[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 143 (Thursday, July 25, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44981-44982]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-17817]


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NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD


Restructuring of National Labor Relations Board's Headquarters' 
Offices

AGENCY: National Labor Relations Board.

ACTION: Notice of Reorganization; Restructuring of National Labor 
Relations Board's Headquarters' Offices.

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    Authority: Sections 3, 4, 6, and 10 of the National Labor 
Relations Act, 29 U.S.C. Sec. 3, 4, 6, and 10.

SUMMARY: This notice advises the public that the National Labor 
Relations Board is restructuring and realigning the location and lines 
of authority of certain of its Headquarters' offices to create an 
independent Division of Legal Counsel reporting to the Office of the 
General Counsel.

[[Page 44982]]

    These administrative changes are being adopted in order to 
centralize the services of several Headquarters' offices, eliminate 
duplication of functions, improve the delivery of services, and 
streamline, integrate and enhance management functions.

DATES:  Effective Date: August 11, 2013.

ADDRESSES: National Labor Relations Board, 1099 14th Street NW., Room 
11800, Washington, DC 20570.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: William B. Cowen, Solicitor, National 
Labor Relations Board, 1099 14th Street NW., Washington, DC 20570. 
Telephone: (202) 273-2910 (this is not a toll-free number), 1-866-315-
6572 (TTY/TDD).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The National Labor Relations Board is 
centralizing the services of several Headquarters' offices and 
restructuring them into one independent Division of Legal Counsel. This 
new Division will have three branches--(1) Ethics, Employment and 
Administrative Law, (2) Contempt, Compliance and Special Litigation, 
and (3) Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Branch. When dealing with 
matters on behalf of the five-member Board or the various Board-side 
offices, the Division of Legal Counsel will coordinate through the 
Office of the Solicitor.
    The Ethics, Employment and Administrative Law Branch will provide 
the Agency with legal counsel and advice in the areas of labor 
relations, employment and personnel law (including claims involving 
MSPB, FLRA, EEOC, U.S. Office of Special Counsel), government 
contracting, Federal Tort Claims Act matters, and government and bar 
ethics.
    The Contempt, Compliance and Special Litigation Branch will provide 
compliance and contempt advice and litigation involving, among other 
things, the Bankruptcy Code, the Federal Debt Collection Procedures Act 
and compliance with outstanding court judgments; conduct litigation and 
provide the Agency with advice and assistance when programs, statutes 
or outside proceedings threaten the Agency's ability to carry out its 
mission; ensure Agency compliance with government regulations that 
affect its work, such as the Administrative Procedures Act, statutes 
relating to Agency rulemaking, the Sunshine Act, the Health Insurance 
Portability and Accountability Act, the Right to Financial Privacy Act; 
and provide guidance and conduct litigation involving FOIA and Privacy 
Act issues.
    The FOIA Branch will provide advice on FOIA and some related 
Privacy Act issues; handle all FOIA requests and appeals for 
Headquarters and Regional Offices; and prepare FOIA guideline memoranda 
and annual FOIA reports.
    Lead Technology Counsel will conduct litigation and provide advice 
and assistance involving e-litigation matters.
    These administrative changes are prompted by the Agency's 
streamlining initiative and is responsive to the requests for ``one-
stop shopping'' for technical expertise from internal customers, to 
allow them to better focus on their mission-critical functions.
    The following Headquarters' offices will be affected by these 
administrative changes:
    Labor Relations and Special Counsel moves from the Division of 
Operations-Management to the Ethics, Employment and Administrative Law 
Branch of the Division of Legal Counsel;
    Government Ethics moves from Administration Division and Bar Ethics 
moves from the Division of Enforcement Litigation to the Ethics, 
Employment and Administrative Law Branch of the Division of Legal 
Counsel;
    Special Litigation Branch, and Contempt Litigation and Compliance 
Branch moves from Enforcement Litigation Division to Contempt, 
Compliance and Special Litigation Branch of the Division of Legal 
Counsel;
    FOIA processing and preparation of FOIA guidance and reporting 
functions of the Research and Policy Planning Branch moves from the 
Division of Advice to the FOIA Branch of the Division of Legal Counsel. 
Additionally, FOIA appeals processing on the Board-side moves from the 
Solicitor's Office and FOIA appeals processing on the General Counsel-
side moves from the Office of Appeals in the Enforcement Litigation 
Division to the FOIA Branch of the Division of Legal Counsel with 
Jennifer Abruzzo as the Chief FOIA Officer for the Agency; and
    Lead Technology Counsel moves from the Division of Enforcement 
Litigation and will directly report to the Associate General Counsel of 
the Division.
    These administrative changes are being adopted in order to 
centralize the services of several Headquarters' offices, eliminate 
duplication of functions, improve the delivery of services, and 
streamline, integrate and enhance management functions. Because these 
administrative changes relate to the internal management of the Agency, 
pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553, they are exempted from the notice and comment 
requirements of the Administrative Procedure Act.

    Dated: Washington, DC, July 19, 2013.

    By direction of the Board.
William B. Cowen,
Solicitor.
[FR Doc. 2013-17817 Filed 7-24-13; 8:45 am]
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