{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://web.archive.org/web/20140221043259/http://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/Article.cfm?customel_dataPageID_1502=47635", "EPA Bypasses Rule-making Procedures, Gets Caught", "2013-12-02", "2013", "2013-12", "Republican", "House", "IA", "Charles Grassley", "G000386", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "Federal rule-making procedures are important for holding the federal government accountable to the public.\u00a0 Federal agencies wield tremendous power.\u00a0 The way they decide to interpret and enforce federal law through rules and regulations has significant ramifications for the affected parties, whether individuals, business owners or state and local governments.\u00a0 These federal rules have the effect of law, but those who develop them are not elected.\u00a0 The only way average citizens can impact the process is through the federal law \u2013 called the Administrative Procedure Act \u2013 mandating that agencies solicit public comments before instituting a new rule.\n  \nThe U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently provided a case study of why federal rule-making procedures matter.\u00a0 The EPA bypassed basic rule-making procedures to enforce new restrictions on wastewater treatment.\u00a0 The restrictions are expensive for city and county governments and, consequently, for local taxpayers.  \n\n\u00a0\nThe U.S. Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit invalidated the EPA\u2019s action on procedural grounds.\u00a0 The appeals court decided the agency changed its policy without public notice and without seeking public comment, as required by law.\u00a0 Now, the EPA says it will implement that decision only in the 8th Circuit.\u00a0 It will not enforce the new rules in the states in the 8th Circuit.\u00a0 The agency will continue to enforce its guidance on wastewater treatment as if it were a formal rule, in violation of the Administrative Procedure Act, in the rest of the country.  \n\n  \nThe EPA tried to violate basic rule-making procedures and got caught.\u00a0 Now, the agency is enforcing the violation everywhere except for the court circuit where it lost its case.\u00a0 This isn\u2019t the way to conduct agency business.\u00a0 The rules are in place for good reason.\u00a0 They\u2019re meant to keep the public involved and informed of major decision-making and hold agencies accountability for their actions.\u00a0 As Americans, we pride ourselves on setting and following the rule of law.\u00a0 An agency that flouts the law undermines public trust in government and erodes our strength as a country.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140221043259/http://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/Article.cfm?customel_dataPageID_1502=47635"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.8324568625539541, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}