Notices. Proposed rule, extension of comment and reply comment periods
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/register/2007/01/26/07-331A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
BILLING CODE 4510-27-P FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION 47 CFR Parts 1 and 17 [WT Docket No. 03-187; DA 07-72] Effect of Communications Towers on Migratory Birds AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission. ACTION: Proposed rule, extension of comment and reply comment periods. SUMMARY: This document grants a motion requesting an extension of time to file comments and reply comments in response to a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking concerning the effects of communications towers on migratory birds that the Commission released on November 7, 2006.
DATES: Comments on the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking published November 22, 2006 (71 FR 67510) are due on or before April 23, 2007, and reply comments are due on or before May 23, 2007. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by WT Docket No. 03-187, FCC 06-164, by any of the following methods: • *Federal eRulemaking Portal:* *http://www.regulations.gov* . Follow the instructions for submitting comments. • *Federal Communications Commission's Web Site:* *http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/ecfs/* .
Follow the instructions for submitting comments. • *E-mail:* *ecfs@fcc.gov* , and include the following words in the body of the message, “get form.” A sample form and directions will be sent in response. • *Mail:* Federal Communications Commission, 445 12th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20554. • *Hand Delivery/Courier:* 236 Massachusetts Avenue, NE., Suite 110, Washington, DC 20002. • *Accessible Formats:* Contact the FCC to request reasonable accommodations (accessible format documents, sign language interpreters, CART, etc.) for filing comments either by e-mail: *FCC504@fcc.gov* or phone: 202-418-0530 or TTY: 202-418-0432. *Instructions:* All submissions received must include the agency name and docket number for this rulemaking, WT Docket No. 03-187.
All comments received will be posted without change to *http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/ecfs/* , including any personal information provided. For detailed instructions on submitting comments and additional information on the rulemaking process, see the “Public Participation” heading of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this document. *Docket:* For access to the docket to read background documents or comments received, go to *http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/ecfs/* . FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Louis Peraertz, Spectrum and Competition Policy Division, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, Federal Communications Commission,
(202)418-1879. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a summary of the Commission's Order released January 12, 2007. The complete text of the Order is available for inspection and copying during normal business hours in the FCC Reference Information Center, Portals II, 445 12th Street, SW., Room CY-A257, Washington, DC 20554. The document may also be purchased from the Commission's duplicating contractor, Best Copy and Printing, Inc., 445 12th Street, SW., Room CY-B402, Washington, DC 20554, telephone
(800)378-3160 or
(202)863-2893, facsimile
(202)863-2898, or via e-mail at *http://www.bcpiweb.com* . It is also available on the Commission's Web site at *http://www.fcc.gov* . By the Order, the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau grants a motion requesting an extension of the dates for filing comments and reply comments in response to In the Matter of Effects of Communications Towers on Migratory Birds, Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, WT Docket No. 03-187, which the Commission adopted on November 3, 2006, and released on November 7, 2006. On January 8, 2007, the American Bird Conservancy, CTIA—The Wireless Association, Defenders of Wildlife, the National Association of Tower Erectors, and PCIA—the Wireless Infrastructure Association filed a joint Motion for Extension of Time. Although it is the policy of the Commission that extensions of time shall not be routinely granted, the WCB determined that, given the parties' agreement that the additional time would benefit discussions related to avian tower safety, good cause exists to provide parties an extension of time for filing comments, from January 22, 2007, to April 23, 2007, and an extension of time for filing reply comments from February 20, 2007, to May 23, 2007. Accordingly, it is ordered that, pursuant to authority found in section 4(i) of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 47 U.S.C. 154(i), and §§ 0.131, 0.331 and 1.46 of the Commission's rules, 47 CFR 0.131, 0.331, 1.46, the pleading cycle established in this matter is modified as follows: *Comments Due:* April 23, 2007; Reply Comments Due: May 23, 2007. All other filing procedures remain unchanged from those previously established in this proceeding. It is further ordered that the joint Motion for Extension of Time filed by the American Bird Conservancy, CTIA—The Wireless Association, Defenders of Wildlife, the National Association of Tower Erectors, and PCIA—the Wireless Infrastructure Association, is granted as set forth herein. Federal Communications Commission. Fred B. Campbell, Jr., Chief, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau. [FR Doc. E7-1190 Filed 1-25-07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6712-01-P FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION 47 CFR Part 73 [MB Docket No. 87-268; DA 07-38] Advanced Television Systems and Their Impact Upon the Existing Television Broadcast Service; Seventh Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission. ACTION: Proposed rule; extension of comment period. SUMMARY: The Media Bureau extends the comment and reply comment deadlines in the *Seventh Further Notice of Proposed Rule Making* (“ *Further NPRM* ”). In order to allow parties ample time to develop and provide technical analyses during the comment and reply period, the deadline for filing comments in response to the *Further NPRM* is extended to January 25, 2007 and the deadline for filing reply comments is extended to February 26, 2007. DATES: Comments are due January 25, 2007, and reply comments are due February 26, 2007. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by MB Docket No. 87-268, by any of the following methods: • Federal eRulemaking Portal: *http://www.regulations.gov.* Follow the instructions for submitting comments. • Federal Communications Commission's Web Site: *http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/ecfs/.* Follow the instructions for submitting comments. • People with Disabilities: Contact the FCC to request reasonable accommodations (accessible format documents, sign language interpreters, CART, etc.) by e-mail: *FCC504@fcc.gov* or phone: 202-418-0530 or TTY: 202-418-0432. For detailed instructions for submitting comments and additional information on the rulemaking process, see the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this document. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Evan Baranoff, *Evan.Baranoff@fcc.gov,* or *Eloise Gore, Eloise.Gore@fcc.gov* , of the Media Bureau, Policy Division,
(202)418-2120; Nazifa Sawez, *Nazifa.Sawez@fcc.gov* , of the Media Bureau, Video Division,
(202)418-1600; or Alan Stillwell, *Alan.Stillwell@fcc.gov,* of the Office of Engineering and Technology,
(202)418-2470. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On October 20, 2006, the Commission adopted a *Seventh Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking,* FCC 06-150, released October 20, 2006 in MB Docket No. 87-268 (71 FR 66592, November 15, 2006) proposing a new Digital Television Table of Allotments providing all eligible stations with channels for digital television (“DTV”) operations after the DTV transition. Comments on the *Further NPRM* were initially due on January 11, 2007, and reply comments were initially due on February 12, 2007. On December 29, 2006, the Association of Federal Communications Consulting Engineers (AFCCE) filed a request for a 30 day extension of time to file comments in this proceeding. AFCCE argues that additional time is needed to complete the engineering analysis necessary to prepare comments. As set forth in Section 1.46 of the Commission's rules, it is our policy that extensions of time for filing comments in rulemaking proceedings shall not be routinely granted. 47 CFR 1.46. Moreover, the initial comment period in the proceeding was longer than usual. However, in view of the circumstances outlined by AFCCE, we believe a 14 day extension for the comment and reply period is warranted to facilitate the development of a complete record. This extension allows parties ample time to develop and provide technical analyses during the comment and reply period, which we hope will reduce the time needed later in this rulemaking process for further adjustments and filings. It is essential, however, that the industry and Commission remain on track to complete this transition by the statutory deadline for the final transition for full power stations from analog to digital television on February 17, 2009. Deficit Reduction Act of 2005, Pub. L. No. 109-171, 120 Stat. 4
(2006)(amending Section 309(j)(14) and Section 337(e) of the Communications Act, as amended). Accordingly, we decline to grant the full 30 day extension AFCCE requested. Accordingly, *it is ordered* that the Request for Extension of Time filed in MB Docket No. 87-268 by the AFCCE is *granted* to the extent detailed above. *It is further ordered* that the time for filing comments in the above captioned proceeding is *extended* to January 25, 2007 and the time for filing reply comments is *extended* to February 26, 2007. This action is taken pursuant to authority found in Sections 4(i), 4(j), and 303(r) of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 47 U.S.C. 154(i), 154(j), and 303(r) and Sections 0.61, 0.283, and 1.46 of the Commission's rules, 47 CFR 0.61, 0.283, and 1.46. Specific instructions for filing comments are located at paragraphs 71-76 of the item as published in the **Federal Register** and at paragraphs 58-63 of the item as released by the Commission and that appears on the Commission Web site: *http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-06-150A1.doc* . Federal Communications Commission. Steven A. Broeckaert, Deputy Chief, Policy Division, Media Bureau. [FR Doc. E7-1348 Filed 1-25-07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6712-01-P AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT 48 CFR Chapter 7 [Regulation Identifier Number
(RIN)0412-AA59] Key Subcontractor Consent Requirements AGENCY: United States Agency for International Development. ACTION: Advanced notice of proposed rulemaking. SUMMARY: The United States Agency for International Development is proposing to amend 48 CFR Chapter 7, the USAID Acquisition Regulation (AIDAR), by adding additional authority to monitor prime contractor compliance with subcontracting plans. The intent of this amendment is to provide the contracting officer a means for monitoring and assuring that subcontractors who were named in the offeror's proposal and whose contributions were evaluated as part of the proposal evaluation are in fact used in the contract. DATES: Submit comments on or before March 27, 2007. ADDRESSES: Submit comments, identified by title of the Proposed Action, and RIN number by any of the following methods: • Federal eRulemaking Portal: *http://www.regulations.gov.* Follow the instructions for submitting comments. • Fax:
(202)216-3395. • Mail: USAID, Office of Acquisition and Assistance, Policy Division, Room 7.9-18, 1300 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20523-0001. *Instructions:* All submissions must include the title of the proposed action, and Regulatory Information Number
(RIN)for this rulemaking. Please include your name, title, organization, postal address, telephone number, and e-mail address in the text of the message. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Diane Howard, 202-712-0206 Telephone:
(202)712-0206, E-mail: *dhoward@usaid.gov.* SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Agency envisions adding an authority to the AIDAR similar to that set out in the subcontracting consent requirements in the Federal Acquisition Regulation. Prime contractors will be required to obtain prior consent from the contracting officer in order to replace a named key subcontractor with another organization. Consent will also be required in the case where the prime contractor plans to carry out itself any contract requirements that were intended to be carried out by a named key subcontractor. The Agency is currently piloting this procedure in selected contracts. Our purpose in publishing this notice is to collect comments and opinions from the public prior to drafting regulatory guidance on this matter. In particular, we seek public comment on the challenges associated with enforcing such a modification. We are interested in assessments of the practicality of administering such a requirement and recommendations to assist the Agency in developing authority, guidelines, and standards to improve mission performance. USAID will issue a notice of proposed rulemaking following a review of comments received and review of pilot contracts. Public Participation: Because security screening precautions have slowed the delivery and dependability of surface mail to USAID/Washington, USAID recommends sending all comments to the Federal eRulemaking Portal or fax number listed above (all comments must be in writing to be reviewed). You may submit comments by electronic mail avoiding the use of any special characters and any form of encryption. All comments will be made available for public review without change, including any personal information provided, from 3 days after receipt to finalization of action at *http://www.Regulations.gov.* Michael F. Walsh, Procurement Executive. [FR Doc. E7-1255 Filed 1-25-07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6116-01-P 72 17 Friday, January 26, 2007 Notices DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Food Safety and Inspection Service [FDMS Docket No. FSIS-2006-0035] FSIS Jurisdiction Over Flavor Products Containing Meat or Poultry AGENCY: Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA. ACTION: Notice. SUMMARY: This notice clarifies that flavor products, e.g., flavor bases, and blended and reaction/process flavors, with greater than 3 percent raw meat or poultry, or 2 percent or more cooked meat or poultry, in their formulation are amenable to Food Safety and Inspection Service
(FSIS)jurisdiction. Recent findings show that some manufacturers of flavor products formulated with significant levels of meat, meat byproducts, poultry, and poultry byproducts (e.g., 30-70 percent) are not aware that such products are under FSIS jurisdiction. These manufacturers need to take necessary steps to come under inspection. ADDRESSES: FSIS invites interested persons to submit comments on this notice. Comments may be submitted by any of the following methods: • Mail, including floppy disks or CD-ROMs, and hand- or courier-delivered items: Send to Docket Clerk, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food Safety and Inspection Service, 300 12th Street, SW., Room 102, Cotton Annex, Washington, DC 20250-3700. • Electronic mail: *fsis.regulationscomments@fsis.usda.gov.* • Federal eRulemaking Portal: This Web site provides the ability to type short comments directly into the comment field on this Web page or attach a file for lengthier comments. Go to *http://www.regulations.gov* and, in the “Search for Open Regulations” box, select “Food Safety and Inspection Service” from the agency drop-down menu, and then click on “Submit.” In the Docket ID column, select FDMS Docket Number FSIS-2006-0035 to submit or view public comments and to view supporting and related materials available electronically. After the close of the comment period, the docket can be viewed using the “Advanced Search” function in Regulations.gov. All submissions must include the Agency name and docket number FSIS-2006-0035. All comments submitted in response to this notice will be posted to the regulations.gov Web site. The comments also will be available for public inspection in the FSIS Docket Room at the address listed above between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. The comments also will be posted on the Agency's Web site at *http://www.fsis.usda.gov/regulations_&_policies/2007_Notices_Index/index.asp.* FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robert C. Post, Ph.D., Director, Labeling and Consumer Protection Staff, Room 602, Cotton Annex, 300 12th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20250-3700;
(202)205-0279. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Flavor products, such as flavor bases and reaction/process flavors produced with meat or poultry ingredients, are used to flavor non-meat or non-poultry foods. These bases and flavors are produced by rigorous heating for a prescribed time (e.g., 100°C or higher for at least 15 minutes) and by chemical reaction processes (e.g., hydrolysis/enzymolysis). During these processes, chemical reactions typically occur between reducing sugars and amino acids or proteins. When flavor bases and reaction/process flavors contain greater than 3 percent raw meat or poultry or 2 percent or more cooked meat or poultry in their formulation, they are amenable to FSIS jurisdiction because one basis for determining amenability is considering the amounts of meat or poultry used in formulating products. Recent findings indicate, however, that some manufacturers of flavor products formulated with significant levels of meat, meat byproducts, poultry, and poultry byproducts (e.g., 30-70 percent) are unaware that such products are under FSIS jurisdiction. Therefore, FSIS is publishing this notice to clarify that flavor products, e.g., bases and blended or reaction/process flavors, with greater than 3 percent raw meat or poultry, or 2 percent or more cooked meat or poultry, in their formulation are amenable to FSIS jurisdiction. The Agency is considering making changes in whether it asserts jurisdiction over certain meat and poultry products, including flavor products, and accepted comments on this issue in response to a **Federal Register** notice published on November 17, 2005 (70 FR 67490). In that notice, FSIS indicated that the Agency is developing a proposed rule with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Until a decision is made through rulemaking that such products are products under FDA's jurisdiction, they remain under FSIS' jurisdiction, and manufacturers of these products need to respond accordingly (i.e., obtain FSIS inspection). Additional Public Notification Public awareness of all segments of rulemaking and policy development is important. Consequently, in an effort to ensure that minorities, women, and persons with disabilities are aware of this notice, FSIS will announce it on-line through the FSIS Web page located at *http://www.fsis.usda.gov/regulations/2006_Notices_Index/* . FSIS also will make copies of this **Federal Register** publication available through the FSIS Constituent Update, which is used to provide information regarding FSIS policies, procedures, regulations, **Federal Register** notices, FSIS public meetings, recalls, and other types of information that could affect or would be of interest to constituents and stakeholders. The update is communicated via Listserv, a free electronic mail subscription service for industry, trade and farm groups, consumer interest groups, allied health professionals, and other individuals who have asked to be included. The update is available on the FSIS Web page. Through the Listserv and Web page, FSIS is able to provide information to a much broader and more diverse audience. In addition, FSIS offers an e-mail subscription service which provides automatic and customized access to selected food safety news and information. This service is available at *http://www.fsis.usda.gov/news_and_events/email_subscription/* . Options range from recalls to export information to regulations, directives and notices. Customers can add or delete subscriptions themselves and have the option to password-protect their account. Done at Washington, DC on: January 23, 2007. Barbara J. Masters, Administrator. [FR Doc. E7-1264 Filed 1-25-07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410-DM-P COMMITTEE FOR PURCHASE FROM PEOPLE WHO ARE BLIND OR SEVERELY DISABLED Procurement List; Proposed Additions AGENCY: Committee for Purchase from People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled. ACTION: Proposed addition to procurement list. SUMMARY: The Committee is proposing to add to the Procurement List a service to be furnished by nonprofit agencies employing persons who are blind or have other severe disabilities. *Comments Must Be Received On Or Before:* February 25, 2007. ADDRESSES: Committee for Purchase From People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled Jefferson Plaza 2, Suite 10800, 1421 Jefferson Davis Highway, Arlington, Virginia, 22202-3259. For Further Information Or To Submit Comments Contact: Sheryl D. Kennerly, Telephone:
(703)603-7740, Fax:
(703)603-0655, or e-mail *CMTEFedReg@jwod.gov.* SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice is published pursuant to 41 U.S.C. 47(a)(2) and 41 CFR 51-2.3. Its purpose is to provide interested persons an opportunity to submit comments on the proposed actions. If the Committee approves the proposed addition, the entities of the Federal Government identified in the notice for each service will be required to procure the service listed below from nonprofit agencies employing persons who are blind or have other severe disabilities. Regulatory Flexibility Act Certification I certify that the following action will not have a significant impact on a substantial number of small entities. The major factors considered for this certification were: 1. If approved, the action will not result in any additional reporting, recordkeeping or other compliance requirements for small entities other than the small organizations that will furnish the services to the Government. 2. If approved, the action will result in authorizing small entities to furnish the services to the Government. 3. There are no known regulatory alternatives which would accomplish the objectives of the Javits-Wagner-O'Day Act (41 U.S.C. 46-48c) in connection with the services proposed for addition to the Procurement List. Comments on this certification are invited. Commenter's should identify the statement(s) underlying the certification on which they are providing additional information. End of Certification The following service is proposed for addition to Procurement List for production by the nonprofit agencies listed: Service *Service Type/Location:* Food Service Attendant 148th Fighter Wing, 4680 Viper St. (Dining Hall), Duluth, MN. *NPA:* Goodwill Industries Vocational Enterprises, Inc., Duluth, MN Contracting Activity: Air National Guard, Duluth, MN. Sheryl D. Kennerly, Director, Information Management. [FR Doc. E7-1270 Filed 1-25-07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6353-01-P COMMITTEE FOR PURCHASE FROM PEOPLE WHO ARE BLIND OR SEVERELY DISABLED Procurement List; Additions And Deletions AGENCY: Committee for Purchase from People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled. ACTION: Additions to and deletions from procurement list. SUMMARY: This action adds to the Procurement List services to be furnished by nonprofit agencies employing persons who are blind or have other severe disabilities, and deletes from the Procurement List products and services previously furnished by such agencies. DATES: *Effective Date:* February 25, 2007. ADDRESSES: Committee for Purchase From People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled, Jefferson Plaza 2, Suite 10800, 1421 Jefferson Davis Highway, Arlington, Virginia 22202-3259. For Further Information Or To Submit Comments Contact: Sheryl D. Kennerly, Telephone:
(703)603-7740, Fax:
(703)603-0655, or e-mail *CMTEFedReg@jwod.gov.* SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Additions On November 17, 2006, November 24, 2006 and December 1, 2006, the Committee for Purchase From People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled published notice (71 FR 66908; 67848; 69538) of proposed additions to the Procurement List. After consideration of the material presented to it concerning capability of qualified nonprofit agencies to provide the services and impact of the additions on the current or most recent contractors, the Committee has determined that the services listed below are suitable for procurement by the Federal Government under 41 U.S.C. 46-48c and 41 CFR 51-2.4. Regulatory Flexibility Act Certification I certify that the following action will not have a significant impact on a substantial number of small entities. The major factors considered for this certification were: 1. The action will not result in any additional reporting, recordkeeping or other compliance requirements for small entities other than the small organizations that will furnish the services to the Government. 2. The action will result in authorizing small entities to furnish the services to the Government. 3. There are no known regulatory alternatives which would accomplish the objectives of the Javits-Wagner-O'Day Act (41 U.S.C. 46-48c) in connection with the services proposed for addition to the Procurement List. End of Certification Accordingly, the following services are added to the Procurement List: Services *Service Type/Location:* Custodial Services, Juneau Ranger Station, Admiralty Nat'l Monument, Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Ctr., 8465 Old Dairy Road, Juneau, AK. *NPA:* REACH, Inc., Juneau, AK. *Contracting Activity:* USDA, Forest Service, Region 10, Juneau, AK. *Service Type/Location:* Grounds Maintenance, Somersworth AFRC, (#187 Route 108), Somersworth, NH. *NPA:* Northern New England Employment Services, Portland, ME. *Contracting Activity:* Army Reserve Contracting Center-Devens Satellite Ofc., Devens, MA. *Service Type/Location:* Packaging Service, Hurlburt Field AFB, (304 Terry Avenue), Hurlburt Field AFB, FL. *NPA:* Lakeview Center, Inc., Pensacola, FL. *Contracting Activity:* AF-Hurlburt Field, Hurlburt Field, FL. Deletions On November 17, 2006, November 24, 2006 and December 1, 2006, the Committee for Purchase From People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled published notice (70 FR 66909; 67848; 69539) of proposed deletions to the Procurement List. After consideration of the relevant matter presented, the Committee has determined that the products and services listed below are no longer suitable for procurement by the Federal Government under 41 U.S.C. 46-48c and 41 CFR 51-2.4. Regulatory Flexibility Act Certification I certify that the following action will not have a significant impact on a substantial number of small entities. The major factors considered for this certification were: 1. The action may result in additional reporting, recordkeeping or other compliance requirements for small entities. 2. The action may result in authorizing small entities to furnish the products and services to the Government. 3. There are no known regulatory alternatives which would accomplish the objectives of the Javits-Wagner-O'Day Act (41 U.S.C. 46-48c) in connection with the products and services deleted from the Procurement List. End of Certification Accordingly, the following products and services are deleted from the Procurement List: Products Cross “Solo” Pen and Refill NSN: 7510-01-425-6802—Cross “Solo” Pen and Refill NSN: 7510-01-451-9182—Cross “Solo” Pen and Refill NSN: 7510-01-451-9185—Cross “Solo” Pen and Refill NSN: 7510-01-451-9187—Cross “Solo” Pen and Refill *NPA:* In-Sight, Warwick, RI. *Contracting Activity:* Office Supplies & Paper Products Acquisition Ctr., New York, NY. Frame, Mattress, Wooden NSN: 7210-00-NSH-0012—Frame, Mattress, Wooden NSN: 7210-00-NSH-0013—Frame, Mattress, Wooden NSN: 7210-00-NSH-0014—Frame, Mattress, Wooden NSN: 7210-00-NSH-0015—Frame, Mattress, Wooden NSN: 7210-00-NSH-0016—Frame, Mattress, Wooden NSN: 7210-00-NSH-0017—Frame, Mattress, Wooden NSN: 7210-00-NSH-0018—Frame, Mattress, Wooden *NPA:* Wilkes County Vocational Workshop, Inc., North Wilkesboro, NC. *Contracting Activity:>* Federal Prison Industries, Dept. of Justice. Matt Rehab, Berth Crew NSN: 7699 CL 1 Crew—Matt Rehab, Berth Crew NSN: 7699 CL 2 Crew—Matt Rehab, Berth Crew *NPA:* Georgia Industries for the Blind, Bainbridge, GA. *NPA:* L.C. Industries For The Blind, Inc., Durham, NC *NPA:* Mississippi Industries for the Blind, Jackson, MS *NPA:* Virginia Industries for the Blind, Charlottesville, VA *NPA:* Winston-Salem Industries for the Blind, Winston-Salem, NC. *Contracting Activity:* GSA, Southwest Supply Center, Fort Worth, TX. Box Spring Rehabilitation, Used & New (U&N) NSN: 7699 29 X 76 U—Box-Spring Rehabilitation, Used NSN: 7699 33 X 78 U—Box-Spring Rehabilitation, Used NSN: 7699 36 X 75 U—Box-Spring Rehabilitation, Used NSN: 7699 36 X 78 U—Box-Spring Rehabilitation, Used NSN: 7699 36 X 80 U—Box-Spring Rehabilitation, Used NSN: 7699 36 X 84 U—Box-Spring Rehabilitation, Used NSN: 7699 38 X 75 U—Box-Spring Rehabilitation, Used NSN: 7699 38 X 80 U—Box-Spring Rehabilitation, Used NSN: 7699 39 X 78 U—Box-Spring Rehabilitation, Used NSN: 7699 41- 1/2 X 78U—Box-Spring Rehabilitation, Used NSN: 7699 47 X 78 U—Box-Spring Rehabilitation, Used NSN: 7699 53 X 73 U—Box-Spring Rehabilitation, Used NSN: 7699 53 X 75 U—Box-Spring Rehabilitation, Used NSN: 7699 53 X 80 U—Box-Spring Rehabilitation, Used *NPA:* Georgia Industries for the Blind, Bainbridge, GA *NPA:* L.C. Industries For The Blind, Inc., Durham, NC *NPA:* Mississippi Industries for the Blind, Jackson, MS *NPA:* Virginia Industries for the Blind, Charlottesville, VA *NPA:* Winston-Salem Industries for the Blind, Winston-Salem, NC. *Contracting Activity:* GSA, Southwest Supply Center, Fort Worth, TX. Matt Rehab, Berth C.P.O. NSN: 7699 Class 1—Matt Rehab, Berth C.P.O. NSN: 7699 Class 2—Matt Rehab, Berth C.P.O. *NPA:* Georgia Industries for the Blind, Bainbridge, GA *NPA:* L.C. Industries For The Blind, Inc., Durham, NC *NPA:* Mississippi Industries for the Blind, Jackson, MS *NPA:* Virginia Industries for the Blind, Charlottesville, VA *NPA:* Winston-Salem Industries for the Blind, Winston-Salem, NC. *Contracting Activity:>* GSA, Southwest Supply Center, Fort Worth, TX. Matt Rehab, Berth Crew NSN: 7699 CL 1 Crew—Matt Rehab, Berth Crew NSN: 7699 CL 2 Crew—Matt Rehab, Berth Crew *NPA:* Georgia Industries for the Blind, Bainbridge, GA *NPA:* L.C. Industries For The Blind, Inc., Durham, NC *NPA:* Mississippi Industries for the Blind, Jackson, MS *NPA:* Virginia Industries for the Blind, Charlottesville, VA. *NPA:* Winston-Salem Industries for the Blind, Winston-Salem, NC. *Contracting Activity:* GSA, Southwest Supply Center, Fort Worth, TX. Matt Rehab, Grade B Reg Bed NSN: 7699 26 X 76 B—Matt Rehab, Grade B Reg Bed NSN: 7699 26 X 72 1/2 B—Matt Rehab, Grade B Reg Bed NSN: 7699 27 X 73 B—Matt Rehab, Grade B Reg Bed NSN: 7699 30 X 76 B—Matt Rehab, Grade B Reg Bed NSN: 7699 31 X 78 B—Matt Rehab, Grade B Reg Bed NSN: 7699 33 X 75 B—Matt Rehab, Grade B Reg Bed NSN: 7699 34 X 76 B—Matt Rehab, Grade B Reg Bed NSN: 7699 36 X 78 B—Matt Rehab, Grade B Reg Bed NSN: 7699 38 X 75 B—Matt Rehab, Grade B Reg Bed *NPA:* Georgia Industries for the Blind, Bainbridge, GA. *NPA:* L.C. Industries For The Blind, Inc., Durham, NC. *NPA:* Mississippi Industries for the Blind, Jackson, MS. *NPA:* Virginia Industries for the Blind, Charlottesville, VA. *NPA:* Winston-Salem Industries for the Blind, Winston-Salem, NC. *Contracting Activity:* GSA, Southwest Supply Center, Fort Worth, TX. Refill, Ballpoint Pen NSN: 7510-00-754-2689—Refill, Ballpoint Pen NSN: 7510-00-543-6793—Refill, Ballpoint Pen *NPA:* Industries for the Blind, Inc., West Allis, WI. *Contracting Activity:* Office Supplies & Paper Products Acquisition Ctr., New York, NY. Services *Service Type/Location:* Custodial Services, USDA, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, (6901 West Sunrise Blvd., Plantation, FL. *NPA:* Abilities, Inc. of Florida, Clearwater, FL. *Contracting Activity:* USDA, Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service-PFQ, Minneapolis, MN. *Service Type/Location:* Grounds Maintenance, Marine Corps Air Station, San Diego, CA. *NPA:* The ARC of San Diego, San Diego, CA. *Contracting Activity:* Department of the Navy. Sheryl D. Kennerly, Director, Information Management. [FR Doc. E7-1271 Filed 1-25-07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6353-01-P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE Office of the Secretary Estimates of the Voting Age Population for 2006 AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, Commerce. ACTION: General notice announcing population estimates. SUMMARY: This notice announces the voting age population estimates, as of July 1, 2006, for each state and the District of Columbia. We are providing this notice in accordance with the 1976 amendment to the Federal Election Campaign Act, Title 2, United States Code 441a(e). FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Enrique Lamas, Chief, Population Division, Bureau of the Census, Department of Commerce, Room HQ-5H174, Washington, DC 20233, telephone
(301)763-2071. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the requirements of the 1976 amendment to the Federal Election Campaign Act, Title 2, United States Code 441a(e), I hereby give notice that the estimates of the voting age population for July 1, 2006, for each state and the District of Columbia are as shown in the following table: Estimates of the Population of Voting Age for Each State and the District of Columbia: July 1, 2006 Area Population 18 and over United States 225,662,922 Alabama 3,484,729 Alaska 488,619 Arizona 4,538,120 Arkansas 2,119,686 California 26,924,935 Colorado 3,584,076 Connecticut 2,686,523 Delaware 650,110 District of Columbia 466,649 Florida 14,068,333 Georgia 6,908,921 Hawaii 987,417 Idaho 1,072,185 Illinois 9,616,726 Indiana 4,735,891 Iowa 2,271,891 Kansas 2,068,238 Kentucky 3,206,543 Louisiana 3,197,767 Maine 1,040,580 Maryland 4,255,196 Massachusetts 4,988,309 Michigan 7,617,287 Minnesota 3,909,837 Mississippi 2,151,135 Missouri 4,426,121 Montana 726,784 Nebraska 1,323,298 Nevada 1,861,009 New Hampshire 1,017,270 New Jersey 6,635,222 New Mexico 1,445,669 New York 14,791,841 North Carolina 6,701,118 North Dakota 490,933 Ohio 8,707,971 Oklahoma 2,685,178 Oregon 2,844,499 Pennsylvania 9,635,748 Rhode Island 830,159 South Carolina 3,281,596 South Dakota 587,238 Tennessee 4,596,210 Texas 17,013,818 Utah 1,758,865 Vermont 490,519 Virginia 5,836,037 Washington 4,869,531 West Virginia 1,429,399 Wisconsin 4,243,976 Wyoming 393,210 I have certified these counts to the Federal Election Commission. Dated: January 19, 2007. Carlos M. Gutierrez, Secretary, Department of Commerce. [FR Doc. E7-1192 Filed 1-25-07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-07-P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE Economic Development Administration Notice of Petitions by Firms for Determination of Eligibility To Apply for Trade Adjustment Assistance AGENCY: Economic Development Administration, Commerce. ACTION: Notice and opportunity for public comment. Pursuant to Section 251 of the Trade Act of 1974 (19 U.S.C. 2341 *et seq.* ), the Economic Development Administration
(EDA)has received petitions for certification of eligibility to apply for Trade Adjustment Assistance from the firms listed below. EDA has initiated separate investigations to determine whether increased imports into the United States of articles like or directly competitive with those produced by each firm contributed importantly to the total or partial separation of the firm's workers, or threat thereof, and to a decrease in sales or production of each petitioning firm. List of Petitions Received by EDA for Certification of Eligibility To Apply for Trade Adjustment Assistance for the Period [December 21, 2006 through January 20, 2006] Firm Address Date petition accepted Product National Cart Company, LLC 3125 Boschertown Rd., St. Charles, MO 63301 12/3/2006 Food and material handling equipment, cart corrals and custom metal fabrication. Rock Solid Audio, Inc *13571 Desmond St., Pacoima, CA 91331* 1/3/2007 *Consumer electronics wood fabrication and audio cabinets* . BMV Clothing Contractors, Inc *94 Jeffery Lane, Oceanside, NY 11572-5936* 12/22/2006 *Men's and boys suit vests* . Custom Craftworks, Inc *760 Bailey Hill Rd., P.O. Box 24621, Eugene, OR 97402* 12/27/2006 *Wood massage tables* . Conforma Laboratories, Inc *4507 Colley Avenue, Norfold, VA 23508* 12/27/2006 *Gas permeable contact lenses and contact lens modification tools* . PFM Manufacturing, Inc *3106th Street, Townsend, MT 59644* 12/27/2006 *Special purpose vehicles* . Acme Staple Company, Inc *Tomac Packaging, Inc. and Subsidiary, d/b/a Acme Staple Company, Inc., 87 Hill Road, Franklin, NH 03235* 12/28/2006 *Specialty staples and staple machinery* . Phoenix Container, Inc *1202 Airport Road, New Brunswick, NJ 08902* 1/10/2007 *Steel pails* . Almatron Electronics, Inc. *644 E. Young Street, Santa Ana, CA 92705* 1/10/2007 *Single, double sided and multilayer printed circuit boards* . Team Industries, Inc *105 Park Ave, NW., Bagley, MN 56621* 1/17/2007 *Aluminum die-cast snowmobile and all-terrain vehicle power-trains and power-train components* . Great Lakes Industries, Inc *1927 Wildwood, Jackson, MI 49202* 1/17/2006 *Mechanical power transmission components* . Any party having a substantial interest in these proceedings may request a public hearing on the matter. A written request for a hearing must be submitted to the Office of Performance Evaluation, Room 7009, Economic Development Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, Washington, DC 20230, no later than ten
(10)calendar days following publication of this notice. Please follow the procedures set forth in Section 315.9 of EDA's final rule (71 FR 56704) for procedures for requesting a public hearing. The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance official program number and title of the program under which these petitions are submitted is 11.313, Trade Adjustment Assistance. Dated: January 22, 2007. William P. Kittredge, Program Officer for TAA. [FR Doc. E7-1206 Filed 1-25-07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-24-P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE International Trade Administration Antidumping Proceedings: Calculation of the Weighted-Average Dumping Margins in Antidumping Investigations; Change in Effective Date of Final Modification AGENCY: Import Administration, International Trade Administration, Department of Commerce. ACTION: Change in Effective Date of Final Modification SUMMARY: On December 27, 2006, the Department of Commerce (“the Department”) published a modification concerning the calculation of the weighted-average dumping margin in antidumping investigations (71 FR 77722). On January 16, 2007, the Department delayed the effective date of the modification until January 23, 2007 (72 FR 1704). The Department is again delaying the effective date of the modification until February 22, 2007. DATE: The effective date of the final modification, published at 71 FR 77722 on December 27, 2006, will be February 22, 2007. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mark Barnett
(202)482-2866, Michael Rill
(202)482-3058, or William Kovatch
(202)482-5052. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On December 27, 2006, the Department of Commerce published a modification concerning the calculation of the weighted-average dumping margin in antidumping duty investigations (71 FR 77722). On January 16, 2007, the Department delayed the effective date of the modification until January 23, 2007 (72 FR 1704). After further consultations with Congress and in order to afford adequate time for review, the Department is delaying the effective date of the final modification until February 22, 2007. The methodology set forth in the **Federal Register** notice published at 71 FR 77722 on December 27, 2006, will be used in implementing the findings of the WTO panel in *US- Zeroing (EC)* pursuant to section 129 of the URAA concerning the specific antidumping investigations challenged by the EC in that dispute. The Department also will apply the final modification in all current and future antidumping investigations as of the effective date. Dated: January 22, 2007. David M. Spooner, Assistant Secretary for Import Administration. [FR Doc. E7-1276 Filed 1-25-07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-DS-S DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Institute of Standards and Technology [Docket No.: 061222340-6340-01] Measurement, Science and Engineering Grants Programs; Availability of Funds AGENCY: National Institute of Standards and Technology, Commerce. ACTION: Notice. SUMMARY: The National Institute of Standards and Technology
(NIST)announces that the following programs are soliciting applications for financial assistance for FY 2007:
(1)The Electronics and Electrical Engineering Laboratory Grants Program;
(2)the Manufacturing Engineering Laboratory Grants Program;
(3)the Chemical Science and Technology Laboratory Grants Program;
(4)the Physics Laboratory Grants Program;
(5)the Materials Science and Engineering Laboratory Grants Program;
(6)the Building Research Grants and Cooperative Agreements Program;
(7)the Fire Research Grants Program;
(8)the Information Technology Laboratory Grants Program; and
(9)the NIST Center for Neutron Research Grants Program. Each program will only consider applications that are within the scientific scope of the program as described in this notice and in the detailed program descriptions found in the Federal Funding Opportunity
(FFO)announcement for these programs. Prior to preparation of a proposal, it is strongly suggested that potential applicants contact the Program Manager for the appropriate field of research, as specified in the FFO announcement found at *http://www.grants.gov* , for clarification of the program objectives and to determine whether their proposal is responsive to this notice. DATES: See below. ADDRESSES: See below. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Name and Number: Measurement and Engineering Research and Standards—11.609. Electronics and Electrical Engineering Laboratory
(EEEL)Grants Program *Program Description:* The Electronics and Electrical Engineering Laboratory
(EEEL)Grants Program will provide grants and cooperative agreements for the development of fundamental electrical metrology and of metrology supporting industry and government agencies in the broad areas of semiconductors, electronic instrumentation, radio-frequency technology, optoelectronics, magnetics, superconductors, electronic commerce as applied to electronic products and devices, the transmission and distribution of electrical power, national electrical standards (fundamental, generally quantum-based physical standards), and law enforcement standards. *Dates:* All applications, paper and electronic, must be received no later than 5 p.m. Daylight Savings Time on June 15, 2007. *Addresses:* Paper applications must be submitted to: Sheilda Bryner, Electronics and Electrical Engineering Laboratory, National Institute of Standards and Technology, 100 Bureau Drive, Stop 8100, Gaithersburg, MD 20899-8100. Electronic applications and associated proposal information should be uploaded to grants.gov. *For Further Information Contact:* For complete information about this program and instructions for applying by paper or electronically, read the Federal Funding Opportunity
(FFO)Notice at *http://www.grants.gov* . A paper copy of the FFO may be obtained by calling
(301)975-6328. Program questions should be addressed to Sheilda Bryner, Electronics and Electrical Engineering Laboratory, National Institute of Standards and Technology, 100 Bureau Drive, Stop 8100, Gaithersburg, MD 20899-8100, Tel.:
(301)975-2220, Fax:
(301)975-4091. Grants administration questions concerning this program should be addressed to: Marilyn Goldstein, NIST Grants and Agreements Management Division,
(301)975-6359; *marilyn.goldstein@nist.gov* . For assistance with using Grants.gov contact *support@grants.gov* . *Funding Availability:* In fiscal year 2006, the EEEL Grants Program made 12 new awards, totaling $657,871. The amount available each year fluctuates considerably based on programmatic needs and funding availability. Individual awards are expected to range between $5,000 and $150,000. For the Electronics and Electrical Engineering Laboratory Grants Program, proposals will be considered for research projects from one to three years. When a proposal for a multi-year award is approved, funding will generally be provided for only the first year of the program. If an application is selected for funding, NIST has no obligation to provide any additional funding in connection with that award. Continuation of an award to increase funding or extend the period of performance is at the total discretion of NIST. Funding for each subsequent year of a multi-year proposal will be contingent upon satisfactory progress, continued relevance to the mission of the Electronics and Electrical Engineering Laboratory Grants Program, and the availability of funds. The multi-year awards must have scopes of work that can be easily separated into annual increments of meaningful work that represent solid accomplishments if prospective funding is not made available to the applicant, (i.e., the scopes of work for each funding period must produce identifiable and meaningful results in and of themselves). *Statutory Authority:* As authorized by 15 U.S.C. 272(b) and (c), the NIST Electronics and Electrical Engineering Laboratory conducts a basic and applied research program directly and through grants and cooperative agreements to eligible recipients. *Eligibility:* The Electronics and Electrical Engineering Laboratory Grants Program is open to institutions of higher education; hospitals; non-profit organizations; commercial organizations; state, local, and Indian tribal governments; foreign governments; organizations under the jurisdiction of foreign governments; and international organizations. *Review and Selection Process:* For the Electronics and Electrical Engineering Laboratory Grants Program, proposals will be reviewed in a three-step process. First, the EEEL Grants Coordinator, or the Deputy Director of EEEL, will determine the compatibility of the applicant's proposal with EEEL Program Areas and the relevance to the objectives of the Electronics and Electrical Engineering Laboratory Grants Program, described in the Program Description section above. If it is determined that the proposal is incomplete or non-responsive to the scope of the stated objectives, the proposal will not be reviewed for technical merit. If it is determined that all funds available for the EEEL Grants Program for the given fiscal year have been exhausted, the proposal will not be reviewed for technical merit. Proposers may contact EEEL at
(301)975-2220 to find out if funds have been exhausted for the fiscal year. EEEL will also post a notice on its Web site, *http://www.eeel.nist.gov/eeel_grants* , when funds are exhausted for the fiscal year. EEEL will notify proposers in writing if their proposals are not reviewed for technical merit. Second, proposals will be distributed for technical review by the EEEL Grants Coordinator, or other technical professionals familiar with the programs of the Electronics and Electrical Engineering Laboratory, to the appropriate Division or Office based on technical area. At least three independent, objective individuals knowledgeable about the particular scientific area addressed by the proposal will conduct a technical review based on the evaluation criteria described above. If non-Federal reviewers are used, the reviewers may discuss the proposals with each other, but scores will be determined on an individual basis, not as a consensus. Reviews will be conducted on a monthly basis, and all proposals received on or before the 15th day of the month will be ranked based on the reviewers' scores. Third, the Division Chief or Office Director will make application selections. In making application selections, the Division Chief or Office Director will take into consideration the results of the reviewers' evaluations, the availability of funding, and relevance to the objectives of the Electronics and Electrical Engineering Laboratory Grants Program, as described in the Program Description section above. The final approval of selected applications and award of financial assistance will be made by the NIST Grants Officer based on compliance with application requirements as published in this notice, compliance with applicable legal and regulatory requirements, whether the application furthers the objectives of the Department of Commerce, and whether the recommended applicants appear to be responsible. Applicants may be asked to modify objectives, work plans, or budgets and provide supplemental information required by the agency prior to award. The decision of the Grants Officer is final. Unsuccessful applicants will be notified in writing. The Program will retain one copy of each unsuccessful application for three years for record keeping purposes. The remaining copies will be destroyed. *Evaluation Criteria:* For the Electronics and Electrical Engineering Laboratory Grants Program, the evaluation criteria and weights to be used by the technical reviewers in evaluating the proposals are as follows: Proposal addresses specific program objectives as described in this notice (25%.) Proposal provides evidence of applicant's expertise in relevant technical area (20%). Proposal offers innovative approach (20%). Proposal provides realistic schedule with defined milestones (20%). Proposal provides adequate rationale for budget (15%). *Cost Share Requirements:* The Electronics and Electrical Engineering Laboratory Grants Program does not require any matching funds. Manufacturing Engineering Laboratory
(MEL)Grants Program *Program Description:* The Manufacturing Engineering Laboratory
(MEL)Grants Program will provide grants and cooperative agreements in the following fields of research: Dimensional Metrology for Manufacturing, Mechanical Metrology for Manufacturing, Machine Tool and Machining Process Metrology, Intelligent Systems, and Information Systems Integration for Applications in Manufacturing. *Dates:* All applications, paper and electronic, must be received no later than 5 p.m. Daylight Savings Time on September 30, 2007. Proposals received between June 1, 2007 and September 30, 2007 may be processed and considered for funding under this solicitation in the current fiscal year or in the next fiscal year, subject to the availability of funds. *Addresses:* Paper applications must be submitted to: Mrs. Mary Lou Norris, Manufacturing Engineering Laboratory, National Institute of Standards and Technology, 100 Bureau Drive, Stop 8200, Building 220, Room B322, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20899-8200. Electronic applications and associated proposal information should be uploaded to grants.gov. *For Further Information Contact:* For complete information about this program and instructions for applying by paper or electronically, read the Federal Funding Opportunity
(FFO)Notice at *http://www.grants.gov.* A paper copy of the FFO may be obtained by calling
(301)975-6328. Program questions should be addressed to Mrs. Mary Lou Norris, Manufacturing Engineering Laboratory, National Institute of Standards and Technology, 100 Bureau Drive, Stop 8200, Building 220, Room B322, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20899-8200, Tel:
(301)975-3400, E-mail: *mnorris@nist.gov.* Grants administration questions concerning this program should be addressed to: Marilyn Goldstein, NIST Grants and Agreements Management Division,
(301)975-6359; *marilyn.goldstein@nist.gov.* For assistance with using Grants.gov contact *support@grants.gov.* *Funding Availability:* In fiscal year 2006, the MEL Grants Program funded 14 new awards, totaling $1,180,222. In fiscal year 2007 the MEL Grants Program anticipates funding of approximately $500,000, including new awards and continuing projects. Individual awards are expected to range from approximately $25,000 to $300,000. For the MEL Grants Program, proposals will be considered for research projects from one to five years. When a proposal for a multi-year award is approved, funding will generally be provided for only the first year of the program. If an application is selected for funding, NIST has no obligation to provide any additional funding in connection with that award. Continuation of an award to increase funding or extend the period of performance is at the total discretion of NIST. Funding for each subsequent year of a multi-year proposal will be contingent upon satisfactory progress, continued relevance to the mission of the MEL program, and the availability of funds. The multi-year awards must have scopes of work that can be easily separated into annual increments of meaningful work that represent solid accomplishments if prospective funding is not made available to the applicant, (i.e., the scopes of work for each funding period must produce identifiable and meaningful results in and of themselves). *Statutory Authority:* As authorized under 15 U.S.C. 272(b) and (c), the MEL conducts a basic and applied research program directly and through grants and cooperative agreements to eligible recipients. *Eligibility:* The MEL Grants Program is open to institutions of higher education; hospitals; non-profit organizations; commercial organizations; state, local, and Indian tribal governments; foreign governments; organizations under the jurisdiction of foreign governments; and international organizations. *Review and Selection Process:* For the MEL Grants Program responsive proposals will be assigned, as received on a rolling basis, to the most appropriate area for review. Proposals will be reviewed in a three-step process. First the MEL Deputy Director or the appropriate MEL Division Chief will determine the applicability of the proposal with regard to MEL programs and the relevance of the proposal's objectives to current MEL research. If it is determined that the proposal is incomplete or non-responsive to the scope of the stated objectives, the proposal will not be reviewed for technical merit. Second, the appropriate MEL Division Chief or the MEL Program Manager will determine the possibility for funding availability within the MEL technical program area most relevant to the objectives of the proposal. If it is determined that sufficient funding is not available to consider grants proposals in the technical area of the proposal, the proposal will not be reviewed for technical merit. Third, if the proposal passes the first two steps, at least three independent, objective individuals knowledgeable about the particular scientific area addressed in the proposal will conduct a technical review based on the evaluation criteria. If non-Federal reviewers are used, the reviewers may discuss the proposal with each other, but scores will be determined on an individual basis, not as a consensus. The MEL Director or appropriate MEL Division Chief will make application selections from the grants proposals submitted. In making application selections, the Laboratory Director or Division Chief will take into consideration the results of the reviewers' evaluations, the availability of funds, and relevance to the objectives of the MEL Grants Program. These objectives are described above in the Program Description section of the FFO. The final approval of selected applications and award of financial assistance will be made by the NIST Grants Officer based on compliance with application requirements as published in this notice, compliance with applicable legal and regulatory requirements, whether the application furthers the objectives of the Department of Commerce, and whether the recommended applicants appear to be responsible. Applicants may be asked to modify objectives, work plans, or budgets and provide supplemental information required by the agency prior to award. The decision of the Grants Officer is final. Unsuccessful applicants will be notified in writing. The Program will retain one copy of each unsuccessful application for three years for recordkeeping purposes. The remaining copies will be destroyed. *Evaluation Criteria:* For the MEL Grants Program, the evaluation criteria the technical reviewers will use in evaluating the proposals are as follows: 1. Rationality. Reviewers will consider the coherence of the applicant's approach and the extent to which the proposal effectively addresses scientific and technical issues. 2. Technical Merit of Contribution. Reviewers will consider the potential technical effectiveness of the proposal and the value it would contribute to the field of manufacturing engineering and metrology research. Proposals must be relevant to current MEL research and have a relation to the objectives of ongoing MEL programs and activities. 3. Qualifications of Technical Personnel. Reviewers will consider the professional accomplishments, skills, and training of the proposed personnel to perform the work in the project. 4. Resources Availability. Reviewers will consider the extent to which the proposer has access to the necessary facilities and overall support to accomplish project objectives. Each of these factors will be given equal weight in the evaluation process. *Cost Share Requirements:* The MEL Grants Program does not require any matching funds. Chemical Science and Technology Laboratory Grants Program *Program Description:* The Chemical Science and Technology Laboratory
(CSTL)Grants Program will provide grants and cooperative agreements consistent with the CSTL mission in the following fields of measurement science research, focused on reference methods, reference materials and reference data: Biochemical Science Process Measurements, Surface and Microanalysis Science, Physical and Chemical Properties, and Analytical Chemistry. *Dates:* All applications, paper and electronic, must be received no later than 5 p.m. Daylight Savings Time on September 30, 2007. Proposals received between July 1, 2007 and September 30, 2007 may be processed and considered for funding under this solicitation in the next fiscal year, subject to the availability of funds. *Addresses:* Paper applications must be submitted to: Dr. William F. Koch, Chemical Science and Technology Laboratory, National Institute of Standards and Technology, 100 Bureau Drive, Stop 8300, Gaithersburg, MD 20899-8300. Electronic applications and associated proposal information should be uploaded to grants.gov. *For Further Information Contact:* For complete information about this program and instructions for applying by paper or electronically, read the Federal Funding Opportunity
(FFO)Notice at *http://www.grants.gov.* A paper copy of the FFO may be obtained by calling
(301)975-6328. Program questions should be addressed to Dr. William F. Koch, Chemical Science and Technology Laboratory, National Institute of Standards and Technology, 100 Bureau Drive, Stop 8300, Gaithersburg, MD 20899-8300, Tel
(301)975-8301, E-mail: *william.koch@nist.gov.* Grants administration questions concerning this program should be addressed to: Marilyn Goldstein, NIST Grants and Agreements Management Division,
(301)975-6359; *marilyn.goldstein@nist.gov.* For assistance with using Grants.gov contact *support@grants.gov.* *Funding Availability:* No funds have been set aside specifically for support of the CSTL Grants Program. The availability of funds depends upon actual authorization of funds and other costs expected to be incurred by individual divisions within the laboratory. Where funds are identified as available for grants, those funds will be awarded to highly ranked proposals as determined by the process described in this notice. In fiscal year 2006, the CSTL Grants Program funded 7 new awards, totaling $766,486. In fiscal year 2007, the CSTL Grants Program anticipates funding of approximately $2,000,000. Individual awards are expected to range from approximately $5,000 to $100,000. For the Chemical Science and Technology Laboratory Grant Program, proposals will be considered for research projects from one to three years. When a proposal for a multi-year award is approved, funding will generally be provided for only the first year of the program. If an application is selected for funding, NIST has no obligation to provide any additional funding in connection with that award. Continuation of an award to increase funding or extend the period of performance is at the total discretion of NIST. Funding for each subsequent year of a multi-year proposal will be contingent upon satisfactory progress, continued relevance to the mission of the Chemical Science and Technology Laboratory program, and the availability of funds. The multi-year awards must have scopes of work that can be easily separated into annual increments of meaningful work that represent solid accomplishments if prospective funding is not made available to the applicant, (i.e., the scopes of work for each funding period must produce identifiable and meaningful results in and of themselves). *Statutory Authority:* As authorized under 15 U.S.C. 272(b) and (c), the Chemical Science and Technology Laboratory conducts a basic and applied research program directly and through grants and cooperative agreements to eligible recipients. *Eligibility:* The Chemical Science and Technology Laboratory Grants Program is open to institutions of higher education; hospitals; non-profit organizations; commercial organizations; state, local, and Indian tribal governments; foreign governments; organizations under the jurisdiction of foreign governments; and international organizations. *Review and Selection Process:* For the Chemical Science and Technology Laboratory Grants Program, proposals will be reviewed in a three-step process. First, the Deputy Director of CSTL, or appropriate CSTL Division Chief, will determine the compatibility of the applicant's proposal with CSTL Program Areas and the relevance to the objectives of the Chemical Science and Technology Laboratory Grants Program, described in the Program Description section of the FFO. If it is determined that the proposal is incomplete or non-responsive to the scope of the stated objectives, the proposal will not be reviewed for technical merit. Second, at least three independent, objective individuals knowledgeable about the particular measurement science area addressed by the proposal will conduct a technical review based on the evaluation criteria described below. Reviews will be conducted on a quarterly basis, subject to the availability of funds, and all responsive, complete proposals received and reviewed since the last quarter will be ranked based on the reviewers' scores. If non-Federal reviewers are used, the reviewers may discuss the proposals with each other, but scores will be determined on an individual basis, not as a consensus. Third, the Division Chief will make application selections, taking into consideration the results of the reviewers' evaluations, the availability of funds, and the relevance of the proposal to the program objectives described in the Program Description section of the FFO. The final approval of selected applications and award of financial assistance will be made by the NIST Grants Officer based on compliance with application requirements as published in this notice, compliance with applicable legal and regulatory requirements, whether the application furthers the objectives of the Department of Commerce, and whether the recommended applicants appear to be responsible. Applicants may be asked to modify objectives, work plans, or budgets and provide supplemental information required by the agency prior to award. The decisions of the Grants Officer are final. Unsuccessful applicants will be notified in writing. The Program will retain one copy of each unsuccessful application for three years for record keeping purposes. The remaining copies will be destroyed. *Evaluation Criteria:* For the Chemical Science and Technology Laboratory Grants Program, the evaluation criteria the technical reviewers will use in evaluating the proposals are as follows: 1. Rationality. Reviewers will consider the coherence of the applicant's approach and the extent to which the proposal effectively addresses scientific and technical issues. 2. Qualifications of Technical Personnel. Reviewers will consider the professional accomplishments, skills, and training of the proposed personnel to perform the work in the project. 3. Resources Availability. Reviewers will consider the extent to which the proposer has access to the necessary facilities and overall support to accomplish project objectives. 4. Technical Merit of Contribution. Reviewers will consider the potential technical effectiveness of the proposal and the value it would contribute to the field of measurement science, especially as it pertains to reference methods, reference materials and reference data in Chemical Science and Technology. Each of these factors will be given equal weight in the evaluation process. *Cost Share Requirements:* The Chemical Science and Technology Laboratory Grants Program does not require any matching funds. Physics Laboratory Grants Program *Program Description:* The Physics Laboratory
(PL)Grants Program will provide grants and cooperative agreements in the following fields of research: Electron and Optical Physics, Atomic Physics, Optical Technology, Ionizing Radiation, Time and Frequency, and Quantum Physics. *Dates:* All applications, paper and electronic, must be received no later than 5 p.m. Daylight Savings Time on September 30, 2007. Proposals received between July 1, 2007 and September 30, 2007 may be processed and considered for funding under this solicitation in the next fiscal year, subject to the availability of funds. *Addresses:* Paper applications must be submitted to: Ms. Anita Sweigert, Physics Laboratory, National Institute of Standards and Technology, 100 Bureau Drive, Stop 8400, Gaithersburg, MD 20899-8400. Electronic applications and associated proposal information should be uploaded to grants.gov. *For Further Information Contact:* For complete information about this program and instructions for applying by paper or electronically, read the Federal Funding Opportunity
(FFO)Notice at *http://www.grants.gov.* A paper copy of the FFO may be obtained by calling
(301)975-6328. Program questions should be addressed to Ms. Anita Sweigert, Physics Laboratory, National Institute of Standards and Technology, 100 Bureau Drive, Stop 8400, Gaithersburg, MD 20899-8400, Tel
(301)975-4200, E-mail: *anita.sweigert@nist.gov.* It is strongly suggested to first confirm the program objectives with the Program Manager prior to preparing a detailed proposal. Grants administration questions concerning this program should be addressed to: Marilyn Goldstein, NIST Grants and Agreements Management Division,
(301)975-6359; *marilyn.goldstein@nist.gov.* For assistance with using Grants.gov contact *support@grants.gov.* *Funding Availability:* In fiscal year 2006, the PL Grants Program funded 13 new awards, totaling $2,532,314.16. In fiscal year 2007, the PL Grants Program anticipates funding of approximately $1,500,000, including new awards and continuing projects. Funding availability will be apportioned by quarter. Individual awards are expected to range from approximately $5,000 to $500,000. For the Physics Laboratory Grants Program, proposals will be considered for research projects from one to five years. When a proposal for a multi-year project is approved, funding will generally be provided for only the first year of the program. If an application is selected for funding, NIST has no obligation to provide any additional funding in connection with that award. Continuation of an award to increase funding or extend the period of performance is at the total discretion of NIST. Funding for each subsequent year of a multi-year proposal will be contingent upon satisfactory progress, continued relevance to the mission of the Physics Laboratory program, and the availability of funds. The multi-year awards must have scopes of work that can be easily separated into annual increments of meaningful work that represent solid accomplishments if prospective funding is not made available to the applicant (i.e., the scopes of work for each funding period must produce identifiable and meaningful results in and of themselves). *Statutory Authority:* As authorized under 15 U.S.C. 272
(b)and (c), the Physics Laboratory conducts a basic and applied research program directly and through grants and cooperative agreements to eligible recipients. *Eligibility:* The Physics Laboratory Grants Program is open to institutions of higher education; hospitals; non-profit organizations; commercial organizations; state, local, and Indian tribal governments; foreign governments; organizations under the jurisdiction of foreign governments; and international organizations. *Review and Selection Process:* For the Physics Laboratory Grants Program, responsive proposals will be considered as follows: First, at least three independent, objective individuals knowledgeable about the particular scientific area described in the proposal will conduct a technical review of each proposal based on the evaluation criteria described below. Reviews will be conducted on a monthly basis within each division of the Physics Laboratory, and all proposals received during the month will be ranked based on the reviewers' scores. If non-Federal reviewers are used, reviewers may discuss the proposals with each other, but scores will be determined on an individual basis, not as a consensus. Next, the Division Chief will make final application selections, taking into consideration the results of the reviewers' evaluations, including rank; the compilation of a slate that, when taken as a whole, is likely to best further the program interests described in the Program Description section in the FFO; and the availability of funds. The final approval of selected applications and award of financial assistance will be made by the NIST Grants Officer based on compliance with application requirements as published in this notice, compliance with applicable legal and regulatory requirements, whether the application furthers the objectives of the Department of Commerce, and whether the recommended applicants appear to be responsible. Applicants may be asked to modify objectives, work plans, or budgets and provide supplemental information required by the agency prior to award. The decisions of the Grants Officer are final. Unsuccessful applicants will be notified in writing. The Program will retain one copy of each unsuccessful application for three years for record keeping purposes. The remaining copies will be destroyed. *Evaluation Criteria:* For the Physics Laboratory Grants Program, the evaluation criteria the technical reviewers will use in evaluating the proposals are as follows: 1. Rationality. Reviewers will consider the coherence of the applicant's approach and the extent to which the proposal effectively addresses scientific and technical issues. 2. Qualifications of Technical Personnel. Reviewers will consider the professional accomplishments, skills, and training of the proposed personnel to perform the work in the project. 3. Resources Availability. Reviewers will consider the extent to which the proposer has access to the necessary facilities and overall support to accomplish project objectives. 4. Technical Merit of Contribution. Reviewers will consider the potential technical effectiveness of the proposal and the value it would contribute to the field of physics. Each of these factors will be given equal weight in the evaluation process. *Cost Share Requirements:* The Physics Laboratory Grants Program does not require any matching funds. MSEL Grants Program *Program Description:* The Materials Science and Engineering Laboratory
(MSEL)Grants Program will provide grants and cooperative agreements in the following fields of research: Ceramics; Metallurgy; Polymers; and Materials Reliability. *Dates:* All applications, paper and electronic, must be received prior to the publication date in the **Federal Register** of the FY 2008 solicitation for the MSEL Grants Program in order to be processed under this solicitation. Applications received after June 1, 2007 may be processed and considered for funding under this solicitation in the current fiscal year or in the next fiscal year, subject to the availability of funds. *Addresses:* Paper applications must be submitted to: Ms. Michele A. Cooley, Senior Management Advisor, Materials Science and Engineering Laboratory, National Institute of Standards and Technology, 100 Bureau Drive, Stop 8500, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20899-8500. Electronic applications and associated proposal information should be uploaded to grants.gov. *For Further Information Contact:* For complete information about this program and instructions for applying by paper or electronically, read the Federal Funding Opportunity
(FFO)Notice at *http://www.grants.gov.* A paper copy of the FFO may be obtained by calling
(301)975-6328. Program questions should be addressed to Ms. Michele Cooley, Materials Science and Engineering Laboratory, National Institute of Standards and Technology, 100 Bureau Drive, Stop 8500, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20899-8500, Tel:
(301)975-5653, E-mail: *michele.cooley@nist.gov* . Grants administration questions concerning this program should be addressed to: Marilyn Goldstein, NIST Grants and Agreements Management Division,
(301)975-6359; *marilyn.goldstein@nist.gov.* For assistance with using Grants.gov contact *support@nist.gov.* *Funding Availability:* In fiscal year 2006, the MSEL Grants Program funded 25 new awards, totaling $1,856,948.37. In fiscal year 2007, the MSEL Grants Program anticipates funding of approximately $4,500,000, including new awards and continuing projects. Most grants and cooperative agreements are expected to be in the $2,000 to $500,000 per year range. For the MSEL Grants Program, proposals will be considered for research projects from one to five years. When a proposal for a multi-year award is approved, funding will generally be provided for only the first year of the program. If an application is selected for funding, NIST has no obligation to provide any additional funding in connection with that award. Continuation of an award to increase funding or extend the period of performance is at the total discretion of NIST. Funding for each subsequent year of a multi-year proposal will be contingent upon satisfactory progress, continued relevance to the mission of the MSEL program, and the availability of funds. The multi-year awards must have scopes of work that can be easily separated into annual increments of meaningful work that represent solid accomplishments if prospective funding is not made available to the applicant, (i.e., the scopes of work for each funding period must produce identifiable and meaningful results in and of themselves). *Statutory Authority:* As authorized under 15 U.S.C. 272(b) and (c), the MSEL conducts a basic and applied research program directly and through grants and cooperative agreements to eligible recipients. *Eligibility:* The MSEL Grants Program is open to institutions of higher education; hospitals; non-profit organizations; commercial organizations; state, local, and Indian tribal governments; foreign governments; organizations under the jurisdiction of foreign governments; and international organizations. *Review and Selection Process:* For the MSEL Grants Program proposals will be reviewed in a two-step process. First, at least three independent, objective individuals knowledgeable in the particular scientific area addressed by the proposal will conduct a technical review. Proposals are received on a rolling basis and will be reviewed based on the evaluation criteria. If non-Federal reviewers are used, the reviewers may discuss the proposals with each other, but scores will be determined on an individual basis, not as a consensus. Second, the Division Chief or Laboratory Deputy Director will make application selections. In making application selections, the Division Chief or Laboratory Deputy Director will take into consideration the results of the reviewers' evaluations, the availability of funds, alignment with MSEL programmatic priorities, and relevance to the objectives of the MSEL Grants Program, described in the Program Description section of the FFO. For conferences, workshops, or other technical research meetings, the Division Chief or Laboratory Deputy Director will also take into consideration whether they directly support ongoing MSEL programmatic activities. The final approval of selected applications and award of financial assistance will be made by the NIST Grants Officer based on:
(1)Compliance with application requirements as published in this notice;
(2)compliance with applicable legal and regulatory requirements;
(3)whether the application furthers the objectives of the Department of Commerce;
(4)and whether the recommended applicants appear to be responsible. Applicants may be asked to modify objectives, work plans, or budgets and provide supplemental information required by the agency prior to award. The decision of the Grants Officer is final. Unsuccessful applicants will be notified in writing. The Program will retain one copy of each unsuccessful application for three years for record keeping purposes. The remaining copies will be destroyed. *Evaluation Criteria:* For the MSEL Grants Program, the evaluation criteria the technical reviewers will use in evaluating the proposals are as follows: 1. Rationality. Reviewers will consider the coherence of the applicant's approach and the extent to which the proposal effectively addresses scientific and technical issues. 2. Qualifications of Technical Personnel. Reviewers will consider the professional accomplishments, skills, and training of the proposed personnel to perform the work in the project. 3. Resources Availability. Reviewers will consider the extent to which the proposer has access to the necessary facilities and overall support to accomplish project objectives. 4. Technical Merit of Contribution. Reviewers will consider the potential technical effectiveness of the proposal and the value it would contribute to the field of materials science and engineering and neutron research. Proposals must be relevant to current MSEL research and have a relation to the objectives of ongoing MSEL programs and activities. Each of these factors will be given equal weight in the evaluation process. *Cost Share Requirements:* The MSEL Grants Program does not require any matching funds. Building Research Grants and Cooperative Agreements Program *Program Description:* The Building Research Grants and Cooperative Agreements Program will provide grants and cooperative agreements in the following fields of research: Structures, Construction Metrology and Automation, Inorganic Materials, Polymeric Materials, HVAC & R Equipment Performance, Mechanical Systems and Controls, Heat Transfer and Alternative Energy Systems, Computer Integrated Building Processes, and Indoor Air Quality and Ventilation. *Dates:* All applications, paper and electronic, must be received no later than 5 p.m. Daylight Savings Time on September 30, 2007. Proposals received between July 1, 2007 and September 30, 2007 may be processed and considered for funding under this solicitation in the next fiscal year, subject to the availability of funds. *Addresses:* Paper applications must be submitted to: Karen Perry, Building and Fire Research Laboratory, National Institute of Standards and Technology, 100 Bureau Drive, Stop 8602, Gaithersburg, MD 20899-8602. Electronic applications and associated proposal information should be uploaded to *grants.gov.* *For Further Information Contact:* For complete information about this program and instructions for applying by paper or electronically, read the Federal Funding Opportunity
(FFO)Notice at *http://www.grants.gov* . A paper copy of the FFO may be obtained by calling
(301)975-6328. Program questions should be addressed to Karen Perry, Building and Fire Research Laboratory, National Institute of Standards and Technology, 100 Bureau Drive, Stop 8602, Gaithersburg, MD 20899-8602, Tel.:
(301)975-5910, Fax:
(301)975-4032, *http://www.bfrl.nist.gov* . Grants administration questions concerning this program should be addressed to: Marilyn Goldstein, NIST Grants and Agreements Management Division,
(301)975-6359; *marilyn.goldstein@nist.gov* . For assistance with using *grants.gov* contact *support@grants.gov* . *Funding Availability:* In fiscal year 2006, the Building Research Grants and Cooperative Agreements Program funded 11 new awards, totaling $859,014. No funds have been set aside specifically for the Building Research Grants and Cooperative Agreements Program. The availability of funds depends upon actual authorization of funds and other costs expected to be incurred by the individual divisions. The amount available each year fluctuates considerably based on programmatic needs. Individual awards are expected to range between $5,000 and $150,000. For the Building Research Grants and Cooperative Agreements Program, proposals will be considered for research projects from one to three years. When a proposal for a multi-year award is approved, funding will generally be provided for only the first year of the program. If an application is selected for funding, NIST has no obligation to provide any additional funding in connection with that award. Continuation of an award to increase funding or extend the period of performance is at the total discretion of NIST. Funding for each subsequent year of a multi-year proposal will be contingent upon satisfactory progress, continued relevance to the mission of the Building Research Grants and Cooperative Agreements Program, and the availability of funds. The multi-year awards must have scopes of work that can be easily separated into annual increments of meaningful work that represent solid accomplishments if prospective funding is not made available to the applicant, (i.e., the scopes of work for each funding period must produce identifiable and meaningful results in and of themselves). *Statutory Authority:* As authorized by 15 U.S.C. 272(b) and (c), the NIST Building and Fire Research Laboratory conducts a basic and applied research program directly and through grants and cooperative agreements to eligible recipients. *Eligibility:* The Building Research Grants and Cooperative Agreements Program is open to institutions of higher education; hospitals; non-profit organizations; commercial organizations; state, local, and Indian tribal governments; foreign governments; organizations under the jurisdiction of foreign governments; and international organizations. *Review and Selection Process:* All applications received in response to this announcement will be reviewed to determine whether or not they are complete and responsive. Incomplete or non-responsive applications will not be reviewed for technical merit. The Program will retain one copy of each non-responsive application for three years for recordkeeping purposes. The remaining copies will be destroyed. Responsive proposals will be forwarded to the appropriate Division Chief, who will assign them to appropriate reviewers. At least three independent, objective individuals knowledgeable about the particular scientific area addressed by the proposal will conduct a technical review of each proposal based on the evaluation criteria described below. When non-Federal reviewers are used, reviewers may discuss the proposals with each other, but scores will be determined on an individual basis, not as a consensus. Reviews will be conducted no less than once per quarter, and all proposals since the last review session will be ranked based on the reviewers' scores. Next, the Division Chief, Laboratory Deputy Director, or Laboratory Director will make application selections. In making application selections, the Division Chief, Laboratory Deputy Director, or Laboratory Director will take into consideration the results of the evaluations, the scores of the reviewers, the availability of funds, and relevance to the objectives of the Building Research Grants and Cooperative Agreements Program, as described in the Program Description section of the FFO. The final approval of selected applications and award of financial assistance will be made by the NIST Grants Officer based on compliance with application requirements as published in this notice, compliance with applicable legal and regulatory requirements, whether the application furthers the objectives of the Department of Commerce, and whether the recommended applicants appear to be responsible. Applicants may be asked to modify objectives, work plans, or budgets and provide supplemental information required by the agency prior to award. The award decision of the Grants Officer is final. Applicants should allow up to 90 days processing time. Unsuccessful applicants will be notified in writing. The Program will retain one copy of each unsuccessful application for three years for record keeping purposes. The remaining copies will be destroyed. *Evaluation Criteria:* The Divisions of the Building and Fire Research Laboratory will score proposals based on the following criteria and weights: 1. Technical quality of the research. Reviewers will assess the rationality, innovation and imagination of the proposal and the fit to NIST's in-house building research programs. (0-35 points) 2. Potential impact of the results. Reviewers will assess the potential impact and the technical application of the results to our in-house programs and the building industry. (0-25 points) 3. Staff and institution capability to do the work. Reviewers will evaluate the quality of the facilities and experience of the staff to assess the likelihood of achieving the objective of the proposal. (0-20 points) 4. Match of budget to proposed work. Reviewers will assess the budget against the proposed work to ascertain the reasonableness of the request. (0-20 points) *Cost Share Requirements:* The Building Research Grants and Cooperative Agreements Program does not require any matching funds. Fire Research Grants Program *Program Description:* The Fire Research Grants Program will provide funding for innovative ideas in the fire research area generated by the proposal writer, who chooses the topic and approach. *Dates:* All applications, paper and electronic, must be received no later than 5 p.m. Daylight Savings Time on September 30, 2007. Proposals received between May 1, 2007 and September 30, 2007 will be processed and considered for funding under this solicitation, but if selected, proposals may be funded in the next fiscal year, subject to the availability of funds. *Addresses:* Paper applications must be submitted to: Ms. Wanda Duffin-Ricks, Building and Fire Research Laboratory (BFRL), National Institute of Standards and Technology, 100 Bureau Drive, Stop 8660, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20899-8660. Electronic applications and associated proposal information should be uploaded to grants.gov. *For Further Information Contact:* For complete information about this program and instructions for applying by paper or electronically, read the Federal Funding Opportunity
(FFO)Notice at *http://www.grants.gov* . A paper copy of the FFO may be obtained by calling
(301)975-6328. Program questions should be addressed to Ms. Wanda Duffin-Ricks, Building and Fire Research Laboratory (BFRL), National Institute of Standards and Technology, 100 Bureau Drive, Stop 8660, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20899-8660, Tel:
(301)975-6863, E-mail: *wanda.duffin@nist.gov* , Web site: *http://www.bfrl.nist.gov* . Grants administration questions concerning this program should be addressed to: Marilyn Goldstein, NIST Grants and Agreements Management Division,
(301)975-6359; *marilyn.goldstein@nist.gov.* For assistance with using Grants.gov contact *support@grants.gov.* *Funding Availability:* For the Fire Research Grants Program, the annual budget is approximately $1.0 to $1.5 million. Because of commitments for the support of multi-year projects and because proposals may have been deferred from the previous year's competition, only a portion of the budget is available to fund applications received in response to this notice. Most grants and cooperative agreements are in the $25,000 to $125,000 per year range, with a maximum requested duration of three years. In fiscal year 2006, the Fire Research Grants Program funded 6 new awards, totaling $464,571.84. For the Fire Research Grants Program, proposals will be considered for research projects from one to three years. When a proposal for a multi-year project is approved, funding will normally be provided for only the first year of the program. If an application is selected for funding, DoC has no obligation to provide any additional future funding in connection with that award. Funding for each subsequent year of a multi-year proposal will be contingent on satisfactory progress, continuing relevance to the mission of the NIST Fire Research Program, and the availability of funds. *Statutory Authority:* As authorized by 15 U.S.C. 278f, the NIST Building and Fire Research Laboratory conducts directly and through grants and cooperative agreements, a basic and applied fire research program. *Eligibility:* The Fire Research Grants Program is open to institutions of higher education; hospitals; non-profit organizations; commercial organizations; state, local, and Indian tribal governments; foreign governments; organizations under the jurisdiction of foreign governments; and international organizations. *Review and Selection Process:* Prospective proposers are encouraged to contact the group leaders listed in the FFO announcement to determine the responsiveness of the proposal and compliance with program objectives prior to preparation of a detailed proposal. Responsive proposals will be assigned, as received on a rolling basis, to the most appropriate group. Proposals are evaluated for technical merit based on the evaluation criteria described above by at least three reviewers chosen from NIST professionals, technical experts from other interested government agencies, and experts from the fire research community at large. When non-Federal reviewers are used, reviewers may discuss the proposals with each other, but scores will be determined on an individual basis, not as a consensus. The group leaders will make funding recommendations to the Division Chief based on the technical evaluation score and the relationship of the work proposed to the objectives of the program. In making application selections, the Division Chief will take into consideration the results of the evaluations, the scores of the reviewers, the group leader's recommendation, the availability of funds, and relevance to the objectives of the Fire Research Grants Program, as described in the Program Description section of the FFO. The final approval of selected applications and award of financial assistance will be made by the NIST Grants Officer based on compliance with application requirements as published in this notice, compliance with applicable legal and regulatory requirements, whether the application furthers the objectives of the Department of Commerce, and whether the recommended applicants appear to be responsible. Applicants may be asked to modify objectives, work plans, or budgets and provide supplemental information required by the agency prior to award. The award decision of the Grants Officer is final. Applicants should allow up to 90 days processing time. Unsuccessful applicants will be notified in writing. The Program will retain one copy of each unsuccessful application for three years for record keeping purposes. The remaining copies will be destroyed. *Evaluation Criteria:* For the Fire Research Grants Program, the technical evaluation criteria are as follows: 1. Technical quality of the research. Reviewers will assess the rationality, innovation and imagination of the proposal. (0-35 points) 2. Potential impact of the results. Reviewers will assess the potential impact and the technical application of the results to the fire safety community. (0-25 points) 3. Staff and institution capability to do the work. Reviewers will evaluate the quality of the facilities and experience of the staff to assess the likelihood of achieving the objective of the proposal. (0-20 points) 4. Match of budget to proposed work. Reviewers will assess the budget against the proposed work to ascertain the reasonableness of the request. (0-20 points) *Cost Share Requirements:* The Fire Research Grants Program does not require any matching funds. Information Technology Laboratory
(ITL)Grants Program *Program Description:* The Information Technology Laboratory Grants Program will provide grants and cooperative agreements in the broad areas of mathematical and computational sciences, advanced network technologies, information access, and software testing. Specific objectives of interest in these areas of research include: quantum information theory, computational materials science, computational nanotechnology, mathematical knowledge management, visual data analysis, verification and validation of computer models, software testing, human-robot interaction, human factors/security/core requirements/testing of voting systems, information visualization, systems biology, grid computing, service oriented architecture and complex systems, security for the IPv6 transition from and coexistence with IPv6, and device mobility among heterogeneous networks. For details on these various activities, please see the Information Technology Laboratory Web site at *http://www.itl.nist.gov.* Additionally, the ITL Grant Program will provide grants and cooperative agreements in support of conferences, workshops, and other technical research groups that focus on trends and future focus areas of information technology. *Dates:* All applications, paper and electronic, must be received no later than 5 p.m. Daylight Savings Time on June 29, 2007. *Addresses:* Paper applications must be submitted to: Kirk Dohne, Information Technology Laboratory (ITL), National Institute of Standards and Technology, 100 Bureau Drive, Stop 8900, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20899-8900. Electronic applications and associated proposal information should be uploaded to grants.gov. *For Further Information Contact:* For complete information about this program and instructions for applying by paper or electronically, read the Federal Funding Opportunity
(FFO)Notice at *http://www.grants.gov.* A paper copy of the FFO may be obtained by calling
(301)975-6328. Program questions should be addressed to Kirk Dohne, Information Technology Laboratory, National Institute of Standards and Technology, 100 Bureau Drive, Stop 8900, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20899-8200, Tel:
(301)975-8480, E-mail: *kirk.dohne@nist.gov;* Fax:
(301)975-2378, Web site: *http://www.itl.nist.gov.* It is strongly suggested to first confirm the program objectives with the Program Manager prior to preparing a detailed proposal. Grants administration questions concerning this program should be addressed to: Marilyn Goldstein, NIST Grants and Agreements Management Division,
(301)975-6359; *marilyn.goldstein@nist.gov.* For assistance with using Grants.gov contact *support@grants.gov.* *Funding Availability:* In fiscal year 2006, the Information Technology Laboratory funded 4 new awards, totaling $266,366. The availability of funds depends upon actual authorization of funds and other costs expected to be incurred by the individual divisions. The amount available each year fluctuates considerably based on programmatic needs. Individual awards are expected to range between $10,000 and $150,000. For the Information Technology Laboratory Grants Program, proposals will be considered for research projects from one to three years. When a proposal for a multi-year award is approved, funding will generally be provided for only the first year of the program. If an application is selected for funding, NIST has no obligation to provide any additional funding in connection with that award. Continuation of an award to increase funding or extend the period of performance is at the total discretion of NIST. Funding for each subsequent year of a multi-year proposal will be contingent upon satisfactory progress, continued relevance to the mission of the Information Technology Laboratory Grants Program, and the availability of funds. The multi-year awards must have scopes of work that can be easily separated into annual increments of meaningful work that represent solid accomplishments if prospective funding is not made available to the applicant, (i.e., the scopes of work for each funding period must produce identifiable and meaningful results in and of themselves). *Statutory Authority:* As authorized under 15 U.S.C. 272(b) and (c), the ITL conducts a basic and applied research program directly and through grants and cooperative agreements to eligible recipients. *Eligibility:* The ITL Grants Program is open to institutions of higher education; hospitals; non-profit organizations; commercial organizations; state, local, and Indian tribal governments; foreign governments; organizations under the jurisdiction of foreign governments; and international organizations. *Review and Selection Process:* For the Information Technology Laboratory
(ITL)Grants Program, proposals will be reviewed in a three-step process. First, the Deputy Director of ITL, or appropriate designee, will determine the compatibility of the applicant's proposal with ITL Program Areas and the relevance to the objectives of the ITL Grants Program, described in the Program Description section of the FFO. If it is determined that the proposal is incomplete or non-responsive to the scope of the stated objectives, the proposal will not be reviewed for technical merit. If a proposal is determined to be incomplete or non-responsive, or if it is determined that all available funds have been exhausted, the proposal will not be reviewed for technical merit. Proposers may contact ITL at
(301)975-8480 to find out if funds have been exhausted for the fiscal year. ITL will also post a notice on its Web site, *http://www.itl.nist.gov* , when funds are exhausted for the fiscal year. ITL will notify proposers in writing if their proposals are not reviewed for technical merit. Second, at least three independent, objective individuals knowledgeable about the particular measurement science area described in the section above that the proposal addresses will conduct a technical review of each proposal, based on the evaluation criteria described below. Reviews will be conducted on a quarterly basis, and all responsive, complete proposals received and reviewed since the last quarter will be ranked based on the reviewers' scores. If non-Federal reviewers are used, the reviewers may discuss the proposals with each other, but scores will be determined on an individual basis, not as a consensus. Third, the Division Chief, in accord with the Director of ITL, will make application selections, taking into consideration the results of the reviewers' evaluations, the availability of funds, and the relevance of the proposal to the program objectives described in the Program Description section of the FFO. The final approval of selected applications and award of financial assistance will be made by the NIST Grants Officer based on compliance with application requirements as published in this notice, compliance with applicable legal and regulatory requirements, whether the application furthers the objectives of the Department of Commerce, and whether the recommended applicants appear to be responsible. Applicants may be asked to modify objectives, work plans, or budgets and provide supplemental information required by the agency prior to award. The decisions of the Grants Officer are final. Unsuccessful applicants will be notified in writing. The Program will retain one copy of each unsuccessful application for three years for record keeping purposes. The remaining copies will be destroyed. *Evaluation Criteria:* For the ITL Grants Program, the evaluation criteria the technical reviewers will use in evaluating the proposals are as follows: 1. Rationality. Reviewers will consider the coherence of the applicant's approach and the extent to which the proposal effectively addresses scientific and technical issues. 2. Technical Merit of Contribution. Reviewers will consider the potential technical effectiveness of the proposal and the value it would contribute to the field of information technology research. 3. Qualifications of Technical Personnel. Reviewers will consider the professional accomplishments, skills, and training of the proposed personnel to perform the work in the project. 4. Resources Availability. Reviewers will consider the extent to which the proposer has access to the necessary facilities and overall support to accomplish project objectives. Each of these factors will be given equal weight in the evaluation process. *Cost Share Requirements:* The ITL Grants Program does not require any matching funds. NIST Center for Neutron Research
(NCNR)Grants Program *Program Description:* The NCNR Grants Program will provide grants and cooperative agreements for research involving neutron scattering, for the development of innovative technologies that advance the state-of-the-art in neutron research, and for the support of conferences and/or workshops that advance these objectives. All proposals submitted to the NCNR Grants Program must be in accordance with the program objectives. These are to create novel approaches to advance high resolution cold and thermal neutron scattering research; to develop new applications of neutron scattering to physics, chemistry, and macromolecular and materials research; and to support the development of innovative technologies relevant to neutron research, including, for example, high resolution two-dimensional neutron detectors, neutron monochromators, and neutron focusing and polarizing devices. Awards to universities to help promote research by university students at the NIST/NSF Center for High Resolution Scattering are also funded under this program. *Dates:* All applications, paper and electronic, must be received no later than 5 p.m. Daylight Savings Time on September 30, 2007. Proposals received between July 1, 2007 and September 30, 2007 may be processed and considered for funding under this solicitation in the next fiscal year, subject to the availability of funds. *Addresses:* Paper applications must be submitted to: Mr. Michael Moore, NIST Center for Neutron Research, National Institute of Standards and Technology, 100 Bureau Drive, Stop 8562, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20899-8562. Electronic applications and associated proposal information should be uploaded to grants.gov. *For Further Information Contact:* For complete information about this program and instructions for applying by paper or electronically, read the Federal Funding Opportunity
(FFO)Notice at *http://www.grants.gov.* A paper copy of the FFO may be obtained by calling
(301)975-6328. Program questions should be addressed to Dr. Dan Neumann, NIST Center for Neutron Research, National Institute of Standards and Technology, 100 Bureau Drive, Stop 8500, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20899-8562, Tel:
(301)975-5252, E-mail: *dan@nist.gov.* Grants administration questions concerning this program should be addressed to: Marilyn Goldstein, NIST Grants and Agreements Management Division,
(301)975-6359; *marilyn.goldstein@nist.gov.* For assistance with using Grants.gov contact *support@nist.gov.* *Funding Availability:* The NCNR Grants Program will consider proposals lasting from one to three years. When a proposal for a multi-year award is approved, funding will generally be provided for only the first year of the program. If an application is selected for funding, NIST has no obligation to provide any additional funding in connection with that award. Continuation of an award to increase funding or extend the period of performance is at the total discretion of NIST. Funding for each subsequent year of a multi-year proposal will be contingent upon satisfactory progress, continued relevance to the mission of the NCNR program, and the availability of funds. The multi-year awards must have scopes of work that can be easily separated into annual increments of meaningful work that represent solid accomplishments if prospective funding is not made available to the applicant, (i.e., the scopes of work for each funding period must produce identifiable and meaningful results in and of themselves). Most grants and cooperative agreements are expected to be in the $25,000 to $100,000 per year range. *Statutory Authority:* As authorized under 15 U.S.C. 272(b) and (c), the NCNR conducts a basic and applied research program directly and through grants and cooperative agreements to eligible recipients. *Eligibility:* The NCNR Grants Program is open to institutions of higher education; hospitals; non-profit organizations; commercial organizations; state, local, and Indian tribal governments; foreign governments; organizations under the jurisdiction of foreign governments; and international organizations. *Review and Selection Process:* Proposals submitted to the NCNR Grants Program will be reviewed in a two-step process. First, at least three independent, objective individuals knowledgeable about the particular scientific area described in the Program Description section of the FFO that the proposal addresses will conduct a technical review of proposals, as they are received on a rolling basis, based on the evaluation criteria. If non-Federal reviewers are used, the reviewers may discuss the proposals with each other, but scores will be determined on an individual basis, not as a consensus. Second, the Center Director will make application selections. In making application selections, the Center Director will take into consideration the results of the reviewers' evaluations, the availability of funds, and the relevance of the proposal to the objectives of the NCNR Grants Program, described in the Program Description section of the FFO. The final approval of selected applications and award of financial assistance will be made by the NIST Grants Officer based on compliance with application requirements as published in this notice, compliance with applicable legal and regulatory requirements, whether the application furthers the objectives of the Department of Commerce, and whether the recommended applicants appear to be responsible. Applicants may be asked to modify objectives, work plans, or budgets and provide supplemental information required by the agency prior to award. The decision of the Grants Officer is final. Unsuccessful applicants will be notified in writing. The Program will retain one copy of each unsuccessful application for three years for record keeping purposes. The remaining copies will be destroyed. *Evaluation Criteria:* The NCNR Grants Program evaluation criteria that the technical reviewers will use in evaluating the proposals are as follows: 1. Rationality. Reviewers will assess the innovation, rationality, and coherence of the applicant's approach and the extent to which the proposal effectively addresses important scientific and technical issues using neutron methods and/or the development of innovative devices for neutron research. (0 to 35 points) 2. Qualifications of Technical Personnel. Reviewers will consider the professional accomplishments, skills, and training of the proposed personnel to perform the work in the project. (0 to 20 points) 3. Resources. Reviewers will consider the extent to which the proposer has access to the necessary resources, facilities, and overall support to accomplish project objectives, and will assess the budget against the proposed work to ascertain the reasonableness of the request. (0 to 20 points) 4. Technical Merit of Contribution. Reviewers will consider the potential technical effectiveness of the proposal and the value it would contribute to neutron research. (0 to 25 points) *Cost Share Requirements:* The NCNR Grants Program does not require any matching funds. The following information applies to all programs announced in this notice: The Department of Commerce Pre-Award Notification Requirements for Grants and Cooperative Agreements The Department of Commerce Pre-Award Notification Requirements for Grants and Cooperative Agreements are contained in the **Federal Register** notice of December 30, 2004 (69 FR 78389). On the form SF-424, the applicant's 9-digit Dun and Bradstreet Data Universal Numbering System
(DUNS)number must be entered in the Applicant Identifier block (68 FR 38402). Collaborations With NIST Employees All applications should include a description of any work proposed to be performed by an entity other than the applicant, and the cost of such work should ordinarily be included in the budget. If an applicant proposes collaboration with NIST, the statement of work should include a statement of this intention, a description of the collaboration, and prominently identify the NIST employee(s) involved, if known. Any collaboration by a NIST employee must be approved by appropriate NIST management and is at the sole discretion of NIST. Prior to beginning the merit review process, NIST will verify the approval of the proposed collaboration. Any unapproved collaboration will be stricken from the proposal prior to the merit review. Use of NIST Intellectual Property If the applicant anticipates using any NIST-owned intellectual property to carry out the work proposed, the applicant should identify such intellectual property. This information will be used to ensure that no NIST employee involved in the development of the intellectual property will participate in the review process for that competition. In addition, if the applicant intends to use NIST-owned intellectual property, the applicant must comply with all statutes and regulations governing the licensing of Federal government patents and inventions, described at 35 U.S.C. sec. 200-212, 37 CFR part 401, 15 CFR 14.36, and in section 20 of the Department of Commerce Pre-Award Notification Requirements published on December 30, 2004 (69 FR 78389). Questions about these requirements may be directed to the Counsel for NIST, 301-975-2803. Any use of NIST-owned intellectual property by a proposer is at the sole discretion of NIST and will be negotiated on a case-by-case basis if a project is deemed meritorious. The applicant should indicate within the statement of work whether it already has a license to use such intellectual property or whether it intends to seek one. If any inventions made in whole or in part by a NIST employee arise in the course of an award made pursuant to this notice, the United States government may retain its ownership rights in any such invention. Licensing or other disposition of NIST's rights in such inventions will be determined solely by NIST, and include the possibility of NIST putting the intellectual property into the public domain. Collaborations Making Use of Federal Facilities All applications should include a description of any work proposed to be performed using Federal Facilities. If an applicant proposes use of NIST facilities, the statement of work should include a statement of this intention and a description of the facilities. Any use of NIST facilities must be approved by appropriate NIST management and is at the sole discretion of NIST. Prior to beginning the merit review process, NIST will verify the availability of the facilities and approval of the proposed usage. Any unapproved facility use will be stricken from the proposal prior to the merit review. Examples of some facilities that may be available for collaborations are listed on the NIST Technology Services Web site, *http://ts.nist.gov/.* Initial Screening of All Applications All applications received in response to this announcement will be reviewed to determine whether or not they are complete and responsive to the scope of the stated objectives for each program. Incomplete or non-responsive applications will not be reviewed for technical merit. The Program will retain one copy of each non-responsive application for three years for record keeping purposes. The remaining copies will be destroyed. Paperwork Reduction Act The standard forms in the application kit involve a collection of information subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act. The use of Standard Forms 424, 424A, 424B, SF-LLL, and CD-346 have been approved by OMB under the respective Control Numbers 0348-0043, 0348-0044, 0348-0040, 0348-0046, and 0605-0001. 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 subject to the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act, unless that collection of information displays a currently valid OMB Control Number. Research Projects Involving Human Subjects, Human Tissue, Data or Recordings Involving Human Subjects Any proposal that includes research involving human subjects, human tissue, data or recordings involving human subjects must meet the requirements of the Common Rule for the Protection of Human Subjects, codified for the Department of Commerce at 15 CFR part 27. In addition, any proposal that includes research on these topics must be in compliance with any statutory requirements imposed upon the Department of Health and Human Services
(DHHS)and other Federal agencies regarding these topics, all regulatory policies and guidance adopted by DHHS, FDA, and other Federal agencies on these topics, and all Presidential statements of policy on these topics. NIST will accept the submission of human subjects protocols that have been approved by Institutional Review Boards
(IRBs)possessing a current registration filed with DHHS and to be performed by institutions possessing a current, valid Federal-wide Assurance
(FWA)from DHHS. NIST will not issue a single project assurance
(SPA)for any IRB reviewing any human subjects protocol proposed to NIST. On August 9, 2001, the President announced his decision to allow Federal funds to be used for research on existing human embryonic stem cell lines as long as prior to his announcement
(1)the derivation process (which commences with the removal of the inner cell mass from the blastocyst) had already been initiated and
(2)the embryo from which the stem cell line was derived no longer had the possibility of development as a human being. NIST will follow guidance issued by the National Institutes of Health at *http://ohrp.osophs.dhhs.gov/humansubjects/guidance/stemcell.pdf* for funding such research. Research Projects Involving Vertebrate Animals Any proposal that includes research involving vertebrate animals must be in compliance with the National Research Council's “Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals” which can be obtained from National Academy Press, 2101 Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20055. In addition, such proposals must meet the requirements of the Animal Welfare Act (7 U.S.C. 2131 *et seq.* ), 9 CFR parts 1, 2, and 3, and if appropriate, 21 CFR part 58. These regulations do not apply to proposed research using pre-existing images of animals or to research plans that do not include live animals that are being cared for, euthanized, or used by the project participants to accomplish research goals, teaching, or testing. These regulations also do not apply to obtaining animal materials from commercial processors of animal products or to animal cell lines or tissues from tissue banks. Limitation of Liability Funding for the program listed in this notice is contingent upon the availability of Fiscal Year 2007 appropriations. NIST issues this notice subject to the appropriations made available under the current continuing resolution, H.R. 5631, “Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2007,” Public Law 109-289, as amended by H.J. Res. 100, Public Law 109-369 and H.J. Res. 102, Public Law 109-383. NIST anticipates making awards for the program listed in this notice provided that funding for the program is continued beyond February 15, 2007, the expiration of the current continuing resolution. In no event will the Department of Commerce be responsible for proposal preparation costs if these programs fail to receive funding or are 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. Funding of any award under any program announced in this notice is subject to the availability of funds. Executive Order 12866 This funding notice was determined to be not significant for purposes of Executive Order 12866. Executive Order 13132 (Federalism) It has been determined that this notice does not contain policies with federalism implications as that term is defined in Executive Order 13132. Executive Order 12372 Applications under this program are not subject to Executive Order 12372, “Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs.” Administrative Procedure Act/Regulatory Flexibility Act Notice and comment are not required under the Administrative Procedure Act (5 U.S.C. 553) or any other law, for rules relating to public property, loans, grants, benefits or contracts (5 U.S.C. 553(a)). Because notice and comment are not required under 5 U.S.C. 553, or any other law, for rules relating to public property, loans, grants, benefits or contracts (5 U.S.C. 553(a)), a Regulatory Flexibility Analysis is not required and has not been prepared for this notice, 5 U.S.C. 601 *et seq.* Dated: January 22, 2007. James E. Hill, Acting Deputy Director, NIST. [FR Doc. E7-1285 Filed 1-25-07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-13-P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration [I.D. 012307B] Magnuson-Stevens Act Provisions; General Provisions for Domestic Fisheries; Application for Exempted Fishing Permit 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 the subject Exempted Fishing Permit
(EFP)application from the University of New Hampshire
(UNH)for an exemption from Gulf of Maine
(GOM)Rolling Closure Areas III and IV and the days-at-sea
(DAS)requirements of the Northeast
(NE)Multispecies Fishery Management Plan (FMP), for the purpose of testing the ability of specific fish traps to catch haddock, contains all of the required information and warrants further consideration. The EFP is intended to facilitate research that would lead to the development of a viable alternative to traditional fishing gear for landing Atlantic haddock of a size and condition for use in the live fish market. The Assistant Regional Administrator has also made a preliminary determination that the activities authorized under the EFP would be consistent with the goals and objectives of the FMP. However, further review and consultation may be necessary before a final determination is made to issue the EFP. Therefore, NMFS announces that the Assistant Regional Administrator proposes to issue an EFP that would allow vessels to conduct fishing operations that are otherwise restricted by the regulations governing the fisheries of the Northeastern United States. 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 February 26, 2007. ADDRESSES: Comments on this notice may be submitted by e-mail. The mailbox address for providing e-mail comments is *DA6210@noaa.gov* . Include in the subject line of the e-mail comment the following document identifier: “Comments on UNH Haddock Trap (DA6-210).” Written comments should be sent to Patricia A. Kurkul, Regional Administrator, NMFS, Northeast Regional Office, 1 Blackburn Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930. Mark the outside of the envelope “Comments on UNH Haddock Trap (DA6-210).” Comments may also be sent via facsimile
(fax)to
(978)281-9135. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Moira Kelly, Fishery Management Specialist, phone: 978-281-9218, fax: 978-281-9135. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A complete application for an EFP was submitted on July 7, 2006, by Dr. Ken La Valley of UNH. The research is intended to lead to the development of a viable alternative to traditional fishing gear for landing Atlantic haddock of a size and condition for use in the live fish market. This project is funded by the Northeast Consortium. The original EFP was issued on September 18, 2006. Due to circumstances beyond the control of the researchers, the research was unable to be completed during the exempted time period (September through November 2006). On November 14, 2006, Dr. La Valley requested extending the EFP from March through August 2007. However, the change in time-frame requires an additional exemption from the GOM Rolling Closure Areas III and IV and is, therefore, not eligible for an extension. A new EFP is necessary for UNH to complete this research. On July 7, 2006, UNH requested an exemption from the DAS requirements and, on November 14, 2006, UNH requested an exemption from the GOM Rolling Closure Areas III and IV in order to test the effectiveness of two demersal fish trap designs, i.e., Pacific and Norwegian cod pots, modified for catching large Atlantic haddock for use in the live fish market. A DAS exemption is requested to allow the fishing vessel to economically assist in this research. No fish would be retained or landed. The research would take place in the 30 minute squares, included in the Rolling Closure Areas III and IV, that correspond to areas 137, 138, 145, and 146, and specifically the project area would be bounded by the lines extending from 43°38′ N. lat., 69°40′ W. long. (NW corner), eastwards to 43°38′ N. lat.; 69°21′ W. long. (NE corner), south to 43°20′ N. lat.; 69°21′ W. long. (SE corner), and westward to 43°20′ N. lat.; 69°40′ W. long. (SW corner). An exemption from the GOM Rolling Closure Areas III and IV is necessary to provide continuity with the portion of the research conducted under the previously issued EFP. This area was originally chosen because the researcher believes that an optimal mix of high abundance of haddock and low abundance of cod in this area will allow him to accurately assess the selectivity of the gear. The Norwegian two-chamber fish pot design has two fairly wide entrance funnels leading into the lower chamber, with a narrow entrance leading to an upper chamber. For this experiment, this fish trap would be modified to use vertical mounted triggers in order to allow easy entrance for fish and would provide a larger internal volume compared to the Norwegian design. The Pacific cod pot is a 6-ft x 6-ft x 3-ft (1.83-m x 1.83-m x 0.91-m) design that has triggers on three sides of the pot to allow increased opportunities to enter the trap, with shallow leads leading to the tunnel eye. The Pacific trap design would be modified such that it would be collapsible and would incorporate vertical mounted triggers, instead of horizontal triggers typically used for cod. In addition, haddock specific baits would be tested during the project and, an underwater video camera would be used to document haddock behavior in and around each trap design. The camera would be deployed on a trap, containing haddock from an onboard auxiliary group, a significant distance from the test site, so as not to influence fish behavior due to the lights. A total of 12 traps were to be deployed, and 10-14 hauls were to be made, with an average soak time of 24 hr, over 10 days. Under the EFP issued on September 18, 2006, only 5 days of research were completed. The remaining 5 days would be conducted under this EFP. The researchers intend to target haddock, but anticipate some incidental catch of Atlantic cod, pollock, redfish, and spiny dogfish. Once caught, fish would be sorted by species, measured, weighed, and returned to the water. No fish, shellfish, or other animals would be retained. The researchers estimate that less than 1,000 lb (453.6 kg) of haddock and less than 500 lb (226.8 kg) of all incidental species, combined, would be collected and returned to the water. The intent is for this project to take place between March and August 2007. The applicant may place requests for 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 result in only a minimal change in the scope or impact of the initially approved EFP request. In accordance with NOAA Administrative Order 216-6, a Categorical Exclusion or other appropriate NEPA document would be completed prior to the issuance of the EFP. Further review and consultation may be necessary before a final determination is made to issue the EFP. After publication of this document in the **Federal Register** , the EFP, if approved, may become effective following the public comment period. Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 *et seq.* Dated: January 23, 2007. James P. Burgess, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. E7-1194 Filed 1-25-07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-22-S DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration [I.D. 011907B] Marine Mammals; File Nos. 1022-1659 and 482-1653 AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice; issuance of permit amendments. SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that Doyle Hanan has been issued an amendment to scientific research Permit No.1022-1659, and James Gilbert has been issued an amendment to scientific research Permit No. 482-1653. ADDRESSES: The amendments and related documents are available for review upon written request or by appointment in the following offices: Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of Protected Resources, NMFS, 1315 East-West Highway, Room 13705, Silver Spring, MD 20910; phone (301)713-2289; fax
(301)427-2521; Permit No. 1022-1659: Southwest Region, NMFS, 501 West Ocean Blvd., Suite 4200, Long Beach, CA 90802-4213; phone
(562)980-4001; fax
(562)980-4018; and Permit No. 482-1653: Northeast Region, NMFS, One Blackburn Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930-2298; phone
(978)281-9300; fax
(978)281-9394. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Amy Sloan or Brandy Hutnak,
(301)713-2289. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The requested amendments have been granted under the authority of the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1361 *et seq.* ), and the regulations governing the taking and importing of marine mammals (50 CFR part 216). The amendments extend the expiration date of the permits from January 31, 2007, to January 31, 2008; Permit No. 1022-1659 for takes of California sea lions ( *Zalophus californianus* ) found near bait receivers located in various southern California harbors; and Permit No. 482-1653 for takes of harbor seals ( *Phoca vitulina* ) in New England waters. In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 *et seq.* ), a final determination has been made that the activities proposed are categorically excluded from the requirement to prepare an environmental assessment or environmental impact statement. Dated: January 22, 2007. P. Michael Payne, Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. E7-1281 Filed 1-25-07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-22-S DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
(NOAA)Marine Protected Areas Federal Advisory Committee; Public Meeting AGENCY: National Ocean Service, NOAA, Commerce. ACTION: Notice of open meeting. SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given of a meeting via web conference call of the Marine Protected Areas Federal Advisory Committee (Committee). The web conference call is open to the public, and participants can dial in to the call. Participants who choose to use the web conferencing feature in addition to the audio will be able to view the presentation as it is being given. Members of the public wishing to listen should contact Lauren Wenzel at the email or telephone number below for the call-in number and passcode. DATES: The meeting will be held Thursday, February 1 from 2 to 5 p.m. (Eastern time). Refer to the web page listed below for the most up-to-date meeting agenda. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lauren Wenzel, Designated Federal Officer, MPA FAC, National Marine Protected Areas Center, 1305 East West Highway, Silver Spring, Maryland, 20910. (Phone: 301-713-3100 x136, Fax: 301-713-3110); e-mail: *lauren.wenzel@noaa.gov;* or visit the National MPA Center Web site at *http://www.mpa.gov* ). SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Committee, composed of external, knowledgeable representatives of stakeholder groups, was established by the Department of Commerce to provide advice to the Secretary of Commerce and the Secretary of the Interior on implementation of Section 4 of Executive Order 13158. *Matters To Be Considered:* The Committee will discuss and vote on its comments on the *Draft Framework for Developing a National System of Marine Protected Areas,* a document produced by the National Marine Protected Areas Center that is currently out for public review until February 14, 2007. The document and any related Committee materials for the conference call will be posted at *http://www.mpa.gov.* Dated: January 10, 2007. David M. Kennedy, Director, Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management. [FR Doc. E7-1097 Filed 1-25-07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-08-P DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE Office of the Secretary [No. DOD-2007-HA-0002] Proposed Collection; Comment Request AGENCY: Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs, DoD. ACTION: Notice. In compliance with Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs announces a new proposed 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 the 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 March 27, 2007. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by docket number and or RIN 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 or Regulatory Information Number
(RIN)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 view 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 Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs (OASD), TRICARE—Health Program Analysis and Evaluation, ATTN: LtCol Dawn Erckenbrack, 5111 Leesburg Pike, Suite 801A, Falls Church, VA 22041-3206, or call
(703)681-0039. *Title and OMB Number:* TRICARE Network Provider Survey; OMB Control Number 0720-TBD. *Needs and Uses:* The goals of this survey effort are to stress TRICARE Network Provider satisfaction, attitudes and perceptions regarding the services provided by civilian Health Care Support and Service Contractors
(HCSS)and TRICARE. *Affected Public:* Individuals or Households; Federal Government. *Annual Burden Hours:* 2,790. *Number of Respondents:* 9,000. *Responses per Respondent:* 1. *Average Burden per Response:* .31. *Frequency:* Annually. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Summary of Information Collection The goals of this survey effort are to assess TRICARE Network Provider satisfaction, attitudes and perceptions regarding the services provided by civilian Health Care Support and Service Contractors
(HCSS)and TRICARE. The survey focuses on basic business functions provided by the HCSS Contractors such as inquiries, provider communications, claims processing, appeals, provider enrollment, medical review and provider audit and reimbursement. The survey will be conducted yearly and annual reports of the results will be available via an online reporting system for use by TMA (HPA&E). The survey will be based on the Medicare Contractor Provider Satisfaction Survey (MCPSS) core instrument that may include additional DoD specific questions. The MCPSS provides a standardized instrument for measuring providers' perspectives on satisfaction with their Medicare Contractors as well as providing the capability to make statistically valid comparisons of results to national and system-wide statistical findings. Dated: January 18, 2007. Patricia L. Toppings, Alternate OSD Federal Register, Liaison Officer, Department of Defense. [FR Doc. 07-331 Filed 1-25-07; 8:45 am]
Connectionstraces to 14
Traces to 14 documents
U.S. Code
- Federal Communications Commission§ 154
- Petitions and determinations§ 2341
- Establishment, functions, and activities§ 272
- Fire Research Center§ 278f
- Congressional statement of policy§ 2131
- Rule making§ 553
- Definitions§ 601
- Findings, purposes and policy§ 1801
- Congressional findings and declaration of policy§ 1361
- Congressional declaration of purpose§ 4321
18 references not yet in our index
- 47 CFR 0.131
- 47 CFR 73
- 47 CFR 1.46
- Pub. L. 109-171
- 120 Stat. 4
- 47 CFR 0.61
- 41 USC 47(a)(2)
- 41 CFR 51
- 41 USC 46-48c
- 35 USC 200-212
- 37 CFR 401
- 15 CFR 14.36
- 15 CFR 27
- 21 CFR 58
- Pub. L. 109-289
- Pub. L. 109-369
- Pub. L. 109-383
- 50 CFR 216
Citation graph
cites case law
Notices
Proposed rule, extension of comment and reply comment periods
Cite47 CFR 0.131
Cite47 CFR 73
Cite47 CFR 1.46
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