61100 Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 200 / Monday, October 16, 2000 / Rules and Regulations

3. Table 4, paragraph 16 of § 706.2 is amended by adding, in numerical order, the following entry for USS Winston

S. Churchill:

§ 706.2 Certifications of the Secretary of the Navy under Executive Order 11964 and 33 U.S.C. 1605.

* * * * *

TABLE 4

Vessel Number Obstruction angle relative

ship’s headings

USS Winston S. Churchill .................................................................................................................. DDG 81 101.96 thru 112.50°.

* * ** * * *

4. Table 5 of § 706.2 is amended by adding, in numerical order, the following entry for USS Winston S. Churchill:

§ 706.2 Certifications of the Secretary of the Navy under Executive Order 11964 and 33 U.S.C. 1605.

* * * * *

TABLE 5

Vessel Number

Masthead lights

not over all other

lights and obstructions. annex I,

sec. 2 (f)

Forward masthead light not in

forward quarter of

ship. annex I, sec.

3(a)

After masthead

light less than 1⁄2

ship’s length aft of

forward masthead

light. annex I, sec.

3(a)

Percentage horizontal separation

attained

USS Winston S. Churchill ................................ DDG 81 X X X 13.8

*******

* * * * *

Approved: March 7, 2000.

G.A. Cervi,

Lieutenant Commander, JAGC, U.S. Navy,

Deputy Assistant Judge Advocate General

(Admiralty and Maritime Law).

[FR Doc. 00–26417 Filed 10–13–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3810–FF–P

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Coast Guard

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS

AFFAIRS

38 CFR Part 21

RIN 2900–AI68

Reservists Education: Monthly

Verification of Enrollment and Other

Reports

AGENCIES: Department of Defense,

Department of Transportation (Coast

Guard), and Department of Veterans

Affairs.

ACTION: Final rule.

SUMMARY: This document amends the

educational assistance and educational

benefit regulations of the Department of

Veterans Affairs (VA). It expands the

current requirement that some reservists

receiving educational assistance under

the Montgomery GI Bill—Selected

Reserve (MGIB–SR) verify their pursuit

of a program of education monthly to

include those reservists who are

pursuing a standard college degree. At

the same time the document reduces the

number of reports VA receives from

educational institutions. We believe this

is a cost-effective way to reduce

overpayments.

DATES: Effective Date: June 1, 2001.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

William G. Susling, Jr., Education

Adviser, Education Service (225C),

Veterans Benefits Administration, (202)

273–7187.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In a

document published in the Federal

Register on March 31, 1998 (63 FR

15341), VA, the Department of Defense

(DOD), and the Department of

Transportation (Coast Guard) proposed

withholding monthly payments of

educational assistance under the MGIB–

SR until VA receives the reservist’s

monthly certification of enrollment in

and satisfactory pursuit of a program of

education. In addition, in keeping with

statutory provisions, VA, DOD, and the

Coast Guard proposed that when a

reservist withdraws from one or more

courses with mitigating circumstances,

VA would reduce or discontinue his or

her educational assistance on the

effective date of the reduction in

training. Furthermore, we proposed that

an educational institution had to report

changes and interruptions in a

reservist’s training to VA without delay.

We sought comments under the

Paperwork Reduction Act concerning

the collections of information in

proposed §§ 21.7654 and 21.7656.

We gave interested persons 60 days to

submit comments. We received no

comments.

As proposed, the rule would have

authorized the Secretary to permit

submission of the monthly certification

in writing or by telephone. Although we

received no formal comments, we have

concluded that there is no reason that

the rule should not also authorize VA to

allow the reservist to submit the

monthly verification electronically.

Accordingly, the final rule makes a

change to proposed § 21.7654 by adding

the words ‘‘or electronically.’’ Based on

the rationale set forth in the proposed

rule and in this document, we are

adopting the provisions of the proposed

rule as a final rule, with this change;

with nonsubstantive changes for the

purpose of clarification; and with a

change to display the currently valid

Office of Management and Budget

Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 200 / Monday, October 16, 2000 / Rules and Regulations 61101

control numbers assigned to approved

collections of information in §§ 21.7654

and 21.7656.

DOD, the Coast Guard, and VA are

jointly issuing this final rule since it

pertains to the MGIB–SR. DOD and the

Coast Guard fund this program, and VA

administers it.

Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995

The Office of Management and Budget

(OMB) has approved the information

collection requirements in this final rule

concerning §§ 21.7654 and 21.7654(a)

under the provisions of the Paperwork

Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501–

3520) and has assigned OMB control

number 2900–0597. The provisions of

§§ 21.7654 and 21.7656(a) require a

reservist to certify monthly his or her

continued enrollment in and

satisfactory pursuit of a program of

education. This is permitted by 10

U.S.C. 16136(b) and 38 U.S.C. 3684.

OMB has also approved the

information collection requirements in

this final rule concerning § 21.7656(b)

under the provisions of the Paperwork

Reduction Act of 1995 and has assigned

OMB control number 2900–0612. The

provisions of § 21.7656(b) require an

educational institution to report

changes, including interruptions and

terminations, in a reservist’s training to

VA without delay. This is required by

10 U.S.C. 16136(b) and 38 U.S.C. 3684.

OMB assigns a control number for

each collection of information it

approves. VA may not conduct or

sponsor, and a person is not required to

respond to, a collection of information

unless it displays a currently valid OMB

control number. The valid OMB control

number assigned to each collection of

information in this final rule is

displayed at the end of each of the

affected sections of the regulations.

Regulatory Flexibility Act

The signers of this document hereby

certify that this final rule will not have

a significant economic impact on a

substantial number of small entities as

they are defined in the Regulatory

Flexibility Act, 5 U.S.C. 601–612. This

final rule may affect some educational

institutions that are small entities.

However, educational institutions are

paid a reporting fee for making required

reports to VA. Furthermore, VA does

not believe that a burden of less than

two hours annually would result in a

significant economic impact. Pursuant

to 5 U.S.C. 605(b), this final rule,

therefore, is exempt from both the initial

and final regulatory flexibility analyses

requirements of sections 603 and 604.

There is no Catalog of Federal

Domestic Assistance number for the

program affected by this final rule.

List of Subjects in 38 CFR Part 21

Administrative practice and

procedure, Armed forces, Civil rights,

Claims, Colleges and universities,

Conflict of interests, Defense

Department, Education, Employment,

Grant programs-education, Grant

programs-veterans, Health programs,

Loan programs-education, Loan

programs-veterans, Manpower training

programs, Reporting and recordkeeping

requirements, Schools, Travel and

transportation expenses, Veterans,

Vocational education, Vocation

rehabilitation.

Approved: April 28, 2000.

Togo D. West, Jr.,

Secretary of Veterans Affairs.

Approved: August 3, 2000.

Charles L. Cragin,

Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of

Defense for Reserve Affairs.

Approved: September 26, 2000.

F.L. Ames,

Rear Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard, Assistant

Commandant for Human Resources.

For the reasons set out above, 38 CFR

part 21 (subpart L) is amended as

follows:

PART 21—VOCATIONAL

REHABILITATION AND EDUCATION

Subpart L—Educational Assistance for

Members of the Selected Reserve

1. The authority citation for part 21,

subpart L continues to read as follows:

Authority: 10 U.S.C. ch. 1606; 38 U.S.C.

501(a), 512, ch. 36, unless otherwise noted.

2. In § 21.7635, paragraph (c)(1)

introductory text is revised to read as

follows:

§ 21.7635 Discontinuance dates.

* * * * *

(c) * * *

(1) If the reduction in the rate of

training occurs other than on the first

date of the term, VA will reduce the

reservist’s educational assistance

effective on the date the reduction

occurred when:

* * * * *

3. Section 21.7654 is amended by:

A. Adding introductory text.

B. Revising paragraph (a).

C. Redesignating paragraph (b) as

paragraph (c).

D. Adding a new paragraph (b).

E. Revising the parenthetical at the

end of the section.

The additions and revisions read as

follows:

§ 21.7654 Pursuit and absences.

Except as provided in this section, a

reservist must submit a verification to

VA each month of his or her enrollment

during the period for which the reservist

is to be paid. This verification shall be

in a form prescribed by the Secretary.

(a) Exceptions to the monthly

verification requirement. A reservist

does not have to submit a monthly

verification as described in the

introductory text of this section when

the reservist—

(1) Is enrolled in a correspondence

course; or

(2) Has received an advance payment

for the training completed during a

month.

(Authority: 10 U.S.C. 16136(b); 38 U.S.C.

3680(a), (g))

(b) Items to be reported on all monthly

verifications. (1) The monthly

verification for all reservists will

include a report on the following items

when applicable:

(i) Continued enrollment in and

actual pursuit of the course;

(ii) The date of interruption or

termination of training;

(iii) Except as provided in

§ 21.7656(a), changes in the number of

credit hours or in the number of clock

hours of attendance;

(iv) Nonpunitive grades; and

(v) Any other changes or

modifications in the course as certified

at enrollment.

(2) The verification of enrollment

must:

(i) Contain the information required

for release of payment;

(ii) If required or permitted by the

Secretary to be submitted on paper, be

signed by the reservist on or after the

final date of the reporting period, or if

permitted by the Secretary to be

submitted by telephone or electronically

in a manner designated by the Secretary,

be submitted in the form and manner

prescribed by the Secretary on or after

the final date of the reporting period;

and

(iii) If submitted on paper, clearly

show the date on which it was signed.

(Authority: 10 U.S.C. 16136(b); 38 U.S.C.

3680(g))

* * * * *

(The Office of Management and Budget has

approved information collection

requirements in this section under control

number 2900–0597.)

4. Section 21.7656 is amended by:

A. Revising the section heading.

B. Removing the introductory text.

C. Redesignating paragraphs (a), (a)(1),

(a)(2), (a)(3) and (b) as paragraphs (b),

(b)(3), (b)(4), (b)(5), and (c), respectively.

61102 Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 200 / Monday, October 16, 2000 / Rules and Regulations

D. Revising the heading of newly

designated paragraph (b).

E. Adding new paragraphs (a), (b)(1),

and (b)(2).

F. Revising newly redesignated

paragraph (b)(3).

G. Revising the authority citation for

the newly redesignated paragraph (b).

H. Revising the parenthetical at the

end of the section.

The additions and revisions read as

follows:

§ 21.7656 Other required reports.

(a) Reports from reservists. (1) A

reservist enrolled full time in a program

of education for a standard term,

quarter, or semester must report without

delay to VA:

(i) A change in his or her credit hours

or clock hours of attendance if that

change would result in less than fulltime enrollment;

(ii) Any change in his or her pursuit

that would result in less than full-time

enrollment; and

(iii) Any interruption or termination

of his or her attendance.

(2) A reservist not described in

paragraph (a)(1) of this section must

report without delay to VA:

(i) Any change in his or her credit

hours or clock hours of attendance;

(ii) Any change in his or her pursuit;

and

(iii) Any interruption or termination

of his or her attendance.

(Authority: 10 U.S.C. 16136(b); 38 U.S.C.

3684)

(b) Interruptions, terminations or

changes in hours of credit or

attendance. ***

(1) Except as provided in paragraph

(b)(2) of this section, an educational

institution must report without delay to

VA each time a reservist:

(i) Interrupts or terminates his or her

training for any reason; or

(ii) Changes his or her credit hours or

clock hours of attendance.

(2) An educational institution does

not need to report a change in a

reservist’s hours of credit or attendance

when:

(i) The reservist is enrolled full time

in a program of education for a standard

term, quarter, or semester before the

change; and

(ii) The reservist continues to be

enrolled full time after the change.

(3) If the change in status or change

in number of credit hours or clock hours

of attendance occurs on a day other than

one indicated by paragraph (b)(4) or

(b)(5) of this section, the educational

institution will initiate a report of the

change in time for VA to receive it

within 30 days of the date on which the

change occurs.

* * * * *

(Authority: 10 U.S.C. 16136(b); 38 U.S.C.

3684)

* * * * *

(The Office of Management and Budget has

approved information collection

requirements in this section under control

numbers 2900–0612 and 2900–0597.)

[FR Doc. 00–26437 Filed 10–13–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 8320–01–U

POSTAL SERVICE

39 CFR Part 111

New Pallet Height Limitation for

Anchorage and Fairbanks, AK

AGENCY: Postal Service.

ACTION: Final rule.

SUMMARY: This final rule amends section

M041 of the Domestic Mail Manual

(DMM). Due to the limitations of aircraft

used to transport mail, the Postal

Service is lowering the maximum pallet

height from 77 inches to 72 inches for

Periodicals, Standard Mail (A), and

Standard Mail (B) entered at Anchorage

and Fairbanks, Alaska.

EFFECTIVE DATE: November 2, 2000.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

RoseMarie Gay (202) 268–7810.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Since

most Periodicals, Standard Mail (A),

and Standard Mail (B) mail for delivery

in Alaska is transported by air due to

prevailing operating conditions, mail

must be prepared to facilitate air

transportation. Pallets that are between

72 and 77 inches high do not satisfy this

requirement, although heights within

this range are currently permitted under

Domestic Mail Manual (DMM)

standards.

The problem is that pallets between

72 and 77 inches high do not fit through

aircraft doors, forcing Alaskan air

carriers to re-stack the pallets. To

remedy this situation, the Postal Service

is lowering the maximum height from

77 inches to 72 inches for mail on

pallets (mail and pallet combined) that

is entered at Anchorage and Fairbanks,

Alaska. The change will allow mail on

pallets to be shipped as originally

prepared, which will eliminate the risk

of mail damage or delay caused by

additional handling to load and unload

aircraft.

Because the operational

circumstances dictating a lower pallet

height are not within the control of the

Postal Service, the Postal Service finds

no need to solicit comments or to delay

implementation of the new pallet height

specification.

List of Subjects in 39 CFR Part 111

Administrative practice and

procedure, Postal Service.

For the reasons discussed above, the

Postal Service hereby adopts the

following amendments to the Domestic

Mail Manual (DMM), which is

incorporated by reference in the Code of

Federal Regulations (see 39 CFR part

111).

PART 111—[AMENDED]

1. The authority citation for 39 CFR

part 111 continues to read as follows:

Authority: 5 U.S.C. 552 (a): 39 U.S.C 101,

401, 403, 404, 414, 3001–3011, 3201–3219,

3403–3406, 3621, 3626, 5001.

2. Amend the Domestic Mail Manual

(DMM) as follows:

M Mail Preparation and Sortation

M000 General Preparation Standards

* * * * *

M040 Pallets

* * * * *

M041 General Standards

* * * * *

3.0 STACKING PALLETS

[Amend 3.1f to read as follows:]

3.1 Stacking Up to Four Tiers

Pallets may be stacked two, three, or

four tiers high if:

* * * * *

f. The combined height of the stacked

pallets and their loads does not exceed

84 inches. Exception: Pallets prepared

for entry at Anchorage and Fairbanks,

Alaska, may not measure more than 72

inches in height, mail and pallet

combined.

* * * * *

5.0 PREPARATION

* * * * *

5.5 Maximum Load

* * * * *

[Add new last sentence to 5.5 to read

as follows:]

* * * Exception: A single pallet that

is prepared for entry at Anchorage or

Fairbanks, Alaska, has a maximum

height of 72 inches, mail and pallet

combined.

* * * * *