses to access EPA and facilitates communications
between the small business community and the Agency. The Office
reviews and resolves disputes with EPA and works with EPA personnel
to increase their understanding of small businesses in the development
and enforcement of environmental regulations. The home page links
to publications, frequently asked questions, and the small business
environmental home page.
http://www.eren.doe.gov/energytips/
This informative site, offered by the U.S. Department of Energy,
walks small businesses through the energy efficient steps they
can take to save money. In addition to quick tips, they have provided
detailed information about how to implement your own long-term
energy conservation efforts, where to turn for expert assistance,
numerous creative financing options, and a list of further references
and sources. They also ask for stories of energy savings, so as
to share them with other small businesses.
California Air Resources Board
Business Assistance Program
http://www.arb.ca.gov/ba/ba.htm
The California Air Resources Board (CARB) has developed a business
assistance program to help all businesses understand air pollution
requirements. The site offers business assistance materials as
well as information on pollution prevention, information on their
air pollution training courses, and compliance materials. Not
only does this site aid California businesses, but it also provides
a thorough listing of many other state Small Business Assistance
Programs available on the Internet.
http://p2.utep.edu/projects/2000CriteriaR_final.cfm
The Green Zia Environmental Excellence Program is a voluntary
program designed to assist all New Mexico businesses, large and
small, achieve environmental excellence through continuous environmental
improvement. The program encourages the establishment of a prevention-based
environmental management system. The site presents technical tools
for integrating pollution prevention strategies, as well as guidelines
for measuring its effectiveness. The Governor of New Mexico makes
recognitions and awards annually to organizations that successfully
participate in the program.
http://www.smallbiz-enviroweb.org/
This site is sponsored by the US EPA and
maintained by Concurrent Technologies Corporation (CTC), a nonprofit
organization committed to assisting industry and government improve
the quality of their products and services. They designed this
site to act as a clearinghouse for information on achieving environmental
regulatory compliance and for obtaining funding assistance for
eligible businesses. They also offer a comprehensive inventory
of online publications and fact sheets and a catalog of guidance
and demonstration videos for an array of industries.
