Red Tape Disrupts Industry, Causes Shortages
After the Environmental Protection Agency discovered high levels of toxic metals near two glass factories in Portland, Oregon, it tightened up its regulations on glass manufacturing, causing stain glasses windows to become prohibitively expensive for some churches. The Tampa Bay (FL) Times reports the tighter EPA regulations “requir[e] all glass manufacturers that make more than 50 tons of glass a year with toxic chemicals” to use filters “that prevent up to 99 percent of pollutants from escaping smokestacks.” David Jedson of the Stained Glass Association of America said that although manufacturers “fully support” emissions controls, “the problem is these companies haven’t had any time to plan.” Jedson adds the EPA’s new regulations “happened so quickly” that manufacturers “had trouble responding.”
What This Means For Small Businesses
Small businesses bear a disproportionate burden from the heavy hand of federal government regulations. As the EPA’s action to increase regulation of stained glass production shows, even when firms are willing to address serious issues such as pollution, the federal bureaucracy’s imposition of red tape does not take business realities into consideration.
Additional Reading
KOIN-TV runs an AP dispatch on the story.
Note: this article is intended to keep small business owners up on the latest news. It does not necessarily represent the policy stances of NFIB.
