Department of Defense May 2005 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

Pursuant to Section 10(a), Public Law 92-463, as amended, notice is hereby given of a forthcoming meeting of the Defense Department Advisory Committee on Women in the Services (DACOWITS). The purpose of the Committee meeting is to discuss the 2004 DACOWITS Report. The meeting is open to the public, subject to the availability of space. Interested persons may submit a written statement for consideration by the Committee and make an oral presentation of such. Persons desiring to make an oral presentation or submit a written statement to the Committee must notify the point of contact listed below no later than 5 p.m., May 9, 2005. Oral presentations by members of the public will be permitted only on Monday, May 16, 2005, from 4:45 p.m. to 5 p.m. before the full Committee. Presentations will be limited to two minutes. Number of oral presentations to be made will depend on the number of requests received from members of the public. Each persons desiring to make an oral presentation must provide the point of contact listed below with one (1) copy of the presentation by 5 p.m., May 9, 2005 and bring 35 copies of any material that is intended for distribution at the meeting. Persons submitting a written statement must submit 35 copies of the statement to the DACOWITS staff by 5 p.m. on May 9, 2004.

Under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35), the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Secretariat will be submitting to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) a request to review and approve an extension of a currently approved information collection requirement concerning U.S. Flag Air Carriers Certification. The clearance currently expires on August 31, 2005. Public comments are particularly invited on: Whether this collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of functions of the FAR, and whether it will have practical utility; whether our estimate of the public burden of this collection of information is accurate, and based on valid assumptions and methodology; ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and ways in which we can minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond, through the use of appropriate technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology.

The Department of Defense Explosives Safety Board (DDESB) is announcing several changes to Department of Defense 6055.9-Standard, dated July 1999. The DDESB is republishing the Standard dated 5 October 2004 with all changes adopted by the Board since the 1999 edition. The DDESB is taking this action pursuant to its statutory authority as set forth in Title 10, United States Code, Section 172 (10 U.S.C. 172) and DoD Directive 6055.9, ``DoD Explosives Safety Board (DDESB) and DoD Component Explosives Safety Responsibilities,'' 29 Jul 1996. The Standard to the Office of the Secretary of Defense, the Military Departments (including the Army and Air Force National Guards), the Defense Threat Reduction Agency, the Defense Logistics Agency, the Defense Contract Management Agency, the Coast Guard (when under DoD control), and other parties who produce or manage ammunition and explosives under contract to the DoD. Through DoD 6055.9-STD the DDESB establishes minimum explosives safety requirements for storing and handling ammunition and explosives.

In accordance with 37 CFR part 404.6, announcement is made of the availability for licensing of U.S. Patent No. US 6,860,156 B1 entitled ``Electrospun Fibers and an Apparatus Therefor'' issued June 22, 2004. This patent has been assigned to the United States Government as represented by the Secretary of the Navy.

The Department of the Navy published a document in the Federal Register of April 26, 2005, announcing a closed meeting of the CNO Executive Panel. The document contained incorrect date and time.

The inventions listed below are assigned to the United States Government, as represented by the Secretary of the Navy and are available for licensing by the Department of the Navy. U.S. Patent No. 6,879,011 entitled ``Magnetically Shielded Circuit Board'' and U.S. Patent Application No. 11/108,150 entitled ``Method for Field Calibrating an Ion Spectrometer''.

The Per Diem, Travel and Transportation Allowance Committee is publishing Civilian Personnel Per Diem Bulletin Number 239. This bulletin lists revisions in the per diem rates prescribed for U.S. Government employees for official travel in Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, the Northern Mariana Islands and Possessions of the United States. AEA changes announced in Bulletin Number 194 remain in effect. Bulletin Number 239 is being published in the Federal Register to assure that travelers are paid per diem at the most current rates.

Under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35), the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Secretariat will be submitting to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) a request to review and approve an extension of a currently approved information collection requirement concerning bankruptcy. The clearance currently expires on June 30, 2005. Public comments are particularly invited on: Whether this collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of functions of the FAR, and whether it will have practical utility; whether our estimate of the public burden of this collection of information is accurate, and based on valid assumptions and methodology; ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and ways in which we can minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond, through the use of appropriate technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology.

Under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35), the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Secretariat will be submitting to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) a request to review and approve an extension of a currently approved information collection requirement concerning freight classification description. The clearance currently expires on July 31, 2005. Public comments are particularly invited on: Whether this collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of functions of the FAR, and whether it will have practical utility; whether our estimate of the public burden of this collection of information is accurate, and based on valid assumptions and methodology; ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and ways in which we can minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond, through the use of appropriate technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology.

DoD has issued a final rule amending the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) to address issues related to contract performance outside the United States. The rule contains a clause for use in contracts that require contractor personnel to deploy with or otherwise provide support in the theater of operations to U.S. military forces deployed outside the United States in contingency operations, humanitarian or peacekeeping operations, or other military operations or exercises designated by the combatant commander.

DoD is making a technical amendment to the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) to add a reference to new DFARS Procedures, Guidance, and Information (PGI) requirements relating to the publication of justifications for use of brand name contract specifications.

This notice sets forth the schedules and summary for the forthcoming meetings of the BRAC. The purposes of these meetings are to receive testimony from the Secretary of Defense, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS), or their representatives; the Department of the Air Force; the Department of the Navy; the Department of the Army; and the Department of Defense's Joint Cross Service Groups on the recommendations and methodology regarding the closure and realignment of military installations. The Commission Chairman, Anthony J. Principi, will chair the hearings.

Pursuant to the provisions of subsection (d) of section 10 of Pub. L. 92-463, as amended by section 5 of Pub. L. 94-409, notice is hereby given that a closed meeting of the DIA Joint Military Intelligence College Board of Visitors has been scheduled as follows:

Pursuant to the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), as amended, notice is hereby given that the Defense Base Closure and Realignment Commission will hold Commission Meetings on Tuesday, May 3, 2005 and Wednesday, May 4, 2005. In accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act of 1972, as amended, it has been determined that the part of the Commission's Meeting on May 4, 2005 concerns matters sensitive to the interest of national security and will be closed to the public as authorized by 5 U.S.C. 552B(c)(1)(1982). With the exception of a partial closed meeting on May 4, 2005 both Commission Meetings will be open to the public. On May 4, 2005, the first hour of the Commission Meeting will be open to the public, and following the first hour of the Meeting the Commission will close the Meeting to the public to receive classified briefings from the Department of Defense. This notice is being published in less than the 15-calendar days required by law due to the delay in the establishment of the Commission and Commission staff. With the exception of receiving classified briefings on May 4th, the Commission, in keeping with the spirit and intent of the Federal Advisory Committee Act of 1972, and subject to the availability of space will open its Meetings to the public and provide them an opportunity to observe the proceedings of the Commission. The morning session on May 3, 2005 will consist of the swearing in of the Commissioners; presentation on the BRAC Schedule, Defense Base Closure and Realignment Act of 1990 (as amended through fiscal year 2005 Defense Authorization Act), and previous BRAC efforts by the Congressional Research Service and the General Accountability Office. The afternoon session on May 3, 2005 will discuss the current and long-term threat confronting U.S. National Security by the Director of National Intelligence or his designate(s). On May 4, 2005 the Commission Meeting will involve discussions with senior Defense officials on the DoD Force Structure Plan and the Secretary of Defense Guidance on the Quadrennial Review. Following an unclassified discussion with the senior Defense officials the Commission will close the Meeting and hear classified briefings from these Defense officials.

Pursuant to the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), Public Law 96-463, notice is hereby given that the Defense Task Force on Sexual Harassment and Violence at the Military Service Academies will hold an open meeting at The Thayer Hotel, 674 Thayer Road, West Point, New York 10996, on May 2, 2005 from 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. instead of 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Purpose: The Task Force will meet on May 2, 2005, from 1 p.m. until 3:30 p.m., and this session will be open to the public, subject to the availability of space. In keeping with the spirit of the Federal Advisory Committee Act, it is the desire of the Task Force to provide the public with an opportunity to make comment regarding the current work of the Task Force. The first hour of the meeting will be designated for public comment. The Superintendent of the U.S. Military Academy will also be provided the opportunity to update the Task Force on the U.S. Military Academy's response to sexual harassment and assault. The Task Force will deliberate, as necessary, based upon the information provided by Academy representatives or members of the public who make comment. Any interested citizens are encouraged to attend.

The action being taken is an Environmental Impact Statement/ Environmental Impact Report (EIS/EIR) to address potential improvements to the existing flood management systems along the American River. This portion of the Lower American River Common Features project is located in Sacramento County. The Corps of Engineers is in the process of completing slurry wall work on approximately 26 miles of levee along the American River. In 1996, Congress authorized the raising of levees along the American River in the Mayhew Drain area under the American River Common Features project. Subsequently, section 366 of the Water Resources Development Act of 1999 authorized the raising of the left bank of the non-Federal levee upstream of the Mayhew Drain for a distance of 4,300 feet and the installation of gates to the existing Mayhew Drain culvert.

Under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35), the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Secretariat will be submitting to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) a request to review and approve an extension of a currently approved information collection requirement concerning anti-kickback procedures. The clearance currently expires on June 30, 2005. Public comments are particularly invited on: Whether this collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of functions of the FAR, and whether it will have practical utility; whether our estimate of the public burden of this collection of information is accurate, and based on valid assumptions and methodology; ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and ways in which we can minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond, through the use of appropriate technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology.