Department of Defense September 30, 2015 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Department of the Army announces a proposed public information collection and seeks public comment on the provisions thereof. Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information shall have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed information collection; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the information collection on respondents, including through the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology.

The Office of the Secretary of Defense proposes to add a new system of records, DPFPA 07, entitled ``Counterintelligence Management Information System (CIMIS)'' to conduct and exercise overall responsibility within PFPA for all matters pertaining to acts involving counterintelligence (CI) activities against PFPA employees, U.S. property, or interests. Also used as a management tool for statistical analysis, tracking, reporting, evaluating program effectiveness, and conducting research.

The Department of Defense is publishing this notice to announce an open meeting of the Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program, Scientific Advisory Board (SAB). This meeting will be open to the public.

DoD is proposing to amend the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) to clarify clauses and their prescriptions for small business programs and to create a basic and alternate clause structured in a manner to facilitate use of automated contract writing systems. The rule also includes the full text of the alternate, rather than only providing the paragraphs that differ from the basic clause. The rule also clarifies one clause that is an alternate to a Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) clause.

DoD is issuing a final rule amending the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) to establish that the Electronic Data Access system is the primary tool for distributing contracts and contract data and to provide internal control procedures for data verification to ensure contract documents in the Electronic Data Access system are accurate representations of original documents. This rule also removes outmoded language that is not consistent with electronic document processes.

In compliance with section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. chapter 35), DoD announces the proposed extension of a public information collection requirement and seeks public comment on the provisions thereof. DoD invites comments on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of DoD, including whether the information will have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the estimate of the burden of the proposed information collection; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the information collection on respondents, including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology. The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has approved this information collection for use through January 31, 2016. DoD proposes that OMB extend its approval for use for three additional years beyond the current expiration date.

The Department of the Army is publishing this notice to announce the following Federal advisory committee meeting of the Honor Subcommittee of the Advisory Committee on Arlington National Cemetery (ACANC). The meeting is open to the public. For more information about the Committee and the Honor Subcommittee, please visit https:// www.arlingtoncemetery.mil/AboutUs/FocusAreas.aspx.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Department of the Army announces a proposed public information collection and seeks public comment on the provisions thereof. Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information shall have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed information collection; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the information collection on respondents, including through the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology.

The Department of the Army is publishing this notice to announce the following Federal advisory committee meeting of the Explore Subcommittee of the Advisory Committee on Arlington National Cemetery (ACANC). The meeting is open to the public. For more information about the Committee and the Explore Subcommittee, please visit https://www.arlingtoncemetery.mil/AboutUs/FocusAreas.aspx.

The comment period for the Draft Feasibility Study With Integrated Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), Ala Wai Canal Project, Oahu, HI published in the Federal Register on Friday, August 21, 2015 (80 FR 50832), required comments be submitted by October 7, 2015. The comment period has been extended to November 9, 2015.

The DoD is publishing this notice to announce a meeting of the National Commission on the Future of the Army (``the Commission''). The meeting will be partially closed to the public.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) announces a proposed public information collection and seeks public comment on the provisions thereof. Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information shall have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed information collection; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the information collection on respondents, including through the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology.

The Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD) is exempting those records contained in DPFPA 06, entitled ``Internal Affairs Records System,'' pertaining to open or closed investigatory material compiled for law enforcement purposes (under (j)(2) of the Act) to enable OSD to conduct certain internal affairs investigations, relay law enforcement information without compromise of the information, protect investigative techniques and efforts employed, as well as open or closed investigatory material compiled for law enforcement purposes (under (k)(2) of the Act), other than material within the scope of subsection (j)(2) of the Privacy Act to enable the protection of identities of confidential informants who might not otherwise come forward and who furnished information under an express promise that the informant's identity would be held in confidence. This exemption rule will allow the Pentagon Force Protection Agency to ensure the integrity of the Internal Affairs investigative process, including certain reciprocal investigations, by preventing the subject of the record from using the Privacy Act to learn of the existence of open investigations, thereby compromising investigative techniques, or open and closed investigations which place confidential informants in jeopardy who furnished information under an express promise that the informant's identity would be held in confidence. Further, requiring the Pentagon Force Protection Agency to grant access to records and amend these records would unfairly impede the investigation. To confirm or deny the existence of a record pertaining to an open investigation a requesting individual may in itself provide an answer to that individual. The investigation of possible unlawful activities would be jeopardized by agency rules requiring verification of record, disclosure of the record to the subject, and record amendment procedures.