[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 126 (Friday, June 29, 2012)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 38717]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-16023]



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  Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 126 / Friday, June 29, 2012 / Rules 
and Regulations  

[[Page 38717]]



SPECIAL INSPECTOR GENERAL FOR AFGHANISTAN RECONSTRUCTION

5 CFR Part 9303

RIN 3460-AA01


Supplemental Standards of Ethical Conduct for Employees

AGENCY: Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction 
(SIGAR), with the concurrence of the Office of Government Ethics (OGE), 
is adopting as final, without changes, an interim rule for SIGAR 
employees that will supplement the executive branch-wide Standards of 
Ethical Conduct (Standards) issued by OGE. The final supplemental 
regulation includes a requirement that SIGAR employees obtain prior 
approval for certain types of outside activities. The interim final 
rule was published in the Federal Register on April 6, 2012

DATES: Effective Date: June 29, 2012.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Technical information: Christina Beach, Ethics Compliance Officer, 703-
545-5994, email: [email protected].
Legal information: Patricia Papas, Associate General Counsel, 703-545-
5992, email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On April 6, 2012, SIGAR published, with OGE 
concurrence, in the Federal Register (77 FR 20697) an interim final 
rule that requires SIGAR employees to obtain prior approval for certain 
types of outside activities.
    SIGAR provided a 60-day comment period that ended on June 5, 2012. 
SIGAR received no comments and will not be making any changes to the 
interim final rule. Based on the rationale set forth in the interim 
final rule, SIGAR has determined, with OGE concurrence, to adopt the 
interim final rule without change as a final rule.
    For a detailed analysis of this final rule, see the preamble of the 
interim final rule as published in 77 FR 20697.

I. Matters of Regulatory Procedure

Administrative Procedure Act

    This document affirms as final, without change, the interim final 
rule that is already in effect. In accordance with 5 U.S.C. 1103(b)(1) 
and 1105, these regulations are not subject to the rulemaking 
requirements of the Administrative Procedure Act, at 5 U.S.C. 553 (b), 
(c), and (d), because they apply solely to SIGAR or its employees.

Regulatory Flexibility Act

    As Acting Inspector General of SIGAR, I have determined under the 
Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. chapter 6) that this rule will not 
have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small 
entities because it will primarily affect SIGAR employees.

Paperwork Reduction Act

    As Acting Inspector General of SIGAR, I have determined that the 
Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. chapter 35) does not apply to this 
rule, because it does not contain any information collection 
requirements that would require the approval of the Office of 
Management and Budget.

Unfunded Mandates Reform Act

    For purposes of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C. 
chapter 25, subchapter II), this rule would not significantly or 
uniquely affect small governments and would not result in increased 
expenditures by State, local, and tribal governments, or by the private 
sector, of $100 million or more (as adjusted for inflation) in any one 
year.

Congressional Review Act

    I have determined that this rule is not a rule as defined in 5 
U.S.C. 804 and, thus, does not require review by Congress.

Executive Order 12866

    In promulgating this rule, SIGAR has adhered to the regulatory 
philosophy and the applicable principles of regulation set forth in 
section 1 of Executive Order 12866, Regulatory Planning and Review. 
This rule has not been reviewed by the Office of Management and Budget 
under that Executive Order, since it deals with agency organization, 
management, and personnel matters and is not in any way event deemed 
``significant'' thereunder.

Executive Order 12988

    As Acting Inspector General of SIGAR, I have reviewed this rule in 
light of section 3 of Executive Order 12988, Civil Justice Reform, and 
certify that it meets the applicable standards provided therein.

List of Subjects in 5 CFR Part 9303

    Conflict of interests, Government employees.

Authority and Issuance

    For the reasons stated above, the Special Inspector General for 
Afghanistan Reconstruction, with the concurrence of the Office of 
Government Ethics, is submitting the document to the Office of the 
Federal Register for publication as an official document of the Special 
Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction.

    Accordingly, the interim final rule amending 5 CFR part 9303, which 
was published at 77 FR 20697 on April 6, 2012, is adopted as a final 
rule without change.

    Dated: June 19, 2012.
Steven J. Trent,
Acting Inspector General, Special Inspector General for Afghanistan 
Reconstruction.
    Approved: June 25, 2012.
Don W. Fox,
Acting Director, Office of Government Ethics.
[FR Doc. 2012-16023 Filed 6-28-12; 8:45 am]
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