Title 42, The Public Health and WelfareRelease 119-110

§7174 Referral of Other Rulemaking Proceedings to Commission

Title 42 › CHAPTER 84 — DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY › SUBCHAPTER IV — FEDERAL ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION › § 7174

Last updated Sep 22, 2026|Official source

Summary

When the Secretary plans to write rules that affect functions moved to the Secretary, they must tell the Commission, unless another rule says not to. The Commission has a time set by the Secretary to decide if the proposal could significantly affect the Commission’s areas. If the Commission thinks it might, the Secretary must send the proposal to the Commission, and the Commission will allow public comment. After the public comment period and talks with the Secretary, the Commission will either agree, agree only if changes are made, or recommend not adopting the rule. The Commission must publish its recommendation, explain why, and summarize the main comments. Then the Secretary can adopt the rule as first proposed, adopt it with the Commission’s changes, or cancel it. The Secretary’s choice is the agency’s final decision.

Full Legal Text

Title 42, §7174

The Public Health and Welfare, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Notification of Commission of proposed action; public comment
Except as provided in section 7173 of this title, whenever the Secretary proposes to prescribe rules, regulations, and statements of policy of general applicability in the exercise of any function which is transferred to the Secretary under section 7151 of this title or section 60501 of title 49, he shall notify the Commission of the proposed action. If the Commission, in its discretion, determines within such period as the Secretary may prescribe, that the proposed action may significantly affect any function within the jurisdiction of the Commission pursuant to section 7172(a)(1) and (c)(1) of this title and section 60502 of title 49, the Secretary shall immediately refer the matter to the Commission, which shall provide an opportunity for public comment.
(b)Recommendations of Commission; publication
Following such opportunity for public comment the Commission, after consultation with the Secretary, shall either—
(1)concur in adoption of the rule or statement as proposed by the Secretary;
(2)concur in adoption of the rule or statement only with such changes as it may recommend; or
(3)recommend that the rule or statement not be adopted.
The Commission shall promptly publish its recommendations, adopted under this subsection, along with an explanation of the reason for its actions and an analysis of the major comments, criticisms, and alternatives offered during the comment period.
(c)Options of Secretary; final agency action
Following publication of the Commission’s recommendations the Secretary shall have the option of— (1)
(2)issuing a final rule or statement in amended form so that the rule conforms in all respects with the changes proposed by the Commission if the Commission has concurred in such rule or statement pursuant to subsection (b)(2); or
(3)ordering that the rule shall not be issued.
The action taken by the Secretary pursuant to this subsection shall constitute a final agency action for purposes of section 704 of title 5.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Codification In subsec. (a), “section 60501 of title 49” substituted for reference to section 306 of this Act, meaning section 306 of Pub. L. 95–91 [42 U.S.C. 7155], and “section 60502 of title 49” substituted for reference to section 402(b), meaning section 402(b) of Pub. L. 95–91 [42 U.S.C. 7172(b)] on authority of Pub. L. 103–272, § 6(b), July 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 1378, the first section of which enacted subtitles II, III, and V to X of Title 49, Transportation.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

42 U.S.C. § 7174

Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare

Last Updated

Sep 22, 2026

Release point: 119-110