The Guide emphasizes techniques of conducting the hearing and developing a complete record. It is designed only to provide procedural and operational guidance to the Agency's staff and is not intended to be a compendium of substantive or procedural law, nor a substitute for knowledge of the law. Similarly, the Guide does not constitute rulings or directives of the Board or the General Counsel, and is not a form of authority binding on either the Board or General Counsel.This Guide is a checklist of steps to be considered and techniques available for utilization by the hearing officer in preparing for and conducting the hearing, as well as a ready reference to some procedural aspects of the hearing. The contents are a guide to the hearing officer in the exercise of his/her discussion in conducting the hearing and and necessarily of selective applicability depending on the issues and posture of a given case.