[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 100 (Tuesday, May 24, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 30088-30089]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-12715]
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Notices
Federal Register
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This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules
or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings
and investigations, committee meetings, agency decisions and rulings,
delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency
statements of organization and functions are examples of documents
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Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 100 / Tuesday, May 24, 2011 /
Notices
[[Page 30088]]
ADMINISTRATIVE CONFERENCE OF THE UNITED STATES
Notice of Public Meeting of the Assembly of the Administrative
Conference of the United States
AGENCY: Administrative Conference of the United States.
ACTION: Notice of public meeting.
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SUMMARY: Pursuant to the Federal Advisory Committee Act (Pub. L. 92-
463), notice is hereby given of a meeting of the Assembly of the
Administrative Conference of the United States to consider proposed
recommendations which deal with: (1) Legal issues arising from e-
Rulemaking, (2) Federal government rulemaking procedures for dealing
with public comments, (3) Federal agency use of video hearings in
managing high-volume caseloads, and (4) enhanced ethics requirements
for contractors that do business with the government. To facilitate
public participation, the Conference is inviting public comment on the
recommendations that will be considered at the meeting.
DATES: Meeting dates are Thursday, June 16, 2011, 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.; and
Friday, June 17, 2011, 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Comments on the
recommendations must be received by Friday, June 10, 2011.
ADDRESSES: The Public Meeting will be held at the Pew Charitable Trusts
Conference Center, 901 E Street, NW., Washington, DC 20004.
Submit comments to either of the following: e-mail
[email protected], with ``June 2011 Plenary Session Comments'' in the
subject line; or mail to June 2011 Plenary Session Comments,
Administrative Conference of the United States, Suite 706 South, 1120
20th Street, NW., Washington, DC 20036.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Shawne McGibbon, General Counsel (the
Designated Federal Officer), Administrative Conference of the United
States, Suite 706 South, 1120 20th Street, NW., Washington, DC 20036;
Telephone 202-480-2088.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Administrative Conference of the United
States makes recommendations to administrative agencies, the President,
Congress, and the Judicial Conference of the United States regarding
the improvement of Federal administrative procedures (5 U.S.C. 594).
The objectives of these recommendations are to ensure that private
rights may be fully protected and regulatory activities and other
Federal responsibilities may be carried out expeditiously in the public
interest, to promote more effective public participation and efficiency
in the rulemaking process, reduce unnecessary litigation in the
regulatory process, improve the use of science in the regulatory
process, and improve the effectiveness of laws applicable to the
regulatory process (5 U.S.C. 591).
The membership of the Conference meeting in plenary session
constitutes the Assembly of the Conference (5 U.S.C. 595). The Assembly
will meet in plenary session to consider four proposed recommendations:
(1) The recommendation ``Legal Considerations in e-Rulemaking''
addresses several issues raised by the evolution from paper to
electronic rulemaking procedures. Among other things, it recommends
that agencies use reliable software to analyze whether comments are
identical or nearly identical, to save the cost of reading identical
comments separately; and that agencies should maintain electronic
records in lieu of paper records where possible, which should also
produce a cost savings.
(2) The recommendation ``Rulemaking Comments'' addresses a variety
of topics related to the ``comment'' phase of notice-and-comment
rulemaking (independent of the innovations introduced by e-rulemaking,
which are covered by the previous recommendation). Among other things,
this recommendation urges agencies to promote more useful comments by
explaining the characteristics of effective comments, to have policies
on late comments, and to make use of reply comment periods where
appropriate.
(3) The recommendation on ``Video Hearings'' addresses agency use
of video teleconferencing technology, particularly in the processing of
high-volume caseloads. At least one agency has successfully used this
technology to save nearly 60 million dollars annually and reduce wait
times for adjudication--all with no significant effect on case
outcomes. The recommendation urges other agencies to consider whether
they could benefit from similar use of video technology, provides
factors agencies should consider as they make that decision, and
provides best practices for effective use of video.
(4) The recommendation ``Government Contractor Ethics'' addresses
improvements to ethics regulation for government contractor employees,
who are now performing more and more of the Federal government's work,
but who are subject to much less extensive ethics regulation than
government employees. The recommendation attempts to promote ethical
behavior by government contractors without imposing excessive
compliance costs. The recommendation is addressed primarily to the
Federal Acquisition Regulatory Council, which oversees the Federal
Acquisition Regulation (FAR). It recommends, in part, that the FAR
Council adopt model contract clauses on contractor ethics that agencies
could use when entering into contracts for government services.
This meeting will be open to the public and may end prior to the
designated end time if business is concluded earlier. Members of the
public are invited to attend the meeting in person, subject to space
limitations. The Conference will also provide remote public access to
the meeting via webcast. Anyone who wishes to attend the meeting in
person is asked to RSVP to [email protected], no later than June 14,
2011, in order to facilitate entry. Members of the public who attend
the meetings of the full Assembly are not permitted to speak except in
the discretion of the Chairman, with unanimous approval of the members.
The Conference welcomes the attendance of the public and will make
every effort to accommodate persons with physical disabilities or
special needs. If you need special accommodations due to disability,
please inform the contact person noted
[[Page 30089]]
above no later than 7 days in advance of the meeting.
Members of the public may submit written comments on any or all of
the recommendations to either of the addresses listed above no later
than June 10, 2011. Copies of the proposed recommendations and
information on remote access will be available at http://www.acus.gov.
All comments relating to the individual proposed recommendations will
be delivered to the Designated Federal Officer listed on this notice
and will be posted on the Conference's Web site after the close of the
comment period. Comments received at this stage will be available to
the full Assembly prior to their consideration of the final
recommendations.
Dated: May 18, 2011.
Shawne McGibbon,
General Counsel.
[FR Doc. 2011-12715 Filed 5-23-11; 8:45 am]
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