[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 75 (Wednesday, April 18, 2001)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 19900-19901]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-9464]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

10 CFR Part 733

RIN 1901-AA 89


Public Meetings To Obtain Input on DOE's Implementation of 
Federal Policy on Research Misconduct

AGENCY: U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).

ACTION: Notice of public meetings and request for comments.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: DOE is initiating the development of a rulemaking to implement 
the Federal policy on research misconduct that was issued by the White 
House Office of Science and Technology Policy. The responsibility 
involves developing a DOE-complex wide policy on research misconduct 
and the necessary rulemaking to implement the policy. The rulemaking 
will include a definition of research misconduct as well as procedures 
for handling allegations of research misconduct. To begin this process, 
the DOE is holding a series of public meetings to obtain

[[Page 19901]]

input from persons and organizations with interests in this area.

DATES: Written comments can be submitted on or before June 20, 2001. If 
you anticipate that you will be submitting comments but find it 
difficult to do so within the period of time allowed by this notice, 
you should advise Anne Marie Zerega at the address below, as soon as 
possible. The meetings are being held on May 10, June 12, June 14, and 
June 20.

ADDRESSES: All comments or requests for information should be sent to 
Anne Marie Zerega, Senior Analyst, Office of Planning and Analysis, 
Office of Science, SC-5, U.S. Department of Energy, Washington, D.C. 
20585 Tel: 202-586-4477 Fax: 202-586-7719 
e-mail: [email protected].
    Four meetings are scheduled:

May 10, 2001, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Berkner Auditorium, Building 
488, 11 Brookhaven Avenue, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, New 
York 11973-5000, Phone: 631-344-8000
June 12, 2001, 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., Stanford Linear Accelerator 
Center, Stanford University, 2575 Sand Hill Road, Menlo Park, CA 94025
June 14, 2001, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Location: Jefferson County 
School Board Room, 1829 Denver West Drive, Building 27, Golden, CO 
80401. The board room is on the 5th floor.
June 20, 2001, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Auditorium, U.S. Department of 
Energy, 19901 Germantown Road, Germantown, MD 20874-1290, 301-903-3000

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Anne Marie Zevega, (202) 586-4477.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Each meeting will have the same agenda:

10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. (9:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. in California)
    Presentations by DOE officials from General Counsel, the Office of 
Science, and the Office of Hearings and Appeals
11:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (10:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. in California)
    Question and Comments will be taken from the floor during this 
period. There will be a one-hour break for lunch.
4:00 p.m. (3:00 p.m. in California)
    Adjourn

    Advances in science, engineering, and all fields of research depend 
on the reliability of the research record, as do the benefits 
associated with them in areas such as health and national security. 
Sustained public trust in the research enterprise also requires 
confidence in the research record and in the processes involved in its 
ongoing development. For these reasons, and in the interest of 
achieving greater uniformity in Federal policies in this area, the 
National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) initiated the 
development of a Federal research misconduct policy in April 1996. The 
Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) provided leadership and 
coordination, and all Federal agencies with a research mission 
participated. The final policy was printed in the Federal Register on 
December 6, 2000 (66 FR 76260).
    This policy applies to federally-funded research and proposals 
submitted to Federal agencies for research funding. It thus applies to 
research conducted by the Federal agencies, conducted or managed for 
the Federal government by contractors, or supported by the Federal 
government and performed at research institutions, including 
universities and industry.
    The NSTC policy establishes the scope of the Federal government's 
interest in the accuracy and reliability of the research record and the 
processes involved in its development. It consists of a definition of 
research misconduct and basic guidelines for the response of Federal 
agencies and research institutions to allegations of research 
misconduct.
    The Federal agencies that conduct or support research are charged 
with implementing this policy within one year of the date of its 
issuance. An NSTC interagency research misconduct policy implementation 
group has been established to help achieve uniformity across the 
Federal agencies in implementation of the research misconduct policy. 
In some cases, this may require agencies to amend or replace extant 
regulations addressing research misconduct. In other cases, agencies 
may need to put new regulations in place or implement the policy 
through administrative mechanisms.
    The policy addresses research misconduct. It does not supersede 
government or institutional policies or procedures for addressing other 
forms of misconduct, such as the unethical treatment of human research 
subjects or mistreatment of laboratory animals used in research, nor 
does it supersede criminal or other civil law. Agencies and 
institutions may address these other issues as authorized by law and as 
appropriate to their missions and objectives.
    A copy of the OSTP policy published in the Federal Register may be 
viewed at: www.science.doe.gov/misconduct

    Issued in Washington DC on April 4, 2001.
James Decker,
Director (Acting), Office of Science.
[FR Doc. 01-9464 Filed 4-17-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P