WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) invites small businesses, governments, and not-for-profit organizations to participate as Small Entity Representatives (SERs) for a Small Business Advocacy Review (SBAR) Panel. This panel will focus on the Agency’s development of a rule that proposes to modify the current Risk Management Plan (RMP) regulation to reduce the likelihood of accidental releases of toxic and flammable substances at chemical facilities, and improve emergency response when those releases occur. This aligns with Executive Order 13650 entitled Improving Chemical Facility Safety and Security (EO 13650) that President Obama signed on August 1, 2013. EO 13650 directs the federal government to carry out a number of tasks whose overall aim is to prevent chemical accidents. These tasks include: improving operational coordination with state and local partners; enhancing Federal agency coordination and information sharing; modernizing policies, regulations and standards; and working with stakeholders to identify best practices.
The panel will include federal representatives from the Small Business Administration (SBA), the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), and EPA. The panel members ask a selected group of SERs to provide advice and recommendations on behalf of their company, community, or organization to inform the panel members about the potential impacts of the proposed rule on small entities.
EPA seeks self-nominations directly from the small entities that may be subject to the rule requirements. Other representatives, such as trade associations that exclusively or at least primarily represent potentially regulated small entities, may also serve as SERs.
