Department of Defense March 2016 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) intends to prepare a Draft Integrated Feasibility Report and Environmental Impact Statement (DIFR-EIS) for the Coastal Texas Protection and Restoration Feasibility Study. This study will identify and evaluate the feasibility of developing a comprehensive plan for flood risk management, hurricane and storm risk management, and ecosystem restoration for the coastal areas of the State of Texas. The study will focus on providing for the protection, conservation, and restoration of wetlands, barrier islands, shorelines, and related lands and features that protect critical resources, habitat, and infrastructure from the impacts of coastal storms, hurricanes, erosion, and subsidence. This notice announces the USACE's intent to determine the scope of the issues to be addressed and for identifying the significant resources related to a proposed action.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the DFAS 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.

This rule contains amendments for policy changes and clarification and deletions for the Air Force guidance on Administrative claims and Personnel and Carrier Recovery Claims. The rule relates to the Air Force processes for claims filed for and against the Air Force as well as Air Force processes for filing personnel and carrier recovery claims.

The Department of the Army is publishing this notice to announce the following Federal advisory committee meeting of the Chief of Engineers, Environmental Advisory Board (EAB). This meeting is open to the public. For additional information about the EAB, please visit the committee's Web site at https://www.usace.army.mil/Missions/ Environmental/EnvironmentalAdvisoryBoard.aspx.

This rule adopts as final, with minor administrative changes, an interim rule of the Department of the Army to amend its regulation concerning law enforcement reporting for a number of statutory requirements to better coordinate law enforcement work and personnel both within the Department of the Army, across the Department of Defense (DoD), and with other Federal, State, and local law enforcement officials. The Department of the Army is making minor administrative changes based on the name change of a form and reporting system mentioned in the rule. The Centralized Operations Police Suite (COPS) Military Police Reporting System (MPRS) name is changed to Army Law Enforcement Reporting and Tracking System (ALERTS). The Department of the Army Form 3975, ``Military Police Report'' name was changed to ``Law Enforcement Report''.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness 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.

This notice is to advise interested parties of a Military Health System (MHS) demonstration project under the authority of Title 10, United States Code, Section 1092, entitled TRICARE Bundled Payment for Lower Extremity Joint Replacement or Reattachment (LEJR) Surgeries that will test bundled payment and quality measurement on an ``episode of care'' basis to encourage hospitals, physicians, and post-acute care providers to work together to improve the quality and coordination of care from the initial hospitalization through recovery. This demonstration is being conducted in compliance with Section 726 of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for 2016. This particular TRICARE demonstration will be based on Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services' (CMS) Comprehensive Care for Joint Replacement (CJR) Model, which will be implemented in 67 metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) beginning April 1, 2016. CMS's CJR Model is designed to promote better and more efficient care for beneficiaries undergoing LEJR surgery (DRG 469 (major joint replacement or reattachment of lower extremity with major complications or comorbidities) or 470 (major joint replacement or reattachment of lower extremity without major complications or comorbidities)). Participant hospitals in the CMS model will be held financially accountable for the quality and cost of the entire episode of care, which begins with hospital admission of a beneficiary and ends 90 days post-discharge in order to cover all related costs for the complete recovery period. This ``bundled'' episode includes all related items and services paid under Medicare Part A and Part B for all Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries. The TRICARE demonstration project will test this value-based payment model in the Tampa-St. Petersburg MSA for DRG 470 only (including 90 days of related post-operative care) to assess whether value-driven bundled payment incentives will result in a reduction in the rate of increase in health care spending and improvements in health care quality, patient experience of care, and overall health of TRICARE beneficiaries. All network and non-network hospitals with at least 20 TRICARE admissions for DRG 470 over the three years of Fiscal Year (FY) 2013, 2014, and 2015 shall be required to participate in the demonstration project (excluding admissions for beneficiaries with primary Other Health Insurance (OHI), Active Duty Service Members (ADSMs), and Medicare-TRICARE dual eligible beneficiaries). Once selected for participation, hospitals will remain in the project throughout the duration of this demonstration (regardless of actual TRICARE utilization) unless the Government directs otherwise.

The U.S. Air Force has requested that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) disestablish the existing danger zone located in the Bering Sea near Shemya Island, Alaska. The danger zone was established on September 28, 1971. The purpose of the danger zone was to protect persons and property from dangers encountered in the area associated with the launching of weather rockets. The facility has not been used for this activity since the mid-1980s. As a result of the discontinued use of this area, the Air Force has requested the danger zone be disestablished.

DoD is proposing to amend the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) to implement a section of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016 that amends the allowability of costs of counterfeit electronic parts or suspect counterfeit electronic parts and the cost of rework or corrective action that may be required to remedy the use or inclusion of such parts.

DoD is proposing to amend the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) to add instructions for utilizing the Wide Area WorkFlow Reparable Receiving Report.

DoD is issuing a final rule amending the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) to delete obsolete text requiring the use of fire-resistant rayon fiber.

DoD is issuing a final rule amending the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) to clarify clauses and their prescriptions for small business programs and to create basic and alternate clauses structured in a manner to facilitate use of automated contract writing systems.

DoD is issuing a final rule amending the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) to require use of the electronic contract attachments accessible via the Product Data Reporting and Evaluation Program to record and track warranty data and source of repair information for serialized items.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Defense Finance and Accounting Service 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.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Defense Finance and Accounting Service 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 proposes to alter a system of records, A0600-43 DAPE, entitled ``DA Conscientious Objector Review Board''. This system is used to investigate claims of a service member that he/she is a conscientious objector to participation in war or to the bearing of arms and to make final determination resulting in assignment of appropriate status or awarding of discharge.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the DFAS 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 United States Air Force (USAF) is issuing this notice to advise the public of the intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the KC-46A Third Main Operating Base (MOB 3) Beddown. The EIS will assess the potential environmental consequences of various alternatives of the beddown of KC-46A tanker aircraft, associated infrastructure and personnel in support of the MOB 3 mission at existing installations where the Air Force Reserve Command (AFRC) leads a Mobility Air Force mission.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Army & Air Force Exchange Service 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 JSC hereby publishes Supplementary Materials accompanying the MCM as amended by Executive Orders 13643, 13669, and 13696. These 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. These Supplementary Materials have been approved by the JSC and the Acting General Counsel of the Department of Defense.

Under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act, the Regulatory Secretariat Division will be submitting to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) a request to review and approve an extension of a previously approved information collection requirement concerning Contractors Performing Private Security Functions Outside the United States. A notice was published in the Federal Register at 80 FR 81549 on December 30, 2015. No comments were received.

Under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act, the Regulatory Secretariat Division will be submitting to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) a request to review and approve an extension of a previously approved information collection requirement concerning bid guarantees, performance and payment bonds, and alternative payment protections.

This notice announces an opportunity to request funding from the Office of Economic Adjustment (OEA), a Department of Defense (DoD) field activity, for community planning assistance to help communities respond to announced reductions in force structure and personnel. Planning funds are available to assist communities to respond to these cuts on behalf of local workforce, business, and other community impacts. Generally, this assistance is available to help communities to organize and undertake general economic analyses to better understand how the reductions may affect local housing, schools, and businesses, etc. This notice includes proposal submission requirements and instructions, eligibility requirements, and the selection criteria that will be used to evaluate proposals from eligible respondents. OEA grants to a state or local government may result from any proposal submitted under this notice, subject to the availability of appropriations.

The Department of the Army proposes to alter a system of records, AAFES 0207.02, entitled ``Customer Solicitations, Comments, Inquiries, and Direct Line Records''. This SORN enables the Army and Air Force Exchange Service to carry out its mission to enhance the quality of life for authorized patrons and to support military readiness, recruitment and retention, by providing a world-wide system of Exchanges with merchandise and household goods similar to commercial stores and services.

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 July 21, 1996.