69558 Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 223 / Friday, November 17, 2000 / Notices

—Charter and Operating Procedures for

the Accounting and Auditing Policy

Committee;

—Technical Agenda; and

—Outreach.

A Steering Committee meeting of the

Board’s Principal Board members will

be held in conjunction with the Board

meeting. A more detailed agenda can be

obtained from the FASAB website

(www.financenet.gov/fasab.htm after

November 30, 2000.

Following the December meeting, the

schedule for the next three meetings of

the Board is as follows:

—Thursday and Friday, February 22

and 23, 2001;

—Thursday and Friday, April 26 and

27, 2001; and

—Monday and Tuesday, June 18 and 19,

2001.

The purpose of these meetings will be

to discuss issues related to:

—Stewardship Reporting;

—National Defense Property, Plant &

Equipment;

—Deletion of Paragraph 65.2—Material

Revenue—Related Transaction

Disclosures;

—Natural Resources;

—Correction of Errors Through Prior

Period Adjustments;

—Codification of FASAB Standards;

—Accounting and Auditing Policy

Committee issues; and

—Any other topics as needed.

A Steering Committee meeting of the

Board’s Principal Board members will

be held in conjunction with each of the

Board meetings. A more detailed agenda

for each Board meeting can be seen on

the FASAB website

www.financenet.gov/fasab.htm one

week prior to each meeting. The

location of each meeting will be given

in the website agenda.

Any interested person may attend the

meetings as an observer. Board

discussion and reviews are open to the

public. GAO Building security requires

advance notice of your attendance. For

the December meeting, please notify

FASAB by December 6 of your planned

attendance by calling 202–512–7350,

and for the subsequent meetings one

day prior to the respective meeting.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Wendy Comes, Executive Director, 441

G St., NW., Mailstop 6K17V,

Washington, DC 20548, or call (202)

512–7350.

Authority: Federal Advisory Committee

Act. Pub. L. No. 92–463.

Dated: November 13, 2000.

Wendy M. Comes,

Executive Director.

[FR Doc. 00–29418 Filed 11–16–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 1610–01–M

GENERAL SERVICES

ADMINISTRATION

[GSA Order ADM 1095.1F]

Environmental Considerations in

Decisionmaking

AGENCY: Public Buildings Service,

General Services Administration.

ACTION: Notice of final revisions to

internal procedures.

SUMMARY: This notice announces that

GSA is publishing final revised internal

GSA procedures to be followed in

implementing the requirements of

section 102(2) of the National

Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as

amended (NEPA) (42 U.S.C. 4321, ital.);

Executive Order 11514 of March 5,

1970, entitled ‘‘Protection and

Enhancement of Environmental

Quality,’’ and in compliance with

regulations of the Council on

Environmental Quality (40 CFR parts

1500–1508). The intended effect of these

documents is to enhance GSA’s ability

to comply with NEPA, to exclude

certain program actions from the

requirement to prepare an

environmental assessment (EA) or an

environmental impact statement (EIS),

to focus NEPA analysis to those actions

that may be major Federal actions

significantly affecting the quality of the

human environment, and to make

changes reflecting current GSA

organization structure. These changes

affect GSA internal procedures only.

EFFECTIVE DATE: October 19, 1999.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr.

Colin Wagner, NEPA Liaison,

Environmental Business Strategies, PXE

4046, Public Buildings Service, U.S.

General Services Administration, 1800 F

Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20405

(202–501–2888).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This

revision updates and supercedes the

February 25, 1985, [FR 7648] and

December 8, 1995 GSA Order ADM

1095.1E. A draft of the procedures was

published for public review and

comment on June 26, 1998. Interested

persons were asked to submit comments

by July 27, 1998. The U.S.

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

requested and was given additional time

to submit comments. No other requests

for an extended comment period were

received. Responses to comments plus

other technical changes are described

below. Copies of the PBS NEPA Desk

Guide are available from GSA (see FOR

FURTHER INFORMATION, above) or on the

Internet at: http://www.gsa.gov/pbs/pt/

call-in/erlsub4.htm.

(1) Summary

The revised ADM Order 1095.1F and

the PBS NEPA Desk Guide are

administrative and procedural

improvements intended to enhance

GSA’s ability to comply with NEPA and

related legal authorities and Executive

Orders, while also ensuring public

involvement in decisionmaking. These

improvements result from more than 25

years of agency experience with NEPA.

Development of the revised ADM Order

1095.1F and the PBS NEPA Desk Guide

was a multi-year process involving GSA

National Office and Regional Office

personnel who represent the agency’s

collective technical and managerial

expertise in environmental quality and

NEPA compliance. Members of the

Environmental Quality Advisory Group

(EQAG) represented GSA business lines

and the 11 GSA regions.

(2) Comments and Responses

GSA received two comments on the

proposed revisions, one from a Federal

agency [USEPA] and one from a State

agency.

a. USEPA provided no specific

comments, stating: ‘‘In general, we find

the revised orders and NEPA Desk

Guide to be well written,

comprehensive, clear and

understandable. It serves as a good

model for other agencies who may need

to develop NEPA guidance specific to

their mission.’’

GSA appreciates the comment.

b. GSA received a comment from the

Wyoming State Geological Survey

stating that ‘‘studies involving the

identification and evaluation of

paleontologic resources‘‘ on GSA

property should be considered an

automatic categorical exclusion from

NEPA.

GSA disagrees with this comment.

GSA believes that under certain

circumstances evaluation of

palentologic resources may involve

excavations that have the potential to

significantly affect the human

environment, and therefore should be

subject to more rigorous NEPA review.

The NEPA review process is a practical

planning tool in which GSA identifies

other regulatory compliance issues.

While excavations of paleontologic and

archaeological resources are specifically

governed by other legal authorities

(such as the Archaeological Resources

Protection Act), the integration of NEPA

with other legal authorities is a policy

established in the CEQ regulations. 40

CFR 1500.2(c) directs Federal agencies

to ‘‘integrate the requirements of NEPA

with other planning and environmental

review procedures required by law or by

Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 223 / Friday, November 17, 2000 / Notices 69559

agency practice so that all such

procedures run concurrently rather than

consecutively.’’ By including other

planning and environmental reviews

within the NEPA process, the process

becomes comprehensive and cohesive,

and issues may be identified. GSA has

added a new Checklist CATEX that

specifically addresses excavations and

which requires preparation of the

CATEX Checklist: 5.4(m):

‘‘Archaeological studies permitted

under the Archaeological Resources

Protection Act (ARPA) and

paleontological studies.’’

(3) Other Changes

GSA has also identified other

paragraphs in the ADM and PBS NEPA

Desk Guide that needed to be revised.

The more substantive changes include

the following:

a. Questions were raised as to why

GSA needs to issue the new guidance in

the form of an ADM order, a PBS order,

and a PBS NEPA Desk Guide. There was

substantial duplication between the PBS

order and the PBS NEPA Desk Guide.

The suggestion was to place the

information contained in the PBS order

in either the ADM or the PBS NEPA

Desk Guide. This change would have no

effect on the content or authority of the

GSA orders.

This change has been made.

b. The title ‘‘NEPA Center of Expertise

(NCE)’’ has been changed to ‘‘Regional

Environmental Quality Advisor

(REQA)’’

c. Automatic CATEX 5.3 (a) has been

narrowed from ‘‘Issuance of easements,

licenses, or outleases for use of space in

existing Federal office buildings, where

consistent with local planning and

zoning, provided Section 106 of the

NHPA is complied with where

applicable’’ to ‘‘Outleases, licenses, and

other arrangements for non-federal use

of space in existing Federal office

buildings, where such use is consistent

with local planning and zoning, where

Section 106 of the NHPA is complied

with where applicable; and there is no

evidence of community controversy or

unresolved environmental issues.’’

d. Automatic CATEX 5.3(m) has been

narrowed by adding the following text:

‘‘* * * where there is no evidence of

unresolved environmental issues.’’

e. One new Automatic CATEX has

been added:

5.3(k) ‘‘Other repair and alteration

projects where: 1) no toxic or hazardous

substances are involved with the project

or exist in or on the property where the

project takes place; 2) no properties

listed on or eligible for the National

Register of Historic Places are involved;

3) the building envelope or foot-print

will not be increased; 4) there is no

evidence of community controversy;

and 5) there is no evidence of other

unresolved environmental issues.’’

f. Checklist CATEX Section 5.4(d) has

been changed from ‘‘Transfer of real

property to government agencies’’ to

‘‘Transfer of real property to Federal,

State, and local agencies, and Indian

tribes.’’

g. Checklist CATEX Section 5.4(h) has

been changed from ‘‘Issuance of

easements, licenses, or outleases for use

of space in Federal facilities other than

existing office buildings’’ to ‘‘Outleases,

licenses, and other arrangements for

non-federal use of land or space in

facilities other than existing Federal

office buildings.’’

h. One new Checklist CATEX has

been added to Section 5.4 and the

section has been renumbered

accordingly: 5.4(n) Installation of

antennae consistent with FPMPD–242.

i. Additional circumstances which

trigger a 30-day public review period for

a FONSI before going ahead with the

proposed action or deciding to prepare

an EIS have been added to Desk Guide

Section 6.10.3. The additional

circumstances are based on the Council

on Environmental Quality’s ‘‘Forty

Frequently Asked Questions,’’ Number

37b [46 FR 18026, March 23, 1981]:

(a) If the proposal is a borderline case,

i.e., when there is a reasonable

argument for preparation of an EIS;

(b) If it is an unusual case, a new kind

of action, or a precedent setting case

such as a first intrusion of even a minor

development into a pristine area;

(c) When there is a scientific or public

controversy over the proposal; or

(d) When it involves a proposal which

is or is closely similar to one which

normally requires preparation of an EIS.

(e) If the proposed action would be

located in a floodplain or wetland.

Dated: October 19, 1999.

David J. Barram,

Administrator, General Services

Administration.

GSA Order

Subject: Environmental Considerations

in Decisionmaking

1. Purpose. This order establishes

policy and assigns responsibility for

implementing the National

Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), its

implementing regulations, and related

laws, executive orders, and regulations

in the decisionmaking processes of the

General Services Administration (GSA).

2. Cancellation. ADM 1095.1E, dated

December 8, 1995, is canceled.

3. Background. The National

Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and

the Government wide implementing

regulations of the Council on

Environmental Quality (40 CFR 1500–

1508, hereinafter, the CEQ regulations)

require that each Federal agency

consider the impact of its actions on the

human environment, and prescribes

procedures to be followed in doing so.

Other laws, executive orders, and

regulations provide related direction.

Each Federal agency is required to

implement internal procedures to

ensure that the requirements of NEPA

are met. Existing orders are out of date

and do not provide for current

requirements.

4. Nature of revision. This revision

reflects a thorough internal review of

GSA’s systems for implementing NEPA.

It replaces an interim order, ADM

1095.1E, which was adopted to govern

GSA’s compliance with NEPA while

this review took place. This revised

order is issued in coordination with an

explanatory desk guide to NEPA review,

which together provide GSA with an

efficient, up-to-date NEPA compliance

system that is consistent with principles

of accountability, flexibility, and

environmental responsibility.

5. Policy: In all its decisionmaking,

GSA will attend carefully to the

National Environmental Policy set forth

in Section 101 of NEPA. To the

maximum extent practicable, GSA will

ensure that its actions protect and where

possible improve the quality of the

human environment, including the built

and sociocultural environments of the

nation’s urban areas. GSA

decisionmakers will use the NEPA

review process prescribed in the CEQ

regulations as a practical planning tool,

and integrate both the NEPA review

process and the Section 101 National

Environmental Policy into

decisionmaking in an efficient, costeffective manner. The NEPA review

process will be initiated at the earliest

possible stage in planning any GSA

action, and will be carried forward in

coordination with other planning

activities. Decisionmakers will ensure

that they have reviewed and fully

understand the environmental impacts

of each decision, before making any

such decision. All managers responsible

for decisionmaking on GSA actions will

be accountable for being knowledgeable

about, and attendant to, the

requirements of NEPA and the National

Environmental Policy that these

requirements are designed to advance.

6. Responsibilities.

6a. Commission, Public Buildings

Service (PBS).

6.a.(1) The Commissioner acts for the

Administrator, GSA, on matters relating

to NEPA implementation, and oversees

69560 Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 223 / Friday, November 17, 2000 / Notices

implementation of this order. This

ADM, the NEPA Desk Guide, and

related direction governs GSA

compliance with NEPA and related legal

authorities.

6.b. NEPA Liaison.

6.b.(1) Is the principal GSA advisor on

NEPA-related requirments, including

but not limited to compliance with

NEPA and the coordination of NEPA

compliance with the requirements of the

laws and regulations listed in Appendix

1 of the NEPA Desk Guide.

6.b.(2) Provides expert advise on

NEPA-related matters to GSA Heads of

Services, Business Lines, and Regional

Administrators.

6.b.(3) Provides intra-agency and

interagency liaison and coordination on

NEPA-related matters on a national

basis.

6.b.(4) Provides the periodically

updates GSA program guidance, after

consultation with the General Counsel,

Heads of Services, Business Lines, and

Regional Administrators.

6.b.(5) Provides education and

training within GSA pertinent to

implementation of NEPA and related

authorities.

6.b.(6) Coordinates with GSA’s

Environmental Executive in maintaining

a record of GSA’s environmental

activities, and in advancing the national

environmental policy articulated in

NEPA and other statues and executive

orders.

6.b.(7) Serves as GSA representative

in coordination with outside groups at

the national level regarding NEPArelated matters.

6.c. Regional Administrators.

6.c.(1) Are accountable for execution

of GSA’s responsibilities under NEPA

and related authorities with respect to

actions under their jurisdiction.

6.c.(2) Serve as the responsible agency

official under CEQ regulations with

respect to the environmental effects of

actions under their jurisdiction.

6.c.(3) Maintain NEPA Regional

Environmental Quality Advisors

(REQA) within their staffs, augmented

as necessary through interagency

agreements and contracts, to ensure

regional interdisciplinary competence

in environmental matters.

6.c.(4) In consultation with the NEPA

Liaison, ensure that all regional staff

with responsibility for planning,

approving, and implementing

construction, repair, alteration, site and

facility acquisition, real property

management, maintenance, and real

property disposal receive appropriate

training in how to carry out GSA’s

responsibilities under NEPA and related

authorities.

6.d. GSA Environmental Executive.

6.d.(1) Serves as GSA’s Environmental

Executive under Executive Order 12873.

6.d.(2) Coordinates with the NEPA

Liaison to ensure agency-wide

consistency in areas of shared or related

responisiblity, and in advancing the

national environmental policy

articulated in NEPA and other statutes

and executive orders.

6.e. Heads of Services and Business

Lines.

6.e.(1) Serve as the responsible agency

officials under CEQ regulations for

actions subject to their approval.

6.e.(2) Ensure accountability for

implementation of the policy set forth in

this order.

6.e.(3) In consultation with the NEPA

Liaison, ensure that staff responsible for

supporting the functions of the

responsible agency official under CEQ

and related authorities receive

appropriate training in how to carry out

GSA’s responsibilities.

6.f. The Office of General Counsel.

6.f.(1) Is responsible for legal

interpretation of NEPA and related

authorities, and represents GSA in

litigation under such authorities.

6.f.(2) Advises the NEPA Liaison

during the development and delivery of

guidance and training.

7. Administrative Guidance.

7.a. The NEPA Liaison has overall

program responsibility for establishing

procedures, training, and professional

standards, and for maintaining

interagency administrative

responsibilities and relationships. These

functions will be carried out at the

working level by a professional NEPA

Liaison staff.

7.b. Heads of Services and Business

Lines will assist and cooperate with the

NEPA Liaison in the development and

delivery of training, as well as

procedural and program guidance, and

act as coordinators for program needs of

the Services and Business lines on a

national basis.

7.c. Regional Business Lines have

responsibility for ensuring that NEPA

compliance responsibilities are

satisfied, and the policy articulated in

paragraph 5 of this order is followed,

with respect to their programs and

projects. In consultation with the REQA,

the Business Lines will utilize

interdisciplinary professional expertise

in their implementation of NEPA

responsibilities.

8. Implementation of NEPA and

Related Authorities.

8.a. In accordance with applicable

regulations and standards, and with

program guidance provided by the

NEPA Liaison, the responsible agency

official shall:

8.a.(1) Ensure that the applicable

requirements of NEPA and related

authorities are met in a timely manner

during planning for any GSA action, in

a manner consistent with the policy

articulated in paragraph 5 of this order.

8.a.(2) Ensure that mitigation

measures established through review of

actions under NEPA and related

authorities are carried out as part of

implementing the actions.

8.a.(3) Ensure that the means by

which GSA has met its responsibilities,

and the costs involved in doing so, are

fully documented.

8.b. All Heads of Service, Business

Lines, and Regional Offices will employ

the PBS NEPA Desk Guide, issued and

periodically updated by the NEPA

Liaison, as guidance in carrying out this

order.

9. Effective Date. Every effort shall be

made to implement the provisions of

this order immediately.

[FR Doc. 00–29263 Filed 11–16–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 2820–BR–M

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND

HUMAN SERVICES

Office of the Secretary

Federal Financial Participation in State

Assistance Expenditures; Federal

Matching Shares for Temporary

Assistance to Needy Families,

Medicaid, Aid to Needy Aged, Blind, or

Disabled Persons and State Children’s

Health Insurance Program for October

1, 2001 through September 30, 2002

AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, DHHS.

ACTION: Notice.

SUMMARY: The Federal Medical

Assistance Percentages and Enhanced

Federal Medical Assistance Percentages

for Fiscal Year 2002 have been

calculated pursuant to the Social

Security Act (the Act). These

percentages will be effective from

October 1, 2001 through September 30,

2002. This notice announces the

calculated ‘‘Federal Medical Assistance

Percentages’’ and ‘‘Enhanced Federal

Medical Assistance Percentages’’ that

we will use in determining the amount

of Federal matching in State medical

assistance (Medicaid), State Children’s

Health Insurance Program (SCHIP)

expenditures, and for the annual

reconciliation of contingency funds

under Title IV–A. The table gives figures

for each of the 50 States, the District of

Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin

Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and

the Northern Mariana Islands. Programs

under title XIX of the Act exist in each