Office of the Secretary February 2018 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Department of Defense announces that the following Federal Advisory Committee meeting of the DoD Medicare-Eligible Retiree Health Care Board of Actuaries will take place. This meeting is open to the public.

The Department of Defense (DoD) is publishing this notice to announce that it is renewing the charter for the Ocean Research Advisory Panel (``the Panel'').

The Department of Defense (DoD) is publishing this notice to announce that it is renewing the charter for the Department of Defense Advisory Committee on Women in the Services (``the Committee'').

The Department of Defense (DoD) is publishing this notice to announce that it is renewing the charter for the Department of Defense Advisory Committee on Military Personnel Testing (``the Committee'').

This notice announces the voting age population estimates as of July 1, 2017 for each state and the District of Columbia. We are providing this notice in accordance with the 1976 amendment to the Federal Election Campaign Act.

The United States is heavily reliant on imports of certain mineral commodities that are vital to the Nation's security and economic prosperity. This dependency of the United States on foreign sources creates a strategic vulnerability for both its economy and military to adverse foreign government action, natural disaster, and other events that can disrupt supply of these key minerals. Pursuant to Executive Order 13817 issued on December 20, 2017, ``A Federal Strategy To Ensure Secure and Reliable Supplies of Critical Minerals,'' the Secretary of the Interior presents a draft list of 35 mineral commodities deemed critical under the definition provided in the Executive Order. Specifically, an analysis using multiple criteria identified 35 minerals or mineral material groups that are currently considered critical. These include: Aluminum (bauxite), antimony, arsenic, barite, beryllium, bismuth, cesium, chromium, cobalt, fluorspar, gallium, germanium, graphite (natural), hafnium, helium, indium, lithium, magnesium, manganese, niobium, platinum group metals, potash, rare earth elements group, rhenium, rubidium, scandium, strontium, tantalum, tellurium, tin, titanium, tungsten, uranium, vanadium, and zirconium. These commodities merit consideration in furthering the policy of the Federal Government to reduce the Nation's vulnerability for the security and prosperity of the United States. A summary report describing the methodologies and data sources used to develop the draft critical minerals list may be accessed at https:// doi.org/10.3133/ofr20181021. The Department of the Interior (DOI) seeks comments addressing the following topics: The make-up of the draft list and the rationale associated with potential additions or subtractions to the draft list.

This notice announces the second meeting of the Royalty Policy Committee (Committee). This meeting is open to the public.

The Department of Defense (DoD) is publishing this notice to announce that the following Federal Advisory Committee meeting of the Defense Science Board (DSB) will take place.

The Department of Defense (DoD) is publishing this notice to announce that it is amending the charter for the Defense Acquisition University Board of Visitors, the Defense Science Board, the Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program Scientific Advisory Board, and the Threat Reduction Advisory Committee.

The Department of Defense (DoD) is publishing this notice to announce that the following Federal Advisory Committee meeting of the Board of Visitors National Defense University will take place. This meeting will be open to the public.

Consistent with Executive Order 13781, ``Comprehensive Plan for Reorganizing the Executive Branch,'' and using the authority of the Secretary to reorganize the Department under section 4(a) of Reorganization Plan No. 2 of 1953, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is soliciting public comment on a proposed realignment of the Departmental Administration organization that will improve customer service, better align functions within the organization, and ensure improved strategic decision-making.

This rulemaking proposes revisions to the Department of Commerce's (Department) regulations under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and Privacy Act. The FOIA regulations are being revised to clarify, update and streamline the language of several procedural provisions, including methods for submitting FOIA requests and appeals and the time limits for filing an administrative appeal, and to incorporate certain changes brought about by the amendments to the FOIA under the FOIA Improvement Act of 2016. Additionally, the FOIA regulations are being updated to reflect developments in the case law.

The Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Trustee Council is soliciting nominations for the Public Advisory Committee to fill a membership vacancy that represents conservation and environmental interests. The Public Advisory Committee advises the Trustee Council on decisions related to the planning, evaluation, funds allocation, and conduct of injury assessment and restoration activities related to the T/V Exxon Valdez oil spill of March 1989. The Secretary of the Interior will select a Public Advisory Committee member to fill the vacancy and serve the remainder of a term which will end on December 2, 2018.

The Department of Defense has submitted to OMB for clearance, the following proposal for collection of information under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act.