OIRA Return Letters

During the course of OIRA's review of a draft regulation, the Administrator may decide to send a letter to the agency that returns the rule for reconsideration. Such a return may occur if the quality of the agency's analyses is inadequate, if the regulatory standards adopted are not justified by the analyses, if the rule is not consistent with the regulatory principles stated in EO 12866 or with the President's policies and priorities, or if the rule is not compatible with other Executive Orders or statutes. Such a return does not necessarily imply that either OIRA or OMB is opposed to the draft rule. Rather, the return letter explains why OIRA believes that the rulemaking would benefit from further consideration by the agency.

Letter to the Small Business Administration for three "Size Standard rules on Accommodations and Food Service Industries, Other Services Industries, and Retail Trade Industries " (January 6, 2009) (50k) Letter to the Department of Homeland Security on "Coastwise Transportation of Passengers " (August 13, 2008) (63k) Letter to the Environmental Protection Agency on "Pesticide Container Recycling " (July 3, 2008) (960k) Letter to the Department of Commerce on "Amendment 12 to the Coastal Pelagic Species (CPS) Fishery Management Plan (FMP) " (October 30, 2007) (96k) Letter to the Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight on "Corporate Governance - Prohibition on Indemnification Payments " (December 9, 2005) (79k) Letter to the Department of Transportation on "Regulations to be Followed by All Departments, Agencies, and Shippers Having Responsibility to Provide a Preference for U.S.-Flag Vessels in the Shipment of Cargoes on Ocean Vessels" (February 11, 2004) (87k) Letter to the Department of Transportation on "Hazardous Materials: Transportation of Lithium Batteries" (August 22, 2003)(37k) Letter to the Department of Transportation on "Regulations to be Followed by All Departments, Agencies, and Shippers Having Responsibility to Provide a Preference for U.S.-Flag Vessels in the Shipment of Cargoes on Ocean Vessels" (June 13, 2003) (75k) Letter to the Office of Personnel Management on "Implementation of Additional Cost Principles in the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program" (December 18, 2002) (64k) Letter to the Department of Veterans' Affairs on "Loan Guaranty: Availability of Vendee Financing for VA-Acquired Properties" (October 8, 2002)  (34k) Letter to the Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) on "Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems" (February 12, 2002) (61k) Letter to the Small Business Administration on "Small Business Size Standards: Economic Injury Disaster Loan Payment" (February 11, 2002) Letter to the Department of Agriculture on "Environment Enhancement for Nonhuman Primates" (January 29, 2002) Letter to the Department of Housing and Urban Development on "Public Housing Capital Fund Program" (November 21, 2001) Letter to the Social Security Administration on "Rules Implementing the Ticket to Work and Self-Sufficiency Program" (November 15, 2001) Letter to the Department of Veterans Affairs on "Medical Care and Treatment for Which VA Will Not Seek Reimbursement" (October 3, 2001) Letter to the Environmental Protection Agency on "Federal Water Quality Standards for Indian County and Other Provisions Regarding Federal Water Quality Standards" (October 2, 2001) Letter to Veterans Affairs on "Exclusions from Income" (September 28, 2001) Letter to the Social Security Administration on (1) "Clarification of Rules; (2) Filing Claims under the Federal Tort Claims Act and the Military Personnel and Civilian Employees Claims Act; (3) Revised Medical Criteria for Evaluating Hematologic Disorders and Malignant Neoplastic Diseases; and (4) Representative Payment Under the Title II and Title XVI of the Social Security Act" (September 27, 2001) Letter to the Department of Housing and Urban Development on "Establishment of a Demonstration Risk-Sharing Program" (September 26, 2001) Letter to the Department of Transportation on "U.S. Locational Requirement for Dispatching the U.S. Rail Operations" (September 20, 2001) Letter to the Department of Transportation on "Revisions to Digital Flight Data Recorder Regulations for Boeing 737 Airplanes and for Part 125 Operators" (September 14, 2001) Letter to the Department of Transportation on "(1) Corrosion and Control Program" and (2) "Aging Aircraft Safety" (September 14, 2001) Letter to the Department of Veterans Affairs on "Evidence of Permanent and Total Disability" (September 14, 2001) Letter to the Department of Transportation on "Certification of Pilots, Aircraft, and Repairman, for the Operationof Light Sport Aircraft" (August 8, 2001) Letter to the Department of Transportation on "Hazardous Materials: Safety Requirements for External Product Piping on Cargo Tanks Transporting Flammable Liquid" (August 8, 2001) Letter to the Department of Transportation on "Part 145 Review: Repair Stations" (July 20, 2001) (Download Adobe Acrobat Reader)