Representative Ron Raymond and 42 co-sponsors are working this fall to make more resources available for environmental compliance assistance. The assistance programs undertaken would target small businesses through the 16 university-based PA Small Business Development Centers. Raymond's bill -- HB 1366 -- calls for "providing potential and existing small businesses with the information and advice they need to understand and satisfy their obligations under Federal, State and local regulations through the confidential business assistance network of the PA SBDCs." The bill seeks to "improv[e] the level of outreach, education and compliance assistance to the small business community." The SBDCs would work with PA DEP, the PA Environmental Assistance Network, and others to carry out the mission. Currently under discussion, is a plan for cooperative small business mentoring on EH&S issues that would bring together the SBDCs, PEAN and PCIC. This effort will help to statewide, the mentoring program established in the Lehigh Valley by Air Products and others in light of the Concept Sciences incident. The legislation would provide up to $1 million for collaborative compliance assistance training and consulting programs. The language requires confidentiality for client firms seeking assistance. PCIC will participate in the effort as a means of sharing expertise, and leveraging assistance for smaller members. PCIC PResident David Patti and PCIC Environmental Attorney William J. Cluck of Saul Ewing were each added recently to the Resources Development and Advocacy Board og PA SBDCs. Cluck is part of the "Emerging Businesses" Practice at Saul Ewing. PCIC currently represents about 120 SIC 28 facilities with a total employment of about 45,000. There are over 400 SIC 28 chemical facilities in PA that are not members of PCIC. These facilities employ -- on average -- only 20 people. These firms are a tremendous target market and source of untapped grass roots power for PCIC. Source: Pennsylvania Chemical Industry Council Weekly Report 9/3/99
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