RE: Getting Information Out to Small Businesses

[Heather Hinst <heather.hinst@dep.state.fl.us>]

Hello, my name is Heather Hinst, and I am the Outreach and Environmental Education Coordinator for the Division of Air Resources Management in the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.  I have been fascinated by the diversity of participants and their opinions during the past two days and applaud the many folks who have made this dialogue possible.

While reading Bob Carlitz' introduction today, I noticed one of the areas he suggested we focus on was outreach information and tools to small businesses. Since my division houses Florida's Small Business Assistance Program (SBAP), I thought I would take a few moments to summarize for you folks why this nationwide program network continues to assist the EPA in it's goals. 

While the Clean Air Act called for the establishment in each state of SBAPs for air-related issues, a number of states began their programs as multimedia (offering assistance with water, solid and hazardous waste, etc. in addition to air); more have transitioned their programs to multimedia. At least forty programs have a full or partial multimedia assistance focus. Small businesses appreciate "one stop shopping" for their compliance and technical assistance questions, rather than working through numerous media-based departments.

SBAP staff members continue to fill an important role as facilitators or mediators between small business owners/operators and regulatory agencies, enhancing communication to promote understanding and sensitivity on both sides. Improvements in compliance have occurred because businesses have someone to turn to for assistance and advice, and to act as an effective liaison with regulatory agencies. For example, industry sectors receiving assistance by SBAPs are: Auto/Body Maintenance, Repair, Refinishing; Printing/Graphic Arts; Dry Cleaning/Laundry Services; Recycling; Agriculture/Farming/Crop Service;
Paints and Painting/Coatings and many more.

Outreach methods include toll-free hotlines, onsite visits, seminars, mailings, webpages, and publications.  A great example of a successful ?tool' developed for small businesses is a drycleaner compliance calendar developed in the fall of 1997 that enabled businesses to easily track inspections and record PERC usage directly on their calendars, starting with calendar year 1998. This provided a clear and concise record, which could be easily accessed during an inspection.  As a result of the combined approach of workshops, inspections and the calendar, from 1996 to FY 98-99, record keeping and reporting compliance improved from 31 to 77 percent, a 148 percent increase. Further improvement in compliance is expected with the roll out of a Spanish version of the calendar beginning in 2001, targeted towards South Florida's substantial Spanish speaking population. The Florida SBAP has promoted replication of the calendar by other states and, to that effect, a downloadable version of the calendar was posted on Florida's SBAP web page in 1999 and subsequently on the EPA SBO website as well. Based on informal feedback, we understand that over 20 states have adopted or are in the process of adopting the calendar for use in their programs to date.

I hope this gives you an idea of how reaching out to small businesses before a problem occurs can further our mission of protecting our environment. Thank you for your attention.