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Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management

Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management. Office of Technical & Customer Assistance. Pre-application assistance. Why have a pre-application meeting? How do I schedule a meeting? Who should attend? What should I bring? What to expect? What not to expect?. Permit Streamlining.

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Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management

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  1. Rhode IslandDepartment of Environmental Management Office of Technical & Customer Assistance

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

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

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

  5. Major Project Review • OTCA serves as the primary point of contact for DEM on federal actions and federally funded projects, in accordance with DEM’s Coordination Policy. • 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 • OTCA does a preliminary review of major subdivisions when requested by the municipality, per Subdivision Enabling Act.

  6. How do we help consultants with major projects? • OTCA serves both the project proponent and DEM by 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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  14. Rhode Island Pollution Prevention Team

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

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

  17. EPA-HQ/EPA-NE Initiatives • 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) • Environmental Leadership Project (ELP)

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

  19. US EPA Grant Project • “Integration of P2 into an ISO 14000 Management System” • 3yr./$37,000 EPA-DEM-Industry Project; start date Oct ‘97 • Key Project Components: pollution prevention & measurement

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

  21. 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)

  22. Components of SBAP 1. State Ombudsman: acts as the small business community’s representative for Clean Air Act matters: • Reviews regulation development and implementation to provide recommendations and comments to EPA and DEM • Helps disseminate information about upcoming regulations and requirements • Refers small businesses to appropriate specialists • Roger Greene 401-277-2771 ext. 2402 or in RI 800-932-1000, FAX 401-277-6802

  23. 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 • Informs small businesses of Clean Air Act requirements • Helps small businesses deal with technical, administrative and compliance problems • Creates and disseminates easy to understand information • Refers small businesses to environmental auditors & specialists • Pam Annarummo 401-277-6822 ext. 7204 • Joe Antonio ext. 4410 FAX 401 277-3810

  24. Components of SBAP 3. Compliance Advisory Panel: a seven member panel to guide and determine the overall effectiveness of the SBAP: • 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 • Reviews SBAP and advises on its effectiveness • Makes progress reports to the EPA Small Business Ombudsman • Ensures written information is easy to understand

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

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

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

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