Notices. Notice

1,402 words·~6 min read·/register/2006/11/17/06-9240·

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BILLING CODE 6351-01-M DEPARMENT OF DEFENSE Office of the Secretary No Fear Act AGENCY: Defense Information Systems Agency, DoD. ACTION: Notice. SUMMARY: This notice provides guidance on the implementation of the “No Fear Act” within the Defense Information Systems Agency and is published as required by the No Fear Act which was published on July 20, 2006 (71 FR 139), amending 5 CFR Part 724. The contacts have been published in block style for emphasis. DATES: *Effective Date:* September 27, 2006. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gwendolyn Hicks,

(703)607-6461, Defense Information Systems Agency, P. O. Box 4502, Arlington, VA 22204-4502. Defense Information Systems Agency-No Fear Act Notice On May 15, 2002, Congress enacted the “Notification and Federal Employee Antidiscrimination and Retaliation Act of 2002,” which is now known as the No FEAR Act. One purpose of the Act is to “require that Federal agencies be accountable for violations of antidiscrimination and whistleblower protection laws.” Public Law 107-174, Summary. In support of this purpose, Congress found that “agencies cannot be run effectively if those agencies practice or tolerate discrimination.” Public Law 107-174, Title I, General Provisions, section 101(1). The Act also requires this agency to provide this notice to Federal employees, former Federal employees and applicants for Federal employment to inform you of the rights and protections available to you under Federal antidiscrimination and whistleblower protection laws. Antidiscrimination Laws A Federal agency cannot discriminate against an employee or applicant with respect to the terms, conditions or privileges of employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, marital status or political affiliation. Discrimination on these bases is prohibited by one or more of the following statutes: 5 U.S.C. 2302(b)(1), 29 U.S.C. 206(d), 29 U.S.C. 631, 29 U.S.C. 633a, 29 U.S.C. 791 and 42 U.S.C. 2000e-16. If you believe that you have been the victim of unlawful discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin or disability, you must contact an Equal Employment Opportunity

(EEO)counselor within 45 calendar days of the alleged discriminatory action, or, in the case of a personnel action, within 45 calendar days of the effective date of the action, before you can file a formal complaint of discrimination with your agency. See, e.g. 29 CFR 1614. If you believe that you have been the victim of unlawful discrimination on the basis of age, you must either contact an EEO counselor as noted above or give notice of intent to sue to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission

(EEOC)within 180 calendar days of the alleged discriminatory action. If you are alleging discrimination based on marital status or political affiliation, you may file a written complaint with the U.S. Office of Special Counsel

(OSC)(See contact information below). In the alternative (or in some cases, in addition), you may pursue a discrimination complaint by filing a grievance through your agency's administrative or negotiated grievance procedures, if such procedures apply and are available. Contact the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA), Equal Employment Opportunity and Cultural Diversity Office (EEOCD) to make contact with an EEO Counselor; or the Manpower, Personnel and Security Directorate

(MPS1)for additional information concerning administrative or negotiated grievances. (See contact information below). Whistleblower Protection Laws A Federal employee with authority to take, direct others to take, recommend or approve any personnel action must not use that authority to take or fail to take, or threaten to take or fail to take, a personnel action against an employee or applicant because of disclosure of information by that individual that is reasonably believed to evidence violations of law, rule or regulation; gross mismanagement; gross waste of funds; an abuse of authority; or a substantial and specific danger to public health or safety, unless disclosure of such information is specifically prohibited by law and such information is specifically required by Executive order to be kept secret in the interest of national defense or the conduct of foreign affairs. Retaliation against an employee or applicant for making a protected disclosure is prohibited by 5 U.S.C. 2302(b)(8). If you believe that you have been the victim of whistleblower retaliation, you may file a written complaint (Form OSC-11) with the U.S. Office of Special Counsel at 1730 M Street NW., Suite 218, Washington, DC 20036-4505 or online through the OSC Web site— *http://www.osc.gov.* Contact the DISA, Office of Inspector General

(IG)for additional information concerning or to report fraud, waste and abuse. (See contact information below). Retaliation for Engaging in Protected Activity A Federal agency cannot retaliate against an employee or applicant because that individual exercises his or her rights under any of the Federal antidiscrimination or whistleblower protection laws listed above. If you believe that you are the victim of retaliation for engaging in protected activity, you must follow, as appropriate, the procedures described in the Antidiscrimination Laws and Whistleblower Protection Laws sections or, if applicable, the administrative or negotiated grievance procedures in order to pursue any legal remedy. For additional information, contact the OSC (see contact information above); or the appropriate DISA office (see contact information below). Disciplinary Actions Under the existing laws, each agency retains the right, where appropriate, to discipline a Federal employee for conduct that is inconsistent with Federal Antidiscrimination and Whistleblower Protection Laws up to and including removal. If OSC has initiated an investigation under 5 U.S.C. 1214, however, according to 5 U.S.C. 1214(f), agencies must seek approval from the Special Counsel to discipline employees for, among other activities, engaging in prohibited retaliation. Nothing in the No FEAR Act alters existing laws or permits an agency to take unfounded disciplinary action against a Federal employee or to violate the procedural rights of a Federal employee who has been accused of discrimination. Contact MPS1 for additional information concerning disciplinary actions. (See contact information below). Additional Information For further information regarding the No FEAR Act regulations, refer to 5 CFR part 724, as well as the appropriate offices within your agency (e.g., EEO/civil rights office, human resources office or legal office). Additional information regarding Federal antidiscrimination, whistleblower protection and retaliation laws can be found at the EEOC Web site— *http://www.eeoc.gov* and the OSC Web site— *http://www.osc.gov.* DISA office Phone No. (DSN 327) Web site E-mail address Office of Equal Employment Opportunity and Cultural Diversity (EEOCD)

(703)607-6458 *http://www.disa.mil/main/eeo.html* Office of General Counsel

(703)607-6091 *http://www.disa.mil/main/gc.html* Generalcounseldisa@disa.mil Office of Inspector General

(IG)24 Hr Hotline:

(703)607-6317 *http://www.disa.mil/mail/ig.html* *IG-Hotline@ncr.disa.mil* Main:

(703)607-6300 Manpower, Personnel and Security

(703)607-4740 or 4403 *http://www.disa.mil/main/mps.html* Existing Rights Unchanged Pursuant to section 205 of the No FEAR Act, neither the Act nor this notice creates, expands or reduces any rights otherwise available to any employee, former employee or applicant under the laws of the United States, including the provisions of law specified in 5 U.S.C. 2302(d). November 13, 2006. L. M. Bynum, Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, DoD. [FR Doc. E6-19438 Filed 11-16-06; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 5001-06-P DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE Office of the Secretary Revised Non-Foreign Overseas Per Diem Rates AGENCY: DoD, Per Diem, Travel and Transportation Allowance Committee, DoD. ACTION: Notice of revised non-foreign overseas per diem rates. SUMMARY: The Per Diem, Travel and Transportation Allowance Committee is publishing Civilian Personnel Per Diem Bulletin Number 250. This bulletin lists revisions in the per diem rates prescribed for U.S. Government employees for official travel in Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, the Northern Mariana Islands and Possessions of the United States. AEA changes announced in Bulletin Number 194 remain in effect. Bulletin Number 250 is being published in the **Federal Register** to assure that travelers are paid per diem at the most current rates. DATES: *Effective Date:* December 1, 2006. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This document gives notice of revisions in per diem rates prescribed by the Per Diem Travel and Transportation Allowance Committee for non-foreign areas outside the continental United States. It supersedes Civilian Personnel Per Diem Bulletin Number 249. Distribution of Civilian Personnel Per Diem Bulletins by mail was discontinued. Per Diem Bulletins published periodically in the **Federal Register** now constitute the only notification of revisions in per diem rates to agencies and establishments outside the Department of Defense. For more information or questions about per diem rates, please contact your local travel office. The text of the Bulletin follows: Dated: November 13, 2006. L.M. Bynum, Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, DoD. BILLING CODE 5001-06-M EN17NO06.000 EN17NO06.001 EN17NO06.002 EN17NO06.003 EN17NO06.004 [FR Doc. 06-9240 Filed 11-16-06; 8:45 am]

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