Cathy Colglazier, Public Advocate
785-296-0669 or 1-800-357-6087
Bureau of Environmental Field Services
1000 SW Jackson, Suite 430
Topeka, Kansas 66612
FAX (785) 291-3266

Public Advocate Services

The Division of Environment's Public Advocate for Small Businesses is your source of information about whom to contact within the Division of Environment with your problem or issue. If you have questions about whom to contact regarding your permit, pollution prevention technologies, or other questions, call Cathy Colglazier at 1-800-357-6087.

Kansas Environmental News

The Public Advocate is responsible for the Kansas Environmental News, a quarterly newsletter with current regulatory information, issues, and upcoming events. The newsletter is free--just call and request that your name be added to the mailing list.

2008 Newsletters

• Summer 2008 (.pdf)
• Spring 2008 (.pdf)
• Winter 2008 (.pdf)

Previous Years Newsletters

Small Business Environmental Assistance Program

The Division of Environment contracts with Kansas State University's Pollution Prevention Institute to provide the state's Small Business Environmental Assistance Program. The program provides free and confidential help including answers to questions, on-site assessments, pollution prevention technologies, workshops, publications, and the Kansas AIRLines quarterly newsletter. Visit their website at www.sbeap.org or call 1-800-578-8898.

These services are provided for businesses to assist them in complying (and going beyond compliance) with environmental regulations. Please don't hesitate to call them with any questions or information needs.

Upcoming Events and Workshops

Kansas City Lunch and Learns
Attend any or all of four “lunch and learn” sessions during summer 2008 to learn about everyday activities that impact local air quality and how you can reduce your impact. Sessions include:
        Jun. 11 - What Businesses Need To Know
        Jul. 9 - Lawn Care for Clean Air
        Aug. 13 - Idling Reduction
        Sep. 10 - Energy Efficiency for Businesses
These FREE sessions will take place from 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. Bring your own lunch and attend in-person or participate through your computer via an online Webinar. Each session will be held at the Johnson County Environmental Department located at 11811 S. Sunset Drive, Olathe, Kan. To register, call the Small Business Environmental Assistance Program (SBEAP) at 1-800-578-8898 or visit www.sbeap.org for more information.

2008 Kansas Environment Conference
Join us August 5 – 7 in Overland Park for the 2008 Kansas Environmental Conference. This annual conference provides updates on environmental issues, new technologies, regulatory information and pollution prevention. The registration fee for the conference is $150. Click here if you’d like to see the conference agenda which is packed full of great sessions! Read more at http://www.kdheks.gov/sbcs/environment_conf.html

Hazardous Waste Generator Workshops
Come and learn about the NEW hazardous waste regulations at one of the several different workshops being held around Kansas in August. Go to http://www.kdheks.gov/waste/index.html for registration details. The workshops will be presented by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment’s Bureau of Waste Management.