Clean Air Clips

              Clean Air Clips -WINTER 2004
Small Business Environmental Assitance Program
Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity
620 E. Adams, 4 Floor
Springfield, IL 62701
800/252-3998 (TDD: 800/785-6055)
www.illinoisbiz.biz
US EPA Updates
Submit a Risk Management Plan in 1999?
2004 is time to resubmit!
Risk Management Plans (RMP) were developed to help
businesses develop a plan of action in the case of an
chemical accident. Chemical accidents can occur at
businesses of any size. Many small businesses handle
propane, ammonia, chlorine and other chemicals that could
pose risk to surrounding communities if an accident were to
occur. June 21, 1999, companies of all sizes that use
certain listed chemical were required to submit plans that
detailed how they would prevent accidental chemical
releases from occurring. The type and quantity of
chemicals determines if you are affected rather than the
size of your company. The Risk Management Plan was to
focus on the prevention of accidents, not just preparation
and response.
You must fully revise and update your RMP for
resubmission within five years of the postmark date of its
initial submission, if no changes occurred at your facility, or
within five years of the postmark date of the most recent
resubmission.
In your RMP submission, you are required to identify an
Emergency Contact and provide their name, title, phone
number, and a 24-hour phone/pager number. Keeping this
information up-to-date is important as it will help
emergency responders and others in your community. To
be of most value in an emergency, updates to this
information need to be timely.
Resubmission Procedure
To resubmit, you must update all nine sections of your
RMP. For an electronic RMP, revise the original RMP as
needed and submit the updated RMP as a resubmission on
diskette. Chapter 6 of EPA's RMP*Submit User's Manual
provides detailed information on how to generate the
resubmission on diskette.
For additional information, contact Syliva Palomo at the US
EPA at 312/352-3174, visit the US EPA’s Web site at:
<www.epa.gov/ceppo> or contact the Small Business
Environmental Assistance Helpline at 800/252-3998 (TDD:
800/785-6055).
CHICAGO'S CENTER FOR GREEN TECHNOLOGY..
Have you seen it???
Chicago Center for Green Technology building was
originally constructed in 1952. Since then a number
of different companies have owned the building. When
it came to the attention of the Chicago
Department of Environment (DOE) in 1995, the
building and its 17 acres were owned by a crushing
company which had a permit to collect limited
construction and demolition debris. The Department
of Environment spent approximately $9 million and
18 months cleaning up the property, which opened to
the public in May of 2002. Chicago’s Center for
Green Technology is located at 445 North
Sacramento Boulevard in Chicago. It is open to the
public Monday through Friday from 9:00 am to 4:00
pm, Saturday 9:00 am to 1:00 pm and on Sunday
from 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm. Visitors are welcome to
explore the public areas of the building and campus.
Brochures for self-guided tours are available at the
building. Please call (312) 746-9777 for more
information or visit the Web site at
<www.cityofchicago.org/Environment/GreenTech/>.
Illinois Updates
ENVIRONMENTAL WORKSHOPS FOR THE CONSTRUCTION
AND DEMOLITION INDUSTRY AND BUILDING CODE
OFFICIALS
The Department of Commerce and Economic
Opportunity’s Small Business Environmental Assistance
Program along with 26 co-sponsors will be holding
workshops around the state to educate the construction
industry and building code officials about requirements
for asbestos, lead, mold, safety and health, radon,
indoor air quality and much more. Please register and
send your $25, to guarantee a seat and a meal.
Sorry, fees are nonrefundable fee. Workshops will
be held from 8:30-4:30 on the following dates and
locations:
Feb. 18 Holiday Inn Moline, Moline
Feb. 19 Rock Valley College Woodward Technology
Feb. 25 Elgin Community College, Elgin
Feb. 26 Joliet Junior College Institute of
March 30 Wright College, Chicago
If you have questions or would like to register for one
of the workshops, please contact the Illinois Small
Business Environmental Assistance Helpline at 800/252-
3998, visit the Web site at:
<www.illinoisbiz.biz/bus/sba.html> or via e-mail at
sbeap@illinoisbiz.biz and request a registration form.
Illinois Small Business Development Centers
☺ Celebrate 20 Year Anniversary ☺
The Illinois Small Business Development Center has been a leader in
helping the state’s small business community grow and thrive for 20
years. Its network of 40 Small Business Development Centers (SBDC)
around the state, are supported by the Illinois Department of Commerce
and Economic Opportunity in partnership with the U. S. Small Business
Administration. These centers are available to provide a wide array of
free or very low cost assistance to any potential or existing small
business owner.
Each of the 40 Small Business Development Centers offers free
management consultation and training programs. Clients can receive
assistance in business plan development, advice on capital acquisition,
financial management, marketing and sales (including e-commerce and
exporting), customer service, personnel management or general
business planning. Most of the Small Business Development Centers
are located at community colleges or universities and offer access to
specialized consultants. There are also specialized centers to help
entrepreneurs interested in international trade, manufacturing,
government contracting, technology, etc. All of the SBDC’s work in
partnership with the specialized centers and with the recently announced
network of Illinois Entrepreneurship Centers whose focus is on rapidly
growing businesses.
The SBDC’s also conducted seminars, workshops and training courses
including the NxLeveLtraining program, an extensive multi week in-depth
small business training curricula offering hands-on, practical, common
sense training, conducted by experienced business educators featuring
guest speeches given by prominent business leaders and owners.
Students are presented with networking opportunities, one-on-one
business counseling and support, comprehensive textbooks, workbooks
and resource guides.
The gateway to all of these small business resources in the state is the
Illinois Small Business Office’s First Stop Business Information Center.
The First Stop Center hosts a toll-free small business help line (800/252-
2923) to help clients with government regulations and licensing. The
center also produces print and online publications and resources for
prospective and current business owners in Illinois.