An Agenda to Weaken Protections - In the White House - RegWatch

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Monday, December 11, 2006

An Agenda to Weaken Protections

Agencies released today the Fall 2006 Unified Agenda and Regulatory Plan, which sums up the work of the last six months and sets priorities for the coming year. Unfortunately, this year's regulatory plan has a few too many familiar faces. Agencies have failed to make progress on important regulations such as reducing worker's exposure to crystalline silica or upgrading energy efficiency standards. What's even more troubling about the Bush's regulatory plan for 2007 is the return of some industry favorites that aim to rollback health, safety and environmental standards.

With the Dems taking control of Congress next month, it looks like the administration might be turning its attention more towards the executive branch. The intro to the Reg Plan sets out four overarching priorities for regulation that should mollify industry interests on the verge of losing their tax breaks:

Regulations that are particularly good examples of the Administration's ``smart'' regulation agenda to streamline regulations and reporting requirements, which is a key part of the President's economic plan.

Regulations that are of particular concern to small businesses.

Regulations that respond to public nominations submitted to OMB in 2001 or 2002.

Regulations that address 2004 nominations for promising regulatory reforms in the manufacturing sector.

Those last two bullets refer to the regulatory hit lists, regulations nominated by industry for "reform" or repeal during Bush's first term. And sure enough, the regulatory plans for each agency are chock full of hit list favorites, such as weakening regulations controlling listeria in ready-to-eat meat products and reducing the reporting requirements for the Toxic Release Inventory (despite the fact that EPA has publicly said they're backing away from the idea). More déjà vu on the agency's agenda for 2007:

Rules proposed after the outbreak of mad cow disease to keep potentially hazardous materials out of the food supply.
Changes to Land Management Plan procedures that could speed up the permit process for national forests, opening the forests up to more development and limiting public participation.
Long-overdue energy conservation standards.
Implementation of the 2002 Bioterrorism Act requirement for prior notification for imported food.
Changes sought by industry to the Family and Medical Leave Act.
Standards to prevent workers from exposure to Crystalline Silica.
Upgrades to roof crush resistance for SUVs.
Review of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards for Ozone.

The Regulatory Plan and Unified Agenda is currently only available on the GPO website, but check back soon to this website to view the agenda in a more searchable format.

Posted by Genevieve Smith