[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
