[Federal Register: August 14, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 157)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 48575-48576]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr14au03-19]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
10 CFR Parts 1015 and 1018
RIN 1901-AA98
Collection of Claims Owed the United States
AGENCY: Department of Energy.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.
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SUMMARY: The Department of Energy (DOE) is proposing to amend its
regulations governing the collection of claims of the United States for
money or property arising from activities under DOE jurisdiction.
Because the revisions to DOE's debt collection standards and procedures
are not expected to receive any significant adverse comment, the
amendment is also being issued as a direct final rule in the ``Rules
and Regulations'' section of this Federal Register. (See also
``Discussion of Direct Final Rulemaking'' in Section III of the
Supplementary Information section of this notice of proposed
rulemaking.)
DATES: Public comments must be received on or before September 15,
2003.
ADDRESSES: Comments (3 copies) should be addressed to: Helen O.
Sherman, Director, Office of Finance and Accounting Policy (ME-10),
Office of Management, Budget and Evaluation, Department of Energy, 1000
Independence Ave., SW., Washington, DC 20585.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Philip R. Pegnato, Team Leader,
Management Accounting and Cash Management Team, Department of Energy,
at (301) 903-9704; or Susan A. Donahue, Accountant, Management
Accounting and Cash Management Team, Department of Energy, at (301)
903-4666.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. General Information
The proposed revisions to 10 CFR part 1015, including the
incorporation of tax refund offset provisions currently in 10 CFR part
1018, would conform DOE's regulations to the Federal Claims Collection
Standards issued by the Department of Treasury and the Department of
Justice on November 22, 2000; clarify and simplify DOE's debt
collection standards; and reflect changes to Federal debt collection
procedures under the Debt Collection Improvement Act of 1996 and the
General Accounting
[[Page 48576]]
Office Act of 1996. The rule provisions and the rationale for them are
described in the preamble to the direct final rule.
II. Opportunity for Public Comment
Interested persons are invited to participate by submitting data,
views or arguments with respect to the rule amendments proposed in this
notice. Three copies of written comments should be submitted to the
address indicated in the ADDRESSES section of this notice. All comments
received will be available for public inspection as part of the
administrative record on file for this rulemaking in the Department of
Energy Reading Room, Room 1E-090, Forrestal Building, 1000 Independence
Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585, (202) 586-3142, between the hours 9
a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. All
written comments received by the date indicated in the DATES section of
this notice and all other relevant information in the record will be
carefully assessed and fully considered prior to the publication of a
final rule. Any information or data that the submitter considers to be
exempt from public disclosure by law must be so identified and
submitted in writing (one copy), as well as one complete copy from
which the information believed to be exempt from disclosure is deleted.
The Department will determine if the information or data is exempt from
disclosure.
DOE has not scheduled a public hearing to receive oral
presentations of views, data and arguments because DOE does not believe
the proposed rule presents a substantial issue of fact or law or that
the proposed rule would likely have a substantial impact on the
Nation's economy or large numbers of individuals or businesses. DOE
will reconsider this matter if public comments show that such issues or
potential impacts exist.
III. Discussion of Direct Final Rulemaking
DOE is proposing to amend its regulations governing the collection
on claims of the United States for money or property arising from
activities under DOE jurisdiction. In the ``Rules and Regulations''
section of today's Federal Register, we are approving these revisions
as a direct final rule without prior proposal because we view these as
noncontroversial revisions and anticipate no adverse comment. We have
described the revisions and our rationale for them in the notice of
direct final rulemaking. If DOE receives no significant adverse
comment, the Department will not take further action on this rule. If
DOE receives such an adverse comment on one or more distinct
amendments, paragraphs, or sections of the direct final rule, DOE will
publish a timely withdrawal in the Federal Register indicating which
provisions will become effective and which provisions are being
withdrawn due to adverse comment. Any distinct amendments, paragraphs,
or sections of the direct final rule for which we do not receive
adverse comment will become effective on the date set forth in the
direct final rule, notwithstanding any adverse comment on any other
distinct amendment, paragraph, or section of today's rule. We will
address all public comments in a subsequent final rule based on this
proposed rule. We will not institute a second comment period on this
action. Any parties interested in commenting must do so at this time.
For the various statutes and Executive Orders that require findings
for each rulemaking, DOE incorporates the findings from the notice of
direct final rulemaking into this companion notice for the purpose of
providing public notice and opportunity for comment.
List of Subjects
10 CFR Part 1015
Administrative practice and procedure, Antitrust, Claims, Federal
employees, Fraud, Penalties, Privacy.
10 CFR Part 1018
Claims, Income taxes.
Issued in Washington, on August 7, 2003.
James T. Campbell,
Acting Director, Office of Management, Budget and Evaluation/Acting
Chief Financial Officer.
[FR Doc. 03-20584 Filed 8-13-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P