External Program Guidance

As the scope and complexity of regulatory programs have grown, agencies have relied on guidance documents to inform the public and to provide direction to their staffs. And as the impact of guidance documents on the public has grown, so too, has the need for good guidance practices - clear and consistent agency practices for developing, issuing, and using guidance documents.

OMB Bulletin 07-02 defines the term "significant guidance document" as a guidance document disseminated to regulated entities or the general public that may reasonably be anticipated to:

• Lead to an annual effect on the economy of $100 million or more or adversely affect in a material way the economy, a sector of the economy, productivity, competition, jobs, the environment, public health or safety, or State, local, or tribal governments or communities;
• Create a serious inconsistency or otherwise interfere with an action taken or planned by another agency;
• Materially alter the budgetary impact of entitlements, grants, user fees, or loan programs or the rights and obligations of recipients thereof; or
• Raise novel legal or policy issues arising out of legal mandates, the President's priorities, or the principles set forth in Executive Order 12866, as further amended.

The OMB Bulletin further defines an "economically significant guidance document" as a significant guidance document that may reasonably be anticipated to lead to an annual effect on the economy of $100 million or more or adversely affect in a material way the economy or a sector of the economy. The definition excludes guidance documents on Federal expenditures and receipts.

While Reclamation has no guidance documents that meet the definitions above or in Executive Order 12866, the following links to other Reclamation guidance documents are provided below as a measure of transparency.

• Asset management guidance supporting Reclamation's continuing commitment to better manage its constructed assets:


• Infrastructure Asset Management (includes Federal Real Property Profile, and the Reduce the Footprint Program)
• Land and Water Surface Use
• Lands Handbook
• Operation and Maintenance (O&M) Cost Index
• O&M guidelines (operating and maintaining Reclamation facilities)
• Recreation on Reclamation lands (multiple topics)


• Project Management Framework guidance supporting Reclamation's continuing commitment to improving performance in conducting its work for stakeholders.


• Reclamation Reform Act of 1982 Fact Sheets providing easy-to-read information for landholders and water districts on the requirements of the Reclamation Reform Act of 1982 and its regulations.


• Safety of dams guidance supporting Reclamation's continuing commitment to the safety of its facilities and the public:


• Dam Safety Public Protection
  • Guidelines
  • Rationale
  • Examples of Use
• Reclamation Consequence Estimating Methodology (RCEM)
  • Guidelines
  • Examples of Use
  • Case History Compilation


• Use Authorizations for Non-Hydro Renewable Energy on Reclamation Lands Guidebook outlining Reclamation's support of the private sector non-hydro renewable energy industry.

Reclamation has an extensive library of internal guidance that details Reclamation's internal procedures, including staff and office responsibilities. We have made these internal guidance documents available and transparent to the public at Reclamation Manual.