82 FR 28994 - Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership-Amendments to the Terms and Schedule of Financial Assistance

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Institutes of Standards and Technology

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 122 (June 27, 2017)

NIST is issuing a final rule to amend the regulations governing the Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) program to reflect the current cost sharing requirements for cooperative agreements for the establishment and operation of MEP Centers, consistent with recent amendments to the MEP authorizing statute. Under the revised statute, NIST may provide up to 50 percent of the capital and annual operating and maintenance funds required to establish and support an MEP Center. The regulations are also being amended to remove other cost sharing rules that are not required by the MEP authorizing statute or current program policies.

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 122 (Tuesday, June 27, 2017)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 28994-28995]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-13423]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Institutes of Standards and Technology

15 CFR Part 290

[Docket No.: 170526519-7519-01]
RIN 0693-AB64


Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership--Amendments to the 
Terms and Schedule of Financial Assistance

AGENCY: National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), United 
States Department of Commerce.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: NIST is issuing a final rule to amend the regulations 
governing the Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) 
program to reflect the current cost sharing requirements for 
cooperative agreements for the establishment and operation of MEP 
Centers, consistent with recent amendments to the MEP authorizing 
statute. Under the revised statute, NIST may provide up to 50 percent 
of the capital and annual operating and maintenance funds required to 
establish and support an MEP Center. The regulations are also being 
amended to remove other cost sharing rules that are not required by the 
MEP authorizing statute or current program policies.

DATES: This rule is effective June 27, 2017.

[[Page 28995]]


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Anne-Louise Marquis, at (301) 975-3944 
or [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    The Hollings MEP Program (Program) is a unique program, consisting 
of centers in each state and Puerto Rico with partnerships at the 
state, federal, and local levels. Prior to being amended by Section 
501(b) of the American Innovation and Competitiveness Act (AICA), 
Public Law 114-329, the Program statute, 15 U.S.C. 278k, required that 
NIST provide less than 50 percent of the capital and annual operating 
and maintenance funds of an MEP Center beginning in the fourth year of 
a cooperative agreement. The revised statute allows NIST to provide up 
to 50 percent of the capital and annual operating and maintenance funds 
required to establish and support an MEP Center. NIST is amending the 
MEP regulations, specifically 15 CFR 290.4, to implement the revised 
statute and to eliminate certain limitations on the amounts and sources 
of MEP Center cost share that are not required by 15 U.S.C. 278k and 
that do not reflect current MEP Program cost sharing policies.

II. Statutory Authority

    NIST is revising 15 CFR 290.4 to ensure it is fully consistent with 
recent statutory changes to 15 U.S.C. 278k(e)(2) made by section 501(b) 
of AICA, and to ensure that the cost sharing requirements in 15 CFR 
290.4 are consistent with the cost sharing requirements for financial 
assistance awards contained in 2 CFR part 200 and with current MEP 
Program cost sharing policies.

III. Regulatory Analysis

    Because this final rule is a matter relating to public property, 
loans, grants, benefits, or contracts, 5 U.S.C. 553 does not apply. See 
5 U.S.C. 553(a)(2). Therefore, prior notice and opportunity for public 
comment are not required under 5 U.S.C. 553, and there is no 
requirement for a 30-day delay in the effectiveness of this action 
under 5 U.S.C. 553(d).

Executive Order 12866

    This final rule was determined to be not significant for purposes 
of Executive Order 12866.

Executive Order 13132

    This final rule does not contain policies with Federalism 
implications as defined in Executive Order 13132.

Regulatory Flexibility Act

    Because prior notice and opportunity for public comment are not 
required for this rule by 5 U.S.C. 553, or any other law, the 
analytical requirements of the Regulatory Flexibility Act, 5 U.S.C. 601 
et seq., do not apply.

Paperwork Reduction Act

    This proposed rule contains no new collection of information 
subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act, 44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.

National Environmental Policy Act

    This final rule will not significantly affect the quality of the 
human environment. Therefore, an environmental assessment or 
Environmental Impact Statement is not required to be prepared under the 
National Environmental Policy Act of 1969.

List of Subjects in 15 CFR Part 290

    Grant programs, Science and technology, Cooperative agreements.

    For the reasons stated in the preamble, NIST is amending 15 CFR 
part 290 as follows:

PART 290--REGIONAL CENTERS FOR THE TRANSFER OF MANUFACTURING 
TECHNOLOGY

0
1. The authority citation for 15 CFR part 290 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority:  15 U.S.C. 278k.


0
2. Revise Sec.  290.4 to read as follows:


Sec.  290.4  Terms and schedule of financial assistance.

    The Secretary may provide up to 50 percent of the capital and 
annual operating and maintenance funds required to establish and 
support an MEP Center.

Phillip A. Singerman,
Associate Director for Innovations and Industry Services.
[FR Doc. 2017-13423 Filed 6-26-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-13-P