EPA Considering Changing Definition Of ‘Small Manufacturer’

Citing the increasing producer price index and the current low sales threshold, the EPA is mulling a potential change to what qualifies as a small manufacturer.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is consider a potential change to how the agency defines “small manufacturer.” Currently, the EPA considers a company with a total annual sales of less than $4 million a “small manufacturer.” The distinction exempts the company from certain recordkeeping requirements and reporting under TSCA laws.

According to a report in Chemical Watch, companies can also achieve the status if none of their sites produce more than 45,400 kilograms of any one substance per year.

The EPA commented that it is considering the change “because of the magnitude of the increase in the [Producer Price Index]… and the current annual sales standard is comparatively low, given current revenue-based size standards developed by the Small Business Association (SBA).”

The EPA reported that it has also received robust feedback that the standard should be revisited.

The SBA has reportedly asked the EPA to consider whether the structure of the standard is still appropriate or if the agency should use a broader set of factors.  

Chemical Watch notes that any changes to the standard will have to go through a rulemaking process before it is enacted.

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