Office of the Secretary October 2007 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Department of the Interior, Office of the Secretary is announcing a public meeting of the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Public Advisory Committee.

The Department of Labor, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, conducts a pre-clearance consultation program to provide the general public and Federal agencies an opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing collections of information in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA95) [44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)]. This program helps to ensure that requested data can be provided in the desired format, reporting burden (time and financial resources) is minimized, collection instruments are clearly understood, and the impact of collection requirements on respondents can be properly assessed. Currently, the Office of Small Business Programs (OSBP) is soliciting comments concerning the proposed continuation of the information collections contained in the Small Business Programs Information Management System. A copy of the proposed information collection request (ICR) can be obtained by contacting the employee listed below in the ADDRESSES Section of this notice.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), this notice announces that the Information Collection Request (ICR) abstracted below has been forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for renewal and comment. The ICR describes the nature of the information collection and its expected cost and burden. The Federal Register Notice, with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments on the following collection of information, was published on August 8, 2007 {FR Vol 72, No. 152, page 44605{time} . No comments were received.

The Per Diem, Travel and Transportation Allowance Committee is publishing Civilian Personnel Per Diem Bulletin Number 256. 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 256 is being published in the Federal Register to assure that travelers are paid per diem at the most current rates.

Pursuant to Section 10(a), Public Law 92-463, as amended, notice is hereby given of a forthcoming meeting of the Defense Department Advisory Committee on Women in the Services (DACOWITS). The purpose of the Committee meeting is to do the second review of the 2007 report and work on the findings and recommendations. The meeting is open to the public, subject to the availability of space. Interested persons may submit a written statement for consideration by the Defense Department Advisory Committee on Women in the Services. Individuals submitting a written statement must submit their statement to the Point of Contact listed below at the address detailed below, NLT 5 p.m., 12 November 2007. If a written statement is not received by 12 November 2007 prior to the meeting, which is the subject of this notice, then it may not be provided to or considered by the Defense Department Advisory Committee on Women in the Services until its next open meeting. The Designated Federal Officer will review all timely submissions with the Defense Department Advisory Committee on Women in the Services Chairperson and ensure they are provided to the members of the Defense Department Advisory Committee on Women in the Services. If members of the public are interested in making an oral statement, a written statement must be submitted as above. After reviewing the written comments, the Chairperson and the Designated Federal Officer will determine who of the requesting persons will be able to make an oral presentation of their issue during an open portion of this meeting or at a future meeting. Determination of who will be making an oral presentation will depend on time available and if the topics are relevant to the Committee's activities. Two minutes will be allotted to persons desiring to make an oral presentation. Oral presentations by members of the public will be permitted only on Thursday, 15 November from 4:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. before the full Committee. Number of oral presentations to be made will depend on the number of requests received from members of the public.

This notice describes the changes made to the TRICARE DRG- based payment system. It also provides the updated fixed loss cost outlier threshold, cost-to-charge ratios, and the Internet address for accessing the updated adjusted standardized amount and DRG relative weights to be used for FY 2008 under the TRICARE DRG-based payment system.

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.

This notice announces the appointment of members to the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) Performance Review Board. The Performance Review Board provides a fair and impartial review of Senior Executive Service (SES) Performance appraisals and makes recommendations to the Director, Defense Information Systems Agency, regarding final performance ratings and performance awards for DISA SES members.

Under the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act of 1972, (5. U.S.C. Appendix, as amended), the Government in the Sunshine Act of 1976 (5 U.S.C. 552b, as amended), and 41 CFR 102-3.65, the Department of Defense gives notice that it intends to establish a new Federal advisory committee. This discretionary advisory committee, the Secretary of the Navy Advisory Panel, will provide the Secretary of the Navy independent advice and recommendations on the critical matters concerning the Department of the Navy. The Panel's focus will include acquisition reform, the shipbuilding defense industrial base, intelligence organization, and related maritime issues. In accordance with DoD policy and procedures, the Secretary of the Navy is authorized to act upon the advice emanating from this advisory committee. The Secretary of the Navy Panel shall be authorized to establish subcommittees, as necessary and consisted with its mission, and these subcommittees or working groups shall operate under the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act of 1972, the Government in the Sunshine Act of 1976, and other appropriate Federal regulations. Such subcommittees or workgroups shall not work independently of the chartered committee, and shall report all their recommendations and advice to the Secretary of the Navy Advisory Panel for full deliberation and discussion. Subcommittees or workgroups have no authority to make decisions on behalf of the chartered committee nor can they report directly to the Department of Defense or any Federal officers or employees who are not members of the Secretary of the Navy Advisory Panel. The Secretary of the Navy Advisory Panel shall be composed of not more than 15 members, who are eminent authorities in the fields of national security policy, intelligence, science, engineering, or business and industry. The Secretary of the Navy Panel, in keeping with the DoD policy to make every effort to achieve a balanced membership, shall include a cross section of experts that are directly affected, interested and qualified to advise on U.S. defense and naval issues. Panel and subcommittee members appointed by the Secretary of Defense, who are not full-time Federal officers or employees, shall serve as Special Government Employees under the authority of 5 U.S.C. 3109. Panel and subcommittee members shall be appointed on an annual basis by the Secretary of Defense, and with the exception of travel and per diem for official travel, they shall serve without compensation. The Secretary of the Navy shall select the Panel's chairperson from the total Panel membership. The Secretary of the Navy Advisory Panel shall meet at the call of the Panel's Designated Federal Officer, in consultation with the chairperson. The Designated Federal Officer, pursuant to DoD policy, shall be a full-time or permanent part-time DoD employee, and shall be appointed in accordance with established DoD policies and procedures. The Designated Federal Officer or duly appointed Alternate Designated Federal Officer shall attend all committee and subcommittee meetings. Pursuant to 41 CFR 102-3.105(j) and 102-3.140, the public or interested organizations may submit written statements to the Secretary of the Navy Advisory Panel membership about the Panel's mission and functions. Written statements may be submitted at any time or in response to the stated agenda of planned meeting of the Secretary of the Navy Advisory Panel. All written statements shall be submitted to the Designated Federal Officer for the Secretary of the Navy Advisory Panel, and this individual will ensure that the written statements are provided to the membership for their consideration. Contact information for the Secretary of the Navy Advisory Panel's Designated Federal Officer can be obtained from the GSA's FACA Databasehttps://www.fido.gov/ facadatabase/public.asp. The Designated Federal Officer, pursuant to 41 CFR 102-3.150, will announce planned meetings of the Secretary of the Navy Advisory Panel. The Designated Federal Officer, at that time, may provide additional guidance on the submission of written statements that are in response to the stated agenda for the planned meeting in question.

This notice announces the appointment of members to the Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA) Performance Review Boards. The Performance Review Boards provide fair and impartial review of Senior Executive Service (SES) performance appraisals and make recommendations to the Director, Defense Contract Audit Agency, regarding final performance ratings and performance awards for DCAA SES members.

The Department of Defense proposes to revise and update policy guidance and oversight of the Military Service Academies. This proposed rule implements 10 U.S.C. 403, 603, and 903 for the establishment and operation of the United States Military Academy, the United States Naval Academy, and the United States Air Force Academy.

The Office of the Secretary published a document in the Federal Register on October 9, 2007, concerning a request for a renewal of a previously approved information collection. We are correcting the document as set forth below.

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.

This proposed rule specifies procedures for the disposition of culturally unidentifiable human remains in the possession or control of museums or Federal agencies, thus implementing the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act of 1990 (Act). Publication of this document is intended to solicit comments from Indian tribes, Native Hawaiian organizations, museums, Federal agencies, and members of the public before its publication as a final rule.

Previously, the Department of Defense announced a closed meeting of the Missile Defense Advisory Committee for October 11-12, 2007 on August 24, 2007 (72 FR 48619). Due to the last minute unavailability of a quorum of the committee, the Department of Defense hereby announces the cancellation of the previously scheduled meeting. At this date, neither the Department of Defense nor the committee's Designated Federal Officer has plans to reschedule the meeting. Since the scheduling changes were subsequent to the committee publishing its meeting notice in the Federal Register and fall within the 15-day notification period required by 41 CFR 102-3.150(a), the Committee Management Officer for the Department of Defense, pursuant to 41 CFR 102-3.150(b), waives the 15-calendar day notification requirement for the cancellation notice. Pursuant to 41 CFR 102-3.105(j) and 102-3.140, the public or interested organizations may be submit written statements to the Missile Defense Advisory Committee about the committee's mission and functions. Written statements may be submitted at any time or in response to the stated agenda of planned meeting of the Missile Defense Advisory committee. All written statements shall be submitted to the Designated Federal Officer for the Missile Defense Advisory Committee, and this individual will ensure that the written statements are provided to the membership for their consideration. Contact information for the Designated Federal Officer can be obtained from the GSA's FACA Databasehttps:// www.fido.gov/facadatabase/pubilc.asp. The Designated Federal Officer, pursuant to 41 CFR 102-3.150, will announce planned meetings of the Missile Defense Advisory Committee. The Designated Federal Officer, at that time, may provide additional guidance on the submission of written statements that are in response to the stated agenda for the planned meeting in question.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the U.S. Department of Transportation's (DOT) intention to request an extension of the information collection request (ICR) OMB No. 2105-0552, Reports by Carriers on Incidents Involving Animals During Air Transport. The current information collection request approved by OMB expires on March 31, 2008.