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    <VOL>91</VOL>
    <NO>162</NO>
    <DATE>Monday, August 24, 2026</DATE>
    <UNITNAME>Contents</UNITNAME>
    <CNTNTS>
        <AGCY>
            <EAR>
                Agriculture
                <PRTPAGE P="iii"/>
            </EAR>
            <HD>Agriculture Department</HD>
            <SEE>
                <HD SOURCE="HED">See</HD>
                <P>Forest Service</P>
            </SEE>
        </AGCY>
        <AGCY>
            <EAR>Civil Rights</EAR>
            <HD>Civil Rights Commission</HD>
            <CAT>
                <HD>NOTICES</HD>
                <SJ>Hearings, Meetings, Proceedings, etc.:</SJ>
                <SJDENT>
                    <SJDOC>South Carolina Advisory Committee, </SJDOC>
                    <PGS>54692</PGS>
                    <FRDOCBP>2026-17197</FRDOCBP>
                </SJDENT>
            </CAT>
        </AGCY>
        <AGCY>
            <EAR>Coast Guard</EAR>
            <HD>Coast Guard</HD>
            <CAT>
                <HD>RULES</HD>
                <SJ>Safety Zone:</SJ>
                <SJDENT>
                    <SJDOC>T/V Denise Foss (O.N. 1254223), Honolulu, HI, </SJDOC>
                    <PGS>54659-54661</PGS>
                    <FRDOCBP>2026-17217</FRDOCBP>
                </SJDENT>
            </CAT>
            <CAT>
                <HD>NOTICES</HD>
                <SJ>Guidance:</SJ>
                <SJDENT>
                    <SJDOC>Streamlined Inspection Program; Draft Navigation and Vessel Inspection Circular 02-99 Change 1, </SJDOC>
                    <PGS>54729-54730</PGS>
                    <FRDOCBP>2026-17216</FRDOCBP>
                </SJDENT>
            </CAT>
        </AGCY>
        <AGCY>
            <EAR>Commerce</EAR>
            <HD>Commerce Department</HD>
            <SEE>
                <HD SOURCE="HED">See</HD>
                <P>Foreign-Trade Zones Board</P>
            </SEE>
            <SEE>
                <HD SOURCE="HED">See</HD>
                <P>Industry and Security Bureau</P>
            </SEE>
            <SEE>
                <HD SOURCE="HED">See</HD>
                <P>International Trade Administration</P>
            </SEE>
            <SEE>
                <HD SOURCE="HED">See</HD>
                <P>National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration</P>
            </SEE>
        </AGCY>
        <AGCY>
            <EAR>Defense Department</EAR>
            <HD>Defense Department</HD>
            <SEE>
                <HD SOURCE="HED">See</HD>
                <P>Navy Department</P>
            </SEE>
            <CAT>
                <HD>NOTICES</HD>
                <DOCENT>
                    <DOC>Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposals, Submissions, and Approvals, </DOC>
                    <PGS>54701-54702</PGS>
                    <FRDOCBP>2026-17236</FRDOCBP>
                </DOCENT>
                <DOCENT>
                    <DOC>Privacy Act; Systems of Records, </DOC>
                    <PGS>54701</PGS>
                    <FRDOCBP>2026-17199</FRDOCBP>
                </DOCENT>
            </CAT>
        </AGCY>
        <AGCY>
            <EAR>Education Department</EAR>
            <HD>Education Department</HD>
            <CAT>
                <HD>PROPOSED RULES</HD>
                <DOCENT>
                    <DOC>Education Department General Administrative Regulations, </DOC>
                    <PGS>54666-54683</PGS>
                    <FRDOCBP>2026-17239</FRDOCBP>
                </DOCENT>
            </CAT>
        </AGCY>
        <AGCY>
            <EAR>Energy Department</EAR>
            <HD>Energy Department</HD>
            <SEE>
                <HD SOURCE="HED">See</HD>
                <P>Federal Energy Regulatory Commission</P>
            </SEE>
            <CAT>
                <HD>NOTICES</HD>
                <SJ>Hearings, Meetings, Proceedings, etc.:</SJ>
                <SJDENT>
                    <SJDOC>Environmental Management Site-Specific Advisory Board, Idaho Cleanup Project, </SJDOC>
                    <PGS>54703-54704</PGS>
                    <FRDOCBP>2026-17221</FRDOCBP>
                </SJDENT>
                <SJDENT>
                    <SJDOC>Environmental Management Site-Specific Advisory Board, Paducah, </SJDOC>
                    <PGS>54704-54705</PGS>
                    <FRDOCBP>2026-17220</FRDOCBP>
                </SJDENT>
            </CAT>
        </AGCY>
        <AGCY>
            <EAR>Environmental Protection</EAR>
            <HD>Environmental Protection Agency</HD>
            <CAT>
                <HD>PROPOSED RULES</HD>
                <DOCENT>
                    <DOC>Response to Clean Air Act Section 176A Petition from New Hampshire, </DOC>
                    <PGS>54691</PGS>
                    <FRDOCBP>C1-2026-16331</FRDOCBP>
                </DOCENT>
            </CAT>
        </AGCY>
        <AGCY>
            <EAR>Export Import</EAR>
            <HD>Export-Import Bank</HD>
            <CAT>
                <HD>NOTICES</HD>
                <DOCENT>
                    <DOC>Applications for Long-Term Loans or Financial Guarantees in Excess of $100 Million, </DOC>
                    <PGS>54708-54709</PGS>
                    <FRDOCBP>2026-17194</FRDOCBP>
                      
                    <FRDOCBP>2026-17207</FRDOCBP>
                </DOCENT>
            </CAT>
        </AGCY>
        <AGCY>
            <EAR>Federal Aviation</EAR>
            <HD>Federal Aviation Administration</HD>
            <CAT>
                <HD>PROPOSED RULES</HD>
                <SJ>Airworthiness Directives:</SJ>
                <SJDENT>
                    <SJDOC>Airbus Helicopters, </SJDOC>
                    <PGS>54683-54686</PGS>
                    <FRDOCBP>2026-17209</FRDOCBP>
                </SJDENT>
            </CAT>
            <CAT>
                <HD>NOTICES</HD>
                <DOCENT>
                    <DOC>Adoption of Categorical Exclusion under the National Environmental Policy Act, </DOC>
                    <PGS>54783-54784</PGS>
                    <FRDOCBP>2026-17212</FRDOCBP>
                </DOCENT>
            </CAT>
        </AGCY>
        <AGCY>
            <EAR>Federal Communications</EAR>
            <HD>Federal Communications Commission</HD>
            <CAT>
                <HD>NOTICES</HD>
                <DOCENT>
                    <DOC>Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposals, Submissions, and Approvals, </DOC>
                    <PGS>54709-54713</PGS>
                    <FRDOCBP>2026-17208</FRDOCBP>
                </DOCENT>
                <DOCENT>
                    <DOC>Prohibiting the Importation and Marketing of Certain Covered UAS and UAS Critical Components and Equipment Listed in Section 1709 of FY2025 NDAA, </DOC>
                    <PGS>54713-54715</PGS>
                    <FRDOCBP>2026-17193</FRDOCBP>
                </DOCENT>
            </CAT>
        </AGCY>
        <AGCY>
            <EAR>Federal Energy</EAR>
            <HD>Federal Energy Regulatory Commission</HD>
            <CAT>
                <HD>NOTICES</HD>
                <SJ>Application and Establishing Intervention Deadline:</SJ>
                <SJDENT>
                    <SJDOC>Natural Gas Pipeline Co. of America LLC, Horizon Pipeline Co., LLC, </SJDOC>
                    <PGS>54705-54707</PGS>
                    <FRDOCBP>2026-17243</FRDOCBP>
                </SJDENT>
                <DOCENT>
                    <DOC>Combined Filings, </DOC>
                    <PGS>54707-54708</PGS>
                    <FRDOCBP>2026-17245</FRDOCBP>
                      
                    <FRDOCBP>2026-17246</FRDOCBP>
                </DOCENT>
                <SJ>Reasonable Period of Time for Water Quality Certification Application:</SJ>
                <SJDENT>
                    <SJDOC>Bangor-Pacific Hydro Associates, </SJDOC>
                    <PGS>54707</PGS>
                    <FRDOCBP>2026-17257</FRDOCBP>
                </SJDENT>
            </CAT>
        </AGCY>
        <AGCY>
            <EAR>Food and Drug</EAR>
            <HD>Food and Drug Administration</HD>
            <CAT>
                <HD>NOTICES</HD>
                <SJ>Draft and Revised Draft Guidances:</SJ>
                <SJDENT>
                    <SJDOC>Product-Specific Guidances, </SJDOC>
                    <PGS>54722-54724</PGS>
                    <FRDOCBP>2026-17222</FRDOCBP>
                </SJDENT>
                <SJ>Food and Drug Administration Modernization Act:</SJ>
                <SJDENT>
                    <SJDOC>Modifications to the List of Recognized Standards, Recognition List Number: 066, </SJDOC>
                    <PGS>54715-54721</PGS>
                    <FRDOCBP>2026-17229</FRDOCBP>
                </SJDENT>
                <SJ>Guidance:</SJ>
                <SJDENT>
                    <SJDOC>Evaluation of Therapeutic Equivalence, </SJDOC>
                    <PGS>54721-54722</PGS>
                    <FRDOCBP>2026-17215</FRDOCBP>
                </SJDENT>
            </CAT>
        </AGCY>
        <AGCY>
            <EAR>Foreign Trade</EAR>
            <HD>Foreign-Trade Zones Board</HD>
            <CAT>
                <HD>NOTICES</HD>
                <SJ>Proposed Production Activity:</SJ>
                <SJDENT>
                    <SJDOC>Ichor Systems, Inc.(Semiconductor Equipment); Foreign-Trade Zone 183, Austin, TX, </SJDOC>
                    <PGS>54692-54696</PGS>
                    <FRDOCBP>2026-17241</FRDOCBP>
                </SJDENT>
                <SJDENT>
                    <SJDOC>Niagara Specialty Metals, Foreign-Trade Zone 23, Akron, NY, </SJDOC>
                    <PGS>54696</PGS>
                    <FRDOCBP>2026-17195</FRDOCBP>
                </SJDENT>
            </CAT>
        </AGCY>
        <AGCY>
            <EAR>Forest</EAR>
            <HD>Forest Service</HD>
            <CAT>
                <HD>PROPOSED RULES</HD>
                <SJ>Environmental Impact Statements; Availability, etc.:</SJ>
                <SJDENT>
                    <SJDOC>Travel Management; National Forest System Lands, </SJDOC>
                    <PGS>54686-54691</PGS>
                    <FRDOCBP>2026-17211</FRDOCBP>
                </SJDENT>
            </CAT>
        </AGCY>
        <AGCY>
            <EAR>Geological</EAR>
            <HD>Geological Survey</HD>
            <CAT>
                <HD>NOTICES</HD>
                <SJ>Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposals, Submissions, and Approvals:</SJ>
                <SJDENT>
                    <SJDOC>Revisions to the U.S. Geological Survey's Bird Banding and Marking Permit Application, </SJDOC>
                    <PGS>54732-54734</PGS>
                    <FRDOCBP>2026-17213</FRDOCBP>
                </SJDENT>
            </CAT>
        </AGCY>
        <AGCY>
            <EAR>Health and Human</EAR>
            <HD>Health and Human Services Department</HD>
            <SEE>
                <HD SOURCE="HED">See</HD>
                <P>Food and Drug Administration</P>
            </SEE>
            <SEE>
                <HD SOURCE="HED">See</HD>
                <P>National Institutes of Health</P>
            </SEE>
            <CAT>
                <HD>NOTICES</HD>
                <SJ>Request for Information:</SJ>
                <SJDENT>
                    <SJDOC>Categories Used in Federal Vaccine Recommendations and the Role of Shared Clinical Decision-Making, </SJDOC>
                    <PGS>54724-54728</PGS>
                    <FRDOCBP>2026-17250</FRDOCBP>
                </SJDENT>
            </CAT>
        </AGCY>
        <AGCY>
            <EAR>Homeland</EAR>
            <HD>Homeland Security Department</HD>
            <SEE>
                <HD SOURCE="HED">See</HD>
                <P>Coast Guard</P>
            </SEE>
            <CAT>
                <PRTPAGE P="iv"/>
                <HD>NOTICES</HD>
                <SJ>Charter Amendments, Establishments, Renewals and Terminations:</SJ>
                <SJDENT>
                    <SJDOC>United States Coast Guard Academy Board of Visitors, </SJDOC>
                    <PGS>54730-54731</PGS>
                    <FRDOCBP>2026-17219</FRDOCBP>
                </SJDENT>
            </CAT>
        </AGCY>
        <AGCY>
            <EAR>Housing</EAR>
            <HD>Housing and Urban Development Department</HD>
            <CAT>
                <HD>NOTICES</HD>
                <SJ>Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposals, Submissions, and Approvals:</SJ>
                <SJDENT>
                    <SJDOC>Capital Advance Section 811 Grant Application for Supportive Housing for Persons with Disabilities, </SJDOC>
                    <PGS>54731-54732</PGS>
                    <FRDOCBP>2026-17210</FRDOCBP>
                </SJDENT>
            </CAT>
        </AGCY>
        <AGCY>
            <EAR>Indian Affairs</EAR>
            <HD>Indian Affairs Bureau</HD>
            <CAT>
                <HD>NOTICES</HD>
                <DOCENT>
                    <DOC>Tonto Apache Tribe of Arizona Liquor Control Code, </DOC>
                    <PGS>54734-54739</PGS>
                    <FRDOCBP>2026-17235</FRDOCBP>
                </DOCENT>
            </CAT>
        </AGCY>
        <AGCY>
            <EAR>Industry</EAR>
            <HD>Industry and Security Bureau</HD>
            <CAT>
                <HD>RULES</HD>
                <DOCENT>
                    <DOC>Removal from the Entity List, </DOC>
                    <PGS>54657-54658</PGS>
                    <FRDOCBP>2026-17230</FRDOCBP>
                </DOCENT>
                <DOCENT>
                    <DOC>Revisions to the Entity List, </DOC>
                    <PGS>54658-54659</PGS>
                    <FRDOCBP>2026-17231</FRDOCBP>
                </DOCENT>
            </CAT>
        </AGCY>
        <AGCY>
            <EAR>Interior</EAR>
            <HD>Interior Department</HD>
            <SEE>
                <HD SOURCE="HED">See</HD>
                <P>Geological Survey</P>
            </SEE>
            <SEE>
                <HD SOURCE="HED">See</HD>
                <P>Indian Affairs Bureau</P>
            </SEE>
            <SEE>
                <HD SOURCE="HED">See</HD>
                <P>National Park Service</P>
            </SEE>
            <CAT>
                <HD>NOTICES</HD>
                <SJ>National Environmental Policy Act Implementing Procedures:</SJ>
                <SJDENT>
                    <SJDOC>Forest and Woodland Density Management Categorical Exclusion, </SJDOC>
                    <PGS>54744-54748</PGS>
                    <FRDOCBP>2026-17252</FRDOCBP>
                </SJDENT>
                <SJDENT>
                    <SJDOC>Timber Salvage Harvest Categorical Exclusion, </SJDOC>
                    <PGS>54739-54744</PGS>
                    <FRDOCBP>2026-17251</FRDOCBP>
                </SJDENT>
            </CAT>
        </AGCY>
        <AGCY>
            <EAR>Internal Revenue</EAR>
            <HD>Internal Revenue Service</HD>
            <CAT>
                <HD>PROPOSED RULES</HD>
                <DOCENT>
                    <DOC>Employer Contributions to Trump Accounts and Nondiscrimination Rules for Dependent Care Assistance Programs, </DOC>
                    <PGS>54686</PGS>
                    <FRDOCBP>C1-2026-16314</FRDOCBP>
                </DOCENT>
            </CAT>
            <CAT>
                <HD>NOTICES</HD>
                <SJ>Hearings, Meetings, Proceedings, etc.:</SJ>
                <SJDENT>
                    <SJDOC>Taxpayer Advocacy Panel Joint Committee, </SJDOC>
                    <PGS>54784-54785</PGS>
                    <FRDOCBP>2026-17249</FRDOCBP>
                </SJDENT>
            </CAT>
        </AGCY>
        <AGCY>
            <EAR>International Trade Adm</EAR>
            <HD>International Trade Administration</HD>
            <CAT>
                <HD>NOTICES</HD>
                <DOCENT>
                    <DOC>Antidumping or Countervailing Duty Investigations, Orders, or Reviews, </DOC>
                    <PGS>54696</PGS>
                    <FRDOCBP>C1-2026-04516</FRDOCBP>
                </DOCENT>
            </CAT>
        </AGCY>
        <AGCY>
            <EAR>International Trade Com</EAR>
            <HD>International Trade Commission</HD>
            <CAT>
                <HD>NOTICES</HD>
                <SJ>Investigations; Determinations, Modifications, and Rulings, etc.:</SJ>
                <SJDENT>
                    <SJDOC>Certain Secondary Cylindrical Batteries, Components Thereof, and Products Containing the Same, </SJDOC>
                    <PGS>54764-54765</PGS>
                    <FRDOCBP>2026-17240</FRDOCBP>
                </SJDENT>
                <SJDENT>
                    <SJDOC>Certain Wi-Fi Routers, Wi-Fi Devices, Mesh Wi-Fi Network Devices  and Components Thereof, </SJDOC>
                    <PGS>54763-54764</PGS>
                    <FRDOCBP>2026-17196</FRDOCBP>
                </SJDENT>
            </CAT>
        </AGCY>
        <AGCY>
            <EAR>Justice Department</EAR>
            <HD>Justice Department</HD>
            <CAT>
                <HD>NOTICES</HD>
                <SJ>Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposals, Submissions, and Approvals:</SJ>
                <SJDENT>
                    <SJDOC>Application to Restore Federal Firearms Rights (Relief from Federal Firearms Disabilities), </SJDOC>
                    <PGS>54765</PGS>
                    <FRDOCBP>2026-17242</FRDOCBP>
                </SJDENT>
                <SJ>Proposed Partial Consent Decree:</SJ>
                <SJDENT>
                    <SJDOC>Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act and Federal Debt Collection Procedures Act, </SJDOC>
                    <PGS>54766</PGS>
                    <FRDOCBP>2026-17200</FRDOCBP>
                </SJDENT>
            </CAT>
        </AGCY>
        <AGCY>
            <EAR>National Institute</EAR>
            <HD>National Institutes of Health</HD>
            <CAT>
                <HD>NOTICES</HD>
                <SJ>Licenses; Exemptions, Applications, Amendments, etc.:</SJ>
                <SJDENT>
                    <SJDOC>Government Owned Invention; T Cell Receptors Targeting HPV 6 or HPV 11, </SJDOC>
                    <PGS>54728-54729</PGS>
                    <FRDOCBP>2026-17188</FRDOCBP>
                </SJDENT>
            </CAT>
        </AGCY>
        <AGCY>
            <EAR>National Oceanic</EAR>
            <HD>National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration</HD>
            <CAT>
                <HD>RULES</HD>
                <SJ>Coastal Migratory Pelagic Resources of the Gulf and Atlantic Region:</SJ>
                <SJDENT>
                    <SJDOC>Commercial Closure for Atlantic Spanish Mackerel in the Northern Zone, </SJDOC>
                    <PGS>54664-54665</PGS>
                    <FRDOCBP>2026-17228</FRDOCBP>
                </SJDENT>
            </CAT>
            <CAT>
                <HD>NOTICES</HD>
                <SJ>Hearings, Meetings, Proceedings, etc.:</SJ>
                <SJDENT>
                    <SJDOC>Pacific Fishery Management Council, </SJDOC>
                    <PGS>54699-54700</PGS>
                    <FRDOCBP>2026-17248</FRDOCBP>
                </SJDENT>
                <SJDENT>
                    <SJDOC>Western Pacific Fishery Management Council, </SJDOC>
                    <PGS>54696-54699</PGS>
                    <FRDOCBP>2026-17247</FRDOCBP>
                </SJDENT>
                <SJ>Request of Nominations:</SJ>
                <SJDENT>
                    <SJDOC>International Pacific Halibut Commission, </SJDOC>
                    <PGS>54700-54701</PGS>
                    <FRDOCBP>2026-17192</FRDOCBP>
                </SJDENT>
            </CAT>
        </AGCY>
        <AGCY>
            <EAR>National Park</EAR>
            <HD>National Park Service</HD>
            <CAT>
                <HD>RULES</HD>
                <SJ>Gulf Islands National Seashore:</SJ>
                <SJDENT>
                    <SJDOC>Personal Watercraft, </SJDOC>
                    <PGS>54661-54664</PGS>
                    <FRDOCBP>2026-17198</FRDOCBP>
                </SJDENT>
            </CAT>
            <CAT>
                <HD>NOTICES</HD>
                <SJ>Intended Disposition:</SJ>
                <SJDENT>
                    <SJDOC>U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Gatlinburg, TN, </SJDOC>
                    <PGS>54757</PGS>
                    <FRDOCBP>2026-17172</FRDOCBP>
                </SJDENT>
                <SJ>Inventory Completion:</SJ>
                <SJDENT>
                    <SJDOC>Beloit College, Logan Museum of Anthropology, Beloit, WI, </SJDOC>
                    <PGS>54748-54749</PGS>
                    <FRDOCBP>2026-17185</FRDOCBP>
                </SJDENT>
                <SJDENT>
                    <SJDOC>Field Museum, Chicago, IL, </SJDOC>
                    <PGS>54755-54756</PGS>
                    <FRDOCBP>2026-17178</FRDOCBP>
                </SJDENT>
                <SJDENT>
                    <SJDOC>Iliff School of Theology, Denver, CO, </SJDOC>
                    <PGS>54758-54759</PGS>
                    <FRDOCBP>2026-17177</FRDOCBP>
                </SJDENT>
                <SJDENT>
                    <SJDOC>Nassau County Department of Parks, Recreation, and Museums, Garvies Point Museum and Preserve, Glen Cove, NY, </SJDOC>
                    <PGS>54753-54754</PGS>
                    <FRDOCBP>2026-17182</FRDOCBP>
                </SJDENT>
                <SJDENT>
                    <SJDOC>Office of the State Archaeologist, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, </SJDOC>
                    <PGS>54762-54763</PGS>
                    <FRDOCBP>2026-17173</FRDOCBP>
                </SJDENT>
                <SJDENT>
                    <SJDOC>Robert S. Peabody Institute of Archaeology, Andover, MA, </SJDOC>
                    <PGS>54749-54750</PGS>
                    <FRDOCBP>2026-17165</FRDOCBP>
                </SJDENT>
                <SJDENT>
                    <SJDOC>U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service, Cape Cod National Seashore, Wellfleet, MA, </SJDOC>
                    <PGS>54753</PGS>
                    <FRDOCBP>2026-17179</FRDOCBP>
                </SJDENT>
                <SJDENT>
                    <SJDOC>University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, ND, and State Historical Society of North Dakota, Bismarck, ND, </SJDOC>
                    <PGS>54759-54760</PGS>
                    <FRDOCBP>2026-17181</FRDOCBP>
                </SJDENT>
                <SJDENT>
                    <SJDOC>University of Texas at Austin, Texas Archeological Research Laboratory, Austin, TX, </SJDOC>
                    <PGS>54752-54753</PGS>
                    <FRDOCBP>2026-17175</FRDOCBP>
                </SJDENT>
                <SJ>Repatriation of Cultural Items:</SJ>
                <SJDENT>
                    <SJDOC>American Museum of Natural History, New York, NY, </SJDOC>
                    <PGS>54751-54752</PGS>
                    <FRDOCBP>2026-17186</FRDOCBP>
                </SJDENT>
                <SJDENT>
                    <SJDOC>Boston Children's Museum, Boston, MA, </SJDOC>
                    <PGS>54754-54755</PGS>
                    <FRDOCBP>2026-17180</FRDOCBP>
                </SJDENT>
                <SJDENT>
                    <SJDOC>California Department of Parks and Recreation, Sacramento, CA, </SJDOC>
                    <PGS>54755</PGS>
                    <FRDOCBP>2026-17166</FRDOCBP>
                </SJDENT>
                <SJDENT>
                    <SJDOC>Mississippi Department of Archives and History, Jackson, MS, </SJDOC>
                    <PGS>54757-54758</PGS>
                    <FRDOCBP>2026-17171</FRDOCBP>
                </SJDENT>
                <SJDENT>
                    <SJDOC>Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University, Durham, NC, </SJDOC>
                    <PGS>54760</PGS>
                    <FRDOCBP>2026-17169</FRDOCBP>
                </SJDENT>
                <SJDENT>
                    <SJDOC>New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, Waterford, NY, </SJDOC>
                    <PGS>54760-54761</PGS>
                    <FRDOCBP>2026-17174</FRDOCBP>
                </SJDENT>
                <SJDENT>
                    <SJDOC>Princeton University Art Museum, Princeton, NJ, </SJDOC>
                    <PGS>54750</PGS>
                    <FRDOCBP>2026-17184</FRDOCBP>
                </SJDENT>
                <SJDENT>
                    <SJDOC>Sonoma State University, Rohnert Park, CA, </SJDOC>
                    <PGS>54756-54757</PGS>
                    <FRDOCBP>2026-17168</FRDOCBP>
                </SJDENT>
                <SJDENT>
                    <PRTPAGE P="v"/>
                    <SJDOC>University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, ND, </SJDOC>
                    <PGS>54750-54751</PGS>
                    <FRDOCBP>2026-17170</FRDOCBP>
                </SJDENT>
                <SJDENT>
                    <SJDOC>Yager Museum of Art and Culture, Hartwick College, Oneonta, NY, </SJDOC>
                    <PGS>54761-54762</PGS>
                    <FRDOCBP>2026-17176</FRDOCBP>
                </SJDENT>
            </CAT>
        </AGCY>
        <AGCY>
            <EAR>Navy</EAR>
            <HD>Navy Department</HD>
            <CAT>
                <HD>NOTICES</HD>
                <DOCENT>
                    <DOC>Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposals, Submissions, and Approvals, </DOC>
                    <PGS>54702-54703</PGS>
                    <FRDOCBP>2026-17233</FRDOCBP>
                      
                    <FRDOCBP>2026-17234</FRDOCBP>
                </DOCENT>
            </CAT>
        </AGCY>
        <AGCY>
            <EAR>Nuclear Regulatory</EAR>
            <HD>Nuclear Regulatory Commission</HD>
            <CAT>
                <HD>NOTICES</HD>
                <SJ>Licenses; Exemptions, Applications, Amendments, etc.:</SJ>
                <SJDENT>
                    <SJDOC>Arizona Public Service Co.; Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station, Units 1, 2, and 3; Indirect Transfer of Control of Licenses, </SJDOC>
                    <PGS>54766-54768</PGS>
                    <FRDOCBP>2026-17244</FRDOCBP>
                </SJDENT>
            </CAT>
        </AGCY>
        <AGCY>
            <EAR>Presidential Documents</EAR>
            <HD>Presidential Documents</HD>
            <CAT>
                <HD>PROCLAMATIONS</HD>
                <DOCENT>
                    <DOC>Canada; Temporary Suspension of Additional Duties To Offset Discrimination Against U.S. Commerce With Respect to Alcoholic Beverages, Dairy, and Motor Vehicles (Proc. 11056), </DOC>
                    <PGS>54787-54791</PGS>
                    <FRDOCBP>2026-17294</FRDOCBP>
                </DOCENT>
            </CAT>
        </AGCY>
        <AGCY>
            <EAR>Securities</EAR>
            <HD>Securities and Exchange Commission</HD>
            <CAT>
                <HD>NOTICES</HD>
                <DOCENT>
                    <DOC>Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposals, Submissions, and Approvals, </DOC>
                    <PGS>54768, 54774-54775, 54778-54780</PGS>
                    <FRDOCBP>2026-17189</FRDOCBP>
                      
                    <FRDOCBP>2026-17223</FRDOCBP>
                      
                    <FRDOCBP>2026-17224</FRDOCBP>
                      
                    <FRDOCBP>2026-17225</FRDOCBP>
                      
                    <FRDOCBP>2026-17226</FRDOCBP>
                </DOCENT>
                <SJ>Application:</SJ>
                <SJDENT>
                    <SJDOC>Pender Real Estate Credit Fund, et al., </SJDOC>
                    <PGS>54782-54783</PGS>
                    <FRDOCBP>2026-17191</FRDOCBP>
                </SJDENT>
                <SJ>Self-Regulatory Organizations; Proposed Rule Changes:</SJ>
                <SJDENT>
                    <SJDOC>Cboe Exchange, Inc., </SJDOC>
                    <PGS>54770-54774</PGS>
                    <FRDOCBP>2026-17203</FRDOCBP>
                </SJDENT>
                <SJDENT>
                    <SJDOC>Investors Exchange LLC, </SJDOC>
                    <PGS>54768-54770</PGS>
                    <FRDOCBP>2026-17201</FRDOCBP>
                </SJDENT>
                <SJDENT>
                    <SJDOC>MEMX LLC, </SJDOC>
                    <PGS>54775-54778</PGS>
                    <FRDOCBP>2026-17202</FRDOCBP>
                </SJDENT>
                <SJDENT>
                    <SJDOC>NYSE American LLC, </SJDOC>
                    <PGS>54778</PGS>
                    <FRDOCBP>2026-17206</FRDOCBP>
                </SJDENT>
                <SJDENT>
                    <SJDOC>NYSE Arca, Inc., </SJDOC>
                    <PGS>54780-54783</PGS>
                    <FRDOCBP>2026-17204</FRDOCBP>
                      
                    <FRDOCBP>2026-17205</FRDOCBP>
                </SJDENT>
            </CAT>
        </AGCY>
        <AGCY>
            <EAR>Transportation Department</EAR>
            <HD>Transportation Department</HD>
            <SEE>
                <HD SOURCE="HED">See</HD>
                <P>Federal Aviation Administration</P>
            </SEE>
        </AGCY>
        <AGCY>
            <EAR>Treasury</EAR>
            <HD>Treasury Department</HD>
            <SEE>
                <HD SOURCE="HED">See</HD>
                <P>Internal Revenue Service</P>
            </SEE>
        </AGCY>
        <AGCY>
            <EAR>Veteran Affairs</EAR>
            <HD>Veterans Affairs Department</HD>
            <CAT>
                <HD>NOTICES</HD>
                <SJ>Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposals, Submissions, and Approvals:</SJ>
                <SJDENT>
                    <SJDOC>Grant Funded Cemetery Data Sheet and Cemetery Grant Documents, </SJDOC>
                    <PGS>54785</PGS>
                    <FRDOCBP>2026-17218</FRDOCBP>
                </SJDENT>
            </CAT>
        </AGCY>
        <PTS>
            <HD SOURCE="HED">Separate Parts In This Issue</HD>
            <HD>Part II</HD>
            <DOCENT>
                <DOC>Presidential Documents, </DOC>
                <PGS>54787-54791</PGS>
                <FRDOCBP>2026-17294</FRDOCBP>
            </DOCENT>
        </PTS>
        <AIDS>
            <HD SOURCE="HED">Reader Aids</HD>
            <P>Consult the Reader Aids section at the end of this issue for phone numbers, online resources, finding aids, and notice of recently enacted public laws.</P>
            <P>To subscribe to the Federal Register Table of Contents electronic mailing list, go to https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/USGPOOFR/subscriber/new, enter your e-mail address, then follow the instructions to join, leave, or manage your subscription.</P>
        </AIDS>
    </CNTNTS>
    <VOL>91</VOL>
    <NO>162</NO>
    <DATE>Monday, August 24, 2026</DATE>
    <UNITNAME>Rules and Regulations</UNITNAME>
    <RULES>
        <RULE>
            <PREAMB>
                <PRTPAGE P="54657"/>
                <AGENCY TYPE="F">DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE</AGENCY>
                <SUBAGY>Bureau of Industry and Security</SUBAGY>
                <CFR>15 CFR Part 744</CFR>
                <DEPDOC>[Docket No. 260818-0012]</DEPDOC>
                <RIN>RIN 0694-AK52</RIN>
                <SUBJECT>Removal From the Entity List</SUBJECT>
                <AGY>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">AGENCY:</HD>
                    <P>Bureau of Industry and Security, Department of Commerce.</P>
                </AGY>
                <ACT>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">ACTION:</HD>
                    <P>Final rule.</P>
                </ACT>
                <SUM>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">SUMMARY:</HD>
                    <P>In this rule, the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) amends the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) by removing one entity from the Entity List under the destination of Turkey.</P>
                </SUM>
                <EFFDATE>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">DATES:</HD>
                    <P>This rule is effective August 21, 2026.</P>
                </EFFDATE>
                <FURINF>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:</HD>
                    <P>
                        Chair, End-User Review Committee, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Export Administration, Bureau of Industry and Security, Department of Commerce, Phone: (202) 482-5991, Email: 
                        <E T="03">ERC@bis.doc.gov.</E>
                    </P>
                </FURINF>
            </PREAMB>
            <SUPLINF>
                <HD SOURCE="HED">SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:</HD>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">Background</HD>
                <P>
                    The Entity List (supplement no. 4 to part 744 of the EAR (15 CFR parts 730-774)) identifies entities for which there is reasonable cause to believe, based on specific and articulable facts, that the entities have been involved, are involved, or pose a significant risk of being or becoming involved in activities contrary to the national security or foreign policy interests of the United States, pursuant to § 744.11(b). The EAR imposes additional license requirements on, and limits the availability of, most license exceptions for exports, reexports, and transfers (in-country) when a listed entity is a party to the transaction. The license review policy for each listed entity is identified in the “License Review Policy” column on the Entity List, and the impact on the availability of license exceptions is described in the relevant 
                    <E T="04">Federal Register</E>
                     document that added the entity to the Entity List. BIS places entities on the Entity List pursuant to part 744 (Control Policy: End-User and End-Use Based) and part 746 (Embargoes and Other Special Controls) of the EAR.
                </P>
                <P>The End-User Review Committee (ERC), composed of representatives of the Departments of Commerce (Chair), State, Defense, Energy and, where appropriate, the Treasury, makes decisions regarding additions to, removals from, or other modifications to the Entity List. The ERC makes decisions to add an entry to the Entity List by majority vote and makes decisions to remove or modify an entry by unanimous vote.</P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD2">Removal From the Entity List</HD>
                <P>The ERC determined to remove Atempo Proje Taahhüt Ses ve Görüntü Sistemleri Anonim Şirketi İstanbul Şubesi, Bülent Ecevit Bulvarı in Turkey from the Entity List based on information BIS received pursuant to § 744.16 (e) of the EAR and the review the ERC conducted in accordance with procedures described in supplement no. 5 to part 744 of the EAR.</P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">Export Control Reform Act of 2018</HD>
                <P>On August 13, 2018, the President signed into law the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019, which included the Export Control Reform Act of 2018 (ECRA) (50 U.S.C. 4801-4852). ECRA provides the legal basis for BIS's principal authorities and serves as the authority under which BIS issues this rule. In particular, Section 1753 of ECRA (50 U.S.C. 4812) authorizes the regulation of exports, reexports, and transfers (in-country) of items subject to U.S. jurisdiction. Further, Section 1754(a)(1)-(16) of ECRA (50 U.S.C. 4813(a)(1)-(16)) authorizes, inter alia, establishing and maintaining a list of foreign persons and end-uses that are determined to be a threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States pursuant to the policy set forth in Section 1752(2)(A), and restricting exports, reexports, and in-country transfers of any controlled items to any foreign person or end-use so listed; apprising the public of changes in policy, regulations, and procedures; and any other action necessary to carry out ECRA that is not otherwise prohibited by law. Pursuant to Section 1762(a) of ECRA (50 U.S.C. 4821(a)), these changes can be imposed in a final rule without prior notice and comment.</P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">Rulemaking Requirements</HD>
                <P>
                    1. BIS has examined the impact of this rule as required by Executive Orders (E.O.) 12866 and 13563, which direct agencies to assess all costs and benefits of available regulatory alternatives and, if regulation is necessary, to select regulatory approaches that maximize net benefits (
                    <E T="03">e.g.,</E>
                     potential economic, environmental, public, health, and safety effects, distributive impacts, and equity). This rule has been determined to be not significant for purposes of E.O. 12866. This rule is exempt from the requirements of E.O. 14192 because it is being issued with respect to a national security function of the United States, per section 5(a) of E.O. 14192.
                </P>
                <P>
                    2. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no person is required to respond to or be subject to a penalty for failure to comply with a collection of information, subject to the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 
                    <E T="03">et seq.</E>
                    ) (PRA), unless that collection of information displays a currently valid Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Control Number. This regulation involves an information collection approved by OMB under control number 0694-0088, Simplified Network Application Processing System. BIS does not anticipate a change to the burden hours associated with this collection as a result of this rule. Information regarding the collection, including all supporting materials, can be accessed at: 
                    <E T="03">https://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain.</E>
                </P>
                <P>3. This rule does not contain policies with federalism implications as that term is defined in E.O. 13132.</P>
                <P>4. Pursuant to section 1762 of the Export Control Reform Act of 2018, this action is exempt from the Administrative Procedure Act (5 U.S.C. 553) requirements for notice of proposed rulemaking, opportunity for public participation, and delay in effective date.</P>
                <P>
                    5. Because a notice of proposed rulemaking and an opportunity for public comment are not required to be given for this rule by 5 U.S.C. 553, or by any other law, the analytical requirements of the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 
                    <E T="03">et seq.</E>
                    ), are 
                    <PRTPAGE P="54658"/>
                    not applicable. Accordingly, no regulatory flexibility analysis is required, and none has been prepared.
                </P>
                <LSTSUB>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">List of Subjects in 15 CFR Part 744</HD>
                    <P>Exports, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Terrorism.</P>
                </LSTSUB>
                <P>Accordingly, part 744 of the Export Administration Regulations (15 CFR parts 730-774) is amended as follows:</P>
                <PART>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">PART 744—CONTROL POLICY: END-USER AND END-USE BASED</HD>
                </PART>
                <REGTEXT TITLE="15" PART="744">
                    <AMDPAR>1. The authority citation for part 744 is revised to read as follows:</AMDPAR>
                    <AUTH>
                        <HD SOURCE="HED">Authority:</HD>
                        <P>
                             50 U.S.C. 4801-4852; 50 U.S.C. 1701 
                            <E T="03">et seq.;</E>
                             22 U.S.C. 3201 
                            <E T="03">et seq.;</E>
                             42 U.S.C. 2139a; 22 U.S.C. 7201 
                            <E T="03">et seq.;</E>
                             22 U.S.C. 7210; E.O. 12058, 43 FR 20947, 3 CFR, 1978 Comp., p. 179; E.O. 12851, 58 FR 33181, 3 CFR, 1993 Comp., p. 608; E.O. 12938, 59 FR 59099, 3 CFR, 1994 Comp., p. 950; E.O. 13026, 61 FR 58767, 3 CFR, 1996 Comp., p. 228; E.O. 13099, 63 FR 45167, 3 CFR, 1998 Comp., p. 208; E.O. 13224, 66 FR 49079, 3 CFR, 2001 Comp., p. 786.
                        </P>
                    </AUTH>
                </REGTEXT>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">Supplement No. 4 to Part 744—Entity List</HD>
                <AMDPAR>2. Supplement no. 4 to part 744 is amended under TURKEY by removing the entry for “Atempo Proje Taahhüt Ses ve Görüntü Sistemleri Anonim Şirketi İstanbul Şubesi, Bülent Ecevit Bulvarı”.</AMDPAR>
                <SIG>
                    <NAME>Julia A. Khersonsky,</NAME>
                    <TITLE>Deputy Assistant Secretary for Strategic Trade.</TITLE>
                </SIG>
            </SUPLINF>
            <FRDOC>[FR Doc. 2026-17230 Filed 8-21-26; 8:45 am]</FRDOC>
            <BILCOD>BILLING CODE 3510-33-P</BILCOD>
        </RULE>
        <RULE>
            <PREAMB>
                <AGENCY TYPE="S">DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE</AGENCY>
                <SUBAGY>Bureau of Industry and Security</SUBAGY>
                <CFR>15 CFR Part 744</CFR>
                <DEPDOC>[Docket No. 260818-0014]</DEPDOC>
                <RIN>RIN 0694-AK49</RIN>
                <SUBJECT>Revisions to the Entity List</SUBJECT>
                <AGY>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">AGENCY:</HD>
                    <P>Bureau of Industry and Security, Department of Commerce.</P>
                </AGY>
                <ACT>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">ACTION:</HD>
                    <P>Final rule.</P>
                </ACT>
                <SUM>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">SUMMARY:</HD>
                    <P>In this rule, the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) revises the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) by removing two addresses associated with Arrow Electronics (Hong Kong) Co., Ltd. from the Entity List under the destination of China, People's Republic of (China). This determination follows the removal from the Entity List of Arrow China Electronics Trading Co., Ltd., and the removal of six aliases for Arrow Electronics (Hong Kong) Co., Ltd. in November 2025.</P>
                </SUM>
                <EFFDATE>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">DATES:</HD>
                    <P>This rule is effective August 21, 2026.</P>
                </EFFDATE>
                <FURINF>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:</HD>
                    <P>
                        Chair, End-User Review Committee, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Export Administration, Bureau of Industry and Security, Department of Commerce, Phone: (202) 482-5991, Email: 
                        <E T="03">ERC@bis.doc.gov</E>
                        .
                    </P>
                </FURINF>
            </PREAMB>
            <SUPLINF>
                <HD SOURCE="HED">SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:</HD>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">Background</HD>
                <P>
                    The Entity List (supplement no. 4 to part 744 of the EAR (15 CFR parts 730-774)) identifies entities for which there is reasonable cause to believe, based on specific and articulable facts, have been involved, are involved, or pose a significant risk of being or becoming involved in activities contrary to the national security or foreign policy interests of the United States, pursuant to § 744.11(b) of the EAR. The EAR imposes additional license requirements on, and limits the availability of, most license exceptions for exports, reexports, and transfers (in-country) when a listed entity is a party to the transaction. The license review policy for each listed entity is identified in the “License Review Policy” column on the Entity List, and the impact on the availability of license exceptions is described in the relevant 
                    <E T="04">Federal Register</E>
                     document that added the entity to the Entity List. BIS places entities on the Entity List pursuant to part 744 (Control Policy: End-User and End-Use Based) and part 746 (Embargoes and Other Special Controls) of the EAR.
                </P>
                <P>The End-User Review Committee (ERC), composed of representatives of the Departments of Commerce (Chair), State, Defense, Energy and, where appropriate, the Treasury, makes all decisions regarding additions to, removals from, or other modifications to the Entity List. The ERC makes all decisions to add an entry to the Entity List by majority vote and makes all decisions to remove or modify an entry by unanimous vote.</P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD2">Removals From the Entity List</HD>
                <P>The ERC determined to remove two addresses, 2/F and 3/F, Green 18, Phase 2, Hong Kong Science Park, Hong Kong; and Units 11001-11008E &amp; 11001-11012W, 11th Floor, ATL Logistics Centre B, No. 8 Container Port Road South, Kwai Chung, Hong Kong, under Arrow Electronics (Hong Kong) Co., Ltd. from the Entity List under the destination of China, based on information BIS received pursuant to § 744.16 of the EAR, and the review the ERC conducted in accordance with procedures described in supplement no. 5 to part 744 of the EAR. This determination follows the removal from the Entity List of Arrow China Electronics Trading Co., Ltd., and the removal of six aliases for Arrow Electronics (Hong Kong) Co., Ltd. in November 2025 (90 FR 50858, Nov. 12, 2025).</P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">Export Control Reform Act of 2018</HD>
                <P>On August 13, 2018, the President signed into law the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019, which included the Export Control Reform Act of 2018 (ECRA) (50 U.S.C. 4801-4852). ECRA provides the legal basis for BIS's principal authorities and serves as the authority under which BIS issues this rule. In particular, Section 1753 of ECRA (50 U.S.C. 4812) authorizes the regulation of exports, reexports, and transfers (in-country) of items subject to U.S. jurisdiction. Further, Section 1754(a)(1)-(16) of ECRA (50 U.S.C. 4813(a)(1)-(16)) authorizes, inter alia, establishing and maintaining a list of foreign persons and end uses that are determined to be a threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States pursuant to the policy set forth in Section 1752(2)(A), and restricting exports, reexports, and in-country transfers of any controlled items to any foreign person or end use so listed; apprising the public of changes in policy, regulations, and procedures; and any other action necessary to carry out ECRA that is not otherwise prohibited by law. Pursuant to Section 1762(a) of ECRA (50 U.S.C. 4821(a)), these changes can be imposed in a final rule without prior notice and comment.</P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">Rulemaking Requirements</HD>
                <P>
                    1. BIS has examined the impact of this rule as required by Executive Orders (E.O.) 12866 and 13563, which direct agencies to assess all costs and benefits of available regulatory alternatives and, if regulation is necessary, to select regulatory approaches that maximize net benefits (
                    <E T="03">e.g.,</E>
                     potential economic, environmental, public, health, and safety effects, distributive impacts, and equity). This final rule has been determined to be not significant for purposes of E.O. 12866. This rule is exempt from the requirements of E.O. 14192 because it is being issued with respect to a national security function of the United States, per section 5(a) of E.O. 14192.
                </P>
                <P>
                    2. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no person is required to respond to or be subject to a penalty for failure to comply with a collection 
                    <PRTPAGE P="54659"/>
                    of information, subject to the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA) (44 U.S.C. 3501, 
                    <E T="03">et seq.</E>
                    ), unless that collection of information displays a currently valid Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Control Number. This regulation involves an information collection approved by OMB under control number 0694-0088, Simplified Network Application Processing System. BIS does not anticipate a change to the burden hours associated with this collection as a result of this rule. Information regarding the collection, including all supporting materials, can be accessed at: 
                    <E T="03">https://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain</E>
                    .
                </P>
                <P>3. This rule does not contain policies with federalism implications as that term is defined in E.O. 13132.</P>
                <P>4. Pursuant to Section 1762 of the Export Control Reform Act of 2018, this action is exempt from the Administrative Procedure Act (5 U.S.C. 553) requirements for notice of proposed rulemaking, opportunity for public participation, and delay in effective date.</P>
                <P>
                    5. Because a notice of proposed rulemaking and an opportunity for public comment are not required to be given for this rule by 5 U.S.C. 553, or by any other law, the analytical requirements of the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 
                    <E T="03">et seq.</E>
                    ) are not applicable. Accordingly, no regulatory flexibility analysis is required, and none has been prepared.
                </P>
                <LSTSUB>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">List of Subjects in 15 CFR Part 744</HD>
                    <P>Exports, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Terrorism.</P>
                </LSTSUB>
                <P>Accordingly, part 744 of the Export Administration Regulations (15 CFR parts 730-774) is amended as follows:</P>
                <PART>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">PART 744—CONTROL POLICY: END-USER AND END-USE BASED</HD>
                </PART>
                <REGTEXT TITLE="15" PART="744">
                    <AMDPAR>1. The authority citation for part 744 is revised to read as follows:</AMDPAR>
                    <AUTH>
                        <HD SOURCE="HED">Authority:</HD>
                        <P>
                            50 U.S.C. 4801-4852; 50 U.S.C. 1701 
                            <E T="03">et seq.;</E>
                             22 U.S.C. 3201 
                            <E T="03">et seq.;</E>
                             42 U.S.C. 2139a; 22 U.S.C. 7201 
                            <E T="03">et seq.;</E>
                             22 U.S.C. 7210; E.O. 12058, 43 FR 20947, 3 CFR, 1978 Comp., p. 179; E.O. 12851, 58 FR 33181, 3 CFR, 1993 Comp., p. 608; E.O. 12938, 59 FR 59099, 3 CFR, 1994 Comp., p. 950; E.O. 13026, 61 FR 58767, 3 CFR, 1996 Comp., p. 228; E.O. 13099, 63 FR 45167, 3 CFR, 1998 Comp., p. 208; E.O. 13224, 66 FR 49079, 3 CFR, 2001 Comp., p. 786.
                        </P>
                    </AUTH>
                </REGTEXT>
                <REGTEXT TITLE="15" PART="744">
                    <AMDPAR>2. Supplement no. 4 to part 744 is amended under CHINA, PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF by revising the entry for “Arrow Electronics (Hong Kong) Co., Ltd.” to read as follows:</AMDPAR>
                    <HD SOURCE="HD1">Supplement No. 4 to Part 744—Entity List</HD>
                    <STARS/>
                    <GPOTABLE COLS="5" OPTS="L1,nj,tp0,p7,7/8,i1" CDEF="xs60,xl75,xl50,r50,r50">
                        <TTITLE> </TTITLE>
                        <BOXHD>
                            <CHED H="1">Country</CHED>
                            <CHED H="1">Entity</CHED>
                            <CHED H="1">
                                License 
                                <LI>requirement</LI>
                            </CHED>
                            <CHED H="1">
                                License 
                                <LI>review </LI>
                                <LI>policy</LI>
                            </CHED>
                            <CHED H="1">
                                <E T="02">Federal Register</E>
                                <LI>citation</LI>
                            </CHED>
                        </BOXHD>
                        <ROW>
                            <ENT I="22"> </ENT>
                        </ROW>
                        <ROW>
                            <ENT I="28">*         *         *         *         *         *         *</ENT>
                        </ROW>
                        <ROW>
                            <ENT I="01" O="xl">CHINA, PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF</ENT>
                            <ENT A="03">  *         *         *         *         *         *</ENT>
                        </ROW>
                        <ROW>
                            <ENT I="22"> </ENT>
                            <ENT>
                                Arrow Electronics (Hong Kong) Co., Ltd., 20/F, Tower 2, Evergreen Plaza, 88 Container Port Road, Kwai Chung, Hong Kong; Lot 204, DD105, Castle Peak Road, Yuen Long, Hong Kong; 
                                <E T="03">and</E>
                                 Unit 1003, Kerry Cargo Center, 55 Wing Kei Road, Kwai Chung, Hong Kong; 
                                <E T="03">and</E>
                                 Unit 5001-5004W, 5th Floor, ATL Logistics Centre A, No. 8 Container Port Road South, Kwai Chung, Hong Kong; 
                                <E T="03">and</E>
                                 Unit 5015E-5020E, 5th Floor, ATL Logistics Centre B, No. 8 Container Port Road South, Kwai Chung, Hong Kong
                            </ENT>
                            <ENT>For all items subject to the EAR. (See § 744.11 of the EAR)</ENT>
                            <ENT>Presumption of denial</ENT>
                            <ENT>
                                90 FR 48193, 10/9/25. 90 FR 50859 11/12/25.
                                <LI>91 FR [INSERT FR PAGE NUMBER] AND August 24, 2026.</LI>
                            </ENT>
                        </ROW>
                        <ROW>
                            <ENT I="22"> </ENT>
                            <ENT A="03">  *         *         *         *         *         *</ENT>
                        </ROW>
                        <ROW>
                            <ENT I="22"> </ENT>
                        </ROW>
                        <ROW>
                            <ENT I="28">*         *         *         *         *         *         *</ENT>
                        </ROW>
                    </GPOTABLE>
                    <STARS/>
                </REGTEXT>
                <SIG>
                    <NAME>Julia Khersonsky,</NAME>
                    <TITLE>Deputy Assistant Secretary for Strategic Trade.</TITLE>
                </SIG>
            </SUPLINF>
            <FRDOC>[FR Doc. 2026-17231 Filed 8-21-26; 8:45 am]</FRDOC>
            <BILCOD>BILLING CODE 3510-33-P</BILCOD>
        </RULE>
        <RULE>
            <PREAMB>
                <AGENCY TYPE="S">DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY</AGENCY>
                <SUBAGY>Coast Guard</SUBAGY>
                <CFR>33 CFR Part 165</CFR>
                <DEPDOC>[Docket Number USCG-2026-0221]</DEPDOC>
                <RIN>RIN 1625-AA00</RIN>
                <SUBJECT>Safety Zone; T/V DENISE FOSS (O.N. 1254223), Honolulu, HI</SUBJECT>
                <AGY>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">AGENCY:</HD>
                    <P>Coast Guard, Department of Homeland Security.</P>
                </AGY>
                <ACT>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">ACTION:</HD>
                    <P>Temporary final rule.</P>
                </ACT>
                <SUM>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">SUMMARY:</HD>
                    <P>The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone for navigable waters within a 500-yard radius of the T/V DENISE FOSS (O.N. 1254223) and its tow, FOSS 3612 (O.N. 1255436). The moving safety zone is needed to protect personnel, vessels, and the marine environment from potential hazards associated with the transportation of three ship-to-shore cranes. Entry of vessels or persons into this zone is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port, Sector Honolulu, or their designated representative.</P>
                </SUM>
                <EFFDATE>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">DATES:</HD>
                    <P>This rule is effective without actual notice from August 24, 2026 through 9 a.m. on August 25, 2026. For the purposes of enforcement, actual notice will be used from 6 a.m. on August 19, 2026, until August 24, 2026.</P>
                </EFFDATE>
                <ADD>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">ADDRESSES:</HD>
                    <P>
                        To view available documents go to 
                        <E T="03">https://www.regulations.gov</E>
                         and search for USCG-2026-0221.
                    </P>
                </ADD>
                <FURINF>
                    <PRTPAGE P="54660"/>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:</HD>
                    <P>
                        If you have questions about this rule, contact LCDR Carol Yin, Sector Honolulu Waterways Management Division, U.S. Coast Guard; telephone 808-291-2923, or email 
                        <E T="03">Carol.D.Yin@uscg.mil.</E>
                    </P>
                </FURINF>
            </PREAMB>
            <SUPLINF>
                <HD SOURCE="HED">SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:</HD>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">I. Table of Abbreviations</HD>
                <EXTRACT>
                    <FP SOURCE="FP-1">CFR Code of Federal Regulations</FP>
                    <FP SOURCE="FP-1">COTP Captain of the Port</FP>
                    <FP SOURCE="FP-1">DHS Department of Homeland Security</FP>
                    <FP SOURCE="FP-1">FR Federal Register</FP>
                    <FP SOURCE="FP-1">NPRM Notice of proposed rulemaking</FP>
                    <FP SOURCE="FP-1">§ Section </FP>
                    <FP SOURCE="FP-1">U.S.C. United States Code</FP>
                </EXTRACT>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">II. Background and Authority</HD>
                <P>The Coast Guard received notification on August 3, 2026, that Pasha Hawaii will ship three ship-to-shore cranes from Los Angeles, CA to Honolulu, HI, via tug and barge, with a scheduled arrival date of August 14, 2026. The Coast Guard initially published a temporary final rule to implement a safety zone from August 13, 2026 through August 17, 2026 (91 FR 52023; August 12, 2026). Due to Tropical Storm Lala, the tug and barge's updated arrival date is August 19, 2026. The day and time of this safety zone enforcement will depend on the arrival, but enforcement may start as soon as 6 a.m. on August 19, 2026. Hazards from this shipment include but are not limited to the tug and barge being restricted in its ability to maneuver, which creates hazards for the public on the water. The Captain of the Port (COTP) Honolulu has determined that potential hazards associated with the shipment of the three ship-to-shore cranes are a safety concern for anyone while the tug and barge are transiting in Mamala Bay on its approach to Honolulu Harbor. Therefore, the COTP is issuing this rule under the authority in 46 U.S.C. 70034, which is needed to protect personnel, vessels, and the marine environment in the navigable waters within the safety zone.</P>
                <P>Because of these potential hazards, the Coast Guard is issuing this rule without prior notice and comment. As is authorized by 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B), the Coast Guard finds that good cause exists for not publishing a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) with respect to this rule because it is impracticable. The Coast Guard was notified of the updated arrival date on August 17, 2026, but we must establish this safety zone by August 19, 2026, to protect personnel, vessels, and the marine environment while the tug and barge are approaching Honolulu Harbor. Therefore, we do not have enough time to solicit and respond to comments.</P>
                <P>
                    For the same reason, the Coast Guard finds that under 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3), good cause exists for making this rule effective less than 30 days after publication in the 
                    <E T="04">Federal Register</E>
                    .
                </P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">III. Discussion of the Rule</HD>
                <P>
                    This rule establishes a moving safety zone that will be enforced from August 19, 2026 through August 25, 2026. The day and time of enforcement will depend on the arrival of T/V DENISE FOSS (O.N. 1254223) and its tow, FOSS 3612 (O.N. 1255436), entering Mamala Bay in the vicinity of Honolulu Harbor and will be announced to the public in advance. The safety zone will cover all navigable waters within a 500 yard radius of the T/V DENISE FOSS (O.N. 1254223) and its tow, FOSS 3612 (O.N. 1255436). Vessels and persons will not be allowed to enter the zone during this time, unless authorized by the Captain of the Port. An image of the vessel is available in the docket on 
                    <E T="03">regulations.gov</E>
                     by searching docket number USCG-2026-0221.
                </P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">IV. Regulatory Analyses</HD>
                <P>We developed this rule after considering numerous statutes and Executive orders related to rulemaking. Below we summarize our analyses based on a number of these statutes and Executive orders.</P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD2">A. Impact on Small Entities</HD>
                <P>The regulatory flexibility analysis provisions of the Regulatory Flexibility Act of 1980, 5 U.S.C. 601-612, do not apply to rules that are not subject to notice and comment. Because the Coast Guard has, for good cause, waived the notice and comment requirement that would otherwise apply to this rulemaking, the Regulatory Flexibility Act's flexibility analysis provisions do not apply here.</P>
                <P>
                    Under section 213(a) of the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996 (Pub. L. 104-121), if this rule will affect your small business, organization, or governmental jurisdiction and you have questions, contact the person listed in the 
                    <E T="02">FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT</E>
                     section.
                </P>
                <P>Small businesses may send comments to the Small Business and Agriculture Regulatory Enforcement Ombudsman and the Regional Small Business Regulatory Fairness Boards by calling 1-888-REG-FAIR (1-888-734-3247). The Coast Guard will not retaliate against small entities that question or complain about this rule or any policy or action of the Coast Guard.</P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD2">B. Collection of Information</HD>
                <P>This rule will not call for a new collection of information under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501-3520).</P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD2">C. Federalism and Indian Tribal Governments</HD>
                <P>We have analyzed this rule under Executive Order 13132, Federalism, and have determined that it is consistent with the fundamental federalism principles and preemption requirements described in that Order.</P>
                <P>Also, this rule does not have tribal implications under Executive Order 13175, Consultation and Coordination with Indian Tribal Governments, because it does not have a substantial direct effect on one or more Indian tribes, on the relationship between the Federal Government and Indian tribes, or on the distribution of power and responsibilities between the Federal Government and Indian tribes.</P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD2">D. Unfunded Mandates Reform Act</HD>
                <P>As required by The Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C. 1531-1538), the Coast Guard certifies that this rule will not result in an annual expenditure of $100,000,000 or more (adjusted for inflation) by a State, local, or tribal government, in the aggregate, or by the private sector.</P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD2">E. Environment</HD>
                <P>
                    We have analyzed this rule under Department of Homeland Security Directive 023-01, Rev. 1, associated implementing instructions, and Environmental Planning COMDTINST 5090.1 (series), which guide the Coast Guard in complying with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 
                    <E T="03">et seq.</E>
                    ), and have determined that this action is one of a category of actions that do not individually or cumulatively have a significant effect on the human environment.
                </P>
                <P>This rule is a safety zone. It is categorically excluded from further review under paragraph L60(a) of Appendix A, Table 1 of DHS Instruction Manual 023-01-001-01, Rev. 1. A Record of Environmental Consideration supporting this determination is available in the docket.</P>
                <LSTSUB>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">List of Subjects in 33 CFR Part 165</HD>
                    <P>Harbors, Marine safety, Navigation (water), Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Security measures, Waterways.</P>
                </LSTSUB>
                <P>For the reasons discussed in the preamble, the Coast Guard amends 33 CFR part 165 as follows:</P>
                <PART>
                    <PRTPAGE P="54661"/>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">PART 165—REGULATED NAVIGATION AREAS AND LIMITED ACCESS AREAS</HD>
                </PART>
                <REGTEXT TITLE="33" PART="165">
                    <AMDPAR>1. The authority citation for part 165 continues to read as follows:</AMDPAR>
                    <AUTH>
                        <HD SOURCE="HED">Authority:</HD>
                        <P>46 U.S.C. 70034, 70051, 70124; 33 CFR 1.05-1, 6.04-1, 6.04-6, and 160.5; DHS Delegation No. 00170.1, Revision No. 01.4.</P>
                    </AUTH>
                </REGTEXT>
                <REGTEXT TITLE="33" PART="165">
                    <AMDPAR>2. Add § 165.T14-0220 to read as follows:</AMDPAR>
                    <SECTION>
                        <SECTNO>§ 165.T14-0220</SECTNO>
                        <SUBJECT> Safety Zone; T/V DENISE FOSS (O.N. 1254223), Honolulu, HI.</SUBJECT>
                        <P>
                            (a) 
                            <E T="03">Location.</E>
                             The following area is a safety zone: All navigable waters within a 500-yard radius around the T/V DENISE FOSS (O.N. 1254223) and its tow, FOSS 3612 (O.N. 1255436), in Mamala Bay on its approach to Honolulu Harbor.
                        </P>
                        <P>
                            (b) 
                            <E T="03">Definitions.</E>
                             As used in this section, 
                            <E T="03">designated representative</E>
                             means a Coast Guard Patrol Commander, including a Coast Guard coxswain, petty officer, or other officer operating a Coast Guard vessel and a Federal, State, and local officer designated by or assisting the Captain of the Port Honolulu (COTP) in the enforcement of the safety zone.
                        </P>
                        <P>
                            (c) 
                            <E T="03">Regulations.</E>
                             (1) Under the general safety zone regulations in subpart C of this part, you may not enter the safety zone described in paragraph (a) of this section unless authorized by the COTP or the COTP's designated representative.
                        </P>
                        <P>(2) To seek permission to enter, contact the COTP or the COTP's representative on VHF-FM channel 16 or by telephone at (800) 552-6458. Those in the safety zone must comply with all lawful orders or directions given to them by the COTP or the COTP's designated representative.</P>
                        <P>
                            (d) 
                            <E T="03">Enforcement period.</E>
                             This section will be subject to enforcement from 6 a.m. on August 19, 2026 through 9 a.m. on August 25, 2026. The section will be enforced until the T/V DENISE FOSS (O.N. 1254223) and its tow, FOSS 3612 (O.N. 1255436), enter the Honolulu Harbor Security Zone.
                        </P>
                    </SECTION>
                </REGTEXT>
                <SIG>
                    <NAME>N.S. Worst,</NAME>
                    <TITLE>Captain, U.S. Coast Guard, Captain of the Port Sector Honolulu.</TITLE>
                </SIG>
            </SUPLINF>
            <FRDOC>[FR Doc. 2026-17217 Filed 8-21-26; 8:45 am]</FRDOC>
            <BILCOD>BILLING CODE 9110-04-P</BILCOD>
        </RULE>
        <RULE>
            <PREAMB>
                <AGENCY TYPE="N">DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR</AGENCY>
                <SUBAGY>National Park Service</SUBAGY>
                <CFR>36 CFR Part 7</CFR>
                <DEPDOC>[NPS-GUIS-41942; PPSEGUISA0 PPMPSAS1Z.Y00000]</DEPDOC>
                <RIN>RIN 1024-AE55</RIN>
                <SUBJECT>Gulf Islands National Seashore; Personal Watercraft</SUBJECT>
                <AGY>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">AGENCY:</HD>
                    <P>National Park Service, Interior.</P>
                </AGY>
                <ACT>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">ACTION:</HD>
                    <P>Final rule.</P>
                </ACT>
                <SUM>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">SUMMARY:</HD>
                    <P>The National Park Service revises special regulations governing the use of personal watercraft at Gulf Islands National Seashore. This rule reduces the distance of flat wake speed zones from certain shorelines and codifies existing closures at West Petit Bois Island and the Fort Pickens ferry pier.</P>
                </SUM>
                <EFFDATE>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">DATES:</HD>
                    <P>This rule is effective September 23, 2026.</P>
                </EFFDATE>
                <ADD>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">ADDRESSES:</HD>
                    <P>
                        The comments received on the proposed rule are available on 
                        <E T="03">http://www.regulations.gov</E>
                         in Docket ID: NPS-2021-0001.
                    </P>
                </ADD>
                <FURINF>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:</HD>
                    <P>
                        Richard A. Clark, Superintendent, Gulf Islands National Seashore, 
                        <E T="03">rick_clark@nps.gov,</E>
                         (850) 934-2600/(228) 230-4100. Individuals in the United States who are deaf, deafblind, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability may dial 711 (TTY, TDD, or TeleBraille) to access telecommunications relay services. Individuals outside the United States should use the relay services offered within their country to make international calls to the point-of-contact in the United States.
                    </P>
                </FURINF>
            </PREAMB>
            <SUPLINF>
                <HD SOURCE="HED">SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:</HD>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">Background</HD>
                <P>Gulf Islands National Seashore (the Seashore) encompasses the longest stretch of federally protected seashore in the United States. The Seashore includes seven barrier islands that span nearly 160 miles, coastal mainland, and adjacent waters in the northeastern part of the Gulf of Mexico. The Seashore comprises 139,175 acres within Mississippi and Florida, 4,630 acres of which (consisting of Horn and Petit Bois Islands) are designated wilderness. The resources of the Seashore vary widely, including marine, bayou, salt marsh, live oak, and southern magnolia forests.</P>
                <P>Congress established the Seashore in 1971 in order to preserve for public use and enjoyment areas possessing outstanding natural, historic, and recreational values. 16 U.S.C. 459h(a). The National Park Service (NPS) administers the Seashore as a unit of the National Park System and has the authority to regulate the use of and management of the Seashore as it considers necessary or proper. 54 U.S.C. 100751(a). This includes the authority to regulate boating and other activities on waters located within System units that are subject to the jurisdiction of the United States. 54 U.S.C. 100751(b).</P>
                <P>The Seashore is one of the most heavily visited units in the National Park System. The Seashore attracts several million visitors from throughout the nation, who come to enjoy the beach and cultural and historic features. More than 80% of the Seashore is marine habitat and accessible only by boat or other watercraft. Many visitors use personal watercraft (PWC) to access and enjoy the Seashore.</P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">Compliance and PWC Regulations</HD>
                <P>NPS general regulations at 36 CFR 3.9 state that PWC may be used only where authorized by special regulation and only in the 21 System units that are identified in those regulations, including the Seashore. In 2006, the NPS promulgated special regulations to manage the use of PWC at the Seashore. 71 FR 26244 (May 4, 2006). These regulations, which are codified at 36 CFR 7.12, establish where PWC may be used, how they may be operated, and where they may be landed. Among other things, they permit PWC use in all waters of the Seashore where other motorized vessels are allowed.</P>
                <P>
                    In 2008, Bluewater Network and The Wilderness Society filed a lawsuit claiming that the environmental assessment (EA) supporting the special regulations was inadequate and violated the National Environmental Policy Act, the NPS Organic Act, and the Administrative Procedure Act. In 2010, the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia held that the impact analysis in the EA was inadequate and remanded the EA to the NPS. 
                    <E T="03">Bluewater Network</E>
                     v. 
                    <E T="03">Salazar,</E>
                     721 F. Supp.2d 7 (D.D.C. 2010). The court did not vacate the special regulations, however, which have continued to govern the use of PWC within the Seashore.
                </P>
                <P>
                    In June 2019, consistent with the court's decision, the NPS completed a Final Personal Watercraft Plan/Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) that contains a more comprehensive analysis of the impacts of PWC use within the Seashore. The Record of Decision (ROD) for this project was originally approved by the NPS Regional Director of Interior Region 2 on August 13, 2019. The NPS then revised the selected alternative to remove a 
                    <PRTPAGE P="54662"/>
                    prohibition on PWC landing below the mean high tide on Horn and Petit Bois Islands. On December 17, 2020, the Acting Regional Director signed an amended ROD with the PWC landing prohibition removed but all other elements of the original selected action retained. The NPS believes the selected alternative will protect natural and cultural resources at the Seashore, minimize conflicts between various users, and promote visitor safety while allowing for a variety of recreational experiences. A copy of the FEIS, ROD, and amended ROD which contain a full description of the purpose and need for taking action, the alternatives considered, maps, the environmental impacts associated with the rule, and the basis for the selected alternative, can be found online at 
                    <E T="03">https://parkplanning.nps.gov/guis-PWC-EIS,</E>
                     by clicking on the link entitled “Document List.”
                </P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">Final Rule</HD>
                <P>This rule implements the selected alternative identified in the amended ROD for the management of PWC use within the Seashore. The selected alternative maintains the existing special regulations at 36 CFR 7.12, except as explained below.</P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD2">Flat Wake Zones</HD>
                <P>The existing special regulations prohibit the use of PWC at more than flat wake speed less than 0.5 miles from (i) either side of the pier of West Ship Island, and (ii) the shorelines of West Ship Island and the designated wilderness islands of Horn and Petit Bois. The existing flat wake speed zone extends 300 yards from all other shorelines within the Seashore. This rule reduces the size of the flat wake zone to (i) 300 yards from any shoreline in Mississippi (including the shorelines of Ship, Horn and Petit Bois islands) and (ii) 150 yards from any shoreline in Florida. Establishing consistent flat-wake zone distances within each district of the Seashore (Florida and Mississippi) should result in increased compliance with and easier enforcement of flat-wake zones. Reducing the size of the flat-wake zones will benefit visitors who use PWC by creating more freedom to operate PWC at higher speeds. The boundaries of the flat wake zones are based on near-shore bathymetric information and research on PWC impacts to submerged aquatic vegetation that shows that in a water depth of 3 feet or more, PWC have little negative impact to seagrass beds (Continental Shelf Associates 1997; MDNR 2002). The average distance from shorelines in the Florida district to the 3-foot depth contour is 150 yards. The 300 yard flat wake zone in the Mississippi district is based on the average distance to the 4-foot depth contour because similar 3-foot bathymetric data were not available for Mississippi. NPS law enforcement staff may place temporary floating buoys in the water as reference points to show PWC users what 150 yards and 300 yards from the shoreline looks like. This will be done on an as-needed basis, determined by NPS personnel, and will likely occur on select high-use days and weekends.</P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD2">Other Modifications</HD>
                <P>The existing special regulations allow PWC use anywhere within the Seashore except at specific locations listed in the regulations. 36 CFR 7.12(c)(1). This rule adds two locations to the list of closed areas: (i) the lakes, ponds, lagoons, and inlets of West Petit Bois Island in the Mississippi District; and (ii) within 200 feet of the ferry pier at Fort Pickens in the Florida District. West Petit Bois Island is a fast-changing barrier island. According to historic aerial imagery at the time the existing special regulations were promulgated in 2006, West Petit Bois Island did not have lakes, ponds, or inlets as it does now. The Fort Pickens ferry pier did not exist in 2006. Construction was completed in 2012. These closures have been implemented for years using the superintendent's discretionary authority in 36 CFR 1.5 to establish closures that are necessary for the protection of public safety and natural resources. They are consistent with existing closures in the special regulations that prohibit PWC use (i) in the lakes, ponds, lagoons, and inlets of other islands within the Seashore; and (ii) within 200 feet of the fishing piers at Fort Pickens. 36 CFR 7.12(c)(1).</P>
                <P>This rule also replaces references to West Ship Island and East Ship Island in the existing regulations with a reference to Ship Island. In 2019, West Ship Island and East Ship Island were restored to a single island as part of the Mississippi Coastal Improvements Program Comprehensive Barrier Island Restoration Project.</P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">Summary of Public Comments</HD>
                <P>
                    The NPS published a proposed rule in the 
                    <E T="04">Federal Register</E>
                     on January 15, 2021 (86 FR 3903). The NPS accepted public comments on the proposed rule for 60 days via the mail, hand delivery, and the Federal eRulemaking Portal at 
                    <E T="03">https://www.regulations.gov.</E>
                     Comments were accepted through March 16, 2021. The NPS received eight comments on the proposed rule. Several comments supported the proposed rule and did not raise any issues or suggest any changes. A summary of the pertinent issues raised in other comments and responses to them are provided below. Several comments raised concerns about the environmental impacts of PWC use. The NPS provides a brief response to these comments below. More information about the environmental impacts of PWC use under the selected alternative can be found in the FEIS, including responses to comments on the FEIS that are available in Appendix J. After considering the public comments on the proposed rule and after additional review, the NPS did not make any changes in the final rule.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">1. Comment:</E>
                     One commenter recommended the NPS ban PWCs on all public waterways within the National Park System.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">NPS Response:</E>
                     Although PWC use may not be appropriate in some units of the National Park System that have navigable waters, there are other units where it may be appropriate and creates another way for the American public to responsibly recreate and access park areas. The NPS prepared the FEIS and conducted a robust scientific analysis of the impacts of PWC use at the Seashore. Although the impact analysis in the FEIS indicates that resources at the Seashore would be affected as a result of continued PWC use, it concludes that those impacts would not rise to an unacceptable level, and that park resources would continue to exist in a condition that would allow visitors to enjoy them now and into the future.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">2. Comment:</E>
                     One commenter stated that reducing the size of the flat wake zones based upon the average distance from shore that reaches a target water depth does not adequately protect submerged resources that are shallower than the target water depth but outside of the flat wake zones. This commenter suggested the NPS extend the flat wake zones further from shore to adequately protect these resources.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">NPS Response:</E>
                     As described in Appendix J of the FEIS, the NPS acknowledges that the flat-wake zone distances established by this rule would expose additional submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) habitat to impacts from PWC use. Although this would allow full throttle PWC use in a greater amount of shallow-water SAV habitat, impacts to SAV would be minimal because PWCs do not have propellers, which can cause physical damage to SAV, and are operated mostly above water when traveling at full speed. This is consistent with the findings from the PWC studies in 1997 and 2002 (Continental Shelf Associates 1997; MDNR 2002). Impacts could occur as a result of sudden starts in shallow-water 
                    <PRTPAGE P="54663"/>
                    SAV habitat, which can cause “blowouts.” However, such impacts would be localized and the NPS does not anticipate that those impacts would be noticeable in large areas of SAV.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">3. Comment:</E>
                     Several commenters suggested that reducing the size of the flat wake zones will cause erosion to shoreline areas from increased PWC wake.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">NPS Response:</E>
                     The FEIS describes the potential impacts to shoreline habitats from erosion. Because of their light hulls and shallow drafts, PWCs cause only relatively small wakes. For this reason, the FEIS concludes that PWC use is not expected to result in a measurable amount of shoreline erosion when compared to storms and other natural events. This rule establishes 300 yard flat-wake zones in the Mississippi District and 150 yard flat wake zones in the Florida District. These distances are considerable and will limit impacts from PWC wake to shorelines.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">4. Comment:</E>
                     One commenter stated that reducing the flat wake zones around Horn and Petit Bois islands does not align with the stated goals of the Wilderness Act to preserve the natural conditions of wilderness. This commenter suggested that extending the flat wake zones further from shore would benefit those seeking a quiet and primitive recreational experience on the islands in a manner that would outweigh any adverse impacts to PWC users from having to reduce speed or take a longer route around the islands.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">NPS Response:</E>
                     As stated in the FEIS, the NPS recognizes that reducing the size of flat-wake zones from existing conditions would result in increased noise levels from PWC use adjacent to wilderness. The 300 yard flat wake zone around the wilderness islands, however, will continue to provide a buffer to reduce the effects of PWC noise on visitors to the wilderness areas. The impacts to qualities of wilderness character will be minimal due to the low level of PWC use around the Mississippi District islands (as shown on pages 25-26 of the FEIS). Also, the NPS expects that continued transition to newer, quieter PWC models over time will result in reduced impacts to wilderness over the long term.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">5. Comment:</E>
                     One commenter suggested that the benefits produced by flat wake zones in the form of less erosion and disruption to the shoreline ecosystem outweigh any costs to commercial businesses. This commenter suggested that the goals of increased compliance and more effective enforcement of flat wake zones could be achieved by extending the flat wake zones further from shore in a uniform manner.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">NPS Response:</E>
                     As described in the FEIS and discussed above, the NPS does not expect PWC use at the Seashore under this rule to result in measurable erosion impacts or disruption of shoreline ecosystems due to the relatively small wakes created by PWCs and the implementation of 150 and 300 yard flat-wake zones. The economic analysis prepared for this rule concluded that the changes would not have any effect on regional businesses that provide services to PWC users (
                    <E T="03">e.g.,</E>
                     PWC rental companies) because the rule is unlikely to affect visitation levels at the Seashore. The revised flat-wake zone distances in the FEIS were based on water depths and limiting impacts to SAV beds. As described in the FEIS, extending flat-wake zones further from the shorelines will not provide substantial environmental benefits. The NPS believes that the scientifically-based flat-wake zones in the rule provide a reasonable balance between environmental protection and recreation and access by the American public.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">6. Comment:</E>
                     One commenter recommended the NPS place floating buoys along the entire shoreline in order to reduce confusion by the public about where wake is prohibited.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">NPS Response:</E>
                     The NPS considered placing buoys along the entire shoreline but determined that the effort necessary to install and maintain the buoys and their anchors would be too labor intensive and costly. Installing buoys requires anchors to be screwed into the seafloor or set in place with 600-pound anchor blocks, which during installation and storm events could disturb the seafloor sediments, water resources, benthic organisms, seagrass roots, and essential fish habitat. In addition, the visual impacts of large numbers of buoys would hamper the viewshed and the visitor experience. The selected alternative considers the use of a limited number of temporary floating buoys to mark the boundary of the flat-wake zone on high visitation days.
                </P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">Compliance With Other Laws, E.O.s, and Department Policy</HD>
                <HD SOURCE="HD2">Regulatory Planning and Review (E.O.s 12866 and 14192)</HD>
                <P>This rule has been determined to be not significant for purposes of E.O 12866. This rule is a “one-time” enabling regulation that expands consumption options for the American public by increasing opportunities for recreation at the Seashore. As a result, this rule qualifies as an E.O. 14192 deregulatory action pursuant to M-25-20, “Guidance Implementing Section 3 of Executive Order 14192, Titled `Unleashing Prosperity Through Deregulation' ” issued by the Office of Management and Budget, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, on March 26, 2025.</P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD2">Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.)</HD>
                <P>
                    This rule will not have a significant economic effect on a substantial number of small entities under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 
                    <E T="03">et seq.</E>
                    ). This certification is based on information contained in the economic analyses found in the report entitled “Final Economic Analysis of the Personal Watercraft Rule at Gulf Islands National Seashore.” The document can be found online at 
                    <E T="03">https://parkplanning.nps.gov/guis-PWC-EIS,</E>
                     by clicking on the link entitled “Document List.”
                </P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD2">Congressional Review Act (CRA)</HD>
                <P>This rule is not a major rule under 5 U.S.C. 804(2), the CRA. This rule:</P>
                <P>(a) Does not have an annual effect on the economy of $100 million or more.</P>
                <P>(b) Will not cause a major increase in costs or prices for consumers, individual industries, Federal, State, or local government agencies, or geographic regions.</P>
                <P>(c) Does not have significant adverse effects on competition, employment, investment, productivity, innovation, or the ability of U.S.-based enterprises to compete with foreign-based enterprises.</P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD2">Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (2 U.S.C. 1501 et seq.)</HD>
                <P>
                    This rule does not impose an unfunded mandate on State, local, or tribal governments or the private sector of more than $100 million per year. The rule does not have a significant or unique effect on State, local or tribal governments or the private sector. It addresses public use of national park lands, and imposes no requirements on other agencies or governments. A statement containing the information required by the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (2 U.S.C. 1531 
                    <E T="03">et seq.</E>
                    ) is not required.
                </P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD2">Takings (E.O. 12630)</HD>
                <P>This rule does not effect a taking of private property or otherwise have takings implications under Executive Order 12630. A takings implication assessment is not required.</P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD2">Federalism (E.O. 13132)</HD>
                <P>
                    Under the criteria in section 1 of Executive Order 13132, the rule does not have sufficient federalism 
                    <PRTPAGE P="54664"/>
                    implications to warrant the preparation of a Federalism summary impact statement. This rule only affects use of federally-administered lands and waters. It has no outside effects on other areas. A Federalism summary impact statement is not required.
                </P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD2">Civil Justice Reform (E.O. 12988)</HD>
                <P>This rule complies with the requirements of Executive Order 12988. This rule:</P>
                <P>(a) Meets the criteria of section 3(a) requiring that all regulations be reviewed to eliminate errors and ambiguity and be written to minimize litigation; and</P>
                <P>(b) Meets the criteria of section 3(b)(2) requiring that all regulations be written in clear language and contain clear legal standards.</P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD2">Consultation With Indian Tribes (E.O. 13175 and Department Policy)</HD>
                <P>The Department of the Interior strives to strengthen its government-to-government relationship with Indian Tribes through a commitment to consultation with Indian tribes and recognition of their right to self-governance and tribal sovereignty. The NPS has evaluated this rule under the criteria in Executive Order 13175 and under the Department's tribal consultation policy and has determined that tribal consultation is not required because the rule will have no substantial direct effect on federally recognized Indian tribes. Nevertheless, in support of the commitment of the Department of the Interior and the NPS for government-to-government consultation, the NPS submitted a letter to 14 Indian tribes during the development of the FEIS. The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma responded that the locations considered in the FEIS are within the Nation's area of historic interest, and because of the potential adverse impact to the coastal sites, requested to be a consulting party. NPS staff held a conference call with representatives of the Muscogee Creek Nation, Jena Band of Choctaw Indians, and Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma to discuss their concerns. The tribal representatives expressed concern over looting and vandalism, but were not very concerned about wakes from PWC damaging resources. The NPS explained how law enforcement actions and closures established by the superintendent when necessary could help address their concerns.</P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD2">Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.)</HD>
                <P>This rule does not contain information collection requirements, and a submission to the Office of Management and Budget under the Paperwork Reduction Act is not required. We may not conduct or sponsor and you are not required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number.</P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD2">National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA; 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.)</HD>
                <P>
                    This rule implements, in part, a comprehensive management action for PWC at the Seashore that constitutes a major Federal action significantly affecting the quality of the human environment. The NPS has prepared the FEIS, ROD and amended ROD under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969. A copy of the FEIS, ROD and amended ROD, which contain a full description of the purpose and need for taking action, the alternatives considered, maps, the environmental impacts associated with this rule, and the basis for the selected alternative can be found online at 
                    <E T="03">https://parkplanning.nps.gov/guis-PWC-EIS,</E>
                     by clicking on the link entitled “Document List.”
                </P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD2">Effects on the Energy Supply (E.O. 13211)</HD>
                <P>This rule is not a significant energy action under the definition in Executive Order 13211; the rule is not likely to have a significant adverse effect on the supply, distribution, or use of energy, and the rule has not otherwise been designated by the Administrator of OIRA as a significant energy action. A Statement of Energy Effects is not required.</P>
                <LSTSUB>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">List of Subjects in 36 CFR Part 7</HD>
                    <P>National parks, Reporting and Recordkeeping requirements.</P>
                </LSTSUB>
                <P>For the reasons stated in the preamble, and under the authority of 54 U.S.C. 100751, the National Park Service amends 36 CFR part 7, as set forth below:</P>
                <PART>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">PART 7—SPECIAL REGULATIONS, AREAS OF THE NATIONAL PARK SYSTEM</HD>
                </PART>
                <REGTEXT TITLE="36" PART="7">
                    <AMDPAR>1. The authority citation for part 7 continues to read as follows:</AMDPAR>
                    <AUTH>
                        <HD SOURCE="HED">Authority:</HD>
                        <P>54 U.S.C. 100101, 100751, 320102; Sec. 7.96 also issued under D.C. Code 10-137 and D.C. Code 50-2201.07.</P>
                    </AUTH>
                </REGTEXT>
                <REGTEXT TITLE="36" PART="7">
                    <AMDPAR>2. Amend § 7.12 by revising paragraph (c)(1)(i) and (iii), (c)(2), (c)(3) introductory text and (c)(3)(i) to read as follows:</AMDPAR>
                    <SECTION>
                        <SECTNO>§ 7.12</SECTNO>
                        <SUBJECT> Gulf Islands National Seashore.</SUBJECT>
                        <STARS/>
                        <P>(c) * * *</P>
                        <P>(1) * * *</P>
                        <P>(i) The lakes, ponds, lagoons, and inlets of Cat Island, Ship Island, Horn Island, West Petit Bois Island, and Petit Bois Island;</P>
                        <STARS/>
                        <P>(iii) Within 200 feet from the remnants of the old fishing pier at Fort Pickens, within 200 feet from the new fishing pier at Fort Pickens, and within 200 feet from the ferry pier at Fort Pickens; and</P>
                        <STARS/>
                        <P>(2) PWC may not be operated at greater than flat wake speed in the following locations:</P>
                        <P>(i) Within 300 yards from all shorelines in Mississippi; and</P>
                        <P>(ii) Within 150 yards from all shorelines in Florida.</P>
                        <P>(3) PWC are allowed to land at any point along the shore except as follows:</P>
                        <P>(i) PWC are prohibited on any shoreline adjacent to the closed areas listed in paragraph (c)(1) of this section; and</P>
                        <STARS/>
                    </SECTION>
                </REGTEXT>
                <SIG>
                    <NAME>Kevin J. Lilly,</NAME>
                    <TITLE>Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Exercising the Delegated Authority of the Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks.</TITLE>
                </SIG>
            </SUPLINF>
            <FRDOC>[FR Doc. 2026-17198 Filed 8-21-26; 8:45 am]</FRDOC>
            <BILCOD>BILLING CODE 4312-52-P</BILCOD>
        </RULE>
        <RULE>
            <PREAMB>
                <AGENCY TYPE="N">DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE</AGENCY>
                <SUBAGY>National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration</SUBAGY>
                <CFR>50 CFR Part 622</CFR>
                <DEPDOC>[Docket No. 140722613-4908-02; RTID 0648-XF993]</DEPDOC>
                <SUBJECT>Coastal Migratory Pelagic Resources of the Gulf and Atlantic Region; Commercial Closure for Atlantic Spanish Mackerel in the Northern Zone</SUBJECT>
                <AGY>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">AGENCY:</HD>
                    <P>National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.</P>
                </AGY>
                <ACT>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">ACTION:</HD>
                    <P>Temporary rule; closure.</P>
                </ACT>
                <SUM>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">SUMMARY:</HD>
                    <P>
                        NMFS implements an accountability measure (AM) for the commercial harvest of the Atlantic migratory group of Spanish mackerel in the northern zone of the Atlantic exclusive economic zone (EEZ). NMFS projects that landings will soon reach the revised commercial quota for Spanish mackerel in the northern zone of the Atlantic EEZ for the 2026-2027 fishing year. In accordance with the 
                        <PRTPAGE P="54665"/>
                        regulations for the Atlantic migratory group of Spanish mackerel, NMFS closes the northern zone for commercial harvest to protect this fishery resource.
                    </P>
                </SUM>
                <EFFDATE>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">DATES:</HD>
                    <P>This temporary rule is effective from August 25, 2026, through February 28, 2027.</P>
                </EFFDATE>
                <FURINF>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:</HD>
                    <P>
                        Mary Vara, NMFS Southeast Regional Office, telephone: 727-824-5305, or email: 
                        <E T="03">mary.vara@noaa.gov</E>
                        .
                    </P>
                </FURINF>
            </PREAMB>
            <SUPLINF>
                <HD SOURCE="HED">SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:</HD>
                <P>The fishery for coastal migratory pelagic fish in the Atlantic includes king mackerel, Spanish mackerel, and cobia on the east coast of Florida, and is managed under the Fishery Management Plan for Coastal Migratory Pelagic Resources of the Gulf and Atlantic Region (FMP). The FMP was prepared by the Gulf and South Atlantic Fishery Management Councils and NMFS, was approved by the Secretary of Commerce, and is implemented by NMFS through regulations at 50 CFR part 622 under the authority of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act). All weights described for Spanish mackerel in the Atlantic EEZ apply as either round or gutted weight.</P>
                <P>Atlantic Spanish mackerel are divided into northern and southern zones for management purposes. The northern zone for Spanish mackerel extends in the Atlantic EEZ from New York through North Carolina. The northern boundary of the northern zone extends from an intersection point off New York, Connecticut, and Rhode Island at 41°18′16.249″ N latitude and 71°54′28.477″ W longitude, and proceeds southeast to 37°22′32.75″ N latitude and the intersection point with the outward boundary of the EEZ. The southern boundary of the northern zone extends from the North Carolina and South Carolina state border along a line in a direction of 135°34′55″ from true north beginning at 33°51′07.9″ N latitude and 78°32′32.6″ W longitude to the intersection point with the outward boundary of the EEZ (50 CFR 622.369(b)(2)).</P>
                <P>The commercial annual catch limit (ACL; equal to the commercial quota) for the Atlantic migratory group of Spanish mackerel (Atlantic Spanish mackerel) is 3.33 million pounds (lb) (1.51 million kilograms (kg)) (50 CFR 622.384(c)(2)). The commercial quota for Atlantic Spanish mackerel in the northern zone is 662,670 lb (300,582 kg) and is 2,667,330 lb (1,209,881 kg) in the southern zone (50 CFR 622.384(c)(2)(i) and (ii)). For the 2026-2027 fishing year, the Atlantic Spanish mackerel fishing year is from March 1, 2026 through February 28, 2027 (50 CFR 622.7(b)(3)).</P>
                <P>The regulation codified at 50 CFR 622.384(c)(2)(iii) allows for commercial quota transfers between the northern and southern zones with approval from the Regional Administrator (RA) of the NMFS Southeast Region. Specifically, North Carolina or Florida, in consultation with the other states in their respective zones, may request approval from the RA to transfer part or all of its respective zone's annual commercial quota to the other zone. For the purposes of quota closures as described in 50 CFR 622.8, the receiving zone's quota will be the original quota plus any transferred amount, for that fishing year only. Landings associated with any transferred quota will be included in the total landings for Atlantic Spanish mackerel, which will be evaluated relative to the total ACL.</P>
                <P>In a letter to NMFS dated July 16, 2026, the State of Florida requested the transfer of 250,000 lb (113,398 kg) of Atlantic Spanish mackerel commercial quota from the southern zone to the northern zone to allow the commercial quota for both zones in the current fishing year to be fully harvested. NMFS approved the transfer of commercial quota on July 20, 2026, and therefore, the revised northern zone commercial quota for Spanish mackerel is 912,670 lb (413,980 kg) and the revised southern zone commercial quota is 2,417,330 lb (1,096,482 kg) for the 2026-2027 fishing year.</P>
                <P>The commercial AM for Atlantic Spanish mackerel requires NMFS to close the commercial sector for Atlantic Spanish mackerel in the northern zone when landings reach or are projected to reach the commercial quota for that zone (50 CFR 622.388(d)(1)(i)). For Atlantic Spanish mackerel from the northern zone, NMFS projects that the 2026-2027 revised commercial quota will have been reached by August 25, 2026. Accordingly, the commercial sector for Atlantic Spanish mackerel in the northern zone is closed effective on August 25, 2026, and remains closed through February 28, 2027, the end of the current fishing year.</P>
                <P>During the commercial closure, a person on a vessel that has been issued a valid Federal commercial permit to harvest Atlantic Spanish mackerel may continue to retain this species in the northern zone under the recreational bag and possession limits specified in 50 CFR 622.382(a), if recreational harvest of Atlantic Spanish mackerel in the northern zone has not been closed (50 CFR 622.384(e)(1)).</P>
                <P>Also during the commercial closure, Atlantic Spanish mackerel from the northern zone, including those fish harvested under the recreational bag and possession limits, may not be purchased or sold. This prohibition does not apply to Atlantic Spanish mackerel from the northern zone that were harvested, landed ashore, and sold prior to the closure and were held in cold storage by a dealer or processor (50 CFR 622.384(e)(2)).</P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">Classification</HD>
                <P>NMFS issues this action pursuant to section 305(d) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act. This action is required by 50 CFR 622.388(d)(1)(i), which was issued pursuant to section 304(b) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, and is exempt from review under Executive Order 12866.</P>
                <P>Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B), there is good cause to waive prior notice and an opportunity for public comment on this action, as notice and comment are unnecessary and contrary to the public interest. Such procedures are unnecessary because the rule implementing the commercial quota and AM has already been subject to notice and public comment, and all that remains is to notify the public of the closure. Such procedures are also contrary to the public interest because of the need to immediately implement the closure to protect the resource of Atlantic Spanish mackerel, because the capacity of the fishing fleet allows for rapid harvest of the commercial quota. Prior notice and opportunity for public comment would require time and could result in additional harvest that exceeds the established commercial quota.</P>
                <P>For the same reasons, there is good cause to waive the 30-day delay in the effectiveness of this action under 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3).</P>
                <AUTH>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">Authority:</HD>
                    <P>
                        16 U.S.C. 1801 
                        <E T="03">et seq.</E>
                    </P>
                </AUTH>
                <SIG>
                    <DATED>Dated: August 20, 2026.</DATED>
                    <NAME>David R. Blankinship,</NAME>
                    <TITLE>Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.</TITLE>
                </SIG>
            </SUPLINF>
            <FRDOC>[FR Doc. 2026-17228 Filed 8-20-26; 4:15 pm]</FRDOC>
            <BILCOD>BILLING CODE 3510-22-P</BILCOD>
        </RULE>
    </RULES>
    <VOL>91</VOL>
    <NO>162</NO>
    <DATE>Monday, August 24, 2026</DATE>
    <UNITNAME>Proposed Rules</UNITNAME>
    <PRORULES>
        <PRORULE>
            <PREAMB>
                <PRTPAGE P="54666"/>
                <AGENCY TYPE="F">DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION</AGENCY>
                <CFR>2 CFR Parts 3474 and 3485</CFR>
                <CFR>34 CFR Parts 75, 76, 77, and 79</CFR>
                <RIN>RIN 1875-AA14</RIN>
                <DEPDOC>[Docket ID ED-2026-OPEPD-2542]</DEPDOC>
                <SUBJECT>Education Department General Administrative Regulations</SUBJECT>
                <AGY>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">AGENCY:</HD>
                    <P>Office of Planning, Evaluation and Policy Development, Department of Education.</P>
                </AGY>
                <ACT>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">ACTION:</HD>
                    <P>Notice of proposed rulemaking.</P>
                </ACT>
                <SUM>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">SUMMARY:</HD>
                    <P>
                        The Secretary of Education proposes to amend the Education Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) and other provisions in 2 CFR parts 3474 and 3485 to update the regulations and better align them with other U.S. Department of Education (Department) regulations and procedures, and to include technical updates from the Office of Management and Budget's Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards published in the 
                        <E T="04">Federal Register</E>
                         on April 22, 2024. The Department intends to finalize these regulations in late 2026.
                    </P>
                </SUM>
                <EFFDATE>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">DATES:</HD>
                    <P>We must receive your comments on or before September 23, 2026.</P>
                </EFFDATE>
                <ADD>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">ADDRESSES:</HD>
                    <P>
                        Comments must be submitted via the Federal eRulemaking Portal at 
                        <E T="03">Regulations.gov</E>
                        . See the 
                        <E T="02">SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION</E>
                         section for more details.
                    </P>
                </ADD>
                <FURINF>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:</HD>
                    <P>
                        Zachary Rogers, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20202. Telephone: (202) 245-6776. Email: 
                        <E T="03">EDGAR@ed.gov.</E>
                    </P>
                    <P>If you are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability and wish to access telecommunications relay services, please dial 7-1-1.</P>
                </FURINF>
            </PREAMB>
            <SUPLINF>
                <HD SOURCE="HED">SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:</HD>
                <P/>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Invitation to Comment:</E>
                     We invite you to submit comments regarding these proposed regulations. Comments must be submitted via the Federal eRulemaking Portal at 
                    <E T="03">regulations.gov</E>
                    . A brief summary of the proposed rule is also available on the Federal eRulemaking Portal. If you require an accommodation or cannot otherwise submit your comments via 
                    <E T="03">regulations.gov</E>
                    , please contact the program contact person listed under 
                    <E T="02">FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT</E>
                    . The Department will not accept comments by fax or by email, or comments submitted after the comment period closes. To ensure that the Department does not receive duplicate copies, please submit your comments only once.Additionally, please include the Docket ID at the top of your comments.
                </P>
                <P>To ensure that public comments have maximum effect in developing the final regulations, the Department urges that each comment clearly identify the specific section or sections of the regulations that the comment addresses and that comments be in the same order as the regulations. In finalizing these proposed regulations, the Department may issue certain aspects of the final rule separately in order to appropriately respond to comments submitted by the public.</P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Federal eRulemaking Portal:</E>
                     Go to 
                    <E T="03">www.Regulations.gov</E>
                     to submit your comments electronically. Information on using 
                    <E T="03">Regulations.gov</E>
                    , including instructions for accessing agency documents, submitting comments, and viewing the docket, is available on the site under “FAQ.” Also included on 
                    <E T="03">Regulations.gov</E>
                     is a commenter checklist that addresses how to submit effective comments.
                </P>
                <P>
                    In instances where individual submissions appear to be duplicates or near duplicates of comments prepared as part of a writing campaign, the Department may choose to post to 
                    <E T="03">Regulations.gov</E>
                     one representative sample comment along with the total comment count for that campaign. The Department will consider these comments along with all other comments received. In instances where individual submissions are bundled together (submitted as a single document or packaged together), the Department will post all of the substantive comments included in the submissions along with the total comment count for that document or package to 
                    <E T="03">Regulations.gov</E>
                    .
                </P>
                <P>
                    Comments containing personal threats will not be posted to 
                    <E T="03">Regulations.gov</E>
                     and may be referred to the appropriate authorities.
                </P>
                <P>
                    During and after the comment period, you may inspect public comments about the proposed regulations by accessing 
                    <E T="03">Regulations.gov</E>
                    . To inspect comments in person, please contact the person listed under 
                    <E T="02">FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT</E>
                    .
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Privacy Note:</E>
                     The Department's policy is to generally make all comments received from members of the public available for public viewing in their entirety on the Federal eRulemaking Portal at 
                    <E T="03">Regulations.gov</E>
                    . Therefore, commenters should be careful to include in their comments only information that they wish to make publicly available.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Assistance to Individuals with Disabilities in Reviewing the Rulemaking Record:</E>
                     On request, we will provide an appropriate accommodation or auxiliary aid to an individual with a disability who needs assistance to review the comments or other documents in the public rulemaking record for this document. If you want to schedule an appointment for this type of accommodation or auxiliary aid, please contact the person listed under 
                    <E T="02">FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT</E>
                    .
                </P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">Background</HD>
                <P>In this notice of proposed rulemaking, we propose to amend 2 CFR parts 3474 and 3485 and parts 75, 76, 77, and 79 of title 34 of the Code of Federal Regulations. These changes are detailed in the Summary of Major Provisions of this Regulatory Action and the Significant Proposed Regulations section of this document.</P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Summary of Major Provisions of this Regulatory Action:</E>
                     As discussed in greater detail in the 
                    <E T="03">Significant Proposed Regulations</E>
                     section of this document, the proposed regulations would:
                </P>
                <P>
                    • Make technical updates to ensure consistency across parts of EDGAR, including amending certain sections of its agency-specific Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards regulations in 2 CFR parts 3474 and 3485 by making technical updates to the cross-references cited in both parts to reflect revisions to the Uniform Administrative 
                    <PRTPAGE P="54667"/>
                    Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards.
                </P>
                <P>• Promote efficiency and cost savings within the Department and become more consistent with common practices among other Federal agencies, with regard to the publishing of notices and priorities in §§ 75.100, 75.104, 75.105, 75.222, 75.224, 79.3, 79.6, and 79.8.</P>
                <P>• Clarify and streamline the selection criteria the Secretary may use to make discretionary awards under § 75.210.</P>
                <P>• Clarify procedural approaches, such as the making of continuation awards under § 75.253.</P>
                <P>• Ensure merit practices and high standards for all grants under §§ 75.500 and 76.500.</P>
                <P>
                    • Align EDGAR with the evidence framework in the Secretary's Supplemental Priorities and Definitions on Evidence-Based Literacy, Education Choice, and Returning Education to the States, published in the 
                    <E T="04">Federal Register</E>
                     September 9, 2025 (90 FR 43514), by updating the definitions related to evidence in Part 77.
                </P>
                <P>The applicable authority for this regulatory package is 20 U.S.C. 1221 through 1221-1; 20 U.S.C. 1221e-3; 20 U.S.C. 1228a(c); 20 U.S.C. 3402; and 20 U.S.C. 3474, unless otherwise noted.</P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">Proposed Regulations</HD>
                <HD SOURCE="HD2">Part 75 Direct Grant Programs</HD>
                <HD SOURCE="HD3">SECTION 75.4 [RESERVED]</HD>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Current Regulation:</E>
                     Section 75.4 is currently reserved.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Proposed Regulation:</E>
                     We propose to add a new § 75.4 that would add a severability provision, to be included in the general subpart A, which would make clear that, if any part of the proposed regulations in Part 75 is held invalid by a court, the remainder would still be in effect.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Reason:</E>
                     Each of the sections in Part 75 serves one or more related but distinct purposes. To best serve these purposes, we would include this administrative provision in the regulations to make clear that the regulations are designed to operate independently of each other and to convey the Department's intent that the potential invalidity of one provision should not affect the remainder. Relatedly, we propose to remove the separate severability provisions already specific to Subparts A, E, and F.
                </P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD3">SECTION 75.51 HOW TO PROVE NONPROFIT STATUS</HD>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Current Regulation:</E>
                     Section 75.51 provides information on how and what an applicant may provide to prove their nonprofit status.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Proposed Regulation:</E>
                     We propose to amend the regulation to change the “may” language around providing documentation to a “must.”
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Reasons:</E>
                     The use of “may” makes it difficult, if an applicant does not provide documentation, for the Department to confirm nonprofit status, including requiring a search of multiple sources to try and confirm status.
                </P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD3">SECTION 75.63 SEVERABILITY</HD>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Current Regulation:</E>
                     Section 75.63 includes language related to severability specific to Subpart A of Part 75.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Proposed Regulation:</E>
                     We propose to remove and reserve § 75.63.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Reasons:</E>
                     Section 75.63 discusses severability specific to Subpart A of Part 75, but the proposed § 75.4 would add language about severability applicability to all of Part 75; therefore, severability language for a specific subpart is unnecessary.
                </P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD3">SECTION 75.100 PUBLICATION OF AN APPLICATION NOTICE; CONTENT OF THE NOTICE</HD>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Current Regulation:</E>
                     Section 75.100 includes a regulation related to the publication of an application notice and the content of the notice announcing the opportunity to apply for a new grant.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Proposed Regulation:</E>
                     We propose to amend the regulation to eliminate the requirement for the Secretary to publish application notices in the 
                    <E T="04">Federal Register</E>
                    . The proposed regulation would result in cost savings for the Department and taxpayers, be consistent with the notice requirements for Federal agencies in the governmentwide grants regulations in 2 CFR 200.204, align the Department's practices with more common practices among other Federal agencies, and allow the Department to streamline and simplify notices that are currently constrained by the rules of publishing in the 
                    <E T="04">Federal Register</E>
                    , such as formatting limitations, including the use of tables. Given that Federal agencies are charged a fee to publish documents in the 
                    <E T="04">Federal Register</E>
                    , this change would provide hundreds of thousands of dollars in annual cost savings for taxpayers and the Department.
                    <SU>1</SU>
                    <FTREF/>
                     For a detailed breakdown on the cost savings analysis, please review the 
                    <E T="03">Regulatory Impact Analysis</E>
                     section. Additionally, this proposed change would simplify the process for making application notices available to the public by removing time delays on public notification of funding opportunities. Currently, applicants seeking grants through the Department and other agencies must register and submit applications via 
                    <E T="03">Grants.gov</E>
                    , where funding opportunities are already listed. By eliminating the regulation to post notices in the 
                    <E T="04">Federal Register</E>
                    , applicants would no longer need to monitor multiple sources for grant information. Instead, they can rely on 
                    <E T="03">Grants.gov</E>
                     for all updates. 
                    <E T="03">Grants.gov</E>
                     provides the ability for potential applicants to receive email notification as new funding opportunities are posted. As ED increasingly partners with other Federal agencies as part of its “final mission” to return education to the States, in line with Executive Order 14242, this change will help align the Department's funding notices with the practices of other agencies, for consistent and improved government-wide simplification of notices that are not limited by required formatting and publishing standards with the 
                    <E T="04">Federal Register</E>
                    .
                </P>
                <FTNT>
                    <P>
                        <SU>1</SU>
                         For information on publishing in the 
                        <E T="04">Federal Register</E>
                        , including information regarding the fees, see 
                        <E T="03">https://www.gpo.gov/how-to-work-with-us/agency/services-for-agencies/ofr-publishing-services.</E>
                    </P>
                </FTNT>
                <HD SOURCE="HD3">SECTION 75.104 ADDITIONAL APPLICATION PROVISIONS</HD>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Current Regulation:</E>
                     Section 75.104 concerns applicants' compliance with application provisions.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Proposed Regulation:</E>
                     We propose to amend the regulation to eliminate the requirement for the Secretary to publish maximum award amounts for grant competitions in application notices in the 
                    <E T="04">Federal Register</E>
                    . Instead, maximum award amounts would be included in the application notices.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Reason:</E>
                     As noted above, this change would simplify the Department's practices in alignment with other agencies.
                </P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD3">SECTION 75.105 ANNUAL ABSOLUTE, COMPETITIVE PREFERENCE, AND INVITATIONAL PRIORITIES</HD>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Current Regulation:</E>
                     Section 75.105(b) specifies that the Secretary establishes priorities for the selection of applications in a particular fiscal year by publishing such annual priorities in a notice in the 
                    <E T="04">Federal Register</E>
                    .
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Proposed Regulation:</E>
                     We propose to amend the regulation to eliminate the requirement for the Secretary to publish annual priorities for grant competitions in application notices in the 
                    <E T="04">Federal Register</E>
                    . Instead, priorities would be included in the application notices.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Reasons:</E>
                     As noted above, this change would simplify the Department's practices in alignment with other agencies.
                    <PRTPAGE P="54668"/>
                </P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD3">SECTION 75.210 GENERAL SELECTION CRITERIA</HD>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Current Regulation:</E>
                     Section 75.210 lists the selection criteria and factors that the Department uses in the peer review process to score applications for discretionary grants.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Proposed Regulation:</E>
                     We propose changes to paragraphs (a) through (i) of § 75.210.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Reasons:</E>
                     We propose making revisions throughout § 75.210 in paragraphs (a), (b), (c), (d), and (g) to consistently refer to grant participants as the “target population,” which would ensure alignment of factors throughout § 75.210. Additional proposed changes to these paragraphs would streamline the language of individual factors to remove additional descriptive language to focus the intent.
                </P>
                <P>In paragraph (a), we propose to include the extent to which a problem is being addressed, in addition to the significance of the problem. We propose to broaden the focus to employment and career outcomes in paragraph (a)(2)(iii).</P>
                <P>In paragraph (b) we propose to focus paragraph (b)(2)(ii) on the problem to be addressed by the proposed project. In paragraph (b)(2)(iii), we propose to focus on the challenges more broadly, as well as the effective strategies to address said challenges. We propose a new paragraph (b)(2)(xviii) related to the services of high-quality personnel.</P>
                <P>In paragraph (c), we propose edits to factors to add emphasis on the role of families in communities and edits for clarity and removal of potential redundancy in language within factors. In paragraph (c)(2)(xvii) we propose edits to focus the priority on academic standards for students. In paragraph (c)(2)(xxi) we propose to revise the factor to clarify the selection of project participants, to align with the merit language being proposed in § 75.500. In paragraph (c)(2)(xxiii) we propose the addition of implementation sites into the consideration of the incorporation of the work beyond the project period.</P>
                <P>
                    In paragraphs (d) and (e), we propose to revise paragraph (d)(2) and (e)(2) and to consolidate and remove paragraphs (d)(3) and (e)(3) to align the introduction of these criteria with the other selection criteria in § 75.210. In proposed redesignated paragraph (d)(2)(v), we propose to include technical assistance, in addition to training and professional development services. We also propose revisions to proposed redesignated paragraph (d)(2)(ix) to align more closely with language from the Secretary's Supplemental Priority and Definitions on Career Pathways and Workforce Readiness published in the 
                    <E T="04">Federal Register</E>
                     April 13, 2026 (91 FR 18780). We propose a new paragraph (d)(2)(xiii) on the use of evidence-based practices in the preparation of high-quality personnel.
                </P>
                <P>In paragraph (e), we propose revisions and a removal of current paragraph (e)(3)(iv) to focus the project personnel criterion on the qualifications of the personnel; as such, we propose to redesignate current paragraph (e)(3)(v) as paragraph (e)(2)(iv). We proposed to add a new paragraph (e)(2)(vi) to align with the merit language being proposed in § 75.500.</P>
                <P>In paragraph (f), we propose revisions to emphasize the role of the applicant and contributions of partners in the project as well as a consideration of experiences in the qualifications of personnel.</P>
                <P>In paragraph (g), we propose streamlining of paragraph (g)(2)(iv) to focus on the time commitment of the project personnel. Proposed revisions to paragraph (g)(2)(v) align with other proposed revisions to emphasize a focus on the family and community.</P>
                <P>In paragraph (h), we propose revisions to factors to specify the level of evidence for which an evaluation is designed to meet, rather than a description of the evidence level without the naming of the evidence level.</P>
                <P>In paragraph (i), we propose a revision to paragraph (i)(1) to streamline the paragraph to emphasize the applicant's strategy to effectively scale the proposed project, without additional qualifiers, like how paragraph (1) is structured in other selection criteria. We propose a revision to paragraph (i)(2)(v) to streamline the factor to focus on the project, which is already inclusive of the scale of that project.</P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD3">SECTION 75.220 PROCEDURES THE DEPARTMENT USES UNDER § 75.219(a)</HD>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Current Regulation:</E>
                     Section 75.220(b)(2) references an employee of the Office of the Finance and Operations (OFO) with responsibility for grants policy to serve on a board to review an application under the special circumstances of § 75.219(a) (The objectives of the project cannot be achieved unless the Secretary makes the grant before the date grants can be made under the procedures in § 75.217).
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Proposed Regulation:</E>
                     We propose revising paragraph (b)(2) to remove the reference to a specific office of the Department.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Reasons:</E>
                     Given staffing changes at the Department, this section would be updated to reference the qualifications of the individual instead of naming a specific office in the Department.
                </P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD3">SECTION 75.222 PROCEDURES THE DEPARTMENT USES UNDER § 75.219(c)</HD>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Current Regulation:</E>
                     Section 75.222 describes the procedures for considering an unsolicited application, including the note accompanying § 75.222 references themailing of an unsolicited application and the address.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Proposed Regulation:</E>
                     Proposed § 75.222 would update the procedures for submitting an unsolicited application.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Reasons:</E>
                     The Department moved away from paper applications and is proposing to move away from physically mailed applications for unsolicited applications.
                </P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD3">SECTION 75.224 WHAT ARE THE PROCEDURES FOR USING A MULTIPLE TIER REVIEW PROCESS TO EVALUATE APPLICATIONS?</HD>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Current Regulation:</E>
                     Section 75.224 outlines the procedures for when a multiple tier review is used.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Proposed Regulation:</E>
                     Proposed § 75.224 would remove reference to the notice publishing in the 
                    <E T="04">Federal Register</E>
                    .
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Reason:</E>
                     As noted above, this change would simplify the Department's practices in alignment with other agencies.
                </P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD3">SECTION 75.228 [DOES NOT EXIST]</HD>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Current Regulation:</E>
                     Section 75.228 currently does not exist.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Proposed Regulation:</E>
                     We propose to add a new § 75.228 that would allow the Secretary to provide competitive preference to applicants who propose to charge lower indirect costs than their negotiated rate.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Reason:</E>
                     The proposed revision would provide the Department with greater flexibility to give competitive preference to applicants that propose to charge lower indirect costs to help ensure that Federal funds are directed, to the greatest extent possible, towards the core activities and outcomes of programs.
                </P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD3">SECTION 75.230 HOW THE DEPARTMENT MAKES A GRANT</HD>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Current Regulation:</E>
                     Section 75.230 outlines how the Secretary selects an application, including the amount of the award.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Proposed Regulation:</E>
                     Proposed § 75.230 would add a new paragraph to clarify that approval of an application does not obligate the Federal Government to provide additional funding for the award in the future.
                    <PRTPAGE P="54669"/>
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Reasons:</E>
                     The proposed new paragraph would reflect existing Department practices.
                </P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD3">SECTION 75.251 BUDGET PERIODS</HD>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Current Regulation:</E>
                     Section 75.251 outlines the process for multi-year projects, including multiple budget periods and a data collection period.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Proposed Regulation:</E>
                     We propose to correct a misspelling in paragraph (b)(2) and add a new paragraph (d) to clarify that the Secretary may consider any unspent or unobligated funds by a grantee in making funds available for multi-year projects, including making adjustments to awards based on an unspent balance.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Reason:</E>
                     The proposed new paragraph adds specificity to the authority that underpins existing Department practices.
                </P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD3">SECTION 75.252 [RESERVED]</HD>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Current Regulation:</E>
                     Section 75.252 is currently reserved.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Proposed Regulation:</E>
                     We propose to add a new § 75.252 that would clarify the process for frontloading grant funds of a multi-year project.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Reason:</E>
                     The Department can frontload grant funds, but the addition of § 75.252 outlines how it may be done, as well as grantee responsibilities.
                </P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD3">SECTION 75.253 CONTINUATION OF A MULTIYEAR PROJECT AFTER THE FIRST BUDGET PERIOD</HD>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Current Regulation:</E>
                     Section 75.253 describes the process and requirements for making continuation determinations and setting the amount of continuation awards.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Proposed Regulation:</E>
                     We propose revisions to § 75.253 to clarify the Secretary's authority to make continuation determinations and set continuation award amounts by removing subsection (c), allowing the Secretary to exercise the Secretary's discretion, as well as to clarify the Secretary's existing authority and practice to consider all pieces of relevant available information to inform a continuation determination, including information from the grant application and previous grantee activity. Proposed revisions also include the timing of making a continuation award, the funding for a continuation award, and a further clarification that the provisions of the General Education Provisions Act do not apply to decisions by the Secretary to reduce the amount of a continuation award or to not make a continuation determination.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Reasons:</E>
                     We propose these revisions to § 75.253 to clarify the Secretary's authority to make award decisions, and to clarify the existing practices and agency interpretation that allow the Secretary to rely on additional information in continuation award determinations under § 75.253; our current practices will be codified in § 75.253.
                </P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD3">SECTION 75.500 CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS, FREEDOM OF INQUIRY, AND FEDERAL STATUTES AND REGULATIONS ON NONDISCRIMINATION</HD>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Current Regulation:</E>
                     Section 75.500 outlines the various statutes and regulations with which grantees must comply.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Proposed Regulation:</E>
                     We propose to add a new paragraph (f) that would require grantees to ensure that hiring, admissions, promotions, and compensation practices under the grant are based on merit and high standards, without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, or proxies thereof unless an appropriate exception applies as a religious organization or an organization engaged in government-ordered remedial action; that the grantee's employment practices do not compel statements of belief in support or opposition to any political views as a condition of continued employment, promotion, admission, project participation, or the delivery of a benefit previously promised or entitled to the employee; and that, where applicable, the grantee has policies protecting freedom of speech, inquiry, and press, association, research as specified and required by § 75.500(a)-(e).
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Reasons:</E>
                     The Department believes that the discretionary grants it administers will be most likely to achieve program objectives if awarded to entities that will emphasize merit, ability, and high standards in their hiring practices, as appropriate. In particular, the Department is cognizant of the Congressional directive contained within section 427 of the General Education Provisions Act that the Department “promote educational excellence throughout the Nation” by promoting the ability of program beneficiaries “to meet high standards.” By amending § 75.500 to require all grantees to prioritize merit and high standards throughout their funded project activities, the Department seeks to reinforce its commitment to ensuring excellence as a bedrock component of all Federal education programs.
                </P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD3">SECTION 75.684 SEVERABILITY</HD>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Current Regulation:</E>
                     Section 75.684 includes language related to severability specific to Subpart E of Part 75.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Proposed Regulation:</E>
                     We propose to remove and reserve § 75.684.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Reasons:</E>
                     Section 75.684 discusses severability specific to Subpart E of Part 75, but proposed § 75.4 would add language about severability applicability to all of Part 75; therefore, severability language for a specific subpart is unnecessary.
                </P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD3">SECTION 75.741 SEVERABILITY</HD>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Current Regulation:</E>
                     Section 75.741 includes language related to severability specific to Subpart E of Part 75.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Proposed Regulation:</E>
                     We propose to remove and reserve § 75.741.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Reasons:</E>
                     Section 75.741 discussed severability specific to Subpart E of Part 75, but proposed § 75.4 would add language about severability applicability to all of Part 75; therefore, severability language for a specific subpart is unnecessary.
                </P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD3">SECTION 75.901 SUSPENSION AND TERMINATION</HD>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Current Regulation:</E>
                     Section 75.901 indicates that the Secretary may use the Office of Administrative Law Judges to resolve disputes concerning a variety of matters that are not subject to other proceedings.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Proposed Regulation:</E>
                     We propose to revise § 75.901 to provide clear notice to all recipients of the Department's ability to terminate discretionary awards for convenience in a manner consistent with law. Other clarifying edits are proposed in paragraph (a) regarding the other reasons for termination, including for noncompliance, by mutual agreement, upon notification by the recipient or subrecipient, and pursuant to additional terms and conditions included in the Federal award.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Reasons:</E>
                     This proposed clarification is similar to the existing authority at 2 CFR 200.340(a)(4) to terminate awards found to be inconsistent with program goals or agency priorities. It would also be consistent with the long-standing authority to terminate Federal contracts for convenience under the Federal Acquisition Regulations at 48 CFR 49.502 and 52.249-2 and the developing caselaw, as affirmed by recent opinions from the Supreme Court of the United States, that grantee agreements are ultimately contractual in nature.
                    <SU>2</SU>
                    <FTREF/>
                     The proposed changes would ensure that the Department retain ongoing programmatic discretion after an award is made, consistent with law, to 
                    <PRTPAGE P="54670"/>
                    terminate a discretionary award for convenience.
                </P>
                <FTNT>
                    <P>
                        <SU>2</SU>
                         
                        <E T="03">Department of Education</E>
                         v. 
                        <E T="03">California,</E>
                         604 U.S. _ (2025) (per curiam); 
                        <E T="03">National Institutes of Health</E>
                         v. 
                        <E T="03">American Public Health Association,</E>
                         606 U.S. _  (2025) (per curiam).
                    </P>
                </FTNT>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Reasons:</E>
                     The proposed revisions are meant to provide additional clarity and authority regarding reasons available to the Department for terminating Federal awards, and to add new provisions regarding temporary suspension generally consistent with parallel procedures for procurement contracts under the Federal Acquisition Regulations. These proposed revisions create greater alignment between Federal financial assistance and the long-standing termination for convenience provision applicable to Federal procurement contracts. The goals of these proposed revisions include ensuring that Federal funds are not wasted, projects remain aligned with Department priorities, and recipients remain accountable for delivering projects consistent with public purposes authorized by law.
                </P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD2">Part 76 State-Administered Formula Grant Programs</HD>
                <HD SOURCE="HD3">SECTION 76.3 [DOES NOT EXIST]</HD>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Current Regulation:</E>
                     Section 76.3 currently does not exist.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Proposed Regulation:</E>
                     We propose to add a new § 76.3, to Subpart A—General, under the heading “Regulations That Apply to State-Administered Programs,” to add a severability provision, to be included in subpart A, which would make clear that, if any part of the proposed regulations in Part 76 is held invalid by a court, the remainder would still be in effect.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Reason:</E>
                     Each of the sections in Part 76 serves one or more important, related but distinct purposes. To best serve these purposes, we would include this administrative provision in the regulations to make clear that the regulations are designed to operate independently of each other and to convey the Department's intent that the potential invalidity of one provision should not affect the remainder. Relatedly, we propose to remove the separate severability provisions specific to Subparts A and G.
                </P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD3">SECTION 76.53 SEVERABILITY</HD>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Current Regulation:</E>
                     Section 76.53 includes language related to severability specific to Subpart A of Part 76.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Proposed Regulation:</E>
                     We propose to remove and reserve § 76.53.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Reasons:</E>
                     Section 76.53 discusses severability specific to Subpart A of Part 76, but proposed § 76.3 would add language about severability applicability to all of Part 76; therefore, severability language for a specific subpart is unnecessary.
                </P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD3">SECTION 76.500 CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS, FREEDOM OF INQUIRY, AND FEDERAL STATUTES AND REGULATIONS ON NONDISCRIMINATION</HD>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Current Regulation:</E>
                     Section 76.500 outlines the various statutes and regulations with which grantees must comply.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Proposed Regulation:</E>
                     We propose to add a new paragraph (f) that would require grantees to ensure merit practices as part of a grantee's General Administrative Responsibilities.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Reasons:</E>
                     The Department believes that the grants it administers will be most likely to achieve program objectives if awarded to entities that emphasize merit, ability, and rigor in their hiring practices. In particular, the Department is cognizant of the Congressional directive contained within section 427 of the General Education Provisions Act that the Department “promote educational excellence throughout the Nation” by promoting the ability of program beneficiaries “to meet high standards.” By amending § 76.500 to require all grantees to prioritize merit and high standards throughout their funded project activities, the Department seeks to reinforce its commitment to ensuring excellence as a bedrock component of all Federal education programs.
                </P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD3">SECTION 76.684 SEVERABILITY</HD>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Current Regulation:</E>
                     Section 76.684 includes language related to severability specific to Subpart G of Part 75.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Proposed Regulation:</E>
                     We propose to remove and reserve § 76.684.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Reasons:</E>
                     Section 76.684 discusses severability specific to Subpart G of Part 76, but proposed § 76.3 would add language about severability applicability to all of Part 76; therefore, severability language for a specific subpart is unnecessary.
                </P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD3">SECTION 76.700 COMPLIANCE WITH THE U.S. CONSTITUTION, STATUTES, REGULATIONS, STATED INSTITUTIONAL POLICIES, AND APPLICATIONS</HD>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Current Regulation:</E>
                     Section 76.700 states that grantees shall comply with and use Federal funds in accordance with applicable statutes, regulations, and approved applications.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Proposed Regulation:</E>
                     We propose to revise § 76.700 to include Executive orders in addition to statutes, regulations, and approved applications.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Reasons:</E>
                     We propose this revision to align to § 75.700, which includes the requirement for grantees of direct grant programs to comply with Executive orders. It was an oversight that this proposed change was not included in the updates to EDGAR published in the 
                    <E T="04">Federal Register</E>
                     on August 29, 2024 (89 FR 70300).
                </P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD3">SECTION 76.784 SEVERABILITY</HD>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Current Regulation:</E>
                     Section 76.784 includes language related to severability specific to Subpart G of Part 75.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Proposed Regulation:</E>
                     We propose to remove and reserve § 76.784.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Reasons:</E>
                     Section 76.784 discusses severability specific to Subpart G of Part 76, but proposed § 76.3 would add language about severability applicability to all of Part 76; therefore, severability language for a specific subpart is unnecessary.
                </P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD2">Part 77 Definitions That Apply to Department Regulations</HD>
                <HD SOURCE="HD3">SECTION 77.1 DEFINITIONS THAT APPLY TO ALL DEPARTMENT PROGRAMS</HD>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Current Regulation:</E>
                     Section 77.1 includes a number of definitions, including certain definitions related to evidence. These definitions support the various sections in EDGAR and are used by the Department in notices where relevant to the specific grant competition.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Proposed Regulation:</E>
                     We propose to revise the definitions of “experimental study,” “moderate evidence,” “national level,” “promising evidence,” “quasi-experimental design study,” “regional level,” and “strong evidence” and to add new definitions of “evidence framework” and “frontloading.”
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Reasons:</E>
                     The proposed updates to the definitions, including the definitions for the different tiers of evidence, align with the definitions in the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. The proposed addition of the definition for “evidence framework” aligns with the definition in the Secretary's Supplemental Priorities and Definitions on Evidence-Based Literacy, Education Choice, and Returning Education to the States published in the 
                    <E T="04">Federal Register</E>
                     on September 9, 2025 (90 FR 43514), and aligns the other definitions to support the proposed “evidence framework” definition. The proposed definition of “frontloading” is to clarify a term used in the proposed § 75.252. The proposed revisions to the definitions of “national level” and “regional level” would remove the example of the groups to streamline the definitions because the Department does not think the examples are necessary in defining the level of scale.
                    <PRTPAGE P="54671"/>
                </P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD3">Evidence-Related Definitions</HD>
                <P>We propose revising the evidence definitions to include a new definition for “evidence framework,” and revising the definitions of “experimental study,” “moderate evidence,” “promising evidence,” “quasi-experimental design study,” and “strong evidence.”</P>
                <P>The proposed modifications to the definitions of “experimental study,” “moderate evidence,” “promising evidence,” “quasi-experimental design study,” and “strong evidence” align the definitions with 20 U.S.C. 7801(21)(A)(i). The proposed definitions retain the reference to rigorous methodologies and remove references to the What Works Clearinghouse within the definitions for each tier of evidence, to allow for additional approaches that the Department may select for applicants to use to demonstrate that they have met rigorous evidence standards. The new proposed definition for “evidence framework” describes those additional approaches and includes the review aligned with What Works Clearinghouse as one approach that the Department may use to establish that applicants have met rigorous evidence standards. The Department may also consider other methods to verify the rigor of evidence as described in the definition of “evidence framework.”</P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD2">Part 79 Intergovernmental Review of Department of Education Programs and Activities</HD>
                <HD SOURCE="HD3">SECTION 79.3 WHAT PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES OF THE DEPARTMENT ARE SUBJECT TO THESE REGULATIONS?</HD>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Current Regulation:</E>
                     Section 79.3 discusses programs and activities subject to intergovernmental review.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Proposed Regulation:</E>
                     We propose to amend the regulation to eliminate the requirement for the Secretary to publish the list of grant programs subject to intergovernmental review in application notices in the 
                    <E T="04">Federal Register</E>
                    . Instead, intergovernmental review applicability would be included in the application notices.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Reasons:</E>
                     As noted above, this change would simplify the Department's practices in alignment with other agencies.
                </P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD3">SECTION 79.6 WHAT PROCEDURES APPLY TO THE SELECTION OF PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES UNDER THESE REGULATIONS?</HD>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Current Regulation:</E>
                     Section 79.6 outlines how a State may select a program for intergovernmental review.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Proposed Regulation:</E>
                     We propose to amend the regulation to eliminate the requirement for the program or activity to be published in the 
                    <E T="04">Federal Register</E>
                    . Instead, the program or activity would be included in application notices.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Reasons:</E>
                     As noted above, this change would simplify the Department's practices in alignment with other agencies.
                </P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD3">SECTION 79.8 HOW DOES THE SECRETARY PROVIDE STATES AN OPPORTUNITY TO COMMENT ON PROPOSED FEDERAL FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE?</HD>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Current Regulation:</E>
                     Section 79.8 outlines how the Secretary gives States the opportunity to comment in the intergovernmental review process, including the deadline date for comments.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Proposed Regulation:</E>
                     We propose to amend the regulation to remove the reference to publishing in the 
                    <E T="04">Federal Register</E>
                    . Instead, the deadline date for comments would be included in application notices.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Reasons:</E>
                     As noted above, this change would simplify the Department's practices in alignment with other agencies.
                </P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD3">Executive Orders 12866, 13563, and 14192</HD>
                <HD SOURCE="HD3">Regulatory Impact Analysis</HD>
                <P>This proposed regulatory action is a significant regulatory action subject to review by OMB under section 3(f) of Executive Order 12866. This regulatory action is expected to be considered an “Executive Order 14192 deregulatory action.”</P>
                <P>We have also reviewed this proposed regulatory action under Executive Order 13563. We are only issuing the proposed regulations on a reasoned determination that their benefits would justify their minimal costs. The Department believes that this regulatory action is consistent with the principles in Executive Order 13563.</P>
                <P>We have also determined that this regulatory action would not unduly interfere with State, local, and Tribal governments in the exercise of their governmental functions.</P>
                <P>In accordance with these Executive Orders, the Department has assessed the potential costs and benefits, both quantitative and qualitative, of this regulatory action.</P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD3">1. Need for Regulatory Action</HD>
                <P>
                    The Department has identified a need for regulatory action to minimize administrative burden to the public by reducing the number of sources they need to access to view a notice, reduce costs for taxpayers and the Department, and promote efficiency within the Department. See further explanation above in the 
                    <E T="03">Reasons</E>
                     section.
                </P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD3">2. Discussion of Costs, Benefits, and Transfers</HD>
                <HD SOURCE="HD3">2.A. Monetized Benefits and Transfers</HD>
                <P>The Department analyzed the costs and benefits of complying with these regulations. Most of the changes proposed in this notice of proposed rulemaking are technical in nature and are unlikely to affect the administration of programs or allocation of benefits in any substantial way. Given the large number of edits proposed herein, we discuss each provision and its likely costs and benefits in turn below. We do not discuss edits proposed for which we are updating citations or cross-references and making other technical edits.</P>
                <P>Proposed changes to § 75.4, which would add severability language for all of Part 75 and remove the separate severability language in §§ 75.63, 75.684, and 75.741, are unlikely to generate any quantifiable costs and may benefit the Department and general public by improving the clarity of the regulations.</P>
                <P>Proposed changes to § 75.51, which would more clearly specify what an applicant must provide to prove nonprofit status, are unlikely to generate any quantifiable costs and may benefit the Department and general public by improving the clarity of the regulations.</P>
                <P>Proposed changes to §§ 75.100, 75.104, 75.105, 75.222, 75.224, 79.3, 79.6, and 79.8 would result in a reduction of administrative burden to the public as well as cost savings to the Department.</P>
                <P>
                    Currently, the Department publishes grant application information first to the 
                    <E T="04">Federal Register</E>
                     and subsequently to 
                    <E T="03">Grants.gov</E>
                     and the Department program websites. The proposed changes to §§ 75.100. 75.104, 75.105, 75.222, 75.224, 79.3, 79.6, and 79.8 would streamline this process and reduce administrative burden to potential grant applicants by consolidating grant application notices in fewer locations. Based on the average number of notices inviting application documents published from FY 2021 through FY 2025, the Department estimates that, on average, 84 notices inviting applications are published in the 
                    <E T="04">Federal Register</E>
                     each year. We note that the President's FY 2027 Budget Request for the Department of Education 
                    <SU>3</SU>
                    <FTREF/>
                     proposed 
                    <PRTPAGE P="54672"/>
                    several program consolidations and eliminations for programs currently administered by the Department. These proposed consolidations and eliminations are not reflected in this Regulatory Impact Analysis. As the Department winds down operations, depending on funding decisions by Congress, estimated outyear benefits may decrease in the future.
                </P>
                <FTNT>
                    <P>
                        <SU>3</SU>
                         
                        <E T="03">
                            https://www.ed.gov/about/ed-overview/annual-performance-reports/budget/budget-requests/fy-
                            <PRTPAGE/>
                            2027-department-of-education-justifications-of-appropriation-estimates-congress.
                        </E>
                    </P>
                </FTNT>
                <P>
                    The proposed changes to §§ 75.100, 75.104, 75.105, 75.222, 75.224, 79.3, 79.6, and 79.8 would result in reductions to administrative and legal staff hours typically spent on preparing notices inviting applications for the 
                    <E T="04">Federal Register</E>
                    . The submission of notices inviting applications to the 
                    <E T="04">Federal Register</E>
                     creates immense administrative burdens related to formatting and transmission requirements; every grant competition where a notice inviting applications is no longer submitted to the 
                    <E T="04">Federal Register</E>
                     would significantly reduce this burden. Additionally, posting notices inviting applications to the 
                    <E T="04">Federal Register</E>
                     creates time delays on public notification of funding opportunities. For each grant competition where a notice inviting applications is no longer submitted to the 
                    <E T="04">Federal Register</E>
                    , we assume a program officer at the GS-13/5 level earning a loaded wage rate of $89.49 per hour,
                    <SU>4</SU>
                    <FTREF/>
                     on average, would spend 10 fewer hours per competition ensuring that the notice inviting applications is prepared according to the specific formatting requirements for the 
                    <E T="04">Federal Register</E>
                    . Similarly, we also assume that two Department attorneys at the GS-14/5 level (loaded wage rate of $105.75 
                    <SU>4</SU>
                     per hour) would spend approximately 2.5 fewer hours each ensuring that each notice inviting applications conforms to Departmental regulatory style guides, based on the 
                    <E T="03">Office of the Federal Register</E>
                     requirements. We assume that a senior Department attorney at the GS-15/5 level (loaded wage rate of $127.86 
                    <SU>4</SU>
                    ) would no longer spend 10 hours annually reviewing and updating Departmental regulatory style guides specific to notices inviting applications. We also estimate that one management and program analyst at the GS-13/5 level would no longer spend 5 hours per notice inviting applications transmitting the notice to the 
                    <E T="04">Federal Register</E>
                     in the appropriate Government Printing Office system. In sum, we estimate that this provision would generate cost savings of approximately $158,451 for the Department per year over the next ten years.
                </P>
                <FTNT>
                    <P>
                        <SU>4</SU>
                         2026 OPM GS Schedule, Washington DC locality, with 35% fringe rate.
                    </P>
                </FTNT>
                <P>
                    In addition, as required by law, the Department pays the Government Printing Office for each notice inviting applications published in the 
                    <E T="04">Federal Register</E>
                    . The cost of publication in the 
                    <E T="04">Federal Register</E>
                     is approximately $453 per published 
                    <E T="04">Federal Register</E>
                     page.
                    <SU>5</SU>
                    <FTREF/>
                     From FY 2021 through FY 2025, the Department published an estimated average of 84 notices inviting applications per year in the 
                    <E T="04">Federal Register</E>
                    . Each notice inviting applications was, on average, 6.34 pages in length. The Department estimates an annual cost of $241,250 per year to publish notices inviting applications in the 
                    <E T="04">Federal Register</E>
                     over the next ten years.
                </P>
                <FTNT>
                    <P>
                        <SU>5</SU>
                         
                        <E T="03">https://www.gpo.gov/how-to-work-with-us/agency/services-for-agencies/ofr-publishing-services.</E>
                    </P>
                </FTNT>
                <P>In total, the Department estimates net present value benefits of $3,409,531 and $2,807,333 over 10 years at a 3 percent and 7 percent discount rate, respectively. This value is equivalent to an annualized benefit of $399,701 per year over 10 years. The Department requests comments on the analysis and estimates contained in this Regulatory Impact Analysis.</P>
                <P>Proposed changes to § 75.210, which would streamline word choice are unlikely to generate any quantifiable costs and may benefit the Department and the general public by improving the clarity of the regulations.</P>
                <P>Proposed changes to § 75.220, which would clarify procedures for special circumstances for an application, are unlikely to generate any quantifiable costs and may benefit the Department and the general public by improving the clarity of the regulations.</P>
                <P>Proposed changes to § 75.222, which would update the submission process for unsolicited applications, are unlikely to generate any quantifiable costs and may benefit the Department and the general public by improving the clarity of the regulations.</P>
                <P>Proposed changes to § 75.228, which would allow the Secretary to give competitive preference to applicants who charge lower indirect costs than their negotiated rate, would provide the Department with greater flexibility to ensure that Federal funds are directed toward the activities and outcomes most central to a program's purpose. This authority would enable the Department to give competitive preference in competitions for applicants who charge lower indirect costs, based on the unique objectives and design of individual grant programs, particularly where program goals are best advanced by maximizing resources available for direct services, evidence-based interventions, capacity-building activities, or other programmatic investments. By establishing the competitive preference in the application notice, applicants would have clear expectations before applying, promoting consistency, fairness, and informed budgeting across all competitors. This flexibility would also strengthen the Department's stewardship of Federal funds by allowing it to align funding structures with program objectives and ensure that available resources are used as effectively as possible to achieve intended outcomes.</P>
                <P>As a result of changes to § 75.228 to allow the Secretary to give competitive preference for applicants who charge lower indirect costs, the Department anticipates, within impacted programs, a transfer of grant project fund allocation from the indirect cost budget category to the direct cost budget category. We assume the proposed rule, when implemented by the Secretary, will increase the scope and impact of grant services by shifting funds from general administrative purposes towards core project activities directly related to the goals and objective of the grant award. While we are not able to monetize the scope of the potential benefit, we assume that this transfer will significantly expand the scope and impact of affected programs and therefore significantly improve educational outcomes.</P>
                <P>
                    We estimate, for the purposes of establishing a baseline, that the average indirect cost rate for non-restricted rate grant program is 25%.
                    <SU>6</SU>
                    <FTREF/>
                     For all discretionary grantees the average award size is $750,000.
                    <SU>7</SU>
                    <FTREF/>
                     We assume that only $600,000 of each average award is chargeable to the indirect cost rate. Therefore, we establish an average baseline of $150,000 allocated to indirect costs and $450,000 allocated to direct costs for each of the sampled awards.
                </P>
                <FTNT>
                    <P>
                        <SU>6</SU>
                         Based on Department grant system reports for 172 discretionary grant awards made in 2025 or 2026.
                    </P>
                </FTNT>
                <FTNT>
                    <P>
                        <SU>7</SU>
                         Average award made in FY 2025 across 7,011 discretionary awards.
                    </P>
                </FTNT>
                <P>
                    We are unable to predict to what extent the Secretary will exercise the authority provided under this proposed rule in future years. Therefore, we conducted a sensitivity analysis of multiple scenarios that evaluate the potential impact based on the number of new applicants impacted and to what extent the indirect cost rate is lowered 
                    <PRTPAGE P="54673"/>
                    below the baseline for a new award grant competition.
                </P>
                <GPOTABLE COLS="4" OPTS="L2,nj,i1" CDEF="s50,12,12,12">
                    <TTITLE>Table 1—Indirect Cost Rate Change Sensitivity Analysis</TTITLE>
                    <BOXHD>
                        <CHED H="1">
                            Indirect cost rate
                            <LI>(%)</LI>
                        </CHED>
                        <CHED H="1">Indirect cost</CHED>
                        <CHED H="1">Direct cost</CHED>
                        <CHED H="1">Total transfer</CHED>
                    </BOXHD>
                    <ROW>
                        <ENT I="01">25 (Baseline)</ENT>
                        <ENT>$150,000</ENT>
                        <ENT>$450,000</ENT>
                        <ENT/>
                    </ROW>
                    <ROW>
                        <ENT I="01">20</ENT>
                        <ENT>120,000</ENT>
                        <ENT>480,000</ENT>
                        <ENT>$30,000</ENT>
                    </ROW>
                    <ROW>
                        <ENT I="01">15</ENT>
                        <ENT>90,000</ENT>
                        <ENT>510,000</ENT>
                        <ENT>60,000</ENT>
                    </ROW>
                    <ROW>
                        <ENT I="01">8</ENT>
                        <ENT>48,000</ENT>
                        <ENT>552,000</ENT>
                        <ENT>102,000</ENT>
                    </ROW>
                </GPOTABLE>
                <P>For the purposes of this analysis, the Department estimates that if the indirect cost rate for each of these sampled awards were, on average, lowered to 15%, the resulting allocations would be $90,000 to indirect costs and $510,000 for direct costs. This would be a transfer of $60,000 from indirect costs to direct costs per impacted grant award.</P>
                <GPOTABLE COLS="4" OPTS="L2,nj,i1" CDEF="s50,12,12,12">
                    <TTITLE>Table 2—New Grant Recipient Impact Sensitivity Analysis</TTITLE>
                    <BOXHD>
                        <CHED H="1">New grantees</CHED>
                        <CHED H="1">20%</CHED>
                        <CHED H="1">15%</CHED>
                        <CHED H="1">8%</CHED>
                    </BOXHD>
                    <ROW>
                        <ENT I="01">250</ENT>
                        <ENT>$7,500,000</ENT>
                        <ENT>$15,000,000</ENT>
                        <ENT>$25,500,000</ENT>
                    </ROW>
                    <ROW>
                        <ENT I="01">750</ENT>
                        <ENT>22,500,000</ENT>
                        <ENT>45,000,000</ENT>
                        <ENT>76,500,000</ENT>
                    </ROW>
                    <ROW>
                        <ENT I="01">1500</ENT>
                        <ENT>45,000,000</ENT>
                        <ENT>90,000,000</ENT>
                        <ENT>153,000,000</ENT>
                    </ROW>
                </GPOTABLE>
                <P>We assume that in each of the next 10 years, 750 new grant recipients would apply to programs where the Secretary gives competitive preference for applicants who charge lower indirect costs. Therefore, we estimate an annual transfer of $45,000,000 from indirect costs to direct costs over each of the next 10 years. To the extent that our sample underestimates the average indirect cost rate, the total amount transferred to the direct cost category would increase. The Department requests comments on the analysis and estimates contained in this Regulatory Impact Analysis.</P>
                <P>Proposed changes to § 75.230, which would clarify future commitments of the Federal Government for an award, are unlikely to generate any quantifiable costs and may benefit the Department and the general public by improving the clarity of the regulations.</P>
                <P>Proposed changes to § 75.251, which would clarify the treatment of unobligated balances on a grant, are unlikely to generate quantifiable costs and may benefit the Department and the general public by improving the clarity of the regulations.</P>
                <P>Proposed changes to § 75.252, which would clarify the use of frontloading, are unlikely to generate any quantifiable costs and may benefit the Department and general public by improving the clarity and transparency of the Department's authority to frontload grant funds.</P>
                <P>Proposed changes to § 75.253, which clarify the Secretary's role in making continuation determinations and the timeline for continuations, are unlikely to generate quantifiable costs and may benefit the Department and the general public by improving the clarity and transparency of regulations.</P>
                <P>Proposed changes to § 75.500, which would require assurances from grantees, are unlikely to generate any quantifiable costs and may benefit the Department and the general public by improving the clarity of the regulations.</P>
                <P>Proposed changes to § 75.901, which would clarify how a grant may be terminated, including termination disputes, are unlikely to generate any quantifiable costs and may benefit the Department and the general public by improving the clarity of the regulations.</P>
                <P>Proposed changes to § 76.3, which would add severability language for all of Part 76 and remove the separate severability language in §§ 76.43, 76.684, and 76.784, are unlikely to generate any quantifiable costs and may benefit the Department and general public by improving the clarity of the regulations.</P>
                <P>Proposed changes to § 76.700, which would add Executive orders to the list of authorities with which grantees must comply, are unlikely to generate any quantifiable costs and may benefit the Department and the general public by improving the clarity of the regulations.</P>
                <P>Proposed changes to § 77.1(c), which will apply to any applicant applying to a program that incorporates any of the definitions identified in this notice, would result in cost savings for both applicants and the Department by reducing regulatory burden. As discussed previously in this notice, the proposed changes would update existing definitions and add new definitions, both of which are unlikely to generate any quantifiable costs and would benefit the public and the Department by improving the clarity and reducing the complexity of the regulations. In total, the Department estimates net present value benefits of $1,589,716 and $1,308,937 over 10 years at a 3 percent and 7 percent discount rate, respectively. This value is equivalent to an annualized benefit of $186,363 over 10 years. The regulations are expected to result in estimated annual cost transfers of $45,038,500 over 10 years following publication of these proposed regulations.</P>
                <P>
                    As a result of changes to § 77.1(c) to revise evidence definitions, the Department anticipates a reduced burden for applicants to competitive grant competitions. We assume the revised definitions will reduce the complexity of evidence definitions and ultimately reduce the number of hours required to prepare a grant application. The Department estimates 2 fewer hours from a grant writer (education administrator, loaded wage rate of $107.60/hour 
                    <SU>8</SU>
                    <FTREF/>
                    ) for each of the estimated 866 
                    <SU>9</SU>
                    <FTREF/>
                     applicants applying to a competitive grant competition that requires at least a promising evidence level. In total, the Department estimates reviewing and revising these procedures will reduce costs by approximately $186,363 annually over the next 10 years.
                </P>
                <FTNT>
                    <P>
                        <SU>8</SU>
                         National OEWS, May 2025 SOC Code 11-9030, loaded wage rate of 100%.
                    </P>
                </FTNT>
                <FTNT>
                    <P>
                        <SU>9</SU>
                         Based on fiscal year 2024 applications received under programs incorporating evidence.
                    </P>
                </FTNT>
                <P>
                    Due to the addition of a new definition for “evidence framework,” in 
                    <PRTPAGE P="54674"/>
                    § 77.1(c), the Department anticipates a transfer of burden. Under the new “evidence framework” definition, the burden of evidence reviews could, at the discretion of the Department, shift from Department-funded evidence reviewers to reviewers funded by third parties (
                    <E T="03">e.g.,</E>
                     philanthropy, State educational agencies).
                </P>
                <P>
                    The specific cost transfer would be dependent on how the Department utilizes the additional flexibility provided under the new definition of “evidence framework.” For the purposes of this analysis, the Department estimates, based on administrative data and experience, that the cost of an evidence review is $3,500 per application. We estimate that half (11) of the estimated 22 
                    <SU>10</SU>
                    <FTREF/>
                     applicants who apply to a competitive grant competition requiring at least a moderate evidence level would rely upon an evidence review not funded by the Department or a study that is already in the What Works Clearinghouse. In total, the Department estimates a cost transfer of $38,500 from the Department to third parties as a result of this new definition. The Department anticipates that taxpayers could realize net savings as a result of this proposed definition.
                </P>
                <FTNT>
                    <P>
                        <SU>10</SU>
                         Based on fiscal year 2024 applications received under programs incorporating evidence. Assumes only a third (22 of 53) of applications received require review by Institute of Education Sciences peer reviewers.
                    </P>
                </FTNT>
                <HD SOURCE="HD3">2.B. Non-Monetized Benefits</HD>
                <P>The Department believes the proposed changes to §§ 75.100, 75.104, 75.105, 75.222, 75.224, 79.3, 79.6, and 79.8 would yield other real and significant benefits that are not as straightforwardly monetized. The proposed changes would improve the quality of grant applications by ensuring that applicants have a single, definitive source of grant competition information and requirements. The proposed changes would ultimately improve project outcomes and yield significant economic benefit to the public. For example, the Department believes the proposed changes will be particularly beneficial to applicants that have never received a Federal grant award.</P>
                <GPOTABLE COLS="2" OPTS="L2,nj,i1" CDEF="s100,12">
                    <TTITLE>Table 4.1—Net Annual Benefits, Years 1 Through 10</TTITLE>
                    <BOXHD>
                        <CHED H="1">Year</CHED>
                        <CHED H="1">Net annual benefits</CHED>
                    </BOXHD>
                    <ROW>
                        <ENT I="01">Year 1</ENT>
                        <ENT>$586,064</ENT>
                    </ROW>
                    <ROW>
                        <ENT I="01">Year 2</ENT>
                        <ENT>586,064</ENT>
                    </ROW>
                    <ROW>
                        <ENT I="01">Year 3</ENT>
                        <ENT>586,064</ENT>
                    </ROW>
                    <ROW>
                        <ENT I="01">Year 4</ENT>
                        <ENT>586,064</ENT>
                    </ROW>
                    <ROW>
                        <ENT I="01">Year 5</ENT>
                        <ENT>586,064</ENT>
                    </ROW>
                    <ROW>
                        <ENT I="01">Year 6</ENT>
                        <ENT>586,064</ENT>
                    </ROW>
                    <ROW>
                        <ENT I="01">Year 7</ENT>
                        <ENT>586,064</ENT>
                    </ROW>
                    <ROW>
                        <ENT I="01">Year 8</ENT>
                        <ENT>586,064</ENT>
                    </ROW>
                    <ROW>
                        <ENT I="01">Year 9</ENT>
                        <ENT>586,064</ENT>
                    </ROW>
                    <ROW>
                        <ENT I="01">Year 10</ENT>
                        <ENT>586,064</ENT>
                    </ROW>
                    <ROW>
                        <ENT I="02">Total Net Present Value (NPV), 3 percent</ENT>
                        <ENT>4,999,247</ENT>
                    </ROW>
                    <ROW>
                        <ENT I="02">Total Net Present Value (NPV), 3 percent</ENT>
                        <ENT>4,116,270</ENT>
                    </ROW>
                    <ROW>
                        <ENT I="01">Annualized, 7 percent</ENT>
                        <ENT>586,064</ENT>
                    </ROW>
                    <ROW>
                        <ENT I="01">Annualized, 7 percent</ENT>
                        <ENT>586,064</ENT>
                    </ROW>
                </GPOTABLE>
                <HD SOURCE="HD3">Regulatory Flexibility Act Certification</HD>
                <P>
                    This section considers the effects that the final regulations may have on small entities in the educational sector as required by the Regulatory Flexibility Act, 5 U.S.C. 601 
                    <E T="03">et seq.</E>
                    The Secretary certifies that this proposed regulatory action would not have a substantial economic impact on a substantial number of small entities.
                </P>
                <P>The U.S. Small Business Administration Size Standards define proprietary institutions as small businesses if they are independently owned and operated, are not dominant in their field of operation, and have total annual revenue below $7,000,000. Nonprofit institutions are defined as small entities if they are independently owned and operated and not dominant in their field of operation. Public institutions are defined as small organizations if they are operated by a government overseeing a population below 50,000.</P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD3">Paperwork Reduction Act</HD>
                <P>The proposed regulatory action does not contain any information collection requirements.</P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Accessible Format:</E>
                     On request to the program contact person listed under 
                    <E T="02">FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT</E>
                    , individuals with disabilities can obtain this document in an accessible format. The Department will provide the requestor with an accessible format that may include Rich Text Format (RTF) or text format (txt), a thumb drive, an MP3 file, braille, large print, audiotape, or compact disc, or other accessible format.
                </P>
                <LSTSUB>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">List of Subjects</HD>
                    <CFR>2 CFR 3474</CFR>
                    <P>Accounting, Administrative practice and procedure, Adult education, Aged, Agriculture, American Samoa, Bilingual education, Blind, Business and Industry, Civil rights, Colleges and universities, Communications, Community development, Community facilities, Copyright, Credit, Cultural exchange programs, Education, Education of disadvantaged, Education of individuals with disabilities, Educational facilities, Educational research, Educational study programs, Electric power, Electric power rates, Electric utilities, Elementary and secondary education, Energy conservation, Equal educational opportunity, Federally affected areas, Government contracts, Grant programs, Grant administration, Guam, Home improvement, Homeless, Hospitals, Housing, Human research subjects, Indians, Indians—education, Infants and children, Insurance, Intergovernmental relations, International organizations, Inventions and patents, Loan programs, Manpower training programs, Migrant labor, Mortgage insurance, Nonprofit organizations, Northern Mariana Islands, Pacific Islands Trust Territory, Privacy, Renewable energy, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Rural areas, Scholarships and fellowships, School construction, Schools, Science and technology, Securities, Small business, State and local governments, Student aid, Teachers, Telecommunications, Telephone, Urban areas, Veterans, Virgin Islands, Vocational education, Vocational rehabilitation, Waste treatment and disposal, Water pollution control, Water resources, Water supply, Watersheds, Women.</P>
                    <CFR>2 CFR Part 3485</CFR>
                    <P>Administrative practice and procedure, Grant programs, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.</P>
                    <CFR>34 CFR Part 75</CFR>
                    <P>Accounting, Copyright, Education, Grant programs—education, Guam, Indemnity payments, Inventions and patents, Private schools, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Youth organizations.</P>
                    <CFR>34 CFR Part 76</CFR>
                    <P>
                        Accounting, Administrative practice and procedure, American Samoa, Education, Grant programs—education, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Pacific Islands Trust Territory, Prisons, Private schools, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Virgin Islands, Youth organizations.
                        <PRTPAGE P="54675"/>
                    </P>
                    <CFR>34 CFR Part 77</CFR>
                    <P>Education, Grant programs—education.</P>
                </LSTSUB>
                <SIG>
                    <NAME>Linda McMahon,</NAME>
                    <TITLE>Secretary of Education.</TITLE>
                </SIG>
                <P>For the reasons discussed in the preamble, the Secretary proposes to amend parts 3474, and 3485 of title 2 of the Code of Federal Regulations, and parts 75, 76, and 77 of title 34 of the Code of Federal Regulations as follows:</P>
                <PART>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">PART 3474—UNIFORM ADMINISTRATIVE REQUIREMENTS, COST PRINCIPLES, AND AUDIT REQUIREMENTS FOR FEDERAL AWARDS</HD>
                </PART>
                <AMDPAR>1. The authority citation for part 3474 continues to read as follows:</AMDPAR>
                <AUTH>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">Authority:</HD>
                    <P>
                         20 U.S.C. 1221e-3, 3474; 42 U.S.C. 2000bb 
                        <E T="03">et seq.;</E>
                         E.O. 13279, 67 FR 77141, 3 CFR, 2002 Comp., p. 258; E.O. 13559, 75 FR 71319, 3 CFR, 2010 Comp., p. 273; E.O. 13831, 83 FR 20715, 3 CFR, 2018 Comp., p. 806; and 2 CFR part 200, unless otherwise noted.
                    </P>
                </AUTH>
                <AMDPAR>2. Amend § 3474.1 by revising paragraph (a) to read as follows:</AMDPAR>
                <SECTION>
                    <SECTNO>§ 3474.1</SECTNO>
                    <SUBJECT> Adoption of 2 CFR Part 200.</SUBJECT>
                    <P>(a) The Department of Education adopts the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Guidance in 2 CFR part 200, except for 2 CFR 200.102(a) and 2 CFR 200.208(a). Thus, this part gives regulatory effect to the OMB guidance and supplements the guidance as needed for the Department.</P>
                </SECTION>
                <AMDPAR>3. Amend § 3474.10 to read as follows:</AMDPAR>
                <SECTION>
                    <SECTNO>§ 3474.10</SECTNO>
                    <SUBJECT> Clarification regarding 2 CFR 200.208.</SUBJECT>
                    <P>The Secretary or a pass-through entity may, in appropriate circumstances, designate the specific conditions established under 2 CFR 200.208 as “high-risk conditions” and designate a non-Federal entity subject to specific conditions established under § 200.208 as “high-risk”.</P>
                    <EXTRACT>
                        <FP>(Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1221e-3, 3474, and 2 CFR part 200)</FP>
                    </EXTRACT>
                </SECTION>
                <PART>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">PART 3485—NONPROCUREMENT DEBARMENT AND SUSPENSION</HD>
                </PART>
                <AMDPAR>4. The authority citation for part 3485 continues to read as follows:</AMDPAR>
                <AUTH>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">Authority:</HD>
                    <P> E.O. 12549 (3 CFR 1986 Comp., p. 189); E.O. 12689 (3 CFR 1989 Comp., p. 235); sec. 2455, Pub. L. 103-355, 108 Stat. 3327 (31 U.S.C. 6101 note); 20 U.S.C. 1082, 1094, 1221e-3, and 3474, unless otherwise noted.</P>
                </AUTH>
                <AMDPAR>5. Amend § 3485.220 by revising paragraphs (b)(1) and (2) to read as follows:</AMDPAR>
                <SECTION>
                    <SECTNO>§ 3485.220</SECTNO>
                    <SUBJECT> Are any procurement contracts included as covered transactions?</SUBJECT>
                    <P>(a) * * *</P>
                    <P>(b) * * *</P>
                    <P>(1) The contract is awarded by a participant in a nonprocurement transaction that is covered under 2 CFR 180.210, and the contract amount is expected to equal or exceed $25,000.</P>
                    <P>(2) The contract requires the consent of an official of a Federal agency. In that case, the contract is always a covered transaction, regardless of the amount or who awarded it. For example, it could be a subcontract awarded by a contractor at a tier below a nonprocurement transaction, as shown in the Appendix to Part 3485—Covered Transactions.</P>
                    <STARS/>
                </SECTION>
                <PART>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">PART 75—DIRECT GRANT PROGRAMS</HD>
                </PART>
                <AMDPAR>6. Revise the authority citation for part 75 to read as follows:</AMDPAR>
                <AUTH>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">Authority:</HD>
                    <P> 20 U.S.C. 1221e-3 and 3474, unless otherwise noted.</P>
                </AUTH>
                <EXTRACT>
                    <P>Section 75.263 also issued under 2 CFR 200.308(g)(1).</P>
                    <P>Section 75.617 also issued under 31 U.S.C. 3504, 3505.</P>
                    <P>Section 75.500 also issued under 20 U.S.C. 1228a(c).</P>
                    <P>Section 75.740 also issued under 20 U.S.C. 1232g and 1232h.</P>
                </EXTRACT>
                <AMDPAR>7. Add § 75.4 after § 75.2 to read as follows:</AMDPAR>
                <P>If any provision of this part or its application to any person, act, or practice is held invalid, the remainder of the part or the application of its provisions to any person, act, or practice shall not be affected thereby.</P>
                <AMDPAR>8. Amend § 75.51 in paragraph (b) by removing “may” and replacing with “must”.</AMDPAR>
                <AMDPAR>
                    9. Amend § 75.100 in paragraph (a) by removing “in the 
                    <E T="04">Federal Register</E>
                    ”.
                </AMDPAR>
                <AMDPAR>
                    10. Amend § 75.104 in paragraph (b) by removing “published in the 
                    <E T="04">Federal Register</E>
                    ”.
                </AMDPAR>
                <AMDPAR>
                    11. Amend § 75.105 by removing in paragraph (b)(1) “in a notice in the 
                    <E T="04">Federal Register</E>
                    , usually”.
                </AMDPAR>
                <AMDPAR>12. Amend § 75.118 by revising the cross reference at the end of the section and designating as paragraph (c) to read as follows:</AMDPAR>
                <SECTION>
                    <SECTNO>§ 75.118</SECTNO>
                    <SUBJECT> Requirements for a continuation award.</SUBJECT>
                    <STARS/>
                    <P>(c) Cross Reference: See 2 CFR 200.328, Financial reporting, and 200.329, Monitoring and reporting program performance; and 34 CFR 75.117, Information needed for a multi-year project, 75.250 through 75.253, Approval of multi-year projects, 75.590, Evaluation by the grantee, and 75.720, Financial and performance reports.</P>
                </SECTION>
                <AMDPAR>13. Revise § 75.210 to read as follows:</AMDPAR>
                <SECTION>
                    <SECTNO>§ 75.210</SECTNO>
                    <SUBJECT> General selection criteria.</SUBJECT>
                    <P>In determining the selection criteria to evaluate applications submitted in a grant competition, the Secretary may select one or more of the following criteria and may select from among the list of optional factors under each criterion. The Secretary may define a selection criterion by selecting one or more specific factors within a criterion or assigning factors from one criterion to another criterion.</P>
                    <P>
                        (a) 
                        <E T="03">Need for the project.</E>
                    </P>
                    <P>(1) The Secretary considers the need for the proposed project.</P>
                    <P>(2) In determining the need for the proposed project, the Secretary considers one or more of the following factors:</P>
                    <P>(i) The data presented (including a comparison to local, State, regional, national, or international data) that demonstrates the issue, challenge, or opportunity to be addressed by the proposed project.</P>
                    <P>(ii) The extent to which the proposed project demonstrates the magnitude of the need for the services to be provided or the activities to be carried out by the proposed project.</P>
                    <P>(iii) The extent to which the proposed project will provide support, resources, or services; or otherwise address the needs of the target population and close gaps in educational opportunity or employment and career outcomes.</P>
                    <P>(iv) The extent to which the proposed project will focus on improving outcomes or otherwise addressing the needs of the target population.</P>
                    <P>(v) The extent to which the specific nature and magnitude of gaps or challenges are identified, and the extent to which these gaps or challenges will be addressed by the services, supports, infrastructure, or opportunities described in the proposed project.</P>
                    <P>(vi) The extent to which the proposed project will prepare individuals for employment in fields and careers in which there are demonstrated shortages.</P>
                    <P>
                        (b) 
                        <E T="03">Significance.</E>
                    </P>
                    <P>(1) The Secretary considers the significance of the proposed project.</P>
                    <P>(2) In determining the significance of the proposed project, the Secretary considers one or more of the following factors:</P>
                    <P>(i) The extent to which the proposed project is relevant at the national level.</P>
                    <P>
                        (ii) The significance of the problem or issue to be addressed by the proposed project, and the extent to which the proposed project would address the problem or issue.
                        <PRTPAGE P="54676"/>
                    </P>
                    <P>(iii) The extent to which findings from the proposed project's implementation will contribute new knowledge to the field by increasing understanding of challenges (including the underlying or related challenges), effective strategies for addressing challenges, and effective implementation of effective strategies.</P>
                    <P>(iv) The potential contribution of the proposed project to improve the provision of rehabilitative services, increase the number or quality of rehabilitation counselors, or develop and implement effective strategies for providing vocational rehabilitation services to individuals with disabilities.</P>
                    <P>(v) The likelihood that the proposed project will result in systemic change that supports continuous, sustainable, and measurable improvement.</P>
                    <P>(vi) The potential contribution of the proposed project to the development and advancement of theory, knowledge, and practices in the field of study, including the extent to which the contributions may be used by other appropriate agencies, organizations, institutions, or entities.</P>
                    <P>(vii) The potential for generalizing from the findings or results of the proposed project.</P>
                    <P>(viii) The extent to which the proposed project is likely to build local, State, regional, or national capacity to provide, improve, sustain, or expand training or services that address the needs of the target population.</P>
                    <P>(ix) The extent to which the proposed project involves the development or demonstration of innovative and effective strategies that build on, or are alternatives to, existing strategies.</P>
                    <P>(x) The extent to which the proposed project is innovative and likely to be more effective compared to other efforts to address a similar problem.</P>
                    <P>(xi) The likely utility of the resources (such as materials, processes, techniques, or data infrastructure) that will result from the proposed project, including the potential for effective use in a variety of conditions, populations, or settings.</P>
                    <P>(xii) The extent to which the resources, tools, and implementation lessons of the proposed project will be disseminated to the target population and local community in ways that will enable them and others (including practitioners, researchers, education leaders, and partners) to implement similar strategies.</P>
                    <P>(xiii) The potential effective replicability of the proposed project or strategies, including, as appropriate, the potential for implementation by a variety of populations or settings.</P>
                    <P>(xiv) The importance or magnitude of the results or outcomes likely to be attained by the proposed project, especially contributions toward improving teaching practice and student learning and achievement.</P>
                    <P>(xv) The importance or magnitude of the results or outcomes likely to be attained by the proposed project, especially improvements in employment, independent living services, or both, as appropriate.</P>
                    <P>(xvi) The importance or magnitude of the results or outcomes likely to be attained by the proposed project that demonstrate its impact for the target population in terms of breadth and depth of services.</P>
                    <P>(xvii) The extent to which the proposed project introduces an innovative approach, such as a modification of an evidence-based project component to serve different populations, an extension of an existing evidence-based project component, a unique composition of various project components to explore combined effects, or development of an emerging project component that needs further testing.</P>
                    <P>(xviii) The potential contribution of the proposed project to improve the provision of services, increase the number of high-quality personnel, or develop and implement effective practices to improve outcomes for the target population.</P>
                    <P>
                        (c) 
                        <E T="03">Quality of the project design.</E>
                    </P>
                    <P>(1) The Secretary considers the quality of the design of the proposed project.</P>
                    <P>(2) In determining the quality of the design of the proposed project, the Secretary considers one or more of the following factors:</P>
                    <P>(i) The extent to which the goals, objectives, and outcomes to be achieved by the proposed project are clearly specified, measurable, and ambitious yet achievable within the project period, and aligned with the purposes of the grant program.</P>
                    <P>(ii) The extent to which the design of the proposed project demonstrates meaningful community and family engagement and input to ensure that the project is appropriate to successfully address the needs of the target population or other identified needs and will be used to inform continuous improvement strategies.</P>
                    <P>(iii) The quality of the logic model or other conceptual framework underlying the proposed project, including how inputs are related to outcomes.</P>
                    <P>(iv) The extent to which the proposed project's logic model or other conceptual framework was developed based on engagement of a broad range of community members and partners.</P>
                    <P>(v) The extent to which the proposed project includes specific, measurable targets, connected to strategies, activities, resources, outputs, and outcomes, and uses reliable data to measure progress and inform continuous improvement.</P>
                    <P>(vi) The extent to which the design of the proposed project includes a thorough, high-quality review of the relevant literature, a high-quality plan for project implementation, and the use of appropriate methodological tools to enable successful achievement of project objectives.</P>
                    <P>(vii) The quality of the proposed demonstration design, such as qualitative and quantitative design, and procedures for documenting project activities and results for the target population.</P>
                    <P>(viii) The extent to which the design for implementing and evaluating the proposed project will result in information to guide possible replication of project activities or strategies, including valid and reliable information about the effectiveness of the approach or strategies employed by the project.</P>
                    <P>(ix) The extent to which the proposed development efforts include adequate quality controls, continuous improvement efforts, and, as appropriate, repeated testing of products.</P>
                    <P>(x) The extent to which the proposed project demonstrates that it is designed to build capacity and yield sustainable results that will extend beyond the project period.</P>
                    <P>(xi) The extent to which the design of the proposed project reflects the most recent and relevant knowledge and practices from research.</P>
                    <P>(xii) The extent to which the proposed project represents an exceptional approach to meeting program purposes and requirements and serving the target population.</P>
                    <P>(xiii) The extent to which the proposed project represents an exceptional approach to any absolute priority or absolute priorities used in the competition.</P>
                    <P>(xiv) The extent to which the proposed project will integrate or build on ideas, strategies, and efforts from similar external projects to improve relevant outcomes, using existing funding streams from other programs or policies supported by community, State, and Federal resources.</P>
                    <P>(xv) The extent to which the proposed project is informed by similar past projects implemented by the applicant or a partner with demonstrated results.</P>
                    <P>
                        (xvi) The extent to which the proposed project will include 
                        <PRTPAGE P="54677"/>
                        coordination with other community, State, and Federal investments, as well as appropriate agencies and organizations providing similar services to the target population.
                    </P>
                    <P>(xvii) The extent to which the proposed project is part of a comprehensive effort to improve teaching and learning and support rigorous academic standards for students.</P>
                    <P>(xviii) The extent to which the proposed project includes explicit plans for meaningful and ongoing community member and partner engagement, including their involvement in planning, implementing, and revising project activities for the target population.</P>
                    <P>(xix) The extent to which the proposed project includes plans for family involvement.</P>
                    <P>(xx) The extent to which performance feedback and formative data are integral to the design of the proposed project and will be used to inform continuous improvement.</P>
                    <P>(xxi) The extent to which the proposed project demonstrates that admissions, promotion, or participant selection decisions made under the grant are based on academic excellence and high standards, without consideration of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, or any proxies for these characteristics, except where a legally permissible exception applies and is expressly identified and justified in the application.</P>
                    <P>(xxii) The extent to which the applicant demonstrates that it has the resources to operate the project beyond the project period, including a multiyear financial and operating model and accompanying plan; the demonstrated commitment of any partners; demonstration of broad support from community members and partners (such as State educational agencies, educators, families, business and industry, community members, and State vocational rehabilitation agencies) that are critical to the project's long-term success; or a plan for capacity-building by leveraging one or more of these types of resources.</P>
                    <P>(xxiii) The extent to which there is a plan to incorporate the project purposes, activities, or benefits into the ongoing work of the applicant beyond the end of the project period.</P>
                    <P>(xxiv) The extent to which the proposed project will increase efficiency in the use of time, staff, money, or other resources in order to improve results and increase productivity.</P>
                    <P>(xxv) The extent to which the proposed project will integrate with, or build on, similar or related efforts in order to improve relevant outcomes, using non-Federal funds or resources.</P>
                    <P>(xxvi) The extent to which the proposed project demonstrates a rationale that is aligned with the purposes of the grant program.</P>
                    <P>(xxvii) The extent to which the proposed project represents implementation of the evidence cited in support of the proposed project with fidelity.</P>
                    <P>(xxviii) The extent to which the applicant plans to allocate a significant portion of its requested funding to the evidence-based project components.</P>
                    <P>(xxix) The strength of the commitment from key decision-makers at proposed implementation sites.</P>
                    <P>(xxx) The extent to which the proposed project is supported by promising evidence.</P>
                    <P>
                        (d) 
                        <E T="03">Quality of project services.</E>
                    </P>
                    <P>(1) The Secretary considers the quality of the services to be provided by the proposed project.</P>
                    <P>(2) In determining the quality of the services to be provided by the proposed project, the Secretary considers one or more of the following factors:</P>
                    <P>(i) The extent to which the services to be provided by the proposed project were determined with input from the community to be served to ensure that they are appropriate and responsive to the needs of the target population.</P>
                    <P>(ii) The extent to which the proposed project is supported by the target population that it is intended to serve.</P>
                    <P>(iii) The extent to which the services to be provided by the proposed project reflect up-to-date knowledge in relevant fields and evidence-based project components.</P>
                    <P>(iv) The likely benefit to the target population, as indicated by the logic model or other conceptual framework, of the services to be provided.</P>
                    <P>(v) The extent to which the training, professional development, or technical assistance services to be provided by the proposed project are of sufficient quality, intensity, and duration to build capacity in ways that lead to improvements in practice among the recipients of those services.</P>
                    <P>(vi) The extent to which the services to be provided by the proposed project are likely to provide long-term solutions to alleviate the personnel shortages that have been identified or are the focus of the proposed project.</P>
                    <P>(vii) The likelihood that the services to be provided by the proposed project will lead to meaningful improvements in the achievement of students as measured against rigorous and relevant standards.</P>
                    <P>(viii) The likelihood that the services to be provided by the proposed project will lead to meaningful improvements in early childhood and family outcomes.</P>
                    <P>(ix) The likelihood that the services to be provided by the proposed project will lead to meaningful improvements in the skills and competencies necessary to gain employment in high-wage, high-growth, and high-demand jobs, careers, and industries or build capacity for independent living.</P>
                    <P>(x) The extent to which the services to be provided by the proposed project involve the collaboration of appropriate partners, including those from the target population, to maximize the effectiveness of project services.</P>
                    <P>(xi) The extent to which the services to be provided by the proposed project involve the use of efficient strategies, including the use of technology, as appropriate, and the leveraging of non-Federal resources.</P>
                    <P>(xii) The extent to which the services to be provided by the proposed project are focused on the target population with the greatest needs, as demonstrated by the data relevant to the project.</P>
                    <P>(xiii) The extent to which the proposed project will prepare high-quality personnel to provide evidence-based practices to improve outcomes for the target population.</P>
                    <P>
                        (e) 
                        <E T="03">Quality of the project personnel.</E>
                    </P>
                    <P>(1) The Secretary considers the quality of the personnel who will carry out the proposed project.</P>
                    <P>(2) In determining the quality of project personnel, the Secretary considers one or more of the following factors:</P>
                    <P>(i) The extent to which the project director or principal investigator, when hired, has the qualifications required for the project, including relevant training or experience in fields related to the objectives of the project and experience in designing, managing, or implementing similar projects for the target population.</P>
                    <P>(ii) The extent to which the key personnel in the project, when hired, have the qualifications or experiences required for the proposed project, including relevant training or experience in fields related to the objectives of the project and with the target population.</P>
                    <P>(iii) The qualifications, including relevant training and experience, of project consultants or subcontractors.</P>
                    <P>(iv) The extent to which the proposed planning, implementing, and evaluating project team are familiar with the assets, needs, and other contextual considerations of the proposed implementation sites.</P>
                    <P>
                        (v) The extent to which the proposed planning, implementing, and evaluating project team are familiar with the assets, 
                        <PRTPAGE P="54678"/>
                        needs, and other contextual considerations of the proposed implementation sites.
                    </P>
                    <P>(vi) The extent to which the proposed project demonstrates that hiring, promotion, and compensation decisions made under the grant will be based solely on merit and high standards, without consideration of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, or any proxies for these characteristics, except where a legally permissible exception applies and is expressly identified and justified in the application, such as for a religious organization or an entity undertaking lawful remedial measures.</P>
                    <P>
                        (f) 
                        <E T="03">Adequacy of resources.</E>
                    </P>
                    <P>(1) The Secretary considers the adequacy of resources for the proposed project.</P>
                    <P>(2) In determining the adequacy of resources for the proposed project, the Secretary considers one or more of the following factors:</P>
                    <P>(i) The adequacy of support for the project, including facilities, equipment, supplies, and other resources, from the applicant.</P>
                    <P>(ii) The relevance and demonstrated commitment of specific roles and contributions of each partner in the proposed project to the implementation and success of the project.</P>
                    <P>(iii) The extent to which the budget is adequate to support the proposed project, and the costs are reasonable in relation to the objectives, design, and potential significance of the proposed project.</P>
                    <P>(iv) The extent to which the costs are reasonable in relation to the number of persons to be served, the depth and intensity of services, and the anticipated results and benefits.</P>
                    <P>(v) The extent to which the costs of the proposed project would permit other entities to replicate the project.</P>
                    <P>(vi) The level of initial matching funds or other commitment from partners, indicating the likelihood for potential continued support of the project after Federal funding ends.</P>
                    <P>(vii) The potential for the purposes, activities, or benefits of the proposed project to be institutionalized into the ongoing practices and programs of the applicant, agency, or organization and continue after Federal funding ends.</P>
                    <P>
                        (g) 
                        <E T="03">Quality of the management plan.</E>
                    </P>
                    <P>(1) The Secretary considers the quality of the management plan for the proposed project.</P>
                    <P>(2) In determining the quality of the management plan for the proposed project, the Secretary considers one or more of the following factors:</P>
                    <P>(i) The feasibility of the management plan to achieve project objectives and goals on time and within budget, including clearly defined responsibilities, timelines, and milestones for accomplishing project tasks.</P>
                    <P>(ii) The adequacy of plans for ensuring the use of quantitative and qualitative data, including meaningful community member and partner input, to inform continuous improvement in the operation of the proposed project.</P>
                    <P>(iii) The adequacy of mechanisms for ensuring high-quality and accessible products and services from the proposed project for the target population.</P>
                    <P>(iv) The extent to which the time commitments of project personnel are appropriate and adequate to meet the objectives of the proposed project.</P>
                    <P>(v) How the applicant will ensure that various perspectives, including those from the target population, are brought to bear in the design, implementation, operation, evaluation, and improvement of the proposed project, including those of families, educators, community-based organizations, the business community, a variety of disciplinary and professional fields, recipients or beneficiaries of services, or others, as appropriate.</P>
                    <P>
                        (h) 
                        <E T="03">Quality of the project evaluation or other evidence-building.</E>
                    </P>
                    <P>(1) The Secretary considers the quality of the evaluation or other evidence-building of the proposed project.</P>
                    <P>(2) In determining the quality of the evaluation or other evidence-building, the Secretary considers one or more of the following factors:</P>
                    <P>(i) The extent to which the methods of evaluation or other evidence-building are thorough, feasible, relevant, and appropriate to the goals, objectives, and outcomes of the proposed project.</P>
                    <P>(ii) The extent to which the methods of evaluation or other evidence-building are appropriate to the context within which the project operates and the target population of the proposed project.</P>
                    <P>(iii) The extent to which the methods of evaluation or other evidence-building are designed to measure the fidelity of implementation of the project.</P>
                    <P>(iv) The extent to which the methods of evaluation or other evidence-building include the use of objective performance measures that are clearly related to the intended outcomes of the project and will produce quality data that are quantitative and qualitative.</P>
                    <P>(v) The extent to which the methods of evaluation or other evidence-building will provide guidance for quality assurance and continuous improvement.</P>
                    <P>(vi) The extent to which the methods of evaluation or other evidence-building will provide performance feedback and provide formative, diagnostic, or interim data that is a periodic assessment of progress toward achieving intended outcomes.</P>
                    <P>(vii) The extent to which the evaluation will provide guidance about effective strategies suitable for replication or testing and potential implementation in other settings.</P>
                    <P>(viii) The extent to which the methods of evaluation will, if well implemented, produce evidence about the effectiveness of the project on relevant outcomes that would meet strong evidence.</P>
                    <P>(ix) The extent to which the methods of evaluation will, if well implemented, produce evidence about the effectiveness of the project on relevant outcomes that would meet moderate or strong evidence.</P>
                    <P>(x) The extent to which the methods of evaluation will, if well implemented, produce evidence of effectiveness of the project on relevant outcomes that would meet promising evidence.</P>
                    <P>(xi) The extent to which the evaluation employs an appropriate analytic strategy to build evidence about the relationship between key project components, mediators, and outcomes and inform decisions on which project components to continue, revise, or discontinue.</P>
                    <P>(xii) The quality of the evaluation plan for measuring fidelity of implementation, including thresholds for acceptable implementation, to inform how implementation is associated with outcomes.</P>
                    <P>(xiii) The extent to which the evaluation plan includes a dissemination strategy that is likely to promote others' learning from the project.</P>
                    <P>(xiv) The extent to which the evaluator has the qualifications, including the relevant training, experience, and independence, required to conduct an evaluation of the proposed project, including experience conducting evaluations of similar methodology as proposed and with evaluations for the proposed population and setting.</P>
                    <P>(xv) The extent to which the proposed project plan includes sufficient resources to conduct the project evaluation effectively.</P>
                    <P>(xvi) The extent to which the evaluation will access and link high-quality administrative data from authoritative sources to improve evaluation quality and comprehensiveness.</P>
                    <P>
                        (i) 
                        <E T="03">Strategy to scale.</E>
                        <PRTPAGE P="54679"/>
                    </P>
                    <P>(1) The Secretary considers the applicant's strategy to effectively scale the proposed project.</P>
                    <P>(2) In determining the applicant's strategy to effectively scale the proposed project, the Secretary considers one or more of the following factors:</P>
                    <P>(i) The quality of the strategies to reach scale by expanding the project to new populations or settings.</P>
                    <P>(ii) The applicant's capacity (such as qualified personnel, financial resources, or management capacity), together with any project partners, to bring the proposed project effectively to scale on a national or regional level during the grant period.</P>
                    <P>(iii) The applicant's capacity (such as qualified personnel, financial resources, or management capacity), together with any project partners, to further develop and bring the proposed project effectively to scale on a national level during the grant period, based on the findings of the proposed project.</P>
                    <P>(iv) The quality of the mechanisms the applicant will use to broadly disseminate information and resources on its project to support further development, adaptation, or replication by other entities to implement project components in additional settings or with other populations.</P>
                    <P>(v) The extent to which there is unmet demand for broader implementation of the project that is aligned with the proposed project.</P>
                    <P>(vi) The extent to which there is a market of potential entities that will commit resources toward implementation.</P>
                    <P>(vii) The quality of the strategies to scale that take into account and are responsive to previous barriers to expansion.</P>
                    <P>(viii) The quality of the plan to deliver project services more efficiently at scale and maintain effectiveness.</P>
                    <P>(ix) The quality of the plan to develop revenue sources that will make the project self-sustaining.</P>
                    <P>(x) The extent to which the project will create reusable data and evaluation tools and techniques that facilitate expansion and support continuous improvement.</P>
                </SECTION>
                <AMDPAR>14. Amend § 75.220 in paragraph (b)(2) by removing “Office of Finance and Operations (OFO)” and adding in its place “Department”.</AMDPAR>
                <AMDPAR>15. Amend § 75.222 by:</AMDPAR>
                <AMDPAR>
                    a. In the introductory text, removing the words “in the 
                    <E T="04">Federal Register</E>
                    ”.
                </AMDPAR>
                <AMDPAR>b. Revising the note to read as follows:</AMDPAR>
                <SECTION>
                    <SECTNO>§ 75.222</SECTNO>
                    <SUBJECT> Procedures the Department uses under § 75.219(c).</SUBJECT>
                    <STARS/>
                    <NOTE>
                        <HD SOURCE="HED">Note 1 to § 75.222:</HD>
                        <P>
                            To assure prompt consideration, an applicant submitting an unsolicited application should send the application, marked “Unsolicited Application” in the subject line, to 
                            <E T="03">grants@ed.gov.</E>
                              
                        </P>
                    </NOTE>
                </SECTION>
                <AMDPAR>
                    16. Amend § 75.224 in paragraph (c)(1) by removing the words “in the 
                    <E T="04">Federal Register</E>
                    ”.
                </AMDPAR>
                <AMDPAR>17. Add § 75.228 after § 75.227 to read as follows:</AMDPAR>
                <SECTION>
                    <SECTNO>§ 75.228</SECTNO>
                    <SUBJECT> What procedures does the Secretary use if the Secretary decides to give special consideration to applicants voluntarily electing to be more cost effective, including use of a lower indirect cost rate?</SUBJECT>
                    <P>(a) If the Secretary determines that special consideration of applicants electing to use a lower indirect cost rate is appropriate, the Secretary may provide competitive preference to applicants that meet one or more of the conditions in paragraph (b) of this section.</P>
                    <P>(b) As used in this section, “lower indirect cost rate” means an applicant that meets one or more of the following conditions:</P>
                    <P>(1) The applicant proposes to use an indirect cost rate, as defined by §§ 75.560-75.564, that is lower than the applicant's approved negotiated indirect cost rate that they would be otherwise entitled to take under the specific grant program by the following percentage tiers:</P>
                    <P>(i) 5% or more;</P>
                    <P>(ii) 10% or more;</P>
                    <P>(iii) 20% or more;</P>
                    <P>(iv) 30% or more;</P>
                    <P>(v) 40% or more;</P>
                    <P>(vi) 50% or more; or</P>
                    <P>(vii) Voluntary election not to charge any indirect costs;</P>
                    <P>
                        (2) Elect to use the 
                        <E T="03">de minimis</E>
                         indirect cost rate under 2 CFR 200.414(f) for competitions that do not require special indirect cost rates such as, but not limited to, Training (§ 75.562) and Restricted (§ 76.563) when the applicant's negotiated rate exceeds the 
                        <E T="03">de minimis</E>
                         rate.
                    </P>
                    <P>(c) Applicants proposing a lower indirect cost rate must adhere to that percentage reduction of their approved negotiated indirect cost rate for the life of the grant.</P>
                    <P>(d) To be considered for competitive preference, applicants must include documentation in their application, acceptable to the Secretary, that verifies their approved indirect cost rate. As applicable, applicants must also clearly state the lower indirect cost rate percentage and the corresponding amount in the budget narrative.</P>
                    <P>(e) Applicants that do not have a current federally negotiated indirect cost rate agreement, to receive competitive preference, may—</P>
                    <P>
                        (1) Elect to use the 
                        <E T="03">de minimis</E>
                         rate under 2 CFR 200.414(f), if the competition does not require a special indirect cost rate; or
                    </P>
                    <P>(2) If an applicant later obtains a federally negotiated indirect cost rate agreement, certify to use only the lower indirect cost rate percentage, rather than the full indirect cost rate the applicant would otherwise be entitled to claim.</P>
                    <P>(f) For applicants with federally approved cost allocation plans—</P>
                    <P>(1) the competitive preference criteria in paragraph (b), will be evaluated on the basis of the allocated indirect costs that could have been charged to the award by the percentage tiers reduction of the elected lower indirect costs charge or election not to charge indirect costs.</P>
                    <P>(2) To be considered for competitive preference, applicants must include documentation in their application, acceptable to the Secretary, that verifies their approved cost allocation plan. Applicants must also clearly state the reduced indirect cost charge and the corresponding reduction percentage and amount in the budget narrative.</P>
                    <P>(g) The election to charge lower indirect costs may not be charged directly, used to satisfy matching or cost-sharing requirements, or charged to another Federal award.</P>
                </SECTION>
                <AMDPAR>18. Amend § 75.230 by adding a new paragraph (b) to read as follows:</AMDPAR>
                <SECTION>
                    <SECTNO>§ 75.230</SECTNO>
                    <SUBJECT> How the Department makes a grant.</SUBJECT>
                    <P>(a) * * *</P>
                    <P>(b) Neither the approval of any application nor the award of any grant commits or obligates the Federal Government in any way to make any additional, supplemental, continuation or other award with respect to any approved application or portion of an approved application.</P>
                </SECTION>
                <AMDPAR>19. Amend § 75.251 by:</AMDPAR>
                <AMDPAR>a. In paragraph (b)(2) removing the word “contination” and adding it its place “continuation”.</AMDPAR>
                <AMDPAR>b. Adding a new paragraph (d) to read as follows:</AMDPAR>
                <STARS/>
                <P>(d) If it becomes apparent to the Secretary that the amount of Federal funds awarded and available to the grantee for that period, including any unspent balance carried forward from prior periods, exceeds the grantee's needs for that period, the Secretary may adjust the amounts awarded by deobligating the excess.</P>
                <AMDPAR>20. Add § 75.252 after § 75.251 and before § 75.253 to read as follows:</AMDPAR>
                <SECTION>
                    <PRTPAGE P="54680"/>
                    <SECTNO>§ 75.252</SECTNO>
                    <SUBJECT> Frontloading of a multiyear project.</SUBJECT>
                    <P>(a) The Secretary may, in approving a multi-year project, approve:</P>
                    <P>(1) Partial frontload funding for future budget periods of the project, beyond the initial budget period; or</P>
                    <P>(2) Full frontload funding for the entire project period for a multi-year project, but not to exceed the § 75.250 Maximum project period.</P>
                    <P>(b) A grantee may only draw down funds in accordance with its approved budget for that budget year and may not draw down funds in excess of that amount without prior approval.</P>
                    <P>(c) Either—</P>
                    <P>(1) A grantee must demonstrate, on an annual basis, that it has made substantial progress in achieving—</P>
                    <P>(i) The goals and objectives of the project; and</P>
                    <P>(ii) The performance targets in the grantee's approved application or targets established by the Secretary, if the Secretary established performance measurement requirements for the grant in the application notice; or</P>
                    <P>(2) Obtain the Secretary's approval for changes to the project that—</P>
                    <P>(i) Do not increase the amount of funds obligated to the project by the Secretary; and</P>
                    <P>(ii) Enable the grantee to achieve the goals and objectives of the project and meet the performance targets of the project, including targets established by the Secretary, if any, without changing the scope or objectives of the project;</P>
                    <P>(d) Submit all reports as required by § 75.118;</P>
                    <P>(e) Continue to meet all applicable eligibility requirements of the grant program;</P>
                    <P>(f) Maintain financial and administrative management systems that meet the requirements in 2 CFR 200.302 and 200.303; and</P>
                    <P>(g) Receive a determination from the Secretary that continuation of the project is in the best interest of the Federal Government.</P>
                </SECTION>
                <AMDPAR>21. Revise § 75.253 to read as follows:</AMDPAR>
                <SECTION>
                    <SECTNO>§ 75.253</SECTNO>
                    <SUBJECT> Continuation of a multiyear project after the first budget period.</SUBJECT>
                    <P>
                        (a) 
                        <E T="03">Continuation award.</E>
                         A grantee, in order to receive a continuation award or be able to access previously frontloaded funds from the Secretary for a budget period after the first budget period of an approved multiyear project, must—
                    </P>
                    <P>(1) Either—</P>
                    <P>(i) Demonstrate that it has made substantial progress in achieving—</P>
                    <P>(A) The goals and objectives of the project; and</P>
                    <P>(B) The performance targets in the grantee's approved application or targets established by the Secretary, if the Secretary established performance measurement requirements for the grant in the application notice; or</P>
                    <P>(ii) Obtain the Secretary's approval for changes to the project that—</P>
                    <P>(A) Do not increase the amount of funds obligated to the project by the Secretary; and</P>
                    <P>(B) Enable the grantee to achieve the goals and objectives of the project and meet the performance targets of the project, including targets established by the Secretary, if any, without changing the scope or objectives of the project;</P>
                    <P>(2) Submit all reports as required by § 75.118;</P>
                    <P>(3) Continue to meet all applicable eligibility requirements of the grant program;</P>
                    <P>(4) Maintain financial and administrative management systems that meet the requirements in 2 CFR 200.302 and 200.303; and</P>
                    <P>(5) Receive a determination from the Secretary that continuation of the project is in the best interest of the Federal Government.</P>
                    <P>
                        (b) 
                        <E T="03">Information considered in making a continuation award.</E>
                         In determining whether the grantee has met the requirements described in paragraph (a) of this section, the Secretary may consider any relevant information. This includes grant applications and reports required by § 75.118, performance measures established under § 75.110, financial information required by 2 CFR part 200, and any other relevant information.
                    </P>
                    <P>
                        (c) 
                        <E T="03">Funding for grant awards.</E>
                         Subject to any applicable statutory requirements, in providing continued funding to existing grantees, the Secretary has discretion to determine the funds available for a program.
                    </P>
                    <P>
                        (d) 
                        <E T="03">Budget period.</E>
                         If the Secretary makes a continuation award under this section—
                    </P>
                    <P>(1) The Secretary makes the award under §§ 75.231 through 75.236; and</P>
                    <P>(2) The new budget period begins on the day after the previous budget period ends.</P>
                    <P>
                        (e) 
                        <E T="03">Amount of continuation award.</E>
                    </P>
                    <P>(1) Within the original project period of the grant and notwithstanding any requirements in 2 CFR part 200, a grantee may expend funds that have not been obligated at the end of a budget period for obligations in subsequent budget periods if—</P>
                    <P>(i) The obligation is for an allowable cost within the approved scope and objectives of the project; and</P>
                    <P>(ii) The obligation is not otherwise prohibited by applicable statutes, regulations, or the conditions of an award.</P>
                    <P>(2) The Secretary may—</P>
                    <P>(i) Require the grantee to submit a written statement describing how the funds made available under paragraph (d)(1) of this section will be used; and</P>
                    <P>(ii) Determine the amount of new funds that the Department will make available for the subsequent budget period after considering the statement the grantee provides under paragraph (d)(2)(i) of this section and any other information available to the Secretary about the use of funds under the grant.</P>
                    <P>(3) In determining the amount of new funds to make available to a grantee under this section, the Secretary considers whether the unobligated funds made available are needed to complete activities that were planned for completion in the prior budget period.</P>
                    <P>(4) A decision to reduce the amount of a continuation award under this paragraph (d) does not entitle a grantee to reconsideration under 2 CFR 200.342.</P>
                    <P>(5) When making a continuation award, the Secretary may issue a partial award, provide funding in installments, or delay the release of funds.</P>
                    <P>
                        (f) 
                        <E T="03">Timing to make a continuation award.</E>
                         The Secretary may make a continuation award determination at any time within the fiscal or appropriation year of the program.
                    </P>
                    <P>
                        (g) 
                        <E T="03">Decision not to make a continuation award.</E>
                         The Secretary may decide not to continue an award if—
                    </P>
                    <P>(1) A grantee fails to meet any of the requirements in paragraph (a) of this section; or</P>
                    <P>(2) A grantee fails to ensure that data submitted to the Department as a condition of the grant meet the definition of “quality data” in 34 CFR 77.1(c) and does not have a plan acceptable to the Secretary for addressing data-quality issues in the next budget period.</P>
                    <P>
                        (h) 
                        <E T="03">Request for reconsideration.</E>
                         If the Secretary decides not to continue an award under this section, the Secretary will notify the grantee of that decision, the grounds on which it is based, and, consistent with 2 CFR 200.342, provide the grantee with an opportunity to request reconsideration of the decision.
                    </P>
                    <P>(1) A request for reconsideration must—</P>
                    <P>(i) Be submitted in writing to the Department official identified in the notice denying the continuation award by the date specified in that notice; and</P>
                    <P>(ii) Set forth the grantee's basis for disagreeing with the Secretary's decision not to make a continuation award and include relevant supporting documentation.</P>
                    <P>
                        (2) The Secretary will consider the request for reconsideration.
                        <PRTPAGE P="54681"/>
                    </P>
                    <P>
                        (i) 
                        <E T="03">No-cost extension when a continuation award is not made.</E>
                         If the Secretary decides not to make a continuation award under this section, the Secretary may authorize a no-cost extension of the last budget period of the grant in order to provide for the orderly closeout of the grant.
                    </P>
                    <P>
                        (j) 
                        <E T="03">A decision to reduce or not to make a continuation award does not constitute withholding.</E>
                         A decision by the Secretary to reduce the amount of a continuation award under paragraph (d) of this section or to not make a continuation award under paragraph (e) of this section does not constitute a withholding under section 455 of GEPA (20 U.S.C. 1234d). This includes depriving the Office of Hearings and Appeals of jurisdiction to hear withholding cases.
                    </P>
                </SECTION>
                <AMDPAR>22. Amend § 75.261 by revising paragraph (a)(1) to read as follows:</AMDPAR>
                <SECTION>
                    <SECTNO>§ 75.261</SECTNO>
                    <SUBJECT> Extension of a project period.</SUBJECT>
                    <P>(a) * * *</P>
                    <P>(1) The grantee meets the requirements for extension in 2 CFR 200.308(g)(2); and</P>
                    <STARS/>
                </SECTION>
                <SECTION>
                    <SECTNO>§ 75.262</SECTNO>
                    <SUBJECT> [Amended]</SUBJECT>
                </SECTION>
                <AMDPAR>23. Amend § 75.262 by removing the citation “§ 75.200(b)(4) and (5)” in paragraphs (a)(2) and (b), and adding in its place the citation “§ 75.200(c)(1) and (2)”.</AMDPAR>
                <AMDPAR>24. Amend § 75.263 by revising the introductory paragraph to read as follows:</AMDPAR>
                <SECTION>
                    <SECTNO>§ 75.263</SECTNO>
                    <SUBJECT> Pre-award costs; waiver of approval.</SUBJECT>
                    <P>A grantee may incur pre-award costs as specified in 2 CFR 200.308(g)(1) unless—</P>
                </SECTION>
                <AMDPAR>25. Amend § 75.500 by adding a new paragraph (f) to read as follows:</AMDPAR>
                <STARS/>
                <P>(f) A grantee must:</P>
                <P>(1) Ensure that hiring, admissions, promotions, and compensation practices under the grant are based on merit and high standards, without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, or proxies thereof unless an appropriate exception applies (such as a religious organization or an organization engaged in remedial action).</P>
                <P>(2) Ensure that the grantee's employment practices do not compel statements of belief in support or opposition to any political views as a condition of employment, admission, or project participation, unless an appropriate exception applies.</P>
                <P>(3) Ensure that, where applicable, the grantee has policies protecting freedom of speech, inquiry, and press as specified and required by 34 CFR 75.500(a)-(e).</P>
                <AMDPAR>26. Amend § 75.524 by revising paragraph (b) to read as follows:</AMDPAR>
                <SECTION>
                    <SECTNO>§ 75.524</SECTNO>
                    <SUBJECT> Conflict of interest: Purpose of § 75.525.</SUBJECT>
                    <P>(a) * * *</P>
                    <P>(b) These conflict of interest regulations do not apply to a “local government,” or a “State,” as defined in 2 CFR 200.1.</P>
                    <STARS/>
                </SECTION>
                <AMDPAR>27. Amend § 75.562 by revising the introductory language of paragraph (c)(2) to read as follows:</AMDPAR>
                <SECTION>
                    <SECTNO>§ 75.562</SECTNO>
                    <SUBJECT> Indirect cost rates for educational training projects; exceptions.</SUBJECT>
                    <STARS/>
                    <P>(c) * * *</P>
                    <P>(1) * * *</P>
                    <P>(2) If the grantee does not have a federally recognized indirect cost rate agreement on the date on which the training grant is awarded, the grantee may elect to use the temporary indirect cost rate authorized under § 75.560(d) or a rate of 8 percent of the MTDC base. The de minimis rate may not be used on educational training programs.</P>
                    <P>(i) * * *</P>
                    <P>(ii) * * *</P>
                    <STARS/>
                </SECTION>
                <AMDPAR>28. Amend § 75.604 by revising paragraph (c) to read as follows:</AMDPAR>
                <SECTION>
                    <SECTNO>§ 75.604</SECTNO>
                    <SUBJECT> During the construction.</SUBJECT>
                    <STARS/>
                    <P>(c) If a revision to the timeline, budget, or approved final working specifications is required, the grantee must request prior written approval consistent with 2 CFR 200.308(f).</P>
                    <STARS/>
                </SECTION>
                <AMDPAR>29. Remove the undesignated “Equipment and Supplies” cross reference section after § 75.617.</AMDPAR>
                <AMDPAR>30. Remove the undesignated “Other Requirements for Certain Projects” Cross Reference after § 75.626.</AMDPAR>
                <AMDPAR>31. Remove and reserve § 75.684.</AMDPAR>
                <AMDPAR>32. Amend § 75.708 by revising paragraph (e) to read as follows:</AMDPAR>
                <SECTION>
                    <SECTNO>§ 75.708</SECTNO>
                    <SUBJECT> Subgrants.</SUBJECT>
                    <STARS/>
                    <P>(e) Grantees that are not allowed to make subgrants under paragraph (b) of this section are authorized to contract, as needed, for supplies, equipment, and other services, in accordance with 2 CFR part 200, subpart D (2 CFR 200.300 through 200.346).</P>
                </SECTION>
                <AMDPAR>33. Remove the undesignated Reports cross reference following § 75.714 “Subgrants, contracts, and other agreements with faith-based organizations”.</AMDPAR>
                <AMDPAR>34. Remove the undesignated “Records Cross Reference” after § 75.721.</AMDPAR>
                <AMDPAR>35. Remove and reserve § 75.741.</AMDPAR>
                <AMDPAR>36. Remove the undesignated cross reference following the heading for “Subpart G”.</AMDPAR>
                <AMDPAR>37. Amend § 75.901 to read as follows:</AMDPAR>
                <SECTION>
                    <SECTNO>§ 75.901</SECTNO>
                    <SUBJECT> Suspension and termination.</SUBJECT>
                    <STARS/>
                    <P>(a) A grant may be terminated in part or its entirety as follows:</P>
                    <P>(1) For noncompliance by the grantee or subgrantee;</P>
                    <P>(2) For convenience of the Secretary or pass-through entity;</P>
                    <P>(3) By mutual agreement of the parties;</P>
                    <P>(4) Upon notification by the grantee or subgrantee; or</P>
                    <P>(5) Pursuant to additional terms and conditions.</P>
                    <P>(b) The Secretary may, but is not limited to, employ the following remedies for grants:</P>
                    <P>(1) 2 CFR 200.339 (Remedies for noncompliance).</P>
                    <P>(2) 2 CFR 200.340 (Termination).</P>
                    <P>(3) 2 CFR 200.341 (Notification of termination requirement).</P>
                    <P>(4) 2 CFR 200.342 (Opportunities to object, hearings and appeals).</P>
                    <P>(5) 2 CFR 200.343 (Effects of suspension and termination).</P>
                    <P>(6) 2 CFR 200.345 (Post-closeout adjustments and continuing responsibilities).</P>
                    <P>(7) Termination for Convenience.</P>
                    <P>(c) The Secretary may designate the Office of Administrative Law Judges to resolve disputes consistent with 34 CFR 81.3(b).</P>
                </SECTION>
                <PART>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">PART 76—STATE-ADMINISTERED FORMULA GRANT PROGRAMS</HD>
                </PART>
                <AMDPAR>38. The authority citation for part 76 continues to read as follows:</AMDPAR>
                <AUTH>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">Authority:</HD>
                    <P> 20 U.S.C. 1221e-3 and 3474, unless otherwise noted.</P>
                </AUTH>
                <EXTRACT>
                    <P>Section 76.101 also issued under 20 U.S.C. 1221e-3, 3474, and 7844(b).</P>
                    <P>Section 76.127 also issued under 48 U.S.C. 1469a.</P>
                    <P>Section 76.128 also issued under 48 U.S.C. 1469a.</P>
                    <P>Section 76.129 also issued under 48 U.S.C. 1469a.</P>
                    <P>Section 76.130 also issued under 48 U.S.C. 1469a.</P>
                    <P>Section 76.131 also issued under 48 U.S.C. 1469a.</P>
                    <P>Section 76.132 also issued under 48 U.S.C. 1469a.</P>
                    <P>Section 76.134 also issued under 48 U.S.C. 1469a.</P>
                    <P>Section 76.136 also issued under 48 U.S.C. 1469a.</P>
                    <P>
                        Section 76.140 also issued under 20 U.S.C. 1221e-3, 1231g(a), and 3474.
                        <PRTPAGE P="54682"/>
                    </P>
                    <P>Section 76.301 also issued under 20 U.S.C. 1221e-3, 3474, and 7846(b).</P>
                    <P>Section 76.401 also issued under 20 U.S.C. 1221e-3, 1231b-2, and 3474.</P>
                    <P>Section 76.500 also issued under 20 U.S.C. 1228a(c).</P>
                    <P>Section 76.709 also issued under 20 U.S.C. 1221e-3, 1225(b), and 3474.</P>
                    <P>Section 76.710 also issued under 20 U.S.C. 1221e-3, 1225(b), and 3474.</P>
                    <P>Section 76.720 also issued under 20 U.S.C. 1221e-3, 1231a, and 3474.</P>
                    <P>Section 76.740 also issued under 20 U.S.C. 1221e-3, 1232g, 1232h, and 3474.</P>
                    <P>Section 76.783 also issued under 20 U.S.C. 1231b-2.</P>
                    <P>Section 76.785 also issued under 20 U.S.C. 7221e.</P>
                    <P>Section 76.786 also issued under 20 U.S.C. 7221e.</P>
                    <P>Section 76.787 also issued under 20 U.S.C. 7221e.</P>
                    <P>Section 76.788 also issued under 20 U.S.C. 7221e.</P>
                    <P>Section 76.901 also issued under 20 U.S.C. 1234.</P>
                </EXTRACT>
                <AMDPAR>39. Add § 76.3 after § 76.2 to read as follows:</AMDPAR>
                <P>If any provision of this part or its application to any person, act, or practice is held invalid, the remainder of the part or the application of its provisions to any person, act, or practice shall not be affected thereby.</P>
                <AMDPAR>40. Amend § 76.50 by revising paragraph (d) to read as follows:</AMDPAR>
                <SECTION>
                    <SECTNO>§ 76.50</SECTNO>
                    <SUBJECT> Basic requirements for subgrants.</SUBJECT>
                    <STARS/>
                    <P>(d) Grantees, in cases where subgrants are prohibited by applicable statutes or regulations or the terms and conditions of a grant award, are authorized to contract, as needed, for supplies, equipment, and other services, in accordance with 2 CFR part 200, subpart D (2 CFR 200.300 through 200.346).</P>
                    <STARS/>
                </SECTION>
                <AMDPAR>41. Amend § 76.500 by adding a new paragraph (f) to read as follows:</AMDPAR>
                <STARS/>
                <P>(f) A grantee must:</P>
                <P>(1) Ensure that hiring, admissions, promotions, and compensation practices under the grant are based on merit and qualification, without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, or proxies thereof unless an appropriate exception applies such as a religious organization or an organization engaged in remedial action.</P>
                <P>(2) Ensure that the grantee's employment practices do not compel statements of belief in support or opposition to any political views as a condition of employment, admission, or project participation, unless an appropriate exception applies.</P>
                <P>(3) Ensure that that, where applicable, the grantee has policies protecting freedom of speech, inquiry, and press as specified and required by 34 CFR 75.500(a)-(e).</P>
                <AMDPAR>42. Revise § 76.700 to read as follows:</AMDPAR>
                <SECTION>
                    <SECTNO>§ 76.700</SECTNO>
                    <SUBJECT> Compliance with the U.S. Constitution, statutes, regulations, stated institutional policies, and applications.</SUBJECT>
                    <P>A State and a subgrantee shall comply with § 76.500, the State plan, applicable statutes, regulations, Executive orders, and approved applications, and shall use Federal funds in accordance with those statutes, regulations, Executive orders, plans, and applications.</P>
                </SECTION>
                <AMDPAR>43. Amend § 76.720 by revising paragraph (b)(2) to read as follows:</AMDPAR>
                <SECTION>
                    <SECTNO>§ 76.720</SECTNO>
                    <SUBJECT> State reporting requirements.</SUBJECT>
                    <STARS/>
                    <P>(b) * * *</P>
                    <P>(2) The Secretary requires a State to report more frequently than annually, including reporting under 2 CFR 3474.10 and 2 CFR 200.208 (Specific conditions) and 2 CFR 3474.10 (Clarification regarding 2 CFR 200.208) or 2 CFR 200.302 Financial management and 200.303 Internal controls.</P>
                    <STARS/>
                </SECTION>
                <PART>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">PART 77—DEFINITIONS THAT APPLY TO DEPARTMENT REGULATIONS</HD>
                </PART>
                <AMDPAR>44. The authority citation for part 77 continues to read as follows:</AMDPAR>
                <AUTH>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">Authority:</HD>
                    <P> 20 U.S.C. 1221e-3 and 3474, unless otherwise noted. </P>
                </AUTH>
                <AMDPAR>45. Amend § 77.1 in paragraph (c) by:</AMDPAR>
                <AMDPAR>a. Adding the definition of “Evidence framework”;</AMDPAR>
                <AMDPAR>b. Revising the definition of “Experimental study”;</AMDPAR>
                <AMDPAR>c. Adding the definition of Frontloading”;</AMDPAR>
                <AMDPAR>d. Revising the definition of “Moderate evidence”;</AMDPAR>
                <AMDPAR>e. Revising the definition of “National level”;</AMDPAR>
                <AMDPAR>f. Revising the definition of “Promising evidence”;</AMDPAR>
                <AMDPAR>g. Revising the definition of “Quasi-experimental design study”;</AMDPAR>
                <AMDPAR>h. Revising the definition of “Regional level”;</AMDPAR>
                <AMDPAR>i. Revising the definition of “Subgrant”; and</AMDPAR>
                <AMDPAR>j. Revising the definition of “Strong evidence”.</AMDPAR>
                <P>The revisions and additions read as follows:</P>
                <SECTION>
                    <SECTNO>§ 77.1</SECTNO>
                    <SUBJECT> Definitions that apply to all Department programs.</SUBJECT>
                    <STARS/>
                    <P>(c) * * *</P>
                    <STARS/>
                    <P>
                        <E T="03">Evidence framework</E>
                         means an approach to providing a determination about whether a project component meets each aspect of the definition of strong evidence or moderate evidence, as applicable.
                    </P>
                    <P>(a) An evidence framework must include each of the following:</P>
                    <P>(i) Whether or not a study is an experimental study or a quasi-experimental design study;</P>
                    <P>(ii) Whether or not a study shows a positive, statistically significant effect on student outcomes or other relevant outcomes;</P>
                    <P>(iii) Whether or not a study uses outcome measures that demonstrate validity and reliability, that do not give an unfair advantage to participants in one condition over another, and that are measured consistently for the groups or participants that are being compared;</P>
                    <P>(iv) Whether or not a study design is otherwise of high quality, including whether it minimizes factors outside the intervention that could affect student or other relevant outcomes (confounds) and whether random assignment (if used) was done with integrity; and</P>
                    <P>(v) Whether or not study implementation and analysis is appropriate, including whether groups or participants being compared demonstrate baseline equivalence on key individual and other relevant characteristics, whether differences in baseline equivalence are statistically controlled, and by considering the impact on the validity of the study of any changes to the sample over time.</P>
                    <P>(b) An evidence framework may be implemented or verified by one or more of the following:</P>
                    <P>
                        (i) An organization with relevant expertise that has demonstrated to the Department that it has a high-quality, rigorous, transparent (
                        <E T="03">i.e.,</E>
                         publicly accessible) process for determining each aspect identified in (a);
                    </P>
                    <P>(ii) By peer reviewers with statistical expertise who apply an evidence framework consistent with each aspect identified in (a) in reviewing support for an applicant's assertion that relevant information is strong evidence or moderate evidence, as applicable; or</P>
                    <P>(iii) By the Department or peer reviewers with statistical expertise who affirm an applicant's assertion that relevant information is strong evidence or moderate evidence because it is supported by study ratings included in the What Works Clearinghouse in one or more of:</P>
                    <P>(1) a practice guide;</P>
                    <P>(2) an intervention report; or</P>
                    <P>(3) individual studies otherwise assessed to meet strong evidence or moderate evidence.</P>
                    <P>
                        <E T="03">Experimental study</E>
                         means a study that is designed to compare outcomes between two groups (such as students) 
                        <PRTPAGE P="54683"/>
                        that are otherwise equivalent except for their assignment to a treatment group receiving a project component as compared with a control group that does not. Experimental studies can support claims of strong evidence. Randomized controlled trials and single-case design studies are specific types of experimental studies that meet this definition.
                    </P>
                    <STARS/>
                    <P>
                        <E T="03">Frontloading</E>
                         means the use of appropriated funds available for obligation in a particular fiscal year, in whole or in part, for future budget periods of a grant award.
                    </P>
                    <STARS/>
                    <P>
                        <E T="03">Moderate evidence</E>
                         means a project component that demonstrates a statistically significant effect on improving student outcomes or other relevant outcomes based on at least one well-designed and well-implemented quasi-experimental study (moderate evidence as defined in 20 U.S.C. 7801(21)(A)(i)(II)).
                    </P>
                    <P>
                        <E T="03">National level</E>
                         means the level of scope or effectiveness of a project component is able to be effective in a wide variety of communities, including rural and urban areas, populations, and settings.
                    </P>
                    <STARS/>
                    <P>
                        <E T="03">Promising evidence</E>
                         means at least one well-designed and well-implemented correlational study with statistical controls for selection bias (promising evidence as defined in 20 U.S.C. 7801(21)(A)(i)(III)).
                    </P>
                    <STARS/>
                    <P>
                        <E T="03">Quasi-experimental design study</E>
                         means a study using a design that attempts to approximate an experimental study by identifying a comparison group that is similar to the treatment group in important respects. Cross-sectional group designs, comparative interrupted time series, difference-in-difference designs, and growth curve designs are specific types of quasi-experimental studies that meet this definition. This type of study can meet the definition of moderate evidence but not strong evidence.
                    </P>
                    <P>
                        <E T="03">Regional level</E>
                         means the level of scope or effectiveness of a project component is able to serve a variety of communities within a State or multiple States, including rural and urban areas. For an LEA-based project, to be considered a regional-level project, a project component must serve students in more than one LEA, unless the project component is implemented in a State in which the State educational agency is the sole educational agency for all schools.
                    </P>
                    <STARS/>
                    <P>
                        <E T="03">Subgrant</E>
                         means an award of financial assistance in the form of money, or property in lieu of money, made under a grant by a grantee to an eligible subgrantee. The term includes financial assistance when provided by contractual or any other form of legal agreement, but does not include procurement purchases, nor does it include any form of assistance that is excluded from the definitions of “Grant or Award” in this part (See 2 CFR 200.1, “Subaward”).
                    </P>
                    <STARS/>
                    <P>
                        <E T="03">Strong evidence</E>
                         means a project component that demonstrates a statistically significant effect on improving student outcomes or other relevant outcomes based on at least one well-designed and well-implemented experimental study (strong evidence as defined in 20 U.S.C. 7801(21)(A)(i)(I)).
                    </P>
                    <STARS/>
                </SECTION>
                <PART>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">PART 79—INTERGOVERNMENTAL REVIEW OF DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES</HD>
                </PART>
                <AMDPAR>
                    46. Amend § 79.3 in paragraph (a) by removing “in the 
                    <E T="04">Federal Register</E>
                    ”.
                </AMDPAR>
                <AMDPAR>
                    47. Amend § 79.6 in paragraph (a) by removing “in the 
                    <E T="04">Federal Register</E>
                    ”.
                </AMDPAR>
                <AMDPAR>
                    48. Amend § 79.8 in paragraph (b)(2) by removing “in the 
                    <E T="04">Federal Register</E>
                    ”. 
                </AMDPAR>
            </SUPLINF>
            <FRDOC>[FR Doc. 2026-17239 Filed 8-21-26; 8:45 am]</FRDOC>
            <BILCOD>BILLING CODE 4000-01-P</BILCOD>
        </PRORULE>
        <PRORULE>
            <PREAMB>
                <AGENCY TYPE="N">DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION</AGENCY>
                <SUBAGY>Federal Aviation Administration</SUBAGY>
                <CFR>14 CFR Part 39</CFR>
                <DEPDOC>[Docket No. FAA-2026-8786; Project Identifier MCAI-2025-01803-R]</DEPDOC>
                <RIN>RIN 2120-AA64</RIN>
                <SUBJECT>Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Helicopters</SUBJECT>
                <AGY>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">AGENCY:</HD>
                    <P>Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.</P>
                </AGY>
                <ACT>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">ACTION:</HD>
                    <P>Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).</P>
                </ACT>
                <SUM>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">SUMMARY:</HD>
                    <P>The FAA proposes to supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2025-17-03, which applies to all Airbus Helicopters Model AS332L, AS332L1, AS332L2, and EC225LP helicopters. AD 2025-17-03 requires inspecting the emergency sea anchor and, depending on the result, replacing the emergency sea anchor. Since the FAA issued AD 2025-17-03, it has been determined that an additional inspection of an affected emergency sea anchor must be accomplished. This proposed AD would retain all of the requirements of AD 2025-17-03, would also require an additional inspection, and depending on the result, replacing the emergency sea anchor. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.</P>
                </SUM>
                <DATES>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">DATES:</HD>
                    <P>The FAA must receive comments on this NPRM by October 8, 2026.</P>
                </DATES>
                <ADD>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">ADDRESSES:</HD>
                    <P>You may send comments, using the procedures found in 14 CFR 11.43 and 11.45, by any of the following methods:</P>
                    <P>
                        • 
                        <E T="03">Federal eRulemaking Portal:</E>
                         Go to 
                        <E T="03">regulations.gov.</E>
                         Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
                    </P>
                    <P>
                        • 
                        <E T="03">Fax:</E>
                         (202) 493-2251.
                    </P>
                    <P>
                        • 
                        <E T="03">Mail:</E>
                         U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590.
                    </P>
                    <P>
                        • 
                        <E T="03">Hand Delivery:</E>
                         Deliver to Mail address above between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
                    </P>
                    <P>
                        <E T="03">AD Docket:</E>
                         You may examine the AD docket at 
                        <E T="03">regulations.gov</E>
                        under Docket No. FAA-2026-8786; or in person at Docket Operations between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The AD docket contains this NPRM, the mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) any comments received, and other information. The street address for Docket Operations is listed above.
                    </P>
                    <P>
                        <E T="03">Material Incorporated by Reference:</E>
                    </P>
                    <P>
                        • For European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) material identified in this AD, contact EASA, Konrad-Adenauer-Ufer 3, 50668 Cologne, Germany; phone: +49 221 8999 000; email: 
                        <E T="03">ADs@easa.europa.eu;</E>
                         website: 
                        <E T="03">easa.europa.eu.</E>
                         You may find the EASA material on the EASA website at 
                        <E T="03">ad.easa.europa.eu.</E>
                    </P>
                    <P>• You may view this material at the FAA, Airworthiness Products Section, Operational Safety Branch, 10101 Hillwood Parkway, Fort Worth, TX 76177. For information on the availability of this material at the FAA, call (817) 222-5110.</P>
                </ADD>
                <FURINF>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:</HD>
                    <P>
                        David Enns, Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, Westbury, NY 11590; phone: (316) 946-4147; email: 
                        <E T="03">david.enns@faa.gov</E>
                        .
                    </P>
                </FURINF>
            </PREAMB>
            <SUPLINF>
                <HD SOURCE="HED">SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:</HD>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">Comments Invited</HD>
                <P>
                    The FAA invites you to send any written relevant data, views, or arguments about this proposal. Send your comments using a method listed under 
                    <E T="02">ADDRESSES</E>
                    . Include “Docket No. 
                    <PRTPAGE P="54684"/>
                    FAA-2026-8786; Project Identifier MCAI-2025-01803-R” at the beginning of your comments. The most helpful comments reference a specific portion of the proposal, explain the reason for any recommended change, and include supporting data. The FAA will consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend the proposal because of those comments.
                </P>
                <P>
                    Except for Confidential Business Information (CBI) as described in the following paragraph, and other information as described in 14 CFR 11.35, the FAA will post all comments received, without change, to 
                    <E T="03">regulations.gov,</E>
                     including any personal information you provide. The agency will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact received about this NPRM.
                </P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">Confidential Business Information</HD>
                <P>CBI is commercial or financial information that is both customarily and actually treated as private by its owner. Under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) (5 U.S.C. 552), CBI is exempt from public disclosure. If your comments responsive to this NPRM contain commercial or financial information that is customarily treated as private, that you actually treat as private, and that is relevant or responsive to this NPRM, it is important that you clearly designate the submitted comments as CBI. Please mark each page of your submission containing CBI as “PROPIN.” The FAA will treat such marked submissions as confidential under the FOIA, and they will not be placed in the public docket of this NPRM. Submissions containing CBI should be sent to David Enns, Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, Westbury, NY 11590. Any commentary that the FAA receives which is not specifically designated as CBI will be placed in the public docket for this rulemaking.</P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">Background</HD>
                <P>The FAA issued AD 2025-17-03, Amendment 39-23113 (90 FR 40958, August 22, 2025) (AD 2025-17-03), for all Airbus Helicopters Model AS332L, AS332L1, AS332L2, and EC225LP helicopters. AD 2025-17-03 was prompted by an MCAI originated by EASA, which is the Technical Agent for the Member States of the European Union. EASA issued EASA Emergency AD 2025-0146-E, dated July 10, 2025 (EASA Emergency AD 2025-0146-E) to correct an unsafe condition identified as a corroded emergency sea anchor pin.</P>
                <P>AD 2025-17-03 requires inspecting the emergency sea anchor and, depending on the result, replacing the emergency sea anchor. The FAA issued AD 2025-17-03 to detect and correct corrosion on the anchor pin.</P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">Actions Since AD 2025-17-03 Was Issued</HD>
                <P>Since the FAA issued AD 2025-17-03, EASA superseded EASA Emergency AD 2025-0146-E and issued EASA AD 2025-0278, which was later revised to EASA AD 2025-0278R1, dated January 14, 2026 (EASA AD 2025-0278R1) (also referred to as the MCAI). The MCAI states that an additional inspection of the emergency sea anchor is necessary. The unsafe condition, if not addressed, could lead to failure of the anchor pin and release the emergency sea anchor in flight, which could result in damage to the rotors and loss of control of the helicopter.</P>
                <P>
                    You may examine the MCAI in the AD docket at 
                    <E T="03">regulations.gov</E>
                     under Docket No. FAA-2026-8786.
                </P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">Material Incorporated by Reference Under 1 CFR Part 51</HD>
                <P>The FAA reviewed EASA AD 2025-0278R1, which specifies procedures for inspecting the emergency sea anchor for corrosion and, depending on the results, replacing the emergency sea anchor with a serviceable part. EASA AD 2025-0278R1 also specifies that as an alternative to the replacement of an affected part, it is allowed to install a locally made plug, provided the plug is manufactured in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions.</P>
                <P>Additionally, EASA AD 2025-0278R1 prohibits installing an affected emergency sea anchor unless it is new (never previously installed on a helicopter) or an affected part that has passed an inspection (no defects found).</P>
                <P>
                    This material is reasonably available because the interested parties have access to it through their normal course of business or by the means identified in the 
                    <E T="02">ADDRESSES</E>
                     section.
                </P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">FAA's Determination</HD>
                <P>These products have been approved by the civil aviation authority (CAA) of another country and are approved for operation in the United States. Pursuant to the FAA's bilateral agreement with this State of Design Authority, that authority has notified the FAA of the unsafe condition described in the MCAI referenced above. The FAA is issuing this AD after determining that the unsafe condition described previously is likely to exist or develop on other products of the same type design.</P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">Proposed AD Requirements in This NPRM</HD>
                <P>This proposed AD would retain all requirements of AD 2025-17-03. This proposed AD would also require an additional inspection of an affected emergency sea anchor and accomplishing the actions specified in EASA AD 2025-0278R1, described previously, as incorporated by reference, except for any differences identified as exceptions in the regulatory text of this proposed AD.</P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">Explanation of Required Compliance Information</HD>
                <P>
                    In the FAA's ongoing efforts to improve the efficiency of the AD process, the FAA developed a process to use some CAA ADs as the primary source of information for compliance with requirements for corresponding FAA ADs. The FAA has been coordinating this process with manufacturers and CAAs. As a result, the FAA proposes to incorporate EASA AD 2025-0278R1 by reference in the FAA final rule. This proposed AD would, therefore, require compliance with EASA AD 2025-0278R1 in its entirety through that incorporation, except for any differences identified as exceptions in the regulatory text of this proposed AD. Using common terms that are the same as the heading of a particular section in EASA AD 2025-0278R1 does not mean that operators need comply only with that section. For example, where the AD requirement refers to “all required actions and compliance times,” compliance with this AD requirement is not limited to the section titled “Required Action(s) and Compliance Time(s)” in EASA AD 2025-0278R1. Material required by EASA AD 2025-0278R1 for compliance will be available at 
                    <E T="03">regulations.gov</E>
                     under Docket No. FAA-2026-8786 after the FAA final rule is published.
                </P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">Interim Action</HD>
                <P>The FAA considers that this proposed AD would be an interim action. If further action is later identified, the FAA might consider further rulemaking then.</P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">Costs of Compliance</HD>
                <P>
                    The FAA estimates that this proposed AD would affect 44 helicopters of U.S. registry. The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with this proposed AD:
                    <PRTPAGE P="54685"/>
                </P>
                <GPOTABLE COLS="5" OPTS="L2,nj,i1" CDEF="s50,r50,12,12,12">
                    <TTITLE>Estimated Costs</TTITLE>
                    <BOXHD>
                        <CHED H="1">Action</CHED>
                        <CHED H="1">Labor cost</CHED>
                        <CHED H="1">Parts cost</CHED>
                        <CHED H="1">
                            Cost per
                            <LI>product</LI>
                        </CHED>
                        <CHED H="1">
                            Cost on U.S.
                            <LI>operators</LI>
                        </CHED>
                    </BOXHD>
                    <ROW>
                        <ENT I="01">Inspect emergency sea anchor</ENT>
                        <ENT>2 work-hours × $85 per hour = $170</ENT>
                        <ENT>$0</ENT>
                        <ENT>$170</ENT>
                        <ENT>$7,480</ENT>
                    </ROW>
                </GPOTABLE>
                <P>The FAA estimates the following costs to do any replacements that would be required based on the results of the proposed inspection. The agency has no way of determining the number of helicopters that might need these replacements:</P>
                <GPOTABLE COLS="4" OPTS="L2,nj,i1" CDEF="s50,r50,12,12">
                    <TTITLE>On-Condition Costs</TTITLE>
                    <BOXHD>
                        <CHED H="1">Action</CHED>
                        <CHED H="1">Labor cost</CHED>
                        <CHED H="1">Parts cost</CHED>
                        <CHED H="1">
                            Cost per
                            <LI>product</LI>
                        </CHED>
                    </BOXHD>
                    <ROW>
                        <ENT I="01">Replace emergency sea anchor</ENT>
                        <ENT>2 work-hours × $85 per hour = $170</ENT>
                        <ENT>$4,663</ENT>
                        <ENT>$4,833</ENT>
                    </ROW>
                </GPOTABLE>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">Authority for This Rulemaking</HD>
                <P>Title 49 of the United States Code specifies the FAA's authority to issue rules on aviation safety. Subtitle I, section 106, describes the authority of the FAA Administrator. Subtitle VII, Aviation Programs, describes in more detail the scope of the Agency's authority.</P>
                <P>The FAA is issuing this rulemaking under the authority described in Subtitle VII, Part A, Subpart III, Section 44701: General requirements. Under that section, Congress charges the FAA with promoting safe flight of civil aircraft in air commerce by prescribing regulations for practices, methods, and procedures the Administrator finds necessary for safety in air commerce. This regulation is within the scope of that authority because it addresses an unsafe condition that is likely to exist or develop on products identified in this rulemaking action.</P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">Regulatory Findings</HD>
                <P>The FAA determined that this proposed AD would not have federalism implications under Executive Order 13132. This proposed AD would not have a substantial direct effect on the States, on the relationship between the national Government and the States, or on the distribution of power and responsibilities among the various levels of government.</P>
                <P>For the reasons discussed above, I certify that the proposed regulation:</P>
                <P>(1) Is not a “significant regulatory action” under Executive Order 12866,</P>
                <P>(2) Would not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, and</P>
                <P>(3) Would not have a significant economic impact, positive or negative, on a substantial number of small entities under the criteria of the Regulatory Flexibility Act.</P>
                <LSTSUB>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39</HD>
                    <P>Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by reference, Safety.</P>
                </LSTSUB>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">The Proposed Amendment</HD>
                <P>Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the Administrator, the FAA proposes to amend 14 CFR part 39 as follows:</P>
                <PART>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">PART 39—AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES</HD>
                </PART>
                <AMDPAR>1. The authority citation for part 39 continues to read as follows:</AMDPAR>
                <AUTH>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">Authority:</HD>
                    <P> 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 44701.</P>
                </AUTH>
                <SECTION>
                    <SECTNO>§ 39.13</SECTNO>
                    <SUBJECT> [Amended]</SUBJECT>
                </SECTION>
                <AMDPAR>2. The FAA amends § 39.13 by:</AMDPAR>
                <AMDPAR>a. Removing Airworthiness Directive 2025-17-03, Amendment 39-23113 (90 FR 40958, August 22, 2025); and</AMDPAR>
                <AMDPAR>b. Adding the following new airworthiness directive:</AMDPAR>
                <EXTRACT>
                    <FP SOURCE="FP-2">
                        <E T="04">Airbus Helicopters:</E>
                         Docket No. FAA-2026-8786; Project Identifier MCAI-2025-01803-R.
                    </FP>
                    <HD SOURCE="HD1">(a) Comments Due Date</HD>
                    <P>The FAA must receive comments on this airworthiness directive (AD) by October 8, 2026.</P>
                    <HD SOURCE="HD1">(b) Affected ADs</HD>
                    <P>This AD replaces AD 2025-17-03, Amendment 39-23113 (90 FR 40958, August 22, 2025) (AD 2025-17-03).</P>
                    <HD SOURCE="HD1">(c) Applicability</HD>
                    <P>This AD applies to all Airbus Helicopters Model AS332L, AS332L1, AS332L2, and EC225LP helicopters, certificated in any category.</P>
                    <HD SOURCE="HD1">(d) Subject</HD>
                    <P>Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) Code 2560, Emergency equipment.</P>
                    <HD SOURCE="HD1">(e) Unsafe Condition</HD>
                    <P>This AD was prompted by a report of a corroded emergency sea anchor pin (anchor pin). The FAA is issuing this AD to detect and correct corrosion on the anchor pin. The unsafe condition, if not addressed, could lead to failure of the anchor pin and release the emergency sea anchor in flight, which could result in damage to the rotors and loss of control of the helicopter.</P>
                    <HD SOURCE="HD1">(f) Compliance</HD>
                    <P>Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified, unless already done.</P>
                    <HD SOURCE="HD1">(g) Requirements</HD>
                    <P>Except as specified in paragraphs (h) and (i) of this AD: Comply with all required actions and compliance times specified in, and in accordance with, European Union Aviation Safety Agency AD 2025-0278R1, dated January 14, 2026 (EASA AD 2025-0278R1).</P>
                    <HD SOURCE="HD1">(h) Exceptions to EASA AD 2025-0278R1</HD>
                    <P>(1) Where EASA AD 2025-0278R1 refers to effective dates, this AD requires using the effective dates in paragraphs (h)(1)(i) through (iii) of this AD.</P>
                    <P>(i) Where EASA AD 2025-0278R1 refers to its effective date, this AD requires using the effective date of this AD.</P>
                    <P>(ii) Where EASA AD 2025-0278R1 refers to July 14, 2025 (the effective date of EASA Emergency AD 2025-0146-E), this AD requires using September 8, 2025 (the effective date of AD 2025-17-03).</P>
                    <P>(iii) Where EASA AD 2025-0278R1 refers to December 24, 2025 (the effective date of EASA AD 2025-0278), this AD requires using September 8, 2025 (the effective date of AD 2025-17-03).</P>
                    <P>(2) Where EASA AD 2025-0278R1 refers to flight hours, this AD requires using hours time-in-service.</P>
                    <P>(3) This AD does not adopt paragraph (4) of EASA AD 2025-0278R1.</P>
                    <P>(4) This AD does not adopt the “Remarks” section of EASA AD 2025-0278R1.</P>
                    <HD SOURCE="HD1">(i) No Reporting Requirement</HD>
                    <P>
                        Although the material referenced in EASA AD 2025-0278R1 specifies to submit certain information to the manufacturer, this AD does not require that action.
                        <PRTPAGE P="54686"/>
                    </P>
                    <HD SOURCE="HD1">(j) Special Flight Permit</HD>
                    <P>Special flight permits as described in 14 CFR 21.197 and 21.199, are not allowed.</P>
                    <HD SOURCE="HD1">(k) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)</HD>
                    <P>
                        (1) The Manager, International Validation Branch, FAA, has the authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested using the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19. In accordance with 14 CFR 39.19, send your request to your principal inspector or local Flight Standards District Office, as appropriate. If sending information directly to the manager of the International Validation Branch, send it to the attention of the person identified in paragraph (l) of this AD and email to: 
                        <E T="03">AMOC@faa.gov.</E>
                    </P>
                    <P>(2) Before using any approved AMOC, notify your appropriate principal inspector, or lacking a principal inspector, the manager of the local flight standards district office/certificate holding district office.</P>
                    <HD SOURCE="HD1">(l) Additional Information</HD>
                    <P>
                        For more information about this AD, contact David Enns, Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, Westbury, NY 11590; phone: (316) 946-4147; email: 
                        <E T="03">david.enns@faa.gov.</E>
                    </P>
                    <HD SOURCE="HD1">(m) Material Incorporated by Reference</HD>
                    <P>(1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference of the material listed in this paragraph under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51.</P>
                    <P>(2) You must use this material as applicable to do the actions required by this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise.</P>
                    <P>(i) European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD 2025-0278R1, dated January 14, 2026.</P>
                    <P>(ii) [Reserved]</P>
                    <P>
                        (3) For EASA material identified in this AD, contact EASA, Konrad-Adenauer-Ufer 3, 50668 Cologne, Germany; phone: +49 221 8999 000; email: 
                        <E T="03">ADs@easa.europa.eu;</E>
                         website: 
                        <E T="03">easa.europa.eu.</E>
                         You may find the EASA material on the EASA website at 
                        <E T="03">ad.easa.europa.eu.</E>
                    </P>
                    <P>(4) You may view this material at the FAA, Airworthiness Products Section, Operational Safety Branch, 10101 Hillwood Parkway, Fort Worth, TX 76177. For information on the availability of this material at the FAA, call (817) 222-5110.</P>
                    <P>
                        (5) You may view this material at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For information on the availability of this material at NARA, visit 
                        <E T="03">www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations</E>
                         or email 
                        <E T="03">fr.inspection@nara.gov.</E>
                    </P>
                </EXTRACT>
                <SIG>
                    <DATED>Issued on August 19, 2026.</DATED>
                    <NAME>Steven W. Thompson,</NAME>
                    <TITLE>Acting Deputy Director, Compliance &amp; Airworthiness Division, Aircraft Certification Service.</TITLE>
                </SIG>
            </SUPLINF>
            <FRDOC>[FR Doc. 2026-17209 Filed 8-21-26; 8:45 am]</FRDOC>
            <BILCOD>BILLING CODE 4910-13-P</BILCOD>
        </PRORULE>
        <PRORULE>
            <PREAMB>
                <AGENCY TYPE="N">DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY</AGENCY>
                <SUBAGY>Internal Revenue Service</SUBAGY>
                <CFR>26 CFR Part 1</CFR>
                <DEPDOC>[REG-101355-26]</DEPDOC>
                <RIN>RIN 1545-BS19</RIN>
                <SUBJECT>Employer Contributions to Trump Accounts and Nondiscrimination Rules for Dependent Care Assistance Programs</SUBJECT>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">Correction</HD>
                <P>In proposed rule document 2026-16314 beginning on page 51611 in the issue of Tuesday, August 11, 2026, make the following corrections:</P>
                <P>1. On page 51612, in the first column, the 21st line should read, “September 25, 2026. Public Hearing: The”.</P>
                <P>
                    2. On page 51622, the 
                    <E T="03">image should appear as follows</E>
                    :
                </P>
                <GPH SPAN="3" DEEP="192">
                    <GID>EP24AU26.000</GID>
                </GPH>
                <P>3. On page 51625, in § 1.128-1, in the third column, the first three lines should read:</P>
                <STARS/>
                <SECTION>
                    <SECTNO>§ 1.128-1 </SECTNO>
                    <SUBJECT>Trump account contribution program; definitions.</SUBJECT>
                </SECTION>
            </PREAMB>
            <FRDOC>[FR Doc. C1-2026-16314 Filed 8-21-26; 8:45 am]</FRDOC>
            <BILCOD>BILLING CODE 4830-01-P</BILCOD>
        </PRORULE>
        <PRORULE>
            <PREAMB>
                <AGENCY TYPE="N">DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE</AGENCY>
                <SUBAGY>Forest Service</SUBAGY>
                <CFR>36 CFR Parts 212 and 261</CFR>
                <SUBJECT>Travel Management; National Forest System Lands</SUBJECT>
                <AGY>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">AGENCY:</HD>
                    <P>Forest Service, Agriculture (USDA).</P>
                </AGY>
                <ACT>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">ACTION:</HD>
                    <P>Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement.</P>
                </ACT>
                <SUM>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">SUMMARY:</HD>
                    <P>
                        The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is initiating an environmental impact statement and rulemaking to revise the Forest Service's travel management regulations, 36 CFR part 212. The proposed action would establish a uniform national policy favoring increased access while simplifying regulatory requirements and preserving local decision-making. The proposed access rule would establish a national policy with a presumption that existing roads, trails, airfields, 
                        <PRTPAGE P="54687"/>
                        trailheads, and other access routes and points on National Forest System lands are open to appropriate public use unless closure or restriction is required by applicable law, valid existing rights, or another governing instrument, or supported by specific, documented and justifiable reasons based on science-based resource conditions, public safety, conflicts among uses, or maintenance and administrative capacity. Commonly available public data sets, including aerial imagery, may be used as evidence that a physical route or airfield exists or existed at a time relevant under the definition adopted in the proposed rule, but would not by themselves establish that the feature is part of the forest transportation system, that the Forest Service has jurisdiction or sufficient legal access, or that it is open to a particular public use. The proposed access rule would require annual review of all trails, roads, airfields, trailheads, and other access routes and points that are closed or highly restricted. The proposed access rule would establish processes and conditions for limited off-route motor vehicle use and other motorized equipment for, among other things, downed big-game retrieval, firewood collection and dispersed camping, and for designating areas for over-snow and other motorized recreation.
                    </P>
                    <P>The presumption embodied in the national policy would guide future decisions and would not itself change the legal status of any road, trail, airfield, trailhead, area, or other access route or point. Any change in lawful use resulting from a vehicle- or use-specific exemption would be limited to the scope and conditions expressly provided in the revised regulations. Existing motor vehicle use designations and maps would remain in effect until revised under the amended regulations. The environmental impact statement will evaluate the impacts of the proposed rule revisions and study alternatives for managing public access, including the motorized and other forms of access addressed by the proposed rule, on National Forest System lands in the context of multiple-use resource management. USDA invites written comments on alternatives, effects, and relevant information, studies, or analyses related to the proposal.</P>
                </SUM>
                <EFFDATE>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">DATES:</HD>
                    <P>Comments must be received in writing by September 23, 2026.</P>
                </EFFDATE>
                <ADD>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">ADDRESSES:</HD>
                    <P>
                        Additional information, including the eventual publication of the environmental impact statement and record of decision, can be found on the following website: 
                        <E T="03">https://www.fs.usda.gov/visit/recreation/programs/off-highway-vehicle-program.</E>
                         Comments must be submitted via one of the following methods:
                    </P>
                    <P>
                        • 
                        <E T="03">Electronically (preferred):</E>
                         Through the Federal eRulemaking Portal, 
                        <E T="03">https://www.regulations.gov,</E>
                         identified by docket number FS-2026-0100. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
                    </P>
                    <P>
                        • 
                        <E T="03">Mail:</E>
                         Hardcopy letters must be submitted to the Director, Public Benefits, 201 14th Street SW, Public Benefits Office, Washington, DC 20250.
                    </P>
                </ADD>
                <FURINF>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:</HD>
                    <P>Jim Bacon, Acting Director, Public Benefits, at the following phone number: 707-562-8856. Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability may call 711 to reach the Telecommunications Relay Service, then provide the phone number of the person named as a point of contact for further information.</P>
                </FURINF>
            </PREAMB>
            <SUPLINF>
                <HD SOURCE="HED">SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:</HD>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">Background</HD>
                <HD SOURCE="HD2">Overview of the Travel Management Rule</HD>
                <P>The Travel Management Rule (TMR), found at 36 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) part 212, provides the regulatory framework for managing the National Forest System (NFS) transportation system and public motor vehicle use. The rule is organized into subparts A, B, and C.</P>
                <P>Most operative provisions now in subpart A predate the 2005 TMR. In 2005, the Forest Service designated existing sections 212.1 through 212.21 as subpart A and revised section 212.1. Subpart A outlines how the Forest Service (Agency) plans, develops, and manages the forest transportation system. It includes definitions, requirements for the transportation program, and specific provisions related to:</P>
                <P>• Cooperative work with partners (section 212.3).</P>
                <P>• Road construction and maintenance and road system management (sections 212.4 and 212.5).</P>
                <P>• Ingress and egress rights, access procurement by the United States, and permission to cross NFS lands and easements (sections 212.6, 212.7, and 212.8).</P>
                <P>• Principles for shared use of roads (section 212.9).</P>
                <P>• Maximum economy road standards (section 212.10).</P>
                <P>• Administration of the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail (section 212.21).</P>
                <P>These provisions establish the access, construction and maintenance, cooperative management, procurement, and fiscal responsibilities necessary for administering the forest transportation system.</P>
                <P>Part 295 implemented Executive Orders (E.O.s) 11644 and 11989 by providing for the designation of areas and trails on which off-road vehicle use was allowed, restricted, or prohibited. The 2005 TMR superseded part 295 and established subpart B's unit-wide system of motor vehicle use designations. The 2015 rule revised subpart C to require over-snow vehicle use designations on units with adequate snowfall where such use occurs. Subparts B and C:</P>
                <P>• Require each unit to identify NFS roads, NFS trails, and areas on NFS lands that are designated for public motor vehicle use and generally prohibit motor vehicle use outside or inconsistent with those designations (sections 212.50 and 212.80).</P>
                <P>• Establish criteria, public input requirements, coordination with governments, and environmental considerations for designations (sections 212.52, 212.53, and 212.55).</P>
                <P>• Require publication of designations on motor vehicle use maps and over-snow vehicle use maps (sections 212.51, 212.56, and 212.81).</P>
                <P>• Provide direction for revision of designations (section 212.54).</P>
                <P>• Provide direction for monitoring effects of motor vehicle use (section 212.57).</P>
                <P>Subparts B and C responded to growing off-road vehicle use and the need to protect natural resources from the proliferation of user-created routes and to reduce conflicts among uses. Publication of maps identifying designated roads, trails, and areas inform the public where, when, and which motor vehicle uses were permitted, and helped deter user-created routes and associated adverse environmental impacts.</P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD2">Implementation of the Travel Management Rule Since 2005</HD>
                <P>Since 2005, all but 6 of the 154 national forest units and 20 national grassland units have established motor vehicle use maps (MVUMs) designating roads, trails, and areas open to public motor vehicle use. Over-snow vehicle use maps (OSVUMs) have been established on 25 of the estimated 101 units that receive adequate snowfall to warrant over-snow travel management.</P>
                <P>
                    The TMR provided a complex procedural framework to counter the proliferation of user-created motor vehicle routes and established an inflexible, nationally-driven framework for designating roads, trails, and areas open or closed to public motor vehicle use. Maps showing these designations 
                    <PRTPAGE P="54688"/>
                    were published and are presently in use on those administrative units where travel management planning has been completed.
                </P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD2">Rescission of Executive Orders 11644 and 11989</HD>
                <P>
                    On May 29, 2026, the President signed E.O. 14408, 
                    <E T="03">Removing Unnecessary and Counterproductive Restrictions on Access to Federal Lands.</E>
                     E.O. 14408 rescinded E.O.s 11644 and 11989, which the current TMR implemented, and directed relevant agencies to initiate rulemaking to rescind or revise regulations previously adopted to implement those Orders.
                </P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">Purpose and Need</HD>
                <P>Under the Secretary's statutory authority to regulate the use and occupancy of NFS lands, including 16 U.S.C. 551, and, as applicable to national grasslands and other lands administered under title III of the Bankhead-Jones Farm Tenant Act, 7 U.S.C. 1011(f), and in light of the administrative costs and challenges associated with implementing the TMR, and recognizing the policy set forth in E.O. 14408, the Department proposes to revise 36 CFR part 212 and associated provisions in part 261 to alleviate unnecessary regulatory burdens, establish a modern access and travel-management framework that addresses current needs and changing conditions, and increase public access to NFS lands while retaining legally required protections and building upon the designation and mapping framework established since 2005.</P>
                <P>E.O. 14408 states that technological, operational, and land-management developments support replacing the designation criteria derived from E.O.s 11644 and 11989 with a framework grounded in applicable statutory authorities. Conditions within and adjacent to NFS lands also have changed since the prior Executive Orders were issued and the travel management regulations were originally promulgated and revised. These changes include an expanding wildland-urban interface; growing impacts of extreme wildfire, drought, and insect and disease infestations; increasing public recreation and access needs; and changing recreation technology.</P>
                <P>Based on the Department's review of past travel management public process comments, lawsuits, and planning implementation timeframes, the Department believes that specified TMR requirements governing designation, minimization, and narrowly defined prohibitions may overlap with requirements imposed by other authorities or may unnecessarily delay some designation revisions. Twenty years of implementation indicate that applying the same TMR-specific procedures to every designation revision, regardless of scale, may impose time and analytical burdens disproportionate to minor or iterative adjustments. The Department therefore is considering a framework that would distinguish clerical corrections and minor designation revisions from more substantive changes while retaining nationally uniform mapping, publication, transition, and enforcement requirements.</P>
                <P>E.O. 14408 rescinded E.O.s 11644 and 11989 and directs agencies to rescind or revise regulations previously adopted to implement those Orders. The Department is exercising its independent statutory discretion to determine the most appropriate process for balancing competing values and uses, while ensuring public access to NFS lands within the existing multiple-uses framework.</P>
                <P>Exercising its independent statutory authority, the Department proposes to remove the national minimization criteria and establish a nationally applicable access policy under which local officials would make designation and closure decisions based on documented local conditions and needs, subject to applicable law, valid existing rights, and the revised regulations.</P>
                <P>Except as expressly identified in the proposed rule, the proposed action would not alter requirements imposed by other statutory authorities for environmental review, public involvement, or administrative review.</P>
                <P>The Department proposes to replace the minimization criteria and other identified TMR-specific procedures with an access-oriented framework grounded in applicable statutes, regulations, and the proposed access rule, as follows:</P>
                <P>(1) Clarify the relationship between land management planning under the National Forest Management Act and travel management or access decisions under this part. Land management plans establish the broad, integrated framework for managing NFS lands. They do not themselves authorize individual projects or activities. Decisions concerning the designation, management, modification, or discontinuation of particular roads, trails, areas, and classes of motor vehicle use are implementation-level decisions that are appropriately made by responsible officials based on current site-specific conditions and management needs.</P>
                <P>(2) Experience implementing the 2005 TMR demonstrates that unnecessarily linking travel management decisions to land management planning can reduce the flexibility necessary to respond to changing access needs, recreation demands, resource conditions, wildfire and other disturbances, public safety concerns, maintenance capabilities, and available funding. Land management plans typically operate over long planning horizons, while transportation systems and public uses may require more timely adjustment.</P>
                <P>(3) Accordingly, the proposed rule would acknowledge the need to remain consistent with the National Forest Management Act but would clarify that travel management or access decisions are not land management planning decisions and need not be made through the procedures governing development, amendment, or revision of land management plans, unless a plan amendment or revision is required to resolve inconsistency with an applicable plan component. Within those constraints, responsible officials would retain discretion to make access decisions under this part based on the circumstances presented at the time of the decision.</P>
                <P>(4) Travel planning is subject to review under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), as applicable. For an EIS, USDA's NEPA regulations require analysis of reasonably foreseeable significant effects and provide for the use of design criteria, where appropriate, to avoid or minimize adverse effects (7 CFR 1b.7(h)(5)(i)-(ii), 1b.11(a)(11)-(12)).</P>
                <P>(5) Motor vehicle use designations also must comply with other applicable laws, including the Clean Water Act, Clean Air Act, Endangered Species Act, National Trails System Act, National Historic Preservation Act, and Wilderness Act. Because land management plans and NEPA do not necessarily supply all of the substantive designation criteria or public-participation procedures currently contained in part 212, the revised regulations would identify the standards and procedures that will govern future designation and closure decisions.</P>
                <P>Revisions to 36 CFR parts 212 and 261 are proposed to remove the current minimization criteria and streamline specified process requirements in light of applicable statutory requirements.</P>
                <P>
                    Section 212.54 currently applies the public-involvement, governmental-coordination, and designation-criteria requirements in sections 212.52, 212.53, and 212.55 to revisions of motor vehicle use designations, including minor revisions. The proposed access rule will 
                    <PRTPAGE P="54689"/>
                    simplify this requirement, as the appropriate level of NEPA review depends on the circumstances, and clerical map corrections that do not revise a designation may be handled separately. Section 212.54 applies the TMR-specific public-involvement, governmental-coordination, and designation-criteria requirements to revisions regardless of scale. The Department believes that applying the full set of those procedures to minor revisions may impose burdens disproportionate to the decision. The proposed rule therefore would distinguish clerical corrections and minor designation revisions from more substantial changes and specify the procedures applicable to each. Regular and timely updates to MVUMs and OSVUMs have been important to meet community needs and provide access for a broad range of recreational, subsistence, and other uses. These maps did not create, extinguish, or alter valid existing rights. The proposed access rule would require integrated digital maps to be made available to the public that show access rules for all trails, roads, airfields, trailheads, and other access routes and points and would be the authoritative public source for designations made under the revised regulations. The map would publish designations and restrictions adopted through the procedures prescribed by the revised regulations. A clerical map correction would not itself change lawful public use.
                </P>
                <P>The proposed access rule would also support implementation of section 127 of the EXPLORE Act, which directs the Secretary to seek to provide publicly available, GIS-compatible motor vehicle use maps for each NFS unit within the statutory timeframe and to update those maps periodically, in accordance with existing law. The EXPLORE Act also directs the Secretary to seek to create additional opportunities, as appropriate and in accordance with existing law, for motorized and non-motorized access and recreation.</P>
                <P>The purpose of the proposed action is deregulatory with an intent to modernize the Agency's travel-planning process, making it less burdensome, more efficient and timelier, and more responsive to recreational and other access needs on forests and grasslands across the country. The amended regulations would also support the Administration's focus on increasing access and recreational opportunities on Federal lands.</P>
                <P>In addition, the Department seeks to reduce duplication between land management planning, environmental review, and travel planning.</P>
                <P>Applicable land management plans and NEPA analysis inform local decisions but do not themselves establish all substantive or procedural standards for motor vehicle use designations. The amended regulations therefore would establish the governing national access and closure criteria and retain uniform mapping, publication, vehicle-class, transition, and enforcement requirements. Within that framework, local managers could update public motor vehicle access more efficiently based on documented local conditions, consistent with applicable law, valid existing rights, and other governing instruments.</P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">Preliminary Description of Proposed Action</HD>
                <P>The proposed action would establish a new national policy to guide local travel-management decisions, remove the minimization criteria in subparts B and C, revise other identified process requirements, and separately amend subpart A as described below.</P>
                <P>Future changes to public access covered by the amended regulations would be governed by the proposed access rule, applicable laws, valid existing rights, other governing instruments, and public participation and governmental coordination requirements identified in the amended rule, Tribal consultation requirements, local access needs, and documented resource and safety considerations. Maps showing designated roads, trails, airfields, trailheads, and other access routes and points would continue to be published and periodically updated for each NFS administrative unit.</P>
                <P>The proposed regulations would establish a new regulatory framework governing local decision-making. The Department invites public comment on the following components of that framework:</P>
                <P>1. The amended regulations would establish a presumption that existing roads, trails, airfields, trailheads, and other access routes and points on NFS lands are open to appropriate public use unless closure or restriction is required by applicable law, valid existing rights, or another governing instrument, or is supported by specific, documented and justifiable reasons based on science-based resource conditions, public safety, conflicts among uses, or maintenance and administrative capacity. This presumption would include access along section lines in certain national grasslands in North Dakota. The presumption would not itself establish the existence, ownership, or scope of a public right-of-way or establish Forest Service jurisdiction or legal access. Seasonal restrictions could be applied. The amended regulations would require, subject to available appropriations, an annual unit-level process to identify closed or highly restricted trails, roads, airfields, trailheads, and other access routes and points that may warrant reconsideration. The responsible official would conduct the review and indicate which routes or access points may be reconsidered for a change in status. A route would be reopened only through the process prescribed by the proposed access rule and only if reopening would be consistent with applicable law, valid existing rights, other governing instruments, available appropriations, and the governing access and closure criteria.</P>
                <P>2. The proposed access rule would establish a requirement to consider new roads, trails, airfields, trailheads, and other access routes and points where appropriate to increase access. The policy would not itself authorize construction or commit resources and would remain subject to applicable law, valid existing rights, governing instruments, site-specific review, and available appropriations.</P>
                <P>3. The proposed regulations would address Forest Service management of NFS airfields and the use of NFS lands for aircraft landing and takeoff. It would identify the regulations and existing airfield or aircraft restrictions proposed for amendment and the criteria and process for opening, restricting, or closing an airfield.</P>
                <P>4. The proposed access rule would establish processes and conditions for authorizing limited off-route motor vehicle and other motorized equipment use for, among other things, downed big-game retrieval, firewood collection, dispersed camping, and for designating areas for over-snow and other motorized recreation. The proposed regulations would specify whether each use would be authorized through a route or area designation, a written authorization, or a categorical exemption and would establish applicable geographic, seasonal, vehicle-class, and resource-protection conditions.</P>
                <P>
                    The proposed action would separately revise specified portions of subpart A. Specifically, section 212.5(b)(1) would be revised to replace the current minimum-road-system requirement with criteria for determining an adequate and appropriate forest transportation system, including access needs, resource protection, safety, maintenance capacity, and applicable land management plan components. Section 212.1 would be revised to define the vehicle and use categories 
                    <PRTPAGE P="54690"/>
                    subject to different designation or exemption requirements specified in subparts B and C and part 261, rather than relying exclusively on a motorized or nonmotorized classification. For each provision, the proposed rule would identify whether it would be eliminated, retained in the CFR, moved to another CFR provision, or moved to Agency directives, and would explain any resulting change in legal effect, enforceability, or third-party rights and obligations.
                </P>
                <P>The proposed action would add specified categories of exempt vehicles or uses to the designation and prohibition framework in 36 CFR parts 212 and 261 and would revise that framework to accommodate new vehicle types and uses without relying on a binary motorized or nonmotorized classification.</P>
                <P>For purposes of the proposal, “class 1 electric bicycle” would have the meaning in 23 U.S.C. 217(j)(2)(A) and (B)(i). The proposed action would exempt class 1 electric bicycles from the motor vehicle use designation requirement in 36 CFR 212.51(a) and the prohibition in 36 CFR 261.13 when operated on an NFS trail where bicycle use is allowed, subject to applicable land management plan direction, seasonal restrictions, orders, and site-specific restrictions adopted by the responsible official under the criteria and procedures in the proposed rule. The EIS would analyze an alternative retaining class 1 e-bikes as motor vehicles subject to motor vehicle use designations and alternatives adopting broader or narrower exemption conditions.</P>
                <P>Any additional categorical authorization for low-powered electric mobility devices used by persons with mobility disabilities would be defined by objective criteria in the proposed rule, including the covered devices and the scope and conditions of the authorization, and coordinated with applicable disability-access requirements. Any additional authorization would supplement, and would not limit, existing rights or Agency obligations under applicable disability-access laws. These changes would be evaluated in light of approaches used by other Federal and State land management agencies.</P>
                <P>With regard to subparts B and C, the proposed action would establish an access-planning process and would not itself authorize construction or other ground-disturbing activities or projects. The access presumption set forth in the national policy would guide future decisions and would not itself open a currently closed route, airfield, trailhead, or other access point except to the extent that the amended regulations expressly make a specified vehicle- or use-specific exemption self-executing. Existing motor vehicle use designations, including the designations shown on MVUMs and OSVUMs, would remain in effect until revised under the amended regulations. Prohibitions established under other authorities would remain in effect until modified, rescinded, or expired under those authorities.</P>
                <P>Future site-specific designation decisions would be made by local officials after analysis and evaluation of land and resource conditions, consistent with applicable law. If the rule removes sections 212.52 and 212.53, it would identify the public involvement, governmental-coordination, and Tribal-consultation requirements that will govern future designation and revision decisions.</P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">Preliminary Description of Known Alternatives</HD>
                <P>In addition to the proposed action, the environmental impact statement (EIS) will analyze a no-action alternative that would retain the TMR in its current form. Known alternatives may include: applying the open-unless-closed presumption prospectively or making specified changes effective upon promulgation; limiting “existing” routes and airfields to features in the forest transportation atlas or using a broader evidentiary definition; retaining selected designation, public-involvement, coordination, or monitoring requirements; streamlining clerical map corrections and minor designation revisions; addressing subpart A separately; retaining class 1 e-bikes as motor vehicles subject to motor vehicle use designations; varying the scope or conditions of vehicle and use exemptions; and adopting different processes or conditions for off-route uses, over-snow travel, and airfields.</P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">Preliminary List of Substantive Issues and Summary of Expected Impacts</HD>
                <P>The EIS will evaluate the anticipated impacts and benefits, including reasonably foreseeable impacts, related to:</P>
                <P>• Public access to NFS lands, including for recreation, to facilitate subsistence or other uses, and to exercise legal rights. Impacts may include changes in access opportunities, use patterns, and conflicts among uses, depending on the transition provisions, exemptions, and later local decisions.</P>
                <P>• Forest health and management, including timber management, fuels management, and fire suppression. Impacts may include changes in the timing, cost, and availability of access for management and emergency response.</P>
                <P>• Soil, water and air; plant and animal communities, including threatened, endangered, sensitive species; scenic integrity; recreation settings and opportunities; and cultural resources, traditional cultural properties, and sacred sites. Any self-executing vehicle or use exemption could directly affect these resources; other effects would depend on the location, timing, intensity, and conditions of later local decisions.</P>
                <P>• Local and regional economies. Impacts may include shifts in recreation-related spending and changes in Agency, applicant, partner, and user costs associated with access decisions, mapping, maintenance, and enforcement.</P>
                <P>Administration and management of roads, trails, airfields, trailheads, and areas, including mapping, maintenance, enforcement, annual-review workload, and reliance on existing designations and closures. Impacts may include but are not limited to changes in Agency costs, public notice, user compliance, use conflicts, and maintenance needs. The proposed action would not itself authorize road construction or other ground-disturbing development. Any self-executing vehicle or use exemption would remain subject to otherwise applicable statutory, regulatory, valid existing-rights, and other governing restrictions. The EIS would evaluate the direct programmatic effects of such exemptions at the appropriate scale; effects of later site-specific actions would be evaluated when those actions are proposed.</P>
                <P>
                    The level of environmental review of the identified resources for the EIS will be commensurate with the anticipated effects to each resource at the programmatic scale. Because the proposed action does not itself require changes to current motor vehicle use designations or prohibitions, apart from any direct effects of the proposed vehicle or use exemptions, estimating site-specific effects of local changes would be highly speculative. The EIS nevertheless will evaluate the reasonably foreseeable programmatic effects of changing the governing designation criteria, procedures, and exemptions, using available data and reasonable assumptions or scenarios. Effects of any future motor vehicle use designation or prohibition actions will be analyzed at the appropriate scale, where information concerning potential resource impacts can be meaningfully evaluated and weighed.
                    <PRTPAGE P="54691"/>
                </P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">Anticipated Permits or Other Authorizations</HD>
                <P>No anticipated permits or other authorizations are required for this action.</P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">Schedule for the Decision-Making Process</HD>
                <P>USDA anticipates publishing the proposed rule and draft EIS in spring of 2027 and the completed EIS, record of decision, and final rule in early calendar year 2028. This schedule is subject to change consistent with applicable law.</P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">Cooperating and Participating Agencies</HD>
                <P>The USDA Forest Service is the lead agency. No cooperating or participating agencies have been designated at this time. The Forest Service does not anticipate designating any Federal, State, Tribal, or local agencies as cooperating or participating agencies. These organizations are encouraged to provide input through the public comment opportunities for this notice of intent, as well as for the proposed rule and draft EIS.</P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">Request for Public Comments</HD>
                <P>This notice announces the Agency's preparation of the EIS and requests public input to inform its scope and further development of the policies underlying this action.</P>
                <P>USDA will solicit public feedback through the 30-day written-comment period described above. No separate public scoping process or scoping meetings are planned.</P>
                <P>The Department is requesting comments on potential alternatives and impacts, and identification of any relevant information, studies, or analyses of any kind concerning impacts affecting the quality of the human environment.</P>
                <P>It is important that reviewers provide their comments at such times and in such a manner that they are useful to the Agency's preparation of the EIS; therefore, comments should be provided prior to the close of the comment period and should clearly articulate the reviewer's concerns and contentions and recommendations to alleviate these. Lengthy or complex comments are most effective when accompanied by a brief, plainly worded summary of the main points. Comments, including attachments and any personal information provided in your comments, will be posted to the docket unchanged. Do not submit any information you consider to be private, confidential business information, or other information, the disclosure of which is restricted by statute.</P>
                <P>This action is not subject to the pre-decisional administrative review (objection) process of 36 CFR parts 218 or 219 subpart B.</P>
                <P>The Forest Service will offer government-to-government consultation to federally recognized Tribes and will engage Alaska Native Corporations consistent with applicable consultation requirements during rulemaking and EIS development.</P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">Responsible Official</HD>
                <P>The responsible official is the Secretary of Agriculture or her designee.</P>
                <SIG>
                    <NAME>Stephen Alexander Vaden,</NAME>
                    <TITLE>Deputy Secretary, U.S. Department of Agriculture.</TITLE>
                </SIG>
            </SUPLINF>
            <FRDOC>[FR Doc. 2026-17211 Filed 8-21-26; 8:45 am]</FRDOC>
            <BILCOD>BILLING CODE 3411-15-P</BILCOD>
        </PRORULE>
        <PRORULE>
            <PREAMB>
                <AGENCY TYPE="N">ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY</AGENCY>
                <SUBAGY>40 CFR Part 81</SUBAGY>
                <DEPDOC>[EPA-HQ-OAR-2026-2179; FRL-13567-01-R1]</DEPDOC>
                <SUBJECT>Response to Clean Air Act Section 176A Petition From New Hampshire</SUBJECT>
                <HD SOURCE="HD2">Correction</HD>
                <P>In proposed rule document 2026-16331 beginning on page 51644 in the issue of Tuesday, August 11, 2026, make the following corrections:</P>
                <P>1. On page 51644, in the first column, in the last two lines, “August 18, 2026” should read “August 23, 2026”.</P>
                <P>2. On the same page, in the second column, in the 24th line from the bottom, “August 8, 2026” should read “August 18, 2026”.</P>
            </PREAMB>
            <FRDOC>[FR Doc. C1-2026-16331 Filed 8-21-26; 8:45 am]</FRDOC>
            <BILCOD>BILLING CODE 0099-10-D</BILCOD>
        </PRORULE>
    </PRORULES>
    <VOL>91</VOL>
    <NO>162</NO>
    <DATE>Monday, August 24, 2026</DATE>
    <UNITNAME>Notices</UNITNAME>
    <NOTICES>
        <NOTICE>
            <PREAMB>
                <PRTPAGE P="54692"/>
                <AGENCY TYPE="F">COMMISSION ON CIVIL RIGHTS</AGENCY>
                <SUBJECT>Notice of Public Meeting of the South Carolina Advisory Committee to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights</SUBJECT>
                <AGY>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">AGENCY:</HD>
                    <P>U.S. Commission on Civil Rights.</P>
                </AGY>
                <ACT>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">ACTION:</HD>
                    <P>Notice of virtual business meeting.</P>
                </ACT>
                <SUM>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">SUMMARY:</HD>
                    <P>Notice is hereby given, pursuant to the provisions of the rules and regulations of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights (Commission) and the Federal Advisory Committee Act, that the South Carolina Advisory Committee (Committee) to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights will hold a public meeting via Zoom. The purpose is to discuss the implementation stage and debrief on the testimony as part of their study on Occupational Licensing.</P>
                </SUM>
                <DATES>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">DATES:</HD>
                    <P>Monday, September 28, 2026, from 3:00 p.m.-4:30 p.m. Eastern Time.</P>
                </DATES>
                <ADD>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">ADDRESSES:</HD>
                    <P>The meeting will be held via Zoom.</P>
                    <P>
                        <E T="03">Registration Link (Audio/Visual): https://www.zoomgov.com/webinar/register/WN_maCuOYKOQFiHGzRn8Tifyg.</E>
                    </P>
                    <P>
                        <E T="03">Join by Phone (Audio Only):</E>
                         1-833-435-1820 USA Toll Free; Webinar ID: 165 439 4019#.
                    </P>
                </ADD>
                <FURINF>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:</HD>
                    <P>
                        Victoria Moreno, Designated Federal Officer, at 
                        <E T="03">vmoreno@usccr.gov</E>
                         or (434) 515-0204.
                    </P>
                </FURINF>
            </PREAMB>
            <SUPLINF>
                <HD SOURCE="HED">SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:</HD>
                <P>
                    This Committee meeting is available to the public through the registration link above. Any interested members of the public may attend this meeting. An open comment period will be provided to allow members of the public to make oral comments as time allows. Pursuant to the Federal Advisory Committee Act, public minutes of the meeting will include a list of persons who are present at the meeting. If joining via phone, callers can expect to incur regular charges for calls they initiate over wireless lines, according to their wireless plan. The Commission will not refund any incurred charges. Callers will incur no charge for calls they initiate over land-line connections to the toll-free telephone number. Closed captioning is available by selecting “CC” in the meeting platform. To request additional accommodations, please email 
                    <E T="03">csanders@usccr.gov</E>
                     at least 10 business days prior to the meeting.
                </P>
                <P>
                    Members of the public are entitled to submit written comments; the comments must be received in the regional office within 30 days following the scheduled meeting. Written comments may be submitted via the following form: 
                    <E T="03">https://wkf.ms/4n7DKT3.</E>
                     Persons who desire additional information may contact the Regional Programs Coordination Unit at (434) 515-0204.
                </P>
                <P>
                    Records generated from this meeting may be inspected and reproduced at the Regional Programs Coordination Unit Office, as they become available, both before and after the meeting. Records of the meetings will be available via the file sharing website, 
                    <E T="03">https://usccr.box.com/s/uc7rr59hi2y8p1uapgemt6y1opr61zyv.</E>
                     Persons interested in the work of this Committee are directed to the Commission's website, 
                    <E T="03">http://www.usccr.gov,</E>
                     or may contact the Regional Programs Coordination Unit at 
                    <E T="03">csanders@usccr.gov.</E>
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Agenda:</E>
                     Will be available at the following link in advance of the meeting date-
                    <E T="03">https://usccr.box.com/s/v6q5obt9zq1jr0hs3pj5h9757y9s0zmf.</E>
                </P>
                <SIG>
                    <DATED>Dated: August 19, 2026.</DATED>
                    <NAME>David Mussatt,</NAME>
                    <TITLE>Supervisory Chief, Regional Programs Unit.</TITLE>
                </SIG>
            </SUPLINF>
            <FRDOC>[FR Doc. 2026-17197 Filed 8-21-26; 8:45 am]</FRDOC>
            <BILCOD>BILLING CODE P</BILCOD>
        </NOTICE>
        <NOTICE>
            <PREAMB>
                <AGENCY TYPE="N">DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE</AGENCY>
                <SUBAGY>Foreign-Trade Zones Board</SUBAGY>
                <DEPDOC>[B-104-2026]</DEPDOC>
                <SUBJECT>Foreign-Trade Zone (FTZ) 183, Notification of Proposed Production Activity; Ichor Systems, Inc.; (Semiconductor Equipment); Austin, Texas</SUBJECT>
                <P>Ichor Systems, Inc. submitted a notification of proposed production activity to the FTZ Board (the Board) for its facility in Austin, Texas within FTZ 183. The notification conforming to the requirements of the Board's regulations (15 CFR 400.22) was received on July 30, 2026.</P>
                <P>
                    Pursuant to 15 CFR 400.14(b), FTZ production activity would be limited to the specific foreign-status material(s)/component(s) and specific finished product(s) described in the submitted notification (summarized below) and subsequently authorized by the Board. The benefits that may stem from conducting production activity under FTZ procedures are explained in the background section of the Board's website—accessible via 
                    <E T="03">www.trade.gov/ftz.</E>
                </P>
                <P>
                    The proposed finished products include: shutoff or control valves for gas panel of semiconductor wafer fabrication equipment; gas panels for semiconductor wafer fabrication equipment/machines; weldments for gas panels of semiconductor wafer fabrication equipment (vaporizer, gas lines); assembly kits of gas panel for semiconductor wafer fabrication equipment/machines; stainless steel tube/pipe fittings; hand-operated valves for gas panels; parts of hand-operated gas valves for gas panels; other parts of gas valves for gas panels; pressure-reducing valves; gas filtering/purifying machinery; automatic regulating instruments/apparatus; optical fiber cables; parts of filtering/purifying machinery for gas panels; electrical switches installed onto gas panels; stainless steel seamless pipe/tube used for the assembly of gas panels; larger stainless steel seamless pipe/tube (&gt;19mm) used for the assembly of gas panels; flexible tubing of iron or steel used for the assembly of gas panels; stainless steel butt welding fittings used for the assembly of gas panels; rubber hoses reinforced with textile materials used for the assembly of gas panels; stainless steel seamless tubes/pipes used for the assembly of gas panels; smaller stainless steel welded pipe/tube (&lt;1.65mm) used for the assembly of gas panels; insulated electric conductors with connectors used for the assembly of gas panels; ignition wiring sets and other wiring sets used for the assembly of gas panels; electrical plugs or sockets or connectors used for the assembly of gas panels; stainless steel flanges used for the assembly of gas panels; steel springs used for the assembly of gas 
                    <PRTPAGE P="54693"/>
                    panels; stainless steel threaded elbows/bends/sleeves used for the assembly of gas panels; steel weldments used for the assembly of gas panels; gas panels for manufacture of semiconductor devices; pneumatic power valves; gas valves for semiconductor equipment; glass for gas panel windows; insulated electric conductors with connectors; gas panels for semiconductor wafer fabrication equipment; automatic regulating instruments/apparatus; stainless steel bars/rods; stainless steel seamless tube/pipe; back planes and gas or chemical panel frames for semiconductor manufacturing equipment; stainless steel butt welding fittings used for the assembly of gas panels; stainless steel seamless tube/pipe used for the assembly of gas panels; mechanical seals used for the assembly of gas panels; gas valves used for the assembly of gas panels; wired glass sheets used for the assembly of gas panels; wooden crates used to package gas panels for shipping; processing units for adp machines; steel weldments for semiconductor equipment; and parts of machinery for working rubber/plastics used for the assembly of gas/chemical panels (duty rate ranges from duty-free to 5.6%).
                </P>
                <P>
                    The proposed foreign-status materials/components include: polymer-based prepared adhesive compound in liquid or paste form used for bonding and sealing semiconductor equipment assemblies and fluid handling hardware; plastic bar (nylon hexago) used in semiconductor manufacturing, fluid handling, vacuum processing, or industrial automation applications; rigid polyvinyl chloride plastic pipe or tube used for industrial chemical distribution and process utility systems in semiconductor fabrication facilities; extruded plastic tube, pipe, hose, elbow, coupling, or connector fitting used in semiconductor gas, liquid chemical, or vacuum delivery systems; rigid or flexible polyethylene plastic tubing and hose used for low-pressure chemical and gas transfer applications in semiconductor manufacturing equipment; pressure-sensitive plastic sheet, tape, film, or adhesive-backed material used for insulation, sealing, masking, or protective applications in semiconductor manufacturing; polycarbonate plastics used in semiconductor manufacturing, fluid handling, vacuum processing, or industrial automation applications; polyurethane plastics used in semiconductor manufacturing, fluid handling, vacuum processing, or industrial automation applications; molded plastic container, bag, tray, cap, closure, or packaging article used for handling, protecting, and transporting semiconductor components and assemblies; molded plastic container, bag, tray, cap, closure, or packaging article of polymers of ethylene used for handling, protecting, and transporting semiconductor components and assemblies; fabricated plastic articles including spacers, retainers, insulators, guards, or protective hardware used in semiconductor process equipment; vulcanized rubber gasket, seal, o-ring, or sealing ring designed for vacuum integrity and chemical containment in semiconductor fluid handling systems; industrial labels used in semiconductor manufacturing, fluid handling, vacuum processing, or industrial automation applications; industrial felt (polyester) or nonwoven textile pad used for filtration, insulation, vibration damping, or protective lining in semiconductor manufacturing equipment; technical ceramic tube, insulator, chamber component, or wear-resistant article used in semiconductor process and vacuum systems; deionized water tank used in semiconductor electrical and thermal management applications; fabricated glass or quartz article including windows, covers, shields, or chamber components used in semiconductor manufacturing equipment; fabricated stainless-steel bar, plate, tube, fastener, spring, or structural article used in semiconductor manufacturing equipment assemblies (electroslag or vacuum arc remelted); fabricated stainless-steel bar, plate, tube, fastener, spring, or structural article used in semiconductor manufacturing equipment assemblies (containing 8percent or more but less than 24 percent by weight of nickel); fabricated stainless-steel bar, plate, tube, fastener, spring, or structural article used in semiconductor manufacturing equipment assemblies; fabricated stainless-steel bar, plate, tube, fastener, spring, or structural article used in semiconductor manufacturing equipment assemblies (less than 18mmand containing 8 percent or more but less than 24 percent by weight of nickel); fabricated stainless-steel bar, plate, tube, fastener, spring, or structural article used in semiconductor manufacturing equipment assemblies (18mm or more and containing 8 percent or more but less than 24 percent by weight of nickel); fabricated stainless-steel bar, plate, tube, fastener, spring, or structural article used in semiconductor manufacturing equipment assemblies (containing 8percent or more but less than 24 percent by weight of nickel); fabricated stainless-steel bar, plate, tube, fastener, spring, or structural article used in semiconductor manufacturing equipment assemblies (less than 152.4mm and containing less than 8 percent by weight of nickel); fabricated stainless-steel bar, plate, tube, fastener, spring, or structural article used in semiconductor manufacturing equipment assemblies (of a thickness of less than 4.75 mm &gt; other of a thickness of less than 4.75 mm); fabricated stainless-steel bar, plate, tube, fastener, spring, or structural article used in semiconductor manufacturing equipment assemblies (of a thickness of less than 4.75 mm &gt; of a width of less than 300 mm); fabricated stainless-steel bar, plate, tube, fastener, spring, or structural article used in semiconductor manufacturing equipment assemblies (nickel-alloy); seamless stainless-steel tube or pipe manufactured for high-purity gas, vacuum, and corrosive chemical transfer applications in semiconductor fabrication (of an external diameter of less than 19 mm &gt; other of an external diameter of less than19 mm); seamless stainless-steel tube or pipe manufactured for high-purity gas, vacuum, and corrosive chemical transfer applications in semiconductor fabrication; seamless stainless-steel tube or pipe manufactured for high-purity gas, vacuum, and corrosive chemical transfer applications in semiconductor fabrication (having a wall thickness of 4 mm or more &gt; of alloy steel); stainless steel tube or pipe fitting including elbows, reducers, couplings, tees, or adapters used in semiconductor gas and chemical distribution systems; machined stainless-steel flange with precision sealing surfaces used for connecting semiconductor gas and chemical process piping systems; threaded stainless steel pipe connection fitting for high-purity semiconductor gas and fluid delivery systems; threaded stainless steel pipe connection fitting for high-purity semiconductor gas and fluid delivery systems (spring washers and other lock washers); threaded stainless steel pipe connection fitting for high-purity semiconductor gas and fluid delivery systems (cotters and cotter pins); copper alloy tube or pipe fitting designed for controlled gas, cooling water, or fluid transfer systems in semiconductor equipment; copper screws, pins, and washers used in semiconductor manufacturing, fluid handling, vacuum processing, or industrial automation applications; copper screws, pins, and washers used in semiconductor manufacturing, fluid 
                    <PRTPAGE P="54694"/>
                    handling, vacuum processing, or industrial automation applications (having shanks, threads or holes less than 6 mm in diameter); copper screws, pins, washers used in semiconductor manufacturing, fluid handling, vacuum processing, or industrial automation applications; nickel plates/sheets used in semiconductor manufacturing, fluid handling, vacuum processing, or industrial automation applications; nickel tubes/pipes used in semiconductor manufacturing, fluid handling, vacuum processing, or industrial automation applications; nickel pipes and pipe fittings used in semiconductor manufacturing, fluid handling, vacuum processing, or industrial automation applications; flat-rolled or extruded aluminum alloy plate, sheet, bar, or profile used in semiconductor equipment frames, panels, and structural assemblies; flat-rolled or extruded aluminum alloy plate, sheet, bar, or profile used in semiconductor equipment frames, panels, and structural assemblies (body stock); flat-rolled or extruded aluminum alloy plate, sheet, bar, or profile used in semiconductor equipment frames, panels, and structural assemblies (with a thickness of 6.3 mm or less); fabricated aluminum articles including brackets, supports, clamps, shields, or mounting hardware used in semiconductor manufacturing equipment; titanium metal plate, bar, fitting, or fabricated article used for corrosion-resistant semiconductor chemical and vacuum process applications; fixed spanners and wrenches used in semiconductor manufacturing, fluid handling, vacuum processing, or industrial automation applications; vises and clamps used in semiconductor manufacturing, fluid handling, vacuum processing, or industrial automation applications; metal fittings and brackets used in semiconductor manufacturing, fluid handling, vacuum processing, or industrial automation applications; metal mountings and fittings used in semiconductor manufacturing, fluid handling, vacuum processing, or industrial automation applications; flexible stainless steel or metal hose assembly with braided reinforcement for high-purity gas and vacuum transfer systems (w/fittings); flexible stainless steel or metal hose assembly with braided reinforcement for high-purity gas and vacuum transfer systems; metal plates used in semiconductor manufacturing, fluid handling, vacuum processing, or industrial automation applications; industrial centrifugal, diaphragm, or fluid transfer pump component used in semiconductor chemical delivery and recirculation systems; vacuum pump, gas compressor, blower, or related assembly used for semiconductor wafer processing and vacuum chamber operations; tight biological safety cabinets; industrial heat exchange, thermal processing, cooling, or temperature control apparatus used in semiconductor manufacturing equipment; industrial gas, liquid, or vacuum filtration and purification apparatus including filter housing and replaceable filter elements for semiconductor process systems; air filters for industrial gas, liquid, or vacuum filtration and purification apparatus including filter housings and replaceable filter elements for semiconductor process systems; dust collectors for industrial gas, liquid, or vacuum filtration and purification apparatus including filter housings and replaceable filter elements for semiconductor process systems; gas separation equipment for industrial gas, liquid, or vacuum filtration and purification apparatus including filter housing and replaceable filter elements for semiconductor process systems; gas filters for industrial gas, liquid, or vacuum filtration and purification apparatus including filter housings and replaceable filter elements for semiconductor process systems; filter housing for semiconductor process systems; cleaning machines used in semiconductor manufacturing, fluid handling, vacuum processing, or industrial automation applications; clean strap, lock plate used in semiconductor manufacturing, fluid handling, vacuum processing, or industrial automation applications; sand blasting machine used in semiconductor manufacturing, fluid handling, vacuum processing, or industrial automation applications; lathe collets; hand grinders (polishers and sanders) used in semiconductor manufacturing, fluid handling, vacuum processing, or industrial automation applications; automatic data processing unit, controller, or industrial computer hardware used for semiconductor equipment monitoring and automation; pcbas used in semiconductor manufacturing, fluid handling, vacuum processing, or industrial automation applications; populated printed circuit board for test or development activities development; air humidifiers/dehumidifiers used in semiconductor manufacturing systems; specialized electro-mechanical motors used in semiconductor manufacturing systems; clip, cam shaft for electro-mechanical motors used in semiconductor manufacturing systems; pressure-reducing valve with machined metal body used to regulate process gas flow in semiconductor fluid delivery systems; pressure-reducing valve with machined metal body used to regulate process gas flow in semiconductor fluid delivery systems (hydraulic); pressure-reducing valve with machined metal body used to regulate process gas flow in semiconductor fluid delivery systems (having a pressure rating under 850kpa); pressure-reducing valve with machined metal (steel) body used to regulate process gas flow in semiconductor fluid delivery systems; pressure-reducing valve with machined metal body used to regulate process gas flow in semiconductor fluid delivery systems (having a pressure rating of 850 kpa or over); pressure-reducing, ball-type valve with machined metal body used to regulate process gas flow in semiconductor fluid delivery systems; hand-operated, pressure-reducing valve with machined metal body used to regulate process gas flow in semiconductor fluid delivery systems; pressure-reducing, solenoid valve with machined metal body used to regulate process gas flow in semiconductor fluid delivery systems; regulator valve with machined metal body used to regulate process gas flow in semiconductor fluid delivery systems; pressure-reducing valve with machined metal body designed for proportional operation by a signal from a control device used to regulate process gas flow in semiconductor fluid delivery systems; pressure-reducing and thermostatically controlled valve with machined metal body and pneumatic actuators used to regulate process gas flow in semiconductor fluid delivery systems; thermostatically controlled gate valve with machined metal body and pneumatic actuators used to regulate process gas flow in semiconductor fluid delivery systems—gate valve, regulator, actuator, flow restrictor, orifice; pressure-reducing valve bodies with machined metal body used to regulate process gas flow in semiconductor fluid delivery systems; parts of pressure-reducing and thermostatically controlled valve with machined metal body (steel forging) and pneumatic actuators used to regulate process gas flow in semiconductor fluid delivery systems; gas panel sub-assembly kits used in semiconductor device manufacturing; parts of gas panel for semiconductor device manufacturing, such as mounting brackets, purge assembly, side panels or enclosures; electric motors used in semiconductor manufacturing, fluid handling, vacuum processing, or industrial automation 
                    <PRTPAGE P="54695"/>
                    applications (motors of an output not exceeding 37.5 w &gt; of 18.65 w or more but not exceeding 37.5 w &gt; other of 18.65w or more but not exceeding 37.5 w); electric motors used in semiconductor manufacturing, fluid handling, vacuum processing, or industrial automation applications (universal ac/dc motors of an output exceeding 37.5 w &gt; exceeding 74.6 w but not exceeding 735 w); single-phase electric motors used in semiconductor manufacturing, fluid handling, vacuum processing, or industrial automation applications; static converter, power supply, transformer, reactor, or electrical power conditioning assembly for electric motors used in semiconductor manufacturing equipment; power supply for static converter, power supply, transformer, reactor, or electrical power conditioning assembly for electric motors used in semiconductor manufacturing equipment (with a power output exceeding 150 w but not exceeding 500 w); power supply for static converter, power supply, transformer, reactor, or electrical power conditioning assembly for electric motors used in semiconductor manufacturing equipment; static converter, power supply, transformer, reactor, or electrical power conditioning assembly used in semiconductor manufacturing equipment; parts of static converter, power supply, transformer, reactor, or electrical power conditioning assembly used in semiconductor manufacturing equipment; metal electromagnets used in semiconductor manufacturing, fluid handling, vacuum processing, or industrial automation applications; parts of metal electromagnets used in semiconductor manufacturing, fluid handling, vacuum processing, or industrial automation applications; parts of welding apparatus used in semiconductor manufacturing, fluid handling, vacuum processing, or industrial automation applications; heating resistors used in semiconductor manufacturing, fluid handling, vacuum processing, or industrial automation applications; switching apparatus used in semiconductor manufacturing, fluid handling, vacuum processing, or industrial automation applications; parts of switching apparatus in semiconductor manufacturing, fluid handling, vacuum processing, or industrial automation applications; lcd screens used in semiconductor manufacturing, fluid handling, vacuum processing, or industrial automation applications; parts of electrical capacitors used in semiconductor manufacturing, fluid handling, vacuum processing, or industrial automation applications; carbon film, electrical resistors used in semiconductor manufacturing, fluid handling, vacuum processing, or industrial automation applications; parts of heating resistors used in semiconductor manufacturing, fluid handling, vacuum processing, or industrial automation applications; printed circuit boards used in semiconductor manufacturing, fluid handling, vacuum processing, or industrial automation applications; rotary switches not over 5 a rating used in semiconductor manufacturing equipment and industrial automation systems; rotary switches over 5 a rating used in semiconductor manufacturing equipment and industrial automation systems; optical fiber cables used in semiconductor manufacturing equipment and industrial automation systems; lamp holders, plugs and sockets used in semiconductor manufacturing equipment and industrial automation systems; electrical couplings used in semiconductor manufacturing equipment and industrial automation systems; electrical junction boxes used in semiconductor manufacturing equipment and industrial automation systems; electric power distribution panel boards used for semiconductor manufacturing and process automation equipment (for a voltage not exceeding 1,000 v &gt; other for a voltage not exceeding 1,000 v); electric panel boards used for semiconductor manufacturing and processing automation equipment (for a voltage not exceeding 1,000 v &gt; other for a voltage not exceeding 1,000 v); parts of electrical enclosure, panel hardware, contact assembly, or control cabinet component used in semiconductor equipment electrical systems; printed circuit assemblies for electrical enclosure, panel hardware, contact assembly, or control cabinet component used in semiconductor equipment electrical systems; molded parts for electrical enclosure, panel hardware, contact assembly, or control cabinet component used in semiconductor equipment electrical systems; parts of led lamps designed for a voltage not exceeding 100 v used in semiconductor manufacturing, fluid handling, vacuum processing, or industrial automation applications; diodes for led lamps used in semiconductor manufacturing, fluid handling, vacuum processing, or industrial automation applications; electrical signal generators used in semiconductor manufacturing, fluid handling, vacuum processing, or industrial automation applications; pipe sealing machines, purge panels, and other accessories used in semiconductor manufacturing, fluid handling, vacuum processing, or industrial automation applications; insulated electrical conductor, cable, fiber optic assembly, or wiring harness with connectors for telecommunications (ethernet) used in semiconductor manufacturing equipment (for a voltage not exceeding 1,000 v); insulated electrical conductor, cable, fiber optic assembly, or wiring harness with connectors used in semiconductor manufacturing equipment (for a voltage not exceeding 1,000 v); cable assembly for control valve used in semiconductor manufacturing equipment; coated fiber glass insulator; convex lens used in semiconductor manufacturing, fluid handling, vacuum processing, or industrial automation applications; parts of microscope used in semiconductor manufacturing, fluid handling, vacuum processing, or industrial automation applications; handheld sealer assembly; thermocouple and other floating instruments used in semiconductor manufacturing, fluid handling, vacuum processing, or industrial automation applications; parts of thermocouples and other floating instruments used in semiconductor manufacturing, fluid handling, vacuum processing, or industrial automation applications; humidity sensor communication module used in semiconductor manufacturing, fluid handling, vacuum processing, or industrial automation applications; humidity sensors; parts of electronic instrument for measuring or monitoring liquid, gas, pressure, or flow characteristics in semiconductor process systems; pressure gauges and manometers; electronic instrument for measuring or monitoring liquid, gas, pressure, or flow characteristics in semiconductor process systems (gauge caps, manometers, pressure transducer); spectrum analyzer with recorder used in semiconductor manufacturing, fluid handling, vacuum processing, or industrial automation applications; parts of spectrum analyzer used in semiconductor manufacturing, fluid handling, vacuum processing, or industrial automation applications; gas boxes used in semiconductor manufacturing, fluid handling, vacuum processing, or industrial automation applications; parts of gas boxes used in semiconductor manufacturing, fluid handling, vacuum processing, or industrial automation applications; quartz rod for measurement used in semiconductor manufacturing, fluid handling, vacuum processing, or industrial automation applications; 
                    <PRTPAGE P="54696"/>
                    pneumatic manifold or control instrument incorporating electronic sensing and feedback functions for semiconductor manufacturing equipment; parts of pneumatic manifold, automatic regulating or control instrument incorporating electronic sensing and feedback functions for semiconductor manufacturing equipment; pressure controller for gas or liquids for semiconductor manufacturing equipment; mass flow controller of gas or liquids for semiconductor manufacturing equipment; pressure controller panel mount for semiconductor manufacturing equipment; parts of pressure transducer or flow controller for semiconductor manufacturing equipment; metals parts of pressure transducer or flow controller for semiconductor manufacturing equipment; and al or stainless steel brackets for gas panels for semiconductor equipment (duty rate ranges from duty-free to 8.6%).
                </P>
                <P>The request indicates that certain materials/components are subject to duties under section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 (section 232) depending on the country of origin. The applicable section 232 decision requires subject merchandise to be admitted to FTZs in privileged foreign status (19 CFR 146.41). The request also indicates that parts of gas panel for semiconductor device manufacturing, such as mounting brackets, purge assembly, side panels or enclosures; and fabricated aluminum articles including brackets, supports, clamps, shields, or mounting hardware used in semiconductor manufacturing equipment are subject to an antidumping/countervailing duty (AD/CVD) order/investigation if imported from certain countries The Board's regulations (15 CFR 400.13(c)(2)) require that merchandise subject to AD/CVD orders, or items which would be otherwise subject to suspension of liquidation under AD/CVD procedures if they entered U.S. customs territory, be admitted to the zone in privileged foreign status (19 CFR 146.41).</P>
                <P>
                    Public comment is invited from interested parties. Submissions shall be addressed to the Board's Executive Secretary and sent to: 
                    <E T="03">ftz@trade.gov.</E>
                     The closing period for their receipt is October 5, 2026.
                </P>
                <P>A copy of the notification will be available for public inspection in the “Online FTZ Information System” section of the Board's website.</P>
                <P>
                    For further information, contact John Frye at 
                    <E T="03">John.Frye@trade.gov.</E>
                </P>
                <SIG>
                    <DATED>Dated: August 20, 2026.</DATED>
                    <NAME>Elizabeth Whiteman,</NAME>
                    <TITLE>Executive Secretary.</TITLE>
                </SIG>
            </PREAMB>
            <FRDOC>[FR Doc. 2026-17241 Filed 8-21-26; 8:45 am]</FRDOC>
            <BILCOD>BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P</BILCOD>
        </NOTICE>
        <NOTICE>
            <PREAMB>
                <AGENCY TYPE="S">DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE</AGENCY>
                <SUBAGY>Foreign-Trade Zones Board</SUBAGY>
                <DEPDOC>[B-103-2026]</DEPDOC>
                <SUBJECT>Foreign-Trade Zone (FTZ) 23, Notification of Proposed Production Activity; Niagara Specialty Metals; (Steel Sheets); Akron, New York</SUBJECT>
                <P>Niagara Specialty Metals submitted a notification of proposed production activity to the FTZ Board (the Board) for its facility in Akron, New York within FTZ 23. The notification conforming to the requirements of the Board's regulations (15 CFR 400.22) was received on August 19, 2026.</P>
                <P>
                    Pursuant to 15 CFR 400.14(b), FTZ production activity would be limited to the specific foreign-status material(s)/component(s) and specific finished product(s) described in the submitted notification (summarized below) and subsequently authorized by the Board. The benefits that may stem from conducting production activity under FTZ procedures are explained in the background section of the Board's website—accessible via 
                    <E T="03">www.trade.gov/ftz.</E>
                </P>
                <P>The proposed finished products include high speed steel sheets, stainless steel sheets, tool steel sheets, alloy steel cut into shapes per customer specifications, and alloy steel sheets (duty-free).</P>
                <P>The proposed foreign-status materials/components include stainless steel slabs, alloy steel slabs, and high speed steel slabs (duty-free).</P>
                <P>The request indicates that certain materials/components are subject to duties under section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 (section 232) depending on the country of origin. The applicable section 232 decisions require subject merchandise to be admitted to FTZs in privileged foreign status (19 CFR 146.41).</P>
                <P>
                    Public comment is invited from interested parties. Submissions shall be addressed to the Board's Executive Secretary and sent to: 
                    <E T="03">ftz@trade.gov.</E>
                     The closing period for their receipt is October 5, 2026.
                </P>
                <P>A copy of the notification will be available for public inspection in the “Online FTZ Information System” section of the Board's website.</P>
                <P>
                    For further information, contact Brian Warnes at 
                    <E T="03">brian.warnes@trade.gov.</E>
                </P>
                <SIG>
                    <DATED>Dated: August 19, 2026.</DATED>
                    <NAME>Elizabeth Whiteman,</NAME>
                    <TITLE>Executive Secretary.</TITLE>
                </SIG>
            </PREAMB>
            <FRDOC>[FR Doc. 2026-17195 Filed 8-21-26; 8:45 am]</FRDOC>
            <BILCOD>BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P</BILCOD>
        </NOTICE>
        <NOTICE>
            <PREAMB>
                <AGENCY TYPE="S">DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE</AGENCY>
                <SUBAGY>International Trade Administration</SUBAGY>
                <SUBJECT>Initiation of Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Administrative Reviews</SUBJECT>
                <HD SOURCE="HD2">Correction</HD>
                <P>In notice document 2026-04516, appearing on pages 11274-11287, in the issue of Monday, March 9, 2026, make the following correction:</P>
                <P>On page 11286, in the table, the last row of the table was inadvertently omitted and should read, “Longi Technology SDN”.</P>
            </PREAMB>
            <FRDOC>[FR Doc. C1-2026-04516 Filed 8-21-26; 8:45 am]</FRDOC>
            <BILCOD>BILLING CODE 0099-10-D</BILCOD>
        </NOTICE>
        <NOTICE>
            <PREAMB>
                <AGENCY TYPE="S">DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE</AGENCY>
                <SUBAGY>National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration</SUBAGY>
                <DEPDOC>[RTID 0648-XF972]</DEPDOC>
                <SUBJECT>Western Pacific Fishery Management Council; Public Meetings</SUBJECT>
                <AGY>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">AGENCY:</HD>
                    <P>National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.</P>
                </AGY>
                <ACT>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">ACTION:</HD>
                    <P>Notice of public meetings.</P>
                </ACT>
                <SUM>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">SUMMARY:</HD>
                    <P>The Western Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) will hold its 161st Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC), Executive and Budget Standing Committee (SC), and 208th Council meetings to take actions on fishery management issues in the Western Pacific Region.</P>
                </SUM>
                <DATES>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">DATES:</HD>
                    <P>
                        The meetings will be held between September 8 and September 17, 2026. For specific times and agendas, see 
                        <E T="02">SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION</E>
                        . Written public comments on final action items at the 208th Council meeting should be received at the Council office by 5 p.m. HST, Thursday, September 10, 2026, see 
                        <E T="02">ADDRESSES</E>
                        .
                    </P>
                </DATES>
                <ADD>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">ADDRESSES:</HD>
                    <P>
                        161st SSC will be held as hybrid meetings for members and the public, with a remote participation option available via Webex. In-person attendance for the 161st SSC meeting will be hosted at the Council office, 1164 Bishop Street, Suite 1400, Honolulu, HI 96813.
                        <PRTPAGE P="54697"/>
                    </P>
                    <P>The Executive and Budget SC will be held as an in-person meeting at the Council office, 1164 Bishop Street, Suite 1400, Honolulu, HI 96813.</P>
                    <P>The 208th Council Meeting will be held by web conference via Webex. The following venues will be host sites for the 208th Council meeting: Council office, 1164 Bishop Street, Suite 1400, Honolulu, Hawaii; Tedi of Samoa Building, Suite 208B, Fagatogo Village, American Samoa; Cliff Pointe, 304 W O'Brien Drive, Hagatna, Guam; and BRI Building, Suite 205, Kopa Di Oru St. Garapan, Saipan, CNMI.</P>
                    <P>
                        Specific information on joining the meetings and connecting to the web conference will be posted on the Council website at 
                        <E T="03">https://www.wpcouncil.org.</E>
                         For assistance with the web conference connection, contact the Council office at (808) 522-8220.
                    </P>
                </ADD>
                <FURINF>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:</HD>
                    <P>Kitty M. Simonds, Executive Director, Western Pacific Fishery Management Council; phone: (808) 522-8220.</P>
                </FURINF>
            </PREAMB>
            <SUPLINF>
                <HD SOURCE="HED">SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:</HD>
                <P>The 161st SSC meeting will be held between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. Hawaii Standard Time (HST) on September 8, 2026, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. HST on September 9, 2026, and between 9 a.m. and 12 p.m. HST on September 10, 2026. The Executive and Budget SC meeting will be held between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. HST on September 14, 2026. The 208th Council meeting will be held between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. HST on September 15, 2026, between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. HST on September 16, 2026, and between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. HST on September 17, 2026. Public Comment on Non-Agenda Items will be held between 4:30 p.m. and 5 p.m. HST on September 15, 2026.</P>
                <P>
                    Background documents for the 208th Council meeting will be available at 
                    <E T="03">https://www.wpcouncil.org.</E>
                     Written public comments on final action items at the 208th Council meeting should be received at the Council office by 5 p.m. HST, Thursday, September 10, 2026, and should be sent to Kitty M. Simonds, Executive Director; Western Pacific Fishery Management Council, 1164 Bishop Street, Suite 1400, Honolulu, HI 96813, phone: (808) 522-8220 or fax: (808) 522-8226; or email: 
                    <E T="03">info@wpcouncil.org.</E>
                     Written public comments on all other agenda items may be submitted for the record by email throughout the duration of the meeting. Instructions for providing oral public comments during the meeting will be posted on the Council website.
                </P>
                <P>Agenda items noted as “Final Action” refer to actions that may result in Council transmittal of a proposed fishery management plan, proposed plan amendment, or proposed regulations to the U.S. Secretary of Commerce, under Sections 304 or 305 of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSA). In addition to the agenda items listed here, the Council and its advisory bodies will hear recommendations from Council advisors. An opportunity to submit public comment will be provided throughout the agendas. The order in which agenda items are addressed may change and will be announced in advance at the Council meeting. The meetings will run as late as necessary to complete scheduled business.</P>
                <P>This meeting will be recorded (audio only) for the purposes of generating the minutes of the meeting. As public comments will be made publicly available, participants and public commenters are urged not to provide personally identifiable information at this meeting. Participation in the meeting by web conference, or by telephone, constitutes consent to the audio recording.</P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">Agenda for the 161st SSC Meeting</HD>
                <HD SOURCE="HD2">Tuesday, September 8, 2026, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. HST</HD>
                <FP SOURCE="FP-2">1. Introductions</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP-2">2. Approval of Draft Agenda and Assignment of Rapporteurs</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP-2">3. Status of the 160th SSC Meeting Recommendations</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP-2">4. Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center Director's Report</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP-2">5. Program Planning and Research</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">A. Options for the Management of Restored Commercial Fishing in Pacific Marine National Monument Waters</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">A.1. Overview of Proclamation 11035 Restoring American Commercial Fishing in the Pacific</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">A.1. Next Steps for Management of Fishing in waters of the Islands Unit of the Marianas Trench Marine National Monument</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">A.2. Options for Amending the Large Vessel Prohibited Area in American Samoa (Action Item)</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">A.3. Options for Amending Fishing Regulations in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands (Action Item)</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">B. SSC Special Projects Social Valuation Working Group Report</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">C. Council Research Prioritization</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">D. Review and Update of the 3-year SSC Plan</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">E. Review and Update of the SSC Special Projects List</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">F. Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) Project Updates on Regulatory Review and Community Consultation</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">G. Public Comment</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">H. SSC Discussion and Recommendations</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP-2">6. Island Fisheries</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">A. American Samoa Bottomfish Management Unit Species Acceptable Biological Catch for 2027-2030 (Action Item)</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">B. American Samoa Fish Flow Project</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">C. Western Pacific Stock Assessment Review (WPSAR) Terms of Reference for the Main Hawaiian Islands Deep 7 Bottomfish Stock Assessment Update</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">D. Council Coral Reef Project Updates</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">D.1. Marianas Ecosystem Based Indicators</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">D.2. Ecosystem Component Species Framework</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">E. Public Comment</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">F. SSC Discussion and Recommendations</FP>
                <HD SOURCE="HD2">Wednesday, September 9, 2026, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. HST</HD>
                <FP SOURCE="FP-2">7. Pelagic &amp; International Fisheries</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">A. Electronic Monitoring Implementation Update</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">B. Seafood Executive Order Priority Actions for Reducing Burdens on Domestic Fishing</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">B.1. Options for Revising the Hawaii Shallow-set Longline Fishery Sea Turtle Measures</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">B.2. Revising the American Samoa Longline Fishery Sea Turtle Measures</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">B.3. Revising the Swordfish Retention Limit in the Hawaii Deep-set Longline Fishery</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">C. IRA Scenario Planning for Hawaii and American Samoa Longline Fisheries</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">D. International Fisheries</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">D.1. Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) Scientific Committee Report</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">D.2. Bigeye Tuna Management Workshops</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">D.3. South Pacific Albacore Allocation Workshop</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">D.4. Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC) Science Advisory Subcommittee Report</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">E. Public Comment</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">F. SSC Discussion and Recommendations</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP-2">8. Protected Species</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">A. SSC Special Projects Protected Species Working Group</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">B. IRA Protected Species Project Phase 2 Update</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">C. Public Comment</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">D. SSC Discussion and Recommendations</FP>
                <HD SOURCE="HD2">Thursday, September 10, 2026, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. HST</HD>
                <FP SOURCE="FP-2">
                    9. Other Business
                    <PRTPAGE P="54698"/>
                </FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">A. SSC Meeting Schedule and Potential WGs</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP-2">10. Summary of SSC Recommendations to the Council</FP>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">Agenda for the Executive and Budget SC Meeting</HD>
                <HD SOURCE="HD2">Monday, September 14, 2026, 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. HST</HD>
                <FP SOURCE="FP-2">1. Introduction and Approval of Agenda</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP-2">2. Financial Reports</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP-2">3. Administrative Reports</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">A. Statement of Organization Practices and Procedures Changes</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP-2">4. Council Family Changes</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">A. Advisory Panel 2027-2030</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">B. Fishing Industry Advisory Committee</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">C. Other</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP-2">5. Meetings and Workshops</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP-2">6. Other Business</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP-2">7. Public Comment</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP-2">8. Discussion and Recommendations</FP>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">Agenda for the 208th Council Meeting</HD>
                <HD SOURCE="HD2">Tuesday, September 15, 2026, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. HST</HD>
                <FP SOURCE="FP-2">1. Welcome and Introductions/Land Acknowledgment</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP-2">2. Oath of Office</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP-2">3. Approval of the 208th Council Meeting Agenda</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP-2">4. Approval of the 207th Council Meeting Minutes</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP-2">5. Opening Remarks</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP-2">6. Executive Director's Report</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP-2">7. Action Items</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">A. Update on Restoring Commercial Fishing in Pacific Marine National Monument Waters and Next Steps for Fishing Regulations</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">A.1. NMFS Update</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">A.2. National Ocean Service Update</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">A.3. Next Steps for Management of Fishing in Waters of the Islands Unit of the Marianas Trench Marine National Monument</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">A.4. Options for Amending the Large Vessel Prohibited Area in American Samoa (Final Action)</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">A.5. Options for Amending Fishing Regulations in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands (Initial Action)</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">B. Seafood Executive Order Priority Actions for Reducing Burdens on Domestic Fishing</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">B.1. Options for Revising the Hawaii Shallow-set Longline Fishery Sea Turtle Measures</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">B.2. Revising the American Samoa Longline Fishery Sea Turtle Measures</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">B.3. Removing the Swordfish Retention Limit in the Hawaii Deep-set Longline Fishery</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">C. American Samoa Bottomfish Management Unit Species Annual Catch Limit Specifications for 2027-2030 (Initial Action)</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">D. WPSAR Terms of Reference for Main Hawaiian Islands Deep 7 Bottomfish Update Assessment</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">E. Advisory Group Report and Recommendations</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">E.1. Advisory Panel/Bottomfish Advisory Review Board</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">E.2. Fishing Industry Advisory Committee</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">E.3. Social Science Planning Committee</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">E.4. Scientific &amp; Statistical Committee</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">F. Public Comment</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">G. Council Discussion and Action</FP>
                <HD SOURCE="HD2">Tuesday, September 15, 2026, 4:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. HST</HD>
                <HD SOURCE="HD3">Public Comment on Non-Agenda Items</HD>
                <HD SOURCE="HD2">Wednesday, September 16, 2026, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. HST</HD>
                <FP SOURCE="FP-2">8. Program Planning and Research</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">A. Council Member Round Robin Updates</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">B. Agency Updates on Program Planning and Research Matters</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">C. National Legislative Report</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">D. Seafood Promotion</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">D.1. Small Business Administration</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">C.2. U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of Seafood</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">E. Seafood Executive Order Priorities and NMFS Actions</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">F. Recreational Angler Partnership Improvement Directive</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">G. Alignment of Science and Management Priorities—SSC Social Valuation Working Group Report</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">H. Council Research Prioritization</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">I. Social, Economic, Ecological, and Management Uncertainty Process Revision</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">J. Regional Communications &amp; Outreach Report</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">K. Inflation Reduction Act Project Reports</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">K.1. Report on IRA Regulatory Review Project</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">K.2. IRA Disaster Relief Workshop</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">K.3. Malesso Community-based Fishery Management Plan</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">K.4. Rota/Tinian Data Collection Workshop</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">L. Consultation on Proposed Deep Seabed Mining Exploration Activities in the Clarion-Clipperton Zone under the Deep Seabed Hard Mineral Resources Act</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">M. Advisory Group Report and Recommendations</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">M.1. Advisory Panel</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">M.2. Fishing Industry Advisory Committee</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">M.3. Social Science Planning Committee</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">M.4. Scientific &amp; Statistical Committee</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">N. Public Comment</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">O. Council Discussion and Action</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP-2">9. Pelagic &amp; International Fisheries</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">A. Agency Updates on Pelagic and International Matters</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">B. IRA Project Updates: Scenario Planning</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">C. Electronic Monitoring Implementation Updates</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">D. International Fisheries Issues</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">D.1. WCPFC Scientific Committee Report</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">D.2. Bigeye Tuna Management Workshop</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">D.3. South Pacific Albacore Allocation Updates</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">D.4. IATTC Report</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">E. Advisory Group Report and Recommendations</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">E.1. Advisory Panel</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">E.2. Fishing Industry Advisory Committee</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">E.3. Social Science Planning Committee</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">E.4. Scientific &amp; Statistical Committee</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">F. Public Comment</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">G. Council Discussion and Action</FP>
                <HD SOURCE="HD2">Thursday, September 17, 2026, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. HST</HD>
                <FP SOURCE="FP-2">10. Protected Species</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">A. Agency Updates on Protected Species Matters</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">B. IRA Project Updates: Protected Species</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">C. Green Sea Turtle Activity Update</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">C.1. NMFS</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">C.2. Report on Council Activities</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">D. Advisory Group Report and Recommendations</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">D.1. Advisory Panel</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">D.2. Fishing Industry Advisory Committee</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">D.3. Scientific &amp; Statistical Committee</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">E. Public Comment</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">F. Council Discussion and Action</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP-2">11. Administrative Matters</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">A. Financial Reports</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">B. Administrative Reports</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">B.1. Statement of Organization Practices and Procedures Changes</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">C. Council Family Changes</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">C.1. Advisory Panel 2027-2030</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">C.2. Fishing Industry Advisory Committee</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">D. Meetings and Workshops</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">E. Executive and Budget Standing Committee Report</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">F. Public Comment</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">G. Council Discussion and Action</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP-2">12. Other Business</FP>
                <P>
                    Non-emergency issues not contained in this agenda may come before the Council for discussion during its 208th meeting. However, Council final decisions will be restricted to those issues specifically listed in this document and any regulatory issue arising after publication of this document that requires emergency 
                    <PRTPAGE P="54699"/>
                    action under section 305(c) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, provided the public has been notified of the Council's intent to take action to address the emergency.
                </P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">Special Accommodations </HD>
                <P>These meetings are accessible to people with disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids should be directed to Kitty M. Simonds, (808) 522-8220 (voice) or (808) 522-8226 (fax), at least 5 days prior to the meeting date.</P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Authority:</E>
                     16 U.S.C. 1801 
                    <E T="03">et seq.</E>
                </P>
                <SIG>
                    <DATED>Dated: August 19, 2026.</DATED>
                    <NAME>Rey Israel Marquez,</NAME>
                    <TITLE>Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.</TITLE>
                </SIG>
            </SUPLINF>
            <FRDOC>[FR Doc. 2026-17247 Filed 8-21-26; 8:45 am]</FRDOC>
            <BILCOD>BILLING CODE 3510-22-P</BILCOD>
        </NOTICE>
        <NOTICE>
            <PREAMB>
                <AGENCY TYPE="S">DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE</AGENCY>
                <SUBAGY>National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration</SUBAGY>
                <DEPDOC>[RTID 0648-XF981]</DEPDOC>
                <SUBJECT>Pacific Fishery Management Council; Public Meetings</SUBJECT>
                <AGY>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">AGENCY:</HD>
                    <P>National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.</P>
                </AGY>
                <ACT>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">ACTION:</HD>
                    <P>Notice of public meetings.</P>
                </ACT>
                <SUM>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">SUMMARY:</HD>
                    <P>The Pacific Fishery Management Council (Pacific Council) and its advisory bodies will meet September 16-21, 2026, in Vancouver, Washington and via webinar. The Pacific Council meeting will be live streamed with the opportunity to provide public comment remotely. The following groups will meet in person in Vancouver: Pacific Council, Budget Committee, Scientific and Statistical Committee, Habitat Committee, Enforcement Consultants, Coastal Pelagic Species Advisory Subpanel, and Coastal Pelagic Species Management Team.</P>
                </SUM>
                <DATES>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">DATES:</HD>
                    <P>The Pacific Council meeting will begin on Friday, September 18, 2026, at 9 a.m. Pacific Time (PT), reconvening at 8 a.m. on Saturday, September 19 through Monday, September 21, 2026. All meetings are open to the public, except for a Closed Session held from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m., Friday, September 18, 2026, to address membership appointments, litigation, and personnel matters. The Pacific Council will meet as late as necessary each day to complete its scheduled business. Advisory Body meetings begin on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, as outlined in the schedule of ancillary meetings below.</P>
                </DATES>
                <ADD>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">ADDRESSES:</HD>
                    <P>
                        Meetings of the Pacific Council and its advisory entities will be held at the Hilton Vancouver Washington, 301 W. 6th Street, Vancouver, WA, 98660; Telephone: 360-993-4500. Specific meeting information, including directions to join the meeting, connecting to the live stream broadcast, and system requirements will be provided in the meeting announcement on the Pacific Council's website (see 
                        <E T="03">www.pcouncil.org</E>
                        ). You may send an email to Mr. Hayden York (
                        <E T="03">hayden.york@pcouncil.org</E>
                        ) or contact him at (503) 820-2424 for technical assistance.
                    </P>
                    <P>
                        <E T="03">Council address:</E>
                         Pacific Fishery Management Council, 7700 NE Ambassador Place, Suite 101, Portland, OR 97220-1384.
                    </P>
                </ADD>
                <FURINF>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:</HD>
                    <P>Mr. Merrick Burden, Executive Director, Pacific Council; telephone: (503) 820-2418 or (866) 806-7204 ext. 418 toll-free.</P>
                </FURINF>
            </PREAMB>
            <SUPLINF>
                <HD SOURCE="HED">SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:</HD>
                <P>
                    The September 16-21, 2026, meeting of the Pacific Council will be streamed live on the internet. The broadcasts begin initially at 9 a.m. PT Friday, September 18, 2026, and 8 a.m. Saturday, September 19, 2026, through Monday, September 21, 2026. Broadcasts end when business for the day is complete. Only the audio portion and presentations displayed on the screen at the Pacific Council meeting will be broadcast. The audio portion for the public is listen-only except that an opportunity for oral public comment will be provided prior to Council Action on each agenda item. Additional information and instructions on joining or listening to the meeting can be found on the Pacific Council's website (see 
                    <E T="03">www.pcouncil.org</E>
                    ).
                </P>
                <P>
                    The following items are on the Pacific Council agenda, but not necessarily in this order. Agenda items noted as “Final Action” refer to actions requiring the Pacific Council to transmit a proposed fishery management plan, proposed plan amendment, or proposed regulations to the U.S. Secretary of Commerce, under Sections 304 or 305 of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. Additional detail on agenda items, Council action, and advisory entity meeting times are described in Agenda Item A.4, Proposed Council Meeting Agenda, and will be in the advance September 2026 briefing materials and posted on the Pacific Council website at 
                    <E T="03">www.pcouncil.org</E>
                     no later than close of business Tuesday, September 1, 2026.
                </P>
                <FP SOURCE="FP-2">A. Call to Order</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">1. Opening Remarks</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">2. New Council Member Appointments</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">3. Roll Call</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">4. Agenda</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">5. Executive Director's Report</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP-2">B. Open Comment Period</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">1. Comments on Non-Agenda Items</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP-2">C. Cross Fishery Management Plan</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">1. Office of Law Enforcement, United States Coast Guard, and Tri-State Enforcement Biennial Report</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">2. Office of National Marine Sanctuaries (ONMS) Report</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">3. Special Projects: Project Planning, Updates, and Clarifications</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">4. Council Efficiencies</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">5. Special Project 1: Nationwide Review of If, Then Statements, and Council Meeting Requirements</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP-2">D. Administrative Matters</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">1. Council Member Recusals</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">2. Fiscal Matters</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">3. Approve Council Meeting Record</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">4. Membership Appointments and Council Operating Procedures (COPs)</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">5. Future Council Meeting Agenda and Workload Planning</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP-2">E. Habitat Issues</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">1. Habitat Issues</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP-2">F. Pacific Halibut Management</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">1. 2027 Commercial and Recreational Catch Sharing Plan and Annual Regulations—Preliminary</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP-2">G. Salmon Management</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">1. Methodology Review—Final Topic Selection</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">2. Klamath River Dam Removal and Basin Update</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">3. Risk Management Framework—Risk Tables and Other Approaches, Informational</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP-2">H. Groundfish Management</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">1. Protocol for Reviewing Ecosystem Component Species Catch and Identifying Stocks in Need of Conservation and Management</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">2. Moving Trawl Gear Exempted Fishing Permit into Regulations; Updating Declaration Requirements; Removing Duplicative Recreational Regulations—Final Action</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">3. Inseason Adjustments for 2026 and Technical Corrections for 2027-28—Final Action</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP-2">I. Highly Migratory Species Management</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">1. Special Project 1: If, Then Management Measures for Bluefin Tuna Trip Limits</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP-2">J. Coastal Pelagic Species Management</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">
                    1. Fishery Management Plan Amendment: Management Provisions for the Revised Sardine 
                    <PRTPAGE P="54700"/>
                    Stock
                </FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">2. Stock Assessment Terms of Reference</FP>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">Advisory Body Agendas</HD>
                <P>
                    Advisory body agendas will include discussions of relevant issues that are on the Pacific Council agenda for this meeting and may also include issues that may be relevant to future Pacific Council meetings. Proposed advisory body agendas for this meeting will be available on the Pacific Council website, 
                    <E T="03">www.pcouncil.org,</E>
                     no later than the end of the day Tuesday, September 1, 2026.
                </P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">Schedule of Ancillary Meetings</HD>
                <HD SOURCE="HD2">Day 1—Wednesday, September 16, 2026</HD>
                <FP SOURCE="FP-1">Scientific and Statistical Committee.—8 a.m.</FP>
                <HD SOURCE="HD2">Day 2—Thursday, September 17, 2026</HD>
                <FP SOURCE="FP-1">Scientific and Statistical Committee.—8 a.m.</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP-1">Habitat Committee.—8 a.m.</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP-1">Budget Committee.—1 p.m.</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP-1">Enforcement Consultants.—2 p.m.</FP>
                <HD SOURCE="HD2">Day 3—Friday, September 18, 2026</HD>
                <FP SOURCE="FP-1">Scientific and Statistical Committee.—8 a.m.</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP-1">Habitat Committee 8.—a.m.</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP-1">Enforcement Consultants.—As Necessary</FP>
                <HD SOURCE="HD2">Day 4—Saturday, September 19, 2026</HD>
                <FP SOURCE="FP-1">Coastal Pelagic Species Advisory Subpanel.—11 a.m.</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP-1">Coastal Pelagic Species Management Team 11.—a.m.</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP-1">Enforcement Consultants.—As Necessary</FP>
                <HD SOURCE="HD2">Day 5—Sunday, September 20, 2026</HD>
                <FP SOURCE="FP-1">Coastal Pelagic Species Advisory Subpanel.—8 a.m.</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP-1">Coastal Pelagic Species Management Team.—8 a.m.</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP-1">Enforcement Consultants.—As Necessary</FP>
                <P>Although non-emergency issues not contained in the meeting agenda may be discussed, those issues may not be the subject of formal action during this meeting. Action will be restricted to those issues specifically listed in this document and any issues arising after publication of this document that require emergency action under section 305(c) of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, provided the public has been notified of the intent to take final action to address the emergency.</P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">Special Accommodations</HD>
                <P>
                    Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids should be directed to Mr. Hayden York (
                    <E T="03">hayden.york@pcouncil.org;</E>
                     (503) 820-2424) at least 10 business days prior to the meeting date.
                </P>
                <AUTH>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">Authority: </HD>
                    <P>
                        16 U.S.C. 1801 
                        <E T="03">et seq.</E>
                    </P>
                </AUTH>
                <SIG>
                    <DATED>Dated: August 19, 2026.</DATED>
                    <NAME>Rey Israel Marquez,</NAME>
                    <TITLE>Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.</TITLE>
                </SIG>
            </SUPLINF>
            <FRDOC>[FR Doc. 2026-17248 Filed 8-21-26; 8:45 am]</FRDOC>
            <BILCOD>BILLING CODE 3510-22-P</BILCOD>
        </NOTICE>
        <NOTICE>
            <PREAMB>
                <AGENCY TYPE="S">DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE</AGENCY>
                <SUBAGY>National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration</SUBAGY>
                <DEPDOC>[RTID 0648-XF956]</DEPDOC>
                <SUBJECT>International Pacific Halibut Commission Appointments</SUBJECT>
                <AGY>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">AGENCY:</HD>
                    <P>National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.</P>
                </AGY>
                <ACT>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">ACTION:</HD>
                    <P>Notification; call for nominations.</P>
                </ACT>
                <SUM>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">SUMMARY:</HD>
                    <P>NOAA is soliciting nominations for a resident of Alaska to serve as a United States Commissioner to the International Pacific Halibut Commission (IPHC). This action is necessary to ensure that the interests of the United States and all of its stakeholders in the Pacific halibut fishery are adequately represented. The intended effect of this solicitation is to ensure stakeholder participation in the process of filling a vacant Commissioner position.</P>
                </SUM>
                <DATES>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">DATES:</HD>
                    <P>Nominations must be received by September 14, 2026.</P>
                </DATES>
                <ADD>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">ADDRESSES:</HD>
                    <P>Nominations to be a U.S. Commissioner to the IPHC should be made in writing to Doug Duncan, Sustainable Fisheries Division, National Marine Fisheries Service Alaska Region, P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802-1668. Nominations can also be submitted via email to the contact listed below.</P>
                </ADD>
                <FURINF>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:</HD>
                    <P>
                        Doug Duncan, 
                        <E T="03">doug.duncan@noaa.gov,</E>
                         (907) 266-1158.
                    </P>
                </FURINF>
            </PREAMB>
            <SUPLINF>
                <HD SOURCE="HED">SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:</HD>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">Background</HD>
                <P>
                    The IPHC is a bilateral regional fishery management organization established pursuant to the Convention between Canada and the United States for the Preservation of the Halibut Fishery of the North Pacific Ocean and Bering Sea (Convention). The Convention was signed at Ottawa, Ontario, on March 2, 1953, and was amended by a Protocol Amending the Convention signed at Washington, DC, on March 29, 1979. The Convention's central objective is to develop the stocks of Pacific halibut in waters off the west coasts of Canada and the United States to levels that will permit the optimum yield from the Pacific halibut fishery and to maintain the stocks at those levels. The IPHC fulfills this objective in part by recommending Pacific halibut fishery conservation and management measures for approval by the United States and Canada. Pursuant to the Northern Pacific Halibut Act of 1982 (Halibut Act), the Secretary of State, with the concurrence of the Secretary of Commerce, may accept or reject, on behalf of the United States, conservation and management measures recommended by the IPHC (16 U.S.C. 773b). Measures accepted by the Secretary of State are adopted as binding regulations governing fishing for Pacific halibut in Convention waters of the United States (16 U.S.C. 773c(b)(1)). More information on the IPHC can be found at 
                    <E T="03">https://www.iphc.int.</E>
                </P>
                <P>The Halibut Act (16 U.S.C. 773a) requires that the United States be represented on the IPHC by three U.S. Commissioners. U.S. Commissioners are appointed for a term not to exceed 2 years but are eligible for reappointment. Of the Commissioners:</P>
                <P>(1) One shall be a NOAA official; and</P>
                <P>(2) Two shall be knowledgeable or experienced concerning the Northern Pacific halibut fishery; of these, one shall be a resident of Alaska and the other shall be a nonresident of Alaska.</P>
                <P>Of the three commissioners described in paragraphs (1) and (2), one shall be a voting member of the North Pacific Fishery Management Council.</P>
                <P>
                    Commissioners who are not Federal employees are not considered to be Federal employees except for the purposes of injury compensation or tort claims liability as provided in section 8101 
                    <E T="03">et seq.</E>
                     of title 5 and section 2671 
                    <E T="03">et seq.</E>
                     of title 28.
                </P>
                <P>In their official IPHC duties, Commissioners represent the interests of the United States and all of its stakeholders in the Pacific halibut fisheries. These duties require a modest amount of travel (typically two or three trips per year lasting less than a week), and necessary travel expenses are paid by the U.S. Department of State. Commissioners receive no compensation for their services.</P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">Nomination Process</HD>
                <P>
                    The U.S. Department of Commerce is currently accepting nominations for Alaska residents who are not NOAA officials and who meet the criteria in the 
                    <PRTPAGE P="54701"/>
                    Halibut Act to fill a vacant Commissioner position and be a U.S. Commissioner for the IPHC. Successful nominees will be considered for appointment by the President and (pending Presidential action) interim designation by the Department of State.
                </P>
                <P>Nomination packages should provide details of an individual's knowledge and experience in the Pacific halibut fishery. Examples of such knowledge and/or experience could include (but are not limited to) such activities as: participation in commercial, tribal, Community Development Quota, subsistence, and/or sport and charter boat halibut fishing operations; participation in halibut processing operations; and participation in Pacific halibut management activities. Although nominees do not need to have connections to any particular sector or interest in the Pacific halibut fishery, the Department of Commerce seeks to maintain a balance in background among U.S. Commissioners to IPHC to ensure that the interests of commercial, recreational, charter, subsistence, and other users are well represented.</P>
                <P>Nomination packages must include a resume that documents an individual's qualifications and State of residence. Self-nominations are acceptable, and former IPHC Commissioners are eligible for reappointment. Letters of recommendation are useful but not required. Nomination packages will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis by officials in the Department of Commerce who are familiar with the duties and responsibilities of IPHC Commissioners. Evaluations will consider the extent of an individual's experience and knowledge of the Pacific halibut fishery, residency requirements, and any letters of recommendation provided.</P>
                <SIG>
                    <DATED>Dated: August 19, 2026.</DATED>
                    <NAME>Alexa Cole,</NAME>
                    <TITLE>Director, Office of International Affairs, Trade, and Commerce, National Marine Fisheries Service.</TITLE>
                </SIG>
            </SUPLINF>
            <FRDOC>[FR Doc. 2026-17192 Filed 8-21-26; 8:45 am]</FRDOC>
            <BILCOD>BILLING CODE 3510-22-P</BILCOD>
        </NOTICE>
        <NOTICE>
            <PREAMB>
                <AGENCY TYPE="N">DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE</AGENCY>
                <SUBAGY>Office of the Secretary</SUBAGY>
                <DEPDOC>[Docket ID: DOD-2026-OS-1717]</DEPDOC>
                <SUBJECT>Privacy Act of 1974; System of Records</SUBJECT>
                <AGY>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">AGENCY:</HD>
                    <P>Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency (DCSA), Department of Defense (DoD).</P>
                </AGY>
                <ACT>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">ACTION:</HD>
                    <P>Rescindment of a system of records notice (SORN).</P>
                </ACT>
                <SUM>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">SUMMARY:</HD>
                    <P>In accordance with the Privacy Act of 1974, the DCSA is providing notice to rescind a system of records Applicants Records, V4-04. This system of records was established to manage the identification and eligibility determinations of unsolicited applicants for agency positions. This record is now consolidated under the Defense Human Resources Management System (DHRMS), DHRA 23 DoD.</P>
                </SUM>
                <DATES>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">DATES:</HD>
                    <P>The rescindment of this SORN is effective August 24, 2026.</P>
                </DATES>
                <ADD>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">ADDRESSES:</HD>
                    <P>You may submit comments, identified by docket number and title, by either of the following methods:</P>
                    <P>
                        * 
                        <E T="03">Federal Rulemaking Portal: https://www.regulations.gov.</E>
                         Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
                    </P>
                    <P>
                        * 
                        <E T="03">Mail:</E>
                         Department of Defense, Office of the Director of Administration and Management, Oversight and Compliance Directorate, Regulatory Division, 4800 Mark Center Drive, Attn: Mailbox #24, Suite 05F16, Alexandria, VA 22350-1700.
                    </P>
                    <P>
                        <E T="03">Instructions:</E>
                         All submissions received must include the agency name and docket number for this 
                        <E T="04">Federal Register</E>
                         document. The general policy for comments and other submissions from members of the public is to make these submissions available for public viewing on the internet at 
                        <E T="03">https://www.regulations.gov</E>
                         as they are received without change, including any personal identifiers or contact information.
                    </P>
                </ADD>
                <FURINF>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:</HD>
                    <P>
                        Mr. Charles D. Watters, Director, Privacy, Civil Liberties, and Freedom of Information Office, Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency, 1137 Branchton Road, Boyers, PA 16018, 
                        <E T="03">charles.d.watters2.civ@dcsa.mil,</E>
                         (878) 274-1484.
                    </P>
                </FURINF>
            </PREAMB>
            <SUPLINF>
                <HD SOURCE="HED">SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:</HD>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">I. Background</HD>
                <P>The DCSA system of records Applicants Records, V4-04 (July 14, 1999; 64 FR 37935) was established to track unsolicited applicants and determination of eligibility for positions with the agency. The DCSA is rescinding V4-04 because the records are covered under the DHRMS, DHRA 23 DoD (September 23, 2024; 89 FR 77497).</P>
                <P>
                    DoD SORNs have been published in the 
                    <E T="04">Federal Register</E>
                     and are available at the Oversight and Compliance Directorate, Privacy and Civil Liberties Division website at 
                    <E T="03">https://pclt.defense.gov/DIRECTORATES/Privacy-and-Civil-Directorate/Privacy/SORNs.</E>
                </P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">II. Privacy Act</HD>
                <P>Under the Privacy Act, a “system of records” is a group of records under the control of an agency from which information is retrieved by the name of an individual or by some identifying number, symbol, or other identifying particular assigned to the individual. In the Privacy Act, an individual is defined as a U.S. citizen or alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence.</P>
                <P>In accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552a(r) and Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Circular No. A-108, DoD has provided a report of this SORN to OMB and Congress.</P>
                <PRIACT>
                    <HD SOURCE="HD1">SYSTEM NAME AND NUMBER:</HD>
                    <P>Applicants Records, V4-04</P>
                    <HD SOURCE="HD2">HISTORY:</HD>
                    <P>July 14, 1999; 64 FR 37935</P>
                </PRIACT>
                <SIG>
                    <DATED>Dated: August 19, 2026.</DATED>
                    <NAME>Aaron T. Siegel,</NAME>
                    <TITLE>Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense.</TITLE>
                </SIG>
            </SUPLINF>
            <FRDOC>[FR Doc. 2026-17199 Filed 8-21-26; 8:45 am]</FRDOC>
            <BILCOD>BILLING CODE 6001-FR-P</BILCOD>
        </NOTICE>
        <NOTICE>
            <PREAMB>
                <AGENCY TYPE="S">DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE</AGENCY>
                <SUBAGY>Office of the Secretary</SUBAGY>
                <DEPDOC>[Docket ID: DOD-2026-OS-1783]</DEPDOC>
                <SUBJECT>Proposed Collection; Comment Request</SUBJECT>
                <AGY>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">AGENCY:</HD>
                    <P>Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness (OUSD(P&amp;R)), Department of Defense (DoD).</P>
                </AGY>
                <ACT>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">ACTION:</HD>
                    <P>60-Day information collection notice.</P>
                </ACT>
                <SUM>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">SUMMARY:</HD>
                    <P>
                        In compliance with the 
                        <E T="03">Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995,</E>
                         the OUSD(P&amp;R) announces a proposed public information collection and seeks public comment on the provisions thereof. Comments are invited on: whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information shall have practical utility; the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed information collection; ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and ways to minimize the burden of the information collection on respondents, including through the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology.
                    </P>
                </SUM>
                <DATES>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">DATES:</HD>
                    <P>Consideration will be given to all comments received by October 23, 2026.</P>
                </DATES>
                <ADD>
                    <PRTPAGE P="54702"/>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">ADDRESSES:</HD>
                    <P>You may submit comments, identified by docket number and title, by any of the following methods:</P>
                    <P>
                        <E T="03">Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov.</E>
                         Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
                    </P>
                    <P>
                        <E T="03">Mail:</E>
                         Department of Defense, Office of the Director of Administration and Management, Oversight and Compliance Directorate, Regulatory Division, 4800 Mark Center Drive, Mailbox #24, Suite 05F16, Alexandria, VA 22350-1700.
                    </P>
                    <P>
                        <E T="03">Instructions:</E>
                         All submissions received must include the agency name, docket number and title for this 
                        <E T="04">Federal Register</E>
                         document. The general policy for comments and other submissions from members of the public is to make these submissions available for public viewing on the internet at 
                        <E T="03">http://www.regulations.gov</E>
                         as they are received without change, including any personal identifiers or contact information.
                    </P>
                </ADD>
                <FURINF>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:</HD>
                    <P>To request more information on this proposed information collection or to obtain a copy of the proposal and associated collection instruments, please write to the Office of Special Needs, 4800 Mark Center Drive, Suite 03G15, Military Community Family Policy, Alexandria, VA 22350-2300, Kevin Hamilton, 571-726-5914.</P>
                </FURINF>
            </PREAMB>
            <SUPLINF>
                <HD SOURCE="HED">SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: </HD>
                <P/>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Title; Associated Form; and OMB Number:</E>
                     Exceptional Family Member Program; DD Form 2792, “Family Member Medical Summary,” and DD Form 2792-1, “Special Education/Early Intervention Summary; OMB Control Number 0704-0411.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Needs and Uses:</E>
                     This information collection is necessary to identify any special medical (DD Form 2792) and/or educational (DD Form 2792-1) needs of military dependents to ensure the needs are considered when being assigned to a new location. The purpose of this information collection is to (1) enroll sponsors into the Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP), (2) consider the special needs of family members and the availability of medical and educational services through the Family Member Travel Screening (FMTS) process, and (3) advise civilian employees about the availability of medical and educational services to meet the special needs of their family members in overseas locations.
                </P>
                <P>The sponsor or family member completes the demographics section on both collections, a qualified medical provider completes the medical summary on DD 2792, and the special education or early intervention staff completes the early intervention/special education summary of the DD 2792-1. On the DD 2792, the sponsor or family member provides authorization for disclosure of the medical information and certifies the accuracy of the information. On DD 2792-1, the sponsor or family member authorizes the release of information.</P>
                <P>The information is provided to EFMP medical personnel for enrollment in the program, and both medical and educational screening personnel for their determination of the availability of medical and education resources necessary to meet the family member's needs. The medical and/or educational recommendation is supplied to the appropriate Military Department's personnel department in determining the future assignment for the service member.</P>
                <P>This information collection may also be used to identify available medical and educational resources to DoD civilian employees who are considering a job overseas to assist them in deciding whether to relocate overseas with a family member who has special medical or educational needs.</P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Affected Public:</E>
                     Individuals or households.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Annual Burden Hours:</E>
                     15,613.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Number of Respondents:</E>
                     98,608.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Responses per Respondent:</E>
                     1.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Annual Responses:</E>
                     98,608.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Average Burden per Response:</E>
                     9.5 minutes.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Frequency:</E>
                     Triennial.
                </P>
                <SIG>
                    <DATED>Dated: August 20, 2026.</DATED>
                    <NAME>Aaron T. Siegel,</NAME>
                    <TITLE>Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense.</TITLE>
                </SIG>
            </SUPLINF>
            <FRDOC>[FR Doc. 2026-17236 Filed 8-21-26; 8:45 am]</FRDOC>
            <BILCOD>BILLING CODE 6001-FR-P</BILCOD>
        </NOTICE>
        <NOTICE>
            <PREAMB>
                <AGENCY TYPE="S">DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE</AGENCY>
                <SUBAGY>Department of the Navy</SUBAGY>
                <DEPDOC>[Docket ID: USN-2026-HQ-0365]</DEPDOC>
                <SUBJECT>Proposed Collection; Comment Request</SUBJECT>
                <AGY>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">AGENCY:</HD>
                    <P>Department of the Navy, Department of Defense.</P>
                </AGY>
                <ACT>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">ACTION:</HD>
                    <P>60-Day information collection notice.</P>
                </ACT>
                <SUM>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">SUMMARY:</HD>
                    <P>
                        In compliance with the 
                        <E T="03">Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995,</E>
                         the Navy Office of Information announces the proposed extension of an approved public information collection and seeks public comment on the provisions thereof. Comments are invited on: whether the collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information has practical utility; the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the information collection; ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information collected; and ways to minimize the burden of the information collection on respondents, including through the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology.
                    </P>
                </SUM>
                <DATES>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">DATES:</HD>
                    <P>Consideration will be given to all comments received by October 23, 2026.</P>
                </DATES>
                <ADD>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">ADDRESSES:</HD>
                    <P>You may submit comments, identified by docket number and title, by any of the following methods:</P>
                    <P>
                        <E T="03">Federal eRulemaking Portal:</E>
                          
                        <E T="03">http://www.regulations.gov.</E>
                         Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
                    </P>
                    <P>
                        <E T="03">Mail:</E>
                         Department of Defense, Office of the Director of Administration and Management, Oversight and Compliance Directorate, Regulatory Division, 4800 Mark Center Drive, Mailbox #24, Suite 05F16, Alexandria, VA 22350-1700.
                    </P>
                    <P>
                        <E T="03">Instructions:</E>
                         All submissions received must include the agency name, docket number and title for this 
                        <E T="04">Federal Register</E>
                         document. The general policy for comments and other submissions from members of the public is to make these submissions available for public viewing on the internet at 
                        <E T="03">http://www.regulations.gov</E>
                         as they are received without change, including any personal identifiers or contact information.
                    </P>
                </ADD>
                <FURINF>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:</HD>
                    <P>To request more information on this proposed information collection or to obtain a copy of the proposal and associated collection instruments, please write to OPNAV Forms/Information Collections Office (DNS-14), 2000 Navy Pentagon, Room 4E563, Washington, DC 20350-2000, ATTN: Ms. Ashley Alford, or call 703-614-7585.</P>
                </FURINF>
            </PREAMB>
            <SUPLINF>
                <HD SOURCE="HED">SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:</HD>
                <P/>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Title; Associated Form; and OMB Number:</E>
                     Navy CHINFO Quarterly Brand Opinion Survey; OMB Control Number 0703-0090.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Needs and Uses:</E>
                     The Navy Chief of Information (CHINFO) requires this recurrent information collection to fulfill its mandate under OPNAV Instruction 5726.8C, “Outreach: America's Navy,” which requires providing public affairs advice to the Secretary of the Navy and the Chief of Naval Operations. To provide informed, strategic counsel, CHINFO must continuously assess the public communication environment, track public understanding of the U.S. Navy and its operations, and monitor recent 
                    <PRTPAGE P="54703"/>
                    trends that affect public perception. This empirical brand and opinion research is necessary to evaluate current public perceptions, advise senior U.S. Navy leadership on how emerging global issues will be received, and plan strategic communication strategies around the release of information.
                </P>
                <P>CHINFO uses the quantitative data collected quarterly from representative online panels to evaluate public knowledge, favorability, capability perception, and engagement with the Navy. These insights allow CHINFO to adjust its public communication efforts, address areas of low awareness or misunderstanding, and brief senior leaders on national sentiment regarding defense capabilities, spending, and emerging threats.</P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Affected Public:</E>
                     Individuals or households.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Annual Burden Hours:</E>
                     1,000.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Number of Respondents:</E>
                     4,000 (1,000 quarterly).
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Responses per Respondent:</E>
                     1.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Annual Responses:</E>
                     4,000.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Average Burden per Response:</E>
                     15 minutes.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Frequency:</E>
                     Quarterly.
                </P>
                <SIG>
                    <DATED>Dated: August 20, 2026.</DATED>
                    <NAME>Aaron T. Siegel,</NAME>
                    <TITLE>Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense.</TITLE>
                </SIG>
            </SUPLINF>
            <FRDOC>[FR Doc. 2026-17233 Filed 8-21-26; 8:45 am]</FRDOC>
            <BILCOD>BILLING CODE 6001-FR-P</BILCOD>
        </NOTICE>
        <NOTICE>
            <PREAMB>
                <AGENCY TYPE="S">DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE</AGENCY>
                <SUBAGY>Department of the Navy</SUBAGY>
                <DEPDOC>[Docket ID: USN-2026-HQ-0364]</DEPDOC>
                <SUBJECT>Proposed Collection; Comment Request</SUBJECT>
                <AGY>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">AGENCY:</HD>
                    <P>Department of the Navy, Department of Defense (DoD).</P>
                </AGY>
                <ACT>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">ACTION:</HD>
                    <P>60-Day information collection notice.</P>
                </ACT>
                <SUM>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">SUMMARY:</HD>
                    <P>
                        In compliance with the 
                        <E T="03">Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995,</E>
                         the Naval Air Systems Command announces the proposed extension of a public information collection and seeks public comment on the provisions thereof. Comments are invited on: 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; the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed information collection; ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and ways to minimize the burden of the information collection on respondents, including through the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology.
                    </P>
                </SUM>
                <DATES>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">DATES:</HD>
                    <P>Consideration will be given to all comments received by October 23, 2026.</P>
                </DATES>
                <ADD>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">ADDRESSES:</HD>
                    <P>You may submit comments, identified by docket number and title, by any of the following methods:</P>
                    <P>
                        <E T="03">Federal e-Rulemaking Portal:</E>
                          
                        <E T="03">http://www.regulations.gov.</E>
                         Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
                    </P>
                    <P>
                        <E T="03">Mail:</E>
                         Department of Defense, Office of the Director of Administration and Management, Oversight and Compliance Directorate, Regulatory Division, 4800 Mark Center Drive, Mailbox #24, Suite 05F16, Alexandria, VA 22350-1700.
                    </P>
                    <P>
                        <E T="03">Instructions:</E>
                         All submissions received must include the agency name, docket number and title for this 
                        <E T="04">Federal Register</E>
                         document. The general policy for comments and other submissions from members of the public is to make these submissions available for public viewing on the internet at 
                        <E T="03">http://www.regulations.gov</E>
                         as they are received without change, including any personal identifiers or contact information.
                    </P>
                </ADD>
                <FURINF>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:</HD>
                    <P>To request more information on this proposed information collection or to obtain a copy of the proposal and associated collection instruments, please write to: Fleet Readiness Center Southeast, Box 16, Yorktown Avenue, Building 110, Door 12, Code 74400, ATTN: Jason R. Raymond, Jacksonville, FL 32212-0012, or call 904-790-6251.</P>
                </FURINF>
            </PREAMB>
            <SUPLINF>
                <HD SOURCE="HED">SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:</HD>
                <P/>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Title; Associated Form; and OMB Number:</E>
                     Fleet Readiness Center Southeast (FRCSE) Electronic Sensormatic Intake Application; OMB Control Number 0703-0089.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Needs and Uses:</E>
                     The Sensormatic Electronic (SE) Computer Coordinated Universal Retrieval Entry (CCURE) 9000 application is used as part of the process for issuing access badges to FRCSE command facilities. The information collected from command employees for this application is per the prescribing policy regulations in OPNAVINST 5530.14E, “Navy Physical Security and Law Enforcement Program,” which provides guidance for the protection of people and assets throughout the Navy. FRCSE Security collects information from contractor personnel verbally and in-person to obtain the necessary information required to in the CCURE application for command badge issuance. Once FRCSE security personnel enters all necessary information into the SE CCURE 9000 application, a command badge is issued, allowing the contractor employee access to command facilities. In addition to using information to process personnel access to controlled areas, information may be used for investigative purposes and communications in the event of an emergency or security event.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Affected Public:</E>
                     Individuals or households.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Annual Burden Hours:</E>
                     187.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Number of Respondents:</E>
                     1,600.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Responses per Respondent:</E>
                     1.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Annual Responses:</E>
                     1,600.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Average Burden per Response:</E>
                     7 minutes.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Frequency:</E>
                     On occasion.
                </P>
                <SIG>
                    <DATED>Dated: August 20, 2026.</DATED>
                    <NAME>Aaron T. Siegel,</NAME>
                    <TITLE>Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense.</TITLE>
                </SIG>
            </SUPLINF>
            <FRDOC>[FR Doc. 2026-17234 Filed 8-21-26; 8:45 am]</FRDOC>
            <BILCOD>BILLING CODE 3810-FF-P</BILCOD>
        </NOTICE>
        <NOTICE>
            <PREAMB>
                <AGENCY TYPE="N">DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY</AGENCY>
                <SUBJECT>Environmental Management Site-Specific Advisory Board, Idaho Cleanup Project</SUBJECT>
                <AGY>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">AGENCY:</HD>
                    <P>Office of Environmental Management, Department of Energy.</P>
                </AGY>
                <ACT>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">ACTION:</HD>
                    <P>Notice of open meeting.</P>
                </ACT>
                <SUM>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">SUMMARY:</HD>
                    <P>
                        This notice announces an in-person/virtual meeting of the Environmental Management Site-Specific Advisory Board (EM SSAB), Idaho Cleanup Project (ICP). The Federal Advisory Committee Act requires that public notice of this meeting be announced in the 
                        <E T="04">Federal Register</E>
                        .
                    </P>
                </SUM>
                <DATES>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">DATES:</HD>
                    <P>Wednesday, September 23, 2026; 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. MDT.</P>
                </DATES>
                <ADD>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">ADDRESSES:</HD>
                    <P>
                        Holiday Inn &amp; Suites, 3005 South Fork Boulevard, Idaho Falls, Idaho 83402. This meeting will be open to the public in-person at the Holiday Inn &amp; Suites and virtually via Zoom. To attend virtually, please contact Cecelia Hruska, ICP Citizens Advisory Board (CAB) Administrator, by email at 
                        <E T="03">idahoCAB@icp.doe.gov</E>
                         or phone (208) 533-3800, no later than 5 p.m. MDT on Monday, September 21, 2026.
                    </P>
                </ADD>
                <FURINF>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:</HD>
                    <P>
                        Cecelia Hruska, ICP CAB Administrator, by email at 
                        <E T="03">idahoCAB@icp.doe.gov</E>
                         or phone (208) 533-3800 or visit the Board's internet homepage at 
                        <E T="03">https://energy.gov/em/icpcab.</E>
                    </P>
                </FURINF>
            </PREAMB>
            <SUPLINF>
                <HD SOURCE="HED">SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:</HD>
                <P/>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Purpose of the Board:</E>
                     At the request of the Assistant Secretary or Field Managers, the Board may provide community-based advice and recommendations concerning any EM program activities, such as clean-up 
                    <PRTPAGE P="54704"/>
                    activities and environmental restoration; waste management and disposition; excess facilities; future land use and long-term stewardship; communications; and budget priorities. The Board also provides an avenue to fulfill public participation requirements outlined in the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), Federal Facility Agreements, Consent Orders, Consent Decrees and Settlement Agreements.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Tentative Agenda:</E>
                     (agenda topics are subject to change; please contact Cecelia Hruska for the current agenda)
                </P>
                <FP SOURCE="FP-1">○ Recent Public Outreach</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP-1">○ ICP Progress Updates</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP-1">○ Presentations to the Board</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP-1">○ Public Comment Period</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP-1">○ Board Business</FP>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Public Participation:</E>
                     The meeting is open to the public and public comment can be given orally or in writing. Fifteen minutes are allocated during the meeting for public comment and those wishing to make oral comment will be given a minimum of two minutes to speak. To sign up for public comment, please contact the ICP CAB Administrator (above) no later than 5 p.m. MDT on Monday, September 21, 2026. Written comments received at least two working days prior to the meeting will be provided to the members and included in the meeting minutes. Written comments received within two working days after the meeting will be included in the minutes. For additional information on public comment and to submit written comment, please contact the ICP CAB Administrator. The EM SSAB, Idaho Cleanup Project, welcomes the attendance of the public at its 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 the ICP CAB Administrator at least seven days in advance of the meeting.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Meeting conduct:</E>
                     The Designated Federal Officer is empowered to conduct the meeting in a fashion that will facilitate the orderly conduct of business. Questioning of board members or presenters by the public is not permitted.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Minutes:</E>
                     Minutes will be available by writing or calling Cecelia Hruska, ICP Administrator, phone (208) 533-3800 or email 
                    <E T="03">idahoCAB@icp.doe.gov.</E>
                     Minutes will also be available at the following website: 
                    <E T="03">https://www.energy.gov/em/icpcab/listings/cab-meetings.</E>
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Signing Authority:</E>
                     This document of the Department of Energy was signed on August 19, 2026, 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 
                    <E T="04">Federal Register</E>
                    .
                </P>
                <SIG>
                    <DATED>Signed in Washington, DC, on August 20, 2026.</DATED>
                    <NAME>Jennifer Hartzell,</NAME>
                    <TITLE>Alternate Federal Register Liaison Officer, U.S. Department of Energy.</TITLE>
                </SIG>
            </SUPLINF>
            <FRDOC>[FR Doc. 2026-17221 Filed 8-21-26; 8:45 am]</FRDOC>
            <BILCOD>BILLING CODE 6450-01-P</BILCOD>
        </NOTICE>
        <NOTICE>
            <PREAMB>
                <AGENCY TYPE="S">DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY</AGENCY>
                <SUBJECT>Environmental Management Site-Specific Advisory Board, Paducah</SUBJECT>
                <AGY>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">AGENCY:</HD>
                    <P>Office of Environmental Management, Department of Energy.</P>
                </AGY>
                <ACT>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">ACTION:</HD>
                    <P>Notice of open meeting.</P>
                </ACT>
                <SUM>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">SUMMARY:</HD>
                    <P>
                        This notice announces an in-person/livestreamed meeting of the Environmental Management Site-Specific Advisory Board (EM SSAB), Paducah. The Federal Advisory Committee Act requires that public notice of this meeting be announced in the 
                        <E T="04">Federal Register</E>
                        .
                    </P>
                </SUM>
                <DATES>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">DATES:</HD>
                    <P>Thursday, September 17, 2026; 5:30-7 p.m. CDT.</P>
                </DATES>
                <ADD>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">ADDRESSES:</HD>
                    <P>
                        West Kentucky Community and Technical College (WKCTC), Emerging Technology Center, Room 215, 5100 Alben Barkley Drive, Paducah, Kentucky 42001. This meeting will be held in-person at the WKCTC Emerging Technology Center, Room 215 and livestreamed. The meeting will be streamed on YouTube at 
                        <E T="03">https://www.youtube.com/@pppoadvisoryboards8584;</E>
                         no registration is necessary.
                    </P>
                </ADD>
                <FURINF>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:</HD>
                    <P>
                        Zachary Boyarski by Phone: (270) 441-6812 or Email: 
                        <E T="03">Zachary.Boyarski@pppo.gov.</E>
                    </P>
                </FURINF>
            </PREAMB>
            <SUPLINF>
                <HD SOURCE="HED">SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:</HD>
                <P/>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Purpose of the Board:</E>
                     At the request of the Assistant Secretary or Field Managers, the Board may provide community-based advice and recommendations concerning any EM program activities, such as clean-up activities and environmental restoration; waste management and disposition; excess facilities; future land use and long-term stewardship; communications; and budget priorities. The Board also provides an avenue to fulfill public participation requirements outlined in the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERLA), the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), Federal Facility Agreements, Consent Orders, Consent Decrees and Settlement Agreements.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Tentative Agenda:</E>
                     (agenda topics are subject to change; please contact Zachary Boyarski for the most current agenda).
                </P>
                <FP SOURCE="FP-1">• Administrative Activities</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP-1">• Public Comment Period</FP>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Public Participation:</E>
                     The meeting is open to the public and public comment can be given orally or in writing. Fifteen minutes are allocated during the meeting for public comment and those wishing to make oral comment will be given a minimum of two minutes to speak. Written comments received at least two working days prior to the meeting will be provided to the members and included in the meeting minutes. Written comments received within two working days after the meeting will be included in the minutes. For additional information on public comment and to submit written comment, please contact Zachary Boyarski at 
                    <E T="03">Zachary.Boyarski@pppo.gov.</E>
                     The EM SSAB, Paducah, welcomes the attendance of the public at its 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 Zachary Boyarski at least seven days in advance of the meeting.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Meeting conduct:</E>
                     The Designated Federal Officer is empowered to conduct the meeting in a fashion that will facilitate the orderly conduct of business. Questioning of board members or presenters by the public is not permitted.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Minutes:</E>
                     Minutes will be available at the following website: 
                    <E T="03">https://www.energy.gov/pppo/pgdp-cab/listings/meeting-materials.</E>
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Signing Authority:</E>
                     This document of the Department of Energy was signed on August 19, 2026, by David Borak, Committee Management Officer, pursuant to delegated authority from the Secretary of Energy. That document with the original signature and date is 
                    <PRTPAGE P="54705"/>
                    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 
                    <E T="04">Federal Register</E>
                    .
                </P>
                <SIG>
                    <DATED>Signed in Washington, DC, on August 20, 2026.</DATED>
                    <NAME>Jennifer Hartzell,</NAME>
                    <TITLE>Alternate Federal Register Liaison Officer, U.S. Department of Energy.</TITLE>
                </SIG>
            </SUPLINF>
            <FRDOC>[FR Doc. 2026-17220 Filed 8-21-26; 8:45 am]</FRDOC>
            <BILCOD>BILLING CODE 6450-01-P</BILCOD>
        </NOTICE>
        <NOTICE>
            <PREAMB>
                <AGENCY TYPE="S">DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY</AGENCY>
                <SUBAGY>Federal Energy Regulatory Commission</SUBAGY>
                <DEPDOC>[Docket No. CP26-564-000]</DEPDOC>
                <SUBJECT>Natural Gas Pipeline Company of America LLC; Horizon Pipeline Company, L.L.C.; Notice of Application and Establishing Intervention Deadline</SUBJECT>
                <P>Take notice that on August 12, 2026, Natural Gas Pipeline Company of America LLC (Natural) and Horizon Pipeline Company, L.L.C. (Horizon), 3250 Lacey Road, Suite 700, Downers Grove, Illinois 60515-7918, filed a joint application under sections 7(b) and 7(c) of the Natural Gas Act (NGA) and Part 157 of the Commission's regulations requesting authorization for its North Extension Project (Project). The Project consists of the construction and operation of: (i) a new 11,107 horsepower (HP) compressor station (CS), CS 119, in Lake County, Illinois; (ii) a new 31,900 HP compression unit and re-wheeling of the existing compressor unit 1 at the existing CS 312 in Livington County, Illinois; (iii) a new 11,107 HP compressor unit at CS 113 in Will County, Illinois; (iv) a new pipeline lateral consisting of approximately 11.5 miles of pipeline starting in Lake County, Illinois and ending in Kenosha County, Wisconsin; and (v) a new meter station at the terminus of the lateral, and various appurtenant and auxiliary facilities. Natural is also seeking authorization to lease the capacity created by the Project on Horizon's interstate natural gas pipeline system. Concurrently, Horizon is seeking authorization related to the lease of capacity to Natural. The Project will allow Natural to provide 185,000 dekatherms per day of incremental, firm transportation service to meet the growing demands of the Wisconsin Electric Power Company in southern Wisconsin. Natural estimates the cost of the Project to be $438,467,975 and proposes an incremental recourse rate under Natural's Rate Schedule FTS for firm transportation service on the Project facilities, all as more fully set forth in the application which is on file with the Commission and open for public inspection.</P>
                <P>
                    In addition to publishing the full text of this document in the 
                    <E T="04">Federal Register</E>
                    , the Commission provides all interested persons an opportunity to view and/or print the contents of this document via the internet through the Commission's Home Page (
                    <E T="03">http://www.ferc.gov</E>
                    ). From the Commission's Home Page on the internet, this information is available on eLibrary. The full text of this document is available on eLibrary in PDF and Microsoft Word format for viewing, printing, and/or downloading. To access this document in eLibrary, type the docket number excluding the last three digits of this document in the docket number field.
                </P>
                <P>
                    User assistance is available for eLibrary and the Commission's website during normal business hours from FERC Online Support at (202) 502-6652 (toll free at 1-866-208-3676) or email at 
                    <E T="03">ferconlinesupport@ferc.gov,</E>
                     or the Public Reference Room at (202) 502-8371, TTY (202) 502-8659. Email the Public Reference Room at 
                    <E T="03">public.referenceroom@ferc.gov.</E>
                </P>
                <P>
                    Any questions regarding the proposed project should be directed to Francisco Tarin, Director, Regulatory, Kinder Morgan, Inc., as Operator of Natural Gas Pipeline Company of America LLC, 2 North Nevada Avenue, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80903, by phone at (719) 667-7515, or by email at 
                    <E T="03">francisco_tarin@kindermorgan.com.</E>
                </P>
                <P>
                    Pursuant to section 157.9 of the Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure,
                    <SU>1</SU>
                    <FTREF/>
                     within 90 days of this Notice the Commission staff will either: complete its environmental review and place it into the Commission's public record (eLibrary) for this proceeding; or issue a Notice of Schedule for Environmental Review. If a Notice of Schedule for Environmental Review is issued, it will indicate, among other milestones, the anticipated date for the Commission staff's issuance of the final environmental impact statement (FEIS) or environmental assessment (EA) for this proposal. The filing of an EA in the Commission's public record for this proceeding or the issuance of a Notice of Schedule for Environmental Review will serve to notify federal and state agencies of the timing for the completion of all necessary reviews, and the subsequent need to complete all federal authorizations within 90 days of the date of issuance of the Commission staff's FEIS or EA.
                </P>
                <FTNT>
                    <P>
                        <SU>1</SU>
                         18 CFR 157.9.
                    </P>
                </FTNT>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">Water Quality Certification</HD>
                <P>Natural and Horizon stated that a water quality certificate under section 401 of the Clean Water Act is required for the project from the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. When available, Natural should submit to the Commission a copy of the request for certification for the Commission authorization, including the date the request was submitted to the certifying agency, and either (1) a copy of the certifying agency's decision or (2) evidence of waiver of water quality certification.</P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">Public Participation</HD>
                <P>There are three ways to become involved in the Commission's review of this project: you can file comments on the project, you can protest the filing, and you can file a motion to intervene in the proceeding. There is no fee or cost for filing comments or intervening. The deadline for filing a motion to intervene is 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on September 9, 2026. How to file protests, motions to intervene, and comments is explained below.</P>
                <P>
                    For public inquiries and assistance with making filings such as interventions, comments, or requests for rehearing, contact the Office of Public Participation (OPP) at (202) 502-6595 or 
                    <E T="03">OPP@ferc.gov.</E>
                </P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">Comments</HD>
                <P>Any person wishing to comment on the project may do so. Comments may include statements of support or objections, to the project as a whole or specific aspects of the project. The more specific your comments, the more useful they will be.</P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">Protests</HD>
                <P>
                    Pursuant to sections 157.10(a)(4) 
                    <SU>2</SU>
                    <FTREF/>
                     and 385.211 
                    <SU>3</SU>
                    <FTREF/>
                     of the Commission's regulations under the NGA, any person 
                    <SU>4</SU>
                    <FTREF/>
                     may file a protest to the application. Protests must comply with the requirements specified in section 
                    <PRTPAGE P="54706"/>
                    385.2001 
                    <SU>5</SU>
                    <FTREF/>
                     of the Commission's regulations. A protest may also serve as a motion to intervene so long as the protestor states it also seeks to be an intervenor.
                </P>
                <FTNT>
                    <P>
                        <SU>2</SU>
                         18 CFR 157.10(a)(4).
                    </P>
                </FTNT>
                <FTNT>
                    <P>
                        <SU>3</SU>
                         18 CFR 385.211.
                    </P>
                </FTNT>
                <FTNT>
                    <P>
                        <SU>4</SU>
                         Persons include individuals, organizations, businesses, municipalities, and other entities. 18 CFR 385.102(d).
                    </P>
                </FTNT>
                <FTNT>
                    <P>
                        <SU>5</SU>
                         18 CFR 385.2001.
                    </P>
                </FTNT>
                <P>To ensure that your comments or protests are timely and properly recorded, please submit your comments on or before 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on September 9, 2026.</P>
                <P>There are three methods you can use to submit your comments or protests to the Commission. In all instances, please reference the Project docket number CP26-564-000 in your submission.</P>
                <P>
                    (1) You may file your comments electronically by using the eComment feature, which is located on the Commission's website at 
                    <E T="03">www.ferc.gov</E>
                     under the link to Documents and Filings. Using eComment is an easy method for interested persons to submit brief, text-only comments on a project;
                </P>
                <P>
                    (2) You may file your comments or protests electronically by using the eFiling feature, which is located on the Commission's website (
                    <E T="03">www.ferc.gov</E>
                    ) under the link to Documents and Filings. With eFiling, you can provide comments in a variety of formats by attaching them as a file with your submission. New eFiling users must first create an account by clicking on “eRegister.” You will be asked to select the type of filing you are making; first select “General” and then select “Comment on a Filing”; or
                </P>
                <P>(3) You can file a paper copy of your comments or protests by mailing them to the following address below. Your written comments must reference the Project docket number (CP26-564-000).</P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">To file via USPS:</E>
                     Debbie-Anne A. Reese, Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street NE, Washington, DC 20426.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">To file via any other courier:</E>
                     Debbie-Anne A. Reese, Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 12225 Wilkins Avenue, Rockville, Maryland 20852.
                </P>
                <P>
                    The Commission encourages electronic filing of comments (options 1 and 2 above) and has eFiling staff available to assist you at (202) 502-8258 or 
                    <E T="03">FercOnlineSupport@ferc.gov.</E>
                </P>
                <P>Persons who comment on the environmental review of this project will be placed on the Commission's environmental mailing list, and will receive notification when the environmental documents (EA or EIS) are issued for this project and will be notified of meetings associated with the Commission's environmental review process.</P>
                <P>The Commission considers all comments received about the project in determining the appropriate action to be taken. However, the filing of a comment alone will not serve to make the filer a party to the proceeding. To become a party, you must intervene in the proceeding. For instructions on how to intervene, see below.</P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">Interventions</HD>
                <P>
                    Any person, which includes individuals, organizations, businesses, municipalities, and other entities,
                    <SU>6</SU>
                    <FTREF/>
                     has the option to file a motion to intervene in this proceeding. Only intervenors have the right to request rehearing of Commission orders issued in this proceeding and to subsequently challenge the Commission's orders in the U.S. Circuit Courts of Appeal.
                </P>
                <FTNT>
                    <P>
                        <SU>6</SU>
                         18 CFR 385.102(d).
                    </P>
                </FTNT>
                <P>
                    To intervene, you must submit a motion to intervene to the Commission in accordance with Rule 214 of the Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure 
                    <SU>7</SU>
                    <FTREF/>
                     and the regulations under the NGA 
                    <SU>8</SU>
                    <FTREF/>
                     by the intervention deadline for the project, which is 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on September 9, 2026. As described further in Rule 214, your motion to intervene must state, to the extent known, your position regarding the proceeding, as well as your interest in the proceeding. For an individual, this could include your status as a landowner, ratepayer, resident of an impacted community, or recreationist. You do not need to have property directly impacted by the project in order to intervene. For more information about motions to intervene, refer to the FERC website at 
                    <E T="03">https://www.ferc.gov/resources/guides/how-to/intervene.asp.</E>
                </P>
                <FTNT>
                    <P>
                        <SU>7</SU>
                         18 CFR 385.214.
                    </P>
                </FTNT>
                <FTNT>
                    <P>
                        <SU>8</SU>
                         18 CFR 157.10.
                    </P>
                </FTNT>
                <P>There are two ways to submit your motion to intervene. In both instances, please reference the Project docket number CP26-564-000 in your submission.</P>
                <P>
                    (1) You may file your motion to intervene by using the Commission's eFiling feature, which is located on the Commission's website (
                    <E T="03">www.ferc.gov</E>
                    ) under the link to Documents and Filings. New eFiling users must first create an account by clicking on “eRegister.” You will be asked to select the type of filing you are making; first select “General” and then select “Intervention.” The eFiling feature includes a document-less intervention option; for more information, visit 
                    <E T="03">https://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/efiling/document-less-intervention.pdf;</E>
                     or
                </P>
                <P>(2) You can file a paper copy of your motion to intervene, along with three copies, by mailing the documents to the address below. Your motion to intervene must reference the Project docket number CP26-564-000.</P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">To file via USPS:</E>
                     Debbie-Anne A. Reese, Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street NE, Washington, DC 20426.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">To file via any other courier:</E>
                     Debbie-Anne A. Reese, Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 12225 Wilkins Avenue, Rockville, Maryland 20852.
                </P>
                <P>
                    The Commission encourages electronic filing of motions to intervene (option 1 above) and has eFiling staff available to assist you at (202) 502-8258 or 
                    <E T="03">FercOnlineSupport@ferc.gov.</E>
                </P>
                <P>
                    Protests and motions to intervene must be served on the applicant either by mail at: Francisco Tarin, Director, Regulatory, Kinder Morgan, Inc., as Operator of Natural Gas Pipeline Company of America LLC, 2 North Nevada Avenue, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80903, or by email (with a link to the document) at 
                    <E T="03">francisco_tarin@kindermorgan.com.</E>
                     Any subsequent submissions by an intervenor must be served on the applicant and all other parties to the proceeding. Contact information for parties can be downloaded from the service list at the eService link on FERC Online. Service can be via email with a link to the document.
                </P>
                <P>
                    All timely, unopposed 
                    <SU>9</SU>
                    <FTREF/>
                     motions to intervene are automatically granted by operation of Rule 214(c)(1).
                    <SU>10</SU>
                    <FTREF/>
                     Motions to intervene that are filed after the intervention deadline are untimely, and may be denied. Any late-filed motion to intervene must show good cause for being late and must explain why the time limitation should be waived and provide justification by reference to factors set forth in Rule 214(d) of the Commission's Rules and Regulations.
                    <SU>11</SU>
                    <FTREF/>
                     A person obtaining party status will be placed on the service list maintained by the Secretary of the Commission and will receive copies (paper or electronic) of all documents filed by the applicant and by all other parties.
                </P>
                <FTNT>
                    <P>
                        <SU>9</SU>
                         The applicant has 15 days from the submittal of a motion to intervene to file a written objection to the intervention.
                    </P>
                </FTNT>
                <FTNT>
                    <P>
                        <SU>10</SU>
                         18 CFR 385.214(c)(1).
                    </P>
                </FTNT>
                <FTNT>
                    <P>
                        <SU>11</SU>
                         18 CFR 385.214(b)(3) and (d).
                    </P>
                </FTNT>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">Tracking the Proceeding</HD>
                <P>
                    Throughout the proceeding, additional information about the project will be available from OPP at (202) 502-6595 or on the FERC website at 
                    <E T="03">www.ferc.gov</E>
                     using the “eLibrary” link as described above. The eLibrary link also provides access to the texts of all 
                    <PRTPAGE P="54707"/>
                    formal documents issued by the Commission, such as orders, notices, and rulemakings.
                </P>
                <P>
                    In addition, the Commission offers a free service called eSubscription which allows you to keep track of all formal issuances and submittals in specific dockets. This can reduce the amount of time you spend researching proceedings by automatically providing you with notification of these filings, document summaries, and direct links to the documents. For more information and to register, go to 
                    <E T="03">www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/esubscription.asp.</E>
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Intervention Deadline:</E>
                     5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on September 9, 2026.
                </P>
                <EXTRACT>
                    <FP>(Authority: 18 CFR 2.1)</FP>
                </EXTRACT>
                <SIG>
                    <DATED>Dated: August 19, 2026.</DATED>
                    <NAME>Carlos D. Clay,</NAME>
                    <TITLE>Deputy Secretary.</TITLE>
                </SIG>
            </PREAMB>
            <FRDOC>[FR Doc. 2026-17243 Filed 8-21-26; 8:45 am]</FRDOC>
            <BILCOD>BILLING CODE 6717-01-P</BILCOD>
        </NOTICE>
        <NOTICE>
            <PREAMB>
                <AGENCY TYPE="S">DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY</AGENCY>
                <SUBAGY>Federal Energy Regulatory Commission </SUBAGY>
                <SUBJECT>Combined Notice of Filings</SUBJECT>
                <P>Take notice that the Commission received the following Natural Gas Pipeline Rate and Refund Report filings:</P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">Filings Instituting Proceedings</HD>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Docket Numbers:</E>
                     RP26-1062-000.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Applicants:</E>
                     Golden Triangle Storage, LLC.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Description:</E>
                     § 4(d) Rate Filing: Normal filing 2026 Part 7 1-2-3-6 SA changes to be effective 9/17/2026.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Filed Date:</E>
                     8/18/26.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Accession Number:</E>
                     20260818-5110.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Comment Date:</E>
                     5 p.m. ET 8/31/26.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Docket Numbers:</E>
                     RP26-1063-000.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Applicants:</E>
                     Expand Energy Marketing LLC, Twin Eagle Resource Management, LLC.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Description:</E>
                     Joint Petition for Limited Waiver of Capacity Release Regulations, 
                    <E T="03">et al.</E>
                     of Expand Energy Marketing LLC, 
                    <E T="03">et al</E>
                    .
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Filed Date:</E>
                     8/18/26.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Accession Number:</E>
                     20260818-5160.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Comment Date:</E>
                     5 p.m. ET 8/31/26.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Docket Numbers:</E>
                     RP26-1064-000.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Applicants:</E>
                     Colorado Interstate Gas Company, L.L.C.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Description:</E>
                     Compliance filing: Penalties Assessed Compliance Filing 2026 to be effective N/A.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Filed Date:</E>
                     8/19/26.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Accession Number:</E>
                     20260819-5071.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Comment Date:</E>
                     5 p.m. ET 8/31/26.
                </P>
                <P>Any person desiring to intervene, to protest, or to answer a complaint in any of the above proceedings must file in accordance with Rules 211, 214, or 206 of the Commission's Regulations (18 CFR 385.211, 385.214, or 385.206) on or before 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on the specified comment date. Protests may be considered, but intervention is necessary to become a party to the proceeding.</P>
                <P>
                    The filings are accessible in the Commission's eLibrary system (
                    <E T="03">https://elibrary.ferc.gov/idmws/search/fercgensearch.asp</E>
                    ) by querying the docket number.
                </P>
                <P>
                    eFiling is encouraged. More detailed information relating to filing requirements, interventions, protests, service, and qualifying facilities filings can be found at: 
                    <E T="03">http://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/efiling/filing-req.pdf.</E>
                     For other information, call (866) 208-3676 (toll free). For TTY, call (202) 502-8659.
                </P>
                <P>
                    For public inquiries and assistance with making filings such as interventions, comments, or requests for rehearing, contact the Office of Public Participation at (202) 502-6595 or 
                    <E T="03">OPP@ferc.gov.</E>
                </P>
                <SIG>
                    <DATED> Dated: August 19, 2026.</DATED>
                    <NAME>Carlos D. Clay,</NAME>
                    <TITLE>Deputy Secretary.</TITLE>
                </SIG>
            </PREAMB>
            <FRDOC>[FR Doc. 2026-17245 Filed 8-21-26; 8:45 am]</FRDOC>
            <BILCOD>BILLING CODE 6717-01-P</BILCOD>
        </NOTICE>
        <NOTICE>
            <PREAMB>
                <AGENCY TYPE="S">DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY</AGENCY>
                <SUBAGY>Federal Energy Regulatory Commission</SUBAGY>
                <DEPDOC>[Project No. 2600-088]</DEPDOC>
                <SUBJECT>Bangor-Pacific Hydro Associates; Notice of Reasonable Period of Time for Water Quality Certification Application</SUBJECT>
                <P>
                    On August 12, 2026, the Maine Department of Environmental Protection (Maine DEP) submitted to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission) notice that it received a request for a Clean Water Act section 401(a)(1) water quality certification as defined in 40 CFR 121.5, from Bangor-Pacific Hydro Associates, in conjunction with the above captioned project on August 6, 2026. Pursuant to the Commission's regulations,
                    <SU>1</SU>
                    <FTREF/>
                     we hereby notify the Maine DEP of the following:
                </P>
                <FTNT>
                    <P>
                        <SU>1</SU>
                         18 CFR 5.23(b)(2).
                    </P>
                </FTNT>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Date of Receipt of the Certification Request:</E>
                     August 6, 2026.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Reasonable Period of Time to Act on the Certification Request:</E>
                     One year, August 6, 2027.
                </P>
                <P>If Maine DEP fails or refuses to act on the water quality certification request on or before the above date, then the certifying authority is deemed waived pursuant to section 401(a)(1) of the Clean Water Act, 33 U.S.C. 1341(a)(1).</P>
                <EXTRACT>
                    <FP>(Authority: 18 CFR 2.1)</FP>
                </EXTRACT>
                <SIG>
                    <DATED>Dated: August 19, 2026.</DATED>
                    <NAME>Debbie-Anne A. Reese,</NAME>
                    <TITLE>Secretary.</TITLE>
                </SIG>
            </PREAMB>
            <FRDOC>[FR Doc. 2026-17257 Filed 8-21-26; 8:45 am]</FRDOC>
            <BILCOD>BILLING CODE 6717-01-P</BILCOD>
        </NOTICE>
        <NOTICE>
            <PREAMB>
                <AGENCY TYPE="S">DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY</AGENCY>
                <SUBAGY>Federal Energy Regulatory Commission </SUBAGY>
                <SUBJECT>Combined Notice of Filings #1</SUBJECT>
                <P>Take notice that the Commission received the following Electric Corporate filings:</P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Docket Numbers:</E>
                     EC26-154-000.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Applicants:</E>
                     Iron Horse Battery Storage, LLC, Watlington Solar, LLC, Pleasant Hill Solar, LLC.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Description:</E>
                     Joint Application for Authorization Under Section 203 of the Federal Power Act of Iron Horse Battery Storage, LLC, et al.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Filed Date:</E>
                     8/18/26.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Accession Number:</E>
                     20260818-5167.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Comment Date:</E>
                     5 p.m. ET 9/8/26.
                </P>
                <P>Take notice that the Commission received the following Exempt Wholesale Generator filings:</P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Docket Numbers:</E>
                     EG26-294-000.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Applicants:</E>
                     Overnight Solar LLC.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Description:</E>
                     Overnight Solar LLC submits Notice of Self-Certification of Exempt Wholesale Generator Status.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Filed Date:</E>
                     8/17/26.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Accession Number:</E>
                     20260817-5212.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Comment Date:</E>
                     5 p.m. ET 9/8/26.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Docket Numbers:</E>
                     EG26-295-000.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Applicants:</E>
                     AC Ranch Solar LLC.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Description:</E>
                     AC Ranch Solar LLC submits Notice of Self-Certification of Exempt Wholesale Generator Status.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Filed Date:</E>
                     8/19/26.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Accession Number:</E>
                     20260819-5125.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Comment Date:</E>
                     5 p.m. ET 9/9/26.
                </P>
                <P>Take notice that the Commission received the following Electric Rate filings:</P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Docket Numbers:</E>
                     ER10-2564-017; ER10-2600-017; ER10-2289-017.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Applicants:</E>
                     UniSource Energy Development Company, UNS Electric, Inc., Tucson Electric Power Company.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Description:</E>
                     Supplement to 07/31/2026, Notice of Non-Material Change in Status of Tucson Electric Power Company, et al.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Filed Date:</E>
                     8/13/26.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Accession Number:</E>
                     20260813-5169.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Comment Date:</E>
                     5 p.m. ET 9/3/26.
                </P>
                <PRTPAGE P="54708"/>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Docket Numbers:</E>
                     ER20-2576-007.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Applicants:</E>
                     Holloman Lessee LLC.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Description:</E>
                     Compliance filing: Aulander Holloman Solar, LLC submits tariff filing per 35: Settlement Compliance Filing to be effective 7/28/2025.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Filed Date:</E>
                     8/18/26.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Accession Number:</E>
                     20260818-5147.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Comment Date:</E>
                     5 p.m. ET 9/8/26.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Docket Numbers:</E>
                     ER22-763-005.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Applicants:</E>
                     Wildwood Lessee, LLC.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Description:</E>
                     Compliance filing: Ranchland Solar, LLC submits tariff filing per 35: Settlement Compliance Filing to be effective 8/21/2025.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Filed Date:</E>
                     8/18/26.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Accession Number:</E>
                     20260818-5148.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Comment Date:</E>
                     5 p.m. ET 9/8/26.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Docket Numbers:</E>
                     ER23-2363-007; ER16-141-012; ER17-361-007; ER17-360-007; ER17-362-007; ER17-539-006; ER17-540-006.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Applicants:</E>
                     Wildwood Solar II, LLC, Wildwood Solar I, LLC, Rio Bravo Solar II, LLC, Rio Bravo Solar I, LLC, Pumpjack Solar I, LLC, Conetoe II Solar, LLC, HXOap Solar One, LLC.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Description:</E>
                     Response to 07/16/2026, Deficiency L.etter of Conetoe II Solar, LLC, et al.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Filed Date:</E>
                     8/14/26.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Accession Number:</E>
                     20260814-5271.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Comment Date:</E>
                     5 p.m. ET 9/4/26.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Docket Numbers:</E>
                     ER26-3552-000.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Applicants:</E>
                     Midcontinent Independent System Operator, Inc.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Description:</E>
                     § 205(d) Rate Filing: 2026-08-18_Zero Injection Generator Interconnection Agreement to be effective 10/18/2026.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Filed Date:</E>
                     8/18/26.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Accession Number:</E>
                     20260818-5152.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Comment Date:</E>
                     5 p.m. ET 9/8/26.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Docket Numbers:</E>
                     ER26-3553-000.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Applicants:</E>
                     NiSource Generation Company LLC.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Description:</E>
                     Compliance filing: Notice of Succession to be effective 8/24/2026.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Filed Date:</E>
                     8/19/26.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Accession Number:</E>
                     20260819-5003.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Comment Date:</E>
                     5 p.m. ET 9/9/26.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Docket Numbers:</E>
                     ER26-3554-000.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Applicants:</E>
                     Exsocert LLC.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Description:</E>
                     § 205(d) Rate Filing: Initial Market-Based Rate Tariff Filing to be effective 8/19/2026.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Filed Date:</E>
                     8/19/26.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Accession Number:</E>
                     20260819-5024.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Comment Date:</E>
                     5 p.m. ET 9/9/26.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Docket Numbers:</E>
                     ER26-3555-000.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Applicants:</E>
                     PJM Interconnection, L.L.C.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Description:</E>
                     § 205(d) Rate Filing: Amendment to GIA, SA No. 7579; Project Identifier No. AE2-214/AF1-275 to be effective 10/19/2026.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Filed Date:</E>
                     8/19/26.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Accession Number:</E>
                     20260819-5036.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Comment Date:</E>
                     5 p.m. ET 9/9/26.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Docket Numbers:</E>
                     ER26-3556-000.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Applicants:</E>
                     Greenday Energy LLC.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Description:</E>
                     Tariff Amendment: Notice of Cancellation of Market-Based Rate Tariff to be effective 8/20/2026.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Filed Date:</E>
                     8/19/26.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Accession Number:</E>
                     20260819-5130.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Comment Date:</E>
                     5 p.m. ET 9/9/26.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Docket Numbers:</E>
                     ER26-3557-000.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Applicants:</E>
                     Midcontinent Independent System Operator, Inc.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Description:</E>
                     § 205(d) Rate Filing: 2026-08-19_SA 4837 Entergy TX-Entergy TX GIA (E0032) to be effective 11/18/2026.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Filed Date:</E>
                     8/19/26.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Accession Number:</E>
                     20260819-5131.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Comment Date:</E>
                     5 p.m. ET 9/9/26.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Docket Numbers:</E>
                     ER26-3558-000.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Applicants:</E>
                     Midcontinent Independent System Operator, Inc.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Description:</E>
                     § 205(d) Rate Filing: 2026-08-19_SA 4838 Entergy TX-OTP-NSP-ITC Midwest JTIQ (E0032) to be effective 11/18/2026.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Filed Date:</E>
                     8/19/26.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Accession Number:</E>
                     20260819-5133.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Comment Date:</E>
                     5 p.m. ET 9/9/26.
                </P>
                <P>
                    The filings are accessible in the Commission's eLibrary system (
                    <E T="03">https://elibrary.ferc.gov/idmws/search/fercgensearch.asp</E>
                    ) by querying the docket number.
                </P>
                <P>Any person desiring to intervene, to protest, or to answer a complaint in any of the above proceedings must file in accordance with Rules 211, 214, or 206 of the Commission's Regulations (18 CFR 385.211, 385.214, or 385.206) on or before 5:00 p.m. Eastern time on the specified comment date. Protests may be considered, but intervention is necessary to become a party to the proceeding.</P>
                <P>
                    eFiling is encouraged. More detailed information relating to filing requirements, interventions, protests, service, and qualifying facilities filings can be found at: 
                    <E T="03">http://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/efiling/filing-req.pdf.</E>
                     For other information, call (866) 208-3676 (toll free). For TTY, call (202) 502-8659.
                </P>
                <P>
                    For public inquiries and assistance with making filings such as interventions, comments, or requests for rehearing, contact the Office of Public Participation at (202) 502-6595 or 
                    <E T="03">OPP@ferc.gov.</E>
                      
                </P>
                <SIG>
                    <DATED>Dated: August 19, 2026.</DATED>
                    <NAME>Carlos D. Clay,</NAME>
                    <TITLE>Deputy Secretary.</TITLE>
                </SIG>
            </PREAMB>
            <FRDOC>[FR Doc. 2026-17246 Filed 8-21-26; 8:45 am]</FRDOC>
            <BILCOD>BILLING CODE 6717-01-P</BILCOD>
        </NOTICE>
        <NOTICE>
            <PREAMB>
                <AGENCY TYPE="N">EXPORT-IMPORT BANK</AGENCY>
                <DEPDOC>[Public Notice: EIB-2026-0266]</DEPDOC>
                <SUBJECT>Application for Final Commitment for a Long-Term Loan or Financial Guarantee in Excess of $100 Million: AP300125XX</SUBJECT>
                <AGY>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">AGENCY:</HD>
                    <P>Export-Import Bank of the United States.</P>
                </AGY>
                <ACT>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">ACTION:</HD>
                    <P>Notice.</P>
                </ACT>
                <SUM>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">SUMMARY:</HD>
                    <P>This Notice is to inform the public, in accordance with the Export-Import Bank Act of 1945, as amended, the Export-Import Bank of the United States (“EXIM”) has received an application for final commitment for a long-term loan or financial guarantee in excess of $100 million. Comments received within the comment period specified below will be presented to the EXIM Board of Directors prior to final action on this Transaction.</P>
                </SUM>
                <DATES>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">DATES:</HD>
                    <P>Comments must be received on or before September 18, 2026 to be assured of consideration before final consideration of the transaction by the Board of Directors of EXIM.</P>
                </DATES>
                <ADD>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">ADDRESSES:</HD>
                    <P>
                        Comments may be submitted through 
                        <E T="03">Regulations.gov</E>
                         at 
                        <E T="03">www.regulations.gov.</E>
                         To submit a comment, enter EIB-2026-0266 under the heading “Enter Keyword or ID” and select Search. Follow the instructions provided at the Submit a Comment screen. Please include your name, company name (if any) and EIB-2026-0266 on any attached document.
                    </P>
                </ADD>
            </PREAMB>
            <SUPLINF>
                <HD SOURCE="HED">SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:</HD>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Reference:</E>
                     AP300125XX.
                </P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">Purpose and Use</HD>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Brief description of the purpose of the transaction:</E>
                     To finance components for use in domestic satellite production and the related launch and insurance costs.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Brief non-proprietary description of the anticipated use of the items being exported:</E>
                     To enable the provision of satellite telecommunication services.
                </P>
                <P>To the extent that EXIM is reasonably aware, the item(s) being exported are not expected to be used to produce exports or provide services in competition with the exportation of goods or provision of services by a United States industry.</P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">Parties</HD>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Principal Supplier:</E>
                     Various suppliers.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Obligor:</E>
                     SPV/Astranis Space Technologies Corp.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Guarantor(s):</E>
                     Astranis Space Technologies Corp.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Description of Items Being Exported:</E>
                     Satellite telecommunication services.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Information on Decision:</E>
                     Information on the final decision for this transaction 
                    <PRTPAGE P="54709"/>
                    will be available in the “Board Agenda and Meeting Minutes” on 
                    <E T="03">https://www.exim.gov/news/meeting-minutes.</E>
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Confidential Information:</E>
                     Please note that this notice does not include confidential or proprietary business information; information which, if disclosed, would violate the Trade Secrets Act; or information which would jeopardize jobs in the United States by supplying information that competitors could use to compete with companies in the United States.
                </P>
                <EXTRACT>
                    <FP>(Authority: Section 3(c)(10) of the Export-Import Bank Act of 1945, as amended (12 U.S.C. 635a(c)(10)).)</FP>
                </EXTRACT>
                <SIG>
                    <NAME>Matthew Paprocki,</NAME>
                    <TITLE>Attorney Advisor.</TITLE>
                </SIG>
            </SUPLINF>
            <FRDOC>[FR Doc. 2026-17207 Filed 8-21-26; 8:45 am]</FRDOC>
            <BILCOD>BILLING CODE 6690-01-P</BILCOD>
        </NOTICE>
        <NOTICE>
            <PREAMB>
                <AGENCY TYPE="S">EXPORT-IMPORT BANK</AGENCY>
                <DEPDOC>[Public Notice: EIB-2026-0265]</DEPDOC>
                <SUBJECT>Application for Final Commitment for a Long-Term Loan or Financial Guarantee in Excess of $100 Million: AP300003XX</SUBJECT>
                <AGY>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">AGENCY:</HD>
                    <P>Export-Import Bank of the United States.</P>
                </AGY>
                <ACT>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">ACTION:</HD>
                    <P>Notice.</P>
                </ACT>
                <SUM>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">SUMMARY:</HD>
                    <P>This Notice is to inform the public, in accordance with the Export-Import Bank Act of 1945, as amended, the Export-Import Bank of the United States (“EXIM”) has received an application for final commitment for a long-term loan or financial guarantee in excess of $100 million. Comments received within the comment period specified below will be presented to the EXIM Board of Directors prior to final action on this Transaction.</P>
                </SUM>
                <DATES>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">DATES:</HD>
                    <P>Comments must be received on or before September 18, 2026 to be assured of consideration before final consideration of the transaction by the Board of Directors of EXIM.</P>
                </DATES>
                <ADD>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">ADDRESSES:</HD>
                    <P>
                        Comments may be submitted through 
                        <E T="03">Regulations.gov</E>
                         at 
                        <E T="03">www.regulations.gov.</E>
                         To submit a comment, enter EIB-2026-0265 under the heading “Enter Keyword or ID” and select Search. Follow the instructions provided at the Submit a Comment screen. Please include your name, company name (if any) and EIB-2026-0265 on any attached document.
                    </P>
                </ADD>
            </PREAMB>
            <SUPLINF>
                <HD SOURCE="HED">SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:</HD>
                <P/>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Reference:</E>
                     AP300003XX.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Purpose and Use:</E>
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Brief description of the purpose of the transaction:</E>
                     To expand domestic capacity to provide U.S. manufactured industrial cables.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Brief non-proprietary description of the anticipated use of the items being exported:</E>
                     To provide industrial cables for domestic and foreign customers.
                </P>
                <P>To the extent that EXIM is reasonably aware, the item(s) being exported are not expected to be used to produce exports or provide services in competition with the exportation of goods or provision of services by a United States industry.</P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Parties:</E>
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Principal Supplier:</E>
                     Various suppliers.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Obligor:</E>
                     Tele-Fonika Cable Americas Corp.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Guarantor(s):</E>
                     Tele-Fonika Kable S.A.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Description of Items Being Exported:</E>
                     Industrial cables.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Information on Decision:</E>
                     Information on the final decision for this transaction will be available in the “Board Agenda and Meeting Minutes” on 
                    <E T="03">https://www.exim.gov/news/meeting-minutes.</E>
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Confidential Information:</E>
                     Please note that this notice does not include confidential or proprietary business information; information which, if disclosed, would violate the Trade Secrets Act; or information which would jeopardize jobs in the United States by supplying information that competitors could use to compete with companies in the United States.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Authority:</E>
                     Section 3(c)(10) of the Export-Import Bank Act of 1945, as amended (12 U.S.C. 635a(c)(10)).
                </P>
                <SIG>
                    <NAME>Matthew Paprocki,</NAME>
                    <TITLE>Attorney Advisor.</TITLE>
                </SIG>
            </SUPLINF>
            <FRDOC>[FR Doc. 2026-17194 Filed 8-21-26; 8:45 am]</FRDOC>
            <BILCOD>BILLING CODE 6690-01-P</BILCOD>
        </NOTICE>
        <NOTICE>
            <PREAMB>
                <AGENCY TYPE="N">FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION</AGENCY>
                <DEPDOC>[OMB 3060-XXXX; FR ID 363169]</DEPDOC>
                <SUBJECT>Information Collection Being Submitted for Review and Approval to Office of Management and Budget</SUBJECT>
                <AGY>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">AGENCY:</HD>
                    <P>Federal Communications Commission.</P>
                </AGY>
                <ACT>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">ACTION:</HD>
                    <P>Notice; request for comments.</P>
                </ACT>
                <SUM>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">SUMMARY:</HD>
                    <P>As part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork burdens, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC or the Commission) invites the general public and other Federal Agencies to take this opportunity to comment on the following information collection. Pursuant to the Small Business Paperwork Relief Act of 2002, the FCC seeks specific comment on how it might further reduce the information collection burden for small business concerns with fewer than 25 employees.</P>
                    <P>The Commission may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid Office of Management and Budget (OMB) control number. No person shall be subject to any penalty for failing to comply with a collection of information subject to the PRA that does not display a valid OMB control number.</P>
                </SUM>
                <DATES>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">DATES:</HD>
                    <P>Written comments and recommendations for the proposed information collection should be submitted on or before September 23, 2026.</P>
                </DATES>
                <ADD>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">ADDRESSES:</HD>
                    <P>
                        Comments should be sent to 
                        <E T="03">www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain.</E>
                         Find this particular information collection by selecting “Currently under 30-day Review—Open for Public Comments” or by using the search function. Your comment must be submitted into 
                        <E T="03">www.reginfo.gov</E>
                         per the above instructions for it to be considered. In addition to submitting in 
                        <E T="03">www.reginfo.gov</E>
                         also send a copy of your comment on the proposed information collection to Nicole Ongele, FCC, via email to 
                        <E T="03">PRA@fcc.gov</E>
                         and to 
                        <E T="03">Nicole.Ongele@fcc.gov.</E>
                         Include in the comments the OMB control number as shown in the 
                        <E T="02">SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION</E>
                         below.
                    </P>
                </ADD>
                <FURINF>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:</HD>
                    <P>
                        For additional information or copies of the information collection, contact Nicole Ongele at (202) 418-2991. To view a copy of this information collection request (ICR) submitted to OMB: (1) go to the web page 
                        <E T="03">http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain,</E>
                         (2) look for the section of the web page called “Currently Under Review,” (3) click on the downward-pointing arrow in the “Select Agency” box below the “Currently Under Review” heading, (4) select “Federal Communications Commission” from the list of agencies presented in the “Select Agency” box, (5) click the “Submit” button to the right of the “Select Agency” box, (6) when the list of FCC ICRs currently under review appears, look for the Title of this ICR and then click on the ICR Reference Number. A copy of the FCC submission to OMB will be displayed.
                    </P>
                </FURINF>
            </PREAMB>
            <SUPLINF>
                <HD SOURCE="HED">SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:</HD>
                <P>
                    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 
                    <PRTPAGE P="54710"/>
                    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.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">OMB Control Number:</E>
                     3060-XXXX.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Title:</E>
                     Modernizing Suspension and Debarment Rules.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Form Number:</E>
                     N/A.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Type of Review:</E>
                     New information collection.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Respondents:</E>
                     Business or other for-profit; Individuals or households; State, local, or tribal governments; Not-for-profit institutions.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Number of Respondents and Responses:</E>
                     75,255 unique respondents;170,259 unique responses.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Estimated Time per Response:</E>
                     1-2 hours.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Frequency of Response:</E>
                     Annual, on occasion reporting requirements and third party disclosure requirements.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Obligation to Respond:</E>
                     Required to obtain or retain benefits. The statutory authority for these information collections are contained in sections 1, 2, 4(i), 4(j), 218, 225, 254, 403, 715, and 719 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, and section 904 of Division N, Title IX of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, Public Law 116-260, 134 Stat. 1182, as amended by section 60502 of Division F, Title V of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, Public Law 117-58, 135 Stat. 429 (2021), 47 U.S.C. 151, 152, 154, 218, 225, 254, 403, 616, and 620.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Total Annual Burden:</E>
                     244,185 hours.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Total Annual Cost:</E>
                     No Cost.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Needs and Uses:</E>
                     On March 26, 2026, the Commission adopted the 
                    <E T="03">Modernizing Suspension and Debarment Rules Report &amp; Order,</E>
                     adopting a revised suspension and debarment framework that allows the Commission to promptly and efficiently exclude or otherwise limit bad actors' participation in Congressionally-mandated funding programs, such as the Universal Service Fund (USF) and the Telecommunications Relay Services (TRS) program. These programs provide significant funding to close the digital divide and ensure that all Americans have access to communications services.
                </P>
                <P>The Report and Order adopted the governmentwide Office of Management and Budget Governmentwide Guidelines on Debarment and Suspension, as well as supplemental rules tailored to the FCC's programs. To promote transparency and safeguard these critical programs from waste, fraud, and abuse, the Report and Order implements, in pertinent part, several reporting and third-party disclosure requirements consistent with the OMB Guidelines.</P>
                <P>These new rules are new information collection requirements which are as follows:</P>
                <P>
                    a. 
                    <E T="03">Section 6001.335 Disclosures.</E>
                     Pursuant to 2 CFR 180.335 and 2 CFR 6001.335, all program participants must disclose prior misconduct to other participants with whom they are doing or seek to do business, the program administrators, and the Commission. Generally, these disclosures are required at the time program participants enter into covered transactions to ensure that all interested parties are making informed business decisions and conducting business only with participants that are presently responsible. Participants must disclose, under penalty of perjury, if they are presently excluded or disqualified, have been convicted of offenses listed in in section 180.800(a), are presently indicted or otherwise criminally or civilly charged with such offenses, or have had one or more public transactions terminated within the preceding three years for cause or default.
                </P>
                <P>Additionally, pursuant to 2 CFR 180.335 and 2 CFR 6001.335, if no disclosures are required, participants must so certify under penalty of perjury that no disclosures are required under the suspension and debarment rules. We anticipate that these “no response required” certifications will be included on existing forms for each program (as described in subparts (e) through (k) below).</P>
                <P>
                    b. 
                    <E T="03">Section 6001.120(a) Disclosure.</E>
                     To ensure the Commission's own compliance with the prohibition in 2 CFR 180.400 on entering into covered transactions with people that are currently suspended or debarred, the rules require FCC program participants that are presently excluded on the effective date of these rules to notify the Commission of their status.
                </P>
                <P>
                    c. 
                    <E T="03">Section 6001.120(b) Disclosure.</E>
                     Likewise, to the extent that FCC program participants are later suspended or debarred by another federal agency, those excluded participants are required to notify the Commission of such exclusion within 30 days.
                </P>
                <P>
                    d. 
                    <E T="03">Section 6001.330(a) Third Party Compliance Certification.</E>
                     Consistent with 2 CFR 180.330, the Report and Order requires program participants to ensure the people with whom they intend to do business (including downstream supply chain participants such as contractors, subcontractors, and consultants) comply with the reporting requirements as well. The participant can do so by collecting a certification or including a term or condition to this effect in the transaction.
                </P>
                <P>To monitor compliance with the suspension and debarment rules, under 2 CFR 6001.435, the Commission may require program participants to provide an assurance or certify their compliance with the rules at the time they apply for funding or request disbursements from Commission programs (as a condition of participation). For the programs listed below, the Commission will require certifications and collect them through existing FCC forms which are already submitted by program participants as described below.</P>
                <P>
                    e. 
                    <E T="03">Part 6001 Compliance Certification (Lifeline)</E>
                    —As detailed in OMB Control No. 3060-0819, service providers participating in the Lifeline program are required to submit an annual FCC Form 481 (Annual Reporting for High-Cost and Low-Income Universal Service Support Recipients) to report on and certify to program requirements. To monitor compliance under section 6001.435 of the Commission's rules, service providers participating in the Lifeline program will be required to provide an assurance or certify compliance with section 6001.435 when they file their FCC Form 481 each year. Likewise, unless required to file an affirmative disclosure pursuant to section 6001.335, service providers will be required to certify that no response pursuant to section 6001.335 was required. In addition, service providers will be required to certify that they have ensured the people they have engaged in business with (including downstream supply chain participants, such as a contractor, subcontractor, or consultant) have complied with the reporting requirements set forth in section 6001.330(a) of the Commission's rules.
                </P>
                <P>
                    f. 
                    <E T="03">Part 6001 Compliance Certification (RHC)</E>
                    —
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Health Care Provider and Consortium Applicant:</E>
                     As detailed in OMB Control No. 3060-0804, applicants are required to submit an annual FCC Form 462 (Request for Funding) or FCC Form 466 (Request for Funding) to request funding for eligible services and equipment in the Rural Health Care program. 
                    <PRTPAGE P="54711"/>
                    Applicants must provide certifications along with their FCC Form 462 or 466. To monitor compliance under section 6001.435 of the Commission's rules, applicants will be required to provide an assurance or certify their compliance with section 6001.435 when they file their FCC Form 462 or 466 funding application. Likewise, unless required to file an affirmative disclosure pursuant to section 6001.335, participants will be required to certify that no response pursuant to section 6001.335 was required. In addition, applicants will be required to certify that they have ensured the people they have engaged in business with (including downstream supply chain participants, such as a contractor, subcontractor, or consultant) have complied with the reporting requirements set forth in section 6001.330(a) of the Commission's rules.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Consortium Member Applicant:</E>
                     As detailed in OMB Control No. 3060-0804, consortium members in the Rural Health Care program are required to submit a Letter of Agency to their consortium lead to authorize the consortium lead to file forms on their behalf. To monitor compliance under section 6001.435 of the Commission's rules, consortium members will be required to provide an assurance of their compliance with section 6001.435 when they submit their Letter of Agency. Likewise, unless required to file an affirmative disclosure pursuant to section 6001.335, participants will be required to certify that no response pursuant to section 6001.335 was required. In addition, consortium members will be required to confirm that they have ensured the people they have engaged in business with (including downstream supply chain participants, such as a contractor, subcontractor, or consultant) have complied with the reporting requirements set forth in section 6001.330(a) of the Commission's rules.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Service Providers:</E>
                     As detailed in OMB Control No. 3060-0804, service providers participating in the Rural Health Care program are required to certify on an FCC Form 463 (Request for Funding Disbursement) or FCC Form 469 (Invoice and Request for Disbursement) that requests for reimbursement are compliant with the Commission's rules. To monitor compliance under section 6001.435 of the Commission's rules, service providers will be required to provide an assurance or certify their compliance with section 6001.435 when they certify an FCC Form 463 or FCC Form 469. Likewise, unless required to file an affirmative disclosure pursuant to section 6001.335, participants will be required to certify that no response pursuant to section 6001.335 was required. In addition, applicants will be required to certify that they have ensured the people they have engaged in business with (including downstream supply chain participants, such as a contractor, subcontractor, or consultant) have complied with the reporting requirements set forth in section 6001.330(a) of the Commission's rules.
                </P>
                <P>
                    g. 
                    <E T="03">Part 6001 Compliance Certification (E-Rate)</E>
                    —
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">School, Library, and Consortium Applicant:</E>
                     As detailed in OMB Control No. 3060-0806, applicants are required to submit an annual FCC Form 471 (Schools and Libraries Program Services Ordered and Certification Form) to request funding for eligible services and equipment in the E-Rate program. Applicants must provide certifications along with their FCC Form 471. These certifications are required to protect the integrity of the E-Rate program and to ensure compliance with Commission's rules. 
                    <E T="03">See</E>
                     47 CFR 54.504(a)(1). To monitor compliance under section 6001.435 of the Commission's rules, applicants will be required to provide an assurance or certify their compliance with section 6001.435 when they file their FCC Form 471 funding application. Likewise, unless required to file an affirmative disclosure pursuant to section 6001.335, participants will be required to certify that no response pursuant to section 6001.335 was required. In addition, applicants will be required to certify that they have ensured the people they have engaged in business with (including downstream supply chain participants, such as a contractor, subcontractor, or consultant) have complied with the reporting requirements set forth in section 6001.330(a) of the Commission's rules.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Consortium Member Applicant:</E>
                     As detailed in OMB Control No. 3060-0853, consortium members in the E-Rate program are required to submit an annual FCC Form 479 (Certification by Administrative Authority to Billed Entity of Compliance with Children's internet Protection Act (CIPA) Form) to their consortium lead to certify their compliance with CIPA requirements. To monitor compliance under section 6001.435 of the Commission's rules, consortium members will be required to provide an assurance or certify their compliance with section 6001.435 when they submit their FCC Form 479. Likewise, unless required to file an affirmative disclosure pursuant to section 6001.335, participants will be required to certify that no response pursuant to section 6001.335 was required. In addition, consortium members will be required to certify that they have ensured the people they have engaged in business with (including downstream supply chain participants, such as a contractor, subcontractor, or consultant) have complied with the reporting requirements set forth in section 6001.330(a) of the Commission's rules.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Service Providers:</E>
                     As detailed in OMB Control No. 3060-0856, service providers participating in the E-Rate program are required to submit an annual FCC Form 474 (Service Provider Annual Certification Form) to certify their requests for reimbursement are compliant with the Commission's rules. These certifications are required to protect the integrity of the E-Rate program and ensure compliance with the Commission's rules. To monitor compliance under section 6001.435 of the Commission's rules, service providers will be required to provide an assurance or certify their compliance with section 6001.435 when they file their FCC Form 474. Likewise, unless required to file an affirmative disclosure pursuant to section 6001.335, participants will be required to certify that no response pursuant to section 6001.335 was required. In addition, applicants will be required to certify that they have ensured the people they have engaged in business with (including downstream supply chain participants, such as a contractor, subcontractor, or consultant) have complied with the reporting requirements set forth in section 6001.330(a) of the Commission's rules.
                </P>
                <P>
                    h. 
                    <E T="03">Part 6001 Compliance Certification (Cybersecurity Pilot Program)—</E>
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">School, Library, and Consortium Applicant, and Consortium Member Participants:</E>
                     As detailed in OMB Control No. 3060-1323, participants are required to submit an annual amended Pilot FCC Form 484—Cybersecurity (Schools and Libraries Pilot Program Application) to update information provided in the first and second parts of the FCC Form 484 and respond to new annual data reporting requirements (
                    <E T="03">i.e.,</E>
                     the third part of the Pilot FCC Form 484). Participants must provide certifications along with their annual amended Pilot FCC Form 484 (third part)—Cybersecurity. These certifications mirror the certifications in the second part of the Pilot FCC Form 484 and are required to protect the integrity of the Cybersecurity Pilot Program and to ensure compliance with the Commission's rules. 
                    <E T="03">See</E>
                     47 CFR 54.2004(d)(2)(i)-(vii). To monitor compliance under section 6001.435 of 
                    <PRTPAGE P="54712"/>
                    the Commission's rules, participants will be required to provide an assurance or certify their compliance with section 6001.435 when they file their Pilot FCC Form 484 (third part)—Cybersecurity annual reporting application. Likewise, unless required to file an affirmative disclosure pursuant to section 6001.335, participants will be required to certify that no response pursuant to section 6001.335 was required. In addition, participants will be required to certify that they have ensured the people they have engaged in business with (including downstream supply chain participants, such as a contractor, subcontractor, or consultant) have complied with the reporting requirements set forth in section 6001.330(a) of the Commission's rules.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Service Providers:</E>
                     As detailed in OMB Control No. 3060-1323, service providers participating in the Cybersecurity Pilot Program are required to submit a Pilot FCC Form(s) 474—Cybersecurity (Schools and Libraries Cybersecurity Pilot Program Request for Reimbursement) to certify their requests for reimbursement are compliant with the Commission's rules. These certifications are required to protect the integrity of the Cybersecurity Pilot Program and ensure compliance with the Commission's rules. To monitor compliance under section 6001.435 of the Commission's rules, service providers will be required to provide an assurance or certify their compliance with section 6001.435 when they file their Pilot FCC Form(s) 474—Cybersecurity. Likewise, unless required to file an affirmative disclosure pursuant to section 6001.335, service providers will be required to certify that no response pursuant to section 6001.335 was required. In addition, service providers will be required to certify that they have ensured the people they have engaged in business with (including downstream supply chain participants, such as a contractor, subcontractor, or consultant) have complied with the reporting requirements set forth in section 6001.330(a) of the Commission's rules.
                </P>
                <P>
                    i. 
                    <E T="03">Part 6001 Compliance Certification (High-Cost)</E>
                    —As detailed in OMB Control No. 3060-0986, service providers participating in the high-cost programs are required to submit an annual FCC Form 481 (Annual Reporting for High-Cost and Low-Income Universal Service Support Recipients) to report on and certify to program requirements. To monitor compliance under section 6001.435 of the Commission's rules, service providers participating in the high-cost programs will be required to provide an assurance or certify that they complied with section 6001.435 when they file their FCC Form 481 each year. Likewise, unless required to file an affirmative disclosure pursuant to section 6001.335, participants will be required to certify that no response pursuant to section 6001.335 was required. In addition, service providers will be required to certify that they have ensured the people they have engaged in business with (including downstream supply chain participants, such as a contractor, subcontractor, or consultant) have complied with the reporting requirements set forth in section 6001.330(a) of the Commission's rules.
                </P>
                <P>
                    j. 
                    <E T="03">Part 6001 Compliance Certification (TRS)</E>
                    —As detailed in OMB Control No. 3060-1089 (Structure and Practices of the Video Relay Service Program; Telecommunications Relay Services and Speech-to-Speech Services for Individuals with Hearing and Speech Disabilities, CG Docket Nos. 10-51 &amp; 03-123), the Commission requires applications for State TRS program certification and applications for internet-based TRS provider certification. The applications for State TRS program certification must be submitted in narrative form and clearly describe the state program and the procedures and remedies for enforcing the state program requirements. To certify the State TRS program, the application must establish that the state program meets or exceeds the operational, technical, and functional minimum standards codified in 47 CFR 64.604. Applications for internet-based TRS provider certification must be in narrative form and provide full and detailed information that shows its ability to comply with the Commission's rules. Applications must include a description of the forms of TRS to be provided and a detailed description of how the applicant will meet the minimum standards applicable to each form of TRS offered, including documentary and other evidence; a description of the provider's complaint process; a statement that the provider will file annual compliance reports demonstrating continued compliance; and a certification from the chief executive officer (CEO), chief financial officer (CFO), or other senior executive with first-hand knowledge of the accuracy and completeness of the information provided that all application information required under the Commission's rules and orders has been provided, and that all statements of fact, as well as all documentation contained in the application submission, are true, accurate, and complete.
                </P>
                <P>
                    To monitor compliance under section 6001.435 of the Commission's rules, TRS providers participating in the TRS program will be required to provide an assurance or certify that they complied with section 6001.435 when they file their application each year. Likewise, unless required to file an affirmative disclosure pursuant to section 6001.335, participants will 
                    <E T="03">be</E>
                     required to certify that no response pursuant to section 6001.335 was required. In addition, TRS providers will be required to certify that they have ensured the people they have engaged in business with (including downstream supply chain participants, such as a contractor, subcontractor, or consultant) have complied with the reporting requirements set forth in section 6001.330(a) of the Commission's rules.
                </P>
                <P>
                    k. 
                    <E T="03">Part 6001 Compliance Certification (NDBEDP)</E>
                    —As detailed in OMB Control No. 3060-1225 (National Deaf-Blind Equipment Distribution Program), the Commission certifies a single entity for each state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands—a total of 56 jurisdictions—to receive reimbursement from the TRS Fund for NDBEDP activities. Applications must contain sufficient detail to demonstrate the entity's ability to meet all criteria required for certification and a commitment to comply with all Commission requirements governing the NDBEDP. Applicants for certification must disclose to the Commission certain circumstances that pose an actual or potential conflict of interest and the steps it will take to eliminate the conflict or minimize the associated risks. The Commission determines whether to grant certification based on the ability of a program to meet the criteria required for certification, either directly or in coordination with other programs or entities, as evidenced in the application and any supplemental materials, including letters of recommendation.
                </P>
                <P>
                    To monitor compliance under section 6001.435 of the Commission's rules, NDBEDP providers participating in the NDBEDP program will be required to provide an assurance or certify that they complied with section 6001.435 when they file their application each year. Likewise, unless required to file an affirmative disclosure pursuant to section 6001.335, participants will be required to certify that no response pursuant to section 6001.335 was required. In addition, NDBEDP providers will be required to certify that 
                    <PRTPAGE P="54713"/>
                    they have ensured the people they have engaged in business with (including downstream supply chain participants, such as a contractor, subcontractor, or consultant) have complied with the reporting requirements set forth in section 6001.330(a) of the Commission's rules.
                </P>
                <P>For all of the programs discussed above, the information collected by the Commission will be used by agency staff and the program administrators that organize the day-to-day operations of the covered programs under the agency's supervision to monitor compliance with program rules, better detect waste, fraud, and abuse in Commission programs, and ensure bad actors are not able to participate in covered transactions from the outset. Given requirements to disclose information to other primary and lower tier participants, these requirements will also help inform more financially responsible decisions by those participating in Commission programs.</P>
                <P>Specifically, under 2 CFR 6001.120, the notification that a program participant is currently or has been previously excluded by another agency will ensure Commission staff responsible for entering into new covered transactions and approving applications will not distribute federal funds to participants that are presently excluded, and therefore, ineligible. Likewise, the disclosure of past misconduct will provide agency staff with pertinent information to consider when evaluating whether to approve or reject new requests for funding. This information is critical to ensuring that the federal government is only conducting business with participants that are presently responsible and do not negatively affect the public interest. Failure to submit accurate disclosures may also be grounds for additional administrative action, including, but not limited to, suspension and debarment.</P>
                <P>Similarly, certifications are one of the primary mechanisms for monitoring compliance with the regulatory framework. Compliance with the suspension and debarment rules are conditions of receiving payment from Commission programs. These certifications from program participants allow Commission staff that administer the covered programs and process applications to quickly determine whether participants have satisfied the conditions precedent before distributing federal funds. In turn, the certifications required by program participants of downstream participants will also allow the people who conduct business directly with the government to ensure that their other business relationships are compliant with the suspension and debarment rules.</P>
                <SIG>
                    <FP>Federal Communications Commission.</FP>
                    <NAME>Marlene Dortch,</NAME>
                    <TITLE>Secretary, Office of the Secretary.</TITLE>
                </SIG>
            </SUPLINF>
            <FRDOC>[FR Doc. 2026-17208 Filed 8-21-26; 8:45 am]</FRDOC>
            <BILCOD>BILLING CODE 6712-01-P</BILCOD>
        </NOTICE>
        <NOTICE>
            <PREAMB>
                <AGENCY TYPE="S">FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION</AGENCY>
                <DEPDOC>[PSHSB &amp; OET: PS Docket No. 26-184; DA 26-832; FR ID 362881]</DEPDOC>
                <SUBJECT>Comment Sought on Prohibiting the Importation and Marketing of Certain Covered UAS and UAS Critical Components and Equipment Listed in Section 1709 of FY2025 NDAA</SUBJECT>
                <AGY>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">AGENCY:</HD>
                    <P>Federal Communications Commission.</P>
                </AGY>
                <ACT>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">ACTION:</HD>
                    <P>Notice; request for comments.</P>
                </ACT>
                <SUM>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">SUMMARY:</HD>
                    <P>
                        In this document, the Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau (PSHSB) and the Office of Engineering and Technology (OET) seek comment on proposing to prohibit the continued importation and marketing of certain previously authorized equipment that has been determined to pose an unacceptable risk to the national security of the United States and to the safety and security of United States persons. Through this 
                        <E T="03">Public Notice,</E>
                         PSHSB and OET propose to apply such prohibitions to certain previously-authorized foreign-produced uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS) and UAS critical components, and certain communications and video surveillance equipment listed in section 1709 of the Servicemember Quality of Life Improvement and National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025 (FY2025 NDAA), added to the Covered List in December 2025.
                    </P>
                </SUM>
                <DATES>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">DATES:</HD>
                    <P>Comments are due on or before September 23, 2026.</P>
                </DATES>
                <ADD>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">ADDRESSES:</HD>
                    <P>Pursuant to §§ 1.415 and 1.419 of the Commission's rules, 47 CFR 1.415, 1.419, interested parties may file comments on or before the dates indicated on the first page of this document. You may submit comments, identified by PS Docket No. 26-184, by any of the following methods:</P>
                    <P>
                        • 
                        <E T="03">Electronic Filers:</E>
                         Comments may be filed electronically using the internet by accessing the ECFS: 
                        <E T="03">https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs.</E>
                    </P>
                    <P>
                        • 
                        <E T="03">Paper Filers:</E>
                         Parties who choose to file by paper must file an original and one copy of each filing.
                    </P>
                    <P>• Filings can be sent by hand or messenger delivery, by commercial courier, or by the U.S. Postal Service. All filings must be addressed to the Secretary, Federal Communications Commission.</P>
                    <P>• Hand-delivered or messenger-delivered paper filings for the Commission's Secretary are accepted between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. by the FCC's mailing contractor at 9050 Junction Drive, Annapolis Junction, MD 20701. All hand deliveries must be held together with rubber bands or fasteners. Any envelopes and boxes must be disposed of before entering the building.</P>
                    <P>• Commercial courier deliveries (any deliveries not by the U.S. Postal Service) must be sent to 9050 Junction Drive, Annapolis Junction, MD 20701.</P>
                    <P>• Filings sent by U.S. Postal Service First-Class Mail, Priority Mail, and Priority Mail Express must be sent to 45 L Street NE, Washington, DC 20554.</P>
                    <P>
                        • 
                        <E T="03">People with Disabilities:</E>
                         Contact the FCC to request reasonable accommodations (accessible format documents, sign language interpreters, CART, etc.) by email: 
                        <E T="03">FCC504@fcc.gov</E>
                         or phone: 202-418-0530.
                    </P>
                </ADD>
                <FURINF>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:</HD>
                    <P>
                        Matthew Chai, Attorney Advisor, Operations and Emergency Management Division, Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau, (202) 418-1112 or 
                        <E T="03">Matthew.chai@fcc.gov.</E>
                    </P>
                </FURINF>
            </PREAMB>
            <SUPLINF>
                <HD SOURCE="HED">SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:</HD>
                <P>
                    This is a summary of the Commission's document (
                    <E T="03">Public Notice</E>
                    ) in PS Docket No. 26-184, DA 26-832, released on August 10, 2026. The full text of this document is available at: 
                    <E T="03">https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DA-26-832A1.docx.</E>
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Permit-but-disclose proceeding.</E>
                     The proceeding this 
                    <E T="03">Public Notice</E>
                     initiates shall be treated as a “permit-but-disclose” proceeding in accordance with the Commission's 
                    <E T="03">ex parte</E>
                     rules. Persons making 
                    <E T="03">ex parte</E>
                     presentations must file a copy of any written presentation or a memorandum summarizing any oral presentation within two business days after the presentation (unless a different deadline applicable to the Sunshine period applies). Persons making oral 
                    <E T="03">ex parte</E>
                     presentations are reminded that memoranda summarizing the presentation must (1) list all persons attending or otherwise participating in the meeting at which the 
                    <E T="03">ex parte</E>
                     presentation was made, and (2) summarize all data presented and arguments made during the presentation. If the presentation consisted in whole or in part of the presentation of data or arguments already reflected in the presenter's written comments, memoranda or other filings in the proceeding, the presenter 
                    <PRTPAGE P="54714"/>
                    may provide citations to such data or arguments in his or her prior comments, memoranda, or other filings (specifying the relevant page and/or paragraph numbers where such data or arguments can be found) in lieu of summarizing them in the memorandum. Documents shown or given to Commission staff during 
                    <E T="03">ex parte</E>
                     meetings are deemed to be written 
                    <E T="03">ex parte</E>
                     presentations and must be filed consistent with rule 1.1206(b). In proceedings governed by rule 1.49(f) or for which the Commission has made available a method of electronic filing, written 
                    <E T="03">ex parte</E>
                     presentations and memoranda summarizing oral 
                    <E T="03">ex parte</E>
                     presentations, and all attachments thereto, must be filed through the electronic comment filing system available for that proceeding, and must be filed in their native format (
                    <E T="03">e.g.,</E>
                     .doc, .xml, .ppt, searchable .pdf). Participants in this proceeding should familiarize themselves with the Commission's 
                    <E T="03">ex parte</E>
                     rules.
                </P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">Synopsis</HD>
                <P>
                    In October 2025, the Commission adopted the 
                    <E T="03">EA Security Second R&amp;O</E>
                     (90 FR 53227) which established a procedure to limit the scope of an existing authorization of covered equipment to prohibit continued importation or marketing of such equipment, without revoking the underlying authorization. The Commission directed PSHSB and OET to “institute proceedings to determine whether to apply these prohibitions to some or all of the equipment currently on the Covered List” and it delegated authority to PSHSB and OET to apply such prohibitions pursuant to the framework and process outlined in the 
                    <E T="03">EA Security Second R&amp;O.</E>
                     Under § 2.939(e), PSHSB and OET “may place limitations on an existing authorization for covered equipment authorizations to prohibit continued importation or marketing” of such equipment.
                </P>
                <P>On December 22, 2025, PSHSB added all UAS and UAS critical components produced in a foreign country to the Covered List, and all communications and video surveillance equipment and services listed in section 1709 of the FY2025 NDAA, to the Covered List. These additions were based on a National Security Determination from an Executive Branch interagency body, including several appropriate national security agencies, determining (among other things) that such equipment and services pose an unacceptable risk to the national security of the United States and to the safety and security of United States persons.</P>
                <P>On May 8, 2026, the Enforcement Bureau opened an investigation and issued a Letter of Inquiry (LOI) to Anzu, a United States-based UAS company, based on publicly available information that Anzu was producing devices listed in section 1709 of the FY2025 NDAA. On July 9, 2026, Anzu responded to the LOI in a confidential filing. Public sources suggest that Anzu devices are produced by an entity with a technology sharing or licensing agreement with an entity named in section 1709 and thus are considered covered equipment. Anzu's UAS and UAS controllers would also be covered equipment because they are produced in Malaysia, a foreign country.</P>
                <P>Pursuant to § 2.939(e), PSHSB and OET propose to prohibit the continued importation and marketing of certain previously-authorized covered equipment referenced above. We tentatively conclude that such equipment is covered equipment. Specifically, we propose to apply these prohibitions to the following covered equipment: communications and video surveillance equipment listed in section 1709 produced by Anzu, including FCC IDs 2BBYS-RAPTOR and 2BBYS-RRC01. As stated above, public reporting indicates that this equipment is listed in section 1709 of the FY2025 NDAA, because it is produced by an entity with a technology licensing or sharing agreement with an entity named in section 1709 and because the equipment is produced in a foreign country.</P>
                <P>This proposed prohibition would not apply to any other already-authorized covered equipment. It also would not apply to importation or marketing for federal government use or for commercial testing and product development, and would not affect the continued use or operation of already-purchased equipment.</P>
                <P>We seek comment on our tentative conclusions that the above-referenced equipment is covered equipment. We invite commenters to provide specific evidence in response to our tentative conclusions. Below, we provide a brief analysis of the relevant factors that would justify limitation on the authorization of previously authorized “covered” equipment and tentatively conclude that prohibiting the continued importation and marketing of this previously authorized covered equipment serves the public interest.</P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">National security impacts.</E>
                     As the Commission recognized in the 
                    <E T="03">EA Security Second R&amp;O,</E>
                     “[i]t is obvious and unarguable that no governmental interest is more compelling than the security of the Nation.” The Commission further stated that older models of covered equipment, which continue to be widely sold in the United States, pose an unacceptable risk to national security when imported or marketed, “not only when such equipment is new to the market.” The Commission agreed with commenters who observed that certain previously authorized devices now categorized as covered equipment “likely remain[ ] marketable in the United States” and “may present continuing national security threats.”
                </P>
                <P>
                    An Executive Branch interagency body with appropriate national security expertise, including appropriate national security agencies, one of whom was the DoW, specifically determined that UAS and UAS critical components produced in foreign countries and communications and video surveillance equipment and services listed in section 1709 of the FY2025 NDAA “pose unacceptable risks to the national security of the United States or the safety and security of United States persons.” This determination of “unacceptable risks” was based on an assessment of “threats from unauthorized surveillance, sensitive data exfiltration, supply chain vulnerabilities, and other potential threats to the homeland.” We believe this determination included all already-authorized covered equipment described in this 
                    <E T="03">Public Notice,</E>
                     which are communications and video surveillance equipment and services listed in section 1709 of the FY2025 NDAA. We tentatively accept this determination and “give [it] particular weight,” as the Commission directed.
                </P>
                <P>
                    Therefore, based on the 
                    <E T="03">EA Security Second R&amp;O</E>
                     and the December 21, 2025, National Security Determination, we tentatively conclude that prohibiting the continued importation and marketing of this previously communications and video surveillance equipment and services listed in section 1709 of the FY2025 NDAA as described above is necessary to protect national security by mitigating risks to the United States communications sector.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Economic and supply chain impacts.</E>
                     We seek comment on the potential economic and supply chain impacts of prohibiting the continued importation and marketing of the above-referenced already-authorized covered equipment. How would this proposed action affect the financial interests of consumers, providers, and manufacturers in the communications sector? As the Commission noted in the 
                    <E T="03">EA Security Second R&amp;O,</E>
                     it may consider “countervailing economic concerns when implementing the prohibitions for 
                    <PRTPAGE P="54715"/>
                    already-authorized devices.” What are the economic or supply chain considerations that weigh in favor of or against taking this proposed action? We invite commenters to provide data that we should consider in our analysis.
                </P>
                <P>We tentatively conclude that our proposed action would not have substantial economic and supply chain impacts, especially given that the devices subject to the proposed limitation appear to comprise a very small share of the market. Anzu does not appear in major industry market analyses or rankings. Do commenters agree that economic and supply chain impacts are relatively minor? Could other equipment fill any gaps that may be created by this proposed prohibition? Has the Conditional Approval process provided an adequate source for trusted equipment now or in the future? Would this proposal be cost-effective for the public in terms of obtaining trusted equipment? Would providers' compliance costs decrease as they replace covered equipment with trusted equipment? We strongly encourage commenters to supply data and other specific evidence of economic costs to this prohibition.</P>
                <P>We seek comment on any economic benefits that may arise as a result of these prohibitions. Following the initial update to the Covered List, billions of dollars have been raised by domestic UAS producers, creating thousands of United States manufacturing jobs. Billions more have been committed for domestic production of UAS and UAS critical components. These investments include capital from domestic investors as well as foreign investors supporting United States manufacturing. We tentatively conclude that if the proposed prohibitions generated economic harm by noticeably reducing supply, such prohibition would spur investments in domestic production that would generate a countervailing positive economic impact. Do commenters agree? We seek comment on the economic effects of the likely investment in United States production that this proposed prohibition would yield.</P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Public interest analysis.</E>
                     We tentatively conclude that prohibiting the continued importation and marketing of the previously authorized covered equipment subject to this 
                    <E T="03">Public Notice</E>
                     is consistent with the public interest because it protects American communications networks from devices specifically determined by an Executive Branch interagency body to “pose an unacceptable risk to the national security of the United States or the security and safety of United States persons.” We also tentatively conclude that there are no public interest factors that outweigh our tentative conclusion regarding the proposed ban on import and marketing of this previously authorized covered equipment. We seek comment on this analysis. Do commenters agree that the national security benefits outweigh any negative economic or supply chain factors? Are there any other public interest considerations that weigh in favor or against taking this proposed action? We invite commenters to provide any information that would assist the Commission in its balancing of the need to address the national security risks posed by the continued importation and marketing of previously authorized covered equipment in communications networks with the impact of the proposed prohibitions on government partners, consumers, industry, and the public at large.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Existing authorizations.</E>
                     We clarify that, if this prohibition is adopted, the continued use of previously authorized UAS and UAS critical components that are foreign-produced, as well as communications and video surveillance equipment listed in section 1709 of the FY2025 NDAA and addressed in this 
                    <E T="03">Public Notice,</E>
                     would remain authorized.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Implementation timeline.</E>
                     We propose that Anzu must cease all importation and marketing activities within 30 days after publication in the 
                    <E T="04">Federal Register</E>
                    . We seek comment on the proposed timeline from the responsible parties and relevant manufacturers, importers, distributors, retailers, and other interested entities. Specifically, we request comment on implementation considerations including the quantity of devices already imported into the United States and available for—or being held for—marketing or sale; new or recently updated device models that are en route to the United States or pending shipment; and devices subject to executed distribution, marketing, or sales agreements, but have not yet entered the supply chain.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Authority:</E>
                     47 U.S.C. 151, 154, 229, 301, 302a(b), 303, 1004, 1601-1609; Secure Equipment Act of 2021, Pub. L. 117-55, 135 Stat. 423.
                </P>
                <SIG>
                    <FP>Federal Communications Commission.</FP>
                    <NAME>Zenji Nakazawa,</NAME>
                    <TITLE>Chief, Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau.</TITLE>
                </SIG>
            </SUPLINF>
            <FRDOC>[FR Doc. 2026-17193 Filed 8-21-26; 8:45 am]</FRDOC>
            <BILCOD>BILLING CODE 6712-01-P</BILCOD>
        </NOTICE>
        <NOTICE>
            <PREAMB>
                <AGENCY TYPE="N">DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES</AGENCY>
                <SUBAGY>Food and Drug Administration</SUBAGY>
                <DEPDOC>[Docket No. FDA-2004-N-0451]</DEPDOC>
                <SUBJECT>Food and Drug Administration Modernization Act of 1997: Modifications to the List of Recognized Standards, Recognition List Number: 066</SUBJECT>
                <AGY>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">AGENCY:</HD>
                    <P>Food and Drug Administration, HHS.</P>
                </AGY>
                <ACT>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">ACTION:</HD>
                    <P>Notice.</P>
                </ACT>
                <SUM>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">SUMMARY:</HD>
                    <P>The Food and Drug Administration (FDA or the Agency) is announcing a publication containing modifications the Agency is making to the list of standards FDA recognizes for use in premarket reviews (FDA Recognized Consensus Standards). This publication, entitled “Modifications to the List of Recognized Standards, Recognition List Number: 066” (Recognition List Number: 066), will assist manufacturers who elect to declare conformity with consensus standards to meet certain requirements for medical devices.</P>
                </SUM>
                <DATES>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">DATES:</HD>
                    <P>Submit either electronic or written comments on the notice at any time. These modifications to the list of recognized standards are applicable August 24, 2026.</P>
                </DATES>
                <ADD>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">ADDRESSES:</HD>
                    <P>You may submit comments on the current list of FDA Recognized Consensus Standards at any time as follows:</P>
                </ADD>
                <HD SOURCE="HD2">Electronic Submissions</HD>
                <P>Submit electronic comments in the following way:</P>
                <P>
                    • 
                    <E T="03">Federal eRulemaking Portal:</E>
                      
                    <E T="03">https://www.regulations.gov.</E>
                     Follow the instructions for submitting comments. Comments submitted electronically, including attachments, to 
                    <E T="03">https://www.regulations.gov</E>
                     will be posted to the docket unchanged. Because your comment will be made public, you are solely responsible for ensuring that your comment does not include any confidential information that you or a third party may not wish to be posted, such as medical information, your or anyone else's Social Security number, or confidential business information, such as a manufacturing process. Please note that if you include your name, contact information, or other information that identifies you in the body of your comments, that information will be posted on 
                    <E T="03">https://www.regulations.gov.</E>
                </P>
                <P>
                    • If you want to submit a comment with confidential information that you do not wish to be made available to the 
                    <PRTPAGE P="54716"/>
                    public, submit the comment as a written/paper submission and in the manner detailed (see “Written/Paper Submissions” and “Instructions”).
                </P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD2">Written/Paper Submissions</HD>
                <P>Submit written/paper submissions as follows:</P>
                <P>
                    • 
                    <E T="03">Mail/Hand Delivery/Courier (for written/paper submissions):</E>
                     Dockets Management Staff (HFA-305), Food and Drug Administration, 5630 Fishers Lane, Rm. 1061, Rockville, MD 20852.
                </P>
                <P>• For written/paper comments submitted to the Dockets Management Staff, FDA will post your comment, as well as any attachments, except for information submitted, marked and identified, as confidential, if submitted as detailed in “Instructions.”</P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Instructions:</E>
                     All submissions received must include the Docket No. FDA-2004-N-0451 for “Food and Drug Administration Modernization Act of 1997: Modifications to the List of Recognized Standards, Recognition List Number: 066.” Received comments will be placed in the docket and, except for those submitted as “Confidential Submissions,” publicly viewable at 
                    <E T="03">https://www.regulations.gov</E>
                     or at the Dockets Management Staff between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, 240-402-7500. FDA will consider any comments received in determining whether to amend the current listing of modifications to the list of recognized standards, Recognition List Number: 066.
                </P>
                <P>
                    • Confidential Submissions—To submit a comment with confidential information that you do not wish to be made publicly available, submit your comments only as a written/paper submission. You should submit two copies total. One copy will include the information you claim to be confidential with a heading or cover note that states “THIS DOCUMENT CONTAINS CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION.” The Agency will review this copy, including the claimed confidential information, in its consideration of comments. The second copy, which will have the claimed confidential information redacted/blacked out, will be available for public viewing and posted on 
                    <E T="03">https://www.regulations.gov.</E>
                     Submit both copies to the Dockets Management Staff. If you do not wish your name and contact information to be made publicly available, you can provide this information on the cover sheet and not in the body of your comments and you must identify this information as “confidential.” Any information marked as “confidential” will not be disclosed except in accordance with 21 CFR 10.20 and other applicable disclosure law. For more information about FDA's posting of comments to public dockets, see 80 FR 56469, September 18, 2015, or access the information at: 
                    <E T="03">https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2015-09-18/pdf/2015-23389.pdf.</E>
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Docket:</E>
                     For access to the docket to read background documents or the electronic and written/paper comments received, go to 
                    <E T="03">https://www.regulations.gov</E>
                     and insert the docket number, found in brackets in the heading of this document, into the “Search” box and follow the prompts and/or go to the Dockets Management Staff, 5630 Fishers Lane, Rm. 1061, Rockville, MD 20852, 240-402-7500.
                </P>
                <P>
                    An electronic copy of Recognition List Number: 066 is available on the internet at 
                    <E T="03">https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/division-standards-and-conformity-assessment/federal-register-documents.</E>
                     See section IV for electronic access to the searchable database for the current list of FDA-recognized consensus standards, including Recognition List Number: 066 modifications and other standards-related information. Submit written requests for a single hard copy of the document entitled “Modifications to the List of Recognized Standards, Recognition List Number: 066” to Terry Woods, Center for Devices and Radiological Health, Food and Drug Administration, 10903 New Hampshire Ave., Bldg. 66, Rm. 5612, Silver Spring, MD 20993, 301-796-2503. Send one self-addressed adhesive label to assist that office in processing your request or fax your request to 301-847-8144.
                </P>
                <FURINF>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:</HD>
                    <P>
                        Terry Woods, Center for Devices and Radiological Health, Food and Drug Administration, 10903 New Hampshire Ave., Bldg. 66, Rm. 5612, Silver Spring, MD 20993, 301-796-2503, 
                        <E T="03">CDRHStandardsStaff@fda.hhs.gov.</E>
                    </P>
                </FURINF>
            </PREAMB>
            <SUPLINF>
                <HD SOURCE="HED">SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:</HD>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">I. Background</HD>
                <P>Section 204 of the Food and Drug Administration Modernization Act of 1997 (Pub. L. 105-115) amended section 514 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&amp;C Act) (21 U.S.C. 360d). Amended section 514 of the FD&amp;C Act allows FDA to recognize consensus standards developed by international and national organizations for use in satisfying portions of device premarket review submissions or other requirements.</P>
                <P>
                    In the 
                    <E T="04">Federal Register</E>
                     of September 14, 2018 (83 FR 46738), FDA announced the availability of a guidance entitled “Appropriate Use of Voluntary Consensus Standards in Premarket Submissions for Medical Devices.” The guidance describes how FDA has implemented its standards recognition program and is available at 
                    <E T="03">https://www.fda.gov/regulatory-information/search-fda-guidance-documents/appropriate-use-voluntary-consensus-standards-premarket-submissions-medical-devices.</E>
                     Modifications to the initial list of recognized standards, as published in the 
                    <E T="04">Federal Register</E>
                    , can be accessed at 
                    <E T="03">https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/standards-and-conformity-assessment-program/federal-register-documents.</E>
                </P>
                <P>
                    These notices describe the addition, withdrawal, and revision of certain standards recognized by FDA. The Agency maintains on its website HTML and PDF versions of the list of FDA Recognized Consensus Standards, available at 
                    <E T="03">https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/standards-and-conformity-assessment-program/federal-register-documents.</E>
                     Additional information on the Agency's Division of Standards and Conformity Assessment is available at 
                    <E T="03">https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/premarket-submissions-selecting-and-preparing-correct-submission/division-standards-and-conformity-assessment.</E>
                </P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">II. Modifications to the List of Recognized Standards, Recognition List Number: 066</HD>
                <P>FDA is announcing the addition, withdrawal, correction, and revision of certain consensus standards the Agency is recognizing for use in premarket submissions and other requirements for devices. FDA is incorporating these modifications to the list of FDA Recognized Consensus Standards in the Agency's searchable database. FDA is using the term “Recognition List Number: 066” to identify the current modifications.</P>
                <P>In table 1, FDA describes the following modifications: (1) the withdrawal of standards and their replacement by others, if applicable; (2) the correction of errors made by FDA in listing previously recognized standards; and (3) the changes to the supplementary information sheets of recognized standards that describe revisions to the applicability of the standards.</P>
                <P>
                    In section III of this notice, FDA lists modifications the Agency is making that involve new entries and consensus standards added as modifications to the list of recognized standards under Recognition List Number: 066.
                    <PRTPAGE P="54717"/>
                </P>
                <GPOTABLE COLS="4" OPTS="L2,nj,i1" CDEF="xs50,11,r110,r50">
                    <TTITLE>Table 1—Modifications to the List of Recognized Standards</TTITLE>
                    <BOXHD>
                        <CHED H="1">
                            Old
                            <LI>recognition</LI>
                            <LI>No.</LI>
                        </CHED>
                        <CHED H="1">
                            Replacement
                            <LI>recognition</LI>
                            <LI>No.</LI>
                        </CHED>
                        <CHED H="1">
                            Title of standard 
                            <SU>1</SU>
                        </CHED>
                        <CHED H="1">Change</CHED>
                    </BOXHD>
                    <ROW EXPSTB="03" RUL="s">
                        <ENT I="21">
                            <E T="02">A. Anesthesiology</E>
                        </ENT>
                    </ROW>
                    <ROW EXPSTB="00" RUL="s">
                        <ENT I="01">1-157</ENT>
                        <ENT>1-203</ENT>
                        <ENT>ISO 10079-1 Fourth edition 2022-03 [Including AMD1:2026] Medical suction equipment—Part 1: Electrically powered suction equipment [Including Amendment 1 (2026)]</ENT>
                        <ENT>Withdrawn and replaced with newer version.</ENT>
                    </ROW>
                    <ROW EXPSTB="03" RUL="s">
                        <ENT I="21">
                            <E T="02">B. Biocompatibility</E>
                        </ENT>
                    </ROW>
                    <ROW EXPSTB="00">
                        <ENT I="01">2-258</ENT>
                        <ENT>2-313</ENT>
                        <ENT>ISO 10993-1 Sixth edition 2025-11 Biological evaluation of medical devices—Part 1: Requirements and general principles for the evaluation of biological safety within a risk management process</ENT>
                        <ENT>Withdrawn and replaced with newer version.</ENT>
                    </ROW>
                    <ROW RUL="s">
                        <ENT I="01">2-289</ENT>
                        <ENT>2-314</ENT>
                        <ENT>ISO 10993-12 Fifth edition 2021-01 [Including AMD1:2025] Biological evaluation of medical devices—Part 12: Sample preparation and reference materials [Including AMENDMENT 1 (2025)]</ENT>
                        <ENT>Withdrawn and replaced with newer version.</ENT>
                    </ROW>
                    <ROW EXPSTB="03" RUL="s">
                        <ENT I="21">
                            <E T="02">C. Cardiovascular</E>
                        </ENT>
                    </ROW>
                    <ROW EXPSTB="00">
                        <ENT I="01">3-173</ENT>
                        <ENT>3-204</ENT>
                        <ENT>ISO 5840-3 Second edition 2021-01 [Including AMD1:2025] Cardiovascular implants—Cardiac valve prostheses—Part 3: Heart valve substitutes implanted by transcatheter techniques [Including: AMENDMENT 1 (2025)]</ENT>
                        <ENT>Withdrawn and replaced with newer version.</ENT>
                    </ROW>
                    <ROW>
                        <ENT I="01">3-174</ENT>
                        <ENT>3-205</ENT>
                        <ENT>ISO 5840-1 Second edition 2021-01 [Including AMD1:2025] Cardiovascular implants—Cardiac valve prostheses—Part 1: General requirements [Including: AMENDMENT 1 (2025)]</ENT>
                        <ENT>Withdrawn and replaced with newer version.</ENT>
                    </ROW>
                    <ROW>
                        <ENT I="01">3-175</ENT>
                        <ENT>3-206</ENT>
                        <ENT>ISO 5840-2 Second edition 2021-01 [Including AMD1:2025] Cardiovascular implants—Cardiac valve prostheses—Part 2: Surgically implanted heart valve substitutes [Including: AMENDMENT 1 (2025)]</ENT>
                        <ENT>Withdrawn and replaced with newer version.</ENT>
                    </ROW>
                    <ROW RUL="s">
                        <ENT I="01">3-189</ENT>
                        <ENT>3-207</ENT>
                        <ENT>ASTM F2942-25 Standard Guide for in vitro Axial, Bending, Torsional, and Compression Durability Testing of Vascular Stents and Vascular Stent-Grafts</ENT>
                        <ENT>Withdrawn and replaced with newer version.</ENT>
                    </ROW>
                    <ROW EXPSTB="03" RUL="s">
                        <ENT I="21">
                            <E T="02">D. Dental/Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT)</E>
                        </ENT>
                    </ROW>
                    <ROW EXPSTB="00" RUL="s">
                        <ENT I="01">4-278</ENT>
                        <ENT>4-368</ENT>
                        <ENT>ISO 4823 Sixth edition 2025-06 Dentistry—Elastomeric impression and bite registration materials</ENT>
                        <ENT>Withdrawn and replaced with newer version.</ENT>
                    </ROW>
                    <ROW EXPSTB="03" RUL="s">
                        <ENT I="21">
                            <E T="02">E. General I (Quality Systems/Risk Management) (QS/RM)</E>
                        </ENT>
                    </ROW>
                    <ROW EXPSTB="00" RUL="s">
                        <ENT I="01">5-135</ENT>
                        <ENT>5-149</ENT>
                        <ENT>ISO 20417 Second edition 2026-03 Medical devices—Information to be supplied by the manufacturer</ENT>
                        <ENT>Withdrawn and replaced with newer version.</ENT>
                    </ROW>
                    <ROW EXPSTB="03" RUL="s">
                        <ENT I="21">
                            <E T="02">F. General II (Electrical Safety/Electromagnetic Compatibility) (ES/EMC)</E>
                        </ENT>
                    </ROW>
                    <ROW EXPSTB="03" RUL="s">
                        <ENT I="21">No new entries at this time.</ENT>
                    </ROW>
                    <ROW EXPSTB="03" RUL="s">
                        <ENT I="21">
                            <E T="02">G. General Hospital/General Plastic Surgery (GH/GPS)</E>
                        </ENT>
                    </ROW>
                    <ROW EXPSTB="00" RUL="s">
                        <ENT I="01">6-389</ENT>
                        <ENT>6-521</ENT>
                        <ENT>IEC 60601-2-2 Edition 6.1 2023-02 CONSOLIDATED VERSION Corrected Version 2025-11 Medical electrical equipment—Part 2-2: Particular requirements for the basic safety and essential performance of high frequency surgical equipment and high frequency surgical accessories</ENT>
                        <ENT>Extent of recognition. Withdrawn and replaced with newer version.</ENT>
                    </ROW>
                    <ROW EXPSTB="03" RUL="s">
                        <ENT I="21">
                            <E T="02">H. In Vitro Diagnostics (IVD)</E>
                        </ENT>
                    </ROW>
                    <ROW EXPSTB="03" RUL="s">
                        <ENT I="21">No new entries at this time.</ENT>
                    </ROW>
                    <ROW EXPSTB="03" RUL="s">
                        <ENT I="21">
                            <E T="02">I. Materials</E>
                        </ENT>
                    </ROW>
                    <ROW EXPSTB="00">
                        <ENT I="01">8-485</ENT>
                        <ENT>8-647</ENT>
                        <ENT>ASTM F3260-25 Standard Test Method for Determining the Flexural Stiffness of Medical Textiles</ENT>
                        <ENT>Withdrawn and replaced with newer version.</ENT>
                    </ROW>
                    <ROW>
                        <ENT I="01">8-520</ENT>
                        <ENT>8-648</ENT>
                        <ENT>ASTM F799-25 Standard Specification for Cobalt-28 Chromium-6 Molybdenum Alloy Forgings for Surgical Implants (UNS R31537, R31538, R31539)</ENT>
                        <ENT>Withdrawn and replaced with newer version.</ENT>
                    </ROW>
                    <ROW RUL="s">
                        <ENT I="01">8-602</ENT>
                        <ENT>8-649</ENT>
                        <ENT>ASTM F2503-26 Standard Practice for Marking Medical Devices and Other Items for Safety in the Magnetic Resonance Environment</ENT>
                        <ENT>Withdrawn and replaced with newer version.</ENT>
                    </ROW>
                    <ROW EXPSTB="03" RUL="s">
                        <PRTPAGE P="54718"/>
                        <ENT I="21">
                            <E T="02">J. Nanotechnology</E>
                        </ENT>
                    </ROW>
                    <ROW EXPSTB="00" RUL="s">
                        <ENT I="01">18-16</ENT>
                        <ENT>18-25</ENT>
                        <ENT>ISO 21362 First edition 2026-02 Nanotechnologies—Analysis of nano-objects using asymmetrical flow and centrifugal field-flow fractionation</ENT>
                        <ENT>Withdrawn and replaced with newer version.</ENT>
                    </ROW>
                    <ROW EXPSTB="03" RUL="s">
                        <ENT I="21">
                            <E T="02">K. Neurology</E>
                        </ENT>
                    </ROW>
                    <ROW EXPSTB="03" RUL="s">
                        <ENT I="21">No new entries at this time.</ENT>
                    </ROW>
                    <ROW EXPSTB="03" RUL="s">
                        <ENT I="21">
                            <E T="02">L. Obstetrics-Gynecology/Gastroenterology/Urology (OB-Gyn/G/Urology)</E>
                        </ENT>
                    </ROW>
                    <ROW EXPSTB="00">
                        <ENT I="01">9-133</ENT>
                        <ENT>9-152</ENT>
                        <ENT>ISO 23500-1 Second edition 2024-08 Preparation and quality management of fluids for haemodialysis and related therapies—Part 1: General requirements</ENT>
                        <ENT>Extent of recognition. Withdrawn and replaced with newer version.</ENT>
                    </ROW>
                    <ROW>
                        <ENT I="01">9-134</ENT>
                        <ENT>9-153</ENT>
                        <ENT>ISO 23500-2 Second edition 2024-07 Preparation and quality management of fluids for haemodialysis and related therapies—Part 2: Water treatment equipment for haemodialysis applications and related therapies</ENT>
                        <ENT>Withdrawn and replaced with newer version.</ENT>
                    </ROW>
                    <ROW>
                        <ENT I="01">9-135</ENT>
                        <ENT>9-154</ENT>
                        <ENT>ISO 23500-3 Second edition 2024-04 Preparation and quality management of fluids for haemodialysis and related therapies—Part 3: Water for haemodialysis and related therapies</ENT>
                        <ENT>Withdrawn and replaced with newer version.</ENT>
                    </ROW>
                    <ROW>
                        <ENT I="01">9-136</ENT>
                        <ENT>9-155</ENT>
                        <ENT>ISO 23500-4 Second edition 2024-04 Preparation and quality management of fluids for haemodialysis and related therapies—Part 4: Concentrates for haemodialysis and related therapies</ENT>
                        <ENT>Extent of recognition. Withdrawn and replaced with newer version.</ENT>
                    </ROW>
                    <ROW RUL="s">
                        <ENT I="01">9-137</ENT>
                        <ENT>9-156</ENT>
                        <ENT>ISO 23500-5 Second edition 2024-04 Preparation and quality management of fluids for haemodialysis and related therapies—Part 5: Quality of dialysis fluid for haemodialysis and related therapies</ENT>
                        <ENT>Withdrawn and replaced with newer version.</ENT>
                    </ROW>
                    <ROW EXPSTB="03" RUL="s">
                        <ENT I="21">
                            <E T="02">M. Ophthalmic</E>
                        </ENT>
                    </ROW>
                    <ROW EXPSTB="03" RUL="s">
                        <ENT I="21">No new entries at this time.</ENT>
                    </ROW>
                    <ROW EXPSTB="03" RUL="s">
                        <ENT I="21">
                            <E T="02">N. Orthopedic</E>
                        </ENT>
                    </ROW>
                    <ROW EXPSTB="00">
                        <ENT I="01">11-175</ENT>
                        <ENT/>
                        <ENT>ASTM F1582-98 (Reapproved 2016) Standard Terminology Relating to Spinal Implants</ENT>
                        <ENT>Withdrawn.</ENT>
                    </ROW>
                    <ROW>
                        <ENT I="01">11-247</ENT>
                        <ENT>11-441</ENT>
                        <ENT>ASTM F2789-25 Standard Guide for Mechanical and Functional Characterization of Nucleus Devices</ENT>
                        <ENT>Withdrawn and replaced with newer version.</ENT>
                    </ROW>
                    <ROW>
                        <ENT I="01">11-290</ENT>
                        <ENT/>
                        <ENT>ISO 8828 Second edition 2014-11-15 Implants for surgery—Guidance on care and handling of orthopaedic implants</ENT>
                        <ENT>Withdrawn.</ENT>
                    </ROW>
                    <ROW>
                        <ENT I="01">11-319</ENT>
                        <ENT>11-442</ENT>
                        <ENT>ISO 7206-12 Second edition 2025-11 Implants for surgery—Partial and total hip joint prostheses—Part 12: Deformation test method for press-fit acetabular components</ENT>
                        <ENT>Withdrawn and replaced with newer version.</ENT>
                    </ROW>
                    <ROW>
                        <ENT I="01">11-346</ENT>
                        <ENT>11-443</ENT>
                        <ENT>ASTM F2706-25 Standard Test Methods for Occipital-Cervical and Occipital-Cervical-Thoracic Spinal Implant Constructs in a Vertebrectomy Model</ENT>
                        <ENT>Withdrawn and replaced with newer version.</ENT>
                    </ROW>
                    <ROW>
                        <ENT I="01">11-353</ENT>
                        <ENT>11-444</ENT>
                        <ENT>ISO 18192-3 Second edition 2025-11 Implants for surgery—Wear of total intervertebral spinal disc prostheses—Part 3: Impingement-wear testing and corresponding environmental conditions for test of lumbar and cervical prostheses</ENT>
                        <ENT>Withdrawn and replaced with newer version.</ENT>
                    </ROW>
                    <ROW>
                        <ENT I="01">11-371</ENT>
                        <ENT>11-445</ENT>
                        <ENT>ASTM F2009-25 Standard Test Method for Determining the Axial Disassembly Force of Taper Connections of Modular Prostheses</ENT>
                        <ENT>Withdrawn and replaced with newer version.</ENT>
                    </ROW>
                    <ROW RUL="s">
                        <ENT I="01">11-398</ENT>
                        <ENT>11-446</ENT>
                        <ENT>ASTM F3574-25 Standard Test Methods for Sacroiliac Joint Fusion Devices</ENT>
                        <ENT>Withdrawn and replaced with newer version.</ENT>
                    </ROW>
                    <ROW EXPSTB="03" RUL="s">
                        <ENT I="21">
                            <E T="02">O. Physical Medicine</E>
                        </ENT>
                    </ROW>
                    <ROW EXPSTB="00" RUL="s">
                        <ENT I="01">16-166</ENT>
                        <ENT>16-240</ENT>
                        <ENT>ISO 7176-21 Third edition 2025-04 Wheelchairs—Requirements and test methods for electromagnetic compatibility of electrically powered wheelchairs and scooters, and battery chargers</ENT>
                        <ENT>Withdrawn and replaced with newer version.</ENT>
                    </ROW>
                    <ROW EXPSTB="03" RUL="s">
                        <ENT I="21">
                            <E T="02">P. Radiology</E>
                        </ENT>
                    </ROW>
                    <ROW EXPSTB="00" RUL="s">
                        <ENT I="01">12-51, 12-303</ENT>
                        <ENT>12-386</ENT>
                        <ENT>IEC 63465 Edition 1.0 2026-01 Calibration and quality control in the use of radionuclide calibrators</ENT>
                        <ENT>Withdrawn and replaced with newer version.</ENT>
                    </ROW>
                    <ROW EXPSTB="03" RUL="s">
                        <ENT I="21">
                            <E T="02">Q. Software/Informatics</E>
                        </ENT>
                    </ROW>
                    <ROW EXPSTB="00">
                        <ENT I="01">13-106</ENT>
                        <ENT>13-157</ENT>
                        <ENT>IEEE Std. 11073-10207-2017 [Including Cor 1-2025] Standard Health informatics—Point of care medical device communication Part 10207: Domain Information and Service Model for Service-Oriented Point-of-Care Medical Device Communication [Including Corrigendum 1 (2025)]</ENT>
                        <ENT>Withdrawn and replaced with newer version.</ENT>
                    </ROW>
                    <ROW RUL="s">
                        <PRTPAGE P="54719"/>
                        <ENT I="01">13-142</ENT>
                        <ENT/>
                        <ENT>FIRST CVSS 3.1 Common Vulnerability Scoring System version 3.1</ENT>
                        <ENT>Transition period extended.</ENT>
                    </ROW>
                    <ROW EXPSTB="03" RUL="s">
                        <ENT I="21">
                            <E T="02">R. Sterility</E>
                        </ENT>
                    </ROW>
                    <ROW EXPSTB="03" RUL="s">
                        <ENT I="21">No new entries at this time.</ENT>
                    </ROW>
                    <ROW EXPSTB="03" RUL="s">
                        <ENT I="21">
                            <E T="02">S. Tissue Engineering</E>
                        </ENT>
                    </ROW>
                    <ROW EXPSTB="00">
                        <ENT I="01">15-52</ENT>
                        <ENT>15-70</ENT>
                        <ENT>ASTM F2064-25 Standard Guide for Characterization and Testing of Alginates as Starting Materials Intended for Use in Biomedical and Tissue Engineered Medical Product Applications</ENT>
                        <ENT>Withdrawn and replaced with newer version.</ENT>
                    </ROW>
                    <TNOTE>
                        <SU>1</SU>
                         All standard titles in this table conform to the style requirements of the respective organizations.
                    </TNOTE>
                </GPOTABLE>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">III. Listing of New Entries</HD>
                <P>In table 2, FDA provides the listing of new entries and consensus standards added as modifications to the list of recognized standards under Recognition List Number: 066. These entries are of standards not previously recognized by FDA.</P>
                <GPOTABLE COLS="3" OPTS="L2,nj,i1" CDEF="xs48,r120,r100">
                    <TTITLE>Table 2—New Entries to the List of Recognized Standards</TTITLE>
                    <BOXHD>
                        <CHED H="1">
                            Recognition
                            <LI>No.</LI>
                        </CHED>
                        <CHED H="1">
                            Title of standard 
                            <SU>1</SU>
                        </CHED>
                        <CHED H="1">Reference No. and date</CHED>
                    </BOXHD>
                    <ROW EXPSTB="02" RUL="s">
                        <ENT I="21">
                            <E T="02">A. Anesthesiology</E>
                        </ENT>
                    </ROW>
                    <ROW EXPSTB="02" RUL="s">
                        <ENT I="21">No new entries at this time.</ENT>
                    </ROW>
                    <ROW EXPSTB="02" RUL="s">
                        <ENT I="21">
                            <E T="02">B. Biocompatibility</E>
                        </ENT>
                    </ROW>
                    <ROW EXPSTB="02" RUL="s">
                        <ENT I="21">No new entries at this time.</ENT>
                    </ROW>
                    <ROW EXPSTB="02" RUL="s">
                        <ENT I="21">
                            <E T="02">C. Cardiovascular</E>
                        </ENT>
                    </ROW>
                    <ROW EXPSTB="02" RUL="s">
                        <ENT I="21">No new entries at this time.</ENT>
                    </ROW>
                    <ROW EXPSTB="02" RUL="s">
                        <ENT I="21">
                            <E T="02">D. Dental/ENT</E>
                        </ENT>
                    </ROW>
                    <ROW EXPSTB="00">
                        <ENT I="01">4-369</ENT>
                        <ENT>Periodontal Curettes, Dental Scalers and Excavators</ENT>
                        <ENT>ANSI/ADA Standard No. 113-2015.</ENT>
                    </ROW>
                    <ROW>
                        <ENT I="01">4-370</ENT>
                        <ENT>Casting Investments and Refractory Die Materials</ENT>
                        <ENT>ANSI/ADA Standard No. 126-2015 (R2023).</ENT>
                    </ROW>
                    <ROW>
                        <ENT I="01">4-371</ENT>
                        <ENT>Denture Adhesives</ENT>
                        <ENT>ANSI/ADA Standard No. 135-2015 (R2020).</ENT>
                    </ROW>
                    <ROW>
                        <ENT I="01">4-372</ENT>
                        <ENT>Dentistry—Dental Duplicating Material</ENT>
                        <ENT>ANSI/ADA Standard No. 141-2013 (R2023).</ENT>
                    </ROW>
                    <ROW>
                        <ENT I="01">4-373</ENT>
                        <ENT>Periodontal Probes—Dental Excavators—Discoid Type: General Requirements</ENT>
                        <ENT>ANSI/ADA Standard No. 170-2019.</ENT>
                    </ROW>
                    <ROW>
                        <ENT I="01">4-374</ENT>
                        <ENT>Dental Tweezers</ENT>
                        <ENT>ANSI/ADA Standard No. 195-2021.</ENT>
                    </ROW>
                    <ROW>
                        <ENT I="01">4-375</ENT>
                        <ENT>Spoons and Bone Curettes in Dentistry</ENT>
                        <ENT>ANSI/ADA Standard No. 197-2021.</ENT>
                    </ROW>
                    <ROW>
                        <ENT I="01">4-376</ENT>
                        <ENT>Dentistry—Dental explorer</ENT>
                        <ENT>ISO 7492 Fourth edition 2019-03.</ENT>
                    </ROW>
                    <ROW>
                        <ENT I="01">4-377</ENT>
                        <ENT>Dentistry—Extraction forceps—Part 1: General requirements</ENT>
                        <ENT>ISO 9173-1 Third edition 2016-10.</ENT>
                    </ROW>
                    <ROW>
                        <ENT I="01">4-378</ENT>
                        <ENT>Dentistry—Extraction forceps—Part 2: Designation</ENT>
                        <ENT>ISO 9173-2 First edition 2010-05.</ENT>
                    </ROW>
                    <ROW>
                        <ENT I="01">4-379</ENT>
                        <ENT>Dentistry—Extraction forceps—Part 3: Design</ENT>
                        <ENT>ISO 9173-3 First edition 2014-05.</ENT>
                    </ROW>
                    <ROW>
                        <ENT I="01">4-380</ENT>
                        <ENT>Dentistry—Magnetic attachments</ENT>
                        <ENT>ISO 13017 Second edition 2020-07.</ENT>
                    </ROW>
                    <ROW>
                        <ENT I="01">4-381</ENT>
                        <ENT>Dentistry—Dental furnace—Test method for temperature measurement with separate thermocouple</ENT>
                        <ENT>ISO 13078 First edition 2013-02.</ENT>
                    </ROW>
                    <ROW>
                        <ENT I="01">4-382</ENT>
                        <ENT>Dentistry—Dental furnace—Part 2: Test method for evaluation of furnace programme via firing glaze</ENT>
                        <ENT>ISO 13078-2 First edition 2016-07.</ENT>
                    </ROW>
                    <ROW>
                        <ENT I="01">4-383</ENT>
                        <ENT>Dentistry—Dental furnace—Part 3: Test method for the evaluation of high temperature sintering furnace measurement with a separate thermocouple</ENT>
                        <ENT>ISO 13078-3 First edition 2023-05.</ENT>
                    </ROW>
                    <ROW>
                        <ENT I="01">4-384</ENT>
                        <ENT>Periodontal curettes, dental scalers and excavators—Part 1: General requirements</ENT>
                        <ENT>ISO 13397-1 First edition 1995-12.</ENT>
                    </ROW>
                    <ROW>
                        <ENT I="01">4-385</ENT>
                        <ENT>Dentistry—Periodontal curettes, dental scalers and excavators—Part 2: Periodontal curettes of Gr-type [Including AMENDMENT 1 (2012)]</ENT>
                        <ENT>ISO 13397-2 Second edition 2005-06 [Including AMD1:2012].</ENT>
                    </ROW>
                    <ROW>
                        <ENT I="01">4-386</ENT>
                        <ENT>Periodontal curettes, dental scalers and excavators—Part 3: Dental scalers—H-type</ENT>
                        <ENT>ISO 13397-3 First edition 1996-09.</ENT>
                    </ROW>
                    <ROW>
                        <ENT I="01">4-387</ENT>
                        <ENT>Dentistry—Periodontal curettes, dental scalers and excavators—Part 5: Jacquette scalers</ENT>
                        <ENT>ISO 13397-5 First edition 2015-09.</ENT>
                    </ROW>
                    <ROW>
                        <ENT I="01">4-388</ENT>
                        <ENT>Dentistry—Duplicating material</ENT>
                        <ENT>ISO 14356 Second edition 2024-10.</ENT>
                    </ROW>
                    <ROW>
                        <ENT I="01">4-389</ENT>
                        <ENT>Dentistry—Dental tweezers</ENT>
                        <ENT>ISO 15098 Second edition 2024-07.</ENT>
                    </ROW>
                    <ROW>
                        <ENT I="01">4-390</ENT>
                        <ENT>Dentistry—Refractory investment and die material</ENT>
                        <ENT>ISO 15912 Second edition 2016-01.</ENT>
                    </ROW>
                    <ROW>
                        <PRTPAGE P="54720"/>
                        <ENT I="01">4-391</ENT>
                        <ENT>Dentistry—Minimal dental implant data set for clinical use</ENT>
                        <ENT>ISO 16498 First edition 2013-07.</ENT>
                    </ROW>
                    <ROW>
                        <ENT I="01">4-392</ENT>
                        <ENT>Dentistry—Coiled springs for use in orthodontics [Including AMENDMENT 1 (2020)]</ENT>
                        <ENT>ISO 17254 First edition 2016-07 [Including AMD1:2020].</ENT>
                    </ROW>
                    <ROW>
                        <ENT I="01">4-393</ENT>
                        <ENT>Dentistry—Reprocessable cartridge syringes for intraligamentary injections</ENT>
                        <ENT>ISO 21533 Second edition 2018-01.</ENT>
                    </ROW>
                    <ROW>
                        <ENT I="01">4-394</ENT>
                        <ENT>Dentistry—Periodontal probes—Part 1: General requirements</ENT>
                        <ENT>ISO 21672-1 First edition 2012-04.</ENT>
                    </ROW>
                    <ROW>
                        <ENT I="01">4-395</ENT>
                        <ENT>Dentistry—Materials for dental instruments—Part 1: Stainless steel</ENT>
                        <ENT>ISO 21850-1 First edition 2020-04.</ENT>
                    </ROW>
                    <ROW>
                        <ENT I="01">4-396</ENT>
                        <ENT>Dentistry—Spoons and bone curettes</ENT>
                        <ENT>ISO 22570 First edition 2020-02.</ENT>
                    </ROW>
                    <ROW>
                        <ENT I="01">4-397</ENT>
                        <ENT>Dentistry—Test methods for machining accuracy of computer-aided milling machines</ENT>
                        <ENT>ISO 23298 First edition 2023-05.</ENT>
                    </ROW>
                    <ROW>
                        <ENT I="01">4-398</ENT>
                        <ENT>Dentistry—Excavators</ENT>
                        <ENT>ISO 23940 First edition 2021-04.</ENT>
                    </ROW>
                    <ROW RUL="s">
                        <ENT I="01">4-399</ENT>
                        <ENT>Dentistry—Bonding test between polymer teeth and denture base materials</ENT>
                        <ENT>ISO TS 19736 First edition 2017-09.</ENT>
                    </ROW>
                    <ROW EXPSTB="02" RUL="s">
                        <ENT I="21">
                            <E T="02">E. General I (QS/RM)</E>
                        </ENT>
                    </ROW>
                    <ROW EXPSTB="02" RUL="s">
                        <ENT I="21">No  new entries at this time.</ENT>
                    </ROW>
                    <ROW EXPSTB="02" RUL="s">
                        <ENT I="21">
                            <E T="02">F. General II (ES/EMC)</E>
                        </ENT>
                    </ROW>
                    <ROW EXPSTB="02" RUL="s">
                        <ENT I="21">No  new entries at this time.</ENT>
                    </ROW>
                    <ROW EXPSTB="02" RUL="s">
                        <ENT I="21">
                            <E T="02">G. GH/GPS</E>
                        </ENT>
                    </ROW>
                    <ROW EXPSTB="02" RUL="s">
                        <ENT I="21">No  new entries at this time.</ENT>
                    </ROW>
                    <ROW EXPSTB="02" RUL="s">
                        <ENT I="21">
                            <E T="02">H. IVD</E>
                        </ENT>
                    </ROW>
                    <ROW EXPSTB="02" RUL="s">
                        <ENT I="21">No  new entries at this time.</ENT>
                    </ROW>
                    <ROW EXPSTB="02" RUL="s">
                        <ENT I="21">
                            <E T="02">I. Materials</E>
                        </ENT>
                    </ROW>
                    <ROW EXPSTB="00" RUL="s">
                        <ENT I="01">8-650</ENT>
                        <ENT>Standard Guide for Content and Format of Test Report Summaries for Medical and Surgical Materials and Device Standards</ENT>
                        <ENT>ASTM F3766-25.</ENT>
                    </ROW>
                    <ROW EXPSTB="02" RUL="s">
                        <ENT I="21">
                            <E T="02">J. Nanotechnology</E>
                        </ENT>
                    </ROW>
                    <ROW EXPSTB="02" RUL="s">
                        <ENT I="21">No  new entries at this time.</ENT>
                    </ROW>
                    <ROW EXPSTB="02" RUL="s">
                        <ENT I="21">
                            <E T="02">K. Neurology</E>
                        </ENT>
                    </ROW>
                    <ROW EXPSTB="00" RUL="s">
                        <ENT I="01">17-23</ENT>
                        <ENT>Medical electrical equipment—Part 2-26: Particular requirements for the basic safety and essential performance of electroencephalographs</ENT>
                        <ENT>IEC 80601-2-26 First Edition 2024-03 CONSOLIDATED VERSION.</ENT>
                    </ROW>
                    <ROW EXPSTB="02" RUL="s">
                        <ENT I="21">
                            <E T="02">L. OB-Gyn/G/Urology</E>
                        </ENT>
                    </ROW>
                    <ROW EXPSTB="02" RUL="s">
                        <ENT I="21">No  new entries at this time.</ENT>
                    </ROW>
                    <ROW EXPSTB="02" RUL="s">
                        <ENT I="21">
                            <E T="02">M. Ophthalmic</E>
                        </ENT>
                    </ROW>
                    <ROW EXPSTB="02" RUL="s">
                        <ENT I="21">No  new entries at this time.</ENT>
                    </ROW>
                    <ROW EXPSTB="02" RUL="s">
                        <ENT I="21">
                            <E T="02">N. Orthopedic</E>
                        </ENT>
                    </ROW>
                    <ROW EXPSTB="02" RUL="s">
                        <ENT I="21">No  new entries at this time.</ENT>
                    </ROW>
                    <ROW EXPSTB="02" RUL="s">
                        <ENT I="21">
                            <E T="02">O. Physical Medicine</E>
                        </ENT>
                    </ROW>
                    <ROW EXPSTB="00" RUL="s">
                        <ENT I="01">16-241</ENT>
                        <ENT>Wheelchairs—Part 31: Lithium-ion battery systems and chargers for powered wheelchairs—Requirements and test methods</ENT>
                        <ENT>ISO 7176-31 First edition 2023-05.</ENT>
                    </ROW>
                    <ROW EXPSTB="02" RUL="s">
                        <ENT I="21">
                            <E T="02">P. Radiology</E>
                        </ENT>
                    </ROW>
                    <ROW EXPSTB="02" RUL="s">
                        <ENT I="21">No  new entries at this time.</ENT>
                    </ROW>
                    <ROW EXPSTB="02" RUL="s">
                        <ENT I="21">
                            <E T="02">Q. Software/Informatics</E>
                        </ENT>
                    </ROW>
                    <ROW EXPSTB="00" RUL="s">
                        <ENT I="01">13-158</ENT>
                        <ENT>Open Mobile Health Data—Representation of Metadata, Sleep, and Physical Activity Measures</ENT>
                        <ENT>IEEE Std 1752.1-2021.</ENT>
                    </ROW>
                    <ROW EXPSTB="02" RUL="s">
                        <PRTPAGE P="54721"/>
                        <ENT I="21">
                            <E T="02">R. Sterility</E>
                        </ENT>
                    </ROW>
                    <ROW EXPSTB="02" RUL="s">
                        <ENT I="21">No  new entries at this time.</ENT>
                    </ROW>
                    <ROW EXPSTB="02" RUL="s">
                        <ENT I="21">
                            <E T="02">S. Tissue Engineering</E>
                        </ENT>
                    </ROW>
                    <ROW EXPSTB="02">
                        <ENT I="21">No  new entries at this time.</ENT>
                    </ROW>
                    <TNOTE>
                        <SU>1</SU>
                        All standard titles in this table conform to the style requirements of the respective organizations.
                    </TNOTE>
                </GPOTABLE>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">IV. List of Recognized Standards</HD>
                <P>
                    FDA maintains the current list of FDA Recognized Consensus Standards in a searchable database that may be accessed at 
                    <E T="03">https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfStandards/search.cfm.</E>
                     Such standards are those that FDA has recognized by notice published in the 
                    <E T="04">Federal Register</E>
                     or that FDA has decided to recognize but for which recognition is pending (because a periodic notice has not yet appeared in the 
                    <E T="04">Federal Register</E>
                    ). FDA will announce additional modifications and revisions to the list of recognized consensus standards, as needed, in the 
                    <E T="04">Federal Register</E>
                     once a year, or more often if necessary.
                </P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">V. Recommendation of Standards for Recognition by FDA</HD>
                <P>
                    Any person may recommend consensus standards as candidates for recognition under section 514 of the FD&amp;C Act by submitting such recommendations, with reasons for the recommendation, to 
                    <E T="03">CDRHStandardsStaff@fda.hhs.gov.</E>
                     To be considered, such recommendations should contain, at a minimum, the information available at 
                    <E T="03">https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/device-advice-comprehensive-regulatory-assistance/standards-and-conformity-assessment-program#process.</E>
                </P>
                <SIG>
                    <NAME>Grace R. Graham,</NAME>
                    <TITLE>Deputy Commissioner for Policy, Legislation, and International Affairs.</TITLE>
                </SIG>
            </SUPLINF>
            <FRDOC>[FR Doc. 2026-17229 Filed 8-21-26; 8:45 am]</FRDOC>
            <BILCOD>BILLING CODE 4164-01-P</BILCOD>
        </NOTICE>
        <NOTICE>
            <PREAMB>
                <AGENCY TYPE="S">DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES</AGENCY>
                <SUBAGY>Food and Drug Administration</SUBAGY>
                <DEPDOC>[Docket No. FDA-2022-D-0528]</DEPDOC>
                <SUBJECT>Evaluation of Therapeutic Equivalence; Guidance for Industry; Availability</SUBJECT>
                <AGY>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">AGENCY:</HD>
                    <P>Food and Drug Administration, HHS.</P>
                </AGY>
                <ACT>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">ACTION:</HD>
                    <P>Notice of availability.</P>
                </ACT>
                <SUM>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">SUMMARY:</HD>
                    <P>The Food and Drug Administration (FDA or Agency) is announcing the availability of a final guidance for industry titled “Evaluation of Therapeutic Equivalence.” This guidance explains FDA's thinking on therapeutic equivalence evaluations and therapeutic equivalence codes (TE codes). FDA's therapeutic equivalence evaluations are listed for multisource prescription drug products approved under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&amp;C Act) in the active section of the “Approved Drug Products With Therapeutic Equivalence Evaluations” (commonly known as the Orange Book). These therapeutic equivalence evaluations have been prepared to serve as public information and advice to state health agencies, prescribers, and pharmacists to promote public education in the area of drug product selection and to foster containment of health care costs. This guidance finalizes the draft guidance of the same title issued in July 2022.</P>
                </SUM>
                <DATES>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">DATES:</HD>
                    <P>
                        The announcement of the guidance is published in the 
                        <E T="04">Federal Register</E>
                         on August 24, 2026.
                    </P>
                </DATES>
                <ADD>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">ADDRESSES:</HD>
                    <P>You may submit either electronic or written comments on Agency guidances at any time as follows:</P>
                </ADD>
                <HD SOURCE="HD2">Electronic Submissions</HD>
                <P>Submit electronic comments in the following way:</P>
                <P>
                    • 
                    <E T="03">Federal eRulemaking Portal:</E>
                      
                    <E T="03">https://www.regulations.gov.</E>
                     Follow the instructions for submitting comments. Comments submitted electronically, including attachments, to 
                    <E T="03">https://www.regulations.gov</E>
                     will be posted to the docket unchanged. Because your comment will be made public, you are solely responsible for ensuring that your comment does not include any confidential information that you or a third party may not wish to be posted, such as medical information, your or anyone else's Social Security number, or confidential business information, such as a manufacturing process. Please note that if you include your name, contact information, or other information that identifies you in the body of your comments, that information will be posted on 
                    <E T="03">https://www.regulations.gov.</E>
                </P>
                <P>• If you want to submit a comment with confidential information that you do not wish to be made available to the public, submit the comment as a written/paper submission and in the manner detailed (see “Written/Paper Submissions” and “Instructions”).</P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD2">Written/Paper Submissions</HD>
                <P>Submit written/paper submissions as follows:</P>
                <P>
                    • 
                    <E T="03">Mail/Hand Delivery/Courier (for written/paper submissions):</E>
                     Dockets Management Staff (HFA-305), Food and Drug Administration, 5630 Fishers Lane, Rm. 1061, Rockville, MD 20852.
                </P>
                <P>• For written/paper comments submitted to the Dockets Management Staff, FDA will post your comment, as well as any attachments, except for information submitted, marked and identified, as confidential, if submitted as detailed in “Instructions.”</P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Instructions:</E>
                     All submissions received must include the Docket No. FDA-2022-D-0528 for “Evaluation of Therapeutic Equivalence.” Received comments will be placed in the docket and, except for those submitted as “Confidential Submissions,” publicly viewable at 
                    <E T="03">https://www.regulations.gov</E>
                     or at the Dockets Management Staff between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, 240-402-7500.
                </P>
                <P>
                    • Confidential Submissions—To submit a comment with confidential information that you do not wish to be made publicly available, submit your comments only as a written/paper submission. You should submit two copies total. One copy will include the information you claim to be confidential with a heading or cover note that states “THIS DOCUMENT CONTAINS CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION.” The Agency will review this copy, including the claimed confidential information, in its consideration of comments. The second copy, which will have the claimed confidential information 
                    <PRTPAGE P="54722"/>
                    redacted/blacked out, will be available for public viewing and posted on 
                    <E T="03">https://www.regulations.gov.</E>
                     Submit both copies to the Dockets Management Staff. If you do not wish your name and contact information to be made publicly available, you can provide this information on the cover sheet and not in the body of your comments and you must identify this information as “confidential.” Any information marked as “confidential” will not be disclosed except in accordance with 21 CFR 10.20 and other applicable disclosure law. For more information about FDA's posting of comments to public dockets, see 80 FR 56469, September 18, 2015, or access the information at: 
                    <E T="03">https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2015-09-18/pdf/2015-23389.pdf.</E>
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Docket:</E>
                     For access to the docket to read background documents or the electronic and written/paper comments received, go to 
                    <E T="03">https://www.regulations.gov</E>
                     and insert the docket number, found in brackets in the heading of this document, into the “Search” box and follow the prompts and/or go to the Dockets Management Staff, 5630 Fishers Lane, Rm. 1061, Rockville, MD 20852, 240-402-7500.
                </P>
                <P>You may submit comments on any guidance at any time (see 21 CFR 10.115(g)(5)).</P>
                <P>
                    Submit written requests for single copies of this guidance to the Division of Drug Information, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, 10001 New Hampshire Ave., Hillandale Building, 4th Floor, Silver Spring, MD 20993-0002. Send one self-addressed adhesive label to assist that office in processing your requests. See the 
                    <E T="02">SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION</E>
                     section for electronic access to the guidance document.
                </P>
                <FURINF>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:</HD>
                    <P>
                        Jonathan Hughes, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, 10903 New Hampshire Ave., Bldg. 75, 240-702-3970, 
                        <E T="03">Jonathan.Hughes@fda.hhs.gov.</E>
                    </P>
                </FURINF>
            </PREAMB>
            <SUPLINF>
                <HD SOURCE="HED">SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:</HD>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">I. Background</HD>
                <P>
                    FDA is announcing the availability of a final guidance for industry titled “Evaluation of Therapeutic Equivalence.” This guidance explains FDA's current thinking on therapeutic equivalence evaluations, including the assignment of TE codes, and addresses frequently asked questions regarding therapeutic equivalence. FDA's therapeutic equivalence evaluations are listed for multisource prescription drug products approved under the FD&amp;C Act in the Active section of the Orange Book. As FDA explained when it first proposed to make available a list of all approved drug products, together with therapeutic evaluations of listed products that are available from more than one manufacturer, therapeutic equivalence evaluations have been prepared to serve as public information and advice to state health agencies, prescribers, and pharmacists to promote public education in the area of drug product selection and to foster containment of health care costs (see, 
                    <E T="03">e.g.,</E>
                     44 FR 2932 (January 12, 1979) and 45 FR 72582 (October 31, 1980)).
                </P>
                <P>This guidance finalizes the draft guidance titled “Evaluation of Therapeutic Equivalence” issued on July 21, 2022 (87 FR 43529). FDA considered comments received on the draft guidance as the guidance was finalized. Changes from the draft to the final guidance include revisions to reflect an additional process by which applicants of certain 505(b)(2) applications may request TE codes. In addition, minor changes were made to improve clarity and to update the guidance.</P>
                <P>This guidance is being issued consistent with FDA's good guidance practices regulation (21 CFR 10.115). The guidance represents the current thinking of FDA on “Evaluation of Therapeutic Equivalence.” It does not establish any rights for any person and is not binding on FDA or the public. You can use an alternative approach if it satisfies the requirements of the applicable statutes and regulations.</P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">II. Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995</HD>
                <P>While this guidance contains no collection of information, it does refer to previously approved FDA collections of information. The previously approved collections of information are subject to review by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA) (44 U.S.C. 3501-3521). The collections of information in 21 CFR 10.30 relating to the submission of a citizen petition have been approved under OMB control number 0910-0191. The collections of information in 21 CFR 201.56 and 201.57 relating to the content and format requirements of labeling for prescription drug products have been approved under OMB control number 0910-0572. The collections of information in 21 CFR part 314 relating to the content and format of new drug applications and abbreviated new drug applications, including the results of safety and effectiveness studies, have been approved under OMB control number 0910-0001.</P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">III. Electronic Access</HD>
                <P>
                    Persons with access to the internet may obtain the guidance at 
                    <E T="03">https://www.fda.gov/drugs/guidance-compliance-regulatory-information/guidances-drugs, https://www.fda.gov/regulatory-information/search-fda-guidance-documents,</E>
                     or 
                    <E T="03">https://www.regulations.gov.</E>
                </P>
                <SIG>
                    <NAME>Grace R. Graham,</NAME>
                    <TITLE>Deputy Commissioner for Policy, Legislation, and International Affairs.</TITLE>
                </SIG>
            </SUPLINF>
            <FRDOC>[FR Doc. 2026-17215 Filed 8-21-26; 8:45 am]</FRDOC>
            <BILCOD>BILLING CODE 4164-01-P</BILCOD>
        </NOTICE>
        <NOTICE>
            <PREAMB>
                <AGENCY TYPE="S">DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES</AGENCY>
                <SUBAGY>Food and Drug Administration</SUBAGY>
                <DEPDOC>[Docket No. FDA-2007-D-0369]</DEPDOC>
                <SUBJECT>Product-Specific Guidances; Draft and Revised Draft Guidances for Industry; Availability</SUBJECT>
                <AGY>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">AGENCY:</HD>
                    <P>Food and Drug Administration, HHS.</P>
                </AGY>
                <ACT>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">ACTION:</HD>
                    <P>Notice of availability.</P>
                </ACT>
                <SUM>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">SUMMARY:</HD>
                    <P>
                        The Food and Drug Administration (FDA or Agency) is announcing the availability of additional draft and revised draft product-specific guidances. The draft guidances provide product-specific recommendations on, among other things, the design of bioequivalence (BE) studies to support abbreviated new drug applications (ANDAs). In the 
                        <E T="04">Federal Register</E>
                         of June 11, 2010, FDA announced the availability of a guidance for industry titled “Bioequivalence Recommendations for Specific Products” that explained the process that would be used to make product-specific guidances available to the public on FDA's website. The draft guidances identified in this notice were developed using the process described in that guidance.
                    </P>
                </SUM>
                <DATES>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">DATES:</HD>
                    <P>Submit either electronic or written comments on these draft guidances by October 23, 2026 to ensure that the Agency considers your comment on these draft guidances before it begins work on the final version of these guidances.</P>
                </DATES>
                <ADD>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">ADDRESSES:</HD>
                    <P>You may submit comments on any guidance at any time as follows:</P>
                </ADD>
                <HD SOURCE="HD2">Electronic Submissions</HD>
                <P>Submit electronic comments in the following way:</P>
                <P>
                    • 
                    <E T="03">Federal eRulemaking Portal:</E>
                      
                    <E T="03">https://www.regulations.gov.</E>
                     Follow the instructions for submitting comments. Comments submitted electronically, 
                    <PRTPAGE P="54723"/>
                    including attachments, to 
                    <E T="03">https://www.regulations.gov</E>
                     will be posted to the docket unchanged. Because your comment will be made public, you are solely responsible for ensuring that your comment does not include any confidential information that you or a third party may not wish to be posted, such as medical information, your or anyone else's Social Security number, or confidential business information, such as a manufacturing process. Please note that if you include your name, contact information, or other information that identifies you in the body of your comments, that information will be posted on 
                    <E T="03">https://www.regulations.gov.</E>
                </P>
                <P>• If you want to submit a comment with confidential information that you do not wish to be made available to the public, submit the comment as a written/paper submission and in the manner detailed (see “Written/Paper Submissions” and “Instructions”).</P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD2">Written/Paper Submissions</HD>
                <P>Submit written/paper submissions as follows:</P>
                <P>
                    • 
                    <E T="03">Mail/Hand Delivery/Courier (for written/paper submissions):</E>
                     Dockets Management Staff (HFA-305), Food and Drug Administration, 5630 Fishers Lane, Rm. 1061, Rockville, MD 20852.
                </P>
                <P>• For written/paper comments submitted to the Dockets Management Staff, FDA will post your comment, as well as any attachments, except for information submitted, marked and identified, as confidential, if submitted as detailed in “Instructions.”</P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Instructions:</E>
                     All submissions received must include the Docket No. FDA-2007-D-0369 for “Product-Specific Guidances; Draft and Revised Draft Guidances for Industry.” Received comments will be placed in the docket and, except for those submitted as “Confidential Submissions,” publicly viewable at 
                    <E T="03">https://www.regulations.gov</E>
                     or at the Dockets Management Staff between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, 240-402-7500.
                </P>
                <P>
                    • Confidential Submissions—To submit a comment with confidential information that you do not wish to be made publicly available, submit your comments only as a written/paper submission. You should submit two copies total. One copy will include the information you claim to be confidential with a heading or cover note that states “THIS DOCUMENT CONTAINS CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION.” The Agency will review this copy, including the claimed confidential information, in its consideration of comments. The second copy, which will have the claimed confidential information redacted/blacked out, will be available for public viewing and posted on 
                    <E T="03">https://www.regulations.gov.</E>
                     Submit both copies to the Dockets Management Staff. If you do not wish your name and contact information to be made publicly available, you can provide this information on the cover sheet and not in the body of your comments and you must identify this information as “confidential.” Any information marked as “confidential” will not be disclosed except in accordance with 21 CFR 10.20 and other applicable disclosure law. For more information about FDA's posting of comments to public dockets, see 80 FR 56469, September 18, 2015, or access the information at: 
                    <E T="03">https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2015-09-18/pdf/2015-23389.pdf.</E>
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Docket:</E>
                     For access to the docket to read background documents or the electronic and written/paper comments received, go to 
                    <E T="03">https://www.regulations.gov</E>
                     and insert the docket number, found in brackets in the heading of this document, into the “Search” box and follow the prompts and/or go to the Dockets Management Staff, 5630 Fishers Lane, Rm. 1061, Rockville, MD 20852, 240-402-7500.
                </P>
                <P>You may submit comments on any guidance at any time (see 21 CFR 10.115(g)(5)).</P>
                <P>
                    Submit written requests for single copies of the draft guidance to the Division of Drug Information, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, 10001 New Hampshire Ave., Hillandale Building, 4th Floor, Silver Spring, MD 20993-0002. Send one self-addressed adhesive label to assist that office in processing your requests. See the 
                    <E T="02">SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION</E>
                     section for electronic access to the draft guidance document.
                </P>
                <FURINF>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:</HD>
                    <P>
                        Joseph Kotsybar, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, 10903 New Hampshire Ave., Bldg. 75, Rm. 4714, Silver Spring, MD 20993-0002, 301-796-3400, 
                        <E T="03">PSG-Questions@fda.hhs.gov.</E>
                    </P>
                </FURINF>
            </PREAMB>
            <SUPLINF>
                <HD SOURCE="HED">SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:</HD>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">I. Background</HD>
                <P>
                    In the 
                    <E T="04">Federal Register</E>
                     of June 11, 2010 (75 FR 33311), FDA announced the availability of a guidance for industry titled “Bioequivalence Recommendations for Specific Products” that explained the process that would be used to make product-specific guidances available to the public on FDA's website at 
                    <E T="03">https://www.fda.gov/drugs/guidance-compliance-regulatory-information/guidances-drugs</E>
                    .
                </P>
                <P>
                    As described in that guidance, FDA adopted this process to develop and disseminate product-specific guidances and provide a meaningful opportunity for the public to consider and comment on those guidances. Under that process, draft guidances are posted on FDA's website and announced periodically in the 
                    <E T="04">Federal Register</E>
                    . The public is encouraged to submit comments on those recommendations within 60 days of their announcement in the 
                    <E T="04">Federal Register</E>
                    . FDA considers any comments received and either publishes final guidances or publishes revised draft guidances for comment. Guidances were last announced in the 
                    <E T="04">Federal Register</E>
                     on May 22, 2026 (91 FR 30307). This notice announces draft product-specific guidances, either new or revised, that are posted on FDA's website.
                </P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">II. Drug Products for Which New Draft Product-Specific Guidances Are Available</HD>
                <P>FDA is announcing the availability of new draft product-specific guidances for industry for drug products containing the following active ingredients:</P>
                <GPOTABLE COLS="1" OPTS="L2,nj,i1" CDEF="s100">
                    <TTITLE>Table 1—New Draft Product-Specific Guidances for Drug Products</TTITLE>
                    <BOXHD>
                        <CHED H="1">Active ingredient(s)</CHED>
                    </BOXHD>
                    <ROW>
                        <ENT I="01">Avatrombopag maleate</ENT>
                    </ROW>
                    <ROW>
                        <ENT I="01">Benzoyl peroxide</ENT>
                    </ROW>
                    <ROW>
                        <ENT I="01">Benzoyl peroxide; Tretinoin</ENT>
                    </ROW>
                    <ROW>
                        <ENT I="01">Bimatoprost</ENT>
                    </ROW>
                    <ROW>
                        <ENT I="01">Bosutinib monohydrate</ENT>
                    </ROW>
                    <ROW>
                        <ENT I="01">Brensocatib</ENT>
                    </ROW>
                    <ROW>
                        <ENT I="01">Epinephrine</ENT>
                    </ROW>
                    <ROW>
                        <ENT I="01">Epinephrine bitartrate</ENT>
                    </ROW>
                    <ROW>
                        <ENT I="01">Fluvoxamine maleate</ENT>
                    </ROW>
                    <ROW>
                        <ENT I="01">Hydrocortisone</ENT>
                    </ROW>
                    <ROW>
                        <ENT I="01">Lidocaine</ENT>
                    </ROW>
                    <ROW>
                        <ENT I="01">Lisdexamfetamine dimesylate</ENT>
                    </ROW>
                    <ROW>
                        <ENT I="01">Maralixibat chloride</ENT>
                    </ROW>
                    <ROW>
                        <ENT I="01">Meloxicam (multiple reference listed drugs)</ENT>
                    </ROW>
                    <ROW>
                        <ENT I="01">Miglustat</ENT>
                    </ROW>
                    <ROW>
                        <ENT I="01">Mitomycin</ENT>
                    </ROW>
                    <ROW>
                        <ENT I="01">Nimodipine</ENT>
                    </ROW>
                    <ROW>
                        <ENT I="01">Olezarsen sodium</ENT>
                    </ROW>
                    <ROW>
                        <ENT I="01">Rilzabrutinib</ENT>
                    </ROW>
                    <ROW>
                        <ENT I="01">Sebetralstat</ENT>
                    </ROW>
                    <ROW>
                        <ENT I="01">Sunvozertinib</ENT>
                    </ROW>
                    <ROW>
                        <ENT I="01">Taletrectinib adipate</ENT>
                    </ROW>
                    <ROW>
                        <ENT I="01">Vimseltinib</ENT>
                    </ROW>
                </GPOTABLE>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">III. Drug Products for Which Revised Draft Product-Specific Guidances Are Available</HD>
                <P>
                    FDA is announcing the availability of revised draft product-specific guidances for industry for drug products containing the following active ingredients:
                    <PRTPAGE P="54724"/>
                </P>
                <GPOTABLE COLS="1" OPTS="L2,nj,i1" CDEF="s100">
                    <TTITLE>Table 2—Revised Draft Product-Specific Guidances for Drug Products</TTITLE>
                    <BOXHD>
                        <CHED H="1">Active ingredient(s)</CHED>
                    </BOXHD>
                    <ROW>
                        <ENT I="01">Amphetamine</ENT>
                    </ROW>
                    <ROW>
                        <ENT I="01">Amphetamine; Amphetamine aspartate/dextroamphetamine sulfate (multiple reference listed drugs)</ENT>
                    </ROW>
                    <ROW>
                        <ENT I="01">Baricitinib</ENT>
                    </ROW>
                    <ROW>
                        <ENT I="01">Brimonidine tartrate; Brinzolamide</ENT>
                    </ROW>
                    <ROW>
                        <ENT I="01">Brinzolamide</ENT>
                    </ROW>
                    <ROW>
                        <ENT I="01">Buprenorphine</ENT>
                    </ROW>
                    <ROW>
                        <ENT I="01">Cariprazine hydrochloride</ENT>
                    </ROW>
                    <ROW>
                        <ENT I="01">Clindamycin phosphate</ENT>
                    </ROW>
                    <ROW>
                        <ENT I="01">Ferric carboxymaltose</ENT>
                    </ROW>
                    <ROW>
                        <ENT I="01">Ferumoxytol</ENT>
                    </ROW>
                    <ROW>
                        <ENT I="01">Glimepiride</ENT>
                    </ROW>
                    <ROW>
                        <ENT I="01">Latanoprost</ENT>
                    </ROW>
                    <ROW>
                        <ENT I="01">Letermovir</ENT>
                    </ROW>
                    <ROW>
                        <ENT I="01">Leuprolide acetate (multiple reference listed drugs)</ENT>
                    </ROW>
                    <ROW>
                        <ENT I="01">Levothyroxine sodium</ENT>
                    </ROW>
                    <ROW>
                        <ENT I="01">Lisdexamfetamine dimesylate</ENT>
                    </ROW>
                    <ROW>
                        <ENT I="01">Maralixibat chloride</ENT>
                    </ROW>
                    <ROW>
                        <ENT I="01">Mirtazapine</ENT>
                    </ROW>
                    <ROW>
                        <ENT I="01">Octreotide acetate</ENT>
                    </ROW>
                    <ROW>
                        <ENT I="01">Olaparib</ENT>
                    </ROW>
                    <ROW>
                        <ENT I="01">Ondansetron</ENT>
                    </ROW>
                    <ROW>
                        <ENT I="01">Pitolisant hydrochloride</ENT>
                    </ROW>
                    <ROW>
                        <ENT I="01">Sodium phenylbutyrate (multiple reference listed drugs)</ENT>
                    </ROW>
                    <ROW>
                        <ENT I="01">Tenapanor hydrochloride</ENT>
                    </ROW>
                    <ROW>
                        <ENT I="01">Zolpidem tartrate (multiple reference listed drugs)</ENT>
                    </ROW>
                </GPOTABLE>
                <P>
                    For a complete history of previously published 
                    <E T="04">Federal Register</E>
                     notices related to product-specific guidances, go to 
                    <E T="03">https://www.regulations.gov</E>
                     and enter Docket No. FDA-2007-D-0369.
                </P>
                <P>These draft guidances are being issued consistent with FDA's good guidance practices regulation (21 CFR 10.115). These draft guidances, when finalized, will represent the current thinking of FDA on, among other things, the product-specific design of BE studies to support ANDAs. They do not establish any rights for any person and are not binding on FDA or the public. You can use an alternative approach if it satisfies the requirements of the applicable statutes and regulations.</P>
                <P>As we develop final guidance on this topic, FDA will consider comments on costs or cost savings the guidance may generate, relevant for Executive Order 14192.</P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">IV. Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995</HD>
                <P>While these guidances contain no collection of information, they do refer to previously approved FDA collections of information. The previously approved collections of information are subject to review by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501-3521). The collections of information in 21 CFR part 312 for investigational new drugs have been approved under OMB control number 0910-0014. The collections of information in 21 CFR part 314 for applications for FDA approval to market a new drug and in 21 CFR part 320 for bioavailability and bioequivalence requirements have been approved under OMB control number 0910-0001.</P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">V. Electronic Access</HD>
                <P>
                    Persons with access to the internet may obtain the draft guidance at https://www.fda.gov/drugs/guidance-compliance-regulatory-information/guidances-drugs, 
                    <E T="03">https://www.fda.gov/regulatory-information/search-fda-guidance-documents</E>
                    , or 
                    <E T="03">https://www.regulations.gov.</E>
                </P>
                <SIG>
                    <NAME>Grace R. Graham,</NAME>
                    <TITLE>Deputy Commissioner for Policy, Legislation, and International Affairs.</TITLE>
                </SIG>
            </SUPLINF>
            <FRDOC>[FR Doc. 2026-17222 Filed 8-21-26; 8:45 am]</FRDOC>
            <BILCOD>BILLING CODE 4164-01-P</BILCOD>
        </NOTICE>
        <NOTICE>
            <PREAMB>
                <AGENCY TYPE="S">DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES</AGENCY>
                <SUBAGY>Office of the Secretary</SUBAGY>
                <DEPDOC>[Docket No. HHS-OS-2026-0332]</DEPDOC>
                <RIN>RIN: 0991-ZA62</RIN>
                <SUBJECT>Request for Information: Categories Used in Federal Vaccine Recommendations and the Role of Shared Clinical Decision-Making</SUBJECT>
                <AGY>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">AGENCY:</HD>
                    <P>Office of the Secretary, Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).</P>
                </AGY>
                <ACT>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">ACTION:</HD>
                    <P>Notice; request for information.</P>
                </ACT>
                <SUM>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">SUMMARY:</HD>
                    <P>The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS or the Department), in support of the Task Force on Safer Childhood Vaccines and in furtherance of the Executive Order of August 10, 2026, “Delivering Gold Standard Childhood Vaccine Recommendations for Americans,” seeks public comment on whether the categories currently used in Federal vaccine recommendations are adequate. Those categories are routine (universal) recommendations, risk-based recommendations, and recommendations based on shared clinical decision-making, also referred to as individual-based decision-making. The Department seeks comment on these categories and whether additional or different categories should be adopted. The Department further seeks comment on the considerations that should be relied upon in setting vaccine recommendations, including the availability and strength of available scientific evidence, the appropriate approach when randomized controlled trial evidence is limited or absent, a presumption in favor of individual autonomy and religious freedom, the downstream legal and programmatic consequences of category assignment, and the communication practices necessary to earn and maintain public trust.</P>
                </SUM>
                <DATES>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">DATES:</HD>
                    <P>To be assured consideration, comments must be received at the address provided below no later than September 20, 2026.</P>
                </DATES>
                <ADD>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">ADDRESSES:</HD>
                    <P>
                        Interested persons are invited to submit written comments identified by Docket No. HHS-OS-2026-0332 by either of the following methods: (1) Federal eRulemaking Portal: 
                        <E T="03">https://www.regulations.gov.</E>
                         Follow the instructions for submitting comments; or (2) Mail: Cynthia Goss, 200 Independence Ave SW, Washington, DC 20201. All submissions received must include the agency name and docket number. Comments received will be posted without change to 
                        <E T="03">https://www.regulations.gov,</E>
                         including any personal information provided.
                    </P>
                </ADD>
                <FURINF>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:</HD>
                    <P>
                        Cynthia Goss, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (Health Policy), Performing the Delegable Duties of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, Office of the Secretary, Department of Health and Human Services, (202) 690-7858 or by email at: 
                        <E T="03">osaspeinfo@hhs.gov.</E>
                    </P>
                </FURINF>
            </PREAMB>
            <SUPLINF>
                <HD SOURCE="HED">SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:</HD>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">I. Background</HD>
                <HD SOURCE="HD2">A. The Federal Vaccine Recommendation Framework and its Categories</HD>
                <P>
                    Federal vaccine recommendations are developed principally through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and its Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), and are reflected in the child and adolescent and adult immunization schedules. Current recommendations fall into three principal categories. Under a 
                    <E T="03">routine</E>
                     (universal) recommendation, the default is to vaccinate all persons in an age group absent contraindications. A 
                    <E T="03">risk-based</E>
                     recommendation is directed to persons with specified medical, occupational, behavioral, or other risk factors. A recommendation based on 
                    <E T="03">shared clinical decision-making</E>
                     (SCDM) is individually based and informed by a decision process between the health care provider and the patient or parent/guardian. CDC guidance explains that 
                    <PRTPAGE P="54725"/>
                    for routine, catch-up, and risk-based recommendations “the default decision should be to vaccinate,” whereas for SCDM recommendations “there is no default”; the decision turns on the individual's characteristics, the best available scientific evidence, the clinical discretion of the provider, and the values and preferences of the patient or parent.
                    <SU>1</SU>
                    <FTREF/>
                     Since 2025, the Department and ACIP have also used the term 
                    <E T="03">individual-based decision-making</E>
                     for this category.
                    <SU>2</SU>
                    <FTREF/>
                </P>
                <FTNT>
                    <P>
                        <SU>1</SU>
                         Ctrs. for Disease Control &amp; Prevention, 
                        <E T="03">ACIP Shared Clinical Decision-Making Recommendations</E>
                         (page updated Jan. 7, 2025), 
                        <E T="03">https://www.cdc.gov/acip/vaccine-recommendations/shared-clinical-decision-making.html.</E>
                    </P>
                </FTNT>
                <FTNT>
                    <P>
                        <SU>2</SU>
                         See, for example, Ctrs. for Disease Control &amp; Prevention Newsroom, 
                        <E T="03">CDC Immunization Schedule Adopts Individual-Based Decision-Making for COVID-19 and Standalone Vaccination for Chickenpox in Toddlers</E>
                         (Oct. 6, 2025),
                        <E T="03">https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2025/cdc-immunization-schedule-adopts-individual-based-decision.html;</E>
                         Dep't of Health &amp; Hum. Servs. Press Release, 
                        <E T="03">ACIP Recommends Individual-Based Decision-Making for Hepatitis B Vaccine for Infants Born to Women Who Test Negative for the Virus</E>
                         (Dec. 5, 2025), 
                        <E T="03">https://www.hhs.gov/press-room/acip-recommends-individual-based-decision-making-hepatitis-b-vaccine-birth-dose-infants-born-women-test-negative-virus.html.</E>
                    </P>
                </FTNT>
                <P>
                    ACIP adopted the SCDM terminology in 2019, replacing the earlier “Category A”/“Category B” (permissive) framework. It applies the category through an Evidence to Recommendations (EtR) framework, adopted in 2018, that contemplates three outcomes: a recommendation for all persons in an age or risk group; a recommendation for individuals based on shared clinical decision-making; or no recommendation.
                    <SU>3</SU>
                    <FTREF/>
                     The EtR framework directs consideration of the public health importance of the problem; the magnitude and balance of benefits and harms, and the certainty of the evidence as assessed under the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) approach; the values and preferences of the affected population; acceptability to stakeholders; feasibility; and resource use.
                    <SU>4</SU>
                    <FTREF/>
                </P>
                <FTNT>
                    <P>
                        <SU>3</SU>
                         G. Lee &amp; W. Carr, Adv. Comm. on Immunization Practices Evidence-Based Recommendations Work Grp., 
                        <E T="03">Updated Framework for Development of Evidence-Based Recommendations by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices,</E>
                         67 MMWR Morb. Mortal. Wkly. Rep. 1271 (2018), 
                        <E T="03">available at https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/67/wr/mm6745a4.htm;</E>
                         E. Meites 
                        <E T="03">et al.,</E>
                          
                        <E T="03">Human Papillomavirus Vaccination for Adults: Updated Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices,</E>
                         68 MMWR 698 (2019) (first recommendation issued under the SCDM label).
                    </P>
                </FTNT>
                <FTNT>
                    <P>
                        <SU>4</SU>
                         Adv. Comm. on Immunization Practices, 
                        <E T="03">Evidence to Recommendations Framework;</E>
                         Ctrs. for Disease Control &amp; Prevention, 
                        <E T="03">Evidence-Based Recommendations for ACIP</E>
                         (page updated Jan. 7, 2025), 
                        <E T="03">https://www.cdc.gov/acip/evidence-based-recommendations/index.html.</E>
                    </P>
                </FTNT>
                <HD SOURCE="HD2">B. The Executive Order of August 10, 2026, and the Task Force on Safer Childhood Vaccines</HD>
                <P>
                    On August 14, 2025, the Secretary reinstated the Task Force on Safer Childhood Vaccines, a statutory body established by the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986 (42 U.S.C. 300aa-27) and charged with securing safer childhood vaccines and improved adverse-event surveillance and research.
                    <SU>5</SU>
                    <FTREF/>
                </P>
                <FTNT>
                    <P>
                        <SU>5</SU>
                         Dep't of Health &amp; Hum. Servs. Press Release, 
                        <E T="03">HHS Revives Task Force on Safer Childhood Vaccines</E>
                         (Aug. 14, 2025), 
                        <E T="03">https://www.hhs.gov/press-room/hhs-reinstates-task-force-on-safer-childhood-vaccines.html.</E>
                    </P>
                </FTNT>
                <P>
                    On August 10, 2026, the President signed the Executive Order “Delivering Gold Standard Childhood Vaccine Recommendations for Americans.” 
                    <SU>6</SU>
                    <FTREF/>
                     The Executive Order states that the policy of the United States is that core childhood vaccine recommendations should be aligned with scientific evidence and best practices of peer nations, as well as that Federal programs should support parental choice consistent with personal autonomy and informed consent. It directs the Secretary, working through the Task Force on Safer Childhood Vaccines, to present plans within 90 days addressing, among other subjects, the timing and sequencing of the Federal immunization schedule and the continuous evaluation of the risk-benefit profile of recommended vaccines. This request for information is issued in furtherance of the Executive Order and in support of the Task Force's work. Public input received in response to this notice will help inform consideration by the Department and the Task Force of whether the current category structure adequately serves the goals of scientific rigor, informed choice, and public trust.
                </P>
                <FTNT>
                    <P>
                        <SU>6</SU>
                         Executive Order No. 14,420, 
                        <E T="03">Delivering Gold Standard Childhood Vaccine Recommendations for Americans,</E>
                         91 FR 53,173 (Aug. 14, 2026), 
                        <E T="03">available at https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2026/08/delivering-gold-standard-childhood-vaccine-recommendations-for-americans.</E>
                    </P>
                </FTNT>
                <HD SOURCE="HD2">C. Experience With Shared Clinical Decision-Making</HD>
                <P>
                    The SCDM category was created to clarify the intent of the former permissive “Category B” recommendations, which survey evidence indicated were poorly understood. In a 2018 national survey of pediatric primary care providers, only 24 percent could accurately define a Category B recommendation; a majority did not know that such vaccines are covered by private insurance or the Vaccines for Children program; and providers were divided on whether the permissive category should be retained, with 39 percent valuing the leeway it provided and 22 percent favoring its elimination.
                    <SU>7</SU>
                    <FTREF/>
                </P>
                <FTNT>
                    <P>
                        <SU>7</SU>
                         A. Kempe 
                        <E T="03">et al.,</E>
                          
                        <E T="03">Knowledge and Attitudes Regarding Category B ACIP Recommendations Among Primary Care Providers for Children,</E>
                         18 Acad. Pediatr. 763 (2018).
                    </P>
                </FTNT>
                <P>
                    Experience with SCDM since 2019 has been mixed, and the Department is aware of both criticisms and defenses of the category. In a national survey of physicians published in 2021, approximately 90 to 95 percent reported that implementing SCDM recommendations requires more time than routine recommendations; fewer than half knew that SCDM vaccines are covered by insurance; many reported that electronic health record and immunization forecasting tools displayed SCDM recommendations inaccurately or not at all; and most agreed that SCDM recommendations create confusion for patients.
                    <SU>8</SU>
                    <FTREF/>
                     Some evidence suggests uptake of vaccines recommended under SCDM has been lower than uptake of routinely recommended vaccines.
                    <SU>9</SU>
                    <FTREF/>
                </P>
                <FTNT>
                    <P>
                        <SU>8</SU>
                         A. Kempe 
                        <E T="03">et al.,</E>
                          
                        <E T="03">Shared Clinical Decision-Making Recommendations for Adult Immunization: What Do Physicians Think?,</E>
                         36 J. Gen. Intern. Med. 2283 (2021), 
                        <E T="03">https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11606-020-06456-z.</E>
                    </P>
                </FTNT>
                <FTNT>
                    <P>
                        <SU>9</SU>
                         See, for example, J. Vietri 
                        <E T="03">et al.,</E>
                          
                        <E T="03">Pneumococcal Vaccine Uptake Among Medicare Beneficiaries Aged ≥65 Years Following the Shared Clinical Decision-Making Recommendation for 13-Valent Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine in 2019,</E>
                         41 Vaccine 5211 (2023).
                    </P>
                </FTNT>
                <P>
                    At the same time, surveyed physicians have expressed support for the existence of an SCDM category for appropriate vaccines, and commenters have defended SCDM as sound, patient-centered clinical practice for vaccines whose benefit-risk balance varies meaningfully with individual circumstances, whose population-level benefit is less clear, or for which the evidence base is limited or evolving.
                    <SU>10</SU>
                    <FTREF/>
                     On this view, an intermediate category permits the Federal Government to avoid a binary choice between a universal recommendation and no recommendation at all. This allows for an additional opportunity between patient and provider to discuss the state of the evidence and gives weight to the values and preferences of patients and parents/guardians, including considerations of personal autonomy, informed consent, and religious conviction. These principles apply across all vaccine recommendations, including routine ones. SCDM is 
                    <PRTPAGE P="54726"/>
                    distinct in that the Federal recommendation provides no default—not because patient or parent decision-making is confined to that category.
                </P>
                <FTNT>
                    <P>
                        <SU>10</SU>
                         A. Kempe 
                        <E T="03">et al.,</E>
                          
                        <E T="03">supra</E>
                         note 8 (majority support for retaining SCDM for certain vaccines); M. Hogue 
                        <E T="03">et al.,</E>
                          
                        <E T="03">Shared clinical decision making on vaccines: Nothing has really changed for pharmacists,</E>
                         60 J. Am. Pharm. Assoc. e91 (2020).
                    </P>
                </FTNT>
                <P>The Department seeks information on how the category is understood and applied in practice, whether its risks and benefits have been adequately characterized, and how it could be improved.</P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD2">D. Considerations in Setting Vaccine Recommendations: Evidence, Freedom, and Trust</HD>
                <P>The durability of any vaccine recommendation framework depends on the public's trust in the process that produces it. Trust is essential both to public health objectives and to effective, informed individual choice. Several bodies of evidence inform the Department's thinking.</P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Calibration of recommendations to the strength of the evidence.</E>
                     The GRADE approach used by ACIP recognizes that the certainty of evidence varies, from randomized controlled trials to observational and post-licensure data, and the EtR framework calls for transparency about that certainty.
                    <SU>11</SU>
                    <FTREF/>
                     Commentators, including current and former Federal officials, have cautioned that recommendations extending beyond the strength of the underlying evidence can carry costs to institutional credibility.
                </P>
                <FTNT>
                    <P>
                        <SU>11</SU>
                         ACIP, 
                        <E T="03">Evidence to Recommendations Framework, supra</E>
                         note 4.
                    </P>
                </FTNT>
                <P>
                    The Federal COVID-19 vaccination effort shows both the value of calibrating recommendations to the underlying evidence and the cost of departing from that calibration. Operation Warp Speed produced safe and effective vaccines in record time, with first doses administered in December 2020, less than a year after the virus was sequenced. Executive Order 13962 directed that Americans have priority access to those vaccines and framed vaccination as available to “all Americans who choose to be vaccinated,” and the initial allocation framework directed limited early supply to those at highest risk of severe disease and exposure.
                    <SU>12</SU>
                    <FTREF/>
                     Federal policy thereafter shifted toward progressively broader, population-wide recommendations. That shift drew criticism from within the scientific mainstream. In 2021, an international group of scientists that included senior Food and Drug Administration vaccine officials publicly argued that available evidence did not support COVID-19 booster doses for the general population, and warned that premature deployment could carry risks for vaccine confidence.
                    <SU>13</SU>
                    <FTREF/>
                     A 2023 commentary in the New England Journal of Medicine described the broad, all-ages recommendation of the bivalent COVID-19 booster on the basis of limited human data as “a cautionary tale.” 
                    <SU>14</SU>
                    <FTREF/>
                     A 2025 New England Journal of Medicine article by Food and Drug Administration leadership advanced a risk-stratified alternative to universal COVID-19 vaccination recommendations, applying different evidentiary expectations to high-risk and low-risk populations.
                    <SU>15</SU>
                    <FTREF/>
                     The Department notes that these positions are contested within the scientific community. That contestation is itself relevant to the questions posed below.
                </P>
                <FTNT>
                    <P>
                        <SU>12</SU>
                         Exec. Order No. 13,962, 
                        <E T="03">Ensuring Access to United States Government COVID-19 Vaccines,</E>
                         85 FR 79,777 (Dec. 11, 2020); K. Dooling 
                        <E T="03">et al.,</E>
                          
                        <E T="03">The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices' Updated Interim Recommendation for Allocation of COVID-19 Vaccine—United States, December 2020,</E>
                         69 MMWR Morb. Mortal. Wkly. Rep. 1657 (2021).
                    </P>
                </FTNT>
                <FTNT>
                    <P>
                        <SU>13</SU>
                         P.R. Krause 
                        <E T="03">et al.,</E>
                          
                        <E T="03">Considerations in boosting COVID-19 vaccine immune responses,</E>
                         398 The Lancet 1377 (2021).
                    </P>
                </FTNT>
                <FTNT>
                    <P>
                        <SU>14</SU>
                         P.A. Offit, 
                        <E T="03">Bivalent Covid-19 Vaccines—A Cautionary Tale,</E>
                         388 New Eng. J. Med. 481 (2023).
                    </P>
                </FTNT>
                <FTNT>
                    <P>
                        <SU>15</SU>
                         V. Prasad &amp; M.A. Makary, 
                        <E T="03">An Evidence-Based Approach to Covid-19 Vaccination,</E>
                         392 New Eng. J. Med. 2484 (2025).
                    </P>
                </FTNT>
                <P>
                    The process by which recommendations are finalized matters as well. In September 2021, ACIP voted against recommending COVID-19 booster doses for adults aged 18 to 64 on the basis of occupational or institutional exposure. Members opposing the recommendation argued that such decisions were better left to individual benefit-risk judgment. The CDC Director set that vote aside and extended the recommendation to the occupational group, a departure from the committee's judgment that was widely reported as extraordinary.
                    <SU>16</SU>
                    <FTREF/>
                     In the Department's view, episodes in which the deliberative advisory process reaches a narrower conclusion that is then overridden in favor of a broader, top-down recommendation contribute to public doubt about whether Federal recommendations in fact reflect the process created to produce them, and thereby to mistrust of the system as a whole.
                </P>
                <FTNT>
                    <P>
                        <SU>16</SU>
                         See, for example, CNBC, 
                        <E T="03">The leader of CDC just made a rare call to allow Covid booster shots for more people</E>
                         (Sept. 24, 2021), 
                        <E T="03">https://www.cnbc.com/2021/09/23/covid-booster-shots-cdc-panel-endorses-third-pfizer-doses-for-millions.html.</E>
                    </P>
                </FTNT>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Trust and the effects of mandates.</E>
                     A substantial body of research indicates that top-down mandates and coercive measures can sow distrust and provoke psychological reactance, particularly among persons whose trust in government is already low. A study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found that enforcement can crowd out voluntary support for public health measures, especially where trust in government is weak.
                    <SU>17</SU>
                    <FTREF/>
                     Research in Germany and the United States found that mandatory vaccination policies triggered reactance, an anger-driven motivation to reassert restricted freedom, associated with reduced vaccination intentions and increased anti-policy activism.
                    <SU>18</SU>
                    <FTREF/>
                     A large United Kingdom survey and modeling study found that the introduction of vaccine passports would likely lower inclination to be vaccinated among some groups.
                    <SU>19</SU>
                    <FTREF/>
                     Scholars writing in BMJ Global Health argued that COVID-19-era mandates, passports, and restrictions risked amplifying distrust and proving counterproductive, and urged a return to trust-based public health approaches.
                    <SU>20</SU>
                    <FTREF/>
                </P>
                <FTNT>
                    <P>
                        <SU>17</SU>
                         K. Schmelz, 
                        <E T="03">Enforcement may crowd out voluntary support for COVID-19 policies, especially where trust in government is weak and in a liberal society,</E>
                         118 Proc. Nat'l Acad. Sci. e2016385118 (2021).
                    </P>
                </FTNT>
                <FTNT>
                    <P>
                        <SU>18</SU>
                         P. Sprengholz 
                        <E T="03">et al.,</E>
                          
                        <E T="03">Vaccination policy reactance: Predictors, consequences, and countermeasures,</E>
                         27 J. Health Psychol. 1394 (2022).
                    </P>
                </FTNT>
                <FTNT>
                    <P>
                        <SU>19</SU>
                         A. de Figueiredo 
                        <E T="03">et al.,</E>
                          
                        <E T="03">The potential impact of vaccine passports on inclination to accept COVID-19 vaccinations in the United Kingdom: evidence from a large cross-sectional survey and modeling study,</E>
                         40 EClinicalMedicine 101109 (2021).
                    </P>
                </FTNT>
                <FTNT>
                    <P>
                        <SU>20</SU>
                         K. Bardosh 
                        <E T="03">et al.,</E>
                          
                        <E T="03">The unintended consequences of COVID-19 vaccine policy: why mandates, passports and restrictions may cause more harm than good,</E>
                         7 BMJ Global Health e008684 (2022).
                    </P>
                </FTNT>
                <P>
                    The Department notes that the empirical literature is mixed. Other rigorous studies found that mandate and certification policies measurably increased vaccine uptake in several countries, particularly where baseline uptake was low, and one multi-study United States analysis found that requirements strengthened rather than weakened vaccination intentions.
                    <SU>21</SU>
                    <FTREF/>
                     The Department observes, however, that much of the evidence on the effectiveness of compulsory approaches comes from peer countries whose baseline levels of institutional trust differ from those in the United States. The Department acknowledges those differences. But trust is not fixed. It is built, and forfeited, over time through the conduct of institutions. The Department's view is that a 
                    <PRTPAGE P="54727"/>
                    recommendation framework should accordingly be judged not only by its immediate effect on uptake but by whether the framework itself builds durable trust. Global guidance on mandatory vaccination counsels that policymakers “have a duty to carefully consider the effect that mandating vaccination could have on public confidence and public trust,” and that mandates are not ethically justified where public health goals can be achieved through less coercive means.
                    <SU>22</SU>
                    <FTREF/>
                     In the United States, vaccination requirements have historically been creatures of State law within constitutional limits,
                    <SU>23</SU>
                    <FTREF/>
                     and Federal recommendations are recommendations, not mandates. The Department believes that distinction should be preserved and made legible to the public.
                </P>
                <FTNT>
                    <P>
                        <SU>21</SU>
                         A. Karaivanov 
                        <E T="03">et al.,</E>
                          
                        <E T="03">COVID-19 vaccination mandates and vaccine uptake,</E>
                         6 Nature Hum. Behav. 1615 (2022); M.C. Mills &amp; T. Rüttenauer, 
                        <E T="03">The effect of mandatory COVID-19 certificates on vaccine uptake: synthetic-control modelling of six countries,</E>
                         7 Lancet Pub. Health e15 (2022); D. Albarracín 
                        <E T="03">et al.,</E>
                          
                        <E T="03">Rather than inducing psychological reactance, requiring vaccination strengthens intentions to vaccinate in US populations,</E>
                         11 Sci. Rep. 20796 (2021).
                    </P>
                </FTNT>
                <FTNT>
                    <P>
                        <SU>22</SU>
                         World Health Organization, 
                        <E T="03">COVID-19 and mandatory vaccination: ethical considerations</E>
                         (policy brief, May 30, 2022), 
                        <E T="03">https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/WHO-2019-nCoV-Policy-brief-Mandatory-vaccination-2022.1.</E>
                    </P>
                </FTNT>
                <FTNT>
                    <P>
                        <SU>23</SU>
                         See 
                        <E T="03">Jacobson</E>
                         v. 
                        <E T="03">Massachusetts,</E>
                         197 U.S. 11 (1905); CDC, 
                        <E T="03">State Vaccination Requirements, https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/php/requirements-laws/state-vaccination-requirements.html</E>
                         (last visited August 17, 2026).
                    </P>
                </FTNT>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Trust after COVID-19.</E>
                     Public trust in Federal public health agencies declined measurably during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. In a national survey published in Health Affairs, among adults reporting lower trust in CDC, the most commonly cited reasons were beliefs that recommendations were influenced by politics and that the agency had issued too many conflicting recommendations.
                    <SU>24</SU>
                    <FTREF/>
                     Polling has documented declining shares of Americans expressing trust in CDC and other health agencies, a marked partisan divergence,
                    <SU>25</SU>
                    <FTREF/>
                     and declining confidence in scientists relative to the early-pandemic peak.
                    <SU>26</SU>
                    <FTREF/>
                     Over the same period, routine kindergarten vaccination coverage fell below pre-pandemic levels while exemptions rose to the highest levels reported.
                    <SU>27</SU>
                    <FTREF/>
                     In 2022, the CDC Director publicly acknowledged, in announcing an agency reorganization, that the agency was “responsible for some pretty dramatic, pretty public mistakes, from testing, to data, to communications” during the COVID-19 response.
                    <SU>28</SU>
                    <FTREF/>
                     The Department's working premise is that recommendations perceived as premature, overconfident, or insulated from candor about uncertainty, as many Americans perceived certain COVID-19-era recommendations to be, impose lasting costs on the credibility of all Federal vaccine recommendations, including those resting on the strongest evidence.
                </P>
                <FTNT>
                    <P>
                        <SU>24</SU>
                         G.K. SteelFisher 
                        <E T="03">et al.,</E>
                          
                        <E T="03">Trust In US Federal, State, And Local Public Health Agencies During COVID-19: Responses And Policy Implications,</E>
                         42 Health Affairs 328 (2023).
                    </P>
                </FTNT>
                <FTNT>
                    <P>
                        <SU>25</SU>
                         Kaiser Family Found., 
                        <E T="03">Tracking Poll on Health Information and Trust: January 2025</E>
                         (Jan. 2025), 
                        <E T="03">https://www.kff.org/health-information-trust/kff-tracking-poll-on-health-information-and-trust-january-2025/.</E>
                    </P>
                </FTNT>
                <FTNT>
                    <P>
                        <SU>26</SU>
                         Pew Rsch. Ctr., 
                        <E T="03">Americans' Trust in Scientists, Positive Views of Science Continue to Decline</E>
                         (Nov. 14, 2023), 
                        <E T="03">https://www.pewresearch.org/science/2023/11/14/americans-trust-in-scientists-positive-views-of-science-continue-to-decline/.</E>
                    </P>
                </FTNT>
                <FTNT>
                    <P>
                        <SU>27</SU>
                         R. Seither 
                        <E T="03">et al.,</E>
                          
                        <E T="03">Coverage with Selected Vaccines and Exemption Rates Among Children in Kindergarten—United States, 2023-24 School Year,</E>
                         73 MMWR Morb. Mortal. Wkly. Rep. 925 (2024); CDC SchoolVaxView, 2024-25 school year data (released July 31, 2025), 
                        <E T="03">https://www.cdc.gov/schoolvaxview/data/index.html.</E>
                    </P>
                </FTNT>
                <FTNT>
                    <P>
                        <SU>28</SU>
                         See, for example, CBS News, 
                        <E T="03">CDC director Rochelle Walensky announces shake-up, citing COVID mistakes</E>
                         (Aug. 19, 2022), 
                        <E T="03">https://www.cbsnews.com/news/cdc-director-rochelle-walensky-announces-organization-shake-up-aimed-at-speed</E>
                         (quoting CDC Director Rochelle Walensky).
                    </P>
                </FTNT>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Communication science.</E>
                     Risk-communication research bears directly on how recommendation categories are named, explained, and implemented. CDC's Crisis and Emergency Risk Communication framework counsels transparency and candor: tell the public “what you know when you know it, tell them what you don't know, and tell them if you will know relevant information later.” 
                    <SU>29</SU>
                    <FTREF/>
                     Experimental research indicates that communicating uncertainty transparently imposes at most small costs to trust.
                    <SU>30</SU>
                    <FTREF/>
                     Transparent communication about negative or uncertain features of vaccines may reduce acceptance in the short term but increases trust in health authorities, whereas vague reassurance fails to increase acceptance and reduces trust.
                    <SU>31</SU>
                    <FTREF/>
                     A global behavioral and social drivers framework likewise identifies confidence in vaccines, providers, and institutions as a central determinant of uptake.
                    <SU>32</SU>
                    <FTREF/>
                     The names of recommendation categories are themselves communication. As the survey and provider-experience evidence discussed above indicates, categories whose meaning is unclear to clinicians and the public generate confusion about safety, efficacy, coverage, and intent.
                </P>
                <FTNT>
                    <P>
                        <SU>29</SU>
                         B. Reynolds, Ctrs. for Disease Control &amp; Prevention, Zika Crisis and Emergency Communication (CERC) Discussion (June 14, 2016), 
                        <E T="03">https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/39966;</E>
                         see also Ctrs. for Disease Control &amp; Prevention, Crisis and Emergency Risk Communication (CERC) Manual (2014 ed.), 
                        <E T="03">available at https://www.cdc.gov/cerc/php/cerc-manual/index.html.</E>
                    </P>
                </FTNT>
                <FTNT>
                    <P>
                        <SU>30</SU>
                         A.M. van der Bles 
                        <E T="03">et al.,</E>
                          
                        <E T="03">The effects of communicating uncertainty on public trust in facts and numbers,</E>
                         117 Proc. Nat'l Acad. Sci. 7672 (2020).
                    </P>
                </FTNT>
                <FTNT>
                    <P>
                        <SU>31</SU>
                         M.B. Petersen 
                        <E T="03">et al.,</E>
                          
                        <E T="03">Transparent communication about negative features of COVID-19 vaccines decreases acceptance but increases trust,</E>
                         118 Proc. Nat'l Acad. Sci. e2024597118 (2021).
                    </P>
                </FTNT>
                <FTNT>
                    <P>
                        <SU>32</SU>
                         World Health Org., 
                        <E T="03">Understanding the behavioural and social drivers of vaccine uptake: WHO position paper—May 2022,</E>
                         97 Wkly. Epidemiological Rec. 209 (2022); see also NE MacDonald &amp; SAGE Working Group on Vaccine Hesitancy, 
                        <E T="03">Vaccine hesitancy: Definition, scope and determinants,</E>
                         33 Vaccine 4161 (2015).
                    </P>
                </FTNT>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">II. Request for Information</HD>
                <P>The Department seeks comment from the public, including parents and patients; clinicians, nurses, pharmacists, and other immunization providers; State, Tribal, local, and territorial health officials; health plans and issuers; researchers in medicine, public health, ethics, law, communication science, and decision science; faith communities; manufacturers; and professional, civil-society, and community-based organizations. Commenters need not address every question. Supporting data, citations, and concrete examples are encouraged.</P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD2">A. Adequacy of the Current Categories</HD>
                <P>1. Are the current categories (routine, risk-based, and shared clinical decision-making/individual-based decision-making) adequate, clear, and well understood by clinicians, patients, and parents? What evidence bears on how each category is understood in practice?</P>
                <P>2. Do the current categories convey meaningful differences in the strength of the evidence, the magnitude of individual and population benefit, and the room left for individual circumstances and values? If not, how should those differences be conveyed?</P>
                <P>3. Do the current categories unintentionally imply that parental permission, individual consent, or meaningful clinical discussion applies only to shared clinical decision-making recommendations? Should the framework expressly distinguish the strength of a Federal recommendation from the consent, parental-permission, and assent processes involved in administering a vaccine?</P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD2">B. Potential Additional or Modified Categories and Timing and Frequency Recommendations</HD>
                <P>4. Should additional or different categories be adopted, such as “recommended, but not during infancy” (or otherwise age-de-emphasized recommendations); “recommended with qualification”; or “shared clinical decision-making with qualification”? For any proposed category, describe its definition, its default (if any), its evidentiary basis, and its intended downstream consequences.</P>
                <P>
                    5. What can be learned from the recommendation structures of peer bodies abroad, such as global or 
                    <PRTPAGE P="54728"/>
                    international health bodies of peer regulatory bodies?
                </P>
                <P>6. If new categories were adopted, what is needed to preserve access to vaccines currently available to Americans and ensure predictable and consistent treatment under coverage requirements, program eligibility rules, the injury-compensation programs, and State law?</P>
                <P>7. If categories remain the same, what modifications to timing and frequency of vaccine administration (for example, clearer presentation of flexible age ranges such as the 12-through-15-month window for the first dose of measles-containing vaccine) or guidance on administering vaccines individually versus at a single visit would help parents and clinicians understand that a vaccine is recommended while affording flexibility in timing of administration?</P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD2">C. Shared Clinical Decision-Making: Meaning, Risks, and Benefits</HD>
                <P>8. What does, or what should, “shared clinical decision-making” mean in the vaccination context? How, if at all, does “individual-based decision-making” differ?</P>
                <P>9. Does the term “shared clinical decision-making” create an unintended contrast with routine recommendations? Since shared decision-making describes a clinical process applicable to all vaccine decisions, should the Department reserve that phrase for use across all categories and instead adopt “conditional recommendation” or “recommendation based on individualized assessment” for recommendations whose expected benefit varies materially among individuals?</P>
                <P>10. What are the benefits of an SCDM category, including respect for autonomy, informed consent, religious conviction, and individualized clinical judgment, and what evidence supports them?</P>
                <P>11. What are the risks of an SCDM category, including confusion, reduced access or uptake, and time burdens in practice, and what evidence supports them?</P>
                <P>12. An SCDM recommendation, once adopted by the CDC Director, triggers the same coverage requirements as a routine recommendation, including coverage without cost-sharing under the Affordable Care Act and availability through the Vaccines for Children program. Given evidence that patients and even providers may not understand this, what steps should the Department take to educate the public and the provider community that SCDM-recommended vaccines are covered? What communication formats would most effectively ensure that an SCDM designation is not misread as a lapse in coverage or a signal that a vaccine is unavailable?</P>
                <P>13. What supports would make SCDM work as intended, such as decision aids, provider training, documentation standards, coverage clarifications, or category-specific communication materials, and who should develop them?</P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD2">D. Considerations in Setting Recommendations</HD>
                <P>14. What considerations should be relied upon in establishing vaccine recommendations and assigning categories, and under what conditions should each predominate? Commenters are specifically invited to address the availability, quality, and strength of evidence; the appropriate approach where randomized controlled trial evidence is absent, infeasible, or unethical to obtain; disease severity and epidemiology; individual versus population benefit; a presumption in favor of individual autonomy, informed consent, and religious freedom; and feasibility and programmatic consequences.</P>
                <P>15. When evidence is limited, uncertain, or evolving, how should that uncertainty be reflected in the recommendation itself, whether through category assignment, qualifying language, sunset or re-review provisions, or explicit statements of evidentiary certainty, rather than resolved silently in favor of either a universal recommendation or no recommendation?</P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD2">E. Trust and Communication</HD>
                <P>16. What does the evidence show about the effects of mandates and other compulsory or high-pressure approaches on public trust, vaccine confidence, and long-run vaccination behavior? How should Federal recommendation policy account for those effects, consistent with the principle that Federal recommendations are not mandates?</P>
                <P>17. What communication practices should accompany vaccine recommendations so that they earn and keep public trust, and what lessons from COVID-19-era communication should inform them?</P>
                <P>18. How should the Department measure whether a recommendation framework is succeeding, and what data should be collected and published for that purpose?</P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">III. Scope and Effect of This Notice</HD>
                <P>This request for information does not constitute a rule, a proposed rule, or a recommendation, and it does not alter any existing vaccine recommendation, coverage requirement, or program obligation. The Department will not respond individually to comments but will consider them in the work described above.</P>
                <SIG>
                    <NAME>Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.,</NAME>
                    <TITLE>Secretary, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.</TITLE>
                </SIG>
            </SUPLINF>
            <FRDOC>[FR Doc. 2026-17250 Filed 8-21-26; 8:45 am]</FRDOC>
            <BILCOD>BILLING CODE P</BILCOD>
        </NOTICE>
        <NOTICE>
            <PREAMB>
                <AGENCY TYPE="S">DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES</AGENCY>
                <SUBAGY>National Institutes of Health</SUBAGY>
                <SUBJECT>Government Owned Invention Available for License: T Cell Receptors Targeting HPV 6 or HPV 11</SUBJECT>
                <AGY>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">AGENCY:</HD>
                    <P>National Institutes of Health, HHS.</P>
                </AGY>
                <ACT>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">ACTION:</HD>
                    <P>Notice.</P>
                </ACT>
                <SUM>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">SUMMARY:</HD>
                    <P>The National Cancer Institute (NCI) seeks research co-development partners and/or licensees for a collection of T cell receptors (TCRs) that specifically target HPV 6 or HPV 11 antigens.</P>
                </SUM>
                <FURINF>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:</HD>
                    <P>
                        Inquiries related to this license opportunity should be directed to Suna Gulay French Ph.D., Technology Transfer Manager, NCI, Technology Transfer Center, Email: 
                        <E T="03">suna.gulay@nih.gov</E>
                         or Phone: 240-276-7424.
                    </P>
                </FURINF>
            </PREAMB>
            <SUPLINF>
                <HD SOURCE="HED">SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:</HD>
                <P>
                    Recurrent Respiratory Papillomatosis (RRP) and anogenital condyloma arise from chronic infection with human papillomavirus (HPV) 6 or 11. They can cause significant morbidity due to persistent papillomatous growths in the upper aerodigestive or anogenital tract. In RRP, lesions may obstruct the airway (leading to dysphonia), dyspnea, recurrent pneumonia, or pulmonary failure. In rare cases, it may progress to malignancy. Current treatment options for RRP include zopapogene imadenovec (Papzimeos), systemic bevacizumab, and repeated surgical debulking. Papzimeos can lead to durable responses in some patients but remains ineffective against pulmonary disease. Systemic bevacizumab can control disease, but prolonged use can lead to intolerable toxicities. Repeat surgical debulking causes cumulative surgical and anesthetic risks. Therefore, there remains a critical unmet need for 
                    <PRTPAGE P="54729"/>
                    safe and effective therapies for patients with aggressive or pulmonary RRP refractive to standard-of-care treatments.
                </P>
                <P>Researchers at the NCI identified several T cell receptors (TCRs) with potential utility in adoptive cell therapy and other TCR-based approaches to treat HPV 6- or HPV 11-associated diseases—including RRP. These TCRs used engineered T cells derived from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), an easily accessible source of human immune cells. The engineered T cells demonstrated reproducible, antigen-specific recognition of multiple HPV 6 and HPV 11 proteins presented by diverse HLA class I subtypes. The inventors further showed that these TCR-engineered T cells effectively eliminated HPV 6/11-infected target cells. Such results support the therapeutic potential of these TCRs for HPV-associated disease. The intellectual property rights have been assigned to the Government of the United States of America.</P>
                <P>“This Notice is in accordance with 37 CFR 404.4 Authority to grant licenses.”</P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">NIH Reference Number:</E>
                     E-002-2026-0.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Related Technologies:</E>
                     E-143-2024-0 and E-019-2025-0.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Product Type:</E>
                     Therapeutic.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Therapeutic Area(s):</E>
                     Immunology | Infectious Disease | Oncology.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Development Stage:</E>
                     Pre-clinical (
                    <E T="03">in vivo</E>
                     validation).
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Publications:</E>
                     N/A.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Patent(s):</E>
                     Provisional patent application.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Potential Commercial Applications:</E>
                </P>
                <P>• Treatment and diagnosis of recurrent RRP and other premalignant and nonmalignant conditions.</P>
                <P>○ Adoptive cell therapy.</P>
                <P>○ TCR-based therapy.</P>
                <P>○ Combination therapy.</P>
                <P>• Treatment and diagnosis of additional HPV 6- or HPV 11-associated diseases and chronic infections.</P>
                <P>○ Adoptive cell therapy.</P>
                <P>○ TCR-based therapy.</P>
                <P>○ Combination therapy.</P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Competitive Advantages:</E>
                </P>
                <P>• Novel adoptive cell therapies, either as monotherapies or in combination with other therapeutic modalities.</P>
                <P>• Promising freedom to practice as part of a comprehensive intellectual property portfolio for RRP therapeutics and diagnostics.</P>
                <P>• Established FDA regulatory precedent for TCR-based therapeutics.</P>
                <P>• Opportunity to qualify for regulatory incentives for rare diseases, including: orphan drug designation, priority review, and breakthrough therapy designation.</P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Collaboration Opportunity:</E>
                     Researchers at the NCI seek licensing and/or co-development research collaborations for a collection of T-cell receptors (TCRs) that specifically target HPV 6 or HPV 11 antigens.
                </P>
                <SIG>
                    <DATED> Dated: August 19, 2026.</DATED>
                    <NAME>Richard U. Rodriguez,</NAME>
                    <TITLE>Associate Director, Technology Transfer Center, National Cancer Institute.</TITLE>
                </SIG>
            </SUPLINF>
            <FRDOC>[FR Doc. 2026-17188 Filed 8-21-26; 8:45 am]</FRDOC>
            <BILCOD>BILLING CODE 4140-01-P</BILCOD>
        </NOTICE>
        <NOTICE>
            <PREAMB>
                <AGENCY TYPE="N">DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY</AGENCY>
                <SUBAGY>Coast Guard</SUBAGY>
                <DEPDOC>[Docket No. USCG-2026-0041]</DEPDOC>
                <SUBJECT>Notice of Availability and Request for Comments on Draft Navigation and Vessel Inspection Circular 02-99 Change 1—Guidance on the Streamlined Inspection Program</SUBJECT>
                <AGY>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">AGENCY:</HD>
                    <P>Coast Guard, DHS.</P>
                </AGY>
                <ACT>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">ACTION:</HD>
                    <P>Notice of availability and request for comments.</P>
                </ACT>
                <SUM>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">SUMMARY:</HD>
                    <P>The Coast Guard announces the availability of draft Navigation and Vessel Inspection Circular (NVIC) 02-99, Change 1, Guidance on the Streamlined Inspection Program. NVIC 02-99, Change 1 would modernize the program guidance to reflect industry advancements in digital recordkeeping, maintenance management systems, and third-party auditing. This update would emphasize a risk-based verification model that reduces redundant physical inspections, broadens acceptable compliance formats, and provides updated procedures for deficiency management and temporary hull repairs.</P>
                </SUM>
                <DATES>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">DATES:</HD>
                    <P>
                        Comments must be submitted to the online docket via 
                        <E T="03">https://www.regulations.gov</E>
                         on or before September 23, 2026.
                    </P>
                </DATES>
                <ADD>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">ADDRESSES:</HD>
                    <P>
                        You may submit comments identified by docket number USCG-2026-0041 at 
                        <E T="03">https://www.regulations.gov.</E>
                         See the “Public Participation and Request for Comments” portion of the 
                        <E T="02">SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION</E>
                         section for further instructions on submitting comments.
                    </P>
                </ADD>
                <FURINF>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:</HD>
                    <P>
                        For information about this document call or email LCDR Samuel Rodriguez, Coast Guard; telephone 571-608-7959, email 
                        <E T="03">Samuel.Rodriguez-Gonzalez@uscg.mil.</E>
                    </P>
                </FURINF>
            </PREAMB>
            <SUPLINF>
                <HD SOURCE="HED">SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:</HD>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">Public Participation and Comments</HD>
                <P>We encourage you to submit comments (or related material) on the draft NVIC 02-99, Change 1 Guidance on the Streamlined Inspection Program. We will consider all submissions provided by the deadline and may adjust our final action based on your comments. If you submit a comment, please include the docket number for this notice, indicate the specific section of this document to which each comment applies, and provide a reason for each suggestion or recommendation.</P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Submitting comments.</E>
                     We encourage you to submit comments at 
                    <E T="03">http://www.regulations.gov.</E>
                     To do so, go to 
                    <E T="03">https://www.regulations.gov,</E>
                     type USCG-2026-0041 in the search box and click “Search.” Next, look for this document in the Search Results column, and click on it. Then click on the Comment option. If your material cannot be submitted using 
                    <E T="03">http://www.regulations.gov,</E>
                     contact the person in the 
                    <E T="02">FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT</E>
                     section of this document for alternate instructions.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Viewing material in docket.</E>
                     To view documents mentioned in this notice as being available in the docket, find the docket as described in the previous paragraph, and then select “Supporting &amp; Related Material” in the Document Type column. Public comments will also be placed in our online docket and can be viewed by following instructions on the 
                    <E T="03">https://www.regulations.gov</E>
                     Frequently Asked Questions web page.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Personal information.</E>
                     We accept anonymous comments. Comments we post to 
                    <E T="03">https://www.regulations.gov</E>
                     will include any personal information you have provided, except that contact information (such as email or mailing address) will not be available for public viewing, unless the submitter includes that information in the body of the docket submission. For more about privacy and submissions in response to this document, see DHS's eRulemaking System of Records notice (85 FR 14226, March 11, 2020).
                </P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">Discussion</HD>
                <P>The Coast Guard is making available for comment a draft Change 1 to NVIC 02-99, Guidance on the Streamlined Inspection Program. Originally published in 1999, the Streamlined Inspection Program (SIP) provides an alternative, company-managed process for ensuring compliance with vessel inspection regulations. Since its inception, the maritime industry has modernized, increasingly relying on digital compliance systems, robust safety management systems, and third-party audits.</P>
                <P>
                    This updated draft guidance would modernize the SIP to align with these industry advancements. The draft NVIC 
                    <PRTPAGE P="54730"/>
                    would establish a risk-based verification model that reduces redundant physical inspections for high-performing operators, expands acceptable digital recordkeeping formats in lieu of legacy paper forms, and provides updated frameworks for deficiency management and temporary hull repairs. We request your comments on all aspects of this draft NVIC. Your comments will be considered in preparing the final version of the guidance.
                </P>
                <P>This notice is issued under authority of 5 U.S.C. 552(a); 46 U.S.C. 3103 and 3306; 46 CFR part 8, subpart E; and Department of Homeland Security Delegation No. 00170.1(II)(92).</P>
                <SIG>
                    <DATED>Dated: August 19, 2026.</DATED>
                    <NAME>C.F. Heard IV, </NAME>
                    <TITLE>Captain, U.S. Coast Guard, Chief, Office of Commercial Vessel Compliance.</TITLE>
                </SIG>
            </SUPLINF>
            <FRDOC>[FR Doc. 2026-17216 Filed 8-21-26; 8:45 am]</FRDOC>
            <BILCOD>BILLING CODE 9110-04-P</BILCOD>
        </NOTICE>
        <NOTICE>
            <PREAMB>
                <AGENCY TYPE="S">DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY</AGENCY>
                <DEPDOC>[Docket No. DHS-2026-0430]</DEPDOC>
                <SUBJECT>Establishment of the United States Coast Guard Academy Board of Visitors</SUBJECT>
                <AGY>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">AGENCY:</HD>
                    <P>U.S. Coast Guard, Department of Homeland Security.</P>
                </AGY>
                <ACT>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">ACTION:</HD>
                    <P>Committee management; notice of federal advisory committee establishment.</P>
                </ACT>
                <SUM>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">SUMMARY:</HD>
                    <P>The Secretary of Department of Homeland Security, through the U.S. Coast Guard, is establishing the U.S. Coast Guard Academy Board of Visitors (Board) as a federal advisory committee. The Board shall review and make recommendations on the operation of the U.S. Coast Guard Academy.</P>
                </SUM>
                <FURINF>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:</HD>
                    <P>
                        Michael Miron, Committee Management Officer, 
                        <E T="03">dhsfaca@hq.dhs.gov,</E>
                         (202) 343-1673.
                    </P>
                </FURINF>
            </PREAMB>
            <SUPLINF>
                <HD SOURCE="HED">SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:</HD>
                <P>
                    Under the provisions of 14 U.S.C. 1903, the Board shall review and make recommendations on the operation of the U.S. Coast Guard Academy. The Board is governed by the provisions of the 
                    <E T="03">Federal Advisory Committee Act</E>
                     (5 U.S.C. chapter 10), which set forth standards for the formation of the Board as federal advisory committee.
                </P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">Membership and Designation</HD>
                <P>A. The membership of the Board shall consist of the following:</P>
                <P>a. The chairperson of the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate, or a member of such Committee designated by such chairperson.</P>
                <P>b. Two Senators appointed by the Vice President, each of whom shall be selected from among the members of the Committee on the Appropriations of the Senate.</P>
                <P>c. Three Senators appointed by the Vice President.</P>
                <P>d. The chairperson of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives, or a member of such Committee designated by such chairperson.</P>
                <P>e. Two members of the House of Representatives appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, each of whom shall be elected from among the members of the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives.</P>
                <P>f. Four Members of the House of Representatives appointed by the Speaker of the House Representatives.</P>
                <P>g. Six individuals designated by the President. If not a Regular Government Employee, these six individuals will be appointed as Special Government Employees representing the general public unless designated by the President to provide the Board with points of views of the nongovernment entity or group of persons they are designated to represent. An individual designated to represent the viewpoints of a non-government entity or group would be appointed as a representative.</P>
                <P>B. Timing of appointments of members:</P>
                <P>
                    a. 
                    <E T="03">Senators:</E>
                     If any member of the Board described above is not appointed by 180 days after the date on which the first session of each Congress convenes, then the chair and ranking member of the subcommittee of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation with jurisdiction over the authorization of Coast Guard appropriations shall be members of the Board until the second session of that Congress adjourns sine die.
                </P>
                <P>
                    b. 
                    <E T="03">Members of the House of Representatives:</E>
                     If any member of the Board described above is not appointed by 180 days after the date on which the first session of each Congress convenes, then the chair and ranking member of the subcommittee of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives with jurisdiction over the authorization of Coast Guard appropriations shall be members of the Board until the second session of that Congress adjourns sine die.
                </P>
                <P>
                    c. 
                    <E T="03">Members of the Senate Committee on Appropriations:</E>
                     If any member of the Board described above is not appointed by 180 days after the date on which the first session of each Congress convenes, then the chair and ranking member of the subcommittee of the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate with jurisdiction over Coast Guard appropriations shall be members of the Board until the second session of that Congress adjourns sine die.
                </P>
                <P>
                    d. 
                    <E T="03">Members of the House of Representatives Committee on Appropriations:</E>
                     If any member of the Board described above is not appointed by 180 days after the date on which the first session of each Congress convenes, then the chair and ranking member of the subcommittee of the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives with jurisdiction over Coast Guard appropriations shall be members of the Board until the second session of that Congress adjourns sine die.
                </P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">Duties</HD>
                <P>
                    A. 
                    <E T="03">The Board shall review, with respect to the Academy:</E>
                     (1) the state of morale and discipline; (2) recruitment and retention; (3) the curriculum; (4) instruction; (5) physical equipment; (6) fiscal affairs; and (7) other matters relating to the Academy that the Board determines appropriate.
                </P>
                <P>B. The Commandant of the Coast Guard (hereafter “Commandant”) shall invite each member of the Board and any staff designated to visit the Coast Guard Academy at least once annually to review the operation of the Academy. With the approval of the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (hereinafter “the Secretary”), the Board, or any members of the Board in connection with the duties of the Board, may make visits to the Academy in connection with the duties of the Board or consult with the Superintendent of the Academy or the faculty, staff, or cadets of the Academy.</P>
                <P>C. Not later than 60 days after the date on which the Board conducts a meeting, the Commandant, in consultation with the Board, shall submit a report on the actions of the Board during the meeting and the recommendation of the Board pertaining to the Academy to the Secretary; the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate; and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and the Committee on Armed Services of the House of Representatives. The Board shall publish their reports on a publicly accessible Coast Guard website.</P>
                <P>
                    The duties of the Board are solely advisory in nature.
                    <PRTPAGE P="54731"/>
                </P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">Length of Service</HD>
                <P>A. A member of Congress designated as a member of the Board shall be designated as a member in the first session of the applicable Congress and shall serve for the duration of such Congress.</P>
                <P>B. Each individual designated by the President shall serve as a member of the Board for three years, except that any such member whose term of office has expired shall continue to serve until a successor is appointed by the President.</P>
                <P>C. If a member of the Board dies or resigns, a successor shall be designated for any unexpired portion of the term of the member by the official who designated the member.</P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">Meetings</HD>
                <P>
                    A. Meetings are held at the call of the Board's Designated Federal Officer (DFO), who will coordinate with members of the Board to the greatest extent practicable to determine the date and time of each meeting. The DFO will make arrangements for the meeting, including publishing a timely notice in the 
                    <E T="04">Federal Register</E>
                    .
                </P>
                <P>B. The Board will meet at least once annually at the Academy or other suitable location chosen by the Commandant.</P>
                <P>C. Each member of the Board shall be reimbursed, to the extent permitted by law, by the U.S. Coast Guard for actual expenses incurred while engaged in their duties as a Member of the Board.</P>
                <P>D. A meeting will have a quorum when over 50% of the members are in attendance. Board meetings are open to the public unless a determination is made by the appropriate Department of Homeland Security official in accordance with Department of Homeland Security policy and directives that the meeting should be closed in accordance with the Government in the Sunshine Act (Sunshine Act), 5 U.S.C. 552b(c).</P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Duration:</E>
                     Pursuant to 14 U.S.C. 1903, the Board is constituted indefinitely.
                </P>
                <SIG>
                    <NAME>Michael J. Miron,</NAME>
                    <TITLE>Committee Management Officer, Department of Homeland Security.</TITLE>
                </SIG>
            </SUPLINF>
            <FRDOC>[FR Doc. 2026-17219 Filed 8-21-26; 8:45 am]</FRDOC>
            <BILCOD>BILLING CODE 9112-FN-P</BILCOD>
        </NOTICE>
        <NOTICE>
            <PREAMB>
                <AGENCY TYPE="N">DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT</AGENCY>
                <DEPDOC>[Docket No. FR-7110-N-07; OMB Control No.: 2502-0462]</DEPDOC>
                <SUBJECT>60-Day Notice of Proposed Information Collection: Capital Advance Section 811 Grant Application for Supportive Housing for Persons With Disabilities</SUBJECT>
                <AGY>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">AGENCY:</HD>
                    <P>Office of the Assistant Secretary for Housing—Federal Housing Commissioner, HUD.</P>
                </AGY>
                <ACT>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">ACTION:</HD>
                    <P>Notice.</P>
                </ACT>
                <SUM>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">SUMMARY:</HD>
                    <P>HUD is seeking approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for the information collection described below. In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act, HUD is requesting comment from all interested parties on the proposed collection of information. The purpose of this notice is to allow for 60 days of public comment.</P>
                </SUM>
                <DATES>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">DATES:</HD>
                    <P>
                        <E T="03">Comments Due Date:</E>
                         October 23, 2026.
                    </P>
                </DATES>
                <ADD>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">ADDRESSES:</HD>
                    <P>Interested persons are invited to submit comments regarding this proposal.</P>
                    <P>
                        Written comments and recommendations for the proposed information collection can be sent within 60 days of publication of this notice to 
                        <E T="03">www.regulations.gov.</E>
                         Interested persons are also invited to submit comments regarding this proposal and comments should refer to the proposal by name and/or OMB Control Number and should be sent to: Darian Ziegler, PRA Liaison, Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 Seventh Street SW, Washington, DC 20410.
                    </P>
                </ADD>
                <FURINF>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:</HD>
                    <P>
                        Darian Ziegler, PRA Liaison, Office of Housing, Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 Seventh Street SW, Washington, DC 20410; email 
                        <E T="03">Darian.Ziegler@hud.gov;</E>
                         telephone (202) 402-5535. This is not a toll-free number. HUD welcomes and is prepared to receive calls from individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing, as well as individuals with speech or communication disabilities. To learn more about how to make an accessible telephone call, please visit 
                        <E T="03">https://www.fcc.gov/consumers/guides/telecommunications-relay-service-trs.</E>
                    </P>
                    <P>Copies of available documents submitted to OMB may be obtained from Ms. Ziegler.</P>
                </FURINF>
            </PREAMB>
            <SUPLINF>
                <HD SOURCE="HED">SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:</HD>
                <P>This notice informs the public that HUD is seeking approval from OMB for the information collection described in Section A.</P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">A. Overview of Information Collection</HD>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Title of Information Collection:</E>
                     Capital Advance Section 811 Grant Application for Supportive Housing for Persons with Disabilities.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">OMB Approval Number:</E>
                     2502-0462.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Type of Request:</E>
                     Reinstatement.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Form Number:</E>
                     HUD-92016-CA, HUD-92041, HUD-92042, HUD-92043, HUD-2880, HUD-2991, HUD-2530, HUD 424-B Standard grant forms: SF-424, SF-LLL.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Description of the need for the information and proposed use:</E>
                     To apply for a Capital Advance grant for HUD's Section 811 program, prospective private nonprofit organizations submit completed Section 811 Supportive Housing for Persons with Disabilities applications.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Respondents:</E>
                     99.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Estimated Number of Respondents:</E>
                     99.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Estimated Number of Responses:</E>
                     99.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Frequency of Response:</E>
                     1.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Average Hours per Response:</E>
                     4.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Total Estimated Burdens:</E>
                     811.8.
                </P>
                <GPOTABLE COLS="8" OPTS="L2,nj,tp0,p7,7/8,i1" CDEF="s50,12,9,9,9,9,12,12">
                    <TTITLE> </TTITLE>
                    <BOXHD>
                        <CHED H="1">
                            Information
                            <LI>collection</LI>
                        </CHED>
                        <CHED H="1">
                            Number of
                            <LI>respondents</LI>
                        </CHED>
                        <CHED H="1">
                            Frequency
                            <LI>of</LI>
                            <LI>response</LI>
                        </CHED>
                        <CHED H="1">
                            Responses
                            <LI>per</LI>
                            <LI>annum</LI>
                        </CHED>
                        <CHED H="1">
                            Burden
                            <LI>hour per</LI>
                            <LI>response</LI>
                        </CHED>
                        <CHED H="1">
                            Annual
                            <LI>burden</LI>
                            <LI>hours</LI>
                        </CHED>
                        <CHED H="1">
                            Hourly
                            <LI>cost per</LI>
                            <LI>response</LI>
                        </CHED>
                        <CHED H="1">
                            Annual
                            <LI>cost</LI>
                        </CHED>
                    </BOXHD>
                    <ROW>
                        <ENT I="01">SF-424</ENT>
                        <ENT>99</ENT>
                        <ENT>1</ENT>
                        <ENT>99</ENT>
                        <ENT>0</ENT>
                        <ENT>0</ENT>
                        <ENT>0</ENT>
                        <ENT/>
                    </ROW>
                    <ROW>
                        <ENT I="01">HUD-424B</ENT>
                        <ENT>99</ENT>
                        <ENT>1</ENT>
                        <ENT>99</ENT>
                        <ENT>0</ENT>
                        <ENT>0</ENT>
                        <ENT>0</ENT>
                        <ENT/>
                    </ROW>
                    <ROW>
                        <ENT I="01">SF-LLL</ENT>
                        <ENT>99</ENT>
                        <ENT>1</ENT>
                        <ENT>99</ENT>
                        <ENT>0</ENT>
                        <ENT>0</ENT>
                        <ENT>0</ENT>
                        <ENT/>
                    </ROW>
                    <ROW>
                        <ENT I="01">HUD-2880</ENT>
                        <ENT>99</ENT>
                        <ENT>1</ENT>
                        <ENT>99</ENT>
                        <ENT>0</ENT>
                        <ENT>0</ENT>
                        <ENT>0</ENT>
                        <ENT/>
                    </ROW>
                    <ROW>
                        <ENT I="01">HUD-92016-CA</ENT>
                        <ENT>99</ENT>
                        <ENT>1</ENT>
                        <ENT>99</ENT>
                        <ENT>1</ENT>
                        <ENT>99</ENT>
                        <ENT>$26.00</ENT>
                        <ENT>$2,574</ENT>
                    </ROW>
                    <ROW>
                        <ENT I="01">HUD-92041</ENT>
                        <ENT>99</ENT>
                        <ENT>1</ENT>
                        <ENT>99</ENT>
                        <ENT>.4</ENT>
                        <ENT>39.6</ENT>
                        <ENT>26.00</ENT>
                        <ENT>1,029.60</ENT>
                    </ROW>
                    <ROW>
                        <ENT I="01">HUD-92042</ENT>
                        <ENT>99</ENT>
                        <ENT>1</ENT>
                        <ENT>99</ENT>
                        <ENT>.4</ENT>
                        <ENT>39.6</ENT>
                        <ENT>26.00</ENT>
                        <ENT>1,029.60</ENT>
                    </ROW>
                    <ROW>
                        <ENT I="01">HUD-92043</ENT>
                        <ENT>99</ENT>
                        <ENT>1</ENT>
                        <ENT>99</ENT>
                        <ENT>.4</ENT>
                        <ENT>39.6</ENT>
                        <ENT>26.00</ENT>
                        <ENT>1,029.60</ENT>
                    </ROW>
                    <ROW>
                        <ENT I="01">HUD-2991</ENT>
                        <ENT>99</ENT>
                        <ENT>1</ENT>
                        <ENT>99</ENT>
                        <ENT>3</ENT>
                        <ENT>297</ENT>
                        <ENT>26.00</ENT>
                        <ENT>7,772</ENT>
                    </ROW>
                    <ROW RUL="n,s">
                        <ENT I="01">HUD-2530</ENT>
                        <ENT>99</ENT>
                        <ENT>1</ENT>
                        <ENT>99</ENT>
                        <ENT>3</ENT>
                        <ENT>297</ENT>
                        <ENT>26.00</ENT>
                        <ENT>7,772</ENT>
                    </ROW>
                    <ROW>
                        <ENT I="03">Totals</ENT>
                        <ENT>99</ENT>
                        <ENT>10</ENT>
                        <ENT>990</ENT>
                        <ENT>8.2</ENT>
                        <ENT>811.8</ENT>
                        <ENT>156.00</ENT>
                        <ENT>21,206.8</ENT>
                    </ROW>
                </GPOTABLE>
                <PRTPAGE P="54732"/>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">B. Solicitation of Public Comment</HD>
                <P>This notice is soliciting comments from members of the public and affected parties concerning the collection of information described in Section A on the following:</P>
                <P>(1) 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;</P>
                <P>(2) The accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information;</P>
                <P>(3) Ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and</P>
                <P>
                    (4) Ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond; including through the use of appropriate automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology, 
                    <E T="03">e.g.,</E>
                     permitting electronic submission of responses.
                </P>
                <P>HUD encourages interested parties to submit comment in response to these questions.</P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">C. Authority</HD>
                <P>Section 2 of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, 44 U.S.C. 3507.</P>
                <SIG>
                    <NAME>Paul M. Olin,</NAME>
                    <TITLE>Acting General Deputy Assistant Secretary for Housing.</TITLE>
                </SIG>
            </SUPLINF>
            <FRDOC>[FR Doc. 2026-17210 Filed 8-21-26; 8:45 am]</FRDOC>
            <BILCOD>BILLING CODE 4210-67-P</BILCOD>
        </NOTICE>
        <NOTICE>
            <PREAMB>
                <AGENCY TYPE="N">DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR</AGENCY>
                <SUBAGY>Geological Survey</SUBAGY>
                <DEPDOC>[Docket No. USGS-2025-0006; OMB Control Number 1028-0082; GX26LB00TZ901]</DEPDOC>
                <SUBJECT>Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget for Review and Approval; Revisions to the U.S. Geological Survey's Bird Banding and Marking Permit Application</SUBJECT>
                <AGY>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">AGENCY:</HD>
                    <P>U.S. Geological Survey, Interior.</P>
                </AGY>
                <ACT>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">ACTION:</HD>
                    <P>Notice of information collection; request for comment.</P>
                </ACT>
                <SUM>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">SUMMARY:</HD>
                    <P>In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is proposing to renew an information collection with revisions.</P>
                </SUM>
                <DATES>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">DATES:</HD>
                    <P>Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before September 23, 2026.</P>
                </DATES>
                <ADD>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">ADDRESSES:</HD>
                    <P>You may submit comments by one of the following methods:</P>
                    <P>
                          
                        <E T="03">Internet:</E>
                          
                        <E T="03">https://www.regulations.gov.</E>
                         Search for and submit comments on Docket No. USGS-2025-0006.
                    </P>
                    <P>
                          
                        <E T="03">U.S. Mail:</E>
                         USGS, Information Collections Clearance Officer, 12201 Sunrise Valley Drive, MS 159, Reston, VA 20192.
                    </P>
                </ADD>
                <FURINF>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:</HD>
                    <P>
                        To request additional information about this information collection request (ICR), contact Antonio Celis-Murillo by email at 
                        <E T="03">acelis-murillo@usgs.gov,</E>
                         or by telephone at 301-497-5808. Individuals in the United States who are deaf, deafblind, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability may dial 711 (TTY, TDD, or TeleBraille) to access telecommunications relay services. Individuals outside the United States should use the relay services offered within their country to make international calls to the point-of-contact in the United States. You may also view the ICR at 
                        <E T="03">http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain.</E>
                    </P>
                </FURINF>
            </PREAMB>
            <SUPLINF>
                <HD SOURCE="HED">SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:</HD>
                <P>
                    In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA, 44 U.S.C. 3501 
                    <E T="03">et seq.</E>
                    ) and 5 CFR 1320.8(d)(1), we provide the public and other Federal agencies with an opportunity to comment on new, proposed, revised, and continuing collections of information. This helps us assess the impact of our information collection requirements and minimize the public's reporting burden. It also helps the public understand our information collection requirements and provide the requested data in the desired format.
                </P>
                <P>
                    A 
                    <E T="04">Federal Register</E>
                     notice with a 60-day public comment period soliciting comments on this collection of information was published on April 8, 2026 (91 FR 17811). Three comment letters were received including from a Federal Bird Banding and Marking Permit holder, the Ornithological Council (OC), and the Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD). All comment letters support the proposed modifications to the Federal Bird Banding and Marking Permit Application (permit application) and state that the proposed changes are common sense, reduce burden on both the agency and the applicants, and improve clarity. The OC agrees that the information collected by the permit application is necessary for the USGS Bird Banding Laboratory's (BBL) functions, and also supports the change that allows applicants to list the capture methods rather than select from a short list.
                </P>
                <P>
                    Comments were received on the proposed change that allows applicants to include other biological sampling (other than blood or feather sampling). One comment expressed the open-endedness of the biological sampling question may be problematic and that the USGS should be clear in what they may authorize (
                    <E T="03">e.g.,</E>
                     fecal samples, biopsies, etc.) as this could potentially cause confusion with applicants that may also need a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service scientific collection permit. A similar comment requested the addition of cloacal swabbing as an example of biological sampling. The USGS previously proposed in the 60-day notice for public comment (91 FR 17811) the addition of biological sampling examples (
                    <E T="03">e.g.,</E>
                     mouth and tracheal swabbing) on the permit application for enhanced clarity. No authorization is required from the BBL for cloacal sampling/fecal samples as that is passively collected outside of a bird. The USGS intends to keep this question open to allow for flexibility if new sampling or sampling technologies are developed in the future.
                </P>
                <P>
                    The OC suggested expanding the estimated time of burden to also include development of an online submission system for permit application materials and other permit related processes. The USGS has not changed the estimated burden for the permit application. While there are additional materials required as part of the application process, 
                    <E T="03">i.e.,</E>
                     a project description and a banding resume, the preparation of those documents is too variable among applicants, and no standard format is required to develop a baseline of estimated time of burden. The USGS agrees with the development of a comprehensive online system for submission of all permit application materials and tracking of application status and will explore this idea through our existing Bander Portal system when funding and capacity allows for such improvements.
                </P>
                <P>The AZGFD also provided additional comments that were program-level recommendations for other aspects of the USGS permitting and unrelated to the proposed modifications to the permit application or information collection.</P>
                <P>As part of our continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burdens, we are again soliciting comments from the public and other Federal agencies on the proposed ICR that is described below. We are especially interested in public comments addressing the following:</P>
                <P>
                    (1) Whether or not the collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information will have practical utility.
                    <PRTPAGE P="54733"/>
                </P>
                <P>(2) The accuracy of our estimate of the burden for this collection of information, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used.</P>
                <P>(3) Ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and</P>
                <P>
                    (4) How might the agency minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond, including using appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology, 
                    <E T="03">e.g.,</E>
                     permitting electronic submission of response.
                </P>
                <P>Comments that you submit in response to this notice are a matter of public record. Before including your address, phone number, email address, or other personally identifiable information (PII) in your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment—including your PII—may be made publicly available at any time. While you can ask us in your comment to withhold your PII from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so.</P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Abstract:</E>
                     Bird banding is a vital scientific and management tool that allows researchers to monitor migratory bird populations, estimate survival and harvest rates, and track long-term ecological trends. Under the authority of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (16 U.S.C. 703-12), the U.S. Department of the Interior delegates oversight of the national bird banding program to the USGS. This responsibility resides within the BBL at the Eastern Ecological Science Center, which oversees more than 9,000 federally permitted banders and manages the national database of banding and encounter records. The success of this program depends on effective coordination between permitted banders and individuals who later encounter marked birds, ensuring that critical data remains available for long-term scientific analysis. The data are used by varying interest groups that depend on these data to reach effective management decisions and achieve collaborative outcomes for bird-related challenges.
                </P>
                <P>To meet these requirements, the BBL collects information such as the permit application and other forms. With the proposed revisions to information collection control #1028-0082, the BBL aims to provide essential clarity, enhance efficiency, and eliminate duplication, thereby further reducing the administrative burden for both the public and the USGS. Other forms in control #1028-0082, including the permit renewal form and the bird banding recovery report, remain unchanged.</P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Current information collection control #1028-0082:</E>
                     In addition to the standardized information required by 50 CFR 13.12, the current permit application requirements include submission of the following information:
                </P>
                <P>(1) Applicant Height, Weight, Hair Color, Eye Color, Gender (Male/Female).</P>
                <P>(2) Type of Permit.</P>
                <P>(3) Current and previous federal migratory permits possessed, previously possessed, or pending.</P>
                <P>(4) If blood sampling is being requested, the master permit holder and permit number of the person requiring permission, species, site of the blood draw or technique, the volume of blood, why blood sampling is needed, how it will be used, and the applicant's qualifications for such blood sampling.</P>
                <P>(5) If feather sampling is being requested, the master permit holder and permit number of the person requiring permission, species, what feathers and how many are needed, why is feather sampling needed, how it will be used, and the applicant's qualifications for feather sampling.</P>
                <P>(6) Species proposed to band or mark based on groups.</P>
                <P>(7) Trapping techniques proposed: mist nets, rocket nets, and cannon nets, or list of other intended techniques.</P>
                <P>(8) Auxiliary marking being requested and the master permit holder and permit number of the person requiring permission, species, techniques used, type of marker used, why are aux markers needed, how will they be used, and the applicant's qualifications for feather sampling.</P>
                <P>(9) Description of what an applicant hopes to accomplish by banding birds.</P>
                <P>(10) References—names, email, addresses in which whom the BBL may consult with regarding an applicant's qualifications.</P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Proposed revisions to information collection control #1028-0082:</E>
                     In the proposed revisions to information collection control #1028-0082, we removed outdated or irrelevant questions, consolidated several inquiries to strengthen the scientific justification for banding and marking, and eliminated the application checklist to reduce redundant information requests. Specifically, the following revisions are proposed:
                </P>
                <P>(1) Type of Permit. We removed “Renewal Permit” as this is outdated information. Renewals are submitted by permitted banders through the Bander Portal and do not require this form. We added the options, of “Master Station,” “Master Personal,” and “Change in Responsible Individual” to this section. These options were consolidated from other sections to provide clarity to the BBL on the type of permit being requested.</P>
                <P>(2) (NEW) Applicant Type. A section on Applicant Type, was added to provide clarity to the BBL and ensure consistency with the program's database. Applicant Types include Federal, State, Tribal, Local Government, Non-governmental Organization, University, Avocational Biologist, Business, and Other.</P>
                <P>(3) Personal information such as Height, Weight, Hair Color, Eye Color were removed from the application. This information is irrelevant to BBL permitting.</P>
                <P>(4) Gender was modified to Sex and an option for “undisclosed” was added.</P>
                <P>(5) Contact Information. We consolidated home and business addresses into one address section. The applicant is now only required to provide one address to the BBL for correspondence and has the option to include an organization, if applicable.</P>
                <P>(6) Species. We eliminated the pre-selected species groups and instead allow the applicant to list their proposed species groups or individual species for banding.</P>
                <P>(7) Capture techniques. We eliminated the pre-selected techniques and instead allow the applicant to list their proposed capture techniques.</P>
                <P>(8) Auxiliary marking. We removed requests for information in this section that were redundant. Species, techniques, and purposes for auxiliary marking are already required as part of the applicant's Comprehensive Project Description as part of the scientific justification for banding and marking. An applicant's skills and qualifications for auxiliary marking are already required as part of their banding resume.</P>
                <P>(9) Blood and Feather Sampling. We removed requests for information in this section that were redundant. Species, techniques, and purposes for blood and feather sampling are already required as part of the applicant's Comprehensive Project Description as part of the scientific justification for banding and marking. An applicant's skills and qualifications for blood and feather sampling are already required as part of their banding resume.</P>
                <P>
                    (10) (NEW) Biological Sampling. We added a new section that allows an applicant to request other types of biological sampling (
                    <E T="03">e.g.,</E>
                     mouth or tracheal swabbing) that would be completed as part of banding or marking birds. Species, techniques, and purposes for additional biological sampling are 
                    <PRTPAGE P="54734"/>
                    now required as part of the applicant's Comprehensive Project Description as part of the scientific justification for banding and marking. An applicant's skills and qualifications for additional biological sampling are now required as part of their banding resume.
                </P>
                <P>(11) Removed section. Description of what an applicant hopes to accomplish by banding birds. We replaced this section with a yes/no option if the applicant has included a Comprehensive Project Description as part of their application package. The Comprehensive Project Description should include all the necessary details for the BBL to properly evaluate a proposal as a scientifically justifiable banding or marking project.</P>
                <P>(11) (NEW) Banding Resume. We added a yes/no option if the applicant has included a banding resume as part of their application package and that it should include previous bird banding and marking experiences for the BBL to properly evaluate an applicant's skills and formal training for capturing and banding or marking of birds.</P>
                <P>(12) References. We modified the References section to simply state that three letters of recommendation must be received by the BBL before any application is considered and that a minimum of two references should be from a bird bander that has worked directly with the applicant and can confirm their experience and abilities. Applicants no longer need to provide names, emails, addresses as that information is redundant to the information provided by their references who submit letters of recommendation.</P>
                <P>(13) (NEW) Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). This section was added to the permit application to protect applicants that are not covered by the Privacy Act and allow for the identification of any information that should be considered privileged and confidential business information to the USGS to meet its responsibility under FOIA. This section is informational and does not require any additional input or effort from the applicant.</P>
                <P>
                    Copies of the draft forms are available to the public by submitting a request to the Service Information Collection Clearance Officer using one of the methods identified in 
                    <E T="02">ADDRESSES</E>
                    .
                </P>
                <P>In the 60-day notice (91 FR 17811), the USGS included estimated respondents, responses, completion and burden time as revisions were only proposed for the permit application. No changes were proposed for the permit renewal form or the bird banding recovery report. However, all forms under information collection control #1028-0082 expire on February 28, 2027, and for transparency, we have now included the estimated respondents, responses, and completion and burden time for all three forms under information collection control #1028-0082. The permit renewal form and the bird banding recovery report continue to remain unchanged.</P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Title of Collection:</E>
                     Bird Banding and Marking Permit Application.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">OMB Control Number:</E>
                     1028-0082.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Form Number:</E>
                     None.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Type of Review:</E>
                     Revision of a currently approved collection.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Respondents/Affected Public:</E>
                     General public.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Total Estimated Number of Annual Respondents:</E>
                     101,429.
                </P>
                <FP SOURCE="FP-1">—Permit Application: 80.</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP-1">—Permit Renewal Form: 463.</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP-1">—Bird Banding Recovery Report: 100,886.</FP>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Total Estimated Number of Annual Responses:</E>
                     101,692.
                </P>
                <FP SOURCE="FP-1">—Permit Application: 80.</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP-1">—Permit Renewal Form: 463.</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP-1">—Bird Banding Recovery Report: 101,149.</FP>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Estimated Completion Time per Response:</E>
                     minimum of 3 minutes and up to 30 minutes depending on form used.
                </P>
                <FP SOURCE="FP-1">—Permit Application: up to 30 minutes.</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP-1">—Permit Renewal Form: 3 minutes.</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP-1">—Bird Banding Recovery Report: 3 minutes.</FP>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Total Estimated Number of Annual Burden Hours:</E>
                     5,121.
                </P>
                <FP SOURCE="FP-1">—Permit Application: 80 responses/40 hours.</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP-1">—Permit Renewal: 463 responses/23 hours.</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP-1">—Recovery Report: 101,149 responses/5,058 hours.</FP>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Respondent's Obligation:</E>
                     Voluntary.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Frequency of Collection:</E>
                     On occasion.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Total Estimated Annual Non-hour Burden Cost:</E>
                     We have not identified any “non-hour cost” burdens associated with this collection of information.
                </P>
                <P>An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number.</P>
                <P>
                    The authority for this action is the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 
                    <E T="03">et seq.</E>
                    ).
                </P>
                <SIG>
                    <NAME>Antonio Celis-Murillo,</NAME>
                    <TITLE>Program Manager, USGS Bird Banding Laboratory.</TITLE>
                </SIG>
            </SUPLINF>
            <FRDOC>[FR Doc. 2026-17213 Filed 8-21-26; 8:45 am]</FRDOC>
            <BILCOD>BILLING CODE 4338-11-P</BILCOD>
        </NOTICE>
        <NOTICE>
            <PREAMB>
                <AGENCY TYPE="S">DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR</AGENCY>
                <SUBAGY>Bureau of Indian Affairs</SUBAGY>
                <DEPDOC>[267A2100DD/AAKP300000/A0A501010.000000]</DEPDOC>
                <SUBJECT>Tonto Apache Tribe of Arizona Liquor Control Code</SUBJECT>
                <AGY>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">AGENCY:</HD>
                    <P>Bureau of Indian Affairs, Interior.</P>
                </AGY>
                <ACT>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">ACTION:</HD>
                    <P>Notice.</P>
                </ACT>
                <SUM>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">SUMMARY:</HD>
                    <P>This notice publishes the Tonto Apache Tribe of Arizona Liquor Control Code, which repeals and replaces the previous liquor code published on January 14, 1986.</P>
                </SUM>
                <DATES>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">DATES:</HD>
                    <P>This code shall become effective August 24, 2026.</P>
                </DATES>
                <FURINF>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:</HD>
                    <P>Karrie-Ann Quartz, Acting Tribal Government Officer, Western Regional Office, Bureau of Indian Affairs, 2600 N. Central Avenue, 4th Floor Mailroom, Phoenix, AZ 85004, Telephone: (480) 744-4992 or Oliver Whaley, Director, Office of Regulatory Affairs, (202) 738-6065.</P>
                </FURINF>
            </PREAMB>
            <SUPLINF>
                <HD SOURCE="HED">SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:</HD>
                <P>
                    Pursuant to the Act of August 15, 1953, Pub. Law 83-277, 67 Stat. 586, 18 U.S.C. 1161, as interpreted by the Supreme Court in 
                    <E T="03">Rice</E>
                     v. 
                    <E T="03">Rehner,</E>
                     463 U.S. 713 (1983), the Secretary of the Interior shall certify and publish in the 
                    <E T="04">Federal Register</E>
                     notice of adopted liquor ordinances for the purpose of regulating liquor transactions in Indian country.
                </P>
                <P>On October 19, 2023, the Tonto Apache Tribe adopted this Liquor Code by Resolution No. 23-34, which regulates and controls the possession, sale, manufacture, and distribution of alcohol in conformity with the laws of the State of Arizona to the extent required by applicable federal law, including 18 U.S.C. 1161. Enactment of this Code will help improve the economic viability for the Tribe, provide a source of revenue to strengthen Tribal government, which may be used to provide basic governmental functions for its members.</P>
                <P>This notice is published in accordance with the authority delegated by the Secretary of the Interior to the Assistant Secretary-Indian Affairs. I certify that the Tonto Apache Tribe of Arizona duly adopted the Tonto Apache Tribe Liquor Control Code by Resolution No. 23-34 dated October 19, 2023.</P>
                <P>
                    The Tonto Apache Tribe of Arizona Liquor Control Code shall read as follows:
                    <PRTPAGE P="54735"/>
                </P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">Tonto Apache Tribe Liquor Control Code</HD>
                <P>A law to authorize and regulate liquor transactions within the jurisdiction of the Tonto Apache Tribe.</P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">Part 1 General Provisions</HD>
                <P>Section #1—Authority: Enacted by the Tribal Council of the Tonto Apache Tribe (“Tribal Council”) on October 19th, 2023 by Resolution #23-34. This Code is enacted pursuant to federal statutes and other laws, including the Act of August 15, 1953, 67 Stat. 586, codified at 18 U.S.C. 1161, and in conformity with applicable laws of the State of Arizona (“State”).</P>
                <P>Section #2—Purpose: The Tribal Council, as the governing body of the Tonto Apache Tribe (“Tribe”) hereby enacts this Code to authorize and regulate Liquor Transactions within the Tribal Lands.</P>
                <P>Section #3—Policy: The authorization and regulation of Liquor Transactions is necessary to encourage economic development, improve the Tribe's economic situation, and generate revenue for the Tribe, which may be used to provide basic governmental functions for its members.</P>
                <P>Section #4—Sovereign Immunity: Unless otherwise specified in this Code, all inherent sovereign rights of the Tribe are hereby expressly reserved, including sovereign immunity from suit in any state, federal or tribal court.</P>
                <P>Section #5—Jurisdiction: This Code shall apply to all members of the Tribe, any person engaged in Liquor Transactions within the Tribal Lands, and all employees of a person conducting Liquor Transactions within the jurisdiction of the Tribe.</P>
                <P>Section #6—General Prohibition: It shall be a violation of the laws of the Tribe for any person or entity, other than a Manufacturer, Retailer, or Wholesaler, to sell, store, transport, or conduct any Liquor Transactions except in compliance with the terms, conditions, limitations, and restrictions specified in this Code.</P>
                <P>Section #7—Tribal Control of Liquor: The Tribe has the sole and exclusive right to authorize a Manufacturer of Liquor, including a Distiller, Brewer, Winery, cidery and bottling, within or importation of alcoholic beverages into the Tribal Lands for Sale or for the purpose of conducting transactions therewith, and no person or organization may engage in such activities within or import any such alcoholic beverages into the Tribal Lands unless authorized by the Tribe to do so.</P>
                <P>Section #8—Applicability of State Law: Except as may be otherwise authorized by agreement between the Tribe and the State, the Tribe shall require compliance with the State's laws regarding the Sale of Liquor to the extent required by applicable federal law, including 18 U.S.C. Section 1161.</P>
                <P>Section #9—Power to License and Tax: The power to establish licenses and levy taxes under the provisions of this Code is vested exclusively with the Tribe.</P>
                <P>Section #10—Severability: If any section of this Code is invalidated by a court of competent jurisdiction, the remaining sections shall not be affected thereby.</P>
                <P>Section #11—Definitions:</P>
                <P>
                    “
                    <E T="03">Alcohol”</E>
                     means the product of distillation of any fermented liquid, whether rectified or diluted, whatever the origin, and includes synthetic ethyl alcohol and Alcohol processed or sold in a gaseous form but excludes denatured alcohol or wood alcohol.
                </P>
                <P>
                    “
                    <E T="03">Beer”</E>
                     means any beverage obtained by the alcoholic fermentation of an infusion or decoction of pure hops, or pure extract of hops and pure barley malt or other wholesome grain or cereal in pure water and includes, but is not limited to, Beer, ale, malt liquor, stout, lager beer, porter, near beer, flavored malt beverage, and hard cider.
                </P>
                <P>
                    “
                    <E T="03">Commission”</E>
                     means the Tonto Apache Liquor Control Commission.
                </P>
                <P>
                    “
                    <E T="03">Brewer”</E>
                     means a Manufacturer engaged in the business of producing Beer.
                </P>
                <P>
                    “
                    <E T="03">Consume”</E>
                     means knowingly and intentionally drinking or otherwise ingesting.
                </P>
                <P>
                    “
                    <E T="03">Distiller”</E>
                     means a Manufacturer engaged in the business of distilling Spirits.
                </P>
                <P>
                    “
                    <E T="03">Distribute”</E>
                     means to acquire, purchase, store, introduce, import, export, sell, offer for Sale, deliver, transport, give away, offer to give away, or otherwise possess Liquor for resale or further processing, or otherwise introduce, import, export, sell, resell, offer for Sale or resale, deliver or transport.
                </P>
                <P>
                    “
                    <E T="03">Key Participant”</E>
                     means high level employees of a licensee such as executives and management or any person who has at least a 10% ownership interest in the licensee's business
                </P>
                <P>
                    “
                    <E T="03">Liquor”</E>
                     means Alcohol, Beer, Spirits, Wine, all other fermented, spirituous, vinous, or malt liquors, or combinations thereof and mixed liquor, a part of which is fermented, spiritous, vinous, malt liquor, or otherwise intoxicating and includes every liquid, solid, semi-solid, or other substance, patented or containing Alcohol, Beer, Spirits, or Wine and all preparations or mixtures of liquor capable of human consumption.
                </P>
                <P>
                    “
                    <E T="03">Liquor Transactions”</E>
                     means the conduct of a Manufacturer, Retailer, or Wholesaler as authorized by this Code,
                </P>
                <P>
                    “
                    <E T="03">Manufacturer”</E>
                     means any person engaged in the manufacture or other preparation of Liquor in any form whatsoever, including Brewers, Distillers, and Wineries, but does not include the mixing or other preparation of drinks for consumption on the premises where sold, sampled, or given away.
                </P>
                <P>
                    “
                    <E T="03">Onsite Consumption”</E>
                     means the Sale of Liquor for consumption upon the premises were sold and includes the mixing or other preparation of drinks for serving for consumption on the premises where sold.
                </P>
                <P>
                    “
                    <E T="03">Regulator”</E>
                     means the Tribal official serving on the Commission who is responsible for carrying out the requirements of this Code.
                </P>
                <P>
                    “
                    <E T="03">Retailer”</E>
                     means any Sale made for any purpose other than for resale or further processing.
                </P>
                <P>
                    “
                    <E T="03">Sale”</E>
                     means the transfer of ownership of title to, or possession of goods for money, other goods, services, or other valuable consideration, including bartering, trading, exchanging, renting, leasing, conditional sales, and any sale where possession of goods is given to the buyer, but title is retained by the seller as security for the payment of the purchase price.
                </P>
                <P>
                    “
                    <E T="03">Spirits”</E>
                     means any beverage which contains Alcohol obtained by distillation, whether mixed with water or other substance in solution, and includes brandy, rum, whiskey, gin, or other spiritous Liquors and such Liquors when rectified, blended, or otherwise mixed with Alcohol or other substances.
                </P>
                <P>
                    “
                    <E T="03">Tribal Lands”</E>
                     means all lands held in trust by the United States for the benefit of the Tribe; and all lands of the Tribe defined as Indian country by 18 U.S.C. 1151, including dependent Indian communities.
                </P>
                <P>
                    “
                    <E T="03">Wholesaler”</E>
                     means any person who Distributes or is engaged in the distribution of Liquor.
                </P>
                <P>
                    “
                    <E T="03">Wine”</E>
                     means any alcoholic beverage obtained by fermentation of fruits, vegetables, or other agricultural products containing sugar, including such beverages when fortified by the addition of Alcohol or Spirits.
                </P>
                <P>“Winery” means a Manufacturer engaged in the business of producing Wine.</P>
                <P>
                    Section #12—Effective Date: This Code shall become effective upon the date that the Secretary of the Department of the Interior certifies the 
                    <PRTPAGE P="54736"/>
                    Code and publishes it in the 
                    <E T="04">Federal Register</E>
                    .
                </P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">Part 2 Tonto Apache Liquor Control Commission</HD>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Section #1—Establishment:</E>
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">1.1 Governmental Subdivision.</E>
                     The Tribal Council hereby establishes the Tonto Apache Liquor Control Commission (“Commission”) as a governmental subdivision of the Tribe, charged with implementation of this Code and regulation over Liquor Transactions.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">1.2 Place of Business.</E>
                     The Commission shall maintain its headquarters and principal place of business within Tribal offices.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">1.3 Duration.</E>
                     The Commission shall have perpetual existence in its own name, unless dissolved by the Tribal Council.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">1.4 Arm of the Tribe.</E>
                     In carrying out its purposes under this Code, the Commission shall function as a governmental instrumentality and as an arm of the Tribe. Notwithstanding any authority delegated to the Commission under this Code, the Tribe reserves to itself the right to bring suit against any person or entity in its own right, on behalf of the Tribe or on behalf of the Commission, whenever the Tribe deems it necessary to protect the rights and interests of the Tribe or the Commission.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">1.5 Sovereign Immunity of the Commission.</E>
                     As a governmental subdivision of the Tribe, all inherent sovereign rights of the Tribe are hereby expressly extended to the Commission and reserved, including sovereign immunity from suit in any state, federal or tribal court.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">1.6 Commission Membership.</E>
                     The Commission is comprised of one Regulator and employees who assist the Regulator.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">1.7 Appointment.</E>
                     The Regulator must be appointed by the Tribal Council and confirmed at any Tribal Council meeting.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">1.8 Term.</E>
                     The Tribal Council may appoint any Regulator to serve up to three (3) years. The Regulator may be reappointed without limitation.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">1.9 Compensation.</E>
                     The Regulator will be compensated at a rate set by the Tribal Council. To ensure the Commission is not improperly influenced, the Regulator's compensation shall not be based on a percentage of revenue derived from the activities authorized and regulated under this Code.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">1.10 Qualifications.</E>
                     To be eligible to serve on the Commission, any person appointed as a Commissioner shall:
                </P>
                <P>(a) be at least twenty-one (21) years of age and show proof of High School Diploma or equivalent; and</P>
                <P>(b) not be eligible for appointment as a Regulator if:</P>
                <P>i. the person's prior activities, criminal record if any, credit history or reputation, habits, or associations:</P>
                <P>1. poses a threat to the public interest;</P>
                <P>2. threatens the effective regulation and control of the activities authorized and regulated under this Code or the public's confidence in said regulation; or</P>
                <P>3. enhances the dangers of unsuitable, unfair or illegal practices, methods, or activities in the conduct authorized and regulated by this Code.</P>
                <P>ii. been convicted of or entered a plea of no contest to any felony in the five (5) years prior to appointment unless pardoned and fully restored of his or her civil rights by the proper authorities prior to appointment; or</P>
                <P>iii. who has, or whose spouse, significant other, parent, child or sibling has, an ownership, partnership, or other direct monetary or ownership interest in the activities authorized and regulated under the Code.</P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Section #2—Powers:</E>
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">2.1 Regulations.</E>
                     The Commission may recommend regulations, subject to Tribal Council approval:
                </P>
                <P>(a) to establish procedures designed to detect irregularities or fraud;</P>
                <P>(b) to design a regulatory system to oversee Liquor Transactions;</P>
                <P>(c) to collaborate and cooperate with such other agencies of the Tribe, other tribes, the United States, and state governments as necessary to implement and enforce this Code;</P>
                <P>(d) to establish procedures governing the conduct of inspections, investigations, hearings and enforcement actions; or</P>
                <P>(e) promulgate any other regulations to ensure compliance with this Code.</P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">2.2 Investigations.</E>
                     The Commission may inspect the premises where Liquor Transactions are taking place. In undertaking such investigations, the Commission may:
                </P>
                <P>(a) request assistance from federal or local law enforcement, legal counsel and/or other third parties, including applicable federal and state agencies, as necessary;</P>
                <P>(b) during normal business hours, may reasonably enter upon premises to examine accounts, books, papers and documents;</P>
                <P>(c) make any request or inquiry for information or documents of any person engaged in Liquor Transactions;</P>
                <P>(d) require the presence of any person and require testimony under oath concerning the subject matter of any inquiry of the Commission, and to make a permanent record of the proceeding; or</P>
                <P>(e) conduct any investigation to determine compliance with this Code.</P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Section #3—Duties:</E>
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">3.1 Annual Budget.</E>
                     The Commission shall prepare an annual operating budget and present it to the Tribal Council no less than thirty (30) days prior to the commencement of each operating year.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">3.2 Licensing.</E>
                     The Commission shall:
                </P>
                <P>(a) require a license for each business or entity engaged as a Manufacturer, Wholesaler, or Retailer, or engaged in Onsite Consumption as authorized by this Code;</P>
                <P>(b) establish business applications, which at a minimum shall include:</P>
                <P>i. the names of all Key Participants;</P>
                <P>ii. list of all licenses related to Liquor Transactions for which applicant has ever applied to the Commission or any other tribal, state, federal or local government, and indication of whether such licenses were issued;</P>
                <P>iii. disclosure of any Liquor Transaction related licenses that have been denied or revoked;</P>
                <P>iv. sworn statement that applicant agrees a license is a revocable privilege and not a right;</P>
                <P>v. sworn statement that applicant acknowledges the license may not be sold, assigned or transferred;</P>
                <P>vi. sworn statement that applicant's Key Participants shall seek and maintain a license with the Commission;</P>
                <P>vii. sworn statement that applicant will submit to the jurisdiction of the Tribe; and</P>
                <P>viii. an application fee as set by the Commission.</P>
                <P>(c) conduct a due diligence investigation of the applicant to sufficiently allow the Commission to make an eligibility determination on whether a license should be issued, which shall be completed within sixty (60) days of receipt of the application or automatically be deemed a denial;</P>
                <P>(d) approve applications if Commission determines the following criteria is met:</P>
                <P>i. applicant complied with all Commission requirements; and</P>
                <P>ii. the Liquor Transactions applicant intends to conduct are authorized by this Code.</P>
                <P>(e) deny applications if Commission determines the applicant has not complied with all requirements of the laws of the Tribe, applicable State liquor laws, or applicable federal laws and:</P>
                <P>
                    i. immediately suspend any temporary license previously issued;
                    <PRTPAGE P="54737"/>
                </P>
                <P>ii. provide written notice of ineligibility to receive a license; and</P>
                <P>iii. provide the applicant with the option to request a hearing on the denial, which shall follow the procedures at Part 7, Section 2.2.</P>
                <P>(f) for applicant's that are determined eligible for a license under this Section, issue a license that at a minimum shall include:</P>
                <P>i. licensee name;</P>
                <P>
                    ii. license classification (
                    <E T="03">i.e.,</E>
                     Manufacturer, Wholesaler, Retailer);
                </P>
                <P>iii. location of licensed facility; iv. Tribe's logo;</P>
                <P>iv. issue date; and</P>
                <P>v. license number.</P>
                <P>(g). maintain records of all license applicants and licensees, including applications, background investigation reports, and eligibility determination reports for no less than five (5) years.</P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">3.3 Key Participant Licensing.</E>
                     The Commission shall:
                </P>
                <P>(a) require a license for all Key Participants of any licensee;</P>
                <P>(b) establish applications for Key Participants which at a minimum shall include:</P>
                <P>i. full name, other names used (oral or written), social security number, birth date, place of birth, and citizenship;</P>
                <P>ii. currently, and for the previous five (5) years, business and employment positions held, ownership interests in those business, business and residential addresses, and driver's licenses (number, date of issuance and expiration);</P>
                <P>iii. current business and residential telephone numbers, and all cell phone numbers, personal and business;</P>
                <P>iv. a description of any existing and previous business relationships dealing with Liquor Transactions generally, including ownership interest in those businesses;</P>
                <P>v. the name and address of any licensing or regulatory agency with which the person has filed an application for a license or permit related to Liquor Transactions, whether or not such license or permit was granted;</P>
                <P>vi. for each criminal charge, felony or misdemeanor: whether or not there is a conviction, if such criminal charge is within the last five (5) years of the date of application, a description of the criminal charge, the name and address of the court involved, and the date of disposition, if any; and</P>
                <P>vii. any other information the Commission deems relevant.</P>
                <P>(c) conduct background investigations for each Key Participant applicant to sufficiently allow the Commission to make an eligibility determination on whether a license should be issued, which background investigation shall be completed within sixty (60) days of receipt of the application or shall automatically be deemed a denial, and at a minimum should include an inquiry of:</P>
                <P>i. criminal history through background checks;</P>
                <P>ii. civil history; and</P>
                <P>iii. personal credit check.</P>
                <P>(d) create and maintain an investigative report for each background investigation of a Key Participant applicant, which at a minimum shall include:</P>
                <P>i. steps taken to investigate or verify the contents of the applications; and</P>
                <P>ii. results and conclusions.</P>
                <P>(e) make a determination of suitability on whether to issue a license. The Commission shall not issue a license if the applicant's prior activities, criminal record if any, credit history or reputation, habits, or associations:</P>
                <P>i. poses a threat to the public interest;</P>
                <P>ii. threatens the effective regulation and control of the activities authorized and regulated under this Code or the public's confidence in said regulation;</P>
                <P>iii. enhances the dangers of unsuitable, unfair or illegal practices, methods, or activities in the conduct authorized and regulated by this Code;</P>
                <P>iv. has been convicted of or plead guilty to a felony or any criminal offense related to Liquor in any jurisdiction other than driving while intoxicated or under the influence of Liquor; or</P>
                <P>v. has had a liquor license revoked in any jurisdiction in the previous two (2) years.</P>
                <P>(f) if the applicant is not eligible for a license, the Commission shall:</P>
                <P>i. immediately suspend any temporary license previously issued;</P>
                <P>ii. provide written notice of ineligibility to receive a license; and</P>
                <P>iii. provide the applicant with the option to request a hearing on the denial, which shall follow the procedures at Part 7, Section 2.2.</P>
                <P>(g) for applicant's that are determined eligible for a license under this Section, issue a Key Participant license that at a minimum shall include:</P>
                <P>i. Key Participant name;</P>
                <P>ii. Tribe's logo;</P>
                <P>iii. issue date; and</P>
                <P>iv. license number;</P>
                <P>(h) maintain records of all applicants and licensees, including applications, background investigation reports, and eligibility determination reports for no less than five (5) years.</P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">3.4 Meetings.</E>
                     The Regulator shall hold meetings with the Commission to ensure timely discharge of their duties under the Code.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">3.5 Reports to Tribal Council.</E>
                     The Commission shall meet with the Tribal Council quarterly. The Regulator shall file a quarterly report with the Tribal Council reporting on monthly activities of the Commission's oversight of persons licensed and regulated under the Code.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">3.6 Enforcement.</E>
                     The Commission shall have jurisdiction over any violations of this Code or violations of State liquor laws and may suspend or revoke licenses, and impose fines over any person, in accordance with the procedures at Part 7 of this Code, ensuring that principles of due process are adhered to in all enforcement actions and are consistent with applicable federal and state laws.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">3.7 Records.</E>
                     The Commission shall create and maintain accurate and complete records which contain information and documents necessary for the proper and efficient operation of the Commission, including, but not limited to:
                </P>
                <P>(a) all licenses issued and any fees received for the same;</P>
                <P>(b) all fees and penalties imposed, due, and collected; and</P>
                <P>(c) every official action taken by the Commission.</P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Section #4—Prohibited Acts:</E>
                     The Commission may not:
                </P>
                <P>(a) waive sovereign immunity of the Commission or the Tribe without receiving written approval from the Tribal Council; or</P>
                <P>(b) make business decisions for a licensed entity under this Code.</P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">Part 3 Manufacturer License</HD>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Section #1—License Required:</E>
                     A person may not engage as a Brewer, Distiller, bottler, or otherwise act as a Manufacturer of Liquor unless they have received a license from the Commission.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Section #2—Term:</E>
                     The Manufacturer license is valid for a term of one (1) year.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Section #3—Covered Liquor Transactions:</E>
                     A Manufacturer license allows, without the requirement of any other license: the manufacture, distilling, brewing, bottling, and storage of Liquor on Tribal Lands; the purchase of Liquor for purposes of bottling and wholesale distribution; and the wholesale distribution of Liquor brewed, distilled, bottled, or otherwise manufactured on Tribal Lands.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Section #4—Exemptions:</E>
                     Manufacturer license holders engaged in wholesale Liquor Transactions are exempt from obtaining a Wholesaler license under Part 4 of this Code, but shall comply with all applicable obligations of a Wholesaler licensee. Although, a holder of a Manufacturer license who engages in Wholesale is not required to obtain a Wholesale license, 
                    <PRTPAGE P="54738"/>
                    such conduct must be disclosed on the application and renewal application.
                </P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">Part 4 Wholesaler License</HD>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Section #1—License Required:</E>
                     A person may not Distribute Liquor from a location on Tribal Lands or store Liquor on Tribal Lands for the purposes or intent of distributing such Liquor, unless said person has received a Wholesaler license from the Commission.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Section #2—Term:</E>
                     The Wholesaler license is valid for a term of three (3) years.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Section #3—Covered Liquor Transactions:</E>
                     A Wholesaler license allows, without the requirement of any other license, the distribution of Liquor on or from the location on Tribal Lands designated in the Wholesaler license.
                </P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">Part 5 Retailer License</HD>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Section #1—License Required:</E>
                     A person may not engage in retail Sale of Liquor from a location on Tribal Lands unless said person has received a Retailer license from the Commission.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Section #2—Term:</E>
                     The Retailer license is valid for a term of one (1) year.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Section #3—Covered Liquor Transactions:</E>
                     A Retailer license allows, without the requirement of any other license: the purchase of Liquor from a Wholesaler for retail Sale; the Sale at retail and offering for Sale at retail on the premises of the Retailer specified in the Retailer license for use of consumption but not for resale in any form; and if the Retailer license permits On Premises, the Consumption of Liquor, including sampling on the premises of the Retailer by customers of the Retailer.
                </P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">Part 6 Licensee Obligations</HD>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Section #1—Licensee Duties:</E>
                     All licensees shall:
                </P>
                <P>(a) at all times comply with this Code, rules and regulations promulgated pursuant to this Code, and all other applicable Tribal laws, State liquor laws, and applicable federal laws;</P>
                <P>(b) provide the Commission written notice of a material change, including but not limited to, company name, address, management, bankruptcy, reorganization, complaints or felony convictions against Key Participant licensees, not later than ten (10) days after the change occurs;</P>
                <P>(c) establish sanitation, security, and other related policies that comply with the Code, Tribal and federal laws, and transmit current copies to the Commission when revised;</P>
                <P>(d) post license in all physical locations where the business is transacted;</P>
                <P>(e) preserve records of the purchase and Sale of Liquor, including books of account, invoices, and bills for a period of two (2) years;</P>
                <P>(f) provide the Commission access to investigate books, accounts and records;</P>
                <P>(g) submit monthly reports with details as required by the Commission;</P>
                <P>(h) submit annual reports to the Commission which at a minimum shall include:</P>
                <P>i. name, address and contact information for licensee and Key Participants;</P>
                <P>ii. description of Liquor Transactions conducted;</P>
                <P>iii. sworn statement licensee has complied with Tribal laws, applicable State liquor laws, and federal laws; and</P>
                <P>iv. the name and signature of agent who will accept service of process on behalf of the licensee;</P>
                <P>(i) conduct internal audits to ensure compliance with Tribal laws, applicable State liquor laws and federal laws, and submit the results to the Commission.</P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Section #2—Prohibited Acts:</E>
                     Licensees may not:
                </P>
                <P>(a) allow loitering by intoxicated persons, rowdiness, undue noise, or any other disturbance offensive to the public areas near the location of the licensee;</P>
                <P>(b) engage in Liquor Transactions in violation of this Code, State liquor laws, or applicable federal laws; or</P>
                <P>(c) fail to pay taxes required under the laws of the Tribe.</P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">Part 7 Enforcement and Hearings</HD>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Section #1—Code Enforcement:</E>
                     Except as provided otherwise in this Code, the Commission shall have jurisdiction over all persons violating the Code within the jurisdiction of the Tribe.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Section #2—License Denial, Suspension or Revocation:</E>
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">2.1 Grounds for Denial, Suspension, or Revocation.</E>
                     The Commission shall deny an applicant or suspend or revoke a license if the Commission finds any person:
                </P>
                <P>(a) failed to pay license application fee to Commission;</P>
                <P>(b) made a material misstatement or omission on the application or any document submitted to the Commission;</P>
                <P>(c) withheld or provided incomplete or insufficient pertinent information;</P>
                <P>(d) refused to comply with any lawful order, inquiry, directive of the Commission, or the Tribal Council;</P>
                <P>(e) violated this Code or the rules and regulations of the Commission;</P>
                <P>(f) aided another or conspired to violate this Code or the rules and regulations of the Commission; engaged in Liquor Transactions not authorized by this Code;</P>
                <P>(g) knowingly falsified books or records;</P>
                <P>(h) failed to keep sufficient books or records for the Commission to determine compliance with Tribal laws, applicable State liquor laws, and federal law;</P>
                <P>(i) has had an order entered against them by an administrative agency of any jurisdiction and the order is based on conduct involving fraud, deceit or misrepresentation;</P>
                <P>(j) has had a financial order entered against them in a civil action based on conduct involving fraud, deceit or misrepresentation;</P>
                <P>(k) attempted to bribe or offer something of value to any person, Tribal Council member, or the Regulator or member of the Commission in attempt to receive favorable treatment under the Code, or applicable Tribal or federal law;</P>
                <P>(l) poses a threat to the public interest or the effective regulation of Liquor Transactions;</P>
                <P>(m) creates or enhances the danger of unsuitable, unfair, or illegal practices and methods and activities related to Liquor Transactions;</P>
                <P>(n) was a former licensee pursuant to this Code whose license was suspended and not reinstated, or revoked;</P>
                <P>(o) was not eligible for licensure for any of the reasons identified at Part 2, Section 3.2(e) and Part 2, Section 3.3(e).</P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">2.2 Procedure for Denial.</E>
                     When issuing a denial of a license application, the Commission shall:
                </P>
                <P>(a) provide written notice of the ineligibility to receive a license, which shall state the reasons for the denial; and</P>
                <P>(b) provide the applicant with the option to request a hearing on the decision, which shall follow the procedures at Part 7, Section 2.6.</P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">2.3 Procedure for Suspension or Revocation.</E>
                     Upon reasonable basis for belief that a licensee has violated the Code, the Commission shall either undertake an investigation of the person under Part 7, Section 2.4, or immediately issue a notice of violation under Part 7, Section 2.5.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">2.4 Investigation.</E>
                     The Commission may investigate and examine the operation and premises of any person within its jurisdiction in accordance with Part 2, Section 2.2:
                </P>
                <P>(a) upon complaint;</P>
                <P>(b) upon its own initiative when there is a reasonable basis for belief there has been a violation of the Code; or</P>
                <P>
                    (c) whenever necessary to perform its duties and exercise its powers under the Code.
                    <PRTPAGE P="54739"/>
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">2.5 Notice of Violation.</E>
                     The Commission may serve any notice of violation to a licensee or Key Participant explaining the basis and the aggrieved party's right to request a hearing, which request shall be in writing and made within ten (10) days of receipt of the notice.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">2.6 Hearings; Notice; Due Process; Arbiter; Appeals:</E>
                </P>
                <P>(a) within ten (10) days after receiving a request for a hearing, the Commission shall schedule a hearing and issue a notice identifying the issues to be resolved, and the date, time and location of the hearing, which shall be set no sooner than five (5) days after receipt of the request for a hearing but no later than sixty (60) days after receipt of request for a hearing;</P>
                <P>(b) at the hearing, the affected parties shall be provided the opportunity to present oral or written testimony and other evidence to dispute the violation;</P>
                <P>(c) the Commission may promulgate rules governing the hearing procedures;</P>
                <P>(d) the Regulator will preside over the hearing;</P>
                <P>(e) the Commission shall issue a written decision within thirty (30) days after the hearing; and</P>
                <P>(f) affected parties may appeal the Commission's decision by filing a written appeal to the Tribal Council within twenty (20) days of receiving the Commission's final written decision, which shall be placed on the Tribal Council's agenda at its earliest convenience but no later than sixty (60) days after the notice of appeal is filed, which decision of the Tribal Council on appeal shall be final and is not subject to further appeal.</P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Section #3—Cease and Desist Orders for Unlicensed Persons:</E>
                     For any person violating the Code, a person who does not hold a valid license, or there is reasonable cause that any applicable law is being violated, the Commission shall issue a cease-and-desist order. Any Person who does not comply with the cease-and-desist order will be subject to further enforcement action under Part 7, Section 4.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Section #4—Civil Penalties:</E>
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">4.1 Fines for Civil Violations.</E>
                     Any person who fails to comply with a final order of the Commission or Tribal Council under Part 7, Section 2, or a cease-and-desist order issued pursuant to Part 7, Section 3, may be required to pay a fine assessed by the Commission pursuant to regulations.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">4.2 Civil Action for Penalties.</E>
                     In enforcing fines and violations under this Section, the Commission may request the Tribal Council to seek recourse in the Tonto Apache Tribal Court.
                </P>
                <SIG>
                    <NAME>William Henry Kirkland III,</NAME>
                    <TITLE>Assistant Secretary-Indian Affairs.</TITLE>
                </SIG>
            </SUPLINF>
            <FRDOC>[FR Doc. 2026-17235 Filed 8-21-26; 8:45 am]</FRDOC>
            <BILCOD>BILLING CODE 4337-15-P</BILCOD>
        </NOTICE>
        <NOTICE>
            <PREAMB>
                <AGENCY TYPE="S">DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR</AGENCY>
                <SUBAGY>Office of the Secretary</SUBAGY>
                <DEPDOC>[A2407-014-004-065516, #O2509-014-004-125222; LLHQ21000]</DEPDOC>
                <SUBJECT>National Environmental Policy Act Implementing Procedures: Timber Salvage Harvest Categorical Exclusion</SUBJECT>
                <AGY>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">AGENCY:</HD>
                    <P>Office of the Secretary, Interior.</P>
                </AGY>
                <ACT>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">ACTION:</HD>
                    <P>Notice.</P>
                </ACT>
                <SUM>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">SUMMARY:</HD>
                    <P>
                        This notice announces a revision to the Department of the Interior (Department)'s National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) implementing procedures by adding a new categorical exclusion (CE) for timber salvage harvest in the 
                        <E T="03">Department's Handbook of NEPA Implementing Procedures, Appendix 2: Bureau Categorical Exclusions</E>
                    </P>
                </SUM>
                <DATES>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">DATES:</HD>
                    <P>The CE is effective August 24, 2026.</P>
                </DATES>
                <ADD>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">ADDRESSES:</HD>
                    <P>
                        The new CE will be found at the web address for the Department's Handbook of NEPA Implementing Procedures: 
                        <E T="03">https://www.doi.gov/document-library/handbook/516-dm-1-handbook-national-environmental-policy-act-implementing.</E>
                         The Substantiation Report for the CE is available at the Bureau of Land Management (BLM)'s ePlanning site: 
                        <E T="03">https://eplanning.blm.gov/Project-Home/?id=228df480-512f-f111-8341-001dd8029ed0.</E>
                    </P>
                </ADD>
                <FURINF>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:</HD>
                    <P>
                        Stacie McIntosh, Deputy Assistant Director, Directorate of Resources and Planning at (907) 378 -3815, or 
                        <E T="03">s05mcint@blm.gov.</E>
                         Individuals in the United States who are deaf, deafblind, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability may dial 711 (TTY, TDD, or TeleBraille) to access telecommunications relay services. Individuals outside the United States should use the relay services offered within their country to make international calls to the point-of-contact in the United States.
                    </P>
                </FURINF>
            </PREAMB>
            <SUPLINF>
                <HD SOURCE="HED">SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:</HD>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">I. Background</HD>
                <P>
                    The Department published the proposed CE for timber salvage harvest on April 6, 2026, for a 30-day public comment period. Refer to the 
                    <E T="04">Federal Register</E>
                     notice 91 FR 17302 proposing the CE for more information regarding the background and rationale for establishment of the CE. This notice notifies the public of the Department's establishment of the timber salvage harvest CE and includes the Department's responses to comments from the public on the proposed CE. The Department has not made any changes to the proposed CE text.
                </P>
                <P>The Department is establishing the CE to support approval of actions to harvest dead or dying trees impacted by biotic or abiotic disturbances, commonly referred to as “salvage harvest” to accelerate reestablishment of native resilient forest tree species, reduce wildfire fuel loads, and help recover economic value from timber to contribute to rural economies.</P>
                <P>
                    NEPA, 42 U.S.C. 4321 
                    <E T="03">et seq.,</E>
                     requires Federal agencies to consider the environmental effects of their proposed actions in their decision-making processes. To comply with NEPA, agencies determine the appropriate level of review of any proposed major Federal action—an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), Environmental Assessment (EA), or a CE. 
                    <E T="03">See</E>
                     42 U.S.C. 4336(b); 43 CFR part 46; 516 Departmental Manual 1, “U.S. Department of the Interior Handbook of National Environmental Policy Act Implementing Procedures,” section 1.2 (2026) (516 DM 1). Where it is reasonably foreseeable that significant environmental effects are likely, the agency must prepare an EIS and document its decision. 
                    <E T="03">See</E>
                     42 U.S.C. 4336 (b)(1); 516 DM 1 section 1.2(a)(5)(ii). Where appropriate, an agency may prepare an EA, and if that EA supports the agency reaching a finding of no significant impact (FONSI) for the proposed action, the agency need not prepare an EIS. See generally, 42 U.S.C. 4336(b)(2); 516 DM 1 section 1.6; section 1.2(a)(4).
                </P>
                <P>Under NEPA, agencies may 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 implementing procedures (42 U.S.C. 4336e(1)). An agency may also adopt a CE listed in another agency's NEPA procedures consistent with section 109 of NEPA (42 U.S.C. 4336c).</P>
                <P>
                    Under the Department's NEPA procedures, if a bureau determines that a CE covers a proposed action, it then evaluates the proposed action for the presence of extraordinary circumstances, which are factors or circumstances that indicate a normally categorically excluded action may have 
                    <PRTPAGE P="54740"/>
                    a significant effect (43 CFR 46.205, 46.215). If the bureau cannot categorically exclude the proposed action following review for extraordinary circumstances, it will prepare an EA or EIS, as appropriate, before issuing any decision to authorize the action (43 CFR 46.205(c), 42 U.S.C. 4336(b)).
                </P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">II. Comments on the Proposed CE</HD>
                <P>The Department received 284 comment letters during the 30-day public comment period on the proposed CE. Comments were submitted by state governments, interest groups, non-profit organizations, and private citizens. The Department received comments both in support of and in opposition to the proposed CE. Some comments addressed the BLM's forest management policy or management direction that is specific to Resource Management Plans (RMPs). The Department provides no response to comments that are beyond the scope of the establishment of this CE, which pertains only to compliance with NEPA for forest management actions, not the character or advisability of such actions. The Department considered all comments to date and responds in this notice to all 25 substantive issues raised in the public comments. The Department appreciates the interest and participation of all respondents. The Department, where appropriate, grouped together similar or related comments, and responds to the comments as follows:</P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Comment 1:</E>
                     The Department received comments suggesting that timely salvage of dead and dying trees allows managers to recover economic value that would otherwise be lost.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Response 1:</E>
                     While the establishment of this CE does not authorize specific salvage projects, the Department agrees with the comment that timely salvage of dead and dying trees allows managers to recover economic value that would otherwise be lost. Additionally, unsalvaged timber can become a financial burden to remove as excessive hazardous fuels once the trees have deteriorated and lost economic value. The BLM: 
                    <E T="03">A Sound Investment for America 2025</E>
                     report estimated that in fiscal year 2024 BLM forest management supported $1.4 billion in economic output and 5,700 jobs.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Comment 2:</E>
                     The Department received comments suggesting post-disturbance landscapes with heavy fuel loads increase the risk of severe wildfires that can lead to long-term closures, damaged trails, degraded wildlife habitat, and reduced opportunities for hunting, off-highway vehicle use, hiking, and recreational access and experiences on public lands.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Response 2:</E>
                     While the establishment of this CE does not authorize salvage actions, the Department agrees that leaving large volumes of dead trees after a severe disturbance can have a number of long-term negative impacts on trails, wildlife habitat, and reduced opportunities for hunting, off-highway vehicle use, hiking, and recreational access and experiences on public lands. Further detail and scientific literature on the impact of heavy fuel loads long-term is provided in the Substantiation Report.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Comment 3:</E>
                     The Department received comments suggesting that timely salvage reduces hazards to fire fighters from future wildfire.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Response 3:</E>
                     While the establishment of this CE does not authorize salvage actions, the Department agrees that landscapes with dense standing dead trees and/or heavy downed coarse woody debris beyond a minimum level needed for wildlife habitat and soil benefits can lead to an elevated level of hazards to fire fighters which can hamper fire suppression operations. The Substantiation Report documents safety hazard reports and fire behavior observations from wildfire incidents that contained heavy loading from dead trees (National Interagency Fire Center).
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Comment 4:</E>
                     Some comments suggested the Department should conduct public comment on every salvage project to better serve the public interest.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Response 4:</E>
                     The Department values public participation and there are various opportunities for the public and stakeholders to provide public input in forest management. For the BLM, this includes the development, revision, and amendment of land use plans, through which the BLM determines the forest management direction for each specific planning area.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Comment 5:</E>
                     Some commenters suggested that the establishment of this CE would approve salvage logging that threatens soil quality, riparian areas, clean water, and fisheries and negatively impact wildlife and endangered species protected by the Endangered Species Act (ESA). A commenter further recommended minimum riparian buffers.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Response 5:</E>
                     The establishment of this CE does not approve any specific salvage action; instead, it provides a mechanism for bureaus to comply with NEPA when authorizing covered actions. Before use of the CE, bureaus would need to review for the presence of any extraordinary circumstances (43 CFR 46.215). Through that review, the bureaus must verify that any proposed action would not have significant effects on ecologically significant or critical areas, or similar natural resources; or on species listed or proposed to be listed under the ESA, or on any designated critical habitat. Moreover, protections for important, scarce, or sensitive resources are available through statutes other than NEPA, such as ESA and the Clean Water Act. Those protections are not affected by the establishment of or use of this CE. Finally, proposed actions must conform to the applicable land use plan, including any plan direction developed to protect species of concern, critical habitat, aquatic resources and water quality. This CE also specifically directs riparian buffers and operating restrictions as standard design features for each project to protect riparian resources and water quality.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Comment 6:</E>
                     The Department received comments that salvage logging at the scope, scale, and intensity in the proposed CE would have significant impacts.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Response 6:</E>
                     To address the intensity, scope, and scale of the proposed actions that would be covered by the CE, the CE constrains the harvest area to one-third the disturbance area when the disturbance exceeds 3,000 acres not to exceed 5,000 acres overall. The CE requirements that must be met for a bureau to use the CE for a covered action, including the direction for design features in the established CE reduce the intensity and impacts, are described in the Substantiation Report. As with other administratively developed CEs, when applying this CE, Responsible Officials must evaluate proposed actions to determine whether any extraordinary circumstances are present in accordance with the requirements in the Department's NEPA implementing procedures at 43 CFR 46.205 and 46.215. When using this CE, the Responsible Official must document this review. If the Responsible Official cannot rely on this CE to support a decision to authorize a project due to the presence of extraordinary circumstances, the Responsible Official must prepare an EA or EIS before authorizing such activities, consistent with 43 CFR 46.205(c) and 42 U.S.C. 4336(b).
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Comment 7:</E>
                     The Department received comments suggesting that the majority of high severity burn areas are not reforested and that the establishment and use of this CE would improve reforestation efforts and forest recovery.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Response 7:</E>
                     While the establishment of this CE does not authorize salvage actions, the Department agrees that high severity disturbance areas where the 
                    <PRTPAGE P="54741"/>
                    density of dead trees is high have generally remained non-forested for long periods after the disturbance. High severity areas lack seed trees to provide a seed source for natural regeneration. The BLM has had to forgo reforestation for years after the disturbance in some areas due to the extreme hazard of limbs, tops, and dead trees falling on planting crews. Delayed reforestation allows understory vegetation and shrubs to get a head start on tree seedling establishment which can make reforestation challenging (Sessions et al. 2004). In addition, fuel loads from abundant coarse woody debris can persist for decades which endanger the young trees that are critical for the site recovering forest cover. The Department agrees that salvage harvest can be a necessary step to restore forest cover after severe tree mortality.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Comment 8:</E>
                     The Department received a comment recommending that under covered actions (a)(v) pertaining to seeding to accelerate native species reestablishment, consideration should be given to seed mixtures that provide understory, midstory, and canopy diversity, as well as annuals that benefit pollinator species.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Response 8:</E>
                     The Department agrees that understory and midstory vegetation re-establishment is important for wildlife and pollinator habitat. The Department makes significant efforts and investments in native plant restoration through programs like the BLM's Seeds of Success Native Seed Collection and the Burned Area Rehabilitation programs. The established CE does not preclude native understory seeding; however, the Department declines to make it a requirement given that the native understory seed may not always be available.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Comment 9:</E>
                     The Department received comments suggesting that the CE could have detrimental impacts on trails that are purposed for scenic and primitive hiking, and the Department should add a design feature to the CE that prohibits use of the CE within 0.5 miles on either side of highly valued trails such as the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Response 9:</E>
                     Land use plans provide management direction consistent with National Scenic and Historic Trail comprehensive management plans and may require additional design features consistent with applicable law to not degrade trails or their settings and to minimize visual impacts from designated routes. All projects or activities must conform with the applicable resource management plan direction, including visual resource management (VRM) classifications, which direct the level of allowable visual change to the characteristic landscape, prior to the bureau authorizing any use or activity. Use of an established CE for NEPA compliance does not eliminate the requirement for a bureau to comply with other applicable laws, including requirements outlined in the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, (FLPMA), as amended, that actions must conform with the applicable RMP management direction. This requirement is explicitly included in the text of the CE where it indicates that the action must be in conformance with land use management decisions. Additionally, small amounts of salvage can be associated with hazard tree mitigation, so the Department declines to put a specific buffer around trails.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Comment 10:</E>
                     The Department received comments suggesting that scientific consensus has shifted away from regarding post-fire logging as an activity with any ecological benefit citing the following scientific literature: Donato, DC et al. (2006) Post-wildfire logging hinders regeneration and increases fire risk. Science 311(5759): 352; Beschta, R.L. et al. (2004) Postfire management on forested public lands of the western USA. Conservation Biology 18: 957-967; Lindenmayer, D.B. et al. (2004) Salvage harvesting policies after natural disturbance. Science 303:1303; Karr, J. et al. (2004) The effects of postfire salvage logging on aquatic ecosystems in the American West. Bioscience 54: 1029-1033; DellaSala, D.A., et al. (2006) Post-fire logging debate ignores many issues. Science 314(5796): 51-52.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Response 10:</E>
                     The Department does not claim that salvage is necessary for ecological benefit but rather describes in the Substantiation Report how salvage, within the scope of the CE, is an activity that can be used to achieve various land management objectives without causing significant impacts. The BLM reviewed the citations provided and notes the Substantiation Report discusses the tree regeneration and fuels findings of Donato et al. 2006. The submitted scientific literature discusses beneficial aspects of post-disturbance landscapes such as snags for wildlife, landscape heterogeneity, and other biological legacies, and the concern that salvage harvest would eliminate these features. The Substantiation Report acknowledged these points which informed the design of this CE. Specifically, the CE treats a maximum of one-third the disturbance area when the disturbance is greater than 3,000 acres to maintain a majority of larger natural disturbance areas unsalvaged.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Comment 11:</E>
                     The Department received comments suggesting that bureaus should be required to complete an EIS to analyze projects with this scope, scale, and/or intensity of impacts.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Response 11:</E>
                     The Substantiation Report discusses that the preparation of an EIS is exceedingly rare for salvage projects. The two examples of salvage projects discussed in the Substantiation Report, pp. 18-19, 21, had substantial differences in the scope and scale compared to the many EAs and FONSIs that were prepared for salvage projects that were reviewed and described in the Substantiation Report for the establishment of this CE. This leads the Department to determine that the action under the parameters described in the CE normally do not significantly affect the quality of the human environment and, therefore, an EIS is not required.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Comment 12:</E>
                     The Department received a comment suggesting that larger diameter fuels and future downed logs do not contribute significantly to fire severity, fire spread, or an increase in future fire behavior (Strittholt. 2004., McIver &amp; Starr. 2000., Donato. 2006., Donato 2008., Thompson et al., 2007).
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Response 12:</E>
                     The Department reviewed the literature cited in this comment and does not agree that the literature supports the definitive statement that larger diameter fuels and future downed logs do not contribute significantly to fire severity, fire spread, or an increase in future fire behavior. The Department notes that the commenter did not include any literature post-2008, which is significant since some severe tree mortality events such as the Sierra Nevada drought mortality from 2012 to 2015 and a number of large fires in the mountain pine beetle mortality in the Rocky Mountains occurred after this time and provide important case studies. In a synthesis of available literature on salvage in McIver and Starr 2000, it is noted that “we found no studies documenting a reduction in fire intensity in a stand that had previously burned and then been logged.” This finding did not suggest that salvage does not reduce intensity, but rather that there were no studies at that time indicating either way. The Substantiation Report for this CE includes studies since 2008 that examine reburns and post-disturbance coarse fuels that have documented increases in fire severity (Coppoletta et al. 2015; Stephens et al. 2018). The Substantiation Report discusses that coarse downed wood varies in its 
                    <PRTPAGE P="54742"/>
                    contribution to fire behavior temporally, since the change in fuel moisture lags changes in weather. It is also true that fine fuels are typically the carriers of fire but that is not always the case. When affected by long-term drought, coarse woody debris can be a primary carrier of fire and can increase fire intensity resulting in higher fire severity and can hamper suppression efforts. These findings coupled with the size of salvage projects in the record of EAs and FONSIs informed the determination of the 5,000-acre maximum size limit.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Comment 13:</E>
                     The Department received comments suggesting that recent studies have disproved the connection between elevated levels of bark beetle mortality and increased fire risks.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Response 13:</E>
                     The Department acknowledged in the Substantiation Report that “in some forest types the contribution of coarse fuels from mortality to subsequent severity remains uncertain.” Substantiation Report, p. 25. The Report does not make a universal claim that salvage in all circumstances reduces fire risk but instead provides empirical evidence that dense beetle-killed timber and drought mortality have produced severe fire incidents and have even been the driver of the fire behavior in several examples, Substantiation Report pp. 25-26. Additionally, areas of dense snags result in safety considerations for handcrews that may result in larger fires or greater use of heavy equipment.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Comment 14:</E>
                     The Department received comments suggesting that the value of dead standing trees and coarse wood from beetle or fire induced mortality is not being adequately considered by the BLM.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Response 14:</E>
                     The Substantiation Report, p. 24, acknowledges the importance of some snags and downed wood for wildlife habitat and soil health, and the CE requires specifications for those design features for each use. These features were common in past BLM salvage implementation that were assessed for this CE.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Comment 15:</E>
                     The Department received comments suggesting that implementing up to 1 mile of new permanent road per project, and 2.25 miles of new temporary road per thousand acres of logging treatment, has significant environmental effects and the CE should not cover building any new permanent or new temporary roads.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Response 15:</E>
                     The Substantiation Report documents that 65 percent of the EAs reviewed in the report included the construction of new temporary roads. Substantiation Report, pp. 17, 22. Additionally, the temporary road coverage in this CE is similar to BLM's well established, existing 250-acre CE which has an equivalent 2-mile per 1,000-acres temporary road density rate. Five of the 34 EAs had permanent road construction, with an average rate of 2.2 miles per 1,000 acres treated. Therefore, the CE's one-mile limit is more conservative relative to EA-supported projects that reached FONSIs while constructing more road per unit area. This ensures projects that use the CE will not expand road networks beyond the levels previously demonstrated to be non-significant. Additionally, the CE integrates RMP management direction for travel management and required specifications for erosion control, invasive weeds, and temporary road decommissioning standards which together reduce impacts.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Comment 16:</E>
                     The Department received a comment suggesting that the Substantiation Report Finding 4—Best Available Science incorrectly states that the broader synthesis of salvage logging by Lindenmayer et al. 2008 was focused narrowly on reserve entries and plantation conversions.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Response 16:</E>
                     The Substantiation Report highlights synthesis literature that was reviewed, including Lindenmayer et al. 2008 which “included settings (reserve entries, plantation conversions) outside the bounded scope of this CE.” Substantiation Report, p. 24. The Report does not say that this research article only covered reserves and plantation conversions, but rather that the research findings in those particular settings differed from the design and parameters of this CE. Research articles that found negative impacts of certain types of salvage harvest were valuable and informed the identification of the nine categories of design features in this CE to reduce impacts.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Comment 17:</E>
                     The Department received a comment suggesting that the Substantiation Report exaggerates the justification for conducting salvage activities by relying on tree-mortality levels showing total percentages of areas affected by natural processes instead of annual percentages (rates).
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Response 17:</E>
                     The background information in the Substantiation Report was provided to describe the relative magnitude of tree mortality and landscape-level disturbances that have occurred in recent years. The establishment of this CE is based on the Department's determination as to whether salvage actions—as a category—normally have significant impacts. It is not a policy that directs how much salvage work should be conducted.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Comment 18:</E>
                     The Department received a comment suggesting that the Substantiation Report Table 2 failed to provide a simple percentage of area impacted; the commenter implies that the percentages show how in some cases 66% to 100% of tree mortality areas will be logged.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Response 18:</E>
                     Table 2 in the Substantiation Report includes data from an inventory of high tree mortality developed by BLM in 2018 pursuant to Executive Order 13855, 
                    <E T="03">Promoting Active Management of America's Forests, Rangelands, and Other Federal Lands to Improve Conditions and Reduce Wildfire Risk.</E>
                     The inventory is in the background section as additional information to describe the relative magnitude of tree mortality. At the time the Substantiation Report was developed, BLM estimated acres of mortality and estimated salvage “opportunities,” 
                    <E T="03">i.e.,</E>
                     acres of the mortality that were in land use allocations that allow timber harvest and had not deteriorated beyond marketability. However, the Substantiation Report does not determine that these areas will all be salvaged nor does the establishment of this CE create policy to harvest the areas inventoried.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Comment 19:</E>
                     The Department received a comment suggesting that the CE text itself imposes no minimum standards for any of the nine considerations independent of applicable land use plan requirements.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Response 19:</E>
                     The Department chose not to include standardized parameters or minimums because they vary across the various ecological settings and each salvage project would need to be consistent with the applicable land use plan which would include design features, consistent with the ecological and geographical setting.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Comment 20:</E>
                     The Department received a comment suggesting that by intentionally excluding EAs with mitigated FONSIs, BLM appears to admit that there are some salvage harvest projects that result in significant impacts to the environment and thus require mitigation measures. Yet, BLM does not describe the specific salvage harvest projects with mitigated FONSIs it excluded from its analysis, or how they compare to the types of projects that BLM is proposing to exempt from NEPA analysis.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Response 20:</E>
                     The two EISs that disclosed significant impacts that the Department reviewed had substantial differences in the scope and scale compared to the 34 EAs with FONSIs 
                    <PRTPAGE P="54743"/>
                    that were analyzed and described in the Substantiation Report. As explained in the Substantiation Report, mitigation measures tend to be site-specific and not necessarily applicable across various terrains. Therefore, mitigated FONSIs were not used in developing limitations appropriate for a CE of nation-wide applicability. As noted in the Report, the requirement that an action conform with applicable land use plan decisions provides the appropriate level of site-specific protection. Substantiation Report, pp. 2, 9-10.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Comment 21:</E>
                     The Department received a comment suggesting that use of the CE prevents analysis of the potential impacts associated with the unique characteristics of the applicable geography of each project to identify the appropriate design features or best management practices, and these design features fabricate a baseline.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Response 21:</E>
                     In reviewing the EAs in the Substantiation Report, the Department found that the EAs cited project design features from the applicable land use plan for the specific resource program and incorporated them into the proposed action evaluated in the EA. Proposed actions, regardless of their level of NEPA compliance, must be in conformance with the approved land use plan. In implementing actions in conformance with land use plans, a bureau identifies project design features to define the parameters of the project, including any measures to ensure land use plan conformance or to reduce adverse impacts based on the site-specific circumstances. If the proposed action designed to be in conformance with the land use plan, including any resource protective measures, also meets the parameters of the CE, and no extraordinary circumstances are present, the bureau may use the CE.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Comment 22:</E>
                     The Department received a comment suggesting that it failed to provide a sufficiently reasoned explanation for the proposed 5,000-acre limit. The comment cited case law that affirmed the use of arithmetic mean for the development of an upper acreage limit for salvage harvest.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Response 22:</E>
                     The Department acknowledges the comments and questions relating to the use of statistical methods. Any use of these methods requires the exercise of judgement; for example, the arithmetic mean of the acreage values for covered actions could be elevated by removing small projects as outliers from the record. The Department also recognizes that in December 2020 it previously established a salvage CE for salvage of dead or dying trees with a 3,000-acre limit, after receiving comments on the proposed 5,000-acre limit on covered salvage actions. In response to those comments, the Department acknowledged it could reach a FONSI for salvage actions exceeding 5,000 acres but chose to place a 3,000-acre limit in the CE. Based on further review of comments received on this proposed CE and for the reasons stated in this notice and the supporting Substantiation Report, including the review of additional EAs and FONSIs for completed salvage actions and post-implementation observations and available scientific research since establishment of the 2020 salvage CE, the Department believes the NEPA compliance approach in this established CE, including a 5,000 acre limit for certain actions, is appropriate. Specifically, the 5,000-acre limit of this CE is fewer than the acres analyzed in the EAs for the three salvage projects reviewed in the Substantiation Report, pp. 21, and substantially fewer than the acres analyzed in the EAs for the two projects reviewed in that Report that covered over 11,000 acres. The review of these EAs, including post-implementation validation of the FONSIs they supported, demonstrates that the Department can implement salvage projects up to 5,000 acres covered by this CE without significant impacts. This conclusion is unaffected by the fact that the BLM has also approved actions covered by this CE on fewer acres and determined that these actions did not have significant impacts on the human environment. Therefore, the Department retained the 5,000-acre limit for the CE along with the accompanying nine design feature categories. Additionally, a proposed salvage action's potential for environmental effects is determined by the presence of resource conflicts. The Department and its bureaus will assess the potential for significant environmental effects through the review of extraordinary circumstances.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Comment 23:</E>
                     The Department received comments suggesting that the use of the CE for multiple nearby projects may result in significant impacts from implementation.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Response 23:</E>
                     The analysis in the EAs in the Substantiation Report, pp. 19-20, included consideration of other actions, including other salvage actions, that had taken place or were taking place, or were planned for the area, demonstrating that even in the context of several other projects, the actions covered by this CE did not normally result in significant impacts. The Department established the acreage limit based on the information available to the Department as well as the incorporation of the accompanying features and categories that address the potential for adverse impacts from these types of projects, even in the context of other projects. In addition, while the CE itself does not include a limit on the number of times it may be used, each proposed action considered for approval in use of the CE must be reviewed against the Department's extraordinary circumstances, one of which, and here most relevant, applies if a proposed action may “have a direct relationship to other actions that implicate potentially significant environmental effects” (43 CFR 46.215(e)). This means that if the bureau determines that a proposed salvage project has a direct relationship to a previously conducted or planned project that may implicate potentially significant environmental effects, the CE could not be utilized and the bureau would need to prepare an EA or EIS.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Comment 24:</E>
                     The Department received a comment suggesting that the proposed CE requires consultation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) and National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS).
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Response 24:</E>
                     To the extent that establishment of a NEPA procedure such as the establishment of this CE is subject to the requirements of section 7 of the Endangered Species Act, the action has no effect on listed species or critical habitat. Proposed actions a bureau may pursue to implement salvage harvest that may use this CE to satisfy any NEPA requirements would be subject to review under Section 7 of the ESA and, if the parameters of the proposed action and site-specific conditions require, appropriate consultation with the FWS and NMFS would occur.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Comment 25:</E>
                     The Department received a comment suggesting that post-disturbance salvage logging would affect historic and cultural resources thus triggering National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) requirements.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Response 25:</E>
                     The establishment of a CE as part of the agency's NEPA procedures does not change the effect or exclude the applicability of other laws such as NHPA when a bureau uses the CE for NEPA compliance for a particular salvage activity. When using CEs, other procedural or substantive statutory or regulatory requirements may still apply, such as Tribal consultation and consultation under the NHPA.
                </P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">III. Categorical Exclusion Justification</HD>
                <P>
                    The Department finds that the category of actions described in this timber salvage harvest CE does not normally have a significant effect on the 
                    <PRTPAGE P="54744"/>
                    quality of the human environment. This finding is based on the analysis of this category of actions as documented in the BLM's Substantiation Report, supporting record documents, and the relevant scientific literature. To demonstrate the finding that actions under the proposed CEs would not normally result in significant effects on the quality of the human environment, the Department reviewed proposed actions evaluated in 34 EAs that supported FONSIs as well as post-implementation information and summarized them in the Substantiation Report.
                </P>
                <P>The Department consulted with CEQ on the establishment of this new timber salvage harvest CE consistent with section 102(2)(B) of NEPA, 42 U.S.C. 4332(2)(B). Therefore, the Department adds this CE to the DOI NEPA Handbook, Appendix 2.</P>
                <P>When applying this CE, responsible officials will evaluate proposed actions covered by the CE to determine whether any extraordinary circumstances are present in accordance with the requirements in the Department's NEPA implementing procedures at 43 CFR 46.205 and 46.215. For use of this CE, the responsible official would document this review. If the responsible official cannot use this CE to support a decision to authorize timber salvage harvest activities due to extraordinary circumstances, the responsible official will prepare an EA or EIS before authorizing such activities, consistent with 43 CFR 46.205(c) and 42 U.S.C. 4336(b).</P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">IV. Text added to the U.S. Department of the Interior Handbook of NEPA Implementing Procedures, Appendix 2: Bureau Categorical Exclusions</HD>
                <P>
                    The 
                    <E T="03">DOI Handbook of NEPA Implementing Procedures, Appendix 2: Bureau Categorical Exclusions</E>
                     includes the following language:
                </P>
                <STARS/>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">Bureau of Land Management</HD>
                <HD SOURCE="HD2">11.9 Actions Eligible for a Categorical Exclusion (CE)</HD>
                <STARS/>
                <HD SOURCE="HD3">C. Forestry</HD>
                <STARS/>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">
                        (10) *Salvage harvesting of dead and dying trees resulting from fire, insects, disease, drought, or other disturbances, not to exceed 1,000 acres where the disturbance affects 3,000 acres of bureau-managed lands or less, and not to exceed the lesser of 5,000 acres or 
                        <FR>1/3</FR>
                         of the disturbance area where the disturbance exceeds 3,000 acres of bureau-managed lands. All actions must be in conformance with applicable land use planning decisions.
                    </E>
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">(a) Covered actions:</E>
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">(i) Cutting, yarding, and removal of dead or dying trees.</E>
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">(ii) Cutting, yarding, and removal of live trees needed for operations, landings, skid trails, or road clearing,</E>
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">(iii) Chipping/grinding or removal of residual slash.</E>
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">(iv) Jackpot burning, pile burning, and underburning.</E>
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">(v) Seeding or planting necessary to accelerate native species re-establishment.</E>
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">(b) Such actions:</E>
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">(i) Must not exceed 1 mile of permanent road construction to facilitate the covered actions, and all segments must conform to applicable land use planning decisions with route-specific designations disclosed where travel management planning has been completed.</E>
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">(ii) May include maintenance and renovation of existing roads as needed.</E>
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">(iii) May include construction of temporary roads not to exceed a ratio of 2.25 miles per 1,000 acres of harvest area as needed, provided they are not part of the bureau's permanent transportation system, are designed to standards appropriate for their intended use (safety, erosion control, sedimentation prevention, and resource protection), are not needed for long-term resource management, and are decommissioned and stabilized after use to minimize erosion and protect water quality.</E>
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">(iv) Must disclose design features in documentation for use of this categorical exclusion that address the following resource considerations, consistent with applicable land use plan decisions, or where no plan requirements apply, and specify how these considerations are addressed:</E>
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">(1) Snag and downed wood—amount to be created or retained;</E>
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">(2) Erosion control—specifications or measures (e.g., water bars, dispersed slash);</E>
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">(3) Soil compaction—criteria for avoidance, minimization, or remediation;</E>
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">(4) Logging systems—types and scope of constraints (e.g., seasonal, location, extent, etc.);</E>
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">(5) Seasonal operations—purpose and extent of operating restrictions;</E>
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">(6) Invasive species—measures to prevent or limit spread;</E>
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">(7) Riparian areas—buffer widths and/or operating restrictions;</E>
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">(8) Prescribed fire—operating constraints for underburning or pile burning; and</E>
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">(9) Temporary roads—decommissioning standards.</E>
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">(c) Definitions:</E>
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">(i) Dying tree: A standing tree severely damaged by disturbance (e.g., fire, wind, insects, disease, drought) and, in the judgment of a forestry professional or someone technically trained for the work, is likely to die within two years.</E>
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">(ii) Permanent road: A road constructed or reconstructed for use, as part of the bureau's permanent transportation system.</E>
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">(iii) Temporary road: A road authorized by contract, permit, lease, written authorization, or emergency operation, not added to the permanent system, and decommissioned after use.</E>
                </P>
                <STARS/>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Authorities:</E>
                     NEPA, as amended (42 U.S.C. 4321 
                    <E T="03">et seq.</E>
                    ).
                </P>
                <SIG>
                    <NAME>Stephen G. Tryon,</NAME>
                    <TITLE>Director, Office of Environmental Policy and Compliance.</TITLE>
                </SIG>
            </SUPLINF>
            <FRDOC>[FR Doc. 2026-17251 Filed 8-21-26; 8:45 am]</FRDOC>
            <BILCOD>BILLING CODE 4331-27-P</BILCOD>
        </NOTICE>
        <NOTICE>
            <PREAMB>
                <AGENCY TYPE="S">DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR</AGENCY>
                <SUBAGY>Office of the Secretary</SUBAGY>
                <DEPDOC>[A2407-014-004-065516, #O2509-014-004-125222; LLHQ21000]</DEPDOC>
                <SUBJECT>National Environmental Policy Act Implementing Procedures: Forest and Woodland Density Management Categorical Exclusion</SUBJECT>
                <AGY>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">AGENCY:</HD>
                    <P>Office of the Secretary, Interior.</P>
                </AGY>
                <ACT>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">ACTION:</HD>
                    <P>Notice.</P>
                </ACT>
                <SUM>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">SUMMARY:</HD>
                    <P>
                        This notice announces a revision to the Department of the Interior (Department)'s National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) procedures by adding a new categorical exclusion (CE) for forest and woodland density management in the 
                        <E T="03">Department's Handbook of NEPA Implementing Procedures, Appendix 2: Bureau Categorical Exclusions.</E>
                    </P>
                </SUM>
                <DATES>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">DATES:</HD>
                    <P>The CE is effective August 24, 2026.</P>
                </DATES>
                <ADD>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">ADDRESSES:</HD>
                    <P>
                        The web address for the Department's Handbook of NEPA Implementing Procedures where the new CE is being added is: 
                        <E T="03">https://www.doi.gov/document-library/handbook/516-dm-1-handbook-national-environmental-policy-act-implementing.</E>
                         The Substantiation Report for the CE is available at the Bureau of Land Management (BLM)'s ePlanning site: 
                        <E T="03">https://eplanning.blm.gov/Project-Home/?id=8780a416-522f-f111-8341-001dd8029ed0.</E>
                    </P>
                </ADD>
                <FURINF>
                    <PRTPAGE P="54745"/>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:</HD>
                    <P>
                        Stacie McIntosh, Deputy Assistant Director, Directorate of Resources and Planning at (907) 378-3815, or 
                        <E T="03">s05mcint@blm.gov.</E>
                         Individuals in the United States who are deaf, deafblind, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability may dial 711 (TTY, TDD, or TeleBraille) to access telecommunications relay services. Individuals outside the United States should use the relay services offered within their country to make international calls to the point-of-contact in the United States.
                    </P>
                </FURINF>
            </PREAMB>
            <SUPLINF>
                <HD SOURCE="HED">SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:</HD>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">I. Background</HD>
                <P>
                    The Department published the proposed CE for forest and woodland density management on April 6, 2026, for a 30-day public comment period. Refer to the 
                    <E T="04">Federal Register</E>
                     notice 91 FR 17299 for more information regarding the background and rationale for the CE. This notice notifies the public of the Department's establishment of the forest and woodland density management CE and includes the Department's responses to comments from the public on the proposed CE. The Department has not made any edits to the CE text as proposed. The Department is establishing the CE to support approval of actions related to long-term sustainability of forests and woodlands due to widespread disruptions to natural disturbance regimes—particularly fire.
                </P>
                <P>
                    NEPA, 42 U.S.C. 4321 
                    <E T="03">et seq.,</E>
                     requires Federal agencies to consider the environmental effects of their proposed actions in their decision-making processes. To comply with NEPA, agencies determine the appropriate level of review of any proposed major Federal action—an environmental impact statement (EIS), environmental assessment (EA), or a CE. See generally, 42 U.S.C. 4336 (b); 43 CFR part 46; 516 Departmental Manual 1, “U.S. Department of the Interior Handbook of National Environmental Policy Act Implementing Procedures,” section 1.2 (2026) (516 DM 1). Where it is reasonably foreseeable that significant environmental effects are likely, the agency must prepare an EIS and document its decision. See generally, 42 U.S.C. 4336 (b)(1); 516 DM 1 section 1.2(a)(5)(ii). Where appropriate, an agency may prepare an EA, and if that EA supports the agency reaching a finding of no significant impact (FONSI) for the proposed action, the agency need not prepare an EIS. See generally, 42 U.S.C. 4336(b)(2); 516 DM 1 section 1.6; section 1.2(a)(4).
                </P>
                <P>Under NEPA, agencies may 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 implementing procedures (42U.S.C. 4336e(1)). An agency may also adopt for its own use a CE listed in another agency's NEPA procedures consistent with section 109 of NEPA (42 U.S.C. 4336c).</P>
                <P>Under the Department's NEPA procedures, if a bureau determines that a CE covers a proposed action, it then evaluates the proposed action for the presence of extraordinary circumstances, which are factors or circumstances that indicate a normally categorically excluded action may have a significant effect (43 CFR 46.205, 46.215). If the bureau cannot categorically exclude the proposed action following review for extraordinary circumstances, the bureau will prepare an EA or EIS, as appropriate, before issuing any decision to authorize the action (43 CFR 46.205(c), 42 U.S.C. 4336(b)).</P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">II. Comments on the Proposed CE</HD>
                <P>The Department received 338 comment letters during the 30-day public comment period on the proposed CE. State governments, interest groups, non-profit organizations, and private citizens submitted comments. The Department received comments both in support of and in opposition to the proposed CE. Some comments addressed BLM's forest management policy or management direction that is specific to Resource Management Plans (RMPs); however, these comments are beyond the scope of the establishment of this CE, which pertains only to compliance with NEPA for forest management actions, not the character or advisability of such actions, and the Department provides no response to such comments. Some commenters provided additional scientific literature for the Department's consideration; BLM evaluated the literature and revised the Substantiation Report to include and discuss those additional citations, as appropriate. The Department considered all comments received during the comment period and responds in this notice to the 13 substantive issues raised in the public comments that pertain to NEPA compliance. The Department appreciates the interest and participation of all respondents. The Department, where appropriate, considered and addressed similar or related comments in one response, and responds to the comments as follows:</P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Comment 1:</E>
                     The Department received comments that expressed support for establishing the CE, stating that the BLM would be able to use the CE to substantially reduce permitting time and promote the realization of the associated economic benefits of this reduction while allowing bureau staff to focus on other proposals that may have a significant environmental effect. Commenters also indicated that the use of this CE to timely permit forest and woodland density management actions would promote forest resilience by reducing competition for water and nutrients, lower wildfire severity, promote healthier, more diverse forest conditions, reduce drought induced tree mortality, and create healthy forests that support local economies.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Response 1:</E>
                     The Department will continue to conduct the appropriate level of NEPA review for proposed actions, including, where appropriate, use of this CE or other available CEs. Use of this CE, where appropriate, may help the BLM conduct NEPA compliance more efficiently and protect more forest acres from severe stand replacing fires.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Comment 2:</E>
                     Some commenters suggested that the establishment of this CE would result in diminished protection for Endangered Species Act (ESA)-listed species, old-growth forests, water resources, and other important, scarce, or sensitive resources and values.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Response 2:</E>
                     The establishment of this CE does not reduce protections for important, scarce, or sensitive resources and values. Instead, it provides a mechanism for bureaus within the Department to comply with NEPA when authorizing covered actions. Before using the CE, bureaus would need to review for the presence of any extraordinary circumstances. Through that review, the bureaus must verify that any proposed action would not have significant effects on ecologically significant or critical areas, or similar natural resources; or on species listed or proposed to be listed under the ESA, or on any designated critical habitat. Moreover, additional protections for important, scarce, or sensitive resources are available through statutes other than NEPA, such as ESA and the Clean Water Act. Those protections are not affected by the establishment of this CE. Finally, proposed actions must conform to the applicable land use plan, including any plan direction developed to protect species of concern, critical habitat, aquatic resources and water quality.
                    <PRTPAGE P="54746"/>
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Comment 3:</E>
                     Some commenters suggested that the establishment of this CE would authorize BLM forest management actions, including industrial logging.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Response 3:</E>
                     The establishment of and reliance on this CE does not authorize any actions, including, but not limited to, on-the-ground actions. Any BLM decisions about whether and how to engage in forest management actions must conform to the applicable land use plan. BLM land use plans, which undergo a separate NEPA review when created, amended, or revised, provide management direction for all BLM-managed forests and in general provide for the retention of old trees and conservation of old forest characteristics, regardless of the level of NEPA compliance conducted for any particular action. Instead, this CE is a procedure for complying with NEPA when authorizing covered actions. When proposing to take an action covered by the CE, DOI bureaus would be able to use the CE after considering whether extraordinary circumstances, if present, would preclude such use, and after ensuring compliance with all applicable laws and regulations.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Comment 4:</E>
                     The Department received comments suggesting the establishment of this CE establishes forest management policies that will make forests less fire resilient, increase fire prone conditions by reducing canopy cover and increasing understory growth, decrease structurally complex forests and approve increased logging that threatens clean water.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Response 4:</E>
                     This comment is outside the scope of this effort as the establishment of and use of this CE is not forest management policy and does not change forest management policy; rather, the CE is a procedure for complying with NEPA that can be used, if appropriate, when taking a covered action that carries out the forest management policy. In addition, the Substantiation Report for this CE discusses in detail the scientific literature and government reports dealing with these issues.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Comment 5:</E>
                     The Department received comments suggesting that the use of this CE eliminates site-specific analysis of the effects of a proposed action on forest and habitat attributes and potential for impacts to those attributes.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Response 5:</E>
                     The establishment of and use of this CE does not eliminate site-specific analysis of any actions. The Department established this CE because the Department determined the type of actions covered by the CE normally do not significantly affect the quality of the human environment. This finding is based on the analysis of these types of actions as documented in the Substantiation Report and supporting documentation, including a review of EAs that supported FONSIs to demonstrate the finding that actions covered by this CE would not significantly affect the quality of the human environment. This review included post-implementation validation of these FONSIs. In addition, before using the CE for future actions, bureaus must review for the presence of any extraordinary circumstances. Through extraordinary circumstances review, the bureaus verify whether any proposed action would have significant effects on ecologically significant or critical areas, or similar natural resources; or on species listed, or proposed to be listed, under the ESA, or on any designated critical habitat at the particular site of the proposed covered action. If bureaus cannot use this CE to support its decision due to the presence of extraordinary circumstances, then they would conduct the appropriate additional NEPA review, whether an EA or EIS.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Comment 6:</E>
                     The Department received comments suggesting the Department should solicit public comment on all forestry projects and that use of the CE without public comment would ignore the collective knowledge of stakeholders.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Response 6:</E>
                     There are various opportunities for the public and stakeholders to provide public input in forest management. For the BLM, this includes the development, revision, and amendment of land use plans, through which the BLM determines the forest management direction for each specific planning area.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Comment 7:</E>
                     The Department received comments suggesting that establishment of and use of this CE would allow bureaus, including the BLM, to focus limited resources where they are most needed, while accelerating responsible actions that benefit forests, access, recreation, wildlife, and the public.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Response 7:</E>
                     While the establishment of this CE does not authorize any forest management activities, it does provide a tool the Department can use for NEPA compliance for future proposed actions of the type covered in the CE without the need to prepare an EIS or an EA, which could allow the agency to focus its analytical resources more efficiently to benefit the public and federally managed lands.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Comment 8:</E>
                     The Department received comments suggesting the CE group selection parameters should be increased to align with the management in the BLM's 2016 Western Oregon RMPs which allow for up to 4 acres in size, up to 30 percent of the stand area, and leave untreated areas (skips) on at least 10 percent of the stand area.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Response 8:</E>
                     The Department acknowledges that the 2016 Western Oregon RMPs allow larger group selections than this CE; however, this feature of the 2016 Western Oregon RMPs is not relevant to whether thinning actions have significant effects for purposes of NEPA. Additionally, this CE may be used for projects outside the areas governed by the 2016 Western Oregon RMPs. The two-acre group selection limit was based on the projects and EAs evaluated in the Substantiation Report, which involved a range of forest types and applicable RMP or other management direction.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Comment 9:</E>
                     The Department received comments suggesting that it did not explain why two-acre group selection openings would not have significant impacts.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Response 9:</E>
                     The Substantiation Report explains this in detail. The Report summarized the Department's review of 25 EAs that analyzed group selections included in proposed actions as well as conducting post-implementation review and determined the actions covered by the CE would not significantly affect the quality of the human environment (Substantiation Report, pp. 20, 22, 24, 26, and Appendix A). As explained in the Report, while multiple EAs with FONSIs reviewed had materially higher intensities and/or larger groups, the two-acre group selection opening in the CE is within the limits of the EAs reviewed for those actions that are already demonstrated to have non-significant effects (Substantiation Report, p. 20). The Substantiation Report also includes references to studies that document the necessity of openings for regeneration of shade intolerant tree species, the height growth changes relative to patch size, and the surface temperature, wind speed, and soil moisture changes (York et al. 2007; Bigelow et al. 2011; Bigelow and North 2012) (Substantiation Report, p. 25). Under the parameters of the CE, when using the CE, the bureau must generally retain large trees and snags consistent with applicable land use plan management direction. The impact of dense forests on the regeneration of shade intolerant tree species in the western United States has been well documented. Therefore, to ensure flexibility to design proposed actions that use group selection silviculture for regeneration purposes, and because the completed projects reviewed demonstrated that this group size did not normally result in significant 
                    <PRTPAGE P="54747"/>
                    impacts, the Department set this CE parameter at two acres.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Comment 10:</E>
                     The Department received comments questioning justification for the 5,000-acre limit parameter, the associated environmental impacts, and statistical methods used to derive the limit.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Response 10:</E>
                     The 5,000-acre limit of this CE is supported by those EAs summarized in the Substantiation Report. As explained in the Report, twelve projects exceeded the upper IQR fence (5,385 acres) and were analyzed separately for purposes of setting a robust cap. Using the remaining 72 projects, the 99th percentile is 5,158 acres; for administrative clarity and added conservatism, BLM rounds to 5,000 acres as the CE acreage cap. The use of a post-outlier 99th percentile aligns with EPA practice (U.S. EPA 2000a; U.S. EPA 2000b) (Substantiation Report, p. 20). In addition, 14 projects in the Substantiation Report are over the 5,000-acre limit, including 6 substantially larger projects that covered between 10,000 and 31,191 (Substantiation Report, pp. 19-20). The review of these forestry project EAs, including post-implementation validation of the FONSIs they supported, demonstrates that the Department can implement thinning projects up to 5,000 acres covered by this CE without significant impacts. This conclusion is unaffected by the fact that the BLM has also approved actions covered by this CE on fewer acres and determined that these actions did not have significant impacts on the human environment. Therefore, the Department retained the 5,000-acre limit for the CE along with the accompanying nine design feature categories.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Comment 11:</E>
                     The Department received comments questioning the permanent and temporary road construction parameters, the associated environmental impacts, and the statistical methods used to derive them.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Response 11:</E>
                     The CE includes a five-mile limit for permanent road construction and 2.5 miles per 1,000 acres limit for temporary road construction. The explanation for these limits is described in the Substantiation Report, pp. 20-21. Additionally, of the 84 EAs evaluated in the Substantiation Report, 35 EAs analyzed new permanent road construction included in the proposed actions. The five-mile permanent road limit parameter in the CE is less than the new permanent road miles proposed in 14 projects analyzed in the EAs and substantially smaller than six projects analyzed in the EAs that added between 10.5 and 76.3 miles of new permanent road. The 2.5-mile-per-1,000-acre temporary road construction limit reflects the range of these activities demonstrated in the EAs and supported by FONSIs, as explained in the Substantiation Report, with temporary roads further bounded by mandatory decommissioning and stabilization standards under the design feature categories. The projects reviewed for the Substantiation Report, and the validation of their associated FONSIs through post-implementation review, show that the Department can implement density management projects that include permanent and/or temporary road construction as long as these projects conform to the applicable land use plan management direction for roads without causing significant impacts; therefore, the CE includes the permanent and temporary road construction limits originally proposed.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Comment 12:</E>
                     The Department received comments stating that because the CE does not limit the number of times the CE may be used, potentially exempting projects from the requirement to prepare an EIS or an EA, the CE may result in significant cumulative impacts from the implementation of multiple 5,000-acre projects.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Response 12:</E>
                     The analysis in the EAs described in the Substantiation Report included consideration of other actions, including other forest management actions, that had taken place or were taking place, or were planned for the area, demonstrating that even in the context of several other projects, the actions covered by this CE did not normally result in significant impacts. As shown in the EAs for the projects reviewed for the Substantiation Report, the relevant indicator for forest health is not the acreage limit but the forest density achieved. The Department established the 5,000 acre-limit based on the information available as well as the incorporation of the accompanying nine design feature categories that address the potential for adverse impacts from these types of projects, even in the context of other projects. In addition, while the CE itself does not include a limit on the number of times it may be used, each proposed action considered for approval in use of the CE must be reviewed against the Department's extraordinary circumstances, one of which, and here most relevant, is that if a proposed action may “have a direct relationship to other actions that implicate potentially significant environmental effects” (43 CFR 46.215(e)) the bureau must prepare an EA or EIS. This means that if the bureau determines that a proposed forestry action has a direct relationship to a previously conducted, or planned project that may implicate potentially significant environmental effects, such as may (hypothetically) arise when several forestry actions may have occurred or may occur in the same area, the bureau would need to prepare an EA or EIS.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Comment 13:</E>
                     The Department received comments suggesting that the CE mandate design feature categories rather than just requiring disclosure.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Response 13:</E>
                     The CE lists nine categories of design features that were common to the projects analyzed in the EAs reviewed for the Substantiation Report. Because forestry actions may be proposed in areas that may be governed by different land use plans, developed as appropriate to the planning area, the specifics for the design features may similarly vary as appropriate to the planning area; therefore, instead of setting forth the specific design feature, when the bureau proposes to use the CE, the bureau must document the specific design feature applicable to the category of design feature identified in the CE's terms. In this way, covered forestry actions must ensure appropriate treatment of these common resource issues in a way that matches the conditions specific to the planning area, and “where no plan requirements apply [the bureau decision record authorizing the covered action must] specify how these considerations are addressed” in the proposed forestry action.
                </P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">Categorical Exclusion Justification</HD>
                <P>The Department finds that the type of actions described in this forestry and woodland density management CE do not normally have a significant effect on the quality of the human environment. This finding is based on the analysis of these types of actions, as documented in the BLM's Substantiation Report for this CE, supporting documents, and the relevant scientific literature. To demonstrate the finding that actions under the proposed CEs would not normally result in significant effects on the quality of the human environment, the Department reviewed proposed actions evaluated in 84 EAs that supported FONSIs as well as post-implementation information and summarized them in the Substantiation Report.</P>
                <P>
                    As with other administratively developed CEs for bureaus, when applying this CE, Responsible Officials must evaluate proposed actions to determine whether any extraordinary circumstances are present in accordance with the requirements in the Department's NEPA implementing procedures at 43 CFR 46.205 and 
                    <PRTPAGE P="54748"/>
                    46.215. For use of this CE, the Responsible Official must document this review. If the Responsible Official cannot use this CE to support a decision to authorize density management in forests or woodlands due to the presence of extraordinary circumstances, the Responsible Official must prepare an EA or EIS before authorizing such activities, consistent with 43 CFR 46.205(c) and 42 U.S.C. 4336(b).
                </P>
                <P>The Department consulted with CEQ on the establishment of this new forest and woodland density management CE consistent with section 102(2)(B) of NEPA, 42 U.S.C. 4332(2)(B).</P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">III. Text Added to the U.S. Department of the Interior Handbook of NEPA Implementing Procedures, Appendix 2: Bureau Categorical Exclusions</HD>
                <P>
                    The 
                    <E T="03">DOI Handbook of NEPA Implementing Procedures, Appendix 2: Bureau Categorical Exclusions</E>
                     includes the following language:
                </P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">Bureau of Land Management</HD>
                <HD SOURCE="HD2">11.9 Actions Eligible for a Categorical Exclusion (CE)</HD>
                <STARS/>
                <HD SOURCE="HD3">C. Forestry</HD>
                <STARS/>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">(11) *Modification of tree density up to 5,000 acres of treatment area. Does not include silvicultural methods that are intended to regenerate whole stands, such as even-aged regeneration harvest, clearcutting, or variable retention harvest, or vegetation management intended to convert forest or woodlands to non-forest vegetation cover.</E>
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">(a) Covered actions include:</E>
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">(i) Cutting, yarding, and the use of landings and skid trails to facilitate the removal of commercial and non-commercial trees</E>
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">(ii) Chipping/grinding or removal of residual slash.</E>
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">(iii) Group selection silvicultural treatment to promote regeneration of shade intolerant species and early successional habitat in an uneven-aged context not to exceed 2-acre individual patches and 10 percent of the treatment area. Group selection openings will retain overstory legacy elements consistent with the applicable land use plan (e.g.,</E>
                     large fire resilient trees, snags).
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">(iv) Pile burning or underburning of fuels created by covered actions described in subparagraphs (i)-(iii) of this paragraph and fuels within or in close proximity to those actions' treatment boundaries whether created by those actions or not.</E>
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">(v) Seeding or planting necessary to accelerate native species re-establishment.</E>
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">(b) Such actions:</E>
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">(i) Must not exceed 5 miles of new permanent road construction to facilitate the covered actions and all segments must conform to applicable land use planning decisions with route-specific designations disclosed where travel management planning has been completed.</E>
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">(ii) May include maintenance and renovation of existing roads as needed.</E>
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">(iii) May include construction of temporary roads not to exceed a ratio of 2.5 miles per 1,000 acres of treatment area as needed, provided they are not part of the bureau's permanent transportation system, are designed to standards appropriate for their intended use (safety, erosion control, sedimentation prevention, and resource protection), are not needed for long-term resource management, and are decommissioned and stabilized after use to minimize erosion and protect water quality.</E>
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">(iv) Must disclose design features in documentation of finding that an action is excluded pursuant to the use of this categorical exclusion that address the following resource considerations, consistent with applicable land use plan decisions, or, where no plan requirements apply, and specify how these considerations are addressed:</E>
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">(1) Snag and downed wood—amount to be created or retained;</E>
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">(2) Erosion control—specifications or measures (e.g.,</E>
                     water bars, dispersed slash);
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">(3) Soil compaction—criteria for avoidance, minimization, or remediation;</E>
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">(4) Logging systems—types and scope of constraints (e.g., seasonal, location, extent, etc.);</E>
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">(5) Seasonal operations—purpose and extent of operating restrictions;</E>
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">(6) Invasive species—measures to prevent or limit spread;</E>
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">(7) Riparian areas—buffer widths and/or operating restrictions;</E>
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">(8) Prescribed fire—operating constraints for underburning or pile burning; and</E>
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">(9) Temporary roads—decommissioning standards.</E>
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">(c) Definitions:</E>
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">(i) Permanent road: A road constructed or reconstructed, managed as part of the bureau's permanent transportation system.</E>
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">(ii) Temporary road: A road authorized by contract, permit, lease, written authorization, or emergency operation, not added to the permanent system, and decommissioned after use.</E>
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">(iii) Group selection: An uneven-aged harvest method where groups of trees are removed to promote spatial heterogeneity, regeneration of desired tree species, or the establishment of new cohorts.</E>
                </P>
                <STARS/>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Authorities:</E>
                     NEPA, as amended (42 U.S.C. 4321 
                    <E T="03">et seq.</E>
                    ).
                </P>
                <SIG>
                    <NAME>Stephen G. Tryon,</NAME>
                    <TITLE>Director, Office of Environmental Policy and Compliance.</TITLE>
                </SIG>
            </SUPLINF>
            <FRDOC>[FR Doc. 2026-17252 Filed 8-21-26; 8:45 am]</FRDOC>
            <BILCOD>BILLING CODE 4331-27-P</BILCOD>
        </NOTICE>
        <NOTICE>
            <PREAMB>
                <AGENCY TYPE="S">DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR</AGENCY>
                <SUBAGY>National Park Service</SUBAGY>
                <DEPDOC>[N7429; NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0043533; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]</DEPDOC>
                <SUBJECT>Notice of Inventory Completion: Beloit College, Logan Museum of Anthropology, Beloit, WI</SUBJECT>
                <AGY>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">AGENCY:</HD>
                    <P>National Park Service, Interior.</P>
                </AGY>
                <ACT>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">ACTION:</HD>
                    <P>Notice.</P>
                </ACT>
                <SUM>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">SUMMARY:</HD>
                    <P>In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the Beloit College, Logan Museum of Anthropology (LMA) has completed an inventory of human remains and has determined that there is a cultural affiliation between the human remains and Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations in this notice.</P>
                </SUM>
                <DATES>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">DATES:</HD>
                    <P>Repatriation of the human remains in this notice may occur on or after September 23, 2026.</P>
                </DATES>
                <ADD>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">ADDRESSES:</HD>
                    <P>
                        Send written requests for repatriation of the human remains in this notice to Nicolette B. Meister, Beloit College, Logan Museum of Anthropology, 700 College Street, Beloit, WI 53511, email 
                        <E T="03">meistern@beloit.edu.</E>
                    </P>
                </ADD>
            </PREAMB>
            <SUPLINF>
                <HD SOURCE="HED">SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:</HD>
                <P>This notice is published as part of the National Park Service's administrative responsibilities under NAGPRA. The determinations in this notice are the sole responsibility of the LMA, and additional information on the determinations in this notice, including the results of consultation, can be found in its inventory or related records. The National Park Service is not responsible for the determinations in this notice.</P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">Abstract of Information Available</HD>
                <P>
                    Human remains representing, at least, one individual have been identified. No associated funerary objects are present. The LMA purchased a headpiece of 
                    <PRTPAGE P="54749"/>
                    human hair from Reverend Glen H. Ridnour in 1963. The headpiece may be part of the Axel Rasmussen Collection purchased by the Portland Art Museum in 1948. Between 1921 and 1944 Rasmussen, Superintendent of Schools first in Wrangell, AK, and later in Skagway, AK, collected Native American items from the Native communities he served and from dealers in the region. Ridnour purchased portions of the Rasmussen Collection from the Saint Paul Gallery in 1959. The headpiece is from Wrangell Island, Wrangell Borough, Alaska, and is composed of a cloth cap covered in matted tufts of human hair. The headpiece was worn by Tom Ukas (1879-1973) whose Tlingit name was 
                    <E T="03">Ghunaaneistí.</E>
                     He was 
                    <E T="03">Kiks.ádi</E>
                     from the Sun House in Wrangell. According to Ukas, the headpiece was made of old scalps taken in war. During consultation, a top knot of bound hair was identified, which supports Tom Ukas's oral history as top knots are worn by warriors going into war. The LMA has no record of treating the human remains with potentially hazardous substances.
                </P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">Cultural Affiliation</HD>
                <P>Based on the information available and the results of consultation, cultural affiliation is clearly identified by the information available about the human described in this notice.</P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">Determinations</HD>
                <P>The LMA has determined that:</P>
                <P>• The human remains described in this notice represent the physical remains of one individual of Native American ancestry.</P>
                <P>• There is a connection between the human remains described in this notice and the Central Council of the Tlingit &amp; Haida Indian Tribes.</P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">Requests for Repatriation</HD>
                <P>
                    Written requests for repatriation of the human remains in this notice must be sent to the authorized representative identified in this notice under 
                    <E T="02">ADDRESSES</E>
                    . Requests for repatriation may be submitted by:
                </P>
                <P>1. Any one or more of the Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations identified in this notice.</P>
                <P>2. Any lineal descendant, Indian Tribe, or Native Hawaiian organization not identified in this notice who shows, by a preponderance of the evidence, that the requestor is a lineal descendant or an Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian organization with cultural affiliation.</P>
                <P>Repatriation of the human remains described in this notice to a requestor may occur on or after September 23, 2026. If competing requests for repatriation are received, the LMA must determine the most appropriate requestor prior to repatriation. Requests for joint repatriation of the human remains are considered a single request and not competing requests. The LMA is responsible for sending a copy of this notice to the Indian Tribes and Native Hawaiian organizations identified in this notice and any other consulting parties.</P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Authority:</E>
                     Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, 25 U.S.C. 3003, and the implementing regulations, 43 CFR 10.10.
                </P>
                <SIG>
                    <DATED>Dated: August 17, 2026.</DATED>
                    <NAME>Mariah Soriano,</NAME>
                    <TITLE>Acting Manager, National NAGPRA Program.</TITLE>
                </SIG>
            </SUPLINF>
            <FRDOC>[FR Doc. 2026-17185 Filed 8-21-26; 8:45 am]</FRDOC>
            <BILCOD>BILLING CODE 4312-52-P</BILCOD>
        </NOTICE>
        <NOTICE>
            <PREAMB>
                <AGENCY TYPE="S">DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR</AGENCY>
                <SUBAGY>National Park Service</SUBAGY>
                <DEPDOC>[N7422; NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0043528; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]</DEPDOC>
                <SUBJECT>Notice of Inventory Completion: Robert S. Peabody Institute of Archaeology, Andover, MA</SUBJECT>
                <AGY>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">AGENCY:</HD>
                    <P>National Park Service, Interior.</P>
                </AGY>
                <ACT>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">ACTION:</HD>
                    <P>Notice.</P>
                </ACT>
                <SUM>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">SUMMARY:</HD>
                    <P>In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the Robert S. Peabody Institute of Archaeology (RSPI) has completed an inventory of human remains and has determined that there is a cultural affiliation between the human remains and Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations in this notice.</P>
                </SUM>
                <DATES>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">DATES:</HD>
                    <P>Repatriation of the human remains in this notice may occur on or after September 23, 2026.</P>
                </DATES>
                <ADD>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">ADDRESSES:</HD>
                    <P>
                        Send written requests for repatriation of the human remains in this notice to Ryan J. Wheeler, RSPI, Phillips Academy, 180 Main Street, Andover, MA 01810, email 
                        <E T="03">rwheeler@andover.edu.</E>
                    </P>
                </ADD>
            </PREAMB>
            <SUPLINF>
                <HD SOURCE="HED">SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:</HD>
                <P>This notice is published as part of the National Park Service's administrative responsibilities under NAGPRA. The determinations in this notice are the sole responsibility of the RSPI, and additional information on the determinations in this notice, including the results of consultation, can be found in its inventory or related records. The National Park Service is not responsible for the determinations in this notice.</P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">Abstract of Information Available</HD>
                <P>Human remains representing, at least, one individual have been identified. The individual was removed from an unknown location in Arkansas and transferred to the RSPI (then known as the Department of Archaeology, Phillips Academy) likely in the early part of the twentieth century.</P>
                <P>There is no known presence of any potentially hazardous substances.</P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">Cultural Affiliation</HD>
                <P>Based on the information available and the results of consultation, cultural affiliation is reasonably identified by the geographical location or acquisition history of the human remains described in this notice.</P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">Determinations</HD>
                <P>The RSPI has determined that:</P>
                <P>• The human remains described in this notice represent the physical remains of one individual of Native American ancestry.</P>
                <P>• There is a connection between the human remains described in this notice and the Quapaw Nation.</P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">Requests for Repatriation</HD>
                <P>
                    Written requests for repatriation of the human remains in this notice must be sent to the authorized representative identified in this notice under 
                    <E T="02">ADDRESSES</E>
                    . Requests for repatriation may be submitted by:
                </P>
                <P>1. Any one or more of the Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations identified in this notice.</P>
                <P>2. Any lineal descendant, Indian Tribe, or Native Hawaiian organization not identified in this notice who shows, by a preponderance of the evidence, that the requestor is a lineal descendant or an Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian organization with cultural affiliation.</P>
                <P>Repatriation of the human remains described in this notice to a requestor may occur on or after September 23, 2026. If competing requests for repatriation are received, the RSPI must determine the most appropriate requestor prior to repatriation. Requests for joint repatriation of the human remains are considered a single request and not competing requests. The RSPI is responsible for sending a copy of this notice to the Indian Tribes and Native Hawaiian organizations identified in this notice and any other consulting parties.</P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Authority:</E>
                     Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, 25 U.S.C. 3003, and the implementing regulations, 43 CFR 10.10.
                </P>
                <SIG>
                    <PRTPAGE P="54750"/>
                    <DATED> Dated: August 17, 2026.</DATED>
                    <NAME>Mariah Soriano,</NAME>
                    <TITLE>Acting Manager, National NAGPRA Program. </TITLE>
                </SIG>
            </SUPLINF>
            <FRDOC>[FR Doc. 2026-17165 Filed 8-21-26; 8:45 am]</FRDOC>
            <BILCOD>BILLING CODE 4312-52-P</BILCOD>
        </NOTICE>
        <NOTICE>
            <PREAMB>
                <AGENCY TYPE="S">DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR</AGENCY>
                <SUBAGY>National Park Service</SUBAGY>
                <DEPDOC>[N7421; NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0043527; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]</DEPDOC>
                <SUBJECT>Notice of Intended Repatriation: Princeton University Art Museum, Princeton, NJ</SUBJECT>
                <AGY>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">AGENCY:</HD>
                    <P>National Park Service, Interior.</P>
                </AGY>
                <ACT>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">ACTION:</HD>
                    <P>Notice.</P>
                </ACT>
                <SUM>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">SUMMARY:</HD>
                    <P>In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the Princeton University Art Museum intends to repatriate a certain cultural item that meets the definition of an unassociated funerary object and that has a cultural affiliation with the Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations in this notice.</P>
                </SUM>
                <DATES>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">DATES:</HD>
                    <P>Repatriation of the cultural item in this notice may occur on or after September 23, 2026.</P>
                </DATES>
                <ADD>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">ADDRESSES:</HD>
                    <P>
                        Send additional, written requests for repatriation of the cultural item in this notice to Lauren Jakobsson, Project Analyst of the Cultural Property and Human Remains Repatriation Program, Princeton University Art Museum, Princeton University, Elm Drive, Princeton, NJ 08544, email 
                        <E T="03">lj3897@princeton.edu.</E>
                    </P>
                </ADD>
            </PREAMB>
            <SUPLINF>
                <HD SOURCE="HED">SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:</HD>
                <P>This notice is published as part of the National Park Service's administrative responsibilities under NAGPRA. The determinations in this notice are the sole responsibility of the Princeton University Art Museum, and additional information on the determinations in this notice, including the results of consultation, can be found in the summary or related records. The National Park Service is not responsible for the determinations in this notice.</P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">Abstract of Information Available</HD>
                <P>
                    A total of one cultural item has been requested for repatriation. The one unassociated funerary object is a red-on-buff ceramic vessel in the form of a human head, that was excavated at the Big Eddy Site in St. Francis County, Arkansas in 1970. The archaeological context of the vessel is described by excavator Janine Fentiman in a 1981 publication: “The burial in question was located about 2
                    <FR>1/2</FR>
                     feet below the ground surface. . . . On the right side of [human remains] was a red exterior bowl. . . . Under this pot was the head pot.” The object was purchased from Atlantic Art Partners, sourced from an undisclosed art collection, by Princeton University Art Museum in 2013.
                </P>
                <P>Princeton University Art Museum has no knowledge of the presence of any potentially hazardous substances used to treat the object.</P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">Determinations</HD>
                <P>The Princeton University Art Museum has determined that:</P>
                <P>• The one unassociated funerary object described in this notice is reasonably believed to have been placed intentionally with or near human remains, and is connected, either at the time of death or later as part of the death rite or ceremony of a Native American culture according to the Native American traditional knowledge of a lineal descendant, Indian Tribe, or Native Hawaiian organization. The unassociated funerary object has been identified by a preponderance of the evidence as related to human remains, specific individuals, or families, or removed from a specific burial site or burial area of an individual or individuals with cultural affiliation to an Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian organization.</P>
                <P>• There is a connection between the cultural item described in this notice and the Quapaw Nation.</P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">Requests for Repatriation</HD>
                <P>
                    Additional, written requests for repatriation of the cultural item in this notice must be sent to the authorized representative identified in this notice under 
                    <E T="02">ADDRESSES</E>
                    . Requests for repatriation may be submitted by any lineal descendant, Indian Tribe, or Native Hawaiian organization not identified in this notice who shows, by a preponderance of the evidence, that the requestor is a lineal descendant or a culturally affiliated Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian organization.
                </P>
                <P>Repatriation of the cultural item in this notice to a requestor may occur on or after September 23, 2026. If competing requests for repatriation are received, the Princeton University Art Museum must determine the most appropriate requestor prior to repatriation. Requests for joint repatriation of the cultural item are considered a single request and not competing requests. The Princeton University Art Museum is responsible for sending a copy of this notice to the Indian Tribes and Native Hawaiian organizations identified in this notice and to any other consulting parties.</P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Authority:</E>
                     Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, 25 U.S.C. 3004 and the implementing regulations, 43 CFR 10.9.
                </P>
                <SIG>
                    <DATED>Dated: August 17, 2026.</DATED>
                    <NAME>Mariah Soriano,</NAME>
                    <TITLE>Acting Manager, National NAGPRA Program.</TITLE>
                </SIG>
            </SUPLINF>
            <FRDOC>[FR Doc. 2026-17184 Filed 8-21-26; 8:45 am]</FRDOC>
            <BILCOD>BILLING CODE 4312-52-P</BILCOD>
        </NOTICE>
        <NOTICE>
            <PREAMB>
                <AGENCY TYPE="S">DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR</AGENCY>
                <SUBAGY>National Park Service</SUBAGY>
                <DEPDOC>[N7424; NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0043530; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]</DEPDOC>
                <SUBJECT>Notice of Intended Repatriation: University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, ND</SUBJECT>
                <AGY>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">AGENCY:</HD>
                    <P>National Park Service, Interior.</P>
                </AGY>
                <ACT>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">ACTION:</HD>
                    <P>Notice.</P>
                </ACT>
                <SUM>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">SUMMARY:</HD>
                    <P>In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the University of North Dakota intends to repatriate certain cultural items that meet the definition of unassociated funerary objects and that have a cultural affiliation with the Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations in this notice.</P>
                </SUM>
                <DATES>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">DATES:</HD>
                    <P>Repatriation of the cultural items in this notice may occur on or after September 23, 2026.</P>
                </DATES>
                <ADD>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">ADDRESSES:</HD>
                    <P>
                        Send additional, written requests for repatriation of the cultural items in this notice to Dr. Crystal Alberts, University of North Dakota, Carnegie Hall, 250 Centennial Drive, Stop 8193, Grand Forks, ND 58202, email 
                        <E T="03">und.nagpra@und.edu.</E>
                    </P>
                </ADD>
            </PREAMB>
            <SUPLINF>
                <HD SOURCE="HED">SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:</HD>
                <P>This notice is published as part of the National Park Service's administrative responsibilities under NAGPRA. The determinations in this notice are the sole responsibility of the University of North Dakota and additional information on the determinations in this notice, including the results of consultation, can be found in the summary or related records. The National Park Service is not responsible for the determinations in this notice.</P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">Abstract of Information Available</HD>
                <P>
                    A total of 121,218 unassociated funerary objects have been requested for repatriation. The 121,218 unassociated funerary objects consist primarily of stone. Based on documentation held by the University of North Dakota, the items were removed from multiple sites in Dunn County, North Dakota. The 
                    <PRTPAGE P="54751"/>
                    items have not been treated with potentially hazardous substances to the best of the University of North Dakota's knowledge.
                </P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">Determinations</HD>
                <P>The University of North Dakota has determined that:</P>
                <P>• The 121,218 unassociated funerary objects described in this notice are reasonably believed to have been placed intentionally with or near human remains, and are connected, either at the time of death or later as part of the death rite or ceremony of a Native American culture according to the Native American traditional knowledge of a lineal descendant, Indian Tribe, or Native Hawaiian organization. The unassociated funerary objects have been identified by a preponderance of the evidence as related to human remains, specific individuals, or families, or removed from a specific burial site or burial area of an individual or individuals with cultural affiliation to an Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian organization.</P>
                <P>• There is a reasonable connection between the cultural items described in this notice and the Three Affiliated Tribes of the Fort Berthold Reservation, North Dakota.</P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">Requests for Repatriation</HD>
                <P>
                    Additional, written requests for repatriation of the cultural items in this notice must be sent to the authorized representative identified in this notice under 
                    <E T="02">ADDRESSES</E>
                    . Requests for repatriation may be submitted by any lineal descendant, Indian Tribe, or Native Hawaiian organization not identified in this notice who shows, by a preponderance of the evidence, that the requestor is a lineal descendant or a culturally affiliated Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian organization.
                </P>
                <P>Repatriation of the cultural items in this notice to a requestor may occur on or after September 23, 2026. If competing requests for repatriation are received, the University of North Dakota must determine the most appropriate requestor prior to repatriation. Requests for joint repatriation of the cultural items are considered a single request and not competing requests. The University of North Dakota is responsible for sending a copy of this notice to the Indian Tribes and Native Hawaiian organizations identified in this notice and to any other consulting parties.</P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Authority:</E>
                     Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, 25 U.S.C. 3004 and the implementing regulations, 43 CFR 10.9.
                </P>
                <SIG>
                    <DATED>Dated: August 17, 2026.</DATED>
                    <NAME>Mariah Soriano,</NAME>
                    <TITLE>Acting Manager, National NAGPRA Program. </TITLE>
                </SIG>
            </SUPLINF>
            <FRDOC>[FR Doc. 2026-17170 Filed 8-21-26; 8:45 am]</FRDOC>
            <BILCOD>BILLING CODE 4312-52-P</BILCOD>
        </NOTICE>
        <NOTICE>
            <PREAMB>
                <AGENCY TYPE="S">DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR</AGENCY>
                <SUBAGY>National Park Service</SUBAGY>
                <DEPDOC>[N7436; NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0043539; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]</DEPDOC>
                <SUBJECT>Notice of Intended Repatriation: American Museum of Natural History, New York, NY</SUBJECT>
                <AGY>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">AGENCY:</HD>
                    <P>National Park Service, Interior.</P>
                </AGY>
                <ACT>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">ACTION:</HD>
                    <P>Notice.</P>
                </ACT>
                <SUM>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">SUMMARY:</HD>
                    <P>In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the American Museum of Natural History intends to repatriate a certain cultural item that meets the definition of an unassociated funerary object and that has a cultural affiliation with the Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations in this notice.</P>
                </SUM>
                <DATES>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">DATES:</HD>
                    <P>Repatriation of the cultural item in this notice may occur on or after September 23, 2026.</P>
                </DATES>
                <ADD>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">ADDRESSES:</HD>
                    <P>
                        Send additional, written requests for repatriation of the cultural items in this notice to Nell Murphy, American Museum of Natural History, 200 Central Park West, New York, NY 10024, email 
                        <E T="03">nmurphy@amnh.org.</E>
                    </P>
                </ADD>
            </PREAMB>
            <SUPLINF>
                <HD SOURCE="HED">SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:</HD>
                <P>This notice is published as part of the National Park Service's administrative responsibilities under NAGPRA. The determinations in this notice are the sole responsibility of the American Museum of Natural History, and additional information on the determinations in this notice, including the results of consultation, can be found in the summary or related records. The National Park Service is not responsible for the determinations in this notice.</P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">Abstract of Information Available</HD>
                <P>One cultural item has been requested for repatriation. The one unassociated funerary object is a ceramic smoking pipe with a human face. The item was collected at Lake Champlain, Vermont. The human effigy pipe was donated to the Museum by Andrew Ellicott Douglass in 1901 as part of a vast personal collection of up to 23,000 archaeological items. Museum records indicate that Douglass purchased the item from M.F. Savage, a prominent antiquities dealer who worked for Tiffany &amp; Co. in New York City in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. As such, the Museum was unable to find detailed provenience information for the pipe beyond “Lake Champlain, VT.” During consultation, the Stockbridge Munsee Community indicated that pipes of this kind are known to have been included in burials of Mohican ancestors. The longstanding connection between tobacco pipes and funerary rituals in the northeastern United States is well-documented archaeologically, beginning as early as the Late Archaic (ca. 3000-1000 BC).</P>
                <P>While it no longer does so, in the past, the Museum applied potentially hazardous pesticides to items in the collections. Museum records do not list specific objects treated or which of several chemicals used were applied to a particular item. Therefore, those handling this material should follow the advice of industrial hygienists or medical personnel with specialized training in occupational health or with potentially hazardous substances.</P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">Determinations</HD>
                <P>The American Museum of Natural History has determined that:</P>
                <P>• The one unassociated funerary object described in this notice is reasonably believed to have been placed intentionally with or near human remains, and is connected, either at the time of death or later as part of the death rite or ceremony of a Native American culture according to the Native American traditional knowledge of a lineal descendant, Indian Tribe, or Native Hawaiian organization. The unassociated funerary object has been identified by a preponderance of the evidence as related to human remains, specific individuals, or families, or removed from a specific burial site or burial area of an individual or individuals with cultural affiliation to an Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian organization.</P>
                <P>• There is a reasonable connection between the cultural item described in this notice and the Stockbridge Munsee Community, Wisconsin.</P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">Requests for Repatriation</HD>
                <P>
                    Additional, written requests for repatriation of the cultural item in this notice must be sent to the authorized representative identified in this notice under 
                    <E T="02">ADDRESSES</E>
                    . Requests for repatriation may be submitted by any lineal descendant, Indian Tribe, or Native Hawaiian organization not identified in this notice who shows, by a preponderance of the evidence, that the requestor is a lineal descendant or a culturally affiliated Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian organization.
                    <PRTPAGE P="54752"/>
                </P>
                <P>Repatriation of the cultural item in this notice to a requestor may occur on or after September 23, 2026. If competing requests for repatriation are received, the American Museum of Natural History must determine the most appropriate requestor prior to repatriation. Requests for joint repatriation of the cultural item are considered a single request and not competing requests. The American Museum of Natural History is responsible for sending a copy of this notice to the Indian Tribes and Native Hawaiian organizations identified in this notice and to any other consulting parties.</P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Authority:</E>
                     Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, 25 U.S.C. 3004 and the implementing regulations, 43 CFR 10.9.
                </P>
                <SIG>
                    <DATED>Dated: August 17, 2026.</DATED>
                    <NAME>Mariah Soriano,</NAME>
                    <TITLE>Acting Manager, National NAGPRA Program.</TITLE>
                </SIG>
            </SUPLINF>
            <FRDOC>[FR Doc. 2026-17186 Filed 8-21-26; 8:45 am]</FRDOC>
            <BILCOD>BILLING CODE 4312-52-P</BILCOD>
        </NOTICE>
        <NOTICE>
            <PREAMB>
                <AGENCY TYPE="S">DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR</AGENCY>
                <SUBAGY>National Park Service</SUBAGY>
                <DEPDOC>[N7441; NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0043544; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]</DEPDOC>
                <SUBJECT>Notice of Inventory Completion: University of Texas at Austin, Texas Archeological Research Laboratory, Austin, TX</SUBJECT>
                <AGY>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">AGENCY:</HD>
                    <P>National Park Service, Interior.</P>
                </AGY>
                <ACT>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">ACTION:</HD>
                    <P>Notice.</P>
                </ACT>
                <SUM>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">SUMMARY:</HD>
                    <P>In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the University of Texas at Austin, Texas Archeological Research Laboratory (TARL) has completed an inventory of human remains and associated funerary objects and has determined that there is a cultural affiliation between the human remains and associated funerary objects and Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations in this notice.</P>
                </SUM>
                <DATES>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">DATES:</HD>
                    <P>Repatriation of the human remains and associated funerary objects in this notice may occur on or after September 23, 2026.</P>
                </DATES>
                <ADD>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">ADDRESSES:</HD>
                    <P>
                        Send written requests for repatriation of the human remains and associated funerary objects in this notice to Jessica Ulmer, The University of Texas at Austin Texas Archaeological Research Laboratory, 1 University Station, R7500, Austin, TX 78712, email 
                        <E T="03">jessica.ulmer@austin.utexas.edu.</E>
                    </P>
                </ADD>
            </PREAMB>
            <SUPLINF>
                <HD SOURCE="HED">SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:</HD>
                <P>This notice is published as part of the National Park Service's administrative responsibilities under NAGPRA. The determinations in this notice are the sole responsibility of TARL, and additional information on the determinations in this notice, including the results of consultation, can be found in its inventory or related records. The National Park Service is not responsible for the determinations in this notice.</P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">Abstract of Information Available</HD>
                <P>Human remains representing at least 119 individuals have been identified. The 18,934 associated funerary objects include lithic tools, ceramic sherds, ceramic vessels, modified shell, glass and shell beads, faunal bone, ochre, copper covered wooden earspools, charcoal samples, soil samples, and historic materials.</P>
                <P>Of the total individuals and materials, 11 individuals and 3,025 associated funerary objects are from archaeological site 41LR1 in Lamar County. Multiple archaeological projects conducted between 1929 and 1964 led to Native American human remains and associated funerary objects being removed from site. Between 1929 and 1995, the above human remains and associated funerary objects came to be held at TARL from excavations, surveys, and donations. The site has historically been associated with the Caddo Nation of Oklahoma.</P>
                <P>Human remains representing at least 105 individuals and 15,826 associated funerary objects are housed at TARL from site 41LR2 in Lamar County. Multiple archaeological projects conducted between 1929 and 1961 led to Native American human remains and associated funerary objects being removed from site. Between 1929 and 1995, the human remains and associated funerary objects came to be held at TARL from excavations, surveys, and donations. The site has long been associated with the Caddo Nation of Oklahoma.</P>
                <P>At least one individual and 81 associated funerary objects are from archaeological site 41LR3 in Lamar County. Several private collections made in 1934 and 1935 led to Native American human remains and associated funerary objects being removed from site. In 1934 and 1936 the above human remains and associated funerary objects came to be held at TARL. The site has historically been associated with the Caddo Nation of Oklahoma.</P>
                <P>Private collections also resulted in Native American human remains and associated funerary objects being removed from an archaeological site in Lamar County referred to as the E.E. Sturdevant Farm. Lacking a trinomial designation, the site is listed as  41LR-. A total of two ancestors and two associated funerary objects were removed from this site. In 1936, the human remains and associated funerary objects from this collection came to be held at TARL. This area has historically been associated with the Caddo Nation of Oklahoma.</P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">Cultural Affiliation</HD>
                <P>Based on the information available and the results of consultation, cultural affiliation is clearly identified by the information available about the human remains and associated funerary objects described in this notice.</P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">Determinations</HD>
                <P>TARL has determined that:</P>
                <P>• The human remains described in this notice represent the physical remains of 119 individuals of Native American ancestry.</P>
                <P>• The 18,934 objects described in this notice are reasonably believed to have been placed intentionally with or near individual human remains at the time of death or later as part of the death rite or ceremony.</P>
                <P>• There is a connection between the human remains and associated funerary objects described in this notice and the Caddo Nation of Oklahoma and the Wichita and Affiliated Tribes (Wichita, Keechi, Waco, &amp; Tawakonie), Oklahoma.</P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">Requests for Repatriation</HD>
                <P>
                    Written requests for repatriation of the human remains and associated funerary objects in this notice must be sent to the authorized representative identified in this notice under 
                    <E T="02">ADDRESSES</E>
                    . Requests for repatriation may be submitted by:
                </P>
                <P>1. Any one or more of the Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations identified in this notice.</P>
                <P>2. Any lineal descendant, Indian Tribe, or Native Hawaiian organization not identified in this notice who shows, by a preponderance of the evidence, that the requestor is a lineal descendant or an Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian organization with cultural affiliation.</P>
                <P>
                    Repatriation of the human remains and associated funerary objects described in this notice to a requestor may occur on or after September 23, 2026. If competing requests for repatriation are received, TARL must determine the most appropriate requestor prior to repatriation. Requests for joint repatriation of the human remains and associated funerary objects are considered a single request and not 
                    <PRTPAGE P="54753"/>
                    competing requests. TARL is responsible for sending a copy of this notice to the Indian Tribes and Native Hawaiian organizations identified in this notice and any other consulting parties.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Authority:</E>
                     Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, 25 U.S.C. 3003, and the implementing regulations, 43 CFR 10.10.
                </P>
                <SIG>
                    <DATED>Dated: August 17, 2026.</DATED>
                    <NAME>Mariah Soriano,</NAME>
                    <TITLE>Acting Manager, National NAGPRA Program. </TITLE>
                </SIG>
            </SUPLINF>
            <FRDOC>[FR Doc. 2026-17175 Filed 8-21-26; 8:45 am]</FRDOC>
            <BILCOD>BILLING CODE 4312-52-P</BILCOD>
        </NOTICE>
        <NOTICE>
            <PREAMB>
                <AGENCY TYPE="S">DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR</AGENCY>
                <SUBAGY>National Park Service</SUBAGY>
                <DEPDOC>[N7438; NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0043541; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]</DEPDOC>
                <SUBJECT>Notice of Inventory Completion: U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service, Cape Cod National Seashore, Wellfleet, MA</SUBJECT>
                <AGY>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">AGENCY:</HD>
                    <P>National Park Service, Interior.</P>
                </AGY>
                <ACT>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">ACTION:</HD>
                    <P>Notice.</P>
                </ACT>
                <SUM>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">SUMMARY:</HD>
                    <P>In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service, Cape Cod National Seashore (CACO) has completed an inventory of human remains and associated funerary objects and has determined that there is a cultural affiliation between the human remains and associated funerary objects and Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations in this notice.</P>
                </SUM>
                <DATES>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">DATES:</HD>
                    <P>Repatriation of the human remains and associated funerary objects in this notice may occur on or after September 23, 2026.</P>
                </DATES>
                <ADD>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">ADDRESSES:</HD>
                    <P>
                        Send written requests for repatriation of the human remains and associated funerary objects in this notice to Jennifer Flynn, Cape Cod National Seashore, National Park Service, 99 Marconi Site Road, Wellfleet, MA 02667, email 
                        <E T="03">Jennifer_Flynn@nps.gov.</E>
                    </P>
                </ADD>
            </PREAMB>
            <SUPLINF>
                <HD SOURCE="HED">SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:</HD>
                <P>This notice is published as part of the National Park Service's administrative responsibilities under NAGPRA. The determinations in this notice are the sole responsibility of the Superintendent, CACO, and additional information on the determinations in this notice, including the results of consultation, can be found in its inventory or related records.</P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">Abstract of Information Available</HD>
                <P>Human remains representing, at least, one individual has been identified in a collection that originated from an archaeological excavation conducted in Barnstable County, MA in 1969-1970. The remains were housed at Plimoth Patuxet Museums (previously known as Plimoth Plantation Museums) before being transferred to CACO in 1982. The 337 associated funerary objects were identified during an amateur archaeological excavation in Barnstable County, MA in 1960. The 337 associated funerary objects consist of stemmed points, notched points, drills, bifaces, scrapers, axes, adzes, pestles, and a piece of worked antler. The site was interpreted as a cremation burial and the collection was gifted to CACO by the property owners in 1966.</P>
                <P>There is no record or documentation of any potentially hazardous substances used to treat any of the human remains or associated funerary objects.</P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">Cultural Affiliation</HD>
                <P>Based on the information available and the results of consultation, cultural affiliation is reasonably identified by the geographical location or acquisition history of the human remains and associated funerary objects described in this notice.</P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">Determinations</HD>
                <P>CACO has determined that:</P>
                <P>• The human remains described in this notice represent the physical remains of one individual of Native American ancestry.</P>
                <P>• The 337 objects described in this notice are reasonably believed to have been placed intentionally with or near individual human remains at the time of death or later as part of the death rite or ceremony.</P>
                <P>• There is a connection between the human remains and associated funerary objects described in this notice and the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe and the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah).</P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">Requests for Repatriation</HD>
                <P>
                    Written requests for repatriation of the human remains and associated funerary objects in this notice must be sent to the authorized representative identified in this notice under 
                    <E T="02">ADDRESSES</E>
                    . Requests for repatriation may be submitted by:
                </P>
                <P>1. Any one or more of the Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations identified in this notice.</P>
                <P>2. Any lineal descendant, Indian Tribe, or Native Hawaiian organization not identified in this notice who shows, by a preponderance of the evidence, that the requestor is a lineal descendant or an Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian organization with cultural affiliation.</P>
                <P>Repatriation of the human remains and associated funerary objects described in this notice to a requestor may occur on or after September 23, 2026. If competing requests for repatriation are received, CACO must determine the most appropriate requestor prior to repatriation. Requests for joint repatriation of the human remains and associated funerary objects are considered a single request and not competing requests. CACO is responsible for sending a copy of this notice to the Indian Tribes and Native Hawaiian organizations identified in this notice and any other consulting parties.</P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Authority:</E>
                     Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, 25 U.S.C. 3003, and the implementing regulations, 43 CFR 10.10.
                </P>
                <SIG>
                    <DATED>Dated: August 17, 2026.</DATED>
                    <NAME>Mariah Soriano,</NAME>
                    <TITLE>Acting Manager, National NAGPRA Program.</TITLE>
                </SIG>
            </SUPLINF>
            <FRDOC>[FR Doc. 2026-17179 Filed 8-21-26; 8:45 am]</FRDOC>
            <BILCOD>BILLING CODE 4312-52-P</BILCOD>
        </NOTICE>
        <NOTICE>
            <PREAMB>
                <AGENCY TYPE="S">DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR</AGENCY>
                <SUBAGY>National Park Service</SUBAGY>
                <DEPDOC>[N7435; NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0043538; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]</DEPDOC>
                <SUBJECT>Notice of Inventory Completion: Nassau County Department of Parks, Recreation, and Museums, Garvies Point Museum and Preserve, Glen Cove, NY</SUBJECT>
                <AGY>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">AGENCY:</HD>
                    <P>National Park Service, Interior.</P>
                </AGY>
                <ACT>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">ACTION:</HD>
                    <P>Notice.</P>
                </ACT>
                <SUM>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">SUMMARY:</HD>
                    <P>In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the Nassau County Department of Parks, Recreation, and Museums—Garvies Point Museum and Preserve has completed an inventory of human remains and has determined that there is a cultural affiliation between the human remains and Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations in this notice.</P>
                </SUM>
                <DATES>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">DATES:</HD>
                    <P>Repatriation of the human remains in this notice may occur on or after September 23, 2026.</P>
                </DATES>
                <ADD>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">ADDRESSES:</HD>
                    <P>
                        Send written requests for repatriation of the human remains in this notice to Veronica Natale, Garvies Point Museum and Preserve, 50 Barry Drive, Glen Cove, NY 11542, email 
                        <E T="03">vnatale@nassaucountyny.gov.</E>
                    </P>
                </ADD>
            </PREAMB>
            <SUPLINF>
                <HD SOURCE="HED">SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:</HD>
                <P>
                    This notice is published as part of the 
                    <PRTPAGE P="54754"/>
                    National Park Service's administrative responsibilities under NAGPRA. The determinations in this notice are the sole responsibility of the Nassau County Department of Parks, Recreation, and Museums—Garvies Point Museum and Preserve, and additional information on the determinations in this notice, including the results of consultation, can be found in its inventory or related records. The National Park Service is not responsible for the determinations in this notice.
                </P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">Abstract of Information Available</HD>
                <P>Human remains representing, at least, three individuals have been identified. No associated funerary objects are present. A nearly complete skeleton recovered from a locality developed from housing on Throg's Neck. A second individual represented by a mandible only is present. Provenance: Throg's Neck, The Bronx, NY. Donated to the museum by Stanley Wisniewski, 1968. A largely complete skeleton. Found in pit #5. Provenance: NCM # 140, Archery Range site, The Bronx, NY. Reference: Kaeser, Edward J. (1970) “The Archery Range Site Ossuary, Pelham Bay Park, Bronx County, New York, Pennsylvania Archaeologist, Vol. 40, Nos. 1-2, pp 9-44. Donated to the museum by Edward J. Kaeser, 1971.”</P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">Cultural Affiliation</HD>
                <P>Based on the information available and the results of consultation, cultural affiliation is clearly identified by the information available about the human remains described in this notice.</P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">Determinations</HD>
                <P>The Nassau County Department of Parks, Recreation, and Museums—Garvies Point Museum and Preserve has determined that:</P>
                <P>• The human remains described in this notice represent the physical remains of three individuals of Native American ancestry.</P>
                <P>• There is a connection between the human remains described in this notice and the Delaware Nation, Oklahoma; Delaware Tribe of Indians; and the Stockbridge Munsee Community, Wisconsin.</P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">Requests for Repatriation</HD>
                <P>
                    Written requests for repatriation of the human remains in this notice must be sent to the authorized representative identified in this notice under 
                    <E T="02">ADDRESSES</E>
                    . Requests for repatriation may be submitted by:
                </P>
                <P>1. Any one or more of the Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations identified in this notice.</P>
                <P>2. Any lineal descendant, Indian Tribe, or Native Hawaiian organization not identified in this notice who shows, by a preponderance of the evidence, that the requestor is a lineal descendant or an Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian organization with cultural affiliation.</P>
                <P>Repatriation of the human remains described in this notice to a requestor may occur on or after September 23, 2026. If competing requests for repatriation are received, the Nassau County Department of Parks, Recreation, and Museums—Garvies Point Museum and Preserve must determine the most appropriate requestor prior to repatriation. Requests for joint repatriation of the human remains are considered a single request and not competing requests. The Nassau County Department of Parks, Recreation, and Museums—Garvies Point Museum and Preserve is responsible for sending a copy of this notice to the Indian Tribes and Native Hawaiian organizations identified in this notice and any other consulting parties.</P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Authority:</E>
                     Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, 25 U.S.C. 3003, and the implementing regulations, 43 CFR 10.10.
                </P>
                <SIG>
                    <DATED>Dated: August 17, 2026.</DATED>
                    <NAME>Mariah Soriano,</NAME>
                    <TITLE>Acting Manager, National NAGPRA Program.</TITLE>
                </SIG>
            </SUPLINF>
            <FRDOC>[FR Doc. 2026-17182 Filed 8-21-26; 8:45 am]</FRDOC>
            <BILCOD>BILLING CODE 4312-52-P</BILCOD>
        </NOTICE>
        <NOTICE>
            <PREAMB>
                <AGENCY TYPE="S">DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR</AGENCY>
                <SUBAGY>National Park Service</SUBAGY>
                <DEPDOC>[N7420; NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0043526; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]</DEPDOC>
                <SUBJECT>Notice of Intended Repatriation: Boston Children's Museum, Boston, MA</SUBJECT>
                <AGY>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">AGENCY:</HD>
                    <P>National Park Service, Interior.</P>
                </AGY>
                <ACT>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">ACTION:</HD>
                    <P>Notice.</P>
                </ACT>
                <SUM>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">SUMMARY:</HD>
                    <P>In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), Boston Children's Museum intends to repatriate certain cultural items that meet the definition of sacred objects and that have a cultural affiliation with the Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations in this notice.</P>
                </SUM>
                <DATES>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">DATES:</HD>
                    <P>Repatriation of the cultural items in this notice may occur on or after September 23, 2026.</P>
                </DATES>
                <ADD>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">ADDRESSES:</HD>
                    <P>
                        Send additional, written requests for repatriation of the cultural items in this notice to Melissa Higgins, Boston Children's Museum, 308 Congress Street, Boston, MA 02210, email 
                        <E T="03">higgins@bostonchildrensmuseum.org.</E>
                    </P>
                </ADD>
            </PREAMB>
            <SUPLINF>
                <HD SOURCE="HED">SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:</HD>
                <P>This notice is published as part of the National Park Service's administrative responsibilities under NAGPRA. The determinations in this notice are the sole responsibility of Boston Children's Museum, and additional information on the determinations in this notice, including the results of consultation, can be found in the summary or related records. The National Park Service is not responsible for the determinations in this notice.</P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">Abstract of Information Available</HD>
                <P>A total of eight cultural items have been requested for repatriation. The eight sacred objects are two 'Umeke Lā'au (Wooden Bowls), an Ipu Wai (Water Container), an 'Ulu Maika (Bowling Stone), an I'e Kuku (Tapa Beater), an Koko (Net Holder for Bowl), an Pōhaku Ku'i 'Ai (Poi Pounder), and a Lūhe'e (Octopus Lure).</P>
                <P>The Ipu Wai, 'Ulu Maika, and I'e Kuku were donated to the museum in 1915 by Lucy M. Prince of Boston, after it was collected by her sister, Frances C. Prince, in 1898 on a trip to the Pacific Islands to gather materials for lectures.</P>
                <P>One of the 'Umeke Lā'au was donated to the museum in 1949 by Dorothy Hildreth of Cambridge, Massachusetts. While the other 'Umeke Lā'au is bereft of accession and provenance information, contextual information such as its object ID number indicate it was most likely donated to the museum during or before the year of 1930.</P>
                <P>The Koko, indicated to be 100 years old at time of sale, and the Pōhaku Ku'i 'Ai, noted to have originated in Kauai, was purchased by the museum in 1968 from Joseph A. O'Leary of Opa-Locka, Florida.</P>
                <P>The Lūhe'e's provenance is unfortunately unknown. Based-off of the museum staffs' knowledge of the institution's cataloging system (XX numbering), the object was most likely Found-in-Collections during the 1950s-60s but actually donated or gifted in the earlier years of the museum, c. 1913-1930.</P>
                <P>All of these items have cultural associations with Hui Iwi Kuamo'o. No potentially hazardous substances are known to have been used to treat any of these items.</P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">Determinations</HD>
                <P>Boston Children's Museum has determined that:</P>
                <P>
                    • The eight sacred objects described in this notice are specific ceremonial 
                    <PRTPAGE P="54755"/>
                    objects needed by a traditional Native American religious leader for present-day adherents to practice traditional Native American religion, according to the Native American traditional knowledge of a lineal descendant, Indian Tribe, or Native Hawaiian organization.
                </P>
                <P>• There is a connection between the cultural items described in this notice and the Hui Iwi Kuamo'o.</P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">Requests for Repatriation</HD>
                <P>
                    Additional, written requests for repatriation of the cultural items in this notice must be sent to the authorized representative identified in this notice under 
                    <E T="02">ADDRESSES</E>
                    . Requests for repatriation may be submitted by any lineal descendant, Indian Tribe, or Native Hawaiian organization not identified in this notice who shows, by a preponderance of the evidence, that the requestor is a lineal descendant or a culturally affiliated Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian organization.
                </P>
                <P>Repatriation of the cultural items in this notice to a requestor may occur on or after September 23, 2026. If competing requests for repatriation are received, Boston Children's Museum must determine the most appropriate requestor prior to repatriation. Requests for joint repatriation of the cultural items are considered a single request and not competing requests. Boston Children's Museum is responsible for sending a copy of this notice to the Indian Tribes and Native Hawaiian organizations identified in this notice and to any other consulting parties.</P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Authority:</E>
                     Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, 25 U.S.C. 3004 and the implementing regulations, 43 CFR 10.9.
                </P>
                <SIG>
                    <DATED>Dated: August 17, 2026.</DATED>
                    <NAME>Mariah Soriano,</NAME>
                    <TITLE>Acting Manager, National NAGPRA Program.</TITLE>
                </SIG>
            </SUPLINF>
            <FRDOC>[FR Doc. 2026-17180 Filed 8-21-26; 8:45 am]</FRDOC>
            <BILCOD>BILLING CODE 4312-52-P</BILCOD>
        </NOTICE>
        <NOTICE>
            <PREAMB>
                <AGENCY TYPE="S">DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR</AGENCY>
                <SUBAGY>National Park Service</SUBAGY>
                <DEPDOC>[N7434; NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0043537; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]</DEPDOC>
                <SUBJECT>Notice of Intended Repatriation: California Department of Parks and Recreation, Sacramento, CA</SUBJECT>
                <AGY>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">AGENCY:</HD>
                    <P>National Park Service, Interior.</P>
                </AGY>
                <ACT>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">ACTION:</HD>
                    <P>Notice.</P>
                </ACT>
                <SUM>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">SUMMARY:</HD>
                    <P>In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the California Department of Parks and Recreation intends to repatriate certain cultural items that meet the definition of objects of cultural patrimony and that have a cultural affiliation with the Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations in this notice.</P>
                </SUM>
                <DATES>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">DATES:</HD>
                    <P>Repatriation of the cultural items in this notice may occur on or after September 23, 2026.</P>
                </DATES>
                <ADD>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">ADDRESSES:</HD>
                    <P>
                        Send additional, written requests for repatriation of the cultural items in this notice to Dr. Leslie L. Hartzell, NAGPRA Coordinator, California Department of Parks and Recreation, P.O. Box 942896, Sacramento, CA 94296-0001, email 
                        <E T="03">Leslie.Hartzell@parks.ca.gov.</E>
                    </P>
                </ADD>
            </PREAMB>
            <SUPLINF>
                <HD SOURCE="HED">SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:</HD>
                <P>This notice is published as part of the National Park Service's administrative responsibilities under NAGPRA. The determinations in this notice are the sole responsibility of the California Department of Parks and Recreation, and additional information on the determinations in this notice, including the results of consultation, can be found in the summary or related records. The National Park Service is not responsible for the determinations in this notice.</P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">Abstract of Information Available</HD>
                <P>A total of 873 lots of cultural items have been requested for repatriation.</P>
                <P>The 873 lots of objects of cultural patrimony are asphaltum, ceramic artifacts, flaked stone artifacts, groundstone, modified bone, organic ecofacts, and unidentified missing material. Some of the cultural items are physically attached to display mounts. Between 1918 and 1930, Nestor Alcinous Young, Jr. removed the cultural items (ACCN.CH:1) from within a thousand-yard radius of the house and spring (Barrel Springs/CA-LAN-82) on his farm in Antelope Valley, California. In 1947, Young sold the collection to the University of Southern California Anthropology Department. In 1954, the department transferred the collection to the Antelope Valley Indian Museum. In 1979, Grace Oliver donated the Antelope Valley Indian Museum collection to the California Department of Parks and Recreation. The California Department of Parks and Recreation has no information about the cultural items being treated with potentially hazardous substances.</P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">Determinations</HD>
                <P>The California Department of Parks and Recreation has determined that:</P>
                <P>• The 873 lots objects of cultural patrimony described in this notice have ongoing historical, traditional, or cultural importance central to the Native American group, including any constituent sub-group (such as a band, clan, lineage, ceremonial society, or other subdivision), according to the Native American traditional knowledge of an Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian organization.</P>
                <P>• There is a connection between the cultural items described in this notice and the Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation (previously listed as San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, California).</P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">Requests for Repatriation</HD>
                <P>
                    Additional, written requests for repatriation of the cultural items in this notice must be sent to the authorized representative identified in this notice under 
                    <E T="02">ADDRESSES</E>
                    . Requests for repatriation may be submitted by any lineal descendant, Indian Tribe, or Native Hawaiian organization not identified in this notice who shows, by a preponderance of the evidence, that the requestor is a lineal descendant or a culturally affiliated Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian organization.
                </P>
                <P>Repatriation of the cultural items in this notice to a requestor may occur on or after September 23, 2026. If competing requests for repatriation are received, the California Department of Parks and Recreation must determine the most appropriate requestor prior to repatriation. Requests for joint repatriation of the cultural items are considered a single request and not competing requests. The California Department of Parks and Recreation is responsible for sending a copy of this notice to the Indian Tribes and Native Hawaiian organizations identified in this notice and to any other consulting parties.</P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Authority:</E>
                     Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, 25 U.S.C. 3004 and the implementing regulations, 43 CFR 10.9.
                </P>
                <SIG>
                    <DATED>Dated: August 17, 2026.</DATED>
                    <NAME>Mariah Soriano,</NAME>
                    <TITLE>Acting Manager, National NAGPRA Program. </TITLE>
                </SIG>
            </SUPLINF>
            <FRDOC>[FR Doc. 2026-17166 Filed 8-21-26; 8:45 am]</FRDOC>
            <BILCOD>BILLING CODE 4312-52-P</BILCOD>
        </NOTICE>
        <NOTICE>
            <PREAMB>
                <AGENCY TYPE="S">DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR</AGENCY>
                <SUBAGY>National Park Service</SUBAGY>
                <DEPDOC>[N7431; NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0043535; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]</DEPDOC>
                <SUBJECT>Notice of Inventory Completion: Field Museum, Chicago, IL</SUBJECT>
                <AGY>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">AGENCY:</HD>
                    <P>National Park Service, Interior.</P>
                </AGY>
                <ACT>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">ACTION:</HD>
                    <P>Notice.</P>
                </ACT>
                <SUM>
                    <PRTPAGE P="54756"/>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">SUMMARY:</HD>
                    <P>In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the Field Museum of Natural History has completed an inventory of human remains and has determined that there is a cultural affiliation between the human remains and Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations in this notice.</P>
                </SUM>
                <DATES>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">DATES:</HD>
                    <P>Repatriation of the human remains in this notice may occur on or after September 23, 2026.</P>
                </DATES>
                <ADD>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">ADDRESSES:</HD>
                    <P>
                        Send written requests for repatriation of the human remains in this notice to June Carpenter, NAGPRA Director, Field Museum, 1400 S Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, IL 60605, email 
                        <E T="03">jcarpenter@fieldmuseum.org.</E>
                    </P>
                </ADD>
            </PREAMB>
            <SUPLINF>
                <HD SOURCE="HED">SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:</HD>
                <P>This notice is published as part of the National Park Service's administrative responsibilities under NAGPRA. The determinations in this notice are the sole responsibility of the Field Museum, and additional information on the determinations in this notice, including the results of consultation, can be found in its inventory or related records. The National Park Service is not responsible for the determinations in this notice.</P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">Abstract of Information Available</HD>
                <P>Human remains representing, at least, one individual have been identified. No associated funerary objects are present. The human remains are hair clippings belonging to one individual, identified with the tribal designation “Ottawa?” Field Museum staff believe they were collected under the direction of Franz Boas and Frederick Ward Putnam for the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago. The hair clippings were accessioned into the Field Museum's collection in 1939. No information regarding the individual's name, sex, age, or geographic location has been found. There is no known presence of any potentially hazardous substances.</P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">Cultural Affiliation</HD>
                <P>Based on the information available and the results of consultation, cultural affiliation is clearly identified by the information available about the human remains described in this notice.</P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">Determinations</HD>
                <P>The Field Museum has determined that:</P>
                <P>• The human remains described in this notice represent the physical remains of one individual of Native American ancestry.</P>
                <P>• There is a connection between the human remains described in this notice and the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians, Michigan and the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians, Michigan.</P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">Requests for Repatriation</HD>
                <P>
                    Written requests for repatriation of the human remains in this notice must be sent to the authorized representative identified in this notice under 
                    <E T="02">ADDRESSES</E>
                    . Requests for repatriation may be submitted by:
                </P>
                <P>1. Any one or more of the Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations identified in this notice.</P>
                <P>2. Any lineal descendant, Indian Tribe, or Native Hawaiian organization not identified in this notice who shows, by a preponderance of the evidence, that the requestor is a lineal descendant or an Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian organization with cultural affiliation.</P>
                <P>Repatriation of the human remains described in this notice to a requestor may occur on or after September 23, 2026. If competing requests for repatriation are received, the Field Museum must determine the most appropriate requestor prior to repatriation. Requests for joint repatriation of the human remains are considered a single request and not competing requests. The Field Museum is responsible for sending a copy of this notice to the Indian Tribes and Native Hawaiian organizations identified in this notice and any other consulting parties.</P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Authority:</E>
                     Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, 25 U.S.C. 3003, and the implementing regulations, 43 CFR 10.10.
                </P>
                <SIG>
                    <DATED>Dated: August 17, 2026.</DATED>
                    <NAME>Mariah Soriano,</NAME>
                    <TITLE>Acting Manager, National NAGPRA Program.</TITLE>
                </SIG>
            </SUPLINF>
            <FRDOC>[FR Doc. 2026-17178 Filed 8-21-26; 8:45 am]</FRDOC>
            <BILCOD>BILLING CODE 4312-52-P</BILCOD>
        </NOTICE>
        <NOTICE>
            <PREAMB>
                <AGENCY TYPE="S">DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR</AGENCY>
                <SUBAGY>National Park Service</SUBAGY>
                <DEPDOC>[N7428; NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0043532; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]</DEPDOC>
                <SUBJECT>Notice of Intended Repatriation: Sonoma State University, Rohnert Park, CA</SUBJECT>
                <AGY>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">AGENCY:</HD>
                    <P>National Park Service, Interior.</P>
                </AGY>
                <ACT>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">ACTION:</HD>
                    <P>Notice.</P>
                </ACT>
                <SUM>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">SUMMARY:</HD>
                    <P>In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), Sonoma State University intends to repatriate certain cultural items that meet the definition of unassociated funerary objects and that have a cultural affiliation with the Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations in this notice.</P>
                </SUM>
                <DATES>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">DATES:</HD>
                    <P>Repatriation of the cultural items in this notice may occur on or after September 23, 2026.</P>
                </DATES>
                <ADD>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">ADDRESSES:</HD>
                    <P>
                        Send additional, written requests for repatriation of the cultural items in this notice to Kirsten Twork, Sonoma State University, 1801 E Cotati Avenue, Rohnert Park, CA 94928, email 
                        <E T="03">tworkk@sonoma.edu.</E>
                    </P>
                </ADD>
            </PREAMB>
            <SUPLINF>
                <HD SOURCE="HED">SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:</HD>
                <P>This notice is published as part of the National Park Service's administrative responsibilities under NAGPRA. The determinations in this notice are the sole responsibility of Sonoma State University, and additional information on the determinations in this notice, including the results of consultation, can be found in the summary or related records. The National Park Service is not responsible for the determinations in this notice.</P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">Abstract of Information Available</HD>
                <P>
                    A total of one lot of cultural items have been requested for repatriation. The one lot of unassociated funerary objects are soil samples. Other unassociated funerary objects originating from CA-SON-1918 were repatriated by Sonoma State University following a Notice of Intended Repatriation published in the 
                    <E T="04">Federal Register</E>
                     on March 17, 2025 (90 FR 12345). The material in this notice includes soil samples located at the University that were not previously acknowledged in the original notice. The soil was removed from its context during an excavation in 1991 near Timber Cove.
                </P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">Determinations</HD>
                <P>Sonoma State University has determined that:</P>
                <P>
                    • The one lot unassociated funerary objects described in this notice are reasonably believed to have been placed intentionally with or near human remains, and are connected, either at the time of death or later as part of the death rite or ceremony of a Native American culture according to the Native American traditional knowledge of a lineal descendant, Indian Tribe, or Native Hawaiian organization. The unassociated funerary objects have been identified by a preponderance of the evidence as related to human remains, specific individuals, or families, or removed from a specific burial site or burial area of an individual or individuals with cultural affiliation to an Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian organization.
                    <PRTPAGE P="54757"/>
                </P>
                <P>• There is a connection between the cultural items described in this notice and the Kashia Band of Pomo Indians of the Stewarts Point Rancheria, California.</P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">Requests for Repatriation</HD>
                <P>
                    Additional, written requests for repatriation of the cultural items in this notice must be sent to the authorized representative identified in this notice under 
                    <E T="02">ADDRESSES</E>
                    . Requests for repatriation may be submitted by any lineal descendant, Indian Tribe, or Native Hawaiian organization not identified in this notice who shows, by a preponderance of the evidence, that the requestor is a lineal descendant or a culturally affiliated Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian organization.
                </P>
                <P>Repatriation of the cultural items in this notice to a requestor may occur on or after September 23, 2026. If competing requests for repatriation are received, Sonoma State University must determine the most appropriate requestor prior to repatriation. Requests for joint repatriation of the cultural items are considered a single request and not competing requests. The Sonoma State University is responsible for sending a copy of this notice to the Indian Tribes and Native Hawaiian organizations identified in this notice and to any other consulting parties.</P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Authority:</E>
                     Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, 25 U.S.C. 3004 and the implementing regulations, 43 CFR 10.9.
                </P>
                <SIG>
                    <DATED> Dated: August 17, 2026.</DATED>
                    <NAME>Mariah Soriano,</NAME>
                    <TITLE>Acting Manager, National NAGPRA Program. </TITLE>
                </SIG>
            </SUPLINF>
            <FRDOC>[FR Doc. 2026-17168 Filed 8-21-26; 8:45 am]</FRDOC>
            <BILCOD>BILLING CODE 4312-52-P</BILCOD>
        </NOTICE>
        <NOTICE>
            <PREAMB>
                <AGENCY TYPE="S">DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR</AGENCY>
                <SUBAGY>National Park Service</SUBAGY>
                <DEPDOC>[N7439; NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0043542; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]</DEPDOC>
                <SUBJECT>Notice of Intended Disposition: U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Gatlinburg, TN</SUBJECT>
                <AGY>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">AGENCY:</HD>
                    <P>National Park Service, Interior.</P>
                </AGY>
                <ACT>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">ACTION:</HD>
                    <P>Notice.</P>
                </ACT>
                <SUM>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">SUMMARY:</HD>
                    <P>In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service, Great Smoky Mountains National Park intends to carry out the disposition of unassociated funerary objects removed from Federal or Tribal lands to the lineal descendants, Indian Tribe, or Native Hawaiian organization with priority for disposition in this notice.</P>
                </SUM>
                <DATES>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">DATES:</HD>
                    <P>Disposition of the cultural items in this notice may occur on or after September 23, 2026. If no claim for disposition is received by August 24, 2027, the cultural items in this notice will become unclaimed cultural items.</P>
                </DATES>
                <ADD>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">ADDRESSES:</HD>
                    <P>
                        Send written claims for disposition of the cultural items in this notice to Charles Sellars, Superintendent, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, 107 Park Headquarters Road, Gatlinburg, TN 37728, email 
                        <E T="03">charles_sellars@nps.gov.</E>
                    </P>
                </ADD>
            </PREAMB>
            <SUPLINF>
                <HD SOURCE="HED">SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:</HD>
                <P>This notice is published as part of the National Park Service's administrative responsibilities under NAGPRA. The determinations in this notice are the sole responsibility of the Superintendent, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and additional information on the cultural items in this notice, including the results of consultation, can be found in the related records.</P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">Abstract of Information Available</HD>
                <P>Based on the information available, the 164 unassociated funerary objects include one large chert blade, 148 lithic flakes, one small mammal radius, five pottery sherds, one ground stone, six ceramic daubs, and two pieces of red ochre/hematite. These items were initially discovered on December 2, 2014, during trenching associated with Metcalf Bottoms in Sevier County, TN. They were identified as cultural items in consultation with Tribes as part of a larger survey of potential NAGPRA materials in the park museum collections between 2022 and 2024.</P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">Determinations</HD>
                <P>The Great Smoky Mountains National Park has determined that:</P>
                <P>• The 164 unassociated funerary objects described in this notice are reasonably believed to have been placed intentionally with or near human remains, and are connected, either at the time of death or later as part of the death rite or ceremony of a Native American culture according to the Native American traditional knowledge of a lineal descendant, Indian Tribe, or Native Hawaiian organization. The unassociated funerary objects have been identified by a preponderance of the evidence as related to human remains, specific individuals, or families, or removed from a specific burial site or burial area of an individual or individuals with cultural affiliation to an Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian organization.</P>
                <P>• The Cherokee Nation; Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians; and the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians in Oklahoma have priority for disposition of the cultural items described in this notice.</P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">Claims for Disposition</HD>
                <P>
                    Written claims for disposition of the cultural items in this notice must be sent to the appropriate official identified in this notice under 
                    <E T="02">ADDRESSES</E>
                    . If no claim for disposition is received by August 24, 2027, the cultural items in this notice will become unclaimed cultural items. Claims for disposition may be submitted by:
                </P>
                <P>1. Any lineal descendant, Indian Tribe, or Native Hawaiian organization identified in this notice.</P>
                <P>2. Any lineal descendant, Indian Tribe, or Native Hawaiian organization not identified in this notice who shows that they have priority for disposition.</P>
                <P>Disposition of the cultural items in this notice may occur on or after September 23, 2026. If competing claims for disposition are received, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park must determine the most appropriate claimant prior to disposition. Claims for joint disposition of the cultural items are considered a single claim and not competing claims. The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is responsible for sending a copy of this notice to the lineal descendants, Indian Tribes, and Native Hawaiian organizations identified in this notice and to any other consulting parties.</P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Authority:</E>
                     Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, 25 U.S.C. 3002, and the implementing regulations, 43 CFR 10.7.
                </P>
                <SIG>
                    <DATED>Dated: August 17, 2026.</DATED>
                    <NAME>Mariah Soriano,</NAME>
                    <TITLE>Acting Manager, National NAGPRA Program. </TITLE>
                </SIG>
            </SUPLINF>
            <FRDOC>[FR Doc. 2026-17172 Filed 8-21-26; 8:45 am]</FRDOC>
            <BILCOD>BILLING CODE 4312-52-P</BILCOD>
        </NOTICE>
        <NOTICE>
            <PREAMB>
                <AGENCY TYPE="S">DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR</AGENCY>
                <SUBAGY>National Park Service</SUBAGY>
                <DEPDOC>[N7433; NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0043536; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]</DEPDOC>
                <SUBJECT>Notice of Intended Repatriation: Mississippi Department of Archives and History, Jackson, MS</SUBJECT>
                <AGY>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">AGENCY:</HD>
                    <P>National Park Service, Interior.</P>
                </AGY>
                <ACT>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">ACTION:</HD>
                    <P>Notice.</P>
                </ACT>
                <SUM>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">SUMMARY:</HD>
                    <P>
                        In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and 
                        <PRTPAGE P="54758"/>
                        Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the Mississippi Department of Archives and History (MDAH) intends to repatriate certain cultural items that meet the definition of unassociated funerary objects and that have a cultural affiliation with the Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations in this notice.
                    </P>
                </SUM>
                <DATES>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">DATES:</HD>
                    <P>Repatriation of the cultural items in this notice may occur on or after September 23, 2026.</P>
                </DATES>
                <ADD>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">ADDRESSES:</HD>
                    <P>
                        Send additional, written requests for repatriation of the cultural items in this notice to Cindy-Carter Davis, Chief Archaeologist, Mississippi Department of Archives and History, Historic Preservation Division, 100 South State Street, P.O. Box 571, Jackson, MS 39205, email 
                        <E T="03">ccarterdavis@mdah.ms.gov.</E>
                    </P>
                </ADD>
            </PREAMB>
            <SUPLINF>
                <HD SOURCE="HED">SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:</HD>
                <P>This notice is published as part of the National Park Service's administrative responsibilities under NAGPRA. The determinations in this notice are the sole responsibility of the Mississippi Department of Archives and History, and additional information on the determinations in this notice, including the results of consultation, can be found in the summary or related records. The National Park Service is not responsible for the determinations in this notice.</P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">Abstract of Information Available</HD>
                <P>A total of one lot of cultural items has been requested from 22WI500 (Nanih Waiya). The one lot of unassociated funerary objects consist of lithics. The collection was recovered from the site by a private individual. An additional collection has no provenience information available.</P>
                <P>A total of one lot of cultural items has been requested for repatriation from 22NE632 (Nanih Waiya Cave). The one lot of unassociated funerary objects consist of lithics. This collection has no provenience information.</P>
                <P>Through Tribal consultation, the two lots of unassociated funerary objects were identified as culturally affiliated with The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, and the Jena Band of Choctaw Indians.</P>
                <P>To our knowledge, no known hazardous substances were used to treat any of the unassociated funerary objects.</P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">Determinations</HD>
                <P>The Mississippi Department of Archives and History has determined that:</P>
                <P>• The two lots of unassociated funerary objects described in this notice are reasonably believed to have been placed intentionally with or near human remains, and are connected, either at the time of death or later as part of the death rite or ceremony of a Native American culture according to the Native American traditional knowledge of a lineal descendant, Indian Tribe, or Native Hawaiian organization. The unassociated funerary objects have been identified by a preponderance of the evidence as related to human remains, specific individuals, or families, or removed from a specific burial site or burial area of an individual or individuals with cultural affiliation to an Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian organization.</P>
                <P>• There is a connection between the cultural items described in this notice and the Jena Band of Choctaw Indians; Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians; and The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma.</P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">Requests for Repatriation</HD>
                <P>
                    Additional, written requests for repatriation of the cultural items in this notice must be sent to the authorized representative identified in this notice under 
                    <E T="02">ADDRESSES</E>
                    . Requests for repatriation may be submitted by any lineal descendant, Indian Tribe, or Native Hawaiian organization not identified in this notice who shows, by a preponderance of the evidence, that the requestor is a lineal descendant or a culturally affiliated Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian organization.
                </P>
                <P>Repatriation of the cultural items in this notice to a requestor may occur on or after September 23, 2026. If competing requests for repatriation are received, the Mississippi Department of Archives and History must determine the most appropriate requestor prior to repatriation. Requests for joint repatriation of the cultural items are considered a single request and not competing requests. The Mississippi Department of Archives and History is responsible for sending a copy of this notice to the Indian Tribes and Native Hawaiian organizations identified in this notice and to any other consulting parties.</P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Authority:</E>
                     Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, 25 U.S.C. 3004 and the implementing regulations, 43 CFR 10.9.
                </P>
                <SIG>
                    <DATED>Dated: August 17, 2026.</DATED>
                    <NAME>Mariah Soriano,</NAME>
                    <TITLE>Acting Manager, National NAGPRA Program. </TITLE>
                </SIG>
            </SUPLINF>
            <FRDOC>[FR Doc. 2026-17171 Filed 8-21-26; 8:45 am]</FRDOC>
            <BILCOD>BILLING CODE 4312-52-P</BILCOD>
        </NOTICE>
        <NOTICE>
            <PREAMB>
                <AGENCY TYPE="S">DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR</AGENCY>
                <SUBAGY>National Park Service</SUBAGY>
                <DEPDOC>[N7423; NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0043529; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]</DEPDOC>
                <SUBJECT>Notice of Inventory Completion: Iliff School of Theology, Denver, CO</SUBJECT>
                <AGY>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">AGENCY:</HD>
                    <P>National Park Service, Interior.</P>
                </AGY>
                <ACT>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">ACTION:</HD>
                    <P>Notice.</P>
                </ACT>
                <SUM>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">SUMMARY:</HD>
                    <P>In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the Iliff School of Theology has completed an inventory of human remains and associated funerary objects and has determined that there is a cultural affiliation between the human remains and associated funerary objects and Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations in this notice.</P>
                </SUM>
                <DATES>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">DATES:</HD>
                    <P>Repatriation of the human remains and associated funerary objects in this notice may occur on or after September 23, 2026.</P>
                </DATES>
                <ADD>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">ADDRESSES:</HD>
                    <P>
                        Send written requests for repatriation of the human remains and associated funerary objects in this notice to Caran Ware Joseph, Iliff School of Theology, 2323 E. Iliff Avenue, Denver, CO 80210, email 
                        <E T="03">cwarejoseph@iliff.edu.</E>
                    </P>
                </ADD>
            </PREAMB>
            <SUPLINF>
                <HD SOURCE="HED">SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:</HD>
                <P>This notice is published as part of the National Park Service's administrative responsibilities under NAGPRA. The determinations in this notice are the sole responsibility of the Iliff School of Theology, and additional information on the determinations in this notice, including the results of consultation, can be found in its inventory or related records. The National Park Service is not responsible for the determinations in this notice.</P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">Abstract of Information Available</HD>
                <P>
                    Human remains representing, at least, one individual have been identified. The one associated funerary object is a book of Christian History, written in Latin. The book is entitled, 
                    <E T="03">Lavrentii Moshemii Institvtionvm historiae Christianae compendivm.</E>
                     Its accession number is 18098443. Its catalogue number is BR143.M674 1752. The skin of a murdered Lenape man covered the book until 1974, when the American Indian Movement removed the skin and took it to the Wind River Reservation for burial. The site name for the book is Iliff School of Theology, Denver, CO. Acquisition History: Around April 1, 1779, David Morgan (1721-1813), a euro-christian colonialist, murdered two Lenape Indian men in Virginia. It is “surmised” that David Morgan bound a 
                    <PRTPAGE P="54759"/>
                    book of Christian history in the flayed skin of a murdered Lenape man. It is also suspected that David Morgan gave the book to William Barnes. William Barnes is the father of Colorado methodist minister Rev. Rezin Monroe Barnes. Rev. Barnes inherited the book. In 1893, Rev. Rezin Monroe Barnes, gave the book to the Iliff School of Theology. The flayed skin was taken by the American Indian Movement to the Wind River Reservation for burial there in 1974.
                </P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">Cultural Affiliation</HD>
                <P>Based on the information available and the results of consultation, the cultural affiliation is clearly identified by the information available about the human remains and associated funerary objects described in this notice.</P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">Determinations</HD>
                <P>The Iliff School of Theology has determined that:</P>
                <P>• The human remains described in this notice represent the physical remains of one individual of Native American ancestry.</P>
                <P>• The one object described in this notice is reasonably believed to have been placed intentionally with or near individual human remains at the time of death or later as part of the death rite or ceremony.</P>
                <P>• There is a connection between the human remains and associated funerary objects described in this notice and the Delaware Nation, Oklahoma; Delaware Tribe of Indians; and the Stockbridge Munsee Community, Wisconsin.</P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">Requests for Repatriation</HD>
                <P>
                    Written requests for repatriation of the human remains and associated funerary objects in this notice must be sent to the authorized representative identified in this notice under 
                    <E T="02">ADDRESSES</E>
                    . Requests for repatriation may be submitted by:
                </P>
                <P>1. Any one or more of the Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations identified in this notice.</P>
                <P>2. Any lineal descendant, Indian Tribe, or Native Hawaiian organization not identified in this notice who shows, by a preponderance of the evidence, that the requestor is a lineal descendant or an Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian organization with cultural affiliation.</P>
                <P>Repatriation of the human remains and associated funerary objects described in this notice to a requestor may occur on or after September 23, 2026. If competing requests for repatriation are received, the Iliff School of Theology must determine the most appropriate requestor prior to repatriation. Requests for joint repatriation of the human remains and associated funerary objects are considered a single request and not competing requests. The Iliff School of Theology is responsible for sending a copy of this notice to the Indian Tribes and Native Hawaiian organizations identified in this notice and any other consulting parties.</P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Authority:</E>
                     Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, 25 U.S.C. 3003, and the implementing regulations, 43 CFR 10.10.
                </P>
                <SIG>
                    <DATED>Dated: August 17, 2026.</DATED>
                    <NAME>Mariah Soriano,</NAME>
                    <TITLE>Acting Manager, National NAGPRA Program.</TITLE>
                </SIG>
            </SUPLINF>
            <FRDOC>[FR Doc. 2026-17177 Filed 8-21-26; 8:45 am]</FRDOC>
            <BILCOD>BILLING CODE 4312-52-P</BILCOD>
        </NOTICE>
        <NOTICE>
            <PREAMB>
                <AGENCY TYPE="S">DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR</AGENCY>
                <SUBAGY>National Park Service</SUBAGY>
                <DEPDOC>[N7425; NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0043531; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]</DEPDOC>
                <SUBJECT>Notice of Inventory Completion: University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, ND, and State Historical Society of North Dakota, Bismarck, ND</SUBJECT>
                <AGY>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">AGENCY:</HD>
                    <P>National Park Service, Interior.</P>
                </AGY>
                <ACT>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">ACTION:</HD>
                    <P>Notice.</P>
                </ACT>
                <SUM>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">SUMMARY:</HD>
                    <P>In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the University of North Dakota and the State Historical Society of North Dakota have completed an inventory of human remains and associated funerary objects and has determined that there is a cultural affiliation between the human remains and associated funerary objects and Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations in this notice.</P>
                </SUM>
                <DATES>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">DATES:</HD>
                    <P>Repatriation of the human remains and associated funerary objects in this notice may occur on or after September 23, 2026.</P>
                </DATES>
                <ADD>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">ADDRESSES:</HD>
                    <P>
                        Send written requests for repatriation of the human remains and associated funerary objects in this notice to Dr. Crystal Alberts, University of North Dakota, Carnegie Hall, 250 Centennial Drive, Stop 8193, Grand Forks, ND 58202, email 
                        <E T="03">und.nagpra@und.edu.</E>
                    </P>
                </ADD>
            </PREAMB>
            <SUPLINF>
                <HD SOURCE="HED">SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:</HD>
                <P>This notice is published as part of the National Park Service's administrative responsibilities under NAGPRA. The determinations in this notice are the sole responsibility of the University of North Dakota and the State Historical Society of North Dakota, and additional information on the determinations in this notice, including the results of consultation, can be found in the inventory or related records. The National Park Service is not responsible for the determinations in this notice.</P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">Abstract of Information Available</HD>
                <P>Based on the information available, human remains representing, at least, two individuals, reasonably identified, along with 53,411 associated funerary objects, were removed from a site in Morton County, ND. The 53,411 associated funerary objects include faunal bone, ceramics, stone, botanicals, metal, ornamental materials, shells, as well as other organic and inorganic materials. The University of North Dakota (UND) and the State Historical Society of North Dakota (SHSND) have no record of any potentially hazardous substances being used to treat the human remains or associated funerary objects described in this notice.</P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">Cultural Affiliation</HD>
                <P>Based on the information available and the results of consultation, cultural affiliation is reasonably identified by the geographical location of the human remains and associated funerary objects described in this notice.</P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">Determinations</HD>
                <P>The University of North Dakota and the State Historical Society of North Dakota have determined that:</P>
                <P>• The human remains described in this notice represent the physical remains of two individuals of Native American ancestry.</P>
                <P>• The 53,411 objects described in this notice are reasonably believed to have been placed intentionally with or near individual human remains at the time of death or later as part of the death rite or ceremony.</P>
                <P>• There is a reasonable connection between the human remains and associated funerary objects described in this notice and the Three Affiliated Tribes of the Fort Berthold Reservation, North Dakota.</P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">Requests for Repatriation</HD>
                <P>
                    Written requests for repatriation of the human remains and associated funerary objects in this notice must be sent to the authorized representative identified in this notice under 
                    <E T="02">ADDRESSES</E>
                    . Requests for repatriation may be submitted by:
                </P>
                <P>1. Any one or more of the Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations identified in this notice.</P>
                <P>
                    2. Any lineal descendant, Indian Tribe, or Native Hawaiian organization not identified in this notice who shows, by a preponderance of the evidence, that the requestor is a lineal descendant or 
                    <PRTPAGE P="54760"/>
                    an Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian organization with cultural affiliation.
                </P>
                <P>Repatriation of the human remains and associated funerary objects described in this notice to a requestor may occur on or after September 23, 2026. If competing requests for repatriation are received, the University of North Dakota and the State Historical Society of North Dakota must determine the most appropriate requestor prior to repatriation. Requests for joint repatriation of the human remains and associated funerary objects are considered a single request and not competing requests. The University of North Dakota is responsible for sending a copy of this notice to the Indian Tribes and Native Hawaiian organizations identified in this notice.</P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Authority:</E>
                     Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, 25 U.S.C. 3003, and the implementing regulations, 43 CFR 10.10.
                </P>
                <SIG>
                    <DATED>Dated: August 17, 2026.</DATED>
                    <NAME>Mariah Soriano,</NAME>
                    <TITLE>Acting Manager, National NAGPRA Program.</TITLE>
                </SIG>
            </SUPLINF>
            <FRDOC>[FR Doc. 2026-17181 Filed 8-21-26; 8:45 am]</FRDOC>
            <BILCOD>BILLING CODE 4312-52-P</BILCOD>
        </NOTICE>
        <NOTICE>
            <PREAMB>
                <AGENCY TYPE="S">DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR</AGENCY>
                <SUBAGY>National Park Service</SUBAGY>
                <DEPDOC>[N7437; NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0043540; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]</DEPDOC>
                <SUBJECT>Notice of Intended Repatriation: Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University, Durham, NC</SUBJECT>
                <AGY>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">AGENCY:</HD>
                    <P>National Park Service, Interior.</P>
                </AGY>
                <ACT>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">ACTION:</HD>
                    <P>Notice.</P>
                </ACT>
                <SUM>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">SUMMARY:</HD>
                    <P>In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University intends to repatriate certain cultural items that meet the definition of unassociated funerary objects and that have a cultural affiliation with the Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations in this notice.</P>
                </SUM>
                <DATES>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">DATES:</HD>
                    <P>Repatriation of the cultural items in this notice may occur on or after September 23, 2026.</P>
                </DATES>
                <ADD>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">ADDRESSES:</HD>
                    <P>
                        Send additional, written requests for repatriation of the cultural items in this notice to Bryan Hilley, Senior Associate Registrar, Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University, 2001 Campus Drive, Durham, NC 27705, email 
                        <E T="03">bryan.hilley@duke.edu.</E>
                    </P>
                </ADD>
            </PREAMB>
            <SUPLINF>
                <HD SOURCE="HED">SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:</HD>
                <P>This notice is published as part of the National Park Service's administrative responsibilities under NAGPRA. The determinations in this notice are the sole responsibility of the Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University, and additional information on the determinations in this notice, including the results of consultation, can be found in the summary or related records. The National Park Service is not responsible for the determinations in this notice.</P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">Abstract of Information Available</HD>
                <P>A total of four cultural items have been requested for repatriation. The four unassociated funerary objects are three pottery vessels, dish shaped (1973.44.9, 1973.44.10, and 1973.44.15) and one pottery vessel, bat effigy (1973.44.14). The works were offered to the museum in 1973 by Mr. and Mrs. Harry Devine of Macon, GA. A February 9, 1973, appraisal lists geographic locations: 1973.44.9 “Mississippi County Arkansas), 1973.44.10 (Crittenden County, Arkansas), 1973.44.14 (Crittenden County, Arkansas) and 1973.44.15 (Cross County, Arkansas).</P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">Determinations</HD>
                <P>The Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University has determined that:</P>
                <P>• The four unassociated funerary objects described in this notice are reasonably believed to have been placed intentionally with or near human remains, and are connected, either at the time of death or later as part of the death rite or ceremony of a Native American culture according to the Native American traditional knowledge of a lineal descendant, Indian Tribe, or Native Hawaiian organization. The unassociated funerary objects have been identified by a preponderance of the evidence as related to human remains, specific individuals, or families, or removed from a specific burial site or burial area of an individual or individuals with cultural affiliation to an Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian organization.</P>
                <P>• There is a connection between the cultural items described in this notice and the Quapaw Nation.</P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">Requests for Repatriation</HD>
                <P>
                    Additional, written requests for repatriation of the cultural items in this notice must be sent to the authorized representative identified in this notice under 
                    <E T="02">ADDRESSES</E>
                    . Requests for repatriation may be submitted by any lineal descendant, Indian Tribe, or Native Hawaiian organization not identified in this notice who shows, by a preponderance of the evidence, that the requestor is a lineal descendant or a culturally affiliated Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian organization.
                </P>
                <P>Repatriation of the cultural items in this notice to a requestor may occur on or after September 23, 2026. If competing requests for repatriation are received, the Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University must determine the most appropriate requestor prior to repatriation. Requests for joint repatriation of the cultural items are considered a single request and not competing requests. The Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University is responsible for sending a copy of this notice to the Indian Tribes and Native Hawaiian organizations identified in this notice and to any other consulting parties.</P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Authority:</E>
                     Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, 25 U.S.C. 3004 and the implementing regulations, 43 CFR 10.9.
                </P>
                <SIG>
                    <DATED>Dated: August 17, 2026.</DATED>
                    <NAME>Mariah Soriano,</NAME>
                    <TITLE>Acting Manager, National NAGPRA Program. </TITLE>
                </SIG>
            </SUPLINF>
            <FRDOC>[FR Doc. 2026-17169 Filed 8-21-26; 8:45 am]</FRDOC>
            <BILCOD>BILLING CODE 4312-52-P</BILCOD>
        </NOTICE>
        <NOTICE>
            <PREAMB>
                <AGENCY TYPE="S">DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR</AGENCY>
                <SUBAGY>National Park Service</SUBAGY>
                <DEPDOC>[N7440; NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0043543; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]</DEPDOC>
                <SUBJECT>Notice of Intended Repatriation: New York State Office of Parks, Recreation &amp; Historic Preservation, Waterford, NY</SUBJECT>
                <AGY>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">AGENCY:</HD>
                    <P>National Park Service, Interior.</P>
                </AGY>
                <ACT>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">ACTION:</HD>
                    <P>Notice.</P>
                </ACT>
                <SUM>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">SUMMARY:</HD>
                    <P>In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation &amp; Historic Preservation (NYOPRHP) intends to repatriate certain cultural items that meet the definition of unassociated funerary objects, sacred objects, and/or objects of cultural patrimony and that have a cultural affiliation with the Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations in this notice.</P>
                </SUM>
                <DATES>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">DATES:</HD>
                    <P>Repatriation of the cultural items in this notice may occur on or after September 23, 2026.</P>
                </DATES>
                <ADD>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">ADDRESSES:</HD>
                    <P>
                        Send additional, written requests for repatriation of the cultural items in this notice to Jessica Vavrasek, New York State Office of Parks, Recreation &amp; Historic Preservation, Peebles Island State Park, P.O. Box 189, Waterford, NY 12188-0189, email 
                        <E T="03">Jessica.Vavrasek@parks.ny.gov.</E>
                    </P>
                </ADD>
            </PREAMB>
            <SUPLINF>
                <HD SOURCE="HED">SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:</HD>
                <P>
                    This notice is published as part of the 
                    <PRTPAGE P="54761"/>
                    National Park Service's administrative responsibilities under NAGPRA. The determinations in this notice are the sole responsibility of the NYOPRHP and additional information on the determinations in this notice, including the results of consultation, can be found in the summary or related records. The National Park Service is not responsible for the determinations in this notice.
                </P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">Abstract of Information Available</HD>
                <P>A total of 187 cultural items have been requested for repatriation. The 50 unassociated funerary objects include wampum, pendants, gorgets, celts, adzes, ceramic bowl, pipe fragments, ceramic pots, bear teeth, and bear jaw. The 137 sacred objects/objects of cultural patrimony include lithics, net sinkers, nutting stones, projectile points, coin, shells, historic artifacts, pipe fragments, metal and a button. Objects on display at Trailside Museum at Bear Mountain State Park. Exact origins of these objects is unknown but suspected of being from in or around the park. The objects smell strongly of mothballs, other preservation treats conducted on these objects are unknown. The objects recovered from the Nicoll Farm and O'Rourke Farm were excavated from a known Ancestral burial site and were later donated/stored on Iona Island within Bear Mountain State Park. No preservation treatments have been conducted on these to the best of our knowledge.</P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">Determinations</HD>
                <P>The NYOPRHP has determined that:</P>
                <P>• The 50 unassociated funerary objects described in this notice are reasonably believed to have been placed intentionally with or near human remains, and are connected, either at the time of death or later as part of the death rite or ceremony of a Native American culture according to the Native American traditional knowledge of a lineal descendant, Indian Tribe, or Native Hawaiian organization. The unassociated funerary objects have been identified by a preponderance of the evidence as related to human remains, specific individuals, or families, or removed from a specific burial site or burial area of an individual or individuals with cultural affiliation to an Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian organization.</P>
                <P>• The 137 sacred objects/objects of cultural patrimony described in this notice are, according to the Native American traditional knowledge of an Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian organization, specific ceremonial objects needed by a traditional Native American religious leader for present-day adherents to practice traditional Native American religion, and have ongoing historical, traditional, or cultural importance central to the Native American group, including any constituent sub-group (such as a band, clan, lineage, ceremonial society, or other subdivision).</P>
                <P>• There is a connection between the cultural items described in this notice and the Delaware Nation, Oklahoma; Delaware Tribe of Indians; and the Stockbridge Munsee Community, Wisconsin.</P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">Requests for Repatriation</HD>
                <P>
                    Additional, written requests for repatriation of the cultural items in this notice must be sent to the authorized representative identified in this notice under 
                    <E T="02">ADDRESSES</E>
                    . Requests for repatriation may be submitted by any lineal descendant, Indian Tribe, or Native Hawaiian organization not identified in this notice who shows, by a preponderance of the evidence, that the requestor is a lineal descendant or a culturally affiliated Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian organization.
                </P>
                <P>Repatriation of the cultural items in this notice to a requestor may occur on or after September 23, 2026. If competing requests for repatriation are received, the NYOPRHP must determine the most appropriate requestor prior to repatriation. Requests for joint repatriation of the cultural items are considered a single request and not competing requests. The NYOPRHP is responsible for sending a copy of this notice to the Indian Tribes and Native Hawaiian organizations identified in this notice and to any other consulting parties.</P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Authority:</E>
                     Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, 25 U.S.C. 3004 and the implementing regulations, 43 CFR 10.9.
                </P>
                <SIG>
                    <DATED>Dated: August 17, 2026.</DATED>
                    <NAME>Mariah Soriano,</NAME>
                    <TITLE>Acting Manager, National NAGPRA Program.</TITLE>
                </SIG>
            </SUPLINF>
            <FRDOC>[FR Doc. 2026-17174 Filed 8-21-26; 8:45 am]</FRDOC>
            <BILCOD>BILLING CODE 4312-52-P</BILCOD>
        </NOTICE>
        <NOTICE>
            <PREAMB>
                <AGENCY TYPE="S">DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR</AGENCY>
                <SUBAGY>National Park Service</SUBAGY>
                <DEPDOC>[N7419; NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0043525; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]</DEPDOC>
                <SUBJECT>Notice of Intended Repatriation: Yager Museum of Art &amp; Culture, Hartwick College, Oneonta, NY</SUBJECT>
                <AGY>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">AGENCY:</HD>
                    <P>National Park Service, Interior.</P>
                </AGY>
                <ACT>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">ACTION:</HD>
                    <P>Notice.</P>
                </ACT>
                <SUM>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">SUMMARY:</HD>
                    <P>In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the Yager Museum of Art &amp; Culture, Hartwick College (Yager Museum) intends to repatriate certain cultural items that meet the definition of unassociated funerary objects and that have a cultural affiliation with the Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations in this notice.</P>
                </SUM>
                <DATES>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">DATES:</HD>
                    <P>Repatriation of the cultural items in this notice may occur on or after September 23, 2026.</P>
                </DATES>
                <ADD>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">ADDRESSES:</HD>
                    <P>
                        Send additional, written requests for repatriation of the cultural items in this notice to Dr. Quentin Lewis, Yager Museum of Art &amp; Culture, Hartwick College, 1 Hartwick Drive, Oneonta, NY 13820, email 
                        <E T="03">lewisq@hartwick.edu.</E>
                    </P>
                </ADD>
            </PREAMB>
            <SUPLINF>
                <HD SOURCE="HED">SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:</HD>
                <P>This notice is published as part of the National Park Service's administrative responsibilities under NAGPRA. The determinations in this notice are the sole responsibility of the Yager Museum, and additional information on the determinations in this notice, including the results of consultation, can be found in the summary or related records. The National Park Service is not responsible for the determinations in this notice.</P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">Abstract of Information Available</HD>
                <P>A total of 31 cultural items have been requested for repatriation. The 31 unassociated funerary objects consist of two groups of objects, a group of 15 objects and a group of 16 objects.</P>
                <P>
                    The group of 15 unassociated funerary objects includes one pipe bowl, one celt, one pipe, three projectile points, seven potsherds, one netsinker, and one ceramic vessel. These objects were disinterred from a known burial site in Delaware County, NY by George Swarthout, Aleck Proskin and others between 1894 and 1906 and acquired by Willard Yager sometime prior to his death in 1929. The group of 16 unassociated funerary objects includes four gorgets, five pendants, two pipes, one statue, one ceramic vessel, one potsherd, one bannerstone, and one knife. Except for one of the gorgets, which was collected by Clifford Anderson sometime prior to 1984 in Delaware County, and NY, all of these objects were collected by Willard Yager from various sources prior to 1929, and were documented as coming from Delaware County, NY, Susquehanna County, PA, Luzerne County, PA, and Bradford Counnty, PA.
                    <PRTPAGE P="54762"/>
                </P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">Determinations</HD>
                <P>The Yager Museum has determined that:</P>
                <P>• The 31 unassociated funerary objects described in this notice are reasonably believed to have been placed intentionally with or near human remains, or are connected, either at the time of death or later as part of the death rite or ceremony of a Native American culture according to the Native American traditional knowledge of a lineal descendant, Indian Tribe, or Native Hawaiian organization. The unassociated funerary objects have been identified by a preponderance of the evidence as related to human remains, specific individuals, or families, or removed from a specific burial site or burial area of an individual or individuals with cultural affiliation to an Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian organization.</P>
                <P>• There is a connection between the cultural items described in this notice and the Delaware Nation, Oklahoma; Delaware Tribe of Indians; and the Stockbridge Munsee Community, Wisconsin.</P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">Requests for Repatriation</HD>
                <P>
                    Additional, written requests for repatriation of the cultural items in this notice must be sent to the authorized representative identified in this notice under 
                    <E T="02">ADDRESSES</E>
                    . Requests for repatriation may be submitted by any lineal descendant, Indian Tribe, or Native Hawaiian organization not identified in this notice who shows, by a preponderance of the evidence, that the requestor is a lineal descendant or a culturally affiliated Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian organization.
                </P>
                <P>Repatriation of the cultural items in this notice to a requestor may occur on or after September 23, 2026. If competing requests for repatriation are received, the Yager Museum must determine the most appropriate requestor prior to repatriation. Requests for joint repatriation of the cultural items are considered a single request and not competing requests. The Yager Museum is responsible for sending a copy of this notice to the Indian Tribes and Native Hawaiian organizations identified in this notice and to any other consulting parties.</P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Authority:</E>
                     Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, 25 U.S.C. 3004 and the implementing regulations, 43 CFR 10.9.
                </P>
                <SIG>
                    <DATED>Dated: August 17, 2026.</DATED>
                    <NAME>Mariah Soriano,</NAME>
                    <TITLE>Acting Manager, National NAGPRA Program.</TITLE>
                </SIG>
            </SUPLINF>
            <FRDOC>[FR Doc. 2026-17176 Filed 8-21-26; 8:45 am]</FRDOC>
            <BILCOD>BILLING CODE 4312-52-P</BILCOD>
        </NOTICE>
        <NOTICE>
            <PREAMB>
                <AGENCY TYPE="S">DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR</AGENCY>
                <SUBAGY>National Park Service</SUBAGY>
                <DEPDOC>[N7430; NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0043534; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]</DEPDOC>
                <SUBJECT>Notice of Inventory Completion: Office of the State Archaeologist, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA</SUBJECT>
                <AGY>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">AGENCY:</HD>
                    <P>National Park Service, Interior.</P>
                </AGY>
                <ACT>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">ACTION:</HD>
                    <P>Notice.</P>
                </ACT>
                <SUM>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">SUMMARY:</HD>
                    <P>In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the Office of the State Archaeologist Bioarchaeology Program (OSA BP) has completed an inventory of human remains and has determined that there is a cultural affiliation between the human remains and Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations in this notice.</P>
                </SUM>
                <DATES>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">DATES:</HD>
                    <P>Repatriation of the human remains in this notice may occur on or after September 23, 2026.</P>
                </DATES>
                <ADD>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">ADDRESSES:</HD>
                    <P>
                        Send written requests for repatriation of the human remains in this notice to Dr. Lara Noldner, Office of the State Archaeologist Bioarchaeology Program, University of Iowa, 700 S Clinton Street, Iowa City, IA 52242, email 
                        <E T="03">lara-noldner@uiowa.edu.</E>
                    </P>
                </ADD>
            </PREAMB>
            <SUPLINF>
                <HD SOURCE="HED">SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:</HD>
                <P>This notice is published as part of the National Park Service's administrative responsibilities under NAGPRA. The determinations in this notice are the sole responsibility of the OSA BP, and additional information on the determinations in this notice, including the results of consultation, can be found in its inventory or related records. The National Park Service is not responsible for the determinations in this notice.</P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">Abstract of Information Available</HD>
                <P>Human remains representing, at least, one individual have been identified. No associated funerary objects are present. These human remains were discovered by a private citizen who saw them on display at the Okoboji Antique Mall in Arnolds Park, IA and reported them to the UI OSA in late June 2026. The State Archaeologist saw to their transfer to the OSA in early July 2026. Handwriting on the human remains suggests they were exposed by gravel quarrying at “Trumble Lake” in 1950. This is likely a misspelling of Trumbull Lake, which is near Arnolds Park, and has several burial sites documented near the lake's southeastern shore. Site [redacted] is the most likely origin of these human remains as it is a gravel quarry where human remains have been previously documented as exposed during quarrying activity. Projectile points were also reportedly encountered but diagnostic types were not described. One adult male is represented (BP4058). No hazardous substances were used to treat the human remains.</P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">Cultural Affiliation</HD>
                <P>Based on the information available and the results of consultation, cultural affiliation is reasonably identified by the geographical location or acquisition history of the human remains described in this notice.</P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">Determinations</HD>
                <P>The OSA BP has determined that:</P>
                <P>• The human remains described in this notice represent the physical remains of one individual of Native American ancestry.</P>
                <P>• There is a connection between the human remains described in this notice and the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe of the Cheyenne River Reservation, South Dakota; Citizen Potawatomi Nation, Oklahoma; Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe of South Dakota; Ho-Chunk Nation of Wisconsin; Iowa Tribe of Kansas and Nebraska; Iowa Tribe of Oklahoma; Lower Sioux Indian Community in the State of Minnesota; Miami Tribe of Oklahoma; Omaha Tribe of Nebraska; Otoe-Missouria Tribe of Indians, Oklahoma; Pawnee Nation of Oklahoma; Peoria Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma; Ponca Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma; Ponca Tribe of Nebraska; Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation; Prairie Island Indian Community in the State of Minnesota; Sac &amp; Fox Nation of Missouri in Kansas and Nebraska; Sac &amp; Fox Nation, Oklahoma; Sac &amp; Fox Tribe of the Mississippi in Iowa; Santee Sioux Nation, Nebraska; Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate of the Lake Traverse Reservation, South Dakota; Spirit Lake Tribe, North Dakota; The Osage Nation; Three Affiliated Tribes of the Fort Berthold Reservation, North Dakota; Upper Sioux Community, Minnesota; Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska; and the Yankton Sioux Tribe of South Dakota.</P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">Requests for Repatriation</HD>
                <P>
                    Written requests for repatriation of the human remains in this notice must be sent to the authorized representative identified in this notice under 
                    <E T="02">ADDRESSES</E>
                    . Requests for repatriation may be submitted by:
                </P>
                <P>1. Any one or more of the Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations identified in this notice.</P>
                <P>
                    2. Any lineal descendant, Indian Tribe, or Native Hawaiian organization not identified in this notice who shows, 
                    <PRTPAGE P="54763"/>
                    by a preponderance of the evidence, that the requestor is a lineal descendant or an Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian organization with cultural affiliation.
                </P>
                <P>Repatriation of the human remains described in this notice to a requestor may occur on or after September 23, 2026. If competing requests for repatriation are received, the OSA BP must determine the most appropriate requestor prior to repatriation. Requests for joint repatriation of the human remains are considered a single request and not competing requests. The OSA BP is responsible for sending a copy of this notice to the Indian Tribes and Native Hawaiian organizations identified in this notice and any other consulting parties.</P>
                <P>
                    <E T="04">Authority:</E>
                     Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, 25 U.S.C. 3003, and the implementing regulations, 43 CFR 10.10.
                </P>
                <SIG>
                    <DATED>Dated: August 17, 2026.</DATED>
                    <NAME>Mariah Soriano,</NAME>
                    <TITLE>Acting Manager, National NAGPRA Program.</TITLE>
                </SIG>
            </SUPLINF>
            <FRDOC>[FR Doc. 2026-17173 Filed 8-21-26; 8:45 am]</FRDOC>
            <BILCOD>BILLING CODE 4312-52-P</BILCOD>
        </NOTICE>
        <NOTICE>
            <PREAMB>
                <AGENCY TYPE="N">INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION</AGENCY>
                <DEPDOC>[Investigation No. 337-TA-1454]</DEPDOC>
                <SUBJECT>Certain Wi-Fi Routers, Wi-Fi Devices, Mesh Wi-Fi Network Devices and Components Thereof; Notice of Extension of the Deadline for Submissions on the Public Interest</SUBJECT>
                <AGY>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">AGENCY:</HD>
                    <P>U.S. International Trade Commission.</P>
                </AGY>
                <ACT>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">ACTION:</HD>
                    <P>Notice.</P>
                </ACT>
                <SUM>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">SUMMARY:</HD>
                    <P>Notice is hereby given that on August 19, 2026, the presiding administrative law judge (“ALJ”) issued a Recommended Determination regarding public interest should a violation be found in the above-captioned investigation. The Commission is extending the deadline for submissions on public interest issues should the Commission find a violation that was set in the notice dated August 11, 2026. This notice and the prior notice are soliciting comments from the public and interested government agencies only.</P>
                </SUM>
                <FURINF>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:</HD>
                    <P>
                        Joelle P. Justus, Esq., Office of the General Counsel, U.S. International Trade Commission, 500 E Street SW, Washington, DC 20436, telephone (202) 205-2593. Copies of non-confidential documents filed in connection with this investigation may be viewed on the Commission's electronic docket (EDIS) at 
                        <E T="03">https://edis.usitc.gov.</E>
                         For help accessing EDIS, please email 
                        <E T="03">EDIS3Help@usitc.gov.</E>
                         General information concerning the Commission may also be obtained by accessing its internet server at 
                        <E T="03">https://www.usitc.gov.</E>
                         Hearing-impaired persons are advised that information on this matter can be obtained by contacting the Commission's TDD terminal on (202) 205-1810.
                    </P>
                </FURINF>
            </PREAMB>
            <SUPLINF>
                <HD SOURCE="HED">SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:</HD>
                <P>Section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930 provides that, if the Commission finds a violation, it shall exclude the articles concerned from the United States unless, after considering the effect of such exclusion upon the public health and welfare, competitive conditions in the United States economy, the production of like or directly competitive articles in the United States, and United States consumers, it finds that such articles should not be excluded from entry. (19 U.S.C. 1337(d)(1)). A similar provision applies to cease and desist orders. (19 U.S.C. 1337(f)(1)).</P>
                <P>The Commission is soliciting submissions on public interest issues raised by the recommended relief should the Commission find a violation, specifically: a limited exclusion order directed to certain Wi-Fi routers, Wi-Fi devices, mesh Wi-Fi network devices and components thereof imported, sold for importation, and/or sold after importation by respondents ASUStek Computer Inc. of Taipei City, Taiwan; ASUS Computer International of Fremont, CA; and Plume Design Inc. of Palo Alto, CA; and cease and desist orders directed to Plume Design Inc. and ASUS Computer International. Parties are to file public interest submissions pursuant to 19 CFR 210.50(a)(4).</P>
                <P>The Commission is interested in further development of the record on the public interest in this investigation. Accordingly, members of the public and interested government agencies are invited to file submissions of no more than five (5) pages, inclusive of attachments, concerning the public interest in light of the ALJ's Recommended Determination on Remedy and Bonding issued in this investigation on August 6, 2026, and the Recommended Determination on Public Interest issued in this investigation on August 1, 2026. Comments should address whether issuance of the recommended remedial orders in this investigation, should the Commission find a violation, would affect the public health and welfare in the United States, competitive conditions in the United States economy, the production of like or directly competitive articles in the United States, or United States consumers.</P>
                <P>In particular, the Commission is interested in comments that:</P>
                <P>(i) explain how the articles potentially subject to the recommended remedial orders are used in the United States;</P>
                <P>(ii) identify any public health, safety, or welfare concerns in the United States relating to the recommended orders;</P>
                <P>(iii) identify like or directly competitive articles that complainant, its licensees, or third parties make in the United States which could replace the subject articles if they were to be excluded;</P>
                <P>(iv) indicate whether complainant, complainant's licensees, and/or third-party suppliers have the capacity to replace the volume of articles potentially subject to the recommended orders within a commercially reasonable time; and</P>
                <P>(v) explain how the recommended orders would impact consumers in the United States.</P>
                <P>Written submissions must be filed no later than by close of business on September 18, 2026.</P>
                <P>
                    Persons filing written submissions must file the original document electronically on or before the deadlines stated above pursuant to 19 CFR 210.4(f). Submissions should refer to the investigation number (“Inv. No. 337-TA-1454”) in a prominent place on the cover page and/or the first page. (
                    <E T="03">See</E>
                     Handbook for Electronic Filing Procedures, 
                    <E T="03">https://www.usitc.gov/secretary/documents/handbook_on_filing_procedures.pdf</E>
                    ). Persons with questions regarding filing should contact the Secretary (202-205-2000).
                </P>
                <P>
                    Any person desiring to submit a document to the Commission in confidence must request confidential treatment by marking each document with a header indicating that the document contains confidential information. This marking will be deemed to satisfy the request procedure set forth in Rules 201.6(b) and 210.5(e)(2) (19 CFR 201.6(b) &amp; 210.5(e)(2)). Documents for which confidential treatment by the Commission is properly sought will be treated accordingly. Any non-party wishing to submit comments containing confidential information must serve those comments on the parties to the investigation pursuant to the applicable Administrative Protective Order. A redacted non-confidential version of the document must also be filed simultaneously with any confidential filing and must be served in accordance with Commission Rule 210.4(f)(7)(ii)(A) 
                    <PRTPAGE P="54764"/>
                    (19 CFR 210.4(f)(7)(ii)(A)). All information, including confidential business information and documents for which confidential treatment is properly sought, submitted to the Commission for purposes of this investigation may be disclosed to and used: (i) by the Commission, its employees and Offices, and contract personnel (a) for developing or maintaining the records of this or a related proceeding, or (b) in internal investigations, audits, reviews, and evaluations relating to the programs, personnel, and operations of the Commission including under 5 U.S.C. Appendix 3; or (ii) by U.S. government employees and contract personnel, solely for cybersecurity purposes. All contract personnel will sign appropriate nondisclosure agreements. All nonconfidential written submissions will be available for public inspection on EDIS.
                </P>
                <P>This action is taken under the authority of section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (19 U.S.C. 1337), and in Part 210 of the Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure (19 CFR part 210).</P>
                <SIG>
                    <P>By order of the Commission.</P>
                    <DATED>Issued: August 19, 2026.</DATED>
                    <NAME>Lisa Barton,</NAME>
                    <TITLE>Secretary to the Commission.</TITLE>
                </SIG>
            </SUPLINF>
            <FRDOC>[FR Doc. 2026-17196 Filed 8-21-26; 8:45 am]</FRDOC>
            <BILCOD>BILLING CODE 7020-02-P</BILCOD>
        </NOTICE>
        <NOTICE>
            <PREAMB>
                <AGENCY TYPE="S">INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION</AGENCY>
                <DEPDOC>[Investigation No. 337-TA-1518]</DEPDOC>
                <SUBJECT>Certain Secondary Cylindrical Batteries, Components Thereof, and Products Containing the Same; Notice of Institution of Investigation</SUBJECT>
                <AGY>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">AGENCY:</HD>
                    <P>U.S. International Trade Commission.</P>
                </AGY>
                <ACT>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">ACTION:</HD>
                    <P>Notice.</P>
                </ACT>
                <SUM>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">SUMMARY:</HD>
                    <P>Notice is hereby given that a complaint was filed with the U.S. International Trade Commission on July 21, 2026, under section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended, on behalf of LG Energy Solution Ltd. of Korea and LG Energy Solution Arizona, Inc. of Queen Creek, Arizona. A supplement was filed on August 5, 2026. The complaint, as supplemented, alleges violations of section 337 based upon the importation into the United States, the sale for importation, and the sale within the United States after importation of certain secondary cylindrical batteries, components thereof, and products containing the same by reason of the infringement of certain claims of U.S. Patent No. 8,420,257 (“the '257 patent”); U.S. Patent No, 11,749,866 (“the '866 patent”); U.S. Patent No. 12,412,924 (“the '924 patent”); U.S. Patent No. 12,412,965 (“the '965 patent”); and U.S. Patent No. 12,646,735 (“the '735 patent”). The complaint, as supplemented, further alleges that an industry in the United States is in the process of being established as required by the applicable Federal Statute.</P>
                    <P>The complainants request that the Commission institute an investigation and, after the investigation, issue a limited exclusion order and cease and desist orders.</P>
                </SUM>
                <ADD>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">ADDRESSES:</HD>
                    <P>
                        The complaint, except for any confidential information contained therein, may be viewed on the Commission's electronic docket (EDIS) at 
                        <E T="03">https://edis.usitc.gov.</E>
                         For help accessing EDIS, please email 
                        <E T="03">EDIS3Help@usitc.gov.</E>
                         Hearing impaired individuals are advised that information on this matter can be obtained by contacting the Commission's TDD terminal on (202) 205-1810. Persons with mobility impairments who will need special assistance in gaining access to the Commission should contact the Office of the Secretary at (202) 205-2000. General information concerning the Commission may also be obtained by accessing its internet server at 
                        <E T="03">https://www.usitc.gov.</E>
                    </P>
                </ADD>
                <FURINF>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:</HD>
                    <P>The Office of Docket Services, U.S. International Trade Commission, telephone (202) 205-1802.</P>
                </FURINF>
            </PREAMB>
            <SUPLINF>
                <HD SOURCE="HED">SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:</HD>
                <P/>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Authority:</E>
                     The authority for institution of this investigation is contained in section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended, 19 U.S.C. 1337, and in section 210.10 of the Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure, 19 CFR 210.10 (2025).
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Scope of Investigation:</E>
                     Having considered the complaint, the U.S. International Trade Commission, on August 20, 2026, 
                    <E T="03">ordered that</E>
                    —
                </P>
                <P>(1) Pursuant to subsection (b) of section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended, an investigation be instituted to determine whether there is a violation of subsection (a)(1)(B) of section 337 in the importation into the United States, the sale for importation, or the sale within the United States after importation of certain products identified in paragraph (2) by reason of infringement of one or more of claims 1-6 of the '257 patent; claims 1, 4-6, and 9 of the '866 patent; claims 1-9, 12, 14, 16-19, 21-25, and 27-30 of the '924 patent; claims 1, 4, 7-11, 14, 15, 19, 20, 22-24, and 26-33 of the '965 patent; and claims 1, 6, 10, 12, 13, and 15 of the '735 patent, and whether an industry in the United States is in the process of being established as required by subsection (a)(2) of section 337;</P>
                <P>
                    (2) Pursuant to section 210.10(b)(1) of the Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure, 19 CFR 210.10(b)(1), the plain language description of the accused products or category of accused products, which defines the scope of the investigation, is “secondary (
                    <E T="03">i.e.,</E>
                     rechargeable) cylindrical batteries, components thereof (
                    <E T="03">e.g.,</E>
                     top cap assembly, electrode windings, separator, battery housings, and assemblies thereof), and products containing the same”;
                </P>
                <P>(3) For the purpose of the investigation so instituted, the following are hereby named as parties upon which this notice of investigation shall be served:</P>
                <P>(a) The complainants are:</P>
                <FP SOURCE="FP-1">LG Energy Solution Ltd., Parc. 1 Tower, 108, Yeoui-daero, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, 07335, Republic of Korea</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP-1">LG Energy Solution Arizona, Inc., 335 E. Pecos Road, Queen Creek, AZ 85140</FP>
                <P>(b) The respondents are the following entities alleged to be in violation of section 337, and are the parties upon which the complaint is to be served:</P>
                <FP SOURCE="FP-1">EVE Energy Co., Ltd., No. 38, Huifeng 7th Road, Zhongkai Hi-Tech Zone, Huizhou, Guangdong, 516006, China</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP-1">EVE Energy North America Corporation, 7910 N Central Dr., Lewis Center, OH 43035</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP-1">EVE Energy U.S. Holding LLC, 20191 Windrow Drive, Suite B, Lake Forest, CA 92630</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP-1">Robert Bosch GmbH, Robert-Bosch-Platz 170839 Gerlingen-Schillerhöhe, Germany</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP-1">Robert Bosch Tool Corporation, 1800 West Central Road, Mount Prospect, IL 60056</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP-1">Koki Holdings Co., Ltd., Shinagawa Intercity Towers A, 20th Floor, 15-1, Konan 2-chome, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-6020, Japan</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP-1">Koki Holdings America Ltd., 1111 Broadway Avenue, Braselton, GA 30517</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP-1">Chervon (China) Trading Co., Ltd., No. 99 Tianyuan West Road, Jiangning, Economic and Technological Development, Zone, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, 211106, China</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP-1">Nanjing Chervon Industry Co., Ltd., No. 529 and 159, Jiangjun Avenue, Jiangning District, Nanjing (Jiangning Development Zone), Jiangsu, 211111, China</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP-1">Chervon North America, Inc., 1203 E Warrenville Rd., Naperville, IL 60563</FP>
                <P>
                    (4) For the investigation so instituted, the Chief Administrative Law Judge, 
                    <PRTPAGE P="54765"/>
                    U.S. International Trade Commission, shall designate the presiding Administrative Law Judge.
                </P>
                <P>The Office of Unfair Import Investigations will not participate as a party in this investigation.</P>
                <P>Responses to the complaint and the notice of investigation must be submitted by the named respondents in accordance with section 210.13 of the Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure, 19 CFR 210.13. Pursuant to 19 CFR 201.16(e) and 210.13(a), such responses will be considered by the Commission if received not later than 20 days after the date of service by the Commission of the complaint and the notice of investigation. Extensions of time for submitting responses to the complaint and the notice of investigation will not be granted unless good cause therefor is shown.</P>
                <P>Failure of a respondent to file a timely response to each allegation in the complaint and in this notice may be deemed to constitute a waiver of the right to appear and contest the allegations of the complaint and this notice, and to authorize the administrative law judge and the Commission, without further notice to the respondent, to find the facts to be as alleged in the complaint and this notice and to enter an initial determination and a final determination containing such findings, and may result in the issuance of an exclusion order or a cease and desist order or both directed against the respondent.</P>
                <SIG>
                    <P>By order of the Commission.</P>
                    <DATED>Issued: August 20, 2026.</DATED>
                    <NAME>Sharon Bellamy,</NAME>
                    <TITLE>Supervisory Hearings and Information Officer.</TITLE>
                </SIG>
            </SUPLINF>
            <FRDOC>[FR Doc. 2026-17240 Filed 8-21-26; 8:45 am]</FRDOC>
            <BILCOD>BILLING CODE 7020-02-P</BILCOD>
        </NOTICE>
        <NOTICE>
            <PREAMB>
                <AGENCY TYPE="N">DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE</AGENCY>
                <DEPDOC>[OMB Number 1123-0017]</DEPDOC>
                <SUBJECT>Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed eCollection eComments Requested; Application To Restore Federal Firearms Rights (Relief From Federal Firearms Disabilities)</SUBJECT>
                <AGY>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">AGENCY:</HD>
                    <P>Office of the Pardon Attorney, Department of Justice.</P>
                </AGY>
                <ACT>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">ACTION:</HD>
                    <P>30-Day Notice.</P>
                </ACT>
                <SUM>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">SUMMARY:</HD>
                    <P>
                        The Department of Justice (DOJ), Office of the Pardon Attorney (PARDON), will be submitting the following information collection request to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. The final rule responding to those comments was published at Application for Relief from Disabilities Imposed by Federal Laws with Respect to the Acquisition, Receipt, Transfer, Shipment, Transportation, or Possession of Firearms in the 
                        <E T="04">Federal Register</E>
                         at 91 FR 54054, August 20, 2026.
                    </P>
                </SUM>
                <DATES>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">DATES:</HD>
                    <P>Comments are encouraged and will be accepted for an additional 30 days until September 23, 2026.</P>
                </DATES>
                <FURINF>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:</HD>
                    <P>
                        If you have additional comments especially on the estimated public burden or associated response time, suggestions, or need a copy of the proposed information collection instrument with instructions or additional information, please contact Kira Gillespie, Deputy Pardon Attorney, Office of the Pardon Attorney, 950 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Main Justice—RFK Building, Washington, DC 20530; 
                        <E T="03">USPardon.Attorney@usdoj.gov;</E>
                         202-616-6073. Written comments and/or suggestions can also be directed to the Office of Management and Budget, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Attention Department of Justice Desk Officer, Washington, DC 20530 or sent to 
                        <E T="03">OIRA_submissions@omb.eop.gov.</E>
                    </P>
                </FURINF>
            </PREAMB>
            <SUPLINF>
                <HD SOURCE="HED">SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:</HD>
                <P>
                    This proposed information collection accompanies the Application for Relief from Disabilities Imposed by Federal Laws with Respect to the Acquisition, Receipt, Transfer, Shipment, Transportation, or Possession of Firearms in the 
                    <E T="04">Federal Register</E>
                     at 90 FR 34394, July 22, 2025, allowing for a 90-day comment period. Written comments and suggestions from the public and affected agencies concerning the proposed collection of information are encouraged. Your comments should address one or more of the following four points:
                </P>
                <FP SOURCE="FP-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;</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP-1">—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;</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP-1">—Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and/or</FP>
                <FP SOURCE="FP-1">
                    —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 T="03">e.g.,</E>
                     permitting electronic submission of responses.
                </FP>
                <P>Overview of this information collection:</P>
                <P>
                    1. 
                    <E T="03">Type of Information Collection:</E>
                     New Collection.
                </P>
                <P>
                    2. 
                    <E T="03">The Title of the Form/Collection:</E>
                     Application to Restore Federal Firearms Rights (Relief from Federal Firearms Disabilities).
                </P>
                <P>
                    3. 
                    <E T="03">The agency form number:</E>
                     There is no agency form number for this collection. The applicable component within the Department of Justice is the Office of the Pardon Attorney.
                </P>
                <P>
                    4. 
                    <E T="03">Affected public who will be asked or required to respond, as well as a brief abstract:</E>
                      
                    <E T="03">Primary:</E>
                     Individual applicants who are disabled from firearms rights under federal law; entities who are also disabled from firearms rights under federal law. 
                    <E T="03">Abstract:</E>
                     Under 18 U.S.C. 925(c), the Attorney General can restore federal firearms rights to individuals who are disabled under federal law from the acquisition, receipt, transfer, shipment, transportation, or possession of firearms. This form is intended to accompany the final rule entitled Application for Relief from Disabilities Imposed by Federal Laws with Respect to the Acquisition, Receipt, Transfer, Shipment, Transportation, or Possession of Firearms, 91 FR 54054 (Aug. 20, 2025), which implements criteria to guide the Attorney General's determinations under this process.
                </P>
                <P>
                    5. 
                    <E T="03">An estimate of the total number of respondents and the amount of time estimated for an average respondent to respond:</E>
                     It is estimated that there will be 330,000 responses per year, and that each response takes 65 minutes to complete electronically.
                </P>
                <P>
                    6. 
                    <E T="03">An estimate of the total public burden (in hours) associated with the collection:</E>
                     357,500 annual burden hours.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">If additional information is required contact:</E>
                     Darwin Arceo, Department Clearance Officer, United States Department of Justice, Justice Management Division, Enterprise Portfolio Managment, Two Constitution Square, 145 N Street NE, 3E.405B, Washington, DC 20530.
                </P>
                <SIG>
                    <DATED>Dated: August 20, 2026.</DATED>
                    <NAME>Darwin Arceo,</NAME>
                    <TITLE>Department Clearance Officer for PRA, U.S. Department of Justice. </TITLE>
                </SIG>
            </SUPLINF>
            <FRDOC>[FR Doc. 2026-17242 Filed 8-21-26; 8:45 am]</FRDOC>
            <BILCOD>BILLING CODE 4410-29-P</BILCOD>
        </NOTICE>
        <NOTICE>
            <PREAMB>
                <PRTPAGE P="54766"/>
                <AGENCY TYPE="S">DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE</AGENCY>
                <SUBJECT>Notice of Lodging of Proposed Partial Consent Decree Under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act and Federal Debt Collection Procedures Act</SUBJECT>
                <P>
                    On August 19, 2026, the Department of Justice lodged a proposed Partial Consent Decree with the United States District Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma in the lawsuit entitled 
                    <E T="03">United States</E>
                     v. 
                    <E T="03">Real Estate Remediation, LLC; George Blakeney; GB Services, LLC; and G&amp;H Ventures, LLC,</E>
                     Civil Action No. 4:25-cv-00289 (JFJ).
                </P>
                <P>The proposed Partial Consent Decree would resolve claims the United States has brought on behalf of the United States Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) against Defendant Real Estate Remediation, LLC (“RER”) under Section 107(a) of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (“CERCLA”), 42 U.S.C. 9607(a), regarding the Goodrich Asbestos Superfund Site in Miami, Oklahoma (the “Site”). The proposed Partial Consent Decree would also resolve claims the United States has asserted against Defendants George Blakeney and GB Services, LLC (“GB Services”) under the Federal Debt Collection Procedures Act (“FDCPA”), 28 U.S.C. 3304-3308, for fraudulent transfers each received from RER.</P>
                <P>Under the Partial Consent Decree, RER, George Blakeney, and GB Services (the “Settling Defendants”) agree to make a $20,000 payment to EPA, which may be deposited in the Hazardous Substance Superfund established by section 9507 of the Internal Revenue Code. In exchange, the United States covenants not to sue (a) RER under section 107(a) for the United States' past response costs and under sections 106 and 107(a) of CERCLA regarding the Site,</P>
                <P>(b) Blakeney for the civil claims under the FDCPA alleged against him in the complaint, and</P>
                <P>(c) GB Services for the civil claims under the FDCPA alleged against it in the complaint. This settlement is based on an analysis of the Settling Defendants' limited ability to pay.</P>
                <P>
                    The publication of this notice opens a period for public comment on the Partial Consent Decree. Comments should be addressed to the Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General, Environment and Natural Resources Division, and should refer to 
                    <E T="03">United States</E>
                     v. 
                    <E T="03">Real Estate Remediation, LLC; George Blakeney; GB Services, LLC; and G&amp;H Ventures, LLC,</E>
                     Civil Action No. 4:25-cv-00289 (JFJ), D.J. Ref. No. 90-11-3-12566. All comments must be submitted no later than thirty (30) days after the publication date of this notice. Comments may be submitted either by email or by mail:
                </P>
                <GPOTABLE COLS="2" OPTS="L2,nj,tp0,i1" CDEF="xs50,r50">
                    <TTITLE> </TTITLE>
                    <BOXHD>
                        <CHED H="1" O="L">
                            <E T="03">To submit comments:</E>
                        </CHED>
                        <CHED H="1" O="L">
                            <E T="03">Send them to:</E>
                        </CHED>
                    </BOXHD>
                    <ROW>
                        <ENT I="01">By email</ENT>
                        <ENT>
                            <E T="03">pubcomment-ees.enrd@usdoj.gov.</E>
                        </ENT>
                    </ROW>
                    <ROW>
                        <ENT I="01">By mail</ENT>
                        <ENT>Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General, U.S. DOJ—ENRD, P.O. Box 7611, Washington, DC 20044-7611.</ENT>
                    </ROW>
                </GPOTABLE>
                <P>Any comments submitted in writing may be filed IN whole or in part on the public court docket without notice to the commenter.</P>
                <P>
                    During the public comment period, the Partial Consent Decree may be examined and downloaded at this Justice Department website: 
                    <E T="03">https://www.justice.gov/enrd/consent-decrees.</E>
                     If you require assistance accessing the Partial Consent Decree, you may request assistance by email or by mail to the addresses provided above for submitting comments.
                </P>
                <SIG>
                    <NAME>Thomas Carroll,</NAME>
                    <TITLE>Assistant Section Chief, Environmental Enforcement Section, Environment and Natural Resources Division.</TITLE>
                </SIG>
            </PREAMB>
            <FRDOC>[FR Doc. 2026-17200 Filed 8-21-26; 8:45 am]</FRDOC>
            <BILCOD>BILLING CODE 4410-15-P</BILCOD>
        </NOTICE>
        <NOTICE>
            <PREAMB>
                <AGENCY TYPE="N">NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION</AGENCY>
                <DEPDOC>[Docket Nos. STN 50-528, STN 50-529, STN-530, and 72-44; NRC-2026-2575]</DEPDOC>
                <SUBJECT>Arizona Public Service Company; Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station, Units 1, 2, and 3; Indirect Transfer of Control of Licenses</SUBJECT>
                <AGY>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">AGENCY:</HD>
                    <P>Nuclear Regulatory Commission.</P>
                </AGY>
                <ACT>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">ACTION:</HD>
                    <P>Order; issuance.</P>
                </ACT>
                <SUM>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">SUMMARY:</HD>
                    <P>The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC, the Commission) is issuing an order approving the application dated April 24, 2026, filed by Arizona Public Service Company (APS), on behalf of Public Service Company of New Mexico (PNM), Troy ParentCo LLC (Troy ParentCo), and their corporate affiliates (together, Applicants). The application sought NRC consent to the indirect transfer of control of PNM's co-ownership of the Renewed Facility Operating License Nos. NPF-41, NPF-51, and NPF-74 for the Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station (Palo Verde), Units 1, 2, and 3, respectively, as well as the associated general license for the Palo Verde Independent Spent Fuel Storage Installation (ISFSI) (together, the facility). No physical changes or operational changes to the facility were proposed in the application.</P>
                </SUM>
                <DATES>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">DATES:</HD>
                    <P>The order was issued on August 18, 2026, and is effective for one year.</P>
                </DATES>
                <ADD>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">ADDRESSES:</HD>
                    <P>Please refer to Docket ID NRC-2026-2575 when contacting the NRC about the availability of information regarding this document. You may obtain publicly available information related to this document using any of the following methods:</P>
                    <P>
                        • 
                        <E T="03">Federal Rulemaking website:</E>
                         Go to 
                        <E T="03">https://www.regulations.gov</E>
                         and search for Docket ID NRC-2026-2575. Address questions about Docket IDs in 
                        <E T="03">Regulations.gov</E>
                         to Bridget Curran; telephone: 301-415-1003; email: 
                        <E T="03">Bridget.Curran@nrc.gov.</E>
                         For technical questions, contact the individual(s) listed in the 
                        <E T="02">For Further Information Contact</E>
                         section of this document.
                    </P>
                    <P>
                        • 
                        <E T="03">NRC's Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS):</E>
                         You may obtain publicly available documents online in the ADAMS Public Documents collection at 
                        <E T="03">https://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/adams.html.</E>
                         To begin the search, select “Begin ADAMS Public Search.” For problems with ADAMS, please contact the NRC's Public Document Room (PDR) reference staff at 1-800-397-4209, 301-415-4737, or by email to 
                        <E T="03">PDR.Resource@nrc.gov.</E>
                         The license transfer order and the NRC staff safety evaluation supporting the order are available in ADAMS under Package Accession No. ML26197A237.
                    </P>
                    <P>
                        • 
                        <E T="03">NRC's PDR:</E>
                         The PDR, where you may examine and order copies of publicly available documents, is open by appointment. To make an appointment to visit the PDR, please send an email to 
                        <E T="03">PDR.Resource@nrc.gov</E>
                         or call 1-800-397-4209 or 301-415-4737, between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Eastern Time (ET), Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
                    </P>
                </ADD>
                <FURINF>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:</HD>
                    <P>
                        Jason J. Drake, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555-0001; telephone: 301-415-8378; email: 
                        <E T="03">Jason.Drake@nrc.gov.</E>
                    </P>
                </FURINF>
            </PREAMB>
            <SUPLINF>
                <HD SOURCE="HED">SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:</HD>
                <P>The text of the order is attached.</P>
                <EXTRACT>
                    <FP>
                        (Authority: 42 U.S.C. 2011 
                        <E T="03">et seq.</E>
                        )
                    </FP>
                </EXTRACT>
                <SIG>
                    <DATED>Dated: August 20, 2026.</DATED>
                    <PRTPAGE P="54767"/>
                    <P>For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.</P>
                    <NAME>Jason Drake,</NAME>
                    <TITLE>Project Manager, Operating Reactor Licensing Branch IV, Division Licensing Projects I, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.</TITLE>
                </SIG>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">Attachment—Order Approving Indirect Transfer of Control of Licenses</HD>
                <EXTRACT>
                    <HD SOURCE="HD1">UNITED STATES OF AMERICA</HD>
                    <HD SOURCE="HD1">NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION</HD>
                    <P>
                        <E T="03">In the Matter of</E>
                         Arizona Public Service Company Public Service Company of New Mexico Troy ParentCo LLC Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station, Units 1, 2, and 3 and Independent Spent Fuel Storage Installation Docket Nos. STN 50-528, STN 50-529, STN 50-530, and 72-44 License Nos. NPF -41, NPF-51, and NPF-74.
                    </P>
                </EXTRACT>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">Order Approving Indirect Transfer of Control of Licenses</HD>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">I.</HD>
                <P>
                    Arizona Public Service Company (APS) is the licensed operator and a licensed co-owner of Renewed Facility Operating License Nos. NPF-41, NPF-51, and NPF-74 for Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station (Palo Verde), Units 1, 2, and 3, respectively, and the general license for the Palo Verde Independent Spent Fuel Storage Installation (ISFSI) (collectively, the Licenses). Palo Verde is located in Maricopa County, Arizona. The other licensed co-owners (tenants-in-common), Salt River Project Agricultural Improvement and Power District; Southern California Edison Company; El Paso Electric Company; Public Service Company of New Mexico (PNM); Southern California Public Power Authority; and Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, hold possession-only rights for these Licenses (
                    <E T="03">i.e.,</E>
                     they are not licensed to operate the facility).
                </P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">II.</HD>
                <P>
                    By application dated April 24, 2026 (Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS) Accession No. ML26114A391), APS on behalf of PNM, Troy ParentCo LLC (Troy ParentCo), and their corporate affiliates (together, Applicants) requested, pursuant to Title 10 of the 
                    <E T="03">Code of Federal Regulations</E>
                     (10 CFR) Sections 50.80, “Transfer of licenses,” and 72.50, “Transfer of license,” that the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC, the Commission) consent to the indirect transfer of control of the Licenses.
                </P>
                <P>PNM is one of seven co-owners of Palo Verde Units 1, 2, and 3, and the ISFSI. APS operates Palo Verde Units 1, 2, and 3, and the ISFSI on behalf of the ownership group. According to the application, Applicants requested the indirect transfer of the Licenses so that they can complete a transaction pursuant to an Agreement and Plan of Merger dated May 18, 2025 (the “Merger Agreement”). Under the Merger Agreement, TXNM Energy, Inc. (TXNM) and, in turn, PNM, as a wholly owned subsidiary of TXNM would become wholly owned subsidiaries of Troy ParentCo.</P>
                <P>Troy ParentCo, a Delaware limited liability company, is a wholly owned, direct subsidiary of Troy IntermediateCo LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, which is a wholly owned, direct subsidiary of Troy TopCo LP (Troy TopCo). Troy TopCo, a Delaware limited partnership, whose general partner is Troy GP LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, is wholly owned by Troy Aggregator LP, a Delaware limited partnership. The general partner of Troy Aggregator LP is BIP Holdings Manager L.L.C. Interests in Troy Aggregator LP are held by passive investors and limited partners that are all investment funds or vehicles directly or indirectly controlled by four entities: (i) BIA GP L.P., (ii) BIA GP NQ L.P., (iii) Blackstone Infrastructure Associates (Lux) S.à.r.l., and/or (iv) BXISA L.L.C. (collectively, Blackstone Infrastructure Management). These entities comprising Blackstone Infrastructure Management are, in turn, indirectly and wholly controlled by Blackstone Inc. (Blackstone). Blackstone is a publicly traded investment firm listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: BX) with nearly $1.2 trillion in assets under management.</P>
                <P>The transaction affects only upstream corporate ownership and does not modify PNM's assets, obligations, or participation in PVNGS or the ISFSI. Accordingly, after the proposed transaction, there would be no change in the control of the operation of Palo Verde; APS would continue to make all technical decisions that do not require approval from all owners of Palo Verde. No physical changes or operational changes were proposed in the application.</P>
                <P>
                    A notice of consideration of approval of the application and opportunity to comment, request a hearing, and petition for leave to intervene on the application was published in the 
                    <E T="04">Federal Register</E>
                     (FR) on June 4, 2026 (91 FR 33772). The NRC did not receive any comments or hearing requests on the application.
                </P>
                <P>Under 10 CFR 50.80 and 10 CFR 72.50, no license for a production or utilization facility or ISFSI, or any right thereunder, shall be transferred, either voluntarily or involuntarily, directly or indirectly, through transfer of control of the license to any person, unless the Commission gives its consent in writing. Upon review of the information in the application, and other information before the Commission, the NRC staff has determined that the proposed indirect transfer of control of PNM's possession-only non-operating interests in the licenses is acceptable. The proposed transferee is qualified to be the indirect holder of the licenses, and the indirect transfer of the licenses is otherwise consistent with applicable provisions of law, regulations, and orders issued by the Commission pursuant thereto.</P>
                <P>The findings set forth above are supported by an NRC staff safety evaluation dated the same date as this Order, which is available at ADAMS Accession No. ML26197A235.</P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">III.</HD>
                <P>Accordingly, pursuant to Sections 161b, 161i, and 184 of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended, 42 U.S.C. 2201(b), 2201(i), and 2234; and 10 CFR 50.80 and 10 CFR 72.50, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that the application regarding the proposed indirect transfer of control is approved for Palo Verde Units 1, 2, and 3 and the Palo Verde ISFSI.</P>
                <P>IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that after receipt of all required regulatory approvals of the proposed indirect transfer action, the applicant shall inform the Director of the Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation in writing of such receipt prior to the closing of the indirect transfer. Should the proposed indirect transfer not be completed within 1 year from the date of this Order, this Order shall become null and void, provided, however, that upon written application and for good cause shown, such date may be extended by order.</P>
                <P>This Order is effective upon issuance.</P>
                <P>
                    For further details with respect to this Order, see the application dated April 24, 2026, and the NRC staff safety evaluation dated the same date as this Order, which are available for public inspection electronically through ADAMS in the NRC Library at 
                    <E T="03">https://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/adams.html.</E>
                     Persons who do not have access to ADAMS or who encounter problems accessing the documents located in ADAMS should contact the NRC Public Document Room (PDR) reference staff by telephone at 1-800-397-4209 or 301-415-4737 or by email to 
                    <E T="03">PDR.Resource@nrc.gov.</E>
                </P>
                <EXTRACT>
                    <P>Dated: August 18, 2026.</P>
                    <P>For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.</P>
                    <HD SOURCE="HD2">/RA/</HD>
                    <FP>
                        Mahmoud Jardaneh, 
                        <PRTPAGE P="54768"/>
                    </FP>
                    <FP>
                        <E T="03">Acting Director, Division of Licensing Projects I, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.</E>
                    </FP>
                </EXTRACT>
            </SUPLINF>
            <FRDOC>[FR Doc. 2026-17244 Filed 8-21-26; 8:45 am]</FRDOC>
            <BILCOD>BILLING CODE 7590-01-P</BILCOD>
        </NOTICE>
        <NOTICE>
            <PREAMB>
                <AGENCY TYPE="N">SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION</AGENCY>
                <DEPDOC>[OMB Control No. 3235-0783]</DEPDOC>
                <SUBJECT>Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request; Extension: Rule 31a-4</SUBJECT>
                <FP SOURCE="FP-1">
                    <E T="03">Upon Written Request, Copies Available From:</E>
                     Securities and Exchange Commission, Office of FOIA Services, 100 F Street NE, Washington, DC 20549-2736
                </FP>
                <P>Notice is hereby given that, pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501-3520), the Securities and Exchange Commission (“Commission”) has submitted to the Office of Management and Budget a request for extension of the previously approved collection of information discussed below.</P>
                <P>
                    Rule 2a-5 (17 CFR 270.2a-5) under the Investment Company Act (the “Act”) provides the requirements for determining in good faith the fair value of the investments of a registered investment company or companies that have elected to be treated as business development companies under the Investment Company Act (“BDCs” and, collectively, “funds”) for purposes of section 2(a)(41) of the Investment Company Act and rule 2a-4 thereunder. Under rule 2a-5, fair value as determined in good faith requires assessing and managing material risks associated with fair value determinations; selecting, applying, and testing fair value methodologies; and overseeing and evaluating any pricing services used. Rule 2a-5 also permits a fund's board to designate a “valuation designee” to perform fair value determinations. The valuation designee can be the adviser of the fund or an officer of an internally managed fund.
                    <SU>1</SU>
                    <FTREF/>
                     When a board designates the performance of determinations of fair value to a valuation designee for some or all of the fund's investments under rule 2a-5, this rule requires the board to oversee the valuation designee's performance of fair value determinations. To facilitate such oversight, rule 2a-5 also includes certain reporting and other requirements.
                    <SU>2</SU>
                    <FTREF/>
                </P>
                <FTNT>
                    <P>
                        <SU>1</SU>
                         Rule 2a-5(e)(4); 
                        <E T="03">see generally</E>
                         Good Faith Determinations of Fair Value, Investment Company Act Release No. 34128 (Dec. 7, 2020) (“Adopting Release”).
                    </P>
                </FTNT>
                <FTNT>
                    <P>
                        <SU>2</SU>
                         Rule 2a-5(b).
                    </P>
                </FTNT>
                <P>
                    Rule 31a-4 (17 CFR 270.34a-1) contains the recordkeeping requirements associated with rule 2a-5. Specifically, registered investment companies and BDCs, or their advisers, are required to maintain appropriate documentation to support fair value determinations made pursuant to rule 2a-5.
                    <SU>3</SU>
                    <FTREF/>
                     Further, if the board of the fund designates performance of fair value determinations to a valuation designee under rule 2a-5, the fund or adviser needs to maintain certain additional records relating to that designation.
                    <SU>4</SU>
                    <FTREF/>
                </P>
                <FTNT>
                    <P>
                        <SU>3</SU>
                         Rule 31a-4(a).
                    </P>
                </FTNT>
                <FTNT>
                    <P>
                        <SU>4</SU>
                         Rule 31a-4(b).
                    </P>
                </FTNT>
                <P>Compliance with rule 31a-4 is mandatory for any fund that needs to determine fair value under the Act. To the extent that records that are required to be created and maintained under this rule are provided to the Commission in connection with examinations or investigations, such information will be kept confidential subject to the provisions of applicable law.</P>
                <P>There are approximately 10,047 funds that are required to comply with rule 31a-4. It is estimated that rule 31a-4 imposes an annual time burden of approximately 36 hours with an annual time cost of $15,984 per fund, resulting in total annual time burden (across all 10,047 funds) of 361,692 hours at a cost of $160,591,348.</P>
                <P>An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB Control Number.</P>
                <P>
                    The public may view and comment on this information collection request at: 
                    <E T="03">https://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAViewICR?ref_nbr=202606-3235-002</E>
                     or send an email comment to 
                    <E T="03">MBX.OMB.OIRA.SEC_desk_officer@omb.eop.gov</E>
                     within 30 days of the day after publication of this notice by September 24, 2026.
                </P>
                <SIG>
                    <DATED>Dated: August 19, 2026.</DATED>
                    <NAME>Vanessa A. Countryman,</NAME>
                    <TITLE>Secretary.</TITLE>
                </SIG>
            </PREAMB>
            <FRDOC>[FR Doc. 2026-17189 Filed 8-21-26; 8:45 am]</FRDOC>
            <BILCOD>BILLING CODE 8011-01-P</BILCOD>
        </NOTICE>
        <NOTICE>
            <PREAMB>
                <AGENCY TYPE="S">SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION</AGENCY>
                <DEPDOC>[Release No. 34-106151; File No. SR-IEX-2026-28]</DEPDOC>
                <SUBJECT>Self-Regulatory Organizations; Investors Exchange LLC; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change To Correct an Internal Cross-Reference Error in Rule 23.150</SUBJECT>
                <DATE>August 19, 2026.</DATE>
                <P>
                    Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) 
                    <SU>1</SU>
                    <FTREF/>
                     of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Act”) 
                    <SU>2</SU>
                    <FTREF/>
                     and Rule 19b-4 thereunder,
                    <SU>3</SU>
                    <FTREF/>
                     notice is hereby given that, on August 13, 2026, the Investors Exchange LLC (“IEX” or the “Exchange”) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) the proposed rule change as described in Items I and II below, which Items have been prepared by the self-regulatory organization. The Commission is publishing this notice to solicit comments on the proposed rule change from interested persons.
                </P>
                <FTNT>
                    <P>
                        <SU>1</SU>
                         15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
                    </P>
                </FTNT>
                <FTNT>
                    <P>
                        <SU>2</SU>
                         15 U.S.C. 78a.
                    </P>
                </FTNT>
                <FTNT>
                    <P>
                        <SU>3</SU>
                         17 CFR 240.19b-4.
                    </P>
                </FTNT>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">I. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Terms of Substance of the Proposed Rule Change</HD>
                <P>
                    Pursuant to the provisions of Section 19(b)(1) under the Act,
                    <SU>4</SU>
                    <FTREF/>
                     and Rule 19b-4 thereunder,
                    <SU>5</SU>
                    <FTREF/>
                     the Exchange is filing with the Commission a proposed rule change to correct an internal cross-reference error in Rule 23.150, which was inadvertently introduced by a recent rule change. The Exchange has designated this rule change as “non-controversial” under Section 19(b)(3)(A) of the Act 
                    <SU>6</SU>
                    <FTREF/>
                     and provided the Commission with the notice required by Rule 19b-4(f)(6) thereunder.
                    <SU>7</SU>
                    <FTREF/>
                </P>
                <FTNT>
                    <P>
                        <SU>4</SU>
                         15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
                    </P>
                </FTNT>
                <FTNT>
                    <P>
                        <SU>5</SU>
                         17 CFR 240.19b-4.
                    </P>
                </FTNT>
                <FTNT>
                    <P>
                        <SU>6</SU>
                         15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).
                    </P>
                </FTNT>
                <FTNT>
                    <P>
                        <SU>7</SU>
                         17 CFR 240.19b-4.
                    </P>
                </FTNT>
                <P>
                    The text of the proposed rule change is available at the Exchange's website at 
                    <E T="03">https://www.iexexchange.io/resources/regulation/rule-filings</E>
                     and at the principal office of the Exchange.
                </P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">II. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Purpose of, and the Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change</HD>
                <P>
                    In its filing with the Commission, the self-regulatory organization included statements concerning the purpose of and basis for the proposed rule change and discussed any comments it received on the proposed rule change. The text of these statements may be examined at 
                    <PRTPAGE P="54769"/>
                    the places specified in Item IV below. The self-regulatory organization has prepared summaries, set forth in Sections A, B, and C below, of the most significant aspects of such statements.
                </P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD2">A. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Purpose of, and the Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change</HD>
                <HD SOURCE="HD3">1. Purpose</HD>
                <P>The Exchange makes this filing to correct an internal cross-reference error in IEX 23.150, which was inadvertently introduced by a recent rule change.</P>
                <P>
                    Currently, Rule 23.150(h)(1) refers to “Away Markets (as defined by 22.160(a)(8),” when the definition of “Away Markets” it is cross-referencing is in Rule 22.160(a)(7). Rule 22.160 (Market Opening Procedures) was recently modified to replace IEX's price discovery auction opening process for option series with a simpler deterministic midpoint crossing process opening process.
                    <SU>8</SU>
                    <FTREF/>
                     The Opening Process Filing made several changes to Rule 22.160, including changes to the definitions set forth in Rule 22.160(a).
                    <SU>9</SU>
                    <FTREF/>
                     Among those changes was a renumbering of the definition of “Away Market” from Rule 22.160(a)(8) to 22.160(a)(7). IEX therefore proposes to amend Rule 23.150(h)(1) to cross-reference Rule 22.160(a)(7) instead of Rule 22.160(a)(8).
                </P>
                <FTNT>
                    <P>
                        <SU>8</SU>
                         
                        <E T="03">See</E>
                         Securities Exchange Act Release No. 105546 (May 12, 2026), 91 FR 31813 (May 22, 2026) (SR-IEX-2026-15) (“Opening Process Filing”).
                    </P>
                </FTNT>
                <FTNT>
                    <P>
                        <SU>9</SU>
                         
                        <E T="03">Id.</E>
                    </P>
                </FTNT>
                <P>IEX notes that the proposed change to this internal cross-reference does not substantively modify system functionality or processes on the Exchange, but solely corrects an incorrect internal cross-reference.</P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD3">2. Statutory Basis</HD>
                <P>
                    IEX believes that the proposed rule change is consistent with the provisions of Section 6(b) 
                    <SU>10</SU>
                    <FTREF/>
                     of the Act in general, and furthers the objectives of Section 6(b)(5) of the Act 
                    <SU>11</SU>
                    <FTREF/>
                     in particular, in that it is designed to prevent fraudulent and manipulative acts and practices, to promote just and equitable principles of trade, to remove impediments to and perfect the mechanism of a free and open market and a national market system, and, in general, to protect investors and the public interest.
                </P>
                <FTNT>
                    <P>
                        <SU>10</SU>
                         15 U.S.C. 78f(b).
                    </P>
                </FTNT>
                <FTNT>
                    <P>
                        <SU>11</SU>
                         15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
                    </P>
                </FTNT>
                <P>
                    Specifically, IEX believes that the proposed rule change is consistent with Section 6(b)(5) of the Act 
                    <SU>12</SU>
                    <FTREF/>
                     because by correcting an inadvertent typographical error introduced by the Opening Process Filing, it will eliminate any confusion regarding the definition of “Away Markets” as that term is used in Rule 23.150(h), without substantively changing any of IEX's rules.
                </P>
                <FTNT>
                    <P>
                        <SU>12</SU>
                         15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
                    </P>
                </FTNT>
                <P>The Exchange also believes that the proposed rule change is consistent with the public interest and the protection of investors because it will provide increased clarity in the Exchange's rules.</P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD2">B. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Burden on Competition</HD>
                <P>IEX does not believe that the proposed rule change will result in any burden on competition that is not necessary or appropriate in furtherance of the purposes of the Act. As described in the Purpose and Statutory Basis sections, this rule filing merely proposes to correct one internal cross-reference error introduced by a recent rule filing. The proposed rule change is not intended to address competitive issues but rather would modify Exchange rules to update an internal cross-reference. Since the proposal does not substantively modify system functionality or processes on the Exchange, the proposed changes will not impose any burden on competition.</P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD2">C. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Comments on the Proposed Rule Change Received From Members, Participants, or Others</HD>
                <P>Written comments were neither solicited nor received.</P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">III. Date of Effectiveness of the Proposed Rule Change and Timing for Commission Action</HD>
                <P>
                    The Exchange has designated this rule filing as non-controversial under Section 19(b)(3)(A) 
                    <SU>13</SU>
                    <FTREF/>
                     of the Act and Rule 19b-4(f)(6) 
                    <SU>14</SU>
                    <FTREF/>
                     thereunder. Because the proposed rule change does not: (i) significantly affect the protection of investors or the public interest; (ii) impose any significant burden on competition; and (iii) become operative for 30 days from the date on which it was filed, or such shorter time as the Commission may designate, it has become effective pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A) of the Act and Rule 19b-4(f)(6) 
                    <SU>15</SU>
                    <FTREF/>
                     thereunder.
                </P>
                <FTNT>
                    <P>
                        <SU>13</SU>
                         15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).
                    </P>
                </FTNT>
                <FTNT>
                    <P>
                        <SU>14</SU>
                         17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6).
                    </P>
                </FTNT>
                <FTNT>
                    <P>
                        <SU>15</SU>
                         17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6). Rule 19b-4(f)(6) requires a self-regulatory organization to give the Commission written notice of its intent to file the proposed rule change, along with a brief description and text of the proposed rule change, at least five business days prior to the date of filing of the proposed rule change, or such shorter time as designated by the Commission. The Exchange has satisfied this requirement.
                    </P>
                </FTNT>
                <P>
                    At any time within 60 days of the filing of the proposed rule change, the Commission summarily may temporarily suspend such rule change if it appears to the Commission that such action is necessary or appropriate in the public interest, for the protection of investors, or otherwise in furtherance of the purposes of the Act. If the Commission takes such action, the Commission shall institute proceedings under Section 19(b)(2)(B) 
                    <SU>16</SU>
                    <FTREF/>
                     of the Act to determine whether the proposed rule change should be approved or disapproved.
                </P>
                <FTNT>
                    <P>
                        <SU>16</SU>
                         15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2)(B).
                    </P>
                </FTNT>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">IV. Solicitation of Comments</HD>
                <P>Interested persons are invited to submit written data, views and arguments concerning the foregoing, including whether the proposed rule change is consistent with the Act. Comments may be submitted by any of the following methods:</P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD2">Electronic Comments</HD>
                <P>
                    • Use the Commission's internet comment form (
                    <E T="03">https://www.sec.gov/rules/sro.shtml</E>
                    ); or
                </P>
                <P>
                    • Send an email to 
                    <E T="03">rule-comments@sec.gov.</E>
                     Please include file number SR-IEX-2026-28 on the subject line.
                </P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD2">Paper Comments</HD>
                <P>• Send paper comments in triplicate to Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street NE, Washington, DC 20549-1090.</P>
                <FP>
                    All submissions should refer to file number SR-IEX-2026-28. This file number should be included on the subject line if email is used. To help the Commission process and review your comments more efficiently, please use only one method. The Commission will post all comments on the Commission's internet website (
                    <E T="03">https://www.sec.gov/rules/sro.shtml</E>
                    ). Copies of the filing will be available for inspection and copying at the principal office of the Exchange. Do not include personal identifiable information in submissions; you should submit only information that you wish to make available publicly. We may redact in part or withhold entirely from publication submitted material that is obscene or subject to copyright protection. All submissions should refer to file number SR-IEX-2026-28 and should be submitted on or before September 14, 2026.
                </FP>
                <SIG>
                    <PRTPAGE P="54770"/>
                    <P>
                        For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated authority.
                        <SU>17</SU>
                        <FTREF/>
                    </P>
                    <FTNT>
                        <P>
                            <SU>17</SU>
                             17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
                        </P>
                    </FTNT>
                    <NAME>Vanessa A. Countryman,</NAME>
                    <TITLE>Secretary.</TITLE>
                </SIG>
            </PREAMB>
            <FRDOC>[FR Doc. 2026-17201 Filed 8-21-26; 8:45 am]</FRDOC>
            <BILCOD>BILLING CODE 8011-01-P</BILCOD>
        </NOTICE>
        <NOTICE>
            <PREAMB>
                <AGENCY TYPE="S">SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION</AGENCY>
                <DEPDOC>[Release No. 34-106161; File No. SR-CBOE-2026-071]</DEPDOC>
                <SUBJECT>Self-Regulatory Organizations; Cboe Exchange, Inc.; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of a Proposed Rule Change To Update Its Fees Schedule in Connection With Binary Options That Overlie the Mini-S&amp;P 500 Index</SUBJECT>
                <DATE>August 19, 2026.</DATE>
                <P>
                    Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Act”),
                    <SU>1</SU>
                    <FTREF/>
                     and Rule 19b-4 thereunder,
                    <SU>2</SU>
                    <FTREF/>
                     notice is hereby given that on August 12, 2026, Cboe Exchange, Inc. (“Exchange” or “Cboe Options”) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“Commission”) the proposed rule change as described in Items I, II, and III below, which Items have been prepared by the Exchange. The Commission is publishing this notice to solicit comments on the proposed rule change from interested persons.
                </P>
                <FTNT>
                    <P>
                        <SU>1</SU>
                         15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
                    </P>
                </FTNT>
                <FTNT>
                    <P>
                        <SU>2</SU>
                         17 CFR 240.19b-4.
                    </P>
                </FTNT>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">I. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Terms of Substance of the Proposed Rule Change</HD>
                <P>Cboe Exchange, Inc. (the “Exchange” or “Cboe Options”) proposes to update its Fees Schedule in connection with binary options that overlie the Mini-S&amp;P 500 Index (“XSP binary options”); specifically, the Exchange proposes to adopt certain standard transaction fees in connection with XSP binary options and exclude XSP binary options from certain fees programs. The text of the proposed rule change is provided in Exhibit 5.</P>
                <P>
                    The text of the proposed rule change is also available on the Commission's website (
                    <E T="03">https://www.sec.gov/rules/sro.shtml</E>
                    ), the Exchange's website (
                    <E T="03">https://www.cboe.com/us/options/regulation/rule_filings/cone/</E>
                    ), and at the principal office of the Exchange.
                </P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">II. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Purpose of, and Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change</HD>
                <P>In its filing with the Commission, the Exchange included statements concerning the purpose of and basis for the proposed rule change and discussed any comments it received on the proposed rule change. The text of these statements may be examined at the places specified in Item IV below. The Exchange has prepared summaries, set forth in sections A, B, and C below, of the most significant aspects of such statements.</P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD2">A. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Purpose of, and Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change</HD>
                <HD SOURCE="HD3">1. Purpose</HD>
                <P>
                    The Exchange proposes to update its Fees Schedule in connection with XSP binary options.
                    <SU>3</SU>
                    <FTREF/>
                </P>
                <FTNT>
                    <P>
                        <SU>3</SU>
                         The Exchange initially filed the proposed fee change, among other changes, on June 15, 2026 (SR-CBOE-2026-056). On August 12, 2026, the Exchange withdrew that filing and submitted this proposal.
                    </P>
                </FTNT>
                <P>
                    First, the Exchange proposes to adopt certain standard transaction fees in connection with XSP binary options (“XSPBX”), as follows: 
                    <SU>4</SU>
                    <FTREF/>
                </P>
                <FTNT>
                    <P>
                        <SU>4</SU>
                         Under the proposed changes, Footnotes 1, 3, 4, 7, 13, 15, 39, and 24 (proposed Footnote 24 described below), set forth in the Exchange Fees Schedule will apply to Binary Options. As part of the proposed changes, the Exchange proposes to append these footnotes to the proposed Rates Table for Binary Options. Footnote 1 provides that the standard transaction rates set forth in the proposed Rates Table apply per contract side, including FLEX; Footnote 3 provides that Trading Permit Holder transaction fee policies and rebate programs are described in the Trading Permit Holder Transaction Fee Policies and Rebate Programs table; Footnote 4 provides that transaction fees are charged to the Cboe Options executing firm on the input record; Footnote 7 provides that all fees and rebates assessed prior to the three full calendar months before the month in which the Exchange becomes aware of a billing error shall be considered final, and that any dispute concerning fees or rebates billed by the Exchange must be submitted to the Exchange in writing and must be accompanied by supporting documentation; Footnote 13 provides that transaction fees for Market-Makers and other specified participants are capped at $0.00 for merger, short stock interest, reversal, conversion, and jelly roll strategies executed in open outcry on the same trading day in the same option class across equities, ETFs, and ETNs, with each strategy type specifically defined, though strategies tied to QCC orders are ineligible for a strategy rebate and those defined in the footnote are ineligible for an ORS/CORS subsidy; Footnote 15 provides that under Exchange Rule 5.26, when exclusively listed options are traded at a Back-up Exchange, that exchange will apply Cboe Options' per contract fees, while any other Cboe Options listed options traded there will be subject to the Back-up Exchange's fee schedule; conversely, when a Disabled Exchange's exclusively listed options are traded at Cboe Options, Cboe Options will apply the Disabled Exchange's per contract fees, while any other options classes of the Disabled Exchange traded at Cboe Options will be subject to Cboe Options' fee schedule; and Footnote 39 provides that each Trading Permit Holder is responsible for notifying the Exchange of all of its affiliates and is required to inform the Exchange immediately of any event that causes an entity to cease to be an affiliate in a form and manner to be determined by the Exchange; an “affiliate” is defined as having at least 75% common ownership between two entities as reflected on each entity's Form BD, Schedule A.
                    </P>
                </FTNT>
                <P>• Adopts fee code D1, appended to all Customer (capacity “C”) orders in XSPBX with a premium price less than $0.04 or greater than $0.96 and assesses a fee of $0.04 per contract;</P>
                <P>• Adopts fee code D2, appended to all Customer (capacity “C”) orders in XSPBX with a premium price of $0.04 to $0.09 or $0.91 to $0.96 and assesses a fee of $0.08 per contract;</P>
                <P>• Adopts fee code D3, appended to all Customer (capacity “C”) orders in XSPBX with a premium price of $0.10 to $0.24 or $0.76 to $0.90 and assesses a fee of $0.20 per contract;</P>
                <P>• Adopts fee code D4, appended to all Customer (capacity “C”) orders in XSPBX with a premium price of $0.25 to $0.75 and assesses a fee of $0.30 per contract;</P>
                <P>
                    • Adopts fee code N1, appended to all Clearing Trading Permit Holder (“TPH”) (capacity “F”), Non-Clearing TPH Affiliates (capacity “L”),
                    <SU>5</SU>
                    <FTREF/>
                     Broker-Dealer (capacity “B”), Joint Back-Office (capacity “J”), Non-TPH Market-Maker (capacity “N”), and Professional (capacity “U”) 
                    <SU>6</SU>
                    <FTREF/>
                     (collectively, “Non-Customer, Non-Market-Maker”) orders in XSPBX with a premium price less than $0.04 or greater than $0.96 and assesses a fee of $0.10 per contract;
                </P>
                <FTNT>
                    <P>
                        <SU>5</SU>
                         As part of the proposed changes, the Exchange propose to append Footnotes 12 and 16 to the Clearing TPH Proprietary capacity set forth in the proposed Rate Table for Binary Options. Footnote 12 provides for certain pricing changes that will apply if the Cboe Options trading floor becomes inoperable and the Exchange operates in a screen-based only environment during Regular Trading Hours, while Footnote 16 provides that Broker-Dealer transaction fees apply to broker-dealer orders (orders with “B” capacity code), non-Trading Permit Holder market-maker orders (orders with “N” capacity code) and certain orders with “F” or “L” capacity codes (
                        <E T="03">i.e.,</E>
                         orders from OCC numbers that are not from Cboe Options Trading Permit Holders or are not registered with the Exchange).
                    </P>
                </FTNT>
                <FTNT>
                    <P>
                        <SU>6</SU>
                         As part of the proposed changes, the Exchange propose to append Footnote 16 to the Broker-Dealer and Non-TPH Market Maker capacities set forth in the proposed Rate Table for Binary Options.
                    </P>
                </FTNT>
                <P>• Adopts fee code N2, appended to all Non-Customer, Non-Market Maker orders in XSPBX with a premium price of $0.04 to $0.09 or $0.91 to $0.96 and assesses a fee of $0.15 per contract;</P>
                <P>
                    • Adopts fee code N3, appended to all Non-Customer, Non-Market Maker orders in XSPBX with a premium price of $0.10 to $0.24 or $0.76 to $0.90 and assesses a fee of $0.25 per contract;
                    <PRTPAGE P="54771"/>
                </P>
                <P>• Adopts fee code N4, appended to all Non-Customer, Non-Market Maker orders in XSPBX with a premium price of $0.25 to $0.75 and assesses a fee of $0.35 per contract;</P>
                <P>• Adopts fee code H1, appended to all electronic Cboe Options Market-Maker/Designated Primary Market-Maker (“DPM”)/Lead Market-Maker (“LMM”) (“Market-Maker”) (capacity “M”) orders in XSPBX taking liquidity, with a premium price less than $0.04 or greater than $0.96 and assesses a fee of $0.10 per contract;</P>
                <P>• Adopts fee code H2, appended to all electronic Market-Maker (capacity “M”) orders in XSPBX taking liquidity, with a premium price of $0.04 to $0.09 or $0.91 to $0.96 and assesses a fee of $0.15 per contract;</P>
                <P>• Adopts fee code H3, appended to all electronic Market-Maker (capacity “M”) orders in XSPBX taking liquidity, with a premium price of $0.10 to $0.24 or $0.76 to $0.90 and assesses a fee of $0.25 per contract;</P>
                <P>• Adopts fee code H4, appended to all electronic Market-Maker (capacity “M”) orders in XSPBX taking liquidity, with a premium price of $0.25 to $0.75 and assesses a fee of $0.35 per contract;</P>
                <P>• Adopts fee code HA, appended to all electronic Market-Maker (capacity “M”) orders in XSPBX adding liquidity, and assesses a fee of $0.05 per contract; and</P>
                <P>• Adopts fee code HM, appended to all manual Market-Maker (capacity “M”) orders in XSPBX and assesses a fee of $0.15 per contract.</P>
                <P>The Exchange also proposes to adopt and append to fee tables as applicable and needed proposed Footnote 24 (currently marked as Reserved), which provides that XSPBX options are excluded from the following programs: Liquidity Provider Sliding Scale, Liquidity Provider Sliding Scale Adjustment Table, Volume Incentive Program, Break-Up Credits, Affiliate Volume Plan, Marketing Fee, Clearing Trading Permit Holder Fee Cap, Customer Large Trade Discount, Floor Broker Sliding Scale Rebate Program, Floor Broker Sliding Scale Supplemental Rebate Program, Order Router Subsidy Program, and Complex Order Router Subsidy Program.</P>
                <P>First, the Exchange proposes to exclude XSPBX options from the Liquidity Provider Sliding Scale, which offers credits on Market-Maker orders where a Market-Maker achieves certain volume thresholds based on total national Market-Maker volume in all underlying symbols, excluding Underlying Symbol List A, DJX, CBTX, MBTX, MGTN, MRUT, NANOS, SPEQX, SPESG, XSP and FLEX Micros during the calendar month. Specifically, the proposed rule change updates the Liquidity Provider Sliding Scale table to provide that volume thresholds are based on total national Market-Maker volume in all underlying symbols excluding Underlying Symbol List A, DJX, CBTX, MBTX, MGTN, MRUT, NANOS, SPEQX, SPESG, XSP, XSPBX, and FLEX Micros during the calendar month, and that it applies in all underlying symbols excluding Underlying Symbol List A, DJX, CBTX, MBTX, MGTN, MRUT, NANOS, SPEQX, SPESG, XSP, XSPBX, and FLEX Micros. The proposed rule change also updates Footnote 10 (appended to the Liquidity Provider Sliding Scale) to provide that the Liquidity Provider Sliding Scale applies to Liquidity Provider (Exchange Market-Maker, DPM and LMM) transaction fees in all products except (1) Underlying Symbol List A, DJX, CBTX, MBTX, MGTN, MRUT, NANOS, SPEQX, SPESG, XSP, XSPBX, and FLEX Micros, (2) volume executed in open outcry, (3) volume executed via AIM Responses; and (4) volume executed via Market-Maker Simple AIM Contra orders in equity, ETF and ETN products.</P>
                <P>The proposed rule change also updates Footnote 44 (appended to the Liquidity Provider Sliding Scale Adjustment Table) to exclude XSPBX volume from the program by providing (in relevant part) that the Make Rate under the Liquidity Provider Sliding Scale Adjustment Table be derived from a Liquidity Provider's electronic volume the previous month in all symbols excluding Underlying Symbol List A, DJX, CBTX, MBTX, MGTN, SPEQX, SPESG, XSPBX, and XSP.</P>
                <P>The proposed rule change updates the Volume Incentive Program (“VIP”) table to exclude XSPBX volume from the VIP, which currently offers a per contract credit for certain percentage threshold levels of monthly Customer volume in all underlying symbols, excluding Underlying Symbol List A, Sector Indexes, DJX, CBTX, MBTX, MGTN, MRUT, NANOS, SPEQX, SPESG, XSP, and FLEX Micros.  The proposed rule change also amends Footnote 36 (appended to the VIP table) to reflect the proposed exclusion of XSPBX from the VIP by providing (in relevant part) that: the Exchange shall credit each TPH the per contract amount resulting from each public customer (“C” capacity code) order transmitted by that TPH which is executed electronically on the Exchange in all underlying symbols excluding Underlying Symbol List A, Sector Indexes, DJX, CBTX, MBTX, MGTN, MRUT, NANOS, SPEQX, SPESG, XSP, XSPBX, and FLEX Micros, QCC trades, public customer to public customer electronic complex order executions, and executions related to contracts that are routed to one or more exchanges in connection with the Options Order Protection and Locked/Crossed Market Plan referenced in Rule 5.67, provided the TPH meets certain percentage thresholds in a month as described in the Volume Incentive Program (VIP) table; the percentage thresholds are calculated based on the percentage of national customer volume in all underlying symbols excluding Underlying Symbol List A, Sector Indexes, DJX, CBTX, MBTX, MGTN, MRUT, NANOS, SPEQX, SPESG, XSP, XSPBX, and FLEX Micros entered and executed over the course of the month; and in the event of a Cboe Options System outage or other interruption of electronic trading on Cboe Options, the Exchange will adjust the national customer volume in all underlying symbols excluding Underlying Symbol List A, Sector Indexes, DJX, CBTX, MBTX, MGTN, MRUT, NANOS, SPEQX, SPESG, XSP, XSPBX, and FLEX Micros for the entire trading day. The Exchange also proposes to update the related Affiliate Volume Plan Program (“AVP”) table to append proposed Footnote 24 and exclude XSPBX from the program.</P>
                <P>The proposed rule change excludes XSPBX options from the list of products eligible to receive Break-Up Credits in orders executed in AIM, SAM, FLEX AIM, and FLEX SAM, by amending the Break-Up Credits table to exclude XSPBX along with the products currently excluded—Underlying Symbol List A, Sector Indexes, DJX, CBTX, MBTX, MGTN, MRUT, NANOS, SPEQX, SPESG, XSP, XSPBX, and FLEX Micros.</P>
                <P>The Exchange proposes to exclude XSPBX options from the Marketing Fee Program by updating the Marketing Fee table to provide that the marketing fee will be assessed on transactions of Market-Makers (including DPMs and LMMs), resulting from customer orders at the per contract rate provided above on all classes of equity options, options on ETFs, options on ETNs and index options, except that the marketing fee shall not apply to Sector Indexes, DJX, CBTX, MBTX, MGTN, MRUT, XSP, XSPBX, SPEQX, SPESG, NANOS, FLEX Micros or Underlying Symbol List A. The Exchange notes that, in this way, XSPBX options will be treated as most of the Exchange's other exclusively listed products that are currently excluded from the Marketing Fee Program.</P>
                <P>
                    The Exchange proposes to exclude XSPBX options from the Floor Broker 
                    <PRTPAGE P="54772"/>
                    Sliding Scale Rebate Program and Floor Broker Sliding Scale Supplemental Rebate Program, which offers rebates for Firm Facilitated and non-Firm Facilitated orders that correspond to certain volume tiers and is designed to incentivize order flow in multiply listed options to the Exchange's trading floor. The Exchange proposes to update the Floor Broker Sliding Scale Rebate Program and Floor Broker Sliding Scale Supplemental Rebate Program to provide that the Floor Broker Sliding Scale Rebate Program and Floor Broker Sliding Scale Supplemental Rebate Program applies to all products except Underlying Symbol List A, Sector Indexes, DJX, CBTX, MBTX, MGTN, MRUT, NANOS, SPEQX, SPESG, XSP, XSPBX, and FLEX Micros.
                </P>
                <P>The Exchange next proposes to exclude XSPBX options from eligibility for the Order Router Subsidy (“ORS”) and Complex Order Router Subsidy (“CORS”) Programs, in which Participating TPHs or Participating Non-Cboe TPHs may receive a payment from the Exchange for every executed contract routed to the Exchange through their system in certain classes. Specifically, the proposed rule change updates the ORS/CORS Program tables to provide that ORS/CORS participants whose total aggregate non-customer ORS and CORS volume is greater than 0.25% of the total national volume (excluding volume in options classes included in Underlying Symbol List A, Sector Indexes, DJX, CBTX, MBTX, MGTN, MRUT, NANOS, SPEQX, SPESG, XSP, XSPBX, or FLEX Micros) will receive an additional payment for all executed contracts exceeding that threshold during a calendar month, and updates Footnotes 29 and 30 (appended to the ORS/CORS Program tables) to accordingly provide that Cboe Options does not make payments under the program with respect to executed contracts in options classes included in Underlying Symbols List A, Sector Indexes, DJX, CBTX, MBTX, MGTN, MRUT, NANOS, SPEQX, SPESG, XSP, XSPBX, or FLEX Micros.</P>
                <P>The Exchange also proposes to exclude Non-Customer complex orders in XSPBX options from the Complex Surcharge by amending Footnote 35 (appended to the Complex Surcharge) to provide that the Complex Surcharge applies per contract per side surcharge for noncustomer complex order executions that remove liquidity from the Complex Order Book (“COB”) and auction responses in the Complex Order Auction (“COA”) and AIM in all classes except CBTX, MBTX, MGTN, MRUT, NANOS, SPEQX, XSP, XSPBX, FLEX Micros, Sector Indexes and Underlying Symbol List A.</P>
                <P>
                    The Exchange also proposes to exclude Firm (
                    <E T="03">i.e.,</E>
                     Clearing Trading Permit Holders (capacity “F”) and Non-Clearing Trading Permit Holder Affiliates (capacity “L”)) transactions in XSPBX from the Clearing TPH Fee Cap. Specifically, it amends footnote 22 (appended to the Clearing TPH Fee Cap table) to provide that all non-facilitation business executed in AIM or open outcry, or as a QCC or FLEX transaction, transaction fees for Clearing TPH Proprietary and/or their Non-TPH Affiliates in all products except CBTX, MBTX, MGTN, MRUT, NANOS, XSP, XSPBX, SPEQX, SPESG, FLEX Micros, Sector Indexes and Underlying Symbol List A, in the aggregate, are capped at $250,000 per month per Clearing TPH. The proposed rule change additionally updates Footnote 11 (which is also appended to the Clearing TPH Fee Cap table) to provide that the Clearing TPH Fee Cap in all products except CBTX, MBTX, MGTN, MRUT, NANOS, XSP, XSPBX, SPEQX, SPESG, FLEX Micros, Underlying Symbol List A and Sector Indexes (the “Fee Cap”), the Cboe Options Proprietary Products Sliding Scale for Clearing TPH Proprietary Orders, and the Clearing TPH Proprietary VIX Sliding Scale apply to (i) Clearing TPH proprietary orders (“F” capacity code), and (ii) orders of Non-TPH Affiliates of a Clearing TPH.
                </P>
                <P>The Exchange also proposes to exclude XSPBX volume from the Customer Large Trade Discount, which provides a discount in the form of a cap on transaction fees for certain Customer executions.</P>
                <P>Finally, the Exchange also proposes to amend Footnote 6 which provides that, in the event of a Cboe Options System outage or other interruption of electronic trading on Cboe Options that lasts longer than 60 minutes, the Exchange will adjust the national volume in all underlying symbols excluding Underlying Symbol List A, Sector Indexes, CBTX, MBTX, MGTN, MRUT, NANOS, DJX, SPEQX, SPESG, XSP, and FLEX Micros for the entire trading day, to include XSPBX in the list of underlying symbols excluded.</P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD3">2. Statutory Basis</HD>
                <P>
                    The Exchange believes the proposed rule change is consistent with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Act”) and the rules and regulations thereunder applicable to the Exchange and, in particular, the requirements of Section 6(b) of the Act.
                    <SU>7</SU>
                    <FTREF/>
                     Specifically, the Exchange believes the proposed rule change is consistent with the Section 6(b)(5) 
                    <SU>8</SU>
                    <FTREF/>
                     requirements that the rules of an exchange be designed to prevent fraudulent and manipulative acts and practices, to promote just and equitable principles of trade, to foster cooperation and coordination with persons engaged in regulating, clearing, settling, processing information with respect to, and facilitating transactions in securities, to remove impediments to and perfect the mechanism of a free and open market and a national market system, and, in general, to protect investors and the public interest. Additionally, the Exchange believes the proposed rule change is consistent with the Section 6(b)(5) 
                    <SU>9</SU>
                    <FTREF/>
                     requirement that the rules of an exchange not be designed to permit unfair discrimination between customers, issuers, brokers, or dealers. The Exchange also believes the proposed rule change is consistent with Section 6(b)(4) of the Act,
                    <SU>10</SU>
                    <FTREF/>
                     which requires that Exchange rules provide for the equitable allocation of reasonable dues, fees, and other charges among its Trading Permit Holders and other persons using its facilities.
                </P>
                <FTNT>
                    <P>
                        <SU>7</SU>
                         15 U.S.C. 78f(b).
                    </P>
                </FTNT>
                <FTNT>
                    <P>
                        <SU>8</SU>
                         15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
                    </P>
                </FTNT>
                <FTNT>
                    <P>
                        <SU>9</SU>
                         
                        <E T="03">Id.</E>
                    </P>
                </FTNT>
                <FTNT>
                    <P>
                        <SU>10</SU>
                         15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(4).
                    </P>
                </FTNT>
                <P>
                    The Exchange believes that the proposed amendments to the Fees Schedule in connection with standard transaction rates for XSPBX transactions are reasonable, equitable and not unfairly discriminatory, and reflect the unique economic and structural characteristics of binary options. Unlike standard options, where premiums can range from near zero to multiples of the underlying price, binary options have a fixed $1.00 maximum payout and a premium that is inherently bounded between $0.00 and $1.00, with the premium directly reflecting the market's assessed probability that the binary outcome will occur. The Exchange designed the proposed fee structure to account for this distinct economic profile. First, the Exchange believes the tiered fee structure is reasonable because it keeps low-probability contracts economically viable. By assessing lower fees on contracts at the extreme ends of the premium range (
                    <E T="03">i.e.,</E>
                     less than $0.04 or greater than $0.96), the Exchange believes the proposed fees will not deter participants from trading these contracts solely due to fees, thereby supporting a continuous and liquid market across the full probability spectrum. Related, the Exchange believes it is reasonable and appropriate that fees are highest for contracts with premiums in the $0.25 to $0.75 range, where the binary outcome is most 
                    <PRTPAGE P="54773"/>
                    uncertain, trading interest is greatest, and the economic value of the contract to both buyer and seller is most significant.
                </P>
                <P>The Exchange believes the proposal creates a fee structure that treats the two sides of a binary contract symmetrically. For example, a contract trading at $0.30 and a contract trading at $0.70 reflect mirror-image risk profiles and are assessed the same fee under the proposed structure. The Exchange believes this symmetrical treatment is equitable and not unfairly discriminatory because it avoids creating artificial incentives to favor one side of a binary contract over the other based solely on fee considerations. The Exchange further believes the premium-based fee structure calibrated more accurately reflects the true economics of each transaction and is therefore a more appropriate and equitable basis for assessing fees than a flat notional-based charge.</P>
                <P>Additionally, the Exchange believes it is reasonable to charge different fee amounts to different user types in the manner proposed because the proposed fees are consistent with the price differentiation that exists today for other products. The Exchange believes the proposed fees are not unfairly discriminatory because they apply uniformly within each participant category, as applicable.</P>
                <P>
                    The Exchange believes the proposed Customer fees are reasonable because they are set at levels designed to encourage Customer participation in XSPBX, which benefits all market participants by contributing to a liquid and competitive marketplace. The tiered fee structure, which scales with premium price, reflects the varying economic value and risk associated with transactions at different premium levels. Options with premiums at the extremes of the pricing range (
                    <E T="03">i.e.,</E>
                     less than $0.04 or greater than $0.96) are assessed a lower fee of $0.04 per contract, as these represent near-zero or near-certain outcome contracts where the economic value to the Customer is relatively limited. Fees increase as the premium approaches $0.25 to $0.75, where the outcome is most uncertain and the economic value of the contract is greatest, with a maximum fee of $0.30 per contract. The Exchange believes this tiered approach is equitable and not unfairly discriminatory because it applies uniformly to all Customers trading XSPBX and reflects the relative value of transactions at each premium tier. The Exchange also believes that it is equitable and not unfairly discriminatory to assess lower fees to Customers as compared to other market participants because Customer order flow enhances liquidity on the Exchange for the benefit of all market participants. Specifically, customer liquidity benefits all market participants by providing more trading opportunities, which attracts Market-Makers. An increase in the activity of these market participants in turn facilitates tighter spreads, which may cause an additional corresponding increase in order flow from other market participants. The fees offered to customers are intended to attract more customer trading volume to the Exchange. Moreover, the options industry has a long history of providing preferential pricing to Customers, and the Exchange's current Fees Schedule currently does so in many places, as do the fees structures of many other exchanges. Finally, all fee amounts listed as applying to Customers will be applied equally to all Customers (meaning that all Customers will be assessed the same amount).
                </P>
                <P>The Exchange believes the proposed Non-Customer, Non-Market-Maker fees are reasonable and equitably allocated. These participants, including Clearing TPHs, Non-Clearing TPH Affiliates, Broker-Dealers, Joint-Back Office participants, Non-TPH Market-Makers, and Professionals generally trade for their own accounts or in a professional capacity and are assessed modestly higher fees than Customers, consistent with the Exchange's longstanding practice of assessing lower fees on Customers to encourage retail participation. The tiered structure mirrors that of the Customer fees and applies uniformly to all Non-Customer, Non-Market-Maker participants, ranging from $0.10 per contract at the extreme premium tier to $0.35 per contract at the mid-range premium tier.</P>
                <P>The Exchange also believes the proposed electronic Market-Maker taker fees, which are commensurate with those assessed to other Non-Customer participants, are reasonable because Market-Makers that remove liquidity from the Exchange contribute to price discovery and execution quality in a similar way as Non-Customer, Non-Market Maker participants.</P>
                <P>The Exchange believes that it is equitable and not unfairly discriminatory to assess lower fees to Market-Makers orders in XSPBX that are executed electronically and add liquidity because these lower fees are intended to incent Market-Makers to trade more on the Exchange, which benefits all participants by contributing to tighter spreads and a more competitive marketplace. The Exchange believes the proposed fee for manual Market-Maker orders in XSPBX is reasonable as it reflects the different cost structure associated with manual order handling and is consistent with how the Exchange treats manual Market-Maker activity in other products.</P>
                <P>The Exchange believes the proposed adoption of Footnote 24, which excludes XSPBX from certain Exchange fee programs and incentives, is reasonable, equitably allocated, and not unfairly discriminatory. The Exchange believes these exclusions are reasonable because XSPBX is a newly listed product with a unique structure. The Exchange believes it is appropriate to assess straightforward transaction fees for XSPBX upon initial listing and notes that similar exclusions apply to other proprietary products on the Exchange. Moreover, the Exchange notes that the proposed rule change does not alter any of the existing programs, but instead, merely proposes not to include transactions in XSPBX options in those programs.</P>
                <P>The Exchange believes that excluding XSPBX options transactions from certain fees programs is equitable and not unfairly discriminatory because the programs will equally not apply to, or exclude in the same manner, all market participants' orders in XSPBX options. The Exchange notes that the proposed rule change does not alter any of the existing program rates or volume calculations, but instead, merely proposes not to include transactions in XSPBX options in those programs and volume calculations. Moreover, the Exchange believes it is reasonable to exclude XSPBX options from the Complex Surcharge because the proposed surcharge exclusions will provide consistency between the fees assessed for orders in other proprietary products, including XSP and Underlying Symbol List A.</P>
                <P>The Exchange believes the proposed amendment to Footnote 6, which adds XSPBX to the list of underlying symbols excluded from the national volume adjustment applied in the event of a Cboe Options System outage or other interruption of electronic trading lasting longer than 60 minutes, is reasonable, equitably allocated, and not unfairly discriminatory. Further, the Exchange believes it is appropriate to similarly exclude XSPBX given that it is a binary options product with a distinct structure and trading profile that differs from standard equity and index options. The proposed exclusion applies uniformly to all participants trading XSPBX and is therefore not unfairly discriminatory.</P>
                <P>
                    The Exchange acknowledges that XSPBX is a proprietary product available exclusively on the Exchange. 
                    <PRTPAGE P="54774"/>
                    However, the Exchange notes that market participants retain the ability to migrate activity to economically similar products available at other venues,
                    <SU>11</SU>
                    <FTREF/>
                     and that the proposed rates must therefore be set at levels that reflect the value of trading these products, not at levels that would drive participants toward substitutes.
                </P>
                <FTNT>
                    <P>
                        <SU>11</SU>
                         The Exchange notes that binary options similar to XSPBX are available in the OTC market and on other platforms.
                    </P>
                </FTNT>
                <HD SOURCE="HD2">B. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Burden on Competition</HD>
                <P>The Exchange does not believe that the proposed rule change will impose any burden on competition that is not necessary or appropriate in furtherance of the purposes of the Act. The Exchange does not believe the proposed rule change will impose any burden on intramarket competition that is not necessary or appropriate in furtherance of the purposes of the Act. The proposed standard transaction fees for XSPBX apply uniformly to all participants within each capacity and, with respect to Market-Makers by execution method and by whether the order adds or removes liquidity, and are structured consistently across those categories in a manner that reflects each participant's role in the marketplace, as described above. The exclusion of XSPBX from certain fee programs, surcharge, and incentives similarly applies uniformly to all participants trading XSPBX.</P>
                <P>The Exchange does not believe that the proposed rule change will impose any burden on intermarket competition that is not necessary or appropriate in furtherance of the purposes of the Act because the proposed fees assessed apply to Exchange proprietary products, which are traded exclusively on the Exchange. As stated above, the Exchange notes that market participants retain the ability to migrate activity to economically similar products available at other venues.</P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD2">C. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Comments on the Proposed Rule Change Received From Members, Participants, or Others</HD>
                <P>The Exchange neither solicited nor received comments on the proposed rule change.</P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">III. Date of Effectiveness of the Proposed Rule Change and Timing for Commission Action</HD>
                <P>
                    The foregoing rule change has become effective pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A) of the Act 
                    <SU>12</SU>
                    <FTREF/>
                     and paragraph (f) of Rule 19b-4 
                    <SU>13</SU>
                    <FTREF/>
                     thereunder. At any time within 60 days of the filing of the proposed rule change, the Commission summarily may temporarily suspend such rule change if it appears to the Commission that such action is necessary or appropriate in the public interest, for the protection of investors, or otherwise in furtherance of the purposes of the Act. If the Commission takes such action, the Commission will institute proceedings to determine whether the proposed rule change should be approved or disapproved.
                </P>
                <FTNT>
                    <P>
                        <SU>12</SU>
                         15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).
                    </P>
                </FTNT>
                <FTNT>
                    <P>
                        <SU>13</SU>
                         17 CFR 240.19b-4(f).
                    </P>
                </FTNT>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">IV. Solicitation of Comments</HD>
                <P>Interested persons are invited to submit written data, views and arguments concerning the foregoing, including whether the proposed rule change is consistent with the Act. Comments may be submitted by any of the following methods:</P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD2">Electronic Comments</HD>
                <P>
                    • Use the Commission's internet comment form (
                    <E T="03">https://www.sec.gov/rules/sro.shtml</E>
                    ); or
                </P>
                <P>
                    • Send an email to 
                    <E T="03">rule-comments@sec.gov.</E>
                     Please include file number SR-CBOE-2026-071  on the subject line.
                </P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD2">Paper Comments</HD>
                <P>• Send paper comments in triplicate to Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street NE, Washington, DC 20549-1090.</P>
                <FP>
                    All submissions should refer to file number SR-CBOE-2026-071. This file number should be included on the subject line if email is used. To help the Commission process and review your comments more efficiently, please use only one method. The Commission will post all comments on the Commission's internet website (
                    <E T="03">https://www.sec.gov/rules/sro.shtml</E>
                    ). Copies of the filing will be available for inspection and copying at the principal office of the Exchange. Do not include personal identifiable information in submissions; you should submit only information that you wish to make available publicly. We may redact in part or withhold entirely from publication submitted material that is obscene or subject to copyright protection. All submissions should refer to file number SR-CBOE-2026-071 and should be submitted on or before September 14, 2026.
                </FP>
                <SIG>
                    <P>
                        For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated authority.
                        <SU>14</SU>
                        <FTREF/>
                    </P>
                    <FTNT>
                        <P>
                            <SU>14</SU>
                             17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
                        </P>
                    </FTNT>
                    <NAME>Vanessa A. Countryman,</NAME>
                    <TITLE>Secretary.</TITLE>
                </SIG>
            </PREAMB>
            <FRDOC>[FR Doc. 2026-17203 Filed 8-21-26; 8:45 am]</FRDOC>
            <BILCOD>BILLING CODE 8011-01-P</BILCOD>
        </NOTICE>
        <NOTICE>
            <PREAMB>
                <AGENCY TYPE="S">SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION</AGENCY>
                <DEPDOC>[OMB Control No. 3235-0617]</DEPDOC>
                <SUBJECT>Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Collection; Comment Request; Extension: Rule 433</SUBJECT>
                <FP SOURCE="FP-1">
                    <E T="03">Upon Written Request, Copies Available From:</E>
                     Securities and Exchange Commission, Office of FOIA Services, 100 F Street NE, Washington, DC 20549-2736
                </FP>
                <P>
                    Notice is hereby given that, pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 
                    <E T="03">et seq.</E>
                    ), the Securities and Exchange Commission (“Commission”) is soliciting comments on the collections of information summarized below. The Commission plans to submit this existing collection of information to the Office of Management and Budget for extension and approval.
                </P>
                <P>
                    Rule 433 (17 CFR 230.433) governs the use and filing of free writing prospectuses with respect to the securities of an issuer that are the subject of a registration statement that has been filed under the Securities Act of 1933 (15 U.S.C. 77a 
                    <E T="03">et seq.</E>
                    ). A free writing prospectus that satisfies the conditions pursuant to Rule 433 will be a prospectus under Section 10(b) of the Securities Act and will be deemed to be public without regard to its method of use or distribution. Rule 433 is intended to facilitate issuer communications during a registered offering of securities after a registration statement has been filed with the Commission. We estimate that there are approximately 20,179 free writing prospectuses filed pursuant to Rule 433 annually, for a total of approximately 20,179 responses annually. We estimate that respondents incur approximately 2.45 burden hours per Rule 433 response, for a total annual reporting burden of 49,439 hours (2.45 hours per response × 20,179 responses). We estimate that respondents incur $380.03 cost burden per Rule 433 response, for a total annual cost of $7,668,625 ($380.03 cost per response × 20,179 responses).
                </P>
                <P>
                    An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to 
                    <PRTPAGE P="54775"/>
                    respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Written comments are invited on:</E>
                     (a) whether this proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information will have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden imposed by the collection of information; (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 respondents, including through the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology.
                </P>
                <P>
                    Please direct your written comments on this 60-Day Collection Notice to Austin Gerig, Director/Chief Data Officer, Securities and Exchange Commission, c/o Tanya Ruttenberg via email to 
                    <E T="03">PaperworkReductionAct@sec.gov</E>
                     by October 23, 2026.
                </P>
                <SIG>
                    <DATED>Dated: August 20, 2026.</DATED>
                    <NAME>Vanessa A. Countryman,</NAME>
                    <TITLE>Secretary.</TITLE>
                </SIG>
            </PREAMB>
            <FRDOC>[FR Doc. 2026-17223 Filed 8-21-26; 8:45 am]</FRDOC>
            <BILCOD>BILLING CODE 8011-01-P</BILCOD>
        </NOTICE>
        <NOTICE>
            <PREAMB>
                <AGENCY TYPE="S">SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION</AGENCY>
                <DEPDOC>[Release No. 34-106160; File No. SR-MEMX-2026-24]</DEPDOC>
                <SUBJECT>Self-Regulatory Organizations; MEMX LLC; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of a Proposed Rule Change To Amend the Exchange's Fee Schedule</SUBJECT>
                <DATE>August 19, 2026.</DATE>
                <P>
                    Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Act”),
                    <SU>1</SU>
                    <FTREF/>
                     and Rule 19b-4thereunder,
                    <SU>2</SU>
                    <FTREF/>
                     notice is hereby given that on August 11, 2026, MEMX LLC (“MEMX” or the “Exchange”) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) the proposed rule change as described in Items I, II, and III below, which Items have been prepared by the Exchange. The Commission is publishing this notice to solicit comments on the proposed rule change from interested persons.
                </P>
                <FTNT>
                    <P>
                        <SU>1</SU>
                         15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1)
                    </P>
                </FTNT>
                <FTNT>
                    <P>
                        <SU>2</SU>
                         17 CFR 240.19b-4.
                    </P>
                </FTNT>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">I. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Terms of Substance of the Proposed Rule Change</HD>
                <P>
                    The Exchange is filing with the Commission a proposed rule change to amend the Exchange's fee schedule applicable to Members 
                    <SU>3</SU>
                    <FTREF/>
                     (the “Fee Schedule”) pursuant to Exchange Rules 15.1(a) and (c). As is further described below, the Exchange proposes to amend the required criteria under Retail Sub-Dollar Liquidity Removal Tier 1. The Exchange proposes to implement the changes to the Fee Schedule pursuant to this proposal immediately. The text of the proposed rule change is provided in Exhibit 5 and is available at the Exchange's website at 
                    <E T="03">https://info.memxtrading.com/regulation/rules-and-filings/</E>
                     and at the principal office of the Exchange.
                </P>
                <FTNT>
                    <P>
                        <SU>3</SU>
                         
                        <E T="03">See</E>
                         Exchange Rule 1.5(p).
                    </P>
                </FTNT>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">II. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Purpose of, and the Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change</HD>
                <P>In its filing with the Commission, the Exchange included statements concerning the purpose of, and basis for, the proposed rule change and discussed any comments it received on the proposed rule change. The text of these statements may be examined at the places specified in Item IV below. The Exchange has prepared summaries, set forth in sections A, B, and C below, of the most significant aspects of such statements.</P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD2">A. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Purpose of, and the Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change</HD>
                <HD SOURCE="HD3">1. Purpose</HD>
                <P>
                    The purpose of the proposed rule change is to amend the Fee Schedule to amend the required criteria under Retail Sub-Dollar Liquidity Removal Tier 1.
                    <SU>4</SU>
                    <FTREF/>
                </P>
                <FTNT>
                    <P>
                        <SU>4</SU>
                         The Exchange initially filed the proposed Fee Schedule changes on July 31, 2026 (SR-MEMX-2026-23). On August 11, 2026, the Exchange withdrew that filing and submitted this proposal.
                    </P>
                </FTNT>
                <P>
                    The Exchange first notes that it operates in a highly competitive market in which market participants can readily direct order flow to competing venues if they deem fee levels at a particular venue to be excessive or incentives to be insufficient. More specifically, the Exchange is only one of 18 registered equities exchanges, as well as a number of alternative trading systems and other off-exchange venues, to which market participants may direct their order flow. Based on publicly available information, no single registered equities exchange currently has more than approximately 14% of the total market share of executed volume of equities trading.
                    <SU>5</SU>
                    <FTREF/>
                     Thus, in such a low-concentrated and highly competitive market, no single equities exchange possesses significant pricing power in the execution of order flow, and the Exchange currently represents approximately 1.8% of the overall market share.
                    <SU>6</SU>
                    <FTREF/>
                     The Exchange in particular operates a “Maker-Taker” model whereby it provides rebates to Members that add liquidity to the Exchange and charges fees to Members that remove liquidity from the Exchange. The Fee Schedule sets forth the standard rebates and fees applied per share for orders that add and remove liquidity, respectively. Additionally, in response to the competitive environment, the Exchange also offers tiered pricing, which provides Members with opportunities to qualify for higher rebates or lower fees where certain volume criteria and thresholds are met. Tiered pricing provides an incremental incentive for Members to strive for higher tier levels, which provides increasingly higher benefits or discounts for satisfying increasingly more stringent criteria.
                </P>
                <FTNT>
                    <P>
                        <SU>5</SU>
                         Market share percentage calculated as of July 30, 2026. The Exchange receives and processes data made available through consolidated data feeds (
                        <E T="03">i.e.,</E>
                         CTS and UTDF).
                    </P>
                </FTNT>
                <FTNT>
                    <P>
                        <SU>6</SU>
                         
                        <E T="03">Id.</E>
                    </P>
                </FTNT>
                <P>
                    Currently, the Exchange charges a standard fee of 0.28% of the total dollar value of the transaction for executions of Retail Orders 
                    <SU>7</SU>
                    <FTREF/>
                     in securities priced below $1.00 per share that remove liquidity from the Exchange (such orders, “Removed Sub-Dollar Retail Volume”). The Exchange also currently offers the Retail Sub-Dollar Liquidity Removal Tier 1, under which the Exchange charges a reduced fee of 0.18% of the total dollar value of the transaction for executions of Removed Sub-Dollar Retail Volume for Members that qualify for such tier by achieving a Retail Order ADAV 
                    <SU>8</SU>
                    <FTREF/>
                     in securities priced below $1.00 per share that is equal to or greater than 20,000,000 shares.
                    <SU>9</SU>
                    <FTREF/>
                     Now, the Exchange proposes to modify the required criteria such that a Member 
                    <PRTPAGE P="54776"/>
                    would now qualify for such tier by achieving either: (1) a Retail Order ADAV in securities priced below $1.00 per share that is equal to or greater than 20,000,000 shares, or (2) a Retail Order ADAV in securities priced below $1.00 per share that is equal to or greater than 10,000,000 shares and a Step-Up Retail Order ADAV 
                    <SU>10</SU>
                    <FTREF/>
                     in securities priced below $1.00 per share that is equal to or greater than 50% of the Member's April 2026 Retail Order ADAV in securities priced below $1.00 per share. Thus, such proposed change would keep the existing criteria intact and add a second alternative criteria which requires both a minimum Retail Order ADAV requirement as well as a 50% increase over the Member's Retail Order ADAV from April 2026. The Exchange is also proposing that these new alternative criteria (2) will expire no later than January 31, 2027, which it will indicate in a note under the Retail Sub-Dollar Liquidity Removal Tier pricing table on the Fee Schedule.
                    <SU>11</SU>
                    <FTREF/>
                     The Exchange is not proposing to change the fee charged under such tier.
                </P>
                <FTNT>
                    <P>
                        <SU>7</SU>
                         A “Retail Order” means an agency or riskless principal order that meets the criteria of FINRA Rule 5320.03 that originates from a natural person and is submitted to the Exchange by a Retail Member Organization (“RMO”), provided that no change is made to the terms of the order with respect to price or side of market and the order does not originate from a trading algorithm or any other computerized methodology. 
                        <E T="03">See</E>
                         Exchange Rule 11.21(a).
                    </P>
                </FTNT>
                <FTNT>
                    <P>
                        <SU>8</SU>
                         As set forth on the Fee Schedule, “ADAV” means the average daily added volume calculated as the number of shares added per day, which is calculated on a monthly basis. Thus, a Retail Order ADAV means an ADAV in Retail Orders.
                    </P>
                </FTNT>
                <FTNT>
                    <P>
                        <SU>9</SU>
                         The pricing for the Sub-Dollar Retail Liquidity Removal Tier is referred to by the Exchange on the Fee Schedule under the existing description “Sub-Dollar Retail Liquidity Removal Tier 1” with a Fee Code of “Rr1B” on monthly invoices provided to Members.
                    </P>
                </FTNT>
                <FTNT>
                    <P>
                        <SU>10</SU>
                         As set forth on the Fee Schedule, “Step-Up ADAV” means ADAV in the relevant baseline month subtracted from the prior month's ADAV. As such, “Step-Up Retail Order ADAV” means a Step-Up ADAV in Retail Orders only.
                    </P>
                </FTNT>
                <FTNT>
                    <P>
                        <SU>11</SU>
                         Additionally, the Exchange will include in this same note that in the event it determines to terminate Criteria (2) prior to January 31, 2027, it will file a rule filing with the SEC.
                    </P>
                </FTNT>
                <P>The proposed new alternative criteria is intended to encourage additional Members to strive to qualify for the Retail Sub-Dollar Liquidity Removal Tier by providing a new alternative criteria that includes a lower overall Retail ADAV threshold, as well as a reasonable April 2026 Step-Up Retail ADAV threshold, each of which is designed to encourage the submission of additional liquidity-adding orders in Retail Sub-Dollar securities to the Exchange.</P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD3">2. Statutory Basis</HD>
                <P>
                    The Exchange believes that the proposed rule change is consistent with the provisions of Section 6 of the Act,
                    <SU>12</SU>
                    <FTREF/>
                     in general, and with Sections 6(b)(4) and 6(b)(5) of the Act,
                    <SU>13</SU>
                    <FTREF/>
                     in particular, in that it provides for the equitable allocation of reasonable dues, fees and other charges among its Members and other persons using its facilities and is not designed to permit unfair discrimination between customers, issuers, brokers, or dealers.
                </P>
                <FTNT>
                    <P>
                        <SU>12</SU>
                         15 U.S.C. 78f.
                    </P>
                </FTNT>
                <FTNT>
                    <P>
                        <SU>13</SU>
                         15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(4) and (5).
                    </P>
                </FTNT>
                <P>
                    As discussed above, the Exchange operates in a highly fragmented and competitive market in which market participants can readily direct order flow to competing venues if they deem fee levels at a particular venue to be excessive or incentives to be insufficient, and the Exchange represents only a small percentage of the overall market. The Commission and the courts have repeatedly expressed their preference for competition over regulatory intervention in determining prices, products, and services in the securities markets. In Regulation NMS, the Commission highlighted the importance of market forces in determining prices and SRO revenues and also recognized that current regulation of the market system “has been remarkably successful in promoting market competition in its broader forms that are most important to investors and listed companies.” 
                    <SU>14</SU>
                    <FTREF/>
                </P>
                <FTNT>
                    <P>
                        <SU>14</SU>
                         Securities Exchange Act Release No. 51808 (June 9, 2005), 70 FR 37496, 37499 (June 29, 2005).
                    </P>
                </FTNT>
                <P>The Exchange believes that the ever-shifting market share among the exchanges from month to month demonstrates that market participants can shift order flow or discontinue use of certain categories of products, in response to new or different pricing structures being introduced into the market. Accordingly, competitive forces constrain the Exchange's transaction fees and rebates, and market participants can readily trade on competing venues if they deem pricing levels at those other venues to be more favorable. The Exchange believes the proposal reflects a reasonable and competitive pricing structure designed to incentivize market participants to direct additional order flow, including displayed, liquidity-adding and/or liquidity-removing orders to the Exchange, which the Exchange believes would promote price discovery and enhance liquidity and market quality on the Exchange to the benefit of all Members and market participants.</P>
                <P>The Exchange believes that the Retail Sub-Dollar Liquidity Removal Tier 1, as modified by the proposed change to the required criteria under such tier, is reasonable, equitable and not unfairly discriminatory for these same reasons, as such tier continues to provide Members with incremental incentives to achieve certain volume thresholds on the Exchange, is available to all Members on an equal basis, and is designed to encourage Members to maintain or increase their order flow, including liquidity-adding orders, to the Exchange in order to qualify for the discounted fee for executions of Removed Sub-Dollar Retail Volume, thereby contributing to a deeper and more liquid market to the benefit of all Members. The Exchange believes that the discounted fee for executions of Removed Sub-Dollar Retail Volume remains commensurate with the required criteria under such tier, as modified, and is reasonably related to the market quality benefits that such tier is designed to achieve.</P>
                <P>
                    For the reasons discussed above, the Exchange submits that the proposal satisfies the requirements of Sections 6(b)(4) and 6(b)(5) of the Act 
                    <SU>15</SU>
                    <FTREF/>
                     in that it provides for the equitable allocation of reasonable dues, fees and other charges among its Members and other persons using its facilities and is not designed to unfairly discriminate between customers, issuers, brokers, or dealers. As described more fully below in the Exchange's statement regarding the burden on competition, the Exchange believes that its transaction pricing is subject to significant competitive forces, and that the proposed fees described herein are appropriate to address such forces.
                </P>
                <FTNT>
                    <P>
                        <SU>15</SU>
                         15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(4) and (5).
                    </P>
                </FTNT>
                <HD SOURCE="HD2">B. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Burden on Competition</HD>
                <P>
                    The Exchange does not believe that the proposal will result in any burden on competition that is not necessary or appropriate in furtherance of the purposes of the Act. Instead, as discussed above, the proposal is intended to incentivize market participants to direct additional order flow to the Exchange, thereby enhancing liquidity and market quality on the Exchange to the benefit of all Members and market participants. As a result, the Exchange believes the proposal would enhance its competitiveness as a market that attracts actionable orders, thereby making it a more desirable destination venue for its customers. For these reasons, the Exchange believes that the proposal furthers the Commission's goal in adopting Regulation NMS of fostering competition among orders, which promotes “more efficient pricing of individual stocks for all types of orders, large and small.” 
                    <SU>16</SU>
                    <FTREF/>
                </P>
                <FTNT>
                    <P>
                        <SU>16</SU>
                         
                        <E T="03">See supra</E>
                         note 14.
                    </P>
                </FTNT>
                <HD SOURCE="HD3">Intramarket Competition</HD>
                <P>
                    As discussed above, the Exchange believes that the proposal would incentivize Members to submit additional order flow, including displayed, liquidity-adding and/or liquidity-removing orders in Retail securities priced below $1.00 per share to the Exchange, thereby enhancing liquidity and market quality on the Exchange to the benefit of all Members, as well as enhancing the attractiveness of the Exchange as a trading venue, 
                    <PRTPAGE P="54777"/>
                    which the Exchange believes, in turn, would continue to encourage market participants to direct additional order flow to the Exchange. Greater liquidity benefits all Members by providing more trading opportunities and encourages Members to send additional orders to the Exchange, thereby contributing to robust levels of liquidity, which benefits all market participants.
                </P>
                <P>The Exchange does not believe that the proposed change to amend the required criteria under the Retail Sub-Dollar Liquidity Removal Tier would impose any burden on intramarket competition because such change will apply to all Members uniformly, and the opportunity to qualify for that discounted fee is available to all Members. As described above, the Exchange believes that, after giving effect to the change proposed herein, the required criteria under the Retail Sub-Dollar Liquidity Removal Tier 1 is commensurate with the corresponding reduced fee under such tier and reasonably related to the enhanced liquidity and market quality that such tier is designed to promote. For the foregoing reasons, the Exchange believes the proposed changes would not impose any burden on intramarket competition that is not necessary or appropriate in furtherance of the purposes of the Act.</P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD3">Intermarket Competition</HD>
                <P>As noted above, the Exchange operates in a highly competitive market in which market participants can readily direct order flow to competing venues if they deem fee levels at a particular venue to be excessive or incentives to be insufficient. Members have numerous alternative venues that they may participate on and direct their order flow to, including 17 other equities exchanges and numerous alternative trading systems and other off-exchange venues. As noted above, no single registered equities exchange currently has more than approximately 14% of the total market share of executed volume of equities trading. Thus, in such a low-concentrated and highly competitive market, no single equities exchange possesses significant pricing power in the execution of order flow. Moreover, the Exchange believes that the ever-shifting market share among the exchanges from month to month demonstrates that market participants can shift order flow or reduce use of certain categories of products, in response to new or different pricing structures being introduced into the market. Accordingly, competitive forces constrain the Exchange's transaction fees and rebates, including with respect to Added Displayed Volume and Removed Sub-Dollar Retail Volume and market participants can readily choose to send their orders to other exchange and off-exchange venues if they deem fee levels at those other venues to be more favorable. As described above, the proposed changes represent a competitive proposal through which the Exchange is seeking to generate additional revenue with respect to its transaction pricing and to encourage the submission of additional order flow to the Exchange through volume and quoting-based tiers, which have been widely adopted by exchanges, including the Exchange. Accordingly, the Exchange believes the proposal would not burden, but rather promote, intermarket competition by enabling it to better compete with other exchanges that offer similar pricing incentives to market participants.</P>
                <P>
                    Additionally, the Commission has repeatedly expressed its preference for competition over regulatory intervention in determining prices, products, and services in the securities markets. Specifically, in Regulation NMS, the Commission highlighted the importance of market forces in determining prices and SRO revenues and, also, recognized that current regulation of the market system “has been remarkably successful in promoting market competition in its broader forms that are most important to investors and listed companies.” 
                    <SU>17</SU>
                    <FTREF/>
                     The fact that this market is competitive has also long been recognized by the courts. In 
                    <E T="03">NetCoalition</E>
                     v. 
                    <E T="03">SEC,</E>
                     the D.C. Circuit stated as follows: “[n]o one disputes that competition for order flow is `fierce.' . . . As the SEC explained, `[i]n the U.S. national market system, buyers and sellers of securities, and the broker-dealers that act as their order-routing agents, have a wide range of choices of where to route orders for execution'; [and] `no exchange can afford to take its market share percentages for granted' because `no exchange possesses a monopoly, regulatory or otherwise, in the execution of order flow from broker dealers' . . . .”. 
                    <SU>18</SU>
                    <FTREF/>
                     Accordingly, the Exchange does not believe its proposed pricing changes impose any burden on competition that is not necessary or appropriate in furtherance of the purposes of the Act.
                </P>
                <FTNT>
                    <P>
                        <SU>17</SU>
                         
                        <E T="03">Id.</E>
                    </P>
                </FTNT>
                <FTNT>
                    <P>
                        <SU>18</SU>
                         
                        <E T="03">NetCoalition</E>
                         v. 
                        <E T="03">SEC,</E>
                         615 F.3d 525, 539 (D.C. Cir. 2010) (quoting Securities Exchange Act Release No. 59039 (December 2, 2008), 73 FR 74770, 74782-83 (December 9, 2008) (SR-NYSE-2006-21)).
                    </P>
                </FTNT>
                <HD SOURCE="HD2">C. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Comments on the Proposed Rule Change Received From Members, Participants, or Others</HD>
                <P>The Exchange neither solicited nor received comments on the proposed rule change.</P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">III. Date of Effectiveness of the Proposed Rule Change and Timing for Commission Action</HD>
                <P>
                    The foregoing rule change has become effective pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A)(ii) of the Act 
                    <SU>19</SU>
                    <FTREF/>
                     and Rule 19b-4(f)(2) 
                    <SU>20</SU>
                    <FTREF/>
                     thereunder.
                </P>
                <FTNT>
                    <P>
                        <SU>19</SU>
                         15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A)(ii).
                    </P>
                </FTNT>
                <FTNT>
                    <P>
                        <SU>20</SU>
                         17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(2).
                    </P>
                </FTNT>
                <P>At any time within 60 days of the filing of the proposed rule change, the Commission summarily may temporarily suspend such rule change if it appears to the Commission that such action is necessary or appropriate in the public interest, for the protection of investors, or otherwise in furtherance of the purposes of the Act. If the Commission takes such action, the Commission shall institute proceedings to determine whether the proposed rule change should be approved or disapproved.</P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">IV. Solicitation of Comments</HD>
                <P>Interested persons are invited to submit written data, views and arguments concerning the foregoing, including whether the proposed rule change is consistent with the Act. Comments may be submitted by any of the following methods:</P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD2">Electronic Comments</HD>
                <P>
                    • Use the Commission's internet comment form (
                    <E T="03">https://www.sec.gov/rules/sro.shtml</E>
                    ); or
                </P>
                <P>
                    • Send an email to 
                    <E T="03">rule-comments@sec.gov.</E>
                     Please include file number SR-MEMX-2026-24  on the subject line.
                </P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD2">Paper Comments</HD>
                <P>• Send paper comments in triplicate to Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street NE, Washington, DC 20549-1090.</P>
                <FP>
                    All submissions should refer to file number SR-MEMX-2026-24. This file number should be included on the subject line if email is used. To help the Commission process and review your comments more efficiently, please use only one method. The Commission will post all comments on the Commission's internet website (
                    <E T="03">https://www.sec.gov/rules/sro.shtml</E>
                    ). Copies of the filing will be available for inspection and copying at the principal office of the Exchange. Do not include personal identifiable information in submissions; you should 
                    <PRTPAGE P="54778"/>
                    submit only information that you wish to make available publicly. We may redact in part or withhold entirely from publication submitted material that is obscene or subject to copyright protection. All submissions should refer to file number SR-MEMX-2026-24 and should be submitted on or before September 14, 2026.
                </FP>
                <SIG>
                    <P>
                        For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated authority.
                        <SU>21</SU>
                        <FTREF/>
                    </P>
                    <FTNT>
                        <P>
                            <SU>21</SU>
                             17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
                        </P>
                    </FTNT>
                    <NAME>Vanessa A. Countryman,</NAME>
                    <TITLE>Secretary.</TITLE>
                </SIG>
            </PREAMB>
            <FRDOC>[FR Doc. 2026-17202 Filed 8-21-26; 8:45 am]</FRDOC>
            <BILCOD>BILLING CODE 8011-01-P</BILCOD>
        </NOTICE>
        <NOTICE>
            <PREAMB>
                <AGENCY TYPE="S">SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION</AGENCY>
                <DEPDOC>[Release No. 34-106165; File No. SR-NYSEAMER-2026-54]</DEPDOC>
                <SUBJECT>Self-Regulatory Organizations; NYSE American LLC; Notice of Designation of a Longer Period for Commission Action on a Proposed Rule Change To Amend Rules 903G and 906G</SUBJECT>
                <DATE>August 19, 2026.</DATE>
                <P>
                    On June 29, 2026, NYSE American LLC (“Exchange” or “NYSE American”) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“Commission”), pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Act”) 
                    <SU>1</SU>
                    <FTREF/>
                     and Rule 19b-4 thereunder,
                    <SU>2</SU>
                    <FTREF/>
                     a proposed rule change to amend Rules 903G and 906G to, among other things, permit cash settlement for up to 50 non-ETF Flexible Exchange (“FLEX”) Opitons. The proposed rule change was published for comment in the 
                    <E T="04">Federal Register</E>
                     on July 7, 2026.
                    <SU>3</SU>
                    <FTREF/>
                </P>
                <FTNT>
                    <P>
                        <SU>1</SU>
                         15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
                    </P>
                </FTNT>
                <FTNT>
                    <P>
                        <SU>2</SU>
                         17 CFR 240.19b-4.
                    </P>
                </FTNT>
                <FTNT>
                    <P>
                        <SU>3</SU>
                         
                        <E T="03">See</E>
                         Securities Exchange Act Release No. 105831 (July 1, 2026), 91 FR 41696. The Commission has received no comments regarding the proposed rule change.
                    </P>
                </FTNT>
                <P>
                    Section 19(b)(2) of the Act 
                    <SU>4</SU>
                    <FTREF/>
                     provides that within 45 days of the publication of notice of the filing of a proposed rule change, or within such longer period up to 90 days as the Commission may designate if it finds such longer period to be appropriate and publishes its reasons for so finding or as to which the self-regulatory organization consents, the Commission shall either approve the proposed rule change, disapprove the proposed rule change, or institute proceedings to determine whether the proposed rule change should be disapproved. The 45th day after publication of the notice for this proposed rule change is August 21, 2026. The Commission is extending this 45-day time period.
                </P>
                <FTNT>
                    <P>
                        <SU>4</SU>
                         15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2).
                    </P>
                </FTNT>
                <P>
                    The Commission finds it appropriate to designate a longer period within which to take action on the proposed rule change so that it has sufficient time to consider the proposed rule change and the issues raised therein. Accordingly, the Commission, pursuant to Section 19(b)(2) of the Act,
                    <SU>5</SU>
                    <FTREF/>
                     designates October 5, 2026, as the date by which the Commission shall either approve or disapprove, or institute proceedings to determine whether to disapprove, the proposed rule change (File No. SR-NYSEAMER-2026-54).
                </P>
                <FTNT>
                    <P>
                        <SU>5</SU>
                         
                        <E T="03">Id.</E>
                    </P>
                </FTNT>
                <SIG>
                    <P>
                        For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated authority.
                        <SU>6</SU>
                        <FTREF/>
                    </P>
                    <FTNT>
                        <P>
                            <SU>6</SU>
                             17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(31).
                        </P>
                    </FTNT>
                    <NAME>Vanessa A. Countryman,</NAME>
                    <TITLE>Secretary.</TITLE>
                </SIG>
            </PREAMB>
            <FRDOC>[FR Doc. 2026-17206 Filed 8-21-26; 8:45 am]</FRDOC>
            <BILCOD>BILLING CODE 8011-01-P</BILCOD>
        </NOTICE>
        <NOTICE>
            <PREAMB>
                <AGENCY TYPE="S">SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION</AGENCY>
                <DEPDOC>[OMB Control No. 3235-0237]</DEPDOC>
                <SUBJECT>Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Collection; Comment Request; Extension: Form N-54A</SUBJECT>
                <FP SOURCE="FP-1">
                    <E T="03">Upon Written Request, Copies Available From:</E>
                     Securities and Exchange Commission, Office of FOIA Services, 100 F Street NE, Washington, DC 20549-2736
                </FP>
                <P>
                    Notice is hereby given that, pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 
                    <E T="03">et seq.</E>
                    ), the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC” or “Commission”) is soliciting comments on the proposed collection of information described below.
                </P>
                <P>
                    Under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80a-1 
                    <E T="03">et seq.</E>
                    ) (the “Investment Company Act”), certain investment companies can elect to be regulated as business development companies, as defined in Section 2(a)(48) of the Investment Company Act (15 U.S.C. 80a-2(a)(48)). Under Section 54(a) of the Investment Company Act (15 U.S.C. 80a-53(a)), any company defined in Section 2(a)(48)(A) and (B) may elect to be subject to the provisions of Sections 55 through 65 of the Investment Company Act (15 U.S.C. 80a-54 to 80a-64) by filing with the Commission a notification of election, if such company has: (1) a class of equity securities registered under Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78a 
                    <E T="03">et seq.</E>
                    ) (“Exchange Act”); or (2) filed a registration statement pursuant to Section 12 of the Exchange Act for a class of its equity securities. The Commission adopted Form N-54A (17 CFR 274.53) as the form for notification of election to be regulated as a business development company.
                </P>
                <P>The purpose of Form N-54A is to notify the Commission that the investment company making the notification elects to be subject to Sections 55 through 65 of the Investment Company Act, enabling the Commission to administer those provisions of the Investment Company Act to such companies.</P>
                <P>
                    The Commission staff estimates that on average approximately 25 business development companies file these notifications each year.
                    <SU>1</SU>
                    <FTREF/>
                     Each of those business development companies need only make a single filing of Form N-54A. The Commission staff further estimates that such business development companies will each spend 0.5 hours at a cost of $470.5 per hour preparing the form, resulting in a total annual time burden of 12.5 hours. Based on the estimated wage rate, the total cost to the business development company industry of the hour burden for complying with Form N-54A would be approximately $5,881.25.
                </P>
                <FTNT>
                    <P>
                        <SU>1</SU>
                         This number is based on the average annual number of Form N-54A filings with the Commission from January 1, 2023 through December 31, 2025.
                    </P>
                </FTNT>
                <P>The Commission staff estimates that there is no additional cost burden associated with the form other than the cost of the burdens identified above.</P>
                <P>The collection of information under Form N-54A is mandatory. The information provided by the form is not kept confidential.</P>
                <P>An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB Control Number.</P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Written comments are invited on:</E>
                     (a) whether this proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the SEC, including whether the information will have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the SEC's estimate of the burden imposed by the proposed collection of information, including the validity of the methodology and the assumptions used; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on respondents, including through the use of automated, electronic 
                    <PRTPAGE P="54779"/>
                    collection techniques or other forms of information technology.
                </P>
                <P>
                    Please direct your written comments on this 60-Day Collection Notice to Austin Gerig, Director/Chief Data Officer, Securities and Exchange Commission, c/o Tanya Ruttenberg via email to 
                    <E T="03">PaperworkReductionAct@sec.gov</E>
                     by October 23, 2026.
                </P>
                <SIG>
                    <DATED>Dated: August 20, 2026.</DATED>
                    <NAME>Vanessa A. Countryman,</NAME>
                    <TITLE>Secretary.</TITLE>
                </SIG>
            </PREAMB>
            <FRDOC>[FR Doc. 2026-17226 Filed 8-21-26; 8:45 am]</FRDOC>
            <BILCOD>BILLING CODE 8011-01-P</BILCOD>
        </NOTICE>
        <NOTICE>
            <PREAMB>
                <AGENCY TYPE="S">SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION</AGENCY>
                <DEPDOC>[OMB Control No. 3235-0222]</DEPDOC>
                <SUBJECT>Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Collection; Comment Request; Extension: Rule 17f-1</SUBJECT>
                <FP SOURCE="FP-1">
                    <E T="03">Upon Written Request, Copies Available From:</E>
                     Securities and Exchange Commission, Office of FOIA Services, 100 F Street NE, Washington, DC 20549-2736
                </FP>
                <P>
                    Notice is hereby given that pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 
                    <E T="03">et seq.</E>
                    ), the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) is soliciting comments on the collections of information summarized below. The Commission plans to submit these existing collections of information to the Office of Management and Budget for extension and approval.
                </P>
                <P>Rule 17f-1 (17 CFR 270.17f-1) under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “Act”) (15 U.S.C. 80a) is entitled: “Custody of securities with members of national securities exchanges.” Rule 17f-1 provides that any registered management investment company (“fund”) that wishes to place its assets in the custody of a national securities exchange member may do so only under a written contract that must be ratified initially and approved annually by a majority of the fund's board of directors. The written contract also must contain certain specified provisions. In addition, the rule requires an independent public accountant to examine the fund's assets in the custody of the exchange member at least three times during the fund's fiscal year. The rule requires the written contract and the certificate of each examination to be transmitted to the Commission. The purpose of the rule is to ensure the safekeeping of fund assets.</P>
                <P>
                    Commission staff estimates that each fund makes 1 response and spends an average of 3.5 hours annually in complying with the rule's requirements. Commission staff estimates that on an annual basis it takes: (i) 0.5 hours for the board of directors 
                    <SU>1</SU>
                    <FTREF/>
                     to review and ratify the custodial contracts; and (ii) 3 hours for the fund's controller to assist the fund's independent public auditors in verifying the fund's assets. Approximately 4 funds rely on the rule annually, with a total of 4 responses.
                    <SU>2</SU>
                    <FTREF/>
                     Thus, the total annual internal hour burden for rule 17f-1 is approximately 14 hours.
                    <SU>3</SU>
                    <FTREF/>
                </P>
                <FTNT>
                    <P>
                        <SU>1</SU>
                         Estimates of the number of hours are based on conversations with representatives of mutual funds that comply with the rule. The actual number of hours may vary significantly depending on individual fund assets. The hour burden for rule 17f-1 does not include preparing the custody contract because that would be part of customary and usual business practice.
                    </P>
                </FTNT>
                <FTNT>
                    <P>
                        <SU>2</SU>
                         This estimate is based on a review of Form N—17f-1 filings over the last three years. In 2023 there were six unique filers, in 2024 there were three unique filers, and in 2025 there were four unique filers. (6 + 3 + 4)/3 = 4.33 funds, rounded down to an estimated 4 funds. 4 funds × 1 response per filer = 4 responses.
                    </P>
                </FTNT>
                <FTNT>
                    <P>
                        <SU>3</SU>
                         This estimate is based on the following calculation: (4 respondents × 3.5 hours = 14 hours). The annual burden for rule 17f-1 does not include time spent preparing Form N-17f-1. The burden for Form N-17f-1 is included in a separate collection of information.
                    </P>
                </FTNT>
                <P>
                    Funds that rely on rule 17f-1 generally use a lawyer to prepare the custodial contract for the board's review and to transmit the contract to the Commission. Commission staff estimates the cost of a lawyer to perform these tasks for a fund each year is $1,548.
                    <SU>4</SU>
                    <FTREF/>
                     Funds also must have an independent public accountant verify the fund's assets three times each year and prepare the certificate of examination. Commission staff estimates the annual cost for an independent public accountant to perform this service is $11,550.
                    <SU>5</SU>
                    <FTREF/>
                     Therefore, the total annual cost burden for a fund that relies on rule 17f-1 would be approximately $13,098.
                    <SU>6</SU>
                    <FTREF/>
                     As noted above, the staff estimates that 4 funds rely on rule 17f-1 each year, for an estimated total annualized external cost burden of $52,392.
                    <SU>7</SU>
                    <FTREF/>
                </P>
                <FTNT>
                    <P>
                        <SU>4</SU>
                         This estimate is based on the following calculation: (2 hours of outside counsel time × $774 = $1,548). To calculate the occupational hourly rates used in this release, the Commission uses occupational mean hourly wage data from the Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (“OEWS”) program of the Bureau of Labor Statistics (“BLS”) for “Securities, Commodity Contracts, and Other Financial Investments and Related Activities” (“NAICS 523”).
                    </P>
                </FTNT>
                <FTNT>
                    <P>
                        <SU>5</SU>
                         Commission staff estimates that this would require approximately 35 hours for an accountant to complete at a cost of approximately $330 per hour. 35 hours × $330 = $11,550. The occupational wage rate was derived using wage data from the OEWS program of BLS for NAICS 523.
                    </P>
                </FTNT>
                <FTNT>
                    <P>
                        <SU>6</SU>
                         This estimate is based on the following calculation: $1,548 + $11,550 = $13,098.
                    </P>
                </FTNT>
                <FTNT>
                    <P>
                        <SU>7</SU>
                         This estimate is based on the following calculation: 4 funds × $ 13,098 = $52,392.
                    </P>
                </FTNT>
                <P>The estimate of average burden hours is made solely for the purposes of the Paperwork Reduction Act, and is not derived from a comprehensive or even a representative survey or study of the costs of Commission rules. Compliance with the collections of information required by rule 17f-1 is mandatory for funds that place their assets in the custody of a national securities exchange member. Responses will not be kept confidential. An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid control number.</P>
                <P>An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB Control Number.</P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Written comments are invited on:</E>
                     (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 estimate of the burden of the collection of information; (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 respondents, including through the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology.
                </P>
                <P>
                    Please direct your written comments on this 60-Day Collection Notice to Austin Gerig, Director/Chief Data Officer, Securities and Exchange Commission, c/o Tanya Ruttenberg via email to 
                    <E T="03">PaperworkReductionAct@sec.gov</E>
                     by October 23, 2026.
                </P>
                <SIG>
                    <DATED>Dated: August 20, 2026.</DATED>
                    <NAME>Vanessa A. Countryman,</NAME>
                    <TITLE>Secretary.</TITLE>
                </SIG>
            </PREAMB>
            <FRDOC>[FR Doc. 2026-17225 Filed 8-21-26; 8:45 am]</FRDOC>
            <BILCOD>BILLING CODE 8011-01-P</BILCOD>
        </NOTICE>
        <NOTICE>
            <PREAMB>
                <AGENCY TYPE="S">SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION</AGENCY>
                <DEPDOC>[OMB Control No. 3235-0619]</DEPDOC>
                <SUBJECT>Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Collection; Comment Request; Extension: Rule 163</SUBJECT>
                <FP SOURCE="FP-1">
                    <E T="03">Upon Written Request, Copies Available From:</E>
                     Securities and Exchange Commission, Office of FOIA Services, 
                    <PRTPAGE P="54780"/>
                    100 F Street NE, Washington, DC 20549-2736
                </FP>
                <P>
                    Notice is hereby given that, pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 
                    <E T="03">et seq.</E>
                    ), the Securities and Exchange Commission (“Commission”) is soliciting comments on the collection of information summarized below. The Commission plans to submit this existing collection of information to the Office of Management and Budget for extension and approval.
                </P>
                <P>
                    Rule 163 (17 CFR 230.163) provides an exemption from Section 5(c) of the Securities Act of 1933 (15 U.S.C. 77a 
                    <E T="03">et seq.</E>
                    ) for certain communications by, or on behalf of, a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 (17 CFR 230.405), before a registration statement is filed, subject to certain conditions. The rule is intended to facilitate capital formation by giving eligible well-known seasoned issuers freedom to communicate with investors at any time, including by means of a written offer other than a statutory prospectus. We estimate that approximately 12 respondents make one filing per year pursuant to Rule 163, for a total of approximately 12 responses annually. We estimate that respondents incur approximately 0.083 hours per Rule 163 response, for a total annual reporting burden of 1 hour (0.083 hours per response × 12 responses). We estimate that respondents incur $72.50 cost burden per Rule 163 response, for a total annual cost of $870 ($72.50 cost per response × 12 responses).
                </P>
                <P>An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number.</P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Written comments are invited on:</E>
                     (a) whether this proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information will have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden imposed by the collection of information; (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 respondents, including through the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology.
                </P>
                <P>
                    Please direct your written comments on this 60-Day Collection Notice to Austin Gerig, Director/Chief Data Officer, Securities and Exchange Commission, c/o Tanya Ruttenberg via email to 
                    <E T="03">PaperworkReductionAct@sec.gov</E>
                     by October 23, 2026.
                </P>
                <SIG>
                    <DATED>Dated: August 20, 2026.</DATED>
                    <NAME>Vanessa A. Countryman,</NAME>
                    <TITLE>Secretary.</TITLE>
                </SIG>
            </PREAMB>
            <FRDOC>[FR Doc. 2026-17224 Filed 8-21-26; 8:45 am]</FRDOC>
            <BILCOD>BILLING CODE 8011-01-P</BILCOD>
        </NOTICE>
        <NOTICE>
            <PREAMB>
                <AGENCY TYPE="S">SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION</AGENCY>
                <DEPDOC>[Release No. 34-106162; File No. SR-NYSEARCA-2026-85]</DEPDOC>
                <SUBJECT>Self-Regulatory Organizations; NYSE Arca, Inc.; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of a Proposed Rule Change To Modify the NYSE Arca Options Fee Schedule To Eliminate Customer and Professional Customer Fees and Introduce a Floor Broker Incentive for Trading in Certain MSCI Related Index Options</SUBJECT>
                <DATE>August 19, 2026.</DATE>
                <P>
                    Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) 
                    <SU>1</SU>
                    <FTREF/>
                     of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Act”),
                    <SU>2</SU>
                    <FTREF/>
                     and Rule 19b-4 thereunder,
                    <SU>3</SU>
                    <FTREF/>
                     notice is hereby given that on August 11, 2026, NYSE Arca, Inc. (“NYSE Arca” or the “Exchange”) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) the proposed rule change as described in Items I and II below, which Items have been prepared by the self-regulatory organization. The Commission is publishing this notice to solicit comments on the proposed rule change from interested persons.
                </P>
                <FTNT>
                    <P>
                        <SU>1</SU>
                         15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
                    </P>
                </FTNT>
                <FTNT>
                    <P>
                        <SU>2</SU>
                         15 U.S.C. 78a.
                    </P>
                </FTNT>
                <FTNT>
                    <P>
                        <SU>3</SU>
                         17 CFR 240.19b-4.
                    </P>
                </FTNT>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">I. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Terms of Substance of the Proposed Rule Change</HD>
                <P>
                    The Exchange proposes to modify the NYSE Arca Options Fee Schedule (“Fee Schedule”) to eliminate Customer and Professional Customer fees and introduce a Floor Broker incentive for trading in certain MSCI related Index Options. The Exchange proposes to implement the fee changes effective August 11, 2026. The proposed rule change is available on the Exchange's website at 
                    <E T="03">www.nyse.com</E>
                     and at the principal office of the Exchange.
                </P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">II. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Purpose of, and Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change</HD>
                <P>In its filing with the Commission, the self-regulatory organization included statements concerning the purpose of, and basis for, the proposed rule change and discussed any comments it received on the proposed rule change. The text of those statements may be examined at the places specified in Item IV below. The Exchange has prepared summaries, set forth in sections A, B, and C below, of the most significant parts of such statements.</P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD2">A. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Purpose of, and the Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change</HD>
                <HD SOURCE="HD3">1. Purpose</HD>
                <P>
                    The Exchange lists a number of index options for which an MSCI index is the underlying security (
                    <E T="03">i.e.,</E>
                     MSCI EAFE Index (MXEA), MSCI Emerging Markets Index (MXEF), MSCI World Index (MXWLD), MSCI ACWI Index (MXACW) and MSCI USA Index (MXUSA)) (collectively the “MSCI Index Options”). The Exchange proposes to modify the Fee Schedule to eliminate Customer and Professional Customer fees for manual executions in all MSCI Index Options and introduce a Floor Broker incentive for trading in MXEA and MXEF. The Exchange proposes to implement the fee changes effective August 11, 2026.
                    <SU>4</SU>
                    <FTREF/>
                </P>
                <FTNT>
                    <P>
                        <SU>4</SU>
                         The Exchange originally filed to amend the Fee Schedule on July 31, 2026 (SR-NYSEARCA-2026-82). SR-NYSEARCA-2026-82 was withdrawn on August 11, 2026, and replaced by this filing.
                    </P>
                </FTNT>
                <P>
                    Currently, the Exchange imposes a fee of $0.25 per contract for Customer and Professional Customer manual executions in MXEA and MXEF.
                    <SU>5</SU>
                    <FTREF/>
                     The Exchange also imposes a $0.05 per contract fee for Customer and Professional Customer manual executions in MXUSA, MXWLD and MXACW.
                    <SU>6</SU>
                    <FTREF/>
                </P>
                <FTNT>
                    <P>
                        <SU>5</SU>
                         
                        <E T="03">See</E>
                         Fee Schedule “NYSE Arca OPTIONS: TRADE-RELATED CHARGES FOR STANDARD OPTIONS, TRANSACTION FEE FOR MANUAL EXCUTIONS PER CONTRACT.”
                    </P>
                </FTNT>
                <FTNT>
                    <P>
                        <SU>6</SU>
                         
                        <E T="03">Id.</E>
                    </P>
                </FTNT>
                <P>
                    The Exchange proposes to lower these fees to $0.00.
                    <SU>7</SU>
                    <FTREF/>
                     In addition, the Exchange proposes to amend Endnote 19 to adopt a $0.25 per contract rebate to Participants in the Floor Broker Prepayment Incentive Program on all non-Strategy trading executions in MXEA and MXEF.
                    <SU>8</SU>
                    <FTREF/>
                     However, the rebate will not apply to any trades that are included in in the Limit of Fees On Options Strategy Executions.
                    <SU>9</SU>
                    <FTREF/>
                </P>
                <FTNT>
                    <P>
                        <SU>7</SU>
                         
                        <E T="03">See</E>
                         proposed Fee Schedule “NYSE Arca OPTIONS: TRADE-RELATED CHARGES FOR STANDARD OPTIONS.”
                    </P>
                </FTNT>
                <FTNT>
                    <P>
                        <SU>8</SU>
                         
                        <E T="03">See</E>
                         proposed Fee Schedule amended Endnote 19.
                    </P>
                </FTNT>
                <FTNT>
                    <P>
                        <SU>9</SU>
                         
                        <E T="03">Id.</E>
                         The Limit Of Fees On Options Executions applies to Strategy Executions involving (a) reversals and conversions, (b) box spreads, (c) short stock interest spreads, (d) merger spreads, and (e) jelly rolls, and (f) dividends.
                    </P>
                </FTNT>
                <P>
                    The elimination of the fees related to Customer and Professional Customer manual transactions in MSCI Options 
                    <PRTPAGE P="54781"/>
                    reflects the Exchange's belief that these sources of order flow have been integral in attracting liquidity and trading interest in the MSCI Options. Moreover, their elimination will align the fees charged for Customer and Professional Customer manual executions in non-MSCI related options.
                    <SU>10</SU>
                    <FTREF/>
                </P>
                <FTNT>
                    <P>
                        <SU>10</SU>
                         
                        <E T="03">See</E>
                         Fee Schedule “NYSE Arca OPTIONS: TRADE-RELATED CHARGES FOR STANDARD OPTIONS, TRANSACTION FEE FOR MANUAL EXECUTIONS PER CONTRACT.”
                    </P>
                </FTNT>
                <P>The rebate reflects the fact that MXEA and MXEF are separate and distinct products from the remainder of the MSCI Index Options with unique characteristics, which, since their initial listing on February 25, 2026, MXEA and MXEF have shown promising levels of interest and liquidity. The Exchange believes that a rebate focused on these two products will enhance that interest and provide for more robust liquidity.</P>
                <P>The Exchange believes that the elimination of the fees and the rebate will incentivize activity associated with the MSCI Options on the Exchange. Any increase in such activity would create more trading opportunities for all market participants and would, in turn, attract additional order flow to the Exchange, further contributing to a deeper, more liquid market to the benefit of all market participants.</P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD3">2. Statutory Basis</HD>
                <P>
                    The Exchange believes that the proposed rule change is consistent with Section 6(b) of the Act,
                    <SU>11</SU>
                    <FTREF/>
                     in general, and furthers the objectives of Sections 6(b)(4) and (5) of the Act,
                    <SU>12</SU>
                    <FTREF/>
                     in particular, because it provides for the equitable allocation of reasonable dues, fees, and other charges among its members, issuers and other persons using its facilities and does not unfairly discriminate between customers, issuers, brokers or dealers.
                </P>
                <FTNT>
                    <P>
                        <SU>11</SU>
                         15 U.S.C. 78f(b).
                    </P>
                </FTNT>
                <FTNT>
                    <P>
                        <SU>12</SU>
                         15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(4) and (5).
                    </P>
                </FTNT>
                <P>
                    As a threshold matter, the Exchange is subject to significant competitive forces in the market for options securities transaction services that constrain its pricing determinations in that market. The Commission has repeatedly expressed its preference for competition over regulatory intervention in determining prices, products, and services in the securities markets. In Regulation NMS, the Commission highlighted the importance of market forces in determining prices and SRO revenues and, also, recognized that current regulation of the market system “has been remarkably successful in promoting market competition in its broader forms that are most important to investors and listed companies.” 
                    <SU>13</SU>
                    <FTREF/>
                </P>
                <FTNT>
                    <P>
                        <SU>13</SU>
                         
                        <E T="03">See</E>
                         Securities Exchange Act Release No. 51808 (June 9, 2005), 70 FR 37496, 37499 (June 29, 2005) (S7-10-04) (“Reg NMS Adopting Release”).
                    </P>
                </FTNT>
                <P>
                    There are currently 18 registered options exchanges competing for order flow. Based on publicly available information and, excluding index-based options, no single exchange has more than 16% of the market share of executed volume of multiply-listed equity and ETF options trades.
                    <SU>14</SU>
                    <FTREF/>
                     Therefore, currently no exchange possesses significant pricing power in the execution of multiply-listed equity and ETF options order flow. More specifically, in June 2026, the Exchange had 10.41% market share of executed volume of multiply-listed equity and ETF options order flow. In such a low concentrated and highly competitive market, no single options exchange possesses significant pricing power in the execution of option order flow.
                </P>
                <FTNT>
                    <P>
                        <SU>14</SU>
                         The OCC publishes options and futures volume in a variety of formats, including daily and monthly volume by exchange, available at: 
                        <E T="03">https://www.theocc.com/Market-Data/Market-Data-Reports/Volume-and-Open-Interest/Monthly-Weekly-Volume-Statistics.</E>
                    </P>
                </FTNT>
                <P>The Exchange believes that the ever-shifting market share among the exchanges from month to month demonstrates that market participants can shift order flow or discontinue or reduce use of certain categories of products, in response to fee changes. Accordingly, competitive forces constrain options exchange transaction fees. In response to this competitive marketplace, the Exchange proposes to eliminate fees charged for MSCI Index Options as an incentive to create more trading opportunities on the Exchange for all market participants in these products. Greater liquidity benefits all market participants on the Exchange and increased order flow would increase opportunities for execution of other trading interest.</P>
                <P>Similarly, the Exchange also believes the proposed rebate for Floor Broker activity in MXEA and MXEF is an equitable allocation of its fees and credits because the proposed rebate is equally available to all Floor Brokers which can try to earn the proposed rebate, or not. In addition, the rebate is intended to address the unique characteristics of MXEA and MXEF that, since their initial listing, have shown promising levels of interest and liquidity. The Exchange believes [sic] will be enhanced by the rebate, providing for more robust liquidity. As such, the rebate is intended to attract more activity to the Exchange. This increased order flow would continue to make the Exchange a more competitive venue. Thus, the Exchange believes the proposed rule change would improve market quality for all market participants on the Exchange and, accordingly, attract more order flow to the Exchange thereby improving market-wide quality and price discovery.</P>
                <P>Finally, the changes do not unfairly discriminate between market participants. Specifically, as it relates to the elimination of the fees related to all MSCI options, the Exchange believes that Customer and Professional Customer order flow has been integral in attracting liquidity and trading interest in the MSCI Options. Moreover, as noted above, the elimination of the relevant fees is consistent with the fees charged by the Exchange for manual transactions in non-MSCI related options. Similarly, the proposed rebate is available to all Floor Brokers and is intended to encourage the role performed by Floor Brokers in providing robust liquidity to the benefit of all market participants.</P>
                <P>Each proposed change takes into account that the Exchange operates in a highly competitive market and that it must, therefore, continually adjust its fees and rebates to remain competitive with other exchanges and to attract order flow to the Exchange. Accordingly, the Exchange believes that the proposed rule change reflects this competitive environment.</P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD2">B. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Burden on Competition</HD>
                <P>In accordance with Section 6(b)(8) of the Act, the Exchange does not believe that the proposed rule change would impose any burden on competition that is not necessary or appropriate in furtherance of the purposes of the Act.</P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Intramarket Competition.</E>
                     The elimination of the fees and addition of a rebate are designed to attract order flow to the Exchange and would apply equally to all similarly situated market participants and encourage the important function that Floor Brokers serve in providing liquidity and price discovery for all market participants.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Intermarket Competition.</E>
                     The Exchange operates in a highly competitive market in which market participants can readily favor one of the other 17 competing option exchanges if they deem fee levels at a particular venue to be excessive. In such an environment, the Exchange must continually adjust its fees to remain competitive with other exchanges and to attract order flow to the Exchange. Based on publicly available information, and excluding index-based options, no single exchange has more than 16% of 
                    <PRTPAGE P="54782"/>
                    the market share of executed volume of multiply listed equity and ETF options trades. Therefore, currently no exchange possesses significant pricing power in the execution of multiply listed equity and ETF options order flow. More specifically, in June 2026, the Exchange had 10.41% market share of executed volume of multiply listed equity and ETF options order flow.
                </P>
                <P>The aim of the proposed changes is to attract more orders to the Exchange, which would continue to make the Exchange a more competitive venue for, among other things, order execution. Thus, the Exchange believes the proposed rule change would improve market quality for all market participants on the Exchange and, as a consequence, improve market-wide quality and price discovery.</P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD2">C. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Comments on the Proposed Rule Change Received From Members, Participants, or Others</HD>
                <P>No written comments were solicited or received with respect to the proposed rule change.</P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">III. Date of Effectiveness of the Proposed Rule Change and Timing for Commission Action</HD>
                <P>
                    The foregoing rule change is effective upon filing pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A) 
                    <SU>15</SU>
                    <FTREF/>
                     of the Act and subparagraph (f)(2) of Rule 19b-4 
                    <SU>16</SU>
                    <FTREF/>
                     thereunder, because it establishes a due, fee, or other charge imposed by the Exchange.
                </P>
                <FTNT>
                    <P>
                        <SU>15</SU>
                         15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).
                    </P>
                </FTNT>
                <FTNT>
                    <P>
                        <SU>16</SU>
                         17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(2).
                    </P>
                </FTNT>
                <P>
                    At any time within 60 days of the filing of such proposed rule change, the Commission summarily may temporarily suspend such rule change if it appears to the Commission that such action is necessary or appropriate in the public interest, for the protection of investors, or otherwise in furtherance of the purposes of the Act. If the Commission takes such action, the Commission shall institute proceedings under Section 19(b)(2)(B) 
                    <SU>17</SU>
                    <FTREF/>
                     of the Act to determine whether the proposed rule change should be approved or disapproved.
                </P>
                <FTNT>
                    <P>
                        <SU>17</SU>
                         15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2)(B).
                    </P>
                </FTNT>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">IV. Solicitation of Comments</HD>
                <P>Interested persons are invited to submit written data, views and arguments concerning the foregoing, including whether the proposed rule change is consistent with the Act. Comments may be submitted by any of the following methods:</P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD2">Electronic Comments</HD>
                <P>
                    • Use the Commission's internet comment form (
                    <E T="03">https://www.sec.gov/rules/sro.shtml</E>
                    ); or
                </P>
                <P>
                    • Send an email to 
                    <E T="03">rule-comments@sec.gov.</E>
                     Please include file number SR-NYSEARCA-2026-85 on the subject line.
                </P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD2">Paper Comments</HD>
                <P>• Send paper comments in triplicate to Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street NE, Washington, DC 20549-1090.</P>
                <FP>
                    All submissions should refer to file number SR-NYSEARCA-2026-85. This file number should be included on the subject line if email is used. To help the Commission process and review your comments more efficiently, please use only one method. The Commission will post all comments on the Commission's internet website (
                    <E T="03">https://www.sec.gov/rules/sro.shtml</E>
                    ). Copies of the filing will be available for inspection and copying at the principal office of the Exchange. Do not include personal identifiable information in submissions; you should submit only information that you wish to make available publicly. We may redact in part or withhold entirely from publication submitted material that is obscene or subject to copyright protection. All submissions should refer to file number SR-NYSEARCA-2026-85 and should be submitted on or before September 14, 2026.
                </FP>
                <SIG>
                    <P>
                        For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated authority.
                        <SU>18</SU>
                        <FTREF/>
                    </P>
                    <FTNT>
                        <P>
                            <SU>18</SU>
                             17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
                        </P>
                    </FTNT>
                    <NAME>Vanessa A. Countryman,</NAME>
                    <TITLE>Secretary.</TITLE>
                </SIG>
            </PREAMB>
            <FRDOC>[FR Doc. 2026-17204 Filed 8-21-26; 8:45 am]</FRDOC>
            <BILCOD>BILLING CODE 8011-01-P</BILCOD>
        </NOTICE>
        <NOTICE>
            <PREAMB>
                <AGENCY TYPE="S">SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION</AGENCY>
                <DEPDOC>[Investment Company Act Release No. 36307; File No. 812-15981]</DEPDOC>
                <SUBJECT>Pender Real Estate Credit Fund, et al.</SUBJECT>
                <DATE>August 19, 2026.</DATE>
                <AGY>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">AGENCY:</HD>
                    <P>Securities and Exchange Commission (“Commission” or “SEC”).</P>
                </AGY>
                <ACT>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">ACTION:</HD>
                    <P>Notice.</P>
                </ACT>
                <P>Notice of application for an order under sections 17(d) and 57(i) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “Act”) and rule 17d-1 under the Act to permit certain joint transactions otherwise prohibited by sections 17(d) and 57(a)(4) of the Act and rule 17d-1 under the Act.</P>
                <PREAMHD>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">Summary of Application:</HD>
                    <P>Applicants request an order to permit certain business development companies (“BDCs”) and closed-end management investment companies to co-invest in portfolio companies with each other and with certain affiliated investment entities.</P>
                </PREAMHD>
                <PREAMHD>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">Applicants:</HD>
                    <P>Pender Real Estate Credit Fund; PC ABL SMA 1, L.P., Pender Capital Management, LLC and certain of their affiliated entities as described in Schedule A to the application.</P>
                </PREAMHD>
                <PREAMHD>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">Filing Dates:</HD>
                    <P>The application was filed on January 30, 2026, and amended on July 28, 2026.</P>
                </PREAMHD>
                <PREAMHD>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">Hearing or Notification of Hearing:</HD>
                    <P>
                        An order granting the requested relief will be issued unless the Commission orders a hearing. Interested persons may request a hearing on any application by emailing the SEC's Secretary and serving the Applicants with a copy of the request by email, if an email address is listed for the relevant Applicant below, or personally or by mail, if a physical address is listed for the relevant Applicant below. The email should include the file number referenced above. Hearing requests should be received by the Commission by 5:30 p.m., Eastern time, on September 14, 2026, and should be accompanied by proof of service on the Applicants, in the form of an affidavit or, for lawyers, a certificate of service. Pursuant to rule 0-5 under the Act, hearing requests should state the nature of the writer's interest, any facts bearing upon the desirability of a hearing on the matter, the reason for the request, and the issues contested. Persons who wish to be notified of a hearing may request notification by emailing the Commission's Secretary at 
                        <E T="03">Secretarys-Office@sec.gov.</E>
                    </P>
                </PREAMHD>
                <ADD>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">ADDRESSES:</HD>
                    <P>
                        The Commission: 
                        <E T="03">Secretarys-Office@sec.gov.</E>
                         Applicants: Joshua B. Deringer, Esq., 
                        <E T="03">joshua.deringer@faegredrinker.com</E>
                         and Gwendolyn A. Williamson, Esq., 
                        <E T="03">gwendolyn.williamson@faegredrinker.com,</E>
                         each of Faegre Drinker Biddle &amp; Reath LLP.
                    </P>
                </ADD>
                <FURINF>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:</HD>
                    <P>Thomas Ahmadifar, Branch Chief, or Stephan N. Packs, Senior Counsel, at (202) 551-6825 (Division of Investment Management, Chief Counsel's Office).</P>
                </FURINF>
            </PREAMB>
            <SUPLINF>
                <HD SOURCE="HED">SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:</HD>
                <P>
                    For Applicants' representations, legal analysis, and conditions, please refer to Applicants' amended application, filed July 28, 2026, which may be obtained via the Commission's website by searching for the file number at the top of this document, or for an Applicant 
                    <PRTPAGE P="54783"/>
                    using the Company name search field, on the SEC's EDGAR system. The SEC's EDGAR system may be searched at 
                    <E T="03">https://www.sec.gov/search-filings.</E>
                     You may also call the SEC's Office of Investor Education and Advocacy at (202) 551- 8090.
                </P>
                <SIG>
                    <P>For the Commission, by the Division of Investment Management, under delegated authority.</P>
                    <NAME>Vanessa A. Countryman,</NAME>
                    <TITLE>Secretary.</TITLE>
                </SIG>
            </SUPLINF>
            <FRDOC>[FR Doc. 2026-17191 Filed 8-21-26; 8:45 am]</FRDOC>
            <BILCOD>BILLING CODE 8011-01-P</BILCOD>
        </NOTICE>
        <NOTICE>
            <PREAMB>
                <AGENCY TYPE="S">SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION</AGENCY>
                <DEPDOC>[Release No. 34-106164; File No. SR-NYSEARCA-2026-68]</DEPDOC>
                <SUBJECT>Self-Regulatory Organizations; NYSE Arca, Inc.; Notice of Designation of a Longer Period for Commission Action on a Proposed Rule Change To Amend Rules 5.32-O and 5.35-O</SUBJECT>
                <DATE>August 19, 2026.</DATE>
                <P>
                    On June 18, 2026, NYSE Arca, Inc. (“Exchange” or “NYSE Arca”) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“Commission”), pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Act”) 
                    <SU>1</SU>
                    <FTREF/>
                     and Rule 19b-4 thereunder,
                    <SU>2</SU>
                    <FTREF/>
                     a proposed rule change to amend Rules 5.32-O and 5.35-O to, among other things, permit cash settlement for up to 50 non-ETF Flexible Exchange (“FLEX”) Opitons. The proposed rule change was published for comment in the 
                    <E T="04">Federal Register</E>
                     on July 7, 2026.
                    <SU>3</SU>
                    <FTREF/>
                </P>
                <FTNT>
                    <P>
                        <SU>1</SU>
                         15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
                    </P>
                </FTNT>
                <FTNT>
                    <P>
                        <SU>2</SU>
                         17 CFR 240.19b-4.
                    </P>
                </FTNT>
                <FTNT>
                    <P>
                        <SU>3</SU>
                         
                        <E T="03">See</E>
                         Securities Exchange Act Release No. 105833 (July 1, 2026), 91 FR 41716. The Commission has received no comments regarding the proposed rule change.
                    </P>
                </FTNT>
                <P>
                    Section 19(b)(2) of the Act 
                    <SU>4</SU>
                    <FTREF/>
                     provides that within 45 days of the publication of notice of the filing of a proposed rule change, or within such longer period up to 90 days as the Commission may designate if it finds such longer period to be appropriate and publishes its reasons for so finding or as to which the self-regulatory organization consents, the Commission shall either approve the proposed rule change, disapprove the proposed rule change, or institute proceedings to determine whether the proposed rule change should be disapproved. The 45th day after publication of the notice for this proposed rule change is August 21, 2026. The Commission is extending this 45-day time period.
                </P>
                <FTNT>
                    <P>
                        <SU>4</SU>
                         15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2).
                    </P>
                </FTNT>
                <P>
                    The Commission finds it appropriate to designate a longer period within which to take action on the proposed rule change so that it has sufficient time to consider the proposed rule change and the issues raised therein. Accordingly, the Commission, pursuant to Section 19(b)(2) of the Act,
                    <SU>5</SU>
                    <FTREF/>
                     designates October 5, 2026, as the date by which the Commission shall either approve or disapprove, or institute proceedings to determine whether to disapprove, the proposed rule change (File No. SR-NYSEARCA-2026-68).
                </P>
                <FTNT>
                    <P>
                        <SU>5</SU>
                         
                        <E T="03">Id.</E>
                    </P>
                </FTNT>
                <SIG>
                    <P>
                        For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated authority.
                        <SU>6</SU>
                        <FTREF/>
                    </P>
                    <FTNT>
                        <P>
                            <SU>6</SU>
                             17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(31).
                        </P>
                    </FTNT>
                    <NAME>Vanessa A. Countryman,</NAME>
                    <TITLE>Secretary.</TITLE>
                </SIG>
            </PREAMB>
            <FRDOC>[FR Doc. 2026-17205 Filed 8-21-26; 8:45 am]</FRDOC>
            <BILCOD>BILLING CODE 8011-01-P</BILCOD>
        </NOTICE>
        <NOTICE>
            <PREAMB>
                <AGENCY TYPE="N">DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION</AGENCY>
                <SUBAGY>Federal Aviation Administration</SUBAGY>
                <SUBJECT>Adoption of Categorical Exclusion Under the National Environmental Policy Act</SUBJECT>
                <AGY>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">AGENCY:</HD>
                    <P>Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of Transportation (DOT).</P>
                </AGY>
                <ACT>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">ACTION:</HD>
                    <P>Notice of adoption of categorical exclusion.</P>
                </ACT>
                <SUM>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">SUMMARY:</HD>
                    <P>The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has identified a categorical exclusion (CATEX) established by the Department of the Air Force (DAF) that it intends to adopt and describes the categories of proposed actions for which the FAA intends to use this CATEX. The FAA has consulted with the DAF, as described herein, and obtained concurrence on FAA's use of this CATEX.</P>
                </SUM>
                <DATES>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">DATES:</HD>
                    <P>
                        The CATEX identified in the 
                        <E T="02">SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION</E>
                         section is available for FAA use effective immediately.
                    </P>
                </DATES>
                <FURINF>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:</HD>
                    <P>
                        Ms. Judith Walker, Office of Environment and Energy (AEE-400). Mailing address: Federal Aviation Administration, 800 Independence Ave. SW, Washington, DC 20591. Email address 
                        <E T="03">NEPA@faa.gov.</E>
                    </P>
                </FURINF>
            </PREAMB>
            <SUPLINF>
                <HD SOURCE="HED">SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:</HD>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">I. Background</HD>
                <P>Congress enacted the National Environmental Policy Act, 42 U.S.C. 4321-4347 (NEPA) 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 seeks to ensure that agencies consider the environmental effects of their proposed major actions in their decision-making processes.</P>
                <P>To comply with NEPA, agencies determine the appropriate level of review of any major federal action—an environmental impact statement (EIS), environmental assessment (EA), or categorical exclusion (CATEX) (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 that the action will have no significant effects and document that conclusion in a finding of no significant impact. If the analysis concludes that the action is likely to have significant effects, then an EIS is required.</P>
                <P>
                    Pursuant to NEPA, a Federal agency can also establish CATEXs—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. 4336e(1)). If an agency determines that a CATEX covers a proposed action, it then evaluates the proposed action for extraordinary circumstances in which a normally excluded action may have a significant effect. If no extraordinary circumstances are present, the agency may apply the CATEX to the proposed action without preparing an EA or EIS (42 U.S.C. 4336(a)(2)). FAA considers extraordinary circumstances pursuant to FAA Order 1050.1G, Federal Aviation Administration National Environmental Policy Act Implementing Procedures, dated June 30, 2025, Appendix B, Extraordinary Circumstances and Categorical Exclusion. If an extraordinary circumstance exists, the agency nevertheless may apply the categorical exclusion if the agency conducts an analysis and determines that the proposed action does not in fact have the potential to result in significant effects notwithstanding the extraordinary circumstance, or the agency modifies the proposed action to 
                    <PRTPAGE P="54784"/>
                    avoid or otherwise mitigate potential significant effects.
                </P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">I.A. Process of Establishing a CATEX</HD>
                <P>Federal agencies may establish a category of CATEX via one of two methods—establishing an original CATEX under the CEQ's guidance, Memorandum for Heads of Federal Departments and Agencies, April 9, 2026. Subject: Establishing, Revising, Adopting, and Applying Categorical Exclusions Under the National Environmental Policy Act, or via adopting a CATEX from another Federal agency.</P>
                <P>
                    Section 109 of NEPA, enacted as part of the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023, allows a Federal agency to adopt another Federal agency's CATEX (42 U.S.C. 4336c). To use another agency's CATEXs under section 109, the adopting agency must identify the relevant CATEX listed in the establishing agency's NEPA procedures that covers the adopting agency's category of proposed actions or related actions; consult with the establishing agency to ensure that the proposed adoption of the CATEX is appropriate for the category of actions; identify to the public the CATEX that the adopting agency plans to use for its proposed actions; and document adoption of the CATEX (42 U.S.C. 4336c); (FAA Order 1050.1G, Section 1.4(d) Adopting CATEX's from other Federal agencies). This 
                    <E T="04">Federal Register</E>
                     notice announces the FAA's decision to adopt the below identified CATEX from DAF, as well as the extraordinary circumstances list established by DAF when originally creating the CATEX.
                </P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">II. DAF Categorical Exclusion</HD>
                <P>FAA is adopting a CATEX established by the DAF and listed in the Department of War NEPA Procedures Appendix A, Supersonic flying operations over land and above 30,000 feet MSL, or over water and above 10,000 feet MSL and more than 15 nautical miles from land. Department of War National Environmental Policy Act Implementing Procedures, Appendix A, II Department of the Air Force, DoW A116-34. April 30, 2026.</P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">III. FAA's Use of Adopted CATEX</HD>
                <P>FAA expects to use the above identified CATEX to approve Special Flight Authorization (SFA) applications for supersonic flight testing that are overland and above 30,000 feet MSL or over water, above 10,000 feet MSL, and more than 15 nautical miles from land. DAF currently utilizes the following approved supersonic corridors: Edwards Air Force Base, California; Bell X-1 High Altitude Supersonic Corridors; Black Mountain High Altitude Supersonic Corridors; PIRA Supersonic Corridor; Eglin Air Force Base, Florida; Overland R-2914A to R-2915A (Test Area B-70). The categories of actions described herein are activities which are within the scope of the establishing agency's (DAF's) CATEX. FAA may also expand the use of the CATEX identified in Section II to activities other than SFA applications that are within the parameters of the establishing agency's CATEX where appropriate and would consult with the establishing agency, as needed. The CATEX the FAA is adopting from DAF reads: “Supersonic flying operations over land and above 30,000 feet MSL, or over water and above 10,000 feet MSL and more than 15 nautical miles from land”. The FAA adopts CATEX DoW A116-34 from DAF consistent with all substantive and procedural limitations applied by DAF. This adoption, consistent with DAF procedures, requires that application of the CATEX to a specific federal action be done via documented CATEX in certain circumstances. Therefore, when DAF's CATEX requires documentation to apply the CATEX, the FAA Environmental Protection Specialist (EPS) shall comply with the requirements detailed in FAA Order 1050.1G, § 1.4(f)(3), Documentation of CATEX determinations.</P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">IV. Consideration of Extraordinary Circumstances</HD>
                <P>The FAA has NEPA implementing procedures to guide its analysis of extraordinary circumstances. Further, FAA will apply DAF's extraordinary circumstances, located in part 1.4(d) of the department's NEPA implementing procedures, Department of War National Environmental Policy Act Implementing Procedures, and any subsequent revisions thereto, if different from the FAA's. If an extraordinary circumstance is present, the FAA will determine whether it is possible to avoid significant effects. The FAA EPS must document application of any mitigations consistent with FAA Order 1050.1G. If FAA cannot apply a CATEX to a particular proposed action due to extraordinary circumstances, FAA will prepare an EA or EIS, consistent with FAA NEPA Implementing Procedures dated 30 June 2025.</P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">V. Consultation With Establishing Agency and Determination of Appropriateness</HD>
                <P>FAA consulted with DAF between 3 December 2025 and 29 June 2026. During the consultation, the agencies discussed whether the category of FAA proposed actions would be appropriately covered by the CATEX identified above; the extraordinary circumstances that FAA should consider before applying the CATEX to FAA's proposed actions; the requirement to evaluate, before using the above listed DAF CATEX, the integral elements of the CATEX's availability for use as defined in DAF's NEPA procedures (identified in Section II above); and what documentation FAA should complete when applying the CATEX. The agencies also considered past use of the CATEX by the DAF, including how often these agencies modified a proposed action or prepared an EA or EIS for a proposed action otherwise covered by the CATEX. At the conclusion of that process, the agencies determined that FAA's proposed use of the CATEX as described in this notice is appropriate.</P>
                <HD SOURCE="HD1">VI. Conclusion</HD>
                <P>This notice documents adoption of the CATEX listed in Section II in accordance with 42 U.S.C. 4336c(4), and is available for use by FAA, effective immediately.</P>
                <SIG>
                    <DATED>Issued in Washington, DC, on August 19, 2026.</DATED>
                    <NAME>Julie Marks,</NAME>
                    <TITLE>Executive Director, Federal Aviation Administration—Office of Environment and Energy.</TITLE>
                </SIG>
            </SUPLINF>
            <FRDOC>[FR Doc. 2026-17212 Filed 8-21-26; 8:45 am]</FRDOC>
            <BILCOD>BILLING CODE 4916-13-P</BILCOD>
        </NOTICE>
        <NOTICE>
            <PREAMB>
                <AGENCY TYPE="N">DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY</AGENCY>
                <SUBAGY>Internal Revenue Service</SUBAGY>
                <SUBJECT>Open Meeting of the Taxpayer Advocacy Panel Joint Committee</SUBJECT>
                <AGY>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">AGENCY:</HD>
                    <P>Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Treasury</P>
                </AGY>
                <ACT>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">ACTION:</HD>
                    <P>Notice of Meeting</P>
                </ACT>
                <SUM>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">SUMMARY:</HD>
                    <P>An open meeting of the Taxpayer Advocacy Panel's Joint Committee will be conducted. The Taxpayer Advocacy Panel is soliciting public comments, ideas, and suggestions to improve customer service at the Internal Revenue Service. This meeting will be held as a virtual video conference via the Microsoft Teams platform.</P>
                </SUM>
                <DATES>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">DATES:</HD>
                    <P>The meeting will be held on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time.</P>
                </DATES>
                <FURINF>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:</HD>
                    <P>
                        Fred N. Smith, Jr. by email at 
                        <E T="03">taxpayer.advocacy.panel@irs.gov.</E>
                    </P>
                </FURINF>
            </PREAMB>
            <SUPLINF>
                <HD SOURCE="HED">SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:</HD>
                <P>
                    Notice is hereby given pursuant to Section 
                    <PRTPAGE P="54785"/>
                    10(a)(2) of the Federal Advisory Committee Act, 5 U.S.C. App. (1988), that an open meeting of the Taxpayer Advocacy Panel's Joint Committee will be held on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time.
                </P>
                <P>The public is invited to attend the meeting virtually, or by phone, and may provide oral comments or submit written statements for consideration. Due to meeting structure and time limitations, advance registration is required to attend or make public comments during the meeting. To register and receive meeting access information, please contact Fred N. Smith, Jr. at the contact information above no later than Friday, September 11, 2026.</P>
                <P>
                    Meeting materials, including the agenda and any handouts, will be made available prior to the meeting at 
                    <E T="03">www.improveirs.org.</E>
                </P>
                <P>The agenda will include a committee discussion of new and continuing issues and other activities related to the new TAP year.</P>
                <SIG>
                    <DATED>Dated: August 20, 2026.</DATED>
                    <NAME>Saul M. Hernandez,</NAME>
                    <TITLE>Designated Federal Official Taxpayer Advocacy Panel.</TITLE>
                </SIG>
            </SUPLINF>
            <FRDOC>[FR Doc. 2026-17249 Filed 8-21-26; 8:45 am]</FRDOC>
            <BILCOD>BILLING CODE 4830-01-P</BILCOD>
        </NOTICE>
        <NOTICE>
            <PREAMB>
                <AGENCY TYPE="N">DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS</AGENCY>
                <DEPDOC>[OMB Control No. 2900-0559]</DEPDOC>
                <SUBJECT>Agency Information Collection Activity Under OMB Review: Grant Funded Cemetery Data Sheet and Cemetery Grant Documents</SUBJECT>
                <AGY>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">AGENCY:</HD>
                    <P>National Cemetery Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs.</P>
                </AGY>
                <ACT>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">ACTION:</HD>
                    <P>Notice.</P>
                </ACT>
                <SUM>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">SUMMARY:</HD>
                    <P>In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, this notice announces that the National Cemetery Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs, will submit the collection of information abstracted below to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and comment. The PRA submission describes the nature of the information collection and its expected cost and burden, and it includes the actual data collection instrument.</P>
                </SUM>
                <DATES>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">DATES:</HD>
                    <P>
                        Comments and recommendations for the proposed information collection should be sent by September 23, 2026
                        <E T="03">.</E>
                    </P>
                </DATES>
                <ADD>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">ADDRESSES:</HD>
                    <P>
                        To submit comments and recommendations for the proposed information collection, please type the following link into your browser: 
                        <E T="03">www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain,</E>
                         select “Currently under Review—Open for Public Comments”, then search the list for the information collection by Title or “OMB Control No. 2900-0559.”
                    </P>
                </ADD>
                <FURINF>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:</HD>
                    <P/>
                    <P>
                        <E T="03">VA PRA information:</E>
                         Dorothy Glasgow, 202-461-1084, 
                        <E T="03">VAPRA@va.gov</E>
                    </P>
                </FURINF>
            </PREAMB>
            <SUPLINF>
                <HD SOURCE="HED">SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:</HD>
                <P/>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Title:</E>
                     Grant Funded Cemetery Data Sheet and Cemetery Grant Documents.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">OMB Control Number:</E>
                     2900-0559 
                    <E T="03">https://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRASearch.</E>
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Type of Review:</E>
                     Revision of a currently approved collection.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Abstract:</E>
                     VA Form 40-0241 and Cemetery Grant Documents, 40-0895 Series, are required to provide data regarding the number of interments conducted at VA Grant Funded Veterans cemeteries and support grant preapplication each year. This data is necessary for budget, oversight and compliance purposes associated with exiting and establishment of new State and Tribal government Veteran cemeteries.
                </P>
                <P>
                    An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. The 
                    <E T="04">Federal Register</E>
                     Notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments on this collection of information was published at 91 FR 31863, May 28, 2026. This is a revision due to the VA40-0241 taking 30 minutes less for a respondent to complete.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Affected Public:</E>
                     State, Local and Tribal Governments.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Estimated Annual Burden:</E>
                     237.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Estimated Average Burden per Respondent:</E>
                     15 minutes.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Frequency of Response:</E>
                     Annual.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Estimated Number of Respondents:</E>
                     289.
                </P>
                <P>
                    <E T="03">Authority:</E>
                     44 U.S.C. 3501 
                    <E T="03">et seq.</E>
                </P>
                <SIG>
                    <NAME>Lanea Haynes,</NAME>
                    <TITLE>Alternate, VA PRA Clearance Officer, Office of Information Technology, Data Governance Analytics, Department of Veterans Affairs.</TITLE>
                </SIG>
            </SUPLINF>
            <FRDOC>[FR Doc. 2026-17218 Filed 8-21-26; 8:45 am]</FRDOC>
            <BILCOD>BILLING CODE 8320-01-P</BILCOD>
        </NOTICE>
    </NOTICES>
    <VOL>91</VOL>
    <NO>162</NO>
    <DATE>Monday, August 24, 2026</DATE>
    <UNITNAME>Presidential Documents</UNITNAME>
    <NEWPART>
        <PTITLE>
            <PRTPAGE P="54787"/>
            <PARTNO>Part II</PARTNO>
            <PRES>The President</PRES>
            <PROC>Proclamation 11056—Temporary Suspension of Additional Duties To Offset Canadian Discrimination Against the Commerce of the United States With Respect to Alcoholic Beverages, Dairy, and Motor Vehicles</PROC>
        </PTITLE>
        <PRESDOCS>
            <PRESDOCU>
                <PROCLA>
                    <TITLE3>Title 3— </TITLE3>
                    <PRES>
                        The President
                        <PRTPAGE P="54789"/>
                    </PRES>
                    <PROC>Proclamation 11056 of August 18, 2026</PROC>
                    <HD SOURCE="HED">Temporary Suspension of Additional Duties To Offset Canadian Discrimination Against the Commerce of the United States With Respect to Alcoholic Beverages, Dairy, and Motor Vehicles</HD>
                    <PRES>By the President of the United States of America</PRES>
                    <PROC>A Proclamation</PROC>
                    <FP>
                        1. In Proclamation 11046 of July 20, 2026 (Imposing Additional Duties to Offset Canadian Discrimination Against the Commerce of the United States With Respect to Alcoholic Beverages), I found as a fact that Canada is discriminating against the commerce of the United States by banning the purchase, distribution, or retailing of U.S. alcoholic beverages while not banning or similarly restricting such products from other countries; that this discrimination places the commerce of the United States at a disadvantage compared to the commerce of other countries; and that Canada's imposition is unreasonable, is not equally enforced upon the like articles of every foreign country, and places a burden on the commerce of the United States. To offset the burden or disadvantage on U.S. commerce from Canada's discrimination or unreasonable and unequal imposition on U.S. alcoholic beverages, I imposed under section 338 of the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. 1338) (section 338) additional 
                        <E T="03">ad valorem</E>
                         duties, effective August 19, 2026, on certain imports of Canada.
                    </FP>
                    <FP>
                        2. In Proclamation 11047 of July 20, 2026 (Imposing Additional Duties to Offset Canadian Discrimination Against the Commerce of the United States With Respect to Dairy), I found as a fact that Canada is discriminating against the commerce of the United States through Canada's tariff-rate quota allocation measures imposed on U.S. cheeses of all types; that this discrimination places the commerce of the United States at a disadvantage compared to the commerce of other countries; and that Canada's imposition is unreasonable, is not equally enforced upon the like articles of every foreign country, and places a burden on the commerce of the United States. To offset the burden or disadvantage on U.S. commerce from Canada's discrimination or unreasonable and unequal imposition on U.S. dairy, I imposed under section 338 additional 
                        <E T="03">ad valorem</E>
                         duties, effective August 19, 2026, on certain imports of Canada.
                    </FP>
                    <FP>
                        3. In Proclamation 11048 of July 20, 2026 (Imposing Additional Duties to Offset Canadian Discrimination Against the Commerce of the United States With Respect to Motor Vehicles), I found as a fact that Canada is discriminating against the commerce of the United States through Canada's motor vehicle tariff scheme; that this discrimination places the commerce of the United States at a disadvantage compared to the commerce of other countries; and that Canada's imposition is unreasonable, is not equally enforced upon the like articles of every foreign country, and places a burden on the commerce of the United States. To offset the burden or disadvantage on U.S. commerce from Canada's discrimination or unreasonable and unequal imposition on U.S. auto and auto parts exports, I imposed under section 338 additional 
                        <E T="03">ad valorem</E>
                         duties, effective August 19, 2026, on certain imports of Canada.
                    </FP>
                    <FP>
                        4. I have received certain information, opinions, and recommendations from senior executive branch officials on the status of the circumstances involved 
                        <PRTPAGE P="54790"/>
                        in Proclamations 11046, 11047, and 11048 and of negotiations between the United States and Canada regarding the discriminations or impositions described in Proclamations 11046, 11047, and 11048. According to senior executive branch officials, Canada has expressed a commitment to remove the discriminations or unreasonable and unequal impositions at issue in Proclamations 11046, 11047, and 11048. In these officials' opinion, because of the status of these negotiations, the public interests favor suspending for a period of 3 days the additional duties imposed in Proclamations 11046, 11047, and 11048.
                    </FP>
                    <FP>
                        5. After considering the information, opinions, and recommendations that have been provided to me by senior executive branch officials, among other relevant information and considerations, I determine that in these circumstances, the public interest requires suspending for a period of 3 days the additional 
                        <E T="03">ad valorem</E>
                         duties imposed in Proclamation 11046, 11047, and 11048.
                    </FP>
                    <FP>
                        6. Section 338 authorizes the President, if he determines it will serve the public interest, to offset any burden or disadvantage placed on the commerce of the United States by an unequal imposition or discrimination by a foreign country by specifying and declaring additional duties not to exceed 50 percent 
                        <E T="03">ad valorem</E>
                         (or its equivalent) and not to take effect earlier than 30 days after the President's proclamation finding that a foreign country imposes an unreasonable charge, exaction, regulation, or limitation that is not equally enforced on the like articles of every foreign country, or discriminates in fact against U.S. commerce in a way that places the commerce of the United States at a disadvantage compared to the commerce of any foreign country. Section 338 also authorizes the President to suspend, revoke, supplement, or amend any proclamation under section 338 whenever the President deems that the public interests require such action.
                    </FP>
                    <FP>7. Section 604 of the Trade Act of 1974, as amended (19 U.S.C. 2483) (section 604), authorizes the President to embody in the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) the substance of statutes affecting import treatment, and actions thereunder, including the removal, modification, continuance, or imposition of any rate of duty or other import restriction.</FP>
                    <FP>NOW, THEREFORE, I, DONALD J. TRUMP, President of the United States of America, by the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, including section 338; section 301 of title 3, United States Code; and section 604, do hereby proclaim as follows:</FP>
                    <FP SOURCE="FP1">
                        (1) The effective date of the additional 
                        <E T="03">ad valorem</E>
                         duties imposed in Proclamations 11046, 11047, and 11048 shall be 12:01 a.m. eastern time on August 22, 2026. Accordingly, the chapeau of Annex II of each of Proclamations 11046, 11047, and 11048, is amended by deleting the effective date “August 19, 2026” and inserting “August 22, 2026” in lieu thereof.
                    </FP>
                    <FP SOURCE="FP1">
                        (2) The head of each executive department and agency (agency), to the extent consistent with law, is authorized to and shall take all appropriate steps to implement this proclamation. The head of each agency shall, to the extent consistent with law, immediately begin taking steps to effectuate this proclamation and, as soon as practicable, suspend the collection of the additional 
                        <E T="03">ad valorem</E>
                         duties imposed in Proclamations 11046, 11047, and 11048 to the extent required to effectuate this proclamation. The head of each agency may, consistent with applicable law, including section 301 of title 3, United States Code, redelegate within the agency the authority to take such appropriate steps.
                    </FP>
                    <FP SOURCE="FP1">
                        (3) The Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), in consultation with the Secretary of the Treasury, the Secretary of Commerce, the United States Trade Representative, the Chairman of the United States International Trade Commission, and any other senior executive branch official he deems appropriate, shall determine whether any additional modifications to the HTSUS are necessary to effectuate this proclamation 
                        <PRTPAGE P="54791"/>
                        and shall make such modifications to the HTSUS through notice in the 
                        <E T="03">Federal Register</E>
                        .
                    </FP>
                    <FP SOURCE="FP1">(4) To the extent that implementation of this proclamation requires a refund of duties collected, refunds shall be processed pursuant to applicable law and CBP's standard procedures for such refunds.</FP>
                    <FP SOURCE="FP1">(5) Any provision of previous proclamations and Executive Orders that is inconsistent with this proclamation is superseded to the extent of such inconsistency. If any provision of this proclamation or the application of any provision to any individual or circumstance is held to be invalid, the remainder of this proclamation and the application of its provisions to any other individuals or circumstances shall not be affected.</FP>
                    <FP>IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this eighteenth day of August, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-six, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and fifty-first.</FP>
                    <GPH SPAN="1" DEEP="80" HTYPE="RIGHT">
                        <GID>Trump.EPS</GID>
                    </GPH>
                    <PSIG> </PSIG>
                    <FRDOC>[FR Doc. 2026-17294 </FRDOC>
                    <FILED>Filed 8-21-26; 11:15 am]</FILED>
                    <BILCOD>Billing code 3395-F4-P</BILCOD>
                </PROCLA>
            </PRESDOCU>
        </PRESDOCS>
    </NEWPART>
</FEDREG>
