[Federal Register: August 6, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 151)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 47766-47771]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr06au04-4]
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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army
32 CFR Part 519
RIN 0702-AA40-U
Publication of Rules Affecting the Public
AGENCY: Department of the Army, DOD.
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: The Department of the Army is revising our rule concerning the
publication of rules affecting the public to incorporate requirements
and policies required by various acts of Congress and Executive Orders.
This revision also incorporates changes to program proponency and
policies within the Department of the Army. This rule finalizes the
proposed rule that was published in the Federal Register on April 7,
2004.
DATES: Effective Date: September 7, 2004.
ADDRESSES: U.S. Army Records Management and Declassification Agency,
ATTN: AHRC-PDD-RP, 7701 Telegraph Road, Alexandria, VA 22315-3860.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Brenda Bowen, Army Federal
Register Liaison Officer, Alexandria, VA at (703) 428-6422 or Mrs.
Brenda Kopitzke, Alternate Army Federal Register Liaison Officer,
Alexandria, VA at (703) 428-6437.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
A. Background
In the April 7, 2004, issue of the Federal Register (69 FR 18314),
the Department of the Army issued a proposed rule to revise 32 CFR 519.
This final rule prescribes procedures and responsibilities for
publishing applicable Department of the Army policies, practices, and
procedures as required by statutes. It also delineates responsibilities
for complying with this regulation, the Regulatory Flexibility Act, 5
U.S.C. 601-612 (E.O. 12866), and the Congressional Review Act (CRA, 5
U.S.C. Chapter 8), within the Department of the Army. The Department of
the Army received responses from two commentors. No substantive changes
were requested or made; however, we accepted and incorporated
administrative changes to the final rule to put all verbs into the
present tense and to adopt a consistent way of expressing requirements,
recommendations, and discretionary actions.
B. Regulatory Flexibility Act
This rule has been reviewed under the Regulatory Flexibility Act, 5
U.S.C. 601-612, which requires the preparation of a regulatory
flexibility analysis for any regulation that will have a significant
economic impact on a substantial number of small entities (i.e., small
businesses and small governments). The Department of the Army has
determined that this rule will have no significant economic impact on
small entities.
C. Paperwork Reduction Act
The Paperwork Reduction Act does not apply because this rule does
not impose any information collection requirements that require the
approval of the Office of Management and Budget under 44 U.S.C. 3501,
et seq.
D. Executive Order 12866
The Department of the Army has determined that according to the
criteria defined in Executive Order 12866, this rule is not considered
a significant regulatory action.
Brenda S. Bowen,
Army Federal Register Liaison Officer.
List of Subjects in 32 CFR Part 519
Administrative practices and procedures.
0
For the reasons stated in the preamble, the Department of the Army
revises 32 CFR part 519 to read as follows:
PART 519--PUBLICATION OF RULES AFFECTING THE PUBLIC
Subpart A--General
Sec.
519.1 Purpose.
519.2 Explanation of terms.
519.3 Responsibilities.
519.4 Designation of Rulemaking Coordinators.
519.5 Statement of compliance.
519.6 Submission of publications for printing.
519.7 Regulatory review.
Subpart B--Information To Be Published in the Federal Register
519.8 General.
519.9 Information to be published.
519.10 Requirements pertaining to the information to be published.
519.11 Incorporation by reference.
519.12 Exceptions.
519.13 Procedures.
519.14 Effect of not publishing.
Subpart C--Inviting Public Comment on Certain Proposed Rules and
Submission of Petitions
519.15 General.
519.16 Applicability.
519.17 Procedures when proposing rules.
519.18 OMB Control Number.
519.19 Consideration of public comment.
519.20 Procedures when publishing adopted rules.
519.21 Submission of petitions.
519.22 Cases in which public comment is impractical.
Authority: Sec. 3012, Pub. L. 84-1028, 70A Stat. 157, (10 U.S.C.
3013); sec. 3, Pub. L. 79-404, 60 Stat. 238, (5 U.S.C. 552).
Subpart A--General
Sec. 519.1 Purpose.
This part prescribes procedures and responsibilities for publishing
certain Department of the Army policies, practices and procedures in
the Federal Register as required by statute, and for inviting public
comment thereon, as appropriate. This regulation implements portions of
the Administrative Procedure Act (APA), 5 U.S.C. 551; Freedom of
Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(a)(1), as implemented by 32 CFR
Part 335; Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601, et seq.), as
implemented by 1 CFR Chapter 1; Congressional Review Act (CRA), 5
U.S.C. Chapter 8; Executive Order 12866 of September 30, 1993; and DODD
5025.1, DOD Directives System.
Sec. 519.2 Explanation of terms.
(a) Rule. The whole or a part of any Department of the Army
Statement (regulation, circular, directive, or other media) of general
or particular applicability and future effect, which is designed to
implement, interpret, or prescribe law or policy or which
[[Page 47767]]
describes the organization, procedure, or practice of the Army.
(b) Federal Register. A document published daily, Monday through
Friday (except holidays), by the Office of the Federal Register, to
inform the public about the regulations of the executive branch and
independent administrative agencies of the U.S. Government. The Federal
Register includes Presidential proclamations, Executive orders, Federal
agency documents having general applicability and legal effect or
affecting the public, and documents required to be published by Act of
Congress.
(c) Code of Federal Regulations. The annual codification of rules
published by each Federal Agency. It is divided into 50 titles
representing broad subject areas for each Federal Agency and these
titles are further subdivided into Chapters, Subchapters, Parts, and
Subparts. Army documents are published in Title 32, National Defense,
Title 33, Navigation and Navigable Waters, and Title 36, Parks,
Forests, and Public Property. (The Federal Register and the Code of
Federal Regulations must be used together to determine the latest
version of any given rule.)
(d) Closed Meeting. A meeting that is closed to the public.
(e) Open Meeting. A meeting that is open to the public.
Sec. 519.3 Responsibilities.
(a) The Administrative Assistant to the Secretary of the Army
(AASA) acts as the regulatory officer and has oversight of the Army
Federal Regulatory Program and Unified Agenda. The AASA coordinates
with Assistant Secretary of the Army (Civil Works) (ASA (CW)) and the
Deputy Chief of Staff, G-1 (DCS, G-1) to ensure the regulatory
requirements and functions are properly executed.
(b) The ASA (CW) submits the annual Regulatory Plan and semiannual
Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions to the
AASA as required by Executive Order 12866 and 5 U.S.C. 601, et seq.
(c) The DCS, G-1 develops policy and direction for the Rulemaking
Program for the Department of the Army.
(d) The U.S. Army Records Management and Declassification Agency
(RMDA) is responsible for policies concerning Department of the Army
announcements and rules (proposed, interim, and final) published in the
Federal Register, and for ensuring Army compliance with this part. The
RMDA will--
(1) Assist the officials listed in Table 1 of this section in the
performance of their responsibilities.
(2) Represent the Army in submitting to the Office of the Federal
Register (OFR) any matter published per this part.
(3) Submit the annual Regulatory Plan and semiannual Unified Agenda
of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions to the AASA as required
by Executive Order 12866 and 5 U.S.C. 601, et seq.
(4) Submit a copy of published final rules (and certain analyses
related to the rule, as appropriate) to both Houses of Congress and to
the General Accounting Office (GAO), per the CRA.
(e) The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) will--
(1) Represent the Army in submitting to the OFR only those Civil
Works Program rules (proposed, interim, and final) codified in Title
33, Navigation and Navigable Waters, and Title 36, Parks, Forests, and
Public Property of the CFR, subject to the terms of this part.
(2) Submit a copy of published final rules (and certain analyses
related to the rule, as appropriate) to both Houses of Congress and to
the General Accounting Office (GAO), per the CRA.
(3) When submitting rules codified in Titles 33 and 36 of the CFR,
USACE may coordinate directly with OFR (in lieu of RMDA) but must
otherwise comply with the provisions of this part. In determining the
applicability of this regulation to its rulemaking activities, Army
Civil Works rulemaking proponents may replace ``RMDA'' with ``USACE,''
wherever it appears in the text of this part.
(f) The officials listed in Table 1 of this section (hereinafter
referred to as proponents) are responsible for:
(1) Ensuring maximum practicable participation of the public in the
formulation of Army rules that affect the public by allowing public
comments in proposed rules. Where deemed appropriate by the Army
proponents, the public should participate in consensual mechanisms,
such as negotiated rulemaking.
(2) Determining which matters within their areas of jurisdiction
must be published in accordance with Sec. Sec. 519.8 through 519.14,
and for submission actions specified in Sec. Sec. 519.15 through
519.22.
(g) Legal officers and staff judge advocates supporting the
proponents will provide legal advice and assistance in connection with
proponent responsibilities contained herein.
Table 1.--Rulemaking Proponents
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Official Area of jurisdiction
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Administrative Assistant to the Immediate Office of the
Secretary of the Army. Secretary of the Army and the
Office of the Administrative
Assistant.
Director of the Army staff............. Elements, Office of the Chief,
U.S. Army.
Head of each Army staff agency......... Headquarters of the agency and
its field operating and staff
agencies (including the
Installation Management Agency
(IMA)).
Commander, MACOM....................... Headquarters of MACOM and all
subordinate activities and
units.
RMDA................................... All other Army elements not
covered above.
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Sec. 519.4 Designation of Rulemaking Coordinators.
The officials listed in Table 1 of Sec. 519.3 will designate
Rulemaking Coordinators to perform the duties prescribed by Sec. Sec.
519.15 through 519.22 of this part for their areas of functional
responsibility. At the time of designation, RMDA (AHRC-PDD-RP) will be
informed of the name and telephone number of the designated individual.
The designee will perform the following duties:
(a) Ensure that all rules and notices to be published comply with
the Federal Register format.
(b) Transmit material to RMDA (AHRC-PDD-RP) and provide RMDA with
the name, office symbol, and telephone number of the action officer for
each rule or general notice for inclusion in the Federal Register.
(c) Coordinate with Publication Control Officers to ensure
submission of Statements of Compliance required by Sec. 519.5.
(d) Notify RMDA (AHRC-PDD-RP), 7701 Telegraph Road, Alexandria, VA
22315-3860, when a regulation published in the Federal Register
[[Page 47768]]
becomes obsolete or is superseded by another regulation.
Sec. 519.5 Statement of compliance.
In order to ensure compliance with this part, no rule will be
issued unless there is on file with RMDA (AHRC-PDD-RP) a statement to
the effect that it has been evaluated under the provisions of this
part. If the proponent determines that the provisions of this part are
inapplicable, such determination will be explained in the statement.
Sec. 519.6 Submission of publications for printing.
When Army-wide publications or directives are transmitted to the
Director, U.S. Army Publishing Directorate (USAPD) for publication, the
DA Form 260 (Request for Printing of Publication) or other transmittal
paper will contain a statement that the directive has been processed
for publication in the Federal Register or that it falls within the
exempted category. USAPD will not publish any rule unless this
statement is on DA Form 260. A copy of DA Form 260 may be submitted to
RMDA (AHRC-PDD-RP) in lieu of the statement required by Sec. 519.5.
Sec. 519.7 Regulatory review.
(a) Proponents of Army regulations will participate in the
regulatory process and adhere to the regulatory process as prescribed
in this regulation when reviewing their existing publications. This
review will follow the same procedural steps outlined for the
development of new regulations.
(b) In selecting regulations to be reviewed, proponents will
consider such criteria as:
(1) The requirement for the regulation.
(2) Costs and benefits of the regulation to include both
quantifiable measures (to the fullest extent that these can be usefully
estimated) and qualitative measures.
(3) The type and number of complaints or suggestions received.
(4) Burdens imposed directly or indirectly by the regulation to
both the public and other government entities.
(5) Elimination of inconsistent, incompatible, overlapping or
duplicative regulations.
(6) Length of time since the regulation has been reviewed for
scientific, technological, economical, or administrative changes.
Subpart B--Information To Be Published in the Federal Register
Sec. 519.8 General.
The Administrative Procedure Act, as amended by the Freedom of
Information Act, requires that certain policies, practices, procedures,
and other information concerning the Department of the Army be
published in the Federal Register for the guidance of the public. In
addition, various statutory and nonstatutory authorities, as
applicable, may require certain actions and studies be performed in
conjunction with the publication of the regulation. In general, this
information explains where, how, and by what authority the Army
performs any of its functions that affect the public. This subpart
describes what information must be published and the effect of failing
to publish it.
Sec. 519.9 Information to be published.
In deciding which information to publish, consideration must be
given to the fundamental objective of informing all interested persons
of how to deal effectively with the Department of the Army. Subject to
the exceptions provided in Sec. 519.12, information to be currently
published will include:
(a) Descriptions of the Army's central and field organization and
the established places at which, the officers from whom, and the
methods whereby, the public can obtain information, make submittals or
requests, or obtain decisions.
(b) The procedures by which the Army conducts its business with the
public, both formally and informally.
(c) Rules of procedures, descriptions of forms available or the
places at which forms can be obtained, and the instructions as to the
scope and contents of all papers, reports, or examinations.
(d) Substantive rules of applicability to the public adopted as
authorized by law, and statements of general policy or interpretations
of general applicability formulated and adopted by the Army.
(e) Documents that confer a right or privilege on a segment of the
public or have a direct or substantial impact on the public or any
significant portion of the public.
(f) Documents that prescribe a course of conduct that must be
followed by persons outside the government to avoid a penalty, or
secure a right or privilege.
(g) Documents that impose an obligation on the general public or
members of a class persons outside the U.S. Government.
(h) Rules (significant) that may:
(1) Have an annual effect on the economy of $100 million or more or
adversely affect in a material way, the economy; productivity;
competition; jobs; the environment; public health or safety; or State,
local, tribal governments or communities.
(2) Create a serious inconsistency or otherwise interfere with an
action taken by another agency.
(3) Materially alter the budgetary impact of entitlements, grants,
user fees, loan programs or the rights and obligations thereof.
(4) Raise novel legal or policy issues arising out of legal
mandates, the President's priorities, or the principles of Executive
Order 12866.
(i) Open, partially-closed, and closed meetings that require
members to take action on behalf of the Army where such deliberations
determine or result in the joint conduct or disposition of Army
business. Meetings will be published a minimum of 15 calendar days
prior to date of meeting or as prescribed by the appropriate statute.
Sunshine Act meetings are published in compliance with 5 U.S.C.
552b(e)(3); attendance at these meetings may be restricted for reasons
of national security or for reasons indicated in 5 U.S.C. 552b(c).
Notice of Sunshine Act meetings must be published at least one week
prior to the date of the meeting (5 U.S.C. 552b(e)).
(j) Notices of establishment or renewal of advisory committees in
accordance with their directives, statutory and/or nonstatutory
authority.
(k) Public information collection requirements in compliance with
the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA, 44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.)
(l) Descriptions of particular programs, policy, or procedures in
detail such as--
(1) Decisions and ruling;
(2) Grant application deadlines;
(3) Availability of Environmental Impact Statements;
(4) Delegations of authority;
(5) Issuance or revocation of licenses; and
(6) Hearings and investigations.
(m) Each amendment, revision, or repeal of the foregoing.
Sec. 519.10 Requirements pertaining to the information to be
published.
The following procedures will be completed before submitting rules/
regulations for publication--
(a) An economic analysis (EA) of the proposed or existing
regulation. The EA should assess the effects of the regulation on the
State, local, and tribal governments, and the private sector. An EA
threshold of an annual effect on the economy of $100 million or more
has been established for all regulations (Executive Order 12866.)
[[Page 47769]]
(b) Regulations containing collection of information requirements
will be forwarded through the DCS, G-1 (DAPE-ZXI-RM) to OMB prior to
publication as a proposed rule in the Federal Register. In addition,
the proponent will address any collection of information comments filed
by the Director, OMB, or the public in the final rule.
(c) Statutory and nonstatutory authorities mandate regulatory
review of all Department of the Army proposed, interim, final, and
withdrawn rules/regulations. The results are published in the
semiannual Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory
Actions. Under the requirements of regulatory review, the proponent
will notify RMDA (AHRC-PDD-RP) when--
(1) Drafting a regulation that would affect the public.
(2) Reviewing regulations for revision or rescission.
(3) Rescinding a regulation.
Sec. 519.11 Incorporation by reference.
(a) Incorporation by reference allows the proponent to comply with
the requirements to publish regulations in the Federal Register by
referencing materials published elsewhere (e.g., materials that may be
purchased from the Government Printing Office (GPO) or depository
libraries or are available for review at Army installations).
Incorporated material has the same force and legal effect as any other
properly issued regulation. Before a document can be incorporated by
reference, the proponent must determine that it is available to the
public (see 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR Part 51).
(b) Material is eligible for incorporation by reference if it--
(1) Is published data, criteria, standards, specifications,
techniques, illustrations or similar materials.
(2) Is reasonably available to and usable by the class of persons
affected by the publication.
(3) Does not reduce the usefulness of the Federal Register
publication system.
(4) Benefits the Federal Government and members of affected
classes.
(5) Substantially reduces the volume of material published in the
Federal Register.
(c) Incorporation by reference is not acceptable as a complete
substitute for promulgating in full the material required to be
published. It can, however, be utilized to avoid unnecessary repetition
of published information already reasonably available to the class of
persons affected. Examples include:
(1) Construction standards issued by a professional association of
architects, engineers, or builders;
(2) Codes of ethics issued by professional organizations; and,
(3) Forms and formats publicly or privately published and readily
available to the person required to use them.
(d) Proposals for incorporation by reference will be submitted to
RMDA (AHRC-PDD-RP) (by letter) giving an identification and subject
description of the document statement of availability, indicating the
document will be reasonably available to the class of persons affected,
where and how copies may be purchased or examined, and justification
for the requirement to incorporate by reference. The request will be
submitted to RMDA (AHRC-PDD-RP) at least 25 working days before the
proposed date for submission of the incorporation by reference notice
for the Federal Register. The 25-working day period begins when RMDA
receives the request.
(e) RMDA will consult with the Director, OFR concerning each
specific request and will notify the proponent of the outcome of the
consultation.
(f) The proponent will submit to RMDA (AHRC-PDD-RP) a general
notice upon approval from the Director, OFR to the proposal for
incorporation by reference.
(g) Requirements for updating material incorporated by reference:
(1) An amendment to the CFR must be published in the Federal
Register.
(2) The proponent must provide RMDA (AHRC-PDD-RP) a copy of the
incorporated material, as amended or revised, to submit to the OFR.
(3) RMDA will notify the Director, OFR of the changes.
(h) The proponent will notify RMDA (AHRC-PDD-RP) within 10 working
days if the rule does not go into effect or when the rule containing
the incorporation by reference is removed.
Sec. 519.12 Exceptions.
(a) The Army shall not publish rules in the Federal Register that:
(1) Involve any matter pertaining to a military or foreign affairs
function of the United States which has been determined under the
criteria of an Executive Order or statute to require a security
classification in the interests of national defense or foreign policy.
(2) Involve any matter relating to Department of the Army
Management, personnel, or public contracts, including nonappropriated
fund contracts.
(3) Constitute interpretive rules, general statements of policy or
rules of organization, procedure or practice.
(4) Merely interpret a rule already adopted by a higher element
within the Department of the Army or by the Department of Defense.
(b) A rule issued at the installation level that affects only the
people near a particular post does not ordinarily apply to the general
public, so the Army does not usually publish it in the Federal
Register.
(c) It is not necessary to publish in the Federal Register any
information which comes within one or more of the exemptions to the
FOIA, 5 U.S.C. 552(b), as implemented by AR 25-55, para. 3-200.
Sec. 519.13 Procedures.
All matters to be published in accordance with this part will be
submitted to the RMDA (AHRC-PDD-RP) in the proper format prescribed in
Sec. 519.17. As provided in Sec. 519.3(e), Army Civil Works
proponents who are proposing rules for publication in Titles 33 and 36
of the CFR may submit the required documents directly to the OFR but
must otherwise comply with the provisions of this part.
Sec. 519.14 Effect of not publishing.
Except to the extent that a person has actual and timely notice
thereof, the Army cannot require the general public to comply with, or
be adversely affected by, a policy or requirement, as determined in
Sec. 519.9, until it is published in the Federal Register.
Subpart C--Inviting Public Comment on Certain Proposed Rules and
Submission of Petitions
Sec. 519.15 General.
Public comment must be sought on certain proposed rules which are
required to be published in accordance with Sec. 519.9. All
regulations affecting the public will be forwarded to RMDA (AHRC-PDD-
RP) for review and coordination with OMB. This subpart sets forth the
criteria and procedures for inviting public comment before publication.
Sec. 519.16 Applicability.
(a) These provisions apply only to those Department of the Army
rules or portions thereof that:
(1) Are promulgated after September 7, 2004;
(2) Must be published in the Federal Register in accordance with
Sec. 519.9;
(3) Have a substantial and direct impact on the public or any
significant portion of the public; and
(4) Do not merely implement a rule already adopted by a higher
element within the Department of the Army or by the Department of
Defense.
(b) Unless otherwise required by law, the requirement to invite
advance
[[Page 47770]]
public comment on proposed rules does not apply to those rules or
portions thereof that:
(1) Do not come within the purview of paragraph (a) of this
section;
(2) Involve any matter relating to a military or foreign affairs
function of the United States that has been determined under the
criteria of an Executive Order or statute to require a security
classification in the interests of national defense or foreign policy;
(3) Involve any matter relating to Department of the Army
management, personnel, or public contracts, e.g., Armed Services
Procurement Regulation, including nonappropriated fund contracts;
(4) Constitute interpretative rules, general statements of policy
or rules of organization, procedure or practice; or
(5) The proponent of the rule determines for good cause that
inviting public comment would be impracticable, unnecessary, or
contrary to the public interest. This provision will not be utilized as
a convenience to avoid the delays inherent in obtaining and evaluating
prior public comment. See also Sec. 519.22.
Sec. 519.17 Procedures when proposing rules.
(a) A description of the proposed rule will be forwarded to RMDA
(AHRC-PDD-RP) for regulatory and OMB review. The RMDA will provide a
Regulation Identifier Number (RIN) used to identify and report the rule
in the Unified Agenda to the proponent once OMB has approved the rule
for publication in the Proposed Rules section of the Federal Register.
Proposed rules that have unresolved issues will not be published in the
Federal Register.
(b) The preamble and the proposed rule will be prepared by the
proponent. Preparation of the preamble and the proposed rule will be in
accordance with guidance contained in the Federal Register Handbook on
Document Drafting.
(c) Public comment will be invited within a designated time, not
less than 60 days, prior to the intended adoption of the proposed rule.
(d) Rulemaking proponents will submit the original and three copies
of the proposed rule and the preamble in the prescribed format to RMDA
(AHRC-PDD-RP). The RMDA will ensure that the approved rules comply with
executive and legislative requirements, and have the necessary
coordination with OMB prior to publication. Upon OMB approval, the RMDA
will certify and submit the documents to the Office of the Federal
Register for publication as a proposed, interim, or final rule, as
applicable.
(e) If no action has occurred within 1 year of publication, the
proposed rule will be considered for withdrawal, unless the proponent
provides justification to RMDA (AHRC-PDD-RP). If the proponent
determines that the proposed rule must be withdrawn, the proponent will
submit a document to RMDA (AHRC-PDD-RP) to be published in the Federal
Register withdrawing the proposed rule. The withdrawal of the proposed
rule will be reported in the next edition of the Unified Agenda.
(f) Civil Works projects under the ASA (CW) will submit updated and
proposed Unified Agenda items to AASA.
Sec. 519.18 OMB Control Number.
Each rule OMB reviews under the Paperwork Reduction Act is assigned
an OMB control number which becomes its identifier throughout its life.
Sec. 519.19 Consideration of public comment.
(a) Following publication of a notice of proposed rulemaking, all
interested persons will be given an opportunity to participate (60
days) in the rulemaking through the submission of written data, views
and arguments to the proponent of the proposed rulemaking concerned.
(b) If the proponent of the rule determines that it is in the
public interest, a hearing or other opportunity for oral presentation
of view may be allowed as a means of facilitating public comment.
Informal consultation by telephone or otherwise can also be utilized to
facilitate presentation of oral comments by interested persons. All
hearings or other oral presentations will be conducted by the proponent
of the rule in a manner prescribed by him/her. A hearing file will be
established for each hearing. The hearing file will include:
(1) Public notices issued;
(2) Request for the hearing;
(3) Data or material submitted in justification thereof;
(4) Materials submitted in opposition to the proposed action;
(5) Hearing transcript; and
(6) Any other material as may be relevant or pertinent to the
subject matter of the hearing.
(c) There is no requirement to respond either orally or in writing,
individually to any person who submits comments with respect to a
proposed rule. The proponent of the rule, however, can do so as a
matter within his/her discretion.
Sec. 519.20 Procedures when publishing adopted rules.
(a) After careful consideration of all relevant material submitted,
the proponent of the rule will make such revisions in the proposed rule
as necessary in light of the comments received.
(b) If it is impractical for the rule proponent to finalize the
rule after the comment period, due to extensive unresolved issues, the
proponent will publish a document withdrawing the proposed rule.
(c) The proponent will prepare a preamble for publication with the
final rule. The proponent will discuss in the preamble the comments
received in response to the proposed rule and the decision to accept or
reject the comments in the revision to the proposed rule. Preparation
will be in accordance with guidance contained in the Federal Register
Handbook on Document Drafting.
(d) The original and three copies of the preamble and revised rule
will be forwarded to RMDA (AHRC-PDD-RP) in the proper format. The RMDA
will then prepare the required certification and submit the documents
to the Office of the Federal Register for publication in the form of an
adopted rule.
(e) The proponent will provide to RMDA (AHRC-PDD-RP), a copy of the
final rule, a completed OMB Form ``Submission of Federal Rules Under
the Congressional Review Act'' (available at http://www.whitehouse.gov/WH/EOP/OMB and http://www.gao.gov), and a concise statement about the
rule within 14 days of publication date in the Federal Register. The
proponent will identify whether it is a major or a substantive/
nonsignificant rule, its proposed effective date, significant issues of
interest, and a cost-benefit analysis of the rule, as applicable. The
RMDA will submit a copy of all final rules to both Houses of Congress
and the Government Accounting Office (GAO) per CRA.
(f) Army Civil Works rulemaking proponents, when proposing rules
governed by Sec. 519.3(e) of this regulation, may forward the
documents prescribed in paragraphs (d) and (e) of this section directly
to the OFR. Army Civil Works proponents are responsible for submitting
a copy of the final rules to Congress and GAO in accordance with
paragraph (e) of this section.
Sec. 519.21 Submission of petitions.
Each proponent of a rule will grant to any interested person the
right to submit a written petition calling for the issuance, amendment,
or repeal of any rule to which this part applies or would
[[Page 47771]]
apply if issued, as specified in Sec. 519.16. Any such petition will
be given full and prompt consideration by the proponent. If compatible
with the orderly conduct of public business, the appropriate official
may, at his discretion, allow the petitioner to appear in person for
the purpose of supporting this petition. After consideration of all
relevant matters by the proponent, the petitioner will be advised in
writing by the proponent of the disposition of any petition, together
with the reasons supporting that disposition. This provision does not
apply to comments submitted on proposed rules in Sec. 519.19.
Sec. 519.22 Cases in which public comment is impractical.
(a) Whenever a rulemaking proponent determines for good cause that
inviting public comment regarding a proposed rule would be impractical,
unnecessary, or contrary to the public interest, he will prepare a
brief statement of the reasons supporting this determination for
incorporation in the preamble to the adopted rule. The preamble and
adopted rule will then be published as outlined in Sec. 519.20(c) and
(d).
(b) Alternatively, the proponent may request RMDA (AHRC-PDD-RP) (by
letter) to adopt and publish in the Federal Register a separate rule
exempting from the prepublication notice provisions of this regulation
those specific categories of rules that the rulemaking proponent has
determined that public comment would be unnecessary, impractical, or
contrary to the public interest. The request to RMDA will contain an
explanation of the reasons why the proponent believes that a particular
category of rule or rules should not be published in proposed form for
public comment and a legal review by the proponent's servicing legal
office. If RMDA in coordination with the Office of Army General
Counsel, agrees that public comment should not be invited with respect
to the cited category, the proponent will adopt and publish a separate
rule in the Federal Register exempting such rule or rules from the
requirements of this part. This separate rule will include an
explanation of the basis for exempting each particular category from
the provisions of this part.
[FR Doc. 04-17998 Filed 8-5-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3710-08-P