Smart Regulation Permitting Concerns

In recent years, the federal approach to regulation has fallen out of balance – stifling U.S. innovation and competitiveness with ever-increasing regulatory burdens and compliance costs. Inefficient and complex federal permitting processes continue to delay meaningful projects and investments that will stimulate job creation and economic growth.

Leaders in the business and policy communities have grown increasingly concerned about the adverse economic impacts associated with excessive regulation in general and a burdensome permitting process in particular. There is widespread, bipartisan agreement that improving the federal permitting process will help unlock investment, leading to economic growth and job creation.

The RCRA, which governs waste management, provides an excellent illustration of just how burdensome the permitting process can be. The instructions alone for applying for an RCRA permit are nearly 50 pages long.

The federal government’s permitting process is a system fraught with complexity, redundancy and uncertainty — resulting in a hostile business environment that discourages large-scale capital investments and impairs job creation.

Permitting delays and red tape can make or break the microeconomics of investment projects.

The CEOs of Business Roundtable believe that it is time to simplify, streamline and accelerate America’s permitting process with the goal of encouraging large-scale capital investments in the U.S. economy while maintaining the nation’s commitments to health, safety and soundness.