[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 34 (Wednesday, February 20, 2002)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 7611]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-4058]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

15 CFR Part 909

[Docket No. 011219305-1305-01]
RIN 0648-AP77


Regulations Relating to Disclosure of Information and Employee 
Testimony in Litigation; Removal of Obsolete Regulations

AGENCY: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Department of 
Commerce.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) 
issues this final rule to remove and reserve regulations concerning the 
policies and procedures relating to the disclosure of information and 
employee testimony in litigation not involving the United States. These 
regulations are removed because they have been superseded by other 
regulations. The intended effect is to ensure that NOAA policies and 
procedures are consistent and not redundant with other regulations of 
the Department of Commerce.

DATES: Effective February 20, 2002.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Glenn E. Tallia, NOAA Senior Counselor 
for Atmospheric and Space Services and Research (GCW), SSMC 3, Mail 
Stop 15861, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910; (301) 713-
1337.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    NOAA issues this final rule to remove provisions from its internal 
conduct regulations, codified at 15 CFR part 909. This part contains 
policies and procedures regarding disclosure of information and 
employee testimony in litigation not involving the United States. This 
part is removed and reserved because it has been superseded by 
regulations on the same topic promulgated by the Department of 
Commerce, and codified at 15 CFR part 15, subpart B.

Classification

Executive Order 12866

    This final rule has been determined to be not significant for 
purposes of E.O. 12866.

Administrative Procedure Act

    Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(A), prior notice and an opportunity for 
public comment and not required for this rule of agency organization, 
management and procedures. Further, this rule of agency organization, 
management and procedures is not a substantive rule, and is therefore 
not subject to the 30-day delay in effective date requirement of 5 
U.S.C. 553(d).

Regulatory Flexibility Act

    As this rule is not subject to the requirement to provide prior 
notice and an opportunity for public comment pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553, 
or any other law, it is not subject to the analytical requirements of 
the Regulatory Flexibility Act, 5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.

Paperwork Reduction Act

    This rule does not contain or involve any information collection 
requirements that require the approval of the Office of Management and 
Budget pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act, 44 U.S.C. chapter 35.

List of Subjects in 15 CFR Part 909

    Courts, Government employees.

    Accordingly, for the reasons set forth in the preamble and under 
the authority contained in 5 U.S.C. 301; 15 U.S.C. 1501, 1512, 1513, 
1515 and 1518; Reorganization Plan No. 5 of 1950; 3 CFR, 1949-1953 
Comp., p. 1004; and 44 U.S.C. 3101; remove and reserve 15 CFR part 
909.

    Dated: February 14, 2002.
Craig R. O'Connor,
Acting General Counsel, NOAA.
[FR Doc. 02-4058 Filed 2-19-02; 8:45 am]
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