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[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 42 (Tuesday, March 4, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12143-12144]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-04752]

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Notices
                                                Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________

This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings 
and investigations, committee meetings, agency decisions and rulings, 
delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency 
statements of organization and functions are examples of documents 
appearing in this section.

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Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 42 / Tuesday, March 4, 2014 / 
Notices

[[Page 12143]]

ADMINISTRATIVE CONFERENCE OF THE UNITED STATES

[OMB Control Number: 3002-0003]

Information Collection Request Submitted to Office of Management 
and Budget (Renewal)

AGENCY: Administrative Conference of the United States.

ACTION: Sixty-day notice requesting comments.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the 
Administrative Conference of the United States will submit an 
Information Collection Request (ICR) to the Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB) requesting renewal of an existing and previously approved 
ICR (No. 3002-0003), substitute ``Confidential Employment and Financial 
Disclosure Report.'' This form is a simplified substitute for the 
Office of Government Ethics (OGE) Form 450, which non-government 
members of the Conference would otherwise be required to file. OGE has 
approved the use of this substitute form. This proposed information 
collection was previously approved by OMB in 2011, with an expiration 
date of May 31, 2014. The changes proposed on the current form are 
minor in nature. Before submitting this ICR to OMB, the Administrative 
Conference is inviting comments on the information collection.

DATES:  Comments must be received by May 5, 2014.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons may submit written comments to either of 
the following:
    (1) Online: http://www.info@acus.gov, with ICR Comments in the 
subject line.
    (2) Mail: ICR Comments, Administrative Conference of the United 
States, 1120 20th Street NW., Suite 706 South, Washington, DC 20036.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Shawne McGibbon, General Counsel, 
Administrative Conference of the United States, Suite 706 South, 1120 
20th Street NW., Washington, DC 20036; Telephone 202-480-2080, Email: 
smcgibbon@acus.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 
1995, the Administrative Conference of the United States (ACUS) will 
submit an Information Collection Request (ICR) to the Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) requesting renewal of an existing and 
previously approved ICR (No. 3002-0003), substitute ``Confidential 
Employment and Financial Disclosure Report.'' The purpose of this 
notice is to allow 60 days for public comment on the ICR renewal.
    ACUS is charged with developing recommendations for the improvement 
of Federal administrative procedures (5 U.S.C. 591). Its 
recommendations are the product of a research process overseen by a 
small staff, but ultimately adopted by a membership of 101 experts, 
including approximately 45 non-government members--5 Council members 
and up to 40 others (5 U.S.C. 593(b) and 5 U.S.C. 595(b)). These 
individuals are deemed to be ``special government employees'' within 
the meaning of 18 U.S.C. 202(a) and, therefore, are subject to 
confidential financial disclosure requirements of the Ethics in 
Government Act (5 U.S.C. App. 107) and regulations of the Office of 
Government Ethics (OGE). The ACUS substitute ``Confidential Employment 
and Financial Disclosure Report'' submitted (``Substitute Disclosure 
Form'') is a shorter substitute for OGE Form 450, which ACUS non-
government members would otherwise be required to file.
    In addition to the non-government members of the Conference, the 
Chairman, with the approval of the Council established under 5 U.S.C. 
595(b), may appoint additional persons in various categories, for 
participation in Conference activities, but without voting privileges. 
These categories include senior fellows, special counsels, and liaison 
representatives from other government entities or professional 
associations. The estimated maximum number of such individuals that may 
also be required to submit the Substitute Disclosure Form at any 
particular time is 45.
    Prior to the termination of funding for ACUS in 1995, the agency 
was authorized to use for this purpose a simplified form that was a 
substitute for OGE Form 450. The simplified substitute form was 
approved by OGE following a determination by the ACUS Chairman, 
pursuant to 5 CFR 2634.905(a), that greater disclosure is not required 
because the limited nature of the agency's authority makes very remote 
the possibility that a real or apparent conflict of interest will 
occur. ACUS received OMB approval for the simplified substitute form in 
1994.
    ACUS was re-established in 2010. On June 10, 2010, OGE renewed its 
approval for this simplified substitute form, which ACUS must provide 
to its non-government members in advance of membership meetings. In 
2011, ACUS received approval from OMB for use of this form for a 3-year 
period through May 31, 2011. ACUS is now requesting approval by the 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for a renewal period of three 
years. The changes proposed to the form are minor in nature.
    Subsequent to OMB's approval of the ICR in 2011, OGE clarified its 
opinion and stated that the forms need only be completed by the various 
types of ACUS non-government members prior to each plenary session they 
attend, but not prior to committee meetings they attend. This will 
greatly reduce the number of times individuals will have to complete 
the form.
    As required by the Ethics in Government Act, 5 U.S.C. App. 107(a); 
Executive Order 12674, sec. 201(d); and OGE regulations, 5 CFR 
2634.901(d), copies of the substitute form submitted to ACUS by its 
members are confidential and may not be released to the public.
    The proposed substitute ``Confidential Employment and Financial 
Disclosure Report'' and the Supporting Statement submitted to OMB may 
be viewed at: http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain. Select 
``Administrative Conference of the United States'' under ``Currently 
Under Review''; click on the ICR Reference Number; then click on either 
``View Information Collection (IC) List'' or ``View Supporting 
Statement and Other Documents.'' To see the corresponding documents for 
the currently approved version, select ``Administrative Conference of 
the United States'' under ``Current Inventory.''

[[Page 12144]]

    The total annual burden on respondents for the renewal period is 
estimated to be less than the 2011 estimate because the number of times 
the form has to be completed by each respondent has been greatly 
reduced. ACUS estimates a total burden of 45 hours (down from 135 hours 
in 2011), based on estimates of 90 persons submitting the form an 
average of 2 times per year, requiring no more than 15 minutes per 
response.
    Interested persons are invited to submit comments regarding this 
burden estimate or any other aspect of this information collection, 
including its necessity, utility and clarity for the proper performance 
of the Conference's functions.

    Dated: February 27, 2014.
Shawne C. McGibbon,
General Counsel.
[FR Doc. 2014-04752 Filed 3-3-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6110-01-P
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