"Montana Voluntary Environmental Audit and Pollution Prevention Guide" produced by the MSU Extension Pollution Prevention Program is available free from several organizations or for a postage-only charge if you have it mailed, says Lara Dando, the pollution prevention technical assistant on campus.

The publication is basically a "one-stop shopping guide" to help small businesses understand Montana's environmental rules and regulations, says Dando. It will help small businesses make sure they comply with various regulations, but it will also give you a step-by-step way to assess your practices. In addition to the main guide, which provides definitions as well as how-to help, there is information specifically for various industries.

If you are have an auto body or auto repair business or an on-site auto repair shop, if you run a dry cleaning businesss, a print shop or a wood finishing or refinishing business, there are additional guides targeted specifically to help you in your business.

"The audits can help you discover problems before they become harmful to yourself or your workers," says Michael Vogel, director of the Pollution Prevention Program.

You can obtain the guide from the Pollution Prevention Program, P.O. Box 173580, Bozeman, MT 59717-3580; from your local county Extension office, the Montana Department of Environmental Quality, the Montana Chamber of Commerce, your local county health department or local chamber of commerce.

If you would like personal help with a pollution prevention audit rather than using the guide yourself, you can receive personal help and on-site visits.

The toll-free number for the MSU Extension Pollution Prevention program is (888)  678-6872.