However, the extent to which these comments were electronically available and the role that this access played in the rulemaking process varied substantially.
( However ( , ( ( ( ( ( the extent ) ( ( to which ) ( ( these comments ) ( were ( electronically available ) ) ) ) ) and ) ( ( the role ) ( that ( ( this access ) ( played ( in ( the ( rulemaking process ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( ( varied substantially ) . ) ) ) )
(ROOT (S (ADVP (RB However)) (, ,) (NP (NP (NP (DT the) (NN extent)) (SBAR (WHPP (TO to) (WHNP (WDT which))) (S (NP (DT these) (NNS comments)) (VP (VBD were) (ADJP (RB electronically) (JJ available)))))) (CC and) (NP (NP (DT the) (NN role)) (SBAR (IN that) (S (NP (DT this) (NN access)) (VP (VBD played) (PP (IN in) (NP (DT the) (VBG rulemaking) (NN process)))))))) (VP (VBD varied) (ADVP (RB substantially))) (. .)))
The comments and the extent of their availability played no role in the rule making process. 
( ( ( ( The comments ) and ) ( ( the extent ) ( of ( their availability ) ) ) ) ( ( played ( ( no role ) ( in ( the ( rule ( making process ) ) ) ) ) ) . ) )
(ROOT (S (NP (NP (DT The) (NNS comments)) (CC and) (NP (NP (DT the) (NN extent)) (PP (IN of) (NP (PRP$ their) (NN availability))))) (VP (VBD played) (NP (NP (DT no) (NN role)) (PP (IN in) (NP (DT the) (NN rule) (VBG making) (NN process))))) (. .)))