[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 186 (Tuesday, September 26, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 56222-56223]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-15727]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Surface Transportation Board


The No FEAR Act Notice

AGENCY: Surface Transportation Board.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Surface Transportation Board (Board) gives notice of the 
``Notification and Federal Employee Antidiscrimination Act of 2002,'' 
the No FEAR Act, to former and current STB employees and to applicants 
for STB employment.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Vernon A. Williams, Secretary to the 
Board (202) 565-1718.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On May 15, 2002, Congress enacted the 
``Notification and Federal Employee Antidiscrimination and Retaliation 
Act of 2002,'' which is now known as the No FEAR Act. One purpose of 
the Act is to ``require that Federal agencies be accountable for 
violations of antidiscrimination and whistleblower protection laws.'' 
Public Law 107-174, Summary. In support of this purpose, Congress found 
that ``agencies cannot be run effectively if those agencies practice or 
tolerate discrimination.'' Public Law 107-174, Title I, General 
Provisions, section 101(1).
    The Act also requires agencies, including the Board to provide this 
notice to Board employees, former Board employees and applicants for 
Board employment to inform you of the rights and protections available 
to you under Federal antidiscrimination and whistleblower protection 
laws.

Antidiscrimination Laws

    A Federal agency cannot discriminate against an employee or 
applicant with respect to the terms, conditions or privileges of 
employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, 
age, disability, marital status or political affiliation. 
Discrimination on these bases is prohibited by one or more of the 
following statutes: 5 U.S.C. 2302(b)(1), 29 U.S.C. 206(d), 631, 633a 
and 791, and 42 U.S.C. 2000e-16.
    If you believe that you have been the victim of unlawful 
discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national 
origin or disability, you must contact an Equal Employment Opportunity 
(EEO) counselor within 45 calendar days of the alleged discriminatory 
action, or, in the case of a personnel action, within 45 calendar days 
of the effective date of the action, before you can file a formal 
complaint with your agency (see contact information below). See, e.g. 
29 CFR 1614. If you believe that you have been the victim of unlawful 
discrimination on the basis of age, you must either contact an EEO 
counselor as noted above or give notice of intent to sue to the Equal 
Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) within 180 calendar days of 
the alleged discriminatory action. If you are alleging discrimination 
based on marital status or political affiliation, you may file a 
written complaint with the U.S. Office of Special Counsel (OSC) (see 
contact information below). In the alternative (or in some cases in 
addition), you may pursue a discrimination complaint by filing a 
grievance through your agency's administrative or negotiated grievance 
procedures, if such procedures apply and are available.

Whistleblower protection Laws

    A Federal employee with authority to take, direct others to take, 
recommend or approve any personnel action must not use that authority 
to take or fail to take, or threaten to take or fail to take, a 
personnel action against an employee or applicant because of disclosure 
of information by that individual that is reasonably believed to 
evidence violations of law, rule or regulation; gross mismanagement; 
gross waste of funds; an abuse of authority; or a substantial and 
specific danger to public health or safety, unless disclosure of such 
information is specifically prohibited by law and such information is 
specifically required by Executive order to be kept secret in the 
interest of national defense or the conduct of foreign affairs.
    Retaliation against an employee or applicant for making a protected 
disclosure is prohibited by 5 U.S.C. 2302(b)(8). If you believe that 
you have been the victim of whistleblower retaliation, you may file a 
written complaint (Form OCC-11) with the U.S. Office of Special Counsel 
at 1730 M Street, NW., Suite 218, Washington, DC 20036-4505 or online 
through the OSC Web site: http://www.osc.gov.

Retaliation for Engaging in Protected Activity

    A Federal agency cannot retaliate against an employee or applicant 
because that individual exercises his or her rights under any of the 
Federal antidiscrimination and whistleblower protection laws listed 
above. If you believe that you are the victim of retaliation for 
engaging in protected activity you must follow, as appropriate, the 
procedures described in the Antidiscrimination Laws and Whistleblower 
Protection Laws or, if applicable, in administrative or negotiated 
grievance procedures in order to pursue any legal remedy.

Disciplinary Actions

    Under existing laws, each agency retains the right, where 
appropriate, to discipline a Federal employee for conduct that is 
inconsistent with Federal Antidiscrimination and Whistleblower 
Protection Laws up to and including removal. If OCS has initiated an 
investigation under 5 U.S.C. 1214, however, according to 5 U.S.C. 
1214(f), agencies must seek approval from the Special Counsel to 
discipline employees for, among other activities, engaging in 
prohibited retaliation. Nothing in the No FEAR Act alters existing laws 
or permits an agency to take unfounded disciplinary action against a 
Federal employee or to violate the procedural rights of a Federal 
employee who has been accused of discrimination.

Additional Information

    For further information regarding the No FEAR Act regulations, 
refer to 5 CFR part 724, as well as the appropriate offices within the 
Board (e.g., EEO or human resources office). Additional information 
regarding Federal antidiscrimination, whistleblower

[[Page 56223]]

protection and retaliation laws can be found at the EEOC Web site: 
http://www.eeoc.gov and the OSC Web site: http://www.osc.gov.

Existing Rights Unchanged

    Pursuant to section 205 of the No FEAR Act, neither the Act nor 
this notice creates, expands or reduces any rights otherwise available 
to any employee, former employee or applicant under the laws of the 
United States, including the provisions of law specified in 5 U.S.C. 
2302(d).

Contact Information

    Employees and former employees of the Surface Transportation Board, 
and applicants for employment with Board, who wish to consult with an 
EEO counselor should contact: Lee Kramer Associates, 919 18th Street, 
NW., 10th Floor, Washington, DC 20006, telephone: 202-667-3137, fax: 
202-667-0089, e-mail: [email protected].

    Dated: September 21, 2006.
Vernon A. Williams,
Secretary.
 [FR Doc. E6-15727 Filed 9-25-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4915-01-P