Pit & Quarry, June 2017

GOVERNMENT RAMPING DOWN REGULATIONS The Waters of the U S rule and other restrictions on aggregate producers drive discussions at this years ndoubtedly aggregate producers face more rules and regulations than ever in 2017 According to Forbes a U record 97110 pages were introduced last year alone to the Federal Register the publication that contains federal agency regulations proposed rules and public notices and executive orders among other details A new administration however means a new regulatory approach one geared toward reducing regulations and controlling regulatory costs Aggregate producers equipment suppliers association representatives and others took some time earlier this year to explore the regulatory front at the Pit Quarry Roundtable Conference Following are transcripts from roundtable proceedings on the topic Two discussions were hosted simultaneously at the Scottsdale Arizona event one in the centers Turquoise Room and the other in the Topaz Room TURQUOISE ROOM CONSTANTINO In addition to federal highway spending the recent election could result in major changes in regard to government regulations affecting our industry including major changes at the Environmental Protection Agency Will the Waters of the U S Pit Quarry roundtable WOTUS rule be rescinded What about other regulations How might these changes affect your business GOETHEL I believe WOTUS will be rescinded Scott Pruitt has been nominated to lead the EPA U S Environmental Protection Agency He was the attorney general in Oklahoma Hes very pro business So Im excited to see how the EPA might migrate to a business friendly relationship Goethel CADWALADER Well Scott Pruitt has sued the federal government something like six times over the EPA I think So I dont think he has great love for the organization MOORE Getting rid of two regulations every time we pass a new regulation which the president has ordered is such Roundtable attendees included aggregate producers manufacturers association representatives and others an oversimplification of the problem because you may have one regulation as you often do that has 50 subparts Each subpart has 25 more subparts Those reference other subparts to invoke and those subparts change and its almost impossible to follow some of these regulations because theyre so complicated and so interrelated and written by people who have never been in the business and who really dont know what theyre talking about in some cases For example What bureaucrat wrote the regulation on assembling the gas can to put gas in your lawnmower Youve got to turn it with this hand pull it back with this hand hold the big can with this hand while it drips out of all of these fittings that break over time The regulation was so much simpler and easier You just pull off the cap pour the gas in hold the can with both hands safely The tax laws are incomprehensible all 27000 pages of them I ask why should a corporation be taxed at all Get rid of corporate tax Why The 42 PIT QUARRY June 2017 pitandquarry com