White House Issues Results of Government-Wide Review on Regulations

May 26, 2011

The Obama Administration today announced the results of the president’s government-wide review government regulations and see which ones can be removed.

According to Cass Sunstein, Administrator of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, more than two dozen agencies have identified initiatives with the potential to eliminate tens of millions of hours in reporting burdens, and billions of dollars in regulatory costs, and this is just the beginning.

Sunstein wrote in the Wall Street Journal today about his findings:

The initial review announced today is just the start of an ongoing process. Our goal is to change the regulatory culture of Washington by constantly asking what’s working and what isn’t. To achieve that goal, we need to obtain real-world evidence and data. We also need to draw on the experience and wisdom of the American people—which is why the president has put an emphasis on asking the public for their comments, ideas and suggestions.

Highlights from the report:

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is announcing a final rule that will remove over 1.9 million annual hours of redundant reporting burdens on employers and save more than $40 million in annual costs. Businesses will no longer be saddled with the obligation to fill out unnecessary government forms, meaning that their employees will have more time to be productive and do their real work.
EPA will propose to eliminate the redundant obligation for many states to require air pollution vapor recovery systems at local gas stations because modern vehicles already have effective air pollution control technologies. The anticipated annual savings are about $67 million.
The Departments of Commerce and State are undertaking a series of steps to eliminate unnecessary barriers to exports, including duplicative and unnecessary regulatory requirements, thus reducing the cumulative burden and uncertainty faced by American companies and their trading partners. These steps will make it easier for American companies to reach new markets, increasing exports while creating jobs here at home.