§ 2.507 - Procedures for the public to petition for modification, withdrawal, or reinstatement.

§ 2.507 Procedures for the public to petition for modification, withdrawal, or reinstatement.

(a) Submission of a petition.

(1) The public may submit a petition to the EPA for the modification or withdrawal of an active guidance document, or reinstatement of a rescinded guidance document.

(2) In order to be considered a valid petition under this section, the petition must address the guidance document in question itself and not merely underlying statutory or regulatory text.

(b) Petition methods. A petitioner should only submit a petition to the EPA using one of the two methods in paragraphs (b)(1) and (2) of this section and not submit additional copies by any other method. A petition should be submitted through:

(1) An electronic submission through the EPA's designated submission system identified on the EPA Guidance Portal website; or

(2) A paper submission to the EPA's designated mailing address listed on the EPA Guidance Portal website.

(c) Petition format. A petition under this section should include:

(1) The petitioner's name and a means for the EPA to contact the petitioner such as an email address or mailing address, in addition to any other contact information (such as telephone number) that the petitioner chooses to include; and

(2) A heading, preceding its text that states, “Petition to Modify a Guidance Document,” “Petition to Withdraw a Guidance Document,” or “Petition to Reinstate a Guidance Document”

(d) Petition content. A petition for modification or withdrawal of an active guidance document, or a petition for reinstatement of a rescinded guidance document, should include the following elements:

(1) Identification of the specific title the guidance document that the petitioner is requesting be modified, withdrawn, or reinstated;

(2) For petitions to modify or withdraw a guidance document only, the EPA unique identifier of the guidance document;

(3) The nature of the relief sought (i.e., modification, withdrawal, or reinstatement);

(4) An explanation of the interest of the petitioner in the requested action (i.e., modification, withdrawal, or reinstatement);

(5) For petitions to modify or withdraw a guidance document only, and only if practicable, specification of the text that the petitioner request be modified or withdrawn, and, where possible, suggested text for the Agency to consider; and

(6) A rationale for the requested modification, withdrawal, or reinstatement.

(e) Petitions received. The EPA will make available to the public information about petitions received, including the title of the guidance document to which the petition pertains.

(f) Petition handling. Failure to follow one of the submission methods described in paragraph (b) of this section and to include in a petition the elements in paragraphs (c) and (d) of this section may create delays in processing time and may result in the EPA being unable to evaluate the merits of the petition.

(1) The EPA may treat a petition that is not submitted as specified in paragraph (b) of this section, but that meets the other elements of this section, as a properly filed petition and received as of the time it is discovered and identified.

(2) The EPA may treat a document that fails to conform to one or more of the elements of paragraphs (c) and (d) of this section as if it is not a petition under this section. The EPA may treat such a document according to the existing correspondence or other appropriate procedures of the EPA, and any suggestions contained in it will be considered at the discretion of the Administrator.

(g) Petition response timing.

(1) The EPA should respond to a petition in a timely manner, but no later than 90 calendar days after receipt of the petition.

(2) If, for any reason, the EPA needs more than 90 calendar days to respond to a petition, the EPA will inform the petitioner that more time is needed and indicate the reason why and an estimated response date. The EPA will only extend the response date one time not to exceed 90 calendar days before providing a response.

(h) Petition response. The EPA may provide a single response to issues raised by duplicative petitions and petitions submitted as part of a mass petitioning effort.