Section 507 Program of the 1990 Clean Air Act Amendments
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 with monitoring and reporting on the overall effectiveness of the Program.
The Program consists of three components:
- Small Business Environmental Assistance Program (SBEAP);
- Small Business Ombudsman (SBO); and
- Compliance Advisory Panel (CAP).
Pennsylvania’s 507 Program
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania maintains all three components of the federal mandate as outlined in Section 507 of the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990.
In addition, these components also fulfill the requirements of the Pennsylvania Air Pollution Control Act of 1959, as amended in 1992.
Small Business Environmental Assistance Program
In Pennsylvania, EMAP fulfills the role of the SBEAP by providing free and confidential environmental technical assistance to those small businesses in need of air quality assistance.
Small Business Ombudsman
The Ombudsman serves as the primary advocate for small businesses within Pennsylvania DEP.
Small business owners with a question or issue with DEP can request assistance from the Ombudsman to voice their concerns and interests with the Department.
Small Business Compliance Advisory Committee
The purpose of this Committee is to review proposed and existing regulations and programs as they affect small businesses, to assure such regulations are written in understandable, clear laymen’s terms, and to advise the DEP’s Bureau of Air Quaility of the small business perspective on air quality issues.
