ECOSS For business: EES

ECOSS: For Business: Environmental Extension Service

For Business

Environmental Extension Service

ECOSS is a non-government/non-profit educational organization designed to assist businesses and the community with environmental and economic development issues.

ECOSS has sponsored the Environmental Extension Service (EES). The EES works cooperatively with the government, businesses, community and environmental interests in the Puget Sound Region, and beyond.

Our Environmental Extension Agents provide onsite pollution prevention and site clean-up education to businesses throughout the region.

The EES program has two main areas of focus:

The EES provides information and education on industrial innovations that will lead to pollution prevention in small- to medium-sized businesses. Most businesses of this size do not have the staff or resources to do the research on the new innovations in industry that will help them prevent pollution. In addition, they may not know whom to call for information. The EES, in conjunction with our partners at the Pollution Prevention Resources Center and the Northwest Environmental Business Council, provides valuable information and resources to businesses.
The EES provides information and education on the clean-up and remediation of contaminated land, or "Brownfields". The EES works with other service providers to help owners of contaminated sites cleanup their property. Go to Brownfields for more information. EES agents also help with questions regarding regulations, infrastructure improvement and general economic development.

TOP TEN LIST

Here are the top ten areas that the EES can help you with your business

Energy conservation
An energy audit of your business can reveal inefficiencies in equipment usage that cost you energy and money. New conservation technologies and products are often subsidized through government programs, making them free or at low cost to those who participate. ECOSS can not only provide your business with a free energy audit, but can also put you in touch with helpful programs to assist you with equipment upgrades.
Water conservation
Water conservation is a large part of pollution prevention. Despite the Northwest's historically heavy rains, fresh water is becoming scarcer and much more expensive. If your business uses a lot of water, conservation equipment makes a lot of sense. There are many options from which to choose.
Hazardous materials management
Using less toxic products is not only beneficial to your employees and the environment, but to your businesses bottom line as well. Our Environmental Extension staff can help you identify less toxic methods to perform the work necessary in your day-to-day operations. EES can also evaluate your disposal methods, assist with the design of containment systems and connect you with resources to help you retrofit your operations.
Brownfields Redevelopment
The EES is a portal to financial and technical assistance resources available under the EPA’s Brownfields Program. Low cost loans are available to qualified borrowers to finance contaminated site cleanup and, in some cases, technical assistance may be available to assess contaminated property using EPA and King County’s consultants. ECOSS can help you if you have a contaminated site of any type or size by providing preliminary assessments, regulatory information, cleanup technology information, and referrals to qualified consultants.
Stormwater pollution prevention program
All businesses with surface runoff draining to a public storm sewer system are required to perform routine maintenance on their drainage structures and eliminate any illicit connections. Businesses who are involved in "industrial activities" are required to develop a spill contingency plan and train their employees in appropriate "best management practices" for their facility. ECOSS can help you develop and implement a stormwater plan, provide training for your staff and find no cost and low cost solutions to address your stormwater issues. We offer free and confidential site assessments to help you get started.
Assistance from Environmental Consultants
ECOSS maintains a database and networks with reliable consultants who can be used to develop methods to modify technical processes you use in your business. Consultants can also be used to address contamination, stormwater, and hazardous waste management issues that may affect your business.
Risk assessment
By employing risk assessment methodologies under the amended Model Toxics Control Act (MTCA) regulations, a contaminated site may be brought into regulatory compliance using new technologies, engineered controls and other protective measures without expensive hazardous material removal and disposal. ECOSS can provide you with reliable contacts and information you can use to assess and investigate this approach to address contamination that may impact your business.
Habitat plantings
By collaborating with local volunteer groups, companies often can donate unused areas of their property to be planted with native plants. This helps with filtration of water runoff, improving the overall health of the local watershed.
Recognition programs
EES can help your business qualify for a number of business recognition programs, which offer awards, free advertising and free publicity. Envirostars (http://www.envirostars.com/) is one of the most recognized programs in King, Snohomish, Kitsap and Whatcom counties.
Answers to your unusual and tough questions
The Environmental Extension Service can help you find answers for your environmental dilemmas, regulatory issues, infrastructure challenges and many others. We are an information resource and, if we can't find the answer, we will do our best to find someone who does.

	ECOSS: For Business: Environmental Extension Service For Business Environmental Extension Service ECOSS is a non-government/non-profit educational organization designed to assist businesses and the community with environmental and economic development issues. ECOSS has sponsored the Environmental Extension Service (EES). The EES works cooperatively with the government, businesses, community and environmental interests in the Puget Sound Region, and beyond. Our Environmental Extension Agents provide onsite pollution prevention and site clean-up education to businesses throughout the region. The EES program has two main areas of focus: The EES provides information and education on industrial innovations that will lead to pollution prevention in small- to medium-sized businesses. Most businesses of this size do not have the staff or resources to do the research on the new innovations in industry that will help them prevent pollution. In addition, they may not know whom to call for information. The EES, in conjunction with our partners at the Pollution Prevention Resources Center and the Northwest Environmental Business Council, provides valuable information and resources to businesses. The EES provides information and education on the clean-up and remediation of contaminated land, or "Brownfields". The EES works with other service providers to help owners of contaminated sites cleanup their property. Go to Brownfields for more information. EES agents also help with questions regarding regulations, infrastructure improvement and general economic development. TOP TEN LIST Here are the top ten areas that the EES can help you with your business Energy conservation An energy audit of your business can reveal inefficiencies in equipment usage that cost you energy and money. New conservation technologies and products are often subsidized through government programs, making them free or at low cost to those who participate. ECOSS can not only provide your business with a free energy audit, but can also put you in touch with helpful programs to assist you with equipment upgrades. Water conservation Water conservation is a large part of pollution prevention. Despite the Northwest's historically heavy rains, fresh water is becoming scarcer and much more expensive. If your business uses a lot of water, conservation equipment makes a lot of sense. There are many options from which to choose. Hazardous materials management Using less toxic products is not only beneficial to your employees and the environment, but to your businesses bottom line as well. Our Environmental Extension staff can help you identify less toxic methods to perform the work necessary in your day-to-day operations. EES can also evaluate your disposal methods, assist with the design of containment systems and connect you with resources to help you retrofit your operations. Brownfields Redevelopment The EES is a portal to financial and technical assistance resources available under the EPA’s Brownfields Program. Low cost loans are available to qualified borrowers to finance contaminated site cleanup and, in some cases, technical assistance may be available to assess contaminated property using EPA and King County’s consultants. ECOSS can help you if you have a contaminated site of any type or size by providing preliminary assessments, regulatory information, cleanup technology information, and referrals to qualified consultants. Stormwater pollution prevention program All businesses with surface runoff draining to a public storm sewer system are required to perform routine maintenance on their drainage structures and eliminate any illicit connections. Businesses who are involved in "industrial activities" are required to develop a spill contingency plan and train their employees in appropriate "best management practices" for their facility. ECOSS can help you develop and implement a stormwater plan, provide training for your staff and find no cost and low cost solutions to address your stormwater issues. We offer free and confidential site assessments to help you get started. Assistance from Environmental Consultants ECOSS maintains a database and networks with reliable consultants who can be used to develop methods to modify technical processes you use in your business. Consultants can also be used to address contamination, stormwater, and hazardous waste management issues that may affect your business. Risk assessment By employing risk assessment methodologies under the amended Model Toxics Control Act (MTCA) regulations, a contaminated site may be brought into regulatory compliance using new technologies, engineered controls and other protective measures without expensive hazardous material removal and disposal. ECOSS can provide you with reliable contacts and information you can use to assess and investigate this approach to address contamination that may impact your business. Habitat plantings By collaborating with local volunteer groups, companies often can donate unused areas of their property to be planted with native plants. This helps with filtration of water runoff, improving the overall health of the local watershed. Recognition programs EES can help your business qualify for a number of business recognition programs, which offer awards, free advertising and free publicity. Envirostars (http://www.envirostars.com/) is one of the most recognized programs in King, Snohomish, Kitsap and Whatcom counties. Answers to your unusual and tough questions The Environmental Extension Service can help you find answers for your environmental dilemmas, regulatory issues, infrastructure challenges and many others. We are an information resource and, if we can't find the answer, we will do our best to find someone who does.

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