[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 95 (Thursday, May 18, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 22870-22872]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-10080]


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DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS


Announcement of Public Meeting

AGENCY: Department of Veterans Affairs.

ACTION: Announcement of public meeting.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is holding a public 
meeting to seek consultative advice in implementing section 3 of the 
Veterans Mobility Safety Act of 2016 (hereafter referred to as ``the 
Act''), as VA develops the comprehensive policy regarding quality 
standards for providers of modification services to veterans under VA's 
automobile adaptive equipment (AAE) program.

DATES: Written comments, statements, testimonies and supporting 
information will be accepted between June 13, 2017 and June 20, 2017, 
and considered with the same weight as oral comments and supporting 
information presented at the public meeting. VA will hold the public 
meeting on June 13, 2017, in Washington, DC. The meeting will start at 
9:00 a.m. and conclude on or before 4:00 p.m. Check-in will begin at 
8:00 a.m.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the VA Central Office at 810 
Vermont Ave. NW., Washington, DC 20420. This facility is accessible to 
individuals with disabilities.
    *In person attendance will be limited to 150 individuals. Advanced 
registration for individuals and groups is strongly encouraged (see 
registration instructions below). For listening purposes only (phone 
lines will be muted), the meeting will be available via audio which can 
be accessed by dialing 1-800-767-1750 access code: 74078.
    Please submit all written comments no later than June 20, 2017, by 
any of the following methods:
     Federal Rulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online instructions for submitting 
comments. Note: Comments previously submitted in response to the 
February 2nd notice will be considered and resubmission is not 
required.
     Mail, Hand Delivery, Courier: Postmarked no later than 
June 20, 2017, to: Director of Regulations Management (00REG), 
Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Ave NW., Room 1068, 
Washington, DC 20420. Note: Copies of comments received will be 
available for public inspection in the Office of Regulation Policy and 
Management, Room 1063B, between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., 
Monday through Friday (except Federal Holidays). Please call (202) 461-
4902 (this is not a toll-free number) for an appointment.
     Fax: (202) 273-9026 ATTENTION: Director of Regulations 
Management (00REG).
    All submissions must include the agency name and docket number. 
Note that all comments received will be posted and can be viewed online 
through the Federal Docket Management System at http://www.regulations.gov.
    Privacy Act: Anyone is able to search the electronic form of all 
comments received into any of our dockets by the name of the individual 
submitting the comment (or signing the comment, if submitted on behalf 
of an association, business, labor union, etc.). You may review the 
Privacy Act Statement (5 U.S.C. 552, 552a, and 552b) or visit https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2005-09-20/pdf/05-18728.pdf.
    Confidential Business Information: If you wish to submit any 
information under a claim of confidentiality, you should submit three 
copies of your complete submission, including the information you claim 
to be confidential business information, to the Director of Regulations 
Management (00REG) at the address given under WRITTEN COMMENTS. In 
addition, you should submit two copies, from which you have deleted the 
claimed confidential business information, to Docket Management at the 
address given above. When you send a comment containing information 
claimed to be confidential business information, you should submit a 
cover letter setting forth the information specified in the privacy act 
statement section.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Shayla Mitchell, Ph.D., CRC, 
Rehabilitation and Prosthetic Services (10P4R), Veterans Health 
Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Ave. NW., 
Washington, DC 20420, [email protected] or (202) 461-0389 (This is 
not a toll-free number.)

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On February 2, 2017, VA published a notice 
in the Federal Register (FR), requesting information from interested 
parties

[[Page 22871]]

regarding AAE safety and quality standards in order to assist in the 
development of the policy required by section 3 of the Act. 82 FR 9114. 
Based on the information received, VA will hold a public meeting to 
further consult with AAE providers, installers, manufacturers and 
modifiers, and other stakeholders (e.g., Veterans Service 
Organizations, Transportation/Traffic Researchers, State Rehabilitation 
Agencies, and Rehabilitation Organizations/Associations). The purpose 
of this public meeting is to continue to receive input regarding the 
safety and quality standards for AAE services for veterans and 
servicemembers under VA's AAE program. VA may choose to further contact 
attendees as necessary for the Department to develop its comprehensive 
policy regarding quality standards for VA's AAE program; if VA engages 
in any such consultations, a summary of these communications will be 
included in the public record for inspection. VA will use the 
information received through the February 2nd Federal Register notice, 
the public meeting, and any other related and necessary consultations 
to develop a policy that meets the requirements in section 3(b) of the 
Act. VA will then engage in rulemaking and solicit public comment 
articulating this policy. The resulting final rule and promulgated 
regulation will establish the policy required under section (3)(a) of 
the Act. Although section (3)(a) of the Act uses the term ``policy'', a 
regulation is required to establish the program required by section 
(3)(a) of the Act because of the effect this will have on veterans and 
servicemembers in receipt of benefits and services through the AAE 
program and upon private entities furnishing services through this 
program.
    Registration: In person attendance and participation in this 
meeting is limited to 150 individuals. VA has the right to refuse 
registration for in person attendance once the maximum capacity of 150 
individuals has been reached. Individuals interested in attending in 
person should request registration by emailing Shayla Mitchell at 
[email protected] by May 31, 2017, 4:00 p.m. ET. A confirmation 
message will be provided within 1-2 business days after a request has 
been received, and individuals will be notified via email on June 2, 
2017, confirming their attendance in person. Attendees wanting to offer 
oral comments, testimonies, and/or technical remarks should indicate 
their intentions upon registration.
    Individual registration: VA encourages individual registrations for 
those not affiliated with or representing a group, association, or 
organization.
    Group registration: Identification of the name of the group, 
association, or organization should be indicated in your registration 
request. Due to the meeting location's maximum capacity, VA may limit 
the size of a group's registration to no more than five (5) individuals 
to allow receipt of comments, testimonies, and/or technical remarks 
from a broad, diverse group of stakeholders. Oral comments, 
testimonies, and/or technical remarks may be limited from a group, 
association or organization with more than five (5) individuals 
representing the same group, association, or organization. In those 
instances, submission of written comments is strongly encouraged.
    Efforts will be made to accommodate all attendees who wish to 
attend in person. However, VA will give priority for in person 
attendance to those who request registration before May 31, 2017, 4:00 
p.m. ET, and wish to provide oral comments, testimonies, and/or 
technical remarks. The length of time allotted for attendees to provide 
oral comments, testimonies and/or technical remarks during the meeting 
may be subject to the number of in person attendees, and to ensure 
ample time is allotted to those registered attendees (see Supplementary 
Information section). There will be no opportunity for audio-visual 
presentations during the meeting. Written comments will be accepted by 
those attending in person (see below instructions for submitting 
written comments).
    Audio (For listening purposes only): Limited to the first 500 
participants, on a first come, first served basis. Advanced 
registration is not required. Audio attendees will not be allowed to 
offer oral comments, testimonies, and/or technical remarks as the phone 
line will be muted. Written comments will be accepted from those 
participating via audio (see below instructions for submitting written 
comments).

    Note: Should it be necessary to cancel the meeting due to 
inclement weather or other emergencies, VA will take available 
measures to notify registered participants. VA will conduct the 
public meeting informally, and technical rules of evidence will not 
apply. VA will arrange for a written transcript of the meeting and 
keep the official record open for 15 days after the meeting to allow 
submission of supplemental information. You may make arrangements 
for copies of the transcript directly with the reporter, and the 
transcript will also be posted in the docket of the rule as part of 
the official record when the rule is published.

Agenda

08:00-09:00 Arrival/Check-In
09:00-12:00 Morning Public Meeting Session
12:00-13:00 Lunch Break
    (Note: Meals will not be provided by VA.)
13:00-16:00 Afternoon Public Meeting Session
16:00 Adjourn

    (Note: Time for adjourning may be subject to change depending on 
the discussion and comments offered.)

    Public Meeting Topics: Pursuant to Public Law 114-256, section 3, 
VA is seeking input in regard to the following topics:
     VA-wide management of the AAE program;
     Standards for safety and quality of AAE, and installation 
of AAE, including defining the differentiations in levels of 
modification complexity;
     Certification of a provider by a manufacturer if VA 
designates the quality standards of such manufacturer as meeting or 
exceeding the standards developed under this program;
     Certification of a provider by a third party, nonprofit 
organization if the Secretary designates the quality standards of such 
organization as meeting or exceeding the standards developed under this 
program;
     Compliance of a provider with the Americans with 
Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12101 et seq.) when furnishing AAE 
at the facility of the provider;
     Allowing, where technically appropriate, for veterans to 
receive modifications at their residence or location of choice, 
including standards that ensure such receipt and notification to 
veterans of the availability of such receipt;
     Consistent application of standards and compliance for 
safety and quality of both equipment and installation; and
     Education and training of personnel of the Department who 
administer the AAE program.

Signing Authority

    The Secretary of Veterans Affairs, or designee, approved this 
document and authorized the undersigned to sign and submit the document 
to the Office of the Federal Register for publication electronically as 
an official document of the Department of Veterans Affairs. Gina S. 
Farrisee, Deputy Chief of Staff, Department of Veterans Affairs, 
approved this document on May 12, 2017, for publication.


[[Page 22872]]


    Dated: May 12, 2017.
Jeffrey Martin,
Office Program Manager, Office of Regulation Policy & Management, 
Office of the Secretary, Department of Veterans Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2017-10080 Filed 5-17-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 8320-01-P