Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Review and Approval; Comment Request; The Environmental Questionnaire and Checklist, 57924-57925 [2023-18226]
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57924
Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 163 / Thursday, August 24, 2023 / Notices
Independence Avenue SW, Washington,
DC 20250. Normal reading room hours
are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through
Friday, except holidays. To be sure
someone is there to help you, please call
(202) 799–7039 before coming.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms.
Chelsea Bare, Chief of Staff, Veterinary
Services, APHIS, U.S. Department of
Agriculture, 1400 Independence Avenue
SW, Whitten Building Room 318–E,
Washington, DC 20250; (515) 337–6128;
chelsea.j.bare@usda.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the
Animal Health Protection Act (AHPA)
(7 U.S.C. 8301–8322) the Secretary of
Agriculture is authorized to protect the
health of livestock, poultry, and
aquaculture populations in the United
States by preventing the introduction
and interstate spread of serious diseases
and pests of livestock, poultry, and
aquaculture, and eradicating such
diseases within the United States when
feasible. This authority has been
delegated to the United States
Department of Agriculture (USDA),
Animal and Plant Health Inspection
Service (APHIS), Veterinary Services
(VS).
Highly pathogenic avian influenza
(HPAI) virus is one such disease of
livestock. HPAI is extremely infectious
and often fatal to poultry.1 Avian
influenza (AI) viruses may circulate
freely in wild bird populations without
the birds appearing sick. As these birds
migrate, they carry HPAI and other AI
viruses with them and may
subsequently transmit AI to domestic
birds. HPAI can rapidly spread within
and between domestic poultry flocks
and wild bird (especially waterfowl)
populations. Because birds infected
with HPAI become a source of disease
to additional poultry and wild birds, it
is APHIS’ objective to stamp out HPAI
as rapidly as possible at locations where
it has been found. Preventing the entry
of diseased birds and eggs into the
United States, monitoring AI in
migratory birds, identifying AI strains
occurring primarily in migratory
waterbird species, as well as backyard
and commercial poultry flocks, and
stamping out HPAI as it arises in
domestic poultry is important for the
long-term maintenance of disease-free
United States poultry stocks.
On February 8, 2022, the HPAI H5N1
(AI strain) virus subtype was detected in
a commercial turkey flock in Indiana.
By February 24, 2022, H5N1 had been
1 Domestic poultry that can be affected include
chickens; turkeys; ring-necked pheasants; ducks;
geese; common, Japanese, or bobwhite quail; Indian
peafowl; chukar or grey partridge; pigeons; ostrich;
and guinea fowl.
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17:08 Aug 23, 2023
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detected in commercial poultry facilities
and backyard flocks in seven States
(Indiana, Kentucky, Virginia, New York,
Maine, Delaware, and Michigan). Due to
the emergency situation and in
accordance with 7 CFR 372.10 of
APHIS’ National Environmental Policy
Act (NEPA) Implementing Procedures,
APHIS published a draft environmental
assessment (EA) and draft finding of no
significant impact (FONSI) in April
2022 to allow VS to carry out emergency
response activities as a result of HPAI
outbreaks in the aforementioned seven
States at the start of 2022. A final EA
titled ‘‘Emergency Response for HPAI
Outbreaks in Seven States’’ and final
FONSI were published in September
2022.2
Since the preparation and publication
of the final EA and final FONSI for the
initial seven States, HPAI outbreaks
have continued to occur across the
United States. Within 15 months, the
virus was confirmed in 325 commercial
and 507 backyard flocks, affecting
approximately 59 million birds in 47
States.3 As HPAI outbreaks have been
stamped out, new outbreaks emerge and
are likely to continue with seasonal (i.e.,
spring and fall) bird migrations. For this
reason, APHIS prepared a supplemental
EA to cover VS’ HPAI emergency
outbreak response activities in the four
North American migratory bird flyways
(i.e., the Atlantic, Mississippi, Central,
and Pacific Flyways). APHIS’ review
and analysis of the potential
environmental impacts associated with
VS’ HPAI emergency outbreak response
activities for additional outbreaks in
commercial and backyard poultry
operations in the four North American
migratory bird flyways are documented
in detail in the draft supplemental EA
titled ‘‘Emergency Response for Highly
Pathogenic Avian Influenza Outbreaks
in the United States Migratory Bird
Flyways.’’
The draft supplemental EA presents
the purpose and need for the action, a
description of the affected environment,
and an analysis of potential
environmental impacts of the No Action
and Proposed Action (Preferred)
Alternatives. The two alternatives
considered in the supplemental EA
meet the purpose and need for VS to
carry out its goal to stamp out HPAI as
quickly as possible.
Potential direct and indirect effects on
the environment are evaluated under
2 To
view the draft EA, final EA, comments, and
the FONSI, go to www.regulations.gov and enter
APHIS–2022–0031 in the Search field.
3 Current HPAI outbreak data can be accessed at
APHIS’ website at https://www.aphis.usda.gov/
aphis/ourfocus/animalhealth/animal-diseaseinformation/avian/avian-influenza/2022-hpai.
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each alternative. The potential
environmental impacts on the following
resources are considered in the draft
supplemental EA: Soil, air, and water
quality; humans (including effects on
health and safety; cultural and historic
resources; equity and environmental
justice; children’s health, and Tribes);
and wildlife and plant populations,
especially birds of conservation
concern, eagles, and threatened and
endangered species. The draft
supplemental EA also considers
cumulative impacts from other past,
present, and reasonably foreseeable
future related actions.
Based on the draft supplemental EA,
APHIS has concluded that the Proposed
Action Alternative will not have a
significant impact on the quality of the
human environment and a draft FONSI
is appropriate with respect to the
proposed action. After the public
comment period ends, we will consider
all comments received, revise the draft
supplemental EA to address these
comments, as appropriate, and publish
a final NEPA document and decision.
The draft supplemental EA was
prepared in accordance with: (1) the
National Environmental Policy Act of
1969 4 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), (2) the
Council on Environmental Quality’s
NEPA Implementing Regulations (40
CFR parts 1500–1508) in effect as of the
date of this notice, (3) USDA’s NEPA
implementing regulations (7 CFR part
1b), and (4) APHIS’ NEPA Implementing
Procedures (7 CFR part 372).
Done in Washington, DC, this 18th day of
August 2023.
Michael Watson,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant
Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2023–18185 Filed 8–23–23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–34–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Office of Secretary
Agency Information Collection
Activities; Submission to the Office of
Management and Budget (OMB)
Review and Approval; Comment
Request; The Environmental
Questionnaire and Checklist
The Department of Commerce will
submit the following information
4 The Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 (Pub. L.
118–5), which became effective on June 3, 2023,
amended the National Environmental Policy Act.
The draft final EA and FONSI described in this
notice were prepared before the effective date of the
Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 and reflect the
requirements of the National Environmental Policy
Act before June 3, 2023.
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lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with NOTICES1
Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 163 / Thursday, August 24, 2023 / Notices
collection request to the Office of
Management and Budget (OMB) for
review and clearance in accordance
with the Paperwork Reduction Act of
1995, on or after the date of publication
of this notice. We invite the general
public and other Federal agencies to
comment on proposed, and continuing
information collections, which helps us
assess the impact of our information
collection requirements and minimize
the public’s reporting burden. Public
comments were previously requested
via the Federal Register on May 31,
2023, during a 60-day comment period.
This notice allows for an additional 30
days for public comments.
Agency: Office of Facilities and
Environmental Quality, Commerce.
Title: The Environmental
Questionnaire and Checklist.
OMB Control Number: 0690–0028.
Form Number(s): CD–593.
Type of Request: Regular submission
(an extension of a current information
collection).
Number of Respondents: 1,000.
Average Hours per Response: 3 hours.
Burden Hours: 3,000.
Needs and Uses: This request is for an
extension of a currently approved
information collection. The National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) (42
U.S.C. 4321–4347) and the Council on
Environmental Quality’s (CEQ)
Regulations for Implementing NEPA (40
CFR parts 1500–1508) require that
federal agencies complete an
environmental analysis for all major
federal actions significantly affecting the
environment. Those actions may
include a federal agency’s decision to
fund non-federal projects under grants
and cooperative agreements, including
infrastructure projects. In order to
determine NEPA compliance
requirements for a project receiving
Department of Commerce (DOC) bureau
level funding, DOC must assess
information which can only be provided
by the applicant for federal financial
assistance (grant).
The Environmental Questionnaire and
Checklist (EQC) provides federal
financial assistance applicants and DOC
staff with a tool to ensure that the
necessary project and environmental
information is obtained. The EQC was
developed to collect data concerning
potential environmental impacts that
the applicant for federal financial
assistance possesses and to transmit that
information to the Federal reviewer. The
EQC will allow for a more rapid review
of projects and facilitate DOC’s
evaluation of the potential
environmental impacts of a project and
the level of NEPA documentation
required. DOC staff will use the
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17:08 Aug 23, 2023
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information provided in answers to the
questionnaire to determine compliance
requirements for NEPA and conduct
subsequent NEPA analysis as needed.
Information provided in the
questionnaire may also be used for other
regulatory review requirements
associated with the proposed project,
such as the National Historic
Preservation Act.
Affected Public: Individuals or
households; Business or other for-profit
organizations; Not-for-profit
institutions; State, Local or Tribal
Government; Federal Government, etc.
Frequency: One-Time; annually.
Respondent’s Obligation: Voluntary.
Legal Authority: 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.
This information collection request
may be viewed at www.reginfo.gov.
Follow the instructions to view the
Department of Commerce collections
currently under review by OMB.
Written comments and
recommendations for the proposed
information collection should be
submitted within 30 days of the
publication of this notice on the
following website www.reginfo.gov/
public/do/PRAMain. Find this
particular information collection by
selecting ‘‘Currently under 30-day
Review—Open for Public Comments’’ or
by using the search function and
entering either the title of the collection
or the OMB Control Number 0690–0028.
Sheleen Dumas,
Department PRA Clearance Officer, Office of
the Under Secretary of Economic Affairs,
Commerce Department.
[FR Doc. 2023–18226 Filed 8–23–23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–NW–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Bureau of Industry and Security
Transportation and Related
Equipment, Technical Advisory
Committee; Notice of Partially Closed
Meeting
The Transportation and Related
Equipment Technical Advisory
Committee will meet on September 6,
2023, 9:30 a.m., Eastern Daylight Time,
in the Herbert C. Hoover Building,
Room 3884, 1401 Constitution Avenue
NW, Washington, DC (enter through
Main Entrance on 14th Street between
Constitution and Pennsylvania
Avenues). The Committee advises the
Office of the Assistant Secretary for
Export Administration with respect to
technical questions that affect the level
of export controls applicable to
transportation and related equipment or
technology.
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57925
Agenda
Public Session
1. Welcome and Introductions.
2. Status reports by working group
chairs.
3. Public comments and Proposals.
Closed Session
4. Discussion of matters determined to
be exempt from the open meeting and
public participation requirements found
in sections 1009(a)(1) and 1009(a)(3) of
the Federal Advisory Committee Act
(FACA) (5 U.S.C. 1001–1014). The
exemption is authorized by section
1009(d) of the FACA, which permits the
closure of advisory committee meetings,
or portions thereof, if the head of the
agency to which the advisory committee
reports determines such meetings may
be closed to the public in accordance
with subsection (c) of the Government
in the Sunshine Act (5 U.S.C. 552b(c)).
In this case, the applicable provisions of
5 U.S.C. 552b(c) are subsection
552b(c)(4), which permits closure to
protect trade secrets and commercial or
financial information that is privileged
or confidential, and subsection
552b(c)(9)(B), which permits closure to
protect information that would be likely
to significantly frustrate implementation
of a proposed agency action were it to
be disclosed prematurely. The closed
session of the meeting will involve
committee discussions and guidance
regarding U.S. Government strategies
and policies.
The open session will be accessible
via teleconference. To join the
conference, submit inquiries to Yvette
Springer at Yvette.Springer@bis.doc.gov,
no later than August 30, 2023.
A limited number of seats will be
available for the public session.
Reservations are not accepted. To the
extent time permits, members of the
public may present oral statements to
the Committee. The public may submit
written statements at any time before or
after the meeting. However, to facilitate
distribution of public presentation
materials to Committee members, the
Committee suggests that presenters
forward the public presentation
materials prior to the meeting to Ms.
Springer.
The Assistant Secretary for
Administration, with the concurrence of
the delegate of the General Counsel,
formally determined on April 12, 2023,
pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 1009(d) of the
FACA, that the portion of the meeting
dealing with pre-decisional changes to
the Commerce Control List and the U.S.
export control policies shall be exempt
from the provisions relating to public
meetings found in 5 U.S.C. 1009(a)(1)
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 163 (Thursday, August 24, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 57924-57925]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-18226]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Office of Secretary
Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Review and Approval; Comment
Request; The Environmental Questionnaire and Checklist
The Department of Commerce will submit the following information
[[Page 57925]]
collection request to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for
review and clearance in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of
1995, on or after the date of publication of this notice. We invite the
general public and other Federal agencies to comment on proposed, and
continuing information collections, which helps us assess the impact of
our information collection requirements and minimize the public's
reporting burden. Public comments were previously requested via the
Federal Register on May 31, 2023, during a 60-day comment period. This
notice allows for an additional 30 days for public comments.
Agency: Office of Facilities and Environmental Quality, Commerce.
Title: The Environmental Questionnaire and Checklist.
OMB Control Number: 0690-0028.
Form Number(s): CD-593.
Type of Request: Regular submission (an extension of a current
information collection).
Number of Respondents: 1,000.
Average Hours per Response: 3 hours.
Burden Hours: 3,000.
Needs and Uses: This request is for an extension of a currently
approved information collection. The National Environmental Policy Act
(NEPA) (42 U.S.C. 4321-4347) and the Council on Environmental Quality's
(CEQ) Regulations for Implementing NEPA (40 CFR parts 1500-1508)
require that federal agencies complete an environmental analysis for
all major federal actions significantly affecting the environment.
Those actions may include a federal agency's decision to fund non-
federal projects under grants and cooperative agreements, including
infrastructure projects. In order to determine NEPA compliance
requirements for a project receiving Department of Commerce (DOC)
bureau level funding, DOC must assess information which can only be
provided by the applicant for federal financial assistance (grant).
The Environmental Questionnaire and Checklist (EQC) provides
federal financial assistance applicants and DOC staff with a tool to
ensure that the necessary project and environmental information is
obtained. The EQC was developed to collect data concerning potential
environmental impacts that the applicant for federal financial
assistance possesses and to transmit that information to the Federal
reviewer. The EQC will allow for a more rapid review of projects and
facilitate DOC's evaluation of the potential environmental impacts of a
project and the level of NEPA documentation required. DOC staff will
use the information provided in answers to the questionnaire to
determine compliance requirements for NEPA and conduct subsequent NEPA
analysis as needed. Information provided in the questionnaire may also
be used for other regulatory review requirements associated with the
proposed project, such as the National Historic Preservation Act.
Affected Public: Individuals or households; Business or other for-
profit organizations; Not-for-profit institutions; State, Local or
Tribal Government; Federal Government, etc.
Frequency: One-Time; annually.
Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary.
Legal Authority: 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.
This information collection request may be viewed at
www.reginfo.gov. Follow the instructions to view the Department of
Commerce collections currently under review by OMB.
Written comments and recommendations for the proposed information
collection should be submitted within 30 days of the publication of
this notice on the following website www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain.
Find this particular information collection by selecting ``Currently
under 30-day Review--Open for Public Comments'' or by using the search
function and entering either the title of the collection or the OMB
Control Number 0690-0028.
Sheleen Dumas,
Department PRA Clearance Officer, Office of the Under Secretary of
Economic Affairs, Commerce Department.
[FR Doc. 2023-18226 Filed 8-23-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-NW-P
