Meetings To Implement Pandemic Response Voluntary Agreement Under Section 708 of the Defense Production Act, 56284-56286 [2021-22069]
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Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 193 / Friday, October 8, 2021 / Notices
provisions set forth in sections
552b(c)(4) and 552b(c)(6), Title 5 U.S.C.,
as amended. The grant applications and
the discussions could disclose
confidential trade secrets or commercial
property such as patentable material,
and personal information concerning
individuals associated with the grant
applications, the disclosure of which
would constitute a clearly unwarranted
invasion of personal privacy.
Name of Committee: National Center for
Complementary and Integrative Health
Special Emphasis Panel; (NIH/NCCIH) Mind
and Body Special Emphasis Panel.
Date: November 5, 2021.
Time: 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Agenda: To review and evaluate grant
applications.
Place: National Center for Complementary
and Integrative, Democracy II, 6707
Democracy Blvd., Bethesda, MD 20892
(Virtual Meeting).
Contact Person: Sushmita Purkayastha,
Ph.D., Scientific Review Officer, Office of
Scientific Review, Division of Extramural
Activities, NCCIH/NIH, 6707 Democracy
Boulevard, Suite 401, Bethesda, MD 20892–
5475, sushmita.purkayastha@nih.gov.
(Catalogue of Federal Domestic Assistance
Program Nos. 93.213, Research and Training
in Complementary and Alternative Medicine,
National Institutes of Health, HHS)
Dated: October 4, 2021.
Victoria E. Townsend,
Program Analyst, Office of Federal Advisory
Committee Policy.
[FR Doc. 2021–22014 Filed 10–7–21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4140–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND
SECURITY
Federal Emergency Management
Agency
[Docket ID FEMA–2007–0008]
National Advisory Council; Meeting
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT
Federal Emergency
Management Agency, Department of
Homeland Security.
ACTION: Committee Management; Notice
of open Federal Advisory Committee
meeting.
AGENCY:
The Federal Emergency
Management Agency’s National
Advisory Council (NAC) will meet
November 2 and 3, 2021. The meeting
will be open to the public through
virtual means.
DATES: The NAC will meet 8:30 a.m. and
5 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on Tuesday,
November 2, 2021 and Wednesday,
November 3, 2021. Please note that the
meeting may close early if the NAC has
completed its business.
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SUMMARY:
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Anyone who wishes to
participate must register with FEMA in
advance by providing their name,
official title, organization, telephone
number, and email address to the
person listed in the FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION CONTACT caption below by
5 p.m. ET Friday, October 29, 2021.
Members of the public are urged to
provide written comments on the issues
to be considered by the NAC. The topic
areas are indicated in the
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION caption
below. Any written comments must be
submitted and received by 5 p.m. ET on
October 29, 2021, identified by Docket
ID FEMA–2007–0008, and submitted by
the following method: Federal
eRulemaking Portal at https://
www.regulations.gov. Follow the
instructions for submitting comments.
Instructions for Submitting
Comments: All submissions must
include the words ‘‘Federal Emergency
Management Agency’’ and the docket
number (Docket ID FEMA–2007–0008)
for this action. Comments received,
including any personal information
provided, will be posted without
alteration at https://www.regulations.gov.
For access to the docket or to read
comments received by the NAC, go to
https://www.regulations.gov, and search
for Docket ID FEMA–2007–0008.
Public comment periods will be held
on Tuesday, November 2, 2021, from
9:45 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.; and Wednesday,
November 3, 2021 from 8:45 a.m. to 9:00
a.m. ET. All speakers must register in
advance of the meeting to make remarks
during the public comment period and
must limit their comments to three
minutes. Comments should be
addressed to the NAC. Any comments
not related to the agenda topics will not
be considered. To register to make
remarks during the public comment
period, contact the person listed in the
ADDRESSES:
caption below by 5 p.m. ET, Friday,
October 29, 2021. Please note that the
public comment period may end before
the time indicated, following the last
call for comments.
Reasonable accommodations are
available for people with disabilities. To
request a reasonable accommodation,
contact the person listed in the FOR
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT caption
below as soon as possible. Last minute
requests will be accepted but may not be
possible to fulfill.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rob
Long, Designated Federal Officer, Office
of the National Advisory Council,
Federal Emergency Management
Agency, 500 C Street SW, Washington,
DC 20472–3184, 202–709–0783, and
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email FEMA-NAC@fema.dhs.gov. The
NAC website is https://www.fema.gov/
national-advisory-council.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Notice of
this meeting is given under the Federal
Advisory Committee Act, 5 U.S.C.
Appendix.
The NAC advises the FEMA
Administrator on all aspects of
emergency management. The NAC
incorporates input from State, local,
Tribal, and territorial governments, and
the private sector in the development
and revision of FEMA plans and
strategies. The NAC includes a crosssection of officials, emergency
managers, and emergency response
providers from State, local, Tribal, and
territorial governments, the private
sector, and nongovernmental
organizations.
Agenda: On Tuesday, November 2,
2021, NAC subcommittees will present
to the full NAC their recommendations
on the topics of equity, potential
improvements to the public and
individual assistance programs,
workforce support, risk-informed
decision making, and ideas of
restructuring FEMA. On Wednesday,
November 3, 2021, the NAC will discuss
and consider with selected experts and
leadership how to approach considering
issues of equity, climate adaptation and
readiness in 2022.
The full agenda and any related
documents for this meeting will be
available by Friday, October 29, 2021,
by contacting the person listed in the
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT
caption above.
Deanne Criswell,
Administrator, Federal Emergency
Management Agency.
[FR Doc. 2021–22058 Filed 10–7–21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9111–48–P
DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND
SECURITY
Federal Emergency Management
Agency
[Docket ID FEMA–2020–0016]
Meetings To Implement Pandemic
Response Voluntary Agreement Under
Section 708 of the Defense Production
Act
Federal Emergency
Management Agency, Department of
Homeland Security.
ACTION: Announcement of meetings.
AGENCY:
The Federal Emergency
Management Agency (FEMA) held two
meetings to implement the Voluntary
SUMMARY:
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Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 193 / Friday, October 8, 2021 / Notices
Agreement for the Manufacture and
Distribution of Critical Healthcare
Resources Necessary to Respond to a
Pandemic.
DATES: The first meeting took place on
Thursday, September 30, 2021, from
10:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. Eastern Time (ET).
The second meeting took place on
Thursday, October 7, 2021, from 10:30
a.m. to 11 a.m. ET.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Robert Glenn, Office of Business,
Industry, Infrastructure Integration, via
email at OB3I@fema.dhs.gov or via
phone at (202) 212–1666.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Notice of
these meetings is provided as required
by section 708(h)(8) of the Defense
Production Act (DPA), 50 U.S.C.
4558(h)(8), and consistent with 44 CFR
part 332.
The DPA authorizes the making of
‘‘voluntary agreements and plans of
action’’ with representatives of industry,
business, and other interests to help
provide for the national defense.1 The
President’s authority to facilitate
voluntary agreements with respect to
responding to the spread of COVID–19
within the United States was delegated
to the Secretary of Homeland Security
in Executive Order 13911.2 The
Secretary of Homeland Security further
delegated this authority to the FEMA
Administrator.3
On August 17, 2020, after the
appropriate consultations with the
Attorney General and the Chairman of
the Federal Trade Commission, FEMA
completed and published in the Federal
Register a ‘‘Voluntary Agreement,
Manufacture and Distribution of Critical
Healthcare Resources Necessary to
Respond to a Pandemic’’ (Voluntary
Agreement).4 Unless terminated earlier,
the Voluntary Agreement is effective
until August 17, 2025, and may be
extended subject to additional approval
by the Attorney General after
consultation with the Chairman of the
Federal Trade Commission. The
Agreement may be used to prepare for
or respond to any pandemic, including
COVID–19, during that time.
On December 7, 2020, the first plan of
action under the Voluntary
1 50
U.S.C. 4558(c)(1).
FR 18403 (Apr. 1, 2020).
3 DHS Delegation 09052, Rev. 00.1 (Apr. 1, 2020);
DHS Delegation Number 09052 Rev. 00 (Jan. 3,
2017).
4 85 FR 50035 (Aug. 17, 2020). The Attorney
General, in consultation with the Chairman of the
Federal Trade Commission, made the required
finding that the purpose of the voluntary agreement
may not reasonably be achieved through an
agreement having less anticompetitive effects or
without any voluntary agreement and published the
finding in the Federal Register on the same day. 85
FR 50049 (Aug. 17, 2020).
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2 85
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Agreement—the Plan of Action to
Establish a National Strategy for the
Manufacture, Allocation, and
Distribution of Personal Protective
Equipment (PPE) to Respond to COVID–
19 (PPE Plan of Action)—was finalized.5
The PPE Plan of Action established
several sub-committees under the
Voluntary Agreement, focusing on
different aspects of the PPE Plan of
Action.
On May 24, 2021, four additional
plans of action under the Voluntary
Agreement—the Plan of Action to
Establish a National Strategy for the
Manufacture, Allocation, and
Distribution of Diagnostic Test Kits and
other Testing Components to respond to
COVID–19, the Plan of Action to
Establish a National Strategy for the
Manufacture, Allocation, and
Distribution of Drug Products, Drug
Substances, and Associated Medical
Devices to respond to COVID–19, the
Plan of Action to Establish a National
Strategy for the Manufacture,
Allocation, and Distribution of Medical
Devices to respond to COVID–19, and
the Plan of Action to Establish a
National Strategy for the Manufacture,
Allocation, and Distribution of Medical
Gases to respond to COVID–19—were
finalized.6 These plans of action
established several sub-committees
under the Voluntary Agreement,
focusing on different aspects of each
plan of action.
The meetings were chaired by the
FEMA Administrator or her delegate
and attended by the Attorney General
and the Chairman of the Federal Trade
Commission or their delegates. In
implementing the Voluntary Agreement,
FEMA adheres to all procedural
requirements of 50 U.S.C. 4558 and 44
CFR part 332.
Meeting Objectives: The objectives of
the meetings were as follows:
1. Gather committee Participants and
Attendees to ask targeted questions for
situational awareness related to the
active Plans of Action (PPE, Drug
Products and Drug Substances,
Diagnostic Test Kits, Medical Devices,
and Medical Gases).
2. Establish priorities for COVID–19
response under the Voluntary
Agreement.
3. Identify tasks that should be
completed under the appropriate SubCommittee.
4. Identify information gaps and areas
that merit sharing (both from FEMA to
the private sector and vice versa).
5 See 85 FR 78869 (Dec. 7, 2020). See also 85 FR
79020 (Dec. 8, 2020).
6 See 86 FR 27894 (May 24, 2021). See also 86 FR
28851 (May 28, 2021).
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56285
Meetings Closed to the Public: By
default, the DPA requires meetings held
to implement a voluntary agreement or
plan of action be open to the public.7
However, attendance may be limited if
the Sponsor 8 of the voluntary
agreement finds that the matter to be
discussed at a meeting falls within the
purview of matters described in 5 U.S.C.
552b(c), such as trade secrets and
commercial or financial information.
The Sponsor of the Voluntary
Agreement, the FEMA Administrator,
found that these meetings to implement
the Voluntary Agreement involved
matters which fall within the purview of
matters described in 5 U.S.C. 552b(c)
and the meetings were therefore closed
to the public.
Meetings Closed to the Public: By
default, the DPA requires meetings held
to implement a voluntary agreement or
plan of action be open to the public.9
However, attendance may be limited if
the Sponsor 10 of the voluntary
agreement finds that the matter to be
discussed at a meeting falls within the
purview of matters described in 5 U.S.C.
552b(c), such as trade secrets and
commercial or financial information.
The Sponsor of the Voluntary
Agreement, the FEMA Administrator,
found that these meetings to implement
the Voluntary Agreement involved
matters which fall within the purview of
matters described in 5 U.S.C. 552b(c)
and the meetings were therefore closed
to the public.
Specifically, these meetings may have
required participants to disclose trade
secrets or commercial or financial
information that is privileged or
confidential. Disclosure of such
information allows for meetings to be
closed to the public pursuant to 5 U.S.C.
552b(c)(4).
The success of the Voluntary
Agreement depends wholly on the
willing participation of the private
sector participants. Failure to close
these meetings to the public could
reduce active participation by the
signatories due to a perceived risk that
sensitive company information could be
prematurely released to the public. A
premature public disclosure of a private
sector participant’s information could
reduce trust and support for the
Voluntary Agreement.
7 See
50 U.S.C. 4558(h)(7).
individual designated by the President in
subsection (c)(2) [of section 708 of the DPA] to
administer the voluntary agreement, or plan of
action.’’ 50 U.S.C. 4558(h)(7).
9 See 50 U.S.C. 4558(h)(7).
10 ‘‘[T]he individual designated by the President
in subsection (c)(2) [of section 708 of the DPA] to
administer the voluntary agreement, or plan of
action.’’ 50 U.S.C. 4558(h)(7).
8 ‘‘[T]he
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Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 193 / Friday, October 8, 2021 / Notices
A resulting loss of support by the
participants for the Voluntary
Agreement would significantly frustrate
the implementation of the Agency’s
objectives. Thus, these meeting closures
are permitted pursuant to 5 U.S.C.
552b(c)(9)(B).
Deanne Criswell,
Administrator, Federal Emergency
Management Agency.
[FR Doc. 2021–22069 Filed 10–7–21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9111–19–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Geological Survey
[GX22EB00A181100; OMB Control Number
1028–0085]
Agency Information Collection
Activities; Submission to the Office of
Management and Budget for Review
and Approval; National Land Remote
Sensing Education, Outreach and
Research Activity
U.S. Geological Survey,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice of information collection;
request for comment.
AGENCY:
In accordance with the
Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995
we, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)
are proposing to renew an information
collection.
DATES: Interested persons are invited to
submit comments on or before
November 8, 2021.
ADDRESSES: Written comments and
recommendations for the proposed
information collection should be sent
within 30 days of publication of this
notice to www.reginfo.gov/public/do/
PRAMain. Find this particular
information collection by selecting
‘‘Currently under 30-day Review—Open
for Public Comments’’ or by using the
search function.
Written comments may also be
submitted by mail to U.S. Geological
Survey, Information Collections Officer,
12201 Sunrise Valley Drive, MS 159,
Reston, VA 20192, or by email to gsinfo_collections@usgs.gov. Please
reference OMB Control Number 1028–
0085 in the subject line of your mail or
email.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To
request additional information about
this Information Collection Request
(ICR), contact Sarah Cook by email at
scook@usgs.gov or by telephone at 703–
648–6136. You may also view the ICR
at https://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/
PRAMain.
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SUMMARY:
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In
accordance with the PRA and 5 CFR
1320.8(d)(1), we provide the general
public and other Federal agencies with
an opportunity to comment on new,
proposed, revised, and continuing
collections of information. This helps us
assess the impact of our information
collection requirements and minimize
the public’s reporting burden. It also
helps the public understand our
information collection requirements and
provide the requested data in the
desired format.
A Federal Register notice with a 60day public comment period soliciting
comments on this collection of
information was published on May 18,
2021 (86 FR 26934). No comments were
received.
As part of our continuing effort to
reduce paperwork and respondent
burdens, we are again soliciting
comments from the public and other
Federal agencies on the proposed ICR
that is described below. We are
especially interested in public comment
addressing the following:
(1) Whether this collection of
information is necessary for the proper
performance of the functions of the
USGS, including whether the
information will have practical utility;
(2) Whether your estimate of the
burden for this collection of information
is accurate
(3) Whether the methodology and
assumptions used are valid;
(4) how we might enhance the quality,
utility, and clarity of the information to
be collected; and
(5) How the USGS might minimize
the burden of this collection of
information on those asked to respond,
including through the use of appropriate
automated, electronic, mechanical, or
other technological collection
techniques or other forms of information
technology, e.g., permitting electronic
submission of response.
Comments that you submit in
response to this notice are a matter of
public record. Before including your
address, phone number, email address,
or other personally identifiable
information (PII) in your comment, you
should be aware that your entire
comment—including your PII—may be
made publicly available at any time.
While you can ask us in your comment
to withhold your PII from public review,
we cannot guarantee that we will be
able to do so.
Abstract: The National Land Remote
Sensing Education, Outreach and
Research Activity (NLRSEORA) is an
effort to develop a U.S. nationwide
consortium to build the capability to
receive, process, and archive remotely-
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
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sensed data for the purpose of providing
access to university and state
organizations in a ready-to-use format
and to expand the science of remote
sensing through education, research/
applications development, and outreach
in areas such as environmental
monitoring to include the effects of
climate variability on water availability
and phenology, natural resource
management, and disaster analysis.
Respondents are submitting proposals to
acquire funding for a national (U.S.)
program to promote the uses of spacebased land remote-sensing data and
technologies through education and
outreach at the State and local level and
through university-based and
collaborative research projects. The
information collected will ensure that
sufficient and relevant information is
available to evaluate and select a
proposal for funding. A panel of USGS
Core Science Systems Mission Area
managers and scientists will review
each proposal to evaluate the technical
merit, requirements, and priorities
identified.
This notice concerns the collection of
information that is sufficient and
relevant to evaluate and select proposals
for funding. We will protect information
from respondents considered
proprietary under the Freedom of
Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552) and its
implementing regulations (43 CFR part
2), and under regulations at 30 CFR
250.197, ‘‘Data and information to be
made available to the public or for
limited inspection.’’ Responses are
voluntary. No questions of a ‘‘sensitive’’
nature are asked. We intend to release
the project abstracts and primary
investigators for awarded/funded
projects only.
Title of Collection: National Land
Remote Sensing Education, Outreach
and Research Activity.
OMB Control Number: 1028–0085.
Form Number: None.
Type of Review: Extension of a
currently approved collection.
Respondents/Affected Public: Public
or private institutions of higher
education including universities; State
and local governments (including
county, city, township or special district
governments); independent school
districts, Tribal governments or
organizations, nonprofit organizations
(with or without 501(c)(3) status).
Total Estimated Number of Annual
Respondents: 5.
Total Estimated Number of Annual
Responses: 5.
Estimated Completion Time per
Response: 2 hours.
Total Estimated Number of Annual
Burden Hours: 10.
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 193 (Friday, October 8, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 56284-56286]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-22069]
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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
Federal Emergency Management Agency
[Docket ID FEMA-2020-0016]
Meetings To Implement Pandemic Response Voluntary Agreement Under
Section 708 of the Defense Production Act
AGENCY: Federal Emergency Management Agency, Department of Homeland
Security.
ACTION: Announcement of meetings.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) held two
meetings to implement the Voluntary
[[Page 56285]]
Agreement for the Manufacture and Distribution of Critical Healthcare
Resources Necessary to Respond to a Pandemic.
DATES: The first meeting took place on Thursday, September 30, 2021,
from 10:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. Eastern Time (ET). The second meeting took
place on Thursday, October 7, 2021, from 10:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. ET.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robert Glenn, Office of Business,
Industry, Infrastructure Integration, via email at [email protected] or
via phone at (202) 212-1666.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Notice of these meetings is provided as
required by section 708(h)(8) of the Defense Production Act (DPA), 50
U.S.C. 4558(h)(8), and consistent with 44 CFR part 332.
The DPA authorizes the making of ``voluntary agreements and plans
of action'' with representatives of industry, business, and other
interests to help provide for the national defense.\1\ The President's
authority to facilitate voluntary agreements with respect to responding
to the spread of COVID-19 within the United States was delegated to the
Secretary of Homeland Security in Executive Order 13911.\2\ The
Secretary of Homeland Security further delegated this authority to the
FEMA Administrator.\3\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ 50 U.S.C. 4558(c)(1).
\2\ 85 FR 18403 (Apr. 1, 2020).
\3\ DHS Delegation 09052, Rev. 00.1 (Apr. 1, 2020); DHS
Delegation Number 09052 Rev. 00 (Jan. 3, 2017).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
On August 17, 2020, after the appropriate consultations with the
Attorney General and the Chairman of the Federal Trade Commission, FEMA
completed and published in the Federal Register a ``Voluntary
Agreement, Manufacture and Distribution of Critical Healthcare
Resources Necessary to Respond to a Pandemic'' (Voluntary
Agreement).\4\ Unless terminated earlier, the Voluntary Agreement is
effective until August 17, 2025, and may be extended subject to
additional approval by the Attorney General after consultation with the
Chairman of the Federal Trade Commission. The Agreement may be used to
prepare for or respond to any pandemic, including COVID-19, during that
time.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\4\ 85 FR 50035 (Aug. 17, 2020). The Attorney General, in
consultation with the Chairman of the Federal Trade Commission, made
the required finding that the purpose of the voluntary agreement may
not reasonably be achieved through an agreement having less
anticompetitive effects or without any voluntary agreement and
published the finding in the Federal Register on the same day. 85 FR
50049 (Aug. 17, 2020).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
On December 7, 2020, the first plan of action under the Voluntary
Agreement--the Plan of Action to Establish a National Strategy for the
Manufacture, Allocation, and Distribution of Personal Protective
Equipment (PPE) to Respond to COVID-19 (PPE Plan of Action)--was
finalized.\5\ The PPE Plan of Action established several sub-committees
under the Voluntary Agreement, focusing on different aspects of the PPE
Plan of Action.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\5\ See 85 FR 78869 (Dec. 7, 2020). See also 85 FR 79020 (Dec.
8, 2020).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
On May 24, 2021, four additional plans of action under the
Voluntary Agreement--the Plan of Action to Establish a National
Strategy for the Manufacture, Allocation, and Distribution of
Diagnostic Test Kits and other Testing Components to respond to COVID-
19, the Plan of Action to Establish a National Strategy for the
Manufacture, Allocation, and Distribution of Drug Products, Drug
Substances, and Associated Medical Devices to respond to COVID-19, the
Plan of Action to Establish a National Strategy for the Manufacture,
Allocation, and Distribution of Medical Devices to respond to COVID-19,
and the Plan of Action to Establish a National Strategy for the
Manufacture, Allocation, and Distribution of Medical Gases to respond
to COVID-19--were finalized.\6\ These plans of action established
several sub-committees under the Voluntary Agreement, focusing on
different aspects of each plan of action.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\6\ See 86 FR 27894 (May 24, 2021). See also 86 FR 28851 (May
28, 2021).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The meetings were chaired by the FEMA Administrator or her delegate
and attended by the Attorney General and the Chairman of the Federal
Trade Commission or their delegates. In implementing the Voluntary
Agreement, FEMA adheres to all procedural requirements of 50 U.S.C.
4558 and 44 CFR part 332.
Meeting Objectives: The objectives of the meetings were as follows:
1. Gather committee Participants and Attendees to ask targeted
questions for situational awareness related to the active Plans of
Action (PPE, Drug Products and Drug Substances, Diagnostic Test Kits,
Medical Devices, and Medical Gases).
2. Establish priorities for COVID-19 response under the Voluntary
Agreement.
3. Identify tasks that should be completed under the appropriate
Sub-Committee.
4. Identify information gaps and areas that merit sharing (both
from FEMA to the private sector and vice versa).
Meetings Closed to the Public: By default, the DPA requires
meetings held to implement a voluntary agreement or plan of action be
open to the public.\7\ However, attendance may be limited if the
Sponsor \8\ of the voluntary agreement finds that the matter to be
discussed at a meeting falls within the purview of matters described in
5 U.S.C. 552b(c), such as trade secrets and commercial or financial
information. The Sponsor of the Voluntary Agreement, the FEMA
Administrator, found that these meetings to implement the Voluntary
Agreement involved matters which fall within the purview of matters
described in 5 U.S.C. 552b(c) and the meetings were therefore closed to
the public.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\7\ See 50 U.S.C. 4558(h)(7).
\8\ ``[T]he individual designated by the President in subsection
(c)(2) [of section 708 of the DPA] to administer the voluntary
agreement, or plan of action.'' 50 U.S.C. 4558(h)(7).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Meetings Closed to the Public: By default, the DPA requires
meetings held to implement a voluntary agreement or plan of action be
open to the public.\9\ However, attendance may be limited if the
Sponsor \10\ of the voluntary agreement finds that the matter to be
discussed at a meeting falls within the purview of matters described in
5 U.S.C. 552b(c), such as trade secrets and commercial or financial
information.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\9\ See 50 U.S.C. 4558(h)(7).
\10\ ``[T]he individual designated by the President in
subsection (c)(2) [of section 708 of the DPA] to administer the
voluntary agreement, or plan of action.'' 50 U.S.C. 4558(h)(7).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Sponsor of the Voluntary Agreement, the FEMA Administrator,
found that these meetings to implement the Voluntary Agreement involved
matters which fall within the purview of matters described in 5 U.S.C.
552b(c) and the meetings were therefore closed to the public.
Specifically, these meetings may have required participants to
disclose trade secrets or commercial or financial information that is
privileged or confidential. Disclosure of such information allows for
meetings to be closed to the public pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 552b(c)(4).
The success of the Voluntary Agreement depends wholly on the
willing participation of the private sector participants. Failure to
close these meetings to the public could reduce active participation by
the signatories due to a perceived risk that sensitive company
information could be prematurely released to the public. A premature
public disclosure of a private sector participant's information could
reduce trust and support for the Voluntary Agreement.
[[Page 56286]]
A resulting loss of support by the participants for the Voluntary
Agreement would significantly frustrate the implementation of the
Agency's objectives. Thus, these meeting closures are permitted
pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 552b(c)(9)(B).
Deanne Criswell,
Administrator, Federal Emergency Management Agency.
[FR Doc. 2021-22069 Filed 10-7-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9111-19-P
