Correspondences obtained by OMB Watch between the Small Business Administration (SBA) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) raise significant questions about the influence SBA exerted over EPA's decision to pursue its current proposals to reduce chemical reporting under the Toxics Release Inventory (TRI).

Since the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced plans on Sept. 21 to reduce TRI chemical release reporting, the agency has faced an ever-growing flurry of criticism and opposition. The program receives tremendous support, because for nearly 20 years it has been an essential tool in addressing environmental and public health concerns. In response to EPA's proposals to cut reporting on TRI chemical releases, in order to eliminate paperwork for reporting companies, individuals and organization have expressed outrage and begun to rally around the program.

In response to a petition from public interest groups, the EPA has extended the deadline for public comments on its proposed cutbacks to the Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) to Jan 13. In an unrelated change, the agency also moved the electronic docket of public comments from its own website to the federal government's www.regulations.gov. The transition was far from seamless, and the possible effects of the location change in the midst of the rulemaking process are uncertain.

On Nov. 23, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) began early access to the 2003 Toxics Release Inventory (TRI), but in a limited manner. This early release is seven months faster than last year's release. While this earlier access represents a step in the right direction, the data format significantly limits its use. Additionally, EPA will not make the underlying data available to the public at this time.