I am looking for background information (and references) on all the
supplementary information sources that can go with a federal
environmental regulation. For example, in addition to the regulation
itself, there are regulation preambles, guidance documents, letters of
interpretation, letters from the EPA administrator, memos, court
cases, administrative decisions, etc.

In addition to the above types of supplemental documents, I need to
find out about any/all other types of supplemental documents.

Moreover, I need to know about who or what organization creates this
information, what the information can be used for, and what (if any)
legal standing the information may have.

Finally, and MOST IMPORTANTLY!, I need reference-able
sources/citations for any explanations you provide.  (sources could be
books, academic journals, webpages, etc)

Thanks!!

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Request for Question Clarification by webadept-ga on 18 Jul 2002 21:53 PDT

Hi, 

I just want to make sure you are looking for information beyond what
you can find on http://www.epa.gov

Their resources are very extensive and the site has links to
everything else they don't have. If you are looking for more than
this, let us know.

Thanks, 

webadept-ga

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Request for Question Clarification by larre-ga on 19 Jul 2002 01:25 PDT

There are three different processes by which environmental rules and
regulations may become law

1) Through legislative (Congressional)  initiative
2) Through codification of existing rules or regulations made by
government agencies other than the EPA
3) Through proposals initiated by the Environmental Protection Agency

Each of these processes is characterized by its own type of
documentation, depending upon the bodies and agencies which contribute
to the action, including state and regional enforcement agencies.
There are so many "possible" sources of documents that it would be
nearly impossible to catalog them all in less than a thesis length
answer.

Selecting a specific example from proposed or existing legislation
would perhaps make an answer feasible within the Google Answers
framework, and within your budget.

=l=

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Clarification of Question by howth-ga on 25 Jul 2002 16:42 PDT

I am interested only in supplementary information for federal
environmental hazardous-waste regulations proposed and enacted by the
federal EPA.  The information I am looking for may or may not be on
the epa website (www.epa.gov), but if it is I have been unable to find
it.

I believe I have identified most of the major document types that make
up the supplementary information, but if you feel I am missing
something important please let me know.

The document types I have identified are: regulation preambles,
guidance documents, letters of interpretation, letters from the EPA
administrator, memos, court cases, and administrative decisions.

I have been able to find examples of these documents, but what I am
looking for is something I can reference that describes who creates
the document, what legal relevance it has (if any), what it is
typically useful for, and what the typical document content is about.

An example answer of what I am looking for is something like the
following:

Guidance document:
  created by: (who creates this document -- epa environmental
compliance officers, regulation writers?)
  legal relevance: Not legally binding on the regulated community.  It
is, however, more difficult for the epa to win a case against a party
that meets the guidance document standards but does not meet the
regulation standards itself.
  useful for: Easier to interpret than the regulation itself.  More
specific than the regulation, so companies can better meet the
expectations of the epa.
  typical content:  Details on how to comply with a regulation
  references: (references that can be cited here)


If I had descriptions (like my example above) & references for each of
the seven document types I list above, I would be very happy.

Please note that the references are what are most important to me.  I
have already talked with people who have given me vague verbal answers
to my question -- what I have been unable to find are documents with
more specific answers that I can reference.

Thanks!

It sounds like what you are looking for is the regulatory docket -- a
formal collection of all materials related to the promulgation of a
federal regulation.  In the past, most dockets have been paper
collections that you had to visit in person.  EPA, for instance,
maintains several docket rooms where the public can access materials. 
Recently, agencies have been migrating to electronic dockets that are
web-accessible.  Have a look at EPA's E-docket at:

http://cascade.epa.gov/RightSite/dk_public_home.htm

There is a Federal Code of Regulations... a section of which probably
deals with exactly what you need.  There are also regulations specific
to each state, along with the authority to create such regulations. 
My suggestion?  Go to your local law library and explain to the
research librarian what it is that you want, and what you think you
need.  He or she should be able to point you in the right direction.

If you are California specific, and looking for CEQA information, post
again. I might be able to help.

Brenda/dyffcult