[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 35 (Wednesday, February 22, 1995)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 9786-9787]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-4238]



=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

FEDERAL MARITIME COMMISSION

46 CFR Part 500

[Docket No. 95-04]


Employee Responsibilities and Conduct

AGENCY: Federal Maritime Commission.

ACTION: Final rule.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Federal Maritime Commission (``Commission'' or ``FMC''), 
is repealing its existing agency [[Page 9787]] standards of conduct 
regulations that have been superseded by the branch-wide Standards of 
Ethical Conduct issued by the Office of Government Ethics (``OGE'') and 
by the executive branch financial disclosure regulations. In place of 
its regulations, the FMC is substituting cross-references to the new 
branch-wide regulations.

EFFECTIVE DATE: February 22, 1995.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: David R. Miles, Designated Agency 
Ethics Official, Federal Maritime Commission, 800 North Capitol Street, 
NW., Washington, D.C. 20573, (202) 523-5740.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On November 6, 1984, the Federal Maritime 
Commission adopted administrative regulations governing employee 
responsibilities and conduct; statements of employment and financial 
interests; and executive personnel financial disclosure reports. See 46 
CFR part 500, subpart A, B, C, and D. On August 7, 1992, the Office of 
Government Ethics published Standards of Ethical Conduct for Employees 
of the Executive Branch (``Standards'') for codification at 5 CFR part 
2635. See 57 FR 35006-35007, as corrected at 57 FR 48557 (October 27, 
1992) and 57 FR 52583 (November 4, 1992). The Standards, effective 
February 3, 1993, contain uniform ethical conduct standards applicable 
to all executive branch personnel, and supersede all existing agency 
standards of conduct.
    Accordingly, the Commission is repealing its existing standards of 
conduct regulations at 46 CFR Part 500, Subparts A, B, and C, which 
were superseded by the executive branch-wide Standards on February 3, 
1993. In addition, Subpart D of Part 500, dealing with financial 
disclosure, was also superseded on October 5, 1992, by OGE's executive 
branch-wide financial disclosure regulation, codified at 5 CFR Part 
2634. See 57 FR 11800-11830 (April 7, 1992), as amended at 57 FR 21854-
21855 (May 22, 1992) and 57 FR 62605 (December 31, 1992). In place of 
its old standards at 46 CFR part 500, the Commission is issuing a 
residual cross-reference provision, at new 46 CFR 500.101, to refer to 
both the branch-wide Standards and financial disclosure regulations. 
The Commission has determined not to supplement the standards with its 
own agency-specific standards.
    The Commission finds that good cause exists under 5 U.S.C. 553(b) 
and (d)(3) for waiving, as unnecessary and contrary to the public 
interest, the general notice of proposed rulemaking and the 30-day 
delay in effectiveness as to this rule and repeals. This rulemaking is 
related to the Commission's organization, procedure and practice.
    Pursuant to the Regulatory Flexibility Act, 5 U.S.C. 601 et seq., 
the Commission certifies that this final rule will not have a 
significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities, 
including small businesses, small organizational units and small 
governmental jurisdictions, because it affects only Commission 
employees.

List of Subjects in 46 CFR Part 500

    Conflict of interests, Government employees.

    For the reasons set forth above, the Federal Maritime Commission, 
in concurrence with the Office of Government Ethics, is amending title 
46, Subchapter A of the Code of Federal Regulations, by revising Part 
500 to read as follows:

PART 500--EMPLOYEE ETHICAL CONDUCT STANDARDS AND FINANCIAL 
DISCLOSURE REGULATIONS

    Authority: 5 U.S.C. 553; 5 U.S.C. 7301; 46 U.S.C. app. 1716.


Sec. 500.101  Cross-reference to employee ethical conduct standards and 
financial disclosure regulations.

    Employees of the Federal Maritime Commission (``FMC'') should refer 
to the executive branch-wide Standards of Ethical Conduct at 5 CFR part 
2635, and the executive branch-wide financial disclosure regulation at 
5 CFR part 2634.

    By the Commission.
Joseph C. Polking,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 95-4238 Filed 2-21-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6730-01-M