Comment Info: =================

General Comment: I am writing as an individual consumer to request an extension of the comment period for the Food and Drug Administration's ("FDA") Proposed Rule Deeming Tobacco Products to be Subject to the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, as amended by the Family Smoking and Prevention and Tobacco Control Act (the "Proposed Rule") published at 79 Fed. Reg. 23,142 and Federal Register No. 2014-09491. On behalf of myself, I am requesting that the comment period for the Proposed Rule be extended by the FDA for an additional 105 days, from its current 75-day period, to 180 days. I wish to provide you with my personal story, as well as science and evidence-based responses to your questions so that you can take my comment into account. I realize that the FDA has the authority under 21 CFR 10.40 to extend this time frame and that the FDA has exercised this authority on numerous occasions in the past.

I appreciate the opportunity to respond to the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA or the Agency) request for comments on the proposed rule for "Deeming Tobacco Products to Be Subject to the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act," Docket No. FDA- 2014-N-0189.  I am in the process of preparing detailed comments in response to the FDA's numerous requests in the proposed rule, but am very concerned that I will not be able to adequately respond to those requests in the 75-day comment period (i.e., by July 9, 2014).  There are many requests for comments in the proposed rule that I am considering responding to on behalf of consumers of e-cigarette /refillable e-liquid products, many of which require obtaining, summarizing and providing supporting scientific research and other evidence.  The 75-day comment period does not allow sufficient time to develop meaningful or thoughtful responses to many of the questions raised in the proposed rule.  Accordingly, I respectfully urge the Agency extend the current comment period by, at the very least, an additional 105-days (so that comments would be due by October 22, 2014), to provide ample time for stakeholders to provide constructive and valuable feedback on the issues raised in the proposed rule.  I do not believe that such an extension would significantly delay any potential regulatory action on these important issues, and can only aid in providing the FDA with the information that it needs to regulate the growing refillable e-liquid industry in a responsible manner.

If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me.  I thank FDA for the opportunity to provide my views on the proposed rule.

Sincerely,

Jackie White


[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 95 (Friday, May 15, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Page 29442]
[FR Doc No: 2020-10476]

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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

Combined Notice of Filings

    Take notice that the Commission has received the following Natural
Gas Pipeline Rate and Refund Report filings:

    Docket Numbers: RP20-842-000.
    Applicants: Sabal Trail Transmission, LLC.
    Description: Sec.  4(d) Rate Filing: Negotiated Rate--Amended FPL
850013 eff 5-1-20 to be effective 5/1/2020.
    Filed Date: 5/1/20.
    Accession Number: 20200501-5000.
    Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 5/14/20.

    Docket Numbers: RP20-851-000.
    Applicants: Cameron Interstate Pipeline, LLC.
    Description: Annual Operational Transactions Report of Cameron
Interstate Pipeline, LLC under RP20-851.
    Filed Date: 4/30/20.
    Accession Number: 20200430-5479.
    Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 5/14/20.

    Docket Numbers: RP20-863-000.
    Applicants: Cameron Interstate Pipeline, LLC.
    Description: Annual Report of Interruptible Transportation Revenue
Sharing of Cameron Interstate Pipeline, LLC under RP20-863.
    Filed Date: 5/7/20.
    Accession Number: 20200507-5181.
    Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 5/19/20.

    The filings are accessible in the Commission's eLibrary system by
clicking on the links or querying the docket number.
    Any person desiring to intervene or protest in any of the above
proceedings must file in accordance with Rules 211 and 214 of the
Commission's Regulations (18 CFR 385.211 and 385.214) on or before 5:00
p.m. Eastern time on the specified date(s). Protests may be considered,
but intervention is necessary to become a party to the proceeding.
    eFiling is encouraged. More detailed information relating to filing
requirements, interventions, protests, service, and qualifying
facilities filings can be found at: http://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/efiling/filing-req.pdf. For other information, call<PHONE_NUMBER>
(toll free). For TTY, call<PHONE_NUMBER>.

    Dated: May 11, 2020.
Nathaniel J. Davis, Sr.,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2020-10476 Filed 5-14-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P


[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 243 (Thursday, December 18, 2014)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 75434-75437]
[FR Doc No: 2014-29311]

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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

48 CFR Parts 1511 and 1552

[EPA-HQ-OARM-2012-0476; FRL 9920-48-OARM]

EPAAR Clause for Work Assignments

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) amends the EPA
Acquisition Regulation (EPAAR) to update policy, procedures, and
contract clauses. This final rule updates the EPAAR clause, Work
Assignments.

DATES: This final rule is effective on December 18, 2014.

ADDRESSES: Docket: All documents in the docket are listed in the
www.regulations.gov index. Although listed in the index, some
information is not publicly available, e.g., CBI or other information
whose disclosure is restricted by statute. Certain other material, such
as copyrighted material, will be publicly available only in hard copy.
Publicly available docket materials are available either electronically
in www.regulations.gov, or in hard copy at the Office of Environmental
Information (OEI) Docket, EPA/DC, EPA West, Room 3334, 1301
Constitution Ave. NW., Washington, DC. The Public Reading Room is open
from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal
holidays. The telephone number for the Public Reading Room is (202)
566-1744, and the telephone number for the EPA Docket Center is (202)
566-1752. This Docket Facility is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Thomas Valentino, Policy, Training,
and Oversight Division, Office of Acquisition Management (3802R),
Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW.,
Washington, DC 20460; telephone number:<PHONE_NUMBER>; email address:
<EMAIL_ADDRESS>
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    On December 3, 2009, the Office of Acquisition Management (OAM)
Head of the Contracting Activity (HCA) issued a class deviation that
revised the prescription for the subject clause by eliminating the
requirement that EPA include total estimated labor hours when issuing
work assignments. The revised prescription is necessary

because including total estimated labor hours when work assignments are
issued undermines the negotiation process by providing the contractor
no incentive to seek more efficient or innovative approaches to meet
the Government's needs under a work assignment. The revised
prescription advises contracting officers (COs) that when the nature of
the work is nonspecific with changing circumstances (e.g., services at
new hazardous waste sites, Research & Development in new areas with
uncertain potential results) then the CO may provide the contractor
with the estimated labor hours. Otherwise, COs should not authorize the
contractor to expend the level of effort beyond the effort needed to
develop the work plan. The revised prescription was published in the
Federal Register on February 14, 2012. As a result, the subject clause
text is being updated to make it consistent with the revised
prescription.
    In addition, the work assignment clause prescription is modified to
make the clause applicable to EPA cost-reimbursement contracts, and the
subject prescription and clause are being updated to add two alternate
clause versions. Currently the subject clause has Alternates I and II
that are used in Superfund contracts and require the contractor to
provide a COI certification. This clause update adds Alternates III and
IV which are substantially the same as I and II but are written for
non-Superfund contracts. A class deviation for Alternates III and IV
was issued by the HCA on June 29, 1994. On July 18, 2014 (79 FR 41949)
EPA sought comments on the proposed rule and received no comments.

II. Final Rule

    This final rule updates the EPAAR to revise paragraphs (b) and (c)
in EPAAR clause 1552.211-74, Work Assignments, and revises paragraph
(b) of the corresponding 1511.011-74 prescription. Alternates III and
IV are also being added to clause 1552.211-74.

III. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews

A. Executive Order 12866: Regulatory Planning and Review

    This action is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under the
terms of Executive Order (EO) 12866 (58 FR 51735, October 4, 1993) and
therefore, not subject to review under the E.O.

B. Paperwork Reduction Act

    This action does not impose an information collection burden under
the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act, 44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.
No information is collected under this action.

C. Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA), as Amended by the Small Business
Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996 (SBREFA), 5 U.S.C. 601 et
seq.

    The Regulatory Flexibility Act generally requires an agency to
prepare a regulatory flexibility analysis of any rule subject to notice
and comment rulemaking requirements under the Administrative Procedure
Act or any other statute; unless the agency certifies that the rule
will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of
small entities. Small entities include small businesses, small
organizations, and small governmental jurisdictions.
    For purposes of assessing the impact of today's final rule on small
entities, ``small entity'' is defined as: (1) A small business that
meets the definition of a small business found in the Small Business
Act and codified at 13 CFR 121.201; (2) a small governmental
jurisdiction that is a government of a city, county, town, school
district or special district with a population of less than 50,000; and
(3) a small organization that is any not-for-profit enterprise which is
independently owned and operated and is not dominant in its field.
    After considering the economic impacts of this rule on small
entities, I certify that this action will not have a significant
economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. This action
revises a current EPAAR provision and does not impose requirements
involving capital investment, implementing procedures, or
recordkeeping. This rule will not have a significant economic impact on
small entities.

D. Unfunded Mandates Reform Act

    Title II of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (UMRA), Public
Law 104-4, establishes requirements for Federal agencies to assess the
effects of their regulatory actions on State, Local, and Tribal
governments and the private sector.
    This rule contains no Federal mandates (under the regulatory
provisions of the Title II of the UMRA) for State, Local, and Tribal
governments or the private sector. The rule imposes no enforceable duty
on any State, Local or Tribal governments or the private sector. Thus,
the rule is not subject to the requirements of Sections 202 and 205 of
the UMRA.

E. Executive Order 13132: Federalism

    Executive Order 13132, entitled ``Federalism'' (64 FR 43255, August
10, 1999), requires EPA to develop an accountable process to ensure
``meaningful and timely input by State and Local officials in the
development of regulatory policies that have federalism implications.''
``Policies that have federalism implications'' is defined in the
Executive Order to include regulations that have ``substantial direct
effects 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.''
    This rule does not have federalism implications. It will not have
substantial direct effects 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 as
specified in Executive Order 13132.

F. Executive Order 13175: Consultation and Coordination With Indian
Tribal Governments

    Executive Order 13175, entitled ``Consultation and Coordination
with Indian Tribal Governments'' (65 FR 67249, November 9, 2000),
requires EPA to develop an accountable process to ensure ``meaningful
and timely input by tribal officials in the development of regulatory
policies that have tribal implications.'' This rule does not have
tribal implications as specified in Executive Order 13175.

G. Executive Order 13045: Protection of Children From Environmental
Health and Safety Risks

    Executive Order 13045, entitled ``Protection of Children from
Environmental Health and Safety Risks'' (62 FR 19885, April 23, 1997),
applies to any rule that: (1) Is determined to be economically
significant as defined under Executive Order 12886, and (2) concerns an
environmental health or safety risk that may have a proportionate
effect on children. This rule is not subject to Executive Order 13045
because it is not an economically significant rule as defined by
Executive Order 12866, and because it does not involve decisions on
environmental health or safety risks.

H. Executive Order 13211: Actions That Significantly Affect Energy
Supply, Distribution, or Use

    This proposed rule is not subject to Executive Order 13211,
``Actions Concerning Regulations That

Significantly Affect Energy Supply, Distribution of Use'' (66 FR 28335
(MAY 22, 2001), because it is not a significant regulatory action under
Executive Order 12866.

I. National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act of 1995 (NTTAA)

    Section 12(d) (15 U.S.C 272 note) of NTTA, Public Law 104-113,
directs EPA to use voluntary consensus standards in its regulatory
activities unless to do so would be inconsistent with applicable law or
otherwise impractical. Voluntary consensus standards are technical
standards (e.g., materials specifications, test methods, sampling
procedures and business practices) that are developed or adopted by
voluntary consensus standards bodies. The NTTA directs EPA to provide
Congress, through OMB, explanations when the Agency decides not to use
available and applicable voluntary consensus standards.
    This proposed rulemaking does not involve technical standards.
Therefore, EPA is not considering the use of any voluntary consensus
standards.

J. Executive Order 12898: Federal Actions To Address Environmental
Justice in Minority Populations and Low-Income Populations

    Executive Order (E.O.) 12898 (59 FR 7629 (Feb. 16, 1994)
establishes federal executive policy on environmental justice. Its main
provision directs federal agencies, to the greatest extent practicable
and permitted by law, to make environmental justice part of their
mission by identifying and addressing, as appropriate,
disproportionately high and adverse human health or environmental
effects of their programs, policies, and activities on minority
populations and low-income populations in the United States.
    EPA has determined that this proposed rule will not have
disproportionately high and adverse human health or environmental
effects on minority or low-income populations because it does not
affect the level of protection provided to human health or the
environment. This proposed rulemaking does not involve human health or
environmental affects.

List of Subjects

48 CFR Part 1511

    Government procurement.

48 CFR Part 1552

    Government procurement, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.

    Dated: December 1, 2014.
John R. Bashista,
Director, Office of Acquisition Management.

    Therefore, 48 CFR chapter 15 is amended as set forth below:

PART 1511--DESCRIBING AGENCY NEEDS

0
1. The authority citation for 48 CFR part 1511 continues to read as
follows:

    Authority: Sec. 205(c), 63 Stat. 390, as amended, 40 U.S.C.
486(c).

0
2. Revise paragraph (b) of 1511.011-74 to read as follows:

1511.011-74  Work Assignments.

* * * * *
    (b) Contract Clause. The CO shall insert the contract clause at
1552.211.74, Work Assignments, in cost-reimbursement contracts when
work assignments are used.
    (1) For Superfund contracts, except for contracts which require
annual conflict of interest certificates (e.g., Site-Specific
contracts, the Contract Laboratory Program (CLP), Sample Management
Office (SMO) contracts), the CO shall use the clause with either
Alternate I or Alternate II. Alternate I shall be used for contractors
who have at least three (3) years of records that may be searched for
certification purposes. Alternate II shall be used for contractors who
do not have at least three (3) years of records that may be searched.
    (2) For non-Superfund contracts, the CO shall use the clause with
either Alternate III or Alternate IV. Alternate III shall be used for
contractors who have at least three (3) years of records that may be
searched for certification purposes. Alternate IV shall be used for
contractors who do not have at least three (3) years of records that
may be searched.

PART 1552--SOLICITATION PROVISIONS AND CONTRACT CLAUSES

0
3. The authority citation for 48 CFR part 1552 continues to read as
follows:

    Authority: 5 U.S.C. 301; Sec. 205(c), 63 Stat. 390, as amended,
40 U.S.C. 486(c); and 41 U.S.C. 418b.

0
4. Revise 1552.211-74 to read as follows:

1552.211-74  Work assignments.

    As prescribed in 1511.011-74, insert the following contract clause
in cost-reimbursement contracts when work assignments are to be used.

Work Assignments (DEC 2014)

    (a) The contractor shall perform work under this contract as
specified in written work assignments issued by the Contracting
Officer.
    (b) Each work assignment may include (1) a numerical
designation, (2) approved workplan labor hours or an estimated
initial level of effort provided in accordance with 1511.011-74, (3)
the period of performance and schedule of deliverables, and (4) the
description of the work.
    (c) The Contractor shall acknowledge receipt of each work
assignment by returning to the Contracting Officer a signed copy of
the work assignment within _ calendar days after its receipt. The
Contractor shall begin working on a work plan immediately upon
receipt of a work assignment. Within _ calendar days after receipt
of a work assignment, the Contractor shall submit _ copies of a work
plan to the Contract-level Contracting Officer's Representative and
_ copies to the Contracting Officer. The work plan shall include a
detailed technical and staffing plan and a detailed cost estimate.
Within _ calendar days after receipt of the work plan, the
Contracting Officer will provide written approval or disapproval of
it to the Contractor. The Contractor is not authorized to start work
without an approved work plan unless approved by the Contracting
Officer or otherwise specified. Also, if the Contracting Officer
disapproves a work plan, the Contractor shall stop work until the
problem causing the disapproval is resolved. In either case, the
Contractor shall resume work only when the Contracting Officer
approves the work plan.
    (d) This clause does not change the requirements of the ``Level
of Effort'' clause, nor the notification requirements of either the
``Limitation of Cost'' or ``Limitation of Funds'' clauses.
    (e) Work assignments shall not allow for any change to the terms
or conditions of the contract. Where any language in the work
assignment may suggest a change to the terms or conditions, the
Contractor shall immediately notify the Contracting Officer.

(End of clause)

    Alternate I. As prescribed in 1511.011-74, modify the existing
clause by adding the following paragraph (f) to the basic clause:
    (f) Within 20 days of receipt of the work assignment or similar
tasking document, the Contractor shall provide a conflict of
interest (COI) certification. Where work assignments or similar
tasking documents are issued under this contract for work on or
directly related to a site, the Contractor is only required to
provide a COI certification for the first work assignment issued for
that site. For all subsequent work on that site under this contract,
the Contractor has a continuing obligation to search and report any
actual or potential COIs, but no additional COI certifications are
required.
    Before submitting the COI certification, the Contractor shall
search its records accumulated, at a minimum, over the past three
years immediately prior to the receipt of the work assignment or
similar tasking document. In the COI certification, the Contractor
must certify to the best of the

Contractor's knowledge and belief that all actual or potential
organizational COIs have been reported to the Contracting Officer,
or that to the best of the Contractor's knowledge and belief, no
actual or potential organizational COIs exist. In addition, the
Contractor must certify that its personnel who perform work under
this work assignment or relating to this work assignment have been
informed of their obligation to report personal and organizational
COIs to the Contractor. The COI certification shall also include a
statement that the Contractor recognizes its continuing obligation
to identify and report any actual or potential COI arising during
performance of this work assignment or other work related to this
site.
    Alternate II. As prescribed in 1511.011-74, modify the existing
clause by adding the following paragraph (f) to the basic clause:
    (f) Within 20 days of receipt of the work assignment or similar
tasking document, the Contractor shall provide a conflict of
interest (COI) certification. Where work assignments or similar
tasking documents are issued under this contract for work on or
directly related to a site, the Contractor is only required to
provide a COI certification for the first work assignment issued for
that site. For all subsequent work on that site under this contract,
the Contractor has a continuing obligation to search and report any
actual or potential COIs, but no additional COI certifications are
required.
    Before submitting the COI certification, the Contractor shall
initially search through all of its available records to identify
any actual or potential COIs. During the first three years of this
contract, the Contractor shall search through all records created
since the beginning of the contract plus the records of the
Contractor prior to the award of the contract until a minimum of
three years of records are accumulated. Once three years of records
have accumulated, prior to certifying, the Contractor shall search
its records accumulated, at a minimum, over the past three years
immediately prior to the receipt of the work assignment or similar
tasking document. In the COI certification, the Contractor must
certify to the best of the Contractor's knowledge and belief, that
all actual or potential organizational COIs have been reported to
the Contracting Officer, or that to the best of the Contractor's
knowledge and belief, no actual or potential organizational COIs
exist. In addition, the Contractor must certify that its personnel
who perform work under this work assignment or relating to this work
assignment have been informed of their obligation to report personal
and organizational COIs to the Contractor. The COI certification
shall also include a statement that the Contractor recognizes its
continuing obligation to identify and report any actual or potential
COI arising during performance of this work assignment or other work
related to this site.
    Alternate III. As prescribed in 1511.011-74, modify the existing
clause by adding the following paragraph (f) to the basic clause:
    (f) Within 20 days of receipt of the work assignment or similar
tasking document, the Contractor shall provide a conflict of
interest (COI) certification.
    Before submitting the COI certification, the Contractor shall
search its records accumulated, at a minimum, over the past three
years immediately prior to the receipt of the work assignment or
similar tasking document. In the COI certification, the Contractor
must certify to the best of the Contractor's knowledge and belief
that all actual or potential organizational COIs have been reported
to the Contracting Officer, or that to the best of the Contractor's
knowledge and belief, no actual or potential organizational COIs
exist. In addition, the Contractor must certify that its personnel
who perform work under this work assignment or relating to this work
assignment have been informed of their obligation to report personal
and organizational COIs to the Contractor. The COI certification
shall also include a statement that the Contractor recognizes its
continuing obligation to identify and report any actual or potential
COI arising during performance of this work assignment.
    Alternate IV. As prescribed in 1511.011-74, modify the existing
clause by adding the following paragraph (f) to the basic clause:
    (f) Within 20 days of receipt of the work assignment or similar
tasking document, the Contractor shall provide a conflict of
interest (COI) certification.
    Before submitting the COI certification, the Contractor shall
initially search through all of its available records to identify
any actual or potential COIs. During the first three years of this
contract, the Contractor shall search through all records created
since the beginning of the contract plus records of the Contractor
prior to the award of the contract until a minimum of three years of
records have accumulated. Once three years of records have
accumulated, prior to certifying, the Contractor shall search its
records, at a minimum, over the past three years immediately prior
to the receipt of the work assignment or similar tasking document.
In the COI certification, the Contractor must certify to the best of
the Contractor's knowledge and belief that all actual or potential
organizational COIs have been reported to the Contracting Officer,
or that to the best of the Contractor's knowledge and belief, no
actual or potential organizational COIs exist. In addition, the
Contractor must certify that its personnel who perform work under
this work assignment or relating to this work assignment have been
informed of their obligation to report personal and organizational
COIs to the Contractor. The COI certification shall also include a
statement that the Contractor recognizes its continuing obligation
to identify and report any actual or potential COI arising during
performance of this work assignment.

(End of clause)

[FR Doc. 2014-29311 Filed 12-17-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P