Effects Glossary

Glossary of key terms related to the effects of rulemaking.

• Economically Significant
• Environmental Impact Statement/Environmental Assessment (EIS/EA)
• Energy
• European Union (EU)
• Federalism
• Federal Government
• Foreign
• Information Collection
• Local Government
• Major
• NAFTA
• Negotiated Rulemaking
• Other Significant
• Peer Review
• Privacy
• Regulatory Flexibility Analysis
• Small Entities
• State Government
• Tribalism
• Tribal Government
• Unfunded Mandate

Economically Significant

• A rulemaking that meets the criteria for "economically significant" in Executive Order (E.O.) 12866.

EIS/EA

• A rulemaking that will require an environmental impact statement or environmental assessment under the National Environmental Policy Act.

Energy

• A rulemaking that is identified as a significant energy action under E.O. 13211.

EU

• A rulemaking that would have an effect on the European Union or one of its member countries or the countries' business entities, citizens, etc. 
• The rulemaking is included in this category even if it would also have a "foreign" effect.

Federalism

• A rulemaking that would have federalism implications under E.O. 13132.

Federal Government

• A rulemaking that is expected to affect levels of the Federal Government.

Foreign

• A rulemaking that would have an effect on another country or its business entities, citizens, etc. 
• If it ONLY has effects on EU or NAFTA countries, it is not included in this category.

Information Collection

• A rulemaking that includes an information collection subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act.

Local Government

• A rulemaking that is expected to affect levels of local government.

Major

• A rulemaking that meets the criteria for "major" in the Congressional Review provisions of the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act.

NAFTA

• A rulemaking that would have an effect on Canada or Mexico or their business entities, citizens, etc.  The rulemaking is included in this category even if it would also have a "foreign" effect.

Negotiated Rulemaking

• A rulemaking that will be or was developed through negotiated rulemaking (see Negotiated Rulemaking Act).

Other Significant

• A rulemaking that is not economically significant but is considered to be significant by the agency for other reasons (e.g., there is substantial public interest in the matter).
• This category includes rules that the agency anticipates will be reviewed under E.O. 12866 or rules that are a priority of the agency head.

Peer Review

• A rulemaking for which a peer review will be required under OMB"s "Final Information Quality Bulletin for Peer Review" (December 16, 2004).

Privacy

• A rulemaking that would require a Privacy Impact Assessment under Pub. L. No. 108-447, division H, § 522.  

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis

• A rulemaking that meets the criteria in the Regulatory Flexibility Act for the preparation of a regulatory flexibility analysis because of its impact on small entities.

Small Entities

• A rulemaking that would have an effect on small businesses, governmental jurisdictions, or organizations. 
• A regulatory flexibility analysis is not required for theses rulemakings, but the agency may still consider the effects in its analysis of the rulemaking.

State Government

• A rulemaking that is expected to effect levels of State government.

Tribalism

• A rulemaking that would have tribal implications under E.O. 13175.

Tribal Government

• A rulemaking that is expected to effect levels of Tribal government.

Unfunded Mandate

• A rulemaking that meets the criteria for an "unfunded mandate" in the Unfunded Mandate Reform Act.