6E09 Novel Issues

Novel issues are those that are unfamiliar, unique or fall outside the norm. Periodically, the national office will identify certain novel issues and develop specific procedures to address them. COs may encounter novel issues in the course of complaint investigations, as well as during compliance evaluations.338 When reviewing complaint allegations, the CO should identify whether the complaint raises any novel issues. In these instances, the CO should discuss the identified novel issues with his or her supervisor before proceeding.