Louis Griesemer, from Missouri-based Springfield Underground, called on the House Small Business Committee to take action on burdensome and conflicting regulations that cause project delays and harm small operations.
Speaking as a representative of the National Stone, Sand and Gravel Association (NSSGA), Griesemer – who serves as the as the co-chair of the Mine Safety Health Administration-NSSGA Alliance – said, “I want to be clear, that I am not against regulation, nor is NSSGA. We have found that we can accomplish more by working together, rather than having just a command and control relationship.”
He told the committee during a Sept. 6 hearing that many federal permit requirements work at cross purposes. For example, federal air permits require the use of water for dust mitigation.
However, the Federal Aviation Administration doesn’t want Springfield Underground to store water in ponds because the quarry is close to an airport and migratory birds could impact air traffic. “One agency limits our availability of water while another agency demands overuse of it,” Griesemer added.
To reduce burdensome regulations, he asked that the Small Business Regulatory Flexibility Act should apply to proposed Fish and Wildlife Service and MSHA rules, and federal agencies should have to meet deadlines to determine if certain regulations apply to a site and permit approvals.