Use of Direct Final Rulemaking

OST-04-16970

January 29, 2004

Final Rule

The Office of the Secretary of Transportation is implementing a rulemaking procedure that will expedite the processing of noncontroversial changes to its regulations. OST will publish rules that the Secretary judges to be noncontroversial and unlikely to result in adverse public comment as direct final rules. Such direct final rules will advise the public that no adverse comment is anticipated, and that, unless written adverse comment or written notice of intent to submit adverse comment is received, the rule will become effective a specified number of days after the date it is published in the Federal Register. This new procedure should expedite the promulgation of routine or otherwise noncontroversial rules by reducing the time necessary to develop, review, clear, and publish separate proposed and final rules where OST receives no public comment. This rule also corrects the applicability section to remove reference to modal administrations that now have their own rulemaking procedures. These changes are made on the initiative of OST. Effective Date: March 1, 2004.

By: Norman Minetta