Download PDF
April 23, 2018

EPA Sends Rulemakings on Science Policy and the Rulemaking Process to OMB

Lynn L. Bergeson

On April 19, 2018, the Office of Management and Budget’s (OMB) Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) received the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) proposed rule entitled “Strengthening Transparency and Validity in Regulatory Science.”  This new proposed rule, item 2080-AA14, has not been published in the regulatory agenda; the only information available concerning the content of this rule is its title.

 On April 11, 2018, OIRA received an advanced notice of proposed rulemaking from EPA entitled “Increasing Consistency and Transparency in Considering Costs and Benefits in the Rulemaking Process.”  The OIRA 2017 Fall Regulatory Agenda for this rulemaking, item RIN 2010-AA12, states that EPA is considering “developing implementing regulations that would increase consistency across EPA divisions and offices, increase reliability to affected stakeholders, and increase transparency during the development of regulatory actions,” and that by developing implementing regulations through a notice-and-comment rulemaking process “it will provide the public with a better understanding on how EPA is evaluating costs when developing a regulatory action and allow the public to provide better feedback to EPA on potential future proposed rules.”

 More information on regulatory agenda items is available on our blog under key phrase regulatory agenda.