EPA rescinds Trump rule allowing public to weigh in on agency guidance 

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced on Wednesday that is rescinding a Trump-era rule that would have enabled public input on agency guidance. 

The agency said in a statement that its rescission would restore its ability to provide “timely” guidance that people can rely on. 

“By rescinding the internal rule on guidance, EPA will restore the flexibilities needed to effectively address urgent public health, safety, and environmental challenges, so we can effectively deliver on our mission,” agency Administrator Michael Regan said in a statement. 

The rescission will become effective once it is published in the Federal Register. 

The now-rescinded rule in question additionally would have required the agency to respond to requests to withdraw a guidance within 90 days. 

In issuing the Trump administration rule, officials billed it as a transparency measure. 

“This rule sheds light on guidance document development and provides for public participation in the process for the first time,” former EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler said at the time. 

But opponents argued that it would have undermined the work of prior administrations and given industry a chance to challenge agency-issued guidance that they dislike.