# Eliminating Redundant Regulatory Part Related to Public Information and Disclosure
**AGENCY:**
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Department of Commerce.
**ACTION:**
Final rule.
**SUMMARY:**
By this rule, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (“NOAA”) is eliminating a part of the Code of Federal Regulations that consists solely of a single provision cross-referencing another part of the Code. This action is necessary to streamline and simplify NOAA's regulations. The intended effect of this action is to reduce administrative clutter without altering any substantive rights or obligations.
**DATES:**
The rule is effective January 16, 2026.
**FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:**
Daniel Sweeney, Senior Counsel, Office of the General Counsel, at (202) 482-1395.
**SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:**
**I. Background**
This rule affects 15 CFR part 903, which pertains to public access to NOAA's records under various statutes, including the Freedom of Information Act (“FOIA”), 5 U.S.C. 552. The sole regulation within 15 CFR part 903 is § 903.1. It states that the applicable rules and procedures are found at 15 CFR part 4, which contains the regulations governing disclosure of government information for the Department of Commerce (the “Department”) at large.
Historically, 15 CFR part 903 contained NOAA's own agency-specific regulations for implementing FOIA. However, those agency-specific regulations were rendered obsolete when they were superseded by the comprehensive, Department-wide FOIA regulations located at 15 CFR part 4. In a final rule published on August 11, 1992 (57 FR 35749), NOAA revised 15 CFR part 903 to reflect this supersession and consolidation. Specifically, the 1992 amendment removed all of the superseded procedural text from 15 CFR part 903 and replaced it with a single section directing readers to the comprehensive disclosure regulations at 15 CFR part 4. Thus, as a result of the 1992 amendment, the sole regulation within 15 CFR part 903 is simply an administrative cross-reference to 15 CFR part 4.
**II. Discussion**
By this rule, NOAA is eliminating § 903.1 and therefore 15 CFR part 903 in its entirety. As discussed above, § 903.1 is simply an administrative cross-reference to the comprehensive disclosure regulations at 15 CFR part 4. While this cross-reference may have been somewhat useful when the comprehensive disclosure regulations were newly promulgated, it no longer serves any meaningful, independent function. The Department-wide regulations at 15 CFR part 4 are easy enough to locate and fully satisfy NOAA's obligation to implement FOIA. *See* 5 U.S.C. 552(a)(1), (4)(A)(i)-(ii), (6)(E)(i)-(ii) (requiring each agency to promulgate certain disclosure-related regulations). Indeed, no statutory authority requires NOAA to promulgate and maintain a separate cross-reference to 15 CFR part 4. Accordingly, NOAA has determined that maintaining such a cross-reference is unwarranted, as it effectively amounts to regulatory clutter and it also creates some potential for confusion (particularly with respect to the lack of similar cross-references for other Department-wide regulations). Eliminating § 903.1, and therefore 15 CFR part 903 in its entirety, is consistent with the Department's broader policy and effort to remove regulations that are not statutorily required and do not serve any compelling function. This elimination will streamline NOAA's regulations without altering any substantive rights or obligations.
**III. Regulatory Certifications**
**A. Administrative Procedure Act**
Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B), the Department finds good cause to waive the prior notice and opportunity for public participation requirements of the Administrative Procedure Act for this final rule. The Department considers this rule to be uncontroversial, and has determined that prior notice and opportunity for public participation is unnecessary, because this rule only removes an entirely unnecessary cross-reference to other applicable regulations; public participation could not justify the continued maintenance of 15 CFR part 903. For the same reasons, the Department has determined that delaying the effectiveness of these amendments would be contrary to the public interest. The language being removed by this rule serves no meaningful, independent purpose and effectively amounts to regulatory clutter; its removal will immediately benefit the public at little to no cost. The Department therefore finds good cause to waive the public notice and comment period under 553(b)(B) and to waive the 30-day delay in effectiveness under 553(d).
**B. Executive Orders 12866, 14192, 13132**
The Office of Management and Budget has determined this rule is not significant pursuant to Executive Order (“E.O.”) 12866. This rule is an E.O. 14192 deregulatory action. This rule does not contain policies having federalism implications as the term is defined in E.O. 13132.
**C. Regulatory Flexibility Act**
Because a notice of proposed rulemaking and an opportunity for public participation are not required to be given for this rule by 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B), the analytical requirements of the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 *et seq.* ) are not applicable. Accordingly, no regulatory flexibility analysis is required, and none has been prepared.
**D. Paperwork Reduction Act**
This rule will not impose additional reporting or recordkeeping requirements under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, 44 U.S.C. 3501 *et seq.*
**List of Subjects for 15 CFR Part 903**
Archives and records, Freedom of information.
Dated: January 13, 2026.
Neil Jacobs,
Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere and NOAA Administrator.
**PART 903—[REMOVED AND RESERVED]**
**15 CFR Part 903**
For the reasons set forth in the preamble under the authority of 5 U.S.C. 552 and 5 U.S.C. 301, NOAA removes and reserves 15 CFR part 903.