Government Examples
Plain language has been around in the government for over 20 years. Here are some examples, both historical and current.
Model preamble for a proposed rule. This model preamble was last reviewed in May, 1998. You should check with your own legal staff to make sure there are no more recent requirements.
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf. Minerals Management Service
Procedures for Transportation Workplace Drug and Alcohol Testing. Department of Transportation
Rulemaking Procedures. Federal Aviation Administration
Personal Radio Services. Federal Communications Commission. The first plain English regulation.
Reimbursement to Local Governments. Environmental Protection Agency
Pensions, Bonuses. Veterans Benefits Administration. See sections 8.2, .3, and .4
Leasing of Solid Minerals other than Coal and Shale. Bureau of Land Management
Washington
State plain language initiative
Letters and forms
Veterans Benefits Administration
IRS
Handbooks, manuals, directives
NASA - Johnson Space Center
Draft Grazing Manual, Bureau
of Land Management
Other
Department of Energy—Oak
Ridge Annual Site Environmental Report—Summary.
Each year Tim Joseph gets the help of a local high school
class in writing a summary of Oak Ridge's environmental
status that's readable by the public.
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) policy directive. Federal agencies must have a privacy policy statement on their websites.
Notice and
Deficiency Order for Small Disadvantaged Business
(SDB) cases. Small Business Administration
