[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 112 (Friday, June 10, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 37642-37643]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-13635]
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DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
[Docket No. OLP 157]
Notice of Public Comment Period on Proposed Uniform Language for
Testimony and Reports
AGENCY: Department of Justice.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: This notice announces the opening of the public comment period
on the Proposed Uniform Language for Testimony and Reports (Proposed
Uniform Language) documents for the forensic disciplines of fiber,
footwear and tire treads, general chemistry, glass, latent prints,
serology, and toxicology.
DATES: Written public comment regarding the Proposed Uniform Language
should be submitted through www.regulations.gov before July 8, 2016.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: The Office of Legal Policy, 950
Pennsylvania Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20530, by phone at 202-514-4601
or via email at [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: As part of the Department's continued
efforts to advance the practice of forensic science by ensuring
Department forensic examiners are testifying and reporting consistent
with applicable scientific standards and across Department components
including the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives
(ATF), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and the Federal
Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Department is developing Proposed
Uniform Language that would apply to all Department forensic laboratory
personnel. The Proposed Uniform Language documents are based on the
Federal Bureau of Investigation's (FBI) Approved Scientific Standards
for Testimony and Reports (ASSTRs) but differ substantially. As a
primary matter, the ASSTRs are currently in effect for FBI personnel,
while the Proposed Uniform Language documents are merely proposed and
have not been adopted. After adjudication of public comment and the
incorporation of appropriate edits, it is anticipated that each
Proposed Uniform Language document will be forwarded to the Deputy
Attorney General. If one or more are adopted by the Deputy Attorney
General, they would become effective for Department forensic laboratory
personnel.
The Department plans to seek comment on the Proposed Uniform
Language documents in two phases with Proposed Uniform Language
documents for seven forensic science disciplines being posted now and
the remaining documents posted in July 2016.
Proposed Uniform Language: The Department is posting the Proposed
Uniform Language document for each of the following forensic science
disciplines on www.regulations.gov and seeking public comment: Fiber,
footwear and tire treads, general chemistry, glass, latent prints,
serology, and toxicology. Each Proposed Uniform Language document
contains two primary sections: Statements approved for use in
examination testimony and/or laboratory reports and statements not
approved for use in examination testimony and/or laboratory reports. We
ask that you review and provide comment on each Proposed Uniform
Language document separately.
Review Sheet: In order to assist commenters in evaluating each
Proposed Uniform Language document, the Department has provided a
review sheet that identifies certain criteria. Commenters may find it
helpful to use a format similar to that provided by the review sheet to
frame their responses. Use of the review sheet is optional but would be
helpful to provide consistency in commentary.
Supporting Documentation: Each Proposed Uniform Language document
is accompanied by supporting documentation (posted separately) that
provides additional scientific background and policy considerations to
support the statements approved for use and statements not approved in
examination testimony and/or laboratory reports. The Department is not
seeking public comment on the supporting documentation, however,
commenters are welcome to provide thoughts and suggestions on these
documents but notes that only each Proposed Uniform Language document
will be forwarded to the Deputy Attorney General for review and
potential adoption by Department personnel.
Posting of Public Comments: To ensure proper handling of comments,
please reference ``Docket No. OLP 157'' on all electronic and written
correspondence. The Department encourages all comments on this
framework be submitted electronically through www.regulations.gov.
Paper comments that duplicate the electronic submission are not
necessary as all comments submitted to www.regulations.gov will be
posted for public review and are part of the official docket record.
In accordance with the Federal Records Act, please note that all
comments received are considered part of the public record, and shall
be made available for public inspection online at www.regulations.gov.
The comments to be posted may include personally identifiable
information (such as your name, address, etc.) and confidential
business information voluntarily submitted by the commenter.
The Department will post all comments received on
www.regulations.gov without making any changes to the comments or
redacting any information, including any personally identifiable
information provided. It is the responsibility of the commenter to
safeguard personally identifiable information. You are not required to
submit personally identifying information in order to comment on the
Proposed Uniform Language and the Department recommends that commenters
not include personally identifiable information such as Social Security
Numbers, personal addresses, telephone numbers, and email addresses
that they do not want made public in their comments as such submitted
information will be available to the public via www.regulations.gov.
Comments submitted through www.regulations.gov will not include the
email address of the commenter unless the commenter chooses to include
that information as part of his or her comment.
[[Page 37643]]
Dated: June 2, 2016.
Kira Antell,
Senior Counsel, Office of Legal Policy.
[FR Doc. 2016-13635 Filed 6-9-16; 8:45 am]
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