This notice is exempt from review by the Office of Management and Budget under Executive Order 12866.

This action is not a rule as defined by the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601-612) and thus is exempt from the provisions of this Act.

This notice does not contain reporting or recordkeeping requirements subject to approval by the Office of Management and Budget in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3507).

This program is listed in the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Programs under No. 10.557 and is subject to the provisions of Executive Order 12372, which requires intergovernmental consultation with State and local officials (7 CFR part 3015, subpart V, 48 FR 29100, June 24, 1983, and 49 FR 22675, May 31, 1984).

Section 17(d)(2)(A) of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966, as amended (42 U.S.C. 1786(d)(2)(A)), requires the Secretary of Agriculture to establish income criteria to be used with nutritional risk criteria in determining a person's eligibility for participation in the WIC Program. The law provides that persons will be income-eligible for the WIC Program if they are members of families that satisfy the income standard prescribed for reduced-price school meals under section 9(b) of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1758(b)). Under section 9(b), the income limit for reduced-price school meals is 185 percent of the Federal poverty guidelines, as adjusted. Section 9(b) also requires that these guidelines be revised annually to reflect changes in the Consumer Price Index. The annual revision for 2023 was published by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) at 88 FR 3424 on January 19, 2023. The guidelines published by HHS are referred to as the “poverty guidelines.”

Program Regulations at 7 CFR 246.7(d)(1) specify that State agencies may prescribe income guidelines either equaling the income guidelines established under Section 9 of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act for reduced-price school meals, or identical to State or local guidelines for free or reduced-price health care. However, in conforming WIC income guidelines to State or local health care guidelines, the State cannot establish WIC guidelines which exceed the guidelines for reduced-price school meals, or which are less than 100 percent of the Federal poverty guidelines. Consistent with the method used to compute income eligibility guidelines for reduced-price meals under the National School Lunch Program, the poverty guidelines were multiplied by 1.85 and the results rounded upward to the next whole dollar.

Currently, the Department is publishing the maximum and minimum WIC income eligibility guidelines by household size for the period of July 1, 2023, through June 30, 2024. Consistent with section 17(f)(17) of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966, as amended (42 U.S.C. 1786(f)(17)), a State agency may implement the revised WIC income eligibility guidelines concurrently with the implementation of income eligibility guidelines under the Medicaid Program established under Title XIX of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396, et seq. ). State agencies may coordinate implementation with the revised Medicaid guidelines, i.e., earlier in the year, but in no case may implementation take place later than July 1, 2023. State agencies that do not coordinate implementation with the revised Medicaid guidelines must implement the WIC income eligibility guidelines on or before July 1, 2023.

This meeting will be held in Spanish and is available to the public through the registration link above. English interpretation is available to anyone joining via the Zoom link above, but is not available if joining by phone only. If joining only by phone only, callers can expect to incur charges for calls they initiate over wireless lines, and the Commission will not refund any incurred charges. Individuals who are deaf, deafblind and hard of hearing may also follow the proceedings by first calling the Federal Relay Service at 1-800-877-8339 and providing the Service with the call-in number found through registering at the web link provided above for the meeting.

Members of the public are entitled to make comments during the open period at the end of the meeting. Members of the public may also submit written comments; the comments must be received in the Regional Programs Unit within 30 days following the respective meeting. Written comments may be emailed to Victoria Moreno at vmoreno@usccr.gov. All written comments received will be available to the public.

Persons who desire additional information may contact the Regional Programs Unit at (202) 809-9618. Records and documents discussed during the meeting will be available for public viewing as they become available at the www.facadatabase.gov. Persons interested in the work of this advisory committee are advised to go to the Commission's website, www.usccr.gov, or to contact the Regional Programs Unit at the above phone number or email address.

1. Welcome & Roll Call

2. Committee Discussion on Project Regarding the Civil Rights Impacts of the Insular Cases in Puerto Rico

3. Next Steps

4. Public Comment

5. Other Business

6. Adjourn

Committee meetings are available to the public through the conference link above. Any interested member of the public may listen to the meeting. An open comment period will be provided to allow members of the public to make a statement as time allows. Callers can expect to incur regular charges for calls they initiate over wireless lines, according to their wireless plan. The Commission will not refund any incurred charges. Callers will incur no charge for calls they initiate over land-line connections to the toll-free telephone number. Individuals who are deaf, deafblind, and hard of hearing may also follow the proceedings by first calling the Federal Relay Service at 1-800-877-8339 and providing the Service with the conference call number and meeting ID number.

Members of the public are entitled to submit written comments; the comments must be received in the regional office within 30 days following the meeting. Written comments may be emailed to Malloy Trachtenberg at mtrachtenberg@usccr.gov.

Records generated from this meeting may be inspected and reproduced at the Regional Programs Coordination Unit Office, as they become available, both before and after the meeting. Records of the meetings will be available via www.facadatabase.gov under the Commission on Civil Rights, New York Advisory Committee link. Persons interested in the work of this Committee are directed to the Commission's website, http://www.usccr.gov, or may contact the Regional Programs Coordination Unit at the above email.

Title; Associated Form; and OMB Number: Space Systems Command (SSC) Space Domain Awareness & Combat Power (SDACP) and Battle Management Command, Control and Communications (BMC3) Culture Assessment Survey; OMB Control Number 0715-SCAS.

Type of Request: New collection.

Number of Respondents: 173.

Responses per Respondent: 1.

Annual Responses: 173.

Average Burden per Response: 20 minutes.

Annual Burden Hours: 58.

Needs and Uses: Leadership of two Space Systems Command Program Executive Offices (PEOs), Space Domain Awareness & Combat Power (SDACP) and Battle Management Command, Control and Communications (BMC3), want to better understand the current culture within their organizations. The Culture Assessment Survey is designed to (1) collect information about the current climate to create a baseline and (2) identify potential obstacles. The voluntary Culture Assessment Survey focuses on the Space Force Values and Cultural Attributes and seeks to ask the workforce if they are familiar with these values and cultural attributes and if there are barriers to achieving them. Booz Allen has been contracted to aggregate survey results to allow for anonymity. Booz Allen will highlight themes from the aggregated data and provide recommendations ( e.g., job aids, branding, communications) to PEO leadership to help them achieve their desired culture. The SDACP & BMC3 Culture Assessment Survey co-sponsors (Deputy Program Executive Officers) will send an email to the workforce requesting they complete the voluntary survey, and this email will include a link to the survey. The survey captures questions pertaining to participant demographics, Space Force values and cultural attributes, and organizational change management. Participants will submit their responses electronically and anonymously.

Affected Public: Individuals or households.

Frequency: Once.

Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary.

OMB Desk Officer: Ms. Jasmeet Seehra.

You may also submit comments and recommendations, identified by Docket ID number and title, by the following method:

• Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov . Follow the instructions for submitting comments.

Instructions: All submissions received must include the agency name, Docket ID number, and title for this Federal Register document. The general policy for comments and other submissions from members of the public is to make these submissions available for public viewing on the internet at http://www.regulations.gov as they are received without change, including any personal identifiers or contact information.

DOD Clearance Officer: Ms. Angela Duncan.

Requests for copies of the information collection proposal should be sent to Ms. Duncan at whs.mc-alex.esd.mbx.dd-dod-information-collections@mail.mil .

Title; Associated Form; and OMB Number: Wetland Determination Automated Data Sheets and Jurisdictional Determination Forms; ENG Form 6116 (1-9); OMB Control Number 0710-0024.

Needs and Uses: In an effort to address regional wetland characteristics and improve the accuracy and efficiency of wetland delineation procedures, the USACE Research and Development Center (ERDC) developed ten regional supplements to the USACE manual, the most recent of which were issued in 2006. In developing the regional supplements, the USACE recognized that a single national manual is unable to consider regional differences that are important to the identification and functioning of wetlands. The wetland indicators and guidance provided in the 10 regional supplements are designed to be used in combination with the USACE manual to identify wetland waters of the United States. These forms are most often completed by USACE Project Managers or environmental consultants, but may also be completed by applicants themselves. The Automated Wetland Determination Sheets (ADSs) in this collection package streamline the information collection process by incorporating reference material and analytical processes directly into the form, which is provided as a Microsoft Excel document rather than the PDF form included in the regional supplements. The ADSs also automatically complete data analysis using inputted information, saving users time and effort, and reducing the likelihood of human error. Applicants for USACE permits are generally required to submit JDs as part of their permit application or in support of the permit evaluation process. If wetlands are present, the USACE generally requires that JDs include adequately documented wetland data sheets in order for the JD to be considered technically adequate. The ADSs are formatted such that they may be readily converted to Portable Document Format (PDF) for inclusion as part of the applicant's JD report.

Jurisdictional Determination Forms are tools used by the USACE to help implement Section 404 of the Clean Water Act (CWA) and Sections 9 and 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899 (RHA). JDs specify what geographic areas will be treated as subject to regulation by the USACE under one or both statutes. This information collection request has previously included three types of JDs; the Approved Jurisdictional Determination (AJD), Dry Land AJD, and Preliminary Jurisdictional Determination (PJD). The AJD form provides an official determination that there are/are not jurisdictional aquatic resources on a parcel based on the jurisdictional requirements, while the Dry Land AJD provides official determination that jurisdictional aquatic resources are absent. The PJD form is used to determine whether aquatic resources that exist on a particular parcel “may be” subject to regulatory jurisdiction. On January 18, 2023, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of the Army announced a final rule revising the definition of “waters of the United States” at 33 CFR 328.3 (“the 2023 Rule”). The 2023 Rule is scheduled to become effective on March 20, 2023. The Corps is proposing to document the basis for AJDs made pursuant to the 2023 Rule using the “2023 Rule AJD Form.” This form will be used by Corps district staff to document the basis for its AJDs completed pursuant to the 2023 Rule. The 2023 Rule AJD Form provides a highly efficient and organized process for collecting and summarizing jurisdictional basis information. Specifically, the 2023 Rule AJD Form will streamline collection of the jurisdictional basis information using information response prompts that allow the Corps Regulatory staff to document complex information accurately and fully with minimal effort from the public.

Affected Public: Individuals or households.

Annual Burden Hours: 34,960.

Number of Respondents: 33,279.

Responses per Respondent: 1.

Annual Responses: 33,279.

Average Burden per Response: 63.03 minutes.

Frequency: On Occasion.

Title; Associated Form; and OMB Number: Program Executive Office Enterprise Information Systems Climate Survey; OMB Control Number 0702-0153.

Needs and Uses: The Program Executive Office Enterprise Information Systems Climate Survey (PEO EIS) Climate Survey is seeking feedback from its civilian, military, and contractor personnel to assess how they feel about the organization and their work environment. The responses will enable PEO EIS leadership to assess and determine where changes are required. PEO EIS will distribute this Climate Survey using the MilSuite survey feature, which enables PEO EIS to create a custom survey for distribution organization-wide with advanced survey statistics to capture, review, and share the responses. Respondents will access and provide their responses to the collection instrument online. They will receive a link via email that takes them directly to the PEO EIS Climate Survey in MilSuite. The PEO EIS Operations Team will review the survey responses and provide data and subsequent analysis to PEO EIS leadership. The results will enable leadership to communicate areas for improvement, actions they plan to take or have been taken, and if the changes address the area in need of improvement with its personnel. Additionally, since the survey is annual, PEO EIS will be able to review and analyze data year to year to identify trends. This climate survey was previously fielded to only one branch of PEO EIS, but will be expanded to include the entire organization.

Affected Public: Individuals or households.

Annual Burden Hours: 809.

Number of Respondents: 1,618.

Responses per Respondent: 1.

Annual Responses: 1,618.

Average Burden per Response: 30 minutes.

Frequency : Annually.

Title; Associated Form; and OMB Number: Red River Navigation Transportation Rate Survey; OMB Control Number 0710-RRNS.

Needs and Uses: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) operates and maintains much of the nation's inland navigation infrastructure of locks, dams, and channels. Inland navigation improvement studies conducted by the Corps typically use surveys of shippers, carriers, and others to estimate the impacts on proposed waterway traffic of alternative capital and operations and maintenance investment strategies. The data are used to estimate, among other things, alternative mode cost, shipper response to changes in waterway transportation cost and reliability. This information is used in planning studies for evaluated of projected benefits associated with various plans. The USACE Tulsa District (SWT) and the Red River Waterway Commission request approval of a survey instrument that collects information from business owners to analyze potential benefits associated with a proposed navigation channel along the Red River from Denison Dam to Index, AR. The survey will assist in analyzing how businesses in the region currently transport their commodities and how the option of a navigable waterway would affect these movements. The primary questions to be answered are:

• What are the commodities currently being shipped?

• What modes of transport do regional shippers currently use?

• Would shippers use a waterway transport if available and to what degree would they use it?

Respondents will be businesses in the study area that could use the proposed navigation channel. Respondents will be identified based on analysis of data from the Surface Transportation Board and with the assistance of the Red River Valley Association, which has numerous contacts with regional business and industry groups. These businesses will be selected based on primary types and volume of commodities shipped and surveys will be provided to respondents with the opportunity to respond. SWT will conduct follow-up phone calls if necessary. Surveys will be conducted using telephone and in-person interviews, as well as via an online survey platform. The Red River Valley Association will assist in garnering industry support for completion of the survey.

Information from the questionnaire items for the collection of planning data is needed to formulate and evaluate alternative water resources development plans in accordance with the Principles and Guidelines for Water Related Land Resources Implementation Studies, promulgated by the U.S. Water Resources Council, 1983, which specifically identifies interviews with shippers, carriers and port officials as well as commodity consultants and experts to; identify commodity types, study area, commodity flow, estimate transportation cost and forecast waterway use. In the Corps of Engineers Engineering Regulation 1105-2-100, “Planning Guidance Notebook,” benefits are defined as transportation cost reduction benefits, including shift of mode and shift of origin-destination and new movement benefits. Failure to gather this information would result in Corps studies relying on incomplete or dated information regarding the cost and use of the navigation systems and the impacts of proposed capital improvements.

Affected Public: Businesses or other for-profit.

Annual Burden Hours: 100.

Number of Respondents: 100.

Responses per Respondent: 1.

Annual Responses: 100.

Average Burden per Response: 1 hour.

Frequency: Once.

This meeting is being held under the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) of 1972 (5 U.S.C. Appendix, as amended), the Government in the Sunshine Act of 1976 (5 U.S.C. 552b, as amended), and 41 CFR 102-3.140 and 102-3.150.

Purpose of the Meeting: The purpose of the meeting is to review and make recommendations to the Secretary of Defense concerning requirements established by the David L. Boren National Security Education Act, Title VII of Public Law 102-183, as amended.

Agenda:

Meeting Accessibility: Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 552b and 41 CFR 102-3.140 through 102-3.165, and the availability of space, this meeting is open to the public, subject to the availability of space.

Written Statements: This meeting is being held under the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) of 1972 (5 U.S.C. Appendix, as amended), the Government in the Sunshine Act of 1976 (5 U.S.C. 552b, as amended), and 41 CFR 102-3.140 and 102-3.150. Pursuant to 41 CFR 102-3.140 and sections 10(a)(3) of the Federal Advisory Committee Act of 1972, the public or interested organizations may submit written statements to the DoD National Security Education Board about its mission and functions. Written statements may be submitted at any time or in response to the stated agenda of the planned meeting. All written statements shall be submitted to the point of contact at the email address or phone number listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section, and this individual will ensure that the written statements are provided to the membership for their consideration. Statements being submitted in response to the agenda items mentioned in this notice must be received by the point of contact listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section at least five calendar days prior to the meeting that is the subject of this notice. Written statements received after this date may not be provided to or considered by the National Security Education Board until its next meeting.

Title; Associated Form; and OMB Number: Formative Research for the Adaptation of a Risky Drinking and Sexual Assault Prevention Program; OMB Control Number 0703-NSAP.

Type of Request: New collection.

Number of Respondents: 60.

Responses per Respondent: 1.

Annual Responses: 60.

Average Burden per Response: 90 minutes.

Annual Burden Hours: 90.

Number of Respondents: 24.

Responses per Respondent: 1.

Annual Responses: 24.

Average Burden per Response: 60 minutes.

Annual Burden Hours: 24.

Number of Respondents: 84.

Annual Responses: 84.

Annual Burden Hours: 114.

Needs and Uses: This information collection request corresponds to the project number MTEC-21-05-CrossCutting-012, funded by the Military Operational Medicine Research Program (MOMRP), awarded to the government partner Naval Health Research Center. It aligns with the Department of Defense instruction 6400.09, “DoD Policy on Integrated Primary Prevention of Self-Directed Harm and Prohibited Abuse or Harm” (effective 11 September 2020), which calls for research-based prevention efforts to equip service members to prevent sexual assault and related harm. The aim of this information collection is to collect feedback from military service members and behavioral health program staff on a sexual assault prevention program, Sexual Communication and Consent (SCC), originally developed for the U.S. Air Force Academy, so it can be adapted to be optimally relevant for additional service member and training academy audiences. This formative research is part of a larger collaborative study being conducted by RTI, Naval Health Research Center, and San Diego State University. The objective of the study is to modify and evaluate the cross-cutting effectiveness of the SCC program for service members when it is combined with an existing alcohol misuse prevention tool. As there are demonstrated associations between sexual assault and alcohol misuse for both perpetrators and victims of sexual assault, combining efforts derived from proven programs to prevent sexual assault and alcohol misuse has the potential to enhance program effectiveness and impact exponentially. The formative research for this specific information collection will lay the groundwork for future adaptation of the integrated sexual assault and alcohol misuse prevention training in additional military settings. Therefore, it is critical to maximizing the effectiveness of the integrated program. Respondents will include active duty Sailors and Marines, cadets from the United States Military Academy (USMA), and active duty leaders and program staff from sexual assault prevention and alcohol misuse prevention programs at Navy and Marine Corps sites, as well as USMA. This data collection effort includes focus groups and a brief survey for young enlisted personnel (N = 60), and in-depth interviews with military leaders and sexual assault and alcohol misuse prevention program staff members (N = 24) for a total sample of 84 individuals. The focus group questions solicit perspectives and recommendations for improving sexual assault and alcohol misuse prevention trainings in which they've previously participated, unique environmental factors related to sexual assault or alcohol misuse, relevance, and interest level of sample content from the integrated sexual assault and alcohol misuse training program. The brief survey supplements the focus group discussion by asking participants to quantitatively rate the sample material from the program shown in the focus group and provide demographic information that will be used to describe the sample. All focus group participants will be asked to complete the brief survey during the focus group session. The in-depth interviews query leaders and program staff perceptions of existing sexual assault and alcohol misuse prevention training, recommendations for improving existing programs, unique environmental factors related to sexual assault or alcohol misuse, and organizational perspectives on program implementation.

Affected Public: Individuals or households.

Frequency: Once.

Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary.

OMB Desk Officer: Ms. Jasmeet Seehra.

You may also submit comments and recommendations, identified by Docket ID number and title, by the following method:

• Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.

Instructions: All submissions received must include the agency name, Docket ID number, and title for this Federal Register document. The general policy for comments and other submissions from members of the public is to make these submissions available for public viewing on the internet at http://www.regulations.gov as they are received without change, including any personal identifiers or contact information.

DOD Clearance Officer: Ms. Angela Duncan.

Requests for copies of the information collection proposal should be sent to Ms. Duncan at whs.mc-alex.esd.mbx.dd-dod-information-collections@mail.mil.

The Department, in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA) (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)), provides the general public and Federal agencies with an opportunity to comment on proposed, revised, and continuing collections of information. This helps the Department assess the impact of its information collection requirements and minimize the public's reporting burden. It also helps the public understand the Department's information collection requirements and provide the requested data in the desired format. The Department is soliciting comments on the proposed information collection request (ICR) that is described below. The Department is especially interested in public comment addressing the following issues: (1) is this collection necessary to the proper functions of the Department; (2) will this information be processed and used in a timely manner; (3) is the estimate of burden accurate; (4) how might the Department enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (5) how might the Department minimize the burden of this collection on the respondents, including through the use of information technology. Please note that written comments received in response to this notice will be considered public records.

Title of Collection: Formula Grant EASIE Electronic Application System for Indian Education.

OMB Control Number: 1810-0021.

Type of Review: A revision of a currently approved ICR.

Respondents/Affected Public: State, Local, and Tribal Governments.

Total Estimated Number of Annual Responses: 11,300.

Total Estimated Number of Annual Burden Hours: 6,725.

Abstract: This is a revision request for the Indian Parent Committee Approval form that is a part of the OMB approved 1810-0021 collection. The Indian Education Formula Grant (ALN 84.060A) program provides grants to local education agencies (LEAs), Indian Tribe(s), Indian organizations (IOs) or Indian community-based organizations (ICBOs) who create programs to meet the unique cultural, language, and educational needs of American Indian and Alaska Native students to ensure that all students meet the challenging State academic standards. The programs must be used to carry out a comprehensive program for Indian students and must supplement the regular school program.

The Indian Education Formula Grant requires the annual submission of the Electronic Application System for Indian Education (Formula Grant EASIE) through an electronic portal housed on Federally managed and secured servers (computers). The system is web-based and includes the entire applicant submission process. The Office of Indian Education (OIE) is submitting this request to update the Indian Parent Committee Approval form to include the submission of meeting minutes.

Public Comment Information: Interested persons may submit written comments on the Draft PWTF GP to EPA Region 1 at the address listed above. In reaching a final decision on this Draft Permit, the Regional Administrator will respond to all significant comments and make responses available to the public on EPA Region 1's website. All comments must be postmarked or delivered by the close of the public comment period.

General Information: The Draft PWTF GP includes effluent limitations and requirements for eligible facilities based on technology and/or water quality considerations of the unique discharges from these facilities. The effluent limits established in the Draft PWTF GP ensure that the surface water quality standards of the receiving water(s) will be attained and/or maintained.

Obtaining Authorization: To obtain coverage under the General Permit, facilities meeting the eligibility requirements outlined in part I of this General Permit may submit a notice of intent (NOI) in accordance with part II of this General Permit and 40 CFR 122.28(b)(2)(i) & (ii). The contents of the NOI shall include at a minimum, the legal name and address of the owner or operator, the facility name and address, type of facility or discharges, the receiving stream(s) and be signed by the operator in accordance with the signatory requirements of 40 CFR 122.22. Alternately, based on 40 CFR 122.28(b)(2)(vi), the Director may notify a discharger that it is covered by a general permit, even if the discharger has not submitted an NOI to be covered. EPA has determined that the facilities identified in appendix K of the Draft PWTF GP all meet the eligibility requirements for coverage under the Draft General Permit and may be authorized to discharge under the General Permit by this type of notification.

Other Legal Requirements: Endangered Species Act (ESA): In accordance with the ESA, EPA has updated the provisions and necessary actions and documentation related to potential impacts to endangered species from PWTFs eligible for coverage under the Draft PWTF GP. Concurrently with the public notice of the Draft PWTF GP, EPA plans to initiate an informal consultation with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA Fisheries) under ESA section 7, through the submission of a letter and biological assessment (BA) summarizing the results of EPA's assessment of the potential effects to endangered and threatened species and their critical habitats under NOAA Fisheries jurisdiction as a result of EPA's issuance of the Draft PWTF GP. In this document, EPA has made a preliminary determination that the proposed issuance of the Draft PWTF GP is not likely to adversely affect the shortnose sturgeon, Atlantic sturgeon, leatherback sea turtles, loggerhead sea turtles, Kemp's ridley sea turtles, green sea turtles, North Atlantic right whales, and fin whales. EPA plans to request that NOAA Fisheries review this submittal and inform EPA whether it concurs with this preliminary finding.

In addition, EPA has initiated an informal consultation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) under ESA section 7, through the submission of a letter summarizing the results of EPA's assessment of the potential effects to endangered and threatened species and their critical habitats under USFWS jurisdiction as a result of EPA's issuance of the Draft PWTF GP. In this document, EPA has made a preliminary determination that the proposed issuance of the Draft PWTF GP is not likely to adversely affect the northern long-eared bat. EPA has completed an informal consultation with USFWS regarding the threatened northern long-eared bat, as activities conducted as part of the PWTF GP are consistent with activities analyzed in the USFWS January 5, 2016, Programmatic Biological Opinion (PBO).

Essential Fish Habitat (EFH): Under the 1996 Amendments (Pub. L. 104-267) to the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. (1998)), EPA is required to consult with NOAA Fisheries if EPA's actions or proposed actions that it funds, permits or undertakes “may adversely impact any essential fish habitat.” 16 U.S.C. 1855(b). In the Fact Sheet accompanying the Draft PWTF GP, EPA notes that the general permit action minimizes adverse effects to aquatic organisms, including those with designated EFH in the receiving waters. EFH species associated with the receiving waters of facilities covered by the Draft PWTF GP may include Atlantic salmon as well as the life stages of a number of coastal EFH designated species, along with two habitat areas of particular concern. EPA has made the determination that additional mitigation is not warranted under section 305(b)(2) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act and has provided this determination to NOAA Fisheries for their review.

National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA): Facilities which adversely affect properties listed or eligible for listing in the National Registry of Historic Places under the NHPA are not authorized to discharge under the Draft PWTF GP. EPA is requesting that facilities certify, prior to obtaining coverage, that there are either no historic properties present or that their discharge and related activities do not have the potential to impact historic properties.

Coastal Zone Management Act (CZMA): The CZMA, 16 U.S.C. 1451 et seq., and its implementing regulations (15 CFR part 930) require a determination that any federally licensed activity affecting the coastal zone with an approved Coastal Zone Management Program (CZMP) is consistent with the CZMA.

Concurrent with the public notice EPA will request that the Executive Office of Environmental Affairs, MA CZM, Project Review Coordinator provide a consistency concurrence that the proposed Draft PWTF GP is consistent with the MA CZMP.

There are no eligible facilities that discharge to New Hampshire's coastal zone. Therefore, additional CZMA federal consistency review by the New Hampshire Coastal Program is not required.

Authority: This action is being taken under the Clean Water Act, 33 U.S.C. 1251 et seq.

The Commission may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid Office of Management and Budget (OMB) control number. No person shall be subject to any penalty for failing to comply with a collection of information subject to the PRA that does not display a valid OMB control number.

As part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork burdens, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501-3520), the FCC invited the general public and other Federal Agencies to take this opportunity to comment on the following information collection. Comments are requested concerning: (a) Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the Commission, including whether the information shall have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the Commission's burden estimates; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on the respondents, including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology. Pursuant to the Small Business Paperwork Relief Act of 2002, Public Law 107-198, see 44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(4), the FCC seeks specific comment on how it might “further reduce the information collection burden for small business concerns with fewer than 25 employees.”

OMB Control No.: 3060-0016.

Title: FCC Form 2100, Application for Media Bureau Audio and Video Service Authorization, Schedule C (Former FCC Form 346); Sections 74.793(d) and 74.787, LPTV Out-of-Core Digital Displacement Application; Section 73.3700(g)(1)-(3), Post-Incentive Auction Licensing and Operations; Section 74.799, Low Power Television and TV Translator Channel Sharing.

Form No.: FCC Form 2100, Schedule C.

Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved information collection.

Respondents: Business or other for-profit entities; Not for profit institutions; State, local or Tribal government.

Number of Respondents and Responses: 805 respondents and 805 responses.

Estimated Time per Response: 4.5 hours.

Frequency of Response: On occasion reporting requirement; third party disclosure requirement.

Obligation to Respond: Required to obtain or retain benefits. The statutory authority for this collection is contained in section 154(i), 303, 307, 308 and 309 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended.

Total Annual Burden: 3,623 hours.

Annual Cost Burden: $4,156,288.

Needs and Uses: On January 19, 2021, the Commission adopted Amendment of section 73.3580 of the Commission's Rules Regarding Public Notice of the Filing of Applications; Modernization of Media Regulation Initiative; Revision of the Public Notice Requirements of section 73.3580, Second Report and Order, MB Docket Nos. 17-254, 17-105, & 05-6, FCC 20-65 (rel. May 13, 2020). The Commission adopted rules to allow low power television and television translator stations (collectively “low power stations”) to seek authority to construct Distributed Transmission System (DTS) operations. Pursuant to new section 74.720 of the rules, low power stations may now propose DTS operations by filing an application for construction permit for minor modification—FCC Form 2100, Schedule C. This submission is also being made to OMB for approval of the modified FCC Form 2100, Schedule C.

OMB Control Number: 3060-0017.

Title: Application for Media Bureau Audio and Video Service Authorization, FCC 2100, Schedule D.

Form Number: FCC Form 2100, Schedule D.

Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved collection.

Respondents: Business or other for profit entities; Not for profit institutions; State, local or Tribal government.

Number of Respondents/Responses: 805 respondents; 805 responses.

Estimated Hours per Response: 1.5 hours per response.

Frequency of Response: On occasion reporting requirement.

Total Annual Burden: 1,208 hours.

Total Annual Cost: $96,600.

Obligation to Respond: Required to obtain benefits. The statutory authority for this information collection is contained in sections 154(i), 301, 303, 307, 308 and 309 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended.

Needs and Uses: On January 19, 2021, the Commission adopted Amendment of Section 73.3580 of the Commission's Rules Regarding Public Notice of the Filing of Applications; Modernization of Media Regulation Initiative; Revision of the Public Notice Requirements of Section 73.3580, Second Report and Order, MB Docket Nos. 17-254, 17-105, & 05-6, FCC 20-65 (rel. May 13, 2020). The Commission adopted rules to allow low power television and television translator stations (collectively “low power stations”) to seek authority to construct Distributed Transmission System (DTS) operations. Pursuant to new section 74.720 of the rules, low power stations may now propose DTS operations and when those facilities are constructed, file an application for license—FCC Form 2100, Schedule D. This submission is being made to OMB for approval of the modified FCC Form 2100, Schedule D.

OMB Control Number: 3060-0787.

Title: Implementation of the Subscriber Carrier Selection Changes Provisions of the Telecommunications Act of 1996, Policies and Rules Concerning Unauthorized Changes of Consumers' Long Distance Carriers, CC Docket No. 94-129, CG Docket 17-169.

Form Number: N/A.

Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.

Respondents: Individuals or household; Business or other for-profit; State, Local or Tribal Government.

Number of Respondents and Responses: 3,660 respondents; 5,273 responses.

Estimated Time per Response: 30 minutes (.50 hours) to 10 hours.

Frequency of Response: Recordkeeping requirement; Biennial, on occasion and one-time reporting requirements; Third party disclosure requirement.

Obligation to Respond: Required to obtain or retain benefits. The statutory authority for the information collection requirements is found at sec. 258 [47 U.S.C. 258] Illegal Changes In Subscriber Carrier Selections, Public Law 104-104, 110 Stat. 56.

Total Annual Burden: 14,561 hours.

Total Annual Cost: 5,260,000.

Needs and Uses: Section 258 of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 (1996 Act) directed the Commission to prescribe rules to prevent the unauthorized change by telecommunications carriers of consumers' selections of telecommunications service providers (slamming). On March 17, 2003, the FCC released the Third Order on Reconsideration and Second Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, CC Docket No. 94-129, FCC 03-42 (Third Order on Reconsideration), in which the Commission revised and clarified certain rules to implement section 258 of the 1996 Act. On May 23, 2003, the Commission released an Order (CC Docket No. 94-129, FCC 03-116) clarifying certain aspects of the Third Order on Reconsideration. On January 9, 2008, the Commission released the Fourth Report and Order, CC Docket No. 94-129, FCC 07-223, revising its requirements concerning verification of a consumer's intent to switch carriers.

The Fourth Report and Order modified the information collection requirements contained in § 64.1120(c)(3)(iii) of the Commission's rules to provide for verifications to elicit “confirmation that the person on the call understands that a carrier change, not an upgrade to existing service, bill consolidation, or any other misleading description of the transaction, is being authorized.”

OMB Control No.: 3060-0928.

Title: FCC Form 2100, Application for Media Bureau Audio and Video Service Authorization, Schedule F (Formerly FCC 302-CA); 47 CFR 73.6028; Section 73.3700(b)(3); Section 73.3700(h)(2) and Section 73.3572(h).

Form No.: FCC Form 2100, Schedule F.

Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved information collection.

Respondents: Business or other for-profit entities; Not for profit institutions; State, local or Tribal Government.

Number of Respondents and Responses: 65 respondents and 65 responses.

Estimated Time per Response: 2 hours.

Frequency of Response: On occasion reporting requirement.

Total Annual Burden: 260 hours.

Annual Cost Burden: $20,475.

Needs and Uses: On January 19, 2021, the Commission adopted Amendment of section 73.3580 of the Commission's Rules Regarding Public Notice of the Filing of Applications; Modernization of Media Regulation Initiative; Revision of the Public Notice Requirements of section 73.3580, Second Report and Order, MB Docket Nos. 17-254, 17-105, & 05-6, FCC 20-65 (rel. May 13, 2020). The Commission adopted rules to allow Class A television stations to seek authority to construct Distributed Transmission System (DTS) operations. Pursuant to new section 73.6023 of the rules, Class A stations may now propose DTS operations and when those facilities are constructed file an application for license on FCC Form 2100, Schedule F. This submission is also being made to OMB for approval of the modified FCC Form 2100, Schedule F.

OMB Control No.: 3060-0932.

Title: FCC Form 2100, Application for Media Bureau Audio and Video Service Authorization, Schedule E (Former FCC Form 301-CA); 47 CFR 73.3700(b)(1)(i)-(v) and (vii), (b)(2)(i) and (ii); 47 CFR 73.6028; 47 CFR 74.793(d).

Form No.: FCC Form 2100, Schedule E (Application for Media Bureau Audio and Video Service Authorization) (Former FCC Form 301-CA).

Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved information collection.

Respondents: Business or other for-profit entities; Not for profit institutions; State, local or Tribal government.

Number of Respondents and Responses: 60 respondents and 60 responses.

Estimated Time per Response: 8.25 hours-6 hours.

Frequency of Response: On occasion reporting requirement; Third party disclosure requirement.

Obligation to Respond: Required to obtain or retain benefits. The statutory authority for this collection is contained in 47 U.S.C. 151, 154(i), 157 and 309(j) as amended; Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012, Public Law 112-96, 6402 (codified at 47 U.S.C. 309(j)(8)(G)), 6403 (codified at 47 U.S.C. 1452), 126 Stat. 156 (2012) (Spectrum Act) and the Community Broadcasters Protection Act of 1999.

Total Annual Burden: 495 hours.

Annual Cost Burden: $258,000.

Needs and Uses: On January 19, 2021, the Commission adopted Amendment of section 73.3580 of the Commission's Rules Regarding Public Notice of the Filing of Applications; Modernization of Media Regulation Initiative; Revision of the Public Notice Requirements of Section 73.3580, Second Report and Order, MB Docket Nos. 17-254, 17-105, & 05-6, FCC 20-65 (rel. May 13, 2020). The Commission adopted rules to allow Class A television stations to seek authority to construct Distributed Transmission System (DTS) operations. Pursuant to new section 73.6023 of the rules, Class A stations may now propose DTS operations by filing an application for construction permit for minor modification—FCC Form 2100, Schedule E. This submission is also being made to OMB for approval of the modified FCC Form 2100, Schedule E.

Board Meeting Agenda.

Authority: 5 U.S.C. 552b(e)(1).

The Administrator of GSA established the GAP FAC as a discretionary advisory committee under agency authority in accordance with the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), as amended (5 U.S.C. 10). As America's buyer, GSA is uniquely positioned to enable a modern, accessible, and streamlined acquisition ecosystem and a robust marketplace connecting buyers to the suppliers and businesses that meet their mission needs. The GAP FAC will assist GSA in this endeavor through expert advice on a broad range of innovative solutions to acquisition policy, workforce, and industry partnership challenges.

The GAP FAC will serve as an advisory body to GSA's Administrator on how GSA can use its acquisition tools and authorities to target the highest priority Federal acquisition challenges. The GAP FAC will advise GSA's Administrator on emerging acquisition issues, challenges, and opportunities to support its role as America's buyer. The initial focus for the GAP FAC will be on driving regulatory, policy, and process changes required to embed climate and sustainability considerations in Federal acquisition. This includes examining and recommending steps GSA can take to support its workforce and industry partners in ensuring climate and sustainability issues are fully considered in the acquisition process. To accomplish its work, the GAP FAC established three subcommittees: Policy and Practices, Industry Partnerships, and Acquisition Workforce.

The Policy and Practice Subcommittee will focus on procurement policy that supports robust climate and sustainability action. This group will focus on regulatory, policy, and process changes required to embed climate and sustainability considerations in Federal acquisitions.

The Industry Partnerships Subcommittee will investigate ways to expand a climate focus on Federal acquisition while reinforcing inclusion, domestic sourcing, small business opportunity, and innovation from an Industry standpoint. This includes identifying and addressing gaps in sustainable attributes standards for the goods and services that the Federal government buys.

The Acquisition Workforce Subcommittee will explore ways to advance a culture of sustainability and climate action within the acquisition workforce. This includes equipping and enabling the acquisition workforce to effectively use sustainability as a critical element in the evaluation and source selection process.

The frequency of meetings for the three subcommittees was reduced from every other week to every three weeks to give committee members additional time to reflect on the information being provided by guest speakers. The previous notice can be found here: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2022/11/18/2022-25228/gsa-acquisition-policy-federal-advisory-committee-notification-of-upcoming-web-based-public.

The purpose of these web-based meetings is for the subcommittees to develop recommendations for submission to the full Committee. The Committee will, in turn, deliberate on the subcommittees recommendations and decide whether to proceed with formal advice to GSA based upon them.

The subcommittee meetings are open to the public and will be accessible by webcast. All public attendees will need to register to obtain the meeting webcast information. Registration information is located on the GAP FAC website: https://www.gsa.gov/policy-regulations/policy/acquisition-policy/gsa-acquisition-policy-federal-advisory-committee. All registrants will be asked to provide their name, affiliation, and email address. After registration, individuals will receive webcast access information via email.

Written public comments are being accepted via http://www.regulations.gov, the Federal eRulemaking portal throughout the life of the three Subcommittees. To submit a written public comment, go to http://www.regulations.gov and search for GAPFAC-2022-0001. Select the link “Comment Now” that corresponds with this notice. Follow the instructions provided on the screen. Please include your name, company name (if applicable), and “GAPFAC-2022-0001, Notification of Upcoming Web-Based Public Meetings” on your attached document (if applicable).

For information on services for individuals with disabilities, or to request accommodation of a disability, please contact the Designated Federal Officer at least 10 business days prior to the meeting to give GSA as much time as possible to process the request. Live ASL interpreter services will be available.

The single-source award will implement strategies to improve regional and national public health systems and institutions in Africa by strengthening surveillance systems, laboratory networks, information systems, workforce capacity, emergency response and preparedness, public health investigation capacities, and health promotion activities in Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC). This award will also support establishment of strong management practices that will enable Africa CDC to more effectively coordinate and administer its activities. Africa CDC will efficiently manage its responsibilities through transparent and data-driven decision making, robust organizational capacities, and effective internal/external stakeholder communication.

Africa CDC is in a unique position to conduct this work, as it is the only agency that oversees public health for all 55 African countries that are Member States of the African Union and uniquely has the authority to mandate that countries report data about public health events, including cases of disease and outbreaks. Africa CDC's mandate also includes responsibility for the health security of African nations through the establishment and oversight of the public health emergency operations center; national public health laboratory; surveillance; workforce development and through the coordination of public and global health security.

Recipient: Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention.

Purpose of the Award: The purpose of this award is to strengthen and reinforce Africa's public health systems to prevent, detect, and respond quickly and effectively to public health threats, using evidence-based programs and interventions. The award will implement strategies to improve regional and national public health systems and institutions in Africa by strengthening surveillance systems, laboratory networks, information systems, workforce capacity, emergency response and preparedness, public health investigation capacities, and health promotion activities on the continent and regionally through Africa CDC.

Amount of Award: For Africa CDC the approximate year 1 award is $3,000,000 in Federal Fiscal Year (FFY) 2023 funds, with a total estimated $15,000,000 for the 5-year period of performance, subject to availability of funds. Funding amounts for years 2-5 will be set at continuation.

Authority: This program is authorized under Section 307 of the Public Health Service Act [42 U.S.C. 242 l ] and Section 301(a) [42 U.S.C. 241(a)] of the Public Health Service Act.

Period of Performance: September 30, 2023, through September 29, 2028.

The single-source award will support IFRC's polio eradication activities and the delivery of measles and other life-saving vaccine preventable disease (VPD) interventions in priority countries. Through its network of national Red Cross and Red Crescent societies, IFRC has unparalleled community access and provides critical health services and activities in areas which are otherwise inaccessible to CDC due to security restrictions. Extending immunization services to these areas of unreached children is critical to achieving global eradication of polio.

IFRC is in a unique position to conduct this work, as it is one of the three arms of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, the world's largest humanitarian network whose mission includes protecting life and health in conflict countries and other emergencies. National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies are a network of community-based volunteers who support the public authorities in their own countries as independent auxiliaries to the government in the humanitarian field. The community-based volunteers provide local knowledge and culturally competent expertise, which provides unparalleled access to communities. IFRC comprises 190-member Red Cross and Red Crescent National Societies globally, a secretariat based in Geneva and more than 60 country offices strategically located to support activities around the world.

Recipient: International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.

Purpose of the Award: The purpose of this award is to support efforts to strengthen and sustain global, regional, and national immunization program capacity needed to:

• Achieve the globally agreed goals of the IA2030 (including polio eradication, global and regional elimination targets for select VPDs including measles and rubella, and neonatal tetanus;

• Achieve the 2030 Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) target to end VPDs of children under 5 years of age;

• Reduce chronic disease and cancer deaths from VPDs; and

• Prevent, detect, and respond to VPD outbreaks.

Amount of Award: The approximate year 1 funding amount will be $6,000,000 in Federal Fiscal Year (FYY) 2023 funds, subject to the availability of funds. Funding amounts for years 2-5 will be set at continuation.

Authority: This program is authorized under Section 307 of the PHS Act (42 U.S.C 242); section 317(k)(1) and (2) of the PHS Act (42 U.S.C. 247b(k)(1) and (2).

Period of Performance: 7/1/2023 through 6/30/2028.

Under the PRA (44 U.S.C. 3501-3521), Federal Agencies must obtain approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for each collection of information they conduct or sponsor. “Collection of information” is defined in 44 U.S.C. 3502(3) and 5 CFR 1320.3(c) and includes Agency requests or requirements that members of the public submit reports, keep records, or provide information to a third party. Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the PRA (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)) requires Federal Agencies to provide a 60-day notice in the Federal Register concerning each proposed collection of information including each proposed extension of an existing collection of information, before submitting the collection to OMB for approval. To comply with this requirement, FDA is publishing notice of the proposed collection of information set forth in this document.

With respect to the following collection of information, FDA invites comments on these topics: (1) whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of FDA's functions, including whether the information will have practical utility; (2) the accuracy of FDA's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (3) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (4) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on respondents, including through the use of automated collection techniques, when appropriate, and other forms of information technology.

The FDA's Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (CBER) is responsible for regulatory oversight of the U.S. blood supply. FDA issues and enforces requirements for blood collection and for the manufacturing of blood products, including both blood components intended for transfusion or for further manufacturing use. To implement applicable statutory provisions, regulations have been codified at 21 CFR part 606—Current Good Manufacturing Practice for Blood and Blood Components; 21 CFR part 610—General Biological Products Standards; 21 CFR part 630—Requirements for Blood and Blood Components Intended For Transfusion or For Further Manufacturing Use; and 21 CFR part 640—Additional Standards for Human Blood and Blood Products. The regulations establish quality standard requirements applicable to blood and blood products including information collection provisions.

CBER works closely with other parts of the Department of Health and Human Services to identify and respond to potential threats to blood safety and to monitor the availability of the blood supply. FDA has progressively strengthened the overlapping safeguards that help to ensure donor health and the safety of the blood supply for recipients of blood and blood products. For example:

• Blood donors answer donor history questions to identify risk factors that could indicate possible infection with a relevant-transfusion transmitted infection.

• FDA requires blood establishments to maintain a record of deferred donors to prevent collections ineligible donors.

• Blood donations are tested for several relevant transfusion-transmitted infections, include HIV, hepatitis B virus, and hepatitis C virus.

FDA also inspects blood establishments and monitors reports of errors, accidents, and adverse events associated with blood donation or transfusion.

Description of Respondents: Respondents to the collection of information are establishments that collect blood and blood components intended for transfusion or further manufacturing use.

For operational efficiency, we are revising the information collection to account for burden that may be attributable to recommendations found in associated FDA guidance documents, as listed below. FDA regulations in § 630.3(h) (21 CFR 630.3(h)) set forth a list of relevant transfusion-transmitted infections (RTTIs) (§ 630.3(h)(1)) and the conditions under which a TTI would meet the definition of an RTTI (§ 630.3(h)(2)). We have developed the following guidance documents, consistent with our Good Guidance Practice regulations in 21 CFR 10.115, that provide for comment at any time. The guidance documents include recommendations specific to certain RTTI or TTI regarding the collection of blood and blood components and discuss corresponding recordkeeping and/or notification activities.

The following guidance documents provide recommendations for consignee and physician notification relating to donations that test reactive for RTTIs:

• Guidance for Industry: Use of Nucleic Acid Tests to Reduce the Risk of Transmission of West Nile Virus from Donors of Whole Blood and Blood Components Intended for Transfusion (November 2009);

• Use of Serological Tests to Reduce the Risk of Transmission of Trypanosoma cruzi Infection in Blood and Blood Components; Guidance for Industry (December 2017);

• Recommendations for Reducing the Risk of Transfusion-Transmitted Babesiosis; Guidance for Industry (May 2019); and

• Use of Serological Tests to Reduce the Risk of Transfusion-Transmitted Human T-Lymphotropic Virus Types I and II (HTLV-I/II); Guidance for Industry (February 2020).

The following guidance documents provide recommendations for consignee and physician notification under circumstances where a blood establishment may receive information following collection that reveals the donor had a risk factor for a RTTI or TTI at the time of collection and should have been deferred for the risk factor:

• Recommendations for Assessment of Blood Donor Eligibility, Donor Deferral and Blood Product Management in Response to Ebola Virus; Guidance for Industry (January 2017);

• Revised Recommendations for Reducing the Risk of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Transmission by Blood and Blood Products—Guidance for Industry (August 2020);

• Recommendations to Reduce the Possible Risk of Transmission of Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease and Variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease by Blood and Blood Components; Guidance for Industry (May 2022); and

• Recommendations to Reduce the Risk of Transfusion-Transmitted Malaria; Guidance for Industry (December 2022).

These guidance documents are available for download from our website at https://www.fda.gov/vaccines-blood-biologics/biologics-guidances/blood-guidances.

We believe such notifications are rare and that these notification practices would be part of the usual and customary business practice for blood establishments and consignees in addressing the RTTIs or TTIs under the regulations. We also believe respondents would have already developed standard operating procedures for notifying consignees and the recipient's physician of record regarding distributed blood components potentially at risk for a RTTI or TTI. However, to account for burden among respondents that may be attributable to this activity we allot one response and 1 hour annually. As additional guidance is developed by FDA addressing other RTTIs under § 630.3(h)(2), we will modify the information collection accordingly.

Under the PRA (44 U.S.C. 3501-3521), Federal Agencies must obtain approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for each collection of information they conduct or sponsor. “Collection of information” is defined in 44 U.S.C. 3502(3) and 5 CFR 1320.3(c) and includes Agency requests or requirements that members of the public submit reports, keep records, or provide information to a third party. Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the PRA (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)) requires Federal Agencies to provide a 60-day notice in the Federal Register concerning each proposed collection of information, including each proposed extension of an existing collection of information, before submitting the collection to OMB for approval. To comply with this requirement, FDA is publishing notice of the proposed collection of information set forth in this document.

With respect to the following collection of information, FDA invites comments on these topics: (1) whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of FDA's functions, including whether the information will have practical utility; (2) the accuracy of FDA's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (3) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (4) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on respondents, including through the use of automated collection techniques, when appropriate, and other forms of information technology.

Section 510(k) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act) (21 U.S.C. 360(k)) and implementing regulations in part 807 (21 CFR part 807, subpart E) require a premarket notification submission (510(k)) at least 90 days before the introduction, or delivery for introduction into interstate commerce, for commercial distribution of a device intended for human use. Based on the information provided in the notification, FDA determines whether the new device is substantially equivalent to a legally marketed device, as defined in §  807.92(a)(3). If the device is determined to be not substantially equivalent to a legally marketed device, it must have an approved premarket approval application (PMA), product development protocol, humanitarian device exemption (HDE), request for an evaluation of automatic class III designation (De Novo request), or be reclassified into class I or class II before being marketed (see OMB control numbers 0910-0231, 0910-0332, 0910-0844, and 0910-0138). FDA makes the final decision of whether a device is substantially equivalent or not substantially equivalent.

Section 807.81 governs when a 510(k) is required. A 510(k) is required to be submitted by a person who is: (1) introducing a device to the market for the first time; (2) introducing a device into commercial distribution for the first time by a person who is required to register; or (3) introducing or reintroducing a device that is significantly changed or modified in design, components, method of manufacturer, or the intended use that could affect the safety and effectiveness of the device.

Section 807.87 also lists the information required in each premarket notification (510(k)) submission. Each submission should contain the following information:

• Device name;

• Establishment registration number, if applicable, of the owner or operator submitting the premarket notification submission;

• Device class;

• Action taken under section 514 of the FD&C Act (21 U.S.C. 360d) for performance standards; and

• Proposed labels, labeling, and advertisements sufficient to describe the device, its intended use, and the directions for its use. Where applicable, photographs or engineering drawings should be supplied.

• A statement indicating that the device is similar to and/or different from other products of a comparable type in commercial distribution, accompanied by data to support the statement.

• For devices that have undergone a significant change or modification, data to show that the manufacturer has considered consequences and effects that a change, modification, or new use might have on the safety and effectiveness of the device.

• A 510(k) summary as described in § 807.92 or a 510(k) statement as described in § 807.93 (burden included in §§ 807.92 and 807.93, respectively).

• A financial certification or disclosure statement or both, as required by 21 CFR part 54 (see OMB control number 0910-0396, Financial Disclosure by Clinical Investigators).

• For submissions claiming substantial equivalence to a device which has been classified into class III that was introduced or delivered for introduction into interstate commerce for commercial distribution before December 1, 1990, and for which no final regulation requiring premarket approval has been issued under section 515(b) of the FD&C Act (21 U.S.C. 360e(b)), a summary of the types of safety and effectiveness problems associated with the type of devices being compared and a citation to the information upon which the summary is based (class III summary). The 510(k) submitter shall also certify that a reasonable search of all information known or otherwise available about class III device and other similar legally marketed devices has been conducted (class III certification), as described in § 807.94.

• A statement that the submitter believes, to the best of his or her knowledge, that all data and information submitted in the premarket notification are truthful and accurate and that no material fact has been omitted.

• Any additional information regarding the device requested by the Commissioner of Food and Drugs that is necessary for the Commissioner to make a finding as to whether or not the device is substantially equivalent to a device in commercial distribution.

Section 204 of the Food and Drug Administration Modernization Act of 1997 (FDAMA) (Pub. L. 105-115) amended section 514 of the FD&C Act. Amended section 514 of the FD&C Act allows FDA to recognize consensus standards developed by international and national organizations for use in satisfying portions of device premarket review submissions including 510(k) or other requirements. FDA has published and regularly updated the list of recognized standards since enactment of FDAMA and has allowed 510(k) submitters to certify conformance to recognized standards to meet the requirements of § 807.87.

Section 745A(b) of the FD&C Act (21 U.S.C. 379k-1(b)), amended by section 207 of the FDA Reauthorization Act of 2017 (Pub. L. 115-52), requires that submissions for devices under section 510(k), among other submission types, be submitted in electronic format specified by FDA. In addition, in the Medical Device User Fee Amendments of 2017 Commitment Letter from the Secretary of Health and Human Services to Congress, FDA committed to developing “electronic submission templates that will serve as guided submission preparation tools for industry to improve submission consistency and enhance efficiency in the review process.” The Electronic Submission Template and Resource (eSTAR) is such an electronic submission template for 510(k) submissions to facilitate the preparation of submissions in electronic format.

FDA estimates the burden of this collection of information as follows:

Form FDA 3514 assists respondents in categorizing administrative 510(k) information for submission to FDA. This form also assists respondents in categorizing information for other FDA medical device programs such as PMAs, investigational device exemptions, De Novo requests, HDEs, etc.

Under § 807.90(a)(3), inquiries regarding a 510(k) submission should be in writing and sent to one of the addresses in § 807.90(a).

Under § 807.87(h), each 510(k) submitter must include in the 510(k) either a summary of the information in the 510(k) as required by § 807.92 (510(k) summary) or a statement certifying that the submitter will make available upon request the information in the 510(k) with certain exceptions as per § 807.93 (510(k) statement).

The Electronic Submission Template and Resource (eSTAR) is such an electronic submission template for 510(k) submissions to facilitate the preparation of submissions in electronic format.

FDA has published and regularly updated the list of recognized standards since enactment of FDAMA and has allowed 510(k) submitters to certify conformance to recognized standards to meet the requirements of § 807.87.

The information required under section 402(j)(5)(B) of the PHS Act, recommended in the FDA guidance document “Form FDA 3674—Certifications To Accompany Drug, Biological Product, and Device Applications/Submissions,” and associated with the HHS regulations at 42 CFR part 11 (published on September 20, 2016, see 81 FR 64981), is to be submitted with applications currently submitted to FDA under 21 CFR part 814.

Section 402(j)(5)(B) of the PHS Act, requires that a certification accompany human drug, biological, and device product submissions made to FDA. Specifically, at the time of submission of an application under sections 505, 515, or 520(m) of the FD&C Act (21 U.S.C. 355, 360e, or 360j(m)), or under section 351 of the PHS Act, or submission of a report under section 510(k) of the FD&C Act, such application or submission must be accompanied by a certification that all applicable requirements of section 402(j) of the FD&C Act have been met. Where available, such certification must include the appropriate National Clinical Trial numbers. We have made Form FDA 3674 available for submitting the certification.

Our estimated burden for the information collection reflects an overall increase of 2,850 hours and a corresponding increase of 3,800 responses. This information collection is being revised to add the estimated burden for “Certification to accompany 510(k) submissions” from OMB control number 0910-0616 to this burden estimate.

In compliance with 44 U.S.C. 3507, FDA has submitted the following proposed collection of information to OMB for review and clearance.

This information collection supports Agency regulations and recommendations found in associated guidance pertaining to BLA procedures and requirements. A BLA is a request for permission to introduce, or deliver for introduction, a biological product into interstate commerce (§ 601.2 (21 CFR 601.2)). BLAs are regulated under parts 600 through 680 (21 CFR parts 600 through 680). A BLA is submitted by any legal person or entity who is engaged in manufacture or an applicant for a license who takes responsibility for compliance with product and establishment standards. Interested persons may visit https://www.fda.gov/vaccines-blood-biologics/development-approval-process-cber/biologics-license-applications-bla-process-cber for additional information, including available Agency resources.

Regulations in part 601 set forth applicable procedures for the submission of license application information, including content and format elements. The regulations also explain requirements for suspension, revocation, and reissuance of BLAs and communicate procedures for requesting a hearing. Additionally, the information collection includes the submission of manufacturing change information governed by section 506A of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act) (21 U.S.C. 356a), as well as postmarketing reports for approved human drugs and licensed biological products governed by section 506B of the FD&C Act (21 U.S.C. 356b). Finally, regulations in parts 610 through 680 establish both general and specific biological product standards.

To implement these provisions, we have developed the following collection instruments:

Form FDA 356h, Application to Market a New or Abbreviated New Drug or Biologic for Human Use, provides a uniform format for submitting BLAs. Form FDA 356h is a fillable PDF form that may be submitted through our Electronic Submission Gateway (ESG), for which respondents must create and maintain a user account. Utilizing Form FDA 356h helps to ensure that an application is complete and contains all the necessary information, so that delays due to lack of information may be avoided. In addition, the form provides key information to FDA for efficient handling and distribution to the appropriate staff for review. We have recently made minor updates to Form FDA 356h resulting from the October 3, 2022, reauthorization of the Prescription Drug User Fee Act. In this collection we account for BLAs submitted using Form FDA 356h.

Form FDA 2252, Transmittal of Annual Report for Drugs and Biologics for Human Use, is used by an applicant of a licensed biological product to submit annual reports required by § 601.70(b) (21 CFR 601.70(b)). Form FDA 2252 is also a fillable PDF form and approved in OMB control number 0910-0001; however, in this information collection we account for submissions pertaining to biological products.

Form FDA 2253, Transmittal of Advertisements and Promotional Labeling for Drugs and Biologics for Human Use, was developed for use by respondents to transmit specimens of advertisements and promotional labeling ( e.g., circulars, package labels, container labels, etc.), as well as labeling changes. The submission of this information is required by § 601.12 (21 CFR 601.12) for biological products and by 21 CFR 314.81 for drug products. Form FDA 2253 is a fillable PDF form and is approved for use in OMB control number 0910-0001; however, in this information collection we account for submissions pertaining to biological products.

Form FDA 3674, Certificate of Compliance Under 42 U.S.C. 282(j)(5)(B), with Requirements of ClinicalTrials.gov Data Bank, was developed for use by respondents to certify submissions as required by section 402(j)(5)(B) of the Public Health Service (PHS) Act and is submitted through our ESG. Form FDA 3674 is a fillable PDF form and is approved for use in OMB control number 0910-0616; however, in this information collection we account for submissions pertaining to biological products.

As provided for under § 601.2(a), we also utilize cover sheets, so denoted for purposes of identifying specific content information within a given application.

The guidance document “Cooperative Manufacturing Arrangements for Licensed Biologics,” (November 2008), available at https://www.fda.gov/regulatory-information/search-fda-guidance-documents/cooperative-manufacturing-arrangements-licensed-biologics, discusses strategies for meeting an increased need for flexible manufacturing arrangements. Since cooperative manufacturing arrangements can take a considerable amount of time to develop, the guidance is intended to be useful for planning purposes in the early phases of product development. Many companies that perform only limited aspects of manufacturing processes are interested in sharing or contracting parts of manufacturing to facilitate product development and manufacturing flexibility. The guidance discusses recommended communication between licensed manufacturers and contract manufacturers regarding changes to production and facilities, results of tests and investigations regarding the product, types of products manufactured in the contract facility, and standard operating procedures. We believe that the information collection provisions in the guidance do not create a new burden for respondents. We believe the reporting and recordkeeping provisions are part of usual and customary business practices.

All Agency guidance documents issued are consistent with our good guidance practice regulations in 21 CFR 10.115, which provide for public comment at any time. We maintain a searchable database of our guidance documents at https://www.fda.gov/regulatory-information/search-fda-guidance-documents .

Respondents to this collection of information are licensed manufacturers of biological products. Based on the number of 2021 fiscal year application submissions, we estimate there are 371 such respondents. The total annual responses are based on the number of submissions ( i.e., license applications, labeling and other supplements, protocols, advertising and promotional labeling, notifications) for a particular product received annually by FDA. The hours per response are based on informal communications with industry and our experience with the information collection.

In the Federal Register of November 1, 2022 (87 FR 65776) we published a 60-day notice soliciting comment on the proposed collection of information. No comments were received.

We estimate the burden of this collection of information as follows:

Our estimated burden for the information collection reflects an overall increase of 467,907 hours and a corresponding increase in responses. Most of our adjustment reflects an increase in the number of annual submissions that we have received under §§ 601.12(b)(1) and (3), (e), and (f)(4), and 601.45 over the last few years. We attribute the remaining increase (358 hours) to submissions of Form FDA 3674.

We are announcing the withdrawal of the CPG entitled “Compliance Policy Guide Sec. 397.100 Accuracy Requirements for Indication of Temporal-Maximum Ultrasonic Power, 21 CFR 1050.10(c)(1)(ii).” On January 20, 2023, FDA issued a final rule entitled “Radiological Health Regulations; Amendments to Records and Reports for Radiation Emitting Electronic Products; Amendments to Performance Standards for Diagnostic X-ray, Laser, and Ultrasonic Products” (88 FR 3638). The final rule repealed 21 CFR 1050.10, which includes performance standards for ultrasonic therapy products. Therefore, the policies in CPG Sec. 397.100 are no longer applicable, and this CPG is being withdrawn.

Section 505(j) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act) (21 U.S.C. 355(j)) allows the submission of an ANDA to market a generic version of a previously approved drug product. To obtain approval, the ANDA applicant must show, among other things, that the generic drug product: (1) has the same active ingredient(s), dosage form, route of administration, strength, conditions of use, and (with certain exceptions) labeling as the listed drug, which is a version of the drug that was previously approved and (2) is bioequivalent to the listed drug. ANDA applicants do not have to repeat the extensive clinical testing otherwise necessary to gain approval of a new drug application (NDA).

Section 505(j)(7) of the FD&C Act requires FDA to publish a list of all approved drugs. FDA publishes this list as part of the “Approved Drug Products With Therapeutic Equivalence Evaluations,” which is known generally as the “Orange Book.” Under FDA regulations, drugs are removed from the list if the Agency withdraws or suspends approval of the drug's NDA or ANDA for reasons of safety or effectiveness or if FDA determines that the listed drug was withdrawn from sale for reasons of safety or effectiveness (§ 314.162 (21 CFR 314.162)).

A person may petition the Agency to determine, or the Agency may determine on its own initiative, whether a listed drug was withdrawn from sale for reasons of safety or effectiveness. This determination may be made at any time after the drug has been withdrawn from sale, but must be made prior to approving an ANDA that refers to the listed drug (§ 314.161 (21 CFR 314.161)). FDA may not approve an ANDA that does not refer to a listed drug.

TOPAMAX (topiramate) sprinkle capsules, 50 mg, is the subject of NDA 020844, held by Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc., and initially approved on October 26, 1998. TOPAMAX is indicated for epilepsy (initial monotherapy for the treatment of partial-onset or primary generalized tonic-clonic seizures in patients 2 years of age and older; adjunctive therapy for the treatment of partial-onset seizures, primary generalized tonic-clonic seizures, or seizures associated with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome in patients 2 years of age and older) and preventive treatment of migraine in patients 12 years of age and older.

Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc., has never marketed TOPAMAX (topiramate) sprinkle capsules, 50 mg. In previous instances (see, e.g., 72 FR 9763, March 5, 2007; 61 FR 25497, May 21, 1996), the Agency has determined that, for purposes of §§ 314.161 and 314.162, never marketing an approved drug product is equivalent to withdrawing the drug from sale.

Hyman, Phelps & McNamara, P.C. submitted a citizen petition dated August 17, 2022 (Docket No. FDA-2022-P-1939), under 21 CFR 10.30, requesting that the Agency determine whether TOPAMAX (topiramate) sprinkle capsules, 50 mg, was withdrawn from sale for reasons of safety or effectiveness.

After considering the citizen petition and reviewing Agency records and based on the information we have at this time, FDA has determined under § 314.161 that TOPAMAX (topiramate) sprinkle capsules, 50 mg, was not withdrawn for reasons of safety or effectiveness. The petitioner has identified no data or other information suggesting that TOPAMAX (topiramate) sprinkle capsules, 50 mg, was withdrawn for reasons of safety or effectiveness. We have carefully reviewed our files for records concerning the withdrawal of TOPAMAX (topiramate) sprinkle capsules, 50 mg, from sale. We have also independently evaluated relevant literature and data for possible postmarketing adverse events. We have found no information that would indicate that this drug product was withdrawn from sale for reasons of safety or effectiveness.

Accordingly, the Agency will continue to list TOPAMAX (topiramate) sprinkle capsules, 50 mg, in the “Discontinued Drug Product List” section of the Orange Book. The “Discontinued Drug Product List” delineates, among other items, drug products that have been discontinued from marketing for reasons other than safety or effectiveness. ANDAs that refer to TOPAMAX (topiramate) sprinkle capsules, 50 mg, may be approved by the Agency as long as they meet all other legal and regulatory requirements for the approval of ANDAs. If FDA determines that labeling for this drug product should be revised to meet current standards, the Agency will advise ANDA applicants to submit such labeling.

FDA is announcing the availability of a draft guidance for industry entitled “Product-Specific Guidance Meetings Between FDA and ANDA Applicants Under GDUFA.” The Generic Drug User Fee Amendments (GDUFA I) amended the FD&C Act to authorize FDA to assess and collect user fees to provide the Agency with resources to help ensure patients have access to quality, affordable, safe, and effective generic drugs. GDUFA fee resources bring greater predictability and timeliness to the review of generic drug applications. GDUFA must be reauthorized every 5 years to continue FDA's ability to assess and collect GDUFA fees and this user fee program has been reauthorized two times since GDUFA I, most recently in the Generic Drug User Fee Amendments of 2022 (GDUFA III). As described in the GDUFA III commitment letter applicable to this latest reauthorization, FDA has agreed to performance goals and program enhancements regarding aspects of the generic drug assessment program that build on previous authorizations of GDUFA. New enhancements to the program are designed to maximize the efficiency and utility of each assessment cycle, with the intent of reducing the number of assessment cycles for ANDAs and facilitating timely access to generic medicines for American patients.

To receive approval for an ANDA submitted under section 505(j) of the FD&C Act, an applicant generally must demonstrate, among other things, that its proposed drug product is bioequivalent to the reference listed drug (RLD). As noted in 21 CFR 320.24, in vivo and/or in vitro methods can be used to establish bioequivalence (BE). FDA recommends that applicants consult published PSGs when considering an appropriate BE study and/or other studies for a proposed drug product. PSGs provide recommendations for developing generic drug products and describe FDA's current thinking on the evidence needed to demonstrate that an ANDA is therapeutically equivalent to the specific RLD product.

As described in the GDUFA III commitment letter, FDA agreed to certain time frames and procedures for scheduling and conducting: (1) PSG teleconferences to provide feedback on the potential impact of a new or revised PSG on the applicant's development program and (2) pre-submission PSG meetings and post-submission PSG meetings to provide a forum in which the applicant can discuss the scientific rationale for an approach other than the approach recommended in the PSG to ensure that the approach complies with the relevant statutes and regulations.

This draft guidance is being issued consistent with FDA's good guidance practices regulation (21 CFR 10.115). The draft guidance, when finalized, will represent the current thinking of FDA on “Product-Specific Guidance Meetings Between FDA and ANDA Applicants Under GDUFA.” It does not establish any rights for any person and is not binding on FDA or the public. You can use an alternative approach if it satisfies the requirements of the applicable statutes and regulations.

While this guidance contains no collection of information, it does refer to previously approved FDA collections of information. Therefore, clearance by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA) (44 U.S.C. 3501-3521) is not required for this guidance. The previously approved collection of information are subject to review by OMB under the PRA. The collections of information pertaining to the submissions of controlled correspondence, GDUFA III commitment letter, and meetings related to generic drug development have been approved under OMB control number 0910-0797. The collections of information pertaining to the Generic Drug User Fee Program have been approved under OMB control number 0910-0727. The collections of information in 21 CFR part 314 have been approved under OMB control number 0910-0001.

Persons with access to the internet may obtain the draft guidance at https://www.fda.gov/drugs/guidance-compliance-regulatory-information/guidances-drugs , https://www.fda.gov/regulatory-information/search-fda-guidance-documents , or https://www.regulations.gov .

Section 505(j) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act) (21 U.S.C. 355(j)) allows the submission of an ANDA to market a generic version of a previously approved drug product. To obtain approval, the ANDA applicant must show, among other things, that the generic drug product: (1) has the same active ingredient(s), dosage form, route of administration, strength, conditions of use, and (with certain exceptions) labeling as the listed drug, which is a version of the drug that was previously approved, and (2) is bioequivalent to the listed drug. ANDA applicants do not have to repeat the extensive clinical testing otherwise necessary to gain approval of a new drug application (NDA).

Section 505(j)(7) of the FD&C Act requires FDA to publish a list of all approved drugs. FDA publishes this list as part of the “Approved Drug Products With Therapeutic Equivalence Evaluations,” which is known generally as the “Orange Book.” Under FDA regulations, drugs are removed from the list if the Agency withdraws or suspends approval of the drug's NDA or ANDA for reasons of safety or effectiveness or if FDA determines that the listed drug was withdrawn from sale for reasons of safety or effectiveness (21 CFR 314.162).

A person may petition the Agency to determine, or the Agency may determine on its own initiative, whether a listed drug was withdrawn from sale for reasons of safety or effectiveness. This determination may be made at any time after the drug has been withdrawn from sale, but must be made prior to approving an ANDA that refers to the listed drug (§ 314.161 (21 CFR 314.161)). FDA may not approve an ANDA that does not refer to a listed drug.

ASACOL HD (Mesalamine) Delayed-Release Tablet, 800 mg, is the subject of NDA 021830, held by Allergan Pharmaceuticals International Ltd., and initially approved on May 29, 2008. ASACOL HD is indicated for the treatment of moderately active ulcerative colitis in adults.

In a letter dated May 13, 2022, Allergan Pharmaceuticals International Ltd. notified FDA that ASACOL HD (Mesalamine) Delayed-Release Tablet, 800 mg, was being discontinued, and FDA moved the drug product to the “Discontinued Drug Product List” section of the Orange Book.

Aurobindo Pharma USA, Inc., submitted a citizen petition dated October 4, 2022 (Docket No. FDA-2022-P-2438), under 21 CFR 10.30, requesting that the Agency determine whether ASACOL HD (Mesalamine) Delayed-Release Tablet, 800 mg, was withdrawn from sale for reasons of safety or effectiveness.

After considering the citizen petition and reviewing Agency records and based on the information we have at this time, FDA has determined under § 314.161 that ASACOL HD (Mesalamine) Delayed-Release Tablet, 800 mg, was not withdrawn for reasons of safety or effectiveness. The petitioner has identified no data or other information suggesting that ASACOL HD (Mesalamine) Delayed-Release Tablet, 800 mg, was withdrawn for reasons of safety or effectiveness. We have carefully reviewed our files for records concerning the withdrawal of ASACOL HD (Mesalamine) Delayed-Release Tablet, 800 mg, from sale. We have also independently evaluated relevant literature and data for possible postmarketing adverse events. We have found no information that would indicate that this drug product was withdrawn from sale for reasons of safety or effectiveness.

Accordingly, the Agency will continue to list ASACOL HD (Mesalamine) Delayed-Release Tablet, 800 mg, in the “Discontinued Drug Product List” section of the Orange Book. The “Discontinued Drug Product List” delineates, among other items, drug products that have been discontinued from marketing for reasons other than safety or effectiveness. FDA will not begin procedures to withdraw approval of approved ANDAs that refer to this drug product. Additional ANDAs for this drug product may also be approved by the Agency as long as they meet all other legal and regulatory requirements for the approval of ANDAs. If FDA determines that labeling for this drug product should be revised to meet current standards, the Agency will advise ANDA applicants to submit such labeling.

In the Federal Register of February 10, 2023, in FR Doc 2023-02826, on page 8876 in the first column, correct the Addresses section to read, “Please see the supplementary information to view the questions. Comments must be submitted via Regulations.gov . Mailed paper and emailed submissions will not be reviewed.”

At the second column, tenth line, after the end of the sentence “conversation therapy.” the sentence should continue with the following: “(efforts to change an individual's sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression, a practice not supported by any credible evidence that has been rejected and disavowed by behavioral health experts and associations). Conversion therapy perpetuates outdated views of gender roles and identities as well as the negative stereotype that being a sexual or gender minority or identifying as LGBTQI+ is an abnormal aspect of human development. Most importantly, it may put young people at risk of serious harm.”

At the second column, second paragraph to the end of the document is to be replaced as follows: “ Request for Comments on the Report Development on Promising Practices for Advancing Health Equity for Intersex Individuals: The OASH invites input from intersex people, stakeholders throughout the scientific research community, clinical and behavioral practice communities, patient and family advocates, school and university-based campus health care providers, persons from rural and frontier areas, scientific or professional organizations, federal partners, internal HHS stakeholders, and other interested members of the public on the two questions highlighted below. This input will serve as a valuable element in the development of the report, and the community's time and consideration are highly appreciated.

• What do you see as the current clinical/behavioral, research, services, and/or policy gaps that you are hoping this report addresses?

• What recent or ongoing research, innovative clinical/behavioral approaches and/or policy actions do you think are important for us to know about as we begin this work?

• What are the barriers to intersex individuals receiving clinical/behavioral care? Are there innovative policies or practices that overcome such barriers?

• What are the social factors that impact clinical/behavioral care ( e.g., the medical community's perceptions or biases around sex/gender) and how do these impact delivery and quality of care for intersex individuals?

• What promising practices for advancing health equity for intersex individuals should we be aware of?

Responses to this RFI are voluntary. Do not include any personally identifiable, proprietary, classified, confidential, trade secret, or sensitive information in your response. The responses will be reviewed by OASH staff, and individual feedback will not be provided to any responder. The Government will use the information submitted in response to this RFI at its discretion. The Government reserves the right to release comments publicly and to use any submitted information on public HHS websites; in reports; in summaries of the state of the science; in any possible resultant solicitation(s), grant(s), or cooperative agreement(s); or in the development of future funding opportunity announcements.

This RFI is for information and planning purposes only and should not be construed as a solicitation for applications or proposals, or as an obligation in any way on the part of the United States Federal Government, the HHS, or individual HHS Agencies and Offices to provide support for any ideas identified in response to it. The Federal Government will not pay for the preparation of any information submitted or for the Government's use of such information.

No basis for claims against the U.S. Government shall arise as a result of a response to this RFI or from the Government's use of such information. Additionally, the Government cannot guarantee the confidentiality of the information provided.”

Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 requires: Written comments and/or suggestions from the public and affected agencies are invited to address one or more of the following points: (1) Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the function of the agency, including whether the information will have practical utility; (2) The accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (3) Ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (4) Ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond, including the use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology.

Proposed Collection Title: Chimpanzee Research Use Form, 0925-0705, exp., date 9/30/2023, EXTENSION, Division of Program Coordination, Planning, and Strategic Initiatives (DPCPSI), Office of the Director (OD), National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Need and Use of Information Collection: The purpose of this form is to obtain information needed by the NIH to assess whether the proposed research satisfies the agency's policy for permitting only noninvasive research involving chimpanzees. The NIH will consider the information submitted through this form prior to the agency making funding decisions or otherwise allowing the research to begin. Completion of this form is a mandatory step toward receiving NIH support or approval for noninvasive research involving chimpanzees. The NIH does not fund any research involving chimpanzees proposed in new or other competing projects (renewals or revisions) unless the research is consistent with the definition of “noninvasive research,” as described in the “Standards of Care for Chimpanzees Held in the Federally Supported Chimpanzee Sanctuary System” (42 CFR part 9). Also see NOT-OD-16-095 at https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-16-095.html and 81 FR 6873.

OMB approval is requested for three years. There are no costs to respondents other than their time. The total estimated annualized burden hours are 10.

Notice of this meeting is given under Section 10(a) of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), Public Law 92-463 (5 U.S.C. Appendix), which requires each FACA committee meeting to be open to the public unless the President, or the head of the agency to which the advisory committee reports, determines that a portion of the meeting may be closed to the public in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552b(c).

The HSAC provides organizationally independent, strategic, timely, specific, actionable advice, and recommendations to the Secretary of Homeland Security on matters related to homeland security. The Council consists of senior executives from government, the private sector, academia, law enforcement, and non-governmental organizations. The meeting will include:

(1) Remarks from Senior DHS leaders,

(2) Update on Customer Experience recommendations implementation, and

(3) Receipt, Discussion, and vote on four draft reports: 1. Intelligence and Information Sharing Subcommittee; 2. Openness and Transparency Subcommittee; 3. Homeland Security Technology and Innovation Network Subcommittee; and 4. Supply Chain Security Subcommittee. Members of the public will be in listen-only mode except during the public comment sessions. Members of the public may register to participate in this Council meeting via web conference under the following procedures. Each individual must provide their full legal name and email address no later than 5:00 p.m. ET on Wednesday, March 15, 2023 to Rebecca Sternhell of the Council via email to HSAC@hq.dhs.gov or via phone at 202-891-2876. Members of the public who have registered to participate will be provided the weblink after the closing of the public registration period and prior to the start of the meeting.

For information on services for individuals with disabilities, or to request special assistance, please email HSAC@hq.dhs.gov by 5 p.m. ET on March 14, 2023 or call 202-891-2876. The HSAC is committed to ensuring all participants have equal access regardless of disability status. If you require a reasonable accommodation due to a disability to fully participate, please contact Rebecca Sternhell at 202-891-2876 or HSAC@hq.dhs.gov as soon as possible.

The information collection notice was previously published in the Federal Register on November 9, 2022, at 87 FR 67708, allowing for a 60-day public comment period. USCIS did receive 2 comments in connection with the 60-day notice.

You may access the information collection instrument with instructions, or additional information by visiting the Federal eRulemaking Portal site at: http://www.regulations.gov and enter USCIS-2012-0004 in the search box. The comments submitted to USCIS via this method are visible to the Office of Management and Budget and comply with the requirements of 5 CFR 1320.12(c). All submissions will be posted, without change, to the Federal eRulemaking Portal at http://www.regulations.gov, and will include any personal information you provide. Therefore, submitting this information makes it public. You may wish to consider limiting the amount of personal information that you provide in any voluntary submission you make to DHS. DHS may withhold information provided in comments from public viewing that it determines may impact the privacy of an individual or is offensive. For additional information, please read the Privacy Act notice that is available via the link in the footer of http://www.regulations.gov.

Written comments and suggestions from the public and affected agencies should address one or more of the following four points:

(1) Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information will have practical utility;

(2) Evaluate the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used;

(3) Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and

(4) Minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting electronic submission of responses.

(1) Type of Information Collection: Extension, Without Change, of a Currently Approved Collection.

(2) Title of the Form/Collection: Collection of Qualitative Feedback through Focus Groups.

(3) Agency form number, if any, and the applicable component of the DHS sponsoring the collection: No Form; USCIS.

(4) Affected public who will be asked or required to respond, as well as a brief abstract: Primary: Individuals or households; Business or other for-profit; Not-for-profit institutions. Executive Order 12862 directs Federal agencies to provide service to the public that matches or exceeds the best service available in the private sector. In order to work continuously to ensure that our programs are effective and meet our customers' needs, Department of Homeland Security/U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services seeks to obtain OMB approval of a generic clearance to collect qualitative feedback on our service delivery. By qualitative feedback we mean information that provides useful insights on perceptions and opinions but are not statistical surveys that yield quantitative results that can be generalized to the population of study. This collection of information is necessary to enable the Agency to garner customer and stakeholder feedback in an efficient, timely manner, in accordance with our commitment to improving service delivery. The information collected from our customers and stakeholders will help ensure that users have an effective, efficient, and satisfying experience with the Agency's programs. This feedback will provide insights into customer or stakeholder perceptions, experiences and expectations, provide an early warning of issues with service, or focus attention on areas where communication, training or changes in operations might improve delivery of products or services. These collections will allow for ongoing, collaborative and actionable communications between the Agency and its customers and stakeholders. It will also allow feedback to contribute directly to the improvement of program management.

(5) An estimate of the total number of respondents and the amount of time estimated for an average respondent to respond: The estimated total number of respondents for this information collection is 600,000 and the estimated hour burden per response is 1.5 hours.

(6) An estimate of the total public burden (in hours) associated with the collection: The total estimated annual hour burden associated with this collection is 900,000 hours.

(7) An estimate of the total public burden (in cost) associated with the collection: The estimated total annual cost burden associated with this collection of information is $0. There is no cost to participate and there is no mailing cost as these are electronic submissions.

You may access the information collection instrument with instructions or additional information by visiting the Federal eRulemaking Portal site at: https://www.regulations.gov and entering USCIS-2006-0050 in the search box. All submissions will be posted, without change, to the Federal eRulemaking Portal at https://www.regulations.gov, and will include any personal information you provide. Therefore, submitting this information makes it public. You may wish to consider limiting the amount of personal information that you provide in any voluntary submission you make to DHS. DHS may withhold information provided in comments from public viewing that it determines may impact the privacy of an individual or is offensive. For additional information, please read the Privacy Act notice that is available via the link in the footer of https://www.regulations.gov.

Written comments and suggestions from the public and affected agencies should address one or more of the following four points:

(1) Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information will have practical utility;

(2) Evaluate the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used;

(3) Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and

(4) Minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting electronic submission of responses.

(1) Type of Information Collection: Revision of a Currently Approved Collection.

(2) Title of the Form/Collection: Nonimmigrant Petition Based on Blanket L Petition.

(3) Agency form number, if any, and the applicable component of the DHS sponsoring the collection: I-129S; USCIS.

(4) Affected public who will be asked or required to respond, as well as a brief abstract: Primary: Business or other for-profit. Employers seeking to classify employees outside the United States as executives, managers, or specialized knowledge professionals, as nonimmigrant intra-company transferees pursuant to a previously approved blanket petition under sections 214(c)(2) and 101(a)(15)(L) of the Act, may file this form. USCIS uses the information provided through this form to assess whether the employee meets the requirements for L-1 classification under blanket L petition approval. Submitting this information to USCIS is voluntary. USCIS may provide the information provided through this form to other Federal, State, local, and foreign government agencies and authorized organizations, and may also be made available, as appropriate, for law enforcement purposes or in the interest of national security.

(5) An estimate of the total number of respondents and the amount of time estimated for an average respondent to respond: The estimated total number of respondents for the information collection I-129S is 42,700 and the estimated hour burden per response is 2.87 hours.

(6) An estimate of the total public burden (in hours) associated with the collection: The total estimated annual hour burden associated with this collection is 122,549 hours.

(7) An estimate of the total public burden (in cost) associated with the collection: The estimated total annual cost burden associated with this collection of information is $20,923,000.

You may access the information collection instrument with instructions, or additional information by visiting the Federal eRulemaking Portal site at: http://www.regulations.gov and enter USCIS-2008-0019 in the search box. All submissions will be posted, without change, to the Federal eRulemaking Portal at http://www.regulations.gov, and will include any personal information you provide. Therefore, submitting this information makes it public. You may wish to consider limiting the amount of personal information that you provide in any voluntary submission you make to DHS. DHS may withhold information provided in comments from public viewing that it determines may impact the privacy of an individual or is offensive. For additional information, please read the Privacy Act notice that is available via the link in the footer of http://www.regulations.gov.

Written comments and suggestions from the public and affected agencies should address one or more of the following four points:

(1) Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information will have practical utility;

(2) Evaluate the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used;

(3) Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and

(4) Minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting electronic submission of responses.

(1) Type of Information Collection: Revision of a Currently Approved Collection.

(2) Title of the Form/Collection: Application to Adjust Status from Temporary to Permanent Resident.

(3) Agency form number, if any, and the applicable component of the DHS sponsoring the collection: Form I-698; USCIS.

(4) Affected public who will be asked or required to respond, as well as a brief abstract: Primary: Individuals and Households. The data collected on Form I-698 is used by USCIS to determine the eligibility to adjust an applicant's residence status.

(5) An estimate of the total number of respondents and the amount of time estimated for an average respondent to respond: The estimated total number of respondents for the information collection Form I-698 is 18 and the estimated hour burden per response is 1.11 hours; the estimated total number of respondents for biometrics processing is 18 and the estimated hour burden per response is 1.17 hours.

(6) An estimate of the total public burden (in hours) associated with the collection: The total estimated annual hour burden associated with this collection is 41 hours.

(7) An estimate of the total public burden (in cost) associated with the collection: The estimated total annual cost burden associated with this collection of information is $8,820.

The information collection notice was previously published in the Federal Register on November 9, 2022, at 87 FR 67707, allowing for a 60-day public comment period. USCIS did not receive any comments in connection with the 60-day notice.

You may access the information collection instrument with instructions, or additional information by visiting the Federal eRulemaking Portal site at: http://www.regulations.gov and enter USCIS-2014-0008 in the search box. The comments submitted to USCIS via this method are visible to the Office of Management and Budget and comply with the requirements of 5 CFR 1320.12(c). All submissions will be posted, without change, to the Federal eRulemaking Portal at http://www.regulations.gov, and will include any personal information you provide. Therefore, submitting this information makes it public. You may wish to consider limiting the amount of personal information that you provide in any voluntary submission you make to DHS. DHS may withhold information provided in comments from public viewing that it determines may impact the privacy of an individual or is offensive. For additional information, please read the Privacy Act notice that is available via the link in the footer of http://www.regulations.gov.

Written comments and suggestions from the public and affected agencies should address one or more of the following four points:

(1) Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information will have practical utility;

(2) Evaluate the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used;

(3) Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and

(4) Minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting electronic submission of responses.

(1) Type of Information Collection: Extension, Without Change, of a Currently Approved Collection.

(2) Title of the Form/Collection: Generic Clearance of Qualitative Feedback on Agency Service Delivery.

(3) Agency form number, if any, and the applicable component of the DHS sponsoring the collection: No Agency Form Number; USCIS.

(4) Affected public who will be asked or required to respond, as well as a brief abstract: Primary: Individuals or households; businesses and organizations. This collection of information is necessary to enable the Agency to garner customer and stakeholder feedback in an efficient, timely manner, in accordance with our commitment to improving service delivery. The information collected from our customers and stakeholders will help ensure that users have an effective, efficient, and satisfying experience with the Agency's programs.

(5) An estimate of the total number of respondents and the amount of time estimated for an average respondent to respond: The estimated total number of respondents for the information collection 1615-0121 is 56,000 and the estimated hour burden per response is 0.5 hours.

(6) An estimate of the total public burden (in hours) associated with the collection: The total estimated annual hour burden associated with this collection is 28,000 hours.

(7) An estimate of the total public burden (in cost) associated with the collection: The estimated total annual cost burden associated with this collection of information is $0. Respondents to this collection of information are not required to provide documentation or take other actions that might incur a cost.

The Build America, Buy America Act (“BABA” or “the Act”) was enacted on November 15, 2021, as part of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (“IIJA”) (Pub. L. 117-58). The Act establishes a domestic content procurement preference, the BAP, for Federal infrastructure programs. Section 70914(a) of the Act establishes that no later than 180 days after the date of enactment, HUD must ensure that none of the funds made available for infrastructure projects may be obligated by the Department unless it has taken steps to ensure that the iron, steel, manufactured products, and construction materials used in a project are produced in the United States. In section 70912, the Act further defines a project to include “the construction, alteration, maintenance, or repair of infrastructure in the United States” and includes within the definition of infrastructure those items traditionally included along with buildings and real property. Thus, starting May 14, 2022, new awards of HUD FFA, and any of those newly obligated funds by HUD then obligated by the grantee for infrastructure projects, are covered under BABA provisions of the Act, 41 U.S.C. 8301 note, unless covered by a waiver.

Since the enactment of the Act, HUD has worked diligently to implement the BAP. HUD understands that advancing Made in America objectives is a continuous effort and believes this transparent schedule of future implementation will provide industry partners and FFA recipients with the time and notice necessary to efficiently and effectively implement the BAP. HUD's proposed plans to move forward with the implementation of the new BAP requirements is designed to maximize coordination and collaboration to support long-term investments in domestic production. HUD will continue its efforts to implement the Act consistent with the guidance and requirements of the Made in America Office of the Office of Management and Budget, including anticipated guidance concerning appropriate compliance with the BAP. HUD is also, through this waiver, soliciting specific comment on the appropriate manner to implement the BAP in connection with the use of construction materials and manufactured products in all infrastructure projects across HUD's FFA programs.

In order to ensure orderly implementation of the BAP across HUD's programs, HUD has provided public interest, general applicability waivers in order to implement the BAP in phases in connection with the application of the BAP across HUD's FFA programs and to provide HUD with sufficient time to solicit information from the public relating to the agency's implementation of the BAP in connection with FFA awards made by HUD. HUD has previously published general applicability, public interest waivers to the BAP to provide the agency with sufficient time to solicit information from the public relating to the agency's implementation of the BAP in connection with FFA awards made by HUD. On November 23, 2022, HUD issued a separate waiver covering all HUD FFA obligated by HUD on or before February 21, 2023, with the exception of the BAP as to the purchase of iron and steel for infrastructure projects funded by Community Development Block Grant (“CDBG”) formula grants on or after November 15, 2022. Separately, HUD waived the application of the BAP in connection with HUD FFA provided to Tribes, Tribally Designated Housing Entities (“TDHE”), and other Tribal Entities (referred to herein as “Tribal FFA”) to allow time for HUD to complete the Tribal consultation process regarding implementation of the BAP in connection with infrastructure projects. This Notice does not apply to Tribal FFA covered by that separate waiver. 1

Details on HUD's implementation of the BABA requirements, including two public interest waivers covering Exigent Circumstances and De Minimis and Small Grants and a separate public interest waiver for all Tribal FFA, can be found at www.hud.gov/program_offices/general_counsel/BABA.

Under section 70914(b), HUD and other Federal agencies have authority to waive the application of a domestic content procurement preference when (1) application of the preference would be contrary to the public interest, (2) the materials and products subject to the preference are not produced in the United States at a sufficient and reasonably available quantity or satisfactory quality, or (3) inclusion of domestically produced materials and products would increase the cost of the overall project by more than 25 percent. Section 70914(c) provides that a waiver under 70914(b) must be published by the agency with a detailed written explanation for the proposed determination and provide a public comment period of not less than 15 days.

The Office of Management and Budget's April 18, 2022 memorandum, “Initial Implementation Guidance on Application of Buy America Preference in Federal Financial Assistance Programs for Infrastructure” (M-22-11), encourages agencies to consider ways to provide the assistance to funding recipients that is necessary and effective for the implementation of the BAP, including consideration of phased implementation of BAP where appropriate. Strategic and phased steps toward full BABA compliance refines the scope for what is exempt from BAP while providing a clear timeline for full implementation, consistent with the Congressional intent and stakeholder interest. It also allows HUD grantees and stakeholders the time needed to construct stronger supply channels to include new or amended vendor contracts that comply with BABA requirements.

In fiscal year 2023, HUD grantees will receive $14 billion through the Department's programs where infrastructure is an eligible activity and may be subject to the BAP. For example, Choice Neighborhoods (“CN”) funds may be used for infrastructure projects ( e.g., transform severely distressed public and assisted properties with high-quality mixed-income) or non-infrastructure uses ( e.g., business services, safety, children's education and to improve employment, income, and health outcomes). HUD estimates that up to 85 percent of Choice Neighborhoods Implementation Grant funds to be awarded in 2023 ($289 million of $340 million total) will be used on housing and infrastructure projects where the BAP may apply.

As HUD's previous Notices advised and as supported by several comments received during the comment period, many of HUD's programs may be subject to the BAP and have previously not required compliance with similar Buy American preferences. Because the potential application of BAP mandated by the Act is new to the majority of HUD's programs and FFA, HUD chose to implement the BAP first with respect to all iron and steel products used in infrastructure projects funded with HUD FFA on or after November 15, 2022, through its CDBG formula grants.

To focus its efforts on the implementation of the BAP for CDBG formula grants used to purchase iron and steel products as of November 15, 2022 and specified construction materials purchased with Fiscal Year 2024 CDBG formula grant and Recovery Housing Program funds used in infrastructure projects, HUD is proposing to waive the application of the BAP: (1) as to other programs for HUD FFA used to purchase iron and steel in addition to specified construction materials; (2) as to construction materials not specified in this Notice; (3) manufactured products for other programs and CDBG formula and Recovery Housing Program grants, consistent with the proposed implementation schedule set forth below:

This proposed phased implementation, will allow for further consideration of the most efficient methods of implementation across the remaining HUD programs and for manufactured products and construction materials not specified in this Notice. The proposed waiver advances BABA by providing transparency in HUD's implementation of the BAP, reducing the administrative burden to potential assistance recipients where the costs of uncertainty in compliance with BABA could distract from the focus on the efficient and effective implementation of BABA in an orderly and efficient manner, and provides transparency concerning the full implementation plans in connection with the purchase of iron and steel for infrastructure products. HUD anticipates that it may propose a new implementation schedule for construction materials in other programs, construction materials not specified in this Notice as to other programs in addition to CDBG formula grant and Recovery Housing Program funds, and manufactured products for all HUD programs once further clarity and guidance on the implementation is available. Failure to provide recipients such flexibilities and transparency could delay the award for infrastructure projects as grantees and funding recipients must exert considerable effort in changing their plans and accounting for the sourcing of materials in construction projects without the benefit of complete guidance on the Act's requirements.

Additionally, HUD believes that better coordination in the implementation of BABA will avoid unnecessary and undue hardship that could jeopardize the timely and cost-effective completion of such projects as grantees and funding recipients that have previously not been subject to requirements similar to BAP await guidance on how to come into full compliance. Such a waiver will allow grantees and funding recipients to focus their efforts on such critical projects and allow HUD to focus its training and technical assistance on those grantees beginning the implementation process. Proposing this waiver is not an alternative to increasing domestic production. It is a tool to assist HUD in its implementation of the Buy American provisions in the most efficient manner in order to promote investment in HUD's domestic manufacturing base, strengthen critical supply chains, and position United States workers and businesses to compete and lead globally in the 21st century. This waiver is in the interest of efficiency, to ease burdens for HUD grantees and funding recipients, avoid unnecessary costs, and avoid delays to projects that are critical and time sensitive. This waiver will also allow HUD to focus, particularly in the early phases of BABA implementation, on key products and critical supply chains where increased U.S. manufacturing can best advance our economic and national security. This waiver will also allow grantees and funding recipients to continue with projects in connection with iron and steel products where Made in America requirements have long been contemplated—providing greater ease of implementation for HUD's grantees. Without this waiver, HUD will likely lose grantee and funding recipient participation, be exposed to liabilities if HUD forces grantees and funding recipients to modify their current plans to come into compliance, or delay critical activities to protect life, safety and property, and will negatively impact the most vulnerable Americans we seek to serve.

As HUD's previous Notice advised and as supported by several comments received during the comment period, many of the HUD's programs may be subject to the BAP and have previously not required compliance with similar Buy American preferences. Because the potential application of BAP mandated by the Act is new to the majority of HUD's program FFA, this waiver advances BABA by targeting the next phase of implementation to include Choice Neighborhoods (“CN”), a place-based grant program which helps communities develop and implement locally driven comprehensive plans to transform neighborhoods. In Fiscal Year 2023, HUD received $350 million for CN, which Public Housing Authorities and local jurisdictions apply for competitively. CN provides planning grants, which provide for the development of comprehensive plans, and implementation grants, which allow communities to implement their plans—including for use on infrastructure activities. This allows for efficient phased implementation while reducing the administrative burden to potential grantees and funding recipients where the costs of uncertainties surrounding compliance with BABA could distract from the focus on higher value BABA compliant items. Failure to provide recipients such flexibilities could delay the award for infrastructure projects as grantees and funding recipients must exert considerable effort accounting for the sourcing for miscellaneous, low-cost items. HUD is seeking comment on the further implementation of the BAP but will focus specific attention on the full implementation of the BAP in connection with the use of iron and steel in infrastructure projects in other FFA programs utilizing HUD FFA within this waiver period, except for Tribal FFA, and in connection with the use of specified construction materials in infrastructure projects funded by CDBG formula grant and Recovery Housing Program funds within this waiver period.

HUD will not require compliance with the BAP in connection with the use of any HUD FFA obligated by HUD before November 14, 2022, or during the pendency of any other applicable BABA waiver issued by HUD, including this waiver, as applicable, after it is finalized. However, where the BAP or other “Buy American” requirements are made applicable to a project of a grantee or funding recipient by another Federal agency, those requirements are not waived by this waiver, nor is the grantee or funding recipient exempt from the application of those requirements in accordance with the requirements of the Federal agency providing such FFA.

Under OMB Memorandum M-22-11, “Memorandum for Heads of Executive Departments and Agencies,” published on April 18, 2022, agencies are expected to assess “whether a significant portion of any cost advantage of a foreign-sourced product is the result of the use of dumped steel, iron, or manufactured products or the use of injuriously subsidized steel, iron, or manufactured products” as appropriate before granting a public interest waiver. HUD's analysis has concluded that this assessment is not applicable to this waiver, as this waiver is not based in the cost of foreign-sourced products. HUD will perform additional market research during the waiver period to better understand the market and to limit the use of waivers caused by dumping of foreign-sourced products.

As required under section 70914 of the Act, HUD is soliciting comment from the public on the waiver announced in this Notice. In particular, HUD invites comments on its updated implementation schedule and corresponding waiver of application of the BAP in connection with infrastructure projects funded by HUD FFA. HUD also seeks specific comment on how it may best further phase in the application of the BAP: (1) as to other programs for HUD FFA used to purchase iron and steel in addition to specified construction materials; (2) as to construction materials not specified in this Notice; (3) manufactured products for other programs and CDBG formula and Recovery Housing Program grants HUD invites comments on what time period would be appropriate purposes of achieving these various phases of orderly implementation of the Act.

If issued, the waiver would be applicable to HUD FFA that HUD obligates on or after the effective date of the final waiver and throughout the applicable waiver periods consistent with the implementation schedule as described above. Additionally, for HUD FFA obligated by HUD on or after February 22, 2023, but prior to the effective date of the final waiver described in this Notice, HUD would waive application of BAP for all expenditures incurred by grantees after the effective date of the Final Notice, consistent with the implementation periods described above.

In accordance with the PRA and 5 CFR 1320.8(d)(1), all information collections require approval. We may not conduct or sponsor, nor are you required to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number.

As part of our continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burdens, we invite the public and other Federal agencies to comment on new, proposed, revised, and continuing collections of information. This helps us assess the impact of our information collection requirements and minimize the public's reporting burden. It also helps the public understand our information collection requirements and provide the requested data in the desired format.

We are especially interested in public comment addressing the following:

(1) Whether or not the collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether or not the information will have practical utility;

(2) The accuracy of our estimate of the burden for this collection of information, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used;

(3) Ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and

(4) How the agency might minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting electronic submission of response.

Comments that you submit in response to this notice are a matter of public record. We will include or summarize each comment in our request to OMB to approve this ICR. Before including your address, phone number, email address, or other personally identifiable information (PII) in your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment—including your PII—may be made publicly available at any time. While you can ask us in your comment to withhold your PII from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so.

Abstract: The order Testudines, which encompasses tortoises and freshwater and marine turtles, is among the most threatened group of vertebrates in the world. However, turtles are frequently observed during everyday activities, such as while walking through a park, driving along a roadway, or kayaking in a river or pond. Local citizen-science projects focused on single species (such as box turtles) have provided valuable demographic information for turtle populations, but these projects are isolated both spatially and specifically ( i.e., focused on one species). This project would use sighting information supplied by citizens to fill gaps in our knowledge of turtle distributions throughout Northern Florida. When a citizen observes a turtle, they would document the species (if possible), location (latitude/longitude collected via cell phone), date, and time, and they would photograph the animal. We would also ask each contributor to provide their initials (not full name) and a way to contact them if questions about the entry arise ( e.g., phone number or email address). The sighting information will be mapped and used to develop species-distribution maps.

Title of Collection: Turtle Distribution Database.

OMB Control Number: 1028-NEW.

Form Number: None.

Type of Review: New.

Respondents/Affected Public: Individuals.

Total Estimated Number of Annual Respondents: 100.

Total Estimated Number of Annual Responses: 100.

Estimated Completion Time per Response: 5 minutes on average.

Total Estimated Number of Annual Burden Hours: 8 hours.

Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary.

Frequency of Collection: On occasion.

Total Estimated Annual Nonhour Burden Cost: None.

An agency may not conduct or sponsor, nor is a person required to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number.

The authority for this action is the PRA (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq. ).

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, (PRA, 44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq. ) and 5 CFR 1320.8(d)(1), all information collections require approval under the PRA.

As part of our continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burdens, we invite the public and other Federal agencies to comment on new, proposed, revised, and continuing collections of information. This helps us assess the impact of our information collection requirements and minimize the public's reporting burden. It also helps the public understand our information collection requirements and provide the requested data in the desired format.

We are especially interested in public comment addressing the following:

(1) Whether or not the collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether or not the information will have practical utility;

(2) The accuracy of our estimate of the burden for this collection of information, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used;

(3) Ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and

(4) How the agency might minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting electronic submission of response.

Comments that you submit in response to this notice are a matter of public record. We will include or summarize each comment in our request to OMB to approve this ICR. Before including your address, phone number, email address, or other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment—including your personal identifying information—may be made publicly available at any time. While you can ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so.

Abstract: Sections 504 and 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, require equivalent access for persons with disabilities to public facilities, learning materials, and other types of information resources. Traditionally, National Park Service brochures combine text, illustrations, photographs, and maps to provide an overview of the park's history and significance. Nearly 80% of park visitors report looking at the park's printed brochure as the most common activity at any NPS site. The industry and academic research about the quality and modalities used to develop and deliver audio descriptions are limited. More than often the techniques focus on video and live performance, versus static material such as print brochures or two-dimensional exhibits. The NPS is working in partnership with the UniDescription research project at the University of Hawaii to conduct focus groups and user evaluations of digital content, web tools, and mobile apps designed to address and develop alternate formats that will make equivalent experiences and information in print materials accessible. Audio Descriptions will be created and designed to make information in print materials accessible to people who are blind, have low vision or have a print disability.

Title of Collection: The UniDescription Project: Audio Description Research.

OMB Control Number: 1024-NEW.

Form Number: None.

Type of Review: New.

Respondents/Affected Public: General Public.

Total Estimated Number of Annual Responses: 120.

Estimated Completion Time per Response: Varies, up to 60 minutes.

Total Estimated Number of Annual Burden Hours: 120.

Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary.

Frequency of Collection: One-time, on occasions.

Total Estimated Annual Nonhour Burden Cost: None.

An agency may not conduct or sponsor nor is a person required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number.

The authority for this action is the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq. ).

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq. ) and 5 CFR 1320.8(d)(1), we provide the general public and other Federal agencies with an opportunity to comment on new, proposed, revised, and continuing collections of information. This helps us assess the impact of our information collection requirements and minimize the public's reporting burden. It also helps the public understand our information collection requirements and provide the requested data in the desired format.

We are soliciting comments on the proposed ICR that is described below. We are especially interested in public comment addressing the following issues: (1) is the collection necessary to the proper functions of the agency; (2) will this information be processed and used in a timely manner; (3) is the estimate of burden accurate; (4) how might the agency enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (5) how might the agency minimize the burden of this collection on the respondents, including through the use of information technology.

Comments that you submit in response to this notice are a matter of public record. We will include or summarize each comment in our request to OMB to approve this ICR. Before including your address, phone number, email address, or other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment—including your personal identifying information—may be made publicly available at any time. While you can ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so.

Abstract: Part 732 establishes the procedures and criteria for approval and disapproval of State program submissions. The information submitted is used to evaluate whether State regulatory authorities are meeting the provisions of their approved programs.

Title of Collection: Procedures and Criteria for Approval or Disapproval of State Program Submissions.

OMB Control Number: 1029-0024.

Form Number: None.

Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.

Respondents/Affected Public: State and Tribal governments.

Total Estimated Number of Annual Respondents: 25.

Total Estimated Number of Annual Responses: 30.

Estimated Completion Time per Response: Varies from 5 to 350 hours, depending on activity.

Total Estimated Number of Annual Burden Hours: 4,405.

Respondent's Obligation: Required to obtain or retain a benefit.

Frequency of Collection: Once and annually.

Total Estimated Annual Nonhour Burden Cost: None.

An agency may not conduct or sponsor and a person is not required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number.

The authority for this action is the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq. ).

The Commission has received a complaint and a submission pursuant to § 210.8(b) of the Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure filed on behalf of The NOCO Company on February 13, 2023. The complaint alleges violations of section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. 1337) in the importation into the United States, the sale for importation, and the sale within the United States after importation of certain portable battery jump starters and components thereof. The complaint names as respondents: Shenzhen Carku Technology Co., Ltd. of China; Aukey Technology Co., Ltd. of China; Metasee LLC of Pearland, TX; Ace Farmer LLC of Houston, TX; Shenzhen Gooloo E-Commerce Co., Ltd. of China; Gooloo Technologies LLC of Seattle, WA; Shenzhen Konghui Trading Co., Ltd., d/b/a Hulkman Direct of China; Hulkman LLC Limited of San Jose, CA; Tacklife Tools (Kushigo Limited) of Ireland; Shenzhenshi Daosishangmao Youxiangongsi d/b/a Fanttik Direct of China; Shenzhenshi Dianjia Technology Co., Ltd. d/b/a Yesper Direct of Hong Kong; Shenzhenshi Xinmeitemuxiangbao Zhuangyouxiangongsi d/b/a Thikpo (Spanarci) of China; Guangzhou Sihao Trading Co., Ltd d/b/a Snailhome (Audew) of China; ChangShaHongMaoKai KeJi YouXianGongSI d/b/a TopdonStarter of China; Shenzhenshi Shoudiankejiyouxiangongsi d/b/a Solvtin of China; Shenzhen Winplus Technology Co., Ltd. of China; Winplus North America, Inc. of Costa Mesa, CA; Winplus NA, LLC of Costa Mesa, CA; and Type S. Auto of Costa Mesa, CA. The complainant requests that the Commission issue a limited exclusion order, cease and desist orders, and impose a bond upon respondents' alleged infringing articles during the 60-day Presidential review period pursuant to 19 U.S.C. 1337(j).

Proposed respondents, other interested parties, and members of the public are invited to file comments on any public interest issues raised by the complaint or § 210.8(b) filing. Comments should address whether issuance of the relief specifically requested by the complainant in this investigation would affect the public health and welfare in the United States, competitive conditions in the United States economy, the production of like or directly competitive articles in the United States, or United States consumers.

In particular, the Commission is interested in comments that:

(i) explain how the articles potentially subject to the requested remedial orders are used in the United States;

(ii) identify any public health, safety, or welfare concerns in the United States relating to the requested remedial orders;

(iii) identify like or directly competitive articles that complainant, its licensees, or third parties make in the United States which could replace the subject articles if they were to be excluded;

(iv) indicate whether complainant, complainant's licensees, and/or third party suppliers have the capacity to replace the volume of articles potentially subject to the requested exclusion order and/or a cease and desist order within a commercially reasonable time; and

(v) explain how the requested remedial orders would impact United States consumers.

Written submissions on the public interest must be filed no later than by close of business, eight calendar days after the date of publication of this notice in the Federal Register . There will be further opportunities for comment on the public interest after the issuance of any final initial determination in this investigation. Any written submissions on other issues must also be filed by no later than the close of business, eight calendar days after publication of this notice in the Federal Register . Complainant may file replies to any written submissions no later than three calendar days after the date on which any initial submissions were due, notwithstanding § 201.14(a) of the Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure. No other submissions will be accepted, unless requested by the Commission. Any submissions and replies filed in response to this Notice are limited to five (5) pages in length, inclusive of attachments.

Persons filing written submissions must file the original document electronically on or before the deadlines stated above. Submissions should refer to the docket number (“Docket No. 3669) in a prominent place on the cover page and/or the first page. ( See Handbook for Electronic Filing Procedures, Electronic Filing Procedures  1 ). Please note the Secretary's Office will accept only electronic filings during this time. Filings must be made through the Commission's Electronic Document Information System (EDIS, https://edis.usitc.gov. ) No in-person paper-based filings or paper copies of any electronic filings will be accepted until further notice. Persons with questions regarding filing should contact the Secretary atEDIS3Help@usitc.gov.

Any person desiring to submit a document to the Commission in confidence must request confidential treatment. All such requests should be directed to the Secretary to the Commission and must include a full statement of the reasons why the Commission should grant such treatment. See 19 CFR 201.6. Documents for which confidential treatment by the Commission is properly sought will be treated accordingly. All information, including confidential business information and documents for which confidential treatment is properly sought, submitted to the Commission for purposes of this Investigation may be disclosed to and used: (i) by the Commission, its employees and Offices, and contract personnel (a) for developing or maintaining the records of this or a related proceeding, or (b) in internal investigations, audits, reviews, and evaluations relating to the programs, personnel, and operations of the Commission including under 5 U.S.C. Appendix 3; or (ii) by U.S. government employees and contract personnel, 2 solely for cybersecurity purposes. All nonconfidential written submissions will be available for public inspection at the Office of the Secretary and on EDIS. 3

This action is taken under the authority of section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (19 U.S.C. 1337), and of §§ 201.10 and 210.8(c) of the Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure (19 CFR 201.10, 210.8(c)).

This Notice represents the first of a two-stage process. ETA is publishing this Notice requesting public comments regarding proposed modifications to its WOTC procedural guidance and administrative formula. In the final stage, ETA will publish any modifications for procedural guidance in a TEGL, and will publish the updated administrative formula, using the most recent fiscal year performance data available, in the Federal Register . Based on Congress' budgetary appropriations for Fiscal Year (FY) 2024, ETA plans to announce WOTC allotments for state grantees by issuing a funding allotment TEGL based on an updated administrative formula. (Note that ETA disbursed FY 2023 WOTC allotments based on the existing administrative formula). Pending comments received through this Notice, ETA plans to issue a Change 1 to TEGL 16-20 to update its procedural guidance for WOTC. The proposed revised guidance will allow State Workforce Agencies (SWAs) to place a greater emphasis on process improvement, program efficiency, and better alignment with the requirements of section 51 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the Code, available at: https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=(title:26%20section:51%20edition:prelim) ). Although not required by federal statute or regulations, ETA is seeking public comment and opinions on its proposed guidance, including feedback on areas where ETA may need to clarify procedural guidance to address ongoing concerns, such as policies related to authorized representatives, as well as comments on the proposed administrative formula modifications. Additionally, ETA is requesting information on additional means to improve the WOTC as an incentive for employers to hire job seekers with barriers to employment. Stakeholders, including SWAs, employers, researchers and advocates, are encouraged to provide comments on modifications to the WOTC certification process, including suggestions for program improvement, as outlined in sections II, III and IV of this Notice. This Notice includes the following sections:

• Section I of this Notice provides a background of WOTC procedural guidance, and the current administrative formula used to determine state funding allotments.

• Section II requests comments on proposed modifications to WOTC procedural guidance.

• Section III requests recommendations for WOTC program improvements.

• Section IV describes the proposed modifications to the administrative formula.

• Section V provides planning estimates and describes the stop-loss/stop-gain provision for the proposed administrative formula implementation year, FY 2024, and subsequent years.

• Section VI describes formula provisions to address state grantees that would receive less than the minimum state allotment amount in annual funding under the proposed new formula.

• Section VII is a table detailing the impact of proposed changes on funding amounts for FY 2024 using the modified formula, and a comparison to actual FY 2022 funding allotments.

WOTC is a federal tax credit available to eligible employers that hire and pay wages to first-time, qualifying members of WOTC targeted groups. WOTC is authorized until December 31, 2025, under the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (Pub. L. 116-260), Division EE, Title I, section 113 (“the Act”). The U.S. Departments of Labor and Treasury jointly administer the WOTC. The U.S. Department of the Treasury, through the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), administers all tax-related provisions of the WOTC. The U.S. Department of Labor, through ETA, oversees the administration of some WOTC functions, including the allotment of grant funding to SWAs, and the development of guidance and technical assistance to ensure WOTC state and regional coordinators are equipped to implement any legislative updates in procedural guidance. SWAs are the statutorily designated state agencies authorized to administer the WOTC certification process in accordance with section 51 of the Code. 1

To claim the work opportunity credit, an employer must pre-screen and obtain certification from the appropriate Designated Local Agency (referred to as a State Workforce Agency or SWA) that an employee is a member of a targeted group. To satisfy the requirement to pre-screen a job applicant, on or before the day that a job offer is made, a pre-screening notice (IRS Form 8850, Pre-Screening Notice and Certification Request for the Work Opportunity Credit ) must be completed by the job applicant and the employer. Employers submit WOTC certification requests (IRS Form 8850 and other required ETA forms), to the SWA of the state in which the employer's business is located. SWAs manage a growing workload of an estimated eight million certification requests annually. Annual WOTC performance reports for fiscal years 2018-2022 are available online at: https://www.dol.gov/agencies/eta/wotc/performance. On a quarterly basis, about 40 percent of the national workload is comprised of “incomplete requests.” An employer's certification request is considered “incomplete” when it does not include supporting documentation, as required for targeted group eligibility determination, and/or required ETA processing forms ( e.g., ETA Form 9061 or 9062). Incomplete certification requests for which the SWA cannot issue a determination (certification or denial) by the end of a reporting quarter become part of the SWA's “requests needing action” or pending count. At the close of FY 2021, approximately 30 percent of the national workload was categorized as pending (backlogged) applications, awaiting additional information for the SWAs to issue determinations.

In FY 2020 through 2022, Congress appropriated additional funding to support SWA efforts in reducing the backlog of WOTC certification requests. 2 ETA distributed these funds to selected states with the most critical need to alleviate their backlogs and/or modernize their WOTC processing systems. To expand upon these efforts, ETA identified additional opportunities to improve the WOTC administrative process, which are described in Section II of this Notice. The proposed modifications to WOTC procedural guidance will help prevent additional backlogs for SWAs, resulting in more timely determinations for employers seeking the WOTC.

Additionally, in this Notice, ETA proposes modifications to its administrative formula to factor in the SWAs' output workload and make adjustments for inflation. ETA developed the WOTC administrative formula in 1996 to distribute federal funding to 53 state grantees (50 United States, District of Columbia, Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and U.S. Virgin Islands). The current administrative formula is calculated as follows:

a. 50 percent is based on each state's relative share of total WOTC certifications issued from the prior fiscal year (October 1-September 30),

b. 30 percent is based on each state's relative share of the Civilian Labor Force averages for the 12-month period from the prior fiscal year, and

c. 20 percent is based on each state's relative share of adult recipients of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) averages for the 12-month period from the second preceding fiscal year.

The formula's original methodology is described in the Federal Register Notice 68 FR 15745, April 1, 2003, accessible at: https://www.federalregister.gov/.

The proposed modifications are a result of ETA's review of SWA quarterly performance data, 3 WOTC state/regional coordinators' feedback, and inquiries received from the public and other stakeholders  4 on TEGL 16-20, WOTC Procedural Guidance. ETA requests comments from stakeholders regarding the following proposed modifications to WOTC procedural guidance, and requests that commenters state the section sub-heading(s) for which each comment is associated. ETA proposes the following modifications to WOTC procedural guidance:

A. Apply the same timely submission requirements for IRS Form 8850 and ETA Form 9061 and ETA Form 9062. To verify that an employer's new hire is a member of a WOTC targeted group, SWAs use the information provided on IRS Form 8850, Pre-Screening Notice and Certification Request for the Work Opportunity Credit, together with supporting documentation, and: (1) ETA Form 9061, Individual Characteristics Form; or (2) ETA Form 9062, Conditional Certification. 5 Under section 51(d)(13) of the Code, employers must submit IRS Form 8850 to the SWA of the state in which their business is located (where the employee works), generally no later than the 28th calendar day after the employee begins working for the employer. Receiving the ETA Forms separately from IRS Form 8850 creates significant processing delays for SWAs during the certification process and weakens the purpose of the 28-day timely submission requirement. ETA is proposing to update its procedural guidance for SWAs to require that employers submit all required WOTC forms concurrently, preferably as a single submission. ETA will modify its procedural guidance to apply the Code's timely submission requirement for IRS Form 8850 to ETA Forms 9061/9062, which will result in more efficient processing, reduce the number of “pending” certification requests, prevent additional application backlog, and ensure that the purpose of the 28-day submission requirement is fulfilled. Rather than allow employers to submit ETA Forms after the Code's timely submission requirement for IRS Form 8850, ETA will require employers to submit all required WOTC forms no later than the 28th calendar day after the employee begins working for the employer. When an employer does not submit the required WOTC forms by the timely submission deadline, the SWA will issue a denial notice to the employer. SWAs will not be required to review employers' appeals of denials that were issued due to failure to meet the timely-submission requirement unless the question of timely submission is the subject of the appeal.

B. When employers request additional time to submit required supporting documentation with a certification request, SWAs will not issue a determination for an additional 90 calendar days after the 28-day timely submission requirement deadline. Under the procedural guidance changes proposed above in Section II.A. of this Notice, ETA would require employers to submit the appropriate ETA Form (9061/9062) together with the IRS Form 8850 within 28 calendar days of the new hire's start date. However, ETA recognizes there are some circumstances when an employer may need additional time to collect and submit supporting documentation to complete a certification request. Without the required supporting documentation, SWAs are unable to verify that an employer hired a qualifying member of a WOTC targeted group. Current procedural guidance requires SWAs to issue a `Denial Pending More Information letter,' also known as an `Employer Needs Letter,' to notify employers when required supporting documentation is missing for a certification request. If an employer does not submit the necessary supporting documentation within 90 days from the date the SWA issued the Employer Needs Letter, the SWA will deny the certification request. After an employer receives a denial from a SWA for a complete, timely filed certification request, an employer may submit a written appeal to the SWA within one year from the date the SWA issued the denial letter. As part of the appeal, employers submit clarifying information that was not submitted with the original certification request, or an explanation of where the employer believes the SWA misinterpreted information during their determination review. SWAs will review the clarifying information and redetermine the denial, as appropriate. Review of annual WOTC performance data shows that approximately 40 percent of all certification requests result in denials. 6 The administrative procedures that are in place to manage incomplete requests require SWAs to spend a significant amount of time issuing `Denial Pending More Information' letters for employers, as well as reviewing appeals of denied requests that did not meet the requirements of the Code. This increases the overall number of pending/backlog applications and places an extensive administrative burden on the SWAs that delays certification for other employers.

ETA is proposing to modify its procedural guidance to allow SWAs to not issue a determination for an additional 90 calendar days, beginning with the day after the 28th calendar day timely submission requirement date, when employers simply check the corresponding box on ETA Form 9061 to request additional time to submit required supporting documentation with their WOTC certification request. Doing so will reduce the administrative burden on the SWAs to issue Employer Needs Letters, while granting employers additional time to submit supporting documentation for qualifying first-time hires that meet the targeted group eligibility requirements of the Code. Employers will continue to have the more efficient option of submitting supporting documentation with a completed IRS Form 8850 and ETA Form 9061/9062, all within 28 calendar days of the new hire's start date. SWAs will process these complete certification requests and issue determinations (certification or denial) based on the information provided on IRS Form 8850, ETA Form 9061/9062, and supporting documentation. However, if employers need additional time to submit supporting documentation that is not readily available within the 28-day window, employers will have the secondary option to specify that the supporting documentation is `forthcoming' in box 24 of ETA Form 9061. SWAs will follow the procedural guidance detailed below for when supporting documentation is noted as `forthcoming' with submission of ETA Form 9061.

(i) Employer marks “documentation forthcoming” on ETA Form 9061. When an employer marks that supporting documentation is forthcoming on ETA Form 9061, the employer will have an additional 90 calendar days (beginning the day after the 28th calendar day submission requirement) to submit the required supporting documentation for the targeted group(s) specified on IRS Form 8850 and ETA Form 9061. The SWA will not process the certification request until after the 90th day. If an employer does not submit the supporting documentation by the 90-day deadline, the SWA will process the certification request as is, based on any targeted group eligibility data that is available to the SWA, and issue a final determination. SWAs will follow the guidelines outlined below:

• The SWA does not need to delay issuing a final determination (certification or denial) if the employer does not specify that documentation is forthcoming in box 24 of ETA Form 9061.

• The employer will have up to 90 calendar days (beginning the day after the 28th calendar day timely submission requirement for IRS Form 8850 and ETA Form 9061/9062) to submit the additional (forthcoming) documentation, after which the SWA will process the certification request to determine eligibility for the targeted group(s) selected on IRS Form 8850 and ETA Form 9061, using the information submitted by the employer and/or the SWA's available data.

• If the employer submits the required supporting documentation within the 90-day calendar deadline, and the SWA did not consider the submitted documentation when issuing the determination, the employer may appeal the determination. The SWA will then review and redetermine the request based on certification requirements of the Code, taking into consideration the additional supporting documentation submitted.

• The SWA will deny a certification request that is missing supporting documentation after the 90-day calendar deadline, and for which the SWA is unable to verify targeted group eligibility using internal data sources available to the SWA. If the employer appeals the SWA's determination (either a denial, or a certification for an alternative targeted group that yields a lesser tax credit), the SWA is not required to process the employer's appeal. The decision to process employers' appeals will be at the discretion of the SWA. ETA encourages SWAs to update their WOTC state policies and standard operating procedures to notify employers of their state-specific policy on appeals and redeterminations.

Depending on the targeted group(s) specified on IRS Form 8850, SWAs may have internal access to data needed to verify that an individual meets targeted group eligibility requirement(s), such as wage records for long-term unemployment recipient (LTUR) determinations, with or without supporting documentation provided by employers. Prior to application submission, employers should confirm which data sources are accessible to the SWA, and which targeted groups require the employer to submit supporting documentation. SWAs must update their WOTC websites to communicate examples of supporting documentation that are acceptable for each targeted group, and which data sources are available to the SWA for eligibility determinations.

(ii) Employer does not mark “documentation forthcoming” on ETA Form 9061. When an employer does not specify that documentation is forthcoming on ETA Form 9061, the SWA will immediately process the certification request as is, using the submitted supporting documentation and/or available internal data sources. SWAs will use information and data sources available at the time the certification request is processed to issue final determinations. SWAs will follow the guidelines outlined below for when supporting documentation is not noted as `forthcoming' with submission of ETA Form 9061:

• The SWA will immediately process certification requests based on the targeted group(s) specified on IRS Form 8850 and ETA Form 9061/9062, and the supporting documentation and/or SWA's available data.

• Employers often specify more than one targeted group on IRS Form 8850. Depending on available data sources and automated processing capabilities, SWAs may be able to verify targeted group eligibility for multiple targeted group(s) simultaneously. If an employer does not submit supporting documentation for the targeted group(s) specified on their WOTC certification request, the SWA will verify eligibility for any targeted group(s) that are specified on the IRS and ETA Forms, for which the SWA has available data. Based on the applicant's targeted group eligibility verification results, the SWA will issue a certification for the employer for the targeted group yielding the highest available tax credit for the employer.

• If (1) the employer does not indicate that supporting documentation is forthcoming on ETA Form 9061, (2) the employer does not submit any supporting documentation within 28 calendar days of the new hire's start date, and (3) the SWA cannot verify eligibility for any WOTC targeted group selected on the IRS/ETA Forms, then the SWA will issue a denial notice to the employer. The denial is not eligible for employer appeal. However, an employer may appeal to have the SWA redetermine a certification that was issued for an alternate targeted group that was also initially selected on the certification request (IRS Form 8850 and ETA Form 9061) and would yield a higher tax credit than the targeted group certified by the SWA. In this circumstance, the employer appeal would be to submit new supporting documentation for the alternative targeted group that was also selected on the original IRS Form 8850.

• SWAs must review employer appeals for denials issued, so long as the original application (IRS form 8850 and ETA Form 9061/9062) was complete and timely submitted to the SWA. However, ETA will not require SWAs to review employer appeals for a certification redetermination. For example, if a SWA makes an eligibility determination for a targeted group, ETA will not require the SWA to process an employer's appeal for a certification redetermination for an alternate targeted group with a higher tax credit. The SWA has the discretion whether to process any such employer appeal of a certification. ETA encourages SWAs to update their WOTC state policies and standard operating procedures to notify employers of their state-specific policy on appeals and redeterminations.

C. Verify that an employer's certification request is for a first-time, qualifying hire. In addition to verifying that an individual is in a WOTC targeted group, ETA is proposing to update its procedural guidance to require SWAs to verify that an employer is seeking WOTC certification for a “first-time hire.”  7 A “first-time hire” is an individual that has not, at any time, been employed by the employer seeking certification prior to the hiring date the employer provides on IRS Form 8850. SWAs will compare available wage data with the information that an employer provides on the IRS Form 8850, including the employer identification number (EIN), employee's social security number, and hire date, to verify that: (1) the person is receiving wages from the employer; and (2) the person did not receive wages from the employer prior to their hire date. SWAs will check for wage records preceding the new employee's hire date, based on the availability of data and SWA capacity. Some states have begun to implement this practice and shared that doing so allows the SWA to identify which certification requests meet the requirements of the Code at the onset of the certification process, before investing time and resources on ineligible applications, including non-qualifying rehires. Additionally, by incorporating this step into the verification process, SWAs will ensure that they are processing certification requests that have been submitted to the appropriate SWA (state where the employer's business is located), per the instructions for IRS Form 8850. Wage verification helps prevent SWAs from processing duplicate certification requests when an employer submits the same certification request for a new hire to multiple SWAs for processing. When a SWA is not able to confirm that an employer is requesting certification for a “first-time hire” who is a qualifying member of a targeted group, the SWA will issue a denial notice. ETA will not require SWAs to review employers' appeals for certification requests that do not meet the requirements of section 51(i)(2) of the Code, “Nonqualifying Rehires,” which states “No wages shall be taken into account with respect to any individual if, prior to the hiring date of such individual, such individual had been employed by the employer at any time.”

D. Discontinue use of IRS Form 2848, Power of Attorney and Declaration of Representative, for WOTC purposes. Under current procedural guidance, an employer may choose to authorize an individual to represent them for WOTC purposes by submitting an IRS Form 2848, Power of Attorney and Declaration of Representative, to a SWA. SWAs collect, retain, and track updates to employers' IRS Form 2848 Power of Attorney as part of their administrative responsibilities. A power of attorney gives one or more persons the power to act on a person's behalf as their agent. The power may be limited to a particular activity or be general in its application. IRS Form 2848 is a Power of Attorney (POA) declaration form used to authorize an individual to represent a taxpayer before the IRS. ETA recognizes the concerns raised by SWAs and employers/consultants regarding IRS Form 2848 instructions, and its applicability to WOTC. Employers will be able to use an ETA Employer Representative Declaration Form to authorize a representative(s) to facilitate the WOTC certification request process on their behalf. The ETA Form will not constitute a formal power of attorney arrangement between the employer and its representative but will authorize the representative to conduct WOTC business with SWAs on behalf of the employer (see TEGL 16-20 for the list of authorized activities). SWAs will be responsible for managing employer representative declarations, including if and how an employer may authorize multiple representatives, according to ETA's recordkeeping policy for WOTC. 8 In general, formal power of attorney designations should not be required for employer representatives to conduct WOTC business with SWAs, and ETA discourages SWAs from imposing additional requirements for documenting employer representative declarations beyond the requirements listed in ETA's procedural guidance.

Using ETA's Employer Representative Declaration Form to designate an employer representative for WOTC reduces the administrative burden for SWAs and employers by creating one standard form and set of instructions for all SWAs to implement. Additionally, this policy change accounts for states' varying levels of funding and staff capacity to manage employer representative declarations. ETA will provide technical assistance to WOTC State Coordinators and ETA Regional Coordinators on this new policy guidance and form instructions.

In conducting WOTC outreach activities, SWAs should educate WOTC employers and stakeholders on the updated procedural guidance and policies.

In addition to comments on the proposed procedural guidance changes described in Section II of this Notice, ETA is soliciting broader feedback from various stakeholders on ways to enhance and improve the WOTC program, including strategies and practices to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of WOTC as an incentive for employers to hire individuals with barriers to employment and as an employer subsidy to support successful hires, and improvements to the WOTC certification process. ETA has a strong interest in program improvements that could improve employment outcomes, including equitable access to and retention in good jobs and ensuring job quality, for the designated categories of workers (members of targeted groups). The Departments of Labor and Commerce recently published Good Jobs Principles, which set forth a shared vision of job quality. These Principles can be found at https://www.dol.gov/general/good-jobs/principles. What is a good job can be subjective, and these Principles may not be applicable in all employment contexts; however, ETA expects to continue to use these Principles as the starting point of conversations about job quality. Community-based groups, unions and other worker organizations, employers, service providers, researchers, and advocates may have recommendations regarding these issues.

ETA requests that commenters address the questions listed below. Commenters do not need to address every question and should focus on those that relate to their expertise or perspective. To the extent possible, please clearly indicate the question(s) addressed in your response. Comments on program modifications may include activities, policies, practices, data collection or evaluations that are allowable and potentially feasible under current law and funding levels. Comments may also identify potential program improvements that would require changes in law, funding level, or administrative structure. Specifically, ETA is requesting comments on the following questions:

(1) To pre-screen a job applicant for WOTC eligibility, on or before the day that a job offer is made, a pre-screening notice (IRS Form 8850) must be completed by the job applicant and the employer. How do employers implement the job applicant pre-screening process for WOTC?

(a) Do any aspects of the pre-screening process pose particular challenges?

(b) How is WOTC reflected in employer hiring practices or policies?

(c) Does the tax credit influence employer hiring decisions?

(d) What improvements would better connect WOTC-eligible workers with employers and increase hiring?

(2) Are WOTC monetary incentives sufficient to motivate employer participation in the WOTC certification process in order to receive the subsidy?

(3) To what extent are stakeholders aware of the WOTC and how to utilize it—including small and mid-sized employers, employers that provide good jobs, advocates, and community-based groups or service providers that serve the targeted populations?

(a) How can the Department of Labor increase awareness of the WOTC in the public workforce system and other human services and disability systems?

(4) What is the biggest challenge employers face in seeking WOTC certifications for new hires? ( e.g., completing forms, submitting forms timely to the SWA, collecting supporting documentation/information from job applicants).

(5) What are the greatest challenges for SWAs in processing employers' certification requests?

(6) What are the greatest challenges in the WOTC program and how might the Department of Labor address these challenges?

(7) Should there be a mechanism to confirm that the employer pre-screens the job applicant, and obtains information provided by the job applicant on the basis of which the employer believes that the job applicant is a member of a targeted group?

(8) How can the Department increase the likelihood that the WOTC results in greater hiring and retention for eligible workers, as well as the likelihood that these are good jobs, such as jobs with family-sustaining wages or equitable opportunities for advancement?

(9) What does extant research and evaluation indicate regarding the effectiveness and efficiency of the WOTC or related hiring incentives, and what are potential implications of this information? How might the Department use this information to improve the WOTC?

(a) What are critical gaps in the research and evaluation on WOTC?

(b) What data sources and/or research methods would enable research and evaluation to address these gaps?

(c) What is the significance of WOTC in the hiring and retention of the broader eligible populations, and in comparison to other workforce investments that have similar employment outcome goals?

(d) What key factors increase or inhibit employer claiming of the WOTC?

(10) What new targeted group classifications, or modifications to existing targeted group eligibility requirements, would improve the effectiveness of the WOTC?

ETA will establish the FY 2024 state allotment estimates based on modifications to the existing WOTC administrative formula, using the most recent state-level WOTC performance data, which is the annual certifications and denials issued by the SWAs, and the executed FY 2022 allotment amounts. The proposed allotment formula includes two formula factors: (1) number of annual determinations (certifications and denials) issued by the SWA for the most recently completed fiscal year's available data, based on certified performance data  9 from ETA Form 9058, Certification Workload and Characteristics of Certified Individuals; and (2) each state's relative share of civilian labor force averages for the most recently completed fiscal year's available data. A description of how the data is used to calculate the state allotments using the proposed modified formula is provided below:

• 40 percent based on each state's relative share of certifications issued for the most recently completed fiscal year's available data (October 1-September 30),

• 40 percent based on each state's relative share of denials issued for the most recently completed fiscal year's available data (October 1-September 30), and

• 20 percent based on each state's relative share of civilian labor force averages for the most recently completed fiscal year's available data (October 1-September 30).

In addition to populating the administrative formula with updated data, ETA is proposing modifications that will improve the formula's accuracy in terms of estimating the true administrative workload of the SWA, and raise the minimum allotment to the states, which has been the same since the original formula was developed in 1996.

The current WOTC administrative formula bases 50 percent of states' annual allotments on each state's relative share of total WOTC certifications issued in the most recently completed fiscal year's available data (October 1-September 30). 30 percent is based on each state's relative share of civilian labor force averages for the most recently completed fiscal year's available data, and 20 percent is based on each state's relative share of adult recipients of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) averages from the second preceding fiscal year. WOTC was enacted in 1996 as an incentive for employers to hire members of families receiving TANF benefits, and other groups that experience significant barriers to employment, regardless of general economic conditions (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)/Food Stamps recipients, returning citizens, etc.). In 1997, Congress passed the Welfare-to-Work (WtW) tax credit, which focused specifically on more disadvantaged TANF recipients. The WtW credit became part of WOTC in 2006, and the emphasis on TANF recipients continued. Each state's relative share of adult recipients of TANF averages was factored into the WOTC administrative formula.

(1) To use data that more accurately reflect the individuals certified under WOTC, the formula will no longer factor in states' share of adult TANF recipient averages. From FY 2009-FY 2019, individuals certified as Qualified IV-A (TANF) recipients only accounted for 8-13 percent of annual certifications issued. In comparison, individuals certified as SNAP recipients accounted for 54-73 percent of annual certifications issued (FY 2009-FY 2022). Therefore, the updated allotment formula will not incorporate a state's relative share of adult recipients for any specific targeted group. With this formula modification, the administrative workload of the SWA (annual certifications and denials issued) is the primary indicator used to determine fiscal year funding allotments.

(2) Secondly, and to align the funding formula more closely with the SWAs' workload, ETA will lessen the formula weight of the civilian labor force (CLF) averages used in the WOTC allotment formula. The CLF is the subset of the U.S. civilian noninstitutional population, ages 16 and older, that is classified as either employed or unemployed, in accordance with the concepts of the Current Population Survey. 10 Currently, 30 percent of the WOTC administrative allotment formula is based on each states' relative share of the CLF averages from the most recently completed fiscal year's available data. Certification requests are submitted to the SWA of the state in which the employer's business is located. States that have a higher volume of eligible employers participating in WOTC receive and process a higher volume of certification requests. States with larger population sizes ( i.e., California, Florida, New York, and Texas) receive higher volumes of employer certification requests and therefore have a larger percentage of the national total workload and program output. The CLF average is useful as a proxy for determining the overall population/size of a state and provides some stability in the allotment formula that is not tied to the state's WOTC performance data. As a result, ETA proposes modifying the allotment formula by lessening the weight of the CLF factor in the allotment formula. ETA believes that focusing on the SWA's workload outcomes (certifications and denials issued) is a better metric on which to base WOTC allotment allocations.

ETA is seeking public comment on the proposed modifications to the administrative formula. As with previous allocations of WOTC grant funds, updating the data sources used in the formula and discontinuing the use of adult TANF recipient averages as a calculation metric will result in changes to each state's relative share of federal funding. ETA mitigates large changes in state allotments by using the Stop-Loss/Stop-Gain provisions discussed in Section V.

To mitigate and more gradually phase in state funding allotment changes due to the updated formula, ETA will continue to use the 95 percent stop-loss/120 percent stop-gain funding provisions in the WOTC allotment formula calculations. This approach is based on a state's previous year allotment percentage, which is its relative share of the total formula allotments. The stop-gain provision provides that no state grantee will receive an amount that is more than 120 percent of their previous year's allotment percentage. The stop-loss provision provides that no state grantee will receive an amount less than 95 percent of their previous year's allotment percentage. The current administrative formula is calculated with 95 percent stop-loss and 120 percent stop-gain provisions, and this will not change in the proposed modified formula for FY 2024 and subsequent years.

Currently, after allocating $20,000 to the U.S. Virgin Islands, ETA distributes the remaining appropriated fiscal year funding to state grantees by way of administrative formula, with a $66,000 minimum allotment. Under the proposed new formula, the new state allotment minimum would be raised to $119,000 ($36,000 for U.S. Virgin Islands). 11 Using the proposed new formula, some state grantees would receive up to a 20 percent increase of their FY 2022 allotment percentage in the new formula's implementation year, FY 2024. (The stop-gain provision provides that no state grantee will receive an amount that is more than 120 percent of their previous year's allotment percentage). In an effort to phase in the increased minimum allotment, which also impacts other states' allotments, ETA will use the stop-gain provision to gradually increase the minimum funding allotment amount to reach the new $119,000 minimum. The minimum state allotment will increase to $79,131 in FY 2024, which represents a 20 percent share increase from the current minimum of $66,000, and increase by 20 percent each fiscal year, to reach the new $119,000 minimum by FY 2026. 12 A state grantee that would receive less than $119,000 by application of the FY 2024 formula will, at the option of ETA, continue to receive an allotment that is proportional to the SWA's current fiscal year allotment and anticipated administrative workload. ETA deems funding below $119,000 as sufficient funding for SWAs that will receive the $79,131 minimum allotment in FY 2024 and will not interfere with a SWA's ability to administer the WOTC program.

The state allotments set forth in the Table appended to this Notice reflect the distribution resulting from the revised allotment formula described above. In FY 2022, Congress appropriated $18,485,000 in funding for state grantees (SWAs) to administer WOTC. The figures in the first numerical column show the actual FY 2022 formula allotments to state grantees. The next column shows the percentage of each states' allotment in proportion to the total funding appropriated. For purposes of illustrating the effects of the updates to the allotment formula, column 3 shows the FY 2024 state grantee allotments with the application of the 95 percent stop-loss, 120 percent stop-gain and $79,131 minimum funding provisions, followed by each state's relative share of total FY 2024 allotments in column 4. The percentage share difference between FY 2024 and FY 2022 allotments is shown in column 5.

This standard applies to dipping and coating operations conducted by employers involved in procedures that prevent injury and death among workers exposed to hazards associated with such support operations. The information collection requirement contained in the standard is to ensure that workers are aware of the safe distance to be when electrostatic paint detearing equipment is being used. For additional substantive information about this ICR, see the related notice published in the Federal Register on October 11, 2023 (87 FR 61370).

This information collection is subject to the PRA. A Federal agency generally cannot conduct or sponsor a collection of information, and the public is generally not required to respond to an information collection, unless the OMB approves it and displays a currently valid OMB Control Number. In addition, notwithstanding any other provisions of law, no person shall generally be subject to penalty for failing to comply with a collection of information that does not display a valid OMB Control Number. See 5 CFR 1320.5(a) and 1320.6.

DOL seeks PRA authorization for this information collection for three (3) years. OMB authorization for an ICR cannot be for more than three (3) years without renewal. The DOL notes that information collection requirements submitted to the OMB for existing ICRs receive a month-to-month extension while they undergo review.

Agency: DOL-OSHA.

Title of Collection: Additional Requirements for Special Dipping and Coating Operations.

OMB Control Number: 1218-0237.

Affected Public: Private Sector— Businesses or other for-profits.

Total Estimated Number of Respondents: 10.

Total Estimated Number of Responses: 10.

Total Estimated Annual Time Burden: 1 hour.

Total Estimated Annual Other Costs Burden: $0.

Section 101(c) of the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977 and Title 30 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) part 44 govern the application, processing, and disposition of petitions for modification.

Section 101(c) of the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977 (Mine Act) allows the mine operator or representative of miners to file a petition to modify the application of any mandatory safety standard to a coal or other mine if the Secretary of Labor determines that:

1. An alternative method of achieving the result of such standard exists which will at all times guarantee no less than the same measure of protection afforded the miners of such mine by such standard; or

2. The application of such standard to such mine will result in a diminution of safety to the miners in such mine.

In addition, sections 44.10 and 44.11 of 30 CFR establish the requirements for filing petitions for modification.

Docket Number: M-2022-013-M.

Petitioner: Genesis Alkali, LLC., 580 Westvaco Road, Green River, Wyoming 82935.

Mine: Westvaco Mine, MSHA ID No. 48-00152, located in Sweetwater County, Wyoming.

Regulation Affected: 30 CFR 57.22305, Approved equipment (III mines).

Modification Request: The petitioner requests a modification of 30 CFR 57.22305 to allow non-permissible extraction submersible pumps (ESPs) through well-bores drilled and installed from the surface to access the trona-bearing solution contained in abandoned areas of the mine.

The petitioner states that:

(a) The Westvaco mine is an underground trona mine in south central Wyoming.

(b) Since 1988, underground tailings disposal and secondary resource recovery have been part of the mining operation. These are areas of the mine that have no further production plans and have been abandoned and flooded with water through in mine pumping and from slurry tailings generated by the mineral preparation process that are injected into the mine through surface injection holes. There is no access to these abandoned areas because they have been left to deteriorate. They have been barricaded with wooden blocks in some cases. They are not ventilated, and they are not accessible for travel. They are not considered active areas of the mine.

(c) The petitioner plans to install ESPs through well-bores drilled and installed from the surface to access the trona-bearing solution contained in abandoned areas of the mine. The pumps will be located strategically in the mine based on the mining process and topography to ensure a large pool of water can be gathered in an abandoned area of the mine. The well-bores will be drilled so that the pump intake and electrical motor always remain below the mine floor and under water. The ESP design ensures that electrical components will always be submerged below the low water level or contained in a solid inner casing that is submerged below the low water level, preventing their exposure to air currents or the mine atmosphere.

(d) The permanently abandoned area is not beyond the last open crosscut and not ventilated with any air currents.

(e) The petitioner operates non-permissible, submersible pumps in outby areas of the mine which are inspected weekly and which cannot be operated in atmospheres containing 1.0 percent or more methane.

(f) The ESPs will be in locations that are inaccessible by miners. The pumps operate autonomously and are controlled remotely from the surface.

(g) Autonomous extraction enables the petitioner to have miners involved in processing activities on the surface instead of in extraction activities underground. The use of one or more ESPs allows the petitioner to avoid exposing miners to hazards associated with underground mining.

The petitioner proposes the following alternative method:

(a) The electrical equipment shall be isolated from the mine atmosphere by deploying a dual threaded, unperforated, solid metal inner casing extending below the low water level in the well-bore and thus providing a water seal to isolate the pump, pump motor, and power cable, including the pigtail from the power cable to the motor connection. The larger outer casing shall contain perforations to allow the water to flow from the mine into the well bore sump and into the pump intake for pumping out of the mine. The low water level shall be the mine floor.

(b) To ensure the inner casing remains below the low water level at the mine floor level, a water level monitoring system shall be installed consisting of two redundant fiber optic pressure sensors with a low-level alarm and interlock system. The monitoring system shall shut down the pump motor in the event of low water level inside the well. These fiber optic sensors, which are intrinsically safe and designed to withstand harsh environments, measure the pressure of the water column, convert it to an elevation, and determine the low water level, which is above the pump before the pump motor is started. The low water level interlock system in each identical/redundant sensor shall be set to the mine floor elevation (above the pump) and shall trigger an alarm and automatically shut down the pump if the water level drops to that level, or if the discrepancy between the readings for each sensor is greater than 1 foot. The sensors shall be located at least 10 feet below the low water level and above the pump. If either water level sensor starts to drift or fail, exceeding preestablished thresholds, an alarm shall be triggered and power to the ESP shall automatically shut off.

(c) If the sensors need to be removed, a workplace exam shall be conducted, and the sensors shall be slowly extracted from the conduit in the well-bore and stored on a reel. The water level sensors shall be calibrated or replaced and reinstalled. A final water level shall be determined upon installation and an “as built” well-profile shall be created noting the location of the sensors.

(d) All motor terminations and cable splices shall be underwater and isolated from the mine atmosphere. To verify after installation that the inner casing is sealed/isolated from the mine atmosphere by water, this testing procedure shall be followed:

(1) Measure initial static water level in inner casing with wireline.

(2) Set a retrievable packer or other drillable plug at the bottom of inner casing.

(3) Add water to the inner casing to approximately 10 feet above the static water level or 10 feet above the base of the casing grout, whichever is higher. Since the casing is grouted to the surface, test the portion of the casing below the grout line; there is no need to test the entire length of the casing.

(4) Wait for water to degas to ensure no air entrapment.

(5) Confirm and measure water level with wireline.

(6) Wait 30 minutes and measure water level again.

(7) If the water level change is less than 0.02 feet, isolation is in place (the wireline precision is 0.01 feet).

(8) If the water level change is greater than or equal to 0.02 feet, further testing of well shall be performed to locate the leak off point. The testing procedure shall be repeated until isolation is demonstrated.

(e) The ESP electrical system design is an industry standard design and encompasses the process from the first transformer on the mine property with incoming utility power to the pump motor connection. The incoming power from the utility provider (35KV) is stepped down to 480V. The 480V feeds a variable frequency drive (VFD) assembly connected to a step-up transformer to increase the voltage to 4160V. This is fed to the extraction well pump motor approximately 1,700 feet underground via a power cable adequate in design to power the ESP.

(f) The pump motors are paired in series and have a distinct connection point that does not require a ground wire since the pump motors are continuously submerged under water during operation. The power cable used in this application shall be spliced to a pigtail that uses a connector designed for this pump.

(g) The following is a summary of the specifications for each of the major components of the ESP:

(1) Baker Hughes CentriLift VFD specially designed for ESP applications. The VFD does not have an automatic restart and requires an operator to push the start/stop button if the VFD is shut down for any reason. The motor protection shall be the overload protection set to 120 percent of the motor full load amps.

(2) Southwest Electric 480V/4160V Transformer with Multi Tap Switch.

(3) High Resistance Grounding System which consists of a 15A, 160-ohm Neutral Grounding Resistor connected to the Step-up Transformer (480V/4160V) Neutral.

(4) Baker Hughes ESP Pump and Motor Assembly rated at 350 HP, 125A@3450V.

(5) Baker Hughes Centriline CPS76932 power cable—5KV Rated Cable #1 AWG (American Wire Gauge) with an ampacity of 183A, approximately 1,700 ft cable length from VFD to motor. The initial installation of the power cable shall be a continuous run. The power cable shall have current carrying capacity of not less than 125 percent of the full-load-amperage of the submersible pump motor and an outer jacket suitable for “harsh locations” and high voltage. The power cable shall be banded to the discharge casing at intervals of 9 feet per the manufacturer.

(6) Opsens Solutions OPP-C, MEMS-based fiber optic pressure sensor water level monitoring system consisting of two redundant fiber optic pressure sensors with a low-level alarm and interlock system. This system shall be fail-safe in that it will always trip the pump motor circuit in the event of loss-of-signal, loss-of-power, or a pre established discrepancy between the sensors and not allow the circuit to reclose. The light source used is a white light, not a laser. These fiber optic pressure sensors along with their amplifiers have a typical output of between 10 mW (megawatt) to 100 mW.

(7) SEL-710-5 Motor Protection Relay with a 50P/51P Phase Overcurrent Protection Function, 27 Undervoltage Protection function, and a 50G/51G Residual Ground Overcurrent protection function. This relay has a shunt trip to the VFD Main Breaker.

(8) Bender RC48 C ground fault ground and ground continuity monitoring system which monitors the residual ground current and monitors the grounding conductor for low resistance, high resistance, and a short circuit. The relay monitor shall be installed in a non-hazardous area and is a typical setup used in high resistance grounded systems at mines that operate with high voltage. The relay monitor shall conform to the applicable National Electric Code requirements and provide safeguards equivalent to pertinent MSHA standards and this application.

(9) Baker Hughes Cable Splice, Regional Power Cable and MLE Splice and Baker Hughes Connector. The pigtail is necessary to take the incoming 1 AWG power conductors and downsize them to a 4 AWG power conductor that fits the connector used to connect to the pump motor. The pigtail is typically less than 15 feet in length and can carry the necessary amperage for this short distance.

(h) All equipment associated with this ESP and located on the mine's surface shall be protected from dust, rain, and rodents by suitable enclosures.

(i) A grounding circuit, originating at the grounded side of the grounding resistor, shall extend along with the power cable (conductors) to the pigtail and serve as the grounding conductor for the ESP. No other electrical equipment shall be supplied power from this circuit. This relay takes a zero-sequence current transformer input for ground fault protection and uses termination devices at the motor to monitor the continuity of the ground wire and to check for low resistance, high resistance, and shorted faults. This ground check circuit shall cause the circuit breaker to open when either a ground fault is present or a ground wire is broken.

(j) The grounding circuit shall include the pigtail splice through the termination device which shall be installed on the surface since the Baker Hughes pump does not provide for termination devices for grounds and ground checks. The pigtail splice armor shall provide the ground continuity connection to the motor/pump casing to prevent a shock hazard. Additionally, the pump/motor casing is inaccessible to personnel, mitigating the shock hazard.

(k) The grounding resistor shall limit the ground-fault current to not more than 15 amperes. The grounding resistor shall be rated for the maximum fault current available and shall be insulated from ground for a voltage equal to the phase-to-phase voltage of the system.

(l) A lightning arrestor shall be provided and shall be grounded to a low resistance grounding medium and separated from the pump power neutral grounding circuit by not less than 25 feet.

(m) The circuit breaker shall be of adequate interrupting capacity with auxiliary relay protection to provide protection against under-voltage, grounded phase, short-circuit, and overload.

(n) The grounded phase protection device must be set not to exceed 40 percent of the current rating of the neutral ground resistor.

(o) The high voltage pump shall be provided with instantaneous ground fault protection set at no more than 0.125 amperes; the time delay setting must not exceed 0.25 seconds or the minimum setting to allow the pump to start without nuisance tripping.

(p) The short circuit protection device shall be set not to exceed the required short circuit protection for the power cable or 75 percent of the minimum available phase-to-phase short circuit current, whichever is less. The trip point will be set at 1140 amps. The overload protection or the motor will be set at 125 percent of the full load amps.

(q) The undervoltage connection device shall operate on a loss of voltage to prevent automatic restarting of the equipment.

(r) The disconnect device installed in conjunction with the circuit breaker shall provide a visible disconnect.

(s) All surface installed electrical equipment associated with the pump shall be accessible for inspection.

(t) A functional test shall be conducted for the motor ground conductor prior to any energization of the pump/motor system. A record that such tests were conducted shall be kept by the operator for a period of 1 year and shall be made available for review by the Secretary or his/her authorized representative.

(w) A look-ahead circuit shall be provided to detect ground-fault condition and prevent the circuit interrupting device from closing while the ground-fault condition exists.

(x) The surface pump control and power circuit shall be examined at least every 6 months. The examination shall include a test that simulates the functional test of all protective devices (ground fault, short circuit, overload, ground monitor, grounded phase, and under voltage) to determine proper operation. A record of these tests shall be recorded. The record shall be made in a secure book or in a computer system that is not susceptible to alteration. Records shall be retained by the operator for at least 1 year and shall be made available for review by the Secretary or his/her authorized representative.

(y) Every 12 months, the operator shall conduct an examination that shall include a full functional test of all protective devices (ground fault, short circuit, overload, ground monitor, grounded phase, and under voltage) to determine proper operation. A record of these tests shall be recorded. The record shall be made in a secure book or in a computer system that is not susceptible to alteration. Records shall be retained by the operator for at least 1 year and shall be made available for review by the Secretary or his/her authorized representative.

The petitioner asserts that the alternative method proposed will at all times guarantee no less than the same measure of protection afforded the miners under the mandatory standard.

Title of Collection: Convergence Accelerator Evaluation & Monitoring Plan.

OMB Control No.: 3145-New.

Abstract: The information collection will enable the Evaluation and Assessment Capability (EAC) Section within NSF to garner quantitative and qualitative information that will be used to inform programmatic improvements, efficiencies, and enhanced program monitoring for the Convergence Accelerator (CA). This information collection, which entails collecting information from CA applicants and grantees through a series of surveys, interviews, and case studies, is in accordance with the Agency's commitment to improving service delivery as well as the Agency's strategic goal to “advance the capability of the Nation to meet current and future challenges.”

For this effort, four survey instruments have been developed, each of which will include closed-ended and open-ended questions to generate quantitative and qualitative data. For ease of use for our respondent pool, each of the four survey instruments will be programmed into interactive web surveys and distributed to eligible respondents by email. The surveys, which will serve as a census for all applicable CA applicants and/or grantees, will be used to collect baseline measures at the start of the program and vital information on how grantees progress through the program. Follow-up interviews will be conducted with project team leaders, such as Principal Investigators (PIs) and Principal Directors (PDs), and case studies that will use a project team as the unit of analysis will be used to collect qualitatively rich discursive and observational information that cannot be collected within a web survey. Both follow-up interviews and case studies will be conducted virtually with the possibility of in-person interviews and non-participant observation to be held in the future.

NSF/EAC will only submit a collection for approval under this generic clearance if it meets the following conditions:

○ The collection is voluntary;

○ The collection has a reasonably low burden for respondents (based on considerations of total burden hours, total number of respondents, or burden-hours per respondent) and is low-cost for the Federal government;

○ The collection is non-controversial and does not raise issues of concern for other Federal agencies;

○ The collection is targeted to the solicitation of opinions from respondents who have applied to the CA program (including those that have submitted successful grant applications and subsequently received funding);

○ Personally identifiable information (PII) is collected only to the extent necessary; and

○ Information gathered will be used for the dual and interrelated purposes of disseminating information about the CA program and using this information to make programmatic improvements, efficiencies, and enhanced program monitoring for the CA.

Feedback collected under this generic clearance provides useful information for the continued evolution of the CA program, but it may not yield data that can be generalized to the overall population in all instances. Our qualitative data collection activities—follow-up interviews and case studies—are designed to investigate outlier CA teams or CA teams that demonstrate exceptional performance or successfully overcome significant challenges in their work with the CA. While the web surveys, which will be deployed at different times during the program, will collect data that will help the EAC monitor trends over time and assess overall program performance, the follow-up interviews and case studies will gather supplemental data that is more specific to individual CA teams.

As a general matter, this information collection will not include questions of a sensitive nature, such as sexual behavior and attitudes, religious beliefs, and other matters that are commonly considered private.

Below we provide NSF's projected average estimates for the next three years:

Affected Public: Individuals and households, Businesses and other for-profit organizations, Not-for-profit institutions, Federal government.

Average Expected Annual Number of Activities: 10.

Respondents: 300 per activity.

Annual Responses: 6,000.

Frequency of Response: Once per request.

Average Minutes per Response: 30-60.

Burden Hours: 4,135.

Comments: Comments are invited on (a) whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the Agency, including whether the information shall have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the Agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information on respondents, including through the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology.

On February 7, 2023, the NITRD NCO and NSF, on behalf of the NITRD Cyber Security and Information Assurance Interagency Working Group (CSIA IWG), published in the Federal Register an RFI (88 FR 7999) seeking public input on Federal priorities in cybersecurity R&D. The document stated that the comment period would close on March 3, 2023. The NITRD NCO and NSF have decided to extend the comment period. An extension of the comment period will provide additional opportunity for the public to consider the RFI (88 FR 7999) and submit responses to the questions posed therein. Therefore, NITRD NCO and NSF are extending the end of the comment period for the RFI (88 FR 7999) from March 3, 2023, until March 14, 2023.

Submitted by the National Science Foundation in support of the Networking and Information Technology Research and Development (NITRD) National Coordination Office (NCO) on February 15, 2023.

Please refer to Docket ID NRC-2023-0046, facility name, unit number(s), docket number(s), application date, and subject when contacting the NRC about the availability of information for this action. You may obtain publicly available information related to this action by any of the following methods:

• Federal Rulemaking Website: Go to https://www.regulations.gov and search for Docket ID NRC-2023-0046.

• NRC's Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS): You may obtain publicly available documents online in the ADAMS Public Documents collection at https://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/adams.html. To begin the search, select “Begin Web-based ADAMS Search.” For problems with ADAMS, please contact the NRC's Public Document Room (PDR) reference staff at 1-800-397-4209, 301-415-4737, or by email to PDR.Resource@nrc.gov. The ADAMS accession number for each document referenced (if it is available in ADAMS) is provided the first time that it is mentioned in this document.

• NRC's PDR: You may examine and purchase copies of public documents, by appointment, at the NRC's PDR, Room P1 B35, One White Flint North, 11555 Rockville Pike, Rockville, Maryland 20852. To make an appointment to visit the PDR, please send an email to PDR.Resource@nrc.gov or call 1-800-397-4209 or 301-415-4737, between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. eastern time (ET), Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.

The NRC encourages electronic comment submission through the Federal rulemaking website ( https://www.regulations.gov ). Please include Docket ID NRC-2023-0046, facility name, unit number(s), docket number(s), application date, and subject, in your comment submission.

The NRC cautions you not to include identifying or contact information that you do not want to be publicly disclosed in your comment submission. The NRC will post all comment submissions at https://www.regulations.gov as well as enter the comment submissions into ADAMS. The NRC does not routinely edit comment submissions to remove identifying or contact information.

If you are requesting or aggregating comments from other persons for submission to the NRC, then you should inform those persons not to include identifying or contact information that they do not want to be publicly disclosed in their comment submission. Your request should state that the NRC does not routinely edit comment submissions to remove such information before making the comment submissions available to the public or entering the comment into ADAMS.

For the facility-specific amendment requests shown in this notice, the Commission finds that the licensees' analyses provided, consistent with section 50.91 of title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR) “Notice for public comment; State consultation,” are sufficient to support the proposed determinations that these amendment requests involve NSHC. Under the Commission's regulations in 10 CFR 50.92, operation of the facilities in accordance with the proposed amendments would not (1) involve a significant increase in the probability or consequences of an accident previously evaluated; or (2) create the possibility of a new or different kind of accident from any accident previously evaluated; or (3) involve a significant reduction in a margin of safety.

The Commission is seeking public comments on these proposed determinations. Any comments received within 30 days after the date of publication of this notice will be considered in making any final determinations.

Normally, the Commission will not issue the amendments until the expiration of 60 days after the date of publication of this notice. The Commission may issue any of these license amendments before expiration of the 60-day period provided that its final determination is that the amendment involves NSHC. In addition, the Commission may issue any of these amendments prior to the expiration of the 30-day comment period if circumstances change during the 30-day comment period such that failure to act in a timely way would result, for example in derating or shutdown of the facility. If the Commission takes action on any of these amendments prior to the expiration of either the comment period or the notice period, it will publish in the Federal Register a notice of issuance. If the Commission makes a final NSHC determination for any of these amendments, any hearing will take place after issuance. The Commission expects that the need to take action on any amendment before 60 days have elapsed will occur very infrequently.

Within 60 days after the date of publication of this notice, any persons (petitioner) whose interest may be affected by any of these actions may file a request for a hearing and petition for leave to intervene (petition) with respect to that action. Petitions shall be filed in accordance with the Commission's “Agency Rules of Practice and Procedure” in 10 CFR part 2. Interested persons should consult a current copy of 10 CFR 2.309. The NRC's regulations are accessible electronically from the NRC Library on the NRC's public website at https://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-collections/cfr. If a petition is filed, the Commission or a presiding officer will rule on the petition and, if appropriate, a notice of a hearing will be issued.

As required by 10 CFR 2.309(d), the petition should specifically explain the reasons why intervention should be permitted with particular reference to the following general requirements for standing: (1) the name, address, and telephone number of the petitioner; (2) the nature of the petitioner's right to be made a party to the proceeding; (3) the nature and extent of the petitioner's property, financial, or other interest in the proceeding; and (4) the possible effect of any decision or order which may be entered in the proceeding on the petitioner's interest.

In accordance with 10 CFR 2.309(f), the petition must also set forth the specific contentions that the petitioner seeks to have litigated in the proceeding. Each contention must consist of a specific statement of the issue of law or fact to be raised or controverted. In addition, the petitioner must provide a brief explanation of the bases for the contention and a concise statement of the alleged facts or expert opinion that support the contention and on which the petitioner intends to rely in proving the contention at the hearing. The petitioner must also provide references to the specific sources and documents on which the petitioner intends to rely to support its position on the issue. The petition must include sufficient information to show that a genuine dispute exists with the applicant or licensee on a material issue of law or fact. Contentions must be limited to matters within the scope of the proceeding. The contention must be one that, if proven, would entitle the petitioner to relief. A petitioner who fails to satisfy the requirements at 10 CFR 2.309(f) with respect to at least one contention will not be permitted to participate as a party.

Those permitted to intervene become parties to the proceeding, subject to any limitations in the order granting leave to intervene. Parties have the opportunity to participate fully in the conduct of the hearing with respect to resolution of that party's admitted contentions, including the opportunity to present evidence, consistent with the NRC's regulations, policies, and procedures.

Petitions must be filed no later than 60 days from the date of publication of this notice. Petitions and motions for leave to file new or amended contentions that are filed after the deadline will not be entertained absent a determination by the presiding officer that the filing demonstrates good cause by satisfying the three factors in 10 CFR 2.309(c)(1)(i) through (iii). The petition must be filed in accordance with the filing instructions in the “Electronic Submissions (E-Filing)” section of this document.

If a hearing is requested, and the Commission has not made a final determination on the issue of NSHC, the Commission will make a final determination on the issue of NSHC. The final determination will serve to establish when the hearing is held. If the final determination is that the amendment request involves NSHC, the Commission may issue the amendment and make it immediately effective, notwithstanding the request for a hearing. Any hearing would take place after issuance of the amendment. If the final determination is that the amendment request involves a significant hazards consideration, then any hearing held would take place before the issuance of the amendment unless the Commission finds an imminent danger to the health or safety of the public, in which case it will issue an appropriate order or rule under 10 CFR part 2.

A State, local governmental body, Federally recognized Indian Tribe, or agency thereof, may submit a petition to the Commission to participate as a party under 10 CFR 2.309(h)(1). The petition should state the nature and extent of the petitioner's interest in the proceeding. The petition should be submitted to the Commission no later than 60 days from the date of publication of this notice. The petition must be filed in accordance with the filing instructions in the “Electronic Submissions (E-Filing)” section of this document, and should meet the requirements for petitions set forth in this section, except that under 10 CFR 2.309(h)(2) a State, local governmental body, or Federally recognized Indian Tribe, or agency thereof does not need to address the standing requirements in 10 CFR 2.309(d) if the facility is located within its boundaries. Alternatively, a State, local governmental body, Federally recognized Indian Tribe, or agency thereof may participate as a non-party under 10 CFR 2.315(c).

If a petition is submitted, any person who is not a party to the proceeding and is not affiliated with or represented by a party may, at the discretion of the presiding officer, be permitted to make a limited appearance pursuant to the provisions of 10 CFR 2.315(a). A person making a limited appearance may make an oral or written statement of his or her position on the issues but may not otherwise participate in the proceeding. A limited appearance may be made at any session of the hearing or at any prehearing conference, subject to the limits and conditions as may be imposed by the presiding officer. Details regarding the opportunity to make a limited appearance will be provided by the presiding officer if such sessions are scheduled.

All documents filed in NRC adjudicatory proceedings, including documents filed by an interested State, local governmental body, Federally recognized Indian Tribe, or designated agency thereof that requests to participate under 10 CFR 2.315(c), must be filed in accordance with 10 CFR 2.302. The E-Filing process requires participants to submit and serve all adjudicatory documents over the internet, or in some cases, to mail copies on electronic storage media, unless an exemption permitting an alternative filing method, as further discussed, is granted. Detailed guidance on electronic submissions is located in the “Guidance for Electronic Submissions to the NRC” (ADAMS Accession No. ML13031A056) and on the NRC's public website at https://www.nrc.gov/site-help/e-submittals.html.

To comply with the procedural requirements of E-Filing, at least 10 days prior to the filing deadline, the participant should contact the Office of the Secretary by email at Hearing.Docket@nrc.gov, or by telephone at 301-415-1677, to (1) request a digital identification (ID) certificate, which allows the participant (or its counsel or representative) to digitally sign submissions and access the E-Filing system for any proceeding in which it is participating; and (2) advise the Secretary that the participant will be submitting a petition or other adjudicatory document (even in instances in which the participant, or its counsel or representative, already holds an NRC-issued digital ID certificate). Based upon this information, the Secretary will establish an electronic docket for the proceeding if the Secretary has not already established an electronic docket.

Information about applying for a digital ID certificate is available on the NRC's public website at https://www.nrc.gov/site-help/e-submittals/getting-started.html. After a digital ID certificate is obtained and a docket created, the participant must submit adjudicatory documents in Portable Document Format. Guidance on submissions is available on the NRC's public website at https://www.nrc.gov/site-help/electronic-sub-ref-mat.html. A filing is considered complete at the time the document is submitted through the NRC's E-Filing system. To be timely, an electronic filing must be submitted to the E-Filing system no later than 11:59 p.m. ET on the due date. Upon receipt of a transmission, the E-Filing system time-stamps the document and sends the submitter an email confirming receipt of the document. The E-Filing system also distributes an email that provides access to the document to the NRC's Office of the General Counsel and any others who have advised the Office of the Secretary that they wish to participate in the proceeding, so that the filer need not serve the document on those participants separately. Therefore, applicants and other participants (or their counsel or representative) must apply for and receive a digital ID certificate before adjudicatory documents are filed to obtain access to the documents via the E-Filing system.

A person filing electronically using the NRC's adjudicatory E-Filing system may seek assistance by contacting the NRC's Electronic Filing Help Desk through the “Contact Us” link located on the NRC's public website at https://www.nrc.gov/site-help/e-submittals.html, by email to MSHD.Resource@nrc.gov, or by a toll-free call at 1-866-672-7640. The NRC Electronic Filing Help Desk is available between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m., ET, Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.

Participants who believe that they have good cause for not submitting documents electronically must file an exemption request, in accordance with 10 CFR 2.302(g), with their initial paper filing stating why there is good cause for not filing electronically and requesting authorization to continue to submit documents in paper format. Such filings must be submitted in accordance with 10 CFR 2.302(b)-(d). Participants filing adjudicatory documents in this manner are responsible for serving their documents on all other participants. Participants granted an exemption under 10 CFR 2.302(g)(2) must still meet the electronic formatting requirement in 10 CFR 2.302(g)(1), unless the participant also seeks and is granted an exemption from 10 CFR 2.302(g)(1).

Documents submitted in adjudicatory proceedings will appear in the NRC's electronic hearing docket, which is publicly available at https://adams.nrc.gov/ehd, unless excluded pursuant to an order of the presiding officer. If you do not have an NRC-issued digital ID certificate as previously described, click “cancel” when the link requests certificates and you will be automatically directed to the NRC's electronic hearing dockets where you will be able to access any publicly available documents in a particular hearing docket. Participants are requested not to include personal privacy information such as social security numbers, home addresses, or personal phone numbers in their filings unless an NRC regulation or other law requires submission of such information. With respect to copyrighted works, except for limited excerpts that serve the purpose of the adjudicatory filings and would constitute a Fair Use application, participants should not include copyrighted materials in their submission.

The following table provides the plant name, docket number, date of application, ADAMS accession number, and location in the application of the licensees' proposed NSHC determinations. For further details with respect to these license amendment applications, see the applications for amendment, which are available for public inspection in ADAMS. For additional direction on accessing information related to this document, see the “Obtaining Information and Submitting Comments” section of this document.