Notice of Public Meeting of the Assembly of the Administrative Conference of the United States, 65347-65348 [2019-25777]

Download as PDF 65347 Notices Federal Register Vol. 84, No. 229 Wednesday, November 27, 2019 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings and investigations, committee meetings, agency decisions and rulings, delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency statements of organization and functions are examples of documents appearing in this section. ADMINISTRATIVE CONFERENCE OF THE UNITED STATES Notice of Public Meeting of the Assembly of the Administrative Conference of the United States Administrative Conference of the United States. AGENCY: ACTION: Notice. Pursuant to the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.), the Assembly of the Administrative Conference of the United States will hold a meeting to consider five proposed recommendations and to conduct other business. This meeting will be open to the public. SUMMARY: The meeting will take place on Thursday, December 12, 2019, 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. The meeting may adjourn early if all business is finished. DATES: The meeting will be held at The George Washington University Law School (GW Law), 2000 H Street NW, Washington, DC 20052 (Jacob Burns Moot Court Room). ADDRESSES: FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Shawne McGibbon, General Counsel (Designated Federal Officer), Administrative Conference of the United States, Suite 706 South, 1120 20th Street NW, Washington, DC 20036; Telephone 202–480–2088; email smcgibbon@acus.gov. The Administrative Conference of the United States makes recommendations to federal agencies, the President, Congress, and the Judicial Conference of the United States regarding the improvement of administrative procedures (5 U.S.C. 594). The membership of the Conference, when meeting in plenary session, constitutes the Assembly of the Conference (5 U.S.C. 595). SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: VerDate Sep<11>2014 20:21 Nov 26, 2019 Jkt 250001 Agenda: The Assembly will consider five proposed recommendations as described below: Agency Economists. This proposed recommendation addresses the placement of economists within rulewriting agencies (e.g., centralized v. dispersed throughout the agency) and explores methods for promoting highquality economic analysis within each of the possible organizational structures. Each possible structure has strengths and weaknesses that can affect the flow of information between economists and decision-makers. The proposed recommendation does not endorse any one organizational structure over another but identifies steps agencies can take to remove structural barriers that can impede the communication of objective, consistent, and high-quality economic analysis during the rulemaking process. Internet Evidence in Agency Adjudication. This proposed recommendation addresses agency adjudicators’ increasing reliance on their own factual research—especially internet research—when conducting hearings and deciding cases. Though such independent research can be an efficient means to acquire facts, it can also raise concerns regarding the accuracy of information uncovered and fairness to the litigants. The proposed recommendation urges agencies to develop publicly available policies on independent research that, among other things, identify sources of information that are reliable in all cases, set forth standards for adjudicators to apply when assessing the reliability of other sources, and ensure that litigants have ready access to all sources. Acting Agency Officials and Delegations of Authority. This proposed recommendation offers agencies best practices for promoting greater transparency and compliance with the Federal Vacancies Reform Act of 1998 when a Senate-confirmed position sits vacant. It also addresses the use of delegations of authority in the face of staffing vacancies. It urges agencies to determine whether the agency is subject to the Vacancies Act and, if so, establish compliance processes; improve transparency by disclosing on their websites information about acting officials and delegations of authority; and provide additional support and PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 training to agency officials responsible for Vacancies Act compliance. Listing Agency Officials. This proposed recommendation promotes the public availability of real-time information about high-level officials leading federal agencies. It encourages agencies to publish on their websites basic information about high-level agency leaders and identify vacant leadership positions and acting officials. It also recommends that the Office of Personnel Management publish on its website a monthly list of high-level agency leaders, as well as an archival list of former Senate-confirmed presidential appointees. Recruiting and Hiring Agency Attorneys. This proposed recommendation offers best practices for agencies to recruit and hire attorneys. First, it notes that agencies are not bound by certain procedural requirements that apply to the hiring of other kinds of employees. Then, among other suggestions, it advises agencies to post and disseminate announcements widely when they seek broad applicant pools; write announcements clearly and concisely; communicate to applicants any limitations on the number of applicants the agency will consider; establish policies for reviewing applications and interviewing candidates; and decide, in the period before an attorney’s adverse action rights accrue, whether to retain the attorney after the period elapses. Additional information about the proposed recommendations and the order of the agenda, as well as other materials related to the meeting, can be found at the 72nd Plenary Session page on the Conference’s website: https:// www.acus.gov/meetings-and-events/ plenary-meeting/72nd-plenary-session. Public Participation: The Conference welcomes the attendance of the public at the meeting, subject to space limitations, and will make every effort to accommodate persons with disabilities or special needs. Members of the public who wish to attend in person are asked to RSVP online at the 72nd Plenary Session web page shown above, no later than two days before the meeting, in order to facilitate entry and to ensure adequate seating. Members of the public who attend the meeting may be permitted to speak only with the consent of the Chairman and the unanimous approval of the members of E:\FR\FM\27NON1.SGM 27NON1 65348 Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 229 / Wednesday, November 27, 2019 / Notices the Assembly. If you need special accommodations due to disability, please inform the Designated Federal Officer noted above at least seven days in advance of the meeting. The public may also view the meeting on GW Law’s YouTube Channel: https://youtube.com/ user/gwlawschool. Alternatively, an archived video recording of the meeting will be available on the Conference’s website shortly after the conclusion of the event: https://livestream.com/ACUS. Written Comments: Persons who wish to comment on any of the proposed recommendations may do so by submitting a written statement either online by clicking ‘‘Submit a comment’’ on the 72nd Plenary Session web page shown above or by mail addressed to: December 2019 Plenary Session Comments, Administrative Conference of the United States, Suite 706 South, 1120 20th Street NW, Washington, DC 20036. Written submissions must be received no later than 10:00 a.m. (EDT), Thursday, December 5, 2019, to ensure consideration by the Assembly. Dated: November 22, 2019. Shawne McGibbon, General Counsel. [FR Doc. 2019–25777 Filed 11–26–19; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6110–01–P DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request The Department of Agriculture has submitted the following information collection requirement(s) to OMB for review and clearance under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104–13. Comments are requested regarding: Whether the collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information will have practical utility; the accuracy of the agency’s estimate of burden including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; ways to enhance the quality, utility and clarity of the information to be collected; and ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques and other forms of information technology. Comments regarding this information collection received by December 27, 2019 will be considered. Written comments should be addressed to: Desk Officer for Agriculture, Office of VerDate Sep<11>2014 20:21 Nov 26, 2019 Jkt 250001 Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget (OMB), New Executive Office Building, 725 17th Street NW, Washington, DC 20503. Commentors are encouraged to submit their comments to OMB via email to: OIRA_Submission@ omb.eop.gov or fax (202) 395–5806 and to Departmental Clearance Office, USDA, OCIO, Mail Stop 7602, Washington, DC 20250–7602. Copies of the submission(s) may be obtained by calling (202) 720–8681. An agency may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information unless the collection of information displays a currently valid OMB control number and the agency informs potential persons who are to respond to the collection of information that such persons are not required to respond to the collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. Forest Service Title: Application and Permit for NonFederal Commercial Use of Roads, Trails and Areas Restricted by Regulation or Order. OMB Control Number: 0596–0016. Summary of Collection: Authority for permits for use of National Forest System (NFS) roads, trails, and areas on NFS lands restricted by order or regulation drives from the National Forest Roads and Trails Act (16 U.S.C. 532–538). This statute authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to promulgate regulations regarding use of NFS roads, NFS trails, and areas on NFS lands; established procedures for sharing investments in NFS roads; and require commercial users to perform road maintenance commensurate with their use of NFS roads. Forest Service regulations implementing this authority are found in 36 CFR 212.5, 212.9, 212.51, 261.10, 261.12, 261.13, 261.54, and 261.55. Need and Use of the Information: Information is collected from individuals, corporations, or organizations who want to use a NFS Road, Trail or Area for purposes that are restricted. Form FS–7700–40 ‘‘Application for a Permit for Use of Roads, Trails and Areas Restricted by Regulation or Order’’ along with FS– 7700–40a ‘‘Commercial Use Attachment’’ or FS–7700–40b ‘‘Oversize Vehicle Attachment’’ if applicable. The forms provide identifying information about the applicant such as, the name; address; and telephone number; description of mileage of roads; purpose of use; use schedule; and plans for future use. FS will use the information to prepare the applicant’s permit, FS– PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 9990 7700–41 or FS–7700–48, to identify the road maintenance that is the direct result of the applicant’s traffic, to calculate any applicable collections for recovery of past Federal investments in roads and assure that the requirements are met. Without the information FS would not be able to issue permits for moving oversize vehicles on FNS roads, permits to enter areas subject to areas for closures, or permits for motorized use of roads, trails, or areas not designated for such use on a motor vehicle use map. Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit; Individuals or households; State, Local or Tribal Government; Not-for-profit institutions. Number of Respondents: 1,100. Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion. Total Burden Hours: 275. Kimble Brown, Departmental Information Collection Clearance Officer. [FR Doc. 2019–25811 Filed 11–26–19; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3411–15–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE Foreign-Trade Zones Board [B–47–2019] Foreign-Trade Zone (FTZ) 201— Holyoke, Massachusetts; Authorization of Production Activity; ProAmpac Holdings, Inc. (Flexible Packaging Applications); Westfield, Massachusetts On July 25, 2019, The Holyoke Economic Development and Industrial Corporation, grantee of FTZ 201, submitted a notification of proposed production activity to the FTZ Board on behalf of ProAmpac Holdings, Inc., within FTZ 201, in Westfield, Massachusetts. The notification was processed in accordance with the regulations of the FTZ Board (15 CFR part 400), including notice in the Federal Register inviting public comment (84 FR 37831, August 2, 2019). On November 22, 2019, the applicant was notified of the FTZ Board’s decision that no further review of the activity is warranted at this time. The production activity described in the notification was authorized, subject to the FTZ Act and the FTZ Board’s regulations, including Section 400.14. Dated: November 22, 2019. Elizabeth Whiteman, Acting Executive Secretary. [FR Doc. 2019–25771 Filed 11–26–19; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–DS–P E:\FR\FM\27NON1.SGM 27NON1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 229 (Wednesday, November 27, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 65347-65348]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-25777]


========================================================================
Notices
                                                Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________

This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings 
and investigations, committee meetings, agency decisions and rulings, 
delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency 
statements of organization and functions are examples of documents 
appearing in this section.

========================================================================


Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 229 / Wednesday, November 27, 2019 / 
Notices

[[Page 65347]]



ADMINISTRATIVE CONFERENCE OF THE UNITED STATES


Notice of Public Meeting of the Assembly of the Administrative 
Conference of the United States

AGENCY: Administrative Conference of the United States.

ACTION: Notice.

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

SUMMARY: Pursuant to the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. 
App.), the Assembly of the Administrative Conference of the United 
States will hold a meeting to consider five proposed recommendations 
and to conduct other business. This meeting will be open to the public.

DATES: The meeting will take place on Thursday, December 12, 2019, 9:30 
a.m. to 5:30 p.m. The meeting may adjourn early if all business is 
finished.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at The George Washington University 
Law School (GW Law), 2000 H Street NW, Washington, DC 20052 (Jacob 
Burns Moot Court Room).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Shawne McGibbon, General Counsel 
(Designated Federal Officer), Administrative Conference of the United 
States, Suite 706 South, 1120 20th Street NW, Washington, DC 20036; 
Telephone 202-480-2088; email [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Administrative Conference of the United 
States makes recommendations to federal agencies, the President, 
Congress, and the Judicial Conference of the United States regarding 
the improvement of administrative procedures (5 U.S.C. 594). The 
membership of the Conference, when meeting in plenary session, 
constitutes the Assembly of the Conference (5 U.S.C. 595).
    Agenda: The Assembly will consider five proposed recommendations as 
described below:
    Agency Economists. This proposed recommendation addresses the 
placement of economists within rule-writing agencies (e.g., centralized 
v. dispersed throughout the agency) and explores methods for promoting 
high-quality economic analysis within each of the possible 
organizational structures. Each possible structure has strengths and 
weaknesses that can affect the flow of information between economists 
and decision-makers. The proposed recommendation does not endorse any 
one organizational structure over another but identifies steps agencies 
can take to remove structural barriers that can impede the 
communication of objective, consistent, and high-quality economic 
analysis during the rulemaking process.
    Internet Evidence in Agency Adjudication. This proposed 
recommendation addresses agency adjudicators' increasing reliance on 
their own factual research--especially internet research--when 
conducting hearings and deciding cases. Though such independent 
research can be an efficient means to acquire facts, it can also raise 
concerns regarding the accuracy of information uncovered and fairness 
to the litigants. The proposed recommendation urges agencies to develop 
publicly available policies on independent research that, among other 
things, identify sources of information that are reliable in all cases, 
set forth standards for adjudicators to apply when assessing the 
reliability of other sources, and ensure that litigants have ready 
access to all sources.
    Acting Agency Officials and Delegations of Authority. This proposed 
recommendation offers agencies best practices for promoting greater 
transparency and compliance with the Federal Vacancies Reform Act of 
1998 when a Senate-confirmed position sits vacant. It also addresses 
the use of delegations of authority in the face of staffing vacancies. 
It urges agencies to determine whether the agency is subject to the 
Vacancies Act and, if so, establish compliance processes; improve 
transparency by disclosing on their websites information about acting 
officials and delegations of authority; and provide additional support 
and training to agency officials responsible for Vacancies Act 
compliance.
    Listing Agency Officials. This proposed recommendation promotes the 
public availability of real-time information about high-level officials 
leading federal agencies. It encourages agencies to publish on their 
websites basic information about high-level agency leaders and identify 
vacant leadership positions and acting officials. It also recommends 
that the Office of Personnel Management publish on its website a 
monthly list of high-level agency leaders, as well as an archival list 
of former Senate-confirmed presidential appointees.
    Recruiting and Hiring Agency Attorneys. This proposed 
recommendation offers best practices for agencies to recruit and hire 
attorneys. First, it notes that agencies are not bound by certain 
procedural requirements that apply to the hiring of other kinds of 
employees. Then, among other suggestions, it advises agencies to post 
and disseminate announcements widely when they seek broad applicant 
pools; write announcements clearly and concisely; communicate to 
applicants any limitations on the number of applicants the agency will 
consider; establish policies for reviewing applications and 
interviewing candidates; and decide, in the period before an attorney's 
adverse action rights accrue, whether to retain the attorney after the 
period elapses.
    Additional information about the proposed recommendations and the 
order of the agenda, as well as other materials related to the meeting, 
can be found at the 72nd Plenary Session page on the Conference's 
website: https://www.acus.gov/meetings-and-events/plenary-meeting/72nd-plenary-session.
    Public Participation: The Conference welcomes the attendance of the 
public at the meeting, subject to space limitations, and will make 
every effort to accommodate persons with disabilities or special needs. 
Members of the public who wish to attend in person are asked to RSVP 
online at the 72nd Plenary Session web page shown above, no later than 
two days before the meeting, in order to facilitate entry and to ensure 
adequate seating. Members of the public who attend the meeting may be 
permitted to speak only with the consent of the Chairman and the 
unanimous approval of the members of

[[Page 65348]]

the Assembly. If you need special accommodations due to disability, 
please inform the Designated Federal Officer noted above at least seven 
days in advance of the meeting. The public may also view the meeting on 
GW Law's YouTube Channel: https://youtube.com/user/gwlawschool. 
Alternatively, an archived video recording of the meeting will be 
available on the Conference's website shortly after the conclusion of 
the event: https://livestream.com/ACUS.
    Written Comments: Persons who wish to comment on any of the 
proposed recommendations may do so by submitting a written statement 
either online by clicking ``Submit a comment'' on the 72nd Plenary 
Session web page shown above or by mail addressed to: December 2019 
Plenary Session Comments, Administrative Conference of the United 
States, Suite 706 South, 1120 20th Street NW, Washington, DC 20036. 
Written submissions must be received no later than 10:00 a.m. (EDT), 
Thursday, December 5, 2019, to ensure consideration by the Assembly.

    Dated: November 22, 2019.
Shawne McGibbon,
General Counsel.
[FR Doc. 2019-25777 Filed 11-26-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6110-01-P
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.