| Current activities of the Pollution Prevention Program in Maine DEP's Office of Innovation and Assistance (OIA) include:
-Updating new P2 web site.
-Providing training to auto salvage and auto repair facilities.
-Assisting small businesses that report to the Toxics and Hazardous Waste Reduction Program with tracking their toxics and hazardous waste reduction, pollution prevention planning, and future toxics reduction efforts.
-Partnering technical assistance with the Public Utilities Commission's small business energy assistance program, the Department of Labor Safetyworks Program, and other small business providers, including SBA, SBDC, and Coastal Enterprises Inc.
-Providing outreach and assistance to small business development centers and small business counselors.
-Establishing further partnerships with business assistance providers.
-Establishing partnerships within the energy efficiency sector and promoting their services to Maine businesses.
-Assisting four companies with the implementation of environmental management systems.
-Conducting onsite compliance assistance utilizing Maine's Small Business Compliance Incentive Policy (SBCIP).
-Continuing to provide assistance to the Green Campus Consortium in their efforts to move towards sustainability.
-Working in conjunction with the Climate Change Steering Committee on the New England Governors' and Eastern Canadian Premiers' initiative to reduce green house gas levels 10 percent under 1990 levels by 2012.
-Continuing to provide assistance to a number of industry sectors.
-Revitalizing the Compliance Advisory Panel (CAP) as an effective tool to weigh in on OIA activities.
-Attending ISO 14001 EMS lead auditor training.
-Attending monthly EPA EMS training.
-Maine DEP Small Business Assistance Program has been working with the auto repair sector, providing compliance assistance and pollution prevention educational outreach. The efforts with this sector have been assisted by the Iowa Waste Reduction Center.
-The Office is in the process of kicking off an Environmental Results program focusing on auto-body shops that will emphasize compliance self-certification, pollution prevention in application and cleaning techniques, and alternative environmentally friendlier products. This project will focus on the southern Maine region. |
