Find guidance documents from DHS and components that represent the Department's thinking on important topics.
Background
- On January 18, 2007, the President issued Executive Order 13422, “Further Amendment to Executive Order 12866 on Regulatory Planning and Review.”
- The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) issued a final bulletin on the same date, “Final Bulletin for Agency Good Guidance Practices,” (GGP Bulletin) which became effective July 24, 2007.
- Executive Order 13422 and the OMB GGP Bulletin set forth requirements for the issuance of significant guidance documents within the Executive Branch.
Public Comment on Significant Guidance Documents
The Department of Homeland Security will post significant guidance documents on the Federal Docket Management System (FDMS) website at www.regulations.gov. This will provide a public forum for submission of comments and for requests to amend or issue significant guidance documents. To submit comments on significant guidance documents, please follow the instructions on the FDMS website using the docket number associated with the significant guidance document.
Guidance documents represent the Department's current thinking on a topic. They do not create or confer any rights for or on any person and do not operate to bind the Department or the public. You can use an alternative approach (other than an approach provided in any guidance) if the alternative approach satisfies the requirements of all applicable statutes and regulations.
Feedback or Complaints
Members of the public who have feedback or complaints regarding significant guidance documents should contact the Department office or component that issued the guidance. If you have a complaint regarding a Department of Homeland Security significant guidance document or believe a Department employee is not following the guidance requirements of Executive Order 13422 or OMB’s GGP Bulletin, please contact the point of contact identified on the guidance document.
If the issue is not resolved, please contact the Department's Office of the General Counsel, Regulatory Affairs at SignificantGuidance@dhs.gov. In order to ensure proper processing of your comment, please include the words "SIGNIFICANT GUIDANCE: [Insert name of significant guidance document]" in the subject line of your email message. Public comments under these procedures are for the benefit of the agency and do not require formal response by the agency.
The Department will review requests, complaints, and questions to determine whether any action is warranted and, if so, what action. The Department will determine whether it needs to take any action based on the nature and timeliness of the information submitted, the significance of any modifications requested, the magnitude of any modifications requested, and the resource requirements for any modifications requested.
Significant Guidance Documents
Below are links to significant guidance documents of Department Headquarters as well of components. The Department of Homeland Security continues to identify its significant guidance documents and will provide additional links as they become available.
DHS Headquarters
National Infrastructure Protection Program