On August 23, 2010, the Office of Advocacy submitted comments to the Environmental Protection Agency concerning their proposed National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants for Major and Area Sources: Industrial, Commercial, and Institutional Boilers and Process Heaters rule.

On August 20, 2010, the Office of Advocacy (Advocacy) filed a letter with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) in response to the agency’s request for comments on the “Enhanced Examination Timing Control Initiative,” which would establish three “tracks” for patent application review.

On August 19, 2010, the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Office of Advocacy (Advocacy) submitted comments to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) on OSHA’s proposed Walking-Working Surfaces and Personal Protective Equipment (Fall Protection Systems) rule.

On August 9, 2010, the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Office of Advocacy (Advocacy) submitted comments to the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on DHS’s proposed Revision of Department of Homeland Security Acquisition Regulation: Limitations on Subcontracting in Emergency Acquisitions.

On August 6, 2010, the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) issued a proposed rule to establish an Office of the Ombudsman within the FHFA. The Ombudsman would be responsible for considering complaints and appeals from Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, the Federal Home Loan Banks (collectively the regulated entities), the Office of Finance of the Federal Home Loans Bank System, and any other person that has a business relationship with a regulated entity or the Office of Finance. The Ombudsman would review any matter relating to the regulation and supervision of the regulated entities or the Office of Finance by FHFA. The proposal defines “person” as meaning an organization, business entity, or individual that has a business relationship with a regulated entity or the Office of Finance. The definition of “person” does not include an individual borrower. Comments are due September 7, 2010.

Today the Office of Advocacy applauded the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) decision to reexamine its final rule for stormwater discharges for construction sites. The Office of Advocacy had estimated that the regulation had the potential of costing business $10 billion annually, with minimal environmental improvement and would adversely affect housing affordability for millions of Americans. Small firms make up 97.7 percent of the construction and development industry.

The Access Board is proposing to revise and update its ADA accessibility guidelines for transportation services such as buses, over-the-road buses, and vans. The guidelines apply to the acquisition of new, used, and remanufactured transportation vehicles. The Access Board specifically asks the public on the impact of this rule on small entities, such as public entities with a population of less than 50,000 that provide public transportation, private entities that provide specified public transportation like charter services, and private entities that offer shuttle bus or van services to their clients or customers. Comments are due on November 23, 2010.

The report, Gender and Establishment Dynamics, 2002-2006, examines the gender characteristics and business dynamics of establishments that were in operation as of 2002 for the 2002-2006 period.

The Civilian Agency Acquisition Council and the Defense Acquisition Regulations Council(Councils) have issued an interim rule amending the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) to implement section Two of the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006, as amended by section 6202 of the Government Funding Transparency Act of 2008. The effective date for the rule was July 8, 2010. The rule requires contractors to report the names and total compensation of its five most highly compensated executives for the contract and its first-tier subcontractor’s five most highly compensated executives for the contract. The rule is applicable to all solicitations and contracts with a value of $25,000 or more. The reporting requirements of the Transparency Act are intended to empower the American taxpayer with information that may be used to demand greater fiscal discipline from both executive and legislative branches of Government. The Transparency Act reporting requirements apply to all businesses. Comments are due by September 7, 2010.

Real gross domestic product grew for the fourth consecutive quarter, spurred by increases in private fixed investment and exports; the annualized rate of 2.4 percent was a decrease from the first quarter’s 3.7 percent growth rate. These and other trends can be found in the second quarter 2010 update of the Quarterly Indicators: The Economy and Small Business.