Information Collection Activity; Comment Request, 72985-72986 [E7-24936]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 246 / Wednesday, December 26, 2007 / Notices from the roadless inventory associated with ski areas. Transportation v. Public Citizen, 541 U.S. 752, 764 (2004). Responsible Official The Responsible Official for the rulemaking is the Secretary, USDA, or his designee. Estimated Dates Nature of Decision To Be Made The Responsible Official, with concurrence of the State of Colorado, will select a management strategy to address the management of roadless areas on National Forest System Lands within the State of Colorado. pwalker on PROD1PC71 with NOTICES Scoping Process As part of its scoping process, the Forest Service solicits public comment on the nature and scope of the environmental, social, and economic issues related to the rulemaking that should be analyzed in depth in the Draft Environmental Impact Statement. Comments collected during promulgation of the 2001 Roadless Rule and the extensive public involvement process used by the State and Task Force to craft their petition will be heavily relied upon. The nature and scope of the analysis for the Draft Environmental Impact Statement will focus on the land management direction sought in the petition, and the alternatives to it. Because of the extensive amount of public comment that has already been received on the issue of protecting roadless areas in Colorado, no public meetings are planned for this 60-day scoping effort. However, public meetings will be held after the Draft Environmental Impact Statement and proposed rule have been released, and the public has had a chance to take a careful look at the State site-specific proposed rule, alternatives, and effects. Comment Requested Reviewers should provide their comments during the comment period. Timely comments will enable the agency to analyze and respond to them at one time and to use them in the preparation of the Environmental Impact Statement, thus avoiding undue delay in the decision making process. The submission of specific and substantive comments usually results in more effective use of public input and often results in better decisions. As a reminder, reviewers have an obligation to ‘‘structure their participation in the National Environmental Policy Act process so that it is meaningful and alerts the agency to the reviewer’s position and contentions.’’ Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Corp. v. NRDC, 435 U.S. 519, 552 (1978). Dept. of VerDate Aug<31>2005 17:33 Dec 21, 2007 Jkt 214001 The draft environmental impact statement is expected May, 2008, and the final environmental impact statement is expected December, 2008. Dated: December 18, 2007. Gloria Manning, Associate Deputy Chief, NFS. [FR Doc. E7–24894 Filed 12–21–07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410–11–P DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Forest Service Roadless Area Conservation National Advisory Committee Forest Service, USDA. Notice of meeting. AGENCY: ACTION: SUMMARY: The Roadless Area Conservation National Advisory Committee will meet in Washington, DC. The purpose of the meeting is to discuss the proposed rule for the management of roadless areas on National Forest System lands in the State of Idaho and to discuss other related roadless area matters. DATES: The meeting will be held January 16 to January 17, 2008, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m each day. ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the Forest Service, Sidney R.Yates Building, 201 14th Street, SW., Washington, DC. Written comments concerning this meeting should be addressed to Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, EMC, Jessica Call, 201 14th Street, SW., Mailstop 1104, Washington, DC 20024. Comments may also be sent via e-mail to jessicacall@fs.fed.us, or via facsimile to 202–205–1012. All comments, including names and addresses when provided, are placed in the record and are available for public inspection and copying. The public may inspect comments received at the Forest Service, Sidney R.Yates Building, 201 14th Street, SW., Washington, DC. Visitors are encouraged to call ahead to 202–205–1056 to facilitate entry into the building. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jessica Call, Roadless Area Conservation National Advisory Committee (RACNAC) Coordinator, at jessicacall@fs.fed.us or 202–205–1056. Individuals who use telecommunication devices for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1–800–877–8339 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 72985 between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., Eastern Standard Time, Monday through Friday. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The meeting is open to the public and interested parties are invited to attend; building security requires you to provide your name to Jessica Call, RACNAC Coordinator by January 11, 2008. You will need photo identification to enter the building. While meeting discussion is limited to Forest Service staff and Committee members, the public will be allowed to offer written and oral comments for the Committee’s consideration. Attendees wishing to comment orally will be allotted a specific amount of time to speak during a public comment period at the end of the first day’s agenda. To offer oral comment, please contact the RACNAC Coordinator at 202–205–1056. Dated: December 17, 2007. Gloria Manning, Associate Deputy Chief, NFS. [FR Doc. E7–24893 Filed 12–21–07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410–11–P DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Rural Utilities Service Information Collection Activity; Comment Request Rural Utilities Service, USDA. Notice and request for comments. AGENCY: ACTION: SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35, as amended), the Rural Utilities Service, an agency delivering the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Rural Development Utilities Programs, hereinafter referred to as Rural Development and/or Agency, invites comments on this information collection for which the Agency intends to request approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by February 25, 2008. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michele L. Brooks, Acting Director, Program Development and Regulatory Analysis, Rural Utilities Service, 1400 Independence Ave., SW., STOP 1522, Room 5174 South Building, Washington, DC 20250–1522. Telephone: (202) 690–1078, FAX: (202) 720–4120. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Office of Management and Budget’s (OMB) regulation (5 CFR 1320) implementing provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104–13) requires E:\FR\FM\26DEN1.SGM 26DEN1 pwalker on PROD1PC71 with NOTICES 72986 Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 246 / Wednesday, December 26, 2007 / Notices that interested members of the public and affected agencies have an opportunity to comment on information collection and recordkeeping activities (see 5 CFR 1320.8(d)). This notice identifies an information collection that the Agency is submitting to OMB for extension. Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the Agency, including whether the information will have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the Agency’s estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology. Comments may be sent to: Michele L. Brooks, Acting Director, Program Development and Regulatory Analysis, Rural Utilities Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, STOP 1522, Room 5174, 1400 Independence Ave., SW., Washington, DC 20250–1522. FAX: (202) 720–4120. Title: Public Television Station Digital Transition Grant Program. OMB Control Number: 0572–0134. Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved information collection. Abstract: As part of the nation’s evolution to digital television, the Federal Communications Commission had ordered all television broadcasters to initiate the broadcast of a digital television signal. Public television stations rely largely on community financial support to operate. In many rural areas the cost of the transition to digital broadcasting may exceed community resources. Since rural communities depend on public television stations for services ranging from educational course content in their schools to local news, weather, and agricultural reports, any disruption of public television broadcasting would be detrimental. Initiating a digital broadcast requires the installation of a new antenna, transmitter or translator, and new digital program management facilities consisting of processing and storage systems. Public television stations use a combination of transmitters and translators to serve the rural public. If the public television station is to perform program origination functions, VerDate Aug<31>2005 17:33 Dec 21, 2007 Jkt 214001 as most do, digital cameras, editing and mastering systems are required. A new studio-to-tower site communications link may be required to transport the digital broadcast signal to each transmitter and translator. The capability to broadcast some programming in a high definition television format is inherent in the digital television standard, and this can require additional facilities at the studio. These are the new components of the digital transition. In designing the national competition for the distribution of these grant funds, priority is given to public television stations serving the areas that would be most unable to fund the digital transition without a grant. The largest sources of funding for public television stations are public membership and business contributions. In rural areas, lower population density reduces the field of membership, and rural areas have fewer businesses per capita than urban and suburban areas. Therefore, rurality is a primary predictor of the need for grant funding for a public television station’s digital transition. In addition, some rural areas have per capita income levels that are lower than the national average, and public television stations covering these areas in particular are likely to have difficulty funding the digital transition. As a result, the consideration of the per capita income of a public television station’s coverage area is a secondary predictor of the need for grant funding. Finally, some public television stations may face special difficulty accomplishing the transition, and a third scoring factor for station hardship will account for conditions that make these public television stations less likely to accomplish the digital transition without a grant. Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 21 hours per response. Respondents: Not-for-profit institutions; State, Local or Tribal Government. Estimated Number of Respondents: 50. Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.12. Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 1,168 hours. Copies of this information collection can be obtained from MaryPat Daskal, Program Development and Regulatory Analysis, at (202) 720–7853. FAX: (202) 720–4120. All responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the request for OMB approval. All comments will also become a matter of public record. PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Dated: December 18, 2007. Curtis M. Anderson, Acting Administrator, Rural Utilities Service. [FR Doc. E7–24936 Filed 12–21–07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410–15–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request The Department of Commerce will submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for clearance the following proposal for collection of information under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35). Agency: International Trade Administration (ITA). Title: Special American Business Internship Training (SABIT) Program: Applications and Questionnaires. OMB Control Number: 0625–0225. Form Number(s): ITA–4143P–5. Type of Request: Regular submission. Burden Hours: 5,875. Number of Respondents: 2,250 Average Hours Per Response: Application—3 hours; Feedback form— 1 hour; and End-of-Internship form—2 hours. Needs and Uses: The participant applications and feedback (exit) surveys are needed to enable SABIT to find the most qualified people for the training programs and to track the success of the program as regards trade to between the United States and the countries of Eurasia. The information also aids in the improvement of content and administration of the programs. Affected Public: Foreign nationals residing in Eurasia and U.S. company employees. Frequency: On occasion. Respondent’s Obligation: Voluntary. OMB Desk Officer: David Rostker, (202) 395–3897. Copies of the above information collection proposal can be obtained by calling or writing Diana Hynek, Departmental Paperwork Clearance Officer, (202) 482–0266, Department of Commerce, Room 6625, 14th and Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20230 (or via the Internet at dHynek@doc.gov. Written comments and recommendations for the proposed information collection should be sent within 30 days of publication of this notice to David Rostker, OMB Desk Officer, Fax number (202) 395–7285 or via the Internet at David_Rostker@omb.eop.gov. E:\FR\FM\26DEN1.SGM 26DEN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 246 (Wednesday, December 26, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 72985-72986]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-24936]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Utilities Service


Information Collection Activity; Comment Request

AGENCY: Rural Utilities Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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

SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 
U.S.C. Chapter 35, as amended), the Rural Utilities Service, an agency 
delivering the United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Rural 
Development Utilities Programs, hereinafter referred to as Rural 
Development and/or Agency, invites comments on this information 
collection for which the Agency intends to request approval from the 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB).

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by February 25, 2008.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michele L. Brooks, Acting Director, 
Program Development and Regulatory Analysis, Rural Utilities Service, 
1400 Independence Ave., SW., STOP 1522, Room 5174 South Building, 
Washington, DC 20250-1522. Telephone: (202) 690-1078, FAX: (202) 720-
4120.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) 
regulation (5 CFR 1320) implementing provisions of the Paperwork 
Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13) requires

[[Page 72986]]

that interested members of the public and affected agencies have an 
opportunity to comment on information collection and recordkeeping 
activities (see 5 CFR 1320.8(d)). This notice identifies an information 
collection that the Agency is submitting to OMB for extension.
    Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of 
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of 
the Agency, including whether the information will have practical 
utility; (b) the accuracy of the Agency's estimate of the burden of the 
proposed collection of information including the validity of the 
methodology and assumptions used; (c) ways to enhance the quality, 
utility and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways to 
minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are 
to respond, including through the use of appropriate automated, 
electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or 
other forms of information technology. Comments may be sent to: Michele 
L. Brooks, Acting Director, Program Development and Regulatory 
Analysis, Rural Utilities Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, STOP 
1522, Room 5174, 1400 Independence Ave., SW., Washington, DC 20250-
1522. FAX: (202) 720-4120.
    Title: Public Television Station Digital Transition Grant Program.
    OMB Control Number: 0572-0134.
    Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved information 
collection.
    Abstract: As part of the nation's evolution to digital television, 
the Federal Communications Commission had ordered all television 
broadcasters to initiate the broadcast of a digital television signal. 
Public television stations rely largely on community financial support 
to operate. In many rural areas the cost of the transition to digital 
broadcasting may exceed community resources. Since rural communities 
depend on public television stations for services ranging from 
educational course content in their schools to local news, weather, and 
agricultural reports, any disruption of public television broadcasting 
would be detrimental.
    Initiating a digital broadcast requires the installation of a new 
antenna, transmitter or translator, and new digital program management 
facilities consisting of processing and storage systems. Public 
television stations use a combination of transmitters and translators 
to serve the rural public. If the public television station is to 
perform program origination functions, as most do, digital cameras, 
editing and mastering systems are required. A new studio-to-tower site 
communications link may be required to transport the digital broadcast 
signal to each transmitter and translator. The capability to broadcast 
some programming in a high definition television format is inherent in 
the digital television standard, and this can require additional 
facilities at the studio. These are the new components of the digital 
transition.
    In designing the national competition for the distribution of these 
grant funds, priority is given to public television stations serving 
the areas that would be most unable to fund the digital transition 
without a grant. The largest sources of funding for public television 
stations are public membership and business contributions. In rural 
areas, lower population density reduces the field of membership, and 
rural areas have fewer businesses per capita than urban and suburban 
areas. Therefore, rurality is a primary predictor of the need for grant 
funding for a public television station's digital transition. In 
addition, some rural areas have per capita income levels that are lower 
than the national average, and public television stations covering 
these areas in particular are likely to have difficulty funding the 
digital transition. As a result, the consideration of the per capita 
income of a public television station's coverage area is a secondary 
predictor of the need for grant funding. Finally, some public 
television stations may face special difficulty accomplishing the 
transition, and a third scoring factor for station hardship will 
account for conditions that make these public television stations less 
likely to accomplish the digital transition without a grant.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 21 hours per response.
    Respondents: Not-for-profit institutions; State, Local or Tribal 
Government.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 50.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.12.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 1,168 hours.
    Copies of this information collection can be obtained from MaryPat 
Daskal, Program Development and Regulatory Analysis, at (202) 720-7853. 
FAX: (202) 720-4120.
    All responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the 
request for OMB approval. All comments will also become a matter of 
public record.

    Dated: December 18, 2007.
Curtis M. Anderson,
Acting Administrator, Rural Utilities Service.
[FR Doc. E7-24936 Filed 12-21-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-15-P
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