EPA Restores Guidance Portal to Aid Regulated Entities & Strengthen Transparency

Key Takeaways

• Portal Relaunch: The EPA has restored its Guidance Portal, first launched during the Trump Administration and later removed under Biden, as part of a transparency initiative.
• Centralized Access: The site consolidates active guidance documents from across EPA’s programs, covering topics like air quality, water protection, and hazardous waste.
• Focus on Clarity: Deputy Administrator David Fotouhi said the relaunch aims to cut bureaucratic hurdles and provide clarity for small businesses, farmers, and the public.
• No Outdated Materials: Superseded guidance and internal documents not intended to influence regulated parties are excluded from the portal.
• Part of Larger Review: The move is tied to the EPA’s broader effort to reduce unnecessary regulatory burdens.

Deep Dive

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has reopened its online Guidance Portal, reviving a Trump-era transparency tool that had been taken offline during the Biden-Harris Administration. Announced on August 13, the relaunched site serves as a centralized hub for guidance documents across the agency’s environmental programs, covering areas such as air quality, water protection, and hazardous waste management.

Originally introduced in President Trump’s first term to make agency interpretations and policy explanations easier to access, the portal’s removal had drawn criticism from transparency advocates and regulated industries. According to the EPA, the updated version is designed as a one-stop shop for the public, small businesses, and other stakeholders to quickly locate and follow current guidance documents without navigating separate program offices.

“This guidance portal will ensure that we reduce bureaucratic hurdles and increase transparency for everyone seeking information about EPA’s programs by providing centralized access to guidance documents,” said Deputy Administrator David Fotouhi. “This will bring much-needed clarity to small business owners, farmers, and everyday Americans, and it reinforces our commitment to following the law and upholding fundamental fairness. The days of EPA relying on obscure and non-public guidance documents are over.”

Guidance documents, ranging from policy statements and manuals to handbooks and memoranda, explain how the agency interprets statutes and regulations. While they generally lack the force of law, they often shape compliance strategies for regulated entities. The new portal excludes outdated or superseded documents, as well as materials like internal agency guidance, rules of procedure, and internal legal advice that are not intended to affect the behavior of regulated parties.

The relaunch is part of a broader EPA review aimed at reducing what it calls “unnecessary regulatory burdens,” signaling an emphasis on more accessible, centralized regulatory resources for the public and regulated industries alike.

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