[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 227 (Tuesday, November 25, 2003)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 66014]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-29408]


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PEACE CORPS

22 CFR Part 307


Peace Corps Standards of Conduct

AGENCY: Peace Corps.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The Peace Corps is removing outdated regulations that set out 
the ethical conduct and other responsibilities applicable to Peace 
Corps employees. These regulations have been superseded, in significant 
part, by government-wide regulations.

EFFECTIVE DATE: This rule will be effective on November 25, 2003.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Carl R. Sosebee, Designated Agency 
Ethics Official, (202) 692-2150.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    Part 307, which sets out Peace Corps' regulations regarding the 
ethical conduct and other responsibilities of Peace Corps employees was 
last revised in 1987, see 52 FR 30151, Aug. 13, 1987; 22 CFR part 307. 
The conduct and responsibilities covered in this part have been 
superseded by the Office of Government Ethics' (OGE) executive branch 
ethical standards and requirements codified at 5 CFR parts 2634, 2635, 
2636, 2637, 2638 and 2640. Further, rules governing partisan political 
activity by executive branch employees and rules governing gambling, 
betting and lotteries on government owned or leased property or while 
on duty are set forth at 5 CFR parts 734 and 735. Government-wide rules 
on procurement integrity are set forth in the Procurement Integrity 
Act, 41 U.S.C. 423, and the Federal Acquisition Regulations, 48 CFR 
3.104. Because Peace Corps employees are already subject to these 
various rules, the Peace Corps is removing Part 307 from the Code of 
Federal Regulations. Remaining portions of the Peace Corps' existing 
standards pertaining to prior review of publications of official 
concern set forth in Section 307.735-306(a)3; and portions pertaining 
to economic and financial activities of employees abroad, set forth in 
Section 307.735-308 have been retained as Agency internal regulations 
pursuant to the authority of the Director in 22 U.S.C. 2503. To the 
extent part 307 covers organizational conflicts of interest in 
procurement and procurement-related matters, the Peace Corps is 
considering whether to incorporate them into the Peace Corps' internal 
rules.
    Peace Corps published a proposed rule in the Federal Register on 
February 5, 2003 (68 FR 5857). Public comments were due on March 7, 
2003. The Agency received no comments and has not made any changes to 
the rule.

II. Matters of Regulatory Procedure

    Executive Order 12866. The Peace Corps has determined that this 
proposed rule does not constitute a ``significant regulatory action'' 
for the purposes of Executive Order 12866.
    Regulatory Flexibility Act. Pursuant to section 605(b) of the 
Regulatory Flexibility Act, the Peace Corps certifies that this rule 
will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of 
small entities within the meaning of the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 
U.S.C. 601 et seq.). Accordingly, no regulatory flexibility analysis is 
required.
    Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995. Section 202 of the Unfunded 
Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (Unfunded Mandates Act) (2 U.S.C. Chs. 17A 
and 25) requires that an agency prepare a budgetary impact statement 
before promulgating a rule that includes a Federal mandate that may 
result in expenditure by State, local, and tribal governments, in the 
aggregate, or by the private sector, of $100 million or more in any one 
year. If a budgetary impact statement is required, agencies must also 
identify and consider a reasonable number of regulatory alternatives 
before promulgating a rule. The Peace Corps has determined that this 
rule will not result in expenditures by State, local, or tribal 
governments or by the private sector of $100 million or more. 
Accordingly, the Peace Corps has not prepared a budgetary impact 
statement or specifically addressed the regulatory alternatives 
considered.

List of Subjects in 22 CFR Part 307

    Political activities; Government employees; Ethical conduct; 
Financial disclosure, Conflicts of interest.

0
For the reasons set forth in the preamble, the Peace Corps amends title 
22 of the CFR by removing part 307.

    Dated: November 19, 2003.
Tyler S. Posey,
General Counsel.
[FR Doc. 03-29408 Filed 11-24-03; 8:45 am]
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