Notices. Notice and request for comments

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BILLING CODE 3410-15-M DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Rural Utilities Service Information Collection Activity; Comment Request AGENCY: Rural Utilities Service, USDA. ACTION: Notice and request for comments. SUMMARY: USDA Rural Development administers rural utilities programs through the Rural Utilities Service (Agency). In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35, as amended), the 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 October 16, 2006. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Richard C. Annan, Director, Program Development and Regulatory Analysis, USDA Rural Development Utilities Programs, 1400 Independence Ave., SW., STOP 1522, Room 5170 South Building, Washington, DC 20250-1522. Telephone:

(202)720-8818. FAX:

(202)720-8435. 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 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: Richard C. Annan, Director, Program Development and Regulatory Analysis, USDA Rural Development Utilities Programs, U.S. Department of Agriculture, STOP 1522, Room 5170 South Building, 1400 Independence Ave., SW., Washington, DC 20250-1522. FAX:

(202)720-8435. *Title:* Broadband Grant Program. *OMB Control Number:* 0572-0127. *Type of Request:* Extension of a currently approved information collection. *Abstract:* The provision of broadband transmission service is vital to the economic development, education, health, and safety of rural Americans. To further this objective, RUS provides financial assistance in the form of grant to eligible entities that propose, on a ”community-oriented connectivity” basis, to provide broadband transmission service that fosters economic growth and delivers enhanced educational, health care, and public safety services to extremely rural, lower income communities. The Agency gives priority to rural areas that it believes have the greatest need for broadband transmission services. Grant authority is utilized to deploy broadband infrastructure to extremely rural, lower income communities on a ”community-oriented connectivity” basis. The ”community-oriented connectivity” concept integrates the deployment of broadband infrastructure with the practical, everyday uses and applications of the facilities. This broadband access is intended to promote economic development and provide enhanced educational and health care opportunities. The Agency provides financial assistance to eligible entities that are proposing to deploy broadband transmission service in rural communities where such service does not currently exist and who will connect the critical community facilities including the local schools, libraries, hospitals, police, fire and rescue services and who will operate a community center that provides free and open access to residents. *Estimate of Burden:* Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 154.87 hours per response. *Respondents:* Public bodies, commercial companies, cooperatives, nonprofits, Indian tribes, and limited dividend or mutual associations and must be incorporated or a limited liability company. *Estimated Number of Respondents:* 300. *Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent:* 1. *Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents:* 48,010. Copies of this information collection can be obtained from MaryPat Daskal, Program Development and Regulatory Analysis, USDA Rural Development Utilities Programs at

(202)720-7853, FAX:

(202)720-8435. 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: August 9, 2006. Curtis M. Anderson, Deputy Administrator, Rural Utilities Service. [FR Doc. E6-13362 Filed 8-14-06; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410-15-P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration [I.D. 080906D] Western Pacific Fishery Management Council; Public Meetings AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice of public meeting and public hearing. SUMMARY: The Western Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) will hold its 134th meeting to consider and take action on pending recommendations regarding fishing in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands

(NWHI)commensurate with the provisions of Proclamation 8031 which established the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Marine National Monument. The Council will also hold a public hearing during this 134th Council meeting. DATES: The 134th Council meeting and public hearing will be held at 2 p.m. (Hawaii Standard Time) on Wednesday, August 30, 2006. For specific dates, times and locations of the public hearing, and the agenda for the 134th Council meeting, see SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION . ADDRESSES: The 134th Council meeting and public hearing will be held at the Council's office, 1164 Bishop Street, Suite 1400, Honolulu, HI 96813. For participants residing in American Samoa, the Northern Mariana Islands, Hawaii and the continental United States, the 134th Council meeting telephone conference call-in-number is: 1-888-482-3560; Access Code: 522-8220. For Guam and international participants, the call-in-number is: 1-647-723-3959; Access Code: 522-8220. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kitty M. Simonds, Executive Director; telephone:

(808)522-8220; fax:

(808)522-8226. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background Information On June 15, 2006, President George W. Bush signed Presidential Proclamation No. 8031 establishing the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Marine National Monument (NWHI monument). The proclamation set apart and reserved the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands for the purpose of protecting the historic objects, landmarks, prehistoric structures and other objects of historic or scientific interest that are situated upon lands owned and controlled by the Federal Government of the United States. Proclamation No. 8031 directs the Secretary of Commerce and the Secretary of the Interior (the Secretaries) to prohibit access into the NWHI monument unless authorized, and limit or regulate virtually all activities through a permit and zoning system among other measures. In establishing the NWHI monument, Proclamation No. 8031 assigns primary management responsibility of marine areas of the NWHI monument to the Secretary of Commerce, NOAA, in consultation with the Secretary of the Interior. The proclamation assigns the Secretary of the Interior, through the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) with sole responsibility for management of the areas of the monument that overlay the Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge, the Battle of Midway National Memorial and the Hawaiian Islands National Wildlife Refuge, in consultation with the Secretary of Commerce. Proclamation No. 8031 also requires the Secretary of Commerce to manage the NWHI monument in consultation with the Secretary of the Interior and the State of Hawaii and directs the Secretaries to promulgate any additional regulations needed for the proper care and management of the monument objects identified above, to the extent authorized by law. At this 134th meeting, the Council will consider and take action on pending recommendations regarding fishing in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands commensurate with the provisions of Proclamation 8031 which established the NWHI monument. 134th Council Meeting Agenda 1. Introductions 2. Approval of Agenda 3. Implementation of Fishing Regulations for the NWHI Monument 4. Public Hearing 5. Council Discussion and Action 6. Other Business Although non-emergency issues not contained in this agenda may come before the Council for discussion, those issues may not be the subject of formal Council action during its 134th meeting. Council action will be restricted to those issues listed in this document and any issue arising after publication of this document that requires 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 Kitty M. Simonds,

(808)522-8220 (voice) or

(808)522-8226 (fax), at least 5 days prior to the meeting date. Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 *et seq.* Dated: August 9, 2006. Tracey L. Thompson, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. E6-13307 Filed 8-14-06; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-22-S DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Notice of Availability of Final Contracting Policy AGENCY: National Ocean Service (NOS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Department of Commerce (DOC). ACTION: Notice of Availability of Final Revised Contracting Policy. SUMMARY: The NOAA National Ocean Service

(NOS)is publishing its updated contracting policy for hydrographic services per NOAA's 2005 plans to review and update the subject policy. DATES: No comments are solicited through this notice. ADDRESSES: Ashley Chappell, Office of Coast Survey, National Ocean Service, NOAA (N/CS), 1315 East West Highway, Station 6113, Silver Spring, MD 20910. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ashley Chappell, Office of Coast Survey, National Ocean Service, NOAA (N/CS), 1315 East West Highway, Station 6113, Silver Spring, Maryland 20910; Telephone: 301-713-2770 ext. 148; fax

(301)713-4019, Attention: Ashley Chappell; E-mail *ashley.chappell@noaa.gov.* SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The contracting policy for hydrographic services within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Ocean Service

(NOS)is final. Background In House Report 108-576, which accompanied the FY 2005 Consolidated Appropriations Act, Congress recommended that NOAA's National Ocean Service “work with the private mapping community to develop a strategy for expanding contracting with private entities to minimize duplication and take maximum advantage of private sector capability in fulfillment of NOAA's mapping and charting responsibilities.” NOAA first consulted with congressional staff to clarify the scope of the request. Subsequently, on June 13, 2005, NOAA submitted a report to Congress outlining its intent to utilize its advisory group, the Hydrographic Services Review Panel (the Panel), as the primary vehicle for reevalting its existing mapping and charting contracting policy established in 1996. The report stated that the scope of NOAA's efforts would be limited to hydrographic services programs funded under the “Mapping and Charting” section of the NOAA budget. NOAA then issued a **Federal Register** notice publishing and soliciting comments on its 1996 policy. The majority of comments were from private sector mapping firms and in general were supportive of NOAA's existing policy. Upon review of the public comments and in consultation with the Panel, NOAA concluded that a moderate revision of its existing policy was the appropriate approach. On April 7, 2006, NOAA issued a second **Federal Register** notice publishing and soliciting comments on its draft revised policy. Two comments were received. One was generally supportive and the second detailed several concerns. Two concerns were that NOAA's efforts

(1)did not respond to the congressional request and

(2)that the revised policy mistakenly focused solely on NOAA's hydrographic services. As noted, personnel met with congressional staff and then provided Congress a report outlining the scope of NOAA's intended efforts. That strategy included utilizing the Panel as the primary mechanism for engaging the public, including the private mapping community, in reexamining the contracting policy. In terms of the scope, the congressional language requesting NOAA to undertake this effort appeared in the ``Mapping and Charting'' section of the annual appropriations report that addresses only NOAA's hydrographic services. The second comment disagreed with the draft policy's conclusion that acquisition of geospatial data is a core agency mission and that the agency should maintain a core capability. Upon review, NOAA concludes its legal authorities provide language indicating acquisition of data is a core agency mission and that the agency should maintain an adequate operational capability. For example, the Hydrographic Services Improvement Act says that the NOAA administrator ``shall acquire and disseminate hydrographic data.'' (33 U.S.C. 892a(a)(1)). The Act authorizes NOAA to procure vessels, equipment and technologies in order to ``maintain operational expertise in hydrographic data acquisition and hydrographic services.'' (33 U.S.C. 892a(b)(1)). NOAA Hydrographic Services Contracting Policy NOAA recognizes that qualified commercial sources can provide competent, professional, cost-effective hydrographic services to NOAA in support of its mapping and charting mission for enhancing navigation safety. NOAA also recognizes that the provision of hydrographic services, including the acquisition and dissemination of hydrographic and shoreline data, is a core mission requirement of NOAA under the 1947 Coast and Geodetic Survey Act and the Hydrographic Services Improvement Act of 1998 (as amended). In the interest of public and environmental safety, the Federal government's responsibility for executing its hydrographic services missions is manifest and non-delegable. Therefore, it is incumbent upon NOAA, as recommended by the Hydrographic Services Review Panel (the Panel), to maintain its operational hydrographic services core capability, and contract for the remainder of its hydrographic services to the extent of available funding. In general, it is the intent of NOAA to contract for hydrographic services when qualified commercial sources exist, and when such contracts are the most cost effective method of conducting these functions. This policy documents the framework and conditions under which contracting will be employed to ensure an open and consistent approach. To support this policy, NOAA will maintain a dialogue with private sector organizations and constituent groups. For the purposes of this policy, the term “hydrographic services” is defined to include: Geodesy, hydrography, photogrammetry, topography, remote sensing, geophysical (gravity, seismological, geomagnetic) measurements, tide and current observations, and data processing. Although this policy is limited to NOAA's hydrographic services, it is NOAA's intent to advance contracting and adhere to the principles of this policy to meet all of its geospatial, surveying and mapping requirements. NOAA will procure hydrographic data and services from qualified sources in accordance with its legal authorities, the Federal Acquisition Regulations

(FAR)and the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949 (40 U.S.C. 541 *et seq.* ), including Title IX where appropriate. Commonly known as the “Brooks Act” for Architect/Engineering (A/E) contracts, Title IX is a contract mechanism for use in situations where the professional nature of the services to be procured requires that potential contractors have specialized technical expertise. NOAA may determine that a particular surveying or mapping activity is inherently governmental. NOAA surveying and mapping activities considered inherently governmental in nature may include services necessary to:

(1)Monitor the quality of NOAA products;

(2)promulgate and promote national and international technical standards and specifications;

(3)conduct basic research and development and ensure the rapid transfer to the private sector of the derived technology;

(4)maintain the Federal geodetic and navigational databases necessary to support safe and efficient marine operations;

(5)support coastal stewardship ecosystem applications; and

(6)support Maritime Domain Awareness and Homeland Security preparation and response activities. To carry out the above activities, and to adequately monitor contracted services, NOAA will maintain a core capability of field and office expertise. NOAA may task qualified commercial sources with surveying and mapping services in any part of the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone for any NOAA mission-related purpose, irrespective of pre-defined priority categories such as those documented in the NOAA Hydrographic Surveying Priorities. The government's interests and responsibilities for surveying and mapping vary broadly, and experience has shown that maintaining flexibility is key to responding to the nation's changing needs for updated surveying and mapping data. Ancillary Statements and Actions As recommended by the Panel, NOAA will continue to utilize a mix of in-house and private-sector resources to accomplish its hydrographic services missions. Costs and productivity will be closely monitored within each category ( *i.e.,* public and private) to ensure best use of hydrographic services resources. NOAA will also seek to determine the optimal resource allocation between in-house and private-sector resources based on the strength of the governmental interest, the total requirement for mapping and charting services, and the particular operational capabilities of either government or private-sector resources that may make one more suitable. NOAA will continue to examine ways to improve its contracting process, such as methods for minimizing the turnover frequency of contracting personnel and for reducing the length of time required to award contracts and task orders. NOAA will maintain its offer of debriefings to successful and unsuccessful hydrographic services contractors after final selection has taken place. The purpose of these debriefings is to assist contractors with identifying significant weaknesses or deficiencies in their submissions. NOAA is also exploring the establishment of an Ocean and Coastal Mapping Training Center. The Training Center was initially conceived as a curriculum to support NOAA's in-house hydrographic surveying training requirements. But NOAA now recognizes value in broadening the Center's scope to include training for NOAA and private sector contractors in techniques, standards, and technologies that support NOAA's many shoreline, coastal and ocean mapping activities. This concept builds on NOAA's annual Hydrographic Training and Field Procedures Workshops currently held for NOAA personnel and its hydrographic services contractors to train and trade valuable lessons learned from surveying experience. Such training would be beneficial to current or prospective NOAA contractors seeking to strengthen their proposal submissions. To view the 1996 National Ocean Service Contracting Policy; the Brooks Act, Public Law 92-582 or the 1998 and 2002 Hydrographic Services Improvement Acts (which authorize NOAA Navigation Services programs), visit *http://nauticalcharts.noaa.gov/ocs/hsrp/archive/library.htm.* Dated: August 9, 2006. Captain Steven Barnum, NOAA, Director, Office of Coast Survey, National Ocean Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. [FR Doc. 06-6929 Filed 8-14-06; 8:45am]

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