70112 Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 223 / Monday, November 21, 2005 / Notices 

Mail: Docket Management Facility; 

U.S. Department of Transportation, 400 

Seventh Street, SW., Nassif Building, 

PL–401, Washington, DC 20590–0001. 

Hand Delivery: Room PL–401 on the 

plaza level of the Nassif Building, 400 

Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC, 

between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday 

through Friday, except Federal holidays. 

Instructions: You must include the 

agency name (Federal Transit 

Administration) and the docket number 

(FTA–2005–22428). You should submit 

two copies of your comments if you 

submit them by mail. If you wish to 

receive confirmation that FTA received 

your comments, you must include a 

self-addressed stamped postcard. Note 

that all comments received will be 

posted without change to the 

Department’s Docket Management 

System (DMS) Web site located at 

http://dms.dot.gov. This means that is 

your comments includes any personal 

identifying information, such 

information will be made available to 

users of DMS. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Linda Lasley, Assistant Chief Counsel, 

Legislation and Regulations Division, 

Office of the Chief Counsel, Federal 

Transit Administration, 400 Seventh 

Street, SW., Room 9316, Washington, 

DC., 20590, (202) 366–4011 or 

Linda.Lasley@dot.gov 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

1. Background 

On August 10, 2005, President Bush 

signed into law the Safe, Accountable, 

Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity 

Act of 2005—a Legacy for Users 

(SAFETEA–LU), which reauthorizes 

Federal transit, highway, and highway 

safety programs through September 30, 

2009. That Act amends FTA’s 

administrative procedures contained in 

49 U.S.C. 5334. The amendment 

specifically states: ‘‘The Administrator 

of the Federal Transit Administration 

shall follow applicable rulemaking 

procedures under section 553 of title 5 

before the Federal Transit 

Administration issues a statement that 

imposes a binding obligation on 

recipients of Federal assistance under 

this chapter.’’ The amendment also 

defines a ‘‘binding obligation’’ as: ‘‘a 

substantive policy statement, rule, or 

guidance document issued by the 

Federal Transit Administration that 

grants rights, imposes obligations, 

produces significant effects on private 

interests, or effects a significant change 

in existing policy.’’ In accordance with 

the above requirement, FTA announces 

in this notice our policy with respect to 

documents that impose biding 

obligations. 

A. Rulemaking 

When FTA promulgates a 

‘‘legislative’’ or legally binding rule, we 

will provide notice and an opportunity 

to comment as required by the 

Administrative Procedure Act (APA) 

and we will publish in the Federal 

Register. Rules that are designated as 

significant will be reviewed prior to 

publication in the Federal Register by 

the Office of the Secretary of 

Transportation and the Office of 

Management and Budget in accordance 

with Department of Transportation 

(DOT) policies and procedures and 

Executive Order 12866. In addition, 

when Congress authorizes FTA to 

establish a new program, we may issue 

a rule setting out the basic criteria for 

the new program. 

Circulars, Guidance, and Policy 

Documents 

We issue circulars, guidance 

documents or interpretations, and 

policy statements in connection with 

the administration of our grant 

programs. In certain instances, such 

documents grant rights to or impose 

obligations on grant recipients, produce 

significant effects on private interests or 

effect a significant change in existing 

policy. Before adopting such 

documents, we will provide notice and 

an opportunity for the public to 

comment. We will accomplish this by 

establishing a docket in the 

Department’s Docket Management 

System and posting the entire document 

in the docket. We will then publish a 

notice in the Federal Register 

announcing the document’s availability 

and the time period for providing public 

comment. 

B. Other Information 

Besides rules, circulars, policies, and 

guidance documents, FTA will often 

distribute material to assist grant 

recipients regarding specific topics. 

These documents have not and will not 

impose binding obligations on the 

public, and, therefore, will not be 

subject to the procedures for notice and 

comment set forth in section 5334(1) of 

Title 49. These documents will continue 

to be available on FTA’s public Web site 

at http://fta.dot.gov. 

Issued in Washington, DC, this 14th day of 

November 2005. 

David B. Horner, 

Acting Deputy Administrator. 

[FR Doc. 05–22950 Filed 11–18–05; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–57–M 

DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY 

Internal Revenue Service 

Renewal Charter and Filing Letters for 

the IRS Advisory Committee on Tax 

Exempt and Government Entities 

AGENCY: Internal Revenue Service (IRS); 

Tax Exempt and Government Entities 

Division. 

ACTION: Notice of Renewal Charter and 

Filing Letters. 

SUMMARY: In accordance with the 

Federal Advisory Committee Act, Public 

Law 92–462, a renewal charter has been 

filed for the IRS Advisory Committee on 

Tax Exempt and Government Entities 

(ACT). The renewal charter was filed on 

Aug. 5, 2005, with the Committee on 

Finance of the United States Senate, the 

Committee on Ways and Means of the 

U.S. House of Representatives, and the 

Library of Congress. The renewal charter 

and copies of these filing letters are 

attached. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The 

Advisory Committee on Tax Exempt 

and Government Entities (ACT), 

governed by the Federal Advisory 

Committee Act, Public Law 92–463, is 

an organized public forum for 

discussion of relevant employee plans, 

exempt organizations, tax-exempt 

bonds, and federal, state, locate, and 

Indian tribal government issues between 

officials of the IRS and representatives 

of the above communities. The ACT also 

enables the IRS to receive regular input 

with respect to the development and 

implementation of IRS policy 

concerning these communities. ACT 

members present the interested public’s 

observations about current or proposed 

IRS policies, programs, and procedures, 

as well as suggest improvements. 

Dated: November 7, 2005. 

Steven J. Pyrek, 

Designated Federal Official, Tax Exempt and 

Government Entities Division, Internal 

Revenue Service. 

Charter for the Advisory Committee on 

Tax Exempt and Government Entities of 

the Internal Revenue Service 

This charter is being established and 

filed in accordance with the provisions 

of the Federal Advisory Committee Act, 

public Law 92–463, enacted October 6, 

1972. 

A. Official Title. The group’s official 

title is the Advisory Committee on Tax 

Exempt and Government Entities (ACT). 

B. Objective and Scope. The ACT is 

established to provide an organized 

public forum for discussion of relevant 

employee plans, exempt organizations, 

tax-exempt bond, and federal, state, 

Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 223 / Monday, November 21, 2005 / Notices 70113 

local and Indian tribal government 

issues between officials of the Internal 

Revenue Service (IRS) and 

representatives of the employee plans, 

exempt organizations, tax-exempt bond, 

and federal, state, local and Indian tribal 

government communities; and to enable 

the IRS to receive regular input with 

respect to the development and 

implementation of tax administration 

issues affecting those communities. The 

ACT members will present in an 

organized an constructive fashion the 

interested public’s observations about 

current or proposed Tax Exempt and 

Government Entities Division programs 

and procedures and will suggest 

improvements. The ACT’s role is 

especially important at this time due to 

its participation in the on-going IRS 

modernization and restructuring 

process. 

The ACT is authorized to advise the 

Commissioner, Tax Exempt and 

Government Entities Division on 

employee plans, exempt organizations, 

tax-exempt bond, and federal, state, 

local and Indian tribal government 

issues. The Commissioner, Tax Exempt 

and Government Entities Division, or 

his or her functional successor, will 

assure that the size and operational 

representation of the ACT results in a 

balanced membership and includes 

representatives from the employee 

plans, exempt organizations, tax-exempt 

bond, and federal, state, local and 

Indian tribal government communities. 

Nominations will be solicited from 

professional and public interest groups, 

the IRS, the Department of the Treasury, 

Congress and the general public. ACT 

members are appointed by the Secretary 

of the Treasury upon recommendation 

of the Commissioner, Tax Exempt and 

Government Entities, and serve a term 

of two years, with the possibility of 

renewal for an additional year of 

service, with the approval of the 

Commissioner, Tax Exempt and 

Government Entities Division. 

C. Time Period. Due to the constant 

need for the IRS to receive advice on tax 

administration issues, the ACT is a 

continuing advisory committee that 

operates under a two-year charter. 

D. Authority and Reporting. The 

establishment and operation of the ACT 

is based on the authority to administer 

the Internal Revenue laws conferred 

upon the Secretary of the Treasury by 

section 7802 of the Internal Revenue 

Code and delegated to the 

Commissioner of Internal Revenue. The 

ACT reports to the Commissioner, Tax 

Exempt and Government Entities or his 

or her functional successor. 

E. Support Services. The IRS provides 

the necessary support services for ACT. 

F. Duties. The ACT’s duties are to 

research, analyze, consider and make 

recommendations on a wide range of tax 

administration issues relating to 

employee plans, exempt organizations, 

tax exempt bonds, and federal, state, 

local and Indian tribal goverments. 

G. Annual Operating Cost. The 

estimated annual operating costs are 

$62,000 and 1 staff year. Annual 

operating costs include travel, staff 

salary, and representation fund 

operating expenses. Committee 

members are not paid for their time or 

service. Members will be reimbursed for 

their travel-related expenses to attend a 

public meeting and scheduled working 

meetings, in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 

5703 (as for persons employed 

intermittently in government service). 

Except as expressly stated above, the 

Government shall not be responsible for 

any expenses incurred by or on behalf 

of ACT members as a result of their 

application to, membership in, and 

activities on behalf of the ACT. 

H. Number and Frequency of 

Meetings. The ACT will normally hold 

one 1-day public meeting, four 2-day 

working meetings, and an orientation 

session each year. Other meetings will 

be scheduled as necessary. 

I. Termination Date. The termination 

date for the ACT is 2 years from the 

filing date stated in paragraph ‘‘J.’’

J. Filing Date. The date of filing of this 

charter is Aug. 5, 2005. 

Approved: 

Dated: June 21, 2005. 

Mark W. Everson, 

Commissioner of Internal Revenue. 

Approved: 

Dated: July 20, 2005. 

Paul W. Curry, 

Acting Assistant Secretary for Management. 

Mr. Richard Yarnall 

Federal Advisory Committee Desk 

Anglo-American Acquisitions Division 

Library of Congress 

101 Independence Avenue, SE. 

Washington, DC 20540–4172 

Dear Mr. Yarnall: 

Under the provisions of the Federal Advisory 

Committee Act, Public Law 92–463, I am 

filing the renewal charter for the Advisory 

Committee on Tax Exempt and Government 

Entities. 

I have enclosed a copy of the renewal charter, 

along with copies of letters filing the renewal 

charter with the Committee on Finance of the 

United States Senate and the Committee on 

Ways and Means of the U.S. House of 

Representatives. 

Sincerely, 

Paul W. Curry, 

Acting Assistant Secretary for Management. 

[FR Doc. 05–22725 Filed 11–18–05; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4830–01–M