October 24, 2012
The 2012 Small Business Compliance Advisory Panel (SBCAP) annual meeting took place October 18th at the Hastings Area Chamber of Commerce building, 301 South Burlington, Hastings, Nebraska. SBCAP members present at the meeting included Jim Hellbusch, Duo Lift Manufacturing Company, Inc.; Jack Schreiner, Bruckman Rubber Company; Mr. Steve Rexroth, Miracle Workers Auto Collision Center; Rick Bettger, House of Mufflers and Brakes; and Tim Doyle, Nebraska Department of Environment & Energy (NDEE). Several NDEE staff attended, as well two members of the public – representatives from Clean Harbors and Dutton-Lainson Company.
SBCAP members received regulatory updates from NDEE personnel. Jay Ringenberg, NDEE Deputy Director, provided an update on the Keystone XL Pipeline discussed the Omaha Combined Sewer Overflow project, the National Ambient Air Quality Standard 2013 review of the ozone standard and its implications for the state, and provided summaries of the Superfund National Priority List sites in Omaha, Columbus and Hastings. Blayne Renner, NDEE Water Quality Division, and Brian Kozisek, NDEE Air Quality Division, provided updates to the panel on new National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Construction Storm Water General Permit and new air rules impacting small businesses, respectively.
Panel members, Joe Francis, NDEE Associate Director, Ryan Green, Small Business Public Assistance Coordinator, and other NDEE personnel and members from the public discussed assistance opportunities within NDEE. Francis discussed that while NDEE is a regulatory agency by statute, the Department finds great success relying on various assistance-based activities to obtain compliance with the regulated community. Mr. Green gave a presentation summarizing the Department's primary assistance activities, and SBCAP panel members and a member of the public discussed other outreach measures the Department could take to spread the word about NDEE’s assistance activities. Panel members discussed where NDEE’s assistance programs have been helpful and discussed areas where improvements could be made.
Small Business CAP Members discussed what successful pollution prevention or sustainability efforts can mean to a small business’s bottom line; with Mr. Schreiner, Mr. Hellbusch, Mr. Rexroth, and Mr. Rettger each giving examples of things they have done at their own businesses to reduce wastes, energy costs, and improve production or service efficiencies.
The meeting concluded with Mr. Schreiner hosting a tour of Bruckman Rubber Co., in Hastings.
For additional information, please contact:
Ryan Green
NDEE Small Business and Public Assistance Coordinator
(402) 471-8697
ryan.green@nebraska.gov
Or any of the SBCAP members:
Click here to view members of the Small Business Compliance Advisory Panel |