WEEK 1 – Our 21st-Century Regulatory System

President Obama last week launched his “21^st-Century Regulatory System” initiative that would not only promote “economic growth, innovation, competitiveness, and job creation," but also “root out regulations that are not worth the cost, or that are just plain dumb,” and yet at the same time “won't shy away from addressing obvious gaps.” 

How’s he doing?  We carefully examine the Federal Register, the government’s compendium of federal activity, to find out:

Monday, January 24, 2011

When you stop to think how the federal government can foster innovation the better to ensure our success in a competitive world, one thing surely comes to mind:

“I sure hope we’re employing at least 21 permanent full-time people studying sheep grazing.”

Could we keep up with China if we weren’t?

ACTION: Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement.

SUMMARY: The Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Sheep Experiment Station (USSES), Dubois, Idaho is proposing sheep grazing and associated activities to achieve its research goals and objectives (to develop integrated methods for increasing production efficiency of sheep and to simultaneously improve the sustainability of rangeland ecosystems).

The final Environmental Impact Statement allowing a department dedicated to studying sheep grazing to graze sheep is not expected to be finalized until next March.

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

It doesn’t get any simpler than this.  If you want to create jobs, there are only a handful of tools available to the federal government. One of those tools is revising “the quantity of Class 3 native spearmint oil that handlers may purchase from, or handle on behalf of, producers during the 2010-2011 marketing year.”

SUMMARY: …This rule increases the Native spearmint oil salable quantity from 980,220 pounds to 1,118,639 pounds, and the allotment percentage from 43 percent to 50 percent. The marketing order regulates the handling of spearmint oil produced in the Far West and is administered locally by the Spearmint Oil Administrative Committee (Committee). The Committee unanimously recommended this rule for the purpose of avoiding extreme fluctuations in supplies and prices and to help maintain stability in the Far West spearmint oil market.

If there's one obvious gap that needs addressing in our regulatory system, it's the lack of government-mandated pricing cartels. 

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

There is no question that this regulation is worth the cost:

Abstract: The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) proposes to collect economic information from golden-crab landing commercial fishermen in the U.S. South Atlantic region.

 Estimated Number of Respondents: 9.
    Estimated Time per Response: 1 hour.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 9.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $0.

Note to self: Do NOT become a golden-crab landing commercial fishermen in the U.S. South Atlantic region. The pay is awful.

Thursday, January 27, 2011

AGENCY: United States International Trade Commission.

ACTION: Revised schedule for the adequacy phase of the subject five-year review concerning the antidumping duty order on granular polytetrafluoroethylene resin (``granular PTFE resin'') from Italy.

The International Trade Commission: Protecting U.S. businesses from having to pay too little for their raw materials.

Friday, January 28, 2011

And finally, this important announcement regarding the publication of the highly anticipated National Highway Traffic Safety Administration annual insurer report on motor vehicle theft.

For 2005.

SUMMARY: This notice announces publication by NHTSA of the annual insurer report on motor vehicle theft for the 2005 reporting year. Section 33112(h) of Title 49 of the U.S. Code, requires this information to be compiled periodically and published by the agency in a form that will be helpful to the public, the law enforcement community, and Congress.

Because where else are you going to get information regarding the motor vehicle theft rates of brand new Hummers, Pontiacs, or Saturns? 

J.