The Office of Management and Budget’s office of
information and regulatory affairs has issued a draft
bulletin for guidance practices.
“These good guidance practices should improve the
transparency, quality and consistency of important
agency guidance documents,” said OIRA administrator,
Dr. John D. Graham.
The proposal would require approval of a senior agency
official for “significant” documents, require standard
elements for significant documents such as identifying
the issuing office and who is affected, as well as
discourage unnecessarily binding language.
It would require procedures for public disclosure and
avenues to allow anyone to request changes to existing
guidance or request new guidance — and guidance includes
a presumption for notice and comment for documents that
could have over a $100 million dollar impact on the economy.
OMB says the bulletin will be modified based on comments
received before December 23, 2005, and its own further
consideration.
