Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management Office of

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

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.

Major Project Review 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.

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

File Review Coordination 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

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)

http: //www. state. ri. us/dem

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

Federal Pollution Prevention Grant Projects 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/P 2 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)

URI-Center for Pollution Prevention Technical Support (‘ 88) 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

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

Rhode Island CSI Metal Finishing 2000 Project 4 EPA-NE, NBC, RIDEM, URI, Industry & Save the 4 4 Bay OBJ: explore cost efficient and flexible approaches for achieving enhanced environmental performance Participation Criteria: compliance record; commitment to P 2 and employee environmental education Participation Incentives: e. g. , regulatory flexibility, production modifications, regulatory relief Economic Incentives: e. g. , reduction in monthly effluent monitoring

US EPA Grant Project 4 “Integration of P 2 into an ISO 14000 Management System” 4 3 yr. /$37, 000 EPA-DEM-Industry Project; start date Oct ‘ 97 4 Key Project Components: pollution prevention & measurement

RI Environmental Compliance Incentive Act (Effective July ‘ 97) 4 Signed by Gov. Almond July 10, 1997 4 To encourage “voluntary self- evaluations of compliance programs and management systems” 4 Examples- audits or standard management practices to monitor compliance status

Clean Air Act (CAA)Small Business Assistance (SBAP) 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)

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 401 -2771 ext. 2402 or in RI 800 -932 -1000, FAX 401 -277 -6802

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 401 -277 -6822 ext. 7204

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

Have questions? Need help? Office of Technical & Customer Assistance 222 -6822