The Administrative Conference Act, 5 U.S.C. 591-596, established the Administrative Conference of the United States. The Conference studies the efficiency, adequacy, and fairness of the administrative procedures used by Federal agencies and makes recommendations to agencies, the President, Congress, and the Judicial Conference of the United States for procedural improvements (5 U.S.C. 594(1)). For further information about the Conference and its activities, see www.acus.gov.

Millions of people each year engage with administrative programs or participate in administrative adjudicative processes to access federal programs (for example, to obtain needed benefits and services) and resolve legal issues (for example, to resolve tax and immigration disputes). Many people “need assistance to access and obtain fair outcomes” in administrative adjudications. 1 But many people, particularly low-income people and members of other underserved communities, are not always able to access representation or other forms of assistance that they need to navigate administrative adjudications successfully.

One barrier to accessing representation or assistance is the critical shortage of affordable legal services. Agencies have long innovated various ways to expand assistance and widen the pool of available representatives. For example, many agencies currently permit participants in agency adjudications to be represented by accredited or qualified nonlawyers. In 1986, ACUS recommended that agencies “take the steps necessary to encourage—as well as eliminate inappropriate barriers to—nonlawyer assistance and representation.”  2 Since then, a growing academic literature has analyzed the experience and outcomes people have when using various forms of nonlawyer representation. Just last year, ACUS recommended that agencies allow participants in many adjudications “to be represented by a lawyer or a lay person with relevant expertise” and to establish “rules authorizing accredited or qualified nonlawyer representatives to practice before the agency.”  3 Additionally, a recent recommendation on regulation of representatives in agency adjudicative proceedings led to a working group focused on developing a model code for representation. 4 Yet there is still much more to understand about the extent and character of representation by professionals who are not lawyers.

ACUS is undertaking a project to map and define the spectrum of assistance that parties to administrative proceedings may (or may not) have available to them. It will identify areas in which certain forms of assistance may be underutilized in administrative proceedings and, conversely, where agencies may be relying too heavily on certain types of assistance.

ACUS welcomes views, information, and data on all aspects of strategies that agencies are using or might use to expand assistance and/or representation for members of the public when they engage with administrative programs or participate in administrative adjudicative processes. ACUS also seeks specific feedback on the following questions related to assistance and nonlawyer representation:

1. What has been your experience interacting with an administrative adjudication regarding a benefit or service that you are applying for or renewing, for example unemployment insurance or student loan assistance? Were you able to receive adequate assistance from the agency, including interactions with agency staff and agency-provided resources, such that you did not need external legal services from lawyers or nonlawyers? If not, what steps did you take to find such assistance, if any?

2. If you have been represented by someone in an administrative adjudication, how would you describe the experience and outcome? Have you experienced any unintended consequences from representation? How did you find and decide to work with your representative? Did the agency assist you with finding your representative? Was your representative a lawyer? If not, was your representative part of an organization or a solo practitioner? How did you decide to proceed with your representative, and what alternatives did you consider?

3. If you have worked as a nonlawyer representative in administrative adjudications, how long have you worked in this capacity? Before which agency or agencies do you practice? What tasks do you undertake as part of your representation? How were you trained? Are you required to re-certify regularly or seek ongoing training? Is training provided by the agency or by a sponsoring organization? Are you supervised by a lawyer in any capacity?

4. If you have worked as a nonlawyer representative in administrative adjudications, what was the certification and oversight process from the agency? In your experience, was that process efficient and/or successful?

5. If you have worked as a nonlawyer representative in administrative adjudications, have you felt that you were treated professionally and equally by others in the process? Was the government represented by a lawyer?

6. If you are a lawyer representing people in administrative adjudications, what are your experiences and interactions with nonlawyer representatives, if any?

7. If you represent people in administrative adjudications, what are your experiences with agency rules and procedures regarding representation? In what ways could they be improved?

8. Are you familiar with specific agency programs that encourage nonlawyer representation? Are these programs working to meet the demand of need for assistance and/or representation in administrative adjudications? If not, how might they be improved?

9. Are there specific agency programs that could be expanded to encourage more forms of nonlawyer assistance and/or representation?

10. Are you aware of studies or other data examining aspects of nonlawyer representation before federal agencies, beyond data that is publicly available through agency websites?

11. What role can public- and private-sector groups play in increasing nonlawyer representation, and how should government agencies encourage such actions, if at all?

On June 10, 2022, Commerce published in the Federal Register the antidumping duty (AD) order on raw honey from Argentina. 1 On August 3, 2023, Commerce initiated an administrative review of the Order covering 24 companies, in accordance with section 751(a) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (the Act). 2 On February 13, 2024, we extended the deadline for the preliminary results of this review to June 28, 2024. 3

For details regarding the events that occurred subsequent to the initiation of this review, see the Preliminary Decision Memorandum. 4 A list of topics discussed in the Preliminary Decision Memorandum is included in as Appendix I to this notice. The Preliminary Decision Memorandum is a public document and is on file electronically via Enforcement and Compliance's Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Centralized Electronic Service System (ACCESS). ACCESS is available to registered users at https://access.trade.gov. In addition, a complete version of the Preliminary Decision Memorandum can be accessed directly at https://access.trade.gov/public/FRNoticesListLayout.aspx.

The merchandise covered by the Order is raw honey from Argentina. For a complete description of the scope of the Order, see the Preliminary Decision Memorandum.

Pursuant to 19 CFR 351.213(d)(3), Commerce will rescind an administrative review when there are no entries of subject merchandise during the POR for which liquidation is suspended. 5 Normally, upon completion of an administrative review, the suspended entries are liquidated at the AD assessment rate calculated for the review period. 6 Therefore, for an administrative review of a company to be conducted, there must be a suspended entry that Commerce can instruct and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to liquidate at the AD assessment rate calculated for the POR. 7

On June 14, 2024, we notified parties of our intent to rescind this administrative review, in part, with respect to the five companies listed in Appendix II because there were no suspended entries of subject merchandise produced or exported by these companies during the POR. We invited interested parties to comment. 8 No parties commented on our intent to rescind the review, in part. In the absence of suspended entries of subject merchandise from these companies during the POR, we are rescinding, in part, the administrative review for the companies listed in Appendix II, in accordance with 19 CFR 351.213(d)(3).

Commerce is conducting this review in accordance with sections 751(a)(1) and (2) of the Act. We calculated constructed export price in accordance with section 772(b) of the Act. We calculated NV in accordance with section 773 of the Act. For a full description of the methodology underlying these preliminary results, see the Preliminary Decision Memorandum.

The statute and Commerce's regulations do not address the establishment of a rate to be applied to companies not selected for individual examination when Commerce limits its examination in an administrative review pursuant to section 777A(c)(2) of the Act. Generally, Commerce looks to section 735(c)(5) of the Act, which provides instructions for calculating the all-others rate in a market economy investigation, for guidance when calculating the rate for companies which were not selected for individual examination in an administrative review. Under section 735(c)(5)(A) of the Act, the all-others rate is normally “an amount equal to the weighted average of the estimated weighted-average dumping margins established for exporters and producers individually investigated, excluding any zero or de minimis margins, and any margins determined entirely | on the basis of facts available.” In this review, we calculated a weighted-average dumping margin for the two mandatory respondents, ACA and NEXCO, of 58.34 percent and 0.00 percent, respectively, and we have assigned to the non-selected companies a rate of 58.34 percent, which is the rate calculated for ACA.

We preliminarily determine that the following weighted-average dumping margins exist for the period of November 23, 2021, through May 31, 2023:

Commerce intends to disclose its calculations and analysis performed for these preliminary results within five days of any public announcement or, if there is no public announcement, within five days of the date of publication of this notice in accordance with 19 CFR 351.224(b).

As provided in section 782(i)(3) of the Act, we intend to verify the information upon which we will rely in determining our final results of review with respect to the mandatory respondents, ACA and NEXCO.

As stated below, Commerce intends to verify the information upon which it will rely in making its final determination. Interested parties may submit case briefs within seven days after issuance of the last verification report. Rebuttal briefs, limited to issues raised in case briefs, may be filed no later than five days after the date for filing case briefs. 10 Interested parties who submit case briefs or rebuttal briefs in this proceeding must submit: (1) a table of contents listing each issue; and (2) a table of authorities. 11

As provided under 19 CFR 351.309(c)(2) and (d)(2), in prior proceedings, we have encouraged interested parties to provide an executive summary of their brief that should be limited to five pages total, including footnotes. In this review, we instead request that interested parties provide, at the beginning of their briefs, a public executive summary for each issue raised in their briefs. 12 Further, we request that interested parties limit their public executive summary of each issue to no more than 450 words, no including citations. We intend to use the public executive summaries as the basis of the comment summaries included in the issues and decision memorandum that will accompany the final results in this administrative review. We request that interested parties include footnotes for relevant citations in the public executive summary of each issue. Note that Commerce has amended certain of its requirements pertaining to the service of documents in 19 CFR 351.303(f). 13

Pursuant to 19 CFR 351.310(c), interested parties who wish to request a hearing, limited to issues raised in the case and rebuttal briefs, must submit a written request to the Assistant Secretary for Enforcement and Compliance, U.S. Department of Commerce, within 30 days after the date of publication of this notice. Requests should contain: (1) party's name, address, and telephone number; (2) the number of participants; and (3) a list of the issues to be discussed. Oral presentations at the hearing will be limited to issues raised in the briefs. If a request for a hearing is made, parties will be notified of the time and date for the hearing. 14

Upon completion of this administrative review, Commerce shall determine, and CBP shall assess, antidumping duties on all appropriate entries. The final results of this review shall be the basis for the assessment of antidumping duties on entries of merchandise covered by this review and for future deposits of estimated duties, where applicable. 15 Commerce intends to issue assessment instructions to CBP no earlier than 35 days after the date of publication of the final results of this review in the Federal Register . If a timely summons is filed at the U.S. Court of International Trade, the assessment instructions will direct CBP not to liquidate relevant entries until the time for parties to file a request for a statutory injunction has expired ( i.e., within 90 days of publication).

For an individually examined respondent whose weighted-average dumping margin is not zero or de minimis ( i.e., less than 0.50 percent), upon completion of the final results, Commerce intends to calculate importer-specific AD assessment rates on the basis of the ratio of the total amount of dumping calculated for each importer's examined sales to the total entered value of those sales. Pursuant to 19 CFR 351.212(b)(1), neither ACA nor NEXCO reported actual entered value for all of its U.S. sales; in such instances, we calculated importer-specific per-unit duty assessment rates by aggregating the importer's amount of dumping calculated for the examined sales and dividing this amount by the total quantity of those sales. to consider whether the importer-specific assessment rate is de minimis, we estimated the enter value for each U.S. sales and calculated an estimated ad valorem importer-specific assessment rate as the importer's aggregated amount of dumping divided by the estimated entry value of those sales. Where either a respondent's weighted-average dumping margin is zero or de minimis, or an importer-specific estimated ad valorem assessment rate is zero or de minimis, we intend to instruct CBP to liquidate appropriate entries without regard to antidumping duties. 16

Commerce's “automatic assessment” practice will apply to entries of subject merchandise during the POR produced by ACA or NEXCO for which it did not know that the merchandise it sold to an intermediary ( e.g., a reseller, trading company, or exporter) was destined for the United States. In such instances, we will instruct CBP to liquidate those entries at the all-others rate ( i.e., 16.92 percent)  17 if there is no rate for the intermediate company(ies) involved in the transaction. 18

For the companies that were not selected for individual examination, we the antidumping duty assessment rate will be equal to the weighted-average dumping margin calculated for each companies in the final results of this review.

For the companies listed in Appendix II for which we are rescinding this review, we will instruct CBP to assess antidumping duties on all appropriate entries at a rate equal to the cash deposit of estimated antidumping duties required at the time of entry, or withdrawal from warehouse, in accordance with 19 CFR 351.212(c)(l)(i), not before 35 days after the publication date of these preliminary results.

The following cash deposit requirements will be effective for all shipments of the subject merchandise entered, or withdrawn from warehouse, for consumption on or after the publication date of the final results of this administrative review, as provided by section 751(a)(2)(C) of the Act: (1) the cash deposit rate for the companies listed above will be equal to the weighted-average dumping margin established in the final results of this review, except if the rate is de minimis ( i.e., less than 0.50 percent), in which case the cash deposit rate will be zero; (2) for an exporter of subject merchandise previously reviewed or investigated companies not covered by this review, the cash deposit rate will continue to be equal to the company-specific rate published for the most recently-completed segment of this proceeding in which they were examined; (3) if the exporter is not a firm covered in this review, a prior review, or the LTFV investigation, but the producer is, the cash deposit rate will continue to be equal to the rate established for the most recently-completed segment of this proceeding for the producer of the merchandise; and (4) the cash deposit rate for all other producers or exporters will continue to be 16.92 percent, the all-others rate established in the Amended Final Determination. 19

These cash deposit requirements, when imposed, shall remain in effect until further notice.

Unless otherwise extended, Commerce intends to issue the final results of this administrative review including the results of its analysis of issues raised in written briefs, no later than 120 days after the date of publication of this notice in the Federal Register , pursuant to 751(a)(3)(A) of the Act and 19 CFR 351.213(h)(1).

This notice also serves as a preliminary reminder to importers of their responsibility under 19 CFR 351.402(f) to file a certificate regarding the reimbursement of antidumping duties prior to liquidation of the relevant entries during this review period. Failure to comply with this requirement could result in Commerce's presumption that reimbursement of antidumping duties occurred and the subsequent assessment of double antidumping duties.

We are issuing and publishing these results in accordance with sections 751(a)(1) and 777(i)(1) of the Act, 19 CFR 351.213, and 19 351.221(b)(4).

Applicants must submit a completed and signed mission application and supplemental application materials, including adequate information on their products and/or services, primary market objectives, and goals for participation that is adequate to allow the Department of Commerce to evaluate their application. If the Department of Commerce receives an incomplete application, the Department may either: reject the application, request additional information/clarification, or take the lack of information into account when evaluating the application. If the requisite minimum number of participants is not selected for a particular mission by the recruitment deadline, the mission may be cancelled.

Each applicant must also certify that the products and services it seeks to export through the mission are either produced in the United States, or, if not, are marketed under the name of a U.S. firm and have at least fifty-one percent U.S. content by value.

In addition, each applicant must:

• Certify that the products and services that it wishes to market through the mission would be in compliance with U.S. export controls and regulations;

• Certify that it has identified any matter pending before any bureau or office in the Department of Commerce;

• Certify that it has identified any pending litigation (including any administrative proceedings) to which it is a party that involves the Department of Commerce; and

• Sign and submit an agreement that it and its affiliates (1) have not and will not engage in the bribery of foreign officials in connection with a company's/participant's involvement in this mission, and (2) maintain and enforce a policy that prohibits the bribery of foreign officials.

Targeted mission participants are U.S. firms providing or promoting U.S. products and services that have an interest in entering or expanding their business in the mission's destination country. The following criteria will be evaluated in selecting participants:

• Suitability of the applicant's products or services to these markets;

• The applicant's potential for business in the markets, including likelihood of exports resulting from the mission; and

• Consistency of the applicant's goals and objectives with the stated scope of the mission.

Balance of company size and location may also be considered during the review process.

Referrals from a political party or partisan political group or any information, including on the application, containing references to political contributions or other partisan political activities will be excluded from the application and will not be considered during the selection process. The sender will be notified of these exclusions.

For purposes of assessing participation fees, an applicant is a small or medium-sized enterprise (SME) if it qualifies as a “small business” under the Small Business Administration's (SBA) size standards ( https://www.sba.gov/document/support--table-size-standards ), which vary by North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code. The SBA Size Standards Tool ( https://www.sba.gov/size-standards ) can help you determine the qualifications that apply to your company.

Mission List: (additional information about trade missions can be found at https://www.trade.gov/trade-missions ).

The United States Department of Commerce, International Trade Administration (ITA), is organizing a Genomic and Genetic Technologies Trade Mission to Greece, Türkiye, and Italy on May 19-23, 2025.

The mission is open to U.S. firms working on genomic and genetic technologies. Examples of participant companies include those engaged in products for Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) R&D and test kit development, Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS), Whole Exome Sequencing (WES), Bioinformatics, Molecular Cytogenetics, Molecular Genetics, Cancer Genetics, Pharmacogenetics, Rare Diseases, Pre-natal Genetic Disorders, and Preimplantation Genetic Testing (PGT) for in Vitro Fertilization.

Participation in the Genomic and Genetic Technologies Trade Mission to Greece, Türkiye and Italy will provide participating U.S. firms with the opportunity to better understand the market for their products, visit leading research institutes and genetics labs, network with key industry people, and identify local partners.

The mission fee will include market briefings, B2B meetings, Ministries of Health meetings, site visits (* Subject to confirmation) to research institutes or genetic labs, receptions with industry contacts and hosted luncheons in each market with keynote industry speakers.

Delegation participants will arrive in Athens, Greece on Sunday, May 18, 2025. The mission will officially start on Monday, May 19. The day will include a market briefing on the genomic and genetic technologies market in Greece followed by B2B meetings. The schedule will likely include a B2G meeting with the Ministry of Health. There will be a hosted luncheon with a keynote industry speaker and an evening reception with industry contacts.

On Tuesday, May 20, the delegation will fly to Istanbul, Türkiye. Before a reception with key industry players at the Consul General's Residence, CS Istanbul staff will deliver a market briefing to the participants at the same venue. On Wednesday, May 21, U.S. companies will have B2B meetings with potential business partners, visit an industry site, and attend a hosted luncheon with a keynote industry speaker. Participants will depart Istanbul for Milan, Italy on an evening flight.

On Thursday, May 22, participants will attend a market briefing followed by B2B meetings. In the evening, participants will attend a reception with industry contacts. On Friday, May 23, U.S. firms will participate in a site visit and attend a hosted luncheon with a keynote industry speaker.

Participants interested in attending the European Human Genomics Conference (separate fee), taking place May 24-27, may opt to stay in Milan. Otherwise, participants will depart Milan on Saturday, May 24.

All parties interested in participating in the trade mission must complete and submit an application package for consideration by the DOC. All applicants will be evaluated on their ability to meet certain conditions and best satisfy the selection criteria as outlined below. A minimum of 10 and maximum of 15 firms will be selected to participate in the mission from the applicant pool.

After a firm has been selected to participate on the mission, a payment to the Department of Commerce in the form of a participation fee is required. The participation fee for the Genomic and Genetic Technologies Trade Mission to Greece, Türkiye and Italy will be $4,400 for small or medium-sized enterprises (SME); and $6,500 for large firms. Expenses for travel, lodging, meals, and incidentals will be the responsibility of each mission participant. Interpreter and driving services can be arranged at an additional cost. Delegation members will be able to take advantage of U.S. Embassy rates for hotel rooms.

There will be a $750 fee for each additional firm representative (large firm or SME) that wishes to participate in.

If and when an applicant is selected to participate on a particular mission, a payment to the Department of Commerce in the amount of the designated participation fee above is required. Upon notification of acceptance to participate, those selected have 5 business days to submit payment or the acceptance may be revoked.

Participants selected for a trade mission will be expected to pay for the cost of personal expenses, including, but not limited to, international travel, lodging, meals, transportation, communication, and incidentals, unless otherwise noted. Participants will, however, be able to take advantage of U.S. Government rates for hotel rooms. In the event that a mission is cancelled, no personal expenses paid in anticipation of a mission will be reimbursed. However, participation fees for a cancelled mission will be reimbursed to the extent they have not already been expended in anticipation of the mission.

If a visa is required to travel on a particular mission, applying for and obtaining such a visa will be the responsibility of the mission participant. Government fees and processing expenses to obtain such a visa are not included in the participation fee. However, the Department of Commerce will provide instructions to each participant on the procedures required to obtain business visas.

Trade Mission members participate in trade missions and undertake mission-related travel at their own risk. The nature of the security situation in a given foreign market at a given time cannot be guaranteed. The U.S. Government does not make any representations or guarantees as to the safety or security of participants. The U.S. Department of State issues U.S. Government international travel alerts and warnings for U.S. citizens available at https://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/alertswarnings.html. Any question regarding insurance coverage must be resolved by the participant and its insurer of choice.

Travel and in-person activities are contingent upon the safety and health conditions in the United States and the mission countries. Should safety or health conditions not be appropriate for travel and/or in-person activities, the Department will consider postponing the event or offering a virtual program in lieu of an in-person agenda. In the event of a postponement, the Department will notify the public, and applicants previously selected to participate in this mission will need to confirm their availability but need not reapply. Should the decision be made to organize a virtual program, the Department will adjust fees, accordingly, prepare an agenda for virtual activities, and notify the previous selected applicants with the option to opt-in to the new virtual program.

Mission recruitment will be conducted in an open and public manner, including publication in the Federal Register , posting on the Commerce Department trade mission calendar ( http://export.gov/trademissions ) and other internet websites, press releases to general and trade media, direct mail, notices by industry trade associations and other multiplier groups, and publicity at industry meetings, symposia, conferences, and trade shows. Recruitment for the mission will begin immediately and conclude no later than January 31, 2025. The U.S. Department of Commerce will review applications and inform applicants of selection decisions on a rolling basis. Applications received after January 31, 2025, will be considered only if space and scheduling constraints permit.

NIST prepared the Final PEA in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq., and the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) NEPA implementing regulations, 40 CFR parts 1500-1508. The Final PEA addresses Federal financial assistance for the proposed modernization or expansion of existing current-generation, mature-node, or leading-edge front- or back-end commercial semiconductor fabrication facilities within existing facility footprints (the Proposed Action).

The Creating Helpful Incentives to Produce Semiconductors (CHIPS) for America Act in title XCIX of the William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (Pub. L. 116-283), as amended by the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022 (Division A of Pub. L. 117-167) (together, the CHIPS Act or Act) authorized the CHIPS Incentives Program within the U.S. Department of Commerce. The Program, which is administered by the CHIPS Program Office (CPO) within NIST, an agency of the Department, aims to boost American semiconductor research, development, and production.

The CHIPS Incentives Program Commercial Fabrication Facilities Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) was originally published in February 2023 and amended in June 2023. The NOFO solicits applications for the construction, expansion, or modernization of commercial facilities for the front- or back-end fabrication of leading-edge, current-generation, and mature-node semiconductors; commercial facilities for wafer manufacturing; and commercial facilities for materials used to manufacture semiconductors and semiconductor manufacturing equipment, provided that the capital investment equals or exceeds $300 million. The potential amount available under the NOFO is up to $38.22 billion for direct funding and up to $75 billion in direct loan or guaranteed principals. CPO is responsible for completion of the NEPA process before Federal financial assistance can be disbursed.

The purpose of the CHIPS Incentives Program in this area is to invest in U.S. production of strategically important semiconductors (“chips”) and ensure a sufficient, sustainable, and secure supply of older and current generation chips for national security purposes and critical manufacturing industries. As part of this effort, CPO aims to increase semiconductor manufacturing capacity and strengthen the security of the U.S. supply chain via the modernization of semiconductor production. The need for CPO's action in this area is to fulfill the agency's statutory responsibilities under the CHIPS Act, including the requirements of 15 U.S.C. 4652 to incentivize investment in facilities and equipment in the United States for the fabrication, assembly, testing, advanced packaging, production, or research and development of semiconductors, materials used to manufacture semiconductors, or semiconductor manufacturing equipment.

Under the Proposed Action, CPO would provide Federal financial assistance for the proposed modernization or expansion of existing current-generation, mature-node, or leading-edge front- or back-end commercial semiconductor fabrication facilities within existing facility footprints. Eligible projects would include the replacement or upgrade of existing fab equipment, the addition of new semiconductor manufacturing equipment, and the expansion of cleanroom space.

CPO published the Notice of Availability of the Draft PEA for public comment in the Federal Register on December 27, 2023. 1 CPO extended the 30-day public comment period by two weeks from January 25, 2024, to February 9, 2024. 2 CPO considered the public comments received on the Draft PEA and has responded to comments in Appendix E of the Final PEA. CPO has made revisions to the PEA in response to comments where appropriate.

Based on its analysis, CPO has determined that the Proposed Action to provide Federal financial assistance for the proposed modernization or expansion of existing current-generation, mature-node, or leading-edge front- or back-end commercial semiconductor fabrication facilities (or “fabs”) within existing fab facility footprints normally would not result in significant adverse environmental effects. Thus, preparation of a programmatic environmental impact statement (EIS) is not required, and CPO is issuing a FONSI for the Proposed Action.

Authority: This notice is provided pursuant to NEPA, 42 U.S.C. 4336(b)(2), and the NEPA implementing regulations, 40 CFR 1506.6.

A public hearing document, an online public comment form, and other materials will be posted to the Council's website at https://safmc.net/public-hearings-and-scoping/ as they become available. Written comments should be addressed to John Carmichael, Executive Director, SAFMC, 4055 Faber Place Drive, Suite 201, N Charleston, SC 29405. Written comments must be received by August 2, 2024, at 5 p.m. During the hearings, Council staff will provide an overview of actions being considered in the amendment. Staff will answer clarifying questions on the presented information and the proposed actions. Following the presentation and questions, the public will have the opportunity to provide comments on the amendment.

Amendment 53 to the Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for the Snapper Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic Region (Snapper Grouper FMP) became effective October 23, 2023, and established recreational vessel limits of 2 fish per vessel per day or per trip (depending on private recreational or for-hire component) of gag and black grouper (2 fish limit for each species). The Council intended for these limits to instead be an aggregate limit of 2 gag or black grouper per vessel. Therefore, the Council is considering a revision of these recreational vessel limits through Regulatory Amendment 36.

Regulatory Amendment 36 also addresses stowage requirements for black sea bass pots equipped with on-demand (also known as `ropeless') gear while transiting closed areas. Other regulations for black sea bass pots were reviewed and were determined to not limit the fishery's ability to use pots equipped with on-demand gear in areas and times of year when pots are currently allowed. While transiting marine protected areas, special management zones, and spawning special management zones, black sea bass pots are required to be appropriately stowed, meaning they are not baited, and the buoy is not attached. Detaching and re-attaching the buoy is more difficult for pots with on-demand gear, due to the construction of on-demand retrieval mechanisms. Therefore, the Council is considering revision of the stowage requirements to better accommodate the transportation of this gear.

These meetings are physically accessible to people with disabilities. Requests for auxiliary aids should be directed to the Council office (see ADDRESSES ) 5 days prior to the meeting.

Note: The times and sequence specified in this agenda are subject to change.

Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.

During this meeting, the SSC will make multi-year acceptable biological catch (ABC) recommendations for Golden Tilefish, Black Sea Bass, Butterfish, and Atlantic Surfclam based on the results of the recently completed management track stock assessments and peer review. The SSC will recommend new 2025-27 ABC specifications for Golden Tilefish, new 2025 ABC recommendations for Black Sea Bass, new 2025-26 ABC recommendations for Butterfish, and review existing 2025-26 ABCs and recommend new 2027-28 ABCs for Atlantic Surfclam. The SSC will review the most recent fishery data for Blueline Tilefish and make a 2025 ABC recommendation. The SSC will review the most recent survey and fishery data and the previously recommended 2025 ABC for Bluefish, Summer Flounder, and Scup. The SSC will review and finalize the draft report developed by an SSC sub-group to address the Terms of Reference regarding the Recreational Measures Setting Framework/Addenda. The SSC will also receive the results of updated Surfclam genetics research. The SSC may take up any other business as necessary.

A detailed agenda and background documents will be made available on the Council's website ( www.mafmc.org ) prior to the meeting.

The meeting is physically accessible to people with disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aid should be directed to Shelley Spedden, (302) 526-5251, at least 5 days prior to the meeting date.

Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.

The Tilefish Monitoring Committee will meet via webinar to discuss management measures for both golden and blueline tilefish. The objectives of this meeting are for the Monitoring Committee to: (1) Review recent stock assessment information, fishery performance, and recommendations from the Advisory Panel, Scientific and Statistical Committee, and staff; (2) Recommend commercial and recreational annual catch limits, annual catch targets, and total allowable landing limits/quotas for golden tilefish for 2025-27 and for blueline tilefish for 2025; and (3) review commercial and recreational management measures for both species and recommend changes if needed. Meeting materials will be posted to www.mafmc.org.

The meeting is physically accessible to people with disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aid should be directed to Shelley Spedden, (302) 526-5251, at least 5 days prior to the meeting date.

Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.

The Moratorium Protection Act requires the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary) to issue a biennial report to Congress that includes a list of nations and entities identified for engaging in or endorsing IUU fishing, as well as those nations and entities having fishing vessels that engaged in or are engaging in IUU fishing, fishing activities or practices that result in the bycatch of PLMRs on the high seas or within the EEZ of any nation without a regulatory program comparable in effectiveness to that of the United States; and/or fishing activities on the high seas or within the EEZ of another nation that target or incidentally catch sharks without a regulatory program comparable to that of the United States.

NMFS submitted the eighth biennial report to Congress in August 2023 and it is available online at: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/s3/2023-08/2023RTC-ImprovingIFManagement.pdf. NMFS identified seven nations and entities for IUU fishing and two for shark catch where those nations do not have a comparable regulatory program to that of the United States. In fulfillment of its requirements under the Moratorium Protection Act, NMFS is preparing the ninth biennial report to Congress, to be released in 2025. NMFS is soliciting information from the public regarding activities by foreign fishing vessels, nations, and entities in 2022, 2023, and/or 2024 that may support identification of nations and entities in the biennial report.

On December 27, 2022, the James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023 (2023 NDAA) (Pub. L. 117-263) amended the Moratorium Protection Act by, in part:

(1) adding new considerations when making IUU fishing identifications;

(2) expanding the scope of information that can be used for the identification of nations for bycatch of a PLMR or shark catch to include fishing activities within the EEZ of another nation; and

(3) authorizing the agency to make an identification at any time that the Secretary has sufficient information to make such identification.

The Moratorium Protection Act requires the Secretary to list in a biennial report to Congress those nations and entities identified for engaging in or endorsing IUU fishing, or for having fishing vessels engaged in or are engaging in IUU fishing. In making these identifications, the Secretary is to consider any nation or entity that is violating, or has violated at any point during the preceding three years, conservation and management measures required under an international fishery management agreement to which the United States is a party; any nation or entity that is failing, or has failed at any point during the preceding three years to effectively address or regulate IUU fishing within its fleets in any areas where its vessels are fishing; and any nation that fails to discharge its flag, port, or coastal state responsibilities to prevent, deter, and eliminate IUU fishing; and any nation or entity producing for export to the United States seafood-related goods through forced labor or oppressive child labor that the U.S. Department of Labor has included in the most recent List of Goods Produced by Child Labor or Forced Labor.

The definition of IUU fishing for the Moratorium Protection Act can be found at 50 CFR 300.201 and includes:

(1) Fishing activities that violate conservation and management measures required under an international fishery management agreement to which the United States is a party, including catch limits or quotas, capacity restrictions, bycatch reduction requirements, shark conservation measures, and data reporting;

(2) In the case of non-parties to an international fishery management agreement to which the United States is a party, fishing activities that would undermine the conservation of the resources managed under that agreement;

(3) Overfishing of fish stocks shared by the United States, for which there are no applicable international conservation or management measures or in areas with no applicable international fishery management organization or agreement, that has adverse impacts on such stocks;

(4) Fishing activity that has an adverse impact on vulnerable marine ecosystems such as seamounts, hydrothermal vents, cold water corals and other vulnerable marine ecosystems located beyond any national jurisdiction, for which there are no applicable conservation or management measures or in areas with no applicable international fishery management organization or agreement; and

(5) Fishing activities by foreign-flagged vessels in U.S. waters without authorization of the United States.

The Moratorium Protection Act requires the Secretary to list in the biennial report to Congress those nations and entities identified for having fishing vessels that are engaged, or have been engaged at any point during the preceding three years in fishing activities or practices on the high seas or within the EEZ of any nation that have resulted in bycatch of a PLMR, and the vessel's flag state has not adopted, implemented, and enforced a regulatory program governing such fishing designed to end or reduce such bycatch that is comparable in effectiveness to the regulatory program of the United States, taking into account differing conditions. PLMRs are defined as non-target fish (including sharks), sea turtles, or marine mammals that are protected under U.S. law or international agreement, including the Marine Mammal Protection Act, the Endangered Species Act, the Shark Finning Prohibition Act, and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna. PLMRs do not include species, except sharks, managed under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, the Atlantic Tunas Convention Act, or any international fishery management agreement. A list of species considered as PLMRs for the purposes of identification under the Moratorium Protection Act is available online at: https://media.fisheries.noaa.gov/dam-migration/plmr_list_2019.pdf.

The Moratorium Protection Act requires that the Secretary list in the biennial report to Congress those nations and entities whose fishing vessels are engaged, or have been engaged at any point during the preceding three years, in fishing activities on the high seas or within the EEZ of another nation that target or incidentally catch sharks; and the vessel's flag state has not adopted, implemented, and enforced a regulatory program to provide for the conservation of sharks, including measures to prohibit removal of any of the fins of a shark, including the tail, before landing the shark in port, that is comparable to that of the United States.

NMFS is soliciting information from 2022, 2023, and/or 2024 from the public that could be relevant to the identification of nations and entities that meet the criteria described above for IUU fishing, PLMR bycatch, or shark catch. Such information might include documentation of activities, such as photographs, videos, witness testimony, publically available data, verifiable catch data, or other proof of activity. Useful details include the location, time, and date of activity; and, where applicable, flag, name, or other identifier of the vessel. Some types of information that may prove relevant to the process include:

• Documentation of IUU fishing activity;

• Documentation of fishing vessels engaged in bycatch of PLMRs on the high seas or within the EEZ of any nation;

• Documentation of illegal shark fishing in contravention of shark conservation and management measures adopted by Regional Fisheries Management Organizations (RFMOs) (shark finning without full utilization of the carcass, retention of prohibited shark species, etc. );

• Documentation of instances where a nation has failed to meet reporting, compliance, scientific, or any other binding requirements as outlined by international fora, including, for example, RFMOs or the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES);

• Documentation of nations' regulatory programs to provide for the conservation of sharks that do not prohibit removal of any of the fins of a shark, including the tail, before landing the shark in port;

• Reports from off-loading facilities, port-side government officials, enforcement agents, military personnel, port inspectors, transshipment vessel workers and fish importers;

• Sightings of vessels included on RFMO IUU vessel lists;

• RFMO catch documents and statistical document programs;

• Reports of vessels fishing in the EEZ of another nation without authorization, or fishing with authorization in the EEZ of another nation but violating the conditions of that authorization;

• Relevant reports from governments, international organizations, or nongovernmental organizations; and

• Evidence of large-scale (over 2.5 km in length) drift-net use.

NMFS will consider all available information, as appropriate, when making a determination whether to identify a particular nation or entity in the biennial report to Congress. Information should be as specific as possible as this will assist NMFS in its review. NMFS will consider several criteria when determining whether information is appropriate for use in making identifications, including but not limited to:

• Corroboration of information;

• Whether multiple sources have been able to provide information in support of an identification;

• The methodology used to collect the information;

• Specificity of the information provided ( i.e., location, date, time of occurrence);

• Susceptibility of the information to falsification and alteration;

• Credibility of the individuals or organization providing the information; and

• Ability to share the provided information with a nation or entity in the event that it is identified, so that the nation can take specific corrective actions.

More information regarding the identification process and how the information received will be used in that process can be found at 16 U.S.C. 1826h-1826k and in the regulations codified at 50 CFR 300.200 et seq.

The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is required by 35 U.S.C. 131 et seq. to examine an application for patent and, when appropriate, issue a patent. The provisions of 35 U.S.C. 122(c), 122(e), 131, and 151, as well as 37 CFR 1.290 and 1.291, limit the ability of a third-party to have information entered and considered in, or to protest, a patent application pending before the USPTO.

37 CFR 1.290 provides a mechanism for third parties to submit to the USPTO for consideration and inclusion in the record of a patent application, any patents, published patent applications, or other printed publications of potential relevance to the examination of the application.

A third-party submission under 37 CFR 1.290 may be made in any nonprovisional utility, design, and plant application, including any continuing application. A third-party submission under 37 CFR 1.290 must include a concise description of the asserted relevance of each document submitted, and must be submitted within a certain statutorily specified time period.

37 CFR 1.291 permits a member of the public to file a protest against a pending application. Protests pursuant to 37 CFR 1.291 are supported by a separated statutory provision from third-party submissions under 37 CFR 1.290. As a result, there are several differences between protests and third-party submissions, as explained in the table below.

For example, 37 CFR 1.291 permits the submission of information that is not permitted in a third-party submission under 37 CFR 1.290. Specifically, 37 CFR 1.291 provides for the submission of information other than publications, including any facts or information adverse to patentability. Unlike the concise explanation of the relevance required for a preissuance submission under 37 CFR 1.290, which is limited to a description of a document's relevance, the concise explanation for a protest under 37 CFR 1.291 allows for arguments against patentability. Additionally, the specified time period for submitting a protest differs from the time period for submitting third-party submissions and is impacted by whether the protest is accompanied by the written consent of the applicant.

This information collection covers the items used by the public to submit information and protests regarding patent applications to the USPTO. This information collection is necessary so that the public can contribute to the quality of issued patents. The USPTO will use this information, as appropriate, to assist in evaluating the patent application as it moves through the patent examination process.

The items in this information collection may be submitted electronically, or on paper by either mail or hand delivery.

OMB Control Number: 0651-0062.

Forms: (SB = Specimen Book)

Type of Review: Extension and revision of a currently approved information collection.

Affected Public: Private sector.

Respondent's Obligation: Required to obtain or retain benefits.

Estimated Number of Annual Respondents: 1,033 respondents.

Estimated Number of Annual Responses: 1,033 responses.

Frequency: On occasion.

Estimated Time per Response: The USPTO estimates that the responses in this information collection will take the public approximately 10 hours to complete. This includes the time to gather the necessary information, create the document, and submit the completed item to the USPTO.

Estimated Total Annual Respondent Burden Hours: 10,330 hours.

Estimated Total Annual Respondent Hourly Cost Burden: $4,617,510.

Estimated Total Annual Respondent Non-hourly Cost Burden: $153,686. There are no capital start-up, maintenance costs, or recordkeeping costs associated with this information collection. However, the USPTO estimates that the total annual non-hour cost burden for this information collection, in the form of filing fees and postage, is $153,686.

The filing fees associated with this information collection are listed in the table below.

Although the USPTO prefers that the items in this information collection be submitted electronically, responses may be submitted by mail through the United States Postal Service (USPS). The USPTO estimates that 1% of the 1,033 items will be submitted in the mail resulting in 10 mailed items. The USPTO estimates that the average postage cost for a mailed submission, using a Priority Mail legal flat rate envelope, will be $10.15. Therefore, the USPTO estimates the total mailing costs for this information collection at $102.

The USPTO is soliciting public comments to:

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

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

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

(d) 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.

All comments submitted in response to this notice are a matter of public record. The USPTO will include or summarize each comment in the request to OMB to approve this information collection. Before including an address, phone number, email address, or other personally identifiable information (PII) in a comment, be aware that the entire comment—including PII—may be made publicly available at any time. While you may ask in your comment to withhold PII from public view, the USPTO cannot guarantee that it will be able to do so.

The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is required by 35 U.S.C. 131 and 151 to examine applications and, when appropriate, allow applications and issue them as patents. Chapter 30 of title 35 U.S.C. provides that any person at any time may file a request for reexamination by the USPTO of any claim of a patent on the basis of prior art cited under the provisions of 35 U.S.C. 301. Once initiated, the reexamination proceedings under Chapter 30 are substantially ex parte and do not permit input from third parties. The regulations outlining ex parte reexaminations are found at 37 CFR 1.510-1.570. The purpose of this information collection is to facilitate requests for ex parte reexamination and supplemental examination, to facilitate prosecution of reexamination and to ensure that the associated documentation is submitted to the USPTO, and to permit relevant post-patent prior art and claim scope information to be entered into a patent file.

35 U.S.C. 257 permits a patent owner to request supplemental examination of a patent by the USPTO to consider, reconsider, or correct information believed to be relevant to the patent. The regulations outlining supplemental examination are found at 37 CFR 1.601-1.625.

The Leahy-Smith America Invents Act terminated inter partes reexamination effective September 16, 2012. However, inter partes reexamination proceedings based on inter partes reexamination requests filed before September 16, 2012, continue to be prosecuted. Therefore, this collection continues to include items related to the prosecution of inter partes reexamination proceedings. The regulations outlining inter partes reexaminations are found at 37 CFR 1.902-1.959.

The provisions of 35 U.S.C. 301 and 37 CFR 1.501 govern the ability of a person to submit into the file of an issued patent (1) prior art consisting of patents or printed publications which the person making the submission believes to have a bearing on the patentability of any claim of the issued patent and (2) statements of the owner of the issued patent filed in a proceeding before a Federal court or the USPTO in which the owner of the issued patent took a position on the scope of any claim of the issued patent.

Thus, the items included in this collection cover (1) requests for ex parte reexamination, (2) requests for supplemental examination, (3) information that may be submitted by patent owners and third-party requesters in relation to the prosecution of an ex parte or inter partes reexamination proceeding, (4) information submitted by the public to aid in ascertaining the patentability and/or scope of the claims of the issued patent, and (5) information submitted by patent owners regarding a position taken before the USPTO or a Federal court regarding the scope of any claim in their issued patent. The USPTO's use of the statements of the patent owners ((5) above) will be limited to determining the meaning of a patent claim in ex parte reexamination proceedings that already have been ordered and in inter partes review and post grant review proceedings that already have been instituted.

The items in this information collection may be submitted electronically, or on paper by either mail or hand delivery.

OMB Control Number: 0651-0064.

Forms: (SB = Specimen Book)

Type of Review: Extension and revision of a currently approved information collection.

Affected Public: Private sector.

Respondent's Obligation: Required to obtain or retain benefits.

Estimated Number of Annual Respondents: 874 respondents.

Estimated Number of Annual Responses: 890 responses.

Frequency: On occasion.

Estimated Time per Response: The USPTO estimates that the responses in this information collection will take the public approximately between 30 minutes (0.50 hours) and 55 hours to complete. This includes the time to gather the necessary information, create the document, and submit the completed request to the USPTO.

Estimated Total Annual Respondent Burden Hours: 25,714 hours.

Estimated Total Annual Respondent Hourly Cost Burden: $11,494,158.

Estimated Total Annual Respondent Non-hourly Cost Burden: $3,680,879. There are no capital start-up, maintenance costs, or recordkeeping costs associated with this information collection. However, the USPTO estimates that the total annual non-hour cost burden for this information collection, in the form of filing fees and postage, is $3,680,879.

There are filing fees associated with this information collection, which are listed in the table below.

Although the USPTO prefers that the items in this information collection be submitted electronically, responses may be submitted by mail through the United States Postal Service (USPS). The USPTO estimates that 1% of the 890 items will be submitted in the mail resulting in 9 mailed items. The USPTO estimates that the average postage cost for a mailed submission, using a Priority Mail legal flat rate envelope, will be $10.15. Therefore, the USPTO estimates the total mailing costs for this information collection at $91.

The USPTO is soliciting public comments to:

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

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

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

(d) 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.

All comments submitted in response to this notice are a matter of public record. The USPTO will include or summarize each comment in the request to OMB to approve this information collection. Before including an address, phone number, email address, or other personally identifiable information (PII) in a comment, be aware that the entire comment—including PII—may be made publicly available at any time. While you may ask in your comment to withhold PII from public view, the USPTO cannot guarantee that it will be able to do so.

The OMB is particularly interested in comments which:

• Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of CNCS, including whether the information will have practical utility;

• 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;

• Propose ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and

• Propose 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.

A 60-day Notice requesting public comment was published in the Federal Register on March 26, 2024 at 89 FR 20952, with a comment period ending May 28, 2024. No public comments were received from that Notice.

Title of Collection: AmeriCorps Program Life Cycle Evaluation—Puerto Rico Bundled Evaluation.

OMB Control Number: 3045-NEW. Type of Review: New.

Respondents/Affected Public: Individuals and households (national service members, national service member alumni, community members), businesses and organizations (grantee and sponsor organization project director and staff, partner organization staff, non-supported organizations), and State, local, or Tribal governments (the Puerto Rico service commission staff).

Total Estimated Number of Annual Responses: 697 responses.

Total Estimated Number of Annual Burden Hours: 530 hours.

Abstract: The purpose of this evaluation is to provide insight on the context, implementation, and outcomes of 13 AmeriCorps-supported organizations in Puerto Rico with AmeriCorps State and National formula grants (funded through the Puerto Rico service commission, Comisión de Voluntariado y Servicio Comunitario), as well as those that have both AmeriCorps State and National grants and AmeriCorps VISTA projects. The evaluation will also explore the effectiveness of evaluation capacity-building workshops to be provided to the bundle participants.

AmeriCorps will conduct a 15 month long bundled evaluation of grantees and sponsors in Puerto Rico. Bundling combines programs and projects in a similar place into a single evaluation. The bundled evaluation will use surveys, interviews, and focus groups with a wide range of stakeholders, including grantee and sponsor organization project directors and staff, national service members, national service member alumni, community members, partner organization staff, non-supported organizations, and the Puerto Rico service commission staff. This is a new information collection.

Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized and/or included in the request for OMB approval. Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the 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 collection of information; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on respondents, including through the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology; and (e) estimates of capital or start-up costs and costs of operation, maintenance, and purchase of services to provide information. Burden means the total time, effort, or financial resources expended by persons to generate, maintain, retain, disclose or provide information to or for a Federal agency. This includes the time needed to review instructions; to develop, acquire, install and utilize technology and systems for the purpose of collecting, validating and verifying information, processing and maintaining information, and disclosing and providing information; to train personnel and to be able to respond to a collection of information, to search data sources, to complete and review the collection of information; and to transmit or otherwise disclose the information. All written comments will be available for public inspection on regulations.gov.

The NEPA, as amended at 42 U.S.C. 4321-4347, requires all Federal agencies to assess the environmental impact of their actions. Congress enacted NEPA in order to encourage productive and enjoyable harmony between humans and the environment, recognizing the profound impact of human activity and the critical importance of restoring and maintaining environmental quality to the overall welfare of humankind (42 U.S.C. 4321, 4331). NEPA's twin aims are to ensure agencies consider the environmental effects of their proposed actions in their decision-making processes and inform and involve the public in that process (42 U.S.C. 4331). NEPA created the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ), which promulgated NEPA implementing regulations, 40 CFR parts 1500 through 1508 (CEQ regulations).

To comply with NEPA, agencies determine the appropriate level of review—an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), Environmental Assessment (EA), or CE (42 U.S.C. 4336). If a proposed action is likely to have significant environmental effects, the agency must prepare an EIS and document its decision in a record of decision (42 U.S.C. 4336). If the proposed action is not likely to have significant environmental effects or the effects are unknown, the agency may instead prepare an EA, which involves a more concise analysis and process than an EIS (42 U.S.C. 4336). Following the EA, the agency may conclude the process with a finding of no significant impact if the analysis shows that the action will have no significant effects. If the analysis in the EA finds that the action is likely to have significant effects, however, then an EIS is required.

Under NEPA and the CEQ regulations, a Federal agency also can establish CEs—categories of actions that the agency has determined normally do not significantly affect the quality of the human environment—in their agency NEPA procedures (42 U.S.C. 4336(e)(1); 40 CFR 1501.4, 1507.3(e)(2)(ii), 1508.1(d)). If an agency determines that a CE covers a proposed action, it then evaluates the proposed action for extraordinary circumstances in which a normally excluded action may have a significant effect (40 CFR 1501.4(b)). If no extraordinary circumstances are present or if further analysis determines that the extraordinary circumstances do not involve the potential for significant environmental impacts, the agency may apply the CE to the proposed action without preparing an EA or EIS (42 U.S.C. 4336(a)(2), 40 CFR 1501.4). If the extraordinary circumstances have the potential to result in significant effects, the agency is required to prepare an EA or EIS.

Section 109 of NEPA, enacted as part of the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023, allows a Federal agency to “adopt” or use another agency's CEs for a category of proposed agency actions (42 U.S.C. 4336(c)). To use another agency's CEs under section 109, an agency must identify the relevant CEs listed in another agency's (“establishing agency”) NEPA procedures that cover its category of proposed actions or related actions; consult with the establishing agency to ensure that the proposed adoption of the CE to a category of actions is appropriate; identify to the public the CE that the agency plans to use for its proposed actions; and document adoption of the CE.

This notice documents DTRA's adoption of DOE's Electric Vehicle Charging Stations CE under section 109 of NEPA to use in DTRA programs and funding opportunities administered by DTRA Operating Administrations.

DOE's EV charging stations CE is codified in DOE's NEPA procedures at 10 CFR part 1021, subpart D, appendix B, B5.23. DOE provides clarification on the meaning of the phrase, “previously disturbed or developed” used in the CE B5.23 at 10 CFR 1021.410(g)(1).

The DOE CE also includes additional conditions referred to as integral elements at 10 CFR part 1021, subpart D, appendix B that should be considered in order to apply the CE.

DTRA intends to apply this CE to any DTRA EV charging station project undertaken directly by DTRA, to any EV charger action requiring an approval by DTRA, or to any project that is financed in whole or in part through Federal funds made available by DTRA (including the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Formula Program or the Charging and Fueling Infrastructure Discretionary Grant Program).

The CE allows for the installation, modification, operation, and removal of EV charging stations. DTRA will consider each proposal for EV charging stations to ensure that the proposal is within the scope of the CE. DTRA intends to apply this CE in a manner consistent with DOE's application—to the same types of proposals (which have included a wide variety of locations on and off Federal property, differences in local conditions, various numbers of EV charging stations per proposal, and different types of equipment and technologies including Level 1, Level 2, and DC Fast Charging stations).

When applying this CE, DTRA will evaluate the proposals to ensure evaluation of integral elements listed in the DOE's NEPA procedures at 10 CFR part 1021, subpart D, appendix B. In addition, when considering extraordinary circumstances, DTRA will consider whether the proposed action has the potential to result in significant effects as described at 10 CFR 1021.410(b)(2).

DTRA and DOE consulted on the appropriateness of DTRA's adoption of the CE on September 26, 2023. DTRA and DOE's consultation included a review of DOE's experience developing and applying the CE, as well as the types of actions for which DTRA plans to utilize the CE. These DTRA actions are very similar to the type of projects that DOE funds and therefore the impacts of DTRA projects will be very similar to the impacts of DOE projects, which are not significant, absent the existence of extraordinary circumstances that could involve potentially significant impacts. Therefore, DTRA has determined that its proposed use of the CE as described in this notice would be appropriate. Additional documentation of DOE and DTRA's consultation is available upon request.

This notice serves to identify to the public and document DTRA's adoption of DOE's CE for EV charging stations. The notice identifies the types of actions to which DTRA will apply the CE, as well as the considerations that DTRA will use in determining whether an action is within the scope of the CE.

On May 29, 2024, DOE published an RFI initiating a review to consider whether and how to amend DOE's ATVM Program regulations at 10 CFR part 611. 89 FR 46378. In the RFI, DOE identified certain programmatic and procedural issues on which it is interested in receiving comment. These issues include implementation of new categories of advanced technology vehicles and incorporation of community jobs and justice goals in the ATVM Program application process. The RFI set a comment period deadline of June 28, 2024.

Certain interested parties requested a two-week extension of the public comment period to respond appropriately to the RFI with considered comments regarding future implementation and administration of the ATVM Program. DOE anticipates that reopening the public comment period will enable additional stakeholders to submit valuable comments in response to the RFI.

DOE has determined that reopening the public comment period is appropriate to allow interested parties additional time to submit comments for DOE's consideration. Thus, DOE is reopening the comment period for 14 days.

This document of the Department of Energy was signed on July 1, 2024, by Jigar Shah, Executive Director, Loan Programs Office, pursuant to delegated authority from the Secretary of Energy. That document with the original signature and date is maintained by DOE. For administrative purposes only, and in compliance with requirements of the Office of the Federal Register, the undersigned DOE Federal Register Liaison Officer has been authorized to sign and submit the document in electronic format for publication, as an official document of the Department of Energy. This administrative process in no way alters the legal effect of this document upon publication in the Federal Register .

Purpose of the Board: The purpose of the Board is to provide advice and recommendations concerning the following EM site-specific issues: clean-up activities and environmental restoration; waste and nuclear materials management and disposition; excess facilities; future land use and long-term stewardship. The Board may also be asked to provide advice and recommendations on any EM program components.

Tentative Agenda:

Public Participation: The in-person/online virtual hybrid meeting is open to the public in person or virtually, via WebEx. Written statements may be filed with the Board no later than 5 p.m. MDT on Friday, July 26, 2024, or within seven days after the meeting by sending them to the NNMCAB Executive Director at the aforementioned email address. Written public comments received prior to the meeting will be read into the record. The Deputy Designated Federal Officer is empowered to conduct the meeting in a fashion that will facilitate the orderly conduct of business. Individuals wishing to submit public comments should follow as directed above.

Minutes: Minutes will be available by emailing or calling Bridget Maestas, NNMCAB Executive Director, at bridget.maestas@em.doe.gov or at (505) 709-7466.

Signing Authority: This document of the Department of Energy was signed on July 1, 2024, by David Borak, Committee Management Officer, pursuant to delegated authority from the Secretary of Energy. That document with the original signature and date is maintained by DOE. For administrative purposes only, and in compliance with requirements of the Office of the Federal Register, the undersigned DOE Federal Register Liaison Officer has been authorized to sign and submit the document in electronic format for publication, as an official document of the Department of Energy. This administrative process in no way alters the legal effect of this document upon publication in the Federal Register .

Purpose of the Board: The purpose of EMAB is to provide the Assistant Secretary for Environmental Management (EM) with independent advice and recommendations on corporate issues confronting the EM program. EMAB's membership reflects a diversity of views, demographics, expertise, and professional and academic experience. Individuals are appointed by the Secretary of Energy to serve as either special Government employees or representatives of specific interests and/or entities.

Tentative Agenda:

Public Participation: The online virtual meeting is open to the public. The Designated Federal Officer is empowered to conduct the meeting in a fashion that will facilitate the orderly conduct of business. Individuals wishing to provide a written public comment can email the comment to Kelly Snyder at Kelly.Snyder@em.doe.gov in advance of the meeting or up to three days after the meeting. If you require special accommodations due to a disability, please contact Kelly Snyder at least seven days in advance of the meeting at the email address listed above.

Minutes: Minutes will be available at the following website: https://www.energy.gov/em/listings/emab-meetings.

Signing Authority: This document of the Department of Energy was signed on July 1, 2024, by David Borak, Committee Management Officer, pursuant to delegated authority from the Secretary of Energy. That document with the original signature and date is maintained by DOE. For administrative purposes only, and in compliance with requirements of the Office of the Federal Register, the undersigned DOE Federal Register Liaison Officer has been authorized to sign and submit the document in electronic format for publication, as an official document of the Department of Energy. This administrative process in no way alters the legal effect of this document upon publication in the Federal Register .

Background: The Board was established to provide advice and recommendations to the Secretary on the Administration's energy policies; the Department's basic and applied research and development activities; economic and national security policy; and other activities as directed by the Secretary.

Purpose of the Meeting: SEAB will provide advice and recommendations to the Secretary of Energy on the Administration's energy policies.

Tentative Agenda: The tentative meeting agenda includes: roll call; remarks from the Department of Energy; discussion of a recommendation concerning powering Artificial Intelligence (AI) and data center infrastructure, discussion of a recommendation concerning the role of DOE in AI, and public comments. The meeting will conclude at approximately 2:45 p.m. Meeting materials can be found here: https://www.energy.gov/seab/seab-meetings.

Public Participation: The meeting is open to the public via a virtual meeting option. Individuals who would like to attend must register for the meeting here: https://www.energy.gov/seab/seab-meetings.

Individuals and representatives of organizations who would like to offer comments and suggestions may do so during the meeting. Approximately 15 minutes will be reserved for public comments. Time allotted per speaker will depend on the number who wish to speak but will not exceed three minutes. The Designated Federal Officer is empowered to conduct the meeting in a fashion that will facilitate the orderly conduct of business. Those wishing to speak should register to do so via email, seab@hq.doe.gov, no later than 5:00 p.m. on Monday, July 29, 2024.

Those not able to attend the meeting or who have insufficient time to address the committee are invited to send a written statement to David Borak, U.S. Department of Energy, 1000 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20585, or email to: seab@hq.doe.gov.

Minutes: The minutes of the meeting will be available on the SEAB website or by contacting Mr. Borak. He may be reached at the postal address listed or email address, or by visiting SEAB's website at www.energy.gov/seab.

Signing Authority: This document of the Department of Energy was signed on July 1, 2024, by David Borak, Committee Management Officer, pursuant to delegated authority from the Secretary of Energy. That document with the original signature and date is maintained by DOE. For administrative purposes only, and in compliance with requirements of the Office of the Federal Register, the undersigned DOE Federal Register Liaison Officer has been authorized to sign and submit the document in electronic format for publication, as an official document of the Department of Energy. This administrative process in no way alters the legal effect of this document upon publication in the Federal Register .

Purpose of the Board: The purpose of the Board is to provide advice and recommendations concerning the following EM site-specific issues: clean-up activities and environmental restoration; waste and nuclear materials management and disposition; excess facilities; future land use and long-term stewardship. The Board may also be asked to provide advice and recommendations on any EM program components.

Tentative Agenda:

Public Participation: The meeting is open to the public. To register for in-person attendance, please send an email to srscitizensadvisoryboard@srs.gov no later than 4 p.m. EDT on Thursday, July 25, 2024. The EM SSAB, Savannah River Site, welcomes the attendance of the public at its advisory committee meetings and will make every effort to accommodate persons with physical disabilities or special needs. If you require special accommodations due to a disability, please contact Amy Boyette at least seven days in advance of the meeting at the telephone number listed. Written statements may be filed with the Board via email either before or after the meeting. Individuals who wish to make oral statements pertaining to agenda items should submit their request to srscitizensadvisoryboard@srs.gov. Requests must be received five days prior to the meeting and reasonable provision will be made to include the presentation in the agenda. Comments will be accepted after the meeting, by no later than 4 p.m. EDT on Tuesday, August 6, 2024. Please submit comments to srscitizensadvisoryboard@srs.gov. The Deputy Designated Federal Officer is empowered to conduct the meeting in a fashion that will facilitate the orderly conduct of business. Individuals wishing to make oral public comments will be provided a maximum of five minutes to present their comments. Individuals wishing to submit written public comments should email them as directed above.

Minutes: Minutes will be available by emailing or calling Amy Boyette at the email address or telephone number listed above. Minutes will also be available at the following website: https://cab.srs.gov/srs-cab.html.

Signing Authority: This document of the Department of Energy was signed on July 1, 2024, by David Borak, Committee Management Officer, pursuant to delegated authority from the Secretary of Energy. That document with the original signature and date is maintained by DOE. For administrative purposes only, and in compliance with requirements of the Office of the Federal Register, the undersigned DOE Federal Register Liaison Officer has been authorized to sign and submit the document in electronic format for publication, as an official document of the Department of Energy. This administrative process in no way alters the legal effect of this document upon publication in the Federal Register .

On April 20, 2010, the mobile offshore drilling unit Deepwater Horizon, which was drilling a well for BP Exploration and Production, Inc., experienced a significant explosion, fire, and subsequent sinking in the Gulf of Mexico, resulting in the release of millions of barrels of oil and other discharges into the Gulf. Under the authority of the OPA, designated Federal and State Trustees, acting on behalf of the public, assessed the injuries to natural resources and prepared the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Final Programmatic Damage Assessment and Restoration Plan and Final Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (Final PDARP/PEIS), and the Record of Decision for the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Final Programmatic Damage Assessment and Restoration Plan and Final Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement, which sets forth the governance structure and process for DWH restoration planning under the OPA NRDA regulations. On April 4, 2016, the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana entered a Consent Decree resolving civil claims by the trustees against BP.

The Florida TIG, which is composed of the State of Florida Department of Environmental Protection and the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Department of the Interior, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, selects and implements restoration projects under the Florida TIG's management authority in accordance with the Consent Decree. The Final PDARP/PEIS, Record of Decision, Consent Decree, and information on the DWH Trustees can be found at https://www.gulfspillrestoration.noaa.gov/restoration-planning/gulf-plan.

On November 7, 2022, the Florida TIG issued a notice of solicitation on the Gulf Spill Restoration website requesting project ideas for the Water Quality Restoration Type as described in the Final PDARP/PEIS. On August 7, 2023, the Florida TIG announced on the Gulf Spill Restoration website that they reviewed project idea submissions and initiated drafting the RP3/EA which tiers from the Final PDARP/PEIS and would include a reasonable range of restoration project alternatives for the Water Quality Restoration Type.

The Florida TIG released the Draft RP3/EA for public review and comment on March 8, 2024, and published a Notice of Availability in the Federal Register (89 FR 16765). The comment period ran through April 8, 2024. To facilitate public understanding of the document, the Florida TIG held a webinar on March 27, 2024, during which public comments were solicited. After the public review period closed, the Florida TIG reviewed the comments received, prepared responses to those comments, finalized the RP3/EA, and prepared a FONSI.

In the Final RP3/EA, the Florida TIG analyzes a reasonable range of thirteen project alternatives and, pursuant to the NEPA, a no action alternative. Two of the alternatives analyzed are not preferred by the Florida TIG at this time. The eleven projects selected by the Florida TIG for funding and implementation are listed below:

1. Pensacola and Perdido Watersheds Microbial Source Tracking (Planning);

2. Pensacola Bay Unpaved Roads Initiative Phase 2 (Planning);

3. Carpenter Creek Hydrologic Restoration and Stormwater Improvements;

4. Hollice T. Williams Stormwater Park;

5. Gulf Breeze Septic to Sewer Conversion;

6. Santa Rosa County Septic to Sewer Conversion;

7. Choctawhatchee Bay Unpaved Roads Initiative;

8. Telogia Creek Watershed Water Quality Improvements;

9. Lower Suwannee National Wildlife Refuge Hydrologic Restoration Phase 2 (Planning);

10. Bond Farm Hydrologic Enhancement Impoundment; and

11. Bond Farm Hydrologic Enhancement Southwest Discharge Structure (Planning).

The total estimated cost to implement the eleven selected project alternatives is approximately $111.5 million and will utilize funding from the Florida TIG's Water Quality Restoration Type. Additional restoration planning in the Florida TIG will continue.

The Administrative Record for the Final RP3/EA can be viewed electronically at https://www.doi.gov/deepwaterhorizon/adminrecord under the folder 6.5.4.2.6.

The authority for this action is the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (33 U.S.C. 2701 et seq. ), its implementing NRDA regulations found at 15 CFR part 990, and the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq. ), its implementing regulations found at 40 CFR parts 1500-1508.

Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OPA-2008-0563, at https://www.regulations.gov (our preferred method), or the other methods identified in the ADDRESSES section. Once submitted, comments cannot be edited or removed from the docket. The EPA may publish any comment received to its public docket. Do not submit to EPA's docket at https://www.regulations.gov any information you consider to be Confidential Business Information (CBI), Proprietary Business Information (PBI), or other information whose disclosure is restricted by statute. Multimedia submissions (audio, video, etc.) must be accompanied by a written comment. The written comment is considered the official comment and should include discussion of all points you wish to make. The EPA will generally not consider comments or comment contents located outside of the primary submission ( i.e., on the web, cloud, or other file sharing system). Please visit https://www.epa.gov/dockets/commenting-epa-dockets for additional submission methods; the full EPA public comment policy; information about CBI, PBI, or multimedia submissions; and general guidance on making effective comments.

This action is directed to the general public. This action may, however, be of interest to parties who submit an application for listing a product on the NCP Product Schedule or Sorbent Product List under subpart J of 40 CFR part 300.

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 Number: 3060-xxxx.

Title: Section 9.10(s), Location-Based Routing for Wireless 911 Calls.

Form Number: N/A.

Type of Review: New information collection.

Respondents: Business or other for-profit entities.

Number of Respondents and Responses: 59 respondents; 59 responses.

Estimated Time per Response: 40 hours.

Frequency of Response: One-time and on occasion reporting requirement.

Obligation to Respond: Mandatory. Statutory authority for this collection is contained in sections 1, 2, 4(i), 4(j), 4(o), 251(e), 303(b), 303(g), 303(r), 316, and 403 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 47 U.S.C. 151, 152, 154(i), 154(j), 154(o), 251(e), 303(b), 303(g), 303(r), 316, 403, and section 4 of the Wireless Communications and Public Safety Act of 1999, Public Law 106-81, sections 101 and 201 of the New and Emerging Technologies 911 Improvement Act of 2008, Public Law 110-283, and section 106 of the Twenty-First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2010, Public Law 111-260, as amended 47 U.S.C. 615a, 615a-1, 615b, 615c.

Total Annual Burden: 2,360 hours.

Total Annual Cost: No Cost.

Needs and Uses: Technical limitations of legacy Enhanced 911 (E911) routing can result in a Commercial Mobile Radio Service (CMRS) provider routing a wireless 911 call to a Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) other than the one designated by the relevant state or local 911 authority to receive calls from the actual location of the caller. To improve emergency response times, the Commission adopted rules and procedures to require CMRS providers to implement location-based routing (LBR) for wireless 911 voice calls and real-time text (RTT) communications to 911 nationwide. With location-based routing as implemented under the Commission's rules, CMRS providers will use precise location information to route wireless 911 voice calls and RTT communications to 911 to the appropriate public safety answering point. To facilitate the implementation of location-based routing for wireless 911 voice calls and RTT communications to 911, and to monitor compliance, promote transparency, and ensure accountability, the Commission adopted certain information collection requirements.

Certification and reporting. The Commission will use the information collected pursuant to section 9.10(s)(4) that is submitted by the CMRS providers in their compliance certifications, including technologies and methodologies used, and live call data reports to assess and monitor the implementation of LBR for wireless 911 voice calls and RTT communications to 911 call centers nationwide. Also, the Commission would use the data generated by the information collections to analyze the effectiveness of the LBR implementation at the benchmark dates set forth in the rules. In addition, it is imperative that CMRS providers ensure the privacy and security of location-based routing information.

Section 9.10(s)(4) requires that within 60 days after each benchmark specified in paragraphs (s)(1)(i), (ii), and (2) of section 9.10 of the rules, CMRS providers must comply with the following certification and reporting requirements.

Under section 9.10(s)(4)(i)(A), CMRS providers must certify that they are in compliance with the requirements specified in paragraphs (s)(1)(i), (ii), and (2) of this section applicable to them.

Under section 9.10(s)(4)(i)(B), CMRS providers must identify specific network architecture, systems, and procedures used to comply with paragraphs (s)(1)(i), (ii), and (2) of this section, including the extent to which the CMRS provider validates location information for routing purposes and the validation practices used in connection with this information.

Under section 9.10(s)(4)(i)(C), CMRS providers must certify that neither they nor any third party they rely on to obtain location information or associated data used for compliance with paragraphs (s)(1)(i), (ii), or (2) of this section will use such location information or associated data for any non-911 purpose, except with prior express consent or as otherwise required by law. The certification must state that the CMRS provider and any third parties it relies on to obtain location information or associated data used for compliance with paragraphs (s)(1)(i), (ii), or (2) of this section have implemented measures sufficient to safeguard the privacy and security of such location information or associated data.

Under section 9.10(s)(4)(ii)(A), CMRS providers must collect and report aggregate data on the routing technologies used for all live wireless 911 voice calls in the locations specified for live 911 call location data in paragraph (i)(3)(ii) of this section for a thirty-day period which begins on the compliance date(s) specified in paragraphs (s)(1)(i) and (ii) of this section. CMRS providers must retain live wireless 911 voice call data gathered pursuant to this section for a period of 2 years. CMRS providers must collect and report the following data, expressed as both a number and percentage of the total number of live wireless 911 voice calls for which data is collected pursuant to this section.

Under section 9.10(s)(4)(ii)(A)( 1 ), CMRS providers must collect and report the data, expressed as both a number and percentage of the total number of live wireless 911 voice calls for which data is collected pursuant to this section, for live wireless 911 voice calls routed with location-based routing using location information that meets the timeliness and accuracy thresholds defined in paragraph (s)(3)(i)(A) and (B) of this section.

Under section 9.10(s)(4)(ii)(A)( 2 ), CMRS providers must collect and report the data, expressed as both a number and percentage of the total number of live wireless 911 voice calls for which data is collected pursuant to this section, for live wireless 911 voice calls routed with location-based routing using location information that does not meet the timeliness or accuracy thresholds defined in paragraph (s)(3)(i)(A) and (B) of this section.

Under section 9.10(s)(4)(ii)(A)( 3 ), CMRS providers must collect and report the data, expressed as both a number and percentage of the total number of live wireless 911 voice calls for which data is collected pursuant to this section, for live wireless 911 voice calls routed using tower-based routing.

Modification of deadlines by agreement. To monitor compliance dates agreed to between CMRS providers and PSAPs that are different from the compliance dates established by the new rules, section 9.10(s)(5) establishes notification requirements for CMRS providers related to any modification of deadlines between the PSAPs and CMRS providers by mutual agreement. Nothing in this section of the rules shall prevent PSAPs and CMRS providers from establishing, by mutual consent, deadlines different from those established for CMRS provider compliance in paragraphs (s)(1)(i), (ii), and (2) of this section. The CMRS provider must notify the Commission of the dates and terms of the alternate time frame within 30 days of the parties' agreement or by June 12, 2024, whichever is later. The CMRS provider must subsequently notify the Commission of the actual date by which it comes into compliance with the location-based routing requirements in paragraphs (s)(1)(i), (ii), or (2) of section 9.10 within 30 days of that date or by June 12, 2024, whichever is later. The CMRS providers must file any such notifications pursuant to this paragraph (s)(5) in PS Docket No. 18-64.

OMB Control Number: 3060-0636.

Title: Sections 2.906, 2.909, 2.1071, 2.1074, 2.1077 and 15.37, Equipment Authorizations—Supplier's Declaration of Conformity (SDoC).

Form No.: N/A.

Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved collection.

Respondents: Business or other for-profit entities.

Number of Respondents and Responses: 8,500 respondents; 17,000 responses.

Estimated Time per Response: 1-18 hours (average).

Frequency of Response: One-time reporting requirement, recordkeeping requirement and third party disclosure requirements.

Obligation to Respond: Required to obtain or retain benefits. Statutory authority for this information collection is contained in 47 U.S.C. 154(i), 301, 302a, 303, 309(j), 312, 403, 503, and the Secure Equipment Act of 2021, Public Law 117-55, 135 Stat. 423.

Total Annual Burden: 161,500 hours.

Total Annual Cost: $17,000,000.

Needs and Uses: The Commission will submit this revised information collection to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) after this 60 day comment period in order to obtain the full three year clearance from them.

In 2022, the Supplier's Declaration of Conformity (SDOC) procedure were revised in a Report and Order, FCC 22-84 (88 FR 7592, February 6, 2023). Revisions to the information collection included amendments to rule sections 2.906 and 2.909 as reported herein, therefore, the eligibility restrictions resulted in fewer applicants but the continued growth in participation in the program resulted in a re-adjustment of applicants which supports program changes and adjustments.

(a) Supplier's Declaration of Conformity (SDoC) is a procedure where the responsible party, as defined in § 2.909, makes measurements or completes other procedures found acceptable to the Commission to ensure that the equipment complies with the appropriate technical standards and other applicable requirements. Submittal to the Commission of a sample unit or representative data demonstrating compliance is not required unless specifically requested pursuant to § 2.945.

(b) Supplier's Declaration of Conformity is applicable to all items subsequently marketed by the manufacturer, importer, or the responsible party that are identical, as defined in § 2.908, to the sample tested and found acceptable by the manufacturer.

(c) The responsible party may, if it desires, apply for Certification of a device subject to the Supplier's Declaration of Conformity. In such cases, all rules governing certification will apply to that device.

(d) Notwithstanding other parts of this section, equipment otherwise subject to the Supplier's Declaration of Conformity process that is produced by any entity identified on the Covered List, established pursuant to § 1.50002 of this chapter, as producing covered communications equipment is prohibited from obtaining equipment authorization through that process. The rules governing certification apply to authorization of such equipment.

(a) In the case of equipment that requires the issuance of a grant of certification, the party to whom that grant of certification is issued is responsible for the compliance of the equipment with the applicable technical and other requirements. If any party other than the grantee modifies the radio frequency equipment and that party is not working under the authorization of the grantee pursuant to § 2.929(b), the party performing the modification is responsible for compliance of the product with the applicable administrative and technical provisions in this chapter.

(b) For equipment subject to Supplier's Declaration of Conformity the party responsible for the compliance of the equipment with the applicable standards, who must be located in the United States (see § 2.1077), is set forth as follows:

(1) The manufacturer or, if the equipment is assembled from individual component parts and the resulting system is subject to authorization under Supplier's Declaration of Conformity, the assembler.

(2) If the equipment by itself, or, a system is assembled from individual parts and the resulting system is subject to Supplier's Declaration of Conformity and that equipment or system is imported, the importer.

(3) Retailers or original equipment manufacturers may enter into an agreement with the responsible party designated in paragraph (b)(1) or (b)(2) of this section to assume the responsibilities to ensure compliance of equipment and become the new responsible party.

(4) If the radio frequency equipment is modified by any party not working under the authority of the responsible party, the party performing the modifications, if located within the U.S., or the importer, if the equipment is imported subsequent to the modifications, becomes the new responsible party.

(c) If the end product or equipment is subject to both certification and Supplier's Declaration of Conformity ( i.e., composite system), all the requirements of paragraphs (a) and (b) apply.

(d) If, because of modifications performed subsequent to authorization, a new party becomes responsible for ensuring that a product complies with the technical standards and the new party does not obtain a new equipment authorization, the equipment shall be labeled, following the specifications in § 2.925(d), with the following: “This product has been modified by [insert name, address and telephone number or internet contact information of the party performing the modifications].”

(e) In the case of transfer of control of equipment, as in the case of sale or merger of the responsible party, the new entity shall bear the responsibility of continued compliance of the equipment.

OMB Control Number: 3060-0804.

Title: Universal Service—Rural Health Care Program.

Form Numbers: FCC Forms 460, 461, 462, 463, 465, 466, 467, and 469.

Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved collection.

Respondents: Business or other for-profit; Not-for-profit institutions; Federal Government; and State, Local, or Tribal governments.

Number of Respondents and Responses: 12,854 unique respondents; 117,071 responses.

Estimated Time per Response: 0.30-17 hours.

Frequency of Response: On occasion, one-time, annual, and monthly reporting requirements.

Obligation to Respond: Required to obtain or retain benefits. Statutory authority for this collection of information is contained in sections 1-4, 201-205, 214, 254, 303(r), and 403 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 47 U.S.C. 151 -154, 201-205, 214, 254, 303(r), and 403, unless otherwise noted.

Total Annual Burden: 442,389 hours.

Total Annual Cost: No Cost.

Needs and Uses: The Commission seeks OMB approval of a revision of this information collection as a result of the 2023 Promoting Telehealth Third Report and Order, FCC 23-110, rel. December 14, 2023 (2023 Third Report and Order) (89 FR 1834, January 11, 2024). This collection is utilized for the RHC support mechanism of the Commission's universal service fund (USF). The collection of this information is necessary so that the Commission and the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) will have sufficient information to determine if entities are eligible for funding pursuant to the RHC universal service support mechanism, to determine if entities are complying with the Commission's rules, and to promote program integrity. This information is also necessary in order to allow the Commission to evaluate the extent to which the RHC Program is meeting the statutory objectives specified in section 254(h) of the 1996 Act, and the Commission's performance goals for the RHC Program.

This information collection is being revised to: (1) extend some of the existing information collection requirements for the Healthcare Connect Fund and Telecom Programs; (2) revise some of the information collection requirements for the Healthcare Connect Fund and Telecom Programs as a result of the 2023 Third Report and Order; and (3) add a new information collection requirement for the Healthcare Connect Fund and Telecom Programs as a result of the 2023 Third Report and Order. As part of this information collection, the Commission is also revising the FCC Form 460 Template, the FCC Form 461 Template, the FCC Form 465 Template, the FCC Form 466 Template, and the Post-Commitment Template. We propose to make changes to the Post-Commitment Template effective funding year 2024. We propose to make changes to the FCC Form 460 Template, the FCC Form 461 Template, the FCC Form 465 Template, and the FCC Form 466 Template effective funding year 2025. The FCC Form 467 and Telecom Invoice Form will not be used after funding year 2023.

As part of this information collection, the Commission is harmonizing the RHC Program eligibility determination process by using the FCC Form 460 for eligibility determinations in both the Telecom Program and the HCF Program, eliminating the eligibility determination portion from FCC Form 465, which was previously used for eligibility determinations in the Telecom Program. The FCC Form 460 will also be amended to seek information applicable to conditional approvals of eligibility, which will enable health care providers to engage in competitive bidding and request funding (but not receive disbursements) before they become eligible. Additionally, the FCC Form 466 will be amended effective to reflect a streamlined process for calculating urban rates. Finally, the information collection will be updated to allow health care providers to update the time period covered by evergreen contract designations.

The Healthcare Connect Fund Program currently includes FCC Forms 460, 461, 462, and 463. Effective funding year 2024, the Telecom Program includes FCC Forms 465, 466, and 469 and will include the FCC Form 460 starting in funding year 2025. The information on the FCC Form templates is a representative description of the information to be collected via an online portal and is not intended to be a visual representation of what each applicant or service provider will see, the order in which they will see information, or the exact wording or directions used to collect the information. Where possible, information already provided by applicants from previous filing years or that was pre-filed in the system portal will be carried forward and auto-generated into the form to simplify the information collection for applicants.

Sections 4314(c)(1) through (5) of title 5, U.S.C., requires each agency to establish, in accordance with regulations prescribed by the Office of Personnel Management, one or more performance review boards. The board shall review and evaluate the initial appraisal of a senior executive's performance by the supervisor, along with any recommendations to the appointing authority relative to the performance of the senior executive.

The members of the Performance Review Board are:

In the June 25, 2024, issue of the Federal Register (89 FR 53107), we published a Paperwork Reduction Act notice requesting a 30-day public comment period for the information collection request identified under CMS-1696, OMB control number 0938-0950, and titled “Appointment of Representative and Supporting Regulations in 42 CFR 405.910.”

In the June 25, 2024, notice, the CMS number is incorrect. The incorrect language is on located at the bottom of the right column on page 53107, beginning of the Federal Register notice “Document Identifiers: CMS-1694.” All of the other information contained in the June 25, 2024, notice is correct and remains unchanged. The related public comment period remains in effect and ends July 25, 2024.

In FR Doc. 2024-13891 of June 25, 2024 (89 FR 53107), page 53107, the language at the bottom of the right column beginning with “[Document Identifiers: CMS-1694” and ending “and CMS-R-246]”, is corrected to read as follows:

This notice sets out a summary of the use and burden associated with the following information collections. More detailed information can be found in each collection's supporting statement and associated materials (see ADDRESSES ).

Under the PRA (44 U.S.C. 3501-3520), federal agencies must obtain approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for each collection of information they conduct or sponsor. The term “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 requires federal agencies to publish a 60-day notice in the Federal Register concerning each proposed collection of information, including each proposed extension or reinstatement of an existing collection of information, before submitting the collection to OMB for approval. To comply with this requirement, CMS is publishing this notice.

1. Type of Information Collection Request: Revision of a currently approved collection; Title of Information Collection: Solicitation for Applications for Medicare Prescription Drug Plan 2026 Contracts; Use: Coverage for the prescription drug benefit is provided through contracted prescription drug plans (PDPs) or through Medicare Advantage (MA) plans that offer integrated prescription drug and health care coverage (MA-PD plans). Cost Plans that are regulated under Section 1876 of the Social Security Act, and Employer Group Waiver Plans (EGWP) may also provide a Part D benefit. Organizations wishing to provide services under the Prescription Drug Benefit Program must complete an application, negotiate rates, and receive final approval from CMS. Existing Part D Sponsors may also expand their contracted service area by completing the Service Area Expansion (SAE) application.

Collection of this information is mandated in Part D of the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003 (MMA) in Subpart 3. The application requirements are codified in Subpart K of 42 CFR 423 entitled “Application Procedures and Contracts with PDP Sponsors.”

The information will be collected under the solicitation of proposals from PDP, MA-PD, Cost Plan, Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE), and EGWP applicants. The collected information will be used by CMS to: (1) ensure that applicants meet CMS requirements for offering Part D plans (including network adequacy, contracting requirements, and compliance program requirements, as described in the application), (2) support the determination of contract awards. Form Number: CMS-10137 (OMB control number: 0938-0936); Frequency: Yearly; Affected Public: Private Sector, Business or other for-profits and Not for profits institution; Number of Respondents: 821; Number of Responses: 424; Total Annual Hours: 1,809. (For policy questions regarding this collection contact April Forsythe at 410-786-8493.)

2. Type of Information Collection Request: Revision of a currently approved collection; Title of Information Collection: Retiree Drug Subsidy Payment Request and Instructions; Use: Under the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003 and implementing regulations at 42 CFR part 423 subpart R plan sponsors ( e.g., employers, unions) who offer prescription drug coverage meeting specified criteria to their qualified covered retirees are eligible to receive a 28% subsidy for allowable drug costs, through the Retiree Drug Subsidy (RDS) Program. Section 423.886 describes the payment methods, including the provision of necessary information. The information provided in the payment request provides CMS with the information needed to pay RDS sponsors the subsidy.

The application process for the RDS is a completely electronic process (100%). The basis for the decision for adopting this means of collection was to maximize efficiency. The only instance when hard copy/paper applications can be submitted is when the RDS Center is experiencing technical difficulties. The Plan Sponsor completes and submits the RDS application (including the Plan Sponsor's Authorized Representative's electronic signature) on-line, via the secure RDS Secure website, which is accessed at https://www.rds.cms.hhs.gov. Form Number: CMS-10170 (OMB control number: 0938-0977); Frequency: Yearly; Affected Public: Private; Business or other for-profits, and Not-for Profits; Number of Respondents: 1,245; Number of Responses: 1,245; Total Annual Hours: 187,995. (For questions regarding this collection, contact Ivan Iveljic at 410-786-3312 or Ivan.iveljic@cms.hhs.gov. )

3. Type of Information Collection Request: Revision of a currently approved collection; Title of Information Collection: Retiree Drug Subsidy (RDS) Application and Instructions; Use: Under § 1860D-22 of the Social Security Act (Act), added by the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003 (MMA) and implementing regulations at 42 CFR part 423 subpart R, Plan Sponsors ( e.g., employers or unions) who offer prescription drug coverage to their qualified covered retirees are eligible to receive a 28% subsidy for allowable drug costs.

CMS has contracted with an outside vendor to assist in the administration of the RDS program; this effort is called the RDS Center. Plan Sponsors will apply on-line for the retiree drug subsidy by logging on to the RDS Secure website. 42 CFR 423.844 describes the requirement for qualified retiree prescription drug plans who want to receive the retiree drug subsidy. Once the Plan Sponsor submits the RDS application via the RDS Secure website (and a valid initial retiree list) CMS, using its contractor, will analyze the application to determine whether the Plan Sponsor qualifies for the RDS. To qualify for the subsidy, the Plan Sponsor must show that its coverage is as generous as, or more generous than, the defined standard coverage under the Medicare Part D prescription drug benefit. The information within the application includes sponsor account registration information, plan information, benefit options under the plan, actuary information and actuarial attestation. The RDS center has various checks within each section of the application. Applications can be denied if issues cannot be resolved.

Form Number: CMS-10170 (OMB control number: 0938-0977); Frequency: Yearly; Affected Public: Private Sector; Business or other for-profits, and Not-for Profits; Number of Respondents: 1,245; Number of Responses: 1,245; Total Annual Hours: 79,680. (For questions regarding this collection, contact Ivan Iveljic at 410-786-3312 or Ivan.iveljic@cms.hhs.gov. )

When submitting comments or requesting information, please include the ICR title for reference.

Information Collection Request Title: State Maternal Health Innovation Maternal Health Annual Report, OMB No. 0906-xxxx-New.

Abstract: The State Maternal Health Innovation (MHI) program is authorized by 42 U.S.C. 701(a)(2) (title V, sec. 501(a)(2) of the Social Security Act), which authorizes awards for special projects of regional and national significance in maternal and child health. Special projects of regional and national significance support HRSA's mission to improve the health and well-being of America's mothers, children, and families. HRSA directly funds states to implement maternal health innovation projects. The Maternal Health Annual Report will be completed by all grantees who receive funding under the program.

Need and Proposed Use of the Information: HRSA will use the information to monitor grantees' progress in accessing, analyzing, and using state-level maternal health data and to summarize the data focused work that grantees accomplish.

Likely Respondents: Recipients of the HRSA State MHI grants.

Burden Statement: Burden in this context means the time expended by persons to generate, maintain, retain, disclose, and provide the information requested. This includes the time needed to review instructions; to develop, acquire, install, and utilize technology and systems for the purpose of collecting, validating, and verifying information, processing and maintaining information, and disclosing and providing information. It also includes training personnel to be able to respond to the information collection, to search data sources, to complete and review, and to transmit or otherwise disclose the information. The total annual burden hours estimated for this ICR are summarized in the table below.

Under the authority of 42 U.S.C. 217a, section 222 of the Public Health Service Act, as amended, SACHRP was established to provide expert advice and recommendations to the Secretary of Health and Human Services, through the Assistant Secretary for Health, on issues and topics pertaining to or associated with the protection of human research subjects.

The Subpart A Subcommittee (SAS) was established by SACHRP in October 2006 and is charged with developing recommendations for consideration by SACHRP regarding the application of subpart A of 45 CFR part 46 in the current research environment.

The Subcommittee on Harmonization (SOH) was established by SACHRP at its July 2009 meeting and charged with identifying and prioritizing areas in which regulations and/or guidelines for human subjects research adopted by various agencies or offices within HHS would benefit from harmonization, consistency, clarity, simplification and/or coordination.

The SACHRP meeting will open to the public at 11:00 a.m., on Tuesday, July 23, 2024, followed by opening remarks from Julie Kaneshiro, Acting Director of OHRP and Dr. Douglas Diekema, SACHRP Chair. The meeting will begin with a discussion of the draft recommendation, Ethical and Regulatory Considerations for the Inclusion of LGBTQI+ Populations in HHS Human Subjects Research. This topic is a continuation of the discussion and speaker panel presented at the October 2023 SACHRP. This will be followed by discussion of Considerations for Uninformative Research. OHRP will also provide an update on planned changes to the structure and operation of SACHRP's subcommittees. The first day will adjourn at approximately 4:00 p.m. The second day of the meeting, July 24, will begin at 11:00 with a continued discussion of the previous day's topics. Other topics may be added; for the full and updated meeting agenda, see http://www.dhhs.gov/ohrp/sachrp-committee/meetings/index.html. The meeting will adjourn by 4:00 p.m., July 24, 2024.

Time will be allotted for public comment on both days of the meeting. SACHRP materials will be publicly posted at https://www.regulations.gov/, docket # HHS-OASH-2024-0008. The public may submit written public comment in advance to SACHRP@hhs.gov no later than midnight July 19th, 2024, ET. Written comments will be shared with SACHRP members and may read aloud during the meeting. Comments which are read aloud are limited to three minutes each. Public comment must be relevant to topics currently being addressed by the SACHRP.

Notice is hereby given that, in a letter dated May 22, 2024, the President issued a major disaster declaration under the authority of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, 42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq. (the “Stafford Act”), as follows:

The time period prescribed for the implementation of section 310(a), Priority to Certain Applications for Public Facility and Public Housing Assistance, 42 U.S.C. 5153, shall be for a period not to exceed six months after the date of this declaration.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) hereby gives notice that pursuant to the authority vested in the Administrator, under Executive Order 12148, as amended, Jeffrey L. Jones, of FEMA is appointed to act as the Federal Coordinating Officer for this major disaster.

The following areas of the State of West Virginia have been designated as adversely affected by this major disaster:

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) hereby gives notice that pursuant to the authority vested in the Administrator, under Executive Order 12148, as amended, Catharine O. Fan, of FEMA is appointed to act as the Federal Coordinating Officer for this disaster.

This action terminates the appointment of Toney L. Raines as Federal Coordinating Officer for this disaster.

The notice of a major disaster declaration for the State of Iowa is hereby amended to include the following areas among those areas determined to have been adversely affected by the event declared a major disaster by the President in his declaration of May 24, 2024.

The notice of a major disaster declaration for the State of Texas is hereby amended to include the following areas among those areas determined to have been adversely affected by the event declared a major disaster by the President in his declaration of May 17, 2024.

Notice is hereby given that, in a letter dated May 24, 2024, the President issued a major disaster declaration under the authority of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, 42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq. (the “Stafford Act”), as follows:

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) hereby gives notice that pursuant to the authority vested in the Administrator, under Executive Order 12148, as amended, Andrew P. Meyer, of FEMA is appointed to act as the Federal Coordinating Officer for this major disaster.

The following areas of the State of Nebraska have been designated as adversely affected by this major disaster:

The notice of a major disaster declaration for the State of Arkansas is hereby amended to include the following areas among those areas determined to have been adversely affected by the event declared a major disaster by the President in his declaration of May 30, 2024.

Notice is hereby given that, in a letter dated May 24, 2024, the President issued a major disaster declaration under the authority of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, 42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq. (the “Stafford Act”), as follows:

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) hereby gives notice that pursuant to the authority vested in the Administrator, under Executive Order 12148, as amended, Jeffrey L. Jones, of FEMA is appointed to act as the Federal Coordinating Officer for this major disaster.

The following areas of the State of West Virginia have been designated as adversely affected by this major disaster:

The notice of a major disaster declaration for the State of Texas is hereby amended to include the following areas among those areas determined to have been adversely affected by the event declared a major disaster by the President in his declaration of May 17, 2024.

The notice of a major disaster declaration for the State of Texas is hereby amended to include the following areas among those areas determined to have been adversely affected by the event declared a major disaster by the President in his declaration of May 17, 2024.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) hereby gives notice that pursuant to the authority vested in the Administrator, under Executive Order 12148, as amended, Catharine O. Fan, of FEMA is appointed to act as the Federal Coordinating Officer for this disaster.

This action terminates the appointment of Yolanda J. Jackson as Federal Coordinating Officer for this disaster.

Notice is hereby given that, in a letter dated May 24, 2024, the President issued a major disaster declaration under the authority of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, 42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq. (the “Stafford Act”), as follows:

The time period prescribed for the implementation of section 310(a), Priority to Certain Applications for Public Facility and Public Housing Assistance, 42 U.S.C. 5153, shall be for a period not to exceed six months after the date of this declaration.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) hereby gives notice that pursuant to the authority vested in the Administrator, under Executive Order 12148, as amended, DuWayne Tewes, of FEMA is appointed to act as the Federal Coordinating Officer for this major disaster.

The following areas of the State of Iowa have been designated as adversely affected by this major disaster:

The notice of a major disaster declaration for the State of Oklahoma is hereby amended to include the following areas among those areas determined to have been adversely affected by the event declared a major disaster by the President in his declaration of April 30, 2024.

Notice is hereby given that, in a letter dated June 5, 2024, the President amended the cost-sharing arrangements regarding Federal funds provided under the authority of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, 42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq. (the “Stafford Act”), in a letter to Deanne Criswell, Administrator, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Department of Homeland Security, under Executive Order 12148, as follows:

The notice of a major disaster declaration for the State of Texas is hereby amended to include the following areas among those areas determined to have been adversely affected by the event declared a major disaster by the President in his declaration of May 17, 2024.

Notice of this meeting is given under the Federal Advisory Committee Act, Public Law 117-286, 5 U.S.C. ch. 10.

In accordance with the Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2012, the TMAC makes recommendations to the FEMA Administrator on: (1) how to improve, in a cost-effective manner, the (a) accuracy, general quality, ease of use, and distribution and dissemination of flood insurance rate maps and risk data; and (b) performance metrics and milestones required to effectively and efficiently map flood risk areas in the United States; (2) mapping standards and guidelines for (a) flood insurance rate maps, and (b) data accuracy, data quality, data currency, and data eligibility; (3) how to maintain, on an ongoing basis, flood insurance rate maps and flood risk identification; (4) procedures for delegating mapping activities to State and local mapping partners; and (5) (a) methods for improving interagency and intergovernmental coordination on flood mapping and flood risk determination, and (b) a funding strategy to leverage and coordinate budgets and expenditures across Federal agencies. Furthermore, the TMAC is required to submit an annual report to the FEMA Administrator that contains: (1) a description of the activities of the Council; (2) an evaluation of the status and performance of flood insurance rate maps and mapping activities to revise and update Flood Insurance Rate Maps; and (3) a summary of recommendations made by the Council to the FEMA Administrator.

Agenda: The purpose of this meeting is for the TMAC members to discuss and deliberate on the content of the 2024 TMAC Annual Report. Any related materials will be available upon request prior to the meeting to provide the public with an opportunity to review the materials. The full agenda and related meeting materials will be available upon request by Wednesday, July 24, 2024. To receive a copy of any relevant materials, please send the request to: FEMA-TMAC@fema.dhs.gov (Attn: Brian Koper).

The notice of a major disaster declaration for the State of Texas is hereby amended to include the following areas among those areas determined to have been adversely affected by the event declared a major disaster by the President in his declaration of May 17, 2024.

Notice is hereby given that the incident period for this disaster is closed effective June 5, 2024.

The notice of a major disaster declaration for the State of New Mexico is hereby amended to include the following areas among the areas determined to have been adversely affected by the event declared a major disaster by the President in his declaration of June 20, 2024.

Notice is hereby given that the incident period for this declared disaster is now May 20 to May 31, 2024.

The notice of a major disaster declaration for the State of Arkansas is hereby amended to include the following area among those areas determined to have been adversely affected by the event declared a major disaster by the President in his declaration of May 30, 2024.

Notice is hereby given that, in a letter dated June 10, 2024, the President issued a major disaster declaration under the authority of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, 42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq. (the “Stafford Act”), as follows:

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) hereby gives notice that pursuant to the authority vested in the Administrator, under Executive Order 12148, as amended, Theresa Y. Serata, of FEMA is appointed to act as the Federal Coordinating Officer for this major disaster.

The following areas of the State of Idaho have been designated as adversely affected by this major disaster:

Notice is hereby given that, in a letter dated May 24, 2024, the President issued a major disaster declaration under the authority of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, 42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq. (the “Stafford Act”), as follows:

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) hereby gives notice that pursuant to the authority vested in the Administrator, under Executive Order 12148, as amended, Robert V. Fogel, of FEMA is appointed to act as the Federal Coordinating Officer for this major disaster.

The following areas of the State of Maine have been designated as adversely affected by this major disaster:

Notice is hereby given that, in a letter dated May 30, 2024, the President issued a major disaster declaration under the authority of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, 42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq. (the “Stafford Act”), as follows:

The time period prescribed for the implementation of section 310(a), Priority to Certain Applications for Public Facility and Public Housing Assistance, 42 U.S.C. 5153, shall be for a period not to exceed six months after the date of this declaration.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) hereby gives notice that pursuant to the authority vested in the Administrator, under Executive Order 12148, as amended, Roland W. Jackson, of FEMA is appointed to act as the Federal Coordinating Officer for this major disaster.

The following areas of the State of Arkansas have been designated as adversely affected by this major disaster:

Notice is hereby given that the incident for this declared disaster has been changed to South Fork Fire, Salt Fire, and Flooding.

The Department of Homeland Security, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), formerly known as the National Protection and Programs Directorate, Emergency Communications Division (ECD), formed under title XVIII of the Homeland Security Act of 2002, 6 U.S.C. 571 et seq., is required, pursuant to 6 U.S.C. 572, to develop the National Emergency Communications Plan (NECP), which includes identification of goals, timeframes, and appropriate measures to achieve interoperable communications capabilities. The Statewide Communication Interoperability Plan (SCIP) Template and Annual SCIP Snapshot Report are designed to meet and support these statutory requirements. The ECD SCIP Team will hold webinars and a workshop with the State Statewide Interoperability Coordinator (SWIC) and their stakeholders to review the states goals and objectives in becoming more interoperable over the next two to three years. The SCIP Team then puts the information collected from the webinars and workshops with the SWIC and stakeholders into the SCIP template. The SWIC governance body reviews and approves the documents before it is then signed by the state and becomes a state document. CISA does not own this document. CISA archives the information collected in a tracking system called the CommsCollab until it is time for the state to update this document in two to three years as mandated by Congress.

ECD will use the information from the SCIP Template and Annual SCIP Snapshot to track the progress States are making in implementing milestones and demonstrating goals of the NECP, as required through the Homeland Security Act of 2002, 6 U.S.C. 572. The SCIP Template and Annual SCIP Snapshot will provide ECD with broader capability data across the lanes of the Interoperability Continuum, which are key indicators of consistent success in response-level communications.

In addition, the SCIP Template and the SCIP Snapshot will assist States in their strategic planning for interoperable and emergency communications while demonstrating each State's achievements and challenges in accomplishing optimal interoperability for emergency responders. Moreover, certain government grants may require States to update their SCIP Templates and SCIP Snapshot to include broadband efforts to receive funding for interoperable and emergency communications.

Statewide Interoperability Coordinators (SWICs) will be responsible for collecting this information from their respective stakeholders and governance bodies and will complete and submit the SCIP Snapshots directly to ECD through unclassified electronic submission.

The Office of Management and Budget is particularly interested in comments which:

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 submissions of responses.

Agency: Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

Title: Statewide Communication Interoperability Plan (SCIP) Template and Annual SCIP Snapshot.

OMB Number: 1670-0017.

Frequency: Annually.

Affected Public: State, local, Tribal, and Territorial governments.

Number of Respondents: 56.

Estimated Time per Respondent: 6.

Total Burden Hours: 336.

Annualized Respondent Cost: $29,950.

Total Annualized Government Cost: $18,208.

This notice relies on the authority of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995; 44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq., chapter 35, as amended. An ICR is an application to OIRA seeking the approval, extension, or renewal of a S&T collection of information (Collection). The ICR contains information describing the Collection's purpose, the Collection's likely burden on the affected public, an explanation of the necessity of the Collection, and other important information describing the Collection. There is one ICR for each Collection.

S&T invites comments on whether this ICR should be granted based on the Collection being necessary for the proper performance of Departmental functions. In particular, S&T would appreciate comments addressing: (1) The practical utility of the Collection; (2) the accuracy of the estimated burden of the Collection; (3) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of information subject to the Collection; and (4) ways to minimize the burden of the Collection on respondents, including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology. Burden means the total time, effort, or financial resources expended by persons to generate, maintain, retain, disclose or provide information to or for a Federal agency.

This information collection was previously published September 14, 2023 at 88 FR 62585. In response to your comments, we may revise this ICR. We will consider all comments and material received during the comment period.

We encourage you to respond to this request by submitting comments and related materials. Comments must contain the OMB Control Number of the ICR and the docket number of this request, DHS-2023-0031 SAFETY Act, and must be received by August 7, 2024.

Agency: DHS/Science and Technology.

Title: Safety Act.

OMB Number: 1640-0001.

Frequency: Once.

Affected Public: Individuals.

Number of Respondents: An estimated 330 respondents will take the survey.

Estimated Time per Respondent: 56 hours.

Total Burden Hours: 18,500 hours.

Total Burden Cost (capital/startup): There is no cost to participants other than their time.

Total Burden Cost (operating/maintaining): There is no cost to participants other than their time.