Incorporation of research plan results into regulatory policy

Abstract

Because research can be an important element in the development of national drinking water regulations, research planning is essential to ensure timely and efficient regulatory development activities. Several research approaches have supported rulemaking, including research councils, research partnerships, congressional earmarks, regulated occurrence data research, and utility survey approaches. Although research plans have been specifically developed and executed to support regulatory development, the extent to which plan results and objectives have been incorporated into final rules has not been analyzed. The authors conducted retrospective analyses on the use of research results and objectives in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's regulatory development processes. Study findings led to two recommendations for research plans in support of future rule development. First, research plan tasks should focus on rule development needs; and second, research plan tasks should be constrained by available funding and timing. These suggestions will help future research planners prioritize research tasks and allocate resources more effectively to meet rule development objectives.