Small Business Advisory Panel For Stream Electric Generator Rules

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is asking small businesses to nominate representatives to participate in a Small Business Advocacy Review (SBAR) Panel. This panel will advise the agency on the development of a proposed wastewater discharge regulations for nuclear-fueled and fossil-fueled steam electric power plants. The wastewater discharges to be addressed include flue gas desulfurization wastes from sulfur dioxide air pollution controls, coal ash pond discharges, leachate from ash ponds and landfills containing coal combustion residues, coal gasification wastewater, and other waste streams. The main pollutants of concern for these discharges include nitrogen, total dissolved solids, and toxic metals such as mercury, arsenic and selenium.

The Regulatory Flexibility Act requires EPA to establish an SBAR Panel for rules that may have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. The panel will include federal representatives from the Small Business Administration, the Office of Management and Budget and EPA. The panel asks a selected group of small entities representatives (SER) to provide advice and recommendations on behalf of their company, community, or organization to inform the panel about the potential impacts of the proposed rule on small entities.

Self-nominations for the panel must be submitted to EPA by June 30, 2011. EPA seeks self-nominations directly from the small entities that may be subject to the rule requirements. Other representatives, such as trade associations, may also serve as SERs.

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