Draft Fish and Wildlife Service Friends Policy, 12989-12990 [2011-5307]

Download as PDF Emcdonald on DSK2BSOYB1PROD with NOTICES Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 46 / Wednesday, March 9, 2011 / Notices current statute and regulations, the proposed FMRs would be produced (2 weeks) and reviewed and published (4 weeks) in early July. A 30-day comment period (with an additional 1 week to be added to the end of the comment period to cover all filings that are not posted by the due date) would provide for analysis of comments (1 week), and 1 week to spare for publishing October 1. This timeline should not represent the normal process, because it does not provide HUD or commenters the time necessary to review comments and FMRs. With a trend factor that changes every year, it is important to provide additional time for all to have a chance to review proposed FMRs. Using the March CPI instead would increase the time for commenters to review their FMRs, though HUD’s review of comments will be the same. HUD specifically requests comments as to whether or not an additional 3 or 4 months of CPI is believed to significantly improve the quality of the FMRs, or if, without legislative relief from publishing proposed FMRs, HUD should use a trend factor that mimics the average annual CPI data already used. This would eliminate a constant trend factor, and would extend the rent and utility changes from the most recent year an additional 15 months. An additional concern regarding the monthly data is that, except at a national level, the monthly data are not seasonally adjusted. This means that basing trend factors on monthly CPI statistics would depend critically on which months are chosen as the base and final months. HUD analyzed applying a new trend factor using the six months of regional CPI data available in the summer 2009 (through June 2009) and the national average FMR was 1.6 percent higher than the national average FMR for the previous year. However, using only the first five months of CPI data (through May 2009), the national average FMR was 2.2 percent higher. There can be considerable monthly fluctuations in the rent and utility data of the CPI, even on a regional basis. This leads to another question: Should a national factor be used instead of a regional trend factor so that seasonally adjusted data can be used? Under the current regulations and legislative constraints, CPI data are released in the interim period between publication of proposed and final FMRs; should these be incorporated? How would this best be achieved? Would this render the public comment process meaningless, as nearly all rents would change between proposed and final, and locations that would benefit from the VerDate Mar<15>2010 18:04 Mar 08, 2011 Jkt 223001 12989 new data would lobby for the update while those made worse off would push for the status quo? The last three suggested alternatives assume the legislative changes that eliminate the requirement that FMRs be published for effect on October 1st, but there are three different assumptions about the date of the FMR, October, (3 months trending), April (9 months trending) and June (of that year and no trending). Is the accuracy of the FMRs best served by using the most current data and reducing or eliminating the trend factor? Dated: March 2, 2011. Raphael W. Bostic, Assistant Secretary for Policy Development and Research. V. Request for Public Comments HUD seeks public comments on the trend factor that is used in the FMR estimation process. Comments on the trend factor must include sufficient information in support of one of the alternatives listed by HUD, or a new proposal. The following issues should be addressed: 1. Should HUD continue to use a constant trend factor or should the trend factor be updated annually to attempt to capture market changes? 2. The constant trend factor that HUD has used in the past cannot be replicated for 2000 to 2010 based on available 2010 Census data. If a constant trend factor is appropriate, what data and time period should be used for a constant trend factor? 3. Is a national trend factor appropriate, or should HUD limit itself to use of more local options such as regional factors? 4. Should HUD allow changes between the proposed and final FMRs resulting from updated trend factors? 5. Is using the more current data for estimating the FMRs more important than providing for public comment before establishing final FMRs for effect? 6. Is the seasonality of rent and utility prices important in considering what month to collect data for trending? If so, how should HUD select the month to use or to compare it with? 7. Is double counting of CPI data a concern? 8. Is it more important to base a trend on the most recent data possible, or on the most specific geography? 9. Is it better to use rent and utility CPI data in developing a trend factor or should other prices be included? 10. Should HUD pursue legislative and regulatory changes to reduce or eliminate the need for trending? 11. Is there a data source or aggregation of sources of data provided on a more current basis than the CPI that could be used in the FMR estimation process? Draft Fish and Wildlife Service Friends Policy PO 00000 Frm 00058 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 [FR Doc. 2011–5263 Filed 3–8–11; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4210–67–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Fish and Wildlife Service [FWS–R9–R–2011–N030; 93261–1263–000– 5C] RIN 1018–AX35 Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior. ACTION: Notice of reopening of comment period. AGENCY: We are reopening the comment period on our draft Fish and Wildlife Service Friends Policy, which we made available for public comment via a Federal Register notice published on October 18, 2010. DATES: Submit comments on or before April 8, 2011. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on the draft policy by mail to: Kevin Kilcullen, Division of Visitors Services and Communication, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 4401 N. Fairfax Drive, Room 635, Arlington, VA 22203; by FAX to (703) 358–2517; or by e-mail to refugesystempolicycomments@fws.gov. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kevin Kilcullen, (703) 358–2382. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In a Federal Register notice dated October 18, 2010 (75 FR 63851), we announced availability for public review and comment of a draft policy for Fish and Wildlife Service employees working with Refuge Friends groups. Established in 1996 to encourage and organize community involvement in National Wildlife Refuge System activities, the National Friends Program works to expand the effectiveness of communitybased, nonprofit Friends organizations to build visibility and support for the Fish and Wildlife Service’s conservation programs. Given the rapid growth and size of the program (currently about 230 organizations and an estimated 60,000 members), we have identified the need to issue national policy guidance on a number of issues affecting our relationship with Friends organizations. Those needs include administrative procedures, guidance on addressing financial and administrative information, a sample Friends SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\09MRN1.SGM 09MRN1 12990 Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 46 / Wednesday, March 9, 2011 / Notices Partnership Agreement, and guidance on revenue-generating activities that will assist Service employees in working with Friends organizations. For more background on the draft policy, see our October 18, 2010, notice. The draft policy is available at https:// www.fws.gov/refuges/friends. We received several requests to extend the public comment period beyond the December 2, 2010, due date. In order to ensure that the public has an adequate opportunity to review and comment on our draft policy, we are reopening the comment period for an additional 30 days. Comments previously submitted need not be resubmitted and will be fully considered in preparation of the final policy. Before including your address, phone number, e-mail address, or other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment—including your personal identifying information—may be made publicly available at any time. While you can ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so. Brenda Tapia, Division of Management Authority, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 4401 North Fairfax Drive, Room 212, Arlington, VA 22203; fax (703) 358–2280; or e-mail DMAFR@fws.gov. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Brenda Tapia, (703) 358–2104 (telephone); (703) 358–2280 (fax); DMAFR@fws.gov (e-mail). SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: ADDRESSES: I. Public Comment Procedures ACTION: A. How do I request copies of applications or comment on submitted applications? Send your request for copies of applications or comments and materials concerning any of the applications to the contact listed under ADDRESSES. Please include the Federal Register notice publication date, the PRTnumber, and the name of the applicant in your request or submission. We will not consider requests or comments sent to an e-mail or address not listed under ADDRESSES. If you provide an e-mail address in your request for copies of applications, we will attempt to respond to your request electronically. Please make your requests or comments as specific as possible. Please confine your comments to issues for which we seek comments in this notice, and explain the basis for your comments. Include sufficient information with your comments to allow us to authenticate any scientific or commercial data you include. The comments and recommendations that will be most useful and likely to influence agency decisions are: (1) Those supported by quantitative information or studies; and (2) Those that include citations to, and analyses of, the applicable laws and regulations. We will not consider or include in our administrative record comments we receive after the close of the comment period (see DATES) or comments delivered to an address other than those listed above (see ADDRESSES). We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, invite the public to comment on the following applications to conduct certain activities with endangered species. With some exceptions, the Endangered Species Act (ESA) prohibits activities with listed species unless a Federal permit is issued that allows such activities. The ESA law requires that we invite public comment before issuing these permits. DATES: We must receive comments or requests for documents on or before April 8, 2011. B. May I review comments submitted by others? Comments, including names and street addresses of respondents, will be available for public review at the address listed under ADDRESSES. The public may review documents and other information applicants have sent in support of the application unless our allowing viewing would violate the Privacy Act or Freedom of Information Act. Before including your address, phone number, e-mail address, or other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be aware that Dated: February 17, 2011. Rowan W. Gould, Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Acting). [FR Doc. 2011–5307 Filed 3–8–11; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–55–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Fish and Wildlife Service [FWS–R9–IA–2011–N046; 96300–1671– 0000–P5] Endangered Species Receipt of Applications for Permit AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior. Notice of receipt of applications for permit. Emcdonald on DSK2BSOYB1PROD with NOTICES SUMMARY: VerDate Mar<15>2010 18:04 Mar 08, 2011 Jkt 223001 PO 00000 Frm 00059 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 your entire comment—including your personal identifying information—may be made publicly available at any time. While you can ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so. II. Background To help us carry out our conservation responsibilities for affected species, the Endangered Species Act of 1973, section 10(a)(1)(A), as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), require that we invite public comment before final action on these permit applications. III. Permit Applications A. Endangered Species Applicant: Chicago Zoological Society dba Brookfield Zoo, Brookfield, IL; PRT21862A The applicant requests a permit to import a captive-born female Grevy’s zebra (Equus grevyi) from Toronto Zoo, Ontario, Canada, for the purpose of enhancement of the survival of the species. Applicant: St. John Fisher College, Rochester, NY; PRT–28080A The applicant requests a permit to import biological samples from juvenile, captive-held African penguins (Spheniscus demersus) collected by Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds (SANCCOB) for the purposes of enhancement of the survival of the species. Applicant: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service-MBO/SJV, Tucson, AZ; PRT– 14239A The applicant requests a permit to export live masked bobwhite (Colinus virginianus ridgwayi) from the Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge captive breeding facility to Sonora, Mexico, under the Sonoran Joint Venture for recovery and reintroduction. This notification covers activities to be conducted by the applicant over a 5year period. Applicant: Zoological Society of San Diego, San Diego, CA; PRT–32684A The applicant requests a permit to import ten live captive-bred gharial (Gavialis gangeticus) from the Madras Crocodile Bank Trust, Tamil Nadu, India, for the purpose of enhancement of the survival of the species. E:\FR\FM\09MRN1.SGM 09MRN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 46 (Wednesday, March 9, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12989-12990]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-5307]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R9-R-2011-N030; 93261-1263-000-5C]
RIN 1018-AX35


Draft Fish and Wildlife Service Friends Policy

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of reopening of comment period.

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

SUMMARY: We are reopening the comment period on our draft Fish and 
Wildlife Service Friends Policy, which we made available for public 
comment via a Federal Register notice published on October 18, 2010.

DATES: Submit comments on or before April 8, 2011.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on the draft policy by mail to: 
Kevin Kilcullen, Division of Visitors Services and Communication, U.S. 
Fish and Wildlife Service, 4401 N. Fairfax Drive, Room 635, Arlington, 
VA 22203; by FAX to (703) 358-2517; or by e-mail to 
refugesystempolicycomments@fws.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kevin Kilcullen, (703) 358-2382.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In a Federal Register notice dated October 
18, 2010 (75 FR 63851), we announced availability for public review and 
comment of a draft policy for Fish and Wildlife Service employees 
working with Refuge Friends groups. Established in 1996 to encourage 
and organize community involvement in National Wildlife Refuge System 
activities, the National Friends Program works to expand the 
effectiveness of community-based, nonprofit Friends organizations to 
build visibility and support for the Fish and Wildlife Service's 
conservation programs. Given the rapid growth and size of the program 
(currently about 230 organizations and an estimated 60,000 members), we 
have identified the need to issue national policy guidance on a number 
of issues affecting our relationship with Friends organizations. Those 
needs include administrative procedures, guidance on addressing 
financial and administrative information, a sample Friends

[[Page 12990]]

Partnership Agreement, and guidance on revenue-generating activities 
that will assist Service employees in working with Friends 
organizations. For more background on the draft policy, see our October 
18, 2010, notice. The draft policy is available at https://www.fws.gov/refuges/friends.
    We received several requests to extend the public comment period 
beyond the December 2, 2010, due date. In order to ensure that the 
public has an adequate opportunity to review and comment on our draft 
policy, we are reopening the comment period for an additional 30 days. 
Comments previously submitted need not be resubmitted and will be fully 
considered in preparation of the final policy.
    Before including your address, phone number, e-mail address, or 
other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be 
aware that your entire comment--including your personal identifying 
information--may be made publicly available at any time. While you can 
ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying 
information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be 
able to do so.

    Dated: February 17, 2011.
Rowan W. Gould,
Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Acting).
[FR Doc. 2011-5307 Filed 3-8-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P

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