Imported surfboards...amazing. There is something very very sick in the USA. Environment rules ruining a little surfing biz. SICK!
This surfboard shop story is telling for another reason. We have been concerned at how we have exported so much of our manufacturing to other countries. And one reason that nobody talks about is touched on by this surf store owner — ENVIRONMENTAL regulation. We have done a lot in the last 30-40 years to clean up our environment and clean up industrial pollution, however, these laws also encouraged the export of industry to places with no enviromntal laws and low wages.
How many EPA regulators are in Saigon inspecting the surf factory there?
“Environment rules ruining a little surfing biz. SICK!”
I used to build surfboards. The only thing I used that I can figure the EPA would say anything about is dust from shaping the foam blanks, fiberglass resin, acetone, and MEK.
I can’t really see it being very hard to comply, but I agree with you. OSHA, EPA, CARB and others are making it hard to compete.