### 69601 Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 224 / Tuesday, November 20, 2012 / Notices

Each Task Force member is appointed to provide advice on behalf of the government on the basis of his or her best judgment without representing any particular point of view and in a manner
that is free from conflict of interest.

The Department, when necessary and
consistent with the Task Force’s mission and DoD policies/procedures, may establish subcommittees to support the
Task Force. Establishment of subcommittees will be based upon a written determination, to include terms of reference, by the Secretary of Defense, the Deputy Secretary of Defense, or the Task Force’s sponsor.

These Subcommittees shall not work independently of the chartered Task Force, and shall report all of their recommendations and advice solely to
the Task Force for full deliberation and
discussion. Subcommittees have no authority to make decisions and recommendations, verbally or in writing, on behalf of the chartered Task Force; nor can any Subcommittee or its members update or report directly to the DoD or any Federal officers or employees.

The Secretary of Defense shall appoint Subcommittee members even if the member in question is already a
Task Force member with annual
renewals.

Subcommittee members that are fulltime or permanent part-time Federal officers or employees shall be appointed to serve as regular government employee members. Subcommittee members, if not full-time or permanent part-time government employees, shall be appointed to serve as experts and consultants under the authority of 5 U.S.C. 3109, and shall serve as special government employees, whose appointments must be renewed by the Secretary of Defense on an annual basis. With the exception of travel and per
diem for official Task Force-related travel, Subcommittee members shall serve without compensation.

Each Subcommittee member is appointed to provide advice on behalf of the government on the basis of his or her best judgment without representing any particular point of view and in a
manner that is free from conflict of

interest.

All Subcommittees operate under the provisions of FACA, the Government in the Sunshine Act, governing Federal statutes and regulations, and governing DoD policies/procedures.

**FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT :**  Marcia Moore, Deputy Advisory Committee Management Officer for the Department of Defense, 703–571–7057.

**SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION :**  The Task
Force shall meet at the call of the Task Force’s Designated Federal Officer, in
consultation with the Task Force cochairs. The estimated number of Task Force meetings is five per year.

In addition, the Designated Federal Officer is required to be in attendance
at all Task Force and subcommittee meetings for the entire duration of each and every meeting; however, in the absence of the Designated Federal Officer, a properly approved Alternate Designated Federal Officer shall attend
the entire duration of the Task Force or subcommittee meeting.

The Designated Federal Officer, or the Alternate Designated Federal Officer,
shall call all of the Task Force’s and subcommittees’ meetings; prepare and approve all meeting agendas; adjourn any meeting when the Designated Federal Officer, or the Alternate Designated Federal Officer, determines adjournment to be in the public interest or required by governing regulations or DoD policies/procedures; and chair meetings when directed to do so by the official to whom the Task Force reports.

Pursuant to 41 CFR 102–3.105(j) and 102–3.140, the public or interested organizations may submit written statements to Department of Defense Task Force on the Care, Management, and Transition of Recovering Wounded, Ill, and Injured Members of the Armed Forces membership about the Task
Force’s mission and functions. Written statements may be submitted at any time or in response to the stated agenda of planned meeting of Department of Defense Task Force on the Care, Management, and Transition of Recovering Wounded, Ill, and Injured
Members of the Armed Forces.

All written statements shall be submitted to the Designated Federal Officer for the Department of Defense Task Force on the Care, Management, and Transition of Recovering Wounded, Ill, and Injured Members of the Armed Forces, and this individual will ensure that the written statements are provided to the membership for their
consideration. Contact information for the Department of Defense Task Force on the Care, Management, and Transition of Recovering Wounded, Ill, and Injured Members of the Armed Force’s Designated Federal Officer can
be obtained from the GSA’s FACA
Database—https://www.fido.gov/ facadatabase/public.asp. The Designated Federal Officer, pursuant to 41 CFR 102–3.150, will announce planned meetings of the Department of Defense Task Force on the Care, Management, and Transition of Recovering Wounded, Ill, and Injured
Members of the Armed Forces. The Designated Federal Officer, at that time, may provide additional guidance on the
submission of written statements that are in response to the stated agenda for the planned meeting in question.

Dated: November 15, 2012. Aaron Siegel, Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense.

[FR Doc. 2012–28140 Filed 11–19–12; 8:45 am]

**BILLING CODE 5001–06–P**

**DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE**

**Office of the Secretary**

**Science and Technology Reinvention Laboratory (STRL) Personnel**  **Management Demonstration Projects**

**AGENCY :**  Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense (Civilian Personnel Policy) (DASD (CPP)), Department of Defense (DoD).

**ACTION :**  Notice of proposed amendment to demonstration project plans.

**SUMMARY :**  Section 342(b) of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year (FY) 1995, as amended by
section 1009 of the NDAA for FY 2000
and section 1114 of the NDAA for FY 2001, authorizes the Secretary of Defense to conduct personnel demonstration projects at DoD laboratories designated as STRLs. This proposed amendment adds waivers to

current STRL Federal Register Notices (FRN) for the Army Research Laboratory (ARL); the Army Aviation and Missile Research, Development, and Engineering Center (AMRDEC); the Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC); the Army
Medical Research and Materiel Command (MRMC); the Army Communications-Electronics Research, Development, and Engineering Center (CERDEC); and the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) to facilitate the use of flexibilities in their project plans by permitting terminations during extended probationary periods.

**DATES :**  This amendment may not be implemented until a 30-day comment period is provided, comments addressed, and a final Federal Register notice published. To be considered,
written comments must be submitted on or before December 20, 2012. Authorities impacted by this FRN may not be applied retroactively and will be applied only to those personnel hired on/after the publication date of this

FRN.

**ADDRESSES :**  Send comments on or before the comment due date by mail to Mr. William T. Cole, Defense CivilianPersonnel Advisory Services, NonVerDate Mar<15>2010 15:12 Nov 19, 2012 Jkt 229001 PO 00000 Frm 00012 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\20NON1.SGM 20NON1wreier-aviles on DSK5TPTVN1PROD with

### 69602 Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 224 / Tuesday, November 20, 2012 / Notices

Traditional Personnel Programs (DCPAS–NTPP), Suite 05L28, 4800 Mark Center Drive, Alexandria, VA 22350–1100; by email to william.cole@cpms.osd.mil; or by fax to

571–372–1559.

**FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT :**  Department of the Army:

• Army Research Laboratory (ARL):

Program Manager, ARL Personnel Demonstration Project, AMSRD– ARL–O–HR, 2800 Powder Mill Road, Adelphi, MD 20793–1197;

• Aviation and Missile Research,

Development, and Engineering Center (AMRDEC): Special Assistant for Laboratory Management, AMRDEC, 5400 Fowler Road, Redstone Arsenal, AL

35898–5000;

• Engineer Research and

Development Center (ERDC): Personnel Demonstration Project Manager, U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center, 3909 Halls Ferry Road, Vicksburg, MS 39180–6199;

• Medical Research and Materiel

Command (MRMC): Director, Civilian Personnel Advisory Center,
Medical Research and Materiel Command, 1541 Porter Street, Fort Detrick, MD 21702–5000;

• Communications-Electronics

Research, Development, and Engineering Center (CERDEC):
CERDEC Personnel Demonstration Project Administrator, C4ISR Campus Building 6002, Room D3120, ATTN: RDER–DOS–ER, Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD

21005. Department of the Navy:

• Naval Research Laboratory (NRL):

Director, Strategic Workforce Planning, Naval Research Laboratory, 4555 Overlook Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20375–5320. Department of Defense:

• Defense Civilian Personnel

Advisory Services, Non-Traditional Personnel Programs (DCPAS– NTPP), Suite 05L28, 4800 Mark Center Drive, Alexandria, VA

22350–1100.

**SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION :** 
A. Background

The conventional 1-year probationary period does not allow supervisors an adequate period of time to fully evaluate the contribution and conduct of newly hired personnel. STRLs have included flexibilities allowing up to a three year probationary period. These flexibilities were fully utilized until the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit decided two cases, Van Wersch v. Department of Health & Human Services, 197 F.3d 1144 (Fed. Cir. 1999),
and McCormick v. Department of the Air Force, 307 F.3d 1339 (Fed. Cir. 2002), which affected the STRLs ability to fully utilize their extended probationary periods.

B. Modifications

The following FRNs are amended under the authority of section 1114 of
the NDAA for Fiscal Year 2001:

1. U.S. Army Research Laboratory (ARL)

a. Add the following to section IX. Required Waivers to Law and Regulation: ‘‘Chapter 75, sections 7501(1), 7511(a)(1)(A)(ii), and 7511(a)(1)(C)(ii); Adverse Actions—
Definitions. Waived to the extent necessary to allow extended probationary periods and to permit termination during the extended probationary period without using adverse action procedures for those individuals serving a probationary period under an initial appointment except for those with veterans’ preference.’’

b. Add the following as the final paragraph to section IX. Required Waivers to Law and Regulation: ‘‘Part 752, sections, 752.201, and 752.401: Principal statutory requirements and coverage. Waived to the extent necessary to allow extended probationary periods and to permit termination during the extended probationary period without using adverse action procedures for those individuals serving a probationary period under an initial appointment except those with veterans’ preference.’’

2. Army Aviation and Missile Research, Development and Engineering Center (AMRDEC)

a. Add the following to section IX. Required Waivers to Law and Regulation: ‘‘Chapter 75, sections 7501(1), 7511(a)(1)(A)(ii), and 7511(a)(1)(C)(ii); Adverse Actions—
Definitions. Waived to the extent necessary to allow extended probationary periods and to permit termination during the extended probationary period without using adverse action procedures for those individuals serving a probationary period under an initial appointment except for those with veterans’ preference.’’

b. Add the following as the final paragraph to section IX. Required Waivers to Law and Regulation: ‘‘Part 752, sections, 752.201, and 752.401: Principal statutory requirements and coverage. Waived to the extent necessary to allow extended probationary periods and to permit termination during the extended probationary period without using adverse action procedures for those individuals serving a probationary period under an initial appointment except those with veterans’ preference.’’.

3. U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC)

a. Add the following to section IX. Required Waivers to Law and Regulation: ‘‘Chapter 75, sections 7501(1), 7511(a)(1)(A)(ii), and 7511(a)(1)(C)(ii); Adverse Actions—
Definitions. Waived to the extent necessary to allow extended probationary periods and to permit termination during the extended probationary period without using adverse action procedures for those individuals serving a probationary period under an initial appointment except for those with veterans’ preference.’’

b. Add the following to section IX. Required Waivers to Law and Regulation: ‘‘Part 752, sections, 752.201, and 752.401: Principal statutory requirements and coverage. Waived to the extent necessary to allow extended probationary periods and to permit termination during the extended probationary period without using adverse action procedures for those individuals serving a probationary period under an initial appointment except those with veterans’ preference.’’

4. U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command (MRMC)

a. Add the following to section IX. Required Waivers to Law and Regulation: ‘‘Chapter 75, sections 7501(1), 7511(a)(1)(A)(ii), and 7511(a)(1)(C)(ii); Adverse Actions—
Definitions. Waived to the extent necessary to allow extended probationary periods and to permit termination during the extended probationary period without using adverse action procedures for those individuals serving a probationary period under an initial appointment except for those with veterans’ preference.’’

b. Add the following as the final paragraph to section IX. Required Waivers to Law and Regulation: ‘‘Part 752, sections 752.201, and 752.401: Principal statutory requirements and coverage. Waived to the extent necessary to allow extended probationary periods and to permit termination during the extended probationary period without using adverse action procedures for those individuals serving a probationary


### 69603 Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 224 / Tuesday, November 20, 2012 / Notices

period under an initial appointment except those with veterans’ preference.’’

5. U.S. Army Communications— Electronics Research, Development and Engineering Center (CERDEC)

a. Add the following to section IX. Required Waivers to Law and Regulation: ‘‘Chapter 75, sections 7501(1), 7511(a)(1)(A)(ii), and 7511(a)(1)(C)(ii); Adverse Actions—
Definitions. Waived to the extent necessary to allow extended probationary periods and to permit termination during the extended probationary period without using adverse action procedures for those individuals serving a probationary period under an initial appointment except for those with veterans’ preference.’’

b. Add the following to section IX. Required Waivers to Law and Regulation: ‘‘Part 752, sections 752.201, and 752.401: Principal statutory requirements and coverage. Waived to the extent necessary to allow extended probationary periods and to permit termination during the extended probationary period without using adverse action procedures for those individuals serving a probationary period under an initial appointment except those with veterans’ preference.’’

6. U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL)

a. Add the following as the final box on the left side of Appendix A: Required Waivers to Law and Regulation chart: ‘‘Chapter 75, sections 7501(1), 7511(a)(1)(A)(ii), and 7511(a)(1)(C)(ii);
Adverse Actions—Definitions. Waived to the extent necessary to allow extended probationary periods and to permit termination during the extended probationary period without using adverse action procedures for those individuals serving a probationary period under an initial appointment except for those with veterans’ preference.’’

b. Add the following on the right side
of the information entered in 6.a. above to Appendix A: Required Waivers to Law and Regulation chart: ‘‘Part 752, sections, 752.201, and 752.401: Principal statutory requirements and coverage. Waived to the extent necessary to allow extended probationary periods and to permit termination during the extended probationary period without using adverse action procedures for those individuals serving a probationary period under an initial appointment except those with veterans’ preference.’’ Dated: October 31, 2012. Aaron Siegel, Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense.

[FR Doc. 2012–26985 Filed 11–19–12; 8:45 am]

**BILLING CODE 5001–06–P**

**DELAWARE RIVER BASIN**
**COMMISSION**

**Notice of Commission Meeting and Public Hearing** 

Notice is hereby given that the
Delaware River Basin Commission will
hold an informal conference followed by a public hearing on Wednesday, December 5, 2012. The hearing will be part of the Commission’s regularly scheduled business meeting. The
conference session and business meeting both are open to the public and
will be held at the Commission’s office building located at 25 State Police Drive, West Trenton, New Jersey.

The morning conference session will begin at 11:00 a.m. and will include (a) a report by staff on the Commission’s Information Technology (IT) Upgrade and Water Charging Program On-Line Reporting System; and (b) an update by a representative of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Philadelphia District on development of a Delaware Estuary Regional Sediment Management Plan.

Items for Public Hearing. The subjects of the public hearing to be held during the 1:30 p.m. business meeting on December 5, 2012 include draft dockets
for which the names and brief descriptions will be posted on the
Commission’s Web site at www.drbc.net at least ten days prior to the meeting date. Complete draft dockets will be posted on the Web site ten days prior to the meeting date. Additional public records relating to the dockets may be
examined at the Commission’s offices. Please contact William Muszynski at 609–883–9500, extension 221, with any docket-related questions.

Other Agenda Items. In addition to the public hearing on draft dockets, the 1:30 p.m. business meeting will include public hearings on: (a) A resolution authorizing the Executive Director to engage an expert panel to advise the Water Quality Advisory Committee (WQAC) and the Commission on the development and use of a Delaware Estuary Eutrophication Model; (b) a resolution authorizing the Executive Director to award a professional contract for consulting services in connection with the Commission’s Water Charging Program and Water Supply Storage Facilities Fund; and (c) a resolution authorizing the Executive Director to award a construction contract to the lowest responsible bidder for DRBC courtyard modifications associated with
the Ruth Patrick River Garden and to
amend the authorized amount of the
Commission’s contract with T&M Associates to include compensation for final design, preparation of bid
documents and construction management. The Commissioners also may consider a Resolution to approve
Docket D–1969–201 CP–13 for the Exelon Limerick Generating Station (‘‘LGS draft docket’’). A hearing on the
LGS draft docket was conducted on August 28, 2012 and written comments were accepted through October 27, 2012. No additional testimony on this project will be accepted on December 5.
In the event that the Commissioners are not yet prepared to consider the LGS draft docket during their meeting on December 5, they will consider a
resolution to extend Docket D–1969–201 CP Final (Revision 12) for the LGS through December 31, 2013 or until the Commission approves the LGS draft docket, whichever occurs sooner. The business meeting agenda also will include the following standard items: adoption of the Minutes of the Commission’s September 12, 2012 business meeting, announcements of upcoming meetings and events, a report on hydrologic conditions, reports by the
Executive Director and the Commission’s General Counsel, and a public dialogue session.

Opportunities to Comment.
Individuals who wish to comment for the record on a hearing item or to address the Commissioners informally during the public dialogue portion of the meeting are asked to sign up in advance by contacting Ms. Paula Schmitt of the Commission staff, at paula.schmitt@drbc.state.nj.us or by phoning Ms. Schmitt at 609–883–9500

ext. 224. Written comment on items scheduled for hearing may be submitted in advance of the meeting date to: Commission Secretary, P.O. Box 7360, 25 State Police Drive, West Trenton, NJ 08628; by fax to Commission Secretary, DRBC at 609–883–9522 or by email to paula.schmitt@drbc.state.nj.us . Written
comment on dockets should also be furnished directly to the Project Review
Section at the above address or fax number or by email to william.muszynski@drbc.state.nj.us

.

Individuals in need of an accommodation as provided for in the
Americans with Disabilities Act who
wish to attend the informational meeting, conference session or hearings
should contact the Commission Secretary directly at 609–883–9500 ext. 203 or through the Telecommunications