On January 18, 2007, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) issued OMB Bulletin 07-02 (Agency Good Guidance Practices), which established policies and procedures for the development, issuance, and use of significant guidance documents by Executive Branch departments and agencies.

Section I.4 of OMB Bulletin 07-02 defines the term "significant guidance document" as a guidance document disseminated to regulated entities or the general public that may reasonably be anticipated to:

• Lead to an annual effect on the economy of $100 million or more or adversely affect in a material way the economy, a sector of the economy, productivity, competition, jobs, the environment, public health or safety, or State, local, or tribal governments or communities;
• Create a serious inconsistency or otherwise interfere with an action taken or planned by another agency;
• Materially alter the budgetary impact of entitlements, grants, user fees, or loan programs or the rights and obligations of recipients thereof; or
• Raise novel legal or policy issues arising out of legal mandates, the President's priorities, or the principles set forth in Executive Order 12866, as further amended.

Section I.5 of the Bulletin further defines an "economically significant guidance document" as a significant guidance document that may reasonably be anticipated to lead to an annual effect on the economy of $100 million or more or adversely affect in a material way the economy or a sector of the economy. The definition excludes guidance documents on Federal expenditures and receipts.

Section III of the Bulletin requires that each agency maintain on its website a current list of its significant guidance documents in effect, with a link to those documents. The Bulletin also requires that certain other information concerning significant and economically significant guidance documents be provided on an agency's website. That information is provided below.

OSMRE Significant Guidance Documents Currently in Effect:

Acid Mine Drainage Policy; issued March 31, 1997

Postmining Land Use: Exceptions to Approximate Original Contour Requirements for Mountaintop Removal Operations and Steep Slope Mining Operations; issued June 22, 2000

Economically Significant Guidance Documents Currently in Effect:

None.

Significant Guidance Documents or Economically Significant Guidance Documents Added, Revised, or Withdrawn Within the Last Year:

None

Contact Information

Please contact Sterling Rideout, Assistant Director-Program Support, srideout@osmre.gov, if you wish to submit comments on the significant guidance documents listed above; request reconsideration, modification, or rescission of those documents; or request issuance of other significant or economically significant guidance documents. You also may contact Mr. Rideout if you wish to file a complaint that OSMRE is not following the procedures in OMB Bulletin 07-02 or that OSMRE is improperly treating a significant guidance document as binding requirement.

If you are not satisfied with the response from OSMRE, you may contact the Department of the Interior’s office of the Executive Secretariat and Regulatory Affairs as described at this link: http://www.doi.gov/notices/guidancedocuments.cfm.