[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 109 (Wednesday, June 5, 1996)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 28504-28505]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-14122]



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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

36 CFR Part 6

RIN 1024-AC37


Change in Organizational Title From Regional Director to Field 
Director

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Administrative amendment to final rule.

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SUMMARY: The National Park Service (NPS) amended the General Provisions 
Definition of ``Regional Director'' to reflect a new organizational 
structure on November 3, 1995. With the recent reorganization of the 
NPS eliminating existing geographic regions (effective May 15, 1995), 
the term Regional Director is no longer an agency job position. The 
duties and responsibilities of these positions have been assumed by 
Field Directors. The amendment to the definitions replaced the term 
Regional Director with Field Director wherever it appeared in 36 CFR 
Parts 1-199, as well as eliminated all reference to the former 
geographic regions.
    This change was necessary because the terms Region and Regional 
Director are no longer recognized in the NPS reorganizational 
structure. Certain responsibilities and delegations of authority 
associated with the former Regional Directors are now assumed by the 
positions identified by the term Field Director. Publication of this 
change is also a requirement of the Federal Register Act. 
Unfortunately, the necessary amendments to 36 CFR Part 6 were 
inadvertently omitted from the original document and are addressed 
through this administrative amendment to the final rule.

EFFECTIVE DATE: This final rule becomes effective on June 5, 1996.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dennis Burnett, Ranger Activities 
Division, National Park Service, P.O. Box 37127, Washington, D.C., 
20013-7127. Telephone 202-208-4874.

[[Page 28505]]

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The National Park System of the United States comprises 369 areas 
covering over 80 million acres in 49 States, the District of Columbia, 
American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico, Sampan and the Virgin Islands. These 
areas of national significance justify special recognition and 
protection in accordance with various acts of Congress.
    In 1995, as a result of: (1) the NPS's own assessment of a need to 
change how it accomplished its essential work with increasing 
constraints; (2) the National Performance Review (NPR), which directed 
Federal agencies to cut red tape, put customers first, empower 
employees to get results and reduce layers in organizations; and (3) 
The Federal Workforce Restructuring Act of 1994 (P.L. 103-226), a 
government-wide Workforce reduction, the NPS implemented a Servicewide 
restructuring of the organization. The reorganization effort 
drastically reduces central office staffs. The 10 NPS Regional 
Directors have been replaced by 7 Field Directors, who provide 
direction, oversight, budget formulation and assistance in media 
relations for the parks and support offices in their geographical field 
areas. With the change and revision of the regional concept, all 
national park units are now grouped into clusters to act 
collaboratively in sharing limited resources. A network of 16 system 
support offices provide services and support to the parks by cluster.
    The President of the United States, through the Secretary of the 
Interior and the Director of the NPS, allowed the Regional Directors of 
the ten Regional Offices certain delegated authorities in the 
management of the park units. 36 CFR Parts 1-199 contains many of these 
authorities. Because the term Regional Director is codified in the CFR, 
the definition of Regional Director must be replaced to reflect the new 
authorities given to Field Directors as a result of the reorganization. 
Many of these authorities have the enforcement powers of law. On 
November 3, 1995, the NPS published a final rule in the Federal 
Register (60 FR 55789) changing the nomenclature in 36 CFR Parts 1-199 
from Regional Director to Field Director.
    The NPS adopts this final rule pursuant to the ``agency 
organization'' exception of the Administrative Procedure Act (5 U.S.C. 
553(b)(A)) from general notice and comment rulemaking. The NPS believes 
that this exception from rulemaking procedures is warranted because it 
is merely a change in agency organizational structure. The NPS finds 
that notice and comment are unnecessary and contrary to the public 
interest for this final rule.
    The NPS has also determined, in accordance with the Administrative 
Procedure Act (5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3)), that the publishing of this final 
rule 30 days prior to the rule becoming effective would be 
counterproductive and unnecessary for the reasons discussed above. A 
30-day delay would be contrary to the public interest and the interest 
of the agency. Therefore, under the ``good cause'' exception of the 
Administrative Procedure Act (5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3)), it has been 
determined that this rulemaking is excepted from the 30-day delay in 
the effective date and shall therefore become effective on the date 
published in the Federal Register.

    Drafting Information. The primary author of this final rule is 
Dennis Burnett, Washington Office of Ranger Activities, National 
Park Service.

Paperwork Reduction Act

    This rulemaking does not contain information collection 
requirements that require approval by the Office of Management and 
Budget under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

Compliance With Other Laws

    This rule was not subject to Office of Management and Budget review 
under Executive Order 12866. The Department of the Interior has 
determined that this document will not have a significant economic 
effect on a substantial number of small entities under the Regulatory 
Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et. seq.). The economic effects of this 
rulemaking are negligible.
    The NPS has determined that this proposed rulemaking will not have 
a significant effect on the quality of the human environment, health 
and safety because it is not expected to:
    (a) Increase public use to the extent of compromising the nature 
and character of the area or causing physical damage to it;
    (b) Introduce incompatible uses which compromise the nature and 
characteristics of the area or cause physical damage to it;
    (c) Conflict with adjacent ownership or land uses; or
    (d) Cause a nuisance to adjacent owners or occupants.
    Based on this determination, the regulation is categorically 
excluded from the procedural requirements of the National Environmental 
Policy Act (NEPA) by Departmental guidelines in 516 DM 6 (49 FR 21438). 
As such, neither an Environmental Assessment (EA) nor an Environmental 
Impact Statement (EIS) has been prepared.

List of Subjects in 36 CFR Part 6

    National parks, Natural resources, Penalties, Reporting and 
recordkeeping requirements, Waste treatment.

    In consideration of the foregoing, and under the authority at 18 
U.S.C. 1 and 3, 36 CFR Chapter I is amended as follows:

PART 6--SOLID WASTE DISPOSAL SITES IN UNITS OF THE NATIONAL PARK 
SYSTEM

    1. The authority citation for 36 CFR part 6 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1, 3, 4601-22(c).

    2. 36 CFR Part 6 is amended by removing the term ``Regional 
Director'' and inserting the term ``Field Director'' in its place each 
time it appears.

    Dated: May 29, 1996.
George T. Frampton,
Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks.
[FR Doc. 96-14122 Filed 6-4-96; 8:45 am]
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