[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 157 (Thursday, August 14, 2003)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 48575-48576]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-20584]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

10 CFR Parts 1015 and 1018

RIN 1901-AA98


Collection of Claims Owed the United States

AGENCY: Department of Energy.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Energy (DOE) is proposing to amend its 
regulations governing the collection of claims of the United States for 
money or property arising from activities under DOE jurisdiction. 
Because the revisions to DOE's debt collection standards and procedures 
are not expected to receive any significant adverse comment, the 
amendment is also being issued as a direct final rule in the ``Rules 
and Regulations'' section of this Federal Register. (See also 
``Discussion of Direct Final Rulemaking'' in Section III of the 
Supplementary Information section of this notice of proposed 
rulemaking.)

DATES: Public comments must be received on or before September 15, 
2003.

ADDRESSES: Comments (3 copies) should be addressed to: Helen O. 
Sherman, Director, Office of Finance and Accounting Policy (ME-10), 
Office of Management, Budget and Evaluation, Department of Energy, 1000 
Independence Ave., SW., Washington, DC 20585.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Philip R. Pegnato, Team Leader, 
Management Accounting and Cash Management Team, Department of Energy, 
at (301) 903-9704; or Susan A. Donahue, Accountant, Management 
Accounting and Cash Management Team, Department of Energy, at (301) 
903-4666.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. General Information

    The proposed revisions to 10 CFR part 1015, including the 
incorporation of tax refund offset provisions currently in 10 CFR part 
1018, would conform DOE's regulations to the Federal Claims Collection 
Standards issued by the Department of Treasury and the Department of 
Justice on November 22, 2000; clarify and simplify DOE's debt 
collection standards; and reflect changes to Federal debt collection 
procedures under the Debt Collection Improvement Act of 1996 and the 
General Accounting

[[Page 48576]]

Office Act of 1996. The rule provisions and the rationale for them are 
described in the preamble to the direct final rule.

II. Opportunity for Public Comment

    Interested persons are invited to participate by submitting data, 
views or arguments with respect to the rule amendments proposed in this 
notice. Three copies of written comments should be submitted to the 
address indicated in the ADDRESSES section of this notice. All comments 
received will be available for public inspection as part of the 
administrative record on file for this rulemaking in the Department of 
Energy Reading Room, Room 1E-090, Forrestal Building, 1000 Independence 
Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585, (202) 586-3142, between the hours 9 
a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. All 
written comments received by the date indicated in the DATES section of 
this notice and all other relevant information in the record will be 
carefully assessed and fully considered prior to the publication of a 
final rule. Any information or data that the submitter considers to be 
exempt from public disclosure by law must be so identified and 
submitted in writing (one copy), as well as one complete copy from 
which the information believed to be exempt from disclosure is deleted. 
The Department will determine if the information or data is exempt from 
disclosure.
    DOE has not scheduled a public hearing to receive oral 
presentations of views, data and arguments because DOE does not believe 
the proposed rule presents a substantial issue of fact or law or that 
the proposed rule would likely have a substantial impact on the 
Nation's economy or large numbers of individuals or businesses. DOE 
will reconsider this matter if public comments show that such issues or 
potential impacts exist.

III. Discussion of Direct Final Rulemaking

    DOE is proposing to amend its regulations governing the collection 
on claims of the United States for money or property arising from 
activities under DOE jurisdiction. In the ``Rules and Regulations'' 
section of today's Federal Register, we are approving these revisions 
as a direct final rule without prior proposal because we view these as 
noncontroversial revisions and anticipate no adverse comment. We have 
described the revisions and our rationale for them in the notice of 
direct final rulemaking. If DOE receives no significant adverse 
comment, the Department will not take further action on this rule. If 
DOE receives such an adverse comment on one or more distinct 
amendments, paragraphs, or sections of the direct final rule, DOE will 
publish a timely withdrawal in the Federal Register indicating which 
provisions will become effective and which provisions are being 
withdrawn due to adverse comment. Any distinct amendments, paragraphs, 
or sections of the direct final rule for which we do not receive 
adverse comment will become effective on the date set forth in the 
direct final rule, notwithstanding any adverse comment on any other 
distinct amendment, paragraph, or section of today's rule. We will 
address all public comments in a subsequent final rule based on this 
proposed rule. We will not institute a second comment period on this 
action. Any parties interested in commenting must do so at this time.
    For the various statutes and Executive Orders that require findings 
for each rulemaking, DOE incorporates the findings from the notice of 
direct final rulemaking into this companion notice for the purpose of 
providing public notice and opportunity for comment.

List of Subjects

10 CFR Part 1015

    Administrative practice and procedure, Antitrust, Claims, Federal 
employees, Fraud, Penalties, Privacy.

10 CFR Part 1018

    Claims, Income taxes.

    Issued in Washington, on August 7, 2003.
James T. Campbell,
Acting Director, Office of Management, Budget and Evaluation/Acting 
Chief Financial Officer.
[FR Doc. 03-20584 Filed 8-13-03; 8:45 am]
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