OMB DEFENDS 'GOOD GUIDANCE' BULLETIN FROM EPA CLAIMS OF DIRE RESULTS

The White House Office of Management & Budget (OMB) is defending its recently released draft bulletin requiring public notice and comment and expanded OMB review to improve guidance documents, saying EPA fears that it will cripple scientific assessments and day-to-day agency functions are unfounded. An OMB official says the bulletin will not significantly influence how EPA issues its guidances because the agency in many cases already goes beyond OMB's requirements. "The best guidance practices at EPA would not be affected...