[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 120 (Thursday, June 20, 1996)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 31616-31617]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-14516]



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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
48 CFR Parts 4 and 52

[FAC 90-39; FAR Case 92-050; Item I]
RIN 9000-AG41


Federal Acquisition Regulation; Double-Sided Copying

AGENCIES: Department of Defense (DOD), General Services Administration 
(GSA), and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

ACTION: Interim rule adopted as final with changes.

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SUMMARY: The Civilian Agency Acquisition Council and the Defense 
Acquisition Regulations Council have agreed to a final rule which 
amends the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) to encourage 
contractors to maximize the use of double-sided copying on recycled 
paper when submitting written documents related to an acquisition. This 
regulatory action was not subject to Office of Management and Budget 
review under Executive Order 12866, dated September 30, 1993, and is 
not a major rule under 5 U.S.C. 804.

EFFECTIVE DATE: June 20, 1996.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Ralph De Stefano at (202) 501-1758 
in reference to this FAR case. For general information, contact the FAR 
Secretariat, Room 4037, GS Building, Washington, DC 20405 (202) 501-
4755. Please cite FAC 90-39, FAR case 92-050.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

A. Background

    These revisions are based on a portion of Executive Order 12873, 
Federal Acquisition, Recycling, and Waste Prevention, dated October 20, 
1993 (58 FR 54911), which encourages the use of double-sided copying on 
recycled paper for documents printed within the Government and under 
Government contracts.
    An interim rule was published in the Federal Register at 60 FR 
28493, May 31, 1995, as Item I, FAC 90-27. This interim rule amended 
FAR Part 4 to add a new subpart 4.3--Paper Documents, and amended FAR 
Part 52 to add a clause at 52.204-4, Printing/Copying Double-Sided on 
Recycled Paper. An additional amendment to section 4.304 was published 
at 60 FR 34744 on July 3, 1995, to eliminate the requirement for use of 
the clause at 52.204-4 in solicitations and contracts valued at or 
below the simplified acquisition threshold. Further amendments have 
been made in the final rule to implement Executive Order 12995 of March 
25, 1996 (61 FR 13645, March 28, 1996), which amended Executive Order 
12873 to revise the minimum content standards for printing and writing 
paper.
    Seven comments from six sources were received in response to the 
interim rule. All comments were considered in developing the final 
rule.

B. Regulatory Flexibility Act

    The Department of Defense, the General Services Administration, and 
the National Aeronautics and Space Administration certify that this 
final 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., because the rule contains no mandatory requirements for 
offerors or contractors. The rule encourages, but does not require, the 
use of double-sided copying on recycled paper when submitting written 
documents to the Government. No comments were received on the impact of 
this rule on small entities during the public comment period.

C. Paperwork Reduction Act

    The Paperwork Reduction Act does not apply because the changes to 
the FAR do not impose recordkeeping or information collection 
requirements, or collections of information from offerors, contractors, 
or members of the public which require the approval of the Office of 
Management and Budget under 44 U.S.C. 3501, et seq.

List of Subjects in 48 CFR Parts 4 and 52

    Government procurement.

    Dated: June 4, 1996.
Edward C. Loeb,
Director, Federal Acquisition Policy Division.

Interim Rule Adopted as Final With Changes

    Accordingly, the interim rule amending CFR Parts 4 and 52, which 
was published at 60 FR 28493, May 31, 1995 (FAC 90-27, Item I), and 
amended at 60 FR 34744, July 3, 1995, is adopted as a final rule with 
amendments at sections 4.301 and 52.204-4.
    1. The authority citation for 48 CFR Parts 4 and 52 continues to 
read as follows:

    Authority: 40 U.S.C. 486(c); 10 U.S.C. chapter 137; and 42 
U.S.C. 2473(c).

PART 4--ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS


4.301  [Amended]

    2. Section 4.301 is amended by removing the period at the end of 
the sentence and inserting in its place ``, as amended by Executive 
Order 12995, March 25, 1996.''

PART 52--SOLICITATION PROVISIONS AND CONTRACT CLAUSES

    3. Section 52.204-4 is amended by revising the date of the clause 
to read ``(JUN 1996)''; in paragraph (a) of the clause by inserting 
after ``October 20, 1993,'' the phrase ``as amended by Executive Order 
12995, dated March 25, 1996,''; revising ``20%'' to read ``20 
percent''; and by revising paragraph (b) to read as follows:


52.204-4  Printing/Copying Double-Sided on Recycled Paper.

* * * * *

PRINTING/COPYING DOUBLE-SIDED RECYCLED PAPER (JUN 1996)

* * * * *
    (b) The 20 percent standard applies to high-speed copier paper, 
offset paper, forms

[[Page 31617]]

bond, computer printout paper, carbonless paper, file folders, white 
woven envelopes, and other uncoated printed and writing paper, such 
as writing and office paper, book paper, cotton fiber paper, and 
cover stock. An alternative to meeting the 20 percent postconsumer 
material standard is 50 percent recovered material content of 
certain industrial by-products.

(End of clause)

[FR Doc. 96-14516 Filed 6-19-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6820-EP-P