Title 15, Commerce and TradeRelease 119-110

§2691 General Provisions Relating to Administrative Proceedings

Title 15 › CHAPTER 53 — TOXIC SUBSTANCES CONTROL › SUBCHAPTER IV — LEAD EXPOSURE REDUCTION › § 2691

Last updated Sep 22, 2026|Official source

Summary

Requires the Administrator to create a public rulemaking file whenever a regulation under this part is proposed or changed. The file must be made when the proposal is published. If a rule applies only to one State, the same file must also be kept in the EPA regional office. The public can inspect the file at times listed in the proposal notice, copy documents (paying fees unless waived), or request mailed copies and pay the costs. All written comments, hearing transcripts, and important documents received during the comment period must be put into the file quickly. Drafts and interagency review papers sent to OMB, with related comments and responses, must be placed in the file by the proposal or final rule dates as required. The final rule must explain major changes and respond to significant comments and new data. A final rule cannot rely on information that was not in the file when it was issued. Certain OMB interagency materials are not included in the court review record. These duties apply to rules proposed after 90 days after October 28, 1992.

Full Legal Text

Title 15, §2691

Commerce and Trade, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Applicability

This section applies to the promulgation or revision of any regulation issued under this subchapter.

(b)Rulemaking docket

Not later than the date of proposal of any action to which this section applies, the Administrator shall establish a rulemaking docket for such action (hereinafter in this subsection referred to as a “rule”). Whenever a rule applies only within a particular State, a second (identical) docket shall be established in the appropriate regional office of the Environmental Protection Agency.

(c)Inspection and copying

(1)The rulemaking docket required under subsection (b) shall be open for inspection by the public at reasonable times specified in the notice of proposed rulemaking. Any person may copy documents contained in the docket. The Administrator shall provide copying facilities which may be used at the expense of the person seeking copies, but the Administrator may waive or reduce such expenses in such instances as the public interest requires. Any person may request copies by mail if the person pays the expenses, including personnel costs to do the copying.

(2)(A)Promptly upon receipt by the agency, all written comments and documentary information on the proposed rule received from any person for inclusion in the docket during the comment period shall be placed in the docket. The transcript of public hearings, if any, on the proposed rule shall also be included in the docket promptly upon receipt from the person who transcribed such hearings. All documents which become available after the proposed rule has been published and which the Administrator determines are of central relevance to the rulemaking shall be placed in the docket as soon as possible after their availability.

(B)The drafts of proposed rules submitted by the Administrator to the Office of Management and Budget for any interagency review process prior to proposal of any such rule, all documents accompanying such drafts, and all written comments thereon by other agencies and all written responses to such written comments by the Administrator shall be placed in the docket no later than the date of proposal of the rule. The drafts of the final rule submitted for such review process prior to promulgation and all such written comments thereon, all documents accompanying such drafts, and written responses thereto shall be placed in the docket no later than the date of promulgation.

(d)Explanation

(1)The promulgated rule shall be accompanied by an explanation of the reasons for any major changes in the promulgated rule from the proposed rule.

(2)The promulgated rule shall also be accompanied by a response to each of the significant comments, criticisms, and new data submitted in written or oral presentations during the comment period.

(3)The promulgated rule may not be based (in part or whole) on any information or data which has not been placed in the docket as of the date of such promulgation.

(e)Judicial review

The material referred to in subsection (c)(2)(B) shall not be included in the record for judicial review.

(f)Effective date

The requirements of this section shall take effect with respect to any rule the proposal of which occurs after 90 days after October 28, 1992.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

15 U.S.C. § 2691

Title 15, Commerce and Trade

Last Updated

Sep 22, 2026

Release point: 119-110