Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 122 / Wednesday, June 25, 2014 / Notices 35995 

(e) The possibility that, even if an agency 

discourages ex parte communications during 

specified stages of the rulemaking process, 

such communications may nonetheless 

occur. 

(f) The potential need to give agency 

personnel guidance about whether or to what 

extent to provide information to persons not 

employed by the agency during a face-to-face 

meeting. 

Communications Before an NPRM Is Issued 

4. Agencies should not impose restrictions 

on ex parte communications before an NPRM 

is issued. 

5. Agencies may, however, disclose, in 

accordance with ¶ 8 of this recommendation, 

the occurrence or content of ex parte 

communications received before an NPRM is 

issued, as follows: 

(a) In the preamble of the later-issued 

NPRM or other rulemaking document; or 

(b) In the appropriate rulemaking docket 

once it is opened. 

Communications After an NPRM Has Been 

Issued 

6. If an agency cannot accommodate all 

requests for in-person meetings after an 

NPRM has been issued, it should consider 

holding a public meeting (which may be 

informal) in lieu of or in addition to 

individual, private meetings. 

7. After an NPRM has been issued, 

agencies should disclose to the public: 

(a) The occurrence of all oral ex parte 

communications, including the identity of 

those involved in the discussion and the date 

and location of the meeting. 

(b) The content of all oral ex parte 

communications through a written summary 

filed in the appropriate rulemaking docket. 

Agencies may either: 

(i) Direct their own personnel to prepare 

and submit the necessary summary; or 

(ii) Request or require private persons to 

prepare and submit the necessary summary 

of meetings in which they have participated, 

although it remains the agency’s 

responsibility to ensure adequate disclosure. 

(c) All written submissions, in the 

appropriate rulemaking docket. 

Additional Considerations after the 

Comment Period Has Closed 

8. Agencies should determine whether, and 

under what circumstances, ex parte 

communications made after the close of the 

comment period should be permitted and, if 

so, how they should be considered. 

9. If an agency receives, through an ex 

parte communication, any significant new 

information that its decisionmakers choose to 

consider or rely upon, it should disclose the 

information and consider reopening the 

comment period, to provide the public with 

an opportunity to respond. 

10. When an agency receives a large 

number of requests for ex parte meetings after 

the comment period has closed, it should 

consider using a reply comment period or 

offering other opportunities for receiving 

public input on submitted comments. See 

Admin. Conf. of the United States, 

Recommendation 2011–2, Rulemaking 

Comments ¶ 6, 76 Fed. Reg. 48,791 (Aug. 9, 

2011) (encouraging the use of reply comment 

periods and other methods of receiving 

public input on previously submitted 

comments). 

Quasi-Adjudicatory Rulemakings 

11. If an agency conducts ‘‘quasiadjudicatory’’ rulemakings that involve 

conflicting private claims to a valuable 

privilege, its ex parte communications policy 

should clearly and distinctly articulate the 

principles and procedures applicable in 

those rulemakings. 

12. Agencies should explain whether, how, 

and why they are prohibiting or restricting ex 

parte communications in quasi-adjudicatory 

rulemakings. Agencies may conclude that ex 

parte communications in this context require 

a different approach from the one otherwise 

recommended here. 

13. Agencies should explain and provide a 

rationale for any additional procedures 

applicable to ex parte communications 

received in quasi-adjudicatory rulemakings. 

Accommodating Digital Technology 

14. Agencies should consider how digital 

technology may aid the management or 

disclosure of ex parte communications. For 

example, agencies may be able to use 

technological tools such as video 

teleconferencing as a cost effective way to 

engage with interested persons. 

15. Agencies should avoid using language 

that will inadvertently exclude ex parte 

communications made via digital or other 

new technologies from their policies. 

16. Agencies should state clearly whether 

they consider social media communications 

to be ex parte communications and how they 

plan to treat such communications. Agencies 

should ensure consistency between policies 

governing ex parte communications and the 

use of social media. 

[FR Doc. 2014–14878 Filed 6–24–14; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 6110–01–P 

UNITED STATES AGENCY FOR 

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT 

Notice of July 9 Advisory Committee 

on Voluntary Foreign Aid Meeting 

AGENCY: United States Agency for 

International Development. 

ACTION: Notice of meeting. 

SUMMARY: Pursuant to the Federal 

Advisory Committee Act, notice is 

hereby given of a meeting of the 

Advisory Committee on Voluntary 

Foreign Aid (ACVFA). 

Date: Wednesday, July 9, 2014. 

Time: 2:00 p.m.–4:00 p.m. 

Location: Horizon Room, Ronald 

Reagan Building. 

Purpose 

The Advisory Committee on 

Voluntary Foreign Aid (ACVFA) brings 

together USAID and private voluntary 

organizations (PVO) officials, 

representatives from universities, 

international nongovernment 

organizations (NGOs), U.S. businesses, 

and government, multilateral, and 

private organizations to foster 

understanding, communication, and 

cooperation in the area of foreign aid. 

Agenda 

USAID Administrator Rajiv Shah will 

make opening remarks, followed by 

panel discussions among ACVFA 

members and USAID leadership on the 

Global Development Lab. The full 

meeting agenda will be forthcoming on 

the ACVFA Web site at http:// 

www.usaid.gov/who-we-are/ 

organization/advisory-committee. 

Stakeholders 

The meeting is free and open to the 

public. Persons wishing to attend 

should register online at http://ow.ly/ 

wlC6G. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Jayne Thomisee, 202–712–5506. 

Dated: June 18, 2014. 

Jayne Thomisee, 

Executive Director & Policy Advisor, U.S. 

Agency for International Development. 

[FR Doc. 2014–14836 Filed 6–24–14; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE P 

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 

Submission for OMB Review; 

Comment Request 

June 19, 2014. 

The Department of Agriculture has 

submitted the following information 

collection requirement(s) to OMB for 

review and clearance under the 

Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, 

Public Law 104–13. Comments 

regarding (a) whether the collection of 

information is necessary for the proper 

performance of the functions of the 

agency, including whether the 

information will have practical utility; 

(b) the accuracy of the agency’s estimate 

of burden including the validity of the 

methodology and assumptions used; (c) 

ways to enhance the quality, utility and 

clarity of the information to be 

collected; (d) ways to minimize the 

burden of the collection of information 

on those who are to respond, including 

through the use of appropriate 

automated, electronic, mechanical, or 

other technological collection 

techniques and other forms of 

information technology. 

Comments regarding this information 

collection received by July 25, 2014 will 

be considered. Written comments 

should be addressed to: Desk Officer for 

Agriculture, Office of Information and 

mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES