§ 1720.5 - Initiation of rulemaking.

(a) The issuance, amendment or repeal of any rule or regulation may be proposed upon the initiative of the Secretary or upon the petition of any interested person showing reasonable grounds therefor.

(b) Petitions for rulemaking by interested persons filed under this section:

(1) Shall be identified as a petition for rulemaking under this subpart;

(2) Shall explain the interest of the petitioner in the action requested;

(3) Shall set forth the text or substance of the rule or amemdment proposed or specify the rule that the petitioner seeks to have repealed, as the case may be;

(4) Shall contain any information and arguments available to the petitioner to support the action sought; and

(5) Shall be filed with the Rules Docket Clerk, Office of General Counsel, Department of Housing and Urban Development, Room 5218, 451 Seventh Street SW., Washington, DC 20410.

(c) The Secretary shall respond to a petition submitted under this section within 180 days of receipt thereof, except that this time limit may be exceeded for good cause found and communicated to the petitioner. The Secretary's normal response shall be to grant or deny the petition but alternatively, the Secretary may schedule a public hearing or other appropriate proceeding prior to the granting or denial of a petition. If the Secretary grants the petition, the Secretary shall publish a proposed rule in accordance with the petition and a copy of the proposed rule shall be furnished to the petitioner. If the Secretary denies the petition, the Secretary shall notify the petitioner within 7 days after such denial.