Comment on FR Doc # E8-23139

I own a small business that competes within the energy industry. It is 51% women owned and operated. I also have a veteran ownership and hire disabled personnel when available. The edge I have over my competition is slim and many of them are not women owned. It is extremely expensive to become certified as a woman owned business at the Women's Business Enterprise Council - over $350.00 for the application and $6000.00 for a corporate sponsorship. My business can not afford such a high cost of "certification" when the SBA has offered this program for the last several years and does not require certification. One of my potential clients, Marathon Oil, among others, requires that their women owned business clients be certified. Women owned businesses such as mine need to be able to be competitive with these large organizations and this SBA program could help. SBA needs these provisions that would provide an edge for Women Owned Small Businesses such as mine, in Archeology, and other niche areas to help them get an edge in winning governtment procurements.