Department of Defense September 2006 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

Pursuant to Section 102(2)(c) of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, as implemented by the Council on Environmental Quality Regulations (40 CFR pts 1500-1508), and Executive Order (EO) 12114, ``Environmental Effects Abroad of Major Federal Actions'' (44 Fed. Reg. 62,18722 (Mar. 29, 1979)), the Department of the Navy (DON) announces its intent to prepare a combined NEPA EIS and EO 12114, OEIS, to evaluate the potential environmental consequences associated with mine warfare (MIW) and antisubmarine warfare (ASW) active sonar training exercises along the east coast and Gulf of Mexico. The MIW/ASW sonar training exercises include Independent Unit Level Training, Coordinated Unit Level Training, and Strike Group Training exercises. These active sonar training exercises include air, surface, and subsurface sonar platforms that are manned by personnel who require training in order to maintain certification and readiness for deployment. Additionally, effective MIW and ASW are dependent on training involving coordination among these platforms. The EIS/OEIS will consider two Action Alternatives to accomplish these objectives, in addition to the No Action Alternative.

This rule identifies policy and assigns responsibilities for settling personnel and general claims and for processing requests for an advance decision. The Legislative Branch Appropriations Act of 1996 transferred to the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) the Comptroller General's authority to settle claims. The OMB Director subsequently delegated some of these authorities to the Department of Defense (DoD). Later, the General Accounting Office Act of 1996 codified many of these delegations to the Secretary of Defense and others and transferred to the OMB Director the authority of the Comptroller General to waive uniformed service member and employee debts arising out of the erroneous payment of pay or allowances exceeding $1,500. The OMB Director subsequently delegated the authority to waive such debts of uniformed service members and DoD employees to the Secretary of Defense. The Secretary of Defense further delegated his claims settlement and waiver authorities to the General Counsel. This rule implements the reassignment of the Comptroller General's former duties within the Department of Defense with little impact on the public. On Thursday, November 14, 2002, the Department of Defense published appropriate proposed rules with request for public comments. Formatting and editorial changes were made to create this final document, including acknowledging that the Coast Guard is now part of the Department of Homeland Security rather than the Department of Transportation. Although these changes were made in 2003, the request for publication of these regulations was inadvertently misplaced until now. Effective Date: September 29, 2006.

The Defense Science Board Task Force on Directed Energy will meet in closed session on September 28, 2006, at the Institute for Defense Analysis, 1801 N. Beauregard Street, Alexandria, VA. The task force will review directed energy weapon systems and technology applications. The mission of the Defense Science Board is to advise the Secretary of Defense and the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology & Logistics on scientific and technical matters as they affect the perceived needs of the Department of Defense. At these meetings, the Defense Science Board Task Force will: Review all surface, sub-surface, air and space DE programs in The Department and other organizations; examine recent supporting technology advancements and their applications with respect to supporting military DE weapon system developments; as well as make recommendations on potential strategic advantage DE weapons can provide with regards to the delivery of precision effects, decreased collateral damage, limiting unintended effects, and decreasing post combat reconstitution costs and efforts. In accordance with Section 10(d) of the Federal Advisory Committee Act, Pub L. 92-463, as amended (5 U.S.C. App. II), it has been determined that these Defense Science Board Task Force meetings concern matters listed in 5 U.S.C. 552b(c)(1) and that, accordingly, the meeting will be closed to the public.

The Defense Science Board Task Force on Biometrics will meet in closed session on September 28-29, 2006, at Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC), 4001 N. Fairfax Drive, Arlington, VA. This meeting will define the role of biometrics technologies and capabilities within DoD's Space. It will also recommend best organizational fit within DoD to implement the biometric and identify dominance missions. The briefings will contain proprietary material from the private business sector. The mission of the Defense Science Board is to advise the Secretary of Defense and the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology & Logistics on scientific and technical matters as they affect the perceived needs of the Department of Defense. At this meeting, the Defense Science Board Task Force will: Identify the biometric mission space metrics across the major applications (e.g. physical and logical access, intelligence, data sharing, Homeland Defense, force protection/counter terrorism, privacy protection, administrative and business practices-pay, human resource, medical, digital signature, etc.). Additionally the task force will develop a methodology to address needed taxonomy and policy development activities within the Department of Defense and identify the activities required for effective operational support and organizations structure to support these activities. In accordance with Section 10(d) of the Federal Advisory Committee Act, Pub. L. No. 92-463, as amended (5 U.S.C. App. II), it has been determined that these Defense Science Board Task Force meetings concern matters listed in 5 U.S.C. 552b(c)(4) and that, accordingly, the meetings will be closed to the public.

This Notice is published in accordance with Section 10(a)(2) of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (P.L. 92-463). The topic of the meeting on October 17-19, 2006 are to review new start and continuing research and development projects requesting Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program funds in excess of $1M. This meeting is open to the public . Any interested person may attend, appear before, or file statements with the Scientific Advisory Board at the time and in the manner permitted by the Board.

Pursuant to 10 U.S.C. 2869(d)(1) the Department of the Army (Army) is providing notice of its intent to convey the ``Drum Stick'' parcel of the former Fort Ord, located in Monterey County, CA in return for the ``Stillwell Kidney'' parcel owned by the City of Seaside. Fort Ord was selected for closure by the Base Realignment and Closure Commission in 1991. The Drum Stick parcel is an undeveloped, densely- vegetated 11.28-acre property adjacent to California State Route 1 on the former Fort Ord. the Stillwell Kidney parcel currently contains approximately 400 abandoned housing units. Under 10 U.S.C. 2869, the Army is authorized to enter into an agreement to convey real property, including any improvements thereon, located on a military installation that is closed or realigned under a Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) Act to any person who agrees to convey to the Army real property of at least equal value. The Army has concluded that the Stillwell Kidney parcel has a fair market value that is at least equal to that of the Drum Stick parcel.

This document is issued under the joint authority of the Secretary of Defense, the Administrator of General Services and the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. This Small Entity Compliance Guide has been prepared in accordance with Section 212 of the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996. It consists of a summary of rules appearing in Federal Acquisition Circular (FAC) 2005-13 which amend the FAR. An asterisk (*) next to a rule indicates that a regulatory flexibility analysis has been prepared. Interested parties may obtain further information regarding these rules by referring to FAC 2005-13 which precedes this document. These documents are also available via the Internet at https://www.regulations.gov.

The Civilian Agency Acquisition Council and the Defense Acquisition Regulations Council (Councils) have agreed to convert to a final rule without change, an interim rule amending the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) to implement Section 535(a) of Division F of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2004, and similar sections in subsequent appropriations acts. Section 535(a) authorizes an exception to the Buy American Act for acquisitions of information technology that are commercial items.

The Civilian Agency Acquisition Council and the Defense Acquisition Regulations Council (Councils) have adopted as final, without change, an interim rule amending the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) to implement the increased thresholds for the World Trade Organization Government Procurement Agreement and Free Trade Agreements.

The Civilian Agency Acquisition Council and the Defense Acquisition Regulations Council (Councils) have agreed on an interim rule amending the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) to address the record retention policy where the Online Representations and Certifications Application (ORCA) is used to submit an offeror's representations and certification.

The Civilian Agency Acquisition Council and the Defense Acquisition Regulations Council (Councils) have agreed to amend the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) to require agencies to publish on the Governmentwide point of entry (GPE) or e-Buy the documentation required by the FAR to support the use of brand name specifications.

The Department of Defense is publishing the unclassified text of a section 36(b)(1) arms sales notification. This is published to fulfill the requirements of section 155 of Public Law 104-164 dated 21 July 1996.

The Department of Defense is publishing the unclassified text of a section 36(b)(1) arms sales notification. This is published to fulfill the requirements of section 155 of Public Law 104-164 dated 21 July 1996.

On Thursday, August 17, 2006 (71 FR 47491) the Department of Defense announced a meeting of the Defense Science Board (DSB) Task Force on Defense Industrial Structure for Transformation. The October 2006 meeting date have been revised from October 10, 2006 to October 10 and 11, 2006. The task force will meet in closed session. The meeting will be held at the Pentagon on October 10, 2006; and Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC), 4001 N. Fairfax Drive, Arlington, VA on October 11, 2006.

On September 20, 2006, the Department of Defense published a notice of meeting (71 FR 54980) scheduled for September 28, 2006. Due to inability to achieve a quorum the meeting was cancelled. This notice announces the cancellation. This meeting may be rescheduled and announced at a later date.

The inventions listed below are assigned to the U.S. Government as represented by the Secretary of the Navy and are available for domestic and foreign licensing by the Department of the Navy. U.S. Patent No. 6,865,455: MAGNETIC ANOMALY GUIDANCE SYSTEM AND METHOD.//U.S. Patent No. 6,868,360: SMALL HEAD-MOUNTED COMPASS SYSTEM WITH OPTICAL DISPLAY.//U.S. Patent No. 6,868,197: CONNECTOR-LESS HIGH SPEED UNDERWATER DATA INTERFACE.//U.S. Patent No. 6,870,534: METHOD OF SIMULATING EXPLOSIVE PERFORMANCE.//U.S. Patent No. 6,879,544: MANATEE VOCALIZATION DETECTION METHOD AND SYSTEM.//U.S. Patent No. 6,879,397: LIGHT SCATTERING DETECTOR.//U.S. Patent No. 6,879,547: COMBINED STABILIZATION BRACKET AND MINE SYSTEM FOR GATHERING UNDERSEA DATA.// U.S. Patent No.6,883,390: INSTRUMENT FOR MEASURING WATER-SPRAY BLAST FORCE.//U.S. Patent No. 6,888,353: MAGNETIC ANOMALY HOMING SYSTEM AND METHOD USING MAGNETIC TOTAL FIELD SCALARS.//U.S. Patent No. 6,893,540: HIGH TEMPERATURE PELTIER EFFECT WATER DISTILLER.//U.S. Patent No. 6,907,326: AUTONOMOUS SURF ZONE LINE CHARGE DEPLOYMENT SYSTEM.//U.S. Patent No. 6,927,790: DIGITAL CAMERA SYSTEM PROVIDING FOR CONTROL OF A CAMERA'S OPERATIONAL PARAMETERS AND IMAGE CAPTURE.//U.S. Patent No. 6,931,339: COMPASS AND COMMUNICATION SYSTEM.//U.S. Patent No. 6,934,633: HELMET-MOUNTED PARACHUTIST NAVIGATION SYSTEM.//U.S. Patent No. 6,944,816: AUTOMATED SYSTEM FOR PERFORMING KEPNER TREGOE ANALYSIS FOR SPREAD SHEET OUTPUT.//U.S. Patent No. 6,945,187: INSTRIDE INFLATABLE AUTONOMOUS FUEL DEPOT.//U.S. Patent No. 6,957,132: METHOD OF GUIDING A VEHICLE TO A POSITION.//U.S. Patent No. 6,957,651: SYSTEM FOR SIMULATING METABOLIC CONSUMPTION OF OXYGEN.//U.S. Patent No. 6,963,263: NON-CONTACT ELECTRICAL ENERGY TRANSFER SYSTEM.//U.S. Patent No. 6,970,578: METHOD OF GENERATING IMAGES TO AID IN THE DETECTION OF MANMADE OBJECTS IN CLUTTERED UNDERWATER ENVIRONMENTS.//U.S. Patent No. 6,982,790: COHERENT IMAGING IN TURBID MEDIA.//U.S. Patent No. 6,990,239: FEATURE-BASED DETECTION AND CONTEXT DISCRIMINATE CLASSIFICATION FOR KNOWN IMAGE STRUCTURES.//U.S. Patent No. 6,994,048: FLOATING LOW DENSITY CONCRETE BARRIER.//U.S. Patent No. 6,997,218: INFLATABLE BODY ARMOR SYSTEM.//U.S. Patent No. 6,999,624: CONTEXT DISCRIMINATE CLASSIFICATION FOR DIGITAL IMAGES.//U.S. Patent No. 6,999,625: FEATURE-BASED DETECTION AND CONTEXT DISCRIMINATE CLASSIFICATION FOR DIGITAL IMAGES.//U.S. Patent No. 7,002,681: SPECTROSCOPY SYSTEM FOR THE DETECTION OF CHEMICALS.//U.S. Patent No. 7,004,039: AMBIENT PRESSURE COMPENSATED TACTILE SENSOR.//U.S. Patent No. 7,010,401: SYSTEM FOR GUIDING A VEHICLE TO A POSITION.//U.S. Patent No. 7,007,569: TELESCOPING AND LOCKING LEVER ARM.//U.S. Patent No. 7,025,931: METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR REDUCING OXYGEN IN A CLOSED ENVIRONMENT.//U.S. Patent No. 7,036,894: TANDEM DRIVE FOR TRACKED VEHICLES.//U.S. Patent No. 7,038,458: MAGNETIC ANOMALY HOMING SYSTEM AND METHOD USING ROTATIONALLY INVARIANT SCALAR CONTRACTIONS OF MAGNETIC GRADIENT TENSORS.//U.S. Patent No. 7,038,639: DISPLAY SYSTEM FOR FULL FACE MASKS.//U.S. Patent No. 7,039,367: COMMUNICATIONS USING UNMANNED SURFACE VEHICLES AND UNMANNED MICRO-AERIAL VEHICLES.//U.S. Patent No. 7,039,506: LIGHT SYSTEM FOR DEFINING LINE OF APPROACH.//U.S. Patent No. 7,068,819: SYSTEM FOR STORING GEOSPECIFIC DATA.//

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) is soliciting comments for the reissuance of the existing nationwide permits (NWPs), general conditions, and definitions, with some modifications. The Corps is also proposing to issue six new NWPs and one new general condition. The reissuance process starts with today's publication of the proposed NWPs in the Federal Register for a 60-day comment period. The purpose of this Federal Register notice is to solicit comments on the proposed new and modified NWPs, as well as the NWP general conditions and definitions. Shortly after the publication of this Federal Register notice, each Corps district will publish a public notice to solicit comments on their proposed regional conditions for the new and modified NWPs. The comment period for these district public notices will be 45 days.

The Department of the Navy is amending a system of records notice in its existing inventory of record systems subject to the Privacy Act of 1974, (5 U.S.C. 552a), as amended.

In accordance with the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Huntington District has prepared a Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS). This FEIS evaluates potential impacts to the natural, physical and human environment as a result of the proposed mining activities associated with the Mingo Logan's proposed Spruce No. 1 Mine. The USACE regulates this proposed project pursuant to Section 404 of the Clean Water Act. The proposed activity would involve the discharge of dredged and fill material into waters of the United States associated with the proposed construction and operation of a bituminous coal mine. The document was prepared following a public review and a 60-day comment period on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS), during which time a public hearing meeting was held on May 1, 2006. The meeting was held at the Earl Ray Tomlin Convention Center in Chapmanville, Logan County, WV.

The Department of the Navy is amending a system of records notice in its existing inventory of record systems subject to the Privacy Act of 1974, (5 U.S.C. 552a), as amended.

The Department of the Navy is amending a system of records notice in its existing inventory of record systems subject to the Privacy Act of 1974, (5 U.S.C. 552a), as amended.

The Per Diem, Travel and Transportation Allowance Committee is publishing Civilian Personnel Per Diem Bulletin Number 249. 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 249 is being published in the Federal Register to assure that travelers are paid per diem at the most current rates.

The Secretary of the Navy's Advisory Subcommittee on Naval History, a subcommittee of the Department of Defense Historical Advisory Committee, will meet to review naval historical activities since the last meeting of the Advisory Subcommittee on Naval History, which was conducted on September 29 and September 30, 2005, and to make comments and recommendations on these activities to the Secretary of the Navy. The meetings will be open to the public.

The Department of the Navy is amending a system of records notice in its existing inventory of record systems subject to the Privacy Act of 1974, (5 U.S.C. 552a), as amended.

This notice informs the public that the Global Positioning Systems Wing (GPSW) (formerly the GPS Joint Program Office) will be hosting a technical working group meeting to discuss the new L1C signal as specified in Draft IS-GPS-800, Navstar GPS Space Segment/Navigation User L1C Interfaces. The discussion will include addressing those comments submitted from the ICWG review of the Draft IS-GPS-800. For those who would like to attend and participate in this ICWG meeting, you are requested to register to attend the meeting by 22 September 2006. Please send the registration to IG2@arinc.com and provide your name, organization, telephone number, address, and country of citizenship. For those who would like to present material related to the L1C signal or IS-GPS-800 at the meeting, please submit your agenda item and required length of presentation time to IG2@arinc.com by 22 September 2006. The actual presentation material must also submit by 22 September 2006. More information, including a preliminary agenda, will be posted on the GPSW Public ICWG Web site: https:// gps.losangeles.af.mil/engineering/icwg/.