Small Business Advisor - December 2020

Small Biz News

Small Business Advisor - January 2020


FET Air Reporting and Requirement Updates Webinar

The annual air emissions reporting and air quality updates seminars provided in January will look a bit different in 2021.  Key DNR speakers will still be available but the seminar will be virtual, provided in 2-half day webinars.

Register for FET’s 2‐part webinar on January 21st and 26th on air reporting and updates on air permit and compliance topics. Topics include emissions reporting, including preparing and submitting the Air Emissions Inventory or Under Threshold Notification, and related changes; how to submit air permit renewal applications, with new checklists; other air permit updates; and compliance updates that include what to expect during virtual inspections. Several DNR Air Program staff will be providing the presentations.  Plus, learn about PFAS air emissions and how to calculate for TRI reporting; and an update on EPA enforcement activities in Region 5 and nationally.

If you cannot attend on those dates, registration with FET will give you access to the recorded webinars and copies of the presentations.  You can watch when you have time and follow up with the presenters by phone or email if you have questions. 

Register online at http://fetinc.org/website/online-registration/ or use the PDF form and submit it to the FET office.


Safety Training from WisCon Safety Consultation Program

WSLH WisCon Weekly Webinar - 1:00 PM every Monday

The Weekly Webinar is a short weekly presentation on workplace health and safety topics. Questions entered online during the presentation will be answered right after the presentation.  If the answer isn’t available immediately, it will be addressed the following week. Register online with Eventbrite prior to the start of the webinar for access.  Currently, the presentations are delivered in Zoom webinar.    The remaining December Topics are: 

January topics will include lockout tagout and OSHA injury and illness records.  February topics will cover OSHA posting requirements, office ergonomics, and abrasive grinding wheels.  For these and other outreach training programs from WisCon you can go to the Safety and Health Training webpage at http://www.slh.wisc.edu/occupational/wiscon/safety-and-health-wiscon-training/

WisCon has seventeen professional field staff that can provide you with direct assistance.  Call (800) 947-0553 or visit their website www.slh.wisc.edu/wiscon


2021-22 Gas Calendar Coming Soon!

Gas station owners and operators in Wisconsin should keep an eye out for the 2021-2022 Compliance Calendar for Gasoline Dispensing Facilities which will be going out shortly. The two-year calendar, published by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources’ Small Business Environmental Assistance Program (SBEAP), is mailed out to all registered tank owners every other year.

The Compliance Calendar provides tools and resources to help gasoline dispensing facilities comply with environmental requirements related to the transfer of fuel; including regulatory summaries, worksheets, checklists, record keeping logs and reminders of important dates. These tools can help gas stations meet regulatory requirements such as inventory tracking, leak detection and equipment inspections, operator designations and training, and tank permit and insurance renewals. Remember to also review the cover letter for a summary of what’s new this year. If operators keep their calendar on file for five years, it can serve as part of the facility’s official record. Anyone who receives this calendar but is not the owner or operator of the gasoline dispensing facility should forward it to the person at the facility who is responsible for complying with environmental regulations.

Any gas station that does not receive a calendar, would like additional copies, wants to change mailing information or has questions about environmental regulations should call SBEAP at (855) 889-3021 (toll free) or send an e-mail to DNRSmallBusiness@wisconsin.gov. The calendar and separate recordkeeping and checklist pages can also be viewed online. Visit dnr.wi.gov and search for keyword “gas stations.”


Wisconsin PFAS Action Council (WisPAC) Releases PFAS Action Plan

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources today announced the release of a statewide PFAS Action Plan created to address growing public health and environmental concerns regarding PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) in Wisconsin.   

The PFAS Action Plan was developed by WisPAC, a group of nearly 20 state agencies and the University of Wisconsin System. As part of the statewide initiative to ensure Wisconsinites have access to clean, safe drinking water, Gov. Tony Evers signed Executive Order #40 in August 2019 to address the issue of PFAS across the state. Wisconsin is now one of fewer than a dozen states in the nation to have developed a plan to address the use of and contamination caused by PFAS.

Going forward, WisPAC means to continue providing an avenue for dialogue between the state and local governments, businesses and communities on the issue of PFAS in Wisconsin. To learn more about the work of the Wisconsin PFAS Action Council and read the complete action plan, please visit here


Celebrating 30 years of the 1990 Clean Air Act Amendments

On November 15, 1990 The Clean Air Act (CAA) was revised with overwhelming bipartisan support and signed into law by President George H. W. Bush. Specifically, the amendments were designed to curb four major threats to the environment and to the health of millions of Americans: acid rain, urban air pollution, toxic air emissions, and stratospheric ozone depletion. The amendments also established a national operating permits program to make the law more workable and strengthened enforcement to help ensure better compliance with the Act. The amendments featured several progressive and creative new approaches for effectively achieving the air quality goals and regulatory reform expected from these far-reaching amendments.

For an overview and highlights of the 1990 CAA, visit: https://www.epa.gov/clean-air-act-overview/clean-air-act-highlights-1990-amendments or read more about Section 507 of the CAA Amendments that established the Small Business Stationary Source Technical and Environmental Compliance Assistance Program here: https://nationalsbeap.org/info/507.