ACUS has released its newest Information Interchange Bulletin: Incorporation By Reference. The Bulletin provides a high-level overview of the process by which agencies issue rules that codify materials published elsewhere, such as voluntary consensus standards, state regulations, maps, and manuals.
ACUS previously considered the subject in Recommendation 2011-5, Incorporation by Reference. ACUS encouraged agencies to ensure that incorporated materials are readily available to the public and to periodically review and update any regulations that incorporate outdated materials by reference.
ACUS’s Office of the Chairman releases a new Information Interchange Bulletin each month. Previous Bulletins have covered topics including recusal rules for agency adjudicators (here), acting officials under the Vacancies Act (here), and what information agencies must publish in the Federal Register (here) and on their websites (here). All past and future Bulletins are available on our dedicated Information Interchange Bulletin webpage.