An experiment in digital government at the United States National Organic Program

Digital communications technology is reconfiguring democratic governance. Federal agencies increasingly rely on Internet-based applications to improve citizen-government interaction. Early efforts in the area of digital government have created new participatory opportunities as well as formidable governance challenges. Federal agencies are working within and across their boundaries to find an e-rulemaking format that is cost-effective, legally appropriate, user-friendly, and well suited to diverse modes of rulemaking activities. One of the overriding issues emerging from this process is the definition of meaningful public participation in rulemaking. An examination of an early case involving the USDA's National Organic Program proposed rule summarizes comments related to genetic engineering, biosolids, irradiation, and the role of the National Organic Standards Board. The USDA's experience suggests a number of complex challenges that must be met to effectively integrate Web-based communications into the federal rulemaking process.