Graves & Westerman praise EPA final rule to provide greater regulatory transparency

Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Ranking Member Sam Graves (R-MO) and Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment Ranking Member Bruce Westerman (R-AR) today commended U.S Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Andrew Wheeler and the Administration for establishing greater clarity and transparency in how the agency produces guidance documents.

“I commend Administrator Wheeler for moving ahead with this much-needed reform of the EPA’s regulatory process,” Graves said.  “This reform will help ensure that EPA guidance development takes into account the input of the public and those who will have to actually comply with the guidance.  By eliminating confusion and conflict between differing guidance documents, reducing unnecessary burdens, and closing a back door that has allowed bureaucrats to regulate beyond the scope of existing law, this action will bring more fairness to the EPA’s regulatory mission.”

“This EPA initiative is a huge step forward in providing the public with clear, consistent regulatory guidelines,” said Westerman.  “Cutting red tape and promoting transparency is something all regulatory agencies should prioritize, and I applaud the EPA for their work on this issue.  I look forward to seeing these processes benefit the American people.”

Background Information

EPA’s final rule is a response to President Trump’s Executive Order 13891 calling for federal agencies to significantly increase transparency in the development of agency guidance.  The rule establishes a formal public petition process for the modification or withdrawal of EPA guidance and ensures all active guidance documents are made available to the public and include public input.