An article in the New York Times titled “Shutdown’s quiet toll, from idled research to closed wallets” (October 11, 2013) describes how lack of EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) inspectors at ports has delayed goods at US ports. Chemicals held at ports because of lack of EPA inspectors are delaying pesticide production. Lack of EPA personnel to approve emissions stickers on imported cars is holding up autos at ports. But lack of monitoring of mercury and other emissions also means that there is no audit of manufacturers’ compliance with EPA mandates. How will these delays impact consumers and their costs ? Will domestic producers change their operations to in increase emissions and decrease production costs, or will they continue to comply with mandates despite lack of Federal monitoring ? Will more production be shifted to NAFTA countries as a result of the shutdown ?