63718 Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 231 / Tuesday, December 2, 1997 / Notices

Federal Register notice, we calculated

that established businesses would need

150 hours annually toward maintenance

of associated computer programs. We

have now reduced that figure further

after determining that most maintenance

and upkeep of computer systems would

be part of ordinary business practice in

the industry. The OMB regulation that

implements the PRA defines ‘‘burden’’

to exclude any effort that would be

expended regardless of any regulatory

requirement. 5 CFR 1320.3(b)(2).

No provisions in the Mail or

Telephone Order Merchandise Rule

have been amended or changed in any

manner. All of the Rule’s requirements

relating to disclosure and notification

remain the same. We have, however,

reduced the 1995 total burden estimate

for the following reasons.

Most of the 1995 estimated burden

hours were associated with one-time

start up tasks associated with

establishing implementing standard

systems and processes. This is because

the Rule had recently been amended (in

1994) to include the telephone order

industry. The mail order industry, in

contrast, had been subject to the basic

provisions of the Rule since 1976. Thus,

most of the 230 burden hours that we

estimated per firm related to the

development and installation of

computer systems to handle telephone

ordering, and not to the maintenance of

such systems.

As noted above, the OMB regulation

that implements the PRA defines

‘‘burden’’ to exclude any effort that

would be expended regardless of any

regulatory requirement. 5 CFR

1320.3(b)(2). In past rulemaking

proceedings, industry trade associations

and individual witnesses have testified

that compliance with the Rule is now

widely regarded by direct marketers as

being good business practice. The Rule’s

notification requirements would be

followed in any event by most

merchants to meet consumer

expectations with respect to timely

shipment, notification of delay, and

prompt and full refunds. Providing

consumers with notice about the status

of their orders encourages repeat

purchase behavior that is essential to

the survival of direct mail or telephone

order businesses.

Also, the industry is highly

automated; notices are produced

mechanically and little labor is

involved. Nonetheless, even for

established businesses, there may be

some burden attributable strictly to the

existence of the rule. For example, some

merchants rely on contractors to handle

orders and must therefore monitor how

the contractor complies with the Rule.

This entails reviewing consumer

complaints to determine whether

appropriate delay notification is being

provided. The Rule allows merchants to

use as much or as little time as

necessary to assure that notification and

disclosure requirements are being met.

Companies employ a broad range of

energy, time, and resources for

performing these tasks. Also, while

established companies spend some time

maintaining existing compliance

systems, their expenditures are only a

fraction of those by new businesses

required to establish entirely new

systems. An exact figure is difficult to

quantify; however, based on staff’s

familiarity with the industry, we have

determined that the average among the

industry is unlikely to be more than 50

hours per year.

Staff responsible for the Rule have

also estimated that approximately 1,000

additional companies have entered the

market since 1995 (for a total of 71,560

incumbent firms) and that, due to

escalating sales, approximately 1,000

new companies will enter the market

during the coming year. We estimate

that these 1,000 new companies will

each expend 230 hours per year (the

1995 figure of 229.78 rounded to 230) to

establish compliance measures

associated with system start-up,

although it could be argued once again

that most of these efforts would be

undertaken even absent the Rule.

Nonetheless, we have estimated the

total burden imposed by the disclosure

and notification requirements at

approximately 3,808,000 hours

(1,000×230=230,000)+

(71,560×50+3,578,000).

Debra A. Valentine,

General Counsel.

[FR Doc. 97–31728 Filed 12–1–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6750–01–P

GENERAL SERVICES

ADMINISTRATION

[OMB Control No. 3090–0221]

Proposed Collection; GSA Board of

Contract Appeals Rules Procedure

AGENCY: GSA Board of Contract Appeals

(GSBCA), GSA.

ACTION: Notice of request for public

comments regarding reinstatement to a

previously approved OMB clearance

(3090–0221).

SUMMARY: Under the provisions of the

Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44

U.S.C. Chapter 35), the Office of

Acquisition Policy has submitted to the

Office of Management and Budget

(OMB) a request to review and approve

a reinstatement of a previously

approved information collection

requirement concerning GSA Board of

Contract Appeals Rules Procedure. A

request for public comments was

published at 62 FR 49518, September

22, 1997. No comments were received.

DATES: Comment Due Date: January 2,

1998.

ADDRESSES: Comments regarding this

burden estimate or any other aspect of

this collection of information, including

suggestions for reducing this burden,

should be submitted to: Edward

Springer, GSA Desk Officer, Room 3235,

NEOB, Washington, DC 20503, and to

Marjorie Ashby, General Services

Administration (MVP), 1800 F Street

NW, Washington, DC 20405.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Margaret Pfunder, Deputy Chief

Counsel, GSA Board of Contract

Appeals, (202) 501–0272.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

A. Purpose

The GSA is requesting the Office of

Management and Budget (OMB) to

reinstate information collection, 3090–

0221, concerning the GSA Board of

Contract Appeals Rules Procedure. The

GSBCA requires the information

collected in order to conduct

proceedings in contract appeals and

petitions, and cost applications. Parties

include those persons or entities filing

appeals, petitions, and cost

applications, and government agencies.

B. Annual Reporting Burden

Respondents: 86; annual responses;

86; average hours per response: .20;

burden hours: 10.2.

Copy of Proposal: A copy of this

proposal may be obtained from the GSA

Acquisition Policy Division (MVP),

Room 4011, GSA Building, 1800 F

Street NW, Washington, DC 20405, or by

telephoning (202) 501–3822, or by

faxing your request to (202) 501–3341.

Dated: November 24, 1997.

Ida M. Ustad,

Deputy Associate Administrator, Office of

Acquisition Policy.

[FR Doc. 97–31487 Filed 12–1–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6820–61–M

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND

HUMAN SERVICES

Notice of a Meeting of the Genetics

Subcommittee, National Bioethics

Advisory Commission (NBAC)

SUMMARY: Pursuant to Section 10(d) of

the Federal Advisory Committee Act, as
Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 231 / Tuesday, December 2, 1997 / Notices 63719

amended (5 U.S.C. Appendix 2), notice

is given of a meeting of the Genetics

Subcommittee of the National Bioethics

Advisory Commission. The

subcommittee members will continue

addressing issues concerning genetics

and genetic testing. The meeting is open

to the public and opportunities for

statements by the public will be

provided.

DATES: Tuesday, December 9, 1997, 7:30

a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

LOCATION: The subcommittee will

meet at the Crystal City Marriott Hotel,

1999 Jefferson Davis Highway,

Arlington, Virginia 22202.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The

President established the National

Bioethics Advisory Commission (NBAC)

by Executive Order 12975 on October 3,

1995. The mission of the NBAC is to

advise and make recommendations to

the National Science and Technology

Council and other entities on bioethical

issues arising from the research on

human biology and behavior, and in the

applications of that research including

clinical applications.

Tentative Agenda

The subcommittee will continue

discussion on issues surrounding tissue

samples including what they are, how

they are collected and stored; the moral

decisions involved in donation;

religious, ethnic, and cultural

differences in attitudes; and other

related issues.

Public Participation

The meeting is open to the public

with attendance limited by the

availability of space. Members of the

public who wish to present oral

statements should contact Ms. Patricia

Norris by telephone, fax machine, or

mail as shown below as soon as

possible, prior to the meeting. The Chair

of the subcommittee will reserve time

for presentations by persons requesting

an opportunity to speak. The order of

speakers will be assigned on a first come

first serve basis. Individuals unable to

make oral presentations are encouraged

to mail or fax their comments to the

NBAC at least two business days prior

to the meeting for distribution to the

subcommittee members and inclusion

in the record.

Persons needing assistance, such as

sign language interpretation or other

special accommodations, should contact

NBAC staff at the address or telephone

number listed below as soon as possible.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms.

Patricia Norris, National Bioethics

Advisory Commission, MSC–7508, 6100

Executive Boulevard, Suite 5B01,

Rockville, Maryland 20892–7508,

telephone 301–402–4242, fax number

301–480–6900.

Dated: November 25, 1997.

Henrietta D. Hyatt-Knorr,

Deputy Executive Director, National Bioethics

Advisory Commission.

[FR Doc. 97–31463 Filed 12–1–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4160–17–P

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND

HUMAN SERVICES

Agency for Health Care Policy and

Research

Notice of Meeting

In accordance with section 10(a) of

the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5

U.S.C., Appendix 2) announcement is

made of the following special emphasis

panel scheduled to meet during the

month of December 1997:

Name: Health Care Policy and Research

Special Emphasis Panel.

Date and Time: December 10–11, 1997,

8:00 a.m.

Place: Doubletree Hotel, 1750 Rockville

Pike, Conference Room TBA, Rockville,

Maryland 20852.

Open December 10, 1997, 8:00 a.m. to 8:30

a.m.

Closed for remainder of meeting.

Purpose: This Panel is charged with

conducting the initial review of grant

applications for research and demonstration

projects on the use of measurements in

improving the quality of health care.

Applications are sought in three areas: (1)

methods and measures to allow translation of

scientific information about medical care into

quality measures and strategies to improve

clinical practice; (2) studies of the

relationship between organizational change

and quality measurement and improvement

in health care; and (3) studies of the use of

information derived from measurement about

quality of care by consumers, patients,

employers, providers, and insurers to make

decisions.

Agenda: The open session of the meeting

on December 10 from 8:00 a.m. to 8:30 a.m.

will be devoted to a business meeting

covering administrative matters and reports.

During the closed sessions, the Panel will be

reviewing and discussing grant applications

dealing with health services research issues.

In accordance with the Federal Advisory

Committee Act, section 10(d) of 5 U.S.C.,

Appendix 2 and 5 U.S.C., 552b(c)(6), the

Administrator, Agency for Health Care Policy

and Research, has made a formal

determination that these latter sessions will

be closed because the discussions are likely

to reveal personal information concerning

individuals associated with the applications.

This information is exempt from mandatory

disclosure.

Anyone wishing to obtain a roster of

members, minutes of the meeting, or other

relevant information should contact Sheila S.

Simmons, Committee Management Officer,

Agency for Health Care Policy and Research,

Suite 400, Executive Office Center, 2101 East

Jefferson Street, Rockville, Maryland 20852,

Telephone (301) 594–1452 ext. 1627.

Agenda items for all meetings are subject

to change as priorities dictate.

Dated: November 25, 1997.

John M. Eisenberg,

Administrator.

[FR Doc. 97–31589 Filed 12–1–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4160–90–M

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND

HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and

Prevention

[INFO–98–05]

Proposed Data Collections Submitted

for Public Comment and

Recommendations

In compliance with the requirement

of Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the

Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 for

opportunity for public comment on

proposed data collection projects, the

Centers for Disease Control and

Prevention (CDC) will publish periodic

summaries of proposed projects. To

request more information on the

proposed projects or to obtain a copy of

the data collection plans and

instruments, call the CDC Reports

Clearance Officer on (404) 639–7090.

Comments are invited on: (a) 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; (b) the accuracy of the

agency’s estimate of the burden of the

proposed collection of information; (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 collection techniques

for other forms of information

technology. Send comments to Wilma

Johnson, CDC Reports Clearance Officer,

1600 Clifton Road, MS–D24, Atlanta,

GA 30333. Written comments should be

received within 60 days of this notice.

Proposed Projects

1. National Exposure Registry (0923–

0006)—Extension—The information

collected is part of the Agency for Toxic

Substances’ on-going National Exposure

Registry (NER)—a database composed of

a listing of persons, along with health

and demographic information, with

documented exposure to selected toxic

substances subregistries). The NER was