[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 143 (Tuesday, July 25, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Page 45815]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-18905]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Office of the Secretary


Electronic Drug Testing Information Roundtable

AGENCY: Office of the Secretary of Transportation (OST), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of public meeting.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Transportation (DOT), Department of Health 
and Human Services (HHS), and Office of Management and Budget (OMB) are 
holding a public meeting on August 4, 2000, to foster further 
discussion of the application of electronic transmission, storage, and 
signature of material concerned with the DOT and HHS drug testing 
programs.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ron Matzner, Office of Information and 
Regulatory Affairs, New Executive Office Building, 750 17th Street, 
NW., Washington, DC, 20503; 202-395-4856; [email protected] : Don 
Shatinsky, Drug and Alcohol Policy Advisor, Office of Drug and Alcohol 
Policy and Compliance, DOT, 400 7th Street, SW., Room 10403, 
Washington, DC, 20590; 202-366-3784; [email protected] : or Dr. 
Walter Vogl, Drug Testing Section, Division of Workplace Programs, HHS, 
5600 Fishers Lane, Rockwall 2 Building, Room 815, Rockville, MD 20857; 
301-443-6014; [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On June 15, 2000, the OMB's Office of 
Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) held a public meeting, 
attended by Federal agency and laboratory representatives and other 
interested persons, to discuss how best to apply electronic technology 
to the information collection, transmission, and storage of data 
connected with Federally-mandated drug testing programs. The meeting 
was titled ``The Paperless Laboratory,'' though the subject matter was 
not limited to laboratory matters, as such. OMB, DOT, and HHS are very 
interested in moving forward in this area, and for this purpose we are 
convening a second public meeting.
    The meeting will take place in the Truman Room of the White House 
Conference Center on August 4, 2000, from 9 a.m. to approximately 5 
p.m. The White House Conference Center is located at 726 Jackson Place, 
NW., Washington, DC 20503. Lunch will be on your own.
    The following is the tentative agenda for this meeting:

I. Overview and summary of the June 15 meeting
II. Objectives of the August 4 meeting
III. Procedure
    a. Scope
    b. Discussion of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) and 
its application to this subject matter
    c. Discussion of organization of working groups
    d. Development of work plan and time line
IV. Legal issues (presentation by Department of Justice)
    a. Current status and future of laws related to electronic 
records
    b. Transmission of electronic records
    c. Admissibility in court
    d. Use in forensic programs
V. Policy issues
    a. What process changes should be made?
    b. What information should be collected?
    c. Who should collect the information (e.g., should employer/
collector initiate an electronic custody and control form?)
    d. To whom and in what form should reports be made?
VI. Technical issues
    a. Interoperable interfaces
    b. Portal technology
    c. Standards
VII. Security technical issues: encryption, PKI, firewalls, 
biometrics, token technologies, etc.
VIII. Next steps

    One of the ideas the Federal agencies involved are considering is 
forming a formal advisory committee, under the Federal Advisory 
Committee Act (see item III(b) in agenda). This committee would consist 
of representatives of interested parties who would meet periodically 
with the Federal agencies concerned with drug testing and attempt to 
formulate consensus recommendations on electronic technology as it 
relates to the DOT and HHS drug testing procedures. One of the purposes 
of the meeting is to determine the interest of non-government parties 
in participating in such a committee.
    The primary focus of this initiative has been drug testing. 
However, DOT also has a parallel alcohol testing program. Many of the 
issues we are discussing also have relevance to the alcohol testing 
program. DOT is interested in using this meeting as a forum to discuss 
electronic alcohol testing information matters as well.
    If you are interested in attending, please fax or e-mail the 
following information to Lisa Jones, OIRA, at 202-395-7245 or 
[email protected] by August 1, 2000. If you have any questions 
concerning registration for the meeting, you may call 202-395-5898.
    Full Name, Title, Organization, Telephone and fax numbers, E-mail 
address, Special needs.

    Issued this 21st day of July, 2000, at Washington, DC.
Mary Bernstein,
Director, Office of Drug and Alcohol Policy and Compliance.
[FR Doc. 00-18905 Filed 7-24-00; 8:45 am]
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