Notices. Notice; request for comments

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BILLING CODE 3510-JT-M DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE International Trade Administration [A-122-838] Certain Softwood Lumber Products from Canada: Notice of Rescission of Antidumping Duty New Shipper Review AGENCY: Import Administration, International Trade Administration, Department of Commerce. EFFECTIVE DATE: April 20, 2006. SUMMARY: On December 28, 2005, the Department of Commerce (the Department) published in the **Federal Register** (70 FR 76774) a notice announcing the initiation of a new shipper review of the antidumping duty order on certain softwood lumber products from Canada, covering the period May 1, 2005, to October 31, 2005.

The review covers International Forest Products Corporation (IFP Corp.). We are now rescinding this review as a result of our determination that IFP Corp. was not the first party in the chain of distribution with knowledge that the merchandise was destined for the United States. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: David Layton or Constance Handley at

(202)482-0371 or

(202)482-0631, respectively, AD/CVD Operations, Office 1, Import Administration, International Trade Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 14 th Street & Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20230. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background On November 28, 2005, the Department received a request to conduct a new shipper review of the antidumping duty

(AD)order on certain softwood lumber from Canada. On December 21, 2005, the Department initiated this new shipper antidumping review covering the period May 1, 2005, to October 31, 2005. *See Certain Softwood Lumber Products from Canada: Notice of Initiation of Antidumping Duty New Shipper Review* , 70 FR 76774 (December 28, 2005). In that notice the Department stated that it intended to solicit and carefully examine information concerning the first party in the chain of distribution with knowledge of U.S. destination. On January 5, 2006, the Department issued a letter to the respondent, IFP Corp., to solicit this information. IFP Corp. responded on January 11, 2006. On February 6, 2006, the Department issued a memorandum expressing its intent to rescind the new shipper review. *See* memorandum from Constance Handley, Program Manager to Susan H. Kuhbach, Director, Office 1, re: New Shipper Review: Intent to rescind the Review of International Forest Products Corporation ( *Rescission Memo* ). On February 24, 2006, the Department received comments from IFP Corp. Analysis of Comments Received In the *Rescission Memo* , the Department expressed its intent to rescind the review, because IFP Corp., the company from which the request for review had been received, was not the first party in the chain of distribution with knowledge that the merchandise was destined for the United States. Information provided by the producer, Terrace Lumber Company (Terrace), indicated that it had knowledge that the merchandise was destined for the United States. IFP Corp. does not dispute that Terrace was aware that its lumber was destined for the United States. However, it argues that the review request was intended to be for Terrace as well as for IFP. According to IFP Corp., the request was made “on behalf” of IFP Corp. because, by agreement with Terrace, IFP Corp. was responsible for paying the legal fees incurred in participating in the review. IFP Corp. maintains that it clearly identified Terrace as the producer and as one of the two requesters on the front of the petition and in the supporting documents. IFP Corp. distinguishes this case from *Pasta from Italy* and *Garlic from the PRC* 1 in that in those cases, no request was made to review the producer's sales. Finally, IFP Corp. argues that Terrace's only sales are to IFP Corp., and therefore, the only sales of Terrace's which could be reviewed are sales to IFP and the only post-tariff sales to U.S. customers for review are from IFP. 1 *See Certain Pasta From Italy: Termination of New Shipper Antidumping Duty Administrative Review* , 62 FR 66602 (December 19, 1997); *see also Fresh Garlic from the People's Republic of China; Preliminary Results of Antidumping Duty Administrative Review and Partial Termination of Administrative Review* . Section 751(a)(2)(B)(i) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (the Act), provides that the Department will conduct a new shipper review if it receives a request from an exporter or producer of the subject merchandise. We disagree with IFP Corp.'s contention that the request for this review was received from both IFP Corp. and Terrace. The letter submitted to the Department states “On behalf of International Forest Products Corporation, we submit the attached request for new shipper review . . .” In the same paragraph it goes on to state “IFP {Corp.} requests a new shipper review. . .” Although Terrace is identified as the producer in the request, nowhere in the document does it specifically state that a review is being requested for Terrace. On the cover page to the request, and on page 4, IFP Corp. is clearly identified as the “exporter and requester” and Terrace as the “producer.” In addition, the request specifically identifies IFP Corp.'s first sale of Terrace-produced lumber to IFP Corp.'s customer and provides an invoice for that sale, further indicating that IFP Corp. was requesting a review of its sales to its customers. Section 751(a)(2)(B)(i) of the Act and the Department's regulations at 351.214(b) specify that an exporter may request a new shipper review. IFP Corp. made the request for this review, and the Department initiated a review based on that request from IFP Corp. However, the relevant sale for the purposes of conducting an antidumping duty review, is the sale from Terrace to IFP Corp., not the sale from IFP Corp. to its customer. Therefore, IFP Corp. does not qualify for a new shipper review and, accordingly, we are rescinding the review at this time. Rescission of New Shipper Review For the reasons stated in the *Rescission Memo* and as outlined above, and pursuant to section 751(a)(2)(B) of the Act and 19 CFR 351.214(f), we are rescinding this new shipper review. Notification Bonding is no longer permitted to fulfill security requirements for shipments of certain softwood lumber products from Canada produced and exported by IFP Corp., entered, or withdrawn from warehouse, for consumption in the United States on or after the publication of this rescission notice in the **Federal Register** . This notice also serves as the only reminder to parties subject to administrative protective order

(APO)of their responsibility concerning the disposition of proprietary information disclosed under APO in accordance with 19 CFR 351.305(a)(3). Timely written notification of the return/destruction of APO material or conversion to judicial protective order is hereby requested. Failure to comply with the regulations and terms of an APO is a violation which is subject to sanctions. This notice is issued and published in accordance with sections 751(a)(2)(B)(iv) and 777(i) of the Act and 19 CFR 351.214(f)(3). Dated: April 13, 2006. David M. Spooner, Assistant Secretary for Import Administration. [FR Doc. E6-5949 Filed 4-19-06; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-DS-S DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE International Trade Administration [C-533-821] Notice of Correction to Notice of Intent to Rescind Countervailing Duty Administrative Review: Certain Hot-Rolled Carbon Steel Flat Products from India AGENCY: Import Administration, International Trade Administration, Department of Commerce. EFFECTIVE DATE: April 20, 2006. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Preeti Tolani, AD/CVD Operations, Office 3, Import Administration, International Trade Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 14th Street and Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20230; telephone: 202-482-0395. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: CORRECTION: On March 28, 2006, the Department of Commerce (the Department) published its intent to rescind the countervailing duty administrative review of certain hot-rolled carbon steel flat products from India, covering the period of January 1, 2005, through December 31, 2005. *See Notice of Intent to Rescind Countervailing Duty Administrative Review: Certain Hot-Rolled Carbon Steel Flat Products from India* , 71 FR 15379 (March 28, 2006) ( *HRC Intent to Rescind* ). Subsequent to the publication of the intent to rescind, we identified an inadvertent error in the **Federal Register** . The case number associated with the *HRC Intent to Rescind* is incorrect. The correct case number is C-533-821. This notice is to serve as a correction to the case number. The determination in the *HRC Intent to Rescind* is correct and remains unchanged. This correction is issued and published in accordance with section 777(i) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended. Dated: April 12, 2006. Stephen J. Claeys, Acting Assistant Secretary for Impo Administration. [FR Doc. E6-5948 Filed 4-19-06; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-DS-S DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration [I.D. 041306F] Magnuson-Stevens Act Provisions; General Provisions for Domestic Fisheries; Application for Exempted Fishing Permits AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice; request for comments. SUMMARY: The Assistant Regional Administrator for Sustainable Fisheries, Northeast Region, NMFS (Assistant Regional Administrator), has made a preliminary determination that an Exempted Fishing Permit

(EFP)application submitted by the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES), contains all of the required information and warrants further consideration. The Assistant Regional Administrator has made a preliminary determination that the activities authorized under this EFP would be consistent with the goals and objectives of the Northeast

(NE)Multispecies and Monkfish Fishery Management Plans (FMPs). However, further review and consultation may be necessary before a final determination is made to issue an EFP. Therefore, NMFS announces that the Assistant Regional Administrator proposes to recommend that an EFP be issued that would allow one commercial fishing vessel to conduct fishing operations that are otherwise restricted by the regulations governing the fisheries of the Northeastern United States. The EFP, which would enable researchers to study the biology of large monkfish, would grant exemptions from the NE Multispecies FMP as follows: Western Gulf of Maine

(GOM)Closure Area; GOM Rolling Closure Areas I and II; and monkfish effort control measures. Regulations under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act require publication of this notification to provide interested parties the opportunity to comment on applications for proposed EFPs. DATES: Comments must be received on or before May 5, 2006. ADDRESSES: Written comments should be sent to Patricia A. Kurkul, Regional Administrator, NMFS, NE Regional Office, 1 Blackburn Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930. Mark the outside of the envelope “Comments on UMES monkfish EFP, DA6-096.” Comments may also be sent via fax to 978-281-9135. Comments may also be submitted via e-mail to the following address: *DA6-096@noaa.gov* . Include in the subject line of the e-mail “Comments on UMES monkfish EFP.” FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Douglas Potts, Fishery Management Specialist, 978-281-9341. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: An application for an EFP was submitted on March 22, 2006, by Andrea K. Johnson, Research Assistant Professor at UMES, for a project funded under the New England and Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Councils' Monkfish Research Set-Aside

(RSA)Program. The primary goal of this study is to provide information on the biology of large monkfish that can be used to enhance the management of this species. The project is scheduled to be conducted for one year (May 2006-April 2007) and would collect large monkfish from three industry collaborators fishing using 57.5 Monkfish Days-At-Sea

(DAS)awarded to the project through the RSA Program. Monkfish gillnet vessels fishing off of Maryland, Delaware, New York, and Rhode Island would collect large monkfish as part of otherwise normal fishing activities and do not require an EFP. One vessel would fish inside the eastern edge of the Western GOM Closure Area from August 2006 through April 2007. The approximate location where fishing would take place is 42°30′ N latitude, 70°00′ W longitude. This is east of the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary and would require exemption from the gear restrictions of the Western GOM Closure Area at 50 CFR 648.81(e) as well as from the restrictions of Rolling Closure Areas I and II at § 648.81(f) that will be in effect during March and April 2007. It is expected that this location would provide access to large monkfish and would avoid gear interactions between these gillnets and trawls. The applicant is also requesting exemption from the Monkfish effort control measures at § 648.92(b)(2) in order to create sufficient incentive for a commercial vessel to participate in this experiment. This would exempt the vessel from the need to use a NE Multispecies DAS concurrent with a Monkfish DAS for these trips. The vessel would make 28 trips using gillnets that are 13-inch stretch mesh with 24 gauge web and are 12 meshes deep. Each net is 300 feet long by 3 feet high and 150 nets will be used with an average soak time of 72 hours. Ten fish per week (360 monkfish total) will be donated to the research project during the months of August 2006-April 2007. This project is specifically interested in large monkfish, so donated fish will be the largest from each trip of at least 90 cm total length. Additional catch, within applicable size and possession limits, will be sold to help offset the costs of the research. As a consequence of the exemption from the need to use a NE Multispecies DAS, the vessel will not keep any regulated groundfish. Since these trips will use very large mesh nets, the bycatch of regulated groundfish is expected to be minimal. The applicant may request minor modifications and extensions to the EFP throughout the year. EFP modifications and extensions may be granted without further notice if they are deemed essential to facilitate completion of the proposed research and have minimal impacts that do not change the scope or impact of the initially approved EFP request. Any fishing activity conducted outside the scope of the exempted fishing activity would be prohibited. Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 *et seq.* Dated: April 13, 2006. James P. Burgess, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. E6-5902 Filed 4-19-06; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-22-S DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration [I.D. 041306B] New England Fishery Management Council; Public Meeting AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice of a public meeting. SUMMARY: The New England Fishery Management Council (Council) is scheduling a public meeting of its Sea Scallop Survey Advisory Panel in May, 2006, to consider actions affecting New England fisheries in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ). Recommendations from this group will be brought to the full Council for formal consideration and action, if appropriate. DATES: This meeting will be held on Thursday, May 4, 2006 at 9 a.m. ADDRESSES: This meeting will be held at the Narragansett Town Hall, 25 Fifth Avenue, Narragansett, RI 02882; telephone:

(401)789-1044; fax:

(401)783-9637. *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; telephone:

(978)465-0492. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The panel will review the strength and weaknesses of current and future scallop surveys, as well as hear plans for the new NMFS survey vessel, the RV Bigelow. The panel also will review the terms of reference to set short and long-term goals and objectives. Other issues related to the sea scallop surveys and their use in the management process may be discussed. 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, Executive Director, at

(978)465-0492, at least 5 days prior to the meeting date. Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 *et seq.* Dated: April 14, 2006. James P. Burgess, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. E6-5903 Filed 4-19-06; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-22-S DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration [Docket Number: 060411100-6100-01] Science Advisory Board; The Preliminary Report of the External Review of NOAA's Ecosystem Research and Science Enterprise Panel AGENCY: Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Department of Commerce (DOC). ACTION: Notice of availability and request for public comment. SUMMARY: NOAA Research

(OAR)publishes this notice on behalf of the NOAA Science Advisory Board

(SAB)to announce the availability of the preliminary report of the External Review of NOAA's Ecosystem Research and Science Enterprise panel (here called the External Ecosystem Task Team) for public comment. The preliminary report of the External Ecosystem Task Team is compiled pursuant to the request from the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere to the SAB to conduct an external review of NOAA's ecosystem research and science enterprise. DATES: Comments on this draft must be submitted by the close of business May 22, 2006. ADDRESSES: The Preliminary Report of the External Ecosystem Task Team will be available on the NOAA Science Advisory Board Web site at *http://www.sab.noaa.gov/reports/prelim_eett0306.pdf* . The public is encouraged to submit comments electronically to *noaa.sab.comments@noaa.gov* . For commenters who do not have access to a computer, comments may be submitted in writing to: NOAA Science Advisory Board

(SAB)c/o Dr. Cynthia Decker, Silver Spring Metro Center Bldg. 3, Room 11117, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, Maryland 20910. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Cynthia Decker, Executive Director, Science Advisory Board, NOAA, Rm. 11117, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, Maryland 20910. (Phone: 301-713-9121, Fax: 301-713-3515, E-mail: *Cynthia.Decker@noaa.gov* ) during normal business hours of 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday, or visit the NOAA SAB Web site at *http://www.sab.noaa.gov* . SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The preliminary report will be posted on the SAB Web site. The SAB is seeking public comment from all interested parties. This preliminary report is being issued for comment only and is not intended for interim use. Suggested changes will be incorporated where appropriate. The preliminary report of the External Ecosystem Task Team is compiled pursuant to the request from the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere to the SAB to conduct an external review of NOAA's ecosystem research and science enterprise. This review addresses questions and drafts recommendations regarding the appropriateness of the mix of scientific activities conducted and/or sponsored by NOAA to its mission and on the organization of NOAA ecosystem research and science enterprise. The SAB is chartered under the Federal Advisory Committee Act and is the only Federal Advisory Committee with the responsibility to advise the Under Secretary on long- and short-term strategies for research, education, and application of science to resource management and environmental assessment and prediction. NOAA welcomes all comments on the content of the report. We also request comments on any inconsistencies perceived within the report, and possible omissions of important topics or issues. For any shortcoming noted within the draft report, please propose specific remedies. Please follow these instructions for preparing and submitting a review. Using the format guidance described below will facilitate the processing of reviewer comments and assure that all comments are appropriately considered. Please provide background information about yourself on the first page of your comments: your name(s), organization(s), area(s) of expertise, mailing address(es), telephone and fax numbers, email address(es). Overview comments on the section should follow your background information and should be numbered. Comments that are specific to particular pages, paragraphs or lines of the section should follow any overview comments and should identify the page numbers to which they apply. Please number all pages and place your name at the top of each page. Dated: April 13, 2006. Stephen B. Brandt, Acting Deputy Assistant Administrator, Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. [FR Doc. E6-5904 Filed 4-19-06; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-22-P PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE Customer Panel Quality Survey ACTION: Proposed collection; comment request. SUMMARY: The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on this new information collection, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13 (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)). DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before June 19, 2006. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by any of the following methods: • E-mail: *Susan.Brown@uspto.gov.* Include “0651-00xx Customer Panel Quality Survey” in the subject line of the message. • Fax: 571-273-0112, marked to the attention of Susan Brown. • Mail: Susan K. Brown, Records Officer, Office of the Chief Information Officer, Architecture, Engineering and Technical Services, Data Architecture and Services Division, U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, P.O. Box 1450, Alexandria, VA 22313-1450. • Federal e-Rulemaking Portal: *http://www.regulations.gov.* FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information should be directed to the attention of Martin Rater, Management Analyst, Office of Patent Quality Assurance, U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, P.O. Box 1450, Alexandria, VA 22313-1450; by telephone 571-272-5966; by facsimile at 571-273-5966; or by e-mail at *martin.rater@uspto.gov.* SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: I. Abstract For over the past 10 years, the USPTO has used surveys to obtain customer feedback regarding the products, services, and related service standards of the USPTO. The USPTO used the data to measure how well the agency is meeting established customer service standards, to identify any disjoints between customer expectations and USPTO performance, and to develop improvement strategies. Typically, these surveys ask customers to express their satisfaction with the USPTO's products and services based upon their interactions with the agency as a whole over a 12 month period. To obtain further data concerning customer ratings of the USPTO's services, service standards, and performance, the USPTO has developed the proposed Customer Panel Quality Survey. This study will narrow the focus of customer satisfaction to examination quality and will use a longitudinal, rotating panel design to assess changes in customer perceptions and to identify key areas for examiner training and opportunities for improvement. All patent agents and attorneys who have been registered to practice before the USPTO for longer than one year and who belong to a company or firm that has filed six or more patents in the past year will be eligible for the study. The study will also include independent inventors who have filed six or more patents in the past year. The USPTO will draw a random sample of these customers from their database. Due to the rotating panel design, some sample members will be surveyed twice in order to measure change over a period of time. Each year of the survey will include four waves of data collection. The Customer Panel Quality Survey is a mail survey, although respondents also have the option to complete the survey electronically on the Web. The content of both versions will be identical. A survey packet containing the questionnaire, a separate cover letter prepared by the Commissioner of Patents, a postage-paid, pre-addressed return envelope, and instructions for completing the survey electronically will be mailed to all sample members. A pre-notification letter, reminder/thank you postcards, and telephone calls will be used to encourage response from the sample members. This is a voluntary survey and all responses will remain confidential. The collected data will not be linked to the respondent and contact information that is used for sampling purposes will be maintained in a separate file from the quantitative data. Respondents are not required to provide any identifying information such as their name, address, or Social Security Number. In order to access and complete the online survey, respondents will need to use the username and password provided by the USPTO. II. Method of Collection By mail, or electronically over the Internet if respondents choose to complete the survey online. III. Data *OMB Number:* 0651-00xx. *Form Number(s):* N/A. *Type of Review:* New information collection. *Affected Public:* Individuals or households; business or other for profit; not-for-profit institutions; Federal Government; and state, local, or tribal Government. *Estimated Number of Respondents:* 3,168 responses per year. Out of a sample size of 2,842 for each wave of data collection, the USPTO estimates that 792 completed surveys will be received. Each year of the survey will include four waves of data collection with an estimated 3,168 completed surveys received. Of this total, the USPTO estimates that 70% or 2,218 surveys will be returned by mail and that 30% or 950 surveys will be completed using the online option. *Estimated Time per Response:* The USPTO estimates that it will take approximately 10 minutes (0.17 hours) to complete either the paper or online version of this survey. This includes the time to gather the necessary information, complete the request, and submit it to the USPTO. *Estimated Total Annual Respondent Burden Hours:* 539 hours per year. *Estimated Total Annual Respondent Cost Burden:* $154,154 per year. The USPTO believes that patent attorneys will be responding to these surveys. Using the professional hourly rate of $286 for associate attorneys in private firms, the USPTO estimates that the salary costs for the respondents completing these surveys will be $154,154 per year. Item Estimated time for response

(min)Estimated annual responses Estimated annual burden hours Customer Panel Quality Survey (paper) 10 2,218 377 Customer Panel Quality Survey (electronic) 10 950 162 Total 3,168 539 *Estimated Total Annual Non-hour Respondent Cost Burden:* $0 per year. There are no capital start-up, maintenance, operation, or recordkeeping costs, nor are there any filing fees associated with this information collection. The USPTO covers the costs of all survey materials and provides postage-paid, pre-addressed return envelopes for the completed mail surveys. IV. Request for Comments 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 shall have practical utility;

(b)the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden (including hours and cost) of the proposed collection of information;

(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 respondents, *e.g.* , the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology. Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized or included in the request for OMB approval of this information collection; they also will become a matter of public record. Dated: April 13, 2006. Susan K. Brown, Records Officer, U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, Office of the Chief Information Officer, Architecture, Engineering and Technical Services, Data Architecture and Services Division. [FR Doc. E6-5929 Filed 4-19-06; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-16-P DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE Office of the Secretary Proposed Collection; Comment Request AGENCY: Office of the Under Secretary of Defense (Personnel and Readiness), DoD. ACTION: Notice. In compliance with Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense (Personnel and Readiness) announces the following proposed extension of a public information collection and seeks public comment on the provisions thereof. 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 shall have practical utility;

(b)the accuracy of the agency's estimate of burden of the proposed information collection;

(c)ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and

(d)ways to minimize the burden of the information collection on respondents, including through the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology. DATES: Consideration will be given to all comments received by June 19, 2006. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by docket number and title, by any of the following methods: • Federal eRulemaking Portal: *http://www.regulations.gov.* Follow the instructions for submitting comments. • Mail: Federal Docket Management System Office, 1160 Defense Pentagon, Washington, DC 20301-1160. *Instructions:* All submissions received must include the agency name and docket number for this **Federal Register** document. The general policy for comments and other submissions from members of the public is to make these submissions available for public viewing on the Internet at *http://www.regulations.gov* as they are received without change, including any personal identifiers or contact information. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To request more information on this proposed information collection or to obtain a copy of the proposal and associated collection instruments, please write to the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense (Personnel and Readiness) (Program Integration) (Legal Policy), ATTN: LTC Gingras, 4000 Defense Pentagon, Washington, DC 20301-4000, or call at

(703)697-3387; facsimile

(703)693-6708. *Title, Associated Form, and OMB Control Number:* Application for Review of Discharge or Separation from the Armed Forces of the United States; DD Form 293; OMB Control Number 0704-0004. *Needs and Uses:* Former members of the Armed Forces who received an administrative discharge have the right to appeal the characterization or reason for separation. Title 10 of the U.S.C., Section 1553, and DoD Directive 1332.28 established a Board of Review consisting of five members to review appeals of former embers of the Armed Forces. The DD Form 293, *Application for Review of Discharge or Separation from the Armed Forces of the United States,* provides the respondent a vehicle to present to the Board their reasons/justifications for a discharge upgrade as well as providing the Services the basic data needed to process the appeal. *Affected Public:* Individuals or households. *Annual Burden Hours:* 6,000. *Number of Respondents:* 8,000. *Responses Per Respondent:* 1. *Average Burden Per Response:* 45 minutes. *Frequency:* One-time. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Summary of Information Collection Under Title 10 U.S.C., Section 1553, the Secretary of a Military Department established a Board of Review, consisting of five members, to review appeals of former members of the Armed Forces. This information collection allows an applicant to request a change in the type of military discharge issued. Applicants are former members of the Armed Forces who have been discharged or dismissed (other than a discharge or dismissal by sentence of a general court-martial), or if the former member is deceased or incompetent, the surviving spouse, next-of-kin, or legal representative who is acting on behalf of the former member. The DD Form 293, *Application for Review of Discharge or Separation from the Armed Forces of the United States* , provides the former member an avenue to present to their respective Service Discharge Review Board their reasons/justifications for a discharge upgrade as well as providing the Services the basic data needed to process the appeal. Dated: April 11, 2006. Patricia L. Toppings, Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense. [FR Doc. 06-3771 Filed 4-19-06; 8:45 am]

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