20106 Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 82 / Thursday, April 30, 2009 / Notices 

or applicant because of a disclosure of 

information by that individual that is 

reasonably believed to evidence 

violations of law, rule or regulation; 

gross mismanagement; gross waste of 

funds; an abuse of authority; or a 

substantial and specific danger to public 

health or safety, unless disclosure of 

such information is specifically 

prohibited by law and such information 

is specifically required by Executive 

order to be kept secret in the interest of 

national defense or the conduct of 

foreign affairs. 

Retaliation against an employee or 

applicant for making a protected 

disclosure is prohibited by 5 U.S.C. 

2302(b)(8). If you believe that you have 

been the victim of whistleblower 

retaliation, you may file a written 

complaint (Form OSC–11) with the U.S. 

Office of Special Counsel at 1730 M 

Street NW., Suite 218, Washington, DC 

20036–4505 or online through the OSC 

Web site—http://www.osc.gov. 

Retaliation for Engaging in Protected 

Activity 

A Federal agency cannot retaliate 

against an employee or applicant 

because that individual exercises his or 

her rights under any of the Federal 

antidiscrimination or whistleblower 

protection laws listed above. If you 

believe that you are the victim of 

retaliation for engaging in protected 

activity, you must follow, as 

appropriate, the procedures described in 

the Antidiscrimination Laws and 

Whistleblower Protection Laws sections 

or, if applicable, the administrative or 

negotiated grievance procedures in 

order to pursue any legal remedy. 

Disciplinary Actions 

Under the existing laws, each agency 

retains the right, where appropriate, to 

discipline a Federal employee for 

conduct that is inconsistent with 

Federal Antidiscrimination and 

Whistleblower Protection Laws up to 

and including removal. If OSC has 

initiated an investigation under 5 U.S.C. 

1214, however, according to 5 U.S.C. 

1214(f), agencies must seek approval 

from the Special Counsel to discipline 

employees for, among other activities, 

engaging in prohibited retaliation. 

Nothing in the No FEAR Act alters 

existing laws or permits an agency to 

take unfounded disciplinary action 

against a Federal employee or to violate 

the procedural rights of a Federal 

employee who has been accused of 

discrimination. 

Additional Information 

For further information regarding the 

No FEAR Act regulations, refer to 5 CFR 

part 724, as well as the appropriate 

offices within the Tennessee Valley 

Authority (e.g., Equal Opportunity 

Compliance, Human Resources, the 

Office of the Inspector General, and 

TVA’s Ombudsman). Additional 

information regarding Federal 

antidiscrimination, whistleblower 

protection and retaliation laws can be 

found at the EEOC Web site—http:// 

www.eeoc.gov and the OSC Web site— 

http://www.osc.gov. 

Existing Rights Unchanged 

Pursuant to section 205 of the No 

FEAR Act, neither the Act nor this 

notice creates, expands or reduces any 

rights otherwise available to any 

employee, former employee or applicant 

under the laws of the United States. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Linda J. Sales-Long, 865–632–2515. 

Dated: April 24, 2009. 

Linda J. Sales-Long, 

Director, Equal Opportunity Compliance. 

[FR Doc. E9–9927 Filed 4–29–09; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 8120–08–P 

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS 

AFFAIRS 

National Research Advisory Council; 

Notice of Meeting 

The Department of Veterans Affairs 

(VA) gives notice under Public Law 92– 

463 (Federal Advisory Committee Act) 

that the National Research Advisory 

Council will hold a meeting on Monday, 

June 22, 2009, in room GL–20 at the 

Greenhoot Cohen Building, 1722 Eye 

Street, NW., Washington, DC. The 

meeting will convene at 8:30 a.m. and 

end at 3 p.m. The meeting is open to the 

public. 

The purpose of the Council is to 

provide external advice and review for 

VA’s research mission. The agenda will 

include a review of the VA research 

portfolio and a summary of current 

budget allocations. The Council will 

also provide feedback on the direction/ 

focus of VA’s research initiatives. 

Any member of the public wishing to 

attend the meeting or wishing further 

information should contact Jay A. 

Freedman, PhD, Designated Federal 

Officer, at (202) 461–1699. Oral 

comments from the public will not be 

accepted at the meeting. Written 

statements or comments should be 

transmitted electronically to 

jay.freedman@va.gov or mailed to Dr. 

Freedman at Department of Veterans 

Affairs, Office of Research and 

Development (12), 810 Vermont 

Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20420. 

Dated: April 24, 2009. 

By Direction of the Secretary. 

E. Philip Riggin, 

Committee Management Officer. 

[FR Doc. E9–9928 Filed 4–29–09; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 8320–01–P