Pollution Prevention Consultation

Spokane Clean Air offers a free Pollution Prevention (P2) consultation to assist businesses in meeting and exceeding air quality regulations.

Learn how to save time and money - sign up for the pollution prevention consultation services by calling 477-4727, ext. #114 or email mchambers@spokanecleanair.org

There are many benefits associated with reducing air pollution:

• Reduced operating costs - many businesses who implement P2 protocols save money in product and labor costs.
• Reduced compliance costs - some businesses are able to reduce air pollution emissions, which may reduce registration fees with Spokane Clean Air.
• Reduced liability - removing hazardous products can reduce employee and community liability.
• Increased productivity - some P2 protocols improve the efficiency of the manufacturing process, increasing worker productivity.
• Improved company image -  show you care about your workers, the community and the environment by implementing programs to reduce air pollution from your facility.
• No obligation - if you change your mind about the consultation, you may end it at any time.  However, you must correct any potential violations noted by the consultant.
• An investment in your business.

Consultation Program
At your request, a Spokane Clean Air consultant will visit your workplace and help you identify:

• Opportunities for reducing air emissions, potentially lessening the regulations you are subject to, and saving you money.
• Areas that need improvement, ensuring your compliance with air quality regulations.  The consulting staff does not have the ability to take enforcement action, but will ask you to correct an infraction within a certain time.
• Practical, best management practices for achieving these improvements, maintaining compliance, and going beyond compliance.
• Who you can call for assistance with other environmental issues.

The consultation program is free and available to any business registered with Spokane Clean Air, excluding businesses with Air Operating Permits (AOP) and/or Synthetic Minor (SM) businesses.

How to Get Started
Because the consultation is a voluntary activity, you must request it.  Your telephone call, email or letter sets the process in motion.  The consultant will discuss your specific needs with you and set up a visit date based on your schedule, and the time needed for the consultant to adequately prepare to serve your.  Spokane Clean Air encourages a complete review of your company’s process and potential to emit air pollution, however, if you wish you may limit the visit to one or more specific problems.

The Consultation Involves:

Opening Conference - When the consultant arrives at your worksite for the scheduled visit, he or she will first meet with you in an opening conference to briefly review the consultant’s role and the obligation you incur as an employer.  Your only obligation will be to commit your self to correcting violations of your air operating permit, commonly called a notice of construction.

Walk Through - Together, you and the consultant will examine conditions in your workplace.  Talking with employees during the walk-through helps the consultant identify and judge the nature and extent of the process, and possible areas to improve. The consultant will study your entire workplace, or the specific operations you designate and discuss the applicable clean air rules and your operating permit.  Consultants will also point out other issues that might not be cited under local air quality rules, but may pose an air quality concern. They may suggest and even provide other measures such as self-inspection, and trainings you and your employees can use to prevent future violations.

A consultation will look at ways you can go beyond compliance, such as:

• Pollution Prevention – In some cases, implementing "source reduction" and other practices that reduce or eliminate the creation of pollutants allow a business to get below certain emission-reporting thresholds, resulting in reduced registration fees.
• Material Substitution – using materials that produce fewer or no hazardous air pollutants or volatile organic compounds, but still result in the same or an improved product, may save a company material costs and/or reduce the administrative burden that comes with compliance.
• Manufacturing Method Changes – advancements in manufacturing techniques can often reduce the pollution produced through production process improvements and improved manufacturing efficiency.
• Combustion Efficiency Improvements – making equipment operate more efficiently can reduce energy consumption and reduce emissions.

Closing Conference - The consultant will review detailed findings with you in a closing conference. You will learn not only what you need to improve, but what you’re doing right, and ways that you can even further reduce emissions. At that time you can discuss problems, possible solutions and abatement periods to eliminate or control any serious hazards identified during the walk-through. In rare instances, the consultant may find an “imminent danger” situation during the walk-though and you must take immediate action to stop air emissions.

Follow-up - Following the closing conference, the consultant will provide you with a detailed checklist explaining the findings, and confirm any violations found and time periods to correct the violation. Consultants may also contact you to check your progress. You may always contact the consultants for assistance.  Ultimately, Spokane Clean Air requires that each consultation visit achieves its primary objective, to help businesses achieve compliance with air quality permits, and regulations. If you fail to eliminate identified violations according to the check list plan, the situation must be referred from consultation to enforcement for appropriate action.  

Approximately 6-12 months after the consult, the consultant will contact you to find out what measures you have implemented, and the cost savings and emissions reduced. A success story will be generated with the data collected.

The On-Site Consultant Will:

• Help you recognize ways for you to be in compliances with air quality rules, regulations and permits.
• Suggest general ways that you can go beyond compliance, to further reduce air pollution emissions.
• Identify kinds of help available, if you need further assistance.
• Provide you with a written checklist summarizing findings.
• Assist you to develop or maintaining compliance, and implementing changes to further reduce air emissions.
• Provide training and education for you to pass along to your employees.
• Not issue Notice of Violation (NOV) for violations of air quality rules, regulations and permits.  The consultant does not have the ability to issue NOVs.  But, the consultant will report possible violations if it’s not corrected within an agreed amount of time.
• Not guarantee that your workplace will “pass” a future Spokane Clean Air inspection.

Sign up for a FREE Consult!
If you want to save time and money, then sign up for the pollution prevention consultation services:

• Call 477-4727, ext. #114.
• Email mchambers@spokanecleanair.org.

The consultation program is available for businesses registered with Spokane Clean Air (excluding Air Operating Permits or Synthetic Minors.)