Small Business Assistance Program (SBAP)

Small businesses frequently lack the technical expertise and the financial resources necessary to evaluate regulations to determine the appropriate mechanisms for compliance. Recognizing these problems, Congress established Section 507 of the amendments, which requires all state governments to establish a Small Business Technical and Environmental Compliance Assistance Program.

Questions may be addressed to David Stroh at 701-328-5229, or email destroh@nd.gov.

Purpose

On November 15, 1990, amendments to the Clean Air Act were signed into law. This marked the first time that thousands of small businesses were affected by federal clean air control requirements. This decision evolved from numerous studies which concluded that several of the nation's most serious air quality problems could not be solved without establishing controls on small sources that pollute the air. The purpose of the SBAP is to provide information to small businesses about requirements of the Clean Air Act, small business rights and obligations under the Clean Air Act, methods of pollution prevention and detection, alternate technologies, methods of operation that can help reduce air pollution, and other areas. In addition, the SBAP will refer small businesses to technical experts within the Department of Environmental Quality who can assist them in achieving compliance. The SBAP also will consider requests from small businesses for modifying work practices and technological methods of compliance.

Who Qualifies?

The SBAP provides the services of an environmental consultant to those businesses that qualify as small business concerns.

Has 100 or fewer employees;
Is a small business concern as defined in the small business act;
Is independently owned, not dominant in its field;
Emits less than 50 tons per year of any regulated pollutant;
Emits less than 75 tons per year of all regulated pollutants.

The Program

Small Business Ombudsman (SBO)

To contact the small business ombudsman, call 1-800-755-1625 or 701-328-5202. The ombudsman provides the following services:

Represent small business in government organizations;
Promote the participation of small businesses in the development of regulations;
Refer small businesses to the appropriate SBAP specialist for technical assistance;
Operate a toll free hot-line

Compliance Advisory Panel (CAP)

The CAP consists of representatives from the general public, small businesses and the Department of Environmental Quality and provides advisory opinions on the overall effectiveness of the program.

Technical Assistance Group (SBAP/TAG)

The SBAP provides technical assistance to small businesses. Some of the services available are:

Help in determining if regulations apply to your business;
Help in understanding rules that may apply to your business and how to meet them;
Refer small businesses to the appropriate SBAP specialist for technical assistance;
Help in developing pollution prevention programs; and
Providing state auditors to help determine compliance.