This page presents a few ways to obtain the Federal Register and Kentucky administrative regulations on the World Wide Web.
The Federal Register is the official daily publication for rules, proposed rules and notices of federal agencies and organizations, as well as executive orders and other presidential documents. It is published by the Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration (NARA).
There are at least three different areas on the World Wide Web where you can search, read, provide comments or sign up to have the Federal Register e-mailed to you (listserve). The three areas are (1.) the Federal Register home page, (2.) EPA's EDOCKET and (3.) the eRulemaking site. Which area you prefer, if any, depends upon your own personal preference.
1. The Federal Register main page is http://www.gpoaccess.gov/fr/ where you can search, view or sign up for their listserve to receive the daily Federal Register Table of Contents via e-mail. This Web site is maintained by the U.S. Government Printing Office. They also maintain a daily list of federal register contents located at http://www.access.gpo.gov/su_docs/fedreg/frcont04.html. Some people find this page easier to use than going through the Federal Register main page.
In addition to the Federal Register, you have access to the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR). The CFR is the codification (classification) of the general and permanent rules published in the Federal Register by the executive departments and agencies of the Federal Government. Divided into 50 titles, the CFR represents broad areas subject to Federal regulation. Each volume of the CFR is updated once each calendar year and is issued on a quarterly basis.
2. EPA Dockets (EDOCKET) is an online public docket and comment system designed to expand access to documents in EPA’s major dockets. One advantage of EDOCKET is access to documents relating to the Federal Register. Each time an agency action is announced in the Federal Register, a docket is established and assigned a tracking number to accumulate materials throughout the development process. Dockets contain Federal Register notices, support documents and public comments for regulations the Agency publishes and various non-regulatory activities. EDOCKET allows you to search, download and print the documents in a docket, as well as submit comments online. For access to EDOCKET, visit http://docket.epa.gov/edkpub/index.jsp. EPA also offers:
3. Officially launched in January 2003, the eRulemaking site enhances the public’s ability to participate in their government’s regulatory decision making. This Web site provides an easy and consistent way for you to search, view and comment on proposed federal regulations. Especially useful is their "Comments Due Today" that lists federal regulations requiring comments on the current date. For public access to federal rulemaking through the Internet, try http://www.regulations.gov. The eRulemaking site has won several awards, including:
KENTUCKY REGULATIONS
Kentucky's counterpart to the Federal Register is the Administrative Register of Kentucky copyrighted by the Legislative Research Commission (LRC). The Administrative Register, published monthly from July through June of the preceding year, contains emergency and new administrative regulations, and amendments to administrative regulations. The Administrative Register and the Administrative Regulations Service, both published by the LRC, contain the official versions of Kentucky regulations. For information on how to subscribe to these two publications, contact the LRC at (502) 564-8100. The LRC Web Server does provide unofficial versions of the administrative regulations available from http://www.lrc.state.ky.us/kar/frntpage.htm.
If you know of other ways to obtain the Federal Register electronically, please let us know by sending an e-mail to Jeff.Grubbs@ky.gov. I'd like to thank Stephanie Stickler, Owensboro Municipal Utilities, for suggesting and contributing to this tip.
