U.S. EPA Publishes Semiannual Regulatory Agenda

On April 26, 2010, U.S. EPA published the availability of its semiannual regulatory agenda and semiannual regulatory flexibility agenda (75 FR 21872) to update the public about the following: 

• Regulations and major policies currently under development, 
• Reviews of existing regulations and major policies, and 
• Rules and major policymakings completed or canceled since the last agenda. 

Semiannual Regulatory Agenda 

The semiannual regulatory agenda is the comprehensive collection of information about the items listed above. The semiannual regulatory agenda, which used to be published in the Federal Register, is now only available through an online database. The current agenda presents 67 different air quality items for which U.S. EPA is currently developing proposed rules, and 41 air quality items for which final rules are being developed. Similar information about rulemakings in other U.S. EPA programs (e.g., water quality and waste management) is also included in the semiannual regulatory agenda, which can be accessed here. 

Semiannual Regulatory Flexibility Agenda 

The semiannual regulatory flexibility agenda presents regulations excerpted from the regulatory agenda for review because they may have a significant impact on a substantial number of small entities. This information continues to be published in the Federal Register and is also available at the link above. 

Regulatory Goals and Key Principles 

Also included in the Federal Register notice about these agendas is information on the regulatory goals and key principles that guide U.S. EPA’s rule and policymaking process. This information is summarized under seven (7) themes of focus, which U.S. EPA states shape everything it does. These themes are: 

• Taking Action on Climate Change, 
• Improving Air Quality, 
• Assuring the Safety of Chemicals, 
• Cleaning Up Our Communities, 
• Protecting America’s Waters, 
• Expanding the Conversation on Environmentalism and Working for Environmental Justice, and 
• Building Strong State and Tribal Partnerships.