8.1.2: eRulemaking

Allow the public to search and view any federal agency’s rulemaking dockets.

Other Information:

DOL was one of the initial partners in the eRulemaking initiative and all of our regulatory steps seeking public input (e.g., Requests for Information, Advance Notices of Proposed Rulemakings, Notices of Proposed Rulemakings) are posted on Regulations.gov for comment. This allows the public to search and view any federal agency’s rulemaking dockets. Previously, a person would have to visit each agency to inspect or make copies of docket materials (i.e., the rule, supporting studies/documents, all public comments received on the rule) – now this can be done though one portal. This also allows for cross-agency searches to see what any federal agency is doing with respect to a particular topic. A number of DOL agencies have also effectively used Regulations.gov for nonrulemaking Federal Register notices. The Department of Labor’s Bureau of International Labor Affairs (ILAB) regularly utilizes the site to solicit broad input from stakeholders around the world. Whether it is to gather information about goods from countries produced by child labor or forced labor under the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2005 (TVPRA), information about efforts by countries to eliminate the worst forms of child labor, or its procedural guidelines for implementing its monitoring responsibilities, ILAB posts information gathering efforts on the regulations.gov portal. ILAB will soon post a call for information on best practices to eradicate child labor and forced labor as part of its overall research under its TVPRA responsibilities. Using the regulations.gov tool to reach stakeholders provided an effective means to collect substantive comments in a manner that is fully open and accessible to the public. Those who wish to make comments can readily see the input of other stakeholders and provide relevant information. ILAB strives to conduct its international work in as transparent and open manner as possible, and publishing its notices requesting information or feedback on regulations.gov is an integral part of this process. In addition to actively participating in www.regulations.gov, we also created a landing page within our own Web site to provide visitors with a one-stop source for comprehensive information about our current and proposed regulatory actions: www.dol.gov/regulations. This site provides videos explaining the impact of proposed regulations as well as listing the current and upcoming opportunities to provide comments, and the transcripts from our extensive regulatory web chats. Some DOL agencies, such as EBSA, post the public comments on the agency website in an effort to improve accessibility for the broader public. The comments are posted with links to the Federal Register documents (RFI's, proposed rules, interim final rules requesting comment) as well as testimony from public hearings, if held. Many of the regulations have had a lot of public interest with hundreds of comments submitted. The index of the comments posted allows visitors to see who commented and then read those comments they wish to read.

Stakeholder(s):

• The Public

Indicator(s):

Indicator:1

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