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May 2005 — Vol. 83, No. 4

Feds to relieve some manufacturing regulatory burdens

 

According to the federal Office of Budget and Management (OMB), manufacturers incur more regulatory costs than other sectors of the economy. In an effort to reduce that cost burden, a number of federal agencies will revise their rules and regulations based on 76 recommendations from industry and nonprofit groups.

The recommendations stem from a request last year by the OMB for public comment on suggested reforms for the departments of Labor, Commerce, Health and Human Services, and Transportation, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and several other agencies. Of the 189 recommendations received, OMB chose 76 for priority action by the administration.

Thirty-eight of the recommendations are directed at changes at EPA. Nine are directed at OSHA, including suggestions to revise the rules on training requirements, coke-oven emissions and hexavalent chromium. Other recommendations target reform of the Family and Medical Leave Act rules and the EEO-1 reporting form.

According to OMB, the agencies have been instructed to take the most appropriate action to ease the excessive burden for the manufacturing sector while maintaining health, safety and environmental protections for the public. Reforms typically will be implemented through rule-making procedures that include an opportunity for public participation.

The OMB's Web site contains more information about the manufacturing regulatory reforms.