Small Business Enterprise - Spring edition

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Small Business Enterprise

Small business funding and regulatory updates


Two days left to apply! MPCA grants to reduce air emissions from refrigerant use 

Refrigerant use

The MPCA is providing grant funding to reduce emissions of high global warming potential (HGWP) greenhouse gas (GHG) refrigerants from facilities within Minnesota. Applicants have the opportunity to identify and encourage voluntary emission reductions from chiller and cooling equipment use.

HGWP GHG refrigerants have replaced, the once largely used, ozone damaging refrigerants such as Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and Hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs). While these replacements spare the ozone layer, they warm the atmosphere much faster than carbon dioxide. Some substitutes to HGWP GHG refrigerants are available, and alternative methods to reduce refrigerant use can be identified and can reduce emissions associated with refrigerants.

Eligible projects identify HGWP GHG reduction opportunities and encourage reduction practices at facilities in Minnesota through leak detection and monitoring and/or the use alternative refrigerants with a lower global warming potential. The maximum award is $40,000 and there is no match requirement.

Eligible applicants:

  • Consultants
  • Associations
  • Organizations
  • Businesses
  • Educational institutions and
  • Governmental units

Apply now! Deadline: May 15, 2019

To learn more about this grant opportunity and download the application forms, visit the Refrigerant emission reduction grants webpage. Please email grants.pca@state.mn.us with questions.


MPCA offers $3.7 million in grant funding for diesel on-road trucks and transit buses

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) is offering $3.7 million in grant funds to replace heavy duty diesel trucks and transit buses (class 4-8) in Minnesota. The grants are aimed at dramatically reducing nitrogen oxide (NOx) pollution.

How much funding is available? Up to 25% or $40,000 (whichever is less) per replacement

Who can apply?

  • Any diesel truck owner
  • City and private fleet owners
  • Nonprofit organizations

What is eligible?

  • Class 4-8 diesel trucks and transit buses, including short-haul delivery trucks, refuse haulers, cement trucks, box trucks, and drayage trucks (No long-haul trucks or school buses)
  • The old vehicle must be diesel (1992-2009)
  • New replacement vehicles may be diesel or an alternative fuel such as propane, natural gas, hybrid, or electric (not gasoline) 

The application period ends July 9, 4:30 P.M. 

All application materials and eligibility details are on the MPCA website. A webinar reviewing the RFP and application forms will be given May 16, 1-2:30 PM. The webinar will be recorded and posted online. Questions must be sent by email to grants.pca@state.mn.us. All questions will be answered and posted on the grant web page under the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) tab.


Grant funding success story: City of St Louis Park moves to alternative landscaping equipment

The City of St. Louis Park Parks and Recreation Division had a large, aging collection of two-cycle gas-powered landscaping equipment. When researching replacements, they decided to purchase all battery-powered equipment with the help of a MPCA alternative landscaping equipment grant. The grounds staff took so quickly to the new equipment, they worked it into their city-wide budget to purchase more that same year. They keep gas-powered equipment locked up and only use when essential to a task.

Securing grant funds to purchase some electric-powered equipment proved to be a worthy investment for the department. In hindsight, Park Superintendent Rick Beane wishes they would have planned to use grant funds to roll this out to the entire city, instead of just the Parks Department. His advice for others applying for this grant: dream big!

Budget total: $10,518

Purchased: 8 trimmers, 2 hedge trimmers, 2 hand-held blowers, 1 back pack blower, 2 chainsaws, and 1 pole pruner

Benefits: Staff like that electric-powered equipment can be easy-to-use, light weight, quiet, and has no smell.

electric blower

Air permit requirements for small sources of air emissions have changed

New rules change air permit requirements for some facilities with low overall air emissions. These general requirements can make it unnecessary to hold an air permit and have been established for the following new conditionally exempt source categories:

  1. auto-body refinishing facilities
  2. coating facilities
  3. woodworking facilities
  4. "insignificant" facilities

If your facility qualifies for one of the new conditionally exempt sources and…

The notification requirement…

has been operating without an air permit,

  • The MPCA encourages you to comply with the new standards and submit the notification form to the agency.

is due by May 14, 2019.

 

already has an air permit,

  • You can keep your current permit or switch to comply with the exempt source standard.

does not have a deadline.

is a new facility,

  • You can choose to either follow the standards or apply for an air permit.

is due within 120 days from when operations begin.

 

If your facility qualifies as an “insignificant” facility, a notification is not required.

Eligibility criteria, notification forms, and other information specific to the new conditionally exempt sources is available on the MPCA’s Conditionally Exempt Facilities Webpage and Insignificant Facility Webpage.

If you are a small business (less than 100 employees) and have questions, you can contact the Small Business Environmental Assistance Program, 800-657-3938 or 651-282-6143, smallbizhelp.pca@state.mn.us.


New e-Service for air permit termination requests

Permit void/termination requests is now available via the MPCA’s e-Services. All air permit holders will be able to create/log into their accounts to apply for a permit termination. Additional instructions will be provided online in the near future. During the transition period, the agency will accept either paper (form VR-01) or the e-services application. However, starting June 1, 2019, the online service will be mandatory for permit termination requests. Permit terminations are not automatic. Following submittal, the agency will review the request and the assigned permit staff will send a confirmation letter.


Pharmaceutical wastes: new requirements and allowances

Pharma waste

Some new pharmaceutical waste requirements and allowances will go into effect starting this August, and others will be phased in over the next three years.

Effective August 22, 2019, healthcare facilities, including nursing homes, may no longer sewer any pharmaceutical wastes that are federal hazardous wastes. Group homes with a capacity of six residents or less are exempt from this ban. Controlled substances will no longer be regulated as hazardous wastes, but must continue to meet all U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) requirements. Over-the-counter nicotine replacement therapy products approved by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) will also no longer be regulated as hazardous wastes. Prescription and recreational nicotine products will remain fully regulated as hazardous wastes when disposed.

Starting in 2022, the MPCA anticipates that all pharmaceutical wastes, including state-specific hazardous wastes, from any business will be banned from sewering.

The MPCA will be publishing more detailed information on these changes as soon as possible on its Hazardous Waste Publications webpage.