Small Business Assistance Program

Section 507 of the 1990 Clean Air Amendments requires states to implement a three component program to assist small business in their efforts to comply with the air regulations. The three components consist of the small business ombudsman, the technical assistance function to small businesses, and the compliance advisory panel. In Missouri, the compliance advisory panel is known as the Small Business Compliance Advisory Committee.

What is considered a business?

Section 643.173 and 643.175 (RSMo) were adopted in response to the Clean Air Act Amendments and define a small business as follows: any business regulated under this chapter, which employs less than one hundred people, which does not have the potential to emit 100 or more tons per year of an air contaminant, with or without control devices, does not have the potential to emit 10 tons per year or more of any hazardous air pollutant or 25 tons of any combination of hazardous air pollutants, and has actual emissions less than 50 tons of any regulated pollutant per year and less than 75 tons of all regulated pollutants or as otherwise defined by the commission by rule.

Small Business Ombudsman

The Small Business Ombudsman position is appointed by the governor, with the advice and consent of the senate for a term of office concurrent with that of the governor and may be reappointed.

The ombudsman's responsibilities include:

Advising and assisting small businesses regulated by the Air Conservation Law and
related rules;
Recommending to the Small Business Compliance Advisory Committee and the Missouri Air Conservation Commission appropriate changes in the rules which would facilitate small business compliance with the Air Conservation Law and related rules;
Receiving and reviewing complaints about the administration of the air regulations as such administration affects small business; and
Issuing a report with recommendations to the Department of Natural Resources within 120 days of receiving a complaint from a small business.
For more information see "Helping Small Businesses Protect Air Quality". PDF

Small Business Ombudsman - vacant

Note: There are also seven ombudsmen who provide a conduit for information to the department director. These individuals are charged with keeping track of the environmental issues occurring within their assigned regions. These individuals do not focus on a specific medium, but rather are charged with talking to individuals, small businesses and municipalities across the across the state to help the department director capitalize on what the department is doing right and to help him make improvements in those areas where improvement is necessary. In the first six months since this program was implemented in September 2005, the ombudsmen have visited hundreds of citizens, businesses and municipalities, garnering overwhelmingly positive feedback from these entities as well as their elected representatives. Visit the Ombudsmen Program fact sheet for more information.

Small Business Technical Assistance

The small business technical assistance activity is performed throughout the department. This multimedia support is provided by the department's regional offices and programs. In addition personnel in the Air Pollution Control Program and the Kansas City Regional Office and the St. Louis Regional Office provide assistance, on-site or by phone or e-mail, in helping a facility to understand and complete documents required by the Air Conservation Law and related rules.
For assistance, contact your Regional Office at 800-361-4827.

Assistance in completing documents required by the Air Conservation Law and related rules can be found at the following locations:

Department of Natural Resources
Air Pollution Control Program
P.O. Box 176
Jefferson City, MO 65102
573-751-4817 Phone
800-361-4827 Phone
573-751-2706
Lucy Thompson

Department of Natural Resources
Air Pollution Control Program
P.O. Box 176
Jefferson City, MO 65102
573-751-4817 Phone
800-361-4827 Phone
573-751-2706
Carlton Flowers

Department of Natural Resources
St. Louis Regional Office
7545 S. Lindbergh Blvd. Suite 210
St. Louis, MO 63125-4839
314-416-2115 Phone
314-416-2970 Fax
Don Kotur

Department of Natural Resources
Kansas City Regional Office
500 NE Colbern Rd
Lee's Summit, MO 64086-04710
816-622-7000 Phone
816-622-7044 Fax
Gus Ralston

Helpful Links

Small Business Links

Federal Sites

State of Missouri Sites including Financial Assistance

Federal Laws, Regulations, and Legislation

State of Missouri Laws and Regulations