82 FR 61742 - Notice of January 18, 2018 Advisory Committee on Voluntary Foreign Aid Meeting

AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 249 (December 29, 2017)

Page Range		61742-61743
FR Document		2017-28152

Federal Register, Volume 82 Issue 249 (Friday, December 29, 2017)

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 249 (Friday, December 29, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 61742-61743]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-28152]


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 AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT


Notice of January 18, 2018 Advisory Committee on Voluntary 
Foreign Aid Meeting

AGENCY: United States Agency for International Development.

ACTION: Notice of meeting.

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    Pursuant to the Federal Advisory Committee Act, notice is hereby 
given of a meeting of the Advisory Committee on Voluntary Foreign Aid 
(ACVFA).
    Date: Thursday, January 18, 2018.
    Time: 2:00-4:00 p.m.

[[Page 61743]]

    Location: Horizon Ballroom, The Ronald Reagan Building, 1300 
Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington DC 20004.

Purpose

    The Advisory Committee on Voluntary Foreign Aid (ACVFA) brings 
together USAID and private voluntary organization officials, 
representatives from universities, international nongovernment 
organizations, U.S. businesses, and government, multilateral, and 
private organizations to foster understanding, communication, and 
cooperation in the area of foreign aid.

Agenda

    USAID leadership will make opening remarks, followed by a 
presentation and discussion on the principles, benchmarks, and programs 
that the Agency is considering to support countries along their 
development journey to self-reliance and long-term prosperity. The full 
meeting agenda will be forthcoming on the ACVFA website at http://www.usaid.gov/who-we-are/organization/advisory-committee.

Stakeholders

    The meeting is free and open to the public. Persons wishing to 
attend should register online at http://www.usaid.gov/who-we-are/organization/advisory-committee.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jessica Klein, [email protected] or 202-
712-5856.

    Dated: December 18, 2017.
Jessica Klein,
Acting Executive Director, U.S. Agency for International Development.
[FR Doc. 2017-28152 Filed 12-28-17; 8:45 am]
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61742 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 249 / Friday, December 29, 2017 / Notices

and OMB’s implementing regulations conduct that will otherwise further the waivers or exemptions, the agency
(e.g., a streamlined comment period for agency’s legitimate goals. should consider revising the regulation
collections associated with proposed Yet, waiving or exempting a regulated accordingly. If eliminating the need for
rules) when permissible and party from a statutory or regulatory waivers or exemptions requires
appropriate. requirement also raises important statutory reform, Congress should
5. Agencies, as appropriate, should questions about predictability, fairness, consider appropriate legislation.
seek legal authority from Congress to and protection of the public. For
take advantage of this recommendation. instance, when an agency decides to Exercising Waiver or Exemption
waive legal requirements for some but Authority
Administrative Conference
not all regulated parties, the decision to 3. Agencies should endeavor, to the
Recommendation 2017–7
grant a waiver or exemption may create extent practicable, to establish standards
Regulatory Waivers and Exemptions the appearance—or perhaps even and procedures for seeking and
Adopted December 15, 2017 reality—of irregularity, bias, or approving waivers and exemptions.
unfairness. Waiving or exempting a 4. Agencies should apply the same
Individuals and entities regulated by regulated party from a legal treatment to similarly situated parties
federal agencies must adhere to requirement, therefore, demands that when approving waivers and
program-specific requirements agencies simultaneously consider exemptions, absent extenuating
prescribed by statute or regulation. regulatory flexibility, on the one hand, circumstances.
Sometimes, however, agencies and consistent, non-arbitrary 5. Agencies should clearly announce
prospectively excuse individuals or administration of the law, on the other. the duration, even if indefinite, over
entities from statutory or regulatory Agencies’ authority to waive or which a waiver or exemption extends.
requirements through waivers or exempt regulated parties from legal
exemptions.1 The authority to waive or requirements may also intersect with Transparency and Public Input in
exempt regulated parties from specific other principles of administrative law. Seeking and Approving Waivers and
legal requirements affords agencies When agencies frequently issue waivers Exemptions
much-needed flexibility to respond to or exemptions because a regulation is 6. Agencies should consider soliciting
situations in which generally applicable outdated or ineffective, for example, public comments before establishing
laws are a poor fit for a given situation.2 amending or rescinding the regulation standards and procedures for seeking
Emergencies or other unforeseen may be more appropriate in some and approving waivers and exemptions.
circumstances may also render circumstances, despite the necessary 7. Agencies should endeavor, to the
compliance with statutory or regulatory resource costs.5 Such revisions can extent practicable, to make standards
requirements impossible or enhance efficiency and transparency. and procedures for seeking and
impracticable.3 In such instances, The requisite notice-and-comment approving waivers and exemptions
requiring strict adherence to legal procedures can also foster public available to the public.
requirements may not be desirable.4 participation and informed 8. Agencies should consider soliciting
This is particularly true when the decisionmaking. public comments before approving
recipient of a waiver or exemption The following recommendations offer waivers or exemptions.
demonstrates that it intends to engage in best practices and factors for agencies to 9. Agencies should provide written
consider regarding their waiver and explanations for individual waiver or
1 Agencies may also retrospectively decline to
exemption practices and procedures. exemption decisions and make them
bring an enforcement action once a legal violation
has already occurred. This recommendation,
They are not intended to disturb or publicly available to the extent
however, is confined to the agency practice of otherwise limit agencies’ broad practicable and consistent with legal or
prospectively waiving or exempting regulated discretion to elect how to best use their policy concerns, such as privacy.
parties from legal requirements. limited resources.
2 The terms ‘‘waiver’’ and ‘‘exemption’’ carry
Further, agencies should consider
various meanings in agency practice. For the Recommendation providing written explanations of
purposes of this recommendation, when Congress representative instances to help
has expressly authorized an agency to excuse a Scope of Waiver and Exemption illustrate the types of activities likely to
regulated party from a legal requirement, the term Authority qualify for a waiver or exemption.
‘‘waiver’’ is used. If an agency is implicitly
authorized by Congress to excuse a regulated party 1. When permitted by law, agencies [FR Doc. 2017–28124 Filed 12–28–17; 8:45 am]
from a legal requirement, ‘‘exemption’’ is used. should consider creating mechanisms BILLING CODE 6110–01–P
These definitions stem from the report underlying that would allow regulated parties to
this recommendation. See Aaron L. Nielson, apply for waivers or exemptions by
Waivers, Exemptions, and Prosecutorial Discretion:
An Examination of Agency Nonenforcement demonstrating conduct that will achieve
AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL
Practices (Nov. 1, 2017) (report to the Admin. Conf. the same purpose as full compliance
DEVELOPMENT
of the U.S.), https://acus.gov/report/regulatory- with the relevant statutory or regulatory
waivers-and-exemptions-final-report. Some requirement.
agencies may also derive authority to grant waivers Notice of January 18, 2018 Advisory
or exemptions from presidential delegations under 2. When consistent with the statutory Committee on Voluntary Foreign Aid
Article II of the Constitution. That category of scheme, agencies should endeavor to Meeting
waivers and exemptions is outside the scope of this draft regulations so that waivers and
recommendation. exemptions will not be routinely AGENCY: United States Agency for
3 See, for example, the Stafford Act, 42 U.S.C.
necessary. When an agency has International Development.
5141, authorizing any federal agency charged with
approved a large number of similar ACTION: Notice of meeting.
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the administration of a federal assistance program
in a presidentially declared major disaster to
modify or waive administrative conditions for 5 See Admin. Conf. of the U.S., Recommendation Pursuant to the Federal Advisory
assistance if requested to do so by state or local 2014–5, Retrospective Review of Agency Rules, ¶ 5, Committee Act, notice is hereby given of
authorities. 79 FR 75,114, 75,116 (Dec. 17, 2014) (identifying a meeting of the Advisory Committee on
4 Of course, agencies cannot issue waivers or petitions from stakeholder groups and members of
exemptions unless authorized by law, and even the public and poor compliance rates as factors to
Voluntary Foreign Aid (ACVFA).
when authorized by law, agencies must not issue consider in identifying regulations that may benefit Date: Thursday, January 18, 2018.
them in an arbitrary fashion. from amendment or rescission). Time: 2:00–4:00 p.m.

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Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 249 / Friday, December 29, 2017 / Notices 61743

Location: Horizon Ballroom, The program applicants and participants by Secretary of Agriculture to annually
Ronald Reagan Building, 1300 county and State. compile for each county and State in the
Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington DC DATES: Comments on this notice must be United States program application and
20004. received by February 27, 2018 to be participation rate data regarding socially
assured of consideration. disadvantaged farmers or ranchers for
Purpose
ADDRESSES: Office of the Assistant each program of USDA that serves
The Advisory Committee on Secretary for Civil Rights/Office of agricultural producers or landowners.
Voluntary Foreign Aid (ACVFA) brings Compliance, Policy, and Training This requirement only applies to FSA,
together USAID and private voluntary invites interested persons to submit NRCS, RD, and RMA. These four
organization officials, representatives comments on this notice. Comments agencies use the voluntary data
from universities, international may be submitted by one of the collection form approved by OMB that
nongovernment organizations, U.S. following methods: is attached as a cover page to the
businesses, and government, b Federal eRulemaking Portal: This application forms for programs that
multilateral, and private organizations website provides the ability to type provide services to agriculture
to foster understanding, short comments directly into the producers, farmers and ranchers. In
communication, and cooperation in the comment field on this web page or addition, all remaining USDA agencies
area of foreign aid. attach a file for lengthier comments. Go with conducted programs (Animal and
to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow Plant Health Inspection Service, and
Agenda Foreign Agricultural Service) were
the on-line instructions at that site for
USAID leadership will make opening submitting comments. required to develop a strategy for
remarks, followed by a presentation and b Mail, including CD–ROMs, etc.: collecting voluntary REG data from
discussion on the principles, Send to Docket Clerk, 1400 individuals for their respective federally
benchmarks, and programs that the Independence Avenue SW, Washington, conducted programs by utilizing the
Agency is considering to support DC 20250–3700, Mailstop 9401. same OMB approved form. Applicants
countries along their development b Hand- or courier-delivered and program participants of these
journey to self-reliance and long-term submittals: Deliver to 1400 programs and activities provide this
prosperity. The full meeting agenda will Independence Avenue SW, Washington, data on a voluntary basis. These
be forthcoming on the ACVFA website DC 20250–3700, Mailstop 9401. strategies will be reviewed and
at http://www.usaid.gov/who-we-are/ Instructions: All items submitted by approved by OASCR, who will also
organization/advisory-committee. mail or electronic mail must include the provide oversight and monitoring of the
Office of the Assistant Secretary for collection of this data through its
Stakeholders
Civil Rights/Office of Compliance, compliance activities.
The meeting is free and open to the Policy, and Training, Docket No. 0503– If the REG data is not collected on
public. Persons wishing to attend 0022, Comments received in response to applicants and participants in USDA
should register online at http:// this docket will be made available for federally conducted programs, USDA
www.usaid.gov/who-we-are/ public inspection and posted without will not be able to collect and report
organization/advisory-committee. change, including any personal demographic data on its applicants and
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: information, to http:// program participants. In addition,
Jessica Klein, acvfa@usaid.gov or 202– www.regulations.gov. USDA would not be able to determine
712–5856. Docket: For access to background if programs and services are reaching
Dated: December 18, 2017. documents or comments received, go to and meeting the needs of the public,
the Office of the Assistant Secretary for beneficiaries, partners, and other
Jessica Klein,
Civil Rights/Office of Compliance, stakeholders based on demographic
Acting Executive Director, U.S. Agency for data.
International Development. Policy, and Training, Docket Room at
1400 Independence Avenue SW, Failure to collect this information will
[FR Doc. 2017–28152 Filed 12–28–17; 8:45 am] also have a negative impact on USDA’s
Washington, DC 20250–3700, Mailstop
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9401, between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., outreach and compliance activities. This
Monday through Friday. could result in an inability to equitably
deliver programs and services to
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE applicants and producers, and
Contact Anna G. Stroman, Deputy ultimately an inability to hold the
Notice of Request for Extension or Director, Office of Compliance, Policy, agencies accountable.
Renewal of a Currently Approved and Training, Office of the Assistant Estimate of Burden: Public reporting
Information Collection Secretary for Civil Rights, U.S. burden for this collection of information
Department of Agriculture, 1400 is estimated to average one hour per
AGENCY: Office of the Assistant Independence Avenue SW, Washington, response.
Secretary for Civil Rights, USDA. DC 20250, (202) 205–5953 or Respondents: Producers, applicants,
ACTION: Notice and request for Anna.Stroman@ascr.usda.gov. and USDA customers.
comments. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Estimated Number of Respondents:
Title: 7 CFR part 15 subpart D—Data 1,190.
SUMMARY: In accordance with the Collection Requirement. Estimated Number of Responses per
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this OMB Number: OMB No. 0503–0022. Respondent: 1.
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notice announces the intention of the Expiration Date of Approval: January Estimated Total Annual Burden on
Office of the Assistant Secretary for 31, 2018. Respondents: 68 hours.
Civil Rights (OASCR) to request a Type of Request: Extension or renewal Comments are invited on: (1) Whether
renewal of a currently approved of the USDA 7 CFR part 15 subpart D— the proposed collection of information
information collection. OASCR will use Data Collection Requirement Form. is necessary for the proper performance
the information collected to collect the Abstract: Currently, Section 14006 of of the functions of the agency, including
race, ethnicity, and gender (REG) of all the 2008 Farm Bill requires the whether the information will have

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Document Created: 2018-01-03 13:16:47
Document Modified: 2018-01-03 13:16:47

Category		Regulatory Information
Collection		Federal Register
sudoc Class		AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106:
Publisher		Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
Section		Notices
Action		Notice of meeting.
Dates		Thursday, January 18, 2018.
Contact		Jessica Klein, [email protected] or 202- 712-5856.
FR Citation		82 FR 61742