[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 23 (Friday, February 2, 2001)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 8747-8748]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-2892]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

10 CFR Part 1044

[Docket No. SO-RM-00-3164]
RIN 1992-AA26


Office of Security and Emergency Operations; Security 
Requirements for Protected Disclosures Under Section 3164 of the 
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2000

AGENCY: Department of Energy (DOE).

ACTION: Final rule; delay of effective date.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the memorandum of January 20, 2001, from 
the Assistant to the President and Chief of Staff, entitled 
``Regulatory Review Plan,'' published in the Federal Register on 
January 24, 2001 (66 FR 7702), this action temporarily delays for 60 
days the effective date of the rule entitled ``Office of Security and 
Emergency Operations; Security Requirements for Protected Disclosures 
Under Section 3164 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal 
Year 2000'' published in the Federal Register on January 18, 2001 (66 
FR 4639).

DATES: The effective date of the rule adding 10 CFR part 1044 published 
in the Federal Register at 66 FR 4639 on January 18, 2001 is delayed 
for 60 days, from February 20, 2001, until April 23, 2001.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael D. Whatley, (202) 586-3410, 
[email protected]; or Cathy Tullis, (301) 903-4805, 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: To the extent that 5 U.S.C. section 553 
applies to this action, it is exempt from notice and comment because it 
constitutes a rule of procedure under 5 U.S.C. section 553(b)(A). 
Alternatively, DOE's implementation of this action without opportunity 
for public comment, effective immediately upon publication today in the 
Federal Register, is based on the good cause exceptions in 5 U.S.C. 
section 553(b)(B) and 553(d)(3). Seeking public comment is 
impracticable, unnecessary and contrary to the public interest. The 
temporary 60-day delay in

[[Page 8748]]

effective date is necessary to give DOE officials the opportunity for 
further review and consideration of new regulations, consistent with 
the Assistant to the President's memorandum of January 20, 2001. Given 
the imminence of the effective date, seeking prior public comment on 
this temporary delay would have been impractical, as well as contrary 
to the public interest in the orderly promulgation and implementation 
of regulations. The imminence of the effective date is also good cause 
for making this action effective immediately upon publication.

    Issued in Washington, D.C. on January 29, 2001.
Spencer Abraham,
Secretary of Energy.
[FR Doc. 01-2892 Filed 2-1-01; 8:45 am]
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