Environmental Protection Agency E-Docket

The EDocket is an electronic docket, or list of the EPA's proposed rule-making actions. You can use the EDocket to find out what new rules or rule-changes the EPA is planning to take action on in the near future. You may also send your comments about the rules to the EPA electronically. Federal agencies like EPA use the rule-making process to issue regulations unless this is not allowed under the statutes passed by Congress and signed into law by the President. The rulemaking process generally follows a simple procedure called 'notice and comment.' The agency provides notice of a pending regulation by publishing a proposed rule in the Federal Register. Any person or organization may review this notice and submit comments on it in writing. In some cases public hearings are held where interested parties may speak and provide comments. The period during which comments are accepted may vary for individual actions, but it usually is 30, 60, or 90 days.