“Small and medium sized businesses face a huge stumbling block in the form of a regulatory system that fails them,” writes Eric Byer, president of the National Association of Chemical Distributors, in an op-ed for Inside Sources. On the heels of NACD meetings with more than 170 congressional offices, Byer notes, “For one or more of three reasons the regulatory system fails these business owners because: 1) it is overly burdensome; 2) the system’s structure isn’t being followed by the very government that put it in place; and 3) it is overly focused on enforcement rather than assistance for those seeking to comply.” Key excerpts are below or the full Op-Ed can be read here. “It is these very businesses that have proven to be the backbone of our economy but that disproportionately bear the largest impact of regulations. According to the U.S. Small Business Administration Office of Advocacy, it costs small firms 364 percent more than large firms to comply with federal environmental regulations. Small businesses simply do not have the dedicated resources to monitor and plan for unclear, rapidly and unexpectedly changing regulations.” “To be sure, small businesses across the country seek to comply with the regulations, however burdensome. Even when acting in good faith, though, they often face a scenario where the goalposts are constantly being moved.” “Only with this sort of regulatory certainty can small and medium sized businesses continue to thrive and provide good-paying, locally focused jobs while remaining committed to operating in a safe and responsible manner.”