White House tackles business regulations

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WASHINGTON, May 26 (UPI) -- The White House Thursday posted the first set of regulations it proposes to simplify or eliminate to help the U.S. economy and create jobs.

The Obama administration announced in January it would review regulations among 30 agencies in a hunt for rules that put a drag on business or cost employers money that could go toward hiring.

The White House published its first list of regulations that could be eliminated, including a Department of Labor plan to reduce redundant paperwork currently required by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

The rule change "will remove over 1.9 million annual hours of redundant reporting burdens on employers and save more than $40 million in annual costs," the White House said.

A second rule change at the Environmental Protection Agency involves air quality controls no longer required "because modern vehicles already have effective air pollution control technologies." Eliminating that burden on gas stations is expected to save $670 million in the next 10 years.

Other proposals include reducing redundant paperwork required by the State Department and the Department of Commerce, which would make it easier for exporters, the White House said.

The administration invited the public to review the proposals, which are available at whitehouse.gov/regulatoryreform.