Onsite Assistance Visits

The Office of Community Engagement (OCE) through the Small Business Environmental Assistance Program is Focused on helping small businesses and municipalities understand and comply with environmental regulations through one-on –one permitting and compliance assistance. OCE’s technical assistance team works closely with MDEQ’s air, water and land protection branches to determine what regulations apply to your business and what permits your business needs. OCE’s outreach team understands that small business owners are focused on operating their businesses and often need help understanding environmental laws and regulations. We provide easy to understand written materials on regulations, compliance requirements, and pollution prevention practices.

Information

Hotline: 800-725-6112

For answers to questions such as:

• “Do I need a permit?”
• “What are my record keeping and reporting obligations?”
• “How can pollution prevention help me?”
• “What is the proper control equipment for my process?”
• “Is my business impacted by the Clean Air Act Amendments?”

Publications / Technical Guidance Documents

• EPA Enforcement Response Policy for Clean Air Act Small Business
• EPA Compliance Incentives & Auditing
• EPA is committed to exploring new and creative ways of achieving environmental results. This topic includes information on innovative enforcement and compliance approaches.

EPA’s Audit Policy

This EPA policy was designed to provide major incentives for regulated entities that voluntarily discover, promptly disclose, and expeditiously correct noncompliance, rendering formal EPA investigation and enforcement action unnecessary.

EPA Small Business Compliance Policy

The Small Business Compliance Policy is intended to promote environmental compliance among small businesses by providing incentives for them to make use of compliance assistance programs, environmental audits, or compliance management systems (CMS), or to participate in any activities that may increase small businesses’ understanding of the environmental requirements with which they must comply. The Policy accomplishes this in two ways: by waiving or reducing civil penalties to which a small business might otherwise be subject, and by deferring to States and local governments or tribal authorities that offer these incentives consistent with the criteria established in this Policy.