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Small Business Environmental Assistance Program
Illinois Dept. of Commerce
& Economic Opportunity
500 East Monroe R-5
Springfield, IL 62701 |
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 Illinois Updates
Pollution Control Board Adopts Amendments Impacting Autobody Shops On January 24, 2013, the Pollution Control Board adopted final amendments to its regulations to allow autobody shops located in Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry, Will, Grundy (townships of Aux Sable and Goose Lake only), Kendall (Oswego township only), Madison, Monroe, St. Clair, and Jersey Counties additional flexibility in the type of paint guns they can use in their shops. Previously these shops were limited to HVLP and electrostatic paints guns only. Autobody shops can now use paint guns that have been approved by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) as being equal to or better than a standard HVLP gun. This change helps to keep the Illinois rules more consistent with federal requirements for autobody paint shops. Also effective January 28th, 2013, motor vehicle refinishing shops no longer have to register with the Illinois EPA under Sections 218/219 Subpart HH. However, the National Emission Standard for Hazardous Air Pollutants for Paint Stripping and Miscellaneous Surface Coating Operations at Area Sources (Title 40, Part 63, Subpart HHHHHH) still requires that all auto body shops file an initial notification as well as other applicable notices with the Illinois EPA. If you have any questions about this rule or would like more information on the Illinois or federal requirements for autobody shops please contact the Illinois Small Business Environmental Assistance Program at 800-252-3998 or by email at DCEO.SBEAP@illinois.gov New Law Requires Day Care Centers to Test for Radon Licensed day care centers and day care homes are now required to test for the radioactive gas, and beginning Jan. 1, 2014, day care centers will need to show proof the facility has been tested for radon within the last three years as part of the initial application or license renewal process.
The Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA) is highlighting the new law as part of Radon Action Month throughout January.
Radon is a colorless, odorless, tasteless radioactive gas that comes from the radioactive decay of naturally occurring uranium in the soil. Radon is the second-leading cause of lung cancer in the U.S., and the leading cause among non-smokers. It's estimated that nearly 1,200 radon-related lung cancer deaths occur each year in Illinois.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) has established 4.0 picocuries per liter of air (pCi/L) as the action level for radon.
Under the law, which was signed by Gov. Pat Quinn on Aug. 17, 2012, non-residential day care centers are required to hire an IEMA-licensed radon measurement professional to test the facility. Home day care centers may purchase a home test kit and conduct the test themselves or hire a licensed contractor to perform the test.
Day care facilities are required to post the most current radon measurement results next to the licenses issued by the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) and provide copies of the report to parents or guardians upon request.
The law does not require day care facilities to reduce radon levels if they exceed the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's action level of 4.0 pCi/L. IEMA recommends radon reduction actions be taken if radon levels are above 4.0 pCi/L and licenses contractors who install radon mitigation systems.
More information about radon, including lists of IEMA-licensed measurement and mitigation contractors, is available at www.radon.Illinois.gov or by calling the Radon Hotline at 800-325-1245.
Proposal to Exclude a Compound from Definition of VOC
On June 22, 2012, the USEPA changed its definition of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) to include the compound
trans-1,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene (HFO-1234ze) in the existing list of exempted compounds from the USEPA's definition of VOCs. As a result of this amendment to the VOC definition, the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) has requested to exclude this compound from their definition of volatile organic material (VOM,), as it is listed in Part 211 of the Title 35 Illinois Administrative Code. This compound, trans-1,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene (HFO-1234ze), is typically used as a refrigerant, an aerosol propellant, and a blowing agent for insulated foam, and included as a blowing agent for polyurethanes, polystyrene, and other polymers.
The Pollution Control Board adopted the change to the Illinois definition of VOC on January 24, 2013.
IDPH Withdraws Proposed Rules for Asbestos in Commercial and Public Buildings
The Department of Public Health proposed amendments to " Asbestos Abatement for Public and Private Schools and Commercial and Public Buildings in Illinois" (77 Ill. Adm. Code 855; 36 Ill. Reg. 16804) that implement Public Act 93-894. PA 93-894 requires DPH to license asbestos abatement consultants and establishes licensing requirements for these consultants. The rulemaking, among other things, proposed requirements for asbestos abatement in commercial and public building consistent with school asbestos abatement requirements. The department in response to industry response and comment has withdrawn this rulemaking and will work with industry to propose changes to the existing rules.
New Residential Construction Required to be Built Radon Resistant Effective June 1, 2013
The Radon Resistant Construction Act requires all new residential construction to include passive radon resistant construction. The new law also allows local governmental units to administer and enforce its radon construction regulations that are at least as stringent as those established by the Agency. The Illinois Emergency Management Agency is working with a Task Force on Radon-Resistant Building Codes to implement and develop rules for the industry.
Details of the bill are available at: http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/billstatus.asp?DocNum=4665&GAID=11&GA=97&DocTypeID=HB&LegID=64454&SessionID=84.
Reminder: Registration of Smaller Sources (ROSS) Mandatory Registrations Due upon Site Fee Payment Due Date
Under the program, sources who were previously required to have a permit with Illinois EPA but meeting the following eligibility criteria must register beginning July 1, 2012 with the Illinois EPA Bureau of Air by their site fee annual payment date.
Criteria requiring registration:
- Not required to get a Title V or Clean Air Permit Program (CAPP) permit
- Not required to get a Federally Enforceable State Operating Permit (FESOP)
- Not required to get a permit under the New Source Performance Standards (NSPS) or under the National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) or by USEPA.
- Actual emissions from the source's emission units are less than the following limits for the prior calendar year*:
- 5.0 Tons/yr of combined pollutants (particulate matter, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide and volatile organic material)
- 0.50 Tons/yr of combined Hazardous Air Pollutants (HAPs)
- 0.05 Tons/yr of mercury air emissions
- 0.05 Tons/yr of lead air emissions
* emission units that are exempt from the permitting requirements and can be found at 35 Ill. Adm. Code 201.146 or the publication "Does My Business Need An Air Pollution Control Permit?" are not included in actual emissions calculations.
- If a new source, the sum of the anticipated estimated actual annual emissions from all non-exempt units associated with the source must meet the limits as stated above. If the source has been operating less than one calendar year, projected estimated emissions may be used for all of the remaining months in the prior calendar year.
- Emission units or source is not subject to maximum achievable control technology under 40 CFR Part 61 or the NESHAP under 40 CFR Part 63 unless it is categorized as an area source
- Emission units at the source are not used as thermal desorption systems pursuant to 35 Ill. Adm. Code 728 Table F or as an incinerator system.
- The source is not subject to local siting review under Section 39.2 of the Act
For more information regarding the ROSS Program as well as online payment of fees and a copy of the registration form, visit: www.ienconnect.com/enviro.
For Questions contact the Illinois Small Business Environmental Assistance Program at 800-252-3998
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Federal Updates
New and Revised Definition of VOC
On February 12, 2013, the USEPA revised the definition of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) under the Clean Air Act (CAA) to include four additional chemical compounds to the list of compounds that were omitted from the original definition of VOC. This was done based on the fact that each of these four additional chemical compounds have a minor contribution to the development of tropospheric ozone (also known as smog, which is formed when VOCs and nitrogen oxides (NOx) react in the atmosphere where there is direct sunlight). These chemical compounds consist of four hydrofluoropolyethers (HFPEs) that can be chemically listed as the following: HCF 2 OCF 2 H (also known as HFE-134), HCF 2 OCF 2 OCF 2 H (also known as HFE-236cal2), HCF 2 OCF 2 CF 2 OCF 2 H (also known as HFE-338pcc13), and HCF 2 OCF 2 OCF 2 CF 2 OCF 2 H (also known as H-Galden 1040X or H-Galden ZT 130 (or 150 or 180)).These four chemical compounds are utilized as refrigerants in heat transfer applications and as fire suppressants.
Under this new VOC definition revision, any business that produces or uses either of these four HFPE compounds will no longer be required to list them as a VOC. The Illinois EPA will file a notice with the Illinois Pollution Control Board (Board) to include this revision to the state definition of volatile organic materials (VOM) under Section 211. Once approved by the Board, these four compounds will no longer be a VOM for state purposes.
For more information on this revised VOC definition, go to https://federalregister.gov/a/2013-03057.
Stationary Reciprocating Internal Combustion Engines (RICE) EPA Air QualityRegulations and Final Revisions Free Compliance Webinars March 14 & 19, 2013
EPA is hosting free webinars on the National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) and New Source Performance Standards (NSPS) covering stationary reciprocating internal combustion engines (RICE), and revisions signed on January 14, 2013. Under the RICE NESHAP, facilities with stationary emergency engines need to track their use to avoid exceeding annual hourly limits on non-emergency use. Some non-emergency stationary engines are subject to emission limits and must submit an initial notification, due in August 2010 for compression ignition engines and February 2011 for spark ignition engines. For more information go to http://www.epa.gov/ttn/atw/rice/ricepg.html or http://www.epa.gov/region1/rice.
For questions about webinar registration and logistics, contact Jorge Burgos at 617-918-1790 or burgos.jorge@epa.gov. For questions about the webinar program, contact Roy Crystal at 617-918-1745 or crystal.roy@epa.gov.
Key RICE NESHAP compliance dates are fast approaching:
- May 3, 2013 for many existing compression ignition (diesel) engines and
- October 19, 2013 for many existing spark ignition (gasoline and gas-powered) engines.
Don't miss this timely opportunity to learn what you need to do to comply! Each webinar will feature:
Melanie King, EPA RICE rulewriter
- Overview of the RICE NESHAP and NSPS requirements
- Final rule revisions, including use of RICE in demand response programs and remote areas
Melanie King; Susan Lancey, EPA Region 1 (New England); and Heather Valdez, EPA Region 10 (Pacific Northwest)
Roy Crystal, EPA Region 1
- Compliance tools and steps to comply
Webinar Registration
Space is limited. Registration and log-on to the webinar will be first come, first served. Consider registering for one of the later dates as the first dates tend to fill up quickly (all webinars have the same program). Follow one of these links to register online:
Direct and Final Proposed Rule for Volatile Organic Compounds
On February 15, 2013, the USEPA has proposed and taken final action to change the definition of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) to include
trans 1-chloro-3,3,3-trifluoroprop-1-ene (also known as SolsticeTM 1233zd(E)) in the list of excluded compounds in the definition of VOC. This compound is used as a solvent in aerosol and non-aerosol processes, as a blowing agent in insulating foam found in refrigerators/freezers and hot water heaters, and as a refrigerant in commercial chillers and waste heat recovery systems. Comments concerning the exclusion of this compound should be submitted to USEPA by April 1, 2013.
For more information on this proposed exclusion and where to submit any comments, please refer to the following website: https://federalregister.gov/a/2013-03063.
Regulation of Fuels and Fuel Additives: 2013 Renewable Fuel Standards
On February 7, 2013, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) proposed a projected cellulosic biofuel volume for 2013 that is below the applicable volume specified in the Clean Air Act.
Under section 211(o) of the Clean Air Act, the USEPA is required to set the renewable fuel standards each November for the following year. In general the standards are designed to ensure that the applicable volumes of renewable fuel specified in the statute are used. However, the statute specifies that USEPA is to project the volume of cellulosic biofuel production for the upcoming year and must base the cellulosic biofuel standard on that projected volume if it is less than the applicable volume set forth in the Act. In this rule, USEPA proposed that the applicable volumes of advanced biofuel and total renewable fuel would remain at the statutory levels for 2013. Finally, the rulemaking also proposes annual percentage standards for cellulosic biofuel, biomass-based diesel, advanced biofuel, and renewable fuels that would apply to all gasoline and diesel produced or imported in year 2013.
Comments must be received on or before March 25, 2013. You can get more information on this proposal and information on how you can submit comments at: http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2013-02-07/pdf/2013-02794.pdf
Greenhouse Gas Reporting Rule: Revision to Best Available Monitoring Method Request Submission Deadline for Petroleum and Natural Gas Systems Source Category
On February 19, 2013, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) published a direct final rule to revise the deadline by which owners or operators of facilities subject to the petroleum and natural gas systems source category of the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Rule must submit requests for use of best available monitoring methods to the USEPA Administrator. The proposed direct final rule changes that date from September 30 to June 30 of each year. This revision does not change any other requirements for owners or operators that are outlined in the best available monitoring method rule provisions.
This rule is effective on April 22, 2013 without further notice, unless the USEPA receives adverse comment by March 21, 2013. If the USEPA receives adverse comment by March 21, 2013, the USEPA will publish a timely withdrawal notice in the Federal Registerto inform the public that this rule will not take effect.
You can get more information on this rule, including information on how to submit comments, at http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2013-02-19/pdf/2013-03469.pdf
State By State Analysis of America's Small Businesses
Small businesses are leading most states' economic recovery, according to a new state-by-state report released by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Office of Advocacy, an independent office that serves as the voice for small business within the federal government.
The Small Business Profile for the States and Territories, an annual analysis of each state's small businesses, finds that small businesses employ 55 million workers nationwide, nearly half - 49.1 percent - of the private-sector labor force. All in all, the country's 27.8 million small businesses now represent 99.7 percent of all employers in the United States. The report also states that self-employment improved over the last decade nationwide, while minority self-employment saw the largest growth.
Each state's small business profile contains detailed information about the number and type of businesses in each state, business owner demographics, industrial makeup, business turnover and income and finance. Most data are also presented in comparison with similar data over time. Each state's small business profile can be read or downloaded by visiting the Office of Advocacy's website at www.sba.gov/advocacy/848.
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Training & Events
ITRC 2-Day Classroom Training
Light Nonaqueous-Phase Liquids:
Science, Management, and Technology
Regulatory staff involved in light, nonaqueous-phase liquid (LNAPL) remediation programs, site owners, consultants, public stakeholders, and others interested in using science-based approaches to assess, remediate, and close LNAPL contaminated sites.
LNAPL assessment and remediation presents a significant challenge for corrective action and cleanup at petroleum processing, storage, and handling facilities such as refineries, bulk product terminals, gas stations, airports and military bases. Once in the subsurface, LNAPLs can be difficult to adequately assess and remediate. The result can be long-term risk and exposure issues such as vapor intrusion, groundwater, surface water and soil contamination or other risk sensitive habitat. It may present acute-risk concerns such as explosive conditions or LNAPL may pose aesthetic concerns, or in some cases, pose no risk. In addition, regulatory drivers for LNAPL concerns present challenges to site closure, such as regulations that require recovery of "free product," (a.k.a., "free-phase hydrocarbon" and "liquid-phase hydrocarbon") to the agency determined "maximum extent practicable." ITRC offers this 2-day classroom training course, based on ITRC's Technical and Regulatory Guidance document, Evaluating LNAPL Remedial Technologies for Achieving Project Goals (LNAPL-2) to assist environmental practitioners with applying science-based solutions for LNAPL sites. The ITRC guidance was developed through the combined efforts of environmental professionals, including state and federal regulators, consultants, industry, and community stakeholders. This 2-day ITRC classroom training led by internationally recognized experts should enable you to:
* Develop and apply an LNAPL Conceptual Site Model (LCSM)
* Understand and assess LNAPL subsurface behavior
* Develop and justify LNAPL remedial objectives including maximum extent practicable considerations
* Select appropriate LNAPL remedial technologies and measure progress
* Use ITRC's science-based LNAPL guidance to efficiently move sites to closure
Interactive learning with classroom exercises and Q&A sessions will reinforce these course learning objectives. You will also have the opportunity to network with other environmental professionals.
Recommended pre-requisite: ITRC LNAPL Internet-based training (3 part series). The LNAPL classroom training goes well beyond the Internet-based training content and provides the participant a much more in-depth learning experience including practice applying their new knowledge and skills through in-class exercises.
For more information about the ITRC LNAPL team's products including no-cost downloads of the documents and archives of Internet-based training, please visit http://www.itrcweb.org/LNAPLs
Updates to International Energy Conservation Code - Free Trainings Available! Recent changes and updates have been made to the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) which took effect on January 1, 2013. The law requires design and construction professionals to follow these latest revisions, so becoming informed is vital! The Illinois Energy Office has announced a Building Industry Training series directed at the construction industry to support implementation. Homebuilders, designers, code officials, and home performance contractors will be able to learn about the 2012 IECC applicable to new construction, additions, and renovation projects. These seminars will provide the basis for the correct use of the 2012 IECC and Standard 90.1-2010 in the design, plan review, field inspection, and analysis of construction in Illinois. Specific topics to be covered will include 2012 IECC and ASHRAE 90.1-2010, Chicago Energy Conservation Code, Blower Door & Duct Testing, Controls for Daylight Harvesting, Designing for On-Site Renewables, and System Commissioning (Cx). CEUs are available for certain professionals and certification renewals. All sessions run 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and are offered to Illinois Investor Owned Utility customers at no cost. Numerous sites locations remain with registration open. Please visit www.ildceo.net/energycode (scroll down to January - May 2013 IECC courses) for more information and registration. 2013 BIO International Convention (April 22-24) The world's preeminent biotechnology industry meeting, the 2013 BIO International Convention, is coming to Chicago's McCormick Place Convention Center April 22-25. This will be the year's largest international meeting of the bioscience industry. Illinois was privileged to host both the 2006 and 2010 BIO International Conventions in Chicago and we are proud to be the host state for BIO's 20th annual international convention in 2013. These past conventions, with nearly 35,000 biotechnology business professionals attending from over 65 countries and 49 states, have allowed a global bioscience audience to discover the magnificent resources available in Illinois to feed, fuel and heal the world. The Illinois bioscience sector, which touches every county in the state, includes over 3,400 establishments and nearly 80,000 employees. We hope you will join the expected 16,500 biotechnology business leaders, scientists and investors from around the world that will be learning about emerging bioscience technologies, networking with their peers from other nations and showcasing global business opportunities. The event includes 13 concurrent tracks of programming on subjects ranging from bioethics, business and economic development, drug development to the latest advances in bio-energy development and agricultural biotechnology.
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