on an action by another agency having an environmental impact will be forwarded in 10 copies to the Council at the time the comments are submitted to the responsible agency.

§ 640.9 Review process requirements.

(a) The review of NSF draft environmental impact statements by Federal agencies (including the Environmental Protection Agency), State and local agencies, and private organizations and individuals will commence immediately upon the completion of a draft statement. To the maximum extent practicable, no administrative action subject to section 102(2) (C) is to be taken sooner than 90 days after a draft environmental statement is circulated for comment, furnished to the Council on Environmental Quality, and made available to the public. Further, no such administrative action shall be taken sooner than 30 days after the final text of the environmental statement, together with comments received in the review process, has been made available to CEQ and to the public; however, these two periods may run concurrently.

(b) Because 90 days is the absolute minimum of time required for the review process (exclusive of preparation of drafts and revising for final submission), notification of new or modified projects and activities for which an environmental statement may be necessary should be given to the Assistant Director for National and International Programs before funding is attempted or in the event the character of the project changes.

§ 640.10 OMB requirement.

(a) OMB Bulletin No. 72-6, dated September 14, 1971, subject: "Proposed Federal Actions Affecting the Environment," establishes procedures for taking or proposing action, in connection with the submission of legislative proposals or reports on bills for OMB clearance, coming within the scope of section 102 (2) (C) of the Act.

(1) (1) The Foundation is responsible for determining which of its legislative proposals or reports on bills require preparation of an environmental impact

statement and for obtaining comments on such statement from appropriate Federal, State, and local agencies. When an environmental statement is required, information copies should accompany the legislative proposal or report submitted. If the statement is not ready at that time, the submission should indicate when it will be available.

(ii) OMB will consult with the Council on Environmental Quality in all cases where statements are submitted or are in preparation. Where the clearance process discloses the need for or the modification of an environmental impact statement, OMB will request the Foundation to take the necessary action. After clearance by OMB, the Foundation will submit the statement to appropriate Congressional Committees in accordance with the Guidelines of the CEQ.

(2) Annual budget estimates of Foundation projects, programs, or activities which require the preparation of a section 102(2) (C) environmental impact statement are required to be accompanied by a summary list, prepared on Exhibit 1 of the OMB Bulletin. In the case of actions for which an assessment of the potential impact on the environment is impossible or the need for a 102(2) (C) statement has not been determined, the Foundation will include a narrative statement about the general impact, and an estimate of when the need for a statement will be decided.

(b) In addition to the summary list above, the Foundation must notify the OMB budget examiner, at the earliest possible time, of any action to be included in the budget estimate which will have impact on the environment of a particularly significant or controversial nature. OMB staff may request draft and final environmental statements and information to update the summary list.

§ 640.11 Information available within NSF.

Copies of the National Environmental Policy Act, Executive Order 11514, the CEQ Guidelines and the OMB Bulletin, may be obtained from the Assistant Director for National and International Programs to assist Foundation staff responsible for preparing environmental impact statements.

Part 701

702

703

704

(a) The Commission's responsibilities under section 104(a) of the Act may be summarized briefly as follows:

(1) Investigating sworn allegations that certain citizens of the United States are being deprived of their right to vote and have that vote counted by reason of color, race, religion, sex, or national origin;

(2) Studying and collecting information concerning legal developments constituting a denial of equal protection of the laws under the Constitution;

(3) Appraising the laws and policies of the Federal Government with respect to equal protection of the laws under the Constitution;

(4) Serving as a national clearinghouse for information in respect to denials of equal protection of the laws because of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin;

(5) Investigating sworn allegations that citizens are being accorded or denied the right to vote in Federal elections as a result of patterns or practices of fraud or discrimination.

(b) Under section 104(b) of the Act the Commission is charged with: The submission of interim reports to the President and to the Congress at such times as the Commission, the Congress, or the President shall deem desirable, and the submission to the President and to the Congress of the final report of its activities, findings, and recommendations not later than the last day of fiscal year 1978.

(c) In fulfilling these responsibilities the Commission is authorized by the Act to hold hearings; to constitute State Advisory Committees; to consult with Governors, Attorneys General, other representatives of State and local governments, and private organizations; and to issue subpenas for the production of documents and the attendance of witnesses. The Act also provides that all Federal agencies shall cooperate fully with the Commission to the end that it may effectively carry out its functions and duties.

[32 F.R. 4062, Mar. 15, 1967. as amended at 33 FR 14406, Sept. 25, 1968; 37 FR 23185, Oct. 31, 1972]

Subpart B-Organization Statement § 701.11 Membership of the Commission.

Pursuant to section 101 of the Act: (a) The Commission is composed of six members, appointed by the President by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, not more than three of whom are of the same political party.

(b) The Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Commission are designated by the President, the Vice-Chairman acting as Chairman in the absence or disability of the Chairman or in the event of a vacancy in that office.

(c) No vacancy in the Commission affects its powers and any vacancy is filled in the same manner and subject to the same limitation with respect to party affiliations as the original appointment was made.

(d) Four members of the Commission constitute a quorum.

§ 701.12 Staff organization.

(a) Pursuant to section 105(a) of the Act, the staff of the Commission consists of a Staff Director, appointed by the President by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, and of such other personnel as the Commission may appoint within the limitations of its appropriation.

(b) The staff organization of the Commission is as follows:

(1) Office of the staff director.-Under the general direction of the Commission, the office of the staff director plans the agency work programs; directs, supervises, and coordinates the work of offices; reports plans, work programs, and activities of the agency to the Commission; represents the agency in relationships with the Executive Office of the President, the Congress, other Federal agencies, the press, national civil rights organizations, other private and local groups, and the general public; and manages the administrative affairs of the agency.

(i) Women's rights program unit.— The women's rights program unit recommends and assists in the development of overall agency programs with regard to women's rights; handles the identification and evaluation of women's rights issues; oversees the design and implementation of specific women's rights projects; maintains liaison with national private organizations and with research institutions dealing with women's rights.

(ii) The congressional liaison unit.— The congressional liaison unit responds to congressional requests; observes the Commission's interests with respect to its statute, authorization and appropriations; provides commentaries and prepares testimony on civil and women's rights legislation; and identifies legislative means of implementing the Commission's recommendations.

(2) Office of General Counsel.-The Office of General Counsel plans and conducts hearings to investigate and obtain information about the denial of civil and women's rights; conducts legal studies in areas within the jurisdiction of the Commission; prepares reports of legal studies and hearings held within the jurisdiction of the Commission; drafts or reviews proposals for legislative and executive action in civil and women's rights; reviews all agency publications and congressional testimony for legal sufficiency; serves as legal counsel to the Commission and to the agency; and drafts and negotiates all agency contracts.

(3) Office of program and policy review. The office of civil rights program and policy review conducts appraisals of Federal policies, administration, and programs; provides technical research assistance to other Commission units and to public and private groups and individ

uals; plans and conducts or stimulates studies to advance basic knowledge about the extent, causes, and socioeconomic consequences of civil and women's rights denials, including, but not limited to the areas of housing, education, economic security and welfare; and prepares reports and clearinghouse materials in areas within the jurisdiction of the Commission.

(4) Office of information and publications.-The office of information and publications prepares and disseminates information about the Commission and its studies and publications through various techniques of communication; assists in the preparation of clearinghouse publications; prepares for printing all Commission publications, including hearing transcripts and reports; maintains liaison with the news media; writes speeches and coordinates speaking engagements of Commission staff; and maintains information liaison with public and private groups and individuals interested in civil and women's rights.

(5) Office of Management. The Office of Management provides management services to the agency in the areas of personnel, financial management, program analysis, procurement, space, travel, reproduction, mail, and messenger services.

(6) Office of field operations. The office of field operations plans and directs field offices and field programs of the Commission; develops, organizes, and supervises field activities including investigations, meetings, conferences, and the preparation of reports of State advisory committees to the Commission which are located in each State and the District of Columbia; assists other Commission units in carrying out hearings, meetings, studies, and clearinghouse functions in the field; maintains liaison with public and private organizations and individuals interested in civil and women's rights at the regional, State, and local levels; and provides information services to field offices, State advisory committees, and other public and private groups whose goals and activities are consistent with those of the Commission.

(7) Office of Federal civil rights evaluation. The cffice of Federal civil rights evaluation conducts appraisals of Federal agencies' implementation of their civil rights responsibility; receives complaints alleging denial of civil rights, refers them to Federal agencies having jurisdiction and follows up on action

taken; and maintains liaison within Federal agencies on civil and women's rights policies.

(8) Office of research.-The office of research conducts social science research into the problems of minorities and women; tests applicable theories of social science as they relate to the Commission's jurisdiction: provides advice, and counsel to other offices on projects involving social science research; and houses a national documentation center which functions as a clearinghouse for collected specialized information on civil and women's rights.

[33 FR 9176, June 21, 1968, as amended at 34 FR 7576, May 10, 1969; 35 FR 4552, Mar. 14, 1970; 38 FR 16070, June 20, 1973]

§ 701.13 Regional offices.

The Commission has established regional offices at:

(a) Central States Regional Office, Room 3103, Old Federal Office Building, 911 Walnut Street, Kansas City, MO 64106.

(b) Mid-Atlantic Regional Office, Room 510, 2120 L Street NW., Washington, DC 20425.

(c) Midwestern Regional Office, Room 1428, 219 South Dearborn Street, Chicago, IL 60604.

(d) Mountain States Regional Office, Room 216, Ross Building, 1726 Champa Street, Denver, CO 80202.

(e) Northeastern Regional Office, Room 1639, 26 Federal Plaza, New York, NY 10007.

(1) Southern Regional Office, Room 362, Citizens Trust Bank Building, 75 Piedmont Avenue NE., Atlanta, GA 30303.

(g) Southwestern Regional Office, Room 249, New Moore Building, 106 Broadway, San Antonio, TX 78205.

(h) Western Regional Office, Room 1015, 312 North Spring Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012.

[37 PR 21152, Oct. 6, 1972]