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regarding officers, employees, and
agents shall be identified, and
maintained by the entity, and shall be
deemed to have been filed with FinCEN
Form 114. Such records shall be
retained for a period of 5 years.
*
*
*
*
*
■ 4. Revise § 1010.420 to read as
follows:
§ 1010.420 Records to be made and
retained by persons having financial
interests in foreign financial accounts.

Records of accounts required by
§ 1010.350 to be reported to the
Financial Crimes Enforcement Network
and the Commissioner of Internal
Revenue shall be retained by each
person having a financial interest in or
signature or other authority over any
such account. Such records shall
contain the name in which each such
account is maintained, the number or
other designation of such account, the
name and address of the foreign
financial institution, or other foreign
person engaged in the business of a
financial institution, with whom such
account is maintained, the type of such
account, and the maximum value of
each such account during the reporting
period. Such records shall be retained
for a period of 5 years and shall be kept
at all times available for inspection as
authorized by law. In the computation
of the period of 5 years, there shall be
disregarded any period beginning with
a date on which the taxpayer is indicted
or information instituted on account of
a willful attempt to evade or defeat
Federal income tax, the filing of a false
or fraudulent Federal income tax return,
or failing to file a Federal income tax
return, and ending with the date on
which final disposition is made of the
criminal proceeding.
Jennifer Shasky Calvery,
Director, Financial Crimes Enforcement
Network.
Note: The following appendix will not
appear in the Code of Federal Regulations.

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Appendix
The following changes to the current
Report of Foreign Bank and Financial
Account(s) (FBAR), FinCEN 114, report are
required in order to implement the proposed
changes outlined in the above Notice of
Proposed Rule Making (NPRM). Comments to
the proposed changes are welcome. Please
identify them separately from comments
regarding the NPRM.
Part I. a. Filer Information; Add item 2g
Primary Federal Regulator (this will be a
dropdown box containing a list of primary
Federal Regulators). This item is required
when item 2e ‘‘Fiduciary or other—Enter
type’’ is completed.

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b. Remove items 14a and 14a. These items
are no longer required.
Part II. No changes are required.
Part III. a. Change current item 26 to reflect
two checkboxes to indicate ‘‘Individual’’ or
‘‘Entity’’ that applies to the information
entered in item 26a.
b. Rename the current item 26 to 26a ‘‘Last
name or organization name of principal joint
owner.
Part IV. a. Change current item 34 to reflect
two checkboxes to indicate ‘‘Individual’’ or
‘‘Entity’’ that applies to the information
entered in item 26a.
b. Rename the current item 34 to 34a ‘‘Last
name or organization name of account owner.
Part V. No changes are required.
[FR Doc. 2016–04880 Filed 3–9–16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4810–02–P

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
34 CFR Chapter VI
[Docket ID ED–2015–OPE–0134]

Proposed Priorities and Definitions—
Fulbright-Hays Group Projects Abroad
Program—Short-Term Projects and
Long-Term Projects
CFDA Numbers: 84.021A and
84.021B.
AGENCY: Office of Postsecondary
Education, Department of Education.
ACTION: Proposed priorities and
definitions.
The Assistant Secretary for
Postsecondary Education proposes
priorities and definitions under the
Fulbright-Hays Group Projects Abroad
(Fulbright-Hays GPA) Program. The
Assistant Secretary may use these
priorities and definitions for
competitions in fiscal year (FY) 2016
and later years. We take this action to
focus Federal financial assistance on an
identified national need. We intend the
priorities to address a gap in the types
of institutions, faculty, and students that
have historically benefitted from
international education opportunities.
DATES: We must receive your comments
on or before April 11, 2016.
ADDRESSES: Submit your comments
through the Federal eRulemaking Portal
or via postal mail, commercial delivery,
or hand delivery. We will not accept
comments submitted by fax or by email
or those submitted after the comment
period. To ensure that we do not receive
duplicate copies, please submit your
comments only once. In addition, please
include the Docket ID at the top of your
comments.
• Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to
www.regulations.gov to submit your
comments electronically. Information
on using Regulations.gov, including
SUMMARY:

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instructions for accessing agency
documents, submitting comments, and
viewing the docket, is available on the
site under the ‘‘Help’’ tab.
• Postal Mail, Commercial Delivery,
or Hand Delivery: If you mail or deliver
your comments about these proposed
regulations, address them to Reha
Mallory, Office of Postsecondary
Education, U.S. Department of
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW.,
Room 3E213, Washington, DC 20202.
Privacy Note: The Department’s
policy is to make all comments received
from members of the public available for
public viewing in their entirety on the
Federal eRulemaking Portal at
www.regulations.gov. Therefore,
commenters should be careful to
include in their comments only
information that they wish to make
publicly available.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Reha Mallory. Telephone: (202) 453–
7502 or by email: reha.mallory@ed.gov.
If you use a telecommunications
device for the deaf or a text telephone,
call the Federal Relay Service, toll free,
at 1–800–877–8339.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Invitation to Comment:
We invite you to submit comments
regarding this notice. To ensure that
your comments have maximum effect in
developing the notice of final priorities
and definitions, we urge you to identify
clearly the specific proposed priority or
definition that each comment addresses.
We invite you to assist us in
complying with the specific
requirements of Executive Orders 12866
and 13563 and their overall requirement
of reducing regulatory burden that
might result from these proposed
priorities and definitions. Please let us
know of any further ways we could
reduce potential costs or increase
potential benefits while preserving the
effective and efficient administration of
the program.
During and after the comment period,
you may inspect all public comments
about this notice by accessing
Regulations.gov. You may also inspect
the comments in room 3E203, 400
Maryland Avenue SW., Washington, DC
20202, between the hours of 8:30 a.m.
and 4:00 p.m., Washington, DC time,
Monday through Friday of each week
except Federal holidays. Please contact
the person listed under FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION CONTACT.
Assistance to Individuals with
Disabilities in Reviewing the
Rulemaking Record: On request we will
provide an appropriate accommodation
or auxiliary aid to an individual with a
disability who needs assistance to

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Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 47 / Thursday, March 10, 2016 / Proposed Rules
review the comments or other
documents in the public rulemaking
record for this notice. If you want to
schedule an appointment for this type of
accommodation or auxiliary aid, please
contact the person listed under FOR
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.
Purpose of Program: The FulbrightHays GPA Program supports short-term
and long-term overseas projects in
training, research, and curriculum
development in modern foreign
languages and area studies for groups of
teachers, undergraduate and graduate
students, and faculty engaged in a
common endeavor. Fulbright-Hays GPA
short-term projects (GPA short-term
projects) may include seminars,
curriculum development, or group
research or study. Fulbright-Hays GPA
long-term projects (GPA long-term
projects) support advanced overseas
intensive programs that focus on the
humanities, social sciences, or
languages.
Program Authority: 22 U.S.C.
2452(b)(6).
Applicable Program Regulations: 34
CFR parts 662 and 664.
PROPOSED PRIORITIES:
This notice contains two proposed
priorities, one for GPA short-term
projects and one for GPA long-term
projects.
Background:
The U.S. Department of Education
administers the Fulbright-Hays GPA
Program under the authority of section
102(b)(6) of the Mutual Educational and
Cultural Exchange Act of 1961
(Fulbright-Hays Act), 22 U.S.C.
2452(b)(6). The J. William Fulbright
Foreign Scholarship Board, which is
presidentially appointed, sets policies
and procedures for administering the
program and exercises final approval
over the selection of grantees and
fellows for GPA short-term projects and
GPA long-term projects.
The objective of the Fulbright-Hays
GPA Program is the promotion,
improvement, and development of
modern foreign languages and area
studies at varying levels of education.
To help achieve this objective, the
program provides opportunities for
faculty, teachers, and undergraduate
and graduate students to conduct
individual and group projects overseas
to carry out research and study in the
fields of modern foreign languages and
area studies.
There are three types of GPA shortterm projects: (1) Short-term seminar
projects of four to six weeks in length
designed to increase the linguistic or
cultural competency of U.S. students
and educators by focusing on a
particular aspect of area study, such as

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the culture of an area or country of
study (34 CFR 664.11); (2) curriculum
development projects of four to eight
weeks in length that provide
participants an opportunity to acquire
resource materials for curriculum
development in modern foreign
language and area studies for use and
dissemination in the United States (34
CFR 664.12); and (3) group research or
study projects of three to twelve months
in duration designed to give participants
the opportunity to undertake research or
study in a foreign country (34 CFR
664.13).
GPA long-term projects are advanced
overseas intensive language projects
ranging in duration from eight weeks to
four years. GPA long-term projects are
designed to take advantage of the
opportunities present in the foreign
country that are not present in the
United States when providing intensive
advanced foreign language training (34
CFR 664.14).
The Department’s International
Strategy for FY 2012–16, ‘‘Succeeding
Globally Through International
Education and Engagement,’’ available
at http://www2.ed.gov/about/inits/ed/
internationaled/international-strategy2012-16.html (U.S. Department of
Education, 2012), reflects our
commitment to preparing students for a
more globalized world, and to engaging
with the international community in
order to improve education. The
International Strategy’s first objective is
to ‘‘increase the global competencies of
all U.S. students, including those from
traditionally disadvantaged groups.’’
(U.S. Department of Education, 2012,
p.5). Minority-Serving Institutions
(MSIs) and community colleges are
heavily populated by students from
traditionally disadvantaged groups.
Twenty-five percent or more of all high
school graduates of color, who often are
first-generation college attendees, enroll
in community colleges as a way to begin
their foray into higher education
(Edsource, 2008). Research data indicate
that minority students are less likely to
have access to, or consider, academic
programs that provide the requisite
training for careers in international
service, including study abroad and area
studies (Tillman, 2010). Among the
barriers preventing these students from
pursuing international studies are a lack
of exposure to international
opportunities and a lack of access to
information, including information
about international careers (Belyavina
and Bhandari, 2011). In addition,
traditionally disadvantaged students
often have the idea that study abroad is
not for them and is a privilege for rich

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students (Martinez, Ranjeet, and Marx,
2009).
Accordingly, the proposed priority for
GPA short-term projects is intended to
increase the number of applications
from MSIs, community colleges, and
new applicant institutions to provide
access to life-changing opportunities
that will prepare traditionally
disadvantaged students for today’s
global economy. The proposed priority
is designed to increase the number and
types of students that benefit from these
projects. By increasing applications
from MSIs and community colleges, we
expect these projects to benefit greater
numbers of traditionally disadvantaged
students.
To further support the Department’s
objective of increasing the global
competencies of all U.S. students, the
proposed priority would expand the
reach of the GPA short-term and longterm overseas projects by encouraging
applications from new applicant
institutions—that is, institutions or
entities that have not previously been
awarded either a GPA short-term or
long-term project grant. Over the years,
the Fulbright-Hays GPA Program has
received applications from the same
pool of applicants. This priority is an
attempt to encourage applications from
institutions that have not been awarded
a GPA grant.
The proposed priority for GPA shortterm projects is intended to promote
applications from State educational
agencies (SEAs) in order to increase
international learning opportunities for
teachers and administrators from the
corresponding State, who would work
together on a research or curriculum
development project that would benefit
greater numbers of K–12 students.
Historically, only a small number of
SEAs have applied for GPA grants.
Furthermore, while existing programs
provide some individual educators with
opportunities for foreign language
learning, study abroad, and other
international studies, there are few
systemic opportunities for groups of K–
12 educators and administrators from a
State or local district to work together
on a research or curriculum
development project intended to build
global competencies in their students.
The proposed priority for GPA longterm projects is designed to increase the
number of MSIs that become grantees
under these projects, in order to
increase their students’ access to
academic coursework, instructional
activities, and training that would better
prepare them for the 21st-century global
economy, careers in international
service, and for lifelong engagement

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with the diverse communities in which
they live, whether at home or abroad.
Proposed Priorities:
Proposed Priority 1—Applications for
GPA Short-term Projects from Selected
Institutions and Organizations.
Applications for GPA short-term
projects from the following types of
institutions and organizations:
Æ Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs)
Æ Community colleges
Æ New applicants
Æ State educational agencies (SEAs)
Proposed Priority 2—Applications for
GPA Long-term Projects from MinorityServing Institutions (MSIs).
Applications for GPA long-term
advanced overseas intensive language
training projects from MSIs.
Types of Priorities:
When inviting applications for a
competition using one or more
priorities, we designate the type of each
priority as absolute, competitive
preference, or invitational through a
notice in the Federal Register. The
effect of each type of priority follows:
Absolute priority: Under an absolute
priority, we consider only applications
that meet the priority (34 CFR
75.105(c)(3)).
Competitive preference priority:
Under a competitive preference priority,
we give competitive preference to an
application by (1) awarding additional
points, depending on the extent to
which the application meets the priority
(34 CFR 75.105(c)(2)(i)); or (2) selecting
an application that meets the priority
over an application of comparable merit
that does not meet the priority (34 CFR
75.105(c)(2)(ii)).
Invitational priority: Under an
invitational priority, we are particularly
interested in applications that meet the
priority. However, we do not give an
application that meets the priority a
preference over other applications (34
CFR 5.105(c)(1)).
PROPOSED DEFINITIONS: The
Assistant Secretary proposes the
following definitions for this program.
We may apply one or more of these
definitions in any year in which this
program is in effect.
Background: We propose the
following definitions to provide clarity
for applicants addressing the proposed
priorities. The proposed definitions for
‘‘community colleges,’’ ‘‘MSIs,’’ and
‘‘SEAs’’ are from section 312(f) of the
Higher Education Act of 1965, as
amended (HEA); sections 316 through
320 of part A of title III of the HEA; and
34 CFR 77.1, respectively. These
proposed definitions will provide
consistency across Department
programs and will be familiar to

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applicants. For purposes of Proposed
Priority 1, the proposed definition for
‘‘new applicant’’ is similar to the
definition used in previous years and is
designed to expand the reach of the
GPA short-term projects to include
institutions and entities that have not
previously received a GPA grant.
Definitions:
Community college means an
institution that meets the definition in
section 312(f) of the HEA (20 U.S.C.
1058(f)); or an institution of higher
education (as defined in section 101 of
the HEA (20 U.S.C. 1001)) that awards
degrees and certificates, more than 50
percent of which are not bachelor’s
degrees (or an equivalent).
Minority-serving institution (MSI)
means an institution that is eligible to
receive assistance under sections 316
through 320 of part A of title III, under
part B of title III, or under title V of the
HEA.
New applicant means any applicant
that has not received a discretionary
grant from the Department of Education
under the Fulbright-Hays Act prior to
the deadline date for applications under
this program.
State educational agency (SEA) means
the State board of education or other
agency or officer primarily responsible
for the supervision of public elementary
and secondary schools in a State. In the
absence of this officer or agency, it is an
officer or agency designated by the
Governor or State law.
Final Priorities and Definitions:
We will announce the final priorities
and definitions in a notice in the
Federal Register. We will determine the
final priorities and definitions after
considering responses to this notice and
other information available to the
Department. This notice does not
preclude us from proposing additional
priorities, requirements, definitions, or
selection criteria, subject to meeting
applicable rulemaking requirements.
Note: This notice does not solicit
applications. In any year in which we choose
to use one or more of these priorities and
definitions, we invite applications through a
notice in the Federal Register.

Executive Orders 12866 and 13563
Regulatory Impact Analysis
Under Executive Order 12866, the
Secretary must determine whether this
proposed regulatory action is
‘‘significant’’ and, therefore, subject to
the requirements of the Executive order
and subject to review by the Office of
Management and Budget (OMB).
Section 3(f) of Executive Order 12866
defines a ‘‘significant regulatory action’’

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as an action likely to result in a rule that
may—
(1) Have an annual effect on the
economy of $100 million or more, or
adversely affect a sector of the economy,
productivity, competition, jobs, the
environment, public health or safety, or
State, local, or tribal governments or
communities in a material way (also
referred to as an ‘‘economically
significant’’ rule);
(2) Create serious inconsistency or
otherwise interfere with an action taken
or planned by another agency;
(3) Materially alter the budgetary
impacts of entitlement grants, user fees,
or loan programs or the rights and
obligations of recipients thereof; or
(4) Raise novel legal or policy issues
arising out of legal mandates, the
President’s priorities, or the principles
stated in the Executive order.
This proposed regulatory action is not
a significant regulatory action subject to
review by OMB under section 3(f) of
Executive Order 12866.
We have also reviewed this proposed
regulatory action under Executive Order
13563, which supplements and
explicitly reaffirms the principles,
structures, and definitions governing
regulatory review established in
Executive Order 12866. To the extent
permitted by law, Executive Order
13563 requires that an agency—
(1) Propose or adopt regulations only
upon a reasoned determination that
their benefits justify their costs
(recognizing that some benefits and
costs are difficult to quantify);
(2) Tailor its regulations to impose the
least burden on society, consistent with
obtaining regulatory objectives and
taking into account—among other things
and to the extent practicable—the costs
of cumulative regulations;
(3) In choosing among alternative
regulatory approaches, select those
approaches that maximize net benefits
(including potential economic,
environmental, public health and safety,
and other advantages; distributive
impacts; and equity);
(4) To the extent feasible, specify
performance objectives, rather than the
behavior or manner of compliance a
regulated entity must adopt; and
(5) Identify and assess available
alternatives to direct regulation,
including economic incentives—such as
user fees or marketable permits—to
encourage the desired behavior, or
provide information that enables the
public to make choices.
Executive Order 13563 also requires
an agency ‘‘to use the best available
techniques to quantify anticipated
present and future benefits and costs as
accurately as possible.’’ The Office of

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Information and Regulatory Affairs of
OMB has emphasized that these
techniques may include ‘‘identifying
changing future compliance costs that
might result from technological
innovation or anticipated behavioral
changes.’’
We are issuing these proposed
priorities and definitions only on a
reasoned determination that their
benefits would justify their costs. In
choosing among alternative regulatory
approaches, we selected those
approaches that would maximize net
benefits. Based on the analysis that
follows, the Department believes that
this regulatory action is consistent with
the principles in Executive Order 13563.
We also have determined that this
regulatory action would not unduly
interfere with State, local, and tribal
governments in the exercise of their
governmental functions.
In accordance with both Executive
orders, the Department has assessed the
potential costs and benefits, both
quantitative and qualitative, of this
regulatory action. The potential costs
are those resulting from statutory
requirements and those we have
determined as necessary for
administering the Department’s
programs and activities.
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995
As part of its continuing effort to
reduce paperwork and respondent
burden, the Department provides the
general public and Federal agencies
with an opportunity to comment on
proposed and continuing collections of
information in accordance with the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA)
(44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)). This helps
ensure that: the public understands the
Department’s collection instructions,
respondents can provide the requested
data in the desired format, reporting
burden (time and financial resources) is
minimized, collection instruments are
clearly understood, and the Department
can properly assess the impact of
collection requirements on respondents.
The application package associated
with Proposed Priority 1—Applications
for GPA Short-term Projects from
Selected Institutions and
Organizations—was previously
approved by the Office of Management
and Budget (OMB) under OMB control
number 1840–0792. Proposed Priority 1
and the proposed definitions will not
change the currently approved
application package, or the approved
burden for the application package
associated with the short-term projects.
However, the application package
associated with Proposed Priority 2—
Applications for GPA Long-term

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Projects from Minority-Serving
Institutions (MSIs)—does not have a
current OMB control number, and
therefore, it will require OMB approval
under 1840–xxxx. As required by the
PRA, the Department is submitting to
OMB, under OMB control number
1840–xxxx, an information collection
clearance concurrently with the
publication of this notice of proposed
priorities and definition for long-term
projects under CFDA number 84.021B.
We estimate that each applicant
would spend approximately 100 hours
of staff time to address the proposed
priorities and definitions, prepare the
application, and obtain necessary
clearances. The total number of hours
for all applicants will vary based on the
number of applications. Based on the
number of applications the Department
received in response to the February 23,
2012 notice inviting applications, we
expect to receive approximately 150
applications. We expect each applicant
to require 100 hours to complete a GPA
long-term project application.
Accordingly, the total number of hours
for all expected applicants is an
estimated 15,000 hours. We estimate the
total cost per hour of the staff who carry
out this work to be $80.00 per hour. The
total estimated cost for all applicants
would be $1,200,000.00.
We have prepared an Information
Collection Request (ICR) for this
collection (1840–XXXX). If you want to
review and comment on the ICR, please
follow the instructions in the ADDRESSES
section of this notice.
Note: The Office of Information and
Regulatory Affairs in OMB and the
Department of Education review all
comments posted at www.regulations.gov.

In preparing your comments you may
want to review the ICR, including the
supporting materials, in
www.regulations.gov by using the
Docket ID number specified in this
notice. This proposed collection is
identified as proposed collection 1840–
XXXX.
We consider your comments on this
proposed collection of information in—
• Deciding whether the proposed
collection is necessary for the proper
performance of our functions, including
whether the information will have
practical use;
• Evaluating the accuracy of our
estimate of the burden of the proposed
collection, including the validity of our
methodology and assumptions;
• Enhancing the quality, usefulness,
and clarity of the information we
collect; and
• Minimizing the burden on those
who must respond. This includes

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exploring the use of appropriate
automated, electronic, mechanical, or
other technological collection
techniques.
Between 30 and 60 days after
publication of this document in the
Federal Register, OMB is required to
make a decision concerning the
collection of information contained in
these proposed priorities and
definitions. Therefore, to ensure that
OMB gives your comments full
consideration, it is important that OMB
receives your comments on this ICR by
April 11, 2016. This does not affect the
deadline for your comments to us on the
proposed priorities and definitions.
If your comments relate to the ICR for
these proposed priorities and
definitions, please specify the Docket ID
number and indicate ‘‘Information
Collection Comments’’ on the top of
your comments.
Intergovernmental Review: This
program is subject to Executive Order
12372 and the regulations in 34 CFR
part 79. One of the objectives of the
Executive order is to foster an
intergovernmental partnership and a
strengthened federalism. The Executive
order relies on processes developed by
State and local governments for
coordination and review of proposed
Federal financial assistance.
This document provides early
notification of our specific plans and
actions for this program.
Accessible Format: Individuals with
disabilities can obtain this document in
an accessible format (e.g., braille, large
print, audiotape, or compact disc) on
request to the program contact person
listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
CONTACT.
Electronic Access to This Document:
The official version of this document is
the document published in the Federal
Register. Free Internet access to the
official edition of the Federal Register
and the Code of Federal Regulations is
available via the Federal Digital System
at: www.gpo.gov/fdsys. At this site you
can view this document, as well as all
other documents of this Department
published in the Federal Register, in
text or Adobe Portable Document
Format (PDF). To use PDF you must
have Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is
available free at the site.
You may also access documents of the
Department published in the Federal
Register by using the article search
feature at: www.federalregister.gov.
Specifically, through the advanced
search feature at this site, you can limit
your search to documents published by
the Department.

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Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 47 / Thursday, March 10, 2016 / Proposed Rules

Dated: March 4, 2016.
Lynn B. Mahaffie,
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy,
Planning and Innovation, Delegated the
Duties of Assistant Secretary for
Postsecondary Education.
[FR Doc. 2016–05412 Filed 3–9–16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000–01–P

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS
AFFAIRS
38 CFR Part 14
Recognition of Tribal Organizations for
Representation of VA Claimants
Department of Veterans Affairs.
Notice of Tribal consultation.

AGENCY:
ACTION:

The Department of Veterans
Affairs (VA) is considering issuing a
proposed rulemaking to amend its
regulations concerning recognition of
certain national, State, and regional or
local organizations for purposes of VA
claims representation. Specifically, the
proposed rulemaking would amend
VA’s regulations to expressly provide
for the VA recognition of Tribal
organizations so that representatives of
Tribal organizations may assist Native
American claimants in the preparation,
presentation, and prosecution of their
VA benefit claims. In addition, the
proposed rule would allow an employee
of a Tribal government to become
accredited through a recognized State
organization.

SUMMARY:

Comments must be received by
VA on or before April 11, 2016.
ADDRESSES: Written comments should
be submitted by email at
Tribalgovernmentconsultation@va.gov,
by fax at 202–273–5716, or by mail at
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs,
Suite 915E, 810 Vermont Avenue NW.,
Washington, DC 20420.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Clay
Ward, VA Office of Tribal Government
Relations at (202) 461–7445 (this is not
a toll-free number), or by email at
Tribalgovernmentconsultation@va.gov,
or by mail at Suite 915B, 810 Vermont
Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20420.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: VA is
considering issuing a proposed
rulemaking that would amend part 14 of
title 38, Code of Federal Regulations, to
provide for the recognition of Tribal
organizations so that representatives of
the organizations may assist Native
American claimants in the preparation,
presentation, and prosecution of their
VA benefit claims. The purpose of the
proposed rulemaking would be to
address the needs of Native American

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populations who are geographically
isolated from existing recognized
Veterans Service Organizations or who
may not be utilizing other recognized
Veterans Service Organizations due to
cultural barriers or lack of familiarity
with those organizations.
First, the proposed rulemaking would
allow the Secretary of Veterans Affairs
to recognize Tribal organizations in a
similar manner as the Secretary
recognizes State organizations.
Specifically, the proposed rulemaking
would consider applications from a
Tribal organization that is established
and funded by one or more Tribal
governments to be recognized for the
purpose of providing assistance on VA
benefit claims. In addition, the proposed
rulemaking would allow an employee of
a Tribal government to become
accredited through a recognized State
organization in a similar manner as a
county veterans’ service officer may
become accredited through a recognized
State organization. Finally, the proposed
rulemaking would extend office space
opportunities already granted to
employees of State organizations who
are accredited to national organizations
to similar employees of Tribal
organizations. The intended effect of
this proposed rule would be to improve
access of Native American veterans to
VA-recognized organizations and VAaccredited individuals who may assist
them on their benefit claims. The
proposed rulemaking would not
preempt Tribal law. This Tribal
consultation is seeking input from
Tribal governments regarding VA’s
consideration of the issuance of such
proposed rulemaking. VA is also
seeking comment on the potential
compliance costs.
In order to become accredited as a
Tribal organization, the organization
must show that it meets the
requirements in 38 CFR 14.628(d).
Pursuant to § 14.628(d), an organization
requesting recognition must have as a
primary purpose serving veterans;
demonstrate a substantial service
commitment to veterans either by
showing a sizable organizational
membership or by showing performance
of veterans’ services to a sizable number
of veterans; commit a significant portion
of its assets to veterans’ services and
have adequate funding to properly
perform those services; maintain a
policy and capability of providing
complete claims service to each
claimant requesting representation or
give written notice of any limitation in
its claims service with advice
concerning the availability of alternative
sources of claims service; and take
affirmative action, including training

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and monitoring of accredited
representatives, to ensure proper
handling of claims. VA is seeking
comment on the amount of time and the
costs of persons’ time to show that the
organization meets these requirements.
VA’s Office of the General Counsel
accepts recognition requests via mail,
fax, or email.
Signing Authority: The Secretary of
Veterans Affairs, or designee, approved
this document and authorized the
undersigned to sign and submit the
document to the Office of the Federal
Register for publication electronically as
an official document of the Department
of Veterans Affairs. Robert D. Snyder,
Interim Chief of Staff, approved this
document on March 3, 2016, for
publication.
Approved: March 3, 2016.
William F. Russo,
Director, Office of Regulation Policy &
Management, Department of Veterans Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2016–05163 Filed 3–9–16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8320–01–P

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
AGENCY
40 CFR Part 52
[EPA–R05–OAR–2014–0658; FRL–9943–45–
Region 5]

Air Plan Approval; Ohio; Base Year
Emission Inventories for the 2008 8Hour Ozone Standard
Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Proposed rule.
AGENCY:

The Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve,
under the Clean Air Act (CAA), a State
Implementation Plan (SIP) revision
submitted by the Ohio Environmental
Protection Agency (OEPA) on July 18,
2014, to address emission inventory
requirements for the Cleveland-AkronLoraine, Ohio (OH) and Columbus, OH
ozone nonattainment areas and for the
Ohio portion of the Cincinnati, OhioKentucky-Indiana ozone nonattainment
area under the 2008 ozone national
ambient air quality standard. The CAA
requires emission inventories for all
ozone nonattainment areas. The
emission inventories contained in
Ohio’s July 18, 2014, submission meet
this CAA requirement. EPA is also
proposing to confirm that the state of
Ohio has acceptable stationary source
annual emission statement regulations,
which have been previously approved
by the EPA.

SUMMARY:

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