Rulemaking Is a Journey of Many Steps

Developing a new safety regulation is often difficult to accomplish, if for no other reason than many steps are required and many people have to be consulted, including those who will feel the rule’s impact.

A rule is conceived when Congress orders a government agency to act or the agency decides a new regulation is needed.

The bureau announces its plan in the Federal Register with an outline of the rule described in an advanced notice of proposed rulemaking.

Following a comment period (usually 60 days, but sometimes longer), the agency develops a notice of proposed rulemaking, which is also published for comment. If congressional or other action changes the focus of the proposed rule, the agency files a supplemental notice before issuing a final rule.

For the full story, see the Sept. 13 print edition of Transport Topics. Subscribe today.