NY Econ Dev L § 138 (2021)
2021 New York Laws COM - Economic Development Law Article 4-B - Division for Small-Business 138 - Small Business Pollution Prevention and Environmental Compliance Ombudsman Program.

§   138.   Small   business  pollution  prevention  and  environmental   compliance ombudsman program. 1. There is hereby established within  the   division  for small businesses a small business pollution prevention and   environmental compliance ombudsman program. The primary purpose of  such   program is to represent small businesses on issues relating to pollution   prevention and compliance with the environmental conservation law.2.   The  department  shall,  through  the  small  business  pollution   prevention and environmental compliance ombudsman program,  provide  the   following services:a.   soliciting   input  from  small  businesses  regarding  pollution   prevention and  compliance  with  the  environmental  conservation  law,   including  interacting  with organizations representing small businesses   such as trade associations or other entities;b. participating in, facilitating and promoting the  participation  of   small  businesses  in  the  development  and implementation of rules and   regulations adopted pursuant to the environmental conservation law;c. participating in and sponsoring meetings  with  the  department  of   environmental   conservation,  local  environmental  agencies,  industry   groups and small business representatives;d.  providing  guidance  and  recommendations  to  the  department  of   environmental  conservation on the development, content and operation of   the small business pollution  prevention  and  environmental  compliance   assistance  program  as  created by section 28-0109 of the environmental   conservation law;e. distributing to  small  businesses  information  and  materials  on   pollution   prevention   and   the  requirements  of  the  environmental   conservation law;f. reporting to the pollution prevention and environmental  compliance   coordinating  council  as established pursuant to section 28-0111 of the   environmental  conservation  law  on  any   problems   or   difficulties   experienced  by  small  businesses  in  complying with the environmental   conservation law, including the degree and severity of enforcement;g. aiding in  the  investigation  and  resolution  of  complaints  and   disputes  from  small businesses against the department of environmental   conservation and local environmental authorities;h. conducting  periodic  evaluations  of  all  aspects  of  the  small   business  pollution  prevention  and environmental compliance assistance   program  created  pursuant  to  section  28-0109  of  the  environmental   conservation  law  including  reviewing  the  work  and  services of the   program with trade associations and representatives of small business;i. reviewing and providing comments and recommendations to the  United   States   environmental   protection   agency   and   the  department  of   environmental conservation regarding the development and  implementation   of regulations that impact small businesses;j.  arranging  for  and  assisting  in  the  preparation  of  guidance   documents by the small business pollution prevention  and  environmental   compliance assistance program as required pursuant to section 28-0109 of   the  environmental  conservation  law  to  ensure  that  the language is   readily understandable by the layperson;k. referring small  businesses  to  specialists  for  information  and   assistance  on  affordable  alternative  technologies,  process changes,   products and operational methods to help achieve pollution prevention;l.  providing  information  to  small  businesses  on  state-sponsored   programs  offering  financial  and technical assistance, and in locating   sources of funding for pollution  prevention  and  compliance  with  the   requirements of the environmental conservation law; andm.   establishing  procedures  for  assuring  the  confidentiality  of   information received from small businesses. 3.  The  small  business  pollution   prevention   and   environmental   compliance  ombudsman  program  shall  coordinate  its services with the   office of waste prevention  services  established  pursuant  to  article   fourteen of this chapter.