A notice of proposed rulemaking is a notice in the Federal Register that announces the intent of an agency to promulgate a particular rule. Generally, when posting an NPRM, an agency will also announce an opportunity for public comment. Publication of an NPRM is often the first time the public becomes aware of an agency's proposed rule.
In the context of notice-and-comment rulemaking, or informal rulemaking, the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) requires agencies to specify certain information in the NPRM, such as the type of rule involved, the timing of public comments, and how the comments are to be filed. E.O. 12866 states that most rulemakings should include a comment period of 60 days, and most agencies do provide a 60 day or longer comment period for complex or controversial rules.
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