Frequent Questions about Dockets
Dockets
- What is a docket?
- How do I access information in a docket?
- What docket materials are available online at Regulations.gov?
- What docket materials are NOT available electronically through Regulations.gov?
- What is a docket ID?
- How is a docket organized?
- Frequent Questions about Regulations.gov
Public Involvement
- How can I stay informed of and contribute to EPA activities?
- How can I file an electronic comment or submission using Regulations.gov?
- What should I do if I’m having problems finding information?
- When should I contact the Docket Center? What services are available? Is there a cost for using docket services?
The Rulemaking Process
- Why does EPA write regulations?
- What is a Rulemaking?
- What is the Federal Register?
- What is the CFR?
Dockets
- What is a docket?
- 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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- How do I access information in a docket?
- 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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- What docket materials are available online at Regulations.gov?
- Many different documents related to EPA activities may be found in a docket. Examples include:
- Proposed and Final Rules
- Federal Register notices
- Scientific, technical, and economic analyses
- Reports
- Studies
- Hearing transcripts
- Public comments
- Good Guidance materials
- Information Collection Requests
- Public Comments
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- What docket materials are NOT available electronically through Regulations.gov?
- Certain materials will never have an electronic attachment, such as:
- Copyright-protected materials
- Oversized items
- Large data sets or databases
- Confidential business information
- Information whose disclosure is restricted by statute
- Please contact the EPA Docket Center to access any of these materials.
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- What is a docket ID?
- 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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- How is a docket organized?
- 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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Public Involvement
- How can I stay informed of and contribute to EPA activities?
- 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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- How can I file an electronic comment or submission using Regulations.gov?
- Detailed instructions on how to submit a comment are given in the Regulations.gov FAQs.
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- What should I do if I’m having problems finding information?
- 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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The Rulemaking Process
- Why does EPA write regulations?
- 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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- What is a rulemaking?
- 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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- What is the Federal Register?
- 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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- What is the CFR?
- 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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