State Small Business Environmental Assistance Programs
Section 507 of the 1990 Clean Air Act Amendments (CAAA) requires each state to establish a Small Business Stationary Source Technical and Environmental Compliance Assistance Program (also known as "507 Program," and/or "Small Business Environmental Assistance Program"). Section 507(d) charges the EPA Small Business Ombudsman (SBO) with monitoring and reporting on the overall effectiveness of the Program.
The Program consists of three components:
- Small Business Environmental Assistance Program: Providers of detailed technical assistance, publications, and tools to help small businesses come into or remain in compliance with environmental regulations.
- Small Business Ombudsman: State advocate acting on behalf of small businesses relating to environmental issues.
- Compliance Advisory Panel: Small business owners and representatives who consult and advise on SBEAP content.
The SBO/SBEAP National Steering Committee (NSC) was created in 1995 to represent the interests of the Small Business 507 Programs and also to provide a networking and communications tool between the programs and EPA's SBO and EPA's Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards (OAQPS). One representative from each EPA region serves on the NSC, along with an alternative from that region.