Rulemaking proceedings may include any type of action which the Secretary is authorized or required by law to take when promulgating, amending, or repealing regulations, including: Conducting studies (either before or after proposal of the regulation in the Maryland Register) to gather information in support of the regulation; Advance notice of proposed rulemaking if the Secretary determines that additional information or public comment is necessary or desirable before a proposed regulation can be formulated; Referral (either before or after proposal of the regulation in the Maryland Register) to advisory councils or other official or quasi-official agencies or groups responsible for reviewing the regulation; Proposal of the regulation in the Maryland Register; Reproposal of the regulation proposed in the Maryland Register if the Secretary determines that, before final adoption, the proposed regulation must be altered so that it is substantially different from its original text; Modification of the regulation change requested by the petitioner, either in form or in substance, and either before or after proposal in the Maryland Register, to better reflect the Secretary's responsibilities than reflected by the petitioner's request. Despite the initiation of rulemaking proceedings, the Secretary may decide not to finally promulgate, amend, or repeal the requested regulation.