The Office of Standards Evaluation and Development (CG-REG) plays an integral role in the Coast Guard’s Regulatory Development Program (RDP).
CG-REG provides project management and economic and environmental analytical services in coordination with other RDP partners to support Coast Guard program offices responsible for overseeing regulations. CG-REG also coordinates the Coast Guard’s efforts in industry consensus standards development and the integration of these standards into federal regulations.
CG-REG is divided into two divisions: Standards Evaluation & Analysis Division (CG-REG-1) and the Project Management Division (CG-REG-2). CG-REG-1 is responsible for evaluating the economic and environmental impact of a rulemaking action initiated by the Coast Guard. CG-REG-2 is responsible for managing regulatory development projects from inception to finalization, and developing performance measurements, processes, and tools to expedite the publication of regulations.
CG-REG's main RDP partner is the Office of Regulations and Administrative Law (CG-LRA), which provides legal expertise and project counsel for all Coast Guard regulatory and related actions.
BALANCING BENEFIT AND BURDEN
The Coast Guard is sensitive to the effects of our regulations and policies on the maritime industry, the public, trading partners, and Federal Agencies. Our rulemaking activities are governed by numerous laws, regulations, and Executive Orders. The Administrative Procedure Act directs Federal Agencies to seek public involvement in almost all regulatory actions through the notice and comment process. Executive Orders 12866, Regulatory Planning and Review, and 13563, Improving Regulation and Regulatory Review, require that Federal Agencies must conduct a cost benefit analysis of proposed regulations to demonstrate that the benefits justify the costs.
The Coast Guard also partners with many different types of organizations to seek advice on regulatory and policy matters. The Coast Guard works with 12 Federal Advisory Committees as forums for industry stakeholder concerns and needs. We collaborate with national and international industry organizations to develop voluntary consensus standards instead of detailed technical regulations. We meet with our international counterparts to discuss global maritime matters at the International Maritime Organization.
These are some of the methods we use to gather suggestions and feedback from our stakeholders as we strive in our regulatory development work to find the sweet spot among Government, industry, and the public’s needs.