NEWSRELEASE
For Release: September 28, 2005 EPA Makes Progress In Small Business Regulatory Relief Proposes To Reduce Burden Without Sacrificing Environmental
Goals WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has “made
good progress in some areas” in reducing regulatory burdens on small
manufacturers but still can do more to speed the process, according to testimony
today by Chief Counsel for Advocacy Thomas M. Sullivan before the U.S. House of
Representatives Committee on Government Reform, Subcommittee on Regulatory
Affairs. Sullivan said that implementing additional reforms would “yield reduced
regulatory burden without sacrificing environmental protection.” Sullivan’s testimony came in response to the Subcommittee’s request for
comments on EPA’s progress in reducing regulatory burdens on manufacturers.
Regulatory reforms were recommended to the Office of Management and Budget by
public commenters as a means to improve America’s global competitiveness and
strengthen the country’s manufacturing base. America’s small manufacturers face a disproportionate regulatory compliance
burden. A new Office of Advocacy study shows that America’s smallest firms bear
the heaviest burden of federal regulatory compliance costs. For manufacturers
with fewer than 20 employees, the annual per employee compliance cost is $21,919
-- two and half times the burden on large manufacturers. Small firms also spend
four and half times as much per employee on environmental compliance as their
larger counterparts do. Sullivan recognized the EPA for proposing to streamline the requirement faced
by businesses to file annual reports on their use and management of chemicals. A
simpler form would be available for facilities that report handling small
amounts of chemicals. With this approach, akin to the 1040-EZ short form for
taxes, businesses will save an estimated 165,000 hours that otherwise would be
spent filling out the longer form. At the same time, toxic materials management
of concern to communities will continue to be reported on the longer form. Sullivan noted that this win-win manufacturing regulatory reform would bring
meaningful burden reduction while maintaining environmental protection and
communities’ access to information. The Office of Advocacy, the “small business watchdog” of the government,
examines the role and status of small business in the economy and independently
represents the views of small business to federal agencies, Congress, and the
President. It is the source for small business statistics presented in
user-friendly formats and it funds research into small business issues. For more
information, visit the Office of Advocacy website at
Contact: John
McDowell, (202) 205-6941
john.mcdowell@sba.gov
SBA Number: 05-45 ADVO
Press Kit
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The Office of Advocacy of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is an independent voice for small business within the federal government. The presidentially appointed Chief Counsel for Advocacy advances the views, concerns, interests of small business before Congress, the White House, federal agencies, federal courts, and state policy makers. For more information, visit
www.sba.gov/advo, or call (202) 205-6533.