Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management Office of Technical & Customer Assistance

Pre-application assistance 4 Why have a pre-application meeting? 4 How do I schedule a meeting? 4 Who should attend? 4 What should I bring? 4 What to expect? 4 What not to expect?

Permit Streamlining 4 KPMG Peat Marwick Final Report “Permit Application Process Streamlining Study, July 30, 1997” 4 Approximately 130 recommendations 4 Policy changes, regulatory changes, changes to statutes 4 Some will require additional funds and additional staff

Permit Streamlining 4 The Department has established an Advisory Committee to review and prioritize recommendations. 4 Freshwater wetland recommendations will be reviewed and prioritized first. 4 Separate stakeholder groups for air and waste will prioritize their respective recommendations.

4 OTCA serves as the primary point of contact for DEM on federal actions and federally funded projects, in accordance with DEM’s Coordination Policy. 4 OTCA coordinates DEM review of, and response to, National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) disclosure documents and similar materials related to major projects; e.g., –major transportation, energy, water projects –restoration projects –Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) applications for hydropower development, transmission lines and pipelines –Quonset/Davisville redevelopment projects –multimedia projects in the planning stage 4 OTCA does a preliminary review of major subdivisions when requested by the municipality, per Subdivision Enabling Act. Major Project Review

How do we help consultants with major projects? 4 OTCA serves both the project proponent and DEM by facilitating good communication and promoting environmentally sound development projects. 4 OTCA assures that input from relevant DEM programs is solicited, and that we speak with a single voice- no conflicting requests or requirements. 4 Environmental concerns are identified at an early planning stage- no surprises down the line. 4 Multiple copies of materials for review are submitted to OTCA- we distribute them and keep track of deadlines. 4 Need a meeting? We schedule it, and make sure the right people are invited.

General Customer Assistance 4 OTCA staffs the telephone console at 235 Promenade Street, and answers the general information phone number listed in the phone book 4 All staff are available to deal with general questions, even if the subject is outside the purview of the Department 4 OTCA can provide, or coordinate, DEM speakers on a variety of topics

4 OTCA serves as file review coordinator for the regulatory Offices 4 consultants may still make appointments directly with some Offices –Waste Management (CERCLA, LUST, UST) –Water Resources (Wetlands, ISDS) –Air Resources 4 schedules multi-media file reviews associated with a single site 4 schedules single program reviews for some Offices –Compliance & Inspection –Water Resources (RIPDES) 4 answers questions regarding file review procedure 4 maintains Oil Spill Logs, and Groundwater Classification and Wellhead Protection Area maps File Review Coordination

Regulation & Publication Clearinghouse 4 OTCA has begun to collect and index copies of all regulations, policies, and outreach materials for single-point distribution 4 Material will be available over the Internet, and will be searchable

Department Web Page 4 OTCA is the lead Office for construction and maintenance of a DEM web page 4 Content to include- –regulations and policies (downloadable files) –calendar of events –public notices –press releases –directory, phone book –FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)

The Future? (in order of decreasing probability) 4 Internet access to permit tracking software systems 4 Internet access to application forms 4 Electronic submittal of applications 4 Internet access to DEM files

Technical Assistance- What Services Are Provided? 4 Pollution Prevention Technical Assistance 4 Regulatory Compliance Assistance 4 On-site 4 Non-regulatory 4 Confidential

Rhode Island Pollution Prevention Team

4 U.S. EPA-HQ HWRP: 2 yr, $150,000 (88) 4 U.S. EPA-HQ SRRTA: 5 yr, $600,000 (89) 4 U.S. EPA-HQ Min. Casting Co.: 1 yr, $24,000 (92) 4 U.S. EPA-HQ IPT/P2 NBC: 5 yr, $600,00 (92) 4 U.S. EPA-HQ Textile Industry: 5 yr, $432,237 (92) 4 U.S. EPA-NE Auto Refinishing: 3 yr, $150,169 (94) 4 U.S. NOAA Seafood Process.: 3 yr, $603,101 (95) 4 U.S. EPA-NE Reg. Integration: 2 yr, $110,000 (96) 4 U.S. EPA-NE Auto Shops Mentoring: 18 mth, $66,797 (97) 4 U.S. EPA-NE Metal Fin. Evaporators: 2 yr, $142,367 (97) 4 U.S. EPA-NE ISO 14000: 3 yr $34,000 (97) Federal Pollution Prevention Grant Projects

4 Multidisciplinary team approach 4 Laboratory and research facilities –analytical/pilot testing equipment 4 Incubator for new ideas and tech’s 4 “Safe haven” for industry URI-Center for Pollution Prevention Technical Support (‘88)

 National & Regional Initiatives: Project XL, ELP, CEIT, CLEAN, NEEATeam, 3PC, CSI, P4, NEPPS, PPG, IAQ “Tools for Schools”, UEI, STEP-Up, RRW, Common Sense Initiative (CSI) 4 Environmental Leadership Project (ELP) EPA-HQ/EPA-NE Initiatives

4 EPA-NE, NBC, RIDEM, URI, Industry & Save the Bay 4 OBJ: explore cost efficient and flexible approaches for achieving enhanced environmental performance 4 Participation Criteria: compliance record; commitment to P2 and employee environmental education 4 Participation Incentives: e.g., regulatory flexibility, production modifications, regulatory relief 4 Economic Incentives: e.g., reduction in monthly effluent monitoring Rhode Island CSI Metal Finishing 2000 Project

4 “Integration of P2 into an ISO Management System” 4 3yr./$37,000 EPA-DEM-Industry Project; start date Oct ‘97 4 Key Project Components: pollution prevention & measurement US EPA Grant Project

4 Signed by Gov. Almond July 10, To encourage “voluntary self- evaluations of compliance programs and management systems” 4 Examples- audits or standard management practices to monitor compliance status RI Environmental Compliance Incentive Act (Effective July ‘97)

Small Business Assistance Program is a requirement of the 1990 Clean Air Act Amendments and includes: 1. State Small Business Ombudsman 2. State Compliance Advisory Panel (CAP) 3. Small Business Assistance Program (SBAP) Clean Air Act (CAA)- Small Business Assistance (SBAP)

Components of SBAP 1. State Ombudsman : acts as the small business community’s representative for Clean Air Act matters: 4 Reviews regulation development and implementation to provide recommendations and comments to EPA and DEM 4 Helps disseminate information about upcoming regulations and requirements 4 Refers small businesses to appropriate specialists 4 Roger Greene ext or in RI , FAX

Components of SBAP 2. Small Business Assistance Program (SBAP) : provides technical and administrative support w/in state government to help small business comply with the Act 4 Informs small businesses of Clean Air Act requirements 4 Helps small businesses deal with technical, administrative and compliance problems 4 Creates and disseminates easy to understand information 4 Refers small businesses to environmental auditors & specialists 4 Pam Annarummo ext Joe Antonio ext FAX

Components of SBAP 3. Compliance Advisory Panel : a seven member panel to guide and determine the overall effectiveness of the SBAP: 4 4 small business owners or representatives selected by the state legislature, 2 public representatives selected by the governor, and 1 representative from DEM Air Resources 4 Reviews SBAP and advises on its effectiveness 4 Makes progress reports to the EPA Small Business Ombudsman 4 Ensures written information is easy to understand

Information Dissemination 4 Pollution Prevention Progress newsletter 4 Fact Sheets - “Plain English” and industry-specific information 4 Interdepartmental Projects coordination 4 EPA/DEM coordination

On-site Compliance Assistance 4 Help small businesses understand the regulations and permitting processes –New facility assistance –Existing facility assistance –Facility expansion assistance –Other small business assistance

Office of Technical & Customer Assistance Have questions? Need help?