Frequent Questions about Dockets

Dockets

Public Involvement

The Rulemaking Process

A docket serves as the repository for documents or information related to a particular EPA activity. Agencies, such as EPA, most commonly use dockets for rulemaking actions, but dockets may also be used for various non-rulemaking activities.
Regulations.gov contains all rulemaking and non-rulemaking dockets for EPA, as well as other participating federal departments and agencies.

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Most EPA docket materials can be accessed electronically at Regulations.gov. You can also consult the dockets in-person in the EPA Docket Center.

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Many different documents related to EPA activities may be found in a docket. Examples include:

What docket materials are NOT available electronically through Regulations.gov?

Please contact the EPA Docket Center to access any of these materials.

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The docket ID uniquely identifies a set of materials related to a particular docket. The format of the docket ID identifies the government agency, program office, and year associated with the docket.

Example: EPA-HQ-SFUND-2008-0001 would show that the docket is maintained by EPA, at the Headquarters Office, Superfund program, and was started in 2008.

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A docket is like a folder with many documents placed inside. Each document is also given a unique ID number when it is placed in a docket.
Please consult the Regulations.gov FAQs for questions regarding that site.

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EPA publishes a notice in the Federal Register prior to formal comment periods on proposed rulemaking or other applicable activities. Generally, comment periods last for 30-90 days. The length of the comment period will be stated in the Federal Register notice. You can search for all dockets currently open for public comment at Regulations.gov.

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Detailed instructions on how to submit a comment are given in the Regulations.gov FAQs.

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Contact the EPA Docket Center for assistance with finding docket materials.

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When should I contact the Docket Center? What services are available? Is there a cost for using docket services?

Contact the Docket Center for help in locating docket information, or to access docket materials in person. More information on docket services is available at the Docket Center. There is no cost for viewing any EPA docket materials; however, EPA may charge a small amount to photocopy docket materials.

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Through the years, Congress has passed and Presidents have signed numerous laws to protect human health and the environment. These laws give EPA most of its authority to write regulations, and serve as the foundation for achieving the nation's environmental and public health protection goals. However, most laws do not have enough detail to be put into practice right away. EPA is a regulatory agency because Congress authorizes us to write regulations that explain the critical technical, operational, and legal details necessary to implement laws. More information on EPA Regulations can be found at http://www.epa.gov/lawsregs/

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Rulemaking is the name given to the process followed by federal departments and agencies to formulate, amend, or repeal a regulation. A federal regulation is generally an authoritative requirement issued by a federal department or agency that implements a statute and has the force of law. The rulemaking process generally consists of a proposed rule stage and a final rule stage. For most categories of rulemaking, the department or agency provides notice of a proposed regulation and any person or organization may review this document and submit comments on it in writing. The period during which public comments are accepted varies, but is usually 30, 60, or 90 days.
As part of the rulemaking process, the Agency is required to consider the public comments received on the proposed regulation. When the department or agency publishes the text of the final regulation in the Federal Register, it generally incorporates a response to the significant issues raised by those who submitted comments and discusses any changes made to the regulation as a result.

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The Federal Register is the official daily publication for final regulations, proposed regulations, and other notices of federal departments and agencies and organizations, as well as Executive Orders and other Presidential Documents. The Federal Register also provides the public with access to a wide range of Federal benefits and opportunities for funding. The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), Office of the Federal Register, prepares the Federal Register for publication in partnership with the Government Printing Office (GPO), which distributes it in paper, on microfiche and on the World Wide Web. Please visit the Federal Register for additional information.

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The CFR (Code of Federal Regulations) is an annual codification of the general and permanent regulations published in the Federal Register by the Federal Departments and Agencies of the Federal government. Electronic and paper publications of the CFR are available through www.gpoaccess.gov.

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