ORGANIC LAWS GOVERNING U.S. COAST GUARD 9 



(f) Sanction and relief. — "Sanction'' includes the whole or part 

 of any agency (1) prohibition, requirement, limitation, or other con- 

 dition affecting the freedom of any person; (2) withholding of relief; 

 (3) imposition of any form of penalty or fine; (4) destruction, 

 taking, seizure, or withholding of property; (5) assessment of dam- 

 ages, reimbursement, restitution, compensation, costs, charges, or 

 fees; (6) requirement, revocation, or suspension of a license; or 

 (7) taking of other compulsory or restrictive action. "Relief in- 

 cludes the whole or part of any agency (1) grant of money, assist- 

 ance, license, authority, exemption, exception, privilege, or remedy; 

 (2) recognition of any claim, right, immunity, privilege, exemption, 

 or exception; or (3) taking of any other action upon the application 

 or petition of, and beneficial to, any person. 



(g) Agency proceeding and action. — "Agency proceeding" means 

 any agency process as defined in subsections (c), (d), and (e) of this 

 section. "Agency action"' includes the whole or part of every agency 

 rule, order, license, sanction, relief, or the equivalent or denial there- 

 of, or failure to act. 



Publication of information 



5 U.S.C. 1002 



Except to the extent that there is involved (1) any function of the 

 United States requiring secrecy in the public interest or (2) any 

 matter relating solely to the internal management of an agency — 



(a) Every agency shall separately state and currently publish 

 in the Federal Register (1) descriptions of its central and field or- 

 ganization including delegations by the agency of final authority 

 and the established places at which, and methods whereby, the public 

 may secure information or make submittals or requests; (2) state- 

 ments of the general course and method by which its functions are 

 channeled and determined, including the nature and requirements 

 of all formal or informal procedures available as well as forms and 

 instructions as to the scope and contents of all papers, reports, or 

 examinations; and (3) substantive rules adopted as authorized by 

 law and statements of general policy or interpretations formulated 

 and adopted by the agency for the guidance of the public, but not 

 rules addressed to and served upon named persons in accordance 

 with law. No person shall in any manner be required to resort to 

 organization or procedure not so published. 



(b) Every agency shall publish or, in accordance with published 

 rule, make available to public inspection all final opinions or orders 

 in the adjudication of cases (except those required for good cause 

 to be held confidential and not cited as precedents) and all rules. 



(c) Save as otherwise required by statute, matters of official 

 record shall in accordance with published rule l)e made available 

 to persons properly and directly concerned except information held 

 confidential for good cause found. 



