Proposed Priorities-National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research-Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects and Centers Program-Rehabilitation Engineering Research Centers, 14947-14951 [2013-05490]
Download as PDF
Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 46 / Friday, March 8, 2013 / Proposed Rules
adopting these rules as final regulations
in the Federal Register.
Steven T. Miller,
Deputy Commissioner for Services and
Enforcement.
[FR Doc. 2013–05200 Filed 3–7–13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4830–01–P
7532 or by email:
marlene.spencer@ed.gov.
If you use a telecommunications
device for the deaf (TDD) or a text
telephone (TTY), call the Federal Relay
Service (FRS), toll free, at 1–800–877–
8339.
This
notice of proposed priorities is in
concert with NIDRR’s approved LongRange Plan (Plan). The Plan, which was
published in the Federal Register on
February 15, 2006 (71 FR 8165), can be
accessed on the Internet at the following
site: www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/
osers/nidrr/policy.html.
Through the implementation of the
Plan, NIDRR seeks to: (1) Improve the
quality and utility of disability and
rehabilitation research; (2) foster an
exchange of expertise, information, and
training methods to facilitate the
advancement of knowledge and
understanding of the unique needs of
traditionally underserved populations;
(3) determine best strategies and
programs to improve rehabilitation
outcomes for underserved populations;
(4) identify research gaps; (5) identify
mechanisms for integrating research and
practice; and (6) disseminate findings.
This notice proposes four priorities,
each of which NIDRR intends to use for
one or more RERC competitions in FY
2013 and possibly in later years.
However, nothing precludes NIDRR
from publishing additional priorities, if
needed. Furthermore, NIDRR is under
no obligation to make an award using
these priorities. The decision to make an
award will be based on the quality of
applications received and available
funding.
Invitation to Comment: We invite you
to submit comments regarding this
notice. To ensure that your comments
have maximum effect in developing the
notice of final priorities, we urge you to
identify clearly the specific topic that
each comment addresses.
We invite you to assist us in
complying with the specific
requirements of Executive Orders 12866
and 13563 and their overall requirement
of reducing regulatory burden that
might result from these proposed
priorities. Please let us know of any
further ways we could reduce potential
costs or increase potential benefits
while preserving the effective and
efficient administration of the program.
During and after the comment period,
you may inspect all public comments
about this notice in room 5140, 550 12th
Street SW., PCP, Washington, DC,
between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4:00
p.m., Washington, DC time, Monday
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
34 CFR Chapter III
Proposed Priorities—National Institute
on Disability and Rehabilitation
Research—Disability and
Rehabilitation Research Projects and
Centers Program—Rehabilitation
Engineering Research Centers
Office of Special Education and
Rehabilitative Services, Department of
Education.
ACTION: Proposed priorities.
AGENCY:
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS
[CFDA Numbers: 84.133E–5, 84.133E–6,
84.133E–7, and 84.133E–8.]
SUMMARY: The Assistant Secretary for
Special Education and Rehabilitative
Services proposes four priorities for the
Disability and Rehabilitation Research
Projects and Centers Program
administered by the National Institute
on Disability and Rehabilitation
Research (NIDRR). Specifically, this
notice proposes a priority for a
Rehabilitation Engineering Research
Center (RERC) on each of: Rehabilitation
Strategies, Techniques, and
Interventions (priority 1); Information
and Communication Technologies
(priority 2); Individual Mobility and
Manipulation (priority 3); and Physical
Access and Transportation (priority 4).
The Assistant Secretary may use one or
more of these priorities for competitions
in fiscal year (FY) 2013 and later years.
We take this action to focus research
attention on areas of national need. We
intend the priorities to improve
rehabilitation services and outcomes for
individuals with disabilities.
DATES: We must receive your comments
on or before April 8, 2013.
ADDRESSES: Address all comments about
this notice to Marlene Spencer, U.S.
Department of Education, 400 Maryland
Avenue SW., Room 5133, Potomac
Center Plaza (PCP), Washington, DC
20202–2700.
If you prefer to send your comments
by email, use the following address:
marlene.spencer@ed.gov. You must
include ‘‘Proposed Priorities for RERCs’’
and the priority title in the subject line
of your electronic message.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Marlene Spencer. Telephone: (202) 245–
VerDate Mar<15>2010
17:23 Mar 07, 2013
Jkt 229001
PO 00000
Frm 00014
Fmt 4702
Sfmt 4702
14947
through Friday of each week except
Federal holidays.
Assistance to Individuals with
Disabilities in Reviewing the
Rulemaking Record: On request we will
provide an appropriate accommodation
or auxiliary aid to an individual with a
disability who needs assistance to
review the comments or other
documents in the public rulemaking
record for this notice. If you want to
schedule an appointment for this type of
accommodation or auxiliary aid, please
contact the person listed under FOR
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.
Purpose of Program: The purpose of
the Disability and Rehabilitation
Research Projects and Centers Program
is to plan and conduct research,
demonstration projects, training, and
related activities, including
international activities, to develop
methods, procedures, and rehabilitation
technology that maximize the full
inclusion and integration into society,
employment, independent living, family
support, and economic and social selfsufficiency of individuals with
disabilities, especially individuals with
the most severe disabilities, and to
improve the effectiveness of services
authorized under the Rehabilitation Act
of 1973, as amended (Rehabilitation
Act).
Rehabilitation Engineering Research
Centers (RERCs) Program
The purpose of NIDRR’s RERCs
program, which is funded through the
Disability and Rehabilitation Research
Projects and Centers Program, is to
improve the effectiveness of services
authorized under the Rehabilitation Act.
It does so by conducting advanced
engineering research, developing and
evaluating innovative technologies,
facilitating service delivery system
changes, stimulating the production and
distribution of new technologies and
equipment in the private sector, and
providing training opportunities. RERCs
seek to solve rehabilitation problems
and remove environmental barriers to
improvements in employment,
community living and participation,
and health and function outcomes of
individuals with disabilities.
The general requirements for RERCs
are set out in subpart D of 34 CFR part
350 (What Rehabilitation Engineering
Research Centers Does the Secretary
Assist?).
Additional information on the RERCs
program can be found at: www.ed.gov/
rschstat/research/pubs/.
Program Authority: 29 U.S.C. 762(g) and
764(b)(3).
E:\FR\FM\08MRP1.SGM
08MRP1
14948
Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 46 / Friday, March 8, 2013 / Proposed Rules
Applicable Program Regulations: 34
CFR part 350.
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS
Proposed Priorities
This notice contains four proposed
priorities. These include a priority for a
RERC on ech of: Rehabilitation
Strategies, Techniques, and
Interventions (priority 1); Information
and Communication Technologies
(priority 2); Individual Mobility and
Manipulation (priority 3); and Physical
Access and Transportation (priority 4).
Background
NIDRR’s mission is to generate new
knowledge and promote its effective use
to improve the abilities of people with
disabilities to perform activities of their
choice in the community, and also to
expand society’s capacity to provide full
opportunities and accommodations for
its citizens with disabilities (NIDRR
Long-Range Plan, 2006). In support of
this mission, NIDRR sponsors RERCs to
address the barriers confronted by
individuals with disabilities in all
aspects of their lives.
NIDRR-sponsored RERCs engage in
the systematic application of
engineering sciences to design, develop,
adapt, test, evaluate, apply, and
distribute technological solutions to
problems confronted by individuals
with disabilities in functional areas,
such as mobility, communications,
hearing, vision, and cognition, and in
activities associated with employment,
independent living, education, and
integration into the community
(Rehabilitation Act of 1973). RERCs may
focus their efforts at the individual
level, for example, to develop assistive
technology devices that enhance the
physical, sensory, and cognitive abilities
of individuals with disabilities. RERCs
may also focus on the systems level, for
example, by mitigating or eliminating
barriers found in large social systems
such as public transportation,
telecommunications, information
technology, and the built environment.
RERCs conduct research and
development that leads to the transfer of
technology into commercialized or noncommercialized products that can be
readily accessed and used to improve
the lives of individuals with disabilities.
NIDRR seeks to establish RERCs that
will address topics in four broad areas
of rehabilitation engineering. These four
areas, outlined in NIDRR’s proposed
Long-Range Plan for 2013–2017 (NIDRR
Long-Range Plan, 2013), include: (1)
Rehabilitation strategies, techniques,
and interventions; (2) information and
communication technologies; (3)
individual mobility and manipulation;
and (4) physical access and
VerDate Mar<15>2010
17:23 Mar 07, 2013
Jkt 229001
transportation. By holding fieldinitiated RERC grant competitions in
these four broad areas, we aim to
increase competition for NIDRR’s RERC
grants, and draw upon the field’s
expertise, knowledge, and creativity to
optimize the quality and relevance of
the rehabilitation engineering grants
that we fund.
In the area of rehabilitation strategies,
techniques, and interventions (priority
1), NIDRR seeks to fund research and
development that leads to rehabilitation
practices and services that improve the
health, and the physical, cognitive,
sensory, and communication abilities, of
individuals with a wide range of
disabling conditions. Rehabilitation
engineering in this area should result in
new or improved products, devices, and
technological advances that enhance
rehabilitation services in clinical or
community settings. In this broad area,
NIDRR has previously funded RERCs on
successful aging, low vision and
blindness, hearing enhancement,
communication enhancement, cognitive
technologies, recreational technologies,
rehabilitation robotics, and
telerehabilitation, among others.
In the area of information and
communication technologies (priority
2), NIDRR seeks to fund research and
development that reduces the digital
divide between people with and
without disabilities (Vicente & Lopez,
2010). Rehabilitation engineering in this
area should optimize accessibility and
usability of telecommunications
products, wireless technologies,
technology interfaces, computer
systems, software, and networks for
individuals with disabilities. In this
broad area, NIDRR has previously
funded RERCs on universal interface
and information technology access,
wireless technologies, and
telecommunications access, among
others.
In the area of individual mobility and
manipulation (priority 3), NIDRR seeks
to fund research and development to
enhance mobility, physical movement,
and manipulation of the environment,
and to accommodate limitations in
manual dexterity among individuals
with a variety of disabling conditions.
Rehabilitation engineering in this area
should result in new or improved
products, devices, or technological
advances to allow individuals with
disabilities to be more mobile and to
manipulate their environments more
easily and effectively, increasing the
independence of individuals with
disabilities and allowing them to
participate fully in their communities.
In this broad area, NIDRR has
previously funded RERCs on prosthetics
PO 00000
Frm 00015
Fmt 4702
Sfmt 4702
and orthotics, wheeled mobility, and
children with orthopedic disabilities,
among others.
In the area of physical access and
transportation (priority 4), NIDRR seeks
to fund research and development that
leads to greater accessibility of the built
environment and better access to safe
and accessible transportation options for
individuals with disabilities. There is a
need for more accessibility in
commercial and private facilities,
outdoor environments, and housing to
increase independence and promote
community integration for individuals
with disabilities. In addition, easy-touse, safe, and accessible transportation
systems allow individuals with
disabilities to move around, and
participate more fully, in their
communities and neighborhoods.
Rehabilitation engineering in this area
should result in the continued
promotion of universal design and the
planning of accessible buildings, parks,
neighborhoods, transportation options,
and cities. In this broad area, NIDRR has
previously funded RERCs on accessible
medical instrumentation, workplace
accommodations, universal design in
the built environment, accessible public
transportation, and wheelchair
transportation safety, among others.
References
NIDRR (2006). Notice of Final Long-Range
Plan. 71 FR 8165. Available at:
www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/osers/
nidrr/policy.html.
NIDRR (2013). Notice of Proposed LongRange Plan. 77 FR 23231. Available at:
www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2012-04-18/
html/2012-9365.htm.
Rehabilitation Act of 1973, PL 93–112.
Vicente, M. R., & Lopez, A. J. (2010). A
multidimensional analysis of the
disability digital divide: Some evidence
for Internet use. The Information Society,
26(1), 48–64.
Proposed Priorities
The Assistant Secretary for Special
Education and Rehabilitative Services
proposes the following priorities for the
establishment of a Rehabilitation
Engineering Research Center (RERC) on
each of: (1) Rehabilitation Strategies,
Techniques, and Interventions; (2)
Information and Communication
Technologies; (3) Individual Mobility
and Manipulation; and (4) Physical
Access and Transportation. Each RERC
will focus on innovative technological
solutions, new knowledge, and concepts
that will improve the lives of
individuals with disabilities.
E:\FR\FM\08MRP1.SGM
08MRP1
Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 46 / Friday, March 8, 2013 / Proposed Rules
Proposed Priority 1—RERC on
Rehabilitation Strategies, Techniques,
and Interventions
Under this priority, the RERC must
research, develop, and evaluate
innovative technologies and strategies
that will result in new or improved
products, devices, and technological
advances that are integrated into
rehabilitation services in clinical or
community settings. The RERC must be
designed to improve outcomes of
individuals with disabilities in one or
more of the following domains:
Employment, community living and
participation, or health and function.
Research and development topics under
this priority may include but are not
limited to: Virtual reality; therapy
robots; telerehabilitation; recreational
technology; health-related products and
equipment; and cognitive, sensory, and
communication aids.
Proposed Priority 2—RERC on
Information and Communication
Technologies
Under this priority, the RERC must
research, develop, and evaluate
innovative technologies and strategies
that will optimize accessibility and
usability of one or more of the
following: Telecommunications
products, wireless technologies,
technology interfaces, computer
systems, software, and networks for
individuals with disabilities. The RERC
must be designed to improve outcomes
of individuals with disabilities in one or
more of the following domains:
Employment, community living and
participation, or health and function.
Research and development topics under
this priority may include but are not
limited to: Telecommunication access in
emergency situations; interoperability
between current and next generation
telecommunication access; access to and
use of wireless technologies; universal
design approaches in future generations
of wireless technologies; and
accessibility of information technologies
and electronic products by people with
disabilities.
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS
Proposed Priority 3—RERC on
Individual Mobility and Manipulation
Under this priority, the RERC must
research, develop, and evaluate
innovative technologies and strategies
that will result in new or improved
products, devices, or technological
advances that allow individuals with
disabilities to be more mobile and to
manipulate their environments more
efficiently and effectively. The RERC
must be designed to improve outcomes
of individuals with disabilities in one or
VerDate Mar<15>2010
17:23 Mar 07, 2013
Jkt 229001
more of the following domains:
Employment, community living and
participation, or health and function.
Research and development topics under
this priority may include but are not
limited to: Equipment for personal
mobility; assistive technology for
manipulation; and prosthetics and
orthotics.
Proposed Priority 4—RERC on Physical
Access and Transportation
Under this priority, the RERC must
research, develop, and evaluate
innovative technologies and strategies
that will result in one or more of the
following: The continued promotion of
universal design and the planning of
accessible buildings, homes, parks,
neighborhoods, and cities, or the
accessibility and safety of transportation
options. The RERC must be designed to
improve outcomes of individuals with
disabilities in one or more of the
following domains: Employment,
community living and participation, or
health and function. Research and
development topics under this priority
may include but are not limited to:
Design and modification of the built
environment; and the accessibility,
safety, affordability and independent
use of transportation options (including
public transportation, commercial
transportation, and personal vehicles).
Requirements Applicable to All Four
Proposed Priorities
Under each priority, the RERC must
be designed to contribute to the
following outcomes:
(1) Increased technical and scientific
knowledge relevant to its research area.
The RERC must contribute to this
outcome by conducting high-quality,
rigorous research and development
projects.
(2) Increased innovation in
technologies, products, environments,
performance guidelines, and monitoring
and assessment tools applicable to its
research area. The RERC must
contribute to this outcome through the
development and testing of these
innovations.
(3) Improved research capacity in its
research area. The RERC must
contribute to this outcome by
collaborating with the relevant industry,
professional associations, institutions of
higher education, health care providers,
or educators, as appropriate.
(4) Improved usability and
accessibility of products and
environments in its research area. The
RERC must contribute to this outcome
by emphasizing the principles of
universal design in its product research
and development. For this purpose,
PO 00000
Frm 00016
Fmt 4702
Sfmt 4702
14949
‘‘universal design’’ means the design of
products and environments to be usable
by all people, to the greatest extent
possible, without the need for
adaptation or specialized design.
(5) Improved awareness and
understanding of cutting-edge
developments in technologies within its
research area. The RERC must
contribute to this outcome by
identifying and communicating with
relevant stakeholders, including NIDRR,
individuals with disabilities, their
representatives, disability organizations,
service providers, professional journals,
manufacturers, and other interested
parties regarding trends and evolving
product concepts related to its research
area.
(6) Increased dissemination of
research in the research area. The RERC
must contribute to this outcome by
providing technical assistance to
relevant public and private
organizations, individuals with
disabilities, employers, and schools on
policies, guidelines, and standards
related to its research area.
(7) Increased transfer of RERCdeveloped technologies to the
marketplace. The RERC must contribute
to this outcome by developing and
implementing a plan for ensuring that
all technologies developed by the RERC
are made available to the public. The
technology transfer plan must be
developed in the first year of the project
period in consultation with the NIDRRfunded Disability Rehabilitation
Research Project, Center on Knowledge
Translation for Technology Transfer.
In addition, under each priority, the
RERC must—
• Have the capability to design, build,
and test prototype devices and assist in
the technology transfer and knowledge
translation of successful solutions to
relevant production and service delivery
settings;
• Evaluate the efficacy and safety of
its new products, instrumentation, or
assistive devices;
• Provide as part of its proposal, and
then implement, a plan that describes
how it will include, as appropriate,
individuals with disabilities or their
representatives in all phases of its
activities, including research,
development, training, dissemination,
and evaluation;
• Provide as part of its proposal, and
then implement, a plan to disseminate
its research results to individuals with
disabilities and their representatives;
disability organizations; service
providers; professional journals;
manufacturers; and other interested
parties. In meeting this requirement,
each RERC may use a variety of
E:\FR\FM\08MRP1.SGM
08MRP1
14950
Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 46 / Friday, March 8, 2013 / Proposed Rules
mechanisms to disseminate information,
including state-of-the-science
conferences, webinars, Web sites, and
other dissemination methods; and
• Coordinate research projects of
mutual interest with relevant NIDRRfunded projects, as identified through
consultation with the NIDRR project
officer.
Types of Priorities
When inviting applications for a
competition using one or more
priorities, we designate the type of each
priority as absolute, competitive
preference, or invitational through a
notice in the Federal Register. The
effect of each type of priority follows:
Absolute priority: Under an absolute
priority, we consider only applications
that meet the priority (34 CFR
75.105(c)(3)).
Competitive preference priority:
Under a competitive preference priority,
we give competitive preference to an
application by (1) awarding additional
points, depending on the extent to
which the application meets the priority
(34 CFR 75.105(c)(2)(i)); or (2) selecting
an application that meets the priority
over an application of comparable merit
that does not meet the priority (34 CFR
75.105(c)(2)(ii)).
Invitational priority: Under an
invitational priority, we are particularly
interested in applications that meet the
priority. However, we do not give an
application that meets the priority a
preference over other applications (34
CFR 75.105(c)(1)).
Final Priorities
We will announce the final priorities
in a notice in the Federal Register. We
will determine the final priorities after
considering responses to this notice and
other information available to the
Department. This notice does not
preclude us from proposing additional
priorities, requirements, definitions, or
selection criteria, subject to meeting
applicable rulemaking requirements.
Note: This notice does not solicit
applications. In any year in which we choose
to use this priority, we invite applications
through a notice in the Federal Register.
Executive Orders 12866 and 13563
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS
Regulatory Impact Analysis
Under Executive Order 12866, the
Secretary must determine whether this
regulatory action is ‘‘significant’’ and,
therefore, subject to the requirements of
the Executive order and subject to
review by the Office of Management and
Budget (OMB). Section 3(f) of Executive
Order 12866 defines a ‘‘significant
VerDate Mar<15>2010
17:23 Mar 07, 2013
Jkt 229001
regulatory action’’ as an action likely to
result in a rule that may—
(1) Have an annual effect on the
economy of $100 million or more, or
adversely affect a sector of the economy,
productivity, competition, jobs, the
environment, public health or safety, or
State, local, or tribal governments or
communities in a material way (also
referred to as an ‘‘economically
significant’’ rule);
(2) Create serious inconsistency or
otherwise interfere with an action taken
or planned by another agency;
(3) Materially alter the budgetary
impacts of entitlement grants, user fees,
or loan programs or the rights and
obligations of recipients thereof; or
(4) Raise novel legal or policy issues
arising out of legal mandates, the
President’s priorities, or the principles
stated in the Executive order.
This proposed regulatory action is not
a significant regulatory action subject to
review by OMB under section 3(f) of
Executive Order 12866.
We have also reviewed this proposed
regulatory action under Executive Order
13563, which supplements and
explicitly reaffirms the principles,
structures, and definitions governing
regulatory review established in
Executive Order 12866. To the extent
permitted by law, Executive Order
13563 requires that an agency—
(1) Propose or adopt regulations only
upon a reasoned determination that
their benefits justify their costs
(recognizing that some benefits and
costs are difficult to quantify);
(2) Tailor its regulations to impose the
least burden on society, consistent with
obtaining regulatory objectives and
taking into account—among other things
and to the extent practicable—the costs
of cumulative regulations;
(3) In choosing among alternative
regulatory approaches, select those
approaches that maximize net benefits
(including potential economic,
environmental, public health and safety,
and other advantages; distributive
impacts; and equity);
(4) To the extent feasible, specify
performance objectives, rather than the
behavior or manner of compliance a
regulated entity must adopt; and
(5) Identify and assess available
alternatives to direct regulation,
including economic incentives—such as
user fees or marketable permits—to
encourage the desired behavior, or
provide information that enables the
public to make choices.
Executive Order 13563 also requires
an agency ‘‘to use the best available
techniques to quantify anticipated
present and future benefits and costs as
accurately as possible.’’ The Office of
PO 00000
Frm 00017
Fmt 4702
Sfmt 4702
Information and Regulatory Affairs of
OMB has emphasized that these
techniques may include ‘‘identifying
changing future compliance costs that
might result from technological
innovation or anticipated behavioral
changes.’’
We are issuing these proposed
priorities only upon a reasoned
determination that their benefits would
justify their costs. In choosing among
alternative regulatory approaches, we
selected those approaches that would
maximize net benefits. Based on the
analysis that follows, the Department
believes that these proposed priorities
are consistent with the principles in
Executive Order 13563.
We also have determined that this
regulatory action would not unduly
interfere with State, local, and tribal
governments in the exercise of their
governmental functions.
In accordance with both Executive
orders, the Department has assessed the
potential costs and benefits, both
quantitative and qualitative, of this
regulatory action. The potential costs
are those resulting from statutory
requirements and those we have
determined as necessary for
administering the Department’s
programs and activities.
The benefits of the Disability and
Rehabilitation Research Projects and
Centers Program have been well
established over the years. Projects
similar to the RERCs have been
completed successfully, and the new
RERCs, established consistently with
the proposed priorities, are expected to
improve the lives of individuals with
disabilities and generate through
research and development, disseminate,
and promote the use of new information
that would improve the outcomes for
individuals with disabilities in the areas
of community living and participation,
employment, and health and function.
Intergovernmental Review: This
program is not subject to Executive
Order 12372 and the regulations in 34
CFR part 79.
Accessible Format: Individuals with
disabilities can obtain this document in
an accessible format (e.g., braille, large
print, audiotape, or compact disc) by
contacting the Grants and Contracts
Services Team, U.S. Department of
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW.,
room 5075, PCP, Washington, DC
20202–2550. Telephone: (202) 245–
7363. If you use a TDD or TTY, call the
FRS, toll free, at 1–800–877–8339.
Electronic Access to This Document:
The official version of this document is
the document published in the Federal
Register. Free Internet access to the
official edition of the Federal Register
E:\FR\FM\08MRP1.SGM
08MRP1
Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 46 / Friday, March 8, 2013 / Proposed Rules
and the Code of Federal Regulations is
available via the Federal Digital System
at: www.gpo.gov/fdsys. At this site you
can view this document, as well as all
other documents of this Department
published in the Federal Register, in
text or Adobe Portable Document
Format (PDF). To use PDF you must
have Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is
available free at the site.
You may also access documents of the
Department published in the Federal
Register by using the article search
feature at: www.federalregister.gov.
Specifically, through the advanced
search feature at this site, you can limit
your search to documents published by
the Department.
Dated: March 5, 2013.
Michael Yudin,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Special
Education and Rehabilitative Services.
[FR Doc. 2013–05490 Filed 3–7–13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000–01–P
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
AGENCY
40 CFR Part 147
[EPA–HQ–OW–2012–0186; FRL 9787–8]
State of Washington; Underground
Injection Control (UIC) Program
Revision
Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice of public comment
period and of public hearing.
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: The purpose of this notice is
to announce that the Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) has received a
complete program revision package
from the State of Washington requesting
approval of its revised Underground
Injection Control (UIC) program; the
EPA has determined the application
contains all the required elements; the
application is available for inspection
and copying at the address appearing
below; public comments are requested;
and a public hearing will be held.
The purpose of this notice is to inform
the public that the State of Washington
has revised its UIC regulations,
including the transfer of oversight
authority from the Department of
Ecology to the Energy Facility Site
Evaluation Council to issue UIC permits
at energy facilities and other minor
technical corrections.
DATES: Comments will be accepted until
April 22, 2013. A Public Hearing will be
held on April 8, 2013 at 2:30 p.m. at
EPA Region 10, 1200 6th Ave., Seattle
WA; visitor check in is on the 12th
VerDate Mar<15>2010
17:23 Mar 07, 2013
Jkt 229001
Floor. Requests to testify may be mailed
to: David Tetta, Ground Water Unit,
EPA Region 10, Suite 900 M/S OCE–
082, 1200 6th Ave., Seattle, WA 98101.
For additional information regarding the
public hearing, please contact David
Tetta, (206) 553–1327 or
tetta.david@epa.gov.
Submit your comments,
identified by Docket ID No. EPA–HQ–
OW–2012–0186, by one of the following
methods:
• www.regulations.gov: Follow the
on-line instructions for submitting
comments.
• Email: tetta.david@epa.gov.
• Fax: (206) 553–6984.
• Mail: State of Washington;
Underground Injection Control (UIC)
Program Primacy, Environmental
Protection Agency, Mailcode: 2822T,
1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW.,
Washington, DC 20460.
• Hand Delivery: Water Docket, EPA
Docket Center (EPA/DC) EPA West,
Room 3334, 1301 Constitution Ave.
NW., Washington, DC. Such deliveries
are only accepted during the Docket’s
normal hours of operation, and special
arrangements should be made for
deliveries of boxed information.
Instructions: Requests to testify may
be mailed to David Tetta, Ground Water
Unit, Environmental Protection Agency,
Region 10, 1200 Sixth Avenue, Suite
900 M/S OCE–082, Seattle, WA 98101.
Direct your comments to Docket ID No.
EPA–HQ–OW–2012–0186. EPA’s policy
is that all comments received will be
included in the public docket without
change and may be made available
online at www.regulations.gov,
including any personal information
provided, unless the comment includes
information claimed to be Confidential
Business Information (CBI) or other
information whose disclosure is
restricted by statute. Do not submit
information that you consider to be CBI
or otherwise protected through
www.regulations.gov or email. The
www.regulations.gov Web site is an
‘‘anonymous access’’ system, which
means EPA will not know your identity
or contact information unless you
provide it in the body of your comment.
If you send an email comment directly
to EPA without going through
www.regulations.gov your email address
will be automatically captured and
included as part of the comment that is
placed in the public docket and made
available on the Internet. If you submit
an electronic comment, EPA
recommends that you include your
name and other contact information in
the body of your comment and with any
disk or CD–ROM you submit. If EPA
ADDRESSES:
PO 00000
Frm 00018
Fmt 4702
Sfmt 4702
14951
cannot read your comment due to
technical difficulties and cannot contact
you for clarification, EPA may not be
able to consider your comment.
Electronic files should avoid the use of
special characters, any form of
encryption, and be free of any defects or
viruses. For additional information
about EPA’s public docket visit the EPA
Docket Center homepage at https://
www.epa.gov/epahome/dockets.htm or
the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section
of this document.
Docket: All documents in the docket
are listed in the www.regulations.gov
index. Although listed in the index,
some information is not publicly
available, e.g., CBI or other information
whose disclosure is restricted by statute.
Certain other material, such as
copyrighted material, will be publicly
available only in hard copy. Publicly
available docket materials are available
either electronically in
www.regulations.gov or in hard copy at
the following locations:
(1) Environmental Protection Agency,
Region 10, Library, 10th Floor, 1200
Sixth Avenue, Seattle, WA 98101. The
Library is open from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00
p.m. and 1:00 p.m.–4:00 p.m. Monday
through Friday, excluding legal
holidays. The telephone number for the
Library is (206) 553–1289.
(2) Washington Department of
Ecology, Water Quality Program, 300
Desmond Drive SE., Lacey, WA 98503.
The Office is open from 8:00 a.m. to
5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday,
excluding legal holidays. Please contact
Mary Shaleen Hansen at (360) 407–
6143.
(3) State of Washington; Underground
Injection Control (UIC) Program Primacy
Docket: EPA West, Room 3334, 1301
Constitution Ave. NW., Washington,
DC. The Public Reading Room is open
from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday
through Friday, excluding legal
holidays. The telephone number for the
Public Reading Room is (202) 566–1744,
and the telephone number for the OW
Docket is (202) 566–2426; and
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
David Tetta, Ground Water Unit,
Environmental Protection Agency,
Region 10, 1200 Sixth Avenue, Suite
900 M/S OCE–082, Seattle, WA 98101;
telephone number: (206) 553–1327; Fax
number: (206) 553–6984; email address:
tetta.david@epa.gov. Comments should
also be sent to this address.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The UIC
program revision package from the State
of Washington includes a description of
the State Underground Injection Control
program, copies of all applicable rules
and forms, a statement of legal
E:\FR\FM\08MRP1.SGM
08MRP1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 46 (Friday, March 8, 2013)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 14947-14951]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-05490]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
34 CFR Chapter III
Proposed Priorities--National Institute on Disability and
Rehabilitation Research--Disability and Rehabilitation Research
Projects and Centers Program--Rehabilitation Engineering Research
Centers
AGENCY: Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services,
Department of Education.
ACTION: Proposed priorities.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
[CFDA Numbers: 84.133E-5, 84.133E-6, 84.133E-7, and 84.133E-8.]
SUMMARY: The Assistant Secretary for Special Education and
Rehabilitative Services proposes four priorities for the Disability and
Rehabilitation Research Projects and Centers Program administered by
the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research
(NIDRR). Specifically, this notice proposes a priority for a
Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center (RERC) on each of:
Rehabilitation Strategies, Techniques, and Interventions (priority 1);
Information and Communication Technologies (priority 2); Individual
Mobility and Manipulation (priority 3); and Physical Access and
Transportation (priority 4). The Assistant Secretary may use one or
more of these priorities for competitions in fiscal year (FY) 2013 and
later years. We take this action to focus research attention on areas
of national need. We intend the priorities to improve rehabilitation
services and outcomes for individuals with disabilities.
DATES: We must receive your comments on or before April 8, 2013.
ADDRESSES: Address all comments about this notice to Marlene Spencer,
U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW., Room 5133,
Potomac Center Plaza (PCP), Washington, DC 20202-2700.
If you prefer to send your comments by email, use the following
address: marlene.spencer@ed.gov. You must include ``Proposed Priorities
for RERCs'' and the priority title in the subject line of your
electronic message.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Marlene Spencer. Telephone: (202) 245-
7532 or by email: marlene.spencer@ed.gov.
If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) or a text
telephone (TTY), call the Federal Relay Service (FRS), toll free, at 1-
800-877-8339.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice of proposed priorities is in
concert with NIDRR's approved Long-Range Plan (Plan). The Plan, which
was published in the Federal Register on February 15, 2006 (71 FR
8165), can be accessed on the Internet at the following site:
www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/osers/nidrr/policy.html.
Through the implementation of the Plan, NIDRR seeks to: (1) Improve
the quality and utility of disability and rehabilitation research; (2)
foster an exchange of expertise, information, and training methods to
facilitate the advancement of knowledge and understanding of the unique
needs of traditionally underserved populations; (3) determine best
strategies and programs to improve rehabilitation outcomes for
underserved populations; (4) identify research gaps; (5) identify
mechanisms for integrating research and practice; and (6) disseminate
findings.
This notice proposes four priorities, each of which NIDRR intends
to use for one or more RERC competitions in FY 2013 and possibly in
later years. However, nothing precludes NIDRR from publishing
additional priorities, if needed. Furthermore, NIDRR is under no
obligation to make an award using these priorities. The decision to
make an award will be based on the quality of applications received and
available funding.
Invitation to Comment: We invite you to submit comments regarding
this notice. To ensure that your comments have maximum effect in
developing the notice of final priorities, we urge you to identify
clearly the specific topic that each comment addresses.
We invite you to assist us in complying with the specific
requirements of Executive Orders 12866 and 13563 and their overall
requirement of reducing regulatory burden that might result from these
proposed priorities. Please let us know of any further ways we could
reduce potential costs or increase potential benefits while preserving
the effective and efficient administration of the program.
During and after the comment period, you may inspect all public
comments about this notice in room 5140, 550 12th Street SW., PCP,
Washington, DC, between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.,
Washington, DC time, Monday through Friday of each week except Federal
holidays.
Assistance to Individuals with Disabilities in Reviewing the
Rulemaking Record: On request we will provide an appropriate
accommodation or auxiliary aid to an individual with a disability who
needs assistance to review the comments or other documents in the
public rulemaking record for this notice. If you want to schedule an
appointment for this type of accommodation or auxiliary aid, please
contact the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.
Purpose of Program: The purpose of the Disability and
Rehabilitation Research Projects and Centers Program is to plan and
conduct research, demonstration projects, training, and related
activities, including international activities, to develop methods,
procedures, and rehabilitation technology that maximize the full
inclusion and integration into society, employment, independent living,
family support, and economic and social self-sufficiency of individuals
with disabilities, especially individuals with the most severe
disabilities, and to improve the effectiveness of services authorized
under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended (Rehabilitation Act).
Rehabilitation Engineering Research Centers (RERCs) Program
The purpose of NIDRR's RERCs program, which is funded through the
Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects and Centers Program, is
to improve the effectiveness of services authorized under the
Rehabilitation Act. It does so by conducting advanced engineering
research, developing and evaluating innovative technologies,
facilitating service delivery system changes, stimulating the
production and distribution of new technologies and equipment in the
private sector, and providing training opportunities. RERCs seek to
solve rehabilitation problems and remove environmental barriers to
improvements in employment, community living and participation, and
health and function outcomes of individuals with disabilities.
The general requirements for RERCs are set out in subpart D of 34
CFR part 350 (What Rehabilitation Engineering Research Centers Does the
Secretary Assist?).
Additional information on the RERCs program can be found at:
www.ed.gov/rschstat/research/pubs/.
Program Authority: 29 U.S.C. 762(g) and 764(b)(3).
[[Page 14948]]
Applicable Program Regulations: 34 CFR part 350.
Proposed Priorities
This notice contains four proposed priorities. These include a
priority for a RERC on ech of: Rehabilitation Strategies, Techniques,
and Interventions (priority 1); Information and Communication
Technologies (priority 2); Individual Mobility and Manipulation
(priority 3); and Physical Access and Transportation (priority 4).
Background
NIDRR's mission is to generate new knowledge and promote its
effective use to improve the abilities of people with disabilities to
perform activities of their choice in the community, and also to expand
society's capacity to provide full opportunities and accommodations for
its citizens with disabilities (NIDRR Long-Range Plan, 2006). In
support of this mission, NIDRR sponsors RERCs to address the barriers
confronted by individuals with disabilities in all aspects of their
lives.
NIDRR-sponsored RERCs engage in the systematic application of
engineering sciences to design, develop, adapt, test, evaluate, apply,
and distribute technological solutions to problems confronted by
individuals with disabilities in functional areas, such as mobility,
communications, hearing, vision, and cognition, and in activities
associated with employment, independent living, education, and
integration into the community (Rehabilitation Act of 1973). RERCs may
focus their efforts at the individual level, for example, to develop
assistive technology devices that enhance the physical, sensory, and
cognitive abilities of individuals with disabilities. RERCs may also
focus on the systems level, for example, by mitigating or eliminating
barriers found in large social systems such as public transportation,
telecommunications, information technology, and the built environment.
RERCs conduct research and development that leads to the transfer of
technology into commercialized or non-commercialized products that can
be readily accessed and used to improve the lives of individuals with
disabilities.
NIDRR seeks to establish RERCs that will address topics in four
broad areas of rehabilitation engineering. These four areas, outlined
in NIDRR's proposed Long-Range Plan for 2013-2017 (NIDRR Long-Range
Plan, 2013), include: (1) Rehabilitation strategies, techniques, and
interventions; (2) information and communication technologies; (3)
individual mobility and manipulation; and (4) physical access and
transportation. By holding field-initiated RERC grant competitions in
these four broad areas, we aim to increase competition for NIDRR's RERC
grants, and draw upon the field's expertise, knowledge, and creativity
to optimize the quality and relevance of the rehabilitation engineering
grants that we fund.
In the area of rehabilitation strategies, techniques, and
interventions (priority 1), NIDRR seeks to fund research and
development that leads to rehabilitation practices and services that
improve the health, and the physical, cognitive, sensory, and
communication abilities, of individuals with a wide range of disabling
conditions. Rehabilitation engineering in this area should result in
new or improved products, devices, and technological advances that
enhance rehabilitation services in clinical or community settings. In
this broad area, NIDRR has previously funded RERCs on successful aging,
low vision and blindness, hearing enhancement, communication
enhancement, cognitive technologies, recreational technologies,
rehabilitation robotics, and telerehabilitation, among others.
In the area of information and communication technologies (priority
2), NIDRR seeks to fund research and development that reduces the
digital divide between people with and without disabilities (Vicente &
Lopez, 2010). Rehabilitation engineering in this area should optimize
accessibility and usability of telecommunications products, wireless
technologies, technology interfaces, computer systems, software, and
networks for individuals with disabilities. In this broad area, NIDRR
has previously funded RERCs on universal interface and information
technology access, wireless technologies, and telecommunications
access, among others.
In the area of individual mobility and manipulation (priority 3),
NIDRR seeks to fund research and development to enhance mobility,
physical movement, and manipulation of the environment, and to
accommodate limitations in manual dexterity among individuals with a
variety of disabling conditions. Rehabilitation engineering in this
area should result in new or improved products, devices, or
technological advances to allow individuals with disabilities to be
more mobile and to manipulate their environments more easily and
effectively, increasing the independence of individuals with
disabilities and allowing them to participate fully in their
communities. In this broad area, NIDRR has previously funded RERCs on
prosthetics and orthotics, wheeled mobility, and children with
orthopedic disabilities, among others.
In the area of physical access and transportation (priority 4),
NIDRR seeks to fund research and development that leads to greater
accessibility of the built environment and better access to safe and
accessible transportation options for individuals with disabilities.
There is a need for more accessibility in commercial and private
facilities, outdoor environments, and housing to increase independence
and promote community integration for individuals with disabilities. In
addition, easy-to-use, safe, and accessible transportation systems
allow individuals with disabilities to move around, and participate
more fully, in their communities and neighborhoods. Rehabilitation
engineering in this area should result in the continued promotion of
universal design and the planning of accessible buildings, parks,
neighborhoods, transportation options, and cities. In this broad area,
NIDRR has previously funded RERCs on accessible medical
instrumentation, workplace accommodations, universal design in the
built environment, accessible public transportation, and wheelchair
transportation safety, among others.
References
NIDRR (2006). Notice of Final Long-Range Plan. 71 FR 8165. Available
at: www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/osers/nidrr/policy.html.
NIDRR (2013). Notice of Proposed Long-Range Plan. 77 FR 23231.
Available at: www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2012-04-18/html/2012-9365.htm.
Rehabilitation Act of 1973, PL 93-112.
Vicente, M. R., & Lopez, A. J. (2010). A multidimensional analysis
of the disability digital divide: Some evidence for Internet use.
The Information Society, 26(1), 48-64.
Proposed Priorities
The Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative
Services proposes the following priorities for the establishment of a
Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center (RERC) on each of: (1)
Rehabilitation Strategies, Techniques, and Interventions; (2)
Information and Communication Technologies; (3) Individual Mobility and
Manipulation; and (4) Physical Access and Transportation. Each RERC
will focus on innovative technological solutions, new knowledge, and
concepts that will improve the lives of individuals with disabilities.
[[Page 14949]]
Proposed Priority 1--RERC on Rehabilitation Strategies, Techniques, and
Interventions
Under this priority, the RERC must research, develop, and evaluate
innovative technologies and strategies that will result in new or
improved products, devices, and technological advances that are
integrated into rehabilitation services in clinical or community
settings. The RERC must be designed to improve outcomes of individuals
with disabilities in one or more of the following domains: Employment,
community living and participation, or health and function. Research
and development topics under this priority may include but are not
limited to: Virtual reality; therapy robots; telerehabilitation;
recreational technology; health-related products and equipment; and
cognitive, sensory, and communication aids.
Proposed Priority 2--RERC on Information and Communication Technologies
Under this priority, the RERC must research, develop, and evaluate
innovative technologies and strategies that will optimize accessibility
and usability of one or more of the following: Telecommunications
products, wireless technologies, technology interfaces, computer
systems, software, and networks for individuals with disabilities. The
RERC must be designed to improve outcomes of individuals with
disabilities in one or more of the following domains: Employment,
community living and participation, or health and function. Research
and development topics under this priority may include but are not
limited to: Telecommunication access in emergency situations;
interoperability between current and next generation telecommunication
access; access to and use of wireless technologies; universal design
approaches in future generations of wireless technologies; and
accessibility of information technologies and electronic products by
people with disabilities.
Proposed Priority 3--RERC on Individual Mobility and Manipulation
Under this priority, the RERC must research, develop, and evaluate
innovative technologies and strategies that will result in new or
improved products, devices, or technological advances that allow
individuals with disabilities to be more mobile and to manipulate their
environments more efficiently and effectively. The RERC must be
designed to improve outcomes of individuals with disabilities in one or
more of the following domains: Employment, community living and
participation, or health and function. Research and development topics
under this priority may include but are not limited to: Equipment for
personal mobility; assistive technology for manipulation; and
prosthetics and orthotics.
Proposed Priority 4--RERC on Physical Access and Transportation
Under this priority, the RERC must research, develop, and evaluate
innovative technologies and strategies that will result in one or more
of the following: The continued promotion of universal design and the
planning of accessible buildings, homes, parks, neighborhoods, and
cities, or the accessibility and safety of transportation options. The
RERC must be designed to improve outcomes of individuals with
disabilities in one or more of the following domains: Employment,
community living and participation, or health and function. Research
and development topics under this priority may include but are not
limited to: Design and modification of the built environment; and the
accessibility, safety, affordability and independent use of
transportation options (including public transportation, commercial
transportation, and personal vehicles).
Requirements Applicable to All Four Proposed Priorities
Under each priority, the RERC must be designed to contribute to the
following outcomes:
(1) Increased technical and scientific knowledge relevant to its
research area. The RERC must contribute to this outcome by conducting
high-quality, rigorous research and development projects.
(2) Increased innovation in technologies, products, environments,
performance guidelines, and monitoring and assessment tools applicable
to its research area. The RERC must contribute to this outcome through
the development and testing of these innovations.
(3) Improved research capacity in its research area. The RERC must
contribute to this outcome by collaborating with the relevant industry,
professional associations, institutions of higher education, health
care providers, or educators, as appropriate.
(4) Improved usability and accessibility of products and
environments in its research area. The RERC must contribute to this
outcome by emphasizing the principles of universal design in its
product research and development. For this purpose, ``universal
design'' means the design of products and environments to be usable by
all people, to the greatest extent possible, without the need for
adaptation or specialized design.
(5) Improved awareness and understanding of cutting-edge
developments in technologies within its research area. The RERC must
contribute to this outcome by identifying and communicating with
relevant stakeholders, including NIDRR, individuals with disabilities,
their representatives, disability organizations, service providers,
professional journals, manufacturers, and other interested parties
regarding trends and evolving product concepts related to its research
area.
(6) Increased dissemination of research in the research area. The
RERC must contribute to this outcome by providing technical assistance
to relevant public and private organizations, individuals with
disabilities, employers, and schools on policies, guidelines, and
standards related to its research area.
(7) Increased transfer of RERC-developed technologies to the
marketplace. The RERC must contribute to this outcome by developing and
implementing a plan for ensuring that all technologies developed by the
RERC are made available to the public. The technology transfer plan
must be developed in the first year of the project period in
consultation with the NIDRR-funded Disability Rehabilitation Research
Project, Center on Knowledge Translation for Technology Transfer.
In addition, under each priority, the RERC must--
Have the capability to design, build, and test prototype
devices and assist in the technology transfer and knowledge translation
of successful solutions to relevant production and service delivery
settings;
Evaluate the efficacy and safety of its new products,
instrumentation, or assistive devices;
Provide as part of its proposal, and then implement, a
plan that describes how it will include, as appropriate, individuals
with disabilities or their representatives in all phases of its
activities, including research, development, training, dissemination,
and evaluation;
Provide as part of its proposal, and then implement, a
plan to disseminate its research results to individuals with
disabilities and their representatives; disability organizations;
service providers; professional journals; manufacturers; and other
interested parties. In meeting this requirement, each RERC may use a
variety of
[[Page 14950]]
mechanisms to disseminate information, including state-of-the-science
conferences, webinars, Web sites, and other dissemination methods; and
Coordinate research projects of mutual interest with
relevant NIDRR-funded projects, as identified through consultation with
the NIDRR project officer.
Types of Priorities
When inviting applications for a competition using one or more
priorities, we designate the type of each priority as absolute,
competitive preference, or invitational through a notice in the Federal
Register. The effect of each type of priority follows:
Absolute priority: Under an absolute priority, we consider only
applications that meet the priority (34 CFR 75.105(c)(3)).
Competitive preference priority: Under a competitive preference
priority, we give competitive preference to an application by (1)
awarding additional points, depending on the extent to which the
application meets the priority (34 CFR 75.105(c)(2)(i)); or (2)
selecting an application that meets the priority over an application of
comparable merit that does not meet the priority (34 CFR
75.105(c)(2)(ii)).
Invitational priority: Under an invitational priority, we are
particularly interested in applications that meet the priority.
However, we do not give an application that meets the priority a
preference over other applications (34 CFR 75.105(c)(1)).
Final Priorities
We will announce the final priorities in a notice in the Federal
Register. We will determine the final priorities after considering
responses to this notice and other information available to the
Department. This notice does not preclude us from proposing additional
priorities, requirements, definitions, or selection criteria, subject
to meeting applicable rulemaking requirements.
Note: This notice does not solicit applications. In any year in
which we choose to use this priority, we invite applications through
a notice in the Federal Register.
Executive Orders 12866 and 13563
Regulatory Impact Analysis
Under Executive Order 12866, the Secretary must determine whether
this regulatory action is ``significant'' and, therefore, subject to
the requirements of the Executive order and subject to review by the
Office of Management and Budget (OMB). Section 3(f) of Executive Order
12866 defines a ``significant regulatory action'' as an action likely
to result in a rule that may--
(1) Have an annual effect on the economy of $100 million or more,
or adversely affect a sector of the economy, productivity, competition,
jobs, the environment, public health or safety, or State, local, or
tribal governments or communities in a material way (also referred to
as an ``economically significant'' rule);
(2) Create serious inconsistency or otherwise interfere with an
action taken or planned by another agency;
(3) Materially alter the budgetary impacts of entitlement grants,
user fees, or loan programs or the rights and obligations of recipients
thereof; or
(4) Raise novel legal or policy issues arising out of legal
mandates, the President's priorities, or the principles stated in the
Executive order.
This proposed regulatory action is not a significant regulatory
action subject to review by OMB under section 3(f) of Executive Order
12866.
We have also reviewed this proposed regulatory action under
Executive Order 13563, which supplements and explicitly reaffirms the
principles, structures, and definitions governing regulatory review
established in Executive Order 12866. To the extent permitted by law,
Executive Order 13563 requires that an agency--
(1) Propose or adopt regulations only upon a reasoned determination
that their benefits justify their costs (recognizing that some benefits
and costs are difficult to quantify);
(2) Tailor its regulations to impose the least burden on society,
consistent with obtaining regulatory objectives and taking into
account--among other things and to the extent practicable--the costs of
cumulative regulations;
(3) In choosing among alternative regulatory approaches, select
those approaches that maximize net benefits (including potential
economic, environmental, public health and safety, and other
advantages; distributive impacts; and equity);
(4) To the extent feasible, specify performance objectives, rather
than the behavior or manner of compliance a regulated entity must
adopt; and
(5) Identify and assess available alternatives to direct
regulation, including economic incentives--such as user fees or
marketable permits--to encourage the desired behavior, or provide
information that enables the public to make choices.
Executive Order 13563 also requires an agency ``to use the best
available techniques to quantify anticipated present and future
benefits and costs as accurately as possible.'' The Office of
Information and Regulatory Affairs of OMB has emphasized that these
techniques may include ``identifying changing future compliance costs
that might result from technological innovation or anticipated
behavioral changes.''
We are issuing these proposed priorities only upon a reasoned
determination that their benefits would justify their costs. In
choosing among alternative regulatory approaches, we selected those
approaches that would maximize net benefits. Based on the analysis that
follows, the Department believes that these proposed priorities are
consistent with the principles in Executive Order 13563.
We also have determined that this regulatory action would not
unduly interfere with State, local, and tribal governments in the
exercise of their governmental functions.
In accordance with both Executive orders, the Department has
assessed the potential costs and benefits, both quantitative and
qualitative, of this regulatory action. The potential costs are those
resulting from statutory requirements and those we have determined as
necessary for administering the Department's programs and activities.
The benefits of the Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects
and Centers Program have been well established over the years. Projects
similar to the RERCs have been completed successfully, and the new
RERCs, established consistently with the proposed priorities, are
expected to improve the lives of individuals with disabilities and
generate through research and development, disseminate, and promote the
use of new information that would improve the outcomes for individuals
with disabilities in the areas of community living and participation,
employment, and health and function.
Intergovernmental Review: This program is not subject to Executive
Order 12372 and the regulations in 34 CFR part 79.
Accessible Format: Individuals with disabilities can obtain this
document in an accessible format (e.g., braille, large print,
audiotape, or compact disc) by contacting the Grants and Contracts
Services Team, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW.,
room 5075, PCP, Washington, DC 20202-2550. Telephone: (202) 245-7363.
If you use a TDD or TTY, call the FRS, toll free, at 1-800-877-8339.
Electronic Access to This Document: The official version of this
document is the document published in the Federal Register. Free
Internet access to the official edition of the Federal Register
[[Page 14951]]
and the Code of Federal Regulations is available via the Federal
Digital System at: www.gpo.gov/fdsys. At this site you can view this
document, as well as all other documents of this Department published
in the Federal Register, in text or Adobe Portable Document Format
(PDF). To use PDF you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is
available free at the site.
You may also access documents of the Department published in the
Federal Register by using the article search feature at:
www.federalregister.gov. Specifically, through the advanced search
feature at this site, you can limit your search to documents published
by the Department.
Dated: March 5, 2013.
Michael Yudin,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative
Services.
[FR Doc. 2013-05490 Filed 3-7-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P