Discussions Regarding Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Proposals
Submitting comments to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on Regulations.gov is a crucial way for the public to voice their opinions and contribute to the rulemaking process. Here's a guide on how to make your comments effective.
The Importance of Following the Rules
To ensure your comment is properly recorded and considered, it's essential to include the correct Docket ID number for the rulemaking you are commenting on. Comments can be submitted via Regulations.gov, which is the preferred method, or through alternate methods listed in the EPA notice. Once submitted, comments cannot be edited or removed [1][3].
What Information is Collected?
The comment data collected depends upon which version of Regulations.gov the commenter selected. As of February 19, 2021, the standardized form is the Beta Regulation.gov comment form, which includes data fields for Individual, Organization, Anonymous, Comment, Email Address, First Name, Last Name, City, State, Zip, Country, Phone, Attach Files, Organization Type, Organization Name, reCAPTCHA, and more [4].
Prior to February 19, 2021, the EPA's Classic Regulations.gov comment form was used, which included data fields for Comment, Email Address, First Name, Last Name, Mailing Address, City, State or Province, Zip/Postal Code, Country, Phone Number, Fax Number, Upload Files, Submitter's Representative, Organization Name, Government Agency Type, Government Agency, Category, and more [5].
Protecting Confidential Information
Do not include confidential business information or proprietary information in your public comment. Such information should be sent separately to the contact person listed in the EPA notice [1].
Writing Effective Comments
Written comments must be complete and self-contained. Any multimedia submissions (audio, video) must be accompanied by written text discussing your points since only the written comment is considered official [1].
Be clear and specific. Start your comment with your specific request or feedback. Identify which parts of the regulation you support or oppose, and suggest exact wording changes if possible. Explain with examples and provide additional analysis or data you think is missing [2].
Make sure your comments are actionable. Comments should be focused on issues the EPA can address within the rulemaking [2]. Offer constructive solutions or alternatives if you see better ways to address the issue [2].
Avoid including personal information you do not want publicly posted because EPA may publish comments to the public docket without changes [1].
Accessing Submitted Comments
Comments submitted to the EPA, including personal information, are posted to Regulations.gov and are also available for in-person viewing at the EPA Docket Center's Reading Room, with exceptions noted in the Rules and Restrictions section [6].
The Evolution of Comment Forms
Between June 4, 2019, and February 18, 2021, both versions of the comment form, Beta and Classic, were available to commenters. The comment form data fields on Regulations.gov were standardized on February 19, 2021, and are known as the Beta Regulation.gov comment form [4][6].
Requests for documentation on which comment form data fields collected by EPA are made available to data users should be directed to the General Services Administration (GSA), as the manager of Regulations.gov [2].
In these instances, EPA may populate the relevant comment data field and the comment title with the provided information to assist data users with search and retrieval [6]. Some commenters may have included personal information within the comment text or an attachment, even if the data field was not made available through the electronic comment form [6].
In summary, effective EPA comments on Regulations.gov are well-informed, specific, focused on actionable issues, submitted without confidential business information, correctly referenced with the docket ID, and submitted in writing with clear requests or suggestions [1][2][3]. Once submitted, comments cannot be edited or removed and may be made public [1].
To effectively contribute to policy-and-legislation matters under the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), it's important to familiarize oneself with the rules for submitting comments on Regulations.gov. These rules include providing the correct Docket ID number, submitting comments in writing, and avoiding the inclusion of confidential business information [1].
Political engagement through general-news platforms can significantly impact policy-and-legislation, making awareness of the rulemaking process and the collection of comment data vital for informed participation [1]. This knowledge allows individuals to effectively voice their opinions and make a difference in policy decisions. [2]
%20Proposals){kind=link}