§ 5.31 — Public access to effective guidance documents.

§ 5.31 Public access to effective guidance documents.

Each OA and component of OST responsible for issuing guidance documents shall:

(a) Ensure all effective guidance documents, identified by a unique identifier which includes, at a minimum, the document's title and date of issuance or revision and its Z-RIN, if applicable, are on its website in a single, searchable, indexed database, and available to the public in accordance with 49 CFR 7.12(a)(2);

(b) Note on its website that guidance documents lack the force and effect of law, except as authorized by law or as incorporated into a contract;

(c) Maintain and advertise on its website how the public may comment electronically on any guidance documents that are subject to the notice-and-comment procedures described in § 5.41 and to submit requests electronically for issuance, reconsideration, modification, or rescission of guidance documents in accordance with § 5.43; and

(d) Designate an office to receive and address complaints from the public that the OA or OST component is not following the requirements of OMB's Good Guidance Bulletin or is improperly treating a guidance document as a binding requirement.