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If you have environmental compliance questions, call 1-800-578-8898 or email us. 
Last chance to apply for a FREE circuit rider intern!

PPI is currently accepting applications from companies that could benefit from a brief intern assessment. These free assessments may involve reviewing projects focused on hazardous materials reduction, water or energy conservation, sustainable material management (SMM), or waste diversion. Our trained engineering interns can work with you on one or two projects to identify cost and environmental impacts that are documented in a short report. This year, PPI is offering two types of circuit rider interns:

  • A pollution prevention (P2) intern will focus on projects related to source reduction such as water and energy conservation, and hazardous material reductions
  • An SMM intern will focus on projects related to reducing, reusing, and/or recycling solid waste.

Interested companies should apply today. Circuit rider interns are offered at no cost to the company, and space is limited to 6-8 companies for each type of intern.
Intern program alumni
Did you know three of our current staff members are former PPI interns?
You can read their case summaries below.
Report on the Regulatory Flexibility Act, FY 2022

As the voice of small business in government, the Office of Advocacy is working diligently to bring small businesses’ voices into the regulatory process. Advocacy’s efforts at ensuring federal agency compliance with the Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA) resulted in ongoing conversations and changes to rules that reduced the regulatory burden for small businesses.

Advocacy’s “Report on the Regulatory Flexibility Act, FY 2022,” provides details on those efforts. In FY 2022, Advocacy submitted 37 formal comment letters to regulatory agencies, representing significant efforts by the office to serve as a watchdog for the RFA. 

In addition, Advocacy has worked tirelessly to bring small businesses and policymakers together. These efforts included 30 issue roundtables and RFA trainings to 257 federal officials in 10 agencies throughout FY 2022.
Compliance Corner:
Hazardous waste determinations

Did you know "failure to document your hazardous waste determinations” is one of the top noncompliance issues cited by KDHE?

Hazardous waste determinations should be made for each solid waste generated at your facility. Most generators use “knowledge of process and the SDS” to make a determination. To use knowledge of process, KDHE recommends generators follow four steps:
  1. Document all waste streams and the quantities generated each month. 
  2. Check to see if the waste meets the definition of a solid waste in 40 CFR 261.2. 
  3. If the waste meets that definition, use process knowledge and SDS data to determine if the waste is a “characteristic and/or listed hazardous waste.”
  4. Prepare the written documentation. This can be in an electronic format or on a hard copy like this KDHE example.

If you are unable to make a hazardous waste determination using knowledge of process, you will need to send a waste sample to a KDHE-certified lab for testing. If you need help with your determinations, PPI can help. Check out the resources on our website, watch our helpful waste determination video, call 800-578-8898 or email sbeap@ksu.edu.
PPI is here to assist with your applications.
Email us or call 800-578-8898.
KDHE Environmental Stewardship Award

KDHE offers Environmental Stewardship Awards annually to businesses, industries and organizations that have made significant improvement in protecting our environment by preventing pollution.

This noncompetitive annual award program recognizes projects that eliminate or reduce the generation of pollutants or wastes at the source, or projects that conserve natural resources.

Applications for the 2023 Environmental Stewardship Awards must be received by 5 p.m. on Monday, June 12, 2023. 
P2 Recognition Award application period extended

Pollution Prevention Recognition Awards are given to a company or companies that have implemented pollution prevention projects and/or process improvements at their facilities.

This only includes projects that were implemented between Jan. 1, 2020 and Dec. 31, 2022.
PPI partners with WSU to provide technical assistance to underserved communities

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently announced the selection of Wichita State University to serve as a new Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Technical Assistance Center, or EJ TCTAC, to help Midwestern communities access funding opportunities to advance environmental justice.

K-State Engineering Extension will serve as a partner organization for the Region 7 EJ TCTAC and will provide technical assistance to underserved and overburdened communities in the four-state area. PPI will lead Engineering Extension's partnership that will also include contributions from the Kansas Energy Program, Kansas Radon Program and Technical Assistance to Brownfields Program.

"Our K-State team of technical assistance providers are pleased to partner with WSU and seven other nonprofit organizations to make services more accessible for underserved communities, including small businesses," said Nancy Larson, PPI director.

WSU is one of 17 EJ TCTACs and will receive $10 million, with a portion allocated to remove barriers and improve accessibility for communities with environmental justice concerns. Additional award information will be announced in summer 2023. For more information about the centers, visit the website. 

Hazardous waste handlers are required to complete training annually, and new employees must be trained within six months of taking a position that requires they handle hazardous waste. This training needs to be documented and maintained for at least three years. 

PPI offers online training that includes a certificate of completion for $50 per user.
Upcoming Events

Aug. 9 – 10, 2023
Kansas Environmental Conference, Manhattan

Aug. 29 – 31, 2023

September 26 – 29, 2023