Department of Defense September 19, 2008 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Department of Defense is considering recommending changes to the Manual for Courts-Martial, United States (2008 ed.) (MCM). The proposed changes constitute the 2008 annual review required by the MCM and DoD Directive 5500.17, ``Role and Responsibilities of the Joint Service Committee (JSC) on Military Justice,'' May 3, 2003. The proposed changes concern the rules of procedure and evidence and the punitive articles applicable in trials by courts-martial. These proposed changes have not been coordinated within the Department of Defense under DoD Directive 5500.1, ``Preparation, Processing and Coordinating Legislation, Executive Orders, Proclamations, Views Letters and Testimony,'' June 15, 2007, and do not constitute the official position of the Department of Defense, the Military Departments, or any other Government agency. This notice also sets forth the date, time and location for the public meeting of the JSC to discuss the proposed changes. This notice is provided in accordance with DoD Directive 5500.17, ``Role and Responsibilities of the Joint Service Committee (JSC) on Military Justice,'' May 3, 2003. This notice is intended only to improve the internal management of the Federal Government. It is not intended to create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law by any party against the United States, its agencies, its officers, or any person. In accordance with paragraph III.B.4 of the Internal Organization and Operating Procedures of the JSC, the committee also invites members of the public to suggest changes to the Manual for Courts-Martial in accordance with the described format.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps), Mobile District, issued a Notice of Intent (NOI) in the Federal Register (73 FR 9780) published on February 22, 2008, describing the preparation of a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), as required by the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) to address the proposed update of the Water Control Manual (WCM) for the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint (ACF) River Basin located in Georgia, Florida, and Alabama. The Corps will hold five public scoping meetings during the month of October as part of its review and update of the WCM for the ACF River Basin. The public is invited to attend the scoping meetings which will provide information on the WCM update process and afford the opportunity to receive input from the public about their issues and concerns regarding that process. All five public meetings will be held using an open house format, allowing time for participants to review specific information and to provide comments to the resource staff attending the meeting.