From the U.S. Code Online via GPO Access
[wais.access.gpo.gov]
[Laws in effect as of January 27, 1998]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
  January 27, 1998 and November 30, 1998]
[CITE: 5USC553]

 
             TITLE 5--GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATION AND EMPLOYEES
 
                     PART I--THE AGENCIES GENERALLY
 
                   CHAPTER 5--ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURE
 
                 SUBCHAPTER II--ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURE
 
Sec. 553. Rule making

    (a) This section applies, according to the provisions thereof, 
except to the extent that there is involved--
        (1) a military or foreign affairs function of the United States; 
    or
        (2) a matter relating to agency management or personnel or to 
    public property, loans, grants, benefits, or contracts.

    (b) General notice of proposed rule making shall be published in the 
Federal Register, unless persons subject thereto are named and either 
personally served or otherwise have actual notice thereof in accordance 
with law. The notice shall include--
        (1) a statement of the time, place, and nature of public rule 
    making proceedings;
        (2) reference to the legal authority under which the rule is 
    proposed; and
        (3) either the terms or substance of the proposed rule or a 
    description of the subjects and issues involved.

Except when notice or hearing is required by statute, this subsection 
does not apply--
        (A) to interpretative rules, general statements of policy, or 
    rules of agency organization, procedure, or practice; or
        (B) when the agency for good cause finds (and incorporates the 
    finding and a brief statement of reasons therefor in the rules 
    issued) that notice and public procedure thereon are impracticable, 
    unnecessary, or contrary to the public interest.

    (c) After notice required by this section, the agency shall give 
interested persons an opportunity to participate in the rule making 
through submission of written data, views, or arguments with or without 
opportunity for oral presentation. After consideration of the relevant 
matter presented, the agency shall incorporate in the rules adopted a 
concise general statement of their basis and purpose. When rules are 
required by statute to be made on the record after opportunity for an 
agency hearing, sections 556 and 557 of this title apply instead of this 
subsection.
    (d) The required publication or service of a substantive rule shall 
be made not less than 30 days before its effective date, except--

        (1) a substantive rule which grants or recognizes an exemption 
    or relieves a restriction;
        (2) interpretative rules and statements of policy; or
        (3) as otherwise provided by the agency for good cause found and 
    published with the rule.

    (e) Each agency shall give an interested person the right to 
petition for the issuance, amendment, or repeal of a rule.

(Pub. L. 89-554, Sept. 6, 1966, 80 Stat. 383.)

                      Historical and Revision Notes
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                    Revised Statutes and
     Derivation                U.S. Code             Statutes at Large
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                     5 U.S.C. 1003.                June 11, 1946, ch.
                                                    324, Sec.  4, 60
                                                    Stat. 238.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    In subsection (a)(1), the words ``or naval'' are omitted as included 
in ``military''.
    In subsection (b), the word ``when'' is substituted for ``in any 
situation in which''.
    In subsection (c), the words ``for oral presentation'' are 
substituted for ``to present the same orally in any manner''. The words 
``sections 556 and 557 of this title apply instead of this subsection'' 
are substituted for ``the requirements of sections 1006 and 1007 of this 
title shall apply in place of the provisions of this subsection''.
    Standard changes are made to conform with the definitions applicable 
and the style of this title as outlined in the preface to the report.

                          Codification

    Section 553 of former Title 5, Executive Departments and Government 
Officers and Employees, was transferred to section 2245 of Title 7, 
Agriculture.

                        Executive Order No. 12044

    Ex. Ord. No. 12044, Mar. 23, 1978, 43 F.R. 12661, as amended by Ex. 
Ord. No. 12221, June 27, 1980, 45 F.R. 44249, which related to the 
improvement of Federal regulations, was revoked by Ex. Ord. No. 12291, 
Feb. 17, 1981, 46 F.R. 13193, formerly set out as a note under section 
601 of this title.


                            Cross References

    Federal Register Act, see section 1502 et seq. of Title 44, Public 
Printing and Documents.
    Wildlife management areas, hunting game birds, see section 718d of 
Title 16, Conservation.

                  Section Referred to in Other Sections

    This section is referred to in sections 552a, 556, 561, 566, 601, 
603, 604, 611, 1103, 1105, 5304 of this title; title 2 sections 501, 
502, 1383, 1384; title 7 sections 6j, 12e, 499c, 499f, 927, 944a, 2013, 
2014, 2707, 4906, 6802, 6804, 7251, 7253, 7281, 7412; title 8 section 
1288; title 9 section 306; title 12 sections 635, 1441a, 1735f-17, 1828, 
3336, 4004, 4008, 4112, 4308, 4526, 4589, 4611; title 15 sections 18a, 
45a, 57a, 78l, 78s, 78ggg, 1193, 1203, 1262, 1277, 1474, 1476, 1604, 
1693b, 2058, 2079, 2082, 2309, 2603, 2604, 2605, 2618, 2643, 2703, 2823, 
3412, 3803, 4017, 4404, 5624, 5711, 5721, 5724, 6004, 6102; title 16 
sections 620a, 839b, 971d, 1379, 1381, 1383b, 1463, 1533, 1535, 1604, 
1821, 1822, 3341, 3604, 3636, 3801, 5504; title 19 section 2561; title 
20 sections 1221e-4, 1232, 6104; title 21 sections 358, 463; title 25 
sections 450c, 450k; title 28 section 994; title 30 sections 185, 811, 
936, 1211, 1468, 1751; title 33 sections 1231, 1322, 1504; title 38 
sections 501, 502; title 40 section 333; title 41 sections 43a, 47, 422; 
title 42 sections 289d, 290aa-10, 300g-1, 300h, 421, 902, 1320a-7c, 
1395ff, 1395hh, 1437d, 1437l, 1437u, 1796c, 2210a, 2992b-1, 4029, 4905, 
5403, 5506, 5919, 6239, 6306, 7191, 7407, 7502, 7511a, 7607, 8275, 8411, 
9112, 9127, 9204, 9605, 10155, 10193, 11023, 11376, 11387, 12725, 12879, 
12898, 12898a, 13603, 13643; title 43 section 1740; title 44 section 
2206; title 46 sections 7702, 9303, 14104; title 46 App. sections 1241f, 
1716; title 49 sections 5103, 20103, 24102, 24308, 31136, 31317, 32502, 
32902, 40103, 60102; title 50 App. sections 2158, 2159, 2412.