[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 202 (Monday, October 20, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Page 54461]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-27703]


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GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION

[GSA Bulletin FPMR D-245]


Public Buildings and Space

TO: Heads of Federal Agencies.

SUBJECT: Protecting Federal Employees and the Public From Exposure to 
Tobacco Smoke in the Federal Workplace.
    1. PURPOSE. This bulletin announces the policy concerning the 
protection of Federal employees and the public from exposure to tobacco 
smoke in the Federal workplace.
    2. EXPIRATION DATE. This bulletin contains information of a 
continuing nature and will remain in effect until canceled.

Background

    a. On August 9, 1997, President Clinton signed Executive Order 
13058, entitled ``Protecting Federal Employees and the Public From 
Exposure to Tobacco Smoke in the Federal Workplace,'' (62 FR 43451, 
August 13, 1997), to establish a smoke-free environment for Federal 
employees and members of the public visiting or using Federal 
facilities. The General Services Administration (GSA) is providing 
governmentwide policy guidance concerning the requirements of this 
Executive Order so that federal agencies may benefit from GSA's real 
property management expertise.
    b. The policy previous to Executive Order 13058, enunciated in FPMR 
Sec. 101-20.105-3, declared all GSA-controlled space non-smoking except 
where designated smoking areas are identified by agency heads. This 
Executive Order prohibits, with some exceptions, the smoking of tobacco 
products in all interior space owned, rented or leased by the executive 
branch of the Federal Government. GSA will amend FPMR Sec. 101-20.105-3 
in the near future to reflect the new policy in this Executive Order.
    c. Unlike the previous policy, this Executive Order requires that 
designated smoking areas be enclosed and exhausted directly to the 
outside and away from air intake ducts, and maintained under negative 
pressure sufficient to contain tobacco smoke within the designated 
area. Agency officials must not require workers to enter such areas 
during business hours while smoking is ongoing.

Action

    a. In accordance with Executive Order 13058, Federal agencies must 
prohibit the smoking of tobacco products in all interior space owned, 
rented, or leased by the executive branch of the Federal Government, 
and in any outdoor areas under executive branch control in front of air 
intake ducts.
    b. The only exceptions are designated smoking areas; residential 
accommodations for persons voluntarily or involuntarily residing, on a 
temporary or long-term basis, in a building owned, leased, or rented by 
the Federal Government; portions of federally-owned buildings leased, 
rented, or otherwise provided (in their entirety) to nonfederal 
parties; and places of employment in the private sector or in other 
nonfederal governmental units that serve as the permanent or 
intermittent duty station of one or more federal employees.
    c. The heads of Federal agencies may establish limited and narrow 
exceptions that are necessary to accomplish agency missions. Such 
exception must be in writing, approved by the agency head, and to the 
fullest extent possible provide protection of nonsmokers from exposure 
to environmental tobacco smoke. Authority to establish such exceptions 
may not be delegated.
    d. The heads of Federal agencies must evaluate the need to restrict 
smoking at doorways and in courtyards under executive branch control in 
order to protect workers and visitors from environmental tobacco smoke, 
and may restrict smoking in these areas in light of this evaluation.
    e. The heads of Federal agencies are encouraged to use existing 
authority to establish programs designed to help employees stop 
smoking.
    f. The heads of Federal agencies must implement and ensure 
compliance with the policy set forth in this Executive Order no later 
than August 9, 1998. Prior to this date, the heads of Federal agencies 
must inform all employees and visitors to executive branch facilities 
about the requirements of this order, inform their employees of the 
health risks of exposure to environmental tobacco smoke, and undertake 
related activities as necessary.

    Dated: October 9, 1997.
G. Martin Wagner,
Associate Administrator, Office of Governmentwide Policy.
[FR Doc. 97-27703 Filed 10-17-97; 8:45 am]
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