Office of Advocacy
    U.S. Small Business Administration

    NEWSRELEASE

    For Release: December 18, 2006
    Contact: John McDowell, (202) 205-6941
    john.mcdowell@sba.gov
    SBA Number: 06-26 ADVO
    Press Kit

    EPA Takes Step To Reduce Burden On Small Business

    Reform Of Toxics Release Inventory Rule Will Reduce Unnecessary Paperwork, Protect Communities’ Right To Know

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has responded to small businesses and taken a step toward reducing their paperwork burden by reforming the Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) rule. EPA’s reform will help America’s small businesses - especially manufacturers - remain competitive while still informing communities of the use of toxic materials by local firms.

    Chief Counsel for Advocacy Thomas M. Sullivan issued the following statement in support of EPA’s TRI reform:

      “EPA’s reformed TRI rule rewards firms that take aggressive steps to prevent any leaks or emissions of toxics by allowing them to use a short form to notify the community that the firms’ use toxics in their manufacturing process.

      While small firms are this country's prime innovators and job creators, the smallest annually spend 45 percent more per employee to comply with federal regulations than their larger counterparts. Per employee, compliance with environmental regulations costs small firms 364 percent more than large firms.

      EPA's burden reduction recognizes that the United States must take steps to level the playing field for small firms and search for reforms that eliminate unnecessary paperwork while maintaining or improving environmental protection.”

    The Office of Advocacy, the “small business watchdog” of the federal 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 on Advocacy’s efforts to reduce the unnecessary burden on small business while protecting the environment, visit the Office of Advocacy website at www.sba.gov/advo.

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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, and 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.