Small Business Ombudsman

Small Entity Compliance Assistance Resources and Policies 

The EPA Small Business Ombudsman has developed the ASBO's Resource List for Small Entity Compliance Assistance to consolidate assistance resources into one place for small entities.

For the most up to date compliance news and guidance materials, visit EPA’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance’s Small Business Compliance hub or EPA’s Guidance Portal where users and small businesses can quickly locate EPA’s active guidance documents on  topics of interest.  

Partnerships

ASBO fosters partnerships with state/federal/tribal programs  or trade organizations on small business environmental regulations and compliance. 

• National Small Business Environmental Assistance Programs, which consolidates small business assistance resources for the state SBEAP programs around the country 
• U.S Small Business Administration’s Office of Advocacy, which publishes Regulatory Alerts and holds roundtables on actions that may significantly affect small businesses. Advocacy encourages small businesses to provide comments on proposed rules and share potential impacts on small businesses to the authoring agency.

Additional compliance assistance resources for small entities:

• OECA’s Resources and Guidance Documents for Compliance Assistance 
• Small Business Resources Information Sheet
• Regulatory Flexibility Act
• EPA’s Small Entity Compliance Guides
• Resources for Small Business

Statutory Authority

EPA Small Business Ombudsman

Statutory Authority for the EPA Small Business Ombudsman is defined under the U.S. Clean Air Act, Title 5, Section 507(d.) of the  “Small Business Stationary Source Technical and Environmental Compliance Assistance Program” 42 U.S.C. § 7661f.

Among other requirements, the EPA Small Business Ombudsman is responsible for monitoring the effectiveness of  small business and environmental compliance assistance programs under this section. 

Agency Directive/EPA Policy 

EPA’s Small Business Ombudsman is one of the agency’s main program components to provide informal guidance and support small businesses in accessing EPA’s regulatory guidance, technical assistance, and advice on environmental regulations and compliance.