33034 Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 119 / Wednesday, June 20, 2001 / Proposed Rules

1See, e.g., the Government Paperwork

Elimination Act, Pub. L. No. 105277, 17021704.

applicable standards of subsections (a)

and (b) of that section. However, these

standards are not applicable to the

actual language of state regulatory

programs and program amendments

since each such program is drafted and

promulgated by a specific state, not by

OSM. Under sections 503 and 505 of

SMCRA (30 U.S.C. 1253 and 1255) and

30 CFR 730.11, 732.15, and

732.17(h)(10), decisions on proposed

state regulatory programs and program

amendments submitted by the states

must be based solely on a determination

of whether the submittal is consistent

with SMCRA and its implementing

federal regulations and whether the

other requirements of 30 CFR Parts 730,

731, and 732 have been met.

National Environmental Policy Act

Section 702(d) of SMCRA (30 U.S.C.

1292(d)) provides that a decision on a

proposed state regulatory program

provision does not constitute a major

federal action within the meaning of

section 102(2)(C) of the National

Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) (42

U.S.C. 4332(2)(C)). A determination has

been made that such decisions are

categorically excluded from the NEPA

process (516 DM 8.4.A).

Paperwork Reduction Act

This rule does not contain

information collection requirements that

require approval by the Office of

Management and Budget under the

Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C.

3507 et seq.).

Regulatory Flexibility Act

The Department of the Interior has

determined that this rule will not have

a significant economic impact on a

substantial number of small entities

under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5

U.S.C. 601 et seq.). The state submittal

which is the subject of this rule is based

upon counterpart federal regulations for

which an economic analysis was

prepared and certification made that

such regulations would not have a

significant economic effect upon a

substantial number of small entities.

Accordingly, this rule will ensure that

existing requirements previously

promulgated by OSM will be

implemented by the state. In making the

determination as to whether this rule

would have a significant economic

impact, the Department relied upon the

data and assumptions for the

counterpart federal regulation.

Small Business Regulatory Enforcement

Fairness Act

This rule is not a major rule under 5

U.S.C. 804(2), the Small Business

Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act.

This rule:

a. Does not have an annual effect on

the economy of $100 million.

b. Will not cause a major increase in

costs or prices for consumers,

individual industries, federal, state, or

local government agencies, or

geographic regions.

c. Does not have significant adverse

effects on competition, employment,

investment, productivity, innovation, or

the ability of U.S. based enterprises to

compete with foreign-based enterprises.

This determination is based upon the

fact that the state submittal which is the

subject of this rule is based upon

counterpart federal regulations for

which an analysis was prepared and a

determination made that the federal

regulation was not considered a major

rule.

Unfunded Mandates

This rule will not impose a cost of

$100 million or more in any given year

on any governmental entity or the

private sector.

List of Subjects in 30 CFR Part 948

Intergovernmental relations, Surface

mining, Underground mining.

Dated: June 8, 2001.

Allen D. Klein,

Regional Director, Appalachian Regional

Coordinating Center.

[FR Doc. 01–15499 Filed 6–19–01; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310–05–P

POSTAL RATE COMMISSION

39 CFR Part 3001

[Docket No. RM2001–2; Order No. 1317]

Rules of Practice and Procedure

AGENCY: Postal Rate Commission.

ACTION: Request for comments and

technical conference.

SUMMARY: The Commission is soliciting

comments on electronic filing

procedures. The objective is to develop

a rule that makes use of modern

technology, reduces the burden and

expense of paper filing, and facilitates

public access to data filed with the

Commission.

DATES: Comments are due by July 9,

2001; a technical conference is

scheduled for July 11, 2001 at 10 a.m.

ADDRESSES: Send comments to Steven

W. Williams, Acting Secretary, Postal

Rate Commission, 1333 H Street, NW.,

Suite 300, Washington, DC 20268–0001.

The technical conference will be held at

the above address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Stephen L. Sharfman, 202–789–6820.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The

Commission is issuing this document to

solicit comments on procedures,

currently under consideration, to permit

the filing of documents electronically

(filing online). In addition, the

Commission hereby gives notice of a

technical conference to address the

filing online process. Following the

technical conference, the Commission

expects to issue a notice of proposed

rulemaking to revise its rules of practice

and procedure to reflect the availability

of filing online.

Consistent with government-wide

initiatives to allow for the electronic

filing and storage of documents in lieu

of paper (hardcopy),1 the Commission is

in the process of developing procedures

to accept the filing of documents

electronically (filing online). To that

end, the Commission recently updated

its web site (www.prc.gov) by

introducing a new option to enable

parties to download multiple

documents simultaneously. This feature

simplifies and expedites the

downloading process.

While participation will not be

mandatory, the Commission anticipates

general use of filing online given the

significant savings associated with

electronic filing coupled with the

widespread and growing access to the

Internet. Filing online should reduce the

cost of participating in proceedings

before the Commission substantially

because the need to serve parties will be

virtually, if not entirely, eliminated.

Thus, substantial preparation costs will

be avoided. In addition, filing online

should enable participants to operate

more efficiently. For example, the

process of submitting documents for

filing will be greatly simplified;

transaction costs associated with the

actual filing of a hard copy, in addition

to those for printing and postage, will be

eliminated; any confusion over service

dates will be avoided; and participants

will have access to documents sooner,

in both a PDF (portable document

format) that accurately reflects the

document filed and that is more

efficient to download, and an RTF (rich

text format) that can be more easily used

in preparing other documents (such as

discovery responses). Moreover, the

system will contain safeguards ensuring

participants’ control over their

documents prior to filing and that only

documents that a participant wishes to

file will be filed.

Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 119 / Wednesday, June 20, 2001 / Proposed Rules 33035

2For information purposes, the attachment also

summarizes the new download option.

The Commission, too, will reap

benefits. Filing online will eliminate the

need to scan and optically character

read (OCR) each filing. As a result,

filings can be posted on the web site

more promptly, in substantially reduced

file sizes, and in a manner true to the

document filed. Thus, the Commission

will be able to provide better service to

the public at reduced costs. In sum,

filing online offers substantial, tangible

benefits for participants and the

Commission.

Improved technology makes filing

online a realistic goal. Nonetheless,

filing online remains a work in progress.

The Commission’s current vision of the

process is outlined in greater detail in

the attachment.2 Briefly, its salient

points are as follows: filing online will

be available only to account holders;

documents filed must be submitted in

PDF, although documents in other

formats may be attached; participants

may use the Commission’s web site to

create PDF documents or may produce

their own; and the PRC system will

automatically create an RTF document

from the PDF version for pasting text

into other documents.

While the Commission would like to

introduce filing online promptly, the

greater concern is that the process

ultimately adopted operates effectively

and efficiently to the benefit of the

greatest number of prospective

participants. Consequently, the

Commission is convening a technical

conference to discuss the filing online

process. The conference will be held

July 11, 2001, to commence at 10 a.m.

in the Commission’s hearing room. In

addition, persons unable to attend the

conference or interested in facilitating

discussion at the conference are invited

to submit comments on the proposed

filing online service by July 9, 2001.

Ted P. Gerarden, director of the office

of consumer advocate, is designated to

represent the interests of the general

public in this docket.

Ordering Paragraphs

It is ordered:

1. A technical conference will be held

July 11, 2001, commencing at 10 a.m. in

the Commission’s hearing room, to

discuss the filing online process.

2. Interested persons may submit

comments on the proposed filing online

process by July 9, 2001.

3. Ted P. Gerarden, director of the

office of consumer advocate, is

designated to represent the interests of

the general public in this docket.

4. The acting secretary shall cause this

notice and order to be published in the

Federal Register.

Authority: 39 U.S.C. 3603.

Steven W. Williams,

Acting Secretary.

Overview of Electronic Filing Process

I. Download Option

Recently, the Commission completed

the development of a new option to

enable website users to download

multiple documents from its daily

listing. Currently, this download feature

is available only on systems running

Windows and Internet Explorer and

requires the copying of four (4) dll files

(dynamic link libraries) to the user’s

local computer. This will occur

automatically the first time that the

feature is utilized. This configuration

appears to be the only way to enable

browsers to download multiple files

into a directory structure. Although the

Commission has encountered no

difficulties with the dll files, it is

possible that not every configuration

will have the same success.

The download process is very simple:

just check the boxes to the right of each

document to be downloaded, or

alternatively click the ‘‘check all’’

button, and then click the ‘‘download

checked files’’ button. A download

screen will appear, prompting the user

to enter a download location, i.e., the

drive and subdirectory to be used as the

‘‘root.’’ Once the ‘‘submit’’ button is

clicked, a box appears showing the files

to be downloaded and the destination

path. Click the ‘‘start download’’ button

to begin the process. Users may find it

helpful to create a special directory to

serve exclusively as the ‘‘root’’ for this

purpose.

II. Filing Online

Electronic filing offers a host of

advantages over the status quo. The

notice identifies some of those benefits,

but underscores that filing online

remains under development. The

following describes the filing online

process currently under consideration

by the Commission. In designing this

process, the Commission has been

guided by two underlying principles,

flexibility and security. First, the

Commission has attempted to fashion a

process to minimize compliance costs

while still enabling the account holder

to exercise control over documents to be

filed. To that end, the process gives the

account holder the option to create a

PDF using the PRC’s server or using his

or her own software. Second, the

Commission addressed security issues

by providing secure work areas,

opportunities for document review, and

RTF files.

A. Account Holder Application

Each person desiring to submit an

electronic filing must complete and

return the application form, available on

the PRC website, to the Commission.

This form need be submitted only once,

provided that the information submitted

remains unchanged.

The application will be similar to the

following:

Account Holder Application

Name

Affiliation

Address

Phone

Email address

By signing this application I,

llllllll, recognize that the

authenticity of all documents filed

under this account and password is my

responsibility as the account holder.

Signature of account holder

The account holder will receive a

login name and password by mail. The

Commission anticipates that the process

ultimately employed will enable the

account holder to select an individual

login name and password. Attorney

account holders representing more than

one party may file on behalf of any party

using a single login name and password.

B. Login to the PRC’s Server

The PRC web site will contain a link

to ‘‘filing online.’’ After selecting this

option, the account holder will be

greeted with a login screen similar to

the following:

Welcome to the PRC filing online

Login name

Password

[button for] Login

The account holder will enter the

login name and password received from

the Commission to reach the work area.

C. Work Area

The account holder’s work area serves

several functions.

First, it identifies the ‘‘documents

submitted today.’’ These are filings

submitted that business day by the

account holder; they are posted for

informational purposes only, and

cannot be edited.

Second, it identifies ‘‘documents in

progress.’’ These are potential filings

(document(s)) for which the account

holder has entered some information,

e.g., party or document title, and

perhaps has attached other files, but that

have not yet been submitted for filing.

The account holder can edit these

documents by selecting the relevant

33036 Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 119 / Wednesday, June 20, 2001 / Proposed Rules

one(s) and then clicking the ‘‘open

existing document’’ button.

Third, the account holder can create

a new document by clicking on the

‘‘create new document’’ button. The

account holder will be prompted to

identify the filing party(ies) and enter

the title of document. An area for

comments will be provided.

Fourth, because each filing must have

a PDF file, the work area provides the

account holder with a process to convert

documents to PDF using the PRC’s

server. Clicking on the ‘‘convert files to

PDF’’ button begins the conversion. This

process is addressed in detail in section

II D, below.

Illustratively, the screen of an account

holder with the OCA may look

something like this:

Documents Submitted Today

Party(ies) Title

OCA Answer of the OCA to

interrogatories of UPS, witness:

Callow (UPS/OCA–T1–1–15)

OCA Answer of the OCA to

interrogatories of UPS, witness:

Thompson (UPS/OCA–T2–7–11)

Documents in progress

OCA Answer of the OCA to

interrogatories of USPS, witness:

Callow (UPS/OCA–T1–1–8)

OCA Answer of the OCA to

interrogatories of UPS, witness:

Thompson (UPS/OCA–T2–1–11)

[button for] Open existing document

[button for] Create new document

[button for] Convert files to PDF

D. Converting to PDF

Two PDF options will be available;

the first is available at no charge

through the PRC’s website; alternatively,

participants may purchase the

appropriate software to create their own

PDF files.

1. On PRC Server

The conversion screen will display

the account holder’s uploaded files, as

well as buttons for uploading,

converting, and reviewing documents.

[button for] Upload files

Upon Clicking the button to upload,

the Account Holder will be prompted to

select the documents to be converted

from the account holder’s local system.

The documents will be copied to the

work area on the PRC’s server.

On the convert page, the account

holder will be prompted to select the

document(s) to be converted, and then

to click the ‘‘convert files now’’ button.

[button for] Convert files now

After conversion, the account holder

may review the PDF(s) produced. A list

will be displayed allowing the account

holder to download and review each

PDF prior to filing.

[button for] Review PDFs

2. On Account Holder’s System

Adobe Acrobat Reader is the free

software that allows one to view PDF

files. Adobe Acrobat is the most

common software program used to

produce PDF files. Those not converting

to PDF on the PRC’s server may

purchase Adobe Acrobat to produce

PDF files on their own system. The

Commission’s web site will contain a

link to the appropriate site where such

software may be purchased. To reiterate,

account holders are not required to

purchase anything to participate in

filing online.

Once the PDF is ready, it may be filed.

E. Filing

The date and time of filing are

established by the PRC’s server. The

individual responsible for the filing is

determined by the account used. That

individual will be required to identify

on whose behalf the filing is being made

and enter the document title as it

appears on the document. An optional

field for comments will be available.

Once the preliminary information is

entered, the PDF and any other

electronic files should be attached to the

filing. The PDF of the document is

required.

The account holder should confirm

that the information entered is correct

and that the appropriate files are

attached and then click the ‘‘submit’’

button.

[button for] Submit

After clicking the ‘‘submit’’ button,

the account holder will be prompted

that the filing will become official and

that the account holder may not access

it further upon clicking the ‘‘ok’’ button.

Alternatively, the account holder may

cancel the transaction by clicking the

‘‘cancel’’ button.

[button for] OK

[button for] Cancel

Following submission of a filing, a

receipt page will appear that the

account holder may print for his or her

records.

F. Processing

Once the filing is submitted, i.e., the

‘‘ok’’ button is clicked, an RTF file will

be produced. The RTF is a formatted

text file generated from the PDF

submitted, i.e., only the text visible in

the PDF is included and it is free of

excess hard returns. Participants may

open this file in their word processors

and utilize it as they deem appropriate,

e.g., cut and paste from it or modify it

to create another pleading.

Finally, upon receipt of a filing,

Commission personnel in dockets will

check the document information and

attached files. Assuming these checks

reveal no problem, the filing will be

made available on the Commission’s

web site. If there is a problem, the

account holder will be contacted.

[FR Doc. 01–15436 Filed 6–19–01; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 7710–FW–P

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

AGENCY

40 CFR Part 52

[Docket No. AK–24–1712b; FRL–6993–8]

Approval and Promulgation of State

Implementation Plans: Alaska

AGENCY: Environmental Protection

Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Proposed rule.

SUMMARY: The EPA proposes to approve

the State Implementation Plan (SIP)

revision submitted by the State of

Alaska for the purpose of revising the

visible emission limit for coal burning

boilers, during startup; shutdown; sootblowing; grate cleaning; or other routine

maintenance activities, that began

operation before August 17, 1971, and

submitted the required demonstration.

Additionally, we are proposing to

approve a revision to the definitions

section that will add definitions of grate

cleaning and soot-blowing. The SIP

revision was submitted by the State to

satisfy certain Federal Clean Air Act

requirements under Section 110. In the

Final Rules Section of this Federal

Register, EPA is approving the State’s

SIP submittal as a direct final rule

without prior proposal because the

Agency views this as a noncontroversial

submittal amendment and anticipates

no adverse comments. A detailed

rationale for the approval is set forth in

the direct final rule. If no adverse

comments are received in response to

this action, no further activity is

contemplated. If the EPA receives

adverse comments, the direct final rule

will be withdrawn and all public

comments received will be addressed in

a subsequent final rule based on this

proposed rule. The EPA will not

institute a second comment period. Any

parties interested in commenting on this

action should do so at this time.

DATES: Written comments must be

received on or before July 20, 2001.