The First Stop
Environmental News & Information Small Businesses Need to Know
In this Issue:
EMAP's Website Gets a Facelift
Visit www.askemap.org to see our recently
updated website. In addition to an improved
look and easier navigability, the site includes:
- Detailed information on our program
and services, including bios for all
EMAP consultants
- Online request for an EMAP consultation
- “Clients in the Spotlight” - highlighting the
successes of EMAP’s clients
- Regularly updated news and
regulatory information
- Past issues of the “First Stop,” now available in PDF and HTML versions
- And much more!
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In 2007, we will continue to add more features
to make the site an important destination for all
small businesses in Pennsylvania. Coming soon:
- Events calendar featuring EMAP workshops
and other statewide events of interest
- “Environmental toolbox” - providing links to
online tools to help businesses manage environmental needs and stay in compliance
with regulations
- Expanded FAQs section where businesses
can easily find answers to common
environmental and energy questions
Is there something you would like to
see on the EMAP website? Email us at
newsletter@askemap.org with comments
and suggestions. |
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SBIR Workshop Announcement
The 7th Annual Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program Workshop will be held on March 22, 2007 in Philadelphia. This workshop will inform small technology
and science-based firms of the technology needs and funding opportunities of the
Environmental Protection Agency’s and Department of Energy’s SBIR programs.
For more information, visit www.askemap.org and click on “Training Seminars.”
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| Pennsylvania Businesses Toss Millions Per Year in Recyclables and Organics
Pennsylvania businesses could be saving over
$100 million each year by focusing more effort
on the separation and recycling of solid waste.
The DEP Statewide Waste Composition Study
showed that the Pennsylvania commercial
sector disposes of nearly 4.3 million tons of
trash per year, of which some 1.1 million tons
are recyclable materials and another 1.3
million tons are organic materials that could
be suitable for composting. Businesses and
institutions in the Commonwealth spend
an average of $44, and up to $74, per ton in
waste disposal fees, even though much of the
commercial waste stream can be diverted
from disposal.
One way businesses can save money on waste
disposal costs is through Pennsylvania Material
Trader, a free on-line service provided by EMAP.
Material Trader helps companies find markets
for materials they have traditionally discarded,
either individual items or ongoing waste streams
(see below). Visit www.materialtrader.org to
post your unwanted materials.
Waste minimization can be a low-cost way
for your business to save money. For more
information or to schedule a Waste Audit at
your facility, contact an environmental consultant
at (877) ASK-EMAP for a free and confidential
consultation.
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| REGULATORY NEWS |
| EPA Issues Final Rule to Amend SPCC Plan Requirements
The Environmental Protection Agency recently issued a rule amending the Spill Prevention,
Control, and Countermeasure (SPCC) Plan requirements for facilities with aboveground or
underground storage tanks. The amendment directly affects facilities with storage tanks of
10,000 gallons or less; the EPA expects the new rule will help reduce the regulatory and
financial burden on small businesses.
A SPCC Plan is required to address the design, operation, and maintenance procedures
established to prevent oil spills from occurring. The Plan also must provide countermeasures to
control, contain, clean up, and mitigate the effects of an unavoided oil spill. Under the previous
rule, all regulated facilities were required to have their SPCC Plans certified by a licensed
Professional Engineer (PE). The amended rule provides the option for owners or operators of
facilities that store 10,000 gallons of oil or less to self-certify their SPCC Plans. Owners and
operators choosing to self-certify will still be required to comply with all of the SPCC requirements
to develop and implement a spill prevention program in accordance with good engineering
practices. They may do so by following regulatory guidance, industry recommended practices,
and standard design and operation protocols. The EPA intends to develop materials to assist
businesses in developing SPCC Plans.
EMAP can help owners or operators work through the self-certification process. Contact us at
877-ASK-EMAP if you need assistance. For more information about the amended rule, visit http://www.epa.gov/oilspill.
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| DEP Launches Online Request for Determination
Businesses trying to determine whether they are exempt from an air quality Plan Approval or
Operating Permit will soon find the process much easier. In the spring of 2007, the DEP Bureau
of Air Quality will launch the Request for Determination (RFD) Online.
A Request for Determination is submitted to DEP and is used by facilities with new or existing air
pollutant sources to determine if those sources are exempt from permitting requirements. Until
now, a RFD was submitted in paper form to the applicant’s DEP regional office. By eliminating the
transit time associated with postal mail, RFD Online applicants can expect a shorter turnaround
period. Additionally, DEP expects the online process to be more streamlined:
- Applicants create an account at the DEP website, allowing the applicant to save the
application online and return at any time
- The site lets users attach supporting documents in various formats (e.g. Excel, PDF, and Word)
- Once the user clicks “submit,” the system generates a copy of the application, which can be
reviewed, edited, and verified before the final version is sent for DEP review
- Applicants receive confirmation via email that the application was received and is
under review by their DEP regional office.
- Within 30 days of receipt, the regional office issues a determination via email
The RFD Online will be available soon at www.depgreenport.state.pa.us. During the
transition period, businesses will still have the option to submit paper RFD applications, which
can be downloaded from the DEP website.
If you need help with the air quality permitting process, EMAP can help.
Call 877-ASK-EMAP for assistance
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SUCCESS STORY: Keystone's Innovative Recycling System
Keystone Pallet & Recycling is a wooden
pallet manufacturing and recycling facility in
Milton, PA. The business collects used and
damaged pallets, which it refurbishes and
resells. In the past, owner Matt Roberts
collected pallets from businesses throughout
central Pennsylvania on a 12-foot truck. He
visited the locations several times a month,
driving about 63,000 miles and spending just
over $3,300 on fuel per year. Keystone was
losing a valuable source of materials, as
limited storage capacity forced the largest
collection sites to dispose of excess pallets
that did not fit on Mr. Roberts’ small truck.
Mr. Roberts wanted to purchase a 24-foot
truck and two 53-foot portable collection units
to store waste pallets at his largest sites. He
planned to hire a truck driver to deliver the
portable units to and from his business once a
month, and the larger truck would allow him
to take fewer trips to his other sites. Together, these changes would greatly reduce Mr.
Roberts’ travel time and fuel costs, and he
could focus more time on marketing, sales,
and production to help his business grow.
In 2004, EMAP Consultant Denise Bechdel
informed Mr. Roberts of the DEP Small
Business Advantage Grant, which offers
matching grants for energy efficiency and
pollution prevention projects. He worked with
EMAP to submit an application and was
awarded the full $7,500 he requested.
Keystone again applied for and was awarded
the grant in 2005 and 2006, allowing for the
purchase of five more collection units.
Keystone Pallet & Recycling has implemented
its innovative recycling and collection system
with remarkable results. The company will
drive 48,360 fewer miles and save $5,500
in fuel costs per year! Keystone is also
preventing over 55,600 pounds of carbon
dioxide emissions. Furthermore, by collecting
and manufacturing pallets for reuse, the
company will prevent about 938,000 pounds
of wood waste from going to the landfill,
saving local businesses over $10,000 in
waste disposal fees. |
"EMAP has provided my business with an invaluable
service, which I will continue to use in the future."
- Matt Roberts,Keystone Pallet & Recycling |
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| ENERGY NEWS |
Pennsylvania Energy Watch: Preparing for Rate Cap Expirations
On September 28, 2006, the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) issued an order
reconvening the Demand Response Working Group, as a follow up to the PUC’s en banc
hearing on electricity price cap removals (see The First Stop, Summer 2006). The order
initiated an investigation into cost-effective programs that utilities, energy service providers,
and other stakeholders can implement to help electric customers conserve energy or use
it more efficiently. The Working Group is also tasked with analyzing advanced metering
and ratemaking mechanisms that may remove barriers to energy efficiency and demand
response. A consensus report with policy recommendations is scheduled to be delivered
to the PUC in April 2007. To provide the PUC with information on the potential impacts to
small businesses, EMAP has been participating in the Working Group.
Electricity price caps for utilities serving much of Pennsylvania are set to expire at the end of
2009 and 2010. As the PUC contemplates policy recommendations, small business
owners should start preparing now for potential electricity price increases. A recent energy
consumption survey by the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) found 43
percent of small business owners surveyed had already implemented no-cost, low-cost
energy saving strategies over the past three years. The survey also showed that 47 percent
of respondents were aware of additional steps they could take to cut energy costs if energy
prices rose by 25 percent. All small business owners should be conducting similar self-assessments.
Our experience has also shown that many small businesses need technical and financial
assistance to help identify and implement appropriate energy cost-saving strategies. Therefore, starting
with this issue of The First Stop, we will be offering energy efficiency tips and strategies over
the next year. Also, we are available to provide step-by-step no-cost technical assistance
including utility bill analyses and confidential on-site energy assessments. For more information,
call our toll-free hotline: 877-ASK-EMAP.
Energy Efficiency Tip #1 – Upgrade Lighting
Upgrade older T-12 fluorescent lamps and magnetic ballasts to high-efficiency
T-8 or T-5 fluorescent lamps and electronic ballasts. If left in place, older fluorescent
lighting technology’s annual operating costs in a typical commercial setting (7,500
square feet; 40 light fixtures with 4 lamps per fixture) has the potential to go from
$1,803 under current electric prices to $2,607 post rate cap. At the same time,
however, the potential annual cost savings from lighting upgrades increases.
By upgrading to higher efficiency T-8 fluorescent technology, the estimated
simple payback goes from 6.2 years under current electric prices to 4.3 years
post rate cap. |
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| MATERIAL TRADER |
Trash to Cash Opportunities Available
The Pennsylvania SBDC's Pennsylvania Material Trader provides a great opportunity for businesses and other organizations to connect with each other to save money on waste disposal and raw material costs. Material Trader is a free online service (materials may be offered at a nominal cost) and materials can be posted confidentially. For more details, and to view many other listings, go to www.materialtrader.org
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Check out some of these most recent listings:
Materials Wanted:
Item |
Description |
Clean, soft plastic bags |
Need large quantity to stuff handbags |
Fiberglass screen material |
Scrap from screen doors and windows |
Linseed oil |
Truckload of spent linseed oil needed on continuous basis |
Solids laden industrial wastewater |
1000+ gallons per day |
Materials Available:
Item |
Description |
Cooked pork and beef bones |
300-400 per month |
Rug trimmings |
5 trailer loads. Unprinted polyester with SBR foam backing |
Used Crucibles - cracked or broken |
10+ wth bronze and zinc interior and exterior |
Top grain leather pieces |
High quality leather |
Do you have waste materials that may have value to someone else? Are you looking for raw materials or other used business items? List and Find YOUR materials on Pennsylvania Material Trader.
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Winner of the 2007 EPA ENERGY STAR Award and 2007 ASBDC State Star Award