Okla. Stat. tit. 27A, § 27A-2-5-115

assistance - State Air Quality Ombudsman Office for Small

Businesses.

A. The Department shall establish a small business stationary

source technical and environmental compliance assistance program.

The purpose of such program shall be to provide information to small

businesses to assist them in achieving compliance with the

requirements of the Oklahoma Clean Air Act and the Federal Clean Air

Act. It shall be the duty of the Department to:

1. Develop, collect and coordinate information concerning

compliance methods and technologies for small business stationary

sources;

2. Assist small businesses with pollution prevention and

accidental release detection and prevention, including providing

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 27A. Environment and Natural Resources Page 116

information concerning alternative technologies, process changes,

products, and methods of operation that help reduce air pollution;

3. Develop a compliance assistance program for small business

stationary sources to assist them in determining applicable

requirements and in receiving permits in a timely manner;

4. Assure that small business stationary sources receive notice

of their rights under the Oklahoma Clean Air Act and the Federal

Clean Air Act, in such manner and form as to assure reasonably

adequate time for such sources to evaluate compliance methods and

any relevant or applicable proposed or final regulation or standard;

5. Develop procedures for informing small business stationary

sources of their obligations pursuant to the Oklahoma Clean Air Act,

including mechanisms for referring such sources to qualified

auditors in order that they may determine compliance with the

Oklahoma Clean Air Act or the Federal Clean Air Act; and

6. Develop procedures for considering requests from small

businesses for modification of work practices or technological

compliance methods when in accordance with the Oklahoma Clean Air

Act or the Federal Clean Air Act.

B. The Executive Director shall designate an employee within

the Department to serve as the State Air Quality Ombudsman for

Small Businesses. Such designee shall assume the responsibility for

monitoring the small business stationary source technical and

environmental compliance assistance program under this section. The

Ombudsman shall:

1. Evaluate and report on all aspects of the small business

stationary source technical and environmental compliance assistance

program including, but not limited to:

a. comments and recommendations to the Environmental

Protection Agency and the state regarding development

and implementation of regulations,

b. the impact of the Oklahoma Clean Air Act and the

Federal Clean Air Act on the state's economics, local

economics and small businesses,

c. review the work and services of the small business

stationary source technical and environmental

compliance assistance program with trade associations

and small business representatives;

2. Interact with the state and small businesses to:

a. facilitate small business participation in new

regulation development,

b. disseminate information,

c. sponsor meetings, and

d. refer small businesses to the appropriate areas of the

small business stationary source technical and

environmental compliance assistance program where they

may obtain information on assistance or find

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 27A. Environment and Natural Resources Page 117

affordable alternatives in controlling emissions and

precluding accidental releases; and

3. Interface with:

a. the Small Business Administration, the Department of

Commerce and other state, local, regional and federal

agencies which have programs to finally assist small

businesses in compliance with environmental

regulations, and

b. private sector financial institutions in locating

sources of funds to comply with state-local air

pollution regulations.

C. There is hereby created a Compliance Advisory Panel with
siness Administration, the Department of

Commerce and other state, local, regional and federal

agencies which have programs to finally assist small

businesses in compliance with environmental

regulations, and

b. private sector financial institutions in locating

sources of funds to comply with state-local air

pollution regulations.

C. There is hereby created a Compliance Advisory Panel with

responsibilities consistent with the requirements in Title V of the

Federal Clean Air Act. Panel members shall serve without

compensation but shall be entitled to travel expenses according to

the provisions of the State Travel Reimbursement Act. Funds to

cover the operational expenses of the panel shall be allocated and

administered by the Department through the small business stationary

source technical and environmental compliance assistance program.

The panel shall consist of seven (7) members as follows:

1. Two members who are not owners, or representatives of

owners, of small business stationary sources selected by the

Governor to represent the general public;

2. Two members who are owners, or who represent owners, of

small business stationary sources to be selected, one each, by the

President Pro Tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of

Representatives;

3. Two members who are owners, or who represent owners, of

small business stationary sources to be selected, one each, by the

minority leader of the Senate and the minority leader of the House

of Representatives; and

4. One member selected by the Executive Director to represent

the Department.

D. Each member of the Compliance Advisory Panel shall be

appointed for a term of seven (7) years terminating on January 15,

except the term of those first appointed shall expire as follows:

1. The first appointee of the Governor shall serve for one (1)

year;

2. The appointee of the House minority leadership shall be for

two (2) years;

3. The appointee of the House majority leadership shall be for

three (3) years;

4. The appointee of the Senate minority leadership shall be for

four (4) years;

5. The appointee of the Senate majority leadership shall be for

five (5) years;

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 27A. Environment and Natural Resources Page 118

6. The second appointee of the Governor shall be for six (6)

years; and

7. The appointee of the Executive Director shall be for seven

(7) years.

E. The terms of all members shall continue until their

successors shall have been duly appointed. If a vacancy occurs, the

designated appointing official shall name a replacement for the

remaining portion of the unexpired term created by the vacancy.

F. The Compliance Advisory Panel shall have the authority and

the duty to:

1. Render advisory opinions on the effectiveness of the state

small business stationary source technical and environmental

compliance assistance program, difficulties encountered, and the

degree and severity of enforcement;

2. Make periodic reports to the administrator of the

Environmental Protection Agency concerning the compliance status of

the state small business stationary source technical and

environmental compliance assistance program with the requirements of

the Paperwork Reduction Act, the Regulatory Flexibility Act, and the

Equal Access to Justice Act; and

3. Review information for small business stationary sources to

assure such information is understandable by the layperson.