National Action Plan on Responsible Business Conduct: Notice of Opportunity To Submit Written Comments, 11114-11115 [2022-04178]

Download as PDF 11114 Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 39 / Monday, February 28, 2022 / Notices date will be considered, but might not be possible to fulfill. Additional information regarding this and other IMO public meetings may be found at: https://www.dco.uscg.mil/ IMO. (Authority: 22 U.S.C. 2656 and 5 U.S.C. 552) Emily A. Rose, Coast Guard Liaison Officer, Office of Ocean and Polar Affairs, Department of State. [FR Doc. 2022–04177 Filed 2–25–22; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4710–09–P DEPARTMENT OF STATE [Public Notice: 11670] International Seabed Authority ACTION: Notice of public meeting The Department of State will hold a public meeting to prepare for the meeting of the International Seabed Authority (ISA) Council to be held at ISA Headquarters, Kingston, Jamaica, from March 21–April 1, 2022. DATES: The public meeting will be held via WebEx on March 16, 2022, 3 p.m.– 4 p.m. Eastern Standard Time FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you would like to participate in this meeting, please send your (1) name, (2) organization/affiliation, and (3) email address and phone number, to Greg O’Brien at OBrienGJ@state.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Department of State will hold a public meeting at 3 p.m. EST on Wednesday, March 16, 2022, to prepare for the first part of the twenty-seventh session of the ISA Council. This public meeting will be held by way of WebEx, with a capacity of up to 1000 members of the public to participate. To RSVP, participants should contact the meeting coordinator, Greg O’Brien, by email at OBrienGJ@state.gov for log on and dialin information, and to request reasonable accommodation. Requests for reasonable accommodation received after March 11, 2022, will be considered but might not be possible to fulfill. The ISA Council will convene the first part of its twenty-seventh session on March 21–April 1, 2022, at ISA Headquarters in Kingston, Jamaica. The agenda for this session includes the Draft regulations on exploitation of mineral resources in the Area. Additional information on the ISA is available at www.isa.org.jm. We are inviting interested stakeholders to this virtual public meeting to share views about this session of the ISA Council, in particular to provide information to assist the U.S. khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES SUMMARY: VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:23 Feb 25, 2022 Jkt 256001 Government in developing its positions. We will provide a brief overview of the upcoming session and listen to the viewpoints of U.S. stakeholders. Comments are particularly welcome on the Facilitator’s text on Part IV and VI of the Draft regulations concerning protection and preservation of the marine environment and plans for closing a seabed mining area; the Facilitator’s text draws on textual proposals from ISA delegations and various proposals of the Legal and Technical Commission. The Facilitator’s text is document ISBA/27/C/IWG/ENV/ CRP.1 and can be accessed at: https:// isa.org.jm/node/20859. The information obtained from this session will help the U.S. observer delegation prepare for participation in the first part of the twenty-seventh session of the ISA Council. Gregory J. O’Brien, Acting Deputy Director, Office of Ocean and Polar Affairs, Department of State. [FR Doc. 2022–04295 Filed 2–25–22; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4710–09–P DEPARTMENT OF STATE [Public Notice 11663] Clean Energy Resources Advisory Committee ACTION: Announcement of meeting. The Department of State will host a virtual, open meeting of the Clean Energy Resources Advisory Committee (CERAC). There will not be an in-person option for this meeting. DATES: Date and Time: CERAC will meet virtually March 15, 2022 from 11:00 to 12:30 (EST). Participation: Members of the public wishing to participate must RSVP by March 8, 2022 via email to CERAC@ state.gov (subject line: RSVP). The Department will provide login information prior to the meeting. Requests for reasonable accommodation should be submitted no later than March 8, 2022. Reasonable accommodation requests received after that date will be considered, but may not be possible to fulfill. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bureau of Energy Resources Senior Energy Officer Sara Ferchichi at CERAC@state.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Purpose: This Committee will provide input and advice regarding energy minerals and metals, their supply chains, and end uses. The purpose of this inaugural meeting is to provide SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00077 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 introductions and discuss priorities for the Committee moving forward. Statements: Comments should be emailed to CERAC@state.gov with ‘‘PUBLIC COMMENT’’ as the subject line at least 48 hours before the start of the meeting. During this meeting, there will not be an option for members of the public to make oral statements. Zachary A. Parker, Director, Office of Directives Management, U.S. Department of State. [FR Doc. 2022–04091 Filed 2–25–22; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4710–AE–P DEPARTMENT OF STATE [Public Notice: 11647] National Action Plan on Responsible Business Conduct: Notice of Opportunity To Submit Written Comments On June 16, 2021, Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced on behalf of the Biden-Harris Administration that the Department will soon begin updating and revitalizing the United States’ National Action Plan on Responsible Business Conduct (NAP RBC) for U.S. businesses operating and investing abroad. This notice provides background and welcomes written comments concerning this initiative for U.S. Government agencies to take into account in developing the updated NAP RBC. Comments may concern issues addressed in the prior (2016) NAP RBC or other issues suggested as priorities. DATES: Comments must be received May 31, 2022. Logistics for submitting comments are described below. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods: • Electronic Submission: Submit all electronic public comments via the Federal eRulemaking Portal. 1. Go to www.regulations.gov/#DOS– 2022–0002. 2. Click the ‘‘Comment Now!’’ icon and complete the required fields; and 3. Enter or attach your comments. • Mail: Submit written comments to: ATTN: RBC–NAP, U.S. Department of State, Washington, DC 20520, 2201 C St. NW, Washington, DC 20520, Office of Investment Affairs (EB/IFD/OIA), Room 4669. Instructions: Comments sent by any other method, to any other address or individual, or received after the end of the comment period, may not be considered. All comments received are a part of the public record and will generally be posted for public viewing on www.regulations.gov without change. All personal identifying information SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\28FEN1.SGM 28FEN1 khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 39 / Monday, February 28, 2022 / Notices (e.g., name, address, etc.), confidential business information, or otherwise sensitive information submitted voluntarily by the sender will be publicly accessible. We will accept anonymous comments (enter ‘‘N/A’’ in the required fields if you wish to remain anonymous). SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Administration is updating the NAP RBC to show how the U.S. Government encourages businesses to achieve high standards of responsible business conduct and champions U.S. businesses that demonstrate best practices in that regard. It will also highlight what the U.S. Government is doing, including with partners, to encourage responsible business conduct by U.S. businesses operating and investing abroad. The Department of State is leading the update of the NAP RBC in coordination with the White House and other federal agencies. The process will involve U.S. private sector, civil society, and workers’ organizations, and will serve to promote RBC by U.S. businesses operating and investing abroad. The last National Action Plan—the U.S. Government’s first—was published on December 16, 2016. (See 2016 National Action Plan on Responsible Business Conduct here: https://20092017.state.gov/e/eb/eppd/csr/naprbc/ 265706.htm). RBC is a broad concept based on growing evidence that businesses can perform well while doing good, and that governments should create and facilitate the conditions for this to take place. The principles underlying this concept are encompassed in the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises. They place importance on three aspects of the business-society relationship: • Emphasizing and accentuating the positive contributions businesses can make to economic, environmental, and social progress. • Committing to robust due diligence efforts, including identifying and mitigating adverse impacts of business conduct, and remedying abuses where they occur. • Ensuring businesses are aware of and complying with legal obligations within their supply chains both at home and overseas. We are updating the NAP in light of the U.S. Government’s commitment to promoting fair play, the rule of law, and high standards for global commerce in line with democratic values and responsible business conduct. This includes supporting a foreign policy that benefits the middle class by VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:23 Feb 25, 2022 Jkt 256001 ensuring workers’ rights and a level playing field for American workers; protecting the environment; combating the climate crisis; promoting rightsrespecting technology deployment; and helping U.S. businesses to be global leaders in promoting respect for human rights and responsible business conduct in the communities where they operate. The revitalized NAP will build upon the previous framework. We are committed to coordinating and advancing policies that promote responsible business conduct by U.S. businesses operating and investing abroad, and work with all stakeholders to reach our joint goals. Further information, including Frequently Asked Questions, is available on the following website: https://www.state.gov/responsiblebusiness-conduct-national-action-plan/. For questions concerning this notice, contact the State Department’s NAP RBC team at RBCNAP@state.gov. (Authority: 22 U.S.C. 2656) Zachary A. Parker, Director, Office of Directives Management, U.S. Department of State. [FR Doc. 2022–04178 Filed 2–25–22; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4710–AE–P DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration [Docket No. FMCSA–2020–0144] [Hours of Service of Drivers: Mountain Blade Runner Helicopters, LLC (MBR Helicopters); Application for Exemption Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), Department of Transportation (DOT). ACTION: Notice of final disposition; denial of application for exemption. AGENCY: FMCSA announces its decision to deny the exemption request from Mountain Blade Runner Helicopters, LLC (MBR Helicopters) for an exemption from the hours-of-service (HOS) regulations for operators of its ground support equipment. MBR Helicopters requested relief from the 14hour ‘‘driving window’’ rule and the requirement that drivers have 10 consecutive hours off duty at the end of the work shift. The exemption would allow drivers of MBR Helicopters’ ground support equipment a 16-hour window to complete all driving and enable them to use an 8-consecutive hour off-duty break, combined with at least 2 additional off-duty hours during SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00078 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 11115 the 16-hour driving window. FMCSA analyzed the exemption application and public comments, and determined that the application lacked evidence that the exemption would ensure a level of safety equivalent to or greater than that which would be achieved absent such exemption. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Richard Clemente, FMCSA Driver and Carrier Operations Division; Office of Carrier, Driver and Vehicle Safety Standards; (202) 366–2722; MCPSD@ dot.gov. If you have questions on viewing or submitting material to the docket, contact Dockets Operations, (202) 366–9826. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: I. Public Participation Viewing Comments and Documents To view comments, as well as documents mentioned in this preamble as being available in the docket, go to www.regulations.gov and insert the docket number, FMCSA–2020–0144 in the ‘‘Keyword’’ box and click ‘‘Search.’’ Next, click the ‘‘Open Docket Folder’’ button and choose the document to review. If you do not have access to the internet, you may view the docket online by visiting the Docket Management Facility in Room W12–140 on the ground floor of the DOT West Building, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., e.t., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. To be sure someone is there to help you, please call (202) 366–9317 or (202) 366–9826 before visiting Dockets Operations. II. Legal Basis FMCSA has authority under 49 U.S.C. 31136(e) and 31315 to grant exemptions from certain Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs). FMCSA must publish a notice of each exemption request in the Federal Register (49 CFR 381.315(a)). The Agency must provide the public an opportunity to inspect the information relevant to the application, including any safety analyses that have been conducted. The Agency must also provide an opportunity for public comment on the request. The Agency reviews safety analyses and public comments submitted, and determines whether granting the exemption would likely achieve a level of safety equivalent to, or greater than, the level that would be achieved by the current regulation (49 CFR 381.305). The decision of the Agency must be published in the Federal Register (49 CFR 381.315(b)) with the reasons for denying or granting the application and, if granted, the name of the person or E:\FR\FM\28FEN1.SGM 28FEN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 39 (Monday, February 28, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11114-11115]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-04178]


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

DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice: 11647]


National Action Plan on Responsible Business Conduct: Notice of 
Opportunity To Submit Written Comments

SUMMARY: On June 16, 2021, Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced 
on behalf of the Biden-Harris Administration that the Department will 
soon begin updating and revitalizing the United States' National Action 
Plan on Responsible Business Conduct (NAP RBC) for U.S. businesses 
operating and investing abroad. This notice provides background and 
welcomes written comments concerning this initiative for U.S. 
Government agencies to take into account in developing the updated NAP 
RBC. Comments may concern issues addressed in the prior (2016) NAP RBC 
or other issues suggested as priorities.

DATES: Comments must be received May 31, 2022. Logistics for submitting 
comments are described below.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods:
     Electronic Submission: Submit all electronic public 
comments via the Federal eRulemaking Portal.
    1. Go to www.regulations.gov/#DOS-2022-0002.
    2. Click the ``Comment Now!'' icon and complete the required 
fields; and
    3. Enter or attach your comments.
     Mail: Submit written comments to: ATTN: RBC-NAP, U.S. 
Department of State, Washington, DC 20520, 2201 C St. NW, Washington, 
DC 20520, Office of Investment Affairs (EB/IFD/OIA), Room 4669.
    Instructions: Comments sent by any other method, to any other 
address or individual, or received after the end of the comment period, 
may not be considered. All comments received are a part of the public 
record and will generally be posted for public viewing on 
www.regulations.gov without change. All personal identifying 
information

[[Page 11115]]

(e.g., name, address, etc.), confidential business information, or 
otherwise sensitive information submitted voluntarily by the sender 
will be publicly accessible. We will accept anonymous comments (enter 
``N/A'' in the required fields if you wish to remain anonymous).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Administration is updating the NAP RBC 
to show how the U.S. Government encourages businesses to achieve high 
standards of responsible business conduct and champions U.S. businesses 
that demonstrate best practices in that regard. It will also highlight 
what the U.S. Government is doing, including with partners, to 
encourage responsible business conduct by U.S. businesses operating and 
investing abroad.
    The Department of State is leading the update of the NAP RBC in 
coordination with the White House and other federal agencies. The 
process will involve U.S. private sector, civil society, and workers' 
organizations, and will serve to promote RBC by U.S. businesses 
operating and investing abroad. The last National Action Plan--the U.S. 
Government's first--was published on December 16, 2016. (See 2016 
National Action Plan on Responsible Business Conduct here: https://2009-2017.state.gov/e/eb/eppd/csr/naprbc/265706.htm).
    RBC is a broad concept based on growing evidence that businesses 
can perform well while doing good, and that governments should create 
and facilitate the conditions for this to take place. The principles 
underlying this concept are encompassed in the UN Guiding Principles on 
Business and Human Rights and the OECD Guidelines for Multinational 
Enterprises. They place importance on three aspects of the business-
society relationship:
     Emphasizing and accentuating the positive contributions 
businesses can make to economic, environmental, and social progress.
     Committing to robust due diligence efforts, including 
identifying and mitigating adverse impacts of business conduct, and 
remedying abuses where they occur.
     Ensuring businesses are aware of and complying with legal 
obligations within their supply chains both at home and overseas.
    We are updating the NAP in light of the U.S. Government's 
commitment to promoting fair play, the rule of law, and high standards 
for global commerce in line with democratic values and responsible 
business conduct. This includes supporting a foreign policy that 
benefits the middle class by ensuring workers' rights and a level 
playing field for American workers; protecting the environment; 
combating the climate crisis; promoting rights-respecting technology 
deployment; and helping U.S. businesses to be global leaders in 
promoting respect for human rights and responsible business conduct in 
the communities where they operate.
    The revitalized NAP will build upon the previous framework. We are 
committed to coordinating and advancing policies that promote 
responsible business conduct by U.S. businesses operating and investing 
abroad, and work with all stakeholders to reach our joint goals.
    Further information, including Frequently Asked Questions, is 
available on the following website: https://www.state.gov/responsible-business-conduct-national-action-plan/.
    For questions concerning this notice, contact the State 
Department's NAP RBC team at [email protected].

(Authority: 22 U.S.C. 2656)

Zachary A. Parker,
Director, Office of Directives Management, U.S. Department of State.
[FR Doc. 2022-04178 Filed 2-25-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-AE-P
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