The Pennsylvania SBDCs’ Environmental Management Assistance Program (EMAP) is a no-cost, strictly confidential statewide service. By contacting your local SBDC you can take advantage of this service. Environmental consultants are located throughout Pennsylvania and will be able to assist you in the following areas:

Confidential on-site environmental management, regulatory compliance, pollution prevention and energy efficiency opportunity assessments
Confidential assistance for understanding environmental permit and compliance requirements
Confidential assistance for incorporating environmental considerations within strategic business management and planning activities
Environmental training seminars
Liaison to regulatory enforcement agencies
Links to additional sources of technical and financial assistance

For more information regarding EMAP, please visit the program website, www.askemap.org.

Who Can Benefit?

Businesses in any industry, including the manufacturing, retail and service sectors, can benefit from improved efficiency through strategic environmental management. Pollution prevention and energy efficiency approaches may vary by sector, but the opportunities always exist. So whether your business is still just an idea, or whether it is an existing operation, the Pennsylvania SBDCs can help.

The Bottom Line

Pollution is a drain to a firm’s bottom line. Whether it’s air emissions, solid or hazardous wastes, or wastewater discharges, pollution is a waste resulting from inefficiencies in a firm’s operations. And what business is ever purposely wasteful? By preventing pollution before it is ever created in the first place, businesses can improve their efficiency and save money. Learn how to use pollution prevention to:

Reduce raw material purchase costs
Reduce compliance burdens and costs associated with environmental permits, record keeping and reporting requirements
Reduce waste management, treatment and disposal costs
Reduce long-term liabilities associated with hazardous waste management

The Pennsylvania Small Business Development Centers can help you learn how to manage your environmental compliance responsibilities in the most cost-effective way, with a focus on pollution prevention.

Energy Efficiency

One of the easier and more cost-effective steps a business can take to prevent pollution and increase profitability is to cut energy costs. Payback periods are often very short and results can be substantial. EMAP provides a step-by-step program to evaluate your energy savings potential. To learn more about energy efficiency and sign up for an EMAP energy assessment visit the EMAP website.

Complying with Regulations

EMAP is available to provide you with confidential assistance for understanding your environmental compliance requirements. We provide one-on-one consulting assistance with:

Environmental regulatory requirements
Permit applications, forms and plans
Environmental management strategies
Health and safety requirements

Compliance can be achieved best and most cost-effectively when environmental management concerns are addressed as an integral part of a firm’s day-to-day management and long-term strategic planning. This strategic environmental management approach will help businesses comply today and into the future while helping to save the environment and save money through increased operating efficiency. The Pennsylvania SBDCs can also teach you how to incorporate environmental considerations into your daily and long-term strategic business management and planning activities.

Health and Safety

Issues related to worker health and safety affect every business. EMAP consultants are available to provide you with confidential assistance for recognizing and addressing your health and safety issues. A fresh set of eyes can help identify potential problems at your business and help you avoid potential costly fines in the future.

The First Stop Newsletter

For the latest environmental news and information be sure to read EMAP’s First Stop Newsletter. This quarterly EMAP publication offers helpful tips and policy updates to small businesses in Pennsylvania.