Shiny New Fed Register Debuts
If federal regulations matter to you -- and if you're visiting this homepage, they probably do -- the National Archives have done you a real favor by unveiling a much improved Federal Register website. The transparency promised by the Obama administration is here and welcome, offering a much different trove than today's other noteworthy debut, the Wikileaks release to three leading international newspapers of military documents describing the Afghanistan war at ground level.
The new www.federalregister.gov resembles a modern news website, with photos illustrating new items, clear and simple headings (such as the COMMENTS REQUESTED area), and five main sections (Money, Environment, World, Science & Technology, Business & Industry, and Health & Public Welfare) to make navigation a breeze. Health & Public Welfare's top item today, for example, is a Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services request for comments on Det Norske Veritas Healthcare's request for recognition as a national accrediting organization for critical access hospitals wanting to participate in Medicare or Medicaid. The top Environment item concerned Rhode Island's request for EPA approval of changes to its hazardous waste program.
Today also is the 20th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act. The Access Board published a proposed rule today to change the existing standards for wheelchair lifts on transit buses and vans.
Posted by Jerry Laws on Jul 26, 2010