Small Business Technical Assistance Program (SBTAP)
Environmental Guidelines for Maine's Small Businesses
Your small business makes something or provides services, and uses energy and resources, and serves customers and involves people. You may also have employees, sharing your interest in providing a safe and rewarding business. This guidance provides standards for performance and management—including regulations, practices and laws— related to some common processes or materials typically used by Maine small businesses. It includes references for obtaining more detailed information, specific regulations and pollution prevention opportunities. For additional information please also contact our Small Business Assistance Program at telephone: 800-789-9802 (in-state) and web site www.maine.gov/dep/innovation.
Contents
I. Air Quality/Emissions
License Requirement
Maximum Achievable Control Technology (MACT) & Generally Achievable Control Technology (GACT) Standards
Emissions Inventory
II. Land & Water Quality
Stormwater & Erosion Protection Permitting
Erosion and Sedimentation Control Practices
Subsurface Wastewater Disposal Permitting
Floor Drain Registration
III. Waste Management & Petroleum Storage
Managing Hazardous Waste
Managing Universal Waste
Solvent Recycler Permitting (Abbreviated Permit By Rule)
Biennial Pollution Prevention Progress Report
Spill Prevention Control & Countermeasure Plan for Oil Storage
Managing Used Oil
Underground Storage Tanks
Protecting Drinking Water
Pollution Prevention
Common Environmental Compliance Guidance
I. Air Quality/Emissions
A facility is required to have an air emissions license:
• If the potential to emit (without consideration of air pollution control apparatus and under normal operation) is 100 lbs/day or 10 lbs/hour or more of any regulated pollutant (including Particulate Matter (PM), Nitrogen Oxides (NOx), Carbon Monoxide (CO), Sulfur Dioxide (SO2), and Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC)). VOC’s are considered regulated pollutants and found in solvents, paints, coatings, etc. Purchasing/usage records and material safety data sheets (MSDS) can be used to estimate VOC and other pollutant emissions. (Typical rock crushing and concrete batching plants will exceed the 10 lbs/hr licensed pollutant emission level for PM.);
• If operating an incinerator with maximum design heat input of 1.0 million Btu/hr or more;
• If you have a smelter, crematory, pathological or infectious waste incinerator;
• If you have fuel burning equipment (or combination of equipment) whose total maximum design heat input is greater than 10.0 million Btu/hr.
• If you operate a stationary internal combustion unit (or combination of equipment) whose total maximum design heat input is greater than 5.0 million Btu/hr.
For additional information regarding air emission licensing see link to Air Emission Licensing.
You need to comply with Maximum Achievable Control Technology (MACT) and Generally Available Control Technology standards (GACT) for air toxics if you operate any of the following processes:
• Metal plating, polishing, and fabrication
• Aluminum and lead smelters
• Foundries (steel, iron, aluminum, copper)
• Flexible foam product
• Auto refinishing and misc. surface coating
• Chrome electroplaters
• Ethylene Oxide sterilizers
• Wood preserving
• Prepared feeds
• Paint stripping
• Perchloroethylene dry cleaning
• Paint and allied products use of halogenated solvents (including methylene chloride, perchloroethylene, trichloroethylene, 1,1,1,-trichloroethane, carbon tetrachloride, and chloroform.)
For additional information regarding these standards and other air toxics see link to the Air Toxics Program.
You need to report emissions via an Emissions Inventory:
• If you have an air emission license and your “criteria” pollutant emissions are above certain thresholds. These emissions included carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, volatile organic compounds (VOC), lead or particulate matter (i.e. dust or ash) produced primarily from combustion or other manufacturing processes.
• If you are reporting on your criteria pollutants inventory and a listed toxic or other pollutant chemical is above certain threshold levels.
For additional information regarding emissions inventory see also link to the Emissions Inventory Program.
For additional assistance with air quality standards in general, please contact the Maine DEP air compliance program at 800-452-1942 (see web site link at: Bureau of Air Quality or the Small Business Assistance Program at 800-789-9802.
II. Land & Water
Stormwater and Erosion Protection:
You need a permit for:
- Constructing impervious area (like paving for parking, roads, buildings and storage areas) of one acre or more.
- Disturbing one (1) or more acre of land. (Disturbed area includes land that is stripped, graded, grubbed, filled, or excavated during site preparation or removing vegetation for, or construction of, a project. It does not include routine maintenance.)
- If your facility discharges stormwater to surface water and activity at your facility is considered an industrial activity.
- For additional information about stormwater see link to Stormwater Program and Stormwater Best Management Practices Manual.
You need to apply appropriate standards for control and site stabilization (erosion and sedimentation control) for:
Wastewater and floor drains:
You need a license for:
- Subsurface wastewater discharges for non-domestic wastewater disposal for facilities like commercial car washes, egg production/washing, septage processing, etc. For additional information about subsurface wastewater licensing see link to Subsurface Wastewater Disposal and Waste Discharge Licensing.
You need to register:
- Any active or inactive floor drain with the DEP. Call 207-287-3901 and ask to speak to staff in the Underground Injection Control (UIC) program. For more information about floor drains see the link Floor Drains.
Note: Septic systems are subsurface disposal systems that are to be designed and installed in accordance with the Maine Subsurface Wastewater Disposal Rules (State Plumbing Code, 10-144 CMR 241). For additional information about septic systems, etc., see the link to Maine Subsurface Wastewater Program.
For additional information or assistance with land and water quality permitting and standards, please contact the Maine DEP land and water program at 800-452-1942 (see web site link at: Bureau of Land & Water Quality) or the Small Business Assistance Program at 800-789-9802.
III. Waste Management & Petroleum Storage
You need to properly manage:
• Hazardous Waste: Many small businesses use chemicals for maintenance, production, and cleaning as part of their activities. The nature and/or use of these chemicals may produce hazardous waste that requires strict management from “cradle to grave” by federal and state standards. Some chemicals are very common, like gasoline, which is flammable and with other associated hazards. Generating, storing, transporting, and disposal of hazardous waste has specific requirements based also on the amount of waste generated—for example, as small quantity or large quantity generators. For more information about determining if your waste is hazardous, and how to manage hazardous waste, refer to Maine DEP’s Handbook for Hazardous Waste Generators and link to Maine active hazardous waste and waste oil transporters.
• Universal Waste: Recycle your universal waste in accordance with Maine’s Universal Waste Rules. Typical universal wastes are office lamps and bulbs associated with lighting, CRT monitors like computer monitors and televisions, and batteries including nickel cadmium and metal hydride. They can be found everywhere (as the word universal implies), and typically contain heavy metals such as mercury. See link to Universal Waste Handbook for more information on how to recycle properly.
Note: Vehicle (including fork lift) batteries are not considered universal waste and should be managed through the battery deposit system; or if leaking or not intact, they should be treated as a regular hazardous waste (see the link to the handbook above for more information about proper hazardous waste management.)
You need a permit (abbreviated permit by rule):
• For solvent recyclers (machines that treat used solvent in order that it may be reused.) Forms and information regarding the permitting process are also available at Abbreviated License Application for Beneficial Use or Reuse of a Hazardous Waste On-Site (under “Forms”.) Contact our hazardous waste licensing unit at 207-287-2651 or Small Business Assistance Program at 1-800-451-1942 to find out more.
You need to complete the Biennial Pollution Prevention Progress Report:
• If your facility ships more than 2,640 pounds of hazardous waste in a calendar year. Reports are also required for toxic use (if facility is required to report under EPCRA 312) for Extremely Hazardous Substances (EHS) for facilities reporting to the Maine Emergency Management Agency, and toxic release (if the facility is required to report under EPCRA 313) of chemicals for facilities required to report to the Environmental Protection Agency for Toxic Release Inventory. Please see link to the Toxics and Hazardous Waste Reduction Program for Maine’s reporting forms and information.
You need a Spill Prevention Control and Countermeasure Plan (SPCC):
• If you store more than 1,320 gallons of oil (both petroleum and non-petroleum based oil). Information about these plans and the associated federal requirement can be found at the link Spill Prevention, Control and Countermeasures.
You need to recycle used oil:
• Used Oil: Recycling is the simplest and preferred method to manage used oil. If your business is not recycling used oil, send it to a licensed recycler via a licensed waste oil transporter. For additional information about waste oil (including Maine licensed waste oil transporters) see the link waste oil.
You need to register your underground storage tank:
• Underground Storage Tanks: Registration, annual inspections, and operating training certification are required. For more information and forms see the link to underground storage tanks.
You need to properly site your new business and use proper oil storage containment:
• To better protect drinking water, there are now prohibitions on the siting of selected businesses including autobody and auto repair shops, metal plating facilities, and dry cleaners using perchloroethylene (prohibitions include within 300 feet of a private well; or within 1000 feet of a public water well or within the source water protection area of a public drinking water well, whichever is greater.)
• Within 1000 feet of a community drinking water well, new or replacement oil tanks must be double walled or have approved secondary containment. For additional information regarding the law’s requirement see link to protecting drinking water.
Report all oil and hazardous material spills. Clean up small spills and leaks immediately using absorbents or by excavating contaminated soil.
For reporting oil spills, call 800-482-0777
For reporting hazardous material spills, call 800-452-4664
For additional information or assistance with petroleum and waste management, please contact the Maine DEP Bureau of Remediation & Waste Management at 800-452-1942 (see web site link at: Bureau of Remediation & Waste Management or the Small Business Assistance Program at 800-789-9802.)
Prevent Pollution while you develop and grow your small business. Be an Environmental Leader.
The Maine Department of Environmental Protection offers selected green business certification programs and other programs for Maine businesses that are Environmental Leaders. For more information see the link at Office of Innovation & Assistance. Contact the Office by phone at 1-800-789-9802 (in state).
- Does your business have an Environmental Management System? An environmental management system is a continual cycle of planning, implementing, reviewing, and improving actions that an organization (business) takes to meet its environmental obligations. It is a systematic approach to ensure continued compliance, increase facility-wide awareness of environmental management, increase opportunities for pollution prevention, and develop new ways to go beyond compliance. (Find out more about Environmental Management Systems and their implementation from Maine businesses.)
- Save energy, save money, and reduce your carbon footprint all at the same time. Join the Governor’s Carbon Challenge
Prevent Pollution: Pollution prevention (P2) aims to reduce or eliminate pollution at its source. P2 can be done through more efficiently using energy, raw materials, substituting less harmful materials, changing a process when able to, and eliminating toxic chemicals. P2 is an easy, inexpensive way to protect the environment and maintain a clean, safe, healthy environment for employees, visitors, and the community.
Pollution prevention can also:
• Reduce operating costs;
• Reduce waste disposal costs;
• Protect the environment;
• Improve worker health and safety;
• Project a positive image to customers.
Ask yourself:
Is the process necessary?
What other method or procedure could work as well?
What less toxic material could be used to achieve the required results?
Is a less volatile compound available?
Some pollution prevention practices are:
Exercise purchasing and use of environmentally preferable supplies and materials;
Use less cleaners and detergents and greener materials that are less toxic and more environmentally benign;
Practice water conservation in business process use and restrooms, etc.;
Practice efficient energy use with business processes in addition to facility lighting, heating, and air conditioning. Install higher efficiency processes and appliances such as those rated “Energy Star”;
General Ideas:
Involve employees.
Use first-in, first-out management practices.
Keep all containers tightly covered.
Conserve energy.
Conserve water.
For more information about pollution prevention contact the Maine DEP at 207-791-8100 and see the web site: www.maine.gov/dep/innovation.
List of Potential Resources:
Maine DEP Office of Innovation & Assistance (Pollution Prevention & Small Business Assistance Programs)
Department of Labor, Safetyworks! Program
Department of Economic and Community Development
