[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 250 (Tuesday, December 31, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 72364-72366]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-28242]


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GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION

[Notice-MR-2019-01; Docket No. 2019-0002; Sequence No. 35]


Modernizing Services for Regulation Management

AGENCY: Office Regulation Management, Office of Government-wide Policy 
(OGP), General Services Administration (GSA).

ACTION: Notice of public meetings and request for comment.

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SUMMARY: GSA is seeking public comment on any matters related to the 
modernization of Electronic Rulemaking Management. Background 
information on specific topics will be provided in electronic format 
through the regulations.gov docketing system to help inform the public 
on known issues around which to focus their input. Comments will also 
be accepted electronically.
    To further inform the public on issues affecting the future of 
Electronic Rulemaking Management, GSA is hosting two town-hall style 
public meetings. In addition to inviting members of the public to 
attend these meetings, GSA is seeking subject matter experts who would 
be interested in participating in one or more panels at these meetings. 
Further Information regarding the public meetings, the process for 
requesting to present, and the comment process may be found under the 
heading SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.

DATES: The public meetings will be conducted on January 30 and March 
25, 2020. Both meetings will be held from 2:00 p.m., to 4:00 p.m., 
Eastern Time (ET).
    Subject matter experts interested in serving on a panel at one or 
more public meetings must submit their proposed topics and 
qualifications/experience, in the form of a resume, for the relevant 
subject area no later than the following dates:
    For the meeting on January 30, 2020, proposals are due midnight 
January 10, 2020.
    For the meeting on March 25, 2020, proposals are due midnight March 
2, 2020.
    Comments related to any aspect of modernization of Electronic 
Rulemaking Management must be submitted no later than April 30, 2020.

ADDRESSES: All public meetings will take place at GSA's Central Office 
at 1800 F Street NW, Washington, DC 20006.
    Submit proposals to present by emailing [email protected].
    Pre-register to attend the January 30, 2020, public meeting at 
https://regulationsmanagement.eventbrite.com.
    Pre-register to attend the March 25, 2020, public meeting at 
https://regulationsmanagement2.eventbrite.com.
    Submit comments in response to Notice-MR-2019-01 using Docket No. 
2019-0002; Sequence No. 35, on regulations.gov (http://www.regulations.gov).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information, please 
contact [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background on Electronic Rulemaking Management

    GSA's Office of Regulation Management, within OGP, is interested in 
conducting a dialogue with the public, including industry, special 
interest groups, academia, researchers, and individuals about 
challenges and opportunities related to the modernization of the 
Electronic Rulemaking Management process. The dialogue begins with this 
public notice and request for comment.
    The Office of Regulation Management manages two programs that 
deliver shared regulatory IT services. The eRulemaking Program manages 
Regulations.gov and the Federal Docket

[[Page 72365]]

Management System (FDMS). The Regulatory Information Service Center 
(RISC) manages RegInfo.gov and the RISC/OIRA Consolidated Information 
System (ROCIS).
    GSA's strategy for Rulemaking Modernization is three-fold:
    1. Better integrate data and information technology among Federal 
regulatory information systems to support data analytics, both for rule 
makers and members of the public.
    2. Apply innovative approaches to promote public access, 
accountability, and transparency.
    3. Reduce duplication and increase efficiency across the Federal 
rulemaking landscape through improved processes and technologies.
    Docket No. 2019-0002; Sequence No. 35 at Regulations.gov will 
contain background documents on various topics on the regulatory 
process within a docket.
    You can discover more about the Office of Regulation Management and 
its regulatory work at: https://www.gsa.gov/policy-regulations/regulations/how-you-can-improve-regulations.
    You can discover more about e-Rulemaking, including FDMS and 
regulations.gov at: https://www.fdms.gov/fdms/public/aboutus and 
https://www.regulations.gov/aboutProgram.
    You can discover more about the Regulatory Information Service 
Center at: https://www.gsa.gov/about-us/organization/office-of-governmentwide-policy/office-of-acquisition-policy/governmentwide-acq-policy/regulatory-information-service-center and https://www.reginfo.gov/public/.

Written Comments

    To assist GSA and OMB in planning for the modernization of the 
Electronic Rulemaking Management process, GSA and OMB are inviting 
interested parties to submit written comments.
    Instructions: The referenced electronic docket in 
www.regulations.gov is a collection of documents related to this 
request for comment. Interested members of the public may comment on 
any individual document, whether or not addressed in one of the public 
meetings. The public may also comment on any matter relating to 
modernization of Electronic Rulemaking Management by commenting on the 
primary document for this notice, referenced in the docket as Notice-
MR-2019-01.
    From the home page of regulations.gov, search for ``Docket No. 
2019-0002; Sequence No. 35.'' Identify the specific document within the 
docket that you would like to comment on, select the link ``Comment 
Now,'' and follow the instructions provided at the screen. For example, 
interested parties may wish to comment on the general information in 
the notice. Others may wish to comment on other more specific 
background documents that describe the Federal regulatory process and 
actions under consideration to improve and modernize the process.
    For formal consideration, all comments must be submitted to 
regulations.gov at the referenced docket. Comments may be submitted up 
to April 30, 2020, on any topic related to Electronic Rulemaking 
Modernization.
    GSA may publicly post all presentations submitted to the public 
meetings, all transcripts associated with the public meetings, and any 
comments received to the docket on regulations.gov without change. Read 
the regulations.gov notifications below regarding sharing of personally 
identifiable and/or business confidential information.
    Individual documents posted on the docket will provide any details 
on the nature of input sought from the public on specific topics.
    In general, GSA is seeking input on the business/mission needs of 
you or your organization as a participant or interested stakeholder in 
the rulemaking process. Specifics on proposed services or service 
improvements, including benefits and costs, would be helpful. Specific 
suggestions on service management, including performance measures and 
approaches for ongoing customer engagement would also be helpful.
    Comments are also welcome on related technology services, including 
any specific recommendations for how technology can be applied to 
achieve specific business needs for regulatory management.
    GSA also welcomes any references to existing research, processes, 
services, or technologies directly related to regulation management or 
related to functions that can be applied to regulation management.
    Please note that comments on individual proposed rulemakings or 
other agency actions should be addressed to the specific agency and any 
dockets that they have created for that action.
    The role of GSA is that of a shared service provider for supporting 
public participation and government efficiencies in the regulatory 
process.

Public Meetings

    GSA will be conducting the following public meetings on the topics 
as indicated below. Attendance at these meetings is not required to 
provide comments. The public meetings are intended to supplement the 
background materials in the docket and provide additional insight into 
specific topics related to Electronic Regulation Management. 
Transcripts and any presentations from the meetings will be publicly 
posted to the docket within a reasonable period of time for others to 
view and provide comments.
    Those in attendance at each meeting will have an opportunity to ask 
questions or make comments through the Town Hall forum, as time 
permits. However, the meeting forum is not a formal comment process.
    The meetings and topics are as follows:
    January 30, 2020, from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., (ET). GSA is seeking 
presenters on topics that relate to:
     General challenges and opportunities for improving 
transparency and public participation in the development and review of 
regulations.
     The challenges relating to agency management of large 
volumes comments on proposed regulations.
     Public concern, risks, and solutions addressing instances 
where the identity of the entity submitting a comment has been 
falsified, known as the ``fake commenter issue.''
     What technologies or policies could assist with the 
management of mass comments or fake commenters?
     Perspectives of the commenting community on the value of 
mass comments from single entities or interest groups.
     Perspectives of the commenting community on how to 
minimize the levels of organizations submitting comments on behalf of 
``fake commenters.''
     The value of mass comments relative to smaller numbers of 
potentially more substantive comments.
    On March 25, 2020, from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. (ET), GSA is seeking 
presenters on topics that relate to:
     General challenges and opportunities for analysis across 
multiple regulations. For example, a single regulated entity may be 
subject to multiple overlapping or inconsistent regulations.
     How desirable is it for the public to be able to have a 
line of sight across the entire life cycle of a rulemaking, from law, 
to regulation, to U.S. Code? What are the benefits?
     What other types of data analysis tools or reports would 
be useful for the public?

[[Page 72366]]

     What types of regulatory trends or information should be 
analyzed to benefit the regulatory process?
     What technologies or policies could assist with sharing of 
data or interoperability of regulatory management systems across the 
Federal government?
     What are the challenges and opportunities for third party 
service providers to use regulatory information alone or in combination 
with other data to deliver commercial services or analysis?
     What technologies or policies could assist with increasing 
public access to data for or through commercial applications?

In-Person Attendance

    Interested parties are invited to attend the public meetings to be 
held at GSA Headquarters, located at 1800 F St. NW, Washington, DC 
20006. While walk-ins will be allowed if there is seating capacity, the 
public is encouraged to pre-register prior to the scheduled date due to 
seating limitations. Pre-register for the January 30, 2020, meeting at 
https://regulationsmanagement.eventbrite.com. Pre-register for the 
March 25, 2020, meeting at https://regulationsmanagement2.eventbrite.com. Check for additional information 
regarding meeting logistics on regulations.gov, Docket No. 2019-0002; 
Sequence No. 35 as dates approach. Questions may be directed to 
[email protected].
    Registration check-in will begin at 1:00 p.m. (ET), and each 
meeting will start promptly at 2:00 p.m. (ET). Depending on levels of 
attendance for registered attendees, walk-in registration may or may 
not be available. Updates on whether registration has reached capacity 
will be posted on regulations.gov, Docket No. 2019-0002; Sequence No. 
35. Walk-ins may be admitted if registered attendees do not show. 
Attendees must present government-issued photo identification.

Virtual Attendance

    Interested parties may also attend virtually through GSA's virtual 
meeting platform, hosted by Adobe Connect. Further details on the 
virtual meeting will be made available via GSA Interact at https://interact.gsa.gov/group/commercial-platform-initiative.

Meeting Accommodations

    The public meeting is physically accessible to people with 
disabilities. Sign language interpretation and auxiliary aids will be 
available at the meetings and online. Any specific requests for 
accommodations and auxiliary aids must be directed to 
[email protected] no later than 10 working days prior to the 
scheduled meetings.

Panel Presentations

    GSA intends to conduct two town-hall/panel style discussions, with 
each event focused on the respective topics outlined above. Each 
meeting is expected to consist of two panels with three to five 
participants per panel. Each panel is expected to run 50 minutes, with 
45 minutes of panel discussion and 10 minutes of audience questions.
    Subject matter experts interested in serving on a panel at one or 
both public meetings must submit their proposals, to include a resume, 
an indication of the selected meeting or meetings, and a synopsis of 
their proposed topics and key points of no more than 250 words, no 
later than the following dates:
    For the January 30, 2020, meeting, proposals are due midnight 
January 10, 2020.
    For the March 25, 2020, meeting, proposals are due midnight March 
2, 2020.
    Submissions are to be emailed to [email protected]. GSA will 
select the panelists and will formally notify and coordinate with them 
in advance of the respective meeting. In selecting panelists, GSA will 
seek an array of perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences.

    Dated: December 24, 2019.
Tobias Q. Schroeder,
Director, eRulemaking Program Management Office, Office of Regulation 
Management, Office of Government-wide Policy, General Services 
Administration.
[FR Doc. 2019-28242 Filed 12-30-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6820-EP-P