Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The PCLOB, or Board, is extending the comment period for the notice announcing a request for comments on the Board's Oversight Project examining Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) that appeared in the Federal Register of September 26, 2022.

The Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board (the Board) revises its Organization and Delegation of powers to reflect the current structure of the agency and set forth greater authority for agency delegations. This revision also reflects the structural flexibility envisioned by our enabling statute.

The Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board will conduct a public forum entitled ``Countering Terrorism while Protecting Privacy and Civil Liberties: Where do We Stand in 2019.'' During the forum, Board Members will hear from governmental and non-governmental experts on privacy and civil liberties and on efforts to protect the nation against terrorism. Members of the public in attendance will have an opportunity to ask questions of the expert presenters.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. chapter 35, as amended), the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development administers rural utilities programs through the Rural Utilities Service (RUS). RUS invites comments on the following information collection for which the Agency intends to request approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).

Through this action, the Rural Housing Service, the Rural Business-Cooperative Service, the Rural Utilities Service, and the Farm Service Agency are reopening the comment period for the interim rule, published on May 20, 2015 ``Strategic Economic and Community Development''.

The Rural Utilities Service (RUS), an agency within the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), has issued a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for Energy Answers Arecibo, LLC's (Energy Answers) proposed Waste to Energy Project (Project) in Arecibo, Puerto Rico. RUS is issuing the Draft EIS to inform interested parties and the general public about the proposed Project and to invite the public to comment on the scope, proposed action, and other issues addressed in the Draft EIS. The Draft EIS addresses the construction, operation, and maintenance of Energy Answers' proposed Project, a waste-to-energy generation and resource recovery facility in the Cambalache Ward of Arecibo, Puerto Rico. RUS prepared the EIS in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), as amended, the Council on Environmental Quality's Regulation for Implementing the Procedural Provisions of the NEPA (40 CFR parts 1500-1508), and RUS's Environmental Policies and Procedures (7 CFR part 1794). RUS will hold a public hearing to receive oral comments on the Draft EIS.

The Rural Utilities Service (RUS), an agency of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), announces that it is accepting applications for fiscal year (FY) 2015 for the Rural Broadband Access Loan and Loan Guarantee program (the Broadband Program). RUS has published on its Web site https://www.rd.usda.gov/newsroom/notices- solicitation-applications-nosas the amount of funding received through the final appropriations act. In addition to announcing the application window, RUS announces the minimum and maximum amounts for broadband loans for FY 2015. Moreover, the Agency is concurrently publishing a proposed interim final rule that will revise the current Broadband Program regulations at 7 CFR part 1738, as necessitated by Pubic Law 113-79, the Agricultural Act of 2014 (2014 Farm Bill).

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35, as amended), the Rural Utilities Service, an agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development mission area, invites comments on this information collection for which approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) will be requested.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. chapter 35, as amended), the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Utilities Service (RUS) invites comments on the following information collections for which the RUS intends to request approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).

On April 8, 2015, during an open Sunshine Act meeting, the Board voted to select two counterterrorism-related activities governed by Executive Order 12333, and conduct focused in-depth examinations of those activities. During this closed meeting, the Board members will discuss proposed topics for this in-depth examination.

The Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board will conduct a public meeting with industry representatives, academics, technologists, government personnel, and members of the advocacy community, on the topic: ``Defining Privacy.'' While the Board will address the definition of privacy in the context of government counterterrorism programs, it is also interested in what conceptual interests are involved in the protection of privacy, how the impact of technology has affected privacy, what privacy interests have been identified by government privacy officials, what lessons have been learned in the private sector, and what the best way is for government to address privacy concerns. Interested parties are encouraged to attend and to submit comments. The meeting and comments will inform the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board's approach to privacy issues within its statutory purview. Visit www.pclob.gov for a list of panelists closer to the meeting date.

The Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board (PCLOB) will conduct a public hearing with current and former government officials and others to address the activities and responsibilities of the executive and judicial branches of the federal government regarding the government's counterterrorism surveillance programs. This hearing will continue the PCLOB's study of the federal government's surveillance programs operated pursuant to Section 215 of the USA PATRIOT Act and Section 702 of Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. Recommendations for changes to these programs and the operations of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court will be considered at the hearing to ensure that counterterrorism efforts properly balance the need to protect privacy and civil liberties. Visit www.pclob.gov for the full agenda closer to the hearing date. This hearing was re-scheduled from October 4, 2013, due to the unavailability of witnesses as a result of the federal lapse in appropriations.

The Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board will conduct a public workshop with invited experts, academics and advocacy organizations regarding surveillance programs operated pursuant to Section 215 of the USA PATRIOT Act and Section 702 of Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act.

The Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board will conduct a public workshop with invited experts, academics and advocacy organizations regarding surveillance programs operated pursuant to Section 215 of the USA PATRIOT Act and Section 702 of Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act.

The Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board is proposing regulations to implement the Freedom of Information Act, the Privacy Act of 1974, and the Government in the Sunshine Act. This proposed rulemaking describes the procedures for members of the public to request access to records. In addition, this notice also proposes procedures for the Board's responses to these requests, including the timeframe for response and applicable fees.

The Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board (PCLOB), the White House, is removing its Freedom of Information Act regulations currently published at 6 CFR Chapter X. This action is being taken because, pursuant to provisions of the Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007 (Pub. L. 110-53), PCLOB as it is currently constituted will be abolished no later than January 30, 2008 and replaced with a new independent agency within the Executive Branch. This new independent agency will be responsible for promulgating its own regulations.

The Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board, established by the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 (Pub. L. 108-458, December 17, 2004), advises the President and other senior executive branch officials to ensure that concerns about privacy and civil liberties are appropriately considered in the implementation of laws, regulations, and executive branch policies related to efforts to protect the Nation against terrorism. This includes advising on whether adequate guidelines, supervision, and oversight exist to protect the important legal rights of all Americans. Processes currently exist to redress errors and ameliorate false positives associated with the use of watch list data for aviation and other security screening purposes. Efforts to address, enhance, conform, and potentially streamline these procedures are ongoing throughout the Federal Government, and the Board is assisting relevant executive branch departments and agencies in those efforts. The Board seeks any comments, suggestions or other information from members of the public who have knowledge on this subject. Comments may be forwarded via the Board's Web site at https://www.PrivacyBoard.gov. While there is no specific deadline for the submission, the Board is interested in receiving public comments soon. The Board is unable to respond to individual comments and cannot assist individual redress requests. Information gathered will be used solely to assist the Board in understanding the effects of policy and program operations on Americans' civil liberties.