Section 7.12 - What records are available in reading rooms, and how are they accessed?(a)General. Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 552(a)(2) , unless the following records are promptly published and offered for sale or published in the FEDERAL REGISTER, DOT and its components make the following records, and an index to the records, available in a reading room, including an electronic reading room if the records were created by DOT on or after November 1, 1996: (1) Final opinions, including concurring and dissenting opinions, as well as orders, made in the adjudication of cases;(2) Statements of policy and interpretations that have been adopted by DOT;(3) Administrative staff manuals and instructions to staff that affect a member of the public; and(4) Copies of all records, regardless of form or format, that have been released to any person under subpart C of this part and that:(i) Because of the nature of their subject matter, DOT determines have become or are likely to become the subject of subsequent requests for substantially the same records; or(ii) Have been requested three or more times.(5) A general index of the records listed in paragraph (a)(4) of this section. 79 FR 16209 , Mar. 25, 2014, as amended at 82 FR 21139 , May 5, 2017; 84 FR 71733 , Dec. 27, 2019; 86 FR 17295 , Apr. 2, 2021 82 FR 21139 , 6/5/2017; 84 FR 71733 , 1/27/2020; 86 FR 17295 , 5/3/2021