News by SB Informer

Small Business Supports EPA's TRI Reform

SB Informer
Wednesday, February 7, 2007; 02:30 AM

WASHINGTON - Small business supports the Environmental Protection Agency's recent reform of the Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) rule, according to testimony today by Chief Counsel for Advocacy Thomas M. Sullivan. Sullivan delivered his testimony before the United States Senate Environment and Public Works Committee.

The reform of the TRI rule is the result of a 15-year process, which included public comment, stakeholder meetings, expert testimony, and the notice and comment rulemaking process. The result of EPA's listening and learning is an approach that reduces unnecessary burden on small business while protecting the public's right to know.

Chief Counsel Sullivan testified that, "the TRI Burden Reduction rule will yield needed reductions in small business paperwork burdens while preserving the integrity of the TRI program and strengthening the protection of the environment."

According to his testimony, the reform is important because, "Small businesses have consistently voiced their concerns to Advocacy that the TRI program imposes substantial paperwork burdens with little corresponding environmental benefit, especially for thousands of businesses that have zero discharges or emissions to the environment."

Moreover, he said that "top environmental performers within industry will benefit by being able to use the short form (Form A) ... Most importantly, in order to use Form A, firms may not emit or discharge any PBT (Persistent, Bioaccumulative, and Toxic) chemicals into the environment."

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 and a complete copy of the testimony, visit the Office of Advocacy website at http://www.sba.gov/advo.

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 http://www.sba.gov/advo, or call (202) 205-6533.

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