Government Creates Database to Track People Who Comment Publicly
Published Date: 1/17/2025
Notice
Summary
The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) is setting up a new system to keep track of public comments on its Federal Register posts. This means if you send a comment, your info will be stored safely and used to help OPM improve its rules and notices. The system starts now, with some parts kicking in fully by February 18, 2025, so get ready to share your thoughts or check out others’!
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 2 costs, 1 mixed.
OPM Will Store Your Public Comments
If you submit a public comment to OPM and provide identifying information, OPM will store your name, personal and business contact information, and your comment in a system called OPM/Internal--29 starting January 17, 2025. The records are kept electronically at OPM in Washington, DC and at the GSA National Computer Center in Research Triangle Park, NC.
Comments May Be Shared Widely
If you provided identifying information with your OPM comment, OPM may disclose those records in proceedings or to outside parties including courts, the Department of Justice, law enforcement, members of Congress, the National Archives (NARA), contractors, other agencies, and the General Services Administration to operate the eRulemaking system. These routine uses are effective February 18, 2025.
Permanent Retention and Access Rights
Comments on rulemakings are retained permanently under OPM's NARA-approved schedule (DAA-0478-2017-0002-0001); comments on SORNs are retained for 2 years after supersession and other notices' records for 1 year. You can request access or request amendments by sending a Privacy Act Records Access Request or Privacy Act Amendment Request that includes your full name, date of birth, contact preference, and signature to the OPM FOIA/Privacy contact.
Personalized for You
How does this regulation affect your finances?
Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this federal register document means for your household, plus every other regulation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Key Dates
Related Federal Register Documents
2026-17253, SMR, LLC; Palisades SMR, LLC; Pioneer Units 1 and 2; Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is issuing an environmental assessment (EA) and finding of no significant impact (FONSI) for an exemption requested by SMR, LLC on behalf of Palisades SMR, LLC (Palisades SMR), associated with certain excavation support activities for the proposed dual-unit SMR-300 plant, Pioneer Units 1 and 2, at the Palisades Energy Center in Covert, Michigan. Specifically, Palisades SMR is requesting an exemption, pursuant to NRC regulations, to allow for construction of support of excavation (SOE) walls during SMR-300 excavation and prior to issuance of a Limited Work Authorization (LWA), if approved. Based on the analyses presented in the EA, the NRC staff determined that there would be no significant environmental impacts associated with granting the requested exemption.
2026-17303, Certain New Chemicals or Significant New Uses; Statements of Findings-May 2026
The EPA reviewed new chemicals and new ways to use chemicals from May 1-31, 2026, and found they’re unlikely to harm people or the environment. This update affects companies making or using these chemicals, letting them move forward without extra delays or costs. If you’re in the chemical business, keep an eye on these findings to stay in the clear!
2026-17261, Steel Grating From China; Scheduling of Expedited Five-Year Reviews
The U.S. International Trade Commission is speeding up reviews to decide if special taxes on steel grating from China should stay or go. This affects U.S. steel makers and importers, with decisions expected soon to protect American jobs and businesses. The review started on August 4, 2026, and could impact prices and trade rules.
2026-17292, Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment Request on U.S. Individual Income Tax Returns and Related Forms, Schedules, Attachments, and Published Guidance
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the IRS is inviting comments on the information collection request outlined in this notice.
2026-17307, Interagency Rescission of the Interagency Statement on Special Purpose Credit Programs Under the Equal Credit Opportunity Act and Regulation B
FDIC, NCUA, OCC, CFPB, HUD, DOJ, and FHFA (collectively, the agencies) are issuing this notice to inform the public of the rescission of the "Interagency Statement on Special Purpose Credit Programs Under the Equal Credit Opportunity Act and Regulation B" (Interagency Statement), dated February 22, 2022. The agencies are rescinding the Interagency Statement to make clear that (1) creditors may not discriminate against borrowers based on prohibited characteristics and (2) creditors should not rely upon the Interagency Statement or other related issuances going forward.
2026-17275, Catina Allen, N.P.; Decision and Order
Catina Allen, a nurse practitioner from Indiana, lost her DEA registration because she no longer has the legal right to handle controlled substances in her state. She didn’t ask for a hearing to challenge this, so the DEA officially revoked her registration, which expired on June 30, 2026. This means she can’t prescribe or manage controlled drugs anymore, affecting her medical practice and patients.
Previous / Next Documents
Previous: 2025-01124, Carbazole Violet Pigment 23 From India: Final Results of Antidumping Duty Administrative Review; 2022-2023
The U.S. Department of Commerce reviewed imports of Carbazole Violet Pigment 23 from India for 2022-2023 and found no unfairly low prices. This means no extra duties will be charged on these imports during that time. The final decision is effective January 17, 2025, with a deadline extended to April 11, 2025, for any last updates.
Next: 2025-01128, New Postal Products
The Postal Service has asked for approval of new deals and changes to some of its competitive mail products. This affects businesses and customers who use special postal services, with public comments open until January 21, 2025. These updates could mean new options and pricing tweaks, so keep an eye out if you rely on postal services for your mail or packages!