Federal Rulemaking Oversight and Public Participation

One of the primary means for a non-profit organization to interact with the government and to express concerns for or to support its regulations is through public participation measures such as assisting in the formulation of rules and regulation, commenting on significant rules as they are proposed, and assisting in the implementation of those rules and regulations.  This use of these public processes allows citizens the opportunity to clarify their positions on certain proposed and instituted actions as well as to stay apprised of regulatory changes as they take place. 

In many cases, these suggestions can produce important changes on the face of the regulations, and can allow us, as citizens, to ensure that the regulations enforced by our government represent the interests of the people in environmental safety and justice.  However, there are still a number of situations in where the government has produced rules and regulations that are not in the best interest of the public.  When this happens, invested citizens can petition for review of such rules.  Waterkeeper Alliance, under its Pure Farms, Pure Waters Campaign, is currently participating in two such rule challenges.  Click here for more information on these rule challenges.