Participation by Disadvantaged Business Enterprises in Airport Concessions, 16357-16358 [2010-7401]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 62 / Thursday, April 1, 2010 / Rules and Regulations emcdonald on DSK2BSOYB1PROD with RULES Division of Planning, Evaluation, and Management. Division of Human Resource Development. Division of Management Operations. Division of Personnel Operations. Office of Information Technology. Office of Enforcement.5 Division of Compliance Management and Operations. Division of Compliance Policy. Division of Compliance Information and Quality Assurance. Office of Regional Operations.3 Division of Federal-State Relations. Division of Field Science. Division of Import Operations and Policy. Division of Field Investigations. Office of Criminal Investigations.17 Mid-Atlantic Area Office.3 Midwest Area Office.18 Northeast Area Office.19 Pacific Area Office.20 Southeast Area Office.21 Southwest Area Office.22 CENTER FOR VETERINARY MEDICINE.23 Office of the Center Director. Office of Management.24 Management Logistics Staff. Financial Resources Staff. Human Capital Staff. Learning Management Staff. Office of New Animal Drug Evaluation.25 Division of Therapeutic Drugs for NonFood Animals. Division of Biometrics and Production Drugs. Division of Therapeutic Drugs for Food Animals. Division of Human Food Safety. Division of Manufacturing Technologies. Division of Scientific Support. 17 Mailing address: 7500 Standish Pl., Rockville, MD 20855. 18 Mailing address: 901 Warrenville Rd., Lisle, IL 60532. 19 Mailing address: 10 Exchange Pl., Jersey City, NJ 07302. 20 Mailing address: 201 Avenida Fabricante, San Clemente, CA 92672. 21 Mailing address: 865 SW 78th Ave., Plantation, FL 33324. 22 Mailing address: 5799 Broadmoor St., Mission, KS 66202. 23 Mailing address: 7519 Standish Pl., Bldg. MPN4, rm. 176, Rockville, MD 20855. 24 Mailing address: 7529 Standish Pl., Bldg. MPN5, rm. 3577, Rockville, MD 20855. 25 Mailing address: 7520 Standish Pl., Bldg. MPN2, rm. 239, Rockville, MD 20855. VerDate Nov<24>2008 15:00 Mar 31, 2010 Jkt 220001 16357 Division of Generic Animal Drugs. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Office of Surveillance and Compliance.26 Office of the Secretary Division of Surveillance. 49 CFR Part 23 Division of Animal Feeds. [Docket No. OST–2010–0022] Division of Compliance. RIN 2105–AD88 Division of Epidemiology. Participation by Disadvantaged Business Enterprises in Airport Concessions Office of Research.27 Administrative Staff AGENCY: Division of Residue Chemistry. DOT. ACTION: Division of Animal Research. Division of Animal and Food Microbiology. Office of Minor Use and Minor Species Animal Drug Development.28 § 5.1105 Chief Counsel, Food and Drug Administration. The Office of the Chief Counsel’s mailing address is 5600 Fishers Lane, rm. 6–05, Rockville, MD 20857.1 § 5.1110 FDA public information offices. (a) Division of Dockets Management. The Division of Dockets Management public room is located in rm. 1061, 5630 Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD 20852, Telephone: 301–827–6860. (b) Division of Freedom of Information. The Freedom of Information public room is located in rm. 6–30, Parklawn Bldg., 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD 20857, Telephone: 301–827–6567. (c) Press Relations Staff. Press offices are located in White Oak Bldg. 1, 10903 New Hampshire Ave., Silver Spring, MD 20993, Telephone: 301–827–6242; and at 5100 Paint Branch Pkwy., College Park, MD 20740, Telephone: 301–436– 2335. Dated: March 26, 2010. Leslie Kux, Acting Assistant Commissioner for Policy. [FR Doc. 2010–7282 Filed 3–31–10; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4160–01–S 26 Mailing Address: 7519 Standish Pl., Bldg. MPN5, rm. 300, Rockville, MD 20855. 27 Mailing address: 8401 Muirkirk Rd., Bldg. MOD2, rm. G101, Laurel, MD 20708. 28 Mailing address: 7500 Standish Pl., Bldg. MPN2, rm. N378, Rockville, MD 20855. 1 The Office of the Chief Counsel (also known as the Food and Drug Division, Office of the General Counsel, Department of Health and Human Services), while administratively within the Office of the Commissioner, is part of the Office of the General Counsel of the Department of Health and Human Services. PO 00000 Frm 00033 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 4700 Office of the Secretary (OST), Final rule. SUMMARY: The Department of Transportation is removing the ‘‘sunset’’ provision from its rule governing the airport concessions disadvantaged business enterprise (ACDBE) program. The revised rule instead provides reviewing the program to ensure that it is being effectively implemented. DATES: This rule is effective April 1, 2010. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robert C. Ashby, Deputy Assistant General Counsel for Regulation and Enforcement, U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590, Room W94–302, 202–366–9310, bob.ashby@dot.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: When the Department issued its final rule revising its ACDBE rule (49 CFR part 23) in 2005, the rule included at section 23.7 a ‘‘sunset’’ provision. This provision said, unless extended by the Department, the provisions of part 23 would terminate and become inoperative on April 21, 2010. The preamble to the rule explained the rationale for this provision as follows: The Department is introducing a ‘‘sunset’’ provision into the final rule as a way of addressing the durational element of narrow tailoring. A narrowly-tailored rule is not intended to remain in effect indefinitely. Rather, the rule should be reviewed periodically to ensure that it continues to be needed and that it remains a constitutionally appropriate way of implementing its objectives. Consequently, this provision states that this rule will terminate and cease being operative in five years, unless the Department extends it. We intend, beginning four years from now, to review the rule to determine whether it should be extended, modified, or allowed to expire. Of course, the underlying DBE statute remains in place, and its requirements continue to apply regardless of the status of this regulation, absent future Congressional action. (70 FR 14502; March 22, 2005). The Department believes that it is useful to begin reviewing the provisions of part 23 at this time, for the purpose of E:\FR\FM\01APR1.SGM 01APR1 emcdonald on DSK2BSOYB1PROD with RULES 16358 Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 62 / Thursday, April 1, 2010 / Rules and Regulations determining of what, if any, modifications, are appropriate to improve its operations, in context of the ‘‘strict scrutiny’’ requirements of narrowly tailoring a program to meet a compelling need to combat discrimination and its effects. Consequently, as part of the notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) for this final rule (73 FR 5551; February 3, 2010), the Department solicited comments from interested parties concerning any and all changes to part 23 they believe would be useful in helping the Department, airports, ACDBEs, and other airport-related businesses to achieve the ACDBE program’s objectives. The Department will use the information we receive to assist us in determining whether to issue a proposed rule to modify the ACDBE regulation. In addition, the Department is planning to meet with stakeholders, at times and places to be determined, to discuss potential changes to part 23. However, the Department does not believe it is appropriate to retain the ‘‘sunset’’ provision itself. The Department can, and will, review the provisions of the rule without this provision being in place. Moreover, as the preamble discussion for section 23.7 itself pointed out, the ACDBE program is mandated by statute. The Department does not believe that it would be meaningful to eliminate a regulation when its underlying statutory mandate remains applicable to airports and other participants. Doing so would simply cause confusion and disruption, making it more difficult for all parties concerned to carry out their responsibilities under the statute, which is not self-executing. A regulatory framework is necessary for rational implementation of the statute. Periodic program reviews by the Department, as well as consideration from time to time of the continuing need for the program by Congress, meet the durational element of narrow tailoring satisfactorily. Moreover, the Department is convinced that programs like those in 49 CFR part 23 and its companion DBE rule, 49 CFR part 26, remain necessary to redress discrimination and its effects in airport programs and to ensure a level playing field for small businesses owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals. The extensive evidence provided to a March 2009 hearing of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee on this subject, and the findings of continuing need for DBE programs in the House-passed version of the Federal Aviation Administration VerDate Nov<24>2008 15:00 Mar 31, 2010 Jkt 220001 reauthorization bill (H.R. 915), as well as the Department’s long-term experience in operating the program, support this conclusion. For these reasons, the Department proposed to amend section 23.7 by removing the ‘‘sunset’’ language and substituting a requirement for program review. The Department received only one comment to the docket, from an advocacy organization that opposes any use of race-conscious measures to remedy discrimination and its continuing effects. The commenter suggested that the regulation should be allowed to go out of effect, since, in the commenter’s view, there is no current justification for the use of raceconscious remedies in DOT programs. The Department does not agree with this commenter. Federal Courts have unanimously found that DOT’s DBE rules are constitutional, and the information presented in the March 2009 House of Represntatives hearing referenced above provides strong evidence of the continuing need for the DBE program in aviation and other transportation contexts. We believe that the rationale for the proposed amendment to section 23.7 is sound, and we are, therefore, issuing this final rule deleting the ‘‘sunset provision.’’ Regulatory Analyses and Notices Having considered the potentially high risk of disruption posed by the current ‘‘sunset’’ provision, the Department believes that the program review approach embodied in this rule provides a better way of achieving the objective of ensuring that the durational element of narrow tailoring is achieved. In order to ensure that all parties understand that the program and regulation will continue without interruption or uncertainty, the Department believes that it is important to remove the ‘‘sunset’’ provision and substitute the program review approach at this time. In order to ensure that this amendment goes into effect before the April 21, 2010, date on which the existing sunset provision would terminate part 23, it is necessary for the amendment to become effective before that date. For this reason, the Department finds good cause, under section 553 of the Administrative Procedure Act, to make the rule effective immediately. Frm 00034 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 9990 The Department has determined that this action is not a significant regulatory action for purposes of Executive Order 12866 or the Department’s regulatory policies and procedures. The rule does not impose any costs or burdens on grantees or other parties and simply keeps in place the opportunity for interested parties to participate in a program review. It makes no changes in the obligations of any party. For these reasons, the Department certifies that the rule does not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. Paperwork Reduction Act This rule does not create any information collection requirements covered by the Paperwork Reduction Act. List of Subjects in 49 CFR Part 23 Administrative practice and procedures, Airports, Civil rights, Government contracts, Grant programs—transportation, Minority business, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements. Issued at Washington, DC, March 25, 2010. Ray LaHood, Secretary of Transportation. For reasons discussed in the preamble, the Department of Transportation amends Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations, part 23, as follows: ■ 1. The authority citation for 49 CFR part 23 continues to read as follows: ■ Administrative Procedure Act PO 00000 Executive Order 12866 and Regulatory Flexibility Act Authority: 49 U.S.C. 47107; 42 U.S.C. 2000d; 49 U.S.C. 322; Executive Order 12138. 2. Section 23.7 is revised to read as follows: ■ § 23.7 Program reviews. In 2010, and thereafter at the discretion of the Secretary, the Department will initiate a review of the ACDBE program to determine what, if any, modifications should be made to this part. [FR Doc. 2010–7401 Filed 3–31–10; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910–9X–P E:\FR\FM\01APR1.SGM 01APR1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 62 (Thursday, April 1, 2010)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 16357-16358]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-7401]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Office of the Secretary

49 CFR Part 23

[Docket No. OST-2010-0022]
RIN 2105-AD88


Participation by Disadvantaged Business Enterprises in Airport 
Concessions

AGENCY: Office of the Secretary (OST), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Department of Transportation is removing the ``sunset'' 
provision from its rule governing the airport concessions disadvantaged 
business enterprise (ACDBE) program. The revised rule instead provides 
reviewing the program to ensure that it is being effectively 
implemented.

DATES: This rule is effective April 1, 2010.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robert C. Ashby, Deputy Assistant 
General Counsel for Regulation and Enforcement, U.S. Department of 
Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590, Room 
W94-302, 202-366-9310, bob.ashby@dot.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: When the Department issued its final rule 
revising its ACDBE rule (49 CFR part 23) in 2005, the rule included at 
section 23.7 a ``sunset'' provision. This provision said, unless 
extended by the Department, the provisions of part 23 would terminate 
and become inoperative on April 21, 2010. The preamble to the rule 
explained the rationale for this provision as follows:

    The Department is introducing a ``sunset'' provision into the 
final rule as a way of addressing the durational element of narrow 
tailoring. A narrowly-tailored rule is not intended to remain in 
effect indefinitely. Rather, the rule should be reviewed 
periodically to ensure that it continues to be needed and that it 
remains a constitutionally appropriate way of implementing its 
objectives. Consequently, this provision states that this rule will 
terminate and cease being operative in five years, unless the 
Department extends it. We intend, beginning four years from now, to 
review the rule to determine whether it should be extended, 
modified, or allowed to expire. Of course, the underlying DBE 
statute remains in place, and its requirements continue to apply 
regardless of the status of this regulation, absent future 
Congressional action. (70 FR 14502; March 22, 2005).

The Department believes that it is useful to begin reviewing the 
provisions of part 23 at this time, for the purpose of

[[Page 16358]]

determining of what, if any, modifications, are appropriate to improve 
its operations, in context of the ``strict scrutiny'' requirements of 
narrowly tailoring a program to meet a compelling need to combat 
discrimination and its effects. Consequently, as part of the notice of 
proposed rulemaking (NPRM) for this final rule (73 FR 5551; February 3, 
2010), the Department solicited comments from interested parties 
concerning any and all changes to part 23 they believe would be useful 
in helping the Department, airports, ACDBEs, and other airport-related 
businesses to achieve the ACDBE program's objectives. The Department 
will use the information we receive to assist us in determining whether 
to issue a proposed rule to modify the ACDBE regulation. In addition, 
the Department is planning to meet with stakeholders, at times and 
places to be determined, to discuss potential changes to part 23.
    However, the Department does not believe it is appropriate to 
retain the ``sunset'' provision itself. The Department can, and will, 
review the provisions of the rule without this provision being in 
place. Moreover, as the preamble discussion for section 23.7 itself 
pointed out, the ACDBE program is mandated by statute. The Department 
does not believe that it would be meaningful to eliminate a regulation 
when its underlying statutory mandate remains applicable to airports 
and other participants. Doing so would simply cause confusion and 
disruption, making it more difficult for all parties concerned to carry 
out their responsibilities under the statute, which is not self-
executing. A regulatory framework is necessary for rational 
implementation of the statute. Periodic program reviews by the 
Department, as well as consideration from time to time of the 
continuing need for the program by Congress, meet the durational 
element of narrow tailoring satisfactorily.
    Moreover, the Department is convinced that programs like those in 
49 CFR part 23 and its companion DBE rule, 49 CFR part 26, remain 
necessary to redress discrimination and its effects in airport programs 
and to ensure a level playing field for small businesses owned and 
controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals. The 
extensive evidence provided to a March 2009 hearing of the House 
Transportation and Infrastructure Committee on this subject, and the 
findings of continuing need for DBE programs in the House-passed 
version of the Federal Aviation Administration reauthorization bill 
(H.R. 915), as well as the Department's long-term experience in 
operating the program, support this conclusion.
    For these reasons, the Department proposed to amend section 23.7 by 
removing the ``sunset'' language and substituting a requirement for 
program review. The Department received only one comment to the docket, 
from an advocacy organization that opposes any use of race-conscious 
measures to remedy discrimination and its continuing effects. The 
commenter suggested that the regulation should be allowed to go out of 
effect, since, in the commenter's view, there is no current 
justification for the use of race-conscious remedies in DOT programs. 
The Department does not agree with this commenter. Federal Courts have 
unanimously found that DOT's DBE rules are constitutional, and the 
information presented in the March 2009 House of Represntatives hearing 
referenced above provides strong evidence of the continuing need for 
the DBE program in aviation and other transportation contexts.
    We believe that the rationale for the proposed amendment to section 
23.7 is sound, and we are, therefore, issuing this final rule deleting 
the ``sunset provision.''

Regulatory Analyses and Notices

Administrative Procedure Act

    Having considered the potentially high risk of disruption posed by 
the current ``sunset'' provision, the Department believes that the 
program review approach embodied in this rule provides a better way of 
achieving the objective of ensuring that the durational element of 
narrow tailoring is achieved. In order to ensure that all parties 
understand that the program and regulation will continue without 
interruption or uncertainty, the Department believes that it is 
important to remove the ``sunset'' provision and substitute the program 
review approach at this time.
    In order to ensure that this amendment goes into effect before the 
April 21, 2010, date on which the existing sunset provision would 
terminate part 23, it is necessary for the amendment to become 
effective before that date. For this reason, the Department finds good 
cause, under section 553 of the Administrative Procedure Act, to make 
the rule effective immediately.

Executive Order 12866 and Regulatory Flexibility Act

    The Department has determined that this action is not a significant 
regulatory action for purposes of Executive Order 12866 or the 
Department's regulatory policies and procedures. The rule does not 
impose any costs or burdens on grantees or other parties and simply 
keeps in place the opportunity for interested parties to participate in 
a program review. It makes no changes in the obligations of any party. 
For these reasons, the Department certifies that the rule does not have 
a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small 
entities.

Paperwork Reduction Act

    This rule does not create any information collection requirements 
covered by the Paperwork Reduction Act.

List of Subjects in 49 CFR Part 23

    Administrative practice and procedures, Airports, Civil rights, 
Government contracts, Grant programs--transportation, Minority 
business, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.

    Issued at Washington, DC, March 25, 2010.
Ray LaHood,
Secretary of Transportation.

0
For reasons discussed in the preamble, the Department of Transportation 
amends Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations, part 23, as 
follows:
0
1. The authority citation for 49 CFR part 23 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority:  49 U.S.C. 47107; 42 U.S.C. 2000d; 49 U.S.C. 322; 
Executive Order 12138.


0
2. Section 23.7 is revised to read as follows:


Sec.  23.7  Program reviews.

    In 2010, and thereafter at the discretion of the Secretary, the 
Department will initiate a review of the ACDBE program to determine 
what, if any, modifications should be made to this part.

[FR Doc. 2010-7401 Filed 3-31-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-9X-P
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