[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 77 (Friday, April 20, 2018)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 17595-17613]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-08231]



[[Page 17593]]

Vol. 83

Friday,

No. 77

April 20, 2018

Part II





Department of Homeland Security





-----------------------------------------------------------------------





6 CFR Part 46





Department of Agriculture





-----------------------------------------------------------------------

7 Part 1c





Department of Energy





-----------------------------------------------------------------------

10 CFR Part 745





National Aeronautics and Space Administration





-----------------------------------------------------------------------

14 CFR Part 1230





Department of Commerce





-----------------------------------------------------------------------

15 CFR Part 27





Consumer Product Safety Commission





-----------------------------------------------------------------------

16 CFR Part 1028





Social Security Administration





-----------------------------------------------------------------------

20 CFR Part 431

[[Page 17594]]

Agency for International Development





-----------------------------------------------------------------------

22 CFR Part 225





Department of Housing and Urban Development





-----------------------------------------------------------------------

24 CFR Part 60





Department of Labor





-----------------------------------------------------------------------

29 CFR Part 21





Department of Defense





-----------------------------------------------------------------------

32 CFR Part 219





Department of Education





-----------------------------------------------------------------------

34 CFR Part 97





Department of Veterans Affairs





-----------------------------------------------------------------------

38 CFR Part 16





Environmental Protection Agency





-----------------------------------------------------------------------

40 CFR Part 26





Department of Health and Human Services





-----------------------------------------------------------------------

45 CFR Part 46





National Science Foundation





-----------------------------------------------------------------------

45 CFR Part 690





Department of Transportation





-----------------------------------------------------------------------

49 CFR Part 11





Federal Policy for the Protection of Human Subjects: Proposed Six Month 
Delay of the General Compliance Date While Allowing the Use of Three 
Burden-Reducing Provisions During the Delay Period; Proposed Rule

  Federal Register / Vol. 83 , No. 77 / Friday, April 20, 2018 / 
Proposed Rules  

[[Page 17595]]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

6 CFR Part 46

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

7 Part 1c

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

10 CFR Part 745

NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION

14 CFR Part 1230

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

15 CFR Part 27

CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION

16 CFR Part 1028

SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION

20 CFR Part 431

AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

22 CFR Part 225

DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT

24 CFR Part 60

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

29 CFR Part 21

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

32 CFR Part 219

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

34 CFR Part 97

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

38 CFR Part 16

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Part 26

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

45 CFR Part 46

NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION

45 CFR Part 690

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

49 CFR Part 11


Federal Policy for the Protection of Human Subjects: Proposed Six 
Month Delay of the General Compliance Date While Allowing the Use of 
Three Burden-Reducing Provisions During the Delay Period

AGENCY: Department of Homeland Security; Department of Agriculture; 
Department of Energy; National Aeronautics and Space Administration; 
Department of Commerce; Consumer Product Safety Commission; Social 
Security Administration; Agency for International Development; 
Department of Housing and Urban Development; Department of Labor; 
Department of Defense; Department of Education; Department of Veterans 
Affairs; Environmental Protection Agency; Department of Health and 
Human Services; National Science Foundation; and Department of 
Transportation.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: In a final rule published on January 19, 2017, federal 
departments and agencies made revisions to the Federal Policy for the 
Protection of Human Subjects (hereafter the ``2018 Requirements''). The 
Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) adopted the same regulatory 
changes in a separate final rule published on September 18, 2017. The 
2018 Requirements were scheduled to become effective on January 19, 
2018, with a general compliance date of January 19, 2018 (with the 
exception of the revisions to the cooperative research provision). The 
departments and agencies listed in this document have also published an 
interim final rule delaying the effective date and general compliance 
date for the 2018 Requirements for six months, to cover the time period 
of January 19, 2018 until July 19, 2018.
    As per the interim final rule, the effective date of the 2018 
Requirements is now July 19, 2018. The departments and agencies listed 
in this document propose delaying the general compliance date for the 
2018 Requirements for an additional six months, for the time period of 
July 19, 2018 until January 21, 2019. This proposed rule is intended to 
provide additional time to regulated entities for the preparations 
necessary to implement the 2018 Requirements. This proposed rule, if 
finalized, would require regulated entities to continue to comply with 
the requirements of the current Federal Policy for the Protection of 
Human Subjects (hereafter the ``pre-2018 Requirements'') until January 
21, 2019.
    This proposal also takes comment on whether to permit institutions 
to implement, for certain research studies, the following provisions in 
the 2018 Requirements during the period from July 19, 2018, until 
January 21, 2019, that the general compliance date is delayed. Those 
three provisions, intended to reduce burdens on regulated entities, are 
the 2018 Requirements' definition of ``research,'' which deems certain 
activities not to be research, the allowance for no annual continuing 
review of certain categories of research, and the elimination of the 
requirement that institutional review boards (IRBs) review grant 
applications related to the research. The way that this option is 
proposed, regulated entities would be required to comply with all pre-
2018 Requirements during the period that the general compliance date is 
delayed, except for provisions substituted by the three burden-reducing 
provisions of the 2018 Requirements.
    As described in section III, below, this flexibility is proposed 
only for studies for which an institution makes a choice to transition 
to comply with the 2018 Requirements, beginning on July 19, 2018. In 
order to clearly describe this proposed flexibility, including how it 
would impact institutions choosing to transition research to comply 
with the 2018 Requirements, this document proposes a redrafted 
transition provision.

DATES: To be assured consideration, comments must be received at one of 
the addresses provided below, no later than 11:59 p.m. Eastern Standard 
Time on May 21, 2018.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by docket ID number HHS-
OPHS-2018-0007 by one of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal (http://www.regulations.gov):
    [cir] Enter the following link into your web browser's address bar: 
https://www.regulations.gov/document?D=HHS-OPHS-2018-0007.
    [cir] Click the blue ``Comment Now!'' button in the upper right 
hand corner and follow the instructions on how to submit a comment.
    [cir] Alternatively, you can enter the docket ID number into the 
``search'' box on the main page of the Federal eRulemaking Portal 
(http://www.regulations.gov) to find the electronic docket.

[[Page 17596]]

     Mail/Hand delivery/Courier [For paper, disk, or CD-ROM 
submissions] to: Jerry Menikoff, M.D., J.D., OHRP, 1101 Wootton 
Parkway, Suite 200, Rockville, MD 20852.
     Comments received, including any personal information, 
will be posted without change to http://www.regulations.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jerry Menikoff, M.D., J.D., Office for 
Human Research Protections (OHRP), Department of Health and Human 
Services, 1101 Wootton Parkway, Suite 200, Rockville, MD 20852; 
telephone: 240-453-6900 or 1-866-447-4777; facsimile: 301-402-2071; 
email [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Background

    On September 8, 2015, HHS and 15 other federal departments and 
agencies published a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) proposing 
revisions to each agency's codification of the Federal Policy for the 
Protection of Human Subjects, originally promulgated as a Common Rule 
in 1991. 80 FR 53931. On January 19, 2017, HHS and other federal 
departments and agencies published a final rule revising the Federal 
Policy for the Protection of Human Subjects. 82 FR 7149. The CPSC 
adopted the same regulatory changes, also with a scheduled effective 
date of January 19, 2018, in a separate final rule published on 
September 18, 2017. 82 FR 43459. For this reason, references in this 
document to the January 2017 final rule also extend to the CPSC's 
September 2017 final rule. The revised policy, reflected in both final 
rules, is hereafter referred to as the ``2018 Requirements.'' The 2018 
Requirements were originally scheduled to become effective on January 
19, 2018, with a general compliance date of January 19, 2018 (with the 
exception of the revisions to the cooperative research provision at 
Sec.  __.114(b), for which the compliance date is January 20, 2020).
    After publication of the 2018 Requirements, some representatives of 
the regulated community, including organizations representing 
recipients of federal human subjects research awards, expressed concern 
regarding the regulated community's ability to implement all of the 
2018 Requirements by the scheduled general compliance date.\1\ One of 
the two letters asked for a delay in the general compliance date of the 
2018 Requirements, with the option to adopt burden-reducing provisions 
of the 2018 Requirements during the delay period, including certain 
carve-outs from the definition of ``research,'' exemptions, elimination 
of the continuing review requirement for certain categories of 
research, and the elimination of the requirement that institutional 
review boards (IRBs) review grant applications. The HHS Secretary's 
Advisory Committee on Human Research Protections (SACHRP) also 
recommended in August 2017 that the required implementation of the 2018 
Requirements should be delayed.\2\ On January 17, 2018, HHS and other 
federal departments and agencies placed on display in the Federal 
Register an interim final rule delaying the effective date and general 
compliance date of the 2018 requirements to July 19, 2018. 83 FR 2885 
(published January 22, 2018). On January 26, 2018, HUD published an 
interim final rule adopting the January 17, 2018 interim final rule. 83 
FR 3589.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ Two unsolicited comments were received. See the June 21, 
2017 letter to Jerry Menikoff from the Association of American 
Medical Colleges, Association of American Universities, Association 
of Public & Land-grant Universities, and Council on Governmental 
Relations, available at http://www.cogr.edu/sites/default/files/AAMC_AAU_APLU_COGR%20Common%20Rule%20Delay%20Letter%206-21-2017.pdf. 
See the June 9, 2017 letter to Secretary Thomas Price from the 
American Medical Informatics Association at https://www.amia.org/sites/default/files/AMIA%20Letter%20Regarding%20the%20Common%20Rule.pdf.
    \2\ August 2, 2017 SACHRP Letter to HHS Secretary, Attachment A-
Recommendations on Compliance Dates and Transition Provisions, 
https://www.hhs.gov/ohrp/sachrp-committee/recommendations/attachment-a-august-2-2017/index.html.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    This NPRM proposes to delay the general compliance date of the 2018 
Requirements by an additional six months, during the time period of 
July 19, 2018 to January 21, 2019.

II. Proposed Delay of the General Compliance Date

    We propose to delay the general compliance date of the 2018 
Requirements for six months after the effective date of July 19, 2018 
until January 21, 2019. Given the degree of complexity involved with 
implementing the revised rule, we believe the delay we are proposing in 
this action is both an appropriate action to take at this juncture, and 
a reasonable time period to allow the regulated community to be 
prepared for compliance with the 2018 Requirements and for HHS and the 
other Common Rule agencies to develop implementation guidance. The 2018 
requirements include new exemptions, new IRB review procedures, and new 
provisions pertaining to informed consent, among other revisions, and 
guidance would be helpful to the regulated community in understanding 
and complying with these requirements. As described below, we propose 
to revise Sec.  __.101(l)(2) to specify that the general compliance 
date for the 2018 Requirements is January 21, 2019. We also propose to 
revise the dates in the transition provision at Sec.  __.101(l)(3),(4) 
and (5) to reflect this revised general compliance date.
    As proposed, regulated entities would be required to comply with 
the pre-2018 Requirements prior to January 21, 2019, and the pre-2018 
Requirements would be applied by the Common Rule departments and 
agencies during this period. To clarify, under this proposal, regulated 
entities would not be allowed, prior to January 21, 2019, to comply 
with all provisions of the 2018 Requirements in lieu of all provisions 
of the pre-2018 Requirements. As described below in section III, an 
exception would exist during the six-month period between July 19, 
2018, and January 21, 2019, with respect to three specified burden-
reducing provisions contained in the 2018 Requirements.
    Research initiated (i.e., initially approved by an IRB, or for 
which IRB review was waived pursuant to Sec.  __.101(i), or determined 
to be exempt) before the general compliance date of the 2018 
Requirements (which would now become January 21, 2019) would, as a 
default, continue to be subject to the pre-2018 Requirements for their 
duration. This will maintain the ability of institutions to hold such 
studies to the same set of standards throughout the studies' duration, 
and will avoid a requirement that such research be subject to two sets 
of rules.
    Research initiated (i.e., initially approved by an IRB, or for 
which IRB review was waived pursuant to Sec.  __.101(i), or determined 
to be exempt) on or after January 21, 2019 (proposed as the new general 
compliance date), would need to be conducted entirely in compliance 
with the 2018 Requirements. This document proposes to restructure Sec.  
__.101(1)(3) and (4) (now numbered (5)) to aid readability. A new 
section Sec.  __.101(l)(4) is proposed to be inserted to explain how 
the requirements would apply to research transitioning to take 
advantage of the burden-reducing provisions.
    We do not propose delaying the compliance date for the cooperative 
research provision of the 2018 Requirements (Sec.  _.114(b)), which 
will remain January 20, 2020.

[[Page 17597]]

III. Proposed Flexibility for Taking Advantage of Certain Burden-
Reducing Provisions Without a Delay

    This proposed rule also proposes to permit institutions, during the 
period from July 19, 2018, until January 21, 2019, that the general 
compliance date is proposed to be delayed, to take advantage of three 
provisions in the 2018 Requirements intended to minimize burdens on 
regulated entities (hereinafter ``three burden-reducing 2018 
Requirements'').
    As under the January 2017 final rule, under this proposed rule, 
studies initiated prior to the general compliance date of the 2018 
Requirements, would, as a default, remain subject to the pre-2018 
Requirements for their duration unless and until a decision to 
transition to the 2018 Requirements (i.e., the institution chooses to 
have a study be subject to the 2018 Requirements) is made and 
documented.
    The January 2017 final rule provided an option for institutions to 
transition ongoing studies from compliance with the pre-2018 
Requirements to compliance with the 2018 Requirements for the studies' 
duration. This proposed rule would preserve that option, and proposes 
an additional flexibility for ongoing studies to transition to the 2018 
Requirements if the decision to transition is documented prior to 
January 21, 2019, which would be the new general compliance date of the 
2018 Requirements. Between July 19, 2018 and January 21, 2019, 
institutions that elect to transition studies to the 2018 Requirements 
would, after the decision to transition has been documented, be able to 
take advantage of the three burden-reducing 2018 Requirements. This 
option is available for ongoing studies, as well as for studies newly 
initiated after July 19, 2018.
    This option is described in a proposed revision to Sec.  __.101(l). 
In order to clearly outline the operation of this proposed flexibility, 
we propose to redraft Sec.  __.101(l) to describe how the transition 
provision applies to research subject to the pre-2018 Requirements, 
research transitioned from the pre-2018 Requirements to the 2018 
Requirements, and research subject to the 2018 Requirements. The 
revised Sec.  __.101(l) describes how the pre-2018 Requirements and the 
2018 Requirements apply to research initiated (i.e., initially approved 
by an IRB, waived under Sec.  __.101(i), or determined to be exempt), 
during three time periods: Prior to July 19, 2018, between July 19, 
2018 and January 21, 2019, and on or after January 21, 2019.
    As described, studies taking advantage of this option would be 
subject to the three burden-reducing 2018 Requirements instead of, or 
in addition to, the comparable provisions of the pre-2018 Requirements. 
The three burden-reducing 2018 Requirements are (1) the 2018 
Requirements' definition of ``research'' at Sec.  __.102(l) (instead of 
Sec.  __.102(d) of the pre-2018 Requirements), which deems certain 
activities not to be research, (2) the elimination of the requirement 
that an IRB review the grant application related to the research at 
Sec.  __.103(d) of the 2018 Requirements (instead of Sec.  __.103(f) of 
the pre-2018 Requirements), and (3) the allowance for no annual 
continuing review of certain categories of research at Sec.  
__.109(f)(1)(i) and (iii) of the 2018 Requirements (instead of Sec.  
__.103(b), as related to the requirement for continuing review, and in 
addition to Sec.  __.109, of the pre-2018 Requirements).
    Given that studies taking advantage of this flexibility would, if 
this proposal is adopted, temporarily be subject to the three burden-
reducing 2018 Requirements, but not other provisions in the 2018 
Requirements, we are clarifying our intended interpretations of these 
provisions during a transition period. First, the definition of 
``research'' in the 2018 Requirements references a ``public health 
authority,'' a term defined in the 2018 Requirements, but not included 
in the pre-2018 Requirements. The reference to a ``public health 
authority'' in Sec.  __.102(l)(3) of the 2018 Requirements would be 
interpreted consistent with the definition of ``public health 
authority'' included in the 2018 Requirements (Sec.  __.102(k)). 
Second, Sec.  __.103(d) of the 2018 Requirements refers to research 
``exempted under Sec.  __.104.'' Because the exemptions that will be in 
place during any transition period are set forth in Sec.  __.101(b) of 
the pre-2018 Requirements, this reference to research ``exempted under 
Sec.  __.104'' would be interpreted, during this transition period and 
prior to the general compliance date of the 2018 Requirements, as a 
reference to research exempted under Sec.  __.101(b) of the pre-2018 
Requirements. Third, the reference in Sec.  __.109(f)(1)(i) of the 2018 
Requirements to research eligible for expedited review under Sec.  
__.110 would be interpreted as a reference to that section in the pre-
2018 Requirements. Moreover, the documentation requirements set forth 
in Sec.  __.115(a)(3) of the 2018 Requirements (documenting an IRB's 
rationale for conducting continuing review that would not otherwise be 
required under Sec.  __.109(f)(1) of the 2018 Requirements) would not 
be applicable during this transition period as proposed.
    As proposed above, for institutions electing to transition a 
research study to compliance with the 2018 Requirements in order to 
take advantage of the three burden-reducing provisions, Sec.  __.103(d) 
of the 2018 Requirements would be substituted for Sec.  __.103(f) of 
the pre-2018 Requirements. Both sections address the requirement for 
certification of research supported by a Federal department or agency. 
In addition to removing the requirement that IRBs review grant 
applications or proposals, Sec.  __.103(d) of the 2018 Requirements 
reflects other minor wording changes necessary to accommodate the 
removal of the grant application or proposal review requirement or to 
provide additional clarifications.
    Except for the three burden-reducing 2018 Requirements identified 
in proposed Sec.  __.101(l)(4)(i)(A), institutions that elect to 
transition a research study to comply with the 2018 Requirements and 
document that decision, at any time between July 19, 2018, and January 
21, 2019, would be required to comply with the pre-2018 Requirements 
until January 21, 2019. This approach would afford institutions 
additional time before they are required to comply with all provisions 
of the 2018 Requirements, while enabling them to take advantage of the 
three burden-reducing 2018 Requirements more quickly. The option of 
applying the three burden-reducing 2018 Requirements would only be 
available for studies that institutions decided to transition to comply 
with the 2018 Requirements on or after July 19, 2018. If an institution 
so chooses to apply the three burden-reducing 2018 Requirements to 
certain research, those studies would be required to comply with all of 
the 2018 Requirements beginning on January 21, 2019.
    An institution's decision about whether to transition a study to 
the 2018 requirements to take advantage of the three burden-reducing 
provisions might vary depending on the nature and progress of the 
study, including any elements of the study to be conducted on or after 
January 21, 2019. For example, studies planning to recruit some 
subjects on or after January 21, 2019 would have to meet the new 
requirements for obtaining the informed consent of those subjects. In 
contrast, for studies whose remaining activities

[[Page 17598]]

consist only of completing data analyses, the new requirements for 
informed consent generally would not be applicable.
    We considered stakeholder suggestions to extend this approach to 
other burden-reducing sections of the 2018 Requirements, such as the 
revised exemption categories. We do not propose adding the revised 
exemption categories to Sec.  __.101(l)(4)(i)(A) because implementation 
of these categories would involve significantly greater complications. 
For example, these categories use terms that are newly defined or for 
which revised definitions have been included in the 2018 Requirements, 
and permitting compliance with these categories without also 
selectively adopting revised definitions could be problematic. To 
minimize confusion, this proposed rule limits those provisions for 
which early adoption would be permitted to those that would minimize 
burdens without creating significant complexities. We also considered a 
delay to the effective and general compliance dates without proposing 
this additional option in the interim period. Such an approach would be 
simple to implement. We decided against proposing this alternative to 
be responsive to public comments received and in an effort to minimize 
burdens with respect to new provisions that will not be difficult to 
implement prior to the general compliance date of the 2018 
Requirements.
    As proposed for Sec.  __.101(l)(4)(ii), if the determination to 
transition previously initiated studies to the 2018 Requirements is not 
made until on or after January 21, 2019, such studies would not benefit 
from the additional flexibilities created for the period between July 
19, 2018 and January 21, 2019. Such studies would be required to comply 
with the 2018 Requirements after the date of transition.
    The regulatory provisions are not prescriptive regarding how an 
institution chooses to make its transition decisions. An institution 
may elect to transition research protocols to the 2018 Requirements on 
a protocol-by-protocol basis, or for a class of protocols (e.g., all 
minimal risk research), or for the institution's entire research 
portfolio. While these three burden reducing provisions are a 
regulatory package, an institution that took advantage of the 
flexibility proposed in this NPRM, as a matter of institutional policy, 
could adopt a more stringent standard (such as that of the pre-2018 
rule) for any or all of these three provisions.
    We also propose a revision to Sec.  __.101(l)(4) regarding 
documentation of an institution's decision to transition research begun 
under the pre-2018 Requirements to the 2018 Requirements. This proposal 
is intended to offer institutions greater flexibility regarding who 
documents that decision. Under the January 19, 2017, final rule, if an 
institution determines that ongoing research will transition to comply 
with the 2018 Requirements, this determination must be documented by an 
IRB before the transition can take effect. We now propose that, to 
allow ease in implementing this documentation requirement, the 
documentation of an institution's transition determination may be 
performed either by an institution (through officials who have the 
authority to make such determinations on behalf of the institution) or 
an IRB. As proposed, this documentation must include the date of the 
transition determination. Records documenting the transition decision 
must be retained as per Sec.  __.115(b).
    Once the institution makes the determination to transition the 
research to the revised rule and that determination is documented, the 
date of documentation will serve as the de facto compliance date as 
applied to the research. For a study that is transitioned in accordance 
with Sec.  __.101(l)(4)(i), between July 19, 2018, and January 20, 
2019, one set of rules would apply until the general compliance date of 
the final rule and another would apply beginning on such general 
compliance date. As of the date the decision to transition is 
documented until January 20, 2019, the pre-2018 Requirements would be 
applicable, except that the three burden-reducing 2018 Requirements 
would apply instead of or in addition to the pre-2018 Requirements 
specified in Sec.  __.101(l)(4)(i)(A). Beginning on January 21, 2019, 
the 2018 Requirements would apply for the duration of the study.
    As proposed, all studies that are transitioned in accordance with 
Sec.  __.101(l)(4)(ii) on or after January 21, 2019, and all studies 
that are newly initiated on and after January 21, 2019, would be 
required to follow all of the 2018 Requirements.
    In summary, the proposed rule would create three options that would 
be available beginning July 19, 2018, that institutions may choose to 
follow for research studies initiated before January 21, 2019. The 
first option, and default, is to continue to follow all of the pre-2018 
Requirements for the duration of the study. The second option is to 
choose to follow the pre-2018 Requirements, except for the three 
burden-reducing 2018 Requirements, until January 21, 2019, when all of 
2018 Requirements would become applicable. The third option would be to 
follow the pre-2018 requirements until January 21, 2019, and at some 
point thereafter choose to follow all of the 2018 Requirements for the 
duration of the study.
    We also solicit comments about the advisability of the alternative 
of delaying the effective date and general compliance date until 
January 21, 2019, but without the option to implement certain 2018 
Requirements during that delay period.
    In addition, we solicit comments on the desirability of the 
alternative of delaying the effective date and general compliance date 
beyond January 21, 2019. We do not believe the regulated community will 
require this additional time to come into compliance with the revised 
rule, but we are interested in receiving public comments on this 
alternative.
    While we considered the alternative of proposing to amend the 
transition provision to permit institutions to voluntarily comply with 
the revised rule beginning on July 19, 2018, and not requiring 
compliance with the new rule until January 21, 2019 or later, we 
believe this approach could result in confusion regarding 
implementation of the revised Common Rule that could be minimized with 
the issuance of guidance from the Common Rule departments and agencies. 
By making the changes proposed above, we believe the Common Rule 
departments and agencies will be able to issue relevant guidance 
documents that will better enable the regulated community to comply 
with the revised rule.
    We also solicit comments about the advisability of not making the 
changes proposed in this NPRM (i.e., allowing the effective date and 
general compliance date to remain as July 19, 2018). Finally, we note 
that we will consider public comments submitted in response to the 
interim final rules described above.

IV. Legal Authorities

    The legal authorities for the departments and agencies that are 
signatories to this action are as follows:
    Department of Homeland Security, 5 U.S.C. 301; Public Law 107-296, 
sec. 102, 306(c); Public Law 108-458, sec. 8306. Department of 
Agriculture, 5 U.S.C. 301; 42 U.S.C. 300v-1(b). Department of Energy, 5 
U.S.C. 301; 42 U.S.C. 7254; 42 U.S.C. 300v-1(b). National Aeronautics 
and Space Administration, 5 U.S.C. 301; 42 U.S.C.

[[Page 17599]]

300v-1(b). Department of Commerce, 5 U.S.C. 301; 42 U.S.C. 300v-1(b). 
Consumer Product Safety Commission, 5 U.S.C. 301; 42 U.S.C. 300v-1(b). 
Social Security Administration, 5 U.S.C. 301; 42 U.S.C. 289(a). Agency 
for International Development, 5 U.S.C. 301; 42 U.S.C. 300v-1(b), 
unless otherwise noted. Department of Housing and Urban Development, 5 
U.S.C. 301; 42 U.S.C. 300v-1(b); 3535(d). Department of Labor, 5 U.S.C. 
301; 29 U.S.C. 551. Department of Defense, 5 U.S.C. 301. Department of 
Education, 5 U.S.C. 301; 20 U.S.C. 1221e-3, 3474. Department of 
Veterans Affairs, 5 U.S.C. 301; 38 U.S.C. 501, 7331, 7334; 42 U.S.C. 
300v-1(b). Environmental Protection Agency, 5 U.S.C. 301; 7 U.S.C. 
136a(a) and 136w(a)(1); 21 U.S.C. 346a(e)(1)(C); sec. 201, Public Law 
109-54, 119 Stat. 531; and 42 U.S.C. 300v-1(b). Department of Health 
and Human Services, 5 U.S.C. 301; 42 U.S.C. 289(a); 42 U.S.C. 300v-
1(b). National Science Foundation, 5 U.S.C. 301; 42 U.S.C. 300v-1(b). 
Department of Transportation, 5 U.S.C. 301; 42 U.S.C. 300v-1(b).

V. Regulatory Impact Analyses

    We have examined the effects of this proposed rule under Executive 
Order 12866 on Regulatory Planning and Review (September 30, 1993), 
Executive Order 13563 on Improving Regulation and Regulatory Review 
(January 18, 2011), Executive Order 13771 on Reducing Regulation and 
Controlling Regulatory Costs (January 30, 2017), the Paperwork 
Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13), the Regulatory Flexibility Act, 
(Pub. L. 96-354, September 19, 1980), the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act 
of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-4), and Executive Order 13132 on Federalism 
(August 4, 1999).

A. Executive Orders 12866, 13563, and 13771

    Executive Orders 12866 and 13563 direct agencies to assess all 
costs and benefits of available regulatory alternatives and, if 
regulation is necessary, to select regulatory approaches that maximize 
net benefits (including potential economic, environmental, public 
health and safety effects; distributive impacts; and equity). Executive 
Order 13563 is supplemental to and reaffirms the principles, 
structures, and definitions governing regulatory review as established 
in Executive Order 12866, emphasizing the importance of quantifying 
both costs and benefits, of reducing costs, of harmonizing rules, and 
of promoting flexibility. In accordance with the provisions of 
Executive Order 12866, this proposed rule was submitted to the Office 
of Management and Budget (OMB) for review, and has been determined to 
be a ``significant'' regulatory action. The designation, as regulatory 
or deregulatory under Executive Order 13771 (Reducing Regulation and 
Controlling Regulatory Costs, issued on January 30, 2017), of any final 
rule resulting from this notice of proposed rulemaking will be informed 
by comments received on the costs and cost savings of delaying the 2018 
Requirements. Details on the preliminary estimated costs of this 
proposed rule can be found in the economic analysis below.
1. Need for This NPRM and Summary
    On January 19, 2017, HHS and 15 other federal departments and 
agencies published the 2018 Requirements designed to more thoroughly 
address the broader types of research conducted or otherwise supported 
by all of the Common Rule departments and agencies. In addition, the 
CPSC adopted the same regulatory changes on September 18, 2017.
    This proposed rule, if finalized, would allow regulated entities to 
continue to comply with the pre-2018 requirements until January 21, 
2019. As discussed above, this proposed rule also proposes to permit 
institutions, during the period between July 19, 2018, and January 21, 
2019, to take advantage of three provisions in the 2018 Requirements 
intended to minimize burdens on regulated entities. Those three burden-
reducing 2018 Requirements are (1) the 2018 Requirements' definition of 
``research,'' which deems certain activities not to be research, (2) 
the allowance for no annual continuing review of certain categories of 
research, and (3) the elimination of the requirement that IRBs review 
grant applications related to the research. As described in section III 
above, this flexibility is proposed for studies for which an 
institution makes a choice to have those studies be subject to the 2018 
Requirements.
2. Analysis of Benefits (Cost-Savings) and Costs (Foregone Benefits) 
\3\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \3\ Note, that the terms ``benefits'' and ``cost-savings'' are 
used interchangeably in this RIA. Similarly, the terms ``costs'' and 
``foregone benefits'' are also used interchangeably.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The RIA for the 2018 Requirements described the benefits and costs 
of 16 broad categories of changes finalized. The RIA for this NPRM uses 
the information and calculations described in the preamble to the 2018 
Requirements as a base for estimating benefits and costs of delaying 
the general implementation of the 2018 Requirements by six months. The 
time period for the analysis in this RIA is the six month period from 
July 2018 to January 2019.
    Table 1 summarizes the quantified benefits and costs of delaying 
the general implementation of 2018 Requirements. Over the period of 
July 2018 to January 2019, annualized benefits of $6.4 million are 
estimated using a 3 percent discount rate; annualized benefits of $5.9 
million are estimated using a 7 percent discount rate. Annualized costs 
of $37.2 million are estimated using a 3 percent discount rate; 
annualized costs of $34.4 million are estimated using a 7 percent 
discount rate. Note that all values are represented in millions of 2016 
dollars, and 2016 is used as the frame of reference for discounting.

 Table 1--All Benefits and Costs of Delaying the General Compliance Date
                 of the 2018 Requirements by Six Months
                [From July 19, 2018 to January 21, 2019]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                          Annualized value by discount
                                         rate (millions of 2016 dollars)
                                       ---------------------------------
                                           3 Percent        7 Percent
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Benefits (Cost-Savings):
    Quantified Benefits...............             6.4              5.9
Costs (Foregone Benefits):

[[Page 17600]]

 
    Quantified Costs..................            37.4             34.7
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The estimated benefits and costs of delaying the general 
implementation date of the 2018 Requirements by six months are shown in 
Table 2 below. Note that the categorization shown below includes the 
same 16 categories used in the RIA of the 2018 Requirements.

    Table 2--Accounting Table of Quantified Benefits (Cost-Savings) and Costs (Foregone Benefits) of Delaying
                             Compliance With the 2018 Requirements by Six Months \4\
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                    Annualized value over 1 year by discount rate (millions of
                                                                           2016 dollars)
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
          2018 Requirement RIA Category               Benefits (cost-savings)           (Foregone benefits)
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
                                                        3%              7%              3%              7%
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Regulated Community Learning New Requirements                 --              --              --              --
 and Developing Training Materials; OHRP
 Developing Training and Guidance Materials, and
 Implementing the 2018 Requirements.............
Extending Oversight to IRBs Unaffiliated with an            4.47            4.14              --              --
 Institution Holding an FWA (impact to IRBs not
 operated by an FWA-holding institution)........
Excluding Activities from the Requirements of                 --              --            0.95            0.88
 the Common Rule because They are not Research..
Clarifying and Harmonizing Regulatory                         --              --              --              --
 Requirements and Agency Guidance...............
Modifying the Assurance Requirements............              --              --            0.31            0.29
Requirement for Written Procedures and                        --              --              --              --
 Agreements for Reliance on IRBs Not Operated by
 the Engaged Institution (impact to FWA-holding
 institutions)..................................
Eliminating the Requirement that the Grant                    --              --             8.5             7.9
 Application Undergo IRB Review and Approval....
Expansion of Research Activities Exempt from                0.01            0.01            20.8            19.3
 Full IRB Review................................
Elimination of Continuing Review of Research                1.04            0.96            4.10            3.80
 Under Specific Conditions......................
Amending the Expedited Review Procedures........              --              --            2.66            2.47
Cooperative Research (single IRB mandate in                   --              --              --              --
 multi-institutional research) \5\..............
Changes in the Basic Elements of Consent,                     --              --              --              --
 Including Documentation........................
Obtaining Consent to Secondary Use of                         --              --              --              --
 Identifiable biospecimens and Identifiable
 private information............................
Elimination of Pre-2018 Rule Requirement to                   --              --            0.07            0.06
 Waive Consent in Certain Subject Recruitment
 Activities.....................................
Requirement for Posting of Consent Forms for                0.85            0.79              --              --
 Clinical Trials Conducted or supported by
 Common Rule Departments or Agencies............
Alteration in Waiver for Documentation of                     --              --              --              --
 Informed Consent in Certain Circumstances......
                                                 --------------------------------
Cost Savings, as indicated by public comments                                                 --              --
 (unable to attribute to particular provisions).           unquantified
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    We assume that, in almost all categories described in the RIA for 
the 2018 Requirements, the foregone benefits (costs) of delaying the 
2018 Requirements by six months are what would have been the benefits 
of implementing the 2018 Requirements during the period of July 2018 
through January of 2019. Similarly, we assume that, in almost all 
categories described in the RIA for the 2018 Requirements, the benefits 
(cost-savings) associated with delaying the 2018 Requirements by six 
months are what would have been the costs of implementing the 2018 
Requirements during the period of July 2018 through January of 2019. We 
assume this because regulated entities likely would not have difficulty 
implementing these provisions in the absence of guidance from Common 
Rule departments or agencies, and thus could have been implemented as 
assumed in the economic analysis contained in the RIA for the 2018 
Requirements. We seek comment on these assumptions.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \4\ Zeroes in Table 2 (represented by ``--'') signify that the 
category has been unaffected by the six month delay of the 2018 
Requirements. The category could be unaffected for one of two 
reasons: (1) No costs or benefits were associated with the category 
in the RIA for the 2018 Requirements; or (2) the costs and benefits 
of the provision during the six month delay are the same as those 
estimated in the RIA for the 2018 Requirements.
    \5\ Because compliance with this provision is not required until 
2020, benefits and costs here are not included.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Categories with different assumptions are described below:

[[Page 17601]]

a. Regulated Community Learning New Requirements and Developing 
Training Materials; OHRP Developing Training and Guidance Materials, 
and Implementing the 2018 Requirements
    We assume that even with the proposed six month delay, regulated 
entities and OHRP would still assume costs related to learning the new 
requirements and developing training materials. Thus, there are no 
effects estimated here.
    We expect that some entities would experience cost savings as a 
result of this proposed rule, and some entities would experience costs 
as a result of this proposed rule, but we lack data to quantify these 
effects. We request comments which provide data that can be used to 
quantify these effects.
b. Early Implementation of the Three Burden-Reducing Provisions of the 
2018 Requirements (Explicit Carve-Outs of Activities From the 
Definition of Research [Sec.  __.102(I)]; Eliminating the Requirement 
That the Grant Application Undergo IRB Review and Approval [Pre-2018 
Rule at Sec.  __.103(f)]; Elimination of Continuing Review of Research 
Under Specific Conditions [Sec. Sec.  __.109(f) and __.115(a)(3)]
    We assume that 50 percent of regulated entities will take advantage 
of the option proposed in this NPRM to implement three burden-reducing 
provisions of the 2018 Requirements early. We assume this because an 
institution's decision about whether to transition a study to the 2018 
requirements to take advantage of the three burden-reducing provisions 
might vary depending on the nature and progress of the study, including 
any elements of the study to be conducted after January 21, 2019. For 
example, studies planning to recruit some subjects after January 21, 
2019 would have to meet the new requirements for obtaining the informed 
consent of those subjects. In contrast, for studies whose remaining 
activities consist only of completing data analyses, the new 
requirements for informed consent would generally not be applicable. 
Therefore, we assume that there are situations where an institution 
would want to take advantage of the three burden-reducing provisions, 
and situations where an institution would not want to take advantage of 
this flexibility. We note that we intend to publish guidance on the 
carve-outs from the definition of research prior to July 2018, which 
may also impact an institution's decision to elect to implement the 
three burden-reducing provisions or not.
    Thus, these entities will still obtain the benefits and costs 
described in the RIA for the 2018 Requirements, implying no effects of 
this rule for 50 percent of regulated entities. For the regulated 
entities that do not take advantage of these flexibilities, we assume 
that the foregone benefits (costs) of delaying implementation of these 
provisions are what would have been the benefits of implementing these 
provisions in January of 2018. Similarly, we assume that the benefits 
(cost-savings) associated with delaying the implementation of these 
provisions are what would have been the costs of implementing these 
provisions in July of 2018. We assume that these regulated entities 
account for 50 percent of the costs and benefits that would have been 
experienced in 2018 absent this delay.
    We also assume that institutional staff at the IRB Administrative 
staff level \6\ will spend 5 minutes per protocol documenting the 
voluntary election to use the three burden-reducing 2018 provisions 
during the time period of July 19, 2018 to January 21, 2019.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \6\ See the RIA to the 2018 Requirements (82 FR 7149) for more 
information about the labor categories used in this analysis.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    We request comment on our assumption that 50 percent of regulated 
entities will take advantage of the option proposed in this NPRM to 
implement three burden-reducing provisions of the 2018 Requirements 
early.
    Some members of the regulated community have indicated that even 
though the 2018 Requirements yield cost savings, these institutions are 
still hesitant to transition ongoing research to the 2018 Requirements, 
largely because of the burden of making studies already in compliance 
with the pre-2018 requirements comply with the 2018 requirements. Also, 
some institutions seem inclined to make all of the transitions at once. 
This interconnectedness is key to some of the assumptions noted 
elsewhere in this analysis. For example, if the three burden-reducing 
provisions are considered on their own, a reasonable assumption would 
be that 100 percent of affected entities would realize the associated 
cost savings as soon as possible. The use, instead, of a 50 percent 
estimate reflects entities' possible inclinations to make all 
transitions at once. We request comment that would provide insight into 
entities' views regarding the interconnectedness of the 2018 
Requirements' provisions and thus allow for refinement of the 50 
percent estimate.
c. Expansion of Research Activities Exempt From Full IRB Review (Sec.  
__.104(d))
    The 2018 Requirements include five new exemption categories, and 
modify all but one exemption that exist in the pre-2018 Requirements. 
We have received feedback from SACHRP that guidance will be useful for 
regulated entities to implement many of the exemption categories.\7\ 
Areas where significant guidance will be helpful include: Applying the 
categories of the new exemptions themselves, conducting limited IRB 
review (as required in four exemptions), developing and using broad 
consent (as required in two exemptions), utilizing the exemption for 
certain HIPAA covered activities, and understanding which federally 
supported or conducted nonresearch information collections qualify for 
exemption.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \7\ See for example, SACHRP Recommendations of August 2, 2017: 
https://www.hhs.gov/ohrp/sachrp-committee/recommendations/sachrp-recommendations/index.html.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Because the guidance documents that would be helpful to assist 
regulated entities in implementing these 2018 Common Rule provisions 
have not yet been developed, we assume that 50 percent of the regulated 
entities would not have taken advantage of the expansion in exemptions 
during this six month-delay. For these entities, we assume that there 
are no benefits and costs of the proposed delay, because they would not 
have changed their operations. We assume that 50 percent of the 
regulated entities would have gone forward with using the new or 
expanded exemption categories under the 2018 Requirements; for these 
entities, there are costs of delaying the implementation of this 
provision during the six-month delay proposed in this NPRM.
    We do not have data to support our assumption of what percent of 
regulated entities would have gone forward with the implementation of 
these provisions in the absence of additional guidance, and what 
percent would not have gone forward. We request comments on these 
assumptions and solicit data that can be used to quantify these 
effects.
3. Analysis of NPRM Alternative
    This NPRM includes a primary alternative proposal of delaying the 
general effective and compliance date to January 2019.
    Table 3 summarizes the quantified benefits and costs of the 
alternative proposal of delaying the general implementation of 2018 
Requirements without the option to implement certain

[[Page 17602]]

2018 Requirements. Over the period of July 2018 to January 2019, 
annualized benefits of $7.4 million are estimated using a 3 percent 
discount rate; annualized benefits of $6.9 million are estimated using 
a 7 percent discount rate. Annualized costs of $50.8 million are 
estimated using a 3 percent discount rate; annualized costs of $47.0 
million are estimated using a 7 percent discount rate. Note that all 
values are represented in millions of 2016 dollars, and 2016 is used as 
the frame of reference for discounting.

  Table 3--All Benefits and Costs of Delaying Compliance With the 2018
               Requirements Under the Alternative Proposal
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                          Annualized value by discount
                                         rate (millions of 2016 dollars)
                                       ---------------------------------
                                           3 Percent        7 Percent
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Benefits (Cost-Savings):
    Quantified Benefits...............             7.4              6.9
Costs (Foregone Benefits):
    Quantified Costs..................            50.8             47.0
------------------------------------------------------------------------

B. Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA)

    This proposed rule contains collections of information that are 
subject to review and approval by the Office of Management and Budget 
(OMB) under the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA), as amended (44 U.S.C. 
3501-3520). A description of these provisions is given in this document 
with an estimate of the annual reporting and recordkeeping burden.
    Title: Federal Policy for the Protection of Human Subjects.
    Description: In this document is a discussion of the regulatory 
provisions we believe are subject to the PRA and the probable 
information collection burden associated with these provisions. In 
general, the following actions trigger the PRA: (i) Reporting; (ii) 
Recordkeeping.
    Description of Respondents: The reporting and recordkeeping 
requirements in this document are imposed on institutions, 
institutional review boards, and investigators involved in human 
subjects research conducted or supported or otherwise subject to 
regulation by any federal department or agency that takes 
administrative action that makes the policy applicable to such 
research.
Sec.  __.101(l)(4). Compliance Date and Transition Provision (OMB 
Control No 0990-0260)
    Section 101(l)(4)(i) would permit studies to transition to the 2018 
Requirements between July 19, 2018 and January 21, 2019 (which would be 
the new general compliance date of the 2018 Requirements). Between July 
19, 2018 and January 21, 2019, institutions that elect to transition 
studies to the 2018 Requirements would, after the decision to 
transition has been documented, be able to take advantage of the three 
burden-reducing 2018 Requirements.
    This option is described in a proposed revision to Sec.  
__.101(l)(4)(i). As described, studies taking advantage of this option 
would be subject to the three burden-reducing 2018 Requirements instead 
of, or in addition to, the comparable provisions of the pre-2018 
Requirements. As discussed above, the three burden-reducing 2018 
Requirements are (1) the 2018 Requirements' definition of ``research'' 
at Sec.  __.102(l) (instead of Sec.  __.102(d) of the pre-2018 
Requirements), which deems certain activities not to be research, (2) 
the elimination of the requirement that an IRB review the grant 
application or proposal related to the research at Sec.  __.103(d) of 
the 2018 Requirements (instead of Sec.  __.103(f) of the pre-2018 
Requirements), and (3) the allowance for no annual continuing review of 
certain categories of research at Sec.  __.109(f)(1)(i) and (iii) of 
the 2018 Requirements (instead of Sec.  __.103(b), as related to the 
requirement for continuing review, and in addition to Sec.  __.109 of 
the pre-2018 Requirements).
    We estimate that approximately 92,084 protocols would take 
advantage of the voluntary election described in Sec.  __.101(l)(4)(i). 
We estimate that institutional staff would spend 5 minutes per protocol 
documenting that the study will be subject to the three burden-reducing 
2018 Requirements during the time period of July 19, 2018 through 
January 21, 2019. We estimate that this provision includes 7,673 burden 
hours.

C. Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA)

    The Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.) (RFA) and the 
Small Business Regulatory Enforcement and Fairness Act of 1996, which 
amended the RFA, require agencies that issue a regulation to analyze 
options for regulatory relief for small businesses. If a rule has a 
significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities, 
agencies must specifically consider the economic effect of the rule on 
small entities and analyze regulatory options that could lessen the 
impact of the rule. The RFA generally defines a ``small entity'' as (1) 
a proprietary firm meeting the size standards of the Small Business 
Administration (SBA); (2) a nonprofit organization that is not dominant 
in its field; or (3) a small government jurisdiction with a population 
of less than 50,000 (states and individuals are not included in the 
definition of ``small entity''). HHS considers a rule to have a 
significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities 
if at least 5 percent of small entities experience an impact of more 
than 3 percent of revenue.
    If finalized, this action will not have a significant economic 
impact on a substantial number of small entities under the RFA. In 
making this determination, the impact of concern is any significant 
adverse economic impact on small entities. An agency may certify that a 
rule will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial 
number of small entities if the rule relieves regulatory burden, has no 
net burden or otherwise has a positive economic effect on the small 
entities subject to the rule. This proposed rule would not impose a 
regulatory burden for regulated small entities because it would delay 
the general compliance date of the 2018 Requirements, allowing the 
status quo to be retained for the period of delay, and also would allow 
regulated small entities to elect to implement the 2018 Requirements as 
scheduled if the entities so choose. We have therefore concluded that 
this action will have no net regulatory burden for all directly 
regulated small entities. We request

[[Page 17603]]

comment on this conclusion, including specific data and information to 
support commenters' views.

D. Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (UMRA)

    Section 202(a) of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 requires 
that agencies prepare a written statement, which includes an assessment 
of anticipated costs and benefits, before proposing ``any rule that 
includes any Federal mandate that may result in the expenditure by 
State, local, and tribal governments, in the aggregate, or by the 
private sector, of $100,000,000 or more (adjusted annually for 
inflation) in any one year.'' The current threshold after adjustment 
for inflation is $148 million, using the most current (2016) implicit 
price deflator for the gross domestic product. We do not expect this 
rule to result in expenditures that will exceed this amount. This 
action does not contain any unfunded mandate as described in UMRA, 2 
U.S.C. 1531-1538, and does not significantly or uniquely affect small 
governments.

E. Executive Order 13132: Federalism

    Executive Order 13132 establishes certain requirements that an 
agency must meet when it promulgates a rule that imposes substantial 
direct requirement costs on state and local governments or has 
federalism implications. We have determined that the proposed rule 
would not contain policies that would have substantial direct effects 
on the States, on the relationship between the Federal Government and 
the States, or on the distribution of power and responsibilities among 
the various levels of government. The changes in the proposed rule 
represent the Federal Government regulating its own program. 
Accordingly, we conclude that the rule does not propose policies that 
have federalism implications as defined in Executive Order 13132 and, 
consequently, a federalism summary impact statement is not required.
    For the reasons set forth in the preamble, the Federal Policy for 
the Protection of Human Subjects, as published in the Federal Register 
on January 19, 2017 (82 FR 7149) and as adopted in a final rule 
published by the CPSC on September 18, 2017 (82 FR 43459), and as 
amended in a final rule published in the Federal Register on January 
22, 2018 (83 FR 2885) and adopted by HUD through a final rule published 
on January 26, 2018 (83 FR 3589), is proposed to be amended as follows:

Text of the Amended Common Rule

PART __--PROTECTION OF HUMAN SUBJECTS

0
1. Amend Sec.  __.101 by revising paragraphs (l)(2), (3), and (4), and 
adding paragraph (l)(5), to read as follows:


Sec.  __.101   To what does this policy apply?

* * * * *
    (l) * * *
    (2) For purposes of this section, the 2018 Requirements means the 
Federal Policy for the Protection of Human Subjects requirements 
contained in this part/subpart. The general compliance date for the 
2018 Requirements is January 21, 2019. The compliance date for Sec.  
__.114(b) (cooperative research) of the 2018 Requirements is January 
20, 2020.
    (3) Research subject to pre-2018 requirements. The pre-2018 
Requirements shall apply to the following research, unless the research 
is transitioning to comply with the 2018 Requirements in accordance 
with paragraph (l)(4) of this section:
    (i) Research initially approved by an IRB under the pre-2018 
Requirements before January 21, 2019;
    (ii) Research for which IRB review was waived pursuant to Sec.  
__.101(i) of the pre-2018 Requirements before January 21, 2019; and
    (iii) Research for which a determination was made that the research 
was exempt under Sec.  __.101(b) of the pre-2018 Requirements before 
January 21, 2019.
    (4) Transitioning research. If, on or after July 19, 2018, an 
institution engaged in research otherwise covered by paragraph (l)(3) 
of this section determines that such ongoing research instead will 
transition to comply with the 2018 Requirements, the institution or an 
IRB must document and date such determination.
    (i) If the determination to transition is documented between July 
19, 2018, and January 20, 2019, the research shall:
    (A) Beginning on the date of such documentation until January 20, 
2019, comply with the pre-2018 Requirements, except that the research 
shall comply with the following:
    (1) Section __.102(l) of the 2018 Requirements (definition of 
research) (instead of Sec.  __.102(d) of the pre-2018 Requirements),
    (2) Section __.103(d) of the 2018 Requirements (revised 
certification requirement that eliminates IRB review of application or 
proposal) (instead of Sec.  __.103(f) of the pre-2018 Requirements), 
and
    (3) Section __.109(f)(1)(i) and (iii) of the 2018 Requirements 
(exceptions to mandated continuing review) (instead of Sec.  __.103(b), 
as related to the requirement for continuing review, and in addition to 
Sec.  __.109, of the pre-2018 Requirements); and
    (B) Beginning on January 21, 2019, comply with the 2018 
Requirements.
    (ii) If the determination to transition is documented on or after 
January 21, 2019, the research shall, beginning on the date of such 
documentation, comply with the 2018 Requirements.
    (5) Research subject to 2018 Requirements. The 2018 Requirements 
shall apply to the following research:
    (i) Research initially approved by an IRB on or after January 21, 
2019,
    (ii) Research for which IRB review is waived pursuant to paragraph 
(i) of this section on or after January 21, 2019, and
    (iii) Research for which a determination is made that the research 
is exempt on or after January 21, 2019.

Department of Homeland Security

List of Subjects in 6 CFR Part 46

    Human research subjects, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, 
Research.

    For the reasons stated in the preamble, Department of Homeland 
Security proposes to further amend 6 CFR part 46 as published in the 
Federal Register on January 19, 2017 (82 FR 7149), and as amended in a 
final rule published in the Federal Register on January 22, 2018 (83 FR 
2885), as follows:

PART 46--PROTECTION OF HUMAN SUBJECTS

0
1. The authority citation for Part 46 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 5 U.S.C. 301; P.L. 107-296, sec. 102, 306(c); P.L. 
108-458, sec. 8306.

0
2. Amend Sec.  46.101 by revising paragraphs (l)(2), (3), and (4), and 
adding paragraph (l)(5), to read as follows:


Sec.  46.101  To what does this policy apply?

* * * * *
    (l) * * *
    (2) For purposes of this section, the 2018 Requirements means the 
Federal Policy for the Protection of Human Subjects requirements 
contained in this part. The general compliance date for the 2018 
Requirements is January 21, 2019. The compliance date for Sec.  
46.114(b) (cooperative research) of the 2018 Requirements is January 
20, 2020.
    (3) Research subject to pre-2018 requirements. The pre-2018 
Requirements shall apply to the

[[Page 17604]]

following research, unless the research is transitioning to comply with 
the 2018 Requirements in accordance with paragraph (l)(4) of this 
section:
    (i) Research initially approved by an IRB under the pre-2018 
Requirements before January 21, 2019;
    (ii) Research for which IRB review was waived pursuant to Sec.  
46.101(i) of the pre-2018 Requirements before January 21, 2019; and
    (iii) Research for which a determination was made that the research 
was exempt under Sec.  46.101(b) of the pre-2018 Requirements before 
January 21, 2019.
    (4) Transitioning research. If, on or after July 19, 2018, an 
institution engaged in research otherwise covered by paragraph (l)(3) 
of this section determines that such ongoing research instead will 
transition to comply with the 2018 Requirements, the institution or an 
IRB must document and date such determination.
    (i) If the determination to transition is documented between July 
19, 2018, and January 20, 2019, the research shall:
    (A) Beginning on the date of such documentation until January 20, 
2019, comply with the pre-2018 Requirements, except that the research 
shall comply with the following:
    (1) Section 46.102(l) of the 2018 Requirements (definition of 
research) (instead of Sec.  46.102(d) of the pre-2018 Requirements),
    (2) Section 46.103(d) of the 2018 Requirements (revised 
certification requirement that eliminates IRB review of application or 
proposal) (instead of Sec.  46.103(f) of the pre-2018 Requirements), 
and
    (3) Section 46.109(f)(1)(i) and (iii) of the 2018 Requirements 
(exceptions to mandated continuing review) (instead of Sec.  46.103(b), 
as related to the requirement for continuing review, and in addition to 
Sec.  46.109, of the pre-2018 Requirements); and
    (B) Beginning on January 21, 2019, comply with the 2018 
Requirements.
    (ii) If the determination to transition is documented on or after 
January 21, 2019, the research shall, beginning on the date of such 
documentation, comply with the 2018 Requirements.
    (5) Research subject to 2018 Requirements. The 2018 Requirements 
shall apply to the following research:
    (i) Research initially approved by an IRB on or after January 21, 
2019,
    (ii) Research for which IRB review is waived pursuant to paragraph 
(i) of this section on or after January 21, 2019, and
    (iii) Research for which a determination is made that the research 
is exempt on or after January 21, 2019.
* * * * *
Elaine C. Duke,

Deputy Secretary, Department of Homeland Security.

Department of Agriculture

List of Subjects in 7 CFR Part 1c

    Human research subjects, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, 
Research.

    For the reasons stated in the preamble, Department of Agriculture 
proposes to further amend 7 CFR part 1c as published in the Federal 
Register on January 19, 2017 (82 FR 7149), and as amended in a final 
rule published in the Federal Register on January 22, 2018 (83 FR 
2885), as follows:

PART 1c--PROTECTION OF HUMAN SUBJECTS

0
1. The authority citation for Part 1c continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 5 U.S.C. 301; 42 U.S.C. 300v-1(b).

0
2. Amend Sec.  1c.101 by revising paragraphs (l)(2), (3), and (4), and 
adding paragraph (l)(5), to read as follows:


Sec.  1c.101   To what does this policy apply?

* * * * *
    (l) * * *
    (2) For purposes of this section, the 2018 Requirements means the 
Federal Policy for the Protection of Human Subjects requirements 
contained in this part. The general compliance date for the 2018 
Requirements is January 21, 2019. The compliance date for Sec.  
1c.114(b) (cooperative research) of the 2018 Requirements is January 
20, 2020.
    (3) Research subject to pre-2018 requirements. The pre-2018 
Requirements shall apply to the following research, unless the research 
is transitioning to comply with the 2018 Requirements in accordance 
with paragraph (l)(4) of this section:
    (i) Research initially approved by an IRB under the pre-2018 
Requirements before January 21, 2019;
    (ii) Research for which IRB review was waived pursuant to Sec.  
1c.101(i) of the pre-2018 Requirements before January 21, 2019; and
    (iii) Research for which a determination was made that the research 
was exempt under Sec.  1c.101(b) of the pre-2018 Requirements before 
January 21, 2019.
    (4) Transitioning research. If, on or after July 19, 2018, an 
institution engaged in research otherwise covered by paragraph (l)(3) 
of this section determines that such ongoing research instead will 
transition to comply with the 2018 Requirements, the institution or an 
IRB must document and date such determination.
    (i) If the determination to transition is documented between July 
19, 2018, and January 20, 2019, the research shall:
    (A) Beginning on the date of such documentation until January 20, 
2019, comply with the pre-2018 Requirements, except that the research 
shall comply with the following:
    (1) Section 1c.102(l) of the 2018 Requirements (definition of 
research) (instead of Sec.  1c.102(d) of the pre-2018 Requirements),
    (2) Section 1c.103(d) of the 2018 Requirements (revised 
certification requirement that eliminates IRB review of application or 
proposal) (instead of Sec.  1c.103(f) of the pre-2018 Requirements), 
and
    (3) Section 1c.109(f)(1)(i) and (iii) of the 2018 Requirements 
(exceptions to mandated continuing review) (instead of Sec.  1c.103(b), 
as related to the requirement for continuing review, and in addition to 
Sec.  1c.109, of the pre-2018 Requirements); and
    (B) Beginning on January 21, 2019, comply with the 2018 
Requirements.
    (ii) If the determination to transition is documented on or after 
January 21, 2019, the research shall, beginning on the date of such 
documentation, comply with the 2018 Requirements.
    (5) Research subject to 2018 Requirements. The 2018 Requirements 
shall apply to the following research:
    (i) Research initially approved by an IRB on or after January 21, 
2019,
    (ii) Research for which IRB review is waived pursuant to paragraph 
(i) of this section on or after January 21, 2019, and
    (iii) Research for which a determination is made that the research 
is exempt on or after January 21, 2019.
* * * * *
Chavonda Jacobs-Young,

Acting Deputy Under Secretary for Research, Education, and 
Economics, USDA.

Department of Energy

List of Subjects in 10 CFR Part 745

    Human research subjects, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, 
Research.

    For the reasons stated in the preamble, Department of Energy 
proposes to further amend 10 CFR part 745 as published in the Federal 
Register on January 19, 2017 (82 FR 7149), and as amended in a final 
rule published in the Federal Register on January 22, 2018 (83 FR 
2885), as follows:

PART 745--PROTECTION OF HUMAN SUBJECTS

0
1. The authority citation for Part 745 continues to read as follows:


[[Page 17605]]


    Authority:  5 U.S.C. 301; 42 U.S.C. 7254; 42 U.S.C. 300v-1(b).

0
2. Amend Sec.  745.101 by revising paragraphs (l)(2), (3), and (4), and 
adding paragraph (l)(5), to read as follows:


Sec.  745.101  To what does this policy apply?

* * * * *
    (l) * * *
    (2) For purposes of this section, the 2018 Requirements means the 
Federal Policy for the Protection of Human Subjects requirements 
contained in this part. The general compliance date for the 2018 
Requirements is January 21, 2019. The compliance date for Sec.  
745.114(b) (cooperative research) of the 2018 Requirements is January 
20, 2020.
    (3) Research subject to pre-2018 requirements. The pre-2018 
Requirements shall apply to the following research, unless the research 
is transitioning to comply with the 2018 Requirements in accordance 
with paragraph (l)(4) of this section:
    (i) Research initially approved by an IRB under the pre-2018 
Requirements before January 21, 2019;
    (ii) Research for which IRB review was waived pursuant to Sec.  
745.101(i) of the pre-2018 Requirements before January 21, 2019; and
    (iii) Research for which a determination was made that the research 
was exempt under Sec.  745.101(b) of the pre-2018 Requirements before 
January 21, 2019.
    (4) Transitioning research. If, on or after July 19, 2018, an 
institution engaged in research otherwise covered by paragraph (l)(3) 
of this section determines that such ongoing research instead will 
transition to comply with the 2018 Requirements, the institution or an 
IRB must document and date such determination.
    (i) If the determination to transition is documented between July 
19, 2018, and January 20, 2019, the research shall:
    (A) Beginning on the date of such documentation until January 20, 
2019, comply with the pre-2018 Requirements, except that the research 
shall comply with the following:
    (1) Section 745.102(l) of the 2018 Requirements (definition of 
research) (instead of Sec.  745.102(d) of the pre-2018 Requirements),
    (2) Section 745.103(d) of the 2018 Requirements (revised 
certification requirement that eliminates IRB review of application or 
proposal) (instead of Sec.  745.103(f) of the pre-2018 Requirements), 
and
    (3) Section 745.109(f)(1)(i) and (iii) of the 2018 Requirements 
(exceptions to mandated continuing review) (instead of Sec.  
745.103(b), as related to the requirement for continuing review, and in 
addition to Sec.  745.109, of the pre-2018 Requirements); and
    (B) Beginning on January 21, 2019, comply with the 2018 
Requirements.
    (ii) If the determination to transition is documented on or after 
January 21, 2019, the research shall, beginning on the date of such 
documentation, comply with the 2018 Requirements.
    (5) Research subject to 2018 Requirements. The 2018 Requirements 
shall apply to the following research:
    (i) Research initially approved by an IRB on or after January 21, 
2019,
    (ii) Research for which IRB review is waived pursuant to paragraph 
(i) of this section on or after January 21, 2019, and
    (iii) Research for which a determination is made that the research 
is exempt on or after January 21, 2019.
* * * * *
Dan Brouillette,

Deputy Secretary of Energy.

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 1230

    Human research subjects, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, 
Research.

    For the reasons stated in the preamble, National Aeronautics and 
Space Administration proposes to further amend 14 CFR part 1230 as 
published in the Federal Register on January 19, 2017 (82 FR 7149), and 
as amended in a final rule published in the Federal Register on January 
22, 2018 (83 FR 2885), as follows:

PART 1230--PROTECTION OF HUMAN SUBJECTS

0
1. The authority citation for Part 1230 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 5 U.S.C. 301; 42 U.S.C. 300v-1(b).

0
2. Amend Sec.  1230.101 by revising paragraphs (l)(2), (3), and (4), 
and adding paragraph (l)(5), to read as follows:


Sec.  1230.101  To what does this policy apply?

* * * * *
    (l) * * *
    (2) For purposes of this section, the 2018 Requirements means the 
Federal Policy for the Protection of Human Subjects requirements 
contained in this part. The general compliance date for the 2018 
Requirements is January 21, 2019. The compliance date for Sec.  
1230.114(b) (cooperative research) of the 2018 Requirements is January 
20, 2020.
    (3) Research subject to pre-2018 requirements. The pre-2018 
Requirements shall apply to the following research, unless the research 
is transitioning to comply with the 2018 Requirements in accordance 
with paragraph (l)(4) of this section:
    (i) Research initially approved by an IRB under the pre-2018 
Requirements before January 21, 2019;
    (ii) Research for which IRB review was waived pursuant to Sec.  
1230.101(i) of the pre-2018 Requirements before January 21, 2019; and
    (iii) Research for which a determination was made that the research 
was exempt under Sec.  1230.101(b) of the pre-2018 Requirements before 
January 21, 2019.
    (4) Transitioning research. If, on or after July 19, 2018, an 
institution engaged in research otherwise covered by paragraph (l)(3) 
of this section determines that such ongoing research instead will 
transition to comply with the 2018 Requirements, the institution or an 
IRB must document and date such determination.
    (i) If the determination to transition is documented between July 
19, 2018, and January 20, 2019, the research shall:
    (A) Beginning on the date of such documentation until January 20, 
2019, comply with the pre-2018 Requirements, except that the research 
shall comply with the following:
    (1) Section 1230.102(l) of the 2018 Requirements (definition of 
research) (instead of Sec.  1230.102(d) of the pre-2018 Requirements),
    (2) Section 1230.103(d) of the 2018 Requirements (revised 
certification requirement that eliminates IRB review of application or 
proposal) (instead of Sec.  1230.103(f) of the pre-2018 Requirements), 
and
    (3) Section 1230.109(f)(1)(i) and (iii) of the 2018 Requirements 
(exceptions to mandated continuing review) (instead of Sec.  
1230.103(b), as related to the requirement for continuing review, and 
in addition to Sec.  1230.109, of the pre-2018 Requirements); and
    (B) Beginning on January 21, 2019, comply with the 2018 
Requirements.
    (ii) If the determination to transition is documented on or after 
January 21, 2019, the research shall, beginning on the date of such 
documentation, comply with the 2018 Requirements.
    (5) Research subject to 2018 Requirements. The 2018 Requirements 
shall apply to the following research:
    (i) Research initially approved by an IRB on or after January 21, 
2019,
    (ii) Research for which IRB review is waived pursuant to paragraph 
(i) of this section on or after January 21, 2019, and

[[Page 17606]]

    (iii) Research for which a determination is made that the research 
is exempt on or after January 21, 2019.
* * * * *
James D. Polk,

Chief Health & Medical Officer, National Aeronautics and Space 
Administration.

Department of Commerce

List of Subjects in 15 CFR Part 27

    Human research subjects, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, 
Research.

    For the reasons stated in the preamble, Department of Commerce 
proposes to further amend 15 CFR part 27 as published in the Federal 
Register on January 19, 2017 (82 FR 7149), and as amended in a final 
rule published in the Federal Register on January 22, 2018 (83 FR 
2885), as follows:

PART 27--PROTECTION OF HUMAN SUBJECTS

0
1. The authority citation for Part 27 continues to read as follows:

    Authority:  5 U.S.C. 301; 42 U.S.C. 300v-1(b).

0
2. Amend Sec.  27.101 by revising paragraphs (l)(2), (3), and (4), and 
adding paragraph (l)(5), to read as follows:


Sec.  27.101  To what does this policy apply?

* * * * *
    (l) * * *
    (2) For purposes of this section, the 2018 Requirements means the 
Federal Policy for the Protection of Human Subjects requirements 
contained in this part. The general compliance date for the 2018 
Requirements is January 21, 2019. The compliance date for Sec.  
27.114(b) (cooperative research) of the 2018 Requirements is January 
20, 2020.
    (3) Research subject to pre-2018 requirements. The pre-2018 
Requirements shall apply to the following research, unless the research 
is transitioning to comply with the 2018 Requirements in accordance 
with paragraph (l)(4) of this section:
    (i) Research initially approved by an IRB under the pre-2018 
Requirements before January 21, 2019;
    (ii) Research for which IRB review was waived pursuant to Sec.  
27.101(i) of the pre-2018 Requirements before January 21, 2019; and
    (iii) Research for which a determination was made that the research 
was exempt under Sec.  27.101(b) of the pre-2018 Requirements before 
January 21, 2019.
    (4) Transitioning research. If, on or after July 19, 2018, an 
institution engaged in research otherwise covered by paragraph (l)(3) 
of this section determines that such ongoing research instead will 
transition to comply with the 2018 Requirements, the institution or an 
IRB must document and date such determination.
    (i) If the determination to transition is documented between July 
19, 2018, and January 20, 2019, the research shall:
    (A) Beginning on the date of such documentation until January 20, 
2019, comply with the pre-2018 Requirements, except that the research 
shall comply with the following:
    (1) Section 27.102(l) of the 2018 Requirements (definition of 
research) (instead of Sec.  27.102(d) of the pre-2018 Requirements),
    (2) Section 27.103(d) of the 2018 Requirements (revised 
certification requirement that eliminates IRB review of application or 
proposal) (instead of Sec.  27.103(f) of the pre-2018 Requirements), 
and
    (3) Section 27.109(f)(1)(i) and (iii) of the 2018 Requirements 
(exceptions to mandated continuing review) (instead of Sec.  27.103(b), 
as related to the requirement for continuing review, and in addition to 
Sec.  27.109, of the pre-2018 Requirements); and
    (B) Beginning on January 21, 2019, comply with the 2018 
Requirements.
    (ii) If the determination to transition is documented on or after 
January 21, 2019, the research shall, beginning on the date of such 
documentation, comply with the 2018 Requirements.
    (5) Research subject to 2018 Requirements. The 2018 Requirements 
shall apply to the following research:
    (i) Research initially approved by an IRB on or after January 21, 
2019,
    (ii) Research for which IRB review is waived pursuant to paragraph 
(i) of this section on or after January 21, 2019, and
    (iii) Research for which a determination is made that the research 
is exempt on or after January 21, 2019.
* * * * *
Wilbur L. Ross,

Secretary of Commerce.

Consumer Product Safety Commission

List of Subjects in 16 CFR Part 1028

    Human research subjects, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, 
Research.

    For the reasons stated in the preamble, Consumer Product Safety 
Commission proposes to further amend 16 CFR part 1028 as published in 
the Federal Register on January 19, 2017 (82 FR 7149) and as adopted in 
a final rule published by the CPSC on September 18, 2017 (82 FR 43459), 
and as amended in a final rule published in the Federal Register on 
January 22, 2018 (83 FR 2885), as follows:

PART 1028--PROTECTION OF HUMAN SUBJECTS

0
1. The authority citation for Part 1028 continues to read as follows:

    Authority:  5 U.S.C. 301; 42 U.S.C. 300v-1(b).

0
2. Amend Sec.  1028.101 by revising paragraphs (l)(2), (3), and (4), 
and adding paragraph (l)(5), to read as follows:


Sec.  1028.101   To what does this policy apply?

* * * * *
    (l) * * *
    (2) For purposes of this section, the 2018 Requirements means the 
Federal Policy for the Protection of Human Subjects requirements 
contained in this part. The general compliance date for the 2018 
Requirements is January 21, 2019. The compliance date for Sec.  
1028.114(b) (cooperative research) of the 2018 Requirements is January 
20, 2020.
    (3) Research subject to pre-2018 requirements. The pre-2018 
Requirements shall apply to the following research, unless the research 
is transitioning to comply with the 2018 Requirements in accordance 
with paragraph (l)(4) of this section:
    (i) Research initially approved by an IRB under the pre-2018 
Requirements before January 21, 2019;
    (ii) Research for which IRB review was waived pursuant to Sec.  
1028.101(i) of the pre-2018 Requirements before January 21, 2019; and
    (iii) Research for which a determination was made that the research 
was exempt under Sec.  1028.101(b) of the pre-2018 Requirements before 
January 21, 2019.
    (4) Transitioning research. If, on or after July 19, 2018, an 
institution engaged in research otherwise covered by paragraph (l)(3) 
of this section determines that such ongoing research instead will 
transition to comply with the 2018 Requirements, the institution or an 
IRB must document and date such determination.
    (i) If the determination to transition is documented between July 
19, 2018, and January 20, 2019, the research shall:
    (A) Beginning on the date of such documentation until January 20, 
2019, comply with the pre-2018 Requirements, except that the research 
shall comply with the following:
    (1) Section 1028.102(l) of the 2018 Requirements (definition of 
research) (instead of Sec.  1028.102(d) of the pre-2018 Requirements),
    (2) Section 1028.103(d) of the 2018 Requirements (revised 
certification requirement that eliminates IRB review of application or 
proposal) (instead of

[[Page 17607]]

Sec.  1028.103(f) of the pre-2018 Requirements), and
    (3) Section 1028.109(f)(1)(i) and (iii) of the 2018 Requirements 
(exceptions to mandated continuing review) (instead of Sec.  
1028.103(b), as related to the requirement for continuing review, and 
in addition to Sec.  1028.109, of the pre-2018 Requirements); and
    (B) Beginning on January 21, 2019, comply with the 2018 
Requirements.
    (ii) If the determination to transition is documented on or after 
January 21, 2019, the research shall, beginning on the date of such 
documentation, comply with the 2018 Requirements.
    (5) Research subject to 2018 Requirements. The 2018 Requirements 
shall apply to the following research:
    (i) Research initially approved by an IRB on or after January 21, 
2019,
    (ii) Research for which IRB review is waived pursuant to paragraph 
(i) of this section on or after January 21, 2019, and
    (iii) Research for which a determination is made that the research 
is exempt on or after January 21, 2019.
* * * * *
Alberta E. Mills,

Secretary, Consumer Product Safety Commission.

Social Security Administration

List of Subjects in 20 CFR Part 431

    Human research subjects, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, 
Research.

    For the reasons stated in the preamble, Social Security 
Administration proposes to further amend 20 CFR part 431 as published 
in the Federal Register on January 19, 2017 (82 FR 7149), and as 
amended in a final rule published in the Federal Register on January 
22, 2018 (83 FR 2885), as follows:

PART 431--PROTECTION OF HUMAN SUBJECTS

0
1. The authority citation for Part 431 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 5 U.S.C. 301; 42 U.S.C. 289(a).

0
2. Amend Sec.  431.101 by revising paragraphs (l)(2), (3), and (4), and 
adding paragraph (l)(5), to read as follows:


Sec.  431.101   To what does this policy apply?

* * * * *
    (l) * * *
    (2) For purposes of this section, the 2018 Requirements means the 
Federal Policy for the Protection of Human Subjects requirements 
contained in this part. The general compliance date for the 2018 
Requirements is January 21, 2019. The compliance date for Sec.  
431.114(b) (cooperative research) of the 2018 Requirements is January 
20, 2020.
    (3) Research subject to pre-2018 requirements. The pre-2018 
Requirements shall apply to the following research, unless the research 
is transitioning to comply with the 2018 Requirements in accordance 
with paragraph (l)(4) of this section:
    (i) Research initially approved by an IRB under the pre-2018 
Requirements before January 21, 2019;
    (ii) Research for which IRB review was waived pursuant to Sec.  
431.101(i) of the pre-2018 Requirements before January 21, 2019; and
    (iii) Research for which a determination was made that the research 
was exempt under Sec.  431.101(b) of the pre-2018 Requirements before 
January 21, 2019.
    (4) Transitioning research. If, on or after July 19, 2018, an 
institution engaged in research otherwise covered by paragraph (l)(3) 
of this section determines that such ongoing research instead will 
transition to comply with the 2018 Requirements, the institution or an 
IRB must document and date such determination.
    (i) If the determination to transition is documented between July 
19, 2018, and January 20, 2019, the research shall:
    (A) Beginning on the date of such documentation until January 20, 
2019, comply with the pre-2018 Requirements, except that the research 
shall comply with the following:
    (1) Section 431.102(l) of the 2018 Requirements (definition of 
research) (instead of Sec.  431.102(d) of the pre-2018 Requirements),
    (2) Section 431.103(d) of the 2018 Requirements (revised 
certification requirement that eliminates IRB review of application or 
proposal) (instead of Sec.  431.103(f) of the pre-2018 Requirements), 
and
    (3) Section 431.109(f)(1)(i) and (iii) of the 2018 Requirements 
(exceptions to mandated continuing review) (instead of Sec.  
431.103(b), as related to the requirement for continuing review, and in 
addition to Sec.  431.109, of the pre-2018 Requirements); and
    (B) Beginning on January 21, 2019, comply with the 2018 
Requirements.
    (ii) If the determination to transition is documented on or after 
January 21, 2019, the research shall, beginning on the date of such 
documentation, comply with the 2018 Requirements.
    (5) Research subject to 2018 Requirements. The 2018 Requirements 
shall apply to the following research:
    (i) Research initially approved by an IRB on or after January 21, 
2019,
    (ii) Research for which IRB review is waived pursuant to paragraph 
(i) of this section on or after January 21, 2019, and
    (iii) Research for which a determination is made that the research 
is exempt on or after January 21, 2019.
* * * * *
Nancy Berryhill,

Deputy Commissioner for Operations, performing the duties and 
functions not reserved to the Commissioner of Social Security.

Agency for International Development

List of Subjects in 22 CFR Part 225

    Human research subjects, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, 
Research.

    For the reasons stated in the preamble, Agency for International 
Development proposes to further amend 22 CFR part 225 as published in 
the Federal Register on January 19, 2017 (82 FR 7149), and as amended 
in a final rule published in the Federal Register on January 22, 2018 
(83 FR 2885), as follows:

PART 225--PROTECTION OF HUMAN SUBJECTS

0
1. The authority citation for Part 225 continues to read as follows:

    Authority:  5 U.S.C. 301; 42 U.S.C. 300v-1(b), unless otherwise 
noted.

0
2. Amend Sec.  225.101 by revising paragraphs (l)(2), (3), and (4), and 
adding paragraph (l)(5), to read as follows:


Sec.  225.101  To what does this policy apply?

* * * * *
    (l) * * *
    (2) For purposes of this section, the 2018 Requirements means the 
Federal Policy for the Protection of Human Subjects requirements 
contained in this part. The general compliance date for the 2018 
Requirements is January 21, 2019. The compliance date for Sec.  
225.114(b) (cooperative research) of the 2018 Requirements is January 
20, 2020.
    (3) Research subject to pre-2018 requirements. The pre-2018 
Requirements shall apply to the following research, unless the research 
is transitioning to comply with the 2018 Requirements in accordance 
with paragraph (l)(4) of this section:
    (i) Research initially approved by an IRB under the pre-2018 
Requirements before January 21, 2019;
    (ii) Research for which IRB review was waived pursuant to Sec.  
225.101(i) of the pre-2018 Requirements before January 21, 2019; and
    (iii) Research for which a determination was made that the

[[Page 17608]]

research was exempt under Sec.  225.101(b) of the pre-2018 Requirements 
before January 21, 2019.
    (4) Transitioning research. If, on or after July 19, 2018, an 
institution engaged in research otherwise covered by paragraph (l)(3) 
of this section determines that such ongoing research instead will 
transition to comply with the 2018 Requirements, the institution or an 
IRB must document and date such determination.
    (i) If the determination to transition is documented between July 
19, 2018, and January 20, 2019, the research shall:
    (A) Beginning on the date of such documentation until January 20, 
2019, comply with the pre-2018 Requirements, except that the research 
shall comply with the following:
    (1) Section 225.102(l) of the 2018 Requirements (definition of 
research) (instead of Sec.  225.102(d) of the pre-2018 Requirements),
    (2) Section 225.103(d) of the 2018 Requirements (revised 
certification requirement that eliminates IRB review of application or 
proposal) (instead of Sec.  225.103(f) of the pre-2018 Requirements), 
and
    (3) Section 225.109(f)(1)(i) and (iii) of the 2018 Requirements 
(exceptions to mandated continuing review) (instead of Sec.  
225.103(b), as related to the requirement for continuing review, and in 
addition to Sec.  225.109, of the pre-2018 Requirements); and
    (B) Beginning on January 21, 2019, comply with the 2018 
Requirements.
    (ii) If the determination to transition is documented on or after 
January 21, 2019, the research shall, beginning on the date of such 
documentation, comply with the 2018 Requirements.
    (5) Research subject to 2018 Requirements. The 2018 Requirements 
shall apply to the following research:
    (i) Research initially approved by an IRB on or after January 21, 
2019,
    (ii) Research for which IRB review is waived pursuant to paragraph 
(i) of this section on or after January 21, 2019, and
    (iii) Research for which a determination is made that the research 
is exempt on or after January 21, 2019.
* * * * *
Kerry Pelzman,

Acting Senior Deputy Assistant Administrator for Global Health, U.S. 
Agency for International Development.

Department of Housing and Urban Development

List of Subjects in 24 CFR Part 60

    Human research subjects, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, 
Research.

    For the reasons stated in the preamble, Department of Housing and 
Urban Development proposes to further amend 24 CFR part 60 as published 
in the Federal Register on January 19, 2017 (82 FR 7149), and as 
amended in a final rule published in the Federal Register on January 
22, 2018 (83 FR 2885) and adopted by HUD through a final rule published 
on January 26, 2018 (83 FR 3589), as follows:

PART 60--PROTECTION OF HUMAN SUBJECTS

0
1. The authority citation for Part 60 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 5 U.S.C. 301; 42 U.S.C. 300v-1(b) and 3535(d).

0
2. Amend Sec.  60.101 by revising paragraphs (l)(2), (3), and (4), and 
adding paragraph (l)(5), to read as follows:


Sec.  60.101   To what does this policy apply?

* * * * *
    (l) * * *
    (2) For purposes of this section, the 2018 Requirements means the 
Federal Policy for the Protection of Human Subjects requirements 
contained in this part. The general compliance date for the 2018 
Requirements is January 21, 2019. The compliance date for Sec.  
60.114(b) (cooperative research) of the 2018 Requirements is January 
20, 2020.
    (3) Research subject to pre-2018 requirements. The pre-2018 
Requirements shall apply to the following research, unless the research 
is transitioning to comply with the 2018 Requirements in accordance 
with paragraph (l)(4) of this section:
    (i) Research initially approved by an IRB under the pre-2018 
Requirements before January 21, 2019;
    (ii) Research for which IRB review was waived pursuant to Sec.  
60.101(i) of the pre-2018 Requirements before January 21, 2019; and
    (iii) Research for which a determination was made that the research 
was exempt under Sec.  60.101(b) of the pre-2018 Requirements before 
January 21, 2019.
    (4) Transitioning research. If, on or after July 19, 2018, an 
institution engaged in research otherwise covered by paragraph (l)(3) 
of this section determines that such ongoing research instead will 
transition to comply with the 2018 Requirements, the institution or an 
IRB must document and date such determination.
    (i) If the determination to transition is documented between July 
19, 2018, and January 20, 2019, the research shall:
    (A) Beginning on the date of such documentation until January 20, 
2019, comply with the pre-2018 Requirements, except that the research 
shall comply with the following:
    (1) Section 60.102(l) of the 2018 Requirements (definition of 
research) (instead of Sec.  60.102(d) of the pre-2018 Requirements),
    (2) Section 60.103(d) of the 2018 Requirements (revised 
certification requirement that eliminates IRB review of application or 
proposal) (instead of Sec.  60.103(f) of the pre-2018 Requirements), 
and
    (3) Section 60.109(f)(1)(i) and (iii) of the 2018 Requirements 
(exceptions to mandated continuing review) (instead of Sec.  60.103(b), 
as related to the requirement for continuing review, and in addition to 
Sec.  60.109, of the pre-2018 Requirements); and
    (B) Beginning on January 21, 2019, comply with the 2018 
Requirements.
    (ii) If the determination to transition is documented on or after 
January 21, 2019, the research shall, beginning on the date of such 
documentation, comply with the 2018 Requirements.
    (5) Research subject to 2018 Requirements. The 2018 Requirements 
shall apply to the following research:
    (i) Research initially approved by an IRB on or after January 21, 
2019,
    (ii) Research for which IRB review is waived pursuant to paragraph 
(i) of this section on or after January 21, 2019, and
    (iii) Research for which a determination is made that the research 
is exempt on or after January 21, 2019.
* * * * *
Todd M. Richardson,

Acting General Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy Development and 
Research, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Department of Labor

List of Subjects in 29 CFR Part 21

    Human research subjects, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, 
Research.

    For the reasons stated in the preamble, Department of Labor 
proposes to further amend 29 CFR part 21 as published in the Federal 
Register on January 19, 2017 (82 FR 7149), and as amended in a final 
rule published in the Federal Register on January 22, 2018 (83 FR 
2885), as follows:

PART 21--PROTECTION OF HUMAN SUBJECTS

0
1. The authority citation for Part 21 continues to read as follows:

    Authority:  5 U.S.C. 301; 29 U.S.C. 551.

0
2. Amend Sec.  21.101 by revising paragraphs (l)(2), (3), and (4), and 
adding paragraph (l)(5), to read as follows:

[[Page 17609]]

Sec.  21.101   To what does this policy apply?

* * * * *
    (l) * * *
    (2) For purposes of this section, the 2018 Requirements means the 
Federal Policy for the Protection of Human Subjects requirements 
contained in this part. The general compliance date for the 2018 
Requirements is January 21, 2019. The compliance date for Sec.  
21.114(b) (cooperative research) of the 2018 Requirements is January 
20, 2020.
    (3) Research subject to pre-2018 requirements. The pre-2018 
Requirements shall apply to the following research, unless the research 
is transitioning to comply with the 2018 Requirements in accordance 
with paragraph (l)(4) of this section:
    (i) Research initially approved by an IRB under the pre-2018 
Requirements before January 21, 2019;
    (ii) Research for which IRB review was waived pursuant to Sec.  
21.101(i) of the pre-2018 Requirements before January 21, 2019; and
    (iii) Research for which a determination was made that the research 
was exempt under Sec.  21.101(b) of the pre-2018 Requirements before 
January 21, 2019.
    (4) Transitioning research. If, on or after July 19, 2018, an 
institution engaged in research otherwise covered by paragraph (l)(3) 
of this section determines that such ongoing research instead will 
transition to comply with the 2018 Requirements, the institution or an 
IRB must document and date such determination.
    (i) If the determination to transition is documented between July 
19, 2018, and January 20, 2019, the research shall:
    (A) Beginning on the date of such documentation until January 20, 
2019, comply with the pre-2018 Requirements, except that the research 
shall comply with the following:
    (1) Section 21.102(l) of the 2018 Requirements (definition of 
research) (instead of Sec.  21.102(d) of the pre-2018 Requirements),
    (2) Section 21.103(d) of the 2018 Requirements (revised 
certification requirement that eliminates IRB review of application or 
proposal) (instead of Sec.  21.103(f) of the pre-2018 Requirements), 
and
    (3) Section 21.109(f)(1)(i) and (iii) of the 2018 Requirements 
(exceptions to mandated continuing review) (instead of Sec.  21.103(b), 
as related to the requirement for continuing review, and in addition to 
Sec.  21.109, of the pre-2018 Requirements); and
    (B) Beginning on January 21, 2019, comply with the 2018 
Requirements.
    (ii) If the determination to transition is documented on or after 
January 21, 2019, the research shall, beginning on the date of such 
documentation, comply with the 2018 Requirements.
    (5) Research subject to 2018 Requirements. The 2018 Requirements 
shall apply to the following research:
    (i) Research initially approved by an IRB on or after January 21, 
2019,
    (ii) Research for which IRB review is waived pursuant to paragraph 
(i) of this section on or after January 21, 2019, and
    (iii) Research for which a determination is made that the research 
is exempt on or after January 21, 2019.
* * * * *
    Dated: April 2, 2018.

R. Alexander Acosta,

Secretary of Labor.

Department of Defense

List of Subjects in 32 CFR Part 219

    Human research subjects, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, 
Research.

    For the reasons stated in the preamble, Department of Defense 
proposes to further amend 32 CFR part 219 as published in the Federal 
Register on January 19, 2017 (82 FR 7149), and as amended in a final 
rule published in the Federal Register on January 22, 2018 (83 FR 
2885), as follows:

PART 219--PROTECTION OF HUMAN SUBJECTS

0
1. The authority citation for Part 219 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 5 U.S.C. 301.

0
2. Amend Sec.  219.101 by revising paragraphs (l)(2), (3), and (4), and 
adding paragraph (l)(5), to read as follows:


Sec.  219.101   To what does this policy apply?

* * * * *
    (l) * * *
    (2) For purposes of this section, the 2018 Requirements means the 
Federal Policy for the Protection of Human Subjects requirements 
contained in this part. The general compliance date for the 2018 
Requirements is January 21, 2019. The compliance date for Sec.  
219.114(b) (cooperative research) of the 2018 Requirements is January 
20, 2020.
    (3) Research subject to pre-2018 requirements. The pre-2018 
Requirements shall apply to the following research, unless the research 
is transitioning to comply with the 2018 Requirements in accordance 
with paragraph (l)(4) of this section:
    (i) Research initially approved by an IRB under the pre-2018 
Requirements before January 21, 2019;
    (ii) Research for which IRB review was waived pursuant to Sec.  
219.101(i) of the pre-2018 Requirements before January 21, 2019; and
    (iii) Research for which a determination was made that the research 
was exempt under Sec.  219.101(b) of the pre-2018 Requirements before 
January 21, 2019.
    (4) Transitioning research. If, on or after July 19, 2018, an 
institution engaged in research otherwise covered by paragraph (l)(3) 
of this section determines that such ongoing research instead will 
transition to comply with the 2018 Requirements, the institution or an 
IRB must document and date such determination.
    (i) If the determination to transition is documented between July 
19, 2018, and January 20, 2019, the research shall:
    (A) Beginning on the date of such documentation until January 20, 
2019, comply with the pre-2018 Requirements, except that the research 
shall comply with the following:
    (1) Section 219.102(l) of the 2018 Requirements (definition of 
research) (instead of Sec.  219.102(d) of the pre-2018 Requirements),
    (2) Section 219.103(d) of the 2018 Requirements (revised 
certification requirement that eliminates IRB review of application or 
proposal) (instead of Sec.  219.103(f) of the pre-2018 Requirements), 
and
    (3) Section 219.109(f)(1)(i) and (iii) of the 2018 Requirements 
(exceptions to mandated continuing review) (instead of Sec.  
219.103(b), as related to the requirement for continuing review, and in 
addition to Sec.  219.109, of the pre-2018 Requirements); and
    (B) Beginning on January 21, 2019, comply with the 2018 
Requirements.
    (ii) If the determination to transition is documented on or after 
January 21, 2019, the research shall, beginning on the date of such 
documentation, comply with the 2018 Requirements.
    (5) Research subject to 2018 Requirements. The 2018 Requirements 
shall apply to the following research:
    (i) Research initially approved by an IRB on or after January 21, 
2019,
    (ii) Research for which IRB review is waived pursuant to paragraph 
(i) of this section on or after January 21, 2019, and
    (iii) Research for which a determination is made that the research 
is exempt on or after January 21, 2019.
* * * * *
Mary J. Miller,

Principal Deputy, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Research and 
Engineering, U.S. Department of Defense.

[[Page 17610]]

Department of Education

List of Subjects in 34 CFR Part 97

    Human research subjects, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, 
Research.

    For the reasons stated in the preamble, Department of Education 
proposes to further amend 34 CFR part 97 as published in the Federal 
Register on January 19, 2017 (82 FR 7149), and as amended in a final 
rule published in the Federal Register on January 22, 2018 (83 FR 
2885), as follows:

PART 97--PROTECTION OF HUMAN SUBJECTS

0
1. The authority citation for Part 97 continues to read as follows:

    Authority:  5 U.S.C. 301; 20 U.S.C. 1221e-3, 3474.

0
2. Amend Sec.  97.101 by revising paragraphs (l)(2), (3), and (4), and 
adding paragraph (l)(5), to read as follows:


Sec.  97.101   To what does this policy apply?

* * * * *
    (l) * * *
    (2) For purposes of this section, the 2018 Requirements means the 
Federal Policy for the Protection of Human Subjects requirements 
contained in this subpart. The general compliance date for the 2018 
Requirements is January 21, 2019. The compliance date for Sec.  
97.114(b) (cooperative research) of the 2018 Requirements is January 
20, 2020.
    (3) Research subject to pre-2018 requirements. The pre-2018 
Requirements shall apply to the following research, unless the research 
is transitioning to comply with the 2018 Requirements in accordance 
with paragraph (l)(4) of this section:
    (i) Research initially approved by an IRB under the pre-2018 
Requirements before January 21, 2019;
    (ii) Research for which IRB review was waived pursuant to Sec.  
97.101(i) of the pre-2018 Requirements before January 21, 2019; and
    (iii) Research for which a determination was made that the research 
was exempt under Sec.  97.101(b) of the pre-2018 Requirements before 
January 21, 2019.
    (4) Transitioning research. If, on or after July 19, 2018, an 
institution engaged in research otherwise covered by paragraph (l)(3) 
of this section determines that such ongoing research instead will 
transition to comply with the 2018 Requirements, the institution or an 
IRB must document and date such determination.
    (i) If the determination to transition is documented between July 
19, 2018, and January 20, 2019, the research shall:
    (A) Beginning on the date of such documentation until January 20, 
2019, comply with the pre-2018 Requirements, except that the research 
shall comply with the following:
    (1) Section 97.102(l) of the 2018 Requirements (definition of 
research) (instead of Sec.  97.102(d) of the pre-2018 Requirements),
    (2) Section 97.103(d) of the 2018 Requirements (revised 
certification requirement that eliminates IRB review of application or 
proposal) (instead of Sec.  97.103(f) of the pre-2018 Requirements), 
and
    (3) Section 97.109(f)(1)(i) and (iii) of the 2018 Requirements 
(exceptions to mandated continuing review) (instead of Sec.  97.103(b), 
as related to the requirement for continuing review, and in addition to 
Sec.  97.109, of the pre-2018 Requirements); and
    (B) Beginning on January 21, 2019, comply with the 2018 
Requirements.
    (ii) If the determination to transition is documented on or after 
January 21, 2019, the research shall, beginning on the date of such 
documentation, comply with the 2018 Requirements.
    (5) Research subject to 2018 Requirements. The 2018 Requirements 
shall apply to the following research:
    (i) Research initially approved by an IRB on or after January 21, 
2019,
    (ii) Research for which IRB review is waived pursuant to paragraph 
(i) of this section on or after January 21, 2019, and
    (iii) Research for which a determination is made that the research 
is exempt on or after January 21, 2019.
* * * * *
Betsy DeVos,

Secretary of Education.

Department of Veterans Affairs

List of Subjects in 38 CFR Part 16

    Human research subjects, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, 
Research.

    For the reasons stated in the preamble, Department of Veterans 
Affairs proposes to further amend 38 CFR part 16 as published in the 
Federal Register on January 19, 2017 (82 FR 7149), and as amended in a 
final rule published in the Federal Register on January 22, 2018 (83 FR 
2885), as follows:

PART 16--PROTECTION OF HUMAN SUBJECTS

0
1. The authority citation for Part 16 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 5 U.S.C. 301; 38 U.S.C. 501, 7331, 7334; 42 U.S.C. 
300v-1(b).

0
2. Amend Sec.  16.101 by revising paragraphs (l)(2), (3), and (4), and 
adding paragraph (l)(5), to read as follows:


Sec.  16.101  To what does this policy apply?

* * * * *
    (l) * * *
    (2) For purposes of this section, the 2018 Requirements means the 
Federal Policy for the Protection of Human Subjects requirements 
contained in this part. The general compliance date for the 2018 
Requirements is January 21, 2019. The compliance date for Sec.  
16.114(b) (cooperative research) of the 2018 Requirements is January 
20, 2020.
    (3) Research subject to pre-2018 requirements. The pre-2018 
Requirements shall apply to the following research, unless the research 
is transitioning to comply with the 2018 Requirements in accordance 
with paragraph (l)(4) of this section:
    (i) Research initially approved by an IRB under the pre-2018 
Requirements before January 21, 2019;
    (ii) Research for which IRB review was waived pursuant to Sec.  
16.101(i) of the pre-2018 Requirements before January 21, 2019; and
    (iii) Research for which a determination was made that the research 
was exempt under Sec.  16.101(b) of the pre-2018 Requirements before 
January 21, 2019.
    (4) Transitioning research. If, on or after July 19, 2018, an 
institution engaged in research otherwise covered by paragraph (l)(3) 
of this section determines that such ongoing research instead will 
transition to comply with the 2018 Requirements, the institution or an 
IRB must document and date such determination.
    (i) If the determination to transition is documented between July 
19, 2018, and January 20, 2019, the research shall:
    (A) Beginning on the date of such documentation until January 20, 
2019, comply with the pre-2018 Requirements, except that the research 
shall comply with the following:
    (1) Section 16.102(l) of the 2018 Requirements (definition of 
research) (instead of Sec.  16.102(d) of the pre-2018 Requirements),
    (2) Section 16.103(d) of the 2018 Requirements (revised 
certification requirement that eliminates IRB review of application or 
proposal) (instead of Sec.  16.103(f) of the pre-2018 Requirements), 
and
    (3) Section 16.109(f)(1)(i) and (iii) of the 2018 Requirements 
(exceptions to mandated continuing review) (instead of Sec.  16.103(b), 
as related to the requirement for continuing review, and

[[Page 17611]]

in addition to Sec.  16.109, of the pre-2018 Requirements); and
    (B) Beginning on January 21, 2019, comply with the 2018 
Requirements.
    (ii) If the determination to transition is documented on or after 
January 21, 2019, the research shall, beginning on the date of such 
documentation, comply with the 2018 Requirements.
    (5) Research subject to 2018 Requirements. The 2018 Requirements 
shall apply to the following research:
    (i) Research initially approved by an IRB on or after January 21, 
2019,
    (ii) Research for which IRB review is waived pursuant to paragraph 
(i) of this section on or after January 21, 2019, and
    (iii) Research for which a determination is made that the research 
is exempt on or after January 21, 2019.
* * * * *
Jacquelyn Hayes-Byrd,

Deputy Chief of Staff, Department of Veterans Affairs.

Environmental Protection Agency

List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 26

    Human research subjects, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, 
Research.

    For the reasons stated in the preamble, Environmental Protection 
Agency proposes to further amend 40 CFR part 26 as published in the 
Federal Register on January 19, 2017 (82 FR 7149), and as amended in a 
final rule published in the Federal Register on January 22, 2018 (83 FR 
2885), as follows:

PART 26--PROTECTION OF HUMAN SUBJECTS

0
1. The authority citation for Part 26 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 5 U.S.C. 301; 7 U.S.C. 136a(a) and 136w(a)(1); 21 
U.S.C. 346a(e)(1)(C); sec. 201, Pub. L. 109-54, 119 Stat. 531; 42 
U.S.C. 300v-1(b).

0
2. Amend Sec.  26.101 by revising paragraphs (l)(2), (3), and (4), and 
adding paragraph (l)(5), to read as follows:


Sec.  26.101  To what does this policy apply?

* * * * *
    (l) * * *
    (2) For purposes of this section, the 2018 Requirements means the 
Federal Policy for the Protection of Human Subjects requirements 
contained in this subpart. The general compliance date for the 2018 
Requirements is January 21, 2019. The compliance date for Sec.  
26.114(b) (cooperative research) of the 2018 Requirements is January 
20, 2020.
    (3) Research subject to pre-2018 requirements. The pre-2018 
Requirements shall apply to the following research, unless the research 
is transitioning to comply with the 2018 Requirements in accordance 
with paragraph (l)(4) of this section:
    (i) Research initially approved by an IRB under the pre-2018 
Requirements before January 21, 2019;
    (ii) Research for which IRB review was waived pursuant to Sec.  
26.101(i) of the pre-2018 Requirements before January 21, 2019; and
    (iii) Research for which a determination was made that the research 
was exempt under Sec.  26.101(b) of the pre-2018 Requirements before 
January 21, 2019.
    (4) Transitioning research. If, on or after July 19, 2018, an 
institution engaged in research otherwise covered by paragraph (l)(3) 
of this section determines that such ongoing research instead will 
transition to comply with the 2018 Requirements, the institution or an 
IRB must document and date such determination.
    (i) If the determination to transition is documented between July 
19, 2018, and January 20, 2019, the research shall:
    (A) Beginning on the date of such documentation until January 20, 
2019, comply with the pre-2018 Requirements, except that the research 
shall comply with the following:
    (1) Section 26.102(l) of the 2018 Requirements (definition of 
research) (instead of Sec.  26.102(d) of the pre-2018 Requirements),
    (2) Section 26.103(d) of the 2018 Requirements (revised 
certification requirement that eliminates IRB review of application or 
proposal) (instead of Sec.  26.103(f) of the pre-2018 Requirements), 
and
    (3) Section 26.109(f)(1)(i) and (iii) of the 2018 Requirements 
(exceptions to mandated continuing review) (instead of Sec.  26.103(b), 
as related to the requirement for continuing review, and in addition to 
Sec.  26.109, of the pre-2018 Requirements); and
    (B) Beginning on January 21, 2019, comply with the 2018 
Requirements.
    (ii) If the determination to transition is documented on or after 
January 21, 2019, the research shall, beginning on the date of such 
documentation, comply with the 2018 Requirements.
    (5) Research subject to 2018 Requirements. The 2018 Requirements 
shall apply to the following research:
    (i) Research initially approved by an IRB on or after January 21, 
2019,
    (ii) Research for which IRB review is waived pursuant to paragraph 
(i) of this section on or after January 21, 2019, and
    (iii) Research for which a determination is made that the research 
is exempt on or after January 21, 2019.
* * * * *
E. Scott Pruitt,

Administrator, Environmental Protection Agency.

Department of Health and Human Services

List of Subjects in 45 CFR Part 46

    Human research subjects, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, 
Research.

    For the reasons stated in the preamble, Department of Health and 
Human Services proposes to further amend 45 CFR part 46 as published in 
the Federal Register on January 19, 2017 (82 FR 7149), and as amended 
in a final rule published in the Federal Register on January 22, 2018 
(83 FR 2885), as follows:

PART 46--PROTECTION OF HUMAN SUBJECTS

0
1. The authority citation for Part 46 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 5 U.S.C. 301; 42 U.S.C. 289(a); 42 U.S.C. 300v-1(b).

0
2. Amend Sec.  46.101 by revising paragraphs (l)(2), (3), and (4), and 
adding paragraph (l)(5), to read as follows:


Sec.  46.101  To what does this policy apply?

* * * * *
    (l) * * *
    (2) For purposes of this section, the 2018 Requirements means the 
Federal Policy for the Protection of Human Subjects requirements 
contained in this subpart. The general compliance date for the 2018 
Requirements is January 21, 2019. The compliance date for Sec.  
46.114(b) (cooperative research) of the 2018 Requirements is January 
20, 2020.
    (3) Research subject to pre-2018 requirements. The pre-2018 
Requirements shall apply to the following research, unless the research 
is transitioning to comply with the 2018 Requirements in accordance 
with paragraph (l)(4) of this section:
    (i) Research initially approved by an IRB under the pre-2018 
Requirements before January 21, 2019;
    (ii) Research for which IRB review was waived pursuant to Sec.  
46.101(i) of the pre-2018 Requirements before January 21, 2019; and
    (iii) Research for which a determination was made that the research 
was exempt under Sec.  46.101(b) of the pre-2018 Requirements before 
January 21, 2019.
    (4) Transitioning research. If, on or after July 19, 2018, an 
institution

[[Page 17612]]

engaged in research otherwise covered by paragraph (l)(3) of this 
section determines that such ongoing research instead will transition 
to comply with the 2018 Requirements, the institution or an IRB must 
document and date such determination.
    (i) If the determination to transition is documented between July 
19, 2018, and January 20, 2019, the research shall:
    (A) Beginning on the date of such documentation until January 20, 
2019, comply with the pre-2018 Requirements, except that the research 
shall comply with the following:
    (1) Section 46.102(l) of the 2018 Requirements (definition of 
research) (instead of Sec.  46.102(d) of the pre-2018 Requirements),
    (2) Section 46.103(d) of the 2018 Requirements (revised 
certification requirement that eliminates IRB review of application or 
proposal) (instead of Sec.  46.103(f) of the pre-2018 Requirements), 
and
    (3) Section 46.109(f)(1)(i) and (iii) of the 2018 Requirements 
(exceptions to mandated continuing review) (instead of Sec.  46.103(b), 
as related to the requirement for continuing review, and in addition to 
Sec.  46.109, of the pre-2018 Requirements); and
    (B) Beginning on January 21, 2019, comply with the 2018 
Requirements.
    (ii) If the determination to transition is documented on or after 
January 21, 2019, the research shall, beginning on the date of such 
documentation, comply with the 2018 Requirements.
    (5) Research subject to 2018 Requirements. The 2018 Requirements 
shall apply to the following research:
    (i) Research initially approved by an IRB on or after January 21, 
2019,
    (ii) Research for which IRB review is waived pursuant to paragraph 
(i) of this section on or after January 21, 2019, and
    (iii) Research for which a determination is made that the research 
is exempt on or after January 21, 2019.
* * * * *
Alex M. Azar II,

Secretary, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

National Science Foundation

List of Subjects in 45 CFR Part 690

    Human research subjects, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, 
Research.

    For the reasons stated in the preamble, National Science Foundation 
proposes to further amend 45 CFR part 690 as published in the Federal 
Register on January 19, 2017 (82 FR 7149), and as amended in a final 
rule published in the Federal Register on January 22, 2018 (83 FR 
2885), as follows:

PART 690--PROTECTION OF HUMAN SUBJECTS

0
1. The authority citation for Part 690 continues to read as follows:

    Authority:  5 U.S.C. 301; 42 U.S.C. 300v-1(b).

0
2. Amend Sec.  690.101 by revising paragraphs (l)(2), (3), and (4), and 
adding paragraph (l)(5), to read as follows:


Sec.  690.101  To what does this policy apply?

* * * * *
    (l) * * *
    (2) For purposes of this section, the 2018 Requirements means the 
Federal Policy for the Protection of Human Subjects requirements 
contained in this part. The general compliance date for the 2018 
Requirements is January 21, 2019. The compliance date for Sec.  
690.114(b) (cooperative research) of the 2018 Requirements is January 
20, 2020.
    (3) Research subject to pre-2018 requirements. The pre-2018 
Requirements shall apply to the following research, unless the research 
is transitioning to comply with the 2018 Requirements in accordance 
with paragraph (l)(4) of this section:
    (i) Research initially approved by an IRB under the pre-2018 
Requirements before January 21, 2019;
    (ii) Research for which IRB review was waived pursuant to Sec.  
690.101(i) of the pre-2018 Requirements before January 21, 2019; and
    (iii) Research for which a determination was made that the research 
was exempt under Sec.  690.101(b) of the pre-2018 Requirements before 
January 21, 2019.
    (4) Transitioning research. If, on or after July 19, 2018, an 
institution engaged in research otherwise covered by paragraph (l)(3) 
of this section determines that such ongoing research instead will 
transition to comply with the 2018 Requirements, the institution or an 
IRB must document and date such determination.
    (i) If the determination to transition is documented between July 
19, 2018, and January 20, 2019, the research shall:
    (A) Beginning on the date of such documentation until January 20, 
2019, comply with the pre-2018 Requirements, except that the research 
shall comply with the following:
    (1) Section 690.102(l) of the 2018 Requirements (definition of 
research) (instead of Sec.  690.102(d) of the pre-2018 Requirements),
    (2) Section 690.103(d) of the 2018 Requirements (revised 
certification requirement that eliminates IRB review of application or 
proposal) (instead of Sec.  690.103(f) of the pre-2018 Requirements), 
and
    (3) Section 690.109(f)(1)(i) and (iii) of the 2018 Requirements 
(exceptions to mandated continuing review) (instead of Sec.  
690.103(b), as related to the requirement for continuing review, and in 
addition to Sec.  690.109, of the pre-2018 Requirements); and
    (B) Beginning on January 21, 2019, comply with the 2018 
Requirements.
    (ii) If the determination to transition is documented on or after 
January 21, 2019, the research shall, beginning on the date of such 
documentation, comply with the 2018 Requirements.
    (5) Research subject to 2018 Requirements. The 2018 Requirements 
shall apply to the following research:
    (i) Research initially approved by an IRB on or after January 21, 
2019,
    (ii) Research for which IRB review is waived pursuant to paragraph 
(i) of this section on or after January 21, 2019, and
    (iii) Research for which a determination is made that the research 
is exempt on or after January 21, 2019.
* * * * *
Lawrence Rudolph,

General Counsel, National Science Foundation.

Department of Transportation

List of Subjects in 49 CFR Part 11

    Human research subjects, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, 
Research.

    For the reasons stated in the preamble, Department of 
Transportation proposes to further amend 49 CFR part 11 as published in 
the Federal Register on January 19, 2017 (82 FR 7149), and as amended 
in a final rule published in the Federal Register on January 22, 2018 
(83 FR 2885), as follows:

PART 11--PROTECTION OF HUMAN SUBJECTS

0
1. The authority citation for Part 11 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 5 U.S.C. 301; 42 U.S.C. 300v-1(b).

0
2. Amend Sec.  11.101 by revising paragraphs (l)(2), (3), and (4), and 
adding paragraph (l)(5), to read as follows:


Sec.  11.101   To what does this policy apply?

* * * * *
    (l) * * *
    (2) For purposes of this section, the 2018 Requirements means the 
Federal Policy for the Protection of Human Subjects requirements 
contained in this part. The general compliance date for the 2018 
Requirements is January 21, 2019. The compliance date for

[[Page 17613]]

Sec.  11.114(b) (cooperative research) of the 2018 Requirements is 
January 20, 2020.
    (3) Research subject to pre-2018 requirements. The pre-2018 
Requirements shall apply to the following research, unless the research 
is transitioning to comply with the 2018 Requirements in accordance 
with paragraph (l)(4) of this section:
    (i) Research initially approved by an IRB under the pre-2018 
Requirements before January 21, 2019;
    (ii) Research for which IRB review was waived pursuant to Sec.  
11.101(i) of the pre-2018 Requirements before January 21, 2019; and
    (iii) Research for which a determination was made that the research 
was exempt under Sec.  11.101(b) of the pre-2018 Requirements before 
January 21, 2019.
    (4) Transitioning research. If, on or after July 19, 2018, an 
institution engaged in research otherwise covered by paragraph (l)(3) 
of this section determines that such ongoing research instead will 
transition to comply with the 2018 Requirements, the institution or an 
IRB must document and date such determination.
    (i) If the determination to transition is documented between July 
19, 2018, and January 20, 2019, the research shall:
    (A) Beginning on the date of such documentation until January 20, 
2019, comply with the pre-2018 Requirements, except that the research 
shall comply with the following:
    (1) Section 11.102(l) of the 2018 Requirements (definition of 
research) (instead of Sec.  11.102(d) of the pre-2018 Requirements),
    (2) Section 11.103(d) of the 2018 Requirements (revised 
certification requirement that eliminates IRB review of application or 
proposal) (instead of Sec.  11.103(f) of the pre-2018 Requirements), 
and
    (3) Section 11.109(f)(1)(i) and (iii) of the 2018 Requirements 
(exceptions to mandated continuing review) (instead of Sec.  11.103(b), 
as related to the requirement for continuing review, and in addition to 
Sec.  11.109, of the pre-2018 Requirements); and
    (B) Beginning on January 21, 2019, comply with the 2018 
Requirements.
    (ii) If the determination to transition is documented on or after 
January 21, 2019, the research shall, beginning on the date of such 
documentation, comply with the 2018 Requirements.
    (5) Research subject to 2018 Requirements. The 2018 Requirements 
shall apply to the following research:
    (i) Research initially approved by an IRB on or after January 21, 
2019,
    (ii) Research for which IRB review is waived pursuant to paragraph 
(i) of this section on or after January 21, 2019, and
    (iii) Research for which a determination is made that the research 
is exempt on or after January 21, 2019.
* * * * *
Elaine L. Chao,

Secretary of Transportation.

[FR Doc. 2018-08231 Filed 4-19-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4150-36-P


