Small Business Ombudsman

The Small Business Ombudsman serves as an advocate for Oregon's small businesses by investigating and resolving complaints and disputes involving DEQ's air quality regulations. The Ombudsman's role is to review DEQ's regulatory activities to ensure that they are reasonable for small businesses and to ensure that small business interests are represented during DEQ's rulemaking process. The Ombudsman also works through Oregon's Small Business Compliance Advisory Panel (CAP) to provide technical and educational assistance to small businesses.

Ombudsman contact information

Rebecca Hillwig 503-229-5376
Call DEQ toll free at 1-800-452-4011  
Email: Rebecca Hillwig
Fax: 503-229-5675

Other Ombudsman programs

EPA's Small Business Ombudsman

Serves as a conduit for small business to access EPA by facilitating communications between the small business community and DEQ. The Ombudsman reviews and resolves disputes with EPA and works with EPA personnel to enhance their understanding of small businesses when developing and enforcing environmental regulations.

Office of the National Small Business Administration Ombudsman

The National Ombudsman's primary mission is to assist small businesses when they experience excessive regulatory enforcement action on the federal level. Examples may include repetitive audits or investigations, excessive penalties, threats, retaliation or other unfair enforcement action by a federal agency.

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