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Minnesota Retired Engineer Technical Assistance Program (Minnesota RETAP)

The Minnesota Retired Engineers Technical Assistance Program (Minnesota RETAP) provides no-cost, non-regulatory energy and waste assessments for Minnesota’s small to mid-sized businesses and public and private institutions. A team of RETAP retirees will conduct an on-site visit of your facility looking for opportunities to reduce waste, increase energy efficiency and conservation, and reduce operating costs. 

Minnesota RETAP provides technical assistance using retired engineers, scientists, and managers, each with 30-40 years experience in business, technology and waste reduction. Upon request, a team of retirees tours your facility looking for ways to prevent pollution, minimize waste, and improve the energy efficiency of your operations. The assessors can also provide other specific technical assistance in the areas of pollution prevention, waste reduction, and energy use reduction.

After the assessment or request for other technical services, the team provides a written report containing recommendations for process or procedural changes, the application of new technologies, or methods by which your organization can reduce pollution, waste, or operating costs. You are free to apply any of these recommendations, but you are under NO OBLIGATION to implement any of them. The report is CONFIDENTIAL; only those working on the report and your company will see it.

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency funds Minnesota RETAP, and Minnesota RETAP’s offices are co-located with the offices of the Minnesota Technical Assistance Program (MnTAP) at the University of Minnesota.

For more information or to request a FREE assessment, contact Minnesota RETAP at 612-624-1300 or 800-247-0015. (Ask for the retired engineers program.)

Minnesota Climate Change Corps

Climate Change Corps overview

Minnesota communities are well-positioned to address climate change and energy issues. More and more cities and their residents are taking action in ways that both protect the environment and also lead to cost-savings and other economic benefits.

The Minnesota Climate Change Corps is an MPCA-sponsored program composed of four skilled, retired or semi-retired professionals who can help you reduce energy costs and create a more sustainable community. Cities, counties, and other communities are the Minnesota Climate Change Corps’ priorities for assistance. Assistance from the Corps members is provided without charge, including:

• Sustainability assessments and advice on sustainability planning
• Recommending cost-saving energy conservation and waste reduction initiatives
• Carbon baseline assessments
• Assisting and advising GreenStep Cities participants
• Accessing additional resources

For more information or to request assistance, contact Paul Moss (MPCA), Minnesota Climate Change Corps coordinator: paul.moss@state.mn.us or 651-757-2586.

Minnesota RETAP 612-624-1300 or 800-247-0015 (Ask for the "Retired Engineers" program.)

Frequently Asked Questions

• Who are the assessors?
• How much does this service cost?
• Who operates Minnesota RETAP? Who do the assessors work for?
• What is the benefit of an assessment?
• What kinds of organizations are eligible?
• What do you mean by "confidential?"
• What exactly is an "assessment"? How does it work?
• Does Minnesota RETAP help with regulatory compliance issues?
• Will assessors try to sell me engineering consulting or other services?
• What's the difference between Minnesota RETAP and MnTAP?

Who are the assessors?

Most assessors are retired engineers, scientists, managers, or other professionals who have worked in Minnesota business and industry and have 30 to 40 years of experience. They come from a wide variety of backgrounds and have all received in-depth training and orientation on conducting assessments in the areas of pollution prevention (P2) and waste reduction (WR).

How much does it cost?

The RETAP service is free. The state of Minnesota, through the MPCA, provides financial assistance for Minnesota RETAP. There will be no attempt to sell or market any additional service or product to organizations that request an assessment or other services.

Who administers Minnesota RETAP: Who do the assessors work for?

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency provides funding and administers funds for Minnesota RETAP. In addition, staff of MnTAP provide technical and administrative support to Minnesota RETAP. The retirees are independent contractors of the MPCA.

What is the benefit of an assessment?

The assessments provide recommendations by which facilities may reduce waste, pollution, and energy usage. Benefits include: saving money, enhancing your public image, and improving the environment for your community, family, and employees. Some companies may also reduce their regulatory liability or exposure.

What kinds of businesses are eligible?

All businesses, industries, and institutional facilities (public and private) in Minnesota are eligible for the Minnesota RETAP service. The first two-year contract of RETAP has been marketed most vigorously to Minnesota's fast-growing commercial/service sector because this sector is a major contributor to the ever-increasing amount of garbage generated in the state but has not yet been the focus of any substantial environmental outreach and assistance. Examples businesses types served by Minnesota RETAP include: hotels/motels, restaurants, hospitals, groceries, schools/colleges, auto repair shops, rental properties, small manufacturing companies, breweries, binderies, printers, bakeries, and moving and storage companies.

What do you mean by "confidential?"

Minnesota RETAP shall use reasonable efforts to adhere to the following confidentiality policy regarding "Confidential Information" provided to it by companies.

Any and all information ("Confidential Information") which the client discloses or submits in writing or in other tangible form which is clearly and conspicuously labeled "CONFIDENTIAL" or "PROPRIETARY" shall not be disclosed to any third party. Confidential Information shall also include any information disclosed by the client to Minnesota RETAP orally or visually and is identified at such time as Confidential Information, provided that client provides Minnesota RETAP with a memorandum within fourteen (14) days of such disclosure specifying in detail the specific information that it desires be kept confidential. Minnesota RETAP shall not be held financially liable for any inadvertent disclosure, but will use its reasonable efforts not to disclose any Confidential Information.

Nothing contained herein will in any way restrict or impair Minnesota RETAP’s right to use, disclose, or otherwise deal with any Confidential Information which at the time of its receipt:

• Is generally available in the public domain, or thereafter becomes available to the public through no act of Minnesota RETAP;
  
• Was independently known prior to its receipt, or made available to Minnesota RETAP as a matter of lawful right by a third party;
  
• Is received without obligation of confidentiality from a third party who was free to disclose the information; or
  
• Is required by law [including disclosures under the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act (Minnesota Statute, Chapter 13)], regulation or court order to be disclosed, in which case the client shall be notified. Minnesota RETAP shall not be required to commence or defend any action to prohibit the inspection and copying of Confidential Information.

The above obligations for Confidential Information shall be in effect for a period of one year from the date Confidential Information was first provided to Minnesota RETAP by the client.

What exactly is an "assessment?" How does a typical assessment work?

1. An interested organization submits a request for an assessment.
2. Based on discussions with the organization's representative, a Minnesota RETAP representative determines if a pre-assessment visit will be helpful and schedules this visit at a mutually convenient time. (Pre-assessment visits are not always necessary, but may be scheduled when the type of business, industry, or facility is unusual or very complex.) The purpose of this visit is to gather enough facts about the facility and its operations to properly assemble an assessment team. Pre-assessment visits usually consist of a brief tour of the facility and a short discussion of operations, and may take one to three hours.
3. The assessment visit will be scheduled at a time mutually convenient for both the company and assessment team members. This visit will consist of a thorough walkthrough of the facilities and sufficient discussion with staff to identify the most useful P2, WR or energy use reduction opportunities. The time required for an assessment visit depends on the size and complexity of the facility, and can range from two hours (for a small auto repair shop, for instance), to more than a day (for a complex facility like a hospital). Prior to the assessment visit, the team leader will usually request that the organization provide the last 12 months' utility bills to facilitate an analysis of energy saving opportunities. Other information that may be requested by the team could include a floor plan, flow diagrams of processes, and any available lists of known wastes or by-products.
4. Upon completion of the assessment visit, the assessors may meet with facility representatives in an exit interview to discuss their initial impressions and clarify various details about operations and processes.
5. After completing the assessment visit, the team prepares a written report with specific recommendations for waste reduction, pollution prevention, energy conservation, and cost savings. The report will be sent to the company or organization approximately four to six weeks after the assessment visit. Only two copies of the report will be prepared; the facility receives one and Minnesota RETAP maintains the other for use in follow-up discussions, and in case any questions arise from the company at a future date.
6. At intervals (approximately six weeks, six months, one year, and two years) after the report has been received, Minnesota RETAP assessors contact the facility in follow-up phone calls (or site visits, if requested) to evaluate the usefulness of the report recommendations, to answer any questions that may have arisen in evaluating or implementing the recommendations, and to seek opportunities for case studies.

Does Minnesota RETAP help with regulatory compliance issues?

No. Minnesota RETAP assessments and other services are completely outside the regulatory and compliance framework. They are provided to identify opportunities to minimize waste, pollution and energy use, and to reduce operating costs. Minnesota RETAP retirees are not trained to help solve regulatory or compliance problems. Even though Minnesota RETAP services are not intended to address regulatory or compliance issues, many companies have found that as they have implemented the waste reduction recommendations contained in Minnesota RETAP reports, they have also reduced their regulatory liability or exposure.

Will assessors try to sell me engineering consulting or other services?

No. While some Minnesota RETAP retirees do provide consulting or other technical services on their own, all have been notified that they may not approach any Minnesota RETAP client organization with any request for personal business. To do so would constitute a serious conflict of interest and would result in the termination of the retiree's association with Minnesota RETAP.

What's the difference between Minnesota RETAP and the Minnesota Technical Assistance Program (MnTAP)? Are they the same?

They are different but complementary programs. Both are free services supported financially by the MPCA. Both are located at the University of Minnesota. Both use technically trained, experienced professionals to assist Minnesota organizations in reducing waste, pollution, and energy use. Minnesota RETAP focuses on the non-manufacturing commercial and service sectors, conducting integrated environmental assessments and other services, and making recommendations for waste, pollution, and energy-use reduction. MnTAP provides detailed analyses of specific problems and works with organizations to implement practical solutions. Minnesota RETAP may identify a problem and refer the client to a MnTAP specialist who can further assist the company or organization. Minnesota RETAP and MnTAP collaborate to take advantage of each other’s strengths to satisfy customer needs.