EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT
OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET
WASHINGTON, D.C., 20503
October 5, 1971

MEMORANDUM FOR THE HEADS OF DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES

This memorandum is to establish a procedure for improving the interagency coordination of proposed agency regulations, standards, guidelines and similar materials pertaining to environmental quality, consumer protection, and occupational and public health and safety. This procedure will apply to all such materials proposed for issuance by any executive department or agency other than the regulatory boards or commissions listed in the attachment which could be expected to:

• have a significant impact on the policies, programs, and procedures of other agencies; or
  
  
• impose significant costs on, or negative benefits to, non-Federal sectors; or
  
  
• increase the demand for Federal funds for programs of Federal agencies which are beyond the funding levels provided for in the most recent budget requests submitted to the Congress.

To implement this procedure, agencies covered by this procedure are to submit to the office of Management and Budget by October 25, 1971:

• a schedule, classified where possible according to the above criteria, covering the ensuing year showing estimated dates of future announcements of all proposed and final regulations, standards, guidelines or similar matters in the subject areas shown above;

• the name of an agency official who will be responsible for your agency's participation in the coordination process and who will serve as the primary contact point with the Office of Management and Budget and other agencies for all matters pertaining to this procedure.

Schedules described above should be updated monthly and submitted by the first of each month beginning December 1, 1971. Schedules should indicate whether the proposed actions are specifically required by statute and whether the scheduled announcement date is set by statute.

Proposed and final regulations, standards, guidelines, and similar actions meeting the criteria outlined above should be submitted to the Office of Management and Budget at least 30 days prior to their scheduled announcement. The regulations should be accompanied by a summary description indicating:

• "the principal objectives of the regulations, standard, guidelines, etc.;
  
  
• alternatives to the proposed actions, that have been considered;
  
  
• a comparison of the expected benefits or accomplishments and the costs (Federal and non-Federal) associated with the alternatives considered; and
  
  
• the reasons for selecting the alternative that is proposed.

As a part of its role in the interagency coordination process, the Office of Management and Budget will receive copies of proposed regulations and similar materials from departments and agencies, distribute those materials to other agencies affected, collect comments and provide them to the agency proposing the regulation for its information.

A continuing effort will be needed to simplify the re-porting and coordination procedures called for in this memorandum and to focus upon the most significant actions. It may be possible, for example, to eliminate certain categories of regulations, standards or guidelines that would otherwise be included in the criteria outlined above. In this regard, and in implementing the general provisions of this memorandum, agencies are to work with the OMB Assistant Directors and Program Divisions with which they normally deal on program and budget matters.