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

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.

The Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Trustee Council is soliciting nominations for the Public Advisory Committee, which 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. Public Advisory Committee members will be selected and appointed by the Secretary of the Interior to serve a 2-year term.

The Department of Labor (DOL) is submitting the Employment and Training Administration (ETA) sponsored information collection request (ICR) titled, ``Attestation for Employers Seeking to Employ H-2B Nonimmigrant Workers Under Section 543 of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017,'' to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval for use in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995. Public comments on the ICR are invited.

The Department of Defense (DoD) is publishing this notice to announce that it is renewing the charter for the Department of Defense Board of Actuaries (``the Board'').

The U.S. Department of the Interior proposes to appoint members to the Yakima River Basin Conservation Advisory Group (CAG). The Secretary of the Interior, acting as administrative lead, is requesting nominations for qualified persons to serve as members of the CAG.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Manpower and Reserve Affairs announces a proposed public information collection and seeks public comment on the provisions thereof. Comments are invited on: 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; the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed information collection; ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and 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 Defense is publishing this notice to announce that the following Federal Advisory Committee meeting of the National Intelligence University Board of Visitors has been scheduled. The meeting is closed to the public.

This final rule removes DoD's regulation concerning the Technical Surveillance Countermeasures (TSCM) Program. DoD originally determined that rulemaking was required based on the portion of this part that speaks to providing assistance to non-DoD agencies. However, this part places no burden on other agencies. The description of the relationship with other agencies is in accordance with federal law, and this part is unnecessary. Therefore, this part can be removed from the CFR.

Pursuant to the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act, notice is hereby given of a meeting of the Invasive Species Advisory Committee.

This final rule removes DoD's regulation concerning the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) Freedom of Information Act program. On February 6, 2018, the DoD published a FOIA program final rule as a result of the FOIA Improvement Act of 2016. When the DoD FOIA program rule was revised, it included DoD component information and removed the requirement for component supplementary rules. The DoD now has one DoD-level rule for the FOIA program that contains all the codified information required for the Department. Therefore, this part can be removed from the CFR.

This final rule removes DoD's regulation concerning the Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA) Freedom of Information Act program. On February 6, 2018, the DoD published a revised FOIA program rule as a result of the FOIA Improvement Act of 2016. When the DoD FOIA program rule was revised, it included DoD component information and removed the requirement for component supplementary rules. The DoD now has one DoD-level rule for the FOIA program that contains all the codified information required for the Department. Therefore, this part can be removed from the CFR.

This final rule removes the Department of Defense (DoD) regulation concerning the Post-9/11 GI Bill. In 2009, when first published, this part included significant information explaining the entire program, including the responsibilities of both DoD and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). When the part was revised at 78 FR 34251 on June 7, 2013, however, it only addressed DoD responsibilities, as VA responsibilities are now addressed in that agency's regulations. All burdens and responsibilities pertaining to persons who are not members of the Uniformed Services are addressed in VA regulations, and repeal of this regulation will have no effect on VA regulations. Repealing this rule supports website best practices because the public user is linked to the original and appropriate source, VA. This rule is internal to DoD and should be removed.

The Department of Defense (DoD) is publishing this notice to announce that it is renewing the charter for the National Intelligence University Board of Visitors (``the Board'').

The Regulatory and Deregulatory Agenda is a semiannual summary of all current and projected rulemakings, reviews of existing regulations, and completed actions of the Department. The intent of the Agenda is to provide the public with information about the Department of Transportation's regulatory activity planned for the next 12 months. It is expected that this information will enable the public to more effectively participate in the Department's regulatory process. The public is also invited to submit comments on any aspect of this Agenda.

This notice provides the semiannual agenda of Department of the Interior (Department) rules scheduled for review or development between spring 2018 and spring 2019. The Regulatory Flexibility Act and Executive Order 12866 require publication of the agenda.

The Regulatory Flexibility Act of 1980 and Executive Order (E.O.) 12866 require the semiannual issuance of an inventory of rulemaking actions under development throughout the Department, offering for public review summarized information about forthcoming regulatory actions.

This agenda provides summary descriptions of the significant and not significant regulatory and deregulatory actions being developed in agencies of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) in conformance with Executive orders (E.O.) 12866 ``Regulatory Planning and Review,'' 13563, ``Improving Regulation and Regulatory Review,'' 13771 ``Reducing Regulation and Controlling Regulatory Costs,'' and 13777, ``Enforcing the Regulatory Reform Agenda.'' The agenda also describes regulations affecting small entities as required by section 602 of the Regulatory Flexibility Act, Public Law 96-354. This agenda also identifies regulatory actions that are being reviewed in compliance with section 610(c) of the Regulatory Flexibility Act. We invite public comment on those actions as well as any regulation consistent with Executive Order 13563. USDA has attempted to list all regulations and regulatory reviews pending at the time of publication except for minor and routine or repetitive actions, but some may have been inadvertently missed. There is no legal significance to the omission of an item from this listing. Also, the dates shown for the steps of each action are estimated and are not commitments to act on or by the date shown. USDA's complete regulatory agenda is available online at www.reginfo.gov. Because publication in the Federal Register is mandated for the regulatory flexibility agendas required by the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 602), USDA's printed agenda entries include only: (1) Rules that are likely to have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities; and (2) Rules identified for periodic review under section 610 of the Regulatory Flexibility Act.

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.

This request for information solicits public comment on a planned initiative of the Office of the Deputy Secretary of HHS to develop a workgroup to facilitate constructive, high-level dialogue between HHS leadership and those focused on innovating and investing in the healthcare industry. HHS seeks comment on how to structure a workgroup, or other form of interaction between the Department and such participants in the healthcare industry, in order to best support communication and understanding between these parties that will spur investment, increase competition, accelerate innovation, and allow capital investment in the healthcare sector to have a more significant impact on the health and wellbeing of Americans. HHS also seeks comment more broadly on opportunities for increased engagement and dialogue between HHS and those focused on innovating and investing in the healthcare industry.

Findings of research misconduct have been made on the part of Shiladitya Sen, former graduate student, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The Ohio State University (OSU). Mr. Sen engaged in research misconduct in research supported by National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS), National Institutes of Health (NIH), grant R01 GM083114. The administrative actions, including debarment for a period of three (3) years, were implemented beginning on May 16, 2018, and are detailed below.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Office of the Undersecretary for Personnel and Readiness announces a proposed public information collection and seeks public comment on the provisions thereof. Comments are invited on: 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; the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed information collection; ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and 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 Labor (DOL) is submitting the Office of Workers' Compensation Programs (OWCP) sponsored information collection request (ICR) revision titled, ``Notice of Controversion of Right to Compensation,'' to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval for use in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995. Public comments on the ICR are invited.

The Department of Labor (DOL) is submitting the Office of Workers' Compensation Programs (OWCP) sponsored information collection request (ICR) titled, ``Notice of Payments,'' to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval for continued use, without change, in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA). Public comments on the ICR are invited.

The Department of Labor (DOL) is submitting the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) sponsored information collection request (ICR) titled, ``Confined Spaces in Construction Standard,'' to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval for continued use, without change, in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA). Public comments on the ICR are invited.