Notices. Notice of public meetings

3,076 words·~14 min read·/register/2004/02/11/04-2947·

A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.

BILLING CODE 3510-21-P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration [I.D. 020504C] New England Fishery Management Council; Public Meetings AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice of public meetings. SUMMARY: The New England Fishery Management Council (Council) is scheduling a public meeting of its Groundfish Advisory Panel and its Joint Herring Oversight Committee and Advisory Panel in February and March, 2004 to consider actions affecting New England fisheries in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

Recommendations from these groups will be brought to the full Council for formal consideration and action, if appropriate. DATES: The meetings will be held on February 25, 2004, and March 1-2, 2004. *See* SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for specific dates and times. ADDRESSES: The meetings will be held in Portsmouth, NH and Portland, ME. *See* SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for specific locations. *Council address:* New England Fishery Management Council, 50 Water Street, Mill 2, Newburyport, MA 01950.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul J. Howard, Executive Director, New England Fishery Management Council

(978)465-0492. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Meeting Dates and Agendas Wednesday, February 25, 2004, at 9:30 a.m. B Groundfish Advisory Panel Meeting. *Location:* Holiday Inn, 300 Woodbury Ave., Portsmouth, NH 03801; telephone:

(603)431-8000. The Groundfish Advisory Panel will meet to discuss Framework Adjustment 40 to the Northeast Multispecies Fishery Management Plan (FMP). They will develop recommended requirements for the use of Category B days-at-sea (DAS). They will consider identifying opportunities for using Category B (regular) DAS that are based on seasons, areas, and gear types, and may consider additional Special Access Programs (SAPs). The panels' recommendations will be forwarded to the Groundfish Oversight Committee for consideration at a future meeting. The Advisory Panel will also discuss the steaming time issue and will discuss other business. Monday, March 1, 2004, at 9:30 a.m. and Tuesday, March 2, 2004, at 8:30 a.m. B Joint Herring Oversight Committee and Advisory Panel Meeting. *Location:* Holiday Inn by the Bay, 88 Spring Street, Portland, ME 04101; telephone:

(207)775-2311. The Committee will review progress on development of alternatives and analyses for Amendment 1 to the Herring FMP. They will review Herring Plan Development Team recommendations regarding the range of alternatives in Amendment 1 and possible elimination of some alternatives. Also on the agenda is the review of recommendations from the Enforcement Committee, Habitat Technical Team, and other groups regarding the range of alternatives under consideration in Amendment 1. These groups will develop Herring Committee recommendations regarding the range of alternatives in Amendment 1, including possible elimination of some alternatives. Although non-emergency issues not contained in this agenda may come before this group for discussion, those issues may not be the subject of formal action during this meeting. Action will be restricted to those issues specifically listed in this notice and any issues arising after publication of this notice that require emergency action under section 305(c) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, provided the public has been notified of the Council's intent to take final action to address the emergency. Special Accommodations These meetings are physically accessible to people with disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids should be directed to Paul J. Howard ( *see* ADDRESSES ) at least 5 days prior to the meeting dates. Dated: February 5, 2004. Tracey Thompson, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. E4-251 Filed 2-10-04; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-22-S DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration [I.D. 020504D] New England Fishery Management Council; Public Meetings AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice of public meeting. SUMMARY: The New England Fishery Management Council (Council) is scheduling a public meeting of its Groundfish Oversight Committee in March, 2004. Recommendations from the committee will be brought to the full Council for formal consideration and action, if appropriate. DATES: The meeting will held on Tuesday, March 2, 2004 at 9:30 a.m. ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the Holiday Inn by the Bay, 88 Spring Street, Portland, ME 04101; telephone:

(207)775-2311. *Council address:* New England Fishery Management Council, 50 Water Street, Newburyport, MA 01950. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul J. Howard, Executive Director, New England Fishery Management Council; telephone:

(978)465-0492. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Groundfish Oversight Committee will meet to develop alternatives for Framework 40 (FW 40) to the Northeast Multispecies Fishery Management Plan (FMP). FW 40 will identify opportunities to use regular and reserve Category B Days-At-Sea (DAS). In addition, it will consider changing 10 Category C DAS to 10 Category B (reserve) DAS for those vessels that will not receive Category A or Category B DAS under Amendment 13. FW 40 will also consider changes to the conservation tax applied in the DAS leasing and DAS transfer programs. The Committee will receive the report of the Groundfish Advisory Panel and will develop specific details of proposed measures that, subject to Council approval, will be included in FW 40. The Committee will also discuss other business, including receiving the report of the Advisory Panel on steaming time issues. Although non-emergency issues not contained in this agenda may come before this group for discussion, those issues may not be the subject of formal action during this meeting. Action will be restricted to those issues specifically listed in this notice and any issues arising after publication of this notice that require emergency action under section 305(c) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, provided the public has been notified of the Council's intent to take final action to address the emergency. Special Accommodations This meeting is physically accessible to people with disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids should be directed to Paul J. Howard ( *see* ADDRESSES ) at least 5 days prior to the meeting dates. Dated: February 6, 2004. Tracey Thompson, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. E4-252 Filed 2-11-04; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-22-S DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration [I.D. 020504B] Pacific Fishery Management Council, Public Meetings AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice of public meetings. SUMMARY: The groundfish subcommittee of the Pacific Fishery Management Council's (Council) Scientific and Statistical Committee

(SSC)will meet via telephone conference call to review revised stock assessment information for cabezon and lingcod. The stock assessments are to be used for developing management recommendations for 2005-2006 groundfish fisheries. The work session is open to the public. DATES: The SSC groundfish subcommittee will review the cabezon assessment from 8 a.m. until 12 p.m. on Wednesday, February 25, 2004. Also on Wednesday, February 25, 2004, the subcommittee will review the lingcod assessment from 1 p.m. until business for the day is completed. ADDRESSES: Four public listening stations will be established for the public to participate in the telephone conference call. *See* SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for the locations of the listening stations. *Council address* : Pacific Fishery Management Council, 7700 NE Ambassador Place, Suite 200, Portland, OR 97220-1384. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Dan Waldeck, Staff Officer; 503-820-2280. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The listening station locations are: 1. NMFS, Alaska Fisheries Science Center, Room 2143, 7600 Sand Point Way NE, Building 4, Seattle, WA 98115, telephone: 206-526-6548; 2. Pacific Fishery Management Council, 7700 NE Ambassador Place, Suite 200, Portland, OR 97220-1384; telephone: 503-820-2280; 3. NMFS Southwest Fisheries Science Center, Room 219, 110 Schaffer Road, Santa Cruz, CA 95060; telephone: 831-420-3949; 4. NMFS, Southwest Fisheries Science Center, Room C-115, 8604 La Jolla Shores Drive, La Jolla, CA 92037; telephone: 858-546-7052. At the November 2003 Council meeting, the SSC noted apparent deficiencies in the cabezon and lingcod stock assessments. The stock assessments had been developed to inform management decision making for the 2005-20 fishing years. However, because the SSC could not endorse the cabezon and lingcod stock assessments, the Council deferred full incorporation of these assessments until the SSC could review revised assessments prior to the March 2004 Council meeting. Since the November 2003 Council meeting, Stock Assessment Teams have prepared revised assessments for cabezon and lingcod. This new information will be reviewed and discussed by the groundfish subcommittee during the telephone conference call. Public comment will be accommodated during the conference call. The initial recommendations of the groundfish subcommittee will be finalized by the SSC and presented to the Council at the March 2004 Council meeting in Tacoma, WA (March 7-12, 2004). Entry to NMFS facilities requires identification with a photograph (such as a student ID, state drivers license, etc.) A security guard will review the identification and issue a Visitor's Badge valid for the date of the meeting. Although non-emergency issues not contained in this notice may come before the SSC groundfish subcommittee for discussion, those issues may not be the subject of formal action during this meeting. SSC groundfish subcommittee action will be restricted to those issues specifically listed in this notice, and any issues arising after publication of this notice that require emergency action under section 305(c) of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, provided the public has been notified of the subcommittee's intent to take final action to address the emergency. Special Accommodations The meeting is physically accessible to people with disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids should be directed to Ms. Carolyn Porter at 503-820-2280 at least 5 days prior to the meeting date. Dated: February 5, 2004. Tracey Thompson, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. E4-250 Filed 2-10-04; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-22-S DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Telecommunications and Information Administration [Docket No. 000410097-4033-09] Public Telecommunications Facilities Program: Closing Date AGENCY: National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice availability of funds. SUMMARY: Pursuant to the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2004, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), U.S. Department of Commerce, announces the solicitation of applications for planning and construction grants for public telecommunications facilities under the Public Telecommunications Facilities Program (PTFP). The PTFP assists, through matching grants, in the planning and construction of public telecommunications facilities in order to:

(1)Extend delivery of services to as many citizens as possible by the most cost-effective means, including use of broadcast and non-broadcast technologies;

(2)increase public telecommunications services and facilities available to, operated by, and controlled by minorities and women;

(3)strengthen the capability of existing public television and radio stations to provide public telecommunications services to the public. DATES: Applications must be received prior to 6 p.m. eastern standard time, Wednesday, March 31, 2004. Applications submitted by facsimile or electronic means are not acceptable. If an application is received after the Closing Date due to

(1)carrier error, when the carrier accepted the package with a guarantee for delivery by the Closing Date and Time,

(2)significant weather delays or natural disasters, or

(3)delays due to national security issues, NTIA will, upon receipt of proper documentation, consider the application as having been received by the deadline. NTIA will not accept applications posted on the Closing Date or later and received after the deadline. ADDRESSES: To obtain a printed application package, submit completed applications, or send any other correspondence, write to: NTIA/PTFP, Room H-4625, U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20230. Application materials may be obtained electronically via the Internet ( *http://www.ntia.doc.gov/ptfp* ). FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: William Cooperman, Director, Public Broadcasting Division, telephone:

(202)482-5802; fax:

(202)482-2156. Information about the PTFP can also be obtained electronically via the Internet ( *http://www.ntia.doc.gov/ptfp* ). SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Electronic Access The full funding opportunity announcement for the PTFP FY 2004 grant cycle is available on the NTIA Web site: *http://www.ntia.doc.gov/ptfp* , or by contacting the PTFP office at the address noted above. The full announcement is also available through *http://www.Grants.gov.* Funding Availability The Congress has appropriated $19.75 million for FY 2004 PTFP awards. For FY 2003, NTIA awarded $40.3 million in funds to 169 projects, including 68 radio awards, 90 television awards and 11 nonbroadcast awards. The radio awards ranged from $7,979 to $244,442. The television awards ranged from $42,344 to $1,790,935. The nonbroadcast awards ranged from $42,000 to $304,872. Statutory and Regulatory Authority The Public Telecommunications Facilities Program is authorized by the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 47 U.S.C. 390-393, 397-399(b). The PTFP operates pursuant to Rules which were published on November 8, 1996 (61 FR 57966). Copies of the 1996 Rules (15 CFR part 2301) are posted on the NTIA Internet site at *http://www.ntia.doc.gov/Rules/currentrules.htm* and NTIA will make printed copies available to applicants upon request. The following supplemental policies will also be in effect:

(A)Applicants may file emergency applications at any time.

(B)Applicants may file requests for FCC authorizations with the FCC after the PTFP Closing Date. Grant applicants for Ku-band satellite uplinks may submit FCC applications after a PTFP award is made. NTIA may accept FCC authorizations that are in the name of an organization other than the PTFP applicant.

(C)PTFP applicants are not required to submit copies of their PTFP applications to the FCC, nor are they required to submit copies of the FCC transmittal cover letters as part of their PTFP applications. PTFP applicants for distance learning projects must notify the state telecommunications agencies in the states in which they are located but are not required to notify every state telecommunications agency in a potential service area.

(D)NTIA will fund all television projects, other than for new service expansion, with a presumption of 40% Federal share. For digital television conversion projects, NTIA has created two new Subpriorities in the Broadcast Other category, will permit purchase of eligible equipment with local match funds after July 1, 1999, and will add three points to applications which request no more than a 25% Federal share.

(E)For digital radio conversion projects, NTIA has created a new Subpriority in the Broadcast Other category. *Catalog of Domestic Federal Assistance:* 11.550, Public Telecommunications Facilities Program. Eligibility Eligible applicants must be:

(a)A public or noncommercial educational broadcast station;

(b)a noncommercial telecommunications entity;

(c)a system of public telecommunications entities;

(d)a non-profit foundation, corporation, institution, or association organized primarily for educational or cultural purposes; or

(e)a state, local, or Indian tribal government (or agency thereof), or a political or special purpose subdivision of a state. Evaluation and Selection Process *See* 15 CFR 2301.16 for a description of the Technical Evaluation and 15 CFR 2301.18 for the Selection Process. Evaluation Criteria *See* 15 CFR 2301.17 for a full description of the Evaluation Criteria. The six evaluation criteria are

(1)Applicant Qualifications,

(2)Financial Qualifications,

(3)Project Objectives,

(4)Urgency,

(5)Technical Qualifications (construction applicants only) or Planning Qualifications (planning applicants only), and

(6)Special Consideration. Funding Priorities and Selection Factors *See* 15 CFR 2301.4 and the supplemental policies above for a description of the PTFP Priorities and 15 CFR 2301.18 for the Selection Factors. Cost Sharing Requirements PTFP requires cost sharing. By statute, PTFP cannot fund a Construction project for more than 75% of the eligible project costs. NTIA has established a policy of funding most new public broadcasting station activation projects at a 75% federal share, most other radio and nonbroadcast projects at a 50% federal share, and most other television projects at a 40% federal share. NTIA can fund Planning applications up to 100% of the eligible project costs, but has established a policy of funding Planning applications at a 75% share. Any applicant can request federal funding up to the statutory maximum and provide justification for the request. Intergovernmental Review PTFP applications are subject to Executive Order 12372, “Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs,” if the state in which the applicant organization is located participates in the process. Usually submission to the State Single Point of Contact

(SPOC)needs to be only the first two pages of the Application Form, but applicants should contact their own SPOC offices to find out about and comply with its requirements. The names and addresses of the SPOC offices are listed on the PTFP Web site and at the Office of Management and Budget's home page at *http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants/spoc.html.* Universal Identifier All applicants (nonprofit, state, local government, universities, and tribal organizations) will be required to provide a Dun and Bradstreet Data Universal Numbering System

(DUNS)number during the application process. *See* the October 30, 2002 (67 FR 66177) and April 8, 2003 (68 FR 17000) **Federal Register** notices for additional information. Organizations can receive a DUNS number at no cost by calling the dedicated toll-free DUNS Number request line 1-866-705-5711 or via the Internet ( *http://www.dunandbradstreet.com* ). The Department of Commerce Pre-Award Notification Requirements for Grants and Cooperative Agreements The Department of Commerce Pre-Award Notification of Requirements for Grants and Cooperative Agreements contained in the **Federal Register** notice of October 1, 2001 (66 FR 49917), as amended by the Federal Register notice published on October 30, 2002 (67 FR 66109), are applicable to this solicitation. Limitation of Liability In no event will the Department of Commerce be responsible for proposal preparation costs if this program fail to receive funding or is cancelled because of other agency priorities. Publication of this announcement does not oblige the agency to award any specific project or to obligate any available funds. Paperwork Reduction Act Notwithstanding any other provision of the law, no person is required to respond to, nor shall any person be subject to a penalty for failure to comply with, a collection of information subject to the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA), unless that collection displays a currently valid Office of Management and Budget

(OMB)control number. The PTFP application form has been cleared under OMB control no. 0660-0003. Executive Order 12866 It has been determined that this notice is a “not significant” rule under Executive Order 12866. Executive Order 13132 It has been determined that this notice does not contain policies with Federalism implications as that term is defined in E.O. 13132. Administrative Procedure Act/ Regulatory Flexibility Act Prior notice and opportunity for public comment are not required by the Administrative Procedure Act or any other law for this notice concerning grants, benefits, and contracts (5 U.S.C. 553(a)). Because notice and opportunity for comment are not required pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553 or any other law, the analytical requirements of the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 *et seq.* ) are inapplicable. Therefore, a regulatory flexibility analysis has not been prepared. Bernadette McGuire-Rivera, Associate Administrator, Office of Telecommunications and Information Applications. [FR Doc. 04-2947 Filed 2-10-04; 8:45 am]

Connectionstraces to 5

Traces to 5 documents

U.S. Code

6 references not yet in our index