About OIRA and RISC

RegInfo.gov is a United States Government website produced by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and the General Services Administration (GSA).

Under the Paperwork Reduction Act and Executive Order 12866, OMB's Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) reviews Federal regulations and information collections. OIRA also develops and oversees the implementation of government-wide policies on information technology, information quality, privacy, and statistics.

GSA's Regulatory Information Service Center (RISC) was created in June 1981. The Center undertakes projects that will facilitate development of and access to information about Federal regulatory and deregulatory activities. RISC’s principal publication is the Unified Agenda done in coordination with the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs. Since 1978, Federal agencies have been required by Executive orders to publish agendas of regulatory and deregulatory activities. RegInfo.gov displays editions of the Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions beginning with fall 1995.

About the Regulatory Process

Federal regulations address a broad spectrum of activities of the American people. The principal goals of the regulatory system include protecting health, safety, homeland security, and the environment, and improving the performance of the economy, without imposing unacceptable or unreasonable costs on society.

To achieve these goals, Congress and successive administrations have created elaborate procedures intended to ensure:

  • Public availability of regulatory information
  • Effective regulatory planning
  • Sound economic and scientific data for regulatory actions
  • Coordination of agency regulatory programs
  • Opportunities for public participation in rulemaking
  • Consideration of the effects of regulations on small businesses, States and localities

Reginfo.gov provides reliable, transparent information about regulations under development to enable the public to participate effectively in the regulatory process.