THE AUTHORITY AND SCOPE OF THE REGULATION, RESPONSIBILITY FOR ENFORCEMENT, PENALTIES AND LIABILITIES, AGENTS AUTHORIZED TO ISSUE INTERPRETATIONS OF THE REGULATION, AND DEFINITIONS AND RULES OF CONSTRUCTION USED IN THE REGULATION ARE SET FORTH. SPECIAL TREATMENT FOR CERTAIN CLASSES OF CREDIT TRANSACTIONS -- PUBLIC UTILITIES, SECURITIES, INCIDENTAL, BUSINESS, GOVERNMENTAL -- IS SPECIFIED. THE GENERAL RULE PROHIBITING CREDITORS FROM DISCRIMINATING AGAINST APPLICANTS IS STATED, AND RULES CONCERNING CREDIT APPLICATIONS ARE SET FORTH RELATIVE TO DISCOURAGING APPLICANTS, INFORMATION A CREDITOR MAY AND MAY NOT REQUEST, INFORMATION ABOUT A SPOUSE OR FORMER SPOUSE OF AN APPLICANT, AND APPLICATIONS FORMS. OTHER SECTIONS COVER RULES CONCERNING EVALUATION OF CREDIT APPLICATIONS AND EXTENSIONS OF CREDIT, SPECIAL PURPOSE CREDIT PROGRAMS, NOTIFICATION OF ACTION TAKEN ON A CREDIT APPLICATION, FURNISHING OF CREDIT INFORMATION, RELATION OF THE FEDERAL REGULATION TO STATE LAW, RETENTION OF PROHIBITED INFORMATION IN CREDITORS' FILES, AND INFORMATION TO BE OBTAINED BY CREDITORS FOR PURPOSES OF MONITORING COMPLIANCE WITH THE EQUAL CREDIT OPPORTUNITY ACT. A COPY OF THE ACT AND A LIST OF RELEVANT FEDERAL ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES ARE APPENDED, TOGETHER WITH FIVE MODEL CREDIT APPLICATION FORMS AND AN EXPLANATION OF PROCEDURES AND CRITERIA TO BE USED BY STATES IN APPLYING FOR EXEMPTIONS FROM THE REGULATION. (LKM)