**GAO-08-265**                      Published: Mar 31, 2008. Publicly Released: Apr 30, 2008.                  

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## Highlights

Agencies address their missions not only through regulations but also by issuing communication products--such as guidance, fact sheets, and brochures--that can provide crucial information to regulated parties and the public. Since 2000, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Office of Prevention, Pesticides, and Toxic Substances (OPPTS) developed new versions of such products to address the potential hazards of exposure to asbestos in automotive brakes. GAO was asked to describe (1) how OSHA and OPPTS prepared their products on asbestos in automotive brakes, (2) the general processes that OSHA and OPPTS use to prepare their communication products, and (3) how these processes compare to those for rulemaking and how recent administration initiatives might affect them. GAO reviewed and analyzed available documents and interviewed officials at OSHA, OPPTS, and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).

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## Recommendations for Executive Action

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## Topics

Employment

Agency missionsAsbestosConsumer protectionFederal regulationsGovernment informationGovernment information disseminationHealth hazardsInformation accessInformation disclosureInformation managementInteragency relationsOccupational health and safety programsOccupational safetyPolicy evaluationProduct evaluationProgram evaluationPublic healthRegulatory agenciesStandardsStandards evaluationPolicies and proceduresProgram coordinationProgram goals or objectives