Notices. Notice of public meeting and additional opportunity for public review and comment

10,643 words·~48 min read·/register/2007/06/04/07-2732

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

BILLING CODE 4000-01-M DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Western Area Power Administration Eastern Plains Transmission Project, Colorado and Kansas AGENCY: Western Area Power Administration, DOE. ACTION: Notice of public meeting and additional opportunity for public review and comment. SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Western Area Power Administration (Western) issued a notice of intent

(NOI)to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement

(EIS)on August 2, 2006, for the Eastern Plains Transmission Project (EPTP or Transmission Project). This notice announces an additional public meeting to provide the public opportunity to review and comment on additional and revised transmission line routes and the scope of the EIS. A summary of comments previously received during the scoping meetings held in August and September 2006, and meetings held in February 2007, is available upon request or at *http://www.wapa.gov/transmission/eptp.htm.* Western is proposing to participate with Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, Incorporated (Tri-State) in the construction of the EPTP. Western's participation would be in exchange for 275 megawatts

(MW)of capacity rights on the proposed transmission lines. The EIS will address the construction, operation, and maintenance of approximately 1,000 miles of high-voltage transmission lines and ancillary facilities, which include substations, fiber optic installations, access roads, and construction staging areas. The EIS will discuss alternatives such as Western's system alternatives and the no action alternative (no Federal action). The EIS will analyze and present environmental impacts compared to the existing baseline condition in which no Transmission Project facilities exist. The EIS also will include analyses of the environmental impacts of Tri-State's proposed generation and other past, present and reasonably foreseeable projects in the EPTP area. The EIS will be prepared in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act

(NEPA)and DOE NEPA Implementing Procedures. DATES: The public meeting will be held June 20, 2007. The meeting will be held between 5 and 8 p.m. The comment period will close July 5, 2007. ADDRESSES: The public meeting will be held at the Miami-Yoder School, 420 S. Rush Road, Rush, CO 80833. Written comments, questions, and information on the scope of the EIS may be mailed, faxed, or e-mailed to Mr. Jim Hartman, Environmental Manager, Western Area Power Administration, Rocky Mountain Region, P.O. Box 3700, Loveland, CO 80539; fax

(970)461-7213; or e-mail *eptp@wapa.gov.* For persons wishing to leave voice messages, the toll-free number is

(888)826-4710. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information or to request copies of the EIS, contact Mr. Hartman at the addresses provided or telephone the Transmission Project toll-free number at

(888)826-4710. For general information on DOE's NEPA review procedures or the status of a NEPA review, contact Ms. Carol M. Borgstrom, Director, Office of NEPA Policy and Compliance (GC-20), U.S. Department of Energy, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585-0119; telephone

(202)586-4600 or

(800)472-2756; or fax

(202)586-7031. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background and Need for Agency Action Western, a power marketing administration within DOE, markets Federal hydroelectric power to preferred customers, as specified by law. They include municipalities, cooperatives, public utility and irrigation districts, Federal and state agencies, and Native American tribes in 15 western states, including Colorado and Kansas. Western's proposal is to participate with Tri-State in the construction of the Transmission Project in exchange for approximately 275 MW of capacity rights on the proposed transmission lines. Tri-State is a wholesale electric power supplier, owned by the 44 electric cooperatives it serves. Tri-State and the member utilities serve customers throughout Colorado, Nebraska, New Mexico, and Wyoming. Western needs to provide more economical, reliable, diverse, and flexible power delivery to its customers by expanding the capability and geographic reach of Western's existing transmission system. The Transmission Project would provide Western's customers with more economical service by allowing customers to purchase transmission service directly from Western rather than through other companies' transmission lines. Also, during low water times, the Transmission Project would provide Western increased access to other options for satisfying Western's Federal hydropower contractual allocations. In addition, the Transmission Project would provide a direct interconnection at the Midway Substation which would facilitate power transfer between two of Western's Federal projects, the Colorado River Storage Project and the Loveland Area Projects. Enhancing and expanding transmission pathways also would contribute to ensuring reliability of the Federal transmission system. Proposed Action and Alternatives Western is preparing the EIS on its proposal to participate with Tri-State in the construction of the Transmission Project. Western's proposed activities include construction planning and management for approximately 1,000 miles of high-voltage transmission lines, and acquiring rights-of-way for transmission lines, access roads, and communication facilities. In addition to the environmental effects of the transmission lines, access roads, and construction staging areas, the EIS will address environmental effects of four new substations, expansions of approximately eight existing substations, and installing a fiber optic communications system for control of the transmission lines. Western issued a NOI to prepare an EIS for the Transmission Project on August 2, 2006 (71 FR 43733), which included dates, times, and locations of public scoping meetings, and opportunities available for the public to comment. Since the NOI was published, 10 public scoping meetings were conducted between August 28 and September 14, 2006, throughout eastern Colorado and western Kansas. Western issued a second notice of public meetings and additional opportunity for public review and comment on January 19, 2007 (72 FR 2507), and 10 public meetings were conducted between February 12 and 23, 2007. This notice announces an additional public meeting on June 20, 2007, to provide the public an opportunity to review and comment on additional and revised transmission line routes between Big Sandy Substation and Midway Substation, and on the scope of the EIS. Alternative Transmission Line Routes During the August and September 2006 scoping meetings, Western presented preliminary locations of transmission line corridors and new substations. As a result of comments received, Western gathered additional data, made several route refinements, added additional routes, and considered alternatives, all of which were made available to the public at the February 2007 meetings. At the February meetings, Western accepted comments on the routes. As a result of the comments received on routes between Big Sandy Substation and Midway Substation, Western determined that additional route refinement and public involvement would be beneficial to refining routes in the area. The route refinements will be presented at the public meeting in June. At the June meeting, Western seeks comments on the alternative routes and other issues related to scope of the EIS. Western will consider the comments in its analysis. Western will address other alternatives in the EIS, including the no action alternative. Under the no action alternative, Western would not participate with Tri-State in the construction of the Transmission Project. The EIS will evaluate the environmental effects of the alternatives and compare them to the existing baseline condition, in which no Transmission Project facilities are present. Alternative transmission line routes and substation locations will be refined as part of the EIS public process and addressed in the EIS. Western will consider additional reasonable alternatives that are technically and economically viable and that would meet Western's purpose and need. Impacts Associated With Tri-State's Generation Projects Tri-State proposes to develop coal-fired generation in Holcomb, Kansas, and is planning for additional generation projects. Western is not a participant in, is not involved in, and does not have control over Tri-State's generation projects. The EIS will evaluate the environmental impacts of Tri-State's generation as well as other past, present, and reasonably foreseeable projects. Summary of Comments Received During First and Second Round Scoping Western prepared a summary of the comments received during the first round of scoping meetings. That summary is available at *http://www.wapa.gov/transmission/eptp.htm.* Prior to the public meeting in June 2007, the comments from the February 2007 meetings will be available at the same internet address. Copies also are available on request. Participation in the NEPA Process Persons interested in receiving future notices, Transmission Project information, copies of the EIS, and other information on the NEPA review process should contact Mr. Hartman as described under ADDRESSES . The EIS (choice of summary or full document) will be available in printed and electronic (compact disc) formats. Western anticipates the draft EIS will be available summer 2007, with a final EIS available spring 2008. A Record of Decision is expected to be issued spring 2008. The public will be provided an opportunity to comment on the draft EIS. The location of public hearings on the draft EIS will be provided in the **Federal Register** and to local media at a later date. Dated: May 23, 2007. Timothy J. Meeks, Administrator. [FR Doc. E7-10697 Filed 6-1-07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6450-01-P ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY [EPA-HQ-OPP-2007-0320; FRL-8130-4] Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Collection; Comment Request; Application and Summary Report for an Emergency Exemption for Pesticides; EPA ICR No. 0596.09, OMB Control No. 2070-0032 AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ACTION: Notice. SUMMARY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act

(PRA)(44 U.S.C. 3501 *et seq* .), this document announces that EPA is planning to submit a request to renew an existing approved Information Collection Request

(ICR)to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). This ICR, entitled: “Application and Summary Report for an Emergency Exemption for Pesticides” and identified by EPA ICR No. 0596.09 and OMB Control No. 2070-0032, is scheduled to expire on February 28, 2008. Before submitting the ICR to OMB for review and approval, EPA is soliciting comments on specific aspects of the proposed information collection. DATES: Comments must be received on or before August 3, 2007. ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by docket identification

(ID)number EPA-HQ-OPP-2007-0320, by one of the following methods: • *Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov* . Follow the on-line instructions for submitting comments. • *Mail* : Office of Pesticide Programs

(OPP)Regulatory Public Docket (7502P), Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460-0001. • *Delivery* : OPP Regulatory Public Docket (7502P), Environmental Protection Agency, Rm. S-4400, One Potomac Yard (South Building), 2777 S. Crystal Drive, Arlington, VA. Deliveries are only accepted during the Docket's normal hours of operation (8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays). Special arrangements should be made for deliveries of boxed information. The Docket telephone number is

(703)305-5805. *Instructions* : Direct your comments to docket ID number EPA-HQ-OPP-2007-0320. EPA's policy is that all comments received will be included in the docket without change and may be made available on-line at *http://www.regulations.gov* , including any personal information provided, unless the comment includes information claimed to be Confidential Business Information

(CBI)or other information whose disclosure is restricted by statute. Do not submit information that you consider to be CBI or otherwise protected through regulations.gov or e-mail. The Federal regulations.gov website is an “anonymous access” system, which means EPA will not know your identity or contact information unless you provide it in the body of your comment. If you send an e-mail comment directly to EPA without going through regulations.gov, your e-mail address will be automatically captured and included as part of the comment that is placed in the docket and made available on the Internet. If you submit an electronic comment, EPA recommends that you include your name and other contact information in the body of your comment and with any disk or CD-ROM you submit. If EPA cannot read your comment due to technical difficulties and cannot contact you for clarification, EPA may not be able to consider your comment. Electronic files should avoid the use of special characters, any form of encryption, and be free of any defects or viruses. *Docket* : All documents in the docket are listed in the docket index available in regulations.gov. To access the electronic docket, go to *http://www.regulations.gov* , select “Advanced Search,” then “Docket Search.” Insert the docket ID number where indicated and select the “Submit” button. Follow the instructions on the regulations.gov web site to view the docket index or access available documents. Although listed in the index, some information is not publicly available, e.g., CBI or other information whose disclosure is restricted by statute. Certain other material, such as copyrighted material, is not placed on the Internet and will be publicly available only in hard copy form. Publicly available docket materials are available either in the electronic docket at *http://www.regulations.gov* , or, if only available in hard copy, at the OPP Regulatory Public Docket in Rm. S-4400, One Potomac Yard (South Building), 2777 S. Crystal Drive, Arlington, VA. The hours of operation of this Docket Facility are from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays. The Docket telephone number is

(703)305-5805. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cameo Gianne Smoot, Field and External Affairs Division (7506P), Office of Pesticide Programs, Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460-0001; telephone number:

(703)305-5454; fax number:

(703)305-5884; e-mail address: *smoot.cameo@epa.gov* . SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: I. What Information is EPA Particularly Interested in? Pursuant to section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the PRA, EPA specifically solicits comments and information to enable it to: 1. Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the Agency, including whether the information will have practical utility. 2. Evaluate the accuracy of the Agency's estimates of the burden of the proposed collection of information, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used. 3. Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected. 4. Minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate automated electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting electronic submission of responses. In particular, EPA is requesting comments from very small businesses (those that employ less than 25) on examples of specific additional efforts that EPA could make to reduce the paperwork burden for very small businesses affected by this collection. II. What Should I Consider when I Prepare My Comments for EPA? You may find the following suggestions helpful for preparing your comments: 1. Explain your views as clearly as possible and provide specific examples. 2. Describe any assumptions that you used. 3. Provide copies of any technical information and/or data you used that support your views. 4. If you estimate potential burden or costs, explain how you arrived at the estimate that you provide. 5. Provide specific examples to illustrate your concerns. 6. Offer alternative ways to improve the collection activity. 7. Make sure to submit your comments by the deadline identified under DATES . 8. To ensure proper receipt by EPA, be sure to identify the docket ID number assigned to this action in the subject line on the first page of your response. You may also provide the name, date, and **Federal Register** citation. III. What Information Collection Activity or ICR Does this Action Apply to? *Affected entities* : Entities potentially affected by this action are identified in the North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS) code assigned to the states and federal government agencies responding to this information as 9241, the Administration of Environmental Quality Programs subsector groups of government establishments primarily engaged in the administration of environmental quality. *Title* : Application and Summary Report for an Emergency Exemption for Pesticides. *ICR numbers* : EPA ICR No. 0596.09, OMB Control No. 2070-0032. *ICR status:* This ICR is currently scheduled to expire on February 28, 2008. An Agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a collection of information, unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. The OMB control numbers for EPA's regulations in title 40 of the CFR, after appearing in the **Federal Register** when approved, are listed in 40 CFR part 9, are displayed either by publication in the **Federal Register** or by other appropriate means, such as on the related collection instrument or form, if applicable. The display of OMB control numbers in certain EPA regulations is consolidated in 40 CFR part 9. *Abstract* : Section 18 of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) authorizes EPA to grant emergency exemptions to states and Federal Agencies to allow an unregistered use of a pesticide for a limited time if EPA determines that emergency conditions exist. A section 18 action arises when growers and others encounter a pest problem on a site for which there is either no registered pesticide available, or for which there is a registered pesticide that would be effective but is not yet approved for use on that particular site. Section 18 also allows states to submit requests to EPA to grant unregistered pesticide use exemptions for public health and quarantine reasons. *Burden statement* : The annual public reporting and recordkeeping burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 99 hours per response. Burden means the total time, effort, or financial resources expended by persons to generate, maintain, retain, or disclose or provide information to or for a Federal Agency. This includes the time needed to review instructions; develop, acquire, install, and utilize technology and systems for the purposes of collecting, validating, and verifying information, processing and maintaining information, and disclosing and providing information; adjust the existing ways to comply with any previously applicable instructions and requirements which have subsequently changed; train personnel to be able to respond to a collection of information; search data sources; complete and review the collection of information; and transmit or otherwise disclose the information. The ICR provides a detailed explanation of this estimate, which is only briefly summarized here: *Estimated total number of potential respondents* : 50. *Frequency of responses* : 500 annually. *Estimated total average number of responses for each respondent* : Not applicable. *Estimated total annual burden hours* : 49,500 hours. *Estimated total annual costs* : $2,472,770. There are no capital investment or maintenance and operational costs for this ICR. IV. Are There Changes in the Estimates from the Last Approval? There is no change in the 49,500 hours in the total estimated respondent burden compared with that identified in the ICR currently approved by OMB. V. What is the Next Step in the Process for this ICR? EPA will consider the comments received and amend the ICR as appropriate. The final ICR package will then be submitted to OMB for review and approval pursuant to 5 CFR 1320.12. EPA will issue another **Federal Register** notice pursuant to 5 CFR 1320.5(a)(1)(iv) to announce the submission of the ICR to OMB and the opportunity to submit additional comments to OMB. If you have any questions about this ICR or the approval process, please contact the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT . List of Subjects Environmental protection, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements. Dated: May 24, 2007. James B. Gulliford, Assistant Administrator, Office of Prevention, Pesticides and Toxic Substances. [FR Doc. E7-10679 Filed 6-1-07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560-50-S ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY [FRL-8321-3] Meetings of the Local Government Advisory Committee

(LGAC)AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency. ACTION: Notice. SUMMARY: The Local Government Advisory Committee Steering Committee and the Small Community Advisory Subcommittee

(SCAS)will meet via conference call(s). The conference call in number is

(866)299-3188 and the conference code, when prompted is “2025642791”. *Local Government Advisory Committee Steering Committee will meet via conference call(s) on the following dates:* Tuesday, June 19, 2007 1:30-2:30 p.m. Eastern Standard Time

(EST)Tuesday, July 24, 2007 1:30-2:30 p.m. Eastern Standard Time

(EST)Tuesday, August 21, 2007 1:30-2:30 p.m. Eastern Standard Time

(EST)Tuesday, September 25, 2007 1:30-3:30 p.m. Eastern Standard Time

(EST)*Small Community Advisory Subcommittee

(SCAS)will meet via conference call(s) on the following dates:* Wednesday, June 13, 2007 1-2 p.m. Eastern Standard Time

(EST)Wednesday, July 11, 2007 1-2 p.m. Eastern Standard Time

(EST)Wednesday, August 8, 2007 1-2 p.m. Eastern Standard Time

(EST)Wednesday, September 12, 2007 1-2 p.m. Eastern Standard Time

(EST)Additional information can be obtained by e-mailing the DFO for the Local Government Advisory Committee at *Eargle.Frances@epa.gov,* or *Raymond.Anna@epa.gov* for the Subcommittee on Small Community Advisory Subcommittee

(SCAS)or in written correspondence at 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW. (1301A), Washington, DC 20460. For further information contact: Frances Eargle, DFO for the Local Government Advisory Committee

(LGAC)at

(202)564-3115 or Anna Raymond, DFO for the SCAS at (202)564-3663. Dated: May 29, 2007. Frances Eargle, Designated Federal Officer, Local Government Advisory Committee. [FR Doc. E7-10682 Filed 6-1-07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560-50-P ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY [EPA-HQ-OPPT-2006-0794; FRL-8130-9] Review of Draft Risk Management Evaluations and Risk Profiles for Chemicals Proposed for Addition under the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ACTION: Notice. SUMMARY: This notice requests comment on draft risk management evaluations being developed pursuant to the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants

(POPs)for the following chemicals which are being reviewed for possible addition to the Stockholm Convention’s Annexes A, B, and/or C: Chlordecone (CAS No. 143-50-0), hexabromobiphenyl

(HBB)(CAS No. 36355-01-8), lindane (CAS No. 58-89-9), pentabromodiphenyl ether (PeBDE) (CAS No. 32534-81-9), and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS). Additionally, this notice requests comment on draft risk profiles being developed pursuant to the Stockholm Convention for the following chemicals which are also being reviewed for possible addition to the Stockholm Convention’s Annexes A, B, and/or C: Alpha-hexachlorocyclohexane (alpha-HCH) (CAS No. 319-84-6), beta-hexachlorocyclohexane (beta-HCH) (CAS No. 319-85-7), commercial octabromodiphenyl ether (octaBDE) (CAS No. 32536-52-0 ), pentachlorobenzene

(PeCB)(CAS No. 608-93-5), and short-chained chlorinated paraffins

(SCCP)(CAS No. 85535-84-8). EPA is issuing this notice in advance of the aforementioned documents’ release to increase awareness of the status of the reviews of certain proposals under the Stockholm Convention, to alert interested and potentially affected persons of the documents’ pending release, and to request comments on them when they are available for EPA’s consideration in its development of comments of the documents and its submission to the Stockholm Convention Secretariat (hereafter Secretariat). DATES: The Secretariat is expected to post these draft risk management evaluations and draft risk profiles on or about May 29, 2007, on its website *http://www.pops.int* . Comments on these draft documents must be received by EPA no later than 15 days after the Secretariat makes the draft documents available. ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by docket identification

(ID)number EPA-HQ-OPPT-2006-0794, by one of the following methods: • *Federal eRulemaking Portal* : *http://www.regulations.gov* . Follow the on-line instructions for submitting comments. • *Mail* : Document Control Office (7407M), Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics (OPPT), Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460-0001. • *Hand Delivery* : OPPT Document Control Office (DCO), EPA East Bldg., Rm. 6428, 1201 Constitution Ave., NW., Washington, DC. Attention: Docket ID Number EPA-HQ-OPPT-2006-0794. The DCO is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays. The telephone number for the DCO is

(202)564-8930. Such deliveries are only accepted during the DCO’s normal hours of operation, and special arrangements should be made for deliveries of boxed information. *Instructions* : Direct your comments to docket ID number EPA-HQ-OPPT-2006-0794. EPA's policy is that all comments received will be included in the docket without change and may be made available on-line at *http://www.regulations.gov* , including any personal information provided, unless the comment includes information claimed to be Confidential Business Information

(CBI)or other information whose disclosure is restricted by statute. Do not submit information that you consider to be CBI or otherwise protected through regulations.gov or e-mail. The regulations.gov website is an “anonymous access” system, which means EPA will not know your identity or contact information unless you provide it in the body of your comment. If you send an e-mail comment directly to EPA without going through regulations.gov, your e-mail address will be automatically captured and included as part of the comment that is placed in the docket and made available on the Internet. If you submit an electronic comment, EPA recommends that you include your name and other contact information in the body of your comment and with any disk or CD-ROM you submit. If EPA cannot read your comment due to technical difficulties and cannot contact you for clarification, EPA may not be able to consider your comment. Electronic files should avoid the use of special characters, any form of encryption, and be free of any defects or viruses. For additional information about EPA’s public docket, visit the EPA Docket Center homepage at *http://www.epa.gov/epahome/dockets.htm* . *Docket* : All documents in the docket are listed in the docket index available in regulations.gov. To access the electronic docket, go to *http://www.regulations.gov* , select “Advanced Search,” then “Docket Search.” Insert the docket ID number where indicated and select the “Submit” button. Follow the instructions on the regulations.gov website to view the docket index or access available documents. Although listed in the index, some information is not publicly available, e.g., CBI or other information whose disclosure is restricted by statute. Certain other material, such as copyrighted material, will be publicly available only in hard copy. Publicly available docket materials are available electronically at *http://www.regulations.gov* , or, if only available in hard copy, at the OPPT Docket. The OPPT Docket is located in the EPA Docket Center (EPA/DC) at Rm. 3334, EPA West Bldg., 1301 Constitution Ave., NW., Washington, DC. The EPA/DC Public Reading Room hours of operation are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding Federal holidays. The telephone number of the EPA/DC Public Reading Room is

(202)566-1744, and the telephone number for the OPPT Docket is

(202)566-0280. Docket visitors are required to show photographic identification, pass through a metal detector, and sign the EPA visitor log. All visitor bags are processed through an X-ray machine and subject to search. Visitors will be provided an EPA/DC badge that must be visible at all times in the building and returned upon departure. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: *For general information contact* : Colby Lintner, Regulatory Coordinator, Environmental Assistance Division (7408M), Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics, Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460-0001; telephone number:

(202)554-1404; e-mail address: *TSCA-Hotline@epa.gov* . *For technical information contact* : Ellie Clark, Chemical Control Division (7405M), Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics, Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460-0001; telephone number:

(202)564-2962; e-mail address: *clark.ellie@epa.gov* . SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: I. General Information A. Does this Action Apply to Me? This action is directed to the public in general, and may be of particular interest to chemical substance and pesticide manufacturers, importers, and processors. Since other entities may also be interested, the Agency has not attempted to describe all the specific entities that may be affected by this action. If you have any questions regarding the applicability of this action to a particular entity, consult the technical person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT . B. What Should I Consider as I Prepare My Comments for EPA? 1. *Submitting CBI* —i. Do not submit this information to EPA through regulations.gov or e-mail. Clearly mark the part or all of the information that you claim to be CBI. For CBI information in a disk or CD-ROM that you mail to EPA, mark the outside of the disk or CD-ROM that you mail to EPA, mark the outside of the disk or CD-ROM as CBI and then identify electronically within the disk or CD-ROM the specific information that is claimed as CBI. In addition to one complete version of the comment that includes information claimed as CBI, a copy of the comment that does not contain the information claimed as CBI must be submitted for inclusion in the public docket. Information so marked will not be disclosed except in accordance with procedures set forth in 40 CFR part 2. ii. Procedures for preparing confidential information related to pesticides and industrial chemicals are in Unit I.B.1. Send confidential information about industrial chemicals using the submission procedures under ADDRESSES . Send confidential information about pesticides to: Janice K. Jensen, Office of Pesticide Programs (7506P), Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460-0001 or hand delivered to: Janice K. Jensen, Government and International Services Branch, Office of Pesticide Programs, One Potomac Yard (South Bldg.), 2777 S. Crystal Dr., Rm. S-11315, Arlington, VA 22202. iii. Commenters should note that none of the CBI information received by EPA will be forwarded to the Secretariat. Information from submissions containing CBI may be considered by EPA in the development of the U.S. response. If commenters wish EPA to consider incorporating information in documents with CBI as part of the U.S. response, commenters should provide a sanitized copy of the documents. Sanitized copies must be complete, except that all information claimed as CBI must be deleted. EPA will place sanitized copies in the public docket. 2. *Tips for preparing your comments* . When submitting comments, remember to: i. Identify the document by docket ID number and other identifying information (subject heading, **Federal Register** date and page number). ii. Follow directions. The Agency may ask you to respond to specific questions or organize comments by referencing a Code of Federal Regulations

(CFR)part or section number. iii. Explain why you agree or disagree; suggest alternatives and substitute language for your requested changes. iv. Describe any assumptions and provide any technical information and/or data that you used. v. If you estimate potential costs or burdens, explain how you arrived at your estimate in sufficient detail to allow for it to be reproduced. vi. Provide specific examples to illustrate your concerns and suggest alternatives. vii. Explain your views as clearly as possible, avoiding the use of profanity or personal threats. viii. Make sure to submit your comments by the comment period deadline identified. II. Background A. What Action is the Agency Taking? The Agency is issuing this notice to increase awareness of the proposals to list certain chemicals under Annexes A, B, or C of the Stockholm Convention, and to provide interested persons with an opportunity to provide comments to EPA for its consideration in the development of the U. S.’ comments on the draft risk profiles and risk management evaluations. By May 29, 2007, the Secretariat is expected to have invited Parties and observers to submit to the POPs Review Committee (POPRC) (via the Secretariat) comments on the draft risk profiles and draft risk management evaluations ( *http://www.pops.int* ) and requested that comments be submitted by July 1, 2007. The United States is an observer. The United States intends to submit its comments on the drafts by July 1, 2007, to meet the Secretariat’s deadline. Because of the short-time period for review, EPA is issuing this notice in advance of the documents being posted by the Secretariat to alert interested parties to the upcoming opportunity to participate in the review and comment process. In light of the POPRC deadlines for the receipt of comments, the Agency’s public comment period for this action will close 15 days after the Secretariat posts the draft risk profiles and risk management evaluations on its website. The chemical listing process is discussed in more detail in Unit II.B. Individuals or organizations that wish to submit information directly to POPRC via the Secretariat should work through their respective observer organizations, if any. B. What is the Stockholm Convention Chemical Listing Process? The Stockholm Convention is a multilateral environmental agreement designed to protect human health and the environment from persistent organic pollutants. The United States signed the Stockholm Convention in May of 2001 but has not yet ratified it (and thus is not a Party to the Stockholm Convention). The United States currently participates as an observer in Stockholm Convention activities. The Stockholm Convention, which went into force in May of 2004, requires the Parties to reduce or eliminate the production and use of a number of intentionally produced POPs used as pesticides or industrial chemicals. The Stockholm Convention also calls upon Parties to take certain specified measures to reduce releases of certain unintentionally produced POPs with the goal of their continuing minimization and, where feasible, ultimate elimination. The Stockholm Convention also imposes controls on the handling of POPs wastes and on trade in POPs chemicals. In addition, there are specific science-based procedures that Parties to the Stockholm Convention must use when considering the addition of new chemicals to the Stockholm Convention’s Annexes. Article 8 of the Stockholm Convention provides the process that must be followed for listing new chemicals in Annexes A, B, and/or C, and is described in summary in this unit. 1. A Party to the Stockholm Convention may submit a proposal to the Secretariat for listing a chemical in Annexes A, B, and/or C. The proposal shall contain the information specified in Annex D of the Stockholm Convention (“Information Requirements and Screening Criteria”). 2. The Secretariat verifies that the proposal contains the information specified in Annex D, and if the Secretariat is satisfied, the proposal is forwarded to POPRC. 3. POPRC examines the proposal, applies the Annex D screening criteria, and determines whether the screening criteria have been fulfilled. 4. If POPRC is satisfied that the criteria have been fulfilled, POPRC, through the Secretariat, will make the proposal and POPRC’s evaluation available to all Parties and observers and invite them to submit the information specified in Annex E (“Information Requirements for the Risk Profiles”). 5. Draft risk profiles are prepared by ad hoc working groups under POPRC in accordance with Annex E for consideration by POPRC and made available to all Parties and observers to collect technical comments. 6. POPRC reviews the draft risk profile and technical comments, completes the risk profile, and determines whether the chemical is likely, as a result of its long-range environmental transport, to lead to significant adverse human health and/or environmental effects, such that global action is warranted. 7. If POPRC determines that action is warranted, then POPRC, through the Secretariat, will ask Parties and observers to provide information specified in Annex F (“Information on Socio-Economic Considerations”) to aid in the development of risk management evaluations (that include an analysis of possible control measures). 8. Draft risk management evaluations are prepared by ad hoc working groups under POPRC in accordance with Annex F for consideration by POPRC and made available to Parties and observers to collect technical comments. 9. POPRC reviews the draft risk management evaluation prepared by the ad hoc working group and completes it. 10. On the basis of the risk profile and the risk management evaluation for each chemical, POPRC recommends whether the chemical should be considered by the Conference of the Parties

(COP)for listing in Annexes A, B, and/or C. (The type(s) of control measure(s) that might be introduced for a specific chemical would dictate whether the chemical would be listed in Annex A (elimination), Annex B (restriction), and/or Annex C (unintentional production) of the Stockholm Convention.). 11. COP makes the final decision on listing the chemical in Annexes A, B, and/or C. EPA anticipates issuing **Federal Register** notices soliciting information, when appropriate. C. What Comments Are Being Requested for the Draft Risk Management Evaluations? For the chemicals currently at the risk management stage (see Unit II.G.), EPA is seeking comments on whether the draft risk management evaluations adequately reflect the socio-economic considerations specified in Annex F to the Stockholm Convention, and on whether the risk management measures recommended in the documents are reasonably supported in the draft documents. The types of information that the Stockholm Convention directs should be considered at this stage is discussed in Unit II.G. In particular, because the possible control measures under the Stockholm Convention include, among others, the prohibition or restriction of production and use, commenters should consider whether accurate, high-quality information is available to support the draft recommendations. D. What Information is Being Requested for the Draft Risk Profiles? For chemicals at the risk profile stage (see Unit II.H.), EPA is seeking comments on whether the draft risk profiles adequately cover the information types specified in Annex E to the Stockholm Convention, and whether the information in the document adequately supports the determination of whether or not the chemical is likely, as a result of its long-range environmental transport, to lead to significant adverse human health and/or environmental effects, such that global action is warranted, as required under Article 8, paragraph 7(a) of the Stockholm Convention. E. How Should the Information be Provided? 1. EPA requests that commenters include clear and precise references for any sources that they might refer to. Without the exact source of the information, POPRC will not be able to use the information. If the information is not readily available in the public literature, commenters may consider attaching the original source of the information to their submission. Commenters should indicate clearly on their comments which chemical the information concerns. 2. Although POPRC has developed provisional arrangements for the treatment of CBI, as mentioned in Unit I.B.1.iii., no CBI will be forwarded to the Secretariat. EPA will, however, consider such information in development of the U.S. response to the Secretariat. Instructions on where and how to submit comments and confidential information can be found in Unit I.B.1. and ADDRESSES . 3. Anyone wishing to have an opportunity to communicate with EPA orally on this issue should consult the technical person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT . F. What is the Agency’s Authority for Taking this Action? EPA is requesting comment and information under the authority of section 102(2)(F) of the National Environmental Policy Act, 42 U.S.C. 4321 *et seq* ., which directs all agencies of the Federal Government to “[r]ecognize the worldwide and long-range character of environmental problems and, where consistent with the foreign policy of the United States, lend appropriate support to initiatives, resolutions and programs designed to maximize cooperation in anticipating and preventing a decline in the quality of mankind’s world environment.” Section 17(d) of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) also provides additional support in that it directs the Administrator of EPA “in cooperation with the Department of State and any other appropriate Federal agency, [to] participate and cooperate in any international efforts to develop improved pesticide research and regulations.” G. What is the Status of Chemicals at the Risk Management Stage? The first meeting of POPRC took place November 7-11, 2005, in Geneva, Switzerland. Information about the Stockholm Convention and the November POPRC meeting is available at the Stockholm Convention website ( *http://www.pops.int* and *http://www.pops.int/documents/meetings/poprc/meeting_docs/en/default.htm* ), respectively. POPRC had before it five proposals which were submitted for its consideration by Parties to the Stockholm Convention, for addition to Annexes A, B, and/or C of the Stockholm Convention. Three of the five proposals were for industrial chemicals: • Pentabromodiphenyl ether. • Hexabromobiphenyl. • Perfluorooctane sulfonate. Two of the five proposals were for pesticides: • Lindane. • Chlordecone. In accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 8 of the Stockholm Convention and discussed in Unit II.B., during the November meeting POPRC examined the proposals and applied the screening criteria in Annex D of the Stockholm Convention. With regard to all five chemicals, POPRC decided that it was satisfied that the screening criteria had been fulfilled and that further work should therefore be undertaken to develop risk profiles. Therefore, POPRC, through the Secretariat, requested that Parties and observers provide information relevant to POPRC’s development of risk profiles for the five chemicals listed in this unit. In the **Federal Register** of January 30, 2006 (71 FR 4913) (FRL-7758-9), EPA invited commenters to provide EPA with information for the risk profiles. The second meeting of POPRC took place November 6-10, 2006, in Geneva, Switzerland. EPA provided notice of this meeting and POPRC’s intention to consider risk profiles for the five chemicals in the **Federal Register** of October 6, 2006 (71 FR 59108) (FRL-8099-2). Information about the November POPRC meeting is available at the Stockholm Convention website *http://www.pops.int.documents/meetings/poprc_2/meeting_docs.htm* . In accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 8 of the Stockholm Convention and discussed in Unit II.B., during the November 2006 meeting POPRC examined the draft risk profiles with respect to the requirements in Annex E of the Stockholm Convention. With regard to all five chemicals, POPRC decided that, based on finalized risk profiles, these chemicals were likely, as a result of their long-range environmental transport, to lead to significant adverse-human health and environmental effects such that global action is warranted. Additionally, in accordance with paragraph 7(a) of Article 8 of the Stockholm Convention, POPRC invited Parties and observers to submit to the Secretariat the information specified in Annex F to the Stockholm Convention by February 9, 2007. In the **Federal Register** of December 20, 2006 (71 FR 76325) (FRL-8109-1), EPA invited commenters to provide EPA with risk management information to support the development of its submission to the Secretariat. On February 9, 2007, EPA provided comments to the Secretariat. POPRC, through ad hoc working groups, is preparing draft risk management evaluations that are to include an analysis of possible control measures, which in accordance with Annex F of the Stockholm Convention (“Information on Socio-Economic Considerations”) should encompass “the full range of options, including management and elimination.” The risk management evaluations include socio-economic considerations associated with possible control measures (see Unit II.C.) and reflect due regard for the differing capabilities and conditions among the Parties. Additionally, these documents should discuss any specific exemptions or acceptable purposes being considered. Following the receipt of comments, the ad hoc working groups will further refine the draft risk management evaluations, which will then be considered by the full POPRC in November 2007 and proceed as discussed in Unit II.B. H. What is the Status of Chemicals at the Risk Profile Stage? As stated in Unit II.G., the second meeting of POPRC took place on November 6-10, 2006, in Geneva, Switzerland. EPA provided notice of this meeting and POPRC’s intention to consider proposals for the five chemicals listed in this unit in the **Federal Register** of October 6, 2006. Information about the November POPRC meeting is available at the Stockholm Convention website ( *http://www.pops.int* and *http://www.pops.int/documents/meeting/poprc_2/meeting_docs.htm* ), respectively. POPRC had before it five proposals which were submitted for its consideration by Parties to the Stockholm Convention, for addition to Annexes A, B, and/or C of the Stockholm Convention. Two of the five proposals were for industrial chemicals: • Octabromodiphenyl ether. • Short-chained chlorinated paraffins. One of the five proposals was for a chemical with both industrial and pesticidal uses: • Pentachlorobenzene. Two of the five proposals were for pesticides: • Alpha-hexachlorocyclohexane. • Beta-hexachlorocyclohexane. In accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 8 of the Stockholm Convention and discussed in Unit II.B., during the November meeting POPRC examined the proposals and applied the screening criteria in Annex D of the Stockholm Convention. With regard to all five chemicals, POPRC decided that it was satisfied that the screening criteria had been fulfilled and, in accordance with paragraph 4(a) of Article 8 of the Stockholm Convention, POPRC invited Parties and observers to submit to the Secretariat the information specified in Annex E to the Stockholm Convention by February 9, 2007. In the **Federal Register** of December 20, 2006, EPA invited commenters to provide EPA with risk profile information to support the development of its submission to the Secretariat. EPA provided comments to the Secretariat on February 9, 2007. POPRC, through ad hoc working groups, has prepared draft risk profiles for each of the chemicals to, as noted in Annex E of the Stockholm Convention, “evaluate whether the chemical is likely, as a result of its long-range environmental transport, to lead to significant adverse human health and/or environmental effects, such that global action is warranted.” The draft risk profiles also further evaluate and elaborate on the information referred to in Annex D of the Stockholm Convention and include, as far as possible, the information listed in Annex E of the Stockholm Convention. Following the receipt of comments, the ad hoc working groups will further refine the draft risk profiles, which will then be considered by the full POPRC in November 2007, and proceed as discussed in Unit II.B. List of Subjects Environmental protection, Chemicals, Hazardous substances. Dated: May 23, 2007. Charles M. Auer, Director, Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics. [FR Doc. E7-10699 Filed 6-1-07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560-50-S FEDERAL RESERVE SYSTEM Formations of, Acquisitions by, and Mergers of Bank Holding Companies The companies listed in this notice have applied to the Board for approval, pursuant to the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956 (12 U.S.C. 1841 *et seq.* ) (BHC Act), Regulation Y (12 CFR Part 225), and all other applicable statutes and regulations to become a bank holding company and/or to acquire the assets or the ownership of, control of, or the power to vote shares of a bank or bank holding company and all of the banks and nonbanking companies owned by the bank holding company, including the companies listed below. The applications listed below, as well as other related filings required by the Board, are available for immediate inspection at the Federal Reserve Bank indicated. The application also will be available for inspection at the offices of the Board of Governors. Interested persons may express their views in writing on the standards enumerated in the BHC Act (12 U.S.C. 1842(c)). If the proposal also involves the acquisition of a nonbanking company, the review also includes whether the acquisition of the nonbanking company complies with the standards in section 4 of the BHC Act (12 U.S.C. 1843). Unless otherwise noted, nonbanking activities will be conducted throughout the United States. Additional information on all bank holding companies may be obtained from the National Information Center website at *www.ffiec.gov/nic/* . Unless otherwise noted, comments regarding each of these applications must be received at the Reserve Bank indicated or the offices of the Board of Governors not later than June 29, 2007. **A. Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City** (Donna J. Ward, Assistant Vice President) 925 Grand Avenue, Kansas City, Missouri 64198-0001: *1. FirstBank Holding Company* , Lakewood, Colorado; to acquire up to 100 percent of the voting shares of FirstBank of Arizona, Phoenix, Arizona (in organization). Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, May 30, 2007. Robert deV. Frierson, Deputy Secretary of the Board. [FR Doc. E7-10677 Filed 6-1-07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6210-01-S DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Request for Quality Measures for Medicaid Home and Community-Based Services AGENCY: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), DHHS. ACTION: Notice of request for measures. SUMMARY: The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality

(AHRQ)is soliciting the submission of survey instruments and items that could be used to measure the quality of Medicaid home and community-based service

(HCBS)programs. Specifically, AHRQ is interested in metrics related to assessing the performance of such programs, client functional outcomes and client experience of, and satisfaction with, Medicaid HCBS services and supports. This initiative is in response to the mandate within the Deficit Reduction Act

(DRA)of 2005, Public Law 109-171, Section 6086(b) that AHRQ develop such measures, in consultation with relevant stakeholders. In preparation for this task, AHRQ is conducting an environmental scan of existing tools that could be adapted or used for assessing the quality of Medicaid HCBS services and supports. Based on the agency's initial methodological work, there are several quality domains the resulting measure set could assess, including: timeliness of determining need and providing services and supports, person-centeredness, safety, equity, efficiency and, effectiveness of services and supports, qualifications of providers, client health and welfare, program administrative oversight, access, unmet need among current program participants, and coordination of long-term care services with other service providers. For example, relevant measures might include items from a consumer survey that ask about receipt of services or experience with select providers, or metrics that use program administrative data to determine if providers meet program qualifications or if assessments are done on a timely basis. DATES: Please submit data collection instruments and supporting information about their development and/or use no later than 30 days after publication of this notice. AHRQ will not respond individually to submitters, but will consider all submitted items and instruments and publicly report the results of the review of the submission in an aggregated form. ADDRESSES: Submission should include a brief cover letter, a copy of the instrument or items for consideration and supporting information (e.g., a users' guide, citation(s) or copies of supporting article(s)) as specified under the Submission Criteria below. Submissions may be in the form of a letter or e-mail, preferably with an electronic file(s) as an e-mail attachment. Responses to this request should be submitted to: D.E.B. Potter, Center for Financing, Access and Cost Trends; Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, 540 Gaither Road, Suite 500, Rockville, MD 20850, Phone:

(301)427-1564, Fax:

(301)427-1276; E-mail: *D.E.B.Potter@ahrq.hhs.gov.* To facilitate handling of submissions, please include full information about the instrument developer and/or a designated contact. • Name • Title • Organization • Mailing address • Telephone number • Fax number • E-mail address Also, please submit a copy of the instrument or items for consideration, and evidence that it meets the submission criteria below. It is requested (but not required) that citation of a peer-reviewed journal article pertaining to the instrument, to include the title of the article, author(s), publication year, journal name, volume, issue, and page numbers where article appears be included. Submitters must also provide a statement of willingness to grant to AHRQ the right to use and authorize others to use submitted measures and their documentation as part of any future instrument or measure set that may result from developing the statutorily-mandated Medicaid HCBS measure set. Electronic submissions are encouraged. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: D.E.B. Potter at the address above. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION Submission Criteria Items and instruments submitted must focus on evaluating the performance of home and community-based services, client experience of, and satisfaction with, these home and community-based services and supports, as well as related client functional outcomes. Such services are defined broadly to include at a minimum the array of services included as HCBS under Section 1915(b), (c), or

(b)and

(c)of the Social Security Act (the Act), HCBS as a State plan option under Section 1915(i), as well as self-directed personal assistance services under Section 1915(j), and HCBS under Section 1115 of the Act, and HCBS demonstrations, as authorized under Section 6071 of the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005. For the purpose of this call for measures, the listed services are interpreted broadly to include Medicaid home health care services, Medicaid personal care services, and Medicaid targeted case management services. Submitted materials should be designed to measure (i.e., quantify) program performance, client functional outcomes (including social role functioning), and/or client experience related to any of the following areas: The timeliness of determining need and providing services and supports, person-centeredness, safety, equity, efficiency and effectiveness of services and supports, qualifications of providers, client health and welfare, program administrative oversight, access, unmet need among current program participants, and coordination of long-term care services with other service providers. Measures submitted must be relevant or readily adaptable to collection of information on the Medicaid HCBS service experience of people with chronic disabilities, including the following populations: • Physically- and/or cognitively-impaired elders, including those with dementia; • Adults or children with intellectual or developmental disabilities; • Children whose physical, intellectual and/or mental health disabilities significantly impair their ability to participate in age-appropriate activities (e.g., schooling and play), including children with special health care needs; • Adults with severe and persistent mental illness; • Adults with acquired brain injuries; and, • Adults with physical disabilities and/or chronic conditions (such as HIV/AIDS) that place them at risk of institutional care. Unless such measures can be adapted to HCBS, measures related exclusively to institutional services, specifically those provided in a skilled nursing facility, nursing home, State hospital, or intermediate care facility for the mentally-retarded (ICF/MR), will not be considered, although those that apply to alternative residential settings eligible for Medicaid HCBS funding, such as small group homes and assisted living facilities will be. Measures specific to the process of applying for Medicaid HCBS services (e.g., waiting lists) are also within the scope of this request. In addition, measures should be designed to quantify the experience of current Medicaid HCBS service recipients; including caregivers who receive such services directly (e.g., respite care or family therapy). Measures related to non-service recipients, including measures of staff satisfaction (including family caregivers as secondary recipients—as distinguished from direct recipients) are considered to be outside the scope of this effort. For a more detailed list of the home and community based services, see the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section below entitled “Types of Home and Community-Based Services”: AHRQ is particularly interested in soliciting information from three types of submitters: 1. Organizations (or persons) who use (or contract for the use of) another organization's survey (or survey item(s)) and the survey/items used are applicable to (or could be adapted to) HCBS. 2. Organizations (or persons) who developed a survey (or survey item(s)) and the survey/items are applicable to (or could be adapted to) HCBS. 3. Organizations (or persons) who use another organization's survey but have modified the original survey (added items to, taken items away or changed the wording) and the resulting hybrid survey is applicable to (or could be adapted to) HCBS. Additional Submission Instructions Submitter Type 1 Each submission should include the following information: • Name of the measure(s)/instrument(s)/survey(s) used by (or contracted for by) your organization • Brief description of the measure(s)/instrument(s)/survey(s) • Population intended for measurement • Care provider type (e.g., home health agency, consumer directed caregiver, assisted living facility, adult day care provider, skills training counselor)] • Service setting (e.g., group home, client's home, school, assisted living facility) • Domain(s) (i.e., content areas) • Language(s) the measure(s)/survey(s) (e.g., number of HCBS programs, program size(s)) • Where the Submitter's organization has used (fielded), and/or is currently using, the measure(s)/instrument(s)/survey(s) (e.g., number of HCBS programs, program size(s)) Submission of copies of existing report formats developed by the Agency using the survey to disclose findings to consumers and providers is desirable, but not required. Additionally, information about existing database(s) (particularly at the state level) for collecting results gathered using the instrument(s) or items submitted is helpful, but not required for submission. A partial response by a Submitter Type 1 could be “* * * our Agency uses the National Core Indicator's

(NCI)Child Family Survey (Phase VII version) for our State's 1915(c) waiver for children with special health care needs * * * for our HCBS program for elders with Alzheimer's we use the Participant Experience Survey

(PES)Elder/Disabled Version (Version 1) * * *” Submitter Type 2 Information about the instrument that you and/or your organization developed may be provided (in part) through submission of peer-reviewed journal articles). Each submission should include the following information. • Name of the measure(s)/instrument(s)/survey(s) developed • Description of the measure(s)/instrument(s)/surveys(s) • Population intended for measurement • Care provider type(s) (e.g., home health agency, consumer directed caregiver, assisted living facility, adult day care) • Service setting (e.g., group home, client's home, school, assisted living facility) • Copy of the relevant measure(s)/instrument(s)/survey)s) (e.g., individual items and response categories) • Domain(s) (i.e., content areas) • Language(s) the measure(s)/instrument(s)/survey(s) is available in • Reliability of the measure(s)/instrument(s)/survey(s) (e.g., internal consistency, test-retest, etc). • Validity of the measure(s)/instrument(s)/survey(s) (e.g., content, construct, criterion-related) • Response rate(s) obtained when measure(s)/instrument(s)/survey(s) is used to measure on the intended population • Methods and results of any cognitive testing associated with the measure(s), instrument(s) and/or survey(s) • Methods and results of any field-testing associate with the measure(s), instrument(s) and/or survey(s) • Data collection protocols (including mode and respondents) • Description of sampling strategies used for data collection • Where the Submitter's organization has used (fielded), and/or is currently using, the measure(s)/instrument(s)/survey(s) (e.g., number of HCBS programs, program size(s)) • Information about any professional or organizations endorsements associated with the measure(s)/instrument(s)/survey(s) Submission of copies of existing report formats developed to disclose findings to consumers and providers is desirable, but not required. Additionally, information about existing database(s) collecting results gathered using the instrument(s) or items submitted is helpful, but not required for submission. Information about the instrument may be provided through submission of peer-reviewed journal article, if applicable or through the best evidence available at the time of submission. In submitting measures, submitters agree to relinquish ownership of any items developed by the submitter/organization that are selected to be pat of the measure set(s) developed by AHRQ for public use (beginning in 2008 as required by Section 6086(b) of the DRA). However, item ownership will be protected during the initial measure can, and during any subsequent measure development efforts AHRQ might undertake. Submitter Type 3 Information about the original survey measures and the nature of any survey measure modifications (including new, changed or deleted items) is requested for submission. For the measures/items based directly on an existing survey/measure(s) (and without any changes to the items), the information described under Submission Submitter Type 1 is requested along with copies of the relevant measures that are actually used (e.g., individual items and response categories). In addition to the original measures information (requested in the previously paragraph), information about the modified measures/items is requested. Modifications may include question wording changes, the addition of new items/measures, and/or the deletion or original survey items. For the modified items, the following is requested: For measures/items based directly on the original survey items, but modified with question wording changes, information (if available) described under Submission Submitter Type 2 is requested for modified items. The reason(s) for question wording change(s) is also requested, but not required. At a minimum, a copy of the modified measures, how the measures are used and some information about how the measures were developed is required. For new items added to an existing survey, information described under Submission Submitter Type 2 is requested. Also requested, but not required, is

(are)the reason(s) for the addition of the new items. An example of the latter might be along the lines of “* * * for our HCBS program for elders with Alzheimer's we use the PES Elder/Disabled Version (Version 1) but have also added a module to capture information about medication management/administration for clients in a residential settings.* * *” At a minimum, a copy of the modified measures, now the measures are used and some information about how the measures were developed is required. In situations where the modifications to the original survey are simply a deletion(s) of original survey items (and with new items added) a description on of what items were deleted and why is also requested. An example of the latter might be “* * * for our HCBS program for elders we use the ABC Survey but drop questions 34-42 at the Agency does not use this information.” In submitting modified measures, submitters agree to relinquish ownership of any items developed by the submitter/organization and that are selected for use in the measure set(s) developed and adopted by AHRQ (beginning in 2008 as required by Section 6086(b) of the DRA). However, item ownership will be protected during the initial measure scan, and during any subsequent measure development efforts AHRQ might undertake. Submitters Types 1, 2 and 3 It is not necessary to submit any actual data generated from using the survey instruments. Types of Home and Community-Based Services Both the type and extent of home and community-based services provided under Medicaid can vary from program to program. Below is a partial list of the broad range of services that have been provided by States under their Medicaid HCBS programs; States may provide additional services. • 24 Hour Supervision/Monitoring • Activities Therapy • Adaptive Health and Wellness Services • Adult Companion Services • Adult Day Care • Adult Day Health • Adult Foster Care • Adult Residential Care • Alternative Living/Alternative Care Facility • Assisted Living • Assistive Technology • Assistive Technology Evaluation • Assistive Technology Repairs • Attendant Care • Attendant Care—Rent/Food for Unrelated Live-In Caretaker • Augmentative Communication • Behavior Management and Consultation • Bereavement Counseling • Case Management • Case Management Aide • Chore/Home Maintenance • Clinic Services • Clinical Supports • Coaching/Cueing • Cognitive/Behavior Services • Cognitive Rehabilitation • Community Access • Community Connection • Community Integration Training • Community Membership • Community Specialist • Community Transition Services • Companion Services • Congregate Meals • Consolidated Developmental Services • Consultative Clinical and Therapeutic Services • Consumer/Family/Caregiver Training • Counseling • Crisis Intervention Services/Support • Day Habilitation • Day Program • Dental • Developmental Day Care • Early Intervention • Educational Services Habilitation • Electronic Home Response • Emergency Move • Environmental Adaptations/Home Modifications • Environmental Engineering • Escort/Outings • Exercise Therapy • Family Counseling • Financial Counseling and Training • Financial Risk Reduction • Fiscal/Employer Agent/Management Services • Group Homes • Habilitation • Home Accessibility Adaptations • Home-Based Supportive Care • Home Delivered Meals • Home Health Aide • Home Health Care • Home Maintenance/Repair • Homemaker Services • Hospice • Housing Access Coordination • Housing Start-Up • Independent Living Provider • Independent Living Skills Training • Individual Directed Goods and Services • Integrated Therapeutic Network • Interdisciplinary Team • Life Skills Training • Live-in Caregiver • Meal Services • Medical Equipment/Supplies • Medical Nutritional Support • Medically-Related Direct Therapies • Medication Administration • Medication Management • Mental Health Day Treatment Services • Mental Illness/Clinic • Mental Illness/Day Treatment/Partial Hospitalization • Mental Illness/Psychosocial Rehabilitation • Money Management • Moving Assistance • Night Supervision • Non-Legend/Non-Formulary Drugs • Non-Medical Transportation • Nursing Home Diversion Program • Nutrition Therapy • Nutritional Counseling/Assistance • Nutritional Risk • Nutritional Supplements • Occupational Therapy • Optometry Services • Over-the-Counter Drugs • Pediatric Community Transitional Home Services • Periodic Nursing Evaluations • Person Centered Planning • Personal Adjustment Counseling • Personal Agent • Personal Care • Personal Care Assistance • Personal Care Coordination • Personal Care—Rent/Food for Unrelated Live-In Caretaker • Personalized Emergency Response Systems • Phone Reassurance Monitoring • Physical Risk Reduction • Physical Therapy • Physical Therapy—Extended State Plan Services • Physician Services • Podiatry Services • Prescribed Drugs • Prescription Drug Co-Pay • Preventative/Consultative • Prevocational Services Habilitation • Private Duty Nursing • Professional Care Assistant • Professional Services • Protective Services • Psychiatrist Services • Psychologist Services • Psychosocial Counseling • Psychosocial Nutrition • Psychosocial Rehabilitation • Rehabilitation Engineering • Renal Dialysis • Residential Care • Residential Habilitation • Respiratory Therapy • Respite Care • Restorative Assistance • Retainer Payment for Personal Caregivers • Shared Nursing • Skill Building • Skilled Nursing • Socialization/Recreation • Social Reassurance Therapeutic Counseling • Social Work Services • Special Therapeutic Services • Specialized Child Care • Specialized Consultation Services • Specialized Medical Equipment and Supplies • Specialized Psychiatric Services • Specialized Therapies • Speech, Hearing, and Language • Staff/Family Consultation Training • Subsidized Housing • Substance Abuse Treatment/Counseling • Support Brokerage • Support Coordination • Support Services • Supported Employment Habilitation • Supported Living • Therapeutic Counseling • Therapeutic Living • Therapeutic Management • Therapeutic Massage • Therapeutic Resources • Therapeutic Social and Recreational Program • Therapeutic Supplies • Training and Counseling Services for Unpaid Caregivers • Transitional Case Management • Transitional Living • Transportation • Vehicle Modifications • Visual/Mobility Therapy • Wandering Alarm System • Wellness Monitoring • Wrap-Around Services • Extended State Plan Services: ○ Home health care services ○ Physical therapy ○ Occupational therapy ○ Speech, hearing and language services ○ Prescribed drugs, except drugs furnished to participants who are eligible for Medicare Part D benefits ○ Dental services For additional information on HCBS service, please refer to Appendix C: Participant Services (pages 99 to 162) of the Application for a section 1915(c) Home and Community-Based Waiver [Version 3.4] Instructions, Technical Guide and Review Criteria Release Date: November 2006, Disabled and Elderly Health Programs Group, Center for Medicaid and State Operations, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Department of Health and Human Services, available at: *http://www.cms.hhs.gov/HCBS/02_QualityToolkit.asp#TopOfPage.* Dated: May 27, 2007. Carolyn M. Clancy, Director. [FR Doc. 07-2732 Filed 6-1-07; 8:45 am]

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