What are directives?
Directives are authoritative documents that may be used to establish, prescribe, or modify • basic organizational structure and functions • duties and responsibilities • authority delegated to individuals, including any limitations • policies and procedures • standards and methods The NOAA Directives System is composed of various Department of Commerce and NOAA issuances that provide authoritative coverage of the substantive organization, authorities, delegations, and administrative policies and procedures of the agency. The NOAA Directives System consists of NOAA Organization Handbook, NOAA Administrative Orders, NOAA Circulars, NOAA Delegations of Authority, and the NOAA Handbook Series. The System incorporates, by reference, similar administrative issuances of the Department of Commerce (DOC). The NOAA Organization Handbook (OHB) The NOAA Organization Handbook series documents management structure and organizational arrangements within NOAA organizations and prescribes these element
