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Federal Register's Electronic Public Inspection Desk

Just in time for the Presidential transition period and the final regulatory rush (see yesterday's post), the Office of the Federal Register (OFR) has announced an electronic Public Inspection Desk to provide free online access to all documents--new final regulations, proposed regulations, and notices--that will be published in the next day's Federal Register, and to some that are scheduled to be published at a later date. For 72 years, the OFR has been filing these documents for public viewing as legally required, but only at their Washington, D.C., location. Now anyone in the world with a computer can read, print and download these pre-publication version documents in PDF format, beginning at 8:45 a.m. EST each federal business day. Arranged by agency, all documents include both the time of filing and the date that the regulation or notice will appear in the Federal Register. Documents in the "Special Filings" list for a particular day were filed at times other than 8:45 a.m., such as later in the day on an "emergency filing" basis.

This is a site to bookmark and revisit as a law student and practicing attorney. It is invaluable for keeping on top of federal regulations affecting business, finance, health, energy, the environment, and other areas of public interest.

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Full post as published by Virtual Library Cat's Eye View on November 22, 2008 (boomark / email).