The United States Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) released a 2026 Regulatory Plan and Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions (“Agenda”).
The Agenda was released by the Office of Management and Budget and the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs on July 3rd.
The Agenda includes information addressing:
- EPA regulations in the Agenda that are under development, completed, or cancelled since the last agenda.
- EPA review of regulations for small business impacts under Section 10 of the Regulatory Flexibility Act.
The document offers an update to the public about regulatory activity undertaken in support of EPA’s mission.
The Agenda includes:
- Notice of plans to review, proposed, and issue regulations.
- Encouragement of public participation and meaningful engagement in regulatory activities and processes.
- Information about rules that may have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities.
- Explanation in greater detail of the types of actions and information available in the Agenda that are currently undergoing review.
EPA and all federal agencies produce in combination these reports describing regulatory actions currently under development or recently completed. In particular, the Agenda identifies each regulatory action that the federal agency (such as EPA) expects to work on through the next 12 months.
Agency interests are typically associated with five rulemaking stages. Two key rulemaking stages include:
- Proposed rulemaking stage.
- Final rule stage.
Each agenda typically provides a variety of information.
Congress, interest groups, regulatory entities, environmental organizations, and the general public rely on the Agenda to understand which rules EPA plans to issue or develop in the upcoming year. Nevertheless, the Agenda does not create a legal obligation to adhere to schedules in the publication or limit the regulatory activities for those items that are encompassed by it.
A copy of the EPA Agenda can be found here.
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