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EPASmall Business Ombudsman (OSDBU)

Opening Doors for America’s Small Businesses

Program Overview of the

Opening Doors for America’s Small Businesses

The EPA Small Business Ombudsman (SBO)

Small

Biz

SBO

EPA

Education and Outreach

Small Business Advocate

Support Nation-wide network of Small Business Compliance Assistance Providers

Opening Doors for America’s Small Businesses

Gateway to EPA

• Operate toll-free hotline for compliance and technical information

• Maintain EPA SBO website (www.epa.gov/sbo)• Broker meetings between small business

stakeholders and Agency staff• Coordinate issues between small businesses and

EPA regarding policies and regulations • Support EPA Regional Small Business Liaisons

through an annual conference, conference calls, and the establishment of an FTE position in each region

Opening Doors for America’s Small Businesses

Advocate for Small Businesses

• Ensure that small business needs are addressed in rulemaking

• Participate in the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act (SBREFA) process

• Reduce Paperwork Burden for Small Businesses

• Manage EPA’s Small Business Strategy and Implementation Plan

• Review Agency regulations and guidance documents to enhance understanding by small business owners

Opening Doors for America’s Small Businesses

• Coordinate approaches within EPA, and with other federal agencies, to help small businesses understand and meet their environmental responsibilities

• Build better understanding within EPA of the diversity, needs, and most effective ways to work with small businesses

• Emphasize partnership and stakeholder involvement • Strengthen the environmental performance of

small businesses • Instill the concept of environmental stewardship

in small businesses

Small Business Strategy and Implementation Plan

Opening Doors for America’s Small Businesses

Education and Outreach

• Publish electronic newsletter on small business issues and environmental actions

• Provide publications, regulations, guidance and develop tools to promote voluntary compliance

• Develop and provide training for state Small Business Environmental Assistance Providers and for small business owners who are members of state Compliance Advisory Panels (CAP)

• Conduct annual EPA Regional Small Business Liaison Conference

Opening Doors for America’s Small Businesses

Small Business Environmental Assistance National Network

• Help states and territories implement the requirements of Section 507 of the Clean Air Act Amendments CAPs, SBOs, and Small Business

Environmental Assistance Programs

(SBEAP)• Sponsor annual national SBO/SBEAP

Conference• Coordinate small business compliance

assistance activities with EPA program and regional offices

• Support EPA Regional Small Business Liaisons

Opening Doors for America’s Small Businesses

Small Business Environmental Assistance National Network

Continued. . . .

• Maintain dialogue with trade associations on environmental issues that potentially impact thousands of small businesses

• Represent EPA in partnerships with other federal, state, and private organizations

• Promote national communication through the Smallbiz website (www.smallbiz-enviroweb.org)

Opening Doors for America’s Small Businesses

EPA Regional Small Business Liaisons

• Promote regional coordination of outreach to small businesses

• Help small businesses understand and meet their obligations under EPA regulations

• Provide information to assistance providers• Assist SBOs/SBEAPs in the region

Opening Doors for America’s Small Businesses

For More Information

• Angela Suber, Acting SBO Phone: 202-566-2827 Main Line: 566-2075 Fax: 202-566-1505 suber.angela@epa.gov

• Toll free hotline: 800-368-5888• Small Business Environmental

Homepage: www.smallbiz-enviroweb.org