A Jan. 11 National Research Council (NRC) report found the Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) Proposed Risk Assessment Bulletin to be "fundamentally flawed." The report contained concerns similar to those raised by OMB Watch and Public Citizen in comments submitted in August 2006. OMB asked NRC to review the document after its release in January 2006. NRC suggested the Bulletin be withdrawn completely. Following the release of the report, OMB announced that it will go back to the drawing board to "develop improved guidance for risk assessment."

Throughout the past several years, attempts to roll back regulatory safeguards and delay new rulemaking have been common. 2006 proved to be no different, and several important issues garnered attention. Among these were sunset commission legislation, the nomination of Susan Dudley, and proposals to further complicate the regulatory process.

The Senate is likely to vote in December on the nomination of Susan Dudley to be the new regulatory czar, according to Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME). Despite widespread criticism from the public interest community on the nomination, a confirmation hearing in which Dudley evaded disclosing much about her views, and new concerns about a perception of a conflict regarding her husband serving as head of an office that writes environmental regulations, it appears that Collins's committee will move forward with the nomination.

InsideEPA, a Washington trade publication, reports that criticism from federal agency officials could prevent the Office of Management and Budget from finalizing a bulletin on risk assessments.

On Jan. 9, 2006, the OMB released a draft bulletin governing how agencies perform risk assessments. If enacted, the new standards would create a one-size-fits-all standard, requiring more information and analysis before agencies could act to protect the public.