Frequent Questions for Small Entities

What small entities should know about EPA and the Regulatory Flexibility Act

What potential small entity representatives should know about the Small Business Advocacy Review Panel process

What small entities should know about EPA and the Regulatory Flexibility Act

Why should I be interested in RFA/SBREFA?

EPA has an ongoing commitment to minimize the burden of our regulations on small entities to the extent we can while still meeting our statutory requirements. The Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA), as amended by the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act (SBREFA), provides small entities with an expanded opportunity to participate in the development of certain regulations.

What is the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act?

SBREFA was signed into law on March 29, 1996, and contains five distinct sections:

  • Subtitle A–Regulatory Compliance Simplification: Among other things, requires federal agencies to publish Small Entity Compliance Guides that are written in plain language and explain the actions a small entity must take to comply with a rule or group of rules.
  • Subtitle B–Regulatory Enforcement Reforms: Requires federal agencies to support the rights of small entities in enforcement actions, specifically providing for the reduction, and in certain cases, the waiver of civil penalties for violations by small entities.
  • Subtitle C–Equal Access to Justice: Provides small businesses with expanded authority to go to court to be awarded attorneys' fees and costs when a federal agency has been found to be excessive in enforcement of federal regulations.
  • Subtitle D–Regulatory Flexibility Act Amendments: Provides small entities with expanded opportunities to participate in the development of certain regulations.
  • Subtitle E–Congressional Review of Agency Rulemaking: Requires federal agencies to provide Congress and the General Accounting Office with copies of all final rules and supporting analyses. Congress may decide not to allow a rule to take effect.

How does SBREFA affect EPA's rulemaking?

SBREFA established certain formal procedural and analytical requirements (outlined below) for rules with the potential to impose a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. But EPA also considers the concerns of small entities in the more frequent cases where impacts on small entities are more modest, even though SBREFA doesn't require it.

What does RFA/SBREFA require for proposed rules?

Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis. Generally, the RFA requires EPA to prepare an Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis (IRFA) for each proposed rule unless EPA certifies the rule will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. A regulatory flexibility analysis examines the type and number of small entities potentially subject to the rule, recordkeeping and compliance requirements, and significant regulatory alternatives, among other things.

Small Business Advocacy Review Panel. When an IRFA is required, EPA must also convene a Small Business Advocacy Review (SBAR) Panel before proposing a rule. EPA's Small Business Advocacy Chair convenes each Panel, which includes representatives from the Small Business Administration's Office of Advocacy, the Office of Management and Budget's Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA), and EPA. A Panel conducts its own outreach to Small Entity Representatives likely to be subject to the rule and prepares a report to the Administrator of EPA on ways to reduce the potential impact of the rule on small entities. Each Panel's report becomes part of the rulemaking record for the proposed rule.

What does RFA/SBREFA require for final rules?

Final Regulatory Flexibility Analysis. When EPA issues a rule that may have a significant impact on a substantial number of small entities, the EPA must prepare a Final Regulatory Flexibility Analysis (FRFA). The elements of a FRFA are similar to those of an IRFA, outlined above. In addition, each FRFA must summarize the significant issues raised by public comments on the IRFA, assess these issues, and describe any changes made in response to the comments.

Small Entity Compliance Guide. When a FRFA is required for a final rule, EPA must also publish a Small Entity Compliance Guide that is written in plain language and explains the actions a small entity must take to comply with a rule or group of rules.

What Potential small entity representatives should know about the Small Business Advocacy Review Panel process

What is a Small Business Advocacy Review Panel?

The Regulatory Flexibility Act as amended by the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act requires EPA to convene a Small Business Advocacy Review (SBAR) Panel for a proposed rule unless the agency certifies that the rule will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. The Panel process offers an opportunity for small businesses, small governments, and small not-for-profit organizations (collectively referred to as small entities) to provide advice and recommendations to ensure that EPA carefully considers small entity concerns. The Panel itself is comprised of federal employees from the Small Business Administration's Office of Advocacy, the Office of Management and Budget's Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA), and EPA. Small Entity Representatives (SERs) provide advice and recommendations to the Panel. Typically, EPA prefers that SERs be owner-operators of small businesses, small organization officials, or small government officials. Other representatives, such as trade associations that exclusively or at least primarily represent potentially regulated small entities, may serve as SERs. These other representatives are evaluated on a case by case basis.

Information about what constitutes a "small business" is available at the Small Business Administration's Size standards website. A "small government" is defined as a jurisdiction serving a population of 50,000 residents or fewer. A "small organization" is defined as any "not-for-profit enterprise which is independently owned and operated and is not dominant in its field."

What is an EPA Small Entity Representative?

The Small Business Advocacy Review (SBAR) Panel will ask a selected group of Small Entity Representatives (SERs) to provide comments on behalf of their company, community, or organization to advise the Panel regarding a particular proposed rule. SERs' participation in the rulemaking process will ensure that EPA hears small entity concerns.

A SER is a person appointed by the Small Business Advocacy Chair (SBAC) as a participating representative of small entities likely to be subject to the requirements of a specific proposed rule under development. The Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA) defines small entities as small businesses, small governments, and small non-profit organizations.

Why does EPA need Small Entity Representatives?

EPA has an ongoing commitment to minimize the burden of its regulations on small entities to the extent feasible, while still meeting its statutory requirements. The Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act (SBREFA), enacted in March 1996, amended the RFA to provide small entities with an expanded opportunity to participate in the development of certain regulations.

In particular, EPA must convene a SBAR Panel for certain proposed rules under development, unless the Agency determines the rule will not impose a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. Each Panel is led by the EPA's Small Business Advocacy Chair (SBAC) and includes federal representatives from the Small Business Administration's Office of Advocacy, the Office of Management and Budget's Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA), and EPA. The Panel meets with SERs likely to be subject to the rule to hear their views on the potential impacts of the rule and on ways to reduce those impacts.

Who is eligible to be a Small Entity Representative?

A small entity stakeholder is eligible to be a SER if he or she is directly subject to the particular proposed regulation that is under development and meets one of the following definitions of small entity listed below. Please note, however, EPA has the authority to use an alternative definition after notice and comment, and for small businesses, consulting with SBA.

  • Small Business: Defined under Section 3 of the Small Business Act. SBA defines "small business" variably, based on each firm's category in the North American Industry Classification System.
     
  • Small Organization: Any not-for-profit enterprise which is independently owned and operated and is not dominant in its field.
     
  • Small Governmental Jurisdiction: Governments of cities, counties, towns, townships, villages, school districts, or special districts, with population of less than 50,000.

Typically, EPA prefers the actual owners or operators of small businesses, community officials, and non-profit organizations for this purpose. However, a person from a trade association that exclusively or primarily represents potentially regulated small entities, may also serve as a SER.

Who chooses Small Entity Representatives?

For each rule that may have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities, EPA identifies what types of small entities are likely to be subject to the rule and develops a list of potential SERs. EPA also consults with the SBA Chief Counsel for Advocacy to identify individuals to serve as SERs. The EPA's Small Business Advocacy Chair considers these recommendations and appoints a group of official SERs.

At what stage in the rulemaking does the Panel process occur?

Prior to proposing a rule, EPA engages its small entity stakeholders in a dialog to learn more about their concerns and ideas regarding the rule under development. If the Agency believes that the rule may have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities, EPA will begin the SBAR Panel process. This process is intended to provide a special opportunity for small entities to participate in the rulemaking.

What will being a Small Entity Representative entail?

Generally, SERs will be asked to review background information, listen to informational briefings and provide oral and written comments to the Agency and later to the Panel.

Typically, prior to convening a Panel, EPA will provide the SERs with some background information on the rule and ask for their initial feedback. The Agency may also arrange a meeting with small entities potentially subject to a particular rule to hear their initial concerns and suggestions. Representatives of OMB and SBA are also invited to this meeting.

After the SBAR Panel is convened, the Panel will provide the SERs with some additional information, followed by a virtual or face-to-face meeting to give SERs the opportunity to communicate directly with the Panel members. The Panel also generally requests SERs' comments in writing. The goal of this consultation is to provide a forum for the SERs to raise issues of concern and to provide the Panel with insight into technical issues and potential ways of approaching them.

What will be done with my small entity input?

Each SBAR Panel has 60 days to consider SER comments in addition to other rule-related materials prepared by EPA and prepare a report to the Administrator of EPA on the potential small entity impacts of the rule and on possible ways to reduce those impacts. The Panel report is considered by the Agency as it makes decisions on the proposed rule and is made part of the official rulemaking record with all written small entity comments appended. SERs may also submit comments during the standard public comment period after the publication of the proposed rule in the Federal Register.

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Last updated on October 30, 2024