<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" standalone="yes"?>
<REGINFO_RIN_DATA xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" RUN_DATE="2026-10-23-04:00" xsi:noNamespaceSchemaLocation="https://www.reginfo.gov/public/xml/REGINFO_XML_Ver10262011.xsd">
    <RIN_INFO>
        <RIN>0503-AA51</RIN>
        <PUBLICATION>
            <PUBLICATION_ID>201310</PUBLICATION_ID>
            <PUBLICATION_TITLE>The Regulatory Plan and the Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions</PUBLICATION_TITLE>
        </PUBLICATION>
        <AGENCY>
            <CODE>0503</CODE>
            <NAME>Office of the Secretary</NAME>
            <ACRONYM>AgSEC</ACRONYM>
        </AGENCY>
        <PARENT_AGENCY>
            <CODE>0500</CODE>
            <NAME>Department of Agriculture</NAME>
            <ACRONYM>USDA</ACRONYM>
        </PARENT_AGENCY>
        <RULE_TITLE>Revocation of Statement of Policy on Public Participation in Rulemaking</RULE_TITLE>
        <ABSTRACT><![CDATA[The Department of Agriculture (USDA) proposes to revoke a statement of policy it published in the Federal Register in 1971 waiving section 553(a)(2) of the Administrative Procedure Act (APA), which specifically exempts from the APA's notice and comment rulemaking requirements (5 U.S.C. sections 553(b),(c)) matters "relating to agency management or personnel or to public property, loans, grants, benefits, or contracts." 5 U.S.C. section 553(a)(2) (emphasis added). See Statement of Policy, "Public Participation in Rule Making" (36 Fed. Reg. 13804 (July 24, 1971)). Specifically, the statement of policy waived the section 553(a)(2) exemption with respect to those matters emphasized in the language quoted above. As a result of this statement of policy, for over four decades USDA agencies have been required to engage in notice and comment rulemaking for those matters. Once the statement is revoked, except where otherwise required by law, USDA agencies will have the discretion to decide whether or not to follow notice and comment procedures when engaging in rulemakings relating to public property, loans, grants, benefits, or contracts.]]></ABSTRACT>
        <PRIORITY_CATEGORY>Substantive, Nonsignificant</PRIORITY_CATEGORY>
        <RIN_STATUS>Previously Published in The Unified Agenda</RIN_STATUS>
        <RULE_STAGE>Completed Actions</RULE_STAGE>
        <MAJOR>No</MAJOR>
        <UNFUNDED_MANDATE_LIST>
            <UNFUNDED_MANDATE>No</UNFUNDED_MANDATE>
        </UNFUNDED_MANDATE_LIST>
        <CFR_LIST>
            <CFR>None</CFR>
        </CFR_LIST>
        <LEGAL_AUTHORITY_LIST>
            <LEGAL_AUTHORITY>sec 553(a)(2) of the Administrative Procedure Act</LEGAL_AUTHORITY>
        </LEGAL_AUTHORITY_LIST>
        <LEGAL_DLINE_LIST/>
        <RPLAN_ENTRY>No</RPLAN_ENTRY>
        <TIMETABLE_LIST>
            <TIMETABLE>
                <TTBL_ACTION>Notice</TTBL_ACTION>
                <TTBL_DATE>06/03/2013</TTBL_DATE>
                <FR_CITATION>78 FR 33045</FR_CITATION>
            </TIMETABLE>
            <TIMETABLE>
                <TTBL_ACTION>Comment Period End</TTBL_ACTION>
                <TTBL_DATE>07/03/2013</TTBL_DATE>
            </TIMETABLE>
            <TIMETABLE>
                <TTBL_ACTION>Final Action</TTBL_ACTION>
                <TTBL_DATE>10/28/2013</TTBL_DATE>
                <FR_CITATION>78 FR 64194</FR_CITATION>
            </TIMETABLE>
            <TIMETABLE>
                <TTBL_ACTION>Final Action Effective</TTBL_ACTION>
                <TTBL_DATE>10/28/2013</TTBL_DATE>
            </TIMETABLE>
        </TIMETABLE_LIST>
        <RFA_REQUIRED>No</RFA_REQUIRED>
        <SMALL_ENTITY_LIST>
            <SMALL_ENTITY>No</SMALL_ENTITY>
        </SMALL_ENTITY_LIST>
        <GOVT_LEVEL_LIST>
            <GOVT_LEVEL>None</GOVT_LEVEL>
        </GOVT_LEVEL_LIST>
        <FEDERALISM>No</FEDERALISM>
        <ENERGY_AFFECTED>No</ENERGY_AFFECTED>
        <PRINT_PAPER>No</PRINT_PAPER>
        <INTERNATIONAL_INTEREST>No</INTERNATIONAL_INTEREST>
        <AGENCY_CONTACT_LIST>
            <CONTACT>
                <FIRST_NAME>Adam</FIRST_NAME>
                <LAST_NAME>Hermann</LAST_NAME>
                <TITLE>Attorney-Advisor, Office of General Counsel</TITLE>
                <AGENCY>
                    <CODE>0500</CODE>
                    <NAME>Department of Agriculture</NAME>
                    <ACRONYM>USDA</ACRONYM>
                </AGENCY>
                <PHONE>202 720-9425</PHONE>
                <EMAIL>adam.hermann@ogc.usda.gov</EMAIL>
                <MAILING_ADDRESS>
                    <STREET_ADDRESS>1400 Independence Avenue SW.,</STREET_ADDRESS>
                    <CITY>Washington</CITY>
                    <STATE>DC</STATE>
                    <ZIP>20250</ZIP>
                </MAILING_ADDRESS>
            </CONTACT>
        </AGENCY_CONTACT_LIST>
    </RIN_INFO>
</REGINFO_RIN_DATA>
