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Federal Register: Sections

Contents and Preliminary Pages | Rules and Regulations | Proposed Rules | Notices
Presidential Documents | Sunshine Act Meetings | Reader Aids | Corrections

Contents and Preliminary Pages

This section of the Federal Register contains a comprehensive alphabetical listing by agency name of all documents in the issue. Under each agency, the documents are arranged by classification--Rules, Proposed Rules, or Notices. Each entry includes the page number where the document begins and a brief description of the document.

If Presidential Documents appear in the Federal Register they are listed in alphabetical order in the Contents under the heading "Presidential Documents". Appearing at the end of the Contents is a list of separate parts published in the issue, if applicable. The documents appearing in the separate part are also listed under the agency in the table of contents.

Also appearing in the preliminary pages (Contents Section) of each day's Federal Register is a list of the CFR Parts Affected in This Issue. Under each CFR title the parts affected by the rules and proposed rules in the issue are listed along with the page numbers where relevant documents begin.

The Reader Aids section of the Federal Register is designed to help the reader find specific information in the Federal Register system, as distinguished from the finding aids in the preliminary pages (Contents section) which are more oriented to one particular issue of the Federal Register.

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Rules and Regulations

This section of the Federal Register contains final rules and regulations: regulatory documents having general applicability and legal effect. Most rules are keyed to and codified in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR). A document which amends text must include the changes to the CFR and state the effective date for any change.

Each document begins with a heading that includes the name of the issuing agency (and subagency if appropriate), the CFR title and part(s) affected, and a brief description of the specific subject of the document. In some cases an agency includes a docket number, which identifies the document within the agency's internal filing system. A Regulation Identifier Number (RIN) may also be included.

This section also contains interim rules that are issued without prior notice and are effective immediately; the interim rule is designed to respond to an emergency situation and is usually followed by a final rule document which confirms that the interim rule is final, addresses comments received, and includes any further amendments. Additionally, this section includes documents that have no regulatory text and do not amend the CFR, but either affect the agency's handling of its regulations or are of continuing interest to the public in dealing with an agency. In this category are general policy statements and interpretations of agency regulations. These documents have the CFR headings (title and part), but do not contain any codified language.

The terms "rules" and "regulations" have the same meaning within the Federal Register publication system.

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Proposed Rules

This section of the Federal Register contains notices to the public of the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules.

Many proposed rules are documents that suggest changes to agency regulations in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) and request public comment on those suggested changes. This section also contains documents relating to previously published proposed rules, extending the comment period, announcing a public hearing, making available supplemental information, withdrawing a proposed rule, or correcting a previously published proposed rule.

This section includes advanced notices of proposed rulemaking, which describe a problem or situation and the anticipated regulatory action of the agency and seek public response concerning the necessity for regulation and the adequacy of the agency's anticipated regulatory action. Additionally, many agencies voluntarily publish proposed changes to procedural rules, interpretative rules and agency policies to gather public comments.

Each document begins with a heading that includes the name of the issuing agency (and subagency if appropriate), the CFR title and part(s) affected, and a brief description of the specific subject of the document. In some cases an agency docket number, which identifies the document within the agency's internal filing system. A Regulation Identifier Number (RIN) may also be included. Instructions for filing comments and the date by which comments must be filed are provided.

The terms "rules" and "regulations" have the same meaning within the Federal Register publication system.

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Notices

This section of the Federal Register contains documents other than rules or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings and investigations, committee meetings, agency decisions and rulings, delegations of authority, issuances or revocation of licenses, grant application deadlines, availability of environmental impact statements, filing of petitions and applications, and agency statements of organization and functions are examples of documents appearing in this section.

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Presidential Documents

This section of the Federal Register contains documents signed by the President and submitted to the Office of the Federal Register for publication. Presidential documents include proclamations and Executive orders as well as other documents such as determinations, letters, memorandums, and reorganization plans. The documents are complied annually in title 3 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR).

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Sunshine Act Meetings

This section of the Federal Register contains notices of meetings published under the "Government in the Sunshine Act" (Pub. L. 94-409) 5 U.S.C. 552b(e)(3).

In recognition of the public's right to the fullest possible information about the Federal decision-making process, the Government in the Sunshine Act requires that meetings of Government agencies be open to the public, with certain specified exceptions. The Act also requires that public announcement be made in the Federal Register of the time, place, and subject matter of the meeting, the name and telephone number of the agency official to contact for more information, and whether the meeting is open or closed to the public.

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Reader Aids

This section of the Federal Register is designed to help the reader find specific information in the Federal Register system, as distinguished from the finding aids in the preliminary pages (Contents section) which are more oriented to one particular issue of the Federal Register.

Information and Assistance. Appearing first is the listing of Office of the Federal Register telephone numbers to call for specific information.

Federal Register Pages and Dates. This is a table of the inclusive page numbers and corresponding dates for the current month's Federal Register.

CFR Parts Affected During the Current Month. This is a cumulative list of Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) parts affected by rules and proposed rules published in the Federal Register during the current month.

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Corrections

This section of the Federal Register contains editorial corrections of previously published Presidential, Rule, Proposed Rule, and Notice documents. These corrections are prepared by the Office of the Federal Register to correct typographical or clerical errors made in the printing of the Federal Register . Agency prepared corrections are issued as signed documents and appear in the appropriate document categories elsewhere in the issue.

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A service of the U.S. Government Printing Office.

Last updated: September 27, 2003
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