The Massachusetts Office of Technical Assistance (OTA) is a state agency that provides support and guidance to businesses dealing with potentially toxic materials. Established in 1989 following the Toxics Use Reduction Act, the OTA is located at the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs in
Boston
Boston (), officially the City of Boston, is the state capital and most populous city of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, as well as the cultural and financial center of the New England region of the United States. It is the 24th- mo ...
. Its aim is to promote safe handling and reduction of hazardous materials within Massachusetts businesses.
Mission
The Massachusetts Office of Technical Assistance (OTA) provides free and confidential technical assistance to manufacturing facilities, companies, and large and small businesses that use, store, and manufacture toxic or hazardous substances and chemicals. The OTA also provides assistance where hazardous by-products are generated or where there are opportunities for energy efficiency, on-site renewable energy, materials conservation and reuse, and
water conservation
Water conservation includes all the policies, strategies and activities to sustainably manage the natural resource of fresh water, to protect the hydrosphere, and to meet the current and future human demand (thus avoiding water scarcity). Popula ...
. Technical assistance provided by the OTA is characterized by phone and email assistance as well as on-site visits. The OTA tackles issues relating to pollution prevention, air emissions compliance, chemicals usage, hazardous waste management, energy efficiency, water conservation, wastewater management, plant operations and maintenance, and record keeping. All services are offered on a confidential, non-regulatory basis and provided at no charge to the facility.
[{{Cite web, url=https://www.mass.gov/guides/frequently-asked-questions-about-ota, title=Frequently Asked Questions About OTA, website=Mass.gov, language=en, access-date=2018-05-02]
See also
*
Massachusetts Toxics Use Reduction Institute
References
__FORCETOC__
Government of Massachusetts
Government agencies established in 1989
Organizations based in Boston