Agency Learning Agendas and Regulatory Research
As federal agencies scramble to respond to COVID-19, there’s another initiative rolling forward that you probably haven’t heard of, one that was built by data wonks and will influence regulation in ways we’re just now beginning to understand. As part of a new legal requirement, agencies are writing learning agendas to organize the way they approach research, including regulatory research.
DEA's Mobile Narcotic Treatment Program
Practitioners who want to administer methadone, a schedule II controlled substance, to treat opioid use disorder must first obtain a registration from DEA to operate as a Narcotic Treatment Program (NTP). The Controlled Substances Act (CSA) requires that each person registered with the DEA to dispense controlled substances must obtain a separate registration “at each principal place of business or professional practice.” This requirement generally extends to NTPs. However, the statute also gives DEA the authority to waive this requirement if “consistent with the public health and safety."
Using Public Comments to Identify Regulations for Retrospective Review
The difficulty of identifying which regulations to evaluate from the existing stock persists as a barrier to agencies in their efforts to implement retrospective review.
EPA Proposes to Accelerate Its Permit Appeal Process
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently proposed a rule to streamline the process for appealing a permit to the agency’s Environmental Appeals Board.
DOT's Proposed Rule for Air Travel with Service Animals
The Department of Transportation (DOT) is proposing amendments to its Air Carrier Access Act regulation on the transportation of service animals by air. Multiple parties from a variety of perspectives have called for greater regulatory clarity on what qualifies as a service animal, how airlines should classify emotional support animals (ESAs) for air travel, whether uncommon species should be allowed aboard planes, and how to mitigate health and safety risks caused by animal behavior.
FDA & USDA Food Identity Standards
Both FDA and USDA promulgate food identity standards that require foods sold under particular names to have certain characteristics or ingredients that consumers might expect. In 2005, the agencies jointly proposed a rule to establish general principles for evaluating food identity standards.
