(a) Each agency submitting a proposed or final rule document for publication shall prepare a preamble which will inform the reader, who is not an expert in the subject area, of the basis and purpose for the rule or proposal.

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(b) The preamble shall be in the following format and contain the following information:

AGENCY:(Name of issuing agency)ACTION:(Notice of Intent), (Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking), (Proposed Rule), (Final Rule), (Other).SUMMARY:(Brief statements, in simple language, of: (i) the action being taken; (ii) the circumstances which created the need for the action; and (iii) the intended effect of the action.)DATES:(Comments must be received on or before: _____.) (Proposed effective date: _____.) (Effective date: _____.) (Hearing: _____.) (Other: _____.)ADDRESSES:(Any relevant addresses.)FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: (For Executive departments and agencies, the name and telephone number of a person in the agency to contact for additional information about the document [Presidential Memorandum, 41 FR 42764, September 28, 1976].)SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: (See paragraph (c) of this section.)

(c) The agency may include the following information in the preamble, as applicable:

(1) A discussion of the background and major issues involved;

(2) In the case of a final rule, any significant differences between it and the proposed rule;

(3) A response to substantive public comments received; and

(4) Any other information the agency considers appropriate.

[41 FR 56624, Dec. 29, 1976, as amended at 54 FR 9681, Mar. 7, 1989]