January 19, 2011
President Barack Obama has promised to ease “absurd and unnecessary paperwork requirements” – and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is not immune.
Obama yesterday signed an executive order directing agencies to remove outdated regulations that have a negative impact on the economy.
The president outlined the order in a Wall Street Journal editorial. He wrote that some government rules have placed unreasonable burdens on business, “burdens that have stifled innovation and have had a chilling effect on growth and jobs.”
He added, “We are also making it our mission to root out regulations that conflict, that are not worth the cost, or that are just plain dumb.”
On the other hand, examples of necessary regulations include new safety rules for infant formula and fuel-economy standards for cars and trucks, Obama said.
As an example of a recent achievement in cutting red tape, Obama cited an EPA decision to loosen regulations on the artificial sweetener saccharin, which he said the FDA has long considered safe for consumption.
Read the complete article at ENVIRONMENTAL LEADER: