[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 100 (Tuesday, May 24, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 30088-30089]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-12715]


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 Notices
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
 or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings 
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  Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 100 / Tuesday, May 24, 2011 / 
Notices  

[[Page 30088]]



ADMINISTRATIVE CONFERENCE OF THE UNITED STATES


Notice of Public Meeting of the Assembly of the Administrative 
Conference of the United States

AGENCY: Administrative Conference of the United States.

ACTION: Notice of public meeting.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to the Federal Advisory Committee Act (Pub. L. 92-
463), notice is hereby given of a meeting of the Assembly of the 
Administrative Conference of the United States to consider proposed 
recommendations which deal with: (1) Legal issues arising from e-
Rulemaking, (2) Federal government rulemaking procedures for dealing 
with public comments, (3) Federal agency use of video hearings in 
managing high-volume caseloads, and (4) enhanced ethics requirements 
for contractors that do business with the government. To facilitate 
public participation, the Conference is inviting public comment on the 
recommendations that will be considered at the meeting.

DATES: Meeting dates are Thursday, June 16, 2011, 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.; and 
Friday, June 17, 2011, 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Comments on the 
recommendations must be received by Friday, June 10, 2011.

ADDRESSES: The Public Meeting will be held at the Pew Charitable Trusts 
Conference Center, 901 E Street, NW., Washington, DC 20004.
    Submit comments to either of the following: e-mail 
[email protected], with ``June 2011 Plenary Session Comments'' in the 
subject line; or mail to June 2011 Plenary Session Comments, 
Administrative Conference of the United States, Suite 706 South, 1120 
20th Street, NW., Washington, DC 20036.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Shawne McGibbon, General Counsel (the 
Designated Federal Officer), Administrative Conference of the United 
States, Suite 706 South, 1120 20th Street, NW., Washington, DC 20036; 
Telephone 202-480-2088.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Administrative Conference of the United 
States makes recommendations to administrative agencies, the President, 
Congress, and the Judicial Conference of the United States regarding 
the improvement of Federal administrative procedures (5 U.S.C. 594). 
The objectives of these recommendations are to ensure that private 
rights may be fully protected and regulatory activities and other 
Federal responsibilities may be carried out expeditiously in the public 
interest, to promote more effective public participation and efficiency 
in the rulemaking process, reduce unnecessary litigation in the 
regulatory process, improve the use of science in the regulatory 
process, and improve the effectiveness of laws applicable to the 
regulatory process (5 U.S.C. 591).
    The membership of the Conference meeting in plenary session 
constitutes the Assembly of the Conference (5 U.S.C. 595). The Assembly 
will meet in plenary session to consider four proposed recommendations:
    (1) The recommendation ``Legal Considerations in e-Rulemaking'' 
addresses several issues raised by the evolution from paper to 
electronic rulemaking procedures. Among other things, it recommends 
that agencies use reliable software to analyze whether comments are 
identical or nearly identical, to save the cost of reading identical 
comments separately; and that agencies should maintain electronic 
records in lieu of paper records where possible, which should also 
produce a cost savings.
    (2) The recommendation ``Rulemaking Comments'' addresses a variety 
of topics related to the ``comment'' phase of notice-and-comment 
rulemaking (independent of the innovations introduced by e-rulemaking, 
which are covered by the previous recommendation). Among other things, 
this recommendation urges agencies to promote more useful comments by 
explaining the characteristics of effective comments, to have policies 
on late comments, and to make use of reply comment periods where 
appropriate.
    (3) The recommendation on ``Video Hearings'' addresses agency use 
of video teleconferencing technology, particularly in the processing of 
high-volume caseloads. At least one agency has successfully used this 
technology to save nearly 60 million dollars annually and reduce wait 
times for adjudication--all with no significant effect on case 
outcomes. The recommendation urges other agencies to consider whether 
they could benefit from similar use of video technology, provides 
factors agencies should consider as they make that decision, and 
provides best practices for effective use of video.
    (4) The recommendation ``Government Contractor Ethics'' addresses 
improvements to ethics regulation for government contractor employees, 
who are now performing more and more of the Federal government's work, 
but who are subject to much less extensive ethics regulation than 
government employees. The recommendation attempts to promote ethical 
behavior by government contractors without imposing excessive 
compliance costs. The recommendation is addressed primarily to the 
Federal Acquisition Regulatory Council, which oversees the Federal 
Acquisition Regulation (FAR). It recommends, in part, that the FAR 
Council adopt model contract clauses on contractor ethics that agencies 
could use when entering into contracts for government services.
    This meeting will be open to the public and may end prior to the 
designated end time if business is concluded earlier. Members of the 
public are invited to attend the meeting in person, subject to space 
limitations. The Conference will also provide remote public access to 
the meeting via webcast. Anyone who wishes to attend the meeting in 
person is asked to RSVP to [email protected], no later than June 14, 
2011, in order to facilitate entry. Members of the public who attend 
the meetings of the full Assembly are not permitted to speak except in 
the discretion of the Chairman, with unanimous approval of the members. 
The Conference welcomes the attendance of the public and will make 
every effort to accommodate persons with physical disabilities or 
special needs. If you need special accommodations due to disability, 
please inform the contact person noted

[[Page 30089]]

above no later than 7 days in advance of the meeting.
    Members of the public may submit written comments on any or all of 
the recommendations to either of the addresses listed above no later 
than June 10, 2011. Copies of the proposed recommendations and 
information on remote access will be available at http://www.acus.gov. 
All comments relating to the individual proposed recommendations will 
be delivered to the Designated Federal Officer listed on this notice 
and will be posted on the Conference's Web site after the close of the 
comment period. Comments received at this stage will be available to 
the full Assembly prior to their consideration of the final 
recommendations.

    Dated: May 18, 2011.
Shawne McGibbon,
General Counsel.
[FR Doc. 2011-12715 Filed 5-23-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6110-01-M