[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 112 (Friday, June 10, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 37642-37643]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-13635]


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DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

[Docket No. OLP 157]


Notice of Public Comment Period on Proposed Uniform Language for 
Testimony and Reports

AGENCY: Department of Justice.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces the opening of the public comment period 
on the Proposed Uniform Language for Testimony and Reports (Proposed 
Uniform Language) documents for the forensic disciplines of fiber, 
footwear and tire treads, general chemistry, glass, latent prints, 
serology, and toxicology.

DATES: Written public comment regarding the Proposed Uniform Language 
should be submitted through www.regulations.gov before July 8, 2016.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: The Office of Legal Policy, 950 
Pennsylvania Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20530, by phone at 202-514-4601 
or via email at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:  As part of the Department's continued 
efforts to advance the practice of forensic science by ensuring 
Department forensic examiners are testifying and reporting consistent 
with applicable scientific standards and across Department components 
including the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives 
(ATF), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and the Federal 
Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Department is developing Proposed 
Uniform Language that would apply to all Department forensic laboratory 
personnel. The Proposed Uniform Language documents are based on the 
Federal Bureau of Investigation's (FBI) Approved Scientific Standards 
for Testimony and Reports (ASSTRs) but differ substantially. As a 
primary matter, the ASSTRs are currently in effect for FBI personnel, 
while the Proposed Uniform Language documents are merely proposed and 
have not been adopted. After adjudication of public comment and the 
incorporation of appropriate edits, it is anticipated that each 
Proposed Uniform Language document will be forwarded to the Deputy 
Attorney General. If one or more are adopted by the Deputy Attorney 
General, they would become effective for Department forensic laboratory 
personnel.
    The Department plans to seek comment on the Proposed Uniform 
Language documents in two phases with Proposed Uniform Language 
documents for seven forensic science disciplines being posted now and 
the remaining documents posted in July 2016.
    Proposed Uniform Language: The Department is posting the Proposed 
Uniform Language document for each of the following forensic science 
disciplines on www.regulations.gov and seeking public comment: Fiber, 
footwear and tire treads, general chemistry, glass, latent prints, 
serology, and toxicology. Each Proposed Uniform Language document 
contains two primary sections: Statements approved for use in 
examination testimony and/or laboratory reports and statements not 
approved for use in examination testimony and/or laboratory reports. We 
ask that you review and provide comment on each Proposed Uniform 
Language document separately.
    Review Sheet: In order to assist commenters in evaluating each 
Proposed Uniform Language document, the Department has provided a 
review sheet that identifies certain criteria. Commenters may find it 
helpful to use a format similar to that provided by the review sheet to 
frame their responses. Use of the review sheet is optional but would be 
helpful to provide consistency in commentary.
    Supporting Documentation: Each Proposed Uniform Language document 
is accompanied by supporting documentation (posted separately) that 
provides additional scientific background and policy considerations to 
support the statements approved for use and statements not approved in 
examination testimony and/or laboratory reports. The Department is not 
seeking public comment on the supporting documentation, however, 
commenters are welcome to provide thoughts and suggestions on these 
documents but notes that only each Proposed Uniform Language document 
will be forwarded to the Deputy Attorney General for review and 
potential adoption by Department personnel.
    Posting of Public Comments: To ensure proper handling of comments, 
please reference ``Docket No. OLP 157'' on all electronic and written 
correspondence. The Department encourages all comments on this 
framework be submitted electronically through www.regulations.gov. 
Paper comments that duplicate the electronic submission are not 
necessary as all comments submitted to www.regulations.gov will be 
posted for public review and are part of the official docket record.
    In accordance with the Federal Records Act, please note that all 
comments received are considered part of the public record, and shall 
be made available for public inspection online at www.regulations.gov. 
The comments to be posted may include personally identifiable 
information (such as your name, address, etc.) and confidential 
business information voluntarily submitted by the commenter.
    The Department will post all comments received on 
www.regulations.gov without making any changes to the comments or 
redacting any information, including any personally identifiable 
information provided. It is the responsibility of the commenter to 
safeguard personally identifiable information. You are not required to 
submit personally identifying information in order to comment on the 
Proposed Uniform Language and the Department recommends that commenters 
not include personally identifiable information such as Social Security 
Numbers, personal addresses, telephone numbers, and email addresses 
that they do not want made public in their comments as such submitted 
information will be available to the public via www.regulations.gov. 
Comments submitted through www.regulations.gov will not include the 
email address of the commenter unless the commenter chooses to include 
that information as part of his or her comment.


[[Page 37643]]


    Dated: June 2, 2016.
Kira Antell,
Senior Counsel, Office of Legal Policy.
[FR Doc. 2016-13635 Filed 6-9-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4410-18-P