Rules and Regulations. Notice and request for comments

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BILLING CODE 4910-13-M DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Highway Administration [Docket No. FHWA-2007-0009] Agency Information Collection Activities: Notice of Request for Renewal of a Previously Approved Information Collection AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT. ACTION: Notice and request for comments. SUMMARY: The FHWA invites public comments about our intention to request the Office of Management and Budget's

(OMB)approval for renewal of a previously approved information collection that is summarized below under SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION . We are required to publish this notice in the **Federal Register** by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. DATES: Please submit comments by December 28, 2007. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by Docket ID Number FHWA-2007-0009 by any of the following methods: *Web Site:* For access to the docket to read background documents or comments received, go to the Federal eRulemaking Portal: *http://www.regulations.gov.* Follow the online instructions for submitting comments. *Fax:* 1-202-493-2251. *Mail:* Docket Management Facility, U.S. Department of Transportation, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590. *Hand Delivery or Courier:* U.S. Department of Transportation, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ann Shemaka, 202-366-1575, Federal Highway Administration, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Office of Bridge Technology, HIBT-30, Washington, DC 20590, between 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: *Title:* Highway Bridge and National Bridge Inspection Programs previously titled National Bridge Inspection Standards. *OMB Control #:* 2125-0501. *Background:* The Highway Bridge and National Bridge Inspection Programs require bridge inspection and reporting at regular intervals for all highway bridges greater than 20 feet in length located on public roads. Title 23, U.S.C., Section 144 defines the Highway Bridge Program. Title 23, U.S.C., Section 151 defines the National Bridge Inspection Program. They are further defined in regulation, 23 CFR 650 C, National Bridge Inspection Standards, and 23 CFR 650 D, Highway Bridge Program. Inspections of fracture critical bridges and underwater inspections are also required at prescribed intervals. The bridge inspection information that is provided to the FHWA on an annual basis is summarized on the Structure Inventory and Appraisal (SI&A) Sheet. The inspection information is used for multiple purposes, including:

(1)The determination of the condition of the Nation's bridges;

(2)as a basis for setting initial priorities for the replacement or rehabilitation of bridges under the Highway Bridge Program (HBP); and

(3)for apportioning HBP funds to the States for bridge replacement or rehabilitation. In order to apportion funds for the HBP, the law requires that a cost to replace or rehabilitate each bridge needs to be determined. In order to determine that cost, the FHWA collects data on new and replaced bridges from the States annually. In addition, the information is used for strategic national defense needs and for preparing an annual report to Congress on the status of the Nation's highway bridges. *Respondents:* 52 State highway agencies including the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, and Federal agencies. *Estimated Average Burden per Response:* The estimated average burden for each inspection is 8 hours. The estimated average burden for each cost collection report is 90 hours. *Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours:* The annual burden associated with the inspection is 2,289,600 hours. The annual burden associated with the cost report is 4,680 hours for a combined annual burden of 2,294,280 hours. *Public Comments Invited:* You are asked to comment on any aspect of this information collection, including:

(1)Whether the proposed collection is necessary for the FHWA's performance;

(2)the accuracy of the estimated burdens;

(3)ways for the FHWA to enhance the quality, usefulness, and clarity of the collected information; and

(4)ways that the burden could be minimized, including the use of electronic technology, without reducing the quality of the collected information. The agency will summarize and/or include your comments in the request for OMB's clearance of this information collection. Authority: The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995; 44 U.S.C. Chapter 35, as amended; and 49 CFR 1.48. Issued on: October 23, 2007. James R. Kabel, Chief, Management Programs and Analysis Division. [FR Doc. E7-21249 Filed 10-26-07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910-22-P DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Highway Administration Notice of Intent (for NEPA EIS); Environmental Impact Statement: Erie County, NY AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT. ACTION: Notice of Intent. SUMMARY: The FHWA is issuing this notice to advise the public that an environmental impact statement will be prepared for proposed highway project: NYS Route 198 (Scajaquada Expressway) Corridor, PIN 5470.22, I-190 to NYS Route 33, City of Buffalo, Erie County, New York. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Alan E. Taylor, Regional Director, NYSDOT Region 5; 100 Seneca Street, Buffalo NY 14203, Telephone: 716-847-3238; or Amy Jackson-Grove, Acting Division Administrator, Federal Highway Administration, New York division, Leo W. O'Brien Federal Building, 9th Floor, Clinton Avenue and North Pearl Street, Albany, New York 12207, Telephone:

(518)431-4127. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FHWA, in cooperation with the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) will prepare an environmental impact statement

(EIS)on a proposal to improve NYS Route 198 in Erie County, New York. The proposed improvement would involve the rehabilitation or reconstruction of the existing route between Interstate 190 and NYS Route 33 in the City of Buffalo for a distance of about 3.3 miles. NYS Route 198 (the Scajaquada Expressway) is an Urban Principal Arterial Expressway on the National Highway System connecting Interstate 190 and NYS Route 33 with traffic volumes between 34,000 and 54,000 vehicles per day, a design speed of 55 mph, and grade separated interchanges. The expressway is subject to congestion (a poor Level of Service at several intersections) and accidents (higher than expected rates), with a portion of the corridor identified as having “severe safety needs.” There are also areas of poor pavement conditions and failing drainage systems. The expressway facility is at odds with the context of the surrounding culturally rich community resources, including a nationally renowned art gallery, an historic Olmsted-designed park, an historic cemetery, historic buildings, higher education institutions and residential neighborhoods. The expressway acts as a barrier, dividing the park and hindering the use of these resources by the community including pedestrians and bicyclists. A transportation facility is needed that balances the need to be in harmony with the surrounding community character with the need to provide safe and efficient transportation service for all modes of transportation through the affected area. The range of alternatives will include no action and give consideration to design components derived from a previous study that investigated changing the expressway character of the existing facility by eliminating grade separated interchanges and providing design elements appropriate to an arterial including at-grade intersections with signals or roundabouts. Alternatives studied may include rehabilitation of the existing roadway, as well as full reconstruction including new curbs, highway drainage, sidewalks, bicycle paths and shared-use facilities, improved highway lighting and signing, and landscape enhancements. Areas of concern emphasized in the study will include potential environmental impacts upon the adjacent neighborhoods, parks, cultural resources, air quality and surface waters from construction, traffic and traffic noise. Additional input from Participating and Cooperating Agencies, and from the public, will be necessary before a final decision will be made regarding the full range of alternatives to be studied. Letters describing the proposed action and soliciting comments will be sent to appropriate Federal, State, and local agencies, and to private organizations and citizens who have previously expressed interest in this proposal. A series of public information meetings will be held in the City of Buffalo between November 2007 and February 2010. In addition, a public hearing will be held. Public notice will be given of the time and place of the meetings and hearings. The draft EIS will be available for public and agency review and comment. A formal NEPA scoping meeting will be held in the lecture hall of the main building at Medaille College, 18 Agassiz Circle, Buffalo, NY 14214 on November 28 at 6 p.m. To ensure that the full range of issues related to this proposed action are addressed and all significant issues identified, comments and suggestions are invited from all interested parties. Comments or questions concerning this proposed action and the EIS should be directed to the NYSDOT or FHWA at the addresses provided above. (Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Program Number 20.205, Highway Research, Planning and Construction. The regulations implementing Executive Order 12372 regarding intergovernmental consultation on Federal programs and activities apply to this program.) Authority: 23 U.S.C. 315; U.S.C. 771.123. Issued on: October 17, 2007. Amy Jackson-Grove, Acting Division Administrator, Federal Highway Administration, Albany, New York. [FR Doc. E7-21214 Filed 10-26-07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910-22-P DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Highway Administration Notice of Final Federal Agency Actions on Proposed Highway in North Carolina AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT. ACTION: Notice of limitation on claims for judicial review of actions by FHWA and other federal agencies. SUMMARY: This notice announces actions taken by the FHWA and other Federal agencies that are final within the meaning of 23 U.S.C. 139 (I)(1). The actions relate to a proposed highway project, Wilmington Bypass, from U.S. 17 to U.S. 421 in New Hanover and Brunswick Counties, Wilmington, North Carolina. Those actions grant licenses, permits, and approvals for the project. DATES: By this notice, the FHWA is advising the public of final agency actions subject to 23 U.S.C. 139 (I)(1). A claim seeking judicial review of the Federal agency actions on the highway project will be barred unless the claim is filed on or before April 28, 2008. If the Federal law that authorizes judicial review of a claim provides a time period of less than 180 days for filing such claim, then that shorter time period still applies. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Clarence W. Coleman, P. E., Operations Engineer, Federal Highway Administration, 310 New Bern Avenue, Ste 410, Raleigh, North Carolina, 27601-1418; Telephone:

(919)856-4350 extension 133; e-mail: *clarence.coleman@fhwa.dot.gov.* FHWA North Carolina Division Office's normal business hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Eastern Time). You may also contact Gregory J. Thorpe, Ph.D., Project Development and Environmental Analysis Branch Manager, North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT), 1 South Wilmington Street (Delivery), 1548 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1548; Telephone

(919)733-3141, *gthorpe@dot.state.nc.us.* NCDOT—Project Development and Environmental Analysis Branch Office's normal business hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Eastern Time). SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Notice is hereby given that the FHWA and other Federal agencies have taken final agency actions by issuing licenses, permits, and approvals for the following highway project in the State of North Carolina: Wilmington Bypass, Federal Aid No. STPNHF-17(1), New Hanover and Brunswick Counties, North Carolina. The proposed action will construct 12.9 miles of a four-lane facility on new location from U.S. 17 to U.S. 421 in Wilmington, North Carolina. The actions by the Federal agencies, and the laws under which such actions were taken, are described in the Final Environmental Impact Statement

(FEIS)for the project, approved on April 17, 2007, in the FHWA Record of Decision

(ROD)issued on October 18, 2007, and in other documents in the FHWA administrative record. The FEIS, ROD, and other documents in the FHWA administrative record file are available by contacting the FHWA or NCDOT at the addresses provided above. The FHWA FEIS and ROD can be viewed at the NCDOT—Project Development and Environmental Analysis Branch, 1 South Wilmington Street, Raleigh, North Carolina; NCDOT—Division 3 Construction Engineers Office, 124 Division Drive, Wilmington, North Carolina and the Wilmington MPO Office, 305 Chestnut Street, Floor 4, Wilmington, North Carolina. This notice applies to all Federal agency decisions as of the issuance date of this notice and all laws under which such actions were taken, including but not limited to: 1. *General:* National Environmental Policy Act

(NEPA)[42 U.S.C. 4321-4351]; Federal-Aid Highway Act [23 U.S.C. 109]. 2. *Air:* Clean Air Act [42 U.S.C. 7401-7671(q)]. 3. *Land:* Section 4(f) of the Department of Transportation Act of 1966 [49 U.S.C. 303]; Landscaping and Scenic Enhancement (Wildflowers) [23 U.S.C. 319]. 4. *Wildlife:* Endangered Species Act [16 U.S.C. 1531-1544 and Section 1536], Marine Mammal Protection Act [16 U.S.C. 1361], Anadromous Fish Conservation Act [16 U.S.C. 757(a)-757(g)], Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act [16 U.S.C. 661-667(d)], Migratory Bird Treaty Act [16 U.S.C. 703-712], Magnuson-Stevenson Fishery Conservation and Management Act of 1976, as amended [16 U.S.C. 1801 *et seq.* ]. 5. *Historic and Cultural Resources:* Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended [16 U.S.C. 470(f) *et seq.* ]; Archeological Resources Protection Act of 1977 [16 U.S.C. 470(aa)-11]; Archeological and Historic Preservation Act [16 U.S.C. 469-469(c)]; Native American Grave Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) [25 U.S.C. 3001-3013]. 6. *Social and Economic:* Civil Rights Act of 1964 [42 U.S.C. 2000(d)-2000(d)(1)]; American Indian Religious Freedom Act [42 U.S.C. 1996]; Farmland Protection Policy Act

(FPPA)[7 U.S.C. 4201-4209]. 7. *Wetlands and Water Resources:* Land and Water Conservation Fund

(LWCF)[16 U.S.C. 4601-4604]; Safe Drinking Water Act

(SDWA)[42 U.S.C. 300(f)-300(j)(6)]; Wild and Scenic Rivers Act [16 U.S.C. 1271-1287]; Emergency Wetlands Resources Act [16 U.S.C. 3921, 3931]; TEA-21 Wetlands Mitigation [23 U.S.C. 103(b)(6)(m), 133(b)(11)]; Flood Disaster Protection Act [42 U.S.C. 4001-4128]. 8. *Hazardous Materials:* Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) [42 U.S.C. 9601-9675]; Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986 (SARA); Resource Conservation and Recovery Act

(RCRA)[42 U.S.C. 6901-6992(k)]. 9. *Executive Orders:* E.O. 11990 Protection of Wetlands; E.O. 11988 Floodplain Management; E.O. 12898, Federal Actions to Address Environmental Justice in Minority Populations and Low Income Populations; E.O. 11593 Protection and Enhancement of Cultural Resources; E.O. 13007 Indian Sacred Sites; E.O. 13287 Preserve America; E.O. 13175 Consultation and Coordination with Indian Tribal Governments; E.O. 11514 Protection and Enhancement of Environmental Quality; E.O. 13112 Invasive Species. (Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Program Number 20.205, Highway Planning and Construction. The regulations implementing Executive Order 12372 regarding intergovernmental consultation on Federal programs and activities apply to this program.) Authority: 23 U.S.C. 139 (I)(1). Issued on: October 23, 2007. Clarence W. Coleman, Operations Engineer, Raleigh, North Carolina. [FR Doc. E7-21207 Filed 10-26-07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910-RY-P DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Reports, Forms and Record Keeping Requirements Agency Information Collection Activity Under OMB Review AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, DOT. ACTION: Notice. SUMMARY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501, *et seq.* ), this notice announces that the Information Collection Request

(ICR)abstracted below has been forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget

(OMB)for review and comment. The ICR describes the nature of the information collections and their expected burden. The **Federal Register** Notice with a 60-day comment period was published on June 21, 2007 [72 FR 34348]. DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before November 28, 2007. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Deborah Mazyck at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Office of International Policy, Fuel Economy and Consumer Programs, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., West Building, Room W43-443, Washington, DC 20590. Ms. Mazyck's telephone number is (202-366-4139). SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration *Title:* 49 CFR Part 583-Automobile Parts Content Labeling. *OMB Number:* 2127-0573. *Type of Request:* Request for public comment on a previously approved collection of information. *Abstract:* Part 583 establishes requirements for the disclosure of information relating to the countries of origin of the equipment of new passenger motor vehicles. This information will be used by NHTSA to determine whether manufacturers are complying with the American Automobile Labeling Act (49 U.S.C. 32304). The American Automobile Labeling Act requires all new passenger motor vehicles (including passenger cars, certain small buses, all light trucks and multipurpose passenger vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating of 8,500 pounds or less), to bear labels providing information about domestic and foreign content of their equipment. With the affixed label on the new passenger motor vehicles, it serves as an aid to potential purchasers in the selection of new passenger motor vehicles by providing them with information about the value of the U.S. Canadian and foreign parts of each vehicle, the countries of origin of the engine and transmission, and the site of the vehicle's final assembly. NHTSA anticipates approximately 22 vehicle manufacturers will be affected by these reporting requirements. NHTSA does not believe that any of these 22 manufacturers are a small business ( *i.e.* , one that employs less than 500 persons) since each manufacturer employs more than 500 persons. Manufacturers of new passenger motor vehicles, including passenger cars, certain small buses, and light trucks with a gross vehicle weight rating of 8,500 pounds or less, must file a report annually. *Affected Public:* Vehicle manufacturers. *Estimated Total Annual Burden:* NHTSA estimates that the vehicle manufacturers will incur a total annual reporting hour and cost burden of 2,522 hours and $2,467,300. The amount includes annual burden hours incurred by multi-stage manufacturers and motor vehicle equipment suppliers. There is an increase in the annual reporting and recordkeeping hour burden from 47,918 to 55,484 because the number of respondents increased from 20 to 22. There is an increase in annual reporting and recordkeeping cost burden from 2,130,850 to 2,467,300 because there will be more responses. The hour burden and cost burden published in the **Federal Register** are different due to errors in the preliminary information provided. ADDRESSES: Send comments, within 30 days, to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, 725-17th Street, NW., Washington, DC 20503, Attention NHTSA Desk Officer. *Comments are invited on:* Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the Department, including whether the information will have practical utility; the accuracy of the Departments estimate of the burden of the proposed information collection; ways to enhance the quality, utility and clarity of the information to be collected; and ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on respondents, including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology. A comment to OMB is most effective if OMB receives it within 30 days of publication. Issued on: October 22, 2007. Stephen R. Kratzke, Associate Administrator for Rulemaking. [FR Doc. E7-21141 Filed 10-26-07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910-59-P DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Surface Transportation Board [STB Docket No. AB-1003X] Mohall Central Railroad, Inc.—Abandonment Exemption—in Nelson, Ramsey, and Cavalier Counties, ND Mohall Central Railroad, Inc. (MCR), has filed a notice of exemption under 49 CFR Part 1152 Subpart F— *Exempt Abandonments* to abandon a 44.44-mile rail line (the Line), 1 extending from milepost 3.75, approximately 3.75 miles north of Lakota, to milepost 48.19, approximately 4.0 miles south of Munich, in Nelson, Ramsey, and Cavalier Counties, ND. 2 The line traverses United States Postal Service Zip Codes 58321, 58330, 58338, 58344, 58345, and 58352. 1 In its verified notice of exemption filed under STB Finance Docket No. 34759, *Mohall Central Railroad, Inc.—Acquisition and Operation Exemption—Rail Line of BNSF Railway Company,* MCR stated that, pursuant to an operating agreement between it and Northern Plains Railroad, Inc. (NPR), NPR would operate a 69.15-mile rail line, which includes the 44.44-mile Line, and that a track connection between NPR and the acquired line would be constructed. *In Mohall Central Railroad, Inc.—Acquisition and Operation Exemption—Rail Line of BNSF Railway Company,* STB Finance Docket No. 34759 (STB served Oct. 25, 2005) ( *Mohall Central* ), NPR was informed that it would need to file a request for operating authority prior to commencing operations over the line and obtain construction authority under 49 U.S.C. 10901 before building connecting track. *In Northern Plains Railroad, Inc.—Operation Exemption—Rail Line of Mohall Central Railroad, Inc.,* STB Finance Docket No. 34780 (STB served Dec. 29, 2005), NPR filed a notice of exemption to operate the line. The exemption became effective on January 28, 2006. Generally, NPR would be required to obtain discontinuance authority before MCR could abandon the Line at issue here. However, MCR provides, in its verified notice in this proceeding, a date of last service over the Line that is prior to the date that NPR obtained operating authority, which suggests that NPR never began service over the Line. Therefore, because operating authority is permissive, and NPR did not appear to begin service, MCR does not need NPR to obtain discontinuance authority before MCR seeks abandonment here. 2 Pursuant to section 402 of the Department of Transportation and Related Agencies Appropriation Act of 1982 (Pub. L. No. 97-102, 95 Stat. 1442, 1465), the Burlington Northern Railroad Company

(BN)and its successors in interest, including BNSF Railway Company (BNSF), generally are prohibited from abandoning in excess of 350 miles of rail line in North Dakota, a mileage total that has already been reached. This limitation also applies to third-party purchasers of BNSF rail lines that are subject to the limitation. Because MCR purchased the Line from BNSF, the Line normally would be subject to the 350-mile limitation. *See Mohall Central.* However, Congress amended section 402 in the Department of Transportation and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 1992, Pub. L. 102-143, *section* 343, 105 Stat. 917, 948 (1991), narrowing the restriction on processing BNSF (or third-party purchasers of BNSF rail lines) abandonment applications so that the 350-mile limitation no longer applies to exemptions for out-of-service rail lines under 49 CFR 1152.50 in North Dakota. MCR has certified that:

(1)No local traffic has moved over the line for at least 2 years;

(2)there is no overhead traffic on the line that would have to be rerouted;

(3)no formal complaint filed by a user of rail service on the line (or by a state or local government entity acting on behalf of such user) regarding cessation of service over the line either is pending with the Surface Transportation Board or with any U.S. District Court or has been decided in favor of complainant within the 2-year period; and

(4)the requirements at 49 CFR 1105.7 (environmental reports), 49 CFR 1105.8 (historic reports), 49 CFR 1105.11 (transmittal letter), 49 CFR 1105.12 (newspaper publication), and 49 CFR 1152.50(d)(1) (notice to governmental agencies) have been met. As a condition to this exemption, any employee adversely affected by the abandonment shall be protected under *Oregon Short Line R. Co.—Abandonment—Goshen,* 360 I.C.C. 91 (1979). To address whether this condition adequately protects affected employees, a petition for partial revocation under 49 U.S.C. 10502(d) must be filed. Provided no formal expression of intent to file an offer of financial assistance

(OFA)has been received, this exemption will be effective on November 28, 2007, unless stayed pending reconsideration. Petitions to stay that do not involve environmental issues, 3 formal expressions of intent to file an OFA under 49 CFR 1152.27(c)(2), 4 and trail use/rail banking requests under 49 CFR 1152.29 must be filed by November 8, 2007. Petitions to reopen or requests for public use conditions under 49 CFR 1152.28 must be filed by November 19, 2007, with the Surface Transportation Board, 395 E Street, SW., Washington, DC 20423-0001. 3 The Board will grant a stay if an informed decision on environmental issues (whether raised by a party or by the Board's Section of Environmental Analysis

(SEA)in its independent investigation) cannot be made before the exemption's effective date. *See Exemption of Out-of-Service Rail Lines,* 5 I.C.C.2d 377 (1989). Any request for a stay should be filed as soon as possible so that the Board may take appropriate action before the exemption's effective date. 4 Each OFA must be accompanied by the filing fee, which currently is set at $1,300. *See* 49 CFR 1002.2(f)(25). A copy of any petition filed with the Board should be sent to MCR's representative: Michael J. Barron, Jr., Fletcher & Sippel LLC, 29 North Wacker Drive, Suite 920, Chicago, IL 60606-2832. If the verified notice contains false or misleading information, the exemption is void *ab initio.* MCR has filed a combined environmental and historic report that addresses the effects, if any, of the abandonment on the environment and historic resources. SEA will issue an environmental assessment

(EA)by November 2, 2007. Interested persons may obtain a copy of the EA by writing to SEA (Room 1100, Surface Transportation Board, Washington, DC 20423-0001) or by calling SEA, at

(202)245-0305. [Assistance for the hearing impaired is available through the Federal Information Relay Service

(FIRS)at 1-800-877-8339.] Comments on environmental and historic preservation matters must be filed within 15 days after the EA becomes available to the public. Environmental, historic preservation, public use, or trail use/rail banking conditions will be imposed, where appropriate, in a subsequent decision. Pursuant to the provisions of 49 CFR 1152.29(e)(2), MCR shall file a notice of consummation with the Board to signify that it has exercised the authority granted and fully abandoned the line. If consummation has not been effected by MCR's filing of a notice of consummation by October 29, 2008, and there are no legal or regulatory barriers to consummation, the authority to abandon will automatically expire. Board decisions and notices are available on our Web site at *http://www.stb.dot.gov.* Decided: October 23, 2007. By the Board, David M. Konschnik, Director, Office of Proceedings. Vernon A. Williams, Secretary. [FR Doc. E7-21181 Filed 10-26-07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4915-01-P DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY Fiscal Service Notice of Rate for Use in Federal Debt Collection and Discount and Rebate Evaluation AGENCY: Financial Management Service, Fiscal Service, Treasury. SUMMARY: Pursuant to section 11 of the Debt Collection Act of 1982, as amended, (31 U.S.C. 3717), the Secretary of the Treasury is responsible for computing and publishing the percentage rate to be used in assessing interest charges for outstanding debts owed to the Government. Treasury's Cash Management Requirements (TFM Volume I, Part 6, Chapter 8000) prescribe use of this rate by agencies as a comparison point in evaluating the cost-effectiveness of a cash discount. In addition, 5 CFR 1315.8 of the Prompt Payment rule on “Rebates” requires that this rate be used in determining when agencies should pay purchase card invoices when the card issuer offers a rebate. Notice is hereby given that the applicable rate is 5.00 percent for calendar year 2008. DATES: The rate will be in effect for the period beginning on January 1, 2008, and ending on December 31, 2008. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Inquiries should be directed to the Agency Enterprise Solutions Division, Financial Management Service, Department of the Treasury, 401 14th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20227 (Telephone: 202-874-6650). SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The rate reflects the current value of funds to the Treasury for use in connection with Federal Cash Management systems and is based on investment rates set for purposes of Public Law 95-147, 91 Stat. 1227. Computed each year by averaging Treasury Tax and Loan (TT&L) investment rates for the 12-month period ending every September 30, rounded to the nearest whole percentage, for applicability effective each January 1, the rate is subject to quarterly revisions if the annual average, on a moving basis, changes by 2 percentage points. The rate in effect for the calendar year 2008 reflects the average investment rates for the 12-month period that ended September 30, 2007. Dated: October 23, 2007. Shery Morrow, Assistant Commissioner, Federal Finance. [FR Doc. 07-5368 Filed 10-26-07; 8:45 am]

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