Office of the Secretary 2005 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35, as amended), this notice announces the Department of Transportation's (DOT) amendment of its Americans with Disabilities Act and Final Rule on Accessibility of Over-the-Road Buses.

The Homeland Security Advisory Council (HSAC) will hold a meeting for the purposes of receiving reports and briefings, and holding member deliberations. The HSAC will receive reports from: the HSAC Task Force on Intelligence and Information Sharing and State Fusion Centers, Chaired by Governor Mitt Romney, Governor of Massachusetts; the HSAC Task Force on Private Sector Information Sharing, Chaired by Mayor Patrick McCrory, Mayor of Charlotte, North Carolina; the HSAC Task Force on Critical Infrastructure Protection and Resilience, Chaired by Dr. Ruth David, CEO of Analytic Services, Inc.; and the HSAC Task Force on the Prevention of Weapons of Mass Effect Attacks on American Soil, Chaired by Dr. Lydia Thomas, CEO of Mitretek Systems. Additionally, the HSAC will receive detailed briefings covering specific critical infrastructure vulnerabilities, interdependencies, infrastructure resilience, and vulnerability mitigation. The HSAC will also hold roundtable deliberations and discussions among HSAC members.

On Friday, February 25, 2005 (70 FR 9280-9281) the Department of Defense announced open meetings of the Defense Science Board (DSB) Task Force on Roles and Authorities of the Director of Defense Research and Engineering scheduled for February 24, 2005 and March 14, 2005. These meetings will now be closed. Due to inclement weather the meeting on February 24, 2005 was canceled and rescheduled for March 2, 2005. Both meetings will be held at Strategic Analysis Inc., 3601 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 600, Arlington, VA.

Beginning on March 7, 2005, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will be assisting the Office of the Secretary (OST) in verifying that the aircraft accessibility requirements of the Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA) and its implementing regulations, 14 CFR Part 382 (Part 382), are being met by U.S. certificated and commuter air carriers. FAA inspectors, in the normal course of their duties, will be performing on-site inspections of U.S. airline aircraft that are subject to the design requirements of the ACAA and Part 382, which prohibit discrimination against disabled air travelers in air transportation. The FAA will also take steps to verify that these requirements are met when new aircraft enter the U.S. airline fleet.

The Defense Science Board Task Force on Identifying and Sustaining U.S. Department of Defense/UK Ministry of Defence Defense Critical Technologies (Study) will meet in closed session on April 1, 2005, at Strategic Analysis, Inc., 3601 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, VA. This Task Force will develop a methodology to identify unique defense technologies as well as commercially developed technologies needing augmentation to fulfill defense niche areas, and then apply the methodology to develop a list of defense critical technologies. 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 should focus its effort on high leverage, differentiated and transformational technologies. The Study may then use this list of defense critical technologies to further assess the tools available to the U.S. DoD or UK MoD to develop its critical technology needs. Some of the considerations the Study should examine include mechanisms to develop niches in pre-existing technologies, foster new technology until the commercial marketplace takes over, or develop technology without any expectation of commercial development; the analysis should include a review of the applicable acquisition/business case. Finally, the Study should consider the impact of technology development in other countries and the implications that this may have on Anglo-U.S. unique needs. In accordance with Section 10(d) of the Federal Advisory Committee Act, Public Law 92-463, as amended (5 U.S.C. App. 2), 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, these meetings will be closed to the public.

In accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act, 5 U.S.C. App 2, the United States Department of Agriculture announces a meeting of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, Education, and Economics Advisory Board.

This notice announces a change of meeting dates reported in the Federal Register announcement of February 2, 2005 (70 FR 5457) and a new deadline for submitting written comments. The three consultation meetings are intended to obtain oral and written comments concerning: (1) A proposed policy on fiduciary trust records management for Self- Determination (Title I) and Self-Governance (Title IV) Tribes/ Consortia; and (2) proposed language to be negotiated as part of the 2006 Title I and Title IV funding agreements regarding fiduciary trust records management. This change is in response to requests from a number of Indian Tribes because two of the original dates conflicted with the National Congress of American Indians' meeting in Washington, DC which is scheduled from February 28, 2005 to March 2, 2005.

The Office of the Secretary of Defense proposes to add a system of records to its inventory of record systems subject to the Privacy Act of 1974 (5 U.S.C. 552a), as amended.

The Office of the Secretary of Defense proposes to add an exempt system of records to its inventory of record systems subject to the Privacy Act of 1974 (5 U.S.C. 552a), as amended.

The Defense Science Board Task Force on Force Protection in Urban and Unconventional Environments will meet in closed session on SAI, 3601 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, VA. February 16-17, 2005; March 9-10, 2005; April 27-28, 2005; and May 25-26, 2005, at SAI, 3601 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, VA. This Task Force will review and evaluate force protection capabilities in urban and unconventional environments and provide recommendations to effect change to the future Joint Force. 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. Specifically, the Task Force's foci will be to evaluate force protection in the context of post major combat operations that have been conducted in Iraq and Afghanistan. In the operations, loss of national treasure military and civilian, U.S. and other nationshas resulted from actions executed by non-state and rogue actors. The threat and capabilities these insurgent, terrorist and criminal actions present post a most serious challenge to our ability to achieve unified action. In accordance with section 10(d) of the Federal Advisory Committee Act, Public Law 92-463, as amended (5 U.S.C. App. 2), 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, these meetings will be closed to the public.

The Defense Science Board Task Force on Critical Homeland Installation Protection will meet in closed sessions on February 23, 2005, at SAIC, 4001 N. Fairfax Drive, Suite 500, Arlington, VA. The Task Force will access best practices for protecting US homeland installations and recommend various approaches to enhancing security and protection of these facilities. 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 Task Force will assess investments in technology and manpower in order to ensure proper security levels at our nation's high-value installations with particular emphasis on airports, harbors, nuclear power facilities and military bases. To that end, the Task Force will review existing best practices in force protection and security at civil, industrial and military complexes; assess shortfalls and deficiencies associated with operational security, identify promising technology and/or processes that will enhance security, and recommend methods for reducing overall manpower requirements without relinquishing robust security measures. 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 meetings will be closed to the public.

The Defense Science Board (DSB) Task Force on Strategic Strike Skills will meet in closed session on March 9-10, 2005; April 20-21, 2005; and May 12-13, 2005, in Arlington, VA. The Task Force will assess the future strategic strike force skills needs of the Department of Defense (DoD). The mission of the DSB 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. Last summer the DSB assessed DoD needs for future strategic strike forces. Assessed was the application of technology for non-nuclear weapons systems, communications, planning systems, and intelligence as well as the integration of strategic strike with active defenses as part of the new triad. This ``skills'' study will complement the previous strategic forces study by focusing on the people and the skills necessary to develop, maintain, plan, and successfully execute future strategic strike forces. At this meeting, the Task Force will: Assess current skills available, both nuclear and non-nuclear of current long-range strike forces; identify, assess and recommend new/modified/enhanced skill sets necessary for successful future strike force development, planning, and operations; and recommend a strategy for the successful evolution of the current skills to those required by future strike forces. In accordance with section 10(d) of the Federal Advisory Committee Act, Pub. L. No. 92-463, as amended (5 U.S.C. App. 2), it has been determined that this Defense Science Board Task Force meeting concerns 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 Munitions System Reliability will meet in closed session on March 30-31, 2005, at SAIC, 4001 N. Fairfax Drive, Arlington, VA. On March 30, 2005 from 8:45 a.m.- 10:45 a.m. the Task Force meeting will be open. Should you want to attend this open portion of the meeting please contact CDR David Waugh, USN, (703) 695-4158 by March 18, 2005. This Task Force will review the efforts thus far to improve the reliability of munitions systems and identify additional steps to be taken to reduce the amount of unexploded ordnance resulting from munitions failures. The Task Force will: Conduct a methodologically sound assessment of the failure rates of U.S. munitions in actual combat use; review ongoing efforts to reduce the amount of unexploded ordnance resulting from munitions systems failures, and evaluate whether there are ways to improve or accelerate these efforts; and identify other feasible measures the U.S. can take to reduce the threat that failed munitions pose to friendly forces and noncombatants. 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: Conduct a methodologically sound assessment of the failure rates of U.S. munitions in actual combat use; review ongoing efforts to reduce the amount of unexploded ordnance resulting from munitions systems failures, and evaluate whether there are ways to improve or accelerate these efforts; and identify other feasible measures the U.S. can take to reduce the threat that failed munitions pose to friendly forces and noncombatants. In accordance with section 10(d) of the Federal Advisory Committee Act, Pub. L. No. 92-463, as amended (5 U.S.C. App. 2), 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, these meetings will be closed to the public.

The Department is publishing the following reporting directive regarding the reporting requirements that are contained in the OST final rule on ``Reports by Carriers on Incidents Involving Animals During Air Transport.''

In compliance with section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness, Per Diem Travel and Transportation Allowance Committee 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 section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Department of Defense, Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs, TRICARE Management Activity 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.

Two new administrations, the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration and the Research and Innovative Technology Administration, are being established within the United States Department of Transportation pursuant to the Norman Y. Mineta Research and Special Programs Improvement Act. Each new administration is established effective February 20, 2005. Accordingly, by this action, the Secretary delegates to the Administrator, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, and the Administrator, Research and Innovative Technology Administration, functions required for the operation of each new administration. In addition, this final rule renames chapters I and XI of subtitle B of title 49 CFR.