Notices. Notice

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

BILLING CODE 3410-11-M DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request The Department of Commerce will submit to the Office of Management and Budget

(OMB)for clearance the following proposal for collection of information under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35). *Agency:* National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). *Title:* Pacific Tuna Fisheries Logbook. *Form Number(s):* None. *OMB Approval Number:* 0648-0148. *Type of Request:* Regular submission. *Burden Hours:* 119. *Number of Respondents:* 20. *Average Hours Per Response:* 5 minutes. *Needs and Uses:* The operators of U.S. purse seine vessels fishing for tuna in the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean are required (50CFR 300.22) to maintain logbooks of catch and effort. Information requirements include the date, noon position, and tonnage of fish on board by species. The data collected is used to meet U.S. obligations to the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC) and for the management of tuna stocks. *Affected Public:* Business or other for-profit organizations. *Frequency:* Daily. *Respondent's Obligation:* Mandatory. *OMB Desk Officer:* David Rostker,

(202)395-3897. Copies of the above information collection proposal can be obtained by calling or writing Diana Hynek, Departmental Paperwork Clearance Officer,

(202)482-0266, Department of Commerce, Room 6625, 14th and Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20230 (or via the Internet at *dHynek@doc.gov* ). Written comments and recommendations for the proposed information collection should be sent within 30 days of publication of this notice to David Rostker, OMB Desk Officer, FAX number

(202)395-7285, or *David_Rostker@omb.eop.gov* . Dated: November 7, 2007. Gwellnar Banks, Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer. [FR Doc. E7-22217 Filed 11-13-07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-22-P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request The Department of Commerce will submit to the Office of Management and Budget

(OMB)for clearance the following proposal for collection of information under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35). *Agency:* Economic Development Administration (EDA). *Title:* Application for Investment Assistance. *OMB Control Number:* 0610-0094. *Form Number(s):* ED-900. *Type of Review:* Regular submission. *Burden Hours:* 18,952. *Number of Respondents:* 875. *Average Hours Per Response:* 22 hours. *Needs and Uses:* This information collection is necessary to determine the applicant's eligibility for investment assistance under EDA's authorizing statute, the Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965, as amended (42 U.S.C. 3121 *et seq.* ), and regulations (13 CFR Chapter III). The information also determines the

(1)quality of the proposed scope of work to address the pressing economic distress of the region in which the proposed project will be located;

(2)merits of the activities for which the investment assistance is requested; and

(3)ability of the eligible applicant to carry out the proposed activities successfully. *Affected Public:* State and local governments; Tribal government; Institutions of higher education; Non-profit institutions; Business or other for-profit organizations; Individuals or households. *Frequency:* On occasion. *Respondent's Obligation:* Voluntary. *OMB Desk Officer:* David Rostker,

(202)395-3897. Copies of the above information collection proposal can be obtained by calling or writing Diana Hynek, Departmental Paperwork Clearance Officer,

(202)395-7285, or *David_Rostker@omb.eop.gov* . Dated: November 7, 2007. Gwellnar Banks, Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer. [FR Doc. E7-22224 Filed 11-13-07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-34-P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request The Department of Commerce will submit to the Office of Management and Budget

(OMB)for clearance the following proposal for collection of information under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35). *Agency:* National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). *Title:* Tag Recapture Card. *Form Number(s):* None. *OMB Approval Number:* 0648-0259. *Type of Request:* Regular submission. *Burden Hours:* 8. *Number of Respondents:* 240. *Average Hours Per Response:* 2 minutes. *Needs and Uses:* The primary objectives of a tagging program are to obtain scientific information on fish growth and movements necessary to assist in stock assessment and management. This is accomplished by the random recapture of tagged fish by fishermen and the subsequent voluntary submission of the appropriate data. *Affected Public:* Individuals or households. *Frequency:* On occasion. *Respondent's Obligation:* Voluntary. *OMB Desk Officer:* David Rostker,

(202)395-3897. Copies of the above information collection proposal can be obtained by calling or writing Diana Hynek, Departmental Paperwork Clearance Officer,

(202)395-7285, or *David_Rostker@omb.eop.gov* . Dated: November 7, 2007. Gwellnar Banks, Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer. [FR Doc. E7-22227 Filed 11-13-07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-22-P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request The Department of Commerce will submit to the Office of Management and Budget

(OMB)for clearance the following proposal for collection of information under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35). *Agency:* Bureau of Economic Analysis. *Title:* Institutional Remittances to Foreign Countries. *OMB Control Number:* 0608-0002. *Form Number(s):* BE-40. *Type of Request:* Regular submission. *Burden Hours:* 2,100. *Number of Respondents:* 790. *Average Hours Per Response:* 1.5 hours. *Needs and Uses:* The survey is required in order to obtain data concerning the transfer of cash grants to foreign countries and expenditures in foreign countries by U.S. religious, charitable, educational, scientific, and similar organizations. The data are needed primarily to enable the Bureau of Economic Analysis to compile the U.S. international economic accounts. They are also used by other organizations and government agencies as general purpose economic statistics in support of a variety of policies and programs. *Affected Public:* Not-for-profit institutions. *Frequency:* Quarterly and annually. *Respondent's Obligation:* Voluntary. *OMB Desk Officer:* Paul Bugg,

(202)395-3093. Copies of the above information collection proposal can be obtained by calling or writing Diana Hynek, Departmental Paperwork Clearance Officer,

(202)482-0266, Department of Commerce, Room 6625, 14th and Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20230 (or via e-mail at *dHynek@doc.gov* ). Written comments and recommendations for the proposed information collection should be sent within 30 days of publication of this notice to Paul Bugg, OMB Desk Officer, FAX number

(202)395-7245 or via e-mail at *pbugg@omb.eop.gov.* Dated: November 7, 2007. Gwellnar Banks, Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer. [FR Doc. E7-22228 Filed 11-13-07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-EA-P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request The Department of Commerce will submit to the Office of Management and Budget

(OMB)for clearance the following proposal for collection of information under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. chapter 35). *Agency:* U.S. Census Bureau. *Title:* 2008 Coverage Followup Telephone Operation. *OMB Control Number:* None. *Form Number(s):* None. *Type of Request:* New collection. *Burden Hours:* 11,000. *Number of Respondents:* 66,000. *Average Hours Per Response:* 10 minutes. *Needs and Uses:* The U.S. Census Bureau requests authorization from the Office of Management and Budget to conduct the 2008 Coverage Followup

(CFU)Telephone Operation. The 2008 Census Dress Rehearsal is the final step in the decennial cycle of research and testing leading up to the implementation of the 2010 Census. The 2008 Census Dress Rehearsal will provide an opportunity to see how well the Census Bureau integrates the various operations and procedures planned for the 2010 Census under as close to census-like conditions as possible. In order to meet our constitutional and legislative mandates, we must implement a re-engineered 2010 Census that is cost-effective, improves coverage, and reduces operational risk. Achieving these strategic goals requires an iterative series of tests to provide an opportunity to evaluate new or improved question wording, methodology, technology, and questionnaire design. The Census Bureau previously completed three related studies designed to evaluate the efficacy of modified procedures for improving coverage (how well the Census Bureau counts people and housing units in the census) of the population and housing:

(1)The 2004 Census Test Coverage Research Followup (OMB Approval Number 0607-0910);

(2)the 2005 National Census Test Coverage Followup (OMB Approval Number 0607-0916); and

(3)the 2006 Census Test Coverage Followup (OMB Approval Number 0607-0923.) In support of the Census Bureau's goals, the 2008 Coverage Followup

(CFU)Telephone Operation will serve to clarify initial enumeration responses in an effort to improve within household coverage by identifying erroneous enumerations and omissions. Historically, the decennial census has been affected by undercounts that affect certain demographic groups (e.g. babies and minorities), and people in certain living situations, such as renters who move often and people whose residence is complicated or ambiguous. Coverage interviews in the decennial censuses traditionally involve a second interview with the respondent to determine if changes should be made to their household roster as reported on their initial census return. The questions in the CFU interview attempt to determine if people were missed, and/or counted incorrectly. Corrections to the roster are made, if necessary, based on the 2008 Census Dress Rehearsal residence rules. The CFU Telephone Operation, which will be conducted May 1, 2008 through July 25, 2008, will be administered through computer assisted telephone interviews (CATI). Approximately 66,000 households will be included in the 2008 CFU telephone universe. This operation will be conducted in the two 2008 Census Dress Rehearsal sites: San Joaquin County, California and South Central North Carolina, including Fayetteville and nine surrounding counties (Chatham, Cumberland, Harnett, Hoke, Lee, Montgomery, Moore, Richmond and Scotland). The CFU interview includes probing questions about: —Types of missing people, —Where college students live, —Where children in custody arrangements spend most of their time, —Where those who vacation spend most of their time, —If anyone else in the household stays anywhere else any part of the time, and —If anyone stayed in a facility where groups of people stay. When anyone is identified as potentially counted or omitted in error, we then ask questions to establish the appropriate census residence of that person according to the residence rules in effect for the 2008 Census Dress Rehearsal. Census will contact respondents using telephone numbers provided by respondents on the initial census questionnaire. These interviews will be conducted at a commercial call center through CATI. The CATI script will be in English only. However, the interviewers will have a job aid which will have the instrument translated into Spanish. Because we are not conducting field interviews during Dress Rehearsal, when a telephone interview is unsuccessful, the case will be classified as a non-interview. *Affected Public:* Individuals or households. *Frequency:* Once. *Respondent's Obligation:* Mandatory. *Legal Authority:* Title 13 U.S.C. Sections 141 and 193. *OMB Desk Officer:* Brian Harris-Kojetin,

(202)395-7314. Copies of the above information collection proposal can be obtained by calling or writing Diana Hynek, Departmental Paperwork Clearance Officer,

(OMB)for clearance the following proposal for collection of information under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. chapter 35). *Agency:* U.S. Census Bureau. *Title:* Census Coverage Measurement 2008 Person Interview and Person Interview Reinterview Operations. *OMB Control Number:* None. *Form Number(s):* None. *Type of Request:* New collection. *Burden Hours:* 2,636. *Number of Respondents:* 15,813. *Average Hours Per Response:* 10 minutes. *Needs and Uses:* The U.S. Census Bureau requests authorization from the Office of Management and Budget to conduct the Census Coverage Measurement

(CCM)Person Interview

(PI)and Person Interview Reinterview

(PIRI)operations as part of the 2008 Census Dress Rehearsal. The CCM program for the dress rehearsal is a dry run to ensure all planned coverage measurement operations are working as expected, they are integrated internally and that they are coordinated with the appropriate census operations. The CCM operations planned for the dress rehearsal, to the extent possible, will mirror those that will be conducted for the 2010 Census to provide estimates of *net coverage error* and *components of coverage error* (omissions and erroneous enumerations) for housing units and persons in housing units. The data collection and matching methodologies for previous coverage measurement programs were designed only to measure *net coverage error* , which reflects the difference between omissions and erroneous inclusions. The 2008 CCM PI operations will use a sample of approximately 14,375 housing units split evenly between selected census tracts in San Joaquin County, California; and Fayetteville, North Carolina and nine surrounding counties (Chatham, Cumberland, Harnett, Hoke, Lee, Montgomery, Moore, Richmond, and Scotland). The PIRI operations will be in the same areas and will consist of 1,438 units to make a total of 15,813 units. The automated PI instrument will be used to collect the following information for persons in housing units only: 1. Roster of people living at the housing unit at the time of the CCM PI Interview. 2. Census Day (April 1, 2008) address information from people who moved into the sample address since Census Day. 3. Other addresses where a person may have been counted on Census Day. 4. Other information to help us determine where a person should have been counted as of Census Day (relative to Census residence rules). For example, enumerators will probe for persons who might have been left off the household roster; ask additional questions about persons who moved from another address on Census Day to the sample address; collect additional information for persons with multiple addresses; and collect information on the addresses of other potential residences for household members. 5. Demographic information for each person in the household on Interview Day or Census Day, including name, date of birth, sex, race, Hispanic Origin, and relationship. 6. Name and above information for any person who has moved out of the sample address since Census Day (if known). Census will also conduct a quality control operation—PI Reinterview

(PIRI)on 10 percent of the PI cases. The purpose of the operation is to confirm that the PI enumerator conducted a PI interview with an actual household member or a valid proxy respondent and conduct a full person interview when falsification is suspected. If PIRI results indicate falsified information by the original enumerator, all cases worked by the original enumerator are reworked by reassigning the cases to a different PI enumerator. The 2008 CCM Test is needed in order to test the entire operation with all steps as developed from results of previous tests. This is to ensure that they are integrating properly and working as expected. It is also important to test timing of each part of the operation to make sure they coordinated properly with the census operations. This is particularly important because 2008 dress rehearsal is the first time in the 2010 testing cycle that coverage measurement operation for housing units will be conducted. *Affected Public:* Individuals or households. *Frequency:* One time. *Respondent's Obligation:* Mandatory. *Legal Authority:* Title 13 U.S.C. Sections 141 and 193. *OMB Desk Officer:* Brian Harris-Kojetin,

(202)395-7314. Copies of the above information collection proposal can be obtained by calling or writing Diana Hynek, Departmental Paperwork Clearance Officer,

(OMB)for clearance the following proposal for collection of information under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. chapter 35). *Agency:* U.S. Census Bureau. *Title:* Survey of Industrial Research and Development. *OMB Control Number:* 0607-0912. *Form Number(s):* RD-1, RD-1A. *Type of Request:* Revision of a currently approved collection. *Burden Hours:* 70,750. *Number of Respondents:* 32,000. *Average Hours Per Response:* RD-1—8 hours, and RD-1A—1.5 hours. *Needs and Uses:* The Census Bureau is requesting a revision of the currently approved collection for the annual Survey of Industrial Research and Development the Survey) that is conducted jointly by the U.S. Census Bureau and the National Science Foundation (NSF). Under a joint project agreement between NSF and the Census Bureau, the Census Bureau is responsible for obtaining clearance of the Survey. The National Science Foundation Act of 1950 as amended authorizes and directs NSF “* * * to provide a central clearinghouse for the collection, interpretation, and analysis of data on scientific and engineering resources and to provide a source of information for policy formulation by other agencies of the Federal government.” The Survey is the vehicle with which NSF carries out the industrial portion of this mandate. NSF together with the Census Bureau, the collecting and compiling agent, analyze the data and publish the resulting statistics. Industry is the major performer of research and development (R&D) in the United States, spending over 70 percent of total U.S. R&D outlays each year. A consistent industrial R&D information base is essential to government officials formulating public policy, industry personnel involved in corporate planning, and members of the academic community conducting research. To develop policies designed to promote and enhance science and technology, past trends and the present status of R&D must be known and analyzed. Without comprehensive industrial R&D statistics, it would be impossible to evaluate the health of science and technology in the United States or to make comparisons between the technological progress of our country and that of other nations. Statistics from the Survey are published in NSF's annual publication series, Research and Development in Industry, available via the Internet at *www.nsf.gov/statistics/industry.* Since 1953, this survey has provided continuity of statistics on R&D expenditures by major industry groups and by source of funds. Over the years, questions on a number of additional areas have been added to the Survey as the need for this R&D information became necessary for policy formulation and research. In the last request for OMB review, response to five questions (total net sales and total employment for the company; and the amount of Federal and total funds the company spent on R&D and cost of R&D performed within the company by state) was mandatory and fulfilled the Census Bureau's data-collecting mandate in Title 13, U.S. Code, Sections 131, 182, 224, and 225. Further, authorization to make the entire survey mandatory every five years to coincide with the Census Bureau's Economic Census was requested and approved. The ‘all-mandatory' requirement was last applied for the 2002 cycle of the Survey. The next economic census will be conducted for 2007 and authorization to apply the requirement is requested. The Census Bureau and NSF also request to add item 13 from Form RD-1 to Form RD-1A—R&D by type of expense. This item has been on the Form RD-1 for several years and survey respondents have shown the ability to provide data for this item. Collecting this information on both forms will allow the Census Bureau and NSF to have a more complete estimate of R&D expense by type. The Census Bureau and the NSF are planning a redesign of the Survey. The Census Bureau will provide a separate OMB submission for the redesigned survey to be implemented for survey year 2008. Policy officials from many Federal agencies rely on statistics from this survey for essential information. For example, total U.S. R&D expenditures statistics have been used by the Bureau of Economic Analysis

(BEA)to update the System of National Accounts and BEA has established a separate R&D satellite account in the System. Results from the Survey are needed to develop and subsequently update this detailed satellite account. Also a data linking project was designed to augment the Foreign Direct Investment

(FDI)data collected by BEA. This project was the first conducted under new data sharing legislation. The linking of the results of the 1997 and 1999 cycles of the Survey with BEA's 1997 and 1999 FDI benchmark files was the first application of the Confidential Information Protection and Statistical Efficiency Act (CIPSEA) that allows limited data sharing among selected Federal statistical agencies. The Census Bureau and NSF are preparing to conduct annual linkage projects of the R&D data to the FDI and USDIA data, commencing with the 2004 survey files. Plans also call for the possible linkage of the 2007 and future survey files. Further, the Census Bureau links data collected by the Survey with other statistical files. At the Census Bureau, historical company-level R&D data are linked to a file that contains information on the outputs and inputs of companies' manufacturing plants. Researchers are able to analyze the relationships between R&D funding and other economic variables by using micro-level data. Many individuals and organizations access the survey statistics via the Internet and hundreds have asked to have their names placed on the mailing list for a paper copy of the annual SRS InfoBrief that announces the availability of statistics from each cycle of the Survey. Information about the kinds of projects that rely on statistics from the Survey is available from internal records of NSF's Division of Science Resources Statistics (SRS). In addition, survey statistics are regularly printed in trade publications and many researchers use the survey statistics from these secondary sources without directly contacting NSF or the Census Bureau. *Affected Public:* Business or other for-profit organizations. *Frequency:* Annually. *Respondent's Obligation:* Mandatory. *Legal Authority:* Title 13 U.S.C. Sections 131, 182, 224, and 225. *OMB Desk Officer:* Brian Harris-Kojetin,

(202)395-7314. Copies of the above information collection proposal can be obtained by calling or writing Diana Hynek, Departmental Paperwork Clearance Officer,

(202)482-0266, Department of Commerce, Room 6625, 14th and Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20230 (or via the Internet at *dhynek@doc.gov* ). Written comments and recommendations for the proposed information collection should be sent within 30 days of publication of this notice to Brian Harris-Kojetin, OMB Desk Officer either by fax (202-395-7245) or e-mail ( *bharrisk@omb.eop.gov* ). Dated: November 7, 2007. Gwellnar Banks, Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer. [FR Doc. E7-22273 Filed 11-13-07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-07-P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE U.S. Census Bureau Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Monthly Wholesale Trade Survey AGENCY: U.S. Census Bureau, Commerce. ACTION: Notice. SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing information collections, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13 (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)). DATES: To ensure consideration, written comments must be submitted on or before January 14, 2008. ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Diana Hynek, Departmental Paperwork Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 6625, 14th and Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20230 (or via the Internet at *dHynek@doc.gov* ). FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or copies of the information collection instrument(s) and instructions should be directed to John Miller, U.S. Census Bureau, Room 8K081, Washington, DC 20233-6500,

(301)763-2758. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: I. Abstract The Monthly Wholesale Trade Survey provides the only continuous measure of monthly sales, end-of-month inventories, and inventories/sales ratios in the United States by selected kinds of business for merchant wholesalers, excluding manufacturers' sales branches and offices. The Bureau of Economic Analysis uses this information to improve the inventory valuation adjustments applied to estimates of the Gross Domestic Product. The Bureau of Labor Statistics uses the data as input to their Producer Price Indexes and in developing productivity measurements. Estimates produced from the Monthly Wholesale Trade Survey are based on a probability sample and are published on the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) basis. The sample design consists of small, medium, and large cases requested to report sales and inventories each month. The sample, consisting of about 4,500 wholesale businesses, is drawn from the Business Register, which contains all Employer Identification Numbers

(EINs)and listed establishment locations. The sample is updated quarterly to reflect employer business “births” and “deaths”; adding new employer businesses identified in the Business and Professional Classification Survey and deleting firms and EINs when it is determined they are no longer active. The Monthly Wholesale Trade Survey will continue to generate its monthly report form through a print-on demand system. This system allows us to tailor the survey instrument to a specific industry. For example, it will print an additional instruction for a particular NAICS code. This system also reduces the time and cost of preparing mailout packages that contain unique variable data, while improving the look and quality of the products being produced. II. Method of Collection This information is collected by mail, fax, and telephone follow-up. III. Data *OMB Control Number:* 0607-0190. *Form Number:* SM-42(00), SM-42F(00). *Type of Review:* Regular submission. *Affected Public:* Merchant wholesale firms, excluding manufacturers' sales branches and offices, which operate in the United States. *Estimated Number of Respondents:* 4,500. *Estimated Time Per Response:* 7 minutes. *Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours:* 6,300. *Estimated Total Annual Cost:* $165,438. *Respondent's Obligation:* Voluntary. *Legal Authority:* Title 13 U.S.C. Section 182. IV. Request for Comments Comments are invited on:

(a)Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information shall have practical utility;

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

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

(202)606-9573; fax:

(202)606-5314; or via e-mail at *michael.mann@bea.gov* . SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: I. Abstract The Bureau of Economic Analysis

(BEA)is responsible for the compilation of the U.S. international transactions accounts (ITA's), which it publishes quarterly in news releases, on its Web site, and in its monthly journal, the Survey of Current Business. These accounts provide a statistical summary of all U.S. international transactions and, as such, are one of the major statistical products of BEA. They are used extensively by both government and private organizations for national and international economic policy formulation and for analytical purposes. Travel is a major component of trade in services in the ITAs, accounting for over 20 percent of both exports and imports of services in 2006. BEA seeks to improve the quality of these important estimates by using data on credit card transactions to form the core of the travel estimates. A survey of travelers is needed to estimate those transactions involving other means of payment. This survey is the subject of this notice. The survey will collect data from international travelers on their expenditures by method of payment (credit card, cash, prepaid expenditures, etc.) and will be designed to integrate with data that would be collected on credit card transactions. II. Method of Collection The information will be collected on a short survey of U.S. residents returning from travel abroad and foreign residents returning to their home countries after a trip to the United States. There will be two versions of the survey: one for U.S. travelers, and one for foreign travelers. The version for foreign travelers will be translated into several foreign languages. The survey will be voluntary, and a small monetary incentive will be offered to respondents. It will be conducted in a sample of U.S. international airports in four waves over the course of one year. This is a one-time survey, but may be repeated periodically in the future to refresh the factors used to estimate the travel account. III. Data *OMB Control Number:* None. *Form Number:* None. *Type of Review:* Regular submission. *Affected Public:* Individuals or households. *Estimated Number of Respondents:* 6,000. *Estimated Time per Response:* 10 minutes. *Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours:* 1,000. *Estimated Total Annual Cost:* $40,000. *Respondent's Obligation:* Voluntary. *Legal Authority:* Bretton Woods Agreement Act, Section 8, and E.O. 10033, as amended. IV. Request for Comments Comments are invited on:

(a)Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information will have practical utility;

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

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

(202)482-0649 and

(202)482-0408, respectively. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Postponement of Preliminary Determination On July 17, 2007, the Department of Commerce (the Department) initiated the antidumping duty investigations of light-walled rectangular pipe and tube from Mexico, Turkey, and the Republic of Korea. *See Initiation of Antidumping Duty Investigations: Light-Walled Rectangular Pipe and Tube from Republic of Korea, Mexico, Turkey, and the People's Republic of China* , 72 FR 40274 (July 24, 2007). The notice of initiation stated that the Department would issue its preliminary determinations for these investigations no later than 140 days after the date of issuance of the initiation ( *i.e.* , December 4, 2007) in accordance with section 733(b)(1)(A) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (the Act). On October 19, 2007, the petitioners, Allied Tube and Conduit, Atlas Tube, Bull Moose Tube Company, California Steel and Tube, EXLTUBE, 1 Hannibal Industries, Leavitt Tube Company, Maruichi American Corporation, Searing Industries, Southland Tube, Vest Inc., Welded Tube, and Western Tube and Conduit (the petitioners) made a timely request pursuant to 19 CFR 351.205(e) for a postponement of the preliminary determination with respect to Mexico, Turkey, and the Republic of Korea. The petitioners requested postponement of the preliminary determinations with respect to these three countries because the investigations are extraordinarily complicated given the number of concurrent investigations of the subject merchandise, the complexity of the transactions to be investigated, and the novelty of the issues presented including targeted dumping and the offset of positive margins by negative margins. 1 EXLTUBE is not a petitioner with respect to Mexico. For the reasons identified by the petitioner and because there are no compelling reasons to deny the request, the Department is postponing the deadline for the preliminary determinations with respect to Mexico, Turkey, and the Republic of Korea pursuant to section 733(c)(1)(A) of the Act by 50 days to January 23, 2008. The deadline for the final determination will continue to be 75 days after the date of the preliminary determination, unless extended. This notice is issued and published pursuant to section 733(c)(2) of the Act and 19 CFR 351.205(f)(1). Dated: November 6, 2007. Stephen Claeys, Acting Assistant Secretary for Import Administration. [FR Doc. E7-22274 Filed 11-13-07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-DS-S DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Institute of Standards and Technology [Docket No.: 071017605-7606-01] Establishment of a Laboratory Accreditation Program for Laboratories That Test Personal Body Armor AGENCY: National Institute of Standards and Technology, Commerce. ACTION: Notice. SUMMARY: Under the National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program (NVLAP) the National Institute of Standards and Technology

(NIST)announces the establishment of a laboratory accreditation program and the availability of applications for accreditation of laboratories that perform testing of body armor using National Institute of Justice draft standard 0101.06 Ballistic Resistance of Personal Body Armor developed by the NIST Office of Law Enforcement Standards for the Department of Justice (DoJ). Additional standards may be added in the future. DATES: Laboratories interested in seeking accreditation are required to submit an application to NVLAP and pay required fees. Laboratories wishing to be considered for accreditation in the first group must submit applications by December 15, 2007. Laboratories whose applications are received after that date will be considered on an as-received basis. ADDRESSES: Laboratories may obtain NIST Handbook 150, *NVLAP Procedures and General Requirements,* NIST Handbook 150-24, *Personal Body Armor,* and an application for accreditation for this program by calling

(301)975-4016, by writing to NVLAP Body Armor Testing Program Manager, National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program, 100 Bureau Drive/MS 2140, Gaithersburg, MD 20899-2140, or by sending e-mail to *nvlap@nist.gov* . All applications for accreditation must be submitted to: NVLAP/Accounts, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Building 101, Room A800, 100 Bureau Drive/MS 1624, Gaithersburg, MD 20899-1624. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Hazel M. Richmond, Program Manager, NIST/NVLAP, 100 Bureau Drive/MS 2140, Gaithersburg, MD 20899-2140, Phone:

(301)975-3024, or e-mail: *hazel.richmond@nist.gov* . Information regarding NVLAP and the accreditation process can be viewed at *http://www.nist.gov.nvlap.* SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background The United States Department of Justice (DoJ), National Institute of Justice

(NIJ)requested that NIST establish a laboratory accreditation program for laboratories that test body armor for the DoJ law enforcement certification program. In response to the request from NIJ, and after consultation with interested parties through public workshops and other means, the Chief of NVLAP established an accreditation program for laboratories that test for the ballistic resistance of personal body armor. This notice is issued in accordance with NVLAP procedures and general requirements, found in Title 15 Part 285 of the Code of Federal Regulations. Technical Requirements for the Accreditation Process NVLAP assessments are conducted in accordance with the National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program regulations, which are found at 15 CFR 285. NVLAP accreditation is in full conformance with relevant standards of the International Organization for Standardization

(ISO)and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), including ISO/IEC 17025. Accreditation is granted to a laboratory following successful completion of a process, which includes submission of an application and payment of fees by the laboratory, a review of the laboratory management system documentation, an on-site assessment by technical experts, participation in proficiency testing, and resolution of any management system or technical nonconformities identified during any phase of the application process. The accreditation is formalized through issuance of a Certificate of Accreditation and Scope of Accreditation. General requirements for accreditation are given in NIST Handbook 150, *NVLAP Procedures and General Requirements.* The specific technical and administrative requirements for the program for accreditation of laboratories that test body armor are given in the draft NIST Handbook 150-24, *Personal Body Armor.* Laboratories must meet all NVLAP criteria and requirements in order to become accredited. To be considered for accreditation, the applicant laboratory must provide a completed application to NVLAP, pay all required fees, agree to conditions for accreditation, and must be competent to perform the tests prescribed in the standard. Application Requirements

(1)Legal name and full address of the laboratory;

(2)Ownership of the laboratory;

(3)Authorized Representative's name and contact information;

(4)Names, titles, and contact information for laboratory staff nominated to serve as Approved Signatories of test or calibration reports that reference NVLAP accreditation;

(5)Organization chart defining relationships that are relevant to performing testing and calibrations covered in the accreditation request;

(6)General description of the laboratory, including its facilities and scope of operations; and

(7)Requested scope of accreditation. For this program, the laboratory shall provide a copy of its management system documents, including quality manual and related documentation, where appropriate, prior to the on-site assessment. NVLAP will review the management system documentation and discuss any nonconformities with the Authorized Representative before the on-site visit. Laboratories that apply for accreditation will be required to pay NVLAP fees and undergo on-site assessment and shall meet proficiency testing requirements before initial accreditation can be granted. Paperwork Reduction Act This action contains a collection of information requirements subject to review and approval by the Office of Management and Budget

(OMB)under the Paperwork Reduction Act

(PRA)of 1995. Collection activities for NVLAP are currently approved by OMB under control number 0693-0003. Notwithstanding any other provisions of the law, no person is required to respond to, nor shall any person be subject to a penalty for failure to comply with a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB Control Number. Dated: November 6, 2007. Richard F. Kayser, Acting Deputy Director. [FR Doc. E7-22266 Filed 11-13-07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-13-P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Southwest Region Vessel Identification Requirements AGENCY: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice. SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing information collections, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before January 14, 2008. ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Diana Hynek, Departmental Paperwork Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 6625, 14th and Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20230 (or via the Internet at *dHynek@doc.gov* ). FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or copies of the information collection instrument and instructions should be directed to Trisha Culver,

(562)980-4230 or *trisha.culver@noaa.gov.* SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: I. Abstract Regulations at 50 CFR part 660.16 require that all vessels with Federal permits to fish in the Southwest display the vessel's official number. The numbers must be a specific size at specified locations. The display of the identifying number aids in fishery law enforcement. II. Method of Collection No information is collected. III. Data *OMB Number:* 0648-0361. *Form Number:* None. *Type of Review:* Regular submission. *Affected Public:* Business or other for-profit organizations. *Estimated Number of Respondents:* 2,000. *Estimated Time Per Response:* 45 minutes. *Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours:* 1,500. *Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public:* $20,000. IV. Request for Comments Comments are invited on:

(a)Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information shall have practical utility;

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

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

(907)586-7008 or * patsy.bearden@noaa.gov.* SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: I. Abstract The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), Alaska Region seeks to renew a collection of information for the continued management of the Prohibited Species Donation Program (PSD Program). Certain incidental catch of prohibited species, salmon and Pacific halibut, cannot be retained by fishing vessels due to management controls, and such prohibited species are usually discarded. Under the PSD Program, these fish may be donated to certain tax exempt groups for distribution to needy individuals. NMFS uses the information on the PSD distributor application to determine an organization's nonprofit status. In addition, the application provides information about the ability of the organization to arrange for and distribute donated salmon and Pacific halibut as a high quality food product. If the application requests distribution of more than one type of prohibited species, complete information must be supplied for each species, noting any differences in procedure. NMFS publishes notice of the selection of PSD distributors in the **Federal Register** . The reporting documentation is required to monitor the PSD Program and to ensure that donations go to authorized parties for legitimate purposes. II. Method of Collection The application to become a PSD distributor is submitted to NMFS as a letter, which can be mailed or attached to an e-mail. Processor and distributor maintain records required to track salmon and Pacific halibut retained under the PSD Program, and distributors keep updated lists of program participants. III. Data *OMB Number:* 0648-0316. *Form Number:* None. *Type of Review:* Regular submission. *Affected Public:* Not-for-profit institutions. *Estimated Number of Respondents:* 21. *Estimated Time Per Response:* 40 hours for an application to become a NMFS authorized distributor; 12 minutes for Distributor's List of PSD Program Participants; 12 minutes for Distributor's product monitoring and retention of records; and 6 minutes for labeling, product tracking, and retention of records by processor. *Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours:* 229. *Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public:* $ 0. IV. Request for Comments Comments are invited on:

(a)Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information shall have practical utility;

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

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

(d)ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on respondents, including through the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology. Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized and/or included in the request for OMB approval of this information collection; they also will become a matter of public record. Dated: November 7, 2007. Gwellnar Banks, Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer. [FR Doc. E7-22230 Filed 11-13-07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-22-P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration RIN 0648-XD71 Vessel Monitoring Systems; Announcement of the Enhanced Mobile Transmitter Unit Reimbursement Program for the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery, Open Access Sector AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce ACTION: Notice. SUMMARY: NMFS announces the availability of grant funds for vessel owners and/or operators who have purchased an Enhanced Mobile Transmitting Unit (E-MTU) for the purpose of complying with fishery regulations requiring the use of Vessel Monitoring System (VMS)in the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery, Open Access Sector. These funds will be used to reimburse vessel owners and/or operators for the purchase price of the E-MTU. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For current listing information, questions regarding VMS installation or activation checklists, contact the VMS Support Center, NOAA Fisheries Office for Law Enforcement (OLE), 8484 Georgia Avenue, Suite 415, Silver Spring, MD 20910, phone 888-219-9228, fax 301-427-0049. For questions regarding E-MTU type approval or information regarding the status of VMS systems being evaluated by NOAA for approval, contact Jonathan Pinkerton, National VMS Program Manager, phone 301-427-2300; fax 301-427-2055. For questions regarding reimbursement applications contact Randy Fisher, Executive Director, Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission (PSMFC), 205 SE Spokane Street, Suite 100, Portland, OR 97202, phone 503-595-3100, fax 503-595-3232. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: I. Funding Opportunity Description This reimbursement opportunity is available to fishing vessel owners and/or operators that have purchased an approved E-MTU device in order to comply with fishery regulations developed in accordance with 16 U.S.C. 1801 *et seq.* Only those vessel owners and/or operators purchasing an E-MTU for compliance with fishery management regulations applicable to the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery, Open Access Sector are eligible for this funding opportunity. The reimbursable expense is the purchase price (as defined below)of an E-MTU type-approved for the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery, Open Access Sector for which the owner and/or operator holds a valid commercial fishing license. II. Eligibility To be eligible to receive reimbursement vessel owners and/or operators must first purchase an E-MTU type-approved for the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery, Open Access Sector from an authorized E-MTU dealer and receive a receipt of purchase from the authorized E-MTU dealer. The vessel owner and/or operator must have the E-MTU properly installed by an authorized dealer or installer on the vessel and activated utilizing a type-approved communications provider. Upon completion of the installation and activation process, the vessel owner and/or operator must contact the VMS Support Center by calling 888-219-9228 to ensure the vessel is properly activated and registered in the VMS system. OLE does not consider a vessel in compliance with activation and registration procedures until the E-MTU signal has been received and processed by OLE. Vessel owners and/or operators must not be in arrears with a payment owed to the Agency for a civil monetary penalty. Affected vessel owners and/or operators may become eligible for the reimbursement if the outstanding penalty is paid in full within 30 days of the denial of the reimbursement. After payment, vessel owners and/or operators must contact the VMS Support Center and provide documentation to support the defrayment of the penalty to receive a confirmation code for reimbursement purposes. III. Process Vessel owners and/or operators that have purchased an E-MTU, and have validated their compliance with the applicable regulations through OLE, may contact the PSMFC, 205 SE Spokane Street, Suite 100, Portland, OR 97202, phone 503-595-3100, fax 503-595-3232, for a reimbursement application. Once the application is received and completed by the vessel owner and/or operator, it must be returned to PSMFC along with proof of eligibility in order to qualify for the reimbursement. The required proof of eligibility includes proof of authorized operation of a commercial fishing vessel in the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery, Open Access Sector; purchase receipt from an authorized E-MTU dealer, purchase price of a type-approved E-MTU; and a valid compliance confirmation code issued by OLE. Vessel owners and/or operators are not restricted as to which type-approved E-MTU device they can purchase. However, the amount of the reimbursement will be limited to the cost of the least expensive E-MTU type-approved for the fishery. Vessel owners and/or operators are encouraged to compare the features of all E-MTU devices type-approved for the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery, Open Access Sector and explore finance options prior to making a purchase decision. Vessel owners/operators are limited to the reimbursement of the cost of purchasing one E-MTU per registered vessel. Dated: November 7, 2007. William T. Hogarth, Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. E7-22239 Filed 11-13-07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-22-S DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration [Docket No.: 070817470-7647-02] RIN 0648-ZB83 Availability of Grants Funds for Fiscal Year 2008 AGENCY: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Department of Commerce (DOC). ACTION: Notice. SUMMARY: NOAA publishes this notice to change the full proposal submission deadline for the solicitation “FY 2008 Regional Integrated Ocean Observing Systems,” which was originally announced in the **Federal Register** on July 2, 2007. This notice applies to all applicants who have previously submitted a letter of intent to propose. DATES: Proposals must be submitted no later than 5 pm, Eastern Time, December 3, 2007. ADDRESSES: Full proposal application packages should be submitted through Grants.gov APPLY. The standard NOAA funding application package is available at *www.grants.gov.* If an applicant does not have Internet access, the applicant must submit through surface mail one set of originals (signed) and two copies of the proposals and related forms to the Coastal Services Center. No e-mail or fax copies will be accepted. Any U.S. Postal Service correspondence should be sent to the attention of James Lewis Free, NOAA Coastal Services Center, 2234 South Hobson Avenue, Charleston, South Carolina, 29405-2413. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For administrative issues, contact James Lewis Free at 843-740-1185 (phone) or by e-mail at *James.L.Free@noaa.gov.* Technical questions on the IOOS announcement should be directed to the following people: Mary Culver at 843-740-1250 (phone) or by e-mail at *Mary.Culver@noaa.gov;* or Geno Olmi at 843-740-1230 (phone) or by e-mail at *Geno.Olmi@noaa.gov.* SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NOAA publishes this notice to change the full proposal submission deadline for the solicitation “FY 2008 Regional Integrated Ocean Observing Systems” announced in the **Federal Register** on July 2, 2007 (72 FR 36263). This notice applies to all applicants who have previously submitted a letter of intent to propose. All other requirements for this solicitation remain the same. Limitation of Liability In no event will NOAA or the Department of Commerce be responsible for proposal preparation costs if this program is cancelled because of other agency priorities. Publication of this announcement does not oblige NOAA to award any specific project or to obligate any available funds. Applicants are hereby given notice that funding for the Fiscal Year 2008 program is contingent upon the availability of Fiscal Year 2008 appropriations. Universal Identifier Applicants should be aware they are required to provide a Dun and Bradstreet Data Universal Numbering System

(DUNS)number during the application process. See the October 30, 2002, **Federal Register** , (67, FR 66177) for additional information. Organizations can receive a DUNS number at no cost by calling the dedicated toll-free DUNS Number request line at 1-866-705-5711 or via the Internet at *http://www.dunandbradstreet.com.* National Environmental Policy Act

(NEPA)NOAA must analyze the potential environmental impacts, as required by the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), for applicant projects or proposals which are seeking NOAA federal funding opportunities. Detailed information on NOAA compliance with NEPA can be found at the following NOAA NEPA Web site: *http://www.nepa.noaa.gov/,* including our NOAA Administrative Order 216-6 for NEPA, *http://www.nepa.noaa.gov/NAO216_6_TOC.pdf* , and the Council on Environmental Quality implementation regulations, *http://ceq.eh.doe.gov/nepa/regs/ceq/toc_ceq.htm.* Consequently, as part of an applicant's package, and under their description of their program activities, applicants are required to provide detailed information on the activities to be conducted, locations, sites, species and habitat to be affected, possible construction activities, and any environmental concerns that may exist (e.g., the use and disposal of hazardous or toxic chemicals, introduction of non-indigenous species, impacts to endangered and threatened species, aquaculture projects, and impacts to coral reef systems). In addition to providing specific information that will serve as the basis for any required impact analyses, applicants may also be requested to assist NOAA in drafting of an environmental assessment, if NOAA determines an assessment is required. Applicants will also be required to cooperate with NOAA in identifying feasible measures to reduce or avoid any identified adverse environmental impacts of their proposal. The failure to do so shall be grounds for not selecting an application. In some cases if additional information is required after an application is selected, funds can be withheld by the Grants Officer under a special award condition requiring the recipient to submit additional environmental compliance information sufficient to enable NOAA to make an assessment on any impacts that a project may have on the environment. The Department of Commerce Preaward Notification Requirements for Grants and Cooperative Agreements contained in the **Federal Register** notice of October 1, 2001 (66 FR 49917), as amended by the **Federal Register** notice published on October 30, 2002 (67 FR 66109), are applicable to this solicitation. Paperwork Reduction Act This document contains collection-of-information requirements subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA). The use of Standard Forms 424, 424A, 424B, SF-LLL, and CD-346 has been approved by the Office of Management and Budget

(OMB)under the respective control numbers 0348-0043, 0348-0044, 0348-0040, 0348-0046, and 0605-0001. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no person is required to respond to, nor shall any person be subject to a penalty for failure to comply with, a collection of information subject to the requirements of the PRA unless that collection of information displays a currently valid OMB control number. Executive Order 12866 This notice has been determined to be not significant for purposes of Executive Order 12866. Executive Order 13132 (Federalism) It has been determined that this notice does not contain policies with Federalism implications as that term is defined in Executive Order 13132. Administrative Procedure Act/ Regulatory Flexibility Act Prior notice and an opportunity for public comment are not required by the Administrative Procedure Act or any other law for rules concerning public property, loans, grants, benefits, and contracts (5 U.S.C. 553(a)(2)). Because notice and opportunity for comment are not required pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553 or any other law, the analytical requirements of the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.) are inapplicable. Therefore, a regulatory flexibility analysis has not been prepared. Dated: November 8, 2007. Elizabeth R. Scheffler, Associate Assistant Administrator for Management, Ocean Services and Coastal Zone Management. [FR Doc. E7-22244 Filed 11-13-07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-JE-P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration RIN: 0648-XD86 Caribbean Fishery Management Council; Public Meeting AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice of a public meeting. SUMMARY: The Caribbean Fishery Management Council's Scientific and Statistical Committee

(SSC)will hold a two-day meeting. DATES: The SSC meeting will be held on November 29-30, 2007. ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the Pierre Hotel at Gallery Plaza, De Diego Avenue, Santurce, Puerto Rico. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Caribbean Fishery Management Council, 268 Munoz Rivera Avenue, Suite 1108, San Juan, Puerto Rico 00918-1920, telephone:

(787)766-5926. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The SSC will meet to discuss the items contained in the following agenda: •Call to order •Presentation on Acceptable Biological Catches (ABCs), Annual Catch Limits (ACLs), Accountability Measures

(AMs)Guidelines, if available •Presentation Data and Models for setting ACLs •Presentation Queen Conch - David Olsen -Extended Closed Season/Quota for Eastern St. Croix exclusive economic zone

(EEZ)•Recommendations to the Caribbean Fishery Management Council •Five-year Research Plan Recommendations •Public Comment Period •Other Business •Next Meeting The SSC will convene on November 29 and November 30, 2007, from 9 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. The meeting is open to the public, and will be conducted in English. Fishers and other interested persons are invited to attend and participate with oral or written statements regarding agenda issues. Although non-emergency issues not contained in this agenda may come before this group for discussion, those issues may not be the subject of formal action during this meeting. Action will be restricted to those issues specifically identified in this notice and any issues arising after publication of this notice that require emergency action under section 305(c) of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, provided the public has been notified of the Council's intent to take final action to address the emergency. Special Accommodations This meeting is physically accessible to people with disabilities. For more information or request for sign language interpretation and/other auxiliary aids, please contact Mr. Miguel A. Rolon, Executive Director, Caribbean Fishery Management Council, 268 Munoz Rivera Avenue, Suite 1108, San Juan, Puerto Rico, 00918-1920; telephone:

(787)766-5926, at least 5 days prior to the meeting date. Dated: November 8, 2007. Tracey L. Thompson, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. E7-22198 Filed 11-13-07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-22-S DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration RIN: 0648-XD85 New England Fishery Management Council; Public Meeting AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce ACTION: Notice of a public meeting. SUMMARY: The New England Fishery Management Council (Council) is scheduling a public meeting of its Scientific and Statistical Committee in November, 2007 to consider actions affecting New England fisheries in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ). Recommendations from this group will be brought to the full Council for formal consideration and action, if appropriate. DATES: This meeting will be held on Monday, November 26, 2007 at 12 p.m. ADDRESSES: This meeting will be held at the Hilton Garden Inn, One Thuber Street, Warwick, RI 02886; telephone:

(401)734-9600; fax:

(401)734-9700. *Council address* : New England Fishery Management Council, 50 Water Street, Mill 2, Newburyport, MA 01950. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul J. Howard, Executive Director, New England Fishery Management Council; telephone:

(978)465-0492. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Committee will review new population dynamic estimates for winter and thorny skate rebuilding using new life history data. It will also review a proposed method for setting annual skate fishery catch limits to initiate rebuilding. The purpose of Amendment 3 to the Skate Fishery Management Plan is to begin rebuilding winter and thorny skate, as well as to prevent little and smooth skate from becoming overfished. Although non-emergency issues not contained in this agenda may come before this group for discussion, those issues may not be the subject of formal action during this meeting. Action will be restricted to those issues specifically listed in this notice and any issues arising after publication of this notice that require emergency action under section 305(c) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, provided the public has been notified of the Council's intent to take final action to address the emergency. Special Accommodations This meeting is physically accessible to people with disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids should be directed to Paul J. Howard, Executive Director, at

(978)465-0492, at least 5 days prior to the meeting date. Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 *et seq.* Dated: November 8, 2007. Tracey L. Thompson, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. E7-22197 Filed 11-13-07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-22-S DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration RIN: 0648-XD87 Pacific Fishery Management Council; Public Meeting AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice of a public meeting. SUMMARY: The Pacific Fishery Management Council's (Council) Trawl Rationalization Tracking and Monitoring Committee (TRTMC) will hold a working meeting, which is open to the public. DATES: The TRTMC meeting will be held Friday, November 30, 2007, from 8:30 a.m. until business for the day is completed. ADDRESSES: The TRTMC meeting will be held at the Hotel Deca Seattle, Chancellor Room, 4507 Brooklyn Avenue NE, Seattle, WA 98105; telephone:

(206)634-2000. *Council address* : Pacific Fishery Management Council, 7700 NE Ambassador Place, Suite 101, Portland, OR 97220-1384. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Jim Seger, Staff Officer; telephone:

(503)820-2280. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Council is considering a rationalization program to cover limited entry trawl landings in the West Coast groundfish fishery. The purpose of the TRTMC working meeting is to provide agency guidance and perspectives on design constraints and to scope likely impacts of alternative configurations of tracking and monitoring systems for trawl rationalization. Although non-emergency issues not contained in the meeting agenda may come before the TRTMC for discussion, those issues may not be the subject of formal TRTMC action during this meeting. TRTMC action will be restricted to those issues specifically listed in this notice and any issues arising after publication of this notice that require emergency action under Section 305(c) of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, provided the public has been notified of the TRTMC's intent to take final action to address the emergency. Special Accommodations This meeting is physically accessible to people with disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids should be directed to Ms. Carolyn Porter at

(503)820-2280 at least 5 days prior to the meeting date. Dated: November 8, 2007. Tracey L. Thompson, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. E7-22199 Filed 11-13-07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-22-S COMMITTEE FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF TEXTILE AGREEMENTS Extension of Period of Determination for Textile and Apparel Safeguard Action on Imports From Honduras of Cotton, Wool and Man-Made Fiber Socks November 6, 2007. AGENCY: The Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements (the Committee). ACTION: Notice. SUMMARY: The Committee is extending through December 19, 2007 the period for making a determination on whether to request consultations with Honduras regarding imports of cotton, wool and man-made fiber socks (merged Category 332/432 and 632 part). FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sergio Botero, Office of Textiles and Apparel, U.S. Department of Commerce,

(202)482-2487. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Authority: Title III, Subtitle B, Section 321 through Section 328 of the Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free Trade Agreement (“CAFTA-DR” or the “Agreement”) Implementation Act; Article 3.23 of the Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free Trade Agreement. Background In accordance with section 4 of the Committee's Procedures (“Procedures”) for considering action under the CAFTA-DR textile and apparel safeguard, (71 FR 25157, April 28, 2006), the Committee decided, on its own initiative, to consider whether imports of Honduran origin cotton, wool and man-made fiber socks are being imported into the United States in such increased quantities, in absolute terms or relative to the domestic market for cotton, wool and man-made fiber socks, and under such conditions as to cause serious damage, or actual threat thereof, to the U.S. industry producing these products. On August 21, 2007 the Committee solicited public comments regarding possible safeguard action on imports from Honduras of cotton, wool and man-made fiber socks (merged Category 332/432 and 632 part). This 30-day period allowed the public an opportunity to provide information and analysis to assist the Committee in considering this issue and in determining whether safeguard action is appropriate. See *Solicitation of Public Comments Regarding Possible Safeguard Action on Imports from Honduras of Cotton, Wool and Man-Made Fiber Socks* , 72 FR 46611. The Procedures state that the Committee will make a determination within 60 calendar days of the close of the public comment period as to whether the United States will request consultations with Honduras. If the Committee is unable to make a determination within 60 calendar days, it will cause to be published a notice in the **Federal Register** , including the date by which it will make a determination. The 60 day determination period for this case will expire on November 19, 2007. However, the Committee decided to extend until December 19, 2007, the period for making a determination on this case to continue examining the public comments, trade data and all other relevant information available to determine whether a request for consultations with Honduras and import tariff relief to the U.S. industry producing socks is warranted. R. Matthew Priest, Chairman, Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements. [FR Doc. E7-22156 Filed 11-13-07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE United States Marine Corps; Privacy Act of 1974; System of Records AGENCY: United States Marine Corps, DoD. ACTION: Notice to delete a system of records. SUMMARY: The U.S. Marine Corps is deleting a system of records notice from its inventory of records systems subject to the Privacy Act of 1974, as amended (5 U.S.C. 552a). DATES: Effective November 14, 2007. ADDRESSES: Send comments to Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps, FOIA/PA Section (CMC-ARSE), 2 Navy Annex, Room 1005, Washington, DC 20380-1775. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Tracy D. Ross at

(703)614-4008. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The U.S. Marine Corps' records system notices for records systems subject to the Privacy Act of 1974 (5 U.S.C. 552a), as amended, have been published in the **Federal Register** and are available from the address above. The U.S. Marine Corps proposes to delete a system of records notices from its inventory of record systems subject to the Privacy Act of 1974 (5 U.S.C. 552a), as amended. The changes to the system of records are not within the purview of subsection

(r)of the Privacy Act of 1974 (5 U.S.C. 552a), as amended, which requires the submission of new or altered systems reports. Dated: November 7, 2007. L.M. Bynum, Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense. Deletion MMN00018 System name: Base Security Incident Report System (February 22, 1993, 58 FR 10630). Reason: With the U.S. Marine Corps being a principal component of the Department of Navy, they are combining like systems. These records are now filed in the Navy's NM05580-1, Security Incident System which was published in the **Federal Register** on January 9, 2007, with number 72 FR 958. [FR Doc. E7-22194 Filed 11-13-07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 5001-06-P DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE Office of the Secretary [DOD-2007-OS-0119] Privacy Act of 1974; Systems of Records AGENCY: Defense Logistics Agency, DOD. ACTION: Notice to alter a system of records. SUMMARY: The Defense Logistics Agency proposes to alter a system of records notice in its existing inventory of records systems subject to the Privacy Act of 1974, (5 U.S.C. 552a), as amended. DATES: This proposed action will be effective without further notice on December 14, 2007 unless comments are received which result in a contrary determination. ADDRESSES: Send comments to the Privacy Act Officer, Headquarters, Defense Logistics Agency, ATTN: DP, 8725 John J. Kingman Road, Stop 2533, Fort Belvoir, VA 22060-6221. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Jody Sinkler at

(703)767-5045. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Defense Logistics Agency systems of records notices subject to the Privacy Act of 1974, (5 U.S.C. 552a), as amended, have been published in the **Federal Register** and are available from the address above. The proposed system reports, as required by 5 U.S.C. 552a (r), of the Privacy Act of 1974, as amended, were submitted on November 2, 2007, to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, and the Office of Management and Budget

(OMB)pursuant to paragraph 4c of Appendix I to OMB Circular No. A-130, “Federal Agency Responsibilities for Maintaining Records About Individuals,” dated February 8, 1996 (February 20, 1996, 61 FR 6427). S434.87 DLA-C System name: Debt Records for Individuals (February 22, 1993, 58 FR 10854). Changes: System identifier: Delete “DLA-C” from entry. System location: Delete entry and replace with “Financial Services and Accounting Division, Accounting Operations Branch, Headquarters, Defense Logistics Agency, 8725 John J. Kingman Road, Suite 2745, Fort Belvoir, VA 22060-6221 and the Financial Services Offices at the Defense Logistics Agency

(DLA)Field Activities. Official mailing addresses are published as an appendix to DLA's compilation of systems of records notices.” Categories of individuals covered by the system: Delete entry and replace with “Current and former civilian employees and military personnel (including those who have retired) who are indebted to the Defense Logistics Agency. Also included are those individuals who are indebted to other federal agencies for which DLA has assumed collection responsibility.” Categories of records in the system: Delete entry and replace with “Debtor's name, Social Security Number (SSN), debt principal amount, interest and penalty amount, if any, debt reason, debt status, demographic information such as grade or rank, sex, date of birth, duty and home address, various dates identifying the status changes occurring in the debt collection process, documents furnished by individual concerning financial condition, personnel actions, and requests for waiver of indebtedness. Correspondence with other federal agencies to initiate the collection of debts through voluntary or involuntary offset procedures against the indebted employees' salaries or compensation due a retiree. Correspondence with other federal agencies requesting administrative offset from payments owed to the debtor. These records may include individual's name, rank, date of birth, Social Security Number (SSN), debt amount, documentation establishing overpayment status, military pay records, financial status affidavits, credit references, and substantiating documents such as military pay orders, pay adjustment authorizations, military master pay account printouts, records of travel payments, financial record data folders, miscellaneous vouchers, debtor financial records, credit reports, promissory notes, and debtor financial statements. Information on U.S. Treasury Department, Internal Revenue Service (IRS), U.S. Department of Justice, and U.S. General Accounting Office

(GAO)inquiries, judicial proceedings regarding bankruptcy, pay account histories, and token payment information. Applications for waiver of erroneous payment or for remission of indebtedness with supporting documents including statements of financial status (personal income and expenses), statements of commanders or Defense Accounting Officers, correspondence with debtors, or records of overpayments of Survivor Benefit Plan benefits. Reports from probate courts regarding the estates of deceased debtors. Reports from bankruptcy courts regarding claims of the U.S. Government against debtors.” Authority for maintenance of the system: Delete entry and replace with “Debt Collection Act of 1982 (Pub. L. 97-365) as amended by the Debt Collection Improvement Act of 1996 (Pub. L. 104-134); 5 U.S.C. 5514, Installment Deduction of Indebtedness; 31 U.S.C. 3711, Collection and Compromise; 31 U.S.C. 3716, Administrative Offset; 10 U.S.C. 136; 4 CFR 101.1-105.5, Federal Claims Collection Standards; 5 CFR 550.1101-1108, Collection by Offset from Indebted Government Employees; Guidelines on the Relationship Between the Privacy Act of 1974 and the Debt Collection Act of 1982, March 30, 1983 (48 FR 15556, April, 1983); the Interagency Agreement for Federal Salary Offset Initiative (Office of Management and Budget, Department of the Treasury, Office of Personnel Management and the Department of Defense, April 1987); and E.O. 9397 (SSN).” Purpose(s): Delete entry and replace with “The purpose for this system of records is to support the DLA debt management program in identifying, recovering, and collecting debts owed by individuals to the U.S. Government, as appropriate.” Routine uses of records maintained in the system, including categories of users and the purposes of such uses: Delete entry and replace with “In addition to those disclosures generally permitted under 5 U.S.C. 552a(b) of the Privacy Act, these records or information contained therein may specifically be disclosed outside the DoD as a routine use pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 552a(b)(3) as follows: To the U.S. Government Accountability Office, the U.S. Department of Justice, Internal Revenue Service, U.S. Department of Treasury, or other federal agencies for further collection action on any delinquent account when circumstances warrant. To commercial credit reporting agencies for the purpose of adding debt payment or non-payment data to a credit history file on an individual for use in the administration of debt collection. Delinquent debt information may be furnished for the purpose of establishing an inducement for debtors to pay their obligations to the U.S. Government. To any federal agency where the debtor is employed or receiving some type of payment from that agency for the purpose of collecting debts owed the U.S. Government by non-centralized offset. Non-centralized offset encompasses an offset program administered by any federal agency other than the U.S. Department of Treasury. The agency holding the payment subject to offset will use the indebtedness information for collection purposes after counseling the debtor. The collection may be accomplished either voluntarily or involuntarily by initiating administrative or salary offset procedures under the provisions of the Debt Collection Act of 1982 (Pub. L. 97-365, as amended by Pub. L. 104-134, the Debt Collection Improvement Act of 1996). To the U.S. Department of Treasury

(DOT)for centralized administrative or salary offset, including the offset of federal income tax refunds, for the purpose of collecting debts owed the U.S. Government; to the DOT contracted private collection agencies for the purpose of obtaining collection services, including administrative wage garnishment

(DLA)Field Activities. Official mailing addresses are published as an appendix to DLA's compilation of systems of records notices. Categories of individuals covered by the system: Current and former civilian employees and military personnel (including those who have retired) who are indebted to the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA). Also included are those individuals who are indebted to other federal agencies for which DLA has assumed collection responsibility. Categories of records in the system: Debtor's name, Social Security Number (SSN), debt principal amount, interest and penalty amount, if any, debt reason, debt status, demographic information such as grade or rank, sex, date of birth, duty and home address, various dates identifying the status changes occurring in the debt collection process, documents furnished by individual concerning financial condition, personnel actions, and requests for waiver of indebtedness. Correspondence with other federal agencies to initiate the collection of debts through voluntary or involuntary offset procedures against the indebted employees' salaries or compensation due a retiree. Correspondence with other federal agencies requesting administrative offset from payments owed to the debtor. These records may include individual's name, rank, date of birth, Social Security Number, debt amount, documentation establishing overpayment status, military pay records, financial status affidavits, credit references, and substantiating documents such as military pay orders, pay adjustment authorizations, military master pay account printouts, records of travel payments, financial record data folders, miscellaneous vouchers, debtor financial records, credit reports, promissory notes, and debtor financial statements. Information on U.S. Treasury Department, Internal Revenue Service (IRS), U.S. Department of Justice, and U.S. General Accounting Office

(GAO)inquiries, judicial proceedings regarding bankruptcy, pay account histories, and token payment information. Applications for waiver of erroneous payment or for remission of indebtedness with supporting documents including statements of financial status (personal income and expenses), statements of commanders or Defense Accounting Officers, correspondence with debtors, or records of overpayments of Survivor Benefit Plan benefits. Reports from probate courts regarding the estates of deceased debtors. Reports from bankruptcy courts regarding claims of the U.S. Government against debtors. Authority for maintenance of the system: Debt Collection Act of 1982 (Pub. L. 97-365), as amended by the Debt Collection Improvement Act of 1996 (Pub. L. 104-134); 5 U.S.C. 5514, Installment Deduction of Indebtedness; 31 U.S.C. 3711, Collection and Compromise; 31 U.S.C. 3716, Administrative Offset; 10 U.S.C. 136; 4 CFR 101.1-105.5, Federal Claims Collection Standards; 5 CFR 550.1101-1108, Collection by Offset from Indebted Government Employees; Guidelines on the Relationship Between the Privacy Act of 1974 and the Debt Collection Act of 1982, March 30, 1983 (48 FR 15556, April, 1983); the Interagency Agreement for Federal Salary Offset Initiative (Office of Management and Budget, Department of the Treasury, Office of Personnel Management and the Department of Defense, April 1987); and E.O. 9397 (SSN). Purpose(s): The purpose for this system of records is to support the DLA debt management program in identifying, recovering and collecting debts owed by individuals to the U.S. Government, as appropriate. Routine uses of records maintained in the system, including categories of users and the purposes of such uses: In addition to those disclosures generally permitted under 5 U.S.C. 552a(b) of the Privacy Act, these records or information contained therein may specifically be disclosed outside the DoD as a routine use pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 552a(b)(3) as follows: To the U.S. Government Accountability Office, the U.S. Department of Justice, Internal Revenue Service, U.S. Department of the Treasury, or other federal agencies for further collection action on any delinquent account when circumstances warrant. To commercial credit reporting agencies for the purpose of adding debt payment or non-payment data to a credit history file on an individual for use in the administration of debt collection. Delinquent debt information may be furnished for the purpose of establishing an inducement for debtors to pay their obligations to the U.S. Government. To any federal agency where the debtor is employed or receiving some type of payment from that agency for the purpose of collecting debts owed the U.S. Government by non-centralized offset. Non-centralized offset encompasses an offset program administered by any federal agency other than the U.S. Department of the Treasury. The agency holding the payment subject to offset will use the indebtedness information for collection purposes after counseling the debtor. The collection may be accomplished either voluntarily or involuntarily by initiating administrative or salary offset procedures under the provisions of the Debt Collection Act of 1982 (Pub. L. 97-365, as amended by Pub. L. 104-134, the Debt Collection Improvement Act of 1996). To the U.S. Department of Treasury

(DOT)for centralized administrative or salary offset, including the offset of federal income tax refunds, for the purpose of collecting debts owed the U.S. Government; to the DOT-contracted private collection agencies for the purpose of obtaining collection services, including administrative wage garnishment

(AWG)in accordance with the Debt Collection Improvement Act of 1996 (Pub. L. 104-134), 31 U.S.C. 3720D, and 31 CFR part 285, to recover moneys owed to the U.S. Government. To any federal agency for the purpose of accomplishing the administrative procedures to collect or dispose of a debt owed to the U.S. Government. This includes, but is not limited to, the Office of Personnel Management for personnel management functions and the Internal Revenue Service to obtain a mailing address of a taxpayer for the purpose of locating such taxpayer to collect or compromise a federal claim against the taxpayer pursuant to 26 U.S.C. 1603(m)(2), and in accordance with 31 U.S.C. 3711, 3217, and 3718. The Internal Revenue Service may also request locator service for delinquent accounts receivable in order to report closed out accounts as taxable income, including amounts compromised or terminated, and accounts barred from litigation due to age. The DOD “Blanket Routine Uses” also apply to this system of records. Disclosure to consumer reporting agencies: Disclosures pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 552a(b)(12) may be made from this system to ‘consumer reporting agencies’ as defined in the Fair Credit Reporting Act (14 U.S.C. 1681a(f)) or the Federal Claims Collection Act of 1966 (31 U.S.C. 3701(a)(3)). The purpose of this disclosure is to aid in the collection of outstanding debts owed to the Federal government; typically to provide an incentive for debtors to repay delinquent Federal government debts by making these debts part of their credit records. The disclosure is limited to information necessary to establish the identity of the individual, including name, address, and taxpayer identification number (Social Security Number); the amount, status, and history of the claim; and the agency or program under which the claim arose for the sole purpose of allowing the consumer reporting agency to prepare a commercial credit report. Policies and practices for storing, retrieving, accessing, retaining, and disposing of records in the system: Storage: Records are stored on paper in file folders. Retrievability: Records are retrieved by the debtor's name and Social Security Number (SSN). Safeguards: Records are maintained in controlled facilities where physical entry is restricted by the use of locks, guards, and/or to authorized personnel only. Access to records is limited to person(s) responsible for servicing the records in the performance of their official duties and who are properly screened and cleared for need-to-know. Retention and disposal: Records are destroyed 3 years after final action is terminated. System manager(s) and address: Chief, Accounting Operations Branch, Financial Services and Accounting Division, Office of Comptroller, Headquarters, Defense Logistics Agency, 8725 John J. Kingman Road, Suite 2745, Fort Belvoir, VA 22060-6221. Notification procedure: Individuals seeking to determine whether information about themselves is contained in this system should address written inquiries to the HQ DLA Privacy Act Office, Headquarters, Defense Logistics Agency, ATTN: HQ DLA-GC (FOIA/Privacy), 8725 John J. Kingman Road, Stop 1644, Fort Belvior, VA 22060-6221 or to the appropriate DLA Field Activity. Official mailing addresses are published as an appendix to DLA's compilation of systems of records notices. Requests should include the individual's full Social Security Number, address, and a telephone number where they may be reached. Record access procedures: Individuals seeking access to information about themselves contained in this system should address written inquiries to the HQ DLA Privacy Act Office, Headquarters, Defense Logistics Agency, ATTN: HQ DLA-GC (FOIA/Privacy), 8725 John J. Kingman Road, Stop 1644, Fort Belvior, VA 22060-6221 or to the appropriate DLA Field Activity. Official mailing addresses are published as an appendix to DLA's compilation of systems of records notices. Requests should include the individual's full Social Security Number, address, and a telephone number where they may be reached. Contesting record procedures: The DLA rules for accessing records, for contesting contents, and appealing initial agency determinations are contained in 32 CFR part 323, or may be obtained from the HQ DLA Privacy Act Office, Headquarters, Defense Logistics Agency, ATTN: HQ DLA-GC (FOIA/Privacy), 8725 John J. Kingman Road, Stop 1644, Fort Belvior, VA 22060-6221. Record source categories: Individual debtor, DLA Financial Services Offices documents, and/or personnel offices) and documents from other federal agencies for which DLA has assumed collection responsibility. Exemptions claimed for the system: None. Dated: November 6, 2007. L.M. Bynum, Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, DoD. [FR Doc. E7-22252 Filed 11-13-07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 5001-06-P DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE Office of Secretary [DOD-2007-0S-0120] Privacy Act of 1974; System of Records AGENCY: Defense Intelligence Agency, DoD. ACTION: Notice to add a system of records. SUMMARY: The Defense Intelligence Agency is proposing to add a system of records to its existing inventory of records systems subject to the Privacy Act of 1974, (5 U.S.C. 552a), as amended. DATES: The proposed action will be effective on December 14, 2007 unless comments are received that would result in a contrary determination. ADDRESSES: Freedom of Information Office, Defense Intelligence Agency (DAN-1A), 200 MacDill Blvd, Washington, DC 20340-5100. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Theresa Lowery at

(202)231-1193. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Defense Intelligence Agency systems of records notices subject to the Privacy Act of 1974, (5 U.S.C. 552a), as amended, have been published in the **Federal Register** and are available from the address above. The proposed system report, as required by 5 U.S.C. 552a(r) of the Privacy Act of 1974, as amended, was submitted on November 5, 2007, to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, and the Office of Management and Budget

(OMB)pursuant to paragraph 4c of Appendix I to OMB Circular No. A-130, “Federal Agency Responsibilities for Maintaining Records About Individuals,” dated February 8, 1996 (February 20, 1996, 61 FR 6427). Dated: November 7, 2007. L.M. Bynum, Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense. LDIA: 07-0004 System Name: Secure Facilities Repository Records. System Location: Defense Intelligence Agency, 200 MacDill Boulevard, Washington, DC 20340-0001. Categories of Individuals Covered by the System: DIA Civilian Employees, DIA Contractors, Military and DoD Personnel. Categories of Records in the System: Individual's name and Social Security Number (SSN). Authority for Maintenance of the System: 5 U.S.C. 301, 10 U.S.C. 113, 44 U.S.C. 3102, Departmental Regulation; DoD 5200.2R, Personnel Security Programs; DCI Directive 6-4, Personnel Standards and Procedures for access to Special Compartmented Information; DIA Manual 50-8, Personnel Security Program; DIA Manual 50-14, Security Investigations, and E.O. 9397 (SSN). Purpose(s): To process and track the current and historical facility records of secure facilities and other government agencies processing sensitive information. Additional functions include the processing and generation of DIA Firearms Program Weapons Cards and the maintenance of DIA personnel training records for those who receive training from the Security Education and Awareness Branch. Routine Uses of Records maintained in the system, including categories of users: In addition to those disclosures generally permitted under 5 U.S.C. 552a(b) of the Privacy Act, these records or information contained therein may specifically be disclosed outside the Department of Defense as a routine use pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 552a(b)(3) as follows: The DoD “Blanket Routine Uses” also apply to this system of records. Policies and Practices for Storing, Retrieving, Accessing, Retaining, and Disposing of Records in the System: Storage: Electronic storage media. Retrievability: Name and Social Security Number (SSN). Safeguards: Records are maintained in a controlled facility. Physical entry is restricted by the use of guards, locks and administrative procedures. Automated records are password controlled and reside on a secure network with security enhancing features to restrict access to personnel responsible for servicing the records in the performance of their official duties and who are properly screened and cleared for a need-to-know. Retention and Disposal: Records are temporary and are deleted when no longer required for current operations. System Manager(s) Title and Address: Chief, Security Operations Division, Defense Intelligence Agency, 200 MacDill Blvd., Washington, DC 20340. Notification Procedure: Individuals seeking to determine whether information about themselves is contained in this system of records should address written inquiries to the DIA Freedom of Information Act

(FOIA)Office (DAN-1A), Defense Intelligence Agency, 200 MacDill Blvd., Washington DC 20340-5100. Requests should contain individual's full name, current address, telephone number, and Social Security Number (SSN). Record Access Procedures: Individuals seeking access to information about themselves contained in this system of records should address written inquiries to the DIA Freedom of Information Act

(FOIA)Office (DAN-1A), Defense Intelligence Agency, 200 MacDill Blvd., Washington DC 20340-5100. Requests should contain individual's full name, current address, telephone number, and Social Security Number (SSN). Contesting Record Procedures: DIA's rules for accessing records, for contesting contents and appealing initial agency determinations are published in DIA Regulation 5400.001 “Defense Intelligence Agency Privacy Program.” Record Source Categories: Individuals. Exemptions Claimed for the System: None. [FR Doc. E7-22256 Filed 11-13-07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 5001-06-P DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE Office of the Secretary [DOD-2007-OS-0121] Privacy Act of 1974; Systems of Records AGENCY: Defense Finance and Accounting Service, DOD. ACTION: Notice To Add a New System of Records. SUMMARY: The Defense Finance and Accounting Service

(DFAS)is proposing to add a system of records notice to its inventory of record systems subject to the Privacy Act of 1974 (5 U.S.C. 552a), as amended. DATES: This action will be effective without further notice on December 14, 2007 unless comments are received that would result in a contrary determination. ADDRESSES: Send comments to the FOIA/PA Program Manager, Corporate Communications and Legislative Liaison, Defense Finance and Accounting Service, 6760 E. Irvington Place, Denver, CO 80279-8000. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Linda Krabbenhoft at

(303)676-6045. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Defense Finance and Accounting Service notices for systems of records subject to the Privacy Act of 1974 (5 U.S.C. 552a), as amended, have been published in the **Federal Register** and are available from the address above. The proposed system report, as required by 5 U.S.C. 552a(r) of the Privacy Act of 1974, as amended, was submitted on November 5, 2007, to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, the Senate Committee on Governmental Affairs, and the Office of Management and Budget

(OMB)pursuant to paragraph 4c of Appendix I to OMB Circular No. A-130, “Federal Agency Responsibilities for Maintaining Records About Individuals,” dated December 12, 2000, 65 FR 239. Dated: November 7, 2007. L.M. Bynum, Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense. T7330a System name: Salary Offset Reporting System (SORS). System location: Defense Finance and Accounting Service—Cleveland, 1240 East Ninth Street, Cleveland, OH 44199-8006. Defense Finance and Accounting Service—Indianapolis, 8899 East 56th Street, Indianapolis, IN 46249-0150. Categories of individuals covered by the system: DoD employees that include Active, Reserve, National Guard, and Retired military members, DoD civilian employees, and civilian employees of other non-DoD Federal agencies such as the Department of Energy, the Department of Health and Human Services, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Broadcasting Board of Governors, and the Department of Veterans Affairs for which DFAS provides e-payroll processing services. Categories of records in the system: Individual's name, Social Security Number (SSN), delinquent debt balances, collection amounts, and duty status of individuals. Authority for maintenance of the system: Debt Collection Improvement Act of 1996; 5 U.S.C. 301, Departmental Regulations; 5 U.S.C. Chapter 53, 55, and 81; 31 U.S.C. 3716; 31 CFR Part 285, 5 CFR Part 550, 26 U.S.C. 6331(h) and 6103(k)6, and E.O. 9397 (SSN). Purpose(s): A Web based system which provides for the collection, processing, and reporting of salary offsets for DoD employees who have incurred delinquent debts with non-DoD entities. It will centralize the management of the salary offset process established by the Debt Collection Improvement Act of 1996 for debts owed to the Federal Government by individuals receiving a federal salary. Routine uses of records maintained in the system, including categories of users and the purposes of such uses: In addition to those disclosures generally permitted under 5 U.S.C. 552a(b) of the Privacy Act, these records or information contained therein may specifically be disclosed outside the DoD as a routine use pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 552a(b)(3) as follows: To individuals authorized to act as a guardian, trustee, or other legal representative of an Active, Reserve, National Guard, or Retired military member, or civilian employee. To Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Energy, Department of Veterans Affairs, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Broadcasting Board of Governors for which DFAS provides e-payroll services for the purpose of informing the affected employees and resolving payroll issues. To the U.S. Department of the Treasury for use in the collection of debts for the Treasury Offset Program. To the Internal Revenue Service for use in the collection of debts for the Treasury Offset Program. The DoD “Blanket Routine Uses” published at the beginning of the DoD compilation of systems of records notices apply to this system. Policies and practices for storing, retrieving, accessing, retaining, and disposing of records in the system: Storage: Files in file folders and electronic storage media. Retrievability: Individual's name and Social Security Number (SSN). Safeguards: Records are maintained in a controlled facility. Physical entry is restricted by the use of locks, guards, and is accessible only to authorized personnel. Access to records is limited to person(s) responsible for servicing the record in performance of their official duties and who are properly screened and cleared for need-to-know. Access to computerized data is restricted by passwords, which are changed according to agency security policy. Retention and disposal: Records may be temporary in nature and destroyed when actions are completed, they are superseded, obsolete, or no longer needed. Other records may be cut off at the end of the payroll year, and destroyed up to 6 years and 3 months after cutoff. Records are destroyed by degaussing, shredding, or burning. System manager(s) and address: Salary Offset Manager, Defense Finance and Accounting Service—Cleveland, 1240 East Ninth Street, Cleveland, OH 44199-8006. Notification procedure: Individuals seeking to determine whether information about themselves is contained in this system of records should address written inquiries to the Defense Finance and Accounting Service, Freedom of Information/Privacy Act Program Manager, Corporate Communications and Legislative Liaison, 6760 E. Irvington Place, Denver, CO 80279-8000. Requests should contain individual's full name, Social Security Number (SSN), current address, telephone number, and provide a reasonable description of what the requestor is seeking. Record access procedures: Individuals seeking access to information about themselves contained in this system of records should address written inquiries to Defense Finance and Accounting Service, Freedom of Information/Privacy Act Program Manager, Corporate Communications and Legislative Liaison, 6760 E. Irvington Place, Denver, CO 80279-8000. Requests should contain individual's full name, Social Security Number (SSN), current address, telephone number, and provide a reasonable description of what the requestor is seeking. Contesting record procedures: The DFAS rules for accessing records, for contesting contents and appealing initial agency determinations are published in DFAS Regulation 5400.11-R; 32 CFR part 324; or may be obtained from Defense Finance and Accounting Service, Freedom of Information/Privacy Act Program Manager, Corporate Communications and Legislative Liaison, 6760 E. Irvington Place, Denver, CO 80279-8000. Record source categories: From the individual concerned, Department of Defense Components, Federal agencies owed debts, and from electronic interfaces with the Department of Treasury. Exemptions claimed for the system: None. [FR Doc. E7-22257 Filed 11-13-07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 5001-06-P DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE Office of the Secretary [DOD-2007-OS-0123] Privacy Act of 1974; System of Records AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, DoD. ACTION: Notice to Add a System of Records. SUMMARY: The Office of the Secretary of Defense proposes to add a system of records to its inventory of record systems subject to the Privacy Act of 1974 (5 U.S.C. 552a), as amended. DATES: The changes will be effective on December 14, 2007 unless comments are received that would result in a contrary determination. ADDRESSES: Send comments to OSD Privacy Act Coordinator, Freedom of Information Division, Washington Headquarters Services, 1155 Defense Pentagon, Washington, DC 20301-1155. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Dave Henshall, OSD/JS Privacy Act Coordinator,

(703)696-4495. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Office of the Secretary of Defense notices for systems of records subject to the Privacy Act of 1974 (5 U.S.C. 552a), as amended, have been published in the **Federal Register** and are available from the address above. The proposed systems reports, as required by 5 U.S.C. 552a(r) of the Privacy Act of 1974, as amended, were submitted on November 2, 2007, to the House Committee on Government Reform, the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, and the Office of Management and Budget

(CPMS)1400 Key Blvd., Rosslyn, VA 22209-5144. Categories of individuals covered by the system: Current and former Department of Defense

(DoD)civilian appropriated fund employees. Employees and/or their survivors who have filed a claim for workers' compensation benefits under the Federal Employees' Compensation Act

(FECA)by reason of injuries sustained while in the performance of civilian duty or who have filed claims for Unemployment Compensation through state employment security agencies. Categories of records in the system: Individual's name, Social Security Number (SSN), date of birth, component, occupation, assignment and duty location information, wages, benefits, entitlement data necessary to injury or unemployment claim management, Department of Labor/Office of Workers' Compensation Programs (DOL/OWCP) claim data, authorization for medical care, related DoD personnel records such as timekeeping and payroll data, reports descriptive of the incident and extent of injury for use in DOL/OWCP adjudication of the claim, initial notification to agency Safety personnel for Occupational Safety and Health Act

(OSHA)reporting purposes, and reports related to payment of benefits through State Employment Security Agency

(SESA)offices. Authority for maintenance of the system: 5 U.S.C. 8101, Federal Employee Compensation Act, as amended; 10 U.S.C. 136, Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness; Department of Defense Directive 1400.25-M, DoD Civilian Personnel Management System; and E.O. 9397(SSN). Purpose(s): For processing Federal Employee Compensation Act claims seeking monetary, medical, and similar benefits for injuries or deaths sustained by civilian employees while performing assigned duties. Data is collected for incident notification to safety personnel responsible for Occupational Safety and Health Act

(OSHA)recording. Safety claim records are used to support DoD management responsibilities under the applicable regulations and to obtain appropriate injury compensation benefits for qualifying employees or their dependents. Records are maintained for the purpose of auditing the State itemized listings of Unemployment Compensation charges, identifying erroneous charges and requesting credits from the State Employment Security Agencies (SESAs), and tracking the charges to ensure that credits are received from the appropriate State jurisdictions. Routine uses of records maintained in the system, including categories of users and the purposes of such uses: In addition to those disclosures generally permitted under 5 U.S.C. 552a(b) of the Privacy Act, these records or information contained therein may specifically be disclosed outside the DoD as a routine use pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 552a(b)(3) as follows: To agency employees tasked with management of the Federal Employee Compensation Act claims, for the purpose of billing verification, administration of the agency's responsibilities under Federal Employees Compensation Act, answer questions about the status of the claim, or to consider rehire, retention or other actions the agency may be required to take with regard to the claim. To the Office of Personnel Management

(OPM)and Social Security Administration

(SSA)for purposes of ensuring appropriate payment of benefits. The DoD “Blanket Routine Uses” apply to this system of records. Policies and practices for storing, retrieving, accessing, retaining, and disposing of records in the system: Storage: Electronic storage media. Retrievability: Individual's name, Social Security Number (SSN), and/or claim number. Safeguards: Records are maintained in a controlled facility. Physical entry is restricted by the use of locks, guards, and is accessible only to authorized personnel. Access to records is limited to person(s) responsible for servicing the record in performance of their official duties and who are properly screened and cleared for a need-to-know. Access to computerized data is restricted by passwords, which are changed periodically according to agency security policy. Retention and disposal: Disposition pending (until the National Archives and Records Administration approves retention and disposal schedule). System manager(s) and address: Human Resources Specialist, Benefits and Information Systems, Civilian Personnel Management Services (CPMS), Injury and Unemployment Compensation Division, 1400 Key Blvd., Rosslyn, VA 22209-5144. Notification procedure: Individuals seeking to determine whether information about themselves is contained in this system should address written inquiries to the Injury Compensation Program Administrator

(ICPA)designated by their servicing Human Resources office, or contact the Benefits and Information Systems, Civilian Personnel Management Services (CPMS), Injury Compensation Unemployment Compensation

(ICUC)Division, 1400 Key Boulevard, Rosslyn, VA 22209-5144 for assistance in identifying the ICPA. Requests should be signed, include the individual's full name, Social Security Number (SSN), and address. It should include the State where the claim for Unemployment Compensation was filed and approximate date filed with the State Employment Security Agency. Record access procedures: Individuals seeking access to information about them contained in this system of records should address written inquiries to their servicing Human Resources office, or contact the Benefits and Information Systems, Civilian Personnel Management Services (CPMS), Injury Compensation Unemployment Compensation

(ICUC)Division, 1400 Key Boulevard, Rosslyn, VA 22209-5144 for assistance in identifying the correct office. Requests should be signed, include the individual's full name, Social Security Number (SSN), and address. It should include the State where the claim for Unemployment Compensation was filed and approximate date filed with the State Employment Security Agency. Contesting record procedures: The OSD rules for accessing records, for contesting contents and appealing initial agency determinations are contained in OSD Administrative Instruction 81; 32 CFR part 311; or may be obtained from the system manager. Record source categories: Individual, Department of Defense Personnel System records, and Department of Labor/Office of Workers' Compensation Program claim records. Exemptions claimed for the system: None. [FR Doc. E7-22258 Filed 11-13-07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 5001-06-P DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE Office of the Secretary [DOD-2007-OS-0122] Privacy Act of 1974; Systems of Records AGENCY: Defense Finance and Accounting Service, DOD. ACTION: Notice to Add a New System of Records. SUMMARY: The Defense Finance and Accounting Service

(DFAS)is proposing to establish a new system of records notice to its inventory of record systems subject to the Privacy Act of 1974, (5 U.S.C. 552a), as amended. DATES: This action will be effective without further notice on December 14, 2007 unless comments are received that would result in a contrary determination. ADDRESSES: Send comments to the FOIA/PA Program Manager, Corporate Communications and Legislative Liaison, Defense Finance and Accounting Service, 6760 E. Irvington Place, Denver, CO 80279-8000. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Linda Krabbenhoft at

(ROTC)students, and DoD civilian personnel paid by appropriated funds. Categories of records in the system: Financial records of commercial vendors, government contractors, name, Social Security Number

(SSN)or Tax Identification Number, addresses, electronic fund transfer data such as bank routing number, account number, and bank addresses, invoice or claim information submitted for payment. Authority for maintenance of the system: 5 U.S.C. 301, Departmental Regulations, Department of Defense Financial Management Regulation (DoDFMR) 7000.14.R, Vol. 10; 31 U.S.C. Sections 3512, and 3513; and E.O. 9397 (SSN). Purpose(s): This system will be used to automate manual functions in the accounts payable offices such as: Automatically suspense commercial payments and follow-up letters, provide payment computations, produce vouchers and management reports, compute the payment due date, interest penalties and determine lost discounts, allow for entry and processing of purchase rates, purchase orders/contracts, and determine foreign currency rates, and maintain the Electronic fund transfer information for vendors whose contracts specify this type of payment. Routine uses of records maintained in the system, including categories of users and the purposes of such uses: In addition to those disclosures generally permitted under 5 U.S.C. 552a(b) of the Privacy Act, these records or information contained therein may specifically be disclosed outside the DoD as a routine use pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 552a(b)(3) as follows: To Federal Reserve banks to distribute payments made through the direct deposit system to financial organizations or their processing agents authorized by individuals to receive and deposit payments in their accounts. To the U.S. Department of Treasury

(DOT)to validate and make payments on public vouchers submitted for purchases and services. The DoD “Blanket Routine Uses” apply to this system of records. Policies and practices for storing, retrieving, accessing, retaining, and disposing of records in the system: Storage: Electronic storage media. Retrievability: Individual name, Social Security Number (SSN), tax identification number, contract number, invoice and payment number, Commercial and Government Entity

(CAGE)and Dun and Bradstreet number (DUNS). Safeguards: Records are maintained in a controlled facility. Physical entry is restricted by the use of locks, guards, and is accessible only to authorized personnel. Access to records is limited to person(s) responsible for servicing the record in performance of their official duties, and who are properly screened and cleared for a need-to-know. Passwords and digital signatures are used to control access to the system data, and procedures are in place to deter and detect browsing and unauthorized access. Retention and disposal: Transaction records may be temporary in nature and deleted when actions are completed, superseded, obsolete, or no longer needed. Other records may be cut off at the completion of the contract or payment and destroyed 6 years and 3 months after cutoff. Records are destroyed by degaussing, shredding, or burning. System manager(s) and address: Defense Finance and Accounting Service, Indianapolis, Computerized Accounts Payable System Manager, 8899 East 56th Street, Indianapolis, IN 46249-5005. Notification procedure: Individuals seeking to determine whether information about themselves is contained in this system of records should address written inquiries to the Defense Finance and Accounting Service, Freedom of Information/Privacy Act Program Manager, Corporate Communications and Legislative Liaison, 6760 E. Irvington Place, Denver, CO 80279-8000. Requests should contain individual's full name, Social Security Number (SSN), current address, and telephone number. Record access procedures: Individuals seeking access to information about themselves contained in this system of records should address written inquiries to Defense Finance and Accounting Service, Freedom of Information/Privacy Act Program Manager, Corporate Communications and Legislative Liaison, 6760 E. Irvington Place, Denver, CO 80279-8000. Individuals should furnish full name, Social Security Number, current address, and telephone number. Contesting record procedures: The DFAS rules for accessing records, for contesting contents and appealing initial agency determinations are published in DFAS Regulation 5400.11-R; 32 CFR part 324; or may be obtained from Defense Finance and Accounting Service, Freedom of Information/Privacy Act Program Manager, Corporate Communications Legislative Liaison, 6760 E. Irvington Place, Denver, CO 80279-8000. Record source categories: From the individual concerned, and DoD Components. Exemptions claimed for the system: None. [FR Doc. E7-22259 Filed 11-13-07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 5001-06-P DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE Office of the Secretary [DOD-2007-OS-0124] Privacy Act of 1974; System of Records AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, DoD. ACTION: Notice to amend a system of records. SUMMARY: The Office of the Secretary of Defense is to amend a system of records notices in its existing inventory of record systems subject to the Privacy Act of 1974, (5 U.S.C. 552a), as amended. DATES: This proposed action will be effective without further notice on December 14, 2007 unless comments are received which result in a contrary determination. ADDRESSES: Send comments to the OSD Privacy Act Coordinator, Records Management Section, Washington Headquarters Services, 1155 Defense Pentagon, Washington, DC 20301-1155. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Dave Henshall at

(703)696-3243. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Office of the Secretary of Defense systems of records notices subject to the Privacy Act of 1974, (5 U.S.C. 552a), as amended, have been published in the **Federal Register** and are available from the address above. The specific changes to the record systems being amended are set forth below followed by the notice, as amended, published in its entirety. The proposed amendments are not within the purview of subsection

(r)of the Privacy Act of 1974, (5 U.S.C. 552a), as amended, which requires the submission of a new or altered system report. Dated: November 7, 2007. L.M. Bynum, Alternative OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense. DPR 32 Employer Support of the Guard and Reserves Ombudsman and Outreach Programs (April 14, 2006, 71 FR 19486). Changes: System location: Add to the entry “The Office of Secretary of Defense, Chief Information Officer, 1500 Defense Pentagon, RM 3A1080, Washington DC 20301-1500.” Categories of records in the system: Delete entry and replace with “Individual's name, Social Security Number (SSN), home address, phone number, branch of service, and assigned military unit, case numbers, problem/resolution codes, e-mail address, National Disaster Medical System member's employer, as well as, phone number and, if applicable, employer point-of-contact, and nature of employment/reemployment conflict, and any notes and documentation prepared as a consequence of assisting the service member.” Retrievability: Delete entry and replace with “Individual's name, Company's name, zip codes, case numbers, problems/resolution codes, and/or e-mail address.” System manager(s) and address: Delete entry and replace with “Information Technology Director, National Committee, Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve, 1555 Wilson Blvd., Arlington VA 22209-2133.” Notification procedure: Delete entry and replace with “Individuals seeking to determine whether information about themselves is contained in this system of records should address written inquiries to Privacy Act Officer, National Committee, Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve, 1555 Wilson Blvd., Arlington VA 22209-2133. Requests should include the individual's name, address, telephone number, military unit and branch of service or National Disaster Medical System member's employer data, and a brief description of the problem and date of occurrence.” Record access procedures: Delete entry and replace with “Individuals seeking access to information about themselves contained in this system of records should address written inquiries to Privacy Act Officer, National Committee, Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve, 1555 Wilson Blvd., Arlington VA 22209-2133. Requests should include the individual's name, address, telephone number, military unit and branch of service or the National Disaster Medical System member's employer data, and a brief description of the problem and date of occurrence.” Record source categories: Delete entry and replace with “The individual, the employer, and the Defense Manpower Data Center's personnel record systems. DPR 32 System name: Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve Ombudsman and Outreach Programs. System location: The Office of Secretary of Defense, Chief Information Officer, 1500 Defense Pentagon, RM 3A1080, Washington DC 20301-1500. Oracle On-Demand Advanced Data Center, Austin, TX 78753-2663. Categories of individuals covered by the system: Members of the Armed Forces, to include Reserve and National Guard personnel, and members of the National Disaster Medical System (NDMS). Categories of records in the system: Individual's name, Social Security Number (SSN), home address, phone number, branch of service, and assigned military unit, case numbers, problem/resolution codes, e-mail address, National Disaster Medical System member's employer, as well as, phone number and, if applicable, employer point-of-contact, and nature of employment/reemployment conflict, and any notes and documentation prepared as a consequence of assisting the service member. Authority for maintenance of the system: 38 U.S.C. Chapter 43, Employment and Reemployment Rights of Members of the Uniformed Services; 42 U.S.C. 300hh-11(e)(3)(A), Employment and Reemployment Rights; DoD Instruction 1205.22, Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve; DoD Instruction 1205.12, Civilian Employment and Reemployment Rights of Applicants for, and Service Members and Former Service Members of the Uniformed Services; and DoD Directive 1250.1, National Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve. Purpose(s): The purpose of the system is to support the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve

(ESGR)Ombudsman and Outreach Program in providing assistance to service members and members of the National Disaster Medical System in resolving employment-reemployment conflicts and to provide information to employers regarding the requirements of the Uniform Services Employment and Reemployment Act. Routine uses of records maintained in the system, including categories of users and the purposes of such uses: In addition to those disclosures generally permitted under 5 U.S.C. 552a(b) of the Privacy Act, these records or information contained therein may specifically be disclosed outside the DoD as a routine use pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 552a(b)(3) as follows: To Federal, State, and local governmental agencies, as well as to private employers, in furtherance of informal mediation efforts to resolve employment-reemployment conflicts. To the Department of Labor and the Department of Justice for investigation of, and possible litigation involving, potential violations of the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act. The DoD ‘Blanket Routine Uses’ set forth at the beginning of OSD's compilation of systems of records notices do not apply to this system. Policies and practices for storing, retrieving, accessing, retaining, and disposing of records in the system: Storage: Paper file folders and electronic storage media. Retrievability: Individual's name, Company, zip codes, case numbers, problems/resolution codes, and/or e-mail address. Safeguards: Access to personal information will be maintained in a secure, password protected electronic system that will utilize security hardware and software to include: Multiple firewalls, active intruder detection, and role-based access controls. Paper records will be maintained in a controlled facility where physical entry is restricted by the use of locks, guards, or administrative procedures. Access to records is limited to those officials who require the records to perform their official duties consistent with the purpose for which the information was collected. All personnel whose official duties require access to the information are trained in the proper safeguarding and use of the information. Retention and disposal: Permanent. System manager(s) and address: The Office of Secretary of Defense, Chief Information Officer, 1500 Defense Pentagon, RM 3A1080, Washington DC 20301-1500. Notification procedure: Individuals seeking to determine whether information about themselves is contained in this system of records should address written inquiries to Privacy Act Officer, National Committee, Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve, 1555 Wilson Blvd., Arlington VA 22209-2133. Requests should include the individual's name, address, telephone number, military unit and branch of service or the National Disaster Medical System member's employer data, and a brief description of the problem and date of occurrence. Record access procedures: Individuals seeking access to information about themselves contained in this system of records should address written inquiries to Privacy Act Officer, National Committee, Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve, 1555 Wilson Blvd., Arlington VA 22209-2133. Requests should include the individual's name, address, telephone number, military unit and branch of service or the National Disaster Medical System member's employer data, and a brief description of the problem and date of occurrence. Contesting record procedures: The OSD rules for accessing records, for contesting contents and appealing initial agency determinations are contained in OSD Administrative Instruction 81; 32 CFR part 311; or may be obtained from the system manager. Record source categories: Information is obtained from the individual, the employer, and the Defense Manpower Data Center's personnel record systems. Exemptions claimed for the system: None. [FR Doc. E7-22260 Filed 11-13-07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 5001-06-P DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE Department of the Navy Notice of Partially Closed Meeting of the Naval Research Advisory Committee AGENCY: Department of the Navy, DoD. ACTION: Notice. SUMMARY: The Naval Research Advisory Committee

(NRAC)will meet to discuss information classified at the SECRET level from government organizations and proprietary information from commercial organizations. With the exception of two unclassified sessions on December 12, 2007 from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. and from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m., all other sessions on December 11, 2007 and December 12, 2007 will include discussions involving proprietary information regarding technology applications and systems under development in the private sector between competing companies and/or information classified at the SECRET level that is devoted to intelligence briefings; emerging threats posed by potential adversaries; the exploitation of physical vulnerabilities; the tactical applications of known and emerging technologies; an assessment of the emerging concepts in such areas as: Training, S&T funding allocation, technology monitoring, progress assessments, and probable time frames for transformation and implementation; the challenges raised with the utilization and fielding of various technology applications; and a security briefing that will discuss security policies and procedures, and counterintelligence information classified at the SECRET level. DATES: The Winter Meetings will be held on Tuesday, December 11, 2007 and Wednesday, December 12, 2007. The open sessions of the meeting will be held on Wednesday, December 12, 2007, from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. and from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. The closed sessions will be held all day on Tuesday, December 11, 2007, and on Wednesday, December 12, 2007, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. to 4:15 p.m. ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the Headquarters, Office of Naval Research, 875 North Randolph Street, Arlington, VA 22203-1995. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. William H. Ellis, Jr., Program Director, Naval Research Advisory Committee, 875 North Randolph Street, Arlington, VA 22203-1995; telephone: 703-696-5775. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice is provided in accordance with the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App. 2). All sessions of the meeting will be devoted to executive sessions that will include discussions and technical examination of information related to the application of research and development to current and projected Navy and Marine Corps issues. Classified briefings from the Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Research, Development and Acquisition) and high level Navy and Marine Corps officers are scheduled to provide candid assessments of threats, countermeasures and current and projected issues. These briefings and discussions will contain proprietary information and classified information that is specifically authorized under criteria established by Executive Order to be kept Secret in the interest of national defense and is in fact properly classified pursuant to such Executive Order. The proprietary, classified and non-classified matters to be discussed are so inextricably intertwined as to preclude opening these sessions of the meeting. In accordance with 5 U.S.C. App. 2, section 10(d), the Secretary of the Navy has determined in writing that the public interest requires that these sessions of the meetings be closed to the public because they will be concerned with matters listed in 5 U.S.C. 552b(c)(1) and (4). Dated: November 8, 2007. T.M. Cruz, Lieutenant, Judge Advocate Generals Corps, U.S. Navy, Federal Register Liaison Officer. [FR Doc. E7-22200 Filed 11-13-07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3810-FF-P DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Western Area Power Administration Loveland Area Projects—Rate Order No. WAPA-134 AGENCY: Western Area Power Administration, DOE. ACTION: Notice of Order Concerning Power Rates. SUMMARY: The Deputy Secretary of Energy confirmed and approved Rate Order No. WAPA-134 and Rate Schedule L-F7, placing firm electric service rates from the Loveland Area Projects

(LAP)of the Western Area Power Administration (Western) into effect on an interim basis. The provisional rates will be in effect until the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

(FERC)confirms, approves, and places them into effect on a final basis or until they are replaced by other rates. The provisional rates will provide sufficient revenue to pay all annual costs, including interest expenses, and repay power investment and irrigation aid within the allowable periods. DATES: Rate Schedule L-F7 will be placed into effect on an interim basis on the first day of the first full billing period beginning on or after January 1, 2008, and will be in effect until FERC confirms, approves, and places the provisional rates into effect on a final basis ending December 31, 2012, or until the rate schedule is superseded. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. James D. Keselburg, Regional Manager, Rocky Mountain Customer Service Region, Western Area Power Administration, 5555 East Crossroads Boulevard, Loveland, CO, 80538-8986, telephone

(970)461-7201, or Mrs. Sheila D. Cook, Rates Manager, Rocky Mountain Customer Service Region, Western Area Power Administration, 5555 East Crossroads Boulevard, Loveland, CO, 80538-8986, telephone

(970)461-7211, e-mail *scook@wapa.gov.* SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Deputy Secretary of Energy approved existing Rate Schedule L-F6 for LAP firm electric service on an interim basis on November 9, 2005 1 . The existing rate schedule is effective from January 1, 2006, through December 31, 2010. 1 Rate Order No. WAPA-125, November 9, 2005 (70 FR 71273). It was confirmed and approved by FERC on a final basis on June 14, 2006, in Docket No. EF06-5181-000 (115 FERC ¶ 62276). The LAP firm power rates must be increased due to the economic impact of the drought, increased operation and maintenance and other annual expenses, increased investments, and increased interest expense associated with drought induced deficits. Additionally, under Rate Schedule L-F7, Western will identify its firm electric revenue requirement using a Base component

(Base)and a Drought Adder component (Drought Adder). The existing firm electric service Rate Schedule L-F6 is being superseded by Rate Schedule L-F7. Under the current Rate Schedule L-F6, a two-step method was approved. The composite rate for the second step of Rate Schedule L-F6, effective on January 1, 2007, is 27.36 mills per kilowatthour (mills/kWh), the firm energy rate is 13.68 mills/kWh and the firm capacity rate is $3.59 per kilowattmonth (kWmonth). Under Rate Schedule L-F7, the provisional rates for LAP firm electric services will result in a combined composite rate of 32.42 mills/kWh. The energy rate will be 16.21 mills/kWh (a Base component of 11.92 mills/kWh and a Drought Adder component of 4.29 mills/kWh) and the capacity rate will be $4.25/kWmonth (a Base component of $3.13/kWmonth and a Drought Adder component of $1.12/kWmonth). This will result in an increase of 18.5 percent when compared with the existing LAP firm power rate under Rate Schedule L-F6. By Delegation Order No. 00-037.00, effective December 6, 2001, the Secretary of Energy delegated:

(1)The authority to develop power and transmission rates to Western's Administrator,

(2)the authority to confirm, approve, and place such rates into effect on an interim basis to the Deputy Secretary of Energy, and

(3)the authority to confirm, approve, and place into effect on a final basis, to remand or to disapprove such rates to FERC. Existing DOE procedures for public participation in power rate adjustments (10 CFR part 903) were published on September 18, 1985. Under Delegation Order Nos. 00-037.00 and 00-001.00C, 10 CFR part 903, and 18 CFR part 300, I hereby confirm, approve, and place Rate Order No. WAPA-134 and the proposed LAP firm electric service rates into effect on an interim basis. The new Rate Schedule L-F7 will be promptly submitted to FERC for confirmation and approval on a final basis. Dated: November 1, 2007. Clay Sell, Deputy Secretary of Energy. Department of Energy; Deputy Secretary In the matter of: Western Area Power Administration Rate Adjustment for the Loveland Area Projects: Order Confirming, Approving, and Placing the Loveland Area Projects Firm Electric Service Rates Into Effect on an Interim Basis Rate Order No. WAPA-134] These rates for Loveland Area Projects firm electric service were established in accordance with section 302 of the Department of Energy

(DOE)Organization Act (42 U.S.C. 7152). This Act transferred to and vested in the Secretary of Energy the power marketing functions of the Secretary of the Department of the Interior and the Bureau of Reclamation under the Reclamation Act of 1902 (ch. 1093, 32 Stat. 388), as amended and supplemented by subsequent laws, particularly section 9(c) of the Reclamation Project Act of 1939 (43 U.S.C. 485h(c)) and section 5 of the Flood Control Act of 1944 (16 U.S.C. 825s); and other Acts that specifically apply to the project involved. By Delegation Order No. 00-037.00, effective December 6, 2001, the Secretary of Energy delegated:

(1)The authority to develop power and transmission rates to Western's Administrator,

(2)the authority to confirm, approve, and place such rates into effect on an interim basis to the Deputy Secretary of Energy, and

(3)the authority to confirm, approve, and place into effect on a final basis, to remand or to disapprove such rates to FERC. Existing DOE procedures for public participation in power rate adjustments (10 CFR part 903) were published on September 18, 1985. Acronyms and Definitions As used in this Rate Order, the following acronyms and definitions apply: *Administrator:* The Administrator of the Western Area Power Administration. *Base:* Revenue requirement component of the power rate including annual operation and maintenance expenses, investment repayment and associated interest, normal timing power purchases, and transmission costs. *Capacity:* The electric capability of a generator, transformer, transmission circuit, or other equipment. It is expressed in kilowatts. *Capacity charge:* The rate which sets forth the charges for capacity. It is expressed in dollars per kWmonth. *Composite rate:* The rate for commercial firm power which is the total annual revenue requirement for capacity and energy divided by the total annual firm energy sales under contract. It is expressed in mills per kilowatthour and used for comparison purposes. *Criteria:* The Post-1989 General Power Marketing and Allocation Criteria for the sale of energy with capacity from the Pick-Sloan Missouri Basin Program—Western Division and the Fryingpan-Arkansas Project. *Customer:* An entity with a contract for and receiving firm electric service from Western's Rocky Mountain Region. *Deficits:* Deferred or unrecovered annual expenses. *DOE Order RA 6120.2:* An order outlining power marketing administration financial reporting and rate-making procedures. *Drought Adder:* Formula-based revenue requirement component including costs associated with the drought. *Energy:* Measured in terms of the work it is capable of doing over a period of time. It is expressed in kilowatthours. *Energy charge:* The rate which sets forth the charges for energy. It is expressed in mills per kilowatthour and applied to each kilowatthour delivered to each customer. *FERC:* Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. *Firm:* A type of product and/or service that is available at the time requested by the customer. *FRN:* **Federal Register** notice. *Fry-Ark:* Fryingpan-Arkansas Project. *FY:* Fiscal year; October 1 to September 30. *kW:* Kilowatt—the electrical unit of capacity that equals 1,000 watts. *kWmonth:* Kilowattmonth—the electrical unit of the monthly amount of capacity. *kWh:* Kilowatthour—the electrical unit of energy that equals 1,000 watts in 1 hour. *LAP:* Loveland Area Projects. *L-F6:* Loveland Area Projects existing firm electric service rate schedule (expires December 31, 2010, or until superseded). *L-F7:* Loveland Area Projects provisional firm electric service rate schedule (effective January 1, 2008). *M&I:* Municipal and industrial water development. *MW:* Megawatt—the electrical unit of capacity that equals 1 million watts or 1,000 kilowatts. *Mills/kWh:* Mills per kilowatthour—the unit of charge for energy (equals one tenth of a cent or one thousandth of a dollar). *NEPA:* National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321, *et seq.* ). *Non-timing purchases:* Power purchases that are not related to operational constraints such as management of endangered species, species habitat, water quality, navigation, and control area purposes. *O&M:* Operation and Maintenance. *P-SMBP:* The Pick-Sloan Missouri Basin Program. *P-SMBP—WD:* Pick-Sloan Missouri Basin Program—Western Division. *Power:* Capacity and energy. *Preference:* The requirements of Reclamation Law which provide that preference in the sale of Federal power shall be given to municipalities and other public corporations or agencies and also to cooperatives and other nonprofit organizations financed in whole or in part by loans made under the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 (Reclamation Project Act of 1939, section 9(c), 43 U.S.C. 485h(c)). *Provisional Rates:* Rates which have been confirmed, approved, and placed into effect on an interim basis by the Deputy Secretary. *PRS:* Power Repayment Study. *Rate brochure:* A June 2007 document prepared for public distribution explaining the rationale and background of the rate proposal contained in this rate order. *Ratesetting PRS:* The PRS used for the rate adjustment proposal. *Reclamation:* United States Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation. *Reclamation Law:* A series of Federal laws. Viewed as a whole, these laws create the originating framework under which Western markets power. *Regions:* Western's Rocky Mountain and Upper Great Plains Customer Service Regional Offices. *Revenue Requirement:* The revenue required to recover annual expenses (such as O&M, purchase power, transmission service expenses, interest, and deferred expenses) and repay Federal investments, and other assigned costs. *Timing purchases:* Power purchases that are due to operational constraints (e.g., management of endangered species habitat, water quality, navigation, control area purposes, etc.) and are not associated with the drought. *Rocky Mountain Region:* The Rocky Mountain Customer Service Region of Western. *Western:* United States Department of Energy, Western Area Power Administration. Effective Date The new provisional rates will take effect on the first day of the first full billing period beginning on or after January 1, 2008, and will be in effect until December 31, 2012, pending approval by FERC on a final basis. Public Notice and Comment Western followed the Procedures for Public Participation in Power and Transmission Rate Adjustments and Extensions, 10 CFR part 903, in developing these rates. The steps Western took to involve interested parties in the rate process were: 1. The proposed rate adjustment was initiated on March 19, 2007, when Western's Rocky Mountain Region mailed a notice announcing an informal customer meeting to discuss the proposed firm electric service rate adjustment to all LAP preference customers and interested parties. The informal meeting was held on April 9, 2007, in Denver, Colorado. At this informal meeting, Western explained the rationale for the rate adjustment, presented rate designs and methodologies, and answered questions. 2. A FRN was published on May 31, 2007 (72 FR 30370), officially announcing the proposed LAP rates, initiating the public consultation and comment period, and announcing the public information and public comment forums. 3. On May 31, 2007, Western's Rocky Mountain Region mailed letters to all LAP preference customers and interested parties transmitting a copy of the FRN published on May 31, 2007. 4. The public information forum was held on June 18, 2007, beginning at 10 a.m. MDT, in Denver, Colorado. Western provided detailed explanations of the proposed LAP rates, provided a list of issues that could change the proposed rates, and answered questions. A rate brochure detailing the proposed rates was provided at the forum. 5. The public comment forum was held on July 23, 2007, beginning at 10 a.m. MDT, in Denver, Colorado. Western gave the public an opportunity to comment for the record. No oral comments were made and no written comments were received during the comment forum. 6. Western's Rocky Mountain Region provided a Web site with all of the letters, time frames, dates and locations of forums, documents discussed at the information meetings, FRNs, rate brochure, and all other information about this rate process for customer access. The Web site is located at *http://www.wapa.gov/rm/ratesRM/2008RatesAdjustment—FirmPower.htm* 7. Western received 7 comment letters during the consultation and comment period, which ended August 29, 2007. All formally submitted comments have been considered in preparing this Rate Order. Comments Written comments were received from the following organizations: Lower Yellowstone Rural Electric Association, Inc., Montana Municipal Energy Agency of Nebraska, Nebraska Mid-West Electric Consumers Association, Colorado Woodbury County Rural Electric Cooperative, Iowa Nebraska Public Power District, Nebraska Town of Julesburg, Colorado City of Gering, Nebraska Project Descriptions Loveland Area Projects The Post-1989 General Power Marketing and Allocation Criteria, published in the **Federal Register** on January 31, 1986 (51 FR 4012), integrated the resources of the P-SMBP—WD and Fry-Ark. This operational and contractual integration, known as LAP, allowed an increase in marketable resource, simplified contract administration, and established a blended rate for LAP power sales. The P-SMBP—WD and Fry-Ark retain separate financial status. For this reason, separate PRSs are prepared annually for each project. These PRSs are used to determine the sufficiency of the power rate to generate adequate revenue to repay project investment and costs during each project's prescribed repayment period. The revenue requirement of the Fry-Ark PRS is combined with the P-SMBP—WD revenue requirement derived from the P-SMBP PRS, to develop one rate for LAP firm electric sales. Pick-Sloan Missouri Basin Program—Western Division The initial stages of the Missouri River Basin Project were authorized by Congress in section 9 of the Flood Control Act of December 22, 1944, commonly referred to as the 1944 Flood Control Act (Pub. L. 78-534, 58 Stat. 877, 891). The Missouri River Basin Project, later renamed the Pick-Sloan Missouri Basin Program to honor its two principal authors, has been under construction since 1944. The P-SMBP encompasses a comprehensive program of flood control, navigation improvement, irrigation, M&I water development, and hydroelectric production for the entire Missouri River Basin. Multipurpose projects have been developed on the Missouri River and its tributaries in Colorado, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming. The Colorado-Big Thompson, Kendrick, Riverton, and Shoshone projects were administratively combined with P-SMBP in 1954, followed by the North Platte Project in 1959. These projects are known as the “Integrated Projects” of the P-SMBP. The Riverton Project was reauthorized as a unit of the P-SMBP in 1970. The P-SMBP—WD and the Integrated Projects include 19 powerplants. There are six powerplants in the P-SMBP—WD: Glendo, Kortes, and Fremont Canyon powerplants on the North Platte River; Boysen and Pilot Butte on the Wind River; and Yellowtail powerplant on the Big Horn River. In the Colorado-Big Thompson Project, there are also six powerplants. Green Mountain powerplant on the Blue River is on the West Slope of the Rocky Mountains. Marys Lake, Estes, Pole Hill, Flatiron, and Big Thompson powerplants are on the East Slope. The Kendrick Project has two power production facilities: Alcova and Seminoe powerplants. Power production facilities in the Shoshone Project are Shoshone, Buffalo Bill, Heart Mountain, and Spirit Mountain powerplants. The only production facility in the North Platte Project is the Guernsey powerplant. Fryingpan-Arkansas Project The Fry-Ark is a transmountain diversion development in southeastern Colorado authorized by the Act of Congress on August 16, 1962 (Pub. L. 87-590, 76 Stat. 389, as amended by Title XI of the Act of Congress on October 27, 1974 (Pub. L. 93-493, 88 Stat. 1486, 1497)). The Fry-Ark diverts water from the Fryingpan River and other tributaries of the Roaring Fork River in the Colorado River Basin on the West Slope of the Rocky Mountains to the Arkansas River on the East Slope. The water diverted from the West Slope, together with regulated Arkansas River water, provides supplemental irrigation, M&I water supplies, and produces hydroelectric power. Flood control, fish and wildlife enhancement, and recreation are other important purposes of Fry-Ark. The only generating facility in Fry-Ark is the Mt. Elbert Pumped-Storage powerplant on the East Slope. Power Repayment Studies—Firm Electric Service Rate Western prepares a PRS each FY to determine if revenues will be sufficient to repay, within the required time, all costs assigned to the LAP revenues. Repayment criteria are based on law, policies, including DOE Order RA 6120.2, and authorizing legislation. To meet cost recovery criteria outlined in DOE Order RA 6120.2, revised studies and rate adjustments have been developed to demonstrate that sufficient revenues will be collected to meet future obligations. Under this adjustment, payments toward irrigation assistance and capital debt are necessary before deficits are completely repaid. Traditionally, prepayment of irrigation assistance or capital is only done in the absence of deficits. However, if all revenue were applied toward deficits prior to making any payments for irrigation and other capital requirements, an extraordinarily large rate increase to meet single-year repayment obligations would be required. Once these single-year repayment obligations were satisfied, another rate adjustment would be necessary to decrease the rates. While repayment of capital debt and irrigation assistance prior to complete repayment of deficits is not typical, the approach approved within this Rate Order is well within the bounds of the discretion allowed under DOE Order RA 6120.2. Under this adjustment, Rate Schedule L-F7, Western will repay deficits and also make previously planned payments for irrigation assistance and other investments that are due within the required repayment period. Prepaying irrigation and capital investments has been part of the P-SMBP repayment plans and approved rate adjustments for the past 20 years. Prepayment is an integral part of the long-term plan for the project and has provided rate stability for consumers while meeting Federal repayment obligations. Modest irrigation and investment payments for a brief period of 2 to 3 years will reduce the single-year revenue requirement for irrigation assistance and hold increases to the “lowest possible rates to consumers consistent with sound business principles,” as outlined in section 5 of the Flood Control Act of 1944. Existing and Provisional Rates A comparison of the existing and provisional rates for LAP firm electric service follows: Comparison of Existing and Provisional Rates LAP Firm Electric Service Firm electric service Existing rate (January 1, 2007) L-F6 Provisional rate (January 1, 2008) L-F7 Percent change LAP revenue requirement $55.8 million $66.1 million 18.5 LAP composite rate 27.36 mills/kWh 32.42 mills/kWh 18.5 Firm energy 13.68 mills/kWh 16.21 mills/kWh 18.5 Firm capacity $3.59/kWmonth $4.25/kWmonth 18.4 The adjustment to the P-SMBP revenue requirement is a separate formal rate process which is documented in Rate Order No. WAPA-135. Rate Order No. WAPA-135 is also scheduled to go into effect on the first day of the first full billing period beginning on or after January 1, 2008. Certification of Rates Western's Administrator certified that the provisional rates for LAP firm electric service under Rate Schedule L-F7 are the lowest possible rates consistent with sound business principles. The provisional rates were developed following administrative policies and applicable laws. LAP Firm Electric Service Rate Discussion According to Reclamation Law, Western must establish power rates sufficient to recover operation, maintenance, purchase power and interest expenses, and repay power investment and irrigation aid. The Criteria, published in the **Federal Register** on January 31, 1986 (51 FR 4012), operationally and contractually integrated the resources of the P-SMBP—WD and Fry-Ark (thereafter referred to as LAP). A blended rate was established for the sale of LAP power. The P-SMBP—WD portion of the revenue requirement for the LAP firm electric service rates was developed from the revenue requirement calculated in the P-SMBP Ratesetting PRS. The P-SMBP—WD revenue requirement increased approximately 23 percent from the previous revenue requirement due to the economic impact of the drought, increased O&M and other annual expenses, increased investments, and increased interest expenses associated with the deficits. The revenue requirements for P-SMBP—WD are as follows: Summary of P-SMBP—WD Revenue Requirements ($000) Present Revenue Requirement (Jan 07) (21.09 mills/kWh × 1,988,000,000 kWh) $41,927 Provisional Increase (Jan 08) (4.95 mills/kWh × 1,988,000,000 kWh) 9,840 Provisional Revenue Requirement (21.09 + 4.95 = 26.04 mills/kWh × 1,988,000,000 kWh) 51,767 The Fry-Ark piece of the revenue requirement for the LAP firm electric service rates was developed from the revenue requirement calculated in the Fry-Ark Ratesetting PRS, which has been updated to reflect the most current information. The Fry-Ark revenue requirement increased approximately 3 percent due to increased O&M expenses and the economic impact of the drought. The revenue requirements for Fry-Ark are as follows: Summary of Fry-Ark Revenue Requirements ($000) Present Revenue Requirement (Jan 07) $13,901 Provisional Increase (Jan 08) $464 Provisional Revenue Requirement $14,365 This table compares the LAP existing revenue requirements to the proposed revenue requirements: Summary of LAP Revenue Requirements ($000) Existing (January 2007) Provisional (January 2008) P-SMBP—WD $41,927 $51,767 Fry-Ark $13,901 $14,365 Total LAP $55,828 $66,132 Western will identify its firm electric service revenue requirement using Base and Drought Adder components. The Base is a revenue requirement for each Project that includes annual O&M expenses, investment repayment and associated interest, normal timing power purchases, and transmission costs. Normal timing power purchases are purchases due to operational constraints (e.g., management of endangered species habitat, water quality, navigation, control area purposes, etc.) and are not associated with the current drought in the Regions. The Base revenue requirement may not be adjusted without Western going through a public process to do so. The Drought Adder revenue requirement for each Project is a formula-based revenue requirement that includes costs attributable to the present drought conditions within the Regions. The Drought Adder includes costs associated with future non-timing purchases of additional power to firm obligations not covered with available system generation due to the drought, previously incurred deficits due to purchased power debt that resulted from non-timing power purchases made during this drought, and the interest associated with the previously incurred and future drought debt. The Drought Adder is designed to repay the drought debt within 10 years from the time the debt was incurred. Adjustments to the Drought Adder of less than or equal to the equivalent of 2 mills/kWh to the LAP composite rate will be made by customer notification of a revised rate schedule with a January implementation date. The annual revenue requirement calculation can be summarized by the following formula: Annual Revenue Requirement = Base Revenue Requirement + Drought Adder Revenue Requirement. Under this provisional rate, the LAP annual revenue requirement equals $66.1 million and is comprised of a Base revenue requirement of $48.6 million plus a Drought Adder revenue requirement of $17.5 million. Below is a table identifying the rates for the revenue requirement components: Summary of LAP Components Firm energy Firm capacity Base 11.92 mills/kWh $3.13/kWmonth. Drought Adder 4.29 mills/kWh 1.12/kWmonth. Total LAP 16.21 mills/kWh 4.25/kWmonth. Western reviews its firm electric service rates annually. Western will review the Base after the annual PRS is completed, generally in the first quarter of the calendar year. If an adjustment to the Base is necessary, Western will initiate a public process pursuant to 10 CFR part 903 prior to making an adjustment. Western will review the Drought Adder each September to determine if drought costs differ from those projected in the PRS and whether an adjustment to the Drought Adder is necessary. Western will use recent Corps of Engineers and Bureau of Reclamation hydrological estimates and historical data to determine the estimated amounts for future purchase power costs. For any adjustments attributed to drought costs of less than or equal to the equivalent of 2 mills/kWh to the LAP composite rate, Western will notify customers by letter in October of the planned adjustment and implement the adjustment in the following January billing cycle. For the portion of any planned incremental adjustment greater than the equivalent of 2 mills/kWh to the LAP composite rate, Western will engage in a public process pursuant to 10 CFR part 903 prior to implementing that portion of the adjustment. Although decremental adjustments to the Drought Adder will occur, the adjustment cannot result in the Drought Adder being a negative number. Western will conduct a preliminary review of the Drought Adder in early summer and advise customers by letter of any estimated change to the Drought Adder for the following January. Customers will also be notified by letter in October of the final Drought Adder adjustment to be effective with the following January billing period. Statement of Revenue and Related Expenses The following table provides a summary of projected revenue and expense data for the Fry-Ark firm electric service revenue requirement through the 5-year provisional rate approval period: Fry-Ark Comparison of 5-Year Rate Approval Period (FY 2008-2012) [Total Revenue and Expense ($000)] Existing rate Provisional rate Difference Total Revenues $74,638 $78,683 $4,045 *Revenue Distribution* : Expenses: O&M 23,190 25,236 2,046 Purchase Power and Transmission 20,435 21,260 825 Interest 23,926 22,287 −1,639 Total Expenses 67,551 68,783 1,232 Principal Payments: Capitalized Expenses $0 $0 $0 Original Project and Additions 940 578 −362 Replacements 6,147 9,322 3,175 Total Principal Payments 7,087 9,900 2,813 Total Revenue Distribution 74,638 78,683 4,045 The summary of P-SMBP—WD revenues and expenses for the 5-year provisional rate approval period is included in the P-SMBP Statement of Revenue and Related Expenses that is part of Rate Order No. WAPA-135. Basis for Rate Development The existing rates for LAP firm electric service in Rate Schedule L-F6, which expire on December 31, 2010, no longer provide sufficient revenues to pay all annual costs, including interest expense, and repay power investment and irrigation aid within the allowable period. The adjusted rates reflect increases primarily due to the economic impact of the drought, increased O&M and other annual expenses, increased investments, and increased interest expenses associated with deficits. The provisional rates will provide sufficient revenue to pay all annual costs, including interest expense, and repay power investment and irrigation aid within the allowable periods. The provisional rates will take effect on January 1, 2008, to correspond with the start of the calendar year, and will remain in effect on an interim basis, pending FERC's confirmation and approval of them or substitute rates on a final basis, through December 31, 2012. The provisional LAP firm electric service rates are designed to recover 50 percent of the revenue requirement from the capacity charge and 50 percent from the energy charge. The capacity charge is calculated by dividing 50 percent of the total annual revenue requirement by the number of billing units (kWmonth) in a year. The energy charge is calculated by dividing 50 percent of the total annual revenue requirement by the annual energy sales under contract. Comments The comments and responses applicable to the LAP firm electric service rates, paraphrased for brevity when not affecting the meaning of the statement(s), are discussed below. Comments that apply to P-SMBP or to P-SMBP—Eastern Division only are being answered in Rate Order No. WAPA-135. A. *Comment* : Western received numerous comments that strongly supported Western's rate adjustment proposal. These comments support the establishment of a Drought Adder and Base component as it will ensure timely repayment of obligations to the Treasury while insulating the Base from inflation by drought related costs. *Response* : Western appreciates the customer support it has received for the rate adjustment proposal, including separation of the annual revenue requirement into a Base component and a Drought Adder component. B. *Comment* : Western received several comments encouraging Western to keep preference customers informed throughout the year on the progress made in paying down the drought deficits and provide early and timely information to customers on any changes to the Drought Adder so customers can plan accordingly. *Response* : Western intends to inform customers annually of the status of the drought costs and the repayment of those costs. It is Western's intention to include the most current hydrological and operations cost data into projections in the PRS as soon as they are available and will notify customers as soon as practical of any changes to the Drought Adder. C. *Comment* : Western received comments encouraging Western to include identification of the portion of the total rate which will be attributed to the Drought Adder and that such amount be identified in terms of both the energy and capacity rates. *Response* : Western agrees with this request to identify the portion of the rate attributable to the Drought Adder and have shown both the Base component and Drought Adder component in energy and capacity rates in the rate schedule. D. *Comment* : Customers would like to work with Western on how the Drought Adder would be administered in future droughts. Response: Western is committed to working with its customers, now and in the future, to determine ways to control costs and repay the projects. Availability of Information Information about this rate adjustment, including PRSs, comments, letters, memorandums, and other supporting material made or kept by Western that was used to develop the provisional rates, is available for public review in the Rocky Mountain Customer Service Regional Office, Western Area Power Administration, 5555 East Crossroads Boulevard, Loveland, Colorado. Ratemaking Procedure Requirements: Environmental Compliance In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969

(NEPA)(42 U.S.C. 4321, *et seq.* ); the Council on Environmental Quality Regulations for implementing NEPA (40 CFR parts 1500-1508); and DOE NEPA Implementing Procedures and Guidelines (10 CFR part 1021, Subpart D, APP. B4.3), Western has determined that this action is categorically excluded from preparing an environmental assessment or an environmental impact statement. Determination Under Executive Order 12866 Western has an exemption from centralized regulatory review under Executive Order 12866; accordingly, no clearance of this notice by the Office of Management and Budget is required. Submission to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission The provisional rates herein confirmed, approved, and placed into effect, together with supporting documents, will be submitted to FERC for confirmation and final approval. Order In view of the foregoing and under the authority delegated to me, I confirm and approve on an interim basis, effective January 1, 2008, Rate Schedule L-F7 for the Loveland Area Projects of the Western Area Power Administration. The rate schedule shall remain in effect on an interim basis, pending FERC's confirmation and approval of them or substitute rates on a final basis through December 31, 2012. Dated: November 1, 2007. Clay Sell, *Deputy Secretary of Energy.* United States Department of Energy; Western Area Power Administration Loveland Area Projects: Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, Wyoming Schedule of Rates for Firm Electric Service: (Approved Under Rate Order No. WAPA-134) *Effective:* Beginning on the first day of the first full billing period on or after January 1, 2008, through December 31, 2012. *Available:* Within the marketing area served by the Loveland Area Projects. *Applicable:* To the wholesale power customers for firm power service supplied through one meter at one point of delivery, or as otherwise established by contract. *Character:* Alternating current, 60 hertz, three phase, delivered and metered at the voltages and points established by contract. *Monthly Rates:* Capacity Charge: $4.25 per kilowattmonth of billing capacity. Energy Charge: 16.21 mills per kilowatthour

(kWh)of use. Billing Capacity: Unless otherwise specified by contract, the billing capacity will be the seasonal contract rate of delivery. *Charge Components:* Base: A fixed revenue requirement that includes operation and maintenance expense, investments and replacements, interest on investments and replacements, normal timing purchase power costs (purchases due to operational constraints, not associated with drought), and transmission costs. The Base revenue requirement is $48.6 million. EN14NO07.000 EN14NO07.001 Drought Adder: A formula-based revenue requirement that includes future purchase power expenses excluding timing purchases, previous purchase power drought deficits, and interest on the purchase power drought deficits. For this period, effective January 2008, the Drought Adder revenue requirement is $17.5 million. EN14NO07.002 EN14NO07.003 *Process:* Any proposed change to the Base component will require a public process. The Drought Adder may be adjusted annually using the above formula for any costs attributed to drought of less than or equal to the equivalent of 2 mills/kWh to the LAP composite rate. Any planned incremental adjustment to the Drought Adder component greater than the equivalent of 2 mills/kWh to the LAP composite rate will require a public process. *Adjustments:* For Drought Adder: Adjustments pursuant to the Drought Adder component will be documented in a revision to this rate schedule. For Transformer Losses: If delivery is made at transmission voltage but metered on the low-voltage side of the substation, the meter readings will be increased to compensate for transformer losses as provided for in the contract. For Power Factor: None. The customer will be required to maintain a power factor at all points of measurement between 95-percent lagging and 95-percent leading. [FR Doc. E7-22191 Filed 11-13-07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6450-01-P DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Western Area Power Administration Pick-Sloan Missouri Basin Program—Eastern Division—Rate Order No. WAPA-135 AGENCY: Western Area Power Administration, DOE. ACTION: Notice of Order Concerning Power Rates. SUMMARY: The Deputy Secretary of Energy confirmed and approved Rate Order No. WAPA-135 and Rate Schedules P-SED-F9 and P-SED-FP9, placing firm power and firm peaking power rates from the Pick-Sloan Missouri Basin Program—Eastern Division (P-SMBP—ED) of the Western Area Power Administration (Western) into effect on an interim basis. The provisional rates will be in effect until the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

(FERC)confirms, approves, and places them into effect on a final basis or until they are replaced by other rates. The provisional rates will provide sufficient revenue to pay all annual costs, including interest expense, and repay power investment and irrigation aid within the allowable periods. DATES: Rate Schedules P-SED-F9 and P-SED-FP9 will be placed into effect on an interim basis on the first day of the first full billing period beginning on or after January 1, 2008, and will be in effect until FERC confirms, approves, and places the rate schedules in effect on a final basis ending December 31, 2012, or until the rate schedules are superseded. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Robert J. Harris, Regional Manager, Upper Great Plains Region, Western Area Power Administration, 2900 4th Avenue North, Billings, MT 59101-1266, telephone

(406)247-7405, e-mail *rharris@wapa.gov* , or Mr. Jon R. Horst, Rates Manager, Upper Great Plains Region, Western Area Power Administration, 2900 4th Avenue North, Billings, MT 59101-1266, telephone

(406)247-7444, e-mail *horst@wapa.gov.* SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Deputy Secretary of Energy approved existing Rate Schedules P-SED-F8 and P-SED-FP8 for firm and firm peaking electric service on an interim basis on November 9, 2005. 1 The existing rate schedules are effective from January 1, 2006, through December 31, 2010. 1 Rate Order No. WAPA-125, November 9, 2005 (70 FR 71280). It was confirmed and approved by FERC on a final basis on June 14, 2006, in Docket No. EF06-5181-000 (115 FERC ¶ 62276). The P-SMBP—ED firm power and firm peaking power rates must be increased due to the economic impact of the drought, increased operation and maintenance and other annual expenses, increased investments, and increased interest expense associated with drought induced deficits. Additionally, under Rate Schedules P-SED-F9 and P-SED-FP9, Western will identify its firm electric and firm peaking service revenue requirements using a Base component

(Base)and a Drought Adder component (Drought Adder). Under Rate Schedule P-SED-F9, Western will also eliminate the tiered rate in P-SMBP—ED. The existing firm electric service Rate Schedules P-SED-F8 and P-SED-FP8 are being superseded by Rate Schedules P-SED-F9 and P-SED-FP9. Under current Rate Schedules P-SED-F8 and P-SED-FP8, a two-step method was approved. The composite rate for the second step of Rate Schedules P-SED-F8 and P-SED-FP8, effective on January 1, 2007, is 19.54 mills per kilowatt hour (mills/kWh), the firm energy rate is 11.29 mills/kWh, the firm capacity rate is $4.45 per kilowatt month (kWmonth) and the firm peaking capacity rate is $4.45 per kWmonth. Under Rate Schedule P-SED-F9, the provisional rates for firm electric services will result in a combined composite rate of 24.49 mills/kWh. The energy rate will be 13.99 mills/kWh (a Base component of 8.93 mills/kWh and a Drought Adder component of 5.06 mills/kWh) and the capacity rate will be $5.65 kWmonth (a Base component of $3.65/kWmonth and a Drought Adder component of $2.00/kWmonth). This will result in an increase of 25.3 percent when compared with the existing firm power rate under Rate Schedule P-SED-F8. Under Rate Schedule P-SED-FP9 the provisional rates for firm peaking power consist of a capacity charge of $5.10 per kWmonth and an energy charge of 13.99 mills/kWh, effective on January 1, 2008. This will result in an increase of 14.6 percent when compared with the existing firm peaking power rate under Rate Schedule P-SED-FP8. By Delegation Order No. 00-037.00, effective December 6, 2001, the Secretary of Energy delegated:

(1)The authority to develop power and transmission rates to Western's Administrator;

(2)the authority to confirm, approve, and place such rates into effect on an interim basis to the Deputy Secretary of Energy; and

(3)the authority to confirm, approve, and place into effect on a final basis, to remand or to disapprove such rates to FERC. Existing DOE procedures for public participation in power rate adjustments (10 CFR part 903) were published on September 18, 1985. Under Delegation Order Nos. 00-037.00 and 00-001.00C, 10 CFR part 903, and 18 CFR part 300, I hereby confirm, approve, and place Rate Order No. WAPA-135, the proposed P-SMBP—ED firm power and firm peaking power rates, into effect on an interim basis. The new Rate Schedules P-SED-F9 and P-SED-FP9 will be promptly submitted to FERC for confirmation and approval on a final basis. Dated: November 1, 2007. Clay Sell, Deputy Secretary of Energy. Department of Energy, Deputy Secretary [Rate Order No. WAPA-135] In the matter of: Western Area Power Administration Rate Adjustment for the Pick-Sloan Missouri Basin Program—Eastern Division Order Confirming, Approving, and Placing the Pick-Sloan Missouri Basin Program—Eastern Division Firm Power and Firm Peaking Power Service Rates Into Effect on an Interim Basis These rates for the Pick-Sloan Missouri Basin Program—Eastern Division were established in accordance with section 302 of the Department of Energy

(DOE)Organization Act (42 U.S.C. 7152). This Act transferred to and vested in the Secretary of Energy the power marketing functions of the Secretary of the Department of the Interior and the Bureau of Reclamation under the Reclamation Act of 1902 (ch. 1093, 32 Stat. 388), as amended and supplemented by subsequent laws, particularly section 9(c) of the Reclamation Project Act of 1939 (43 U.S.C. 485h(c)) and section 5 of the Flood Control Act of 1944 (16 U.S.C. 825s) and other Acts that specifically apply to the project involved. By Delegation Order No. 00-037.00, effective December 6, 2001, the Secretary of Energy delegated:

(1)The authority to develop power and transmission rates to Western's Administrator;

(2)the authority to confirm, approve, and place such rates into effect on an interim basis to the Deputy Secretary of Energy; and

(3)the authority to confirm, approve, and place into effect on a final basis, to remand or to disapprove such rates to FERC. Existing DOE procedures for public participation in power rate adjustments (10 CFR part 903) were published on September 18, 1985. Acronyms and Definitions As used in this Rate Order, the following acronyms and definitions apply: *Administrator:* The Administrator of the Western Area Power Administration. *Base:* Revenue requirement component of the power rate including annual operation and maintenance expenses, investment repayment and associated interest, normal timing power purchases, and transmission costs. *Capacity:* The electric capability of a generator, transformer, transmission circuit, or other equipment. It is expressed in kilowatts. *Capacity Charge:* The rate which sets forth the charges for capacity. It is expressed in dollars per kWmonth. *Composite Rate:* The rate for commercial firm power which is the total annual revenue requirement for capacity and energy divided by the total annual energy sales. It is expressed in mills per kilowatthour and used for comparison purposes. *Corps:* United States Army Corps of Engineers. *CROD:* Contract rate of delivery. The maximum amount of capacity made available to a preference customer for a period specified under a contract. *Customer:* An entity with a contract that is receiving service from Western's Upper Great Plains Region. *Deficits:* Deferred or unrecovered annual expenses. *DOE:* United States Department of Energy. *DOE Order RA 6120.2:* An order outlining power marketing administration financial reporting and rate-making procedures. *Drought Adder:* Formula based revenue requirement component including costs associated with the drought. *Energy:* Measured in terms of the work it is capable of doing over a period of time. It is expressed in kilowatthours. *Energy Charge:* The rate which sets forth the charges for energy. It is expressed in mills per kilowatthour and applied to each kilowatthour delivered to each customer. *FERC:* Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. *Firm:* A type of product and/or service available at the time requested by the customer. *FRN:* **Federal Register** notice. *Fry-Ark:* Fryingpan-Arkansas Project. *FY:* Fiscal year; October 1 to September 30. *kW:* Kilowatt—the electrical unit of capacity that equals 1,000 watts. *kWh:* Kilowatthour—the electrical unit of energy that equals 1,000 watts in 1 hour. *kWmonth:* Kilowattmonth—the electrical unit of the monthly amount of capacity. *LAP:* Loveland Area Projects. *Load Factor:* The ratio of average load in kW supplied during a designated period to the peak or maximum load in kW occurring in that period. *mills/kWh:* Mills per kilowatthour—the unit of charge for energy (equal to one tenth of a cent or one thousandth of a dollar.) *MW:* Megawatt—the electrical unit of capacity that equals 1 million watts or 1,000 kilowatts. *NEPA:* National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321, *et seq.* ). *Non-timing Power Purchases:* Power purchases that are not related to operational constraints such as management of endangered species, species habitat, water quality, navigation, control area purposes, etc. *O&M:* Operation and Maintenance. *P-SMBP:* The Pick-Sloan Missouri Basin Program. *P-SMBP—ED:* Pick-Sloan Missouri Basin Program—Eastern Division. *P-SMBP—WD:* Pick-Sloan Missouri Basin Program—Western Division. *Power:* Capacity and energy. *Power Factor:* The ratio of real to apparent power at any given point and time in an electrical circuit. Generally it is expressed as a percentage ratio. *Preference:* The requirements of Reclamation Law which provide that preference in the sale of Federal power shall be given to municipalities and other public corporations or agencies and also to cooperatives and other nonprofit organizations financed in whole or in part by loans made under the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 (Reclamation Project Act of 1939, section 9(c), 43 U.S.C. 485h(c)). *Provisional Rate:* A rate which has been confirmed, approved and placed into effect on an interim basis by the Deputy Secretary. *PRS:* Power Repayment Study. *Rate Brochure:* A June 2007 document explaining the rationale and background for the rate proposal contained in this Rate Order. *Reclamation:* United States Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation. *Reclamation Law:* A series of Federal laws. Viewed as a whole, these laws create the originating framework under which Western markets power. *Revenue Requirement:* The revenue required to recover annual expenses (such as O&M, purchase power, transmission service expenses, interest and deferred expenses) and repay Federal investments and other assigned costs. *RMR:* The Rocky Mountain Customer Service Region of Western. *Timing Power Purchases:* Power purchases that are due to operational constraints (e.g. management of endangered species, species habitat, water quality, navigation, control area purposes, etc.) and not associated with the drought. *UGPR:* The Upper Great Plains Customer Service Region of Western. *Western:* United States Department of Energy, Western Area Power Administration. Effective Date The new provisional rates will take effect on the first day of the first full billing period beginning on or after January 1, 2008, and will remain in effect until December 31, 2012, pending approval by FERC on a final basis. Public Notice and Comment Western followed the Procedures for Public Participation in Power and Transmission Rate Adjustments and Extensions, 10 CFR part 903, in developing these rates. The steps Western took to involve interested parties in the rate process were: 1. The proposed rate adjustment process began March 15, 2007, when Western's UGPR mailed a notice announcing informal customer meetings to all P-SMBP—ED preference customers and interested parties. The informal meetings were held on April 9, 2007, in Denver, Colorado, and on April 10, 2007, in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. At these informal meetings, Western explained the rationale for the rate adjustment, presented rate designs and methodologies, and answered questions. 2. An FRN was published on May 31, 2007 (72 FR 30372), that announced the proposed rates for P-SMBP—ED, began a public consultation and comment period, and announced the public information and public comment forums. 3. On June 1, 2007, Western's UGPR mailed letters to all P-SMBP—ED preference customers and interested parties transmitting the FRN published on May 31, 2007. 4. On June 18, 2007, beginning at 10 a.m. (MDT), Western held a public information forum at the Radisson Stapleton Plaza in Denver, Colorado. On June 19, 2007, beginning at 9 a.m. (CDT), a second public information forum was held at the Holiday Inn in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Western provided detailed explanations of the proposed rates for P-SMBP—ED, and a list of issues that could change the proposed rates. Western also answered questions and gave notice that more information was available in the rate brochure. 5. On July 23, 2007, beginning at 10 a.m. (MDT), Western held a public comment forum at the Radisson Stapleton Plaza in Denver, Colorado, to give the public an opportunity to comment for the record. No oral or written comments were received at this forum. On July 24, 2007, beginning at 9 a.m. (CDT), a second public comment forum was held at the Holiday Inn in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, to give the public an opportunity to comment for the record. No oral or written comments were received at this forum. 6. Western's UGPR provided a Web site with all of the letters, time frames, dates and locations of forums, documents discussed at the information meetings, FRNs, rate brochure, and all other information about this rate process for easy customer access. The Web site is located at *http://www.wapa.gov/ugp/rates/2008FirmRateAdjust.* 7. Western received 25 comment letters during the consultation and comment period, which ended August 29, 2007. All formally submitted comments have been considered in preparing this Rate Order. Comments Written comments were received from the following organizations: City of Gering, Nebraska. City of Wisner, Nebraska. Central Power Electric Cooperative, Inc., North Dakota. Corn Belt Power Cooperative, Iowa. East River Electric Power Cooperative, South Dakota. Federated Rural Electric, Minnesota. Heartland Consumers Power District, South Dakota. Lincoln Electric System, Nebraska. Lower Yellowstone Rural Electric Cooperative, Montana. Lyon-Lincoln Electric Cooperative, Minnesota. Marshall Municipal Utilities, Minnesota. Mid-West Electric Consumers Association, Colorado. Minnkota Power Cooperative, Inc., North Dakota. Montana Electric Cooperatives' Association, Montana. Municipal Energy Agency of Nebraska, Nebraska. Nebraska Public Power District, Nebraska. Northwest Iowa Power Cooperative, Iowa. Renville Sibley Cooperative Power Association, Minnesota. Rosebud Electric Cooperative, South Dakota. Sioux Valley Energy, South Dakota. Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate, Lake Traverse Reservation, South Dakota. South Dakota Rural Electric Association, South Dakota. Town of Julesburg, Colorado. Verendrye Electric Cooperative, North Dakota. Woodbury Rural Electric Cooperative, Iowa. Project Description The P-SMBP was authorized by Congress in section 9 of the Flood Control Act of December 22, 1944, commonly referred to as the 1944 Flood Control Act. This multipurpose program provides flood control, irrigation, navigation, recreation, preservation and enhancement of fish and wildlife, and power generation. Multipurpose projects have been developed on the Missouri River and its tributaries in Colorado, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming. In addition to the multipurpose water projects authorized by section 9 of the Flood Control Act of 1944, certain other existing projects have been integrated with the P-SMBP for power marketing, operation and repayment purposes. The Colorado-Big Thompson, Kendrick, and Shoshone Projects were combined with the P-SMBP in 1954, followed by the North Platte Project in 1959. These projects are referred to as the “Integrated Projects” of the P-SMBP. The Flood Control Act of 1944 also authorized the inclusion of the Fort Peck Project with the P-SMBP for operation and repayment purposes. The Riverton Project was integrated with the P-SMBP in 1954, and in 1970 was reauthorized as a unit of P-SMBP. The P-SMBP is administered by two regions. The UGPR with a regional office in Billings, Montana, markets power from the Eastern Division of P-SMBP, and the RMR with a regional office in Loveland, Colorado, markets the Western Division power of P-SMBP. The UGPR markets power in western Iowa, western Minnesota, Montana east of the Continental Divide, North Dakota, South Dakota, and the eastern two-thirds of Nebraska. The RMR markets P-SMBP—WD power, which in combination with Fry-Ark power is known as LAP power, in northeastern Colorado, east of the Continental Divide in Wyoming, west of the 101st meridian in Nebraska, and most of Kansas. The P-SMBP power is marketed to approximately 300 firm power customers by the UGPR and approximately 40 firm power customers by the RMR. Power Repayment Study—Firm Power Rate Western prepares a PRS each FY to determine if revenues will be sufficient to repay, within the required time, all costs assigned to the P-SMBP. Repayment criteria are based on law, policies including DOE Order RA 6120.2, and authorizing legislation. To meet cost recovery criteria outlined in DOE Order RA 6120.2, a revised study and rate adjustment has been developed to demonstrate that sufficient revenues will be collected under proposed rates to meet future obligations. Under this adjustment, payments toward irrigation assistance and capital debt are necessary before deficits are completely repaid. Traditionally, prepayment of irrigation assistance or capital is only done in the absence of deficits. However, if all revenue were applied toward deficits prior to making any payments for irrigation and other capital requirements, an extraordinarily large rate increase to meet single-year repayment obligations would be required. Once these single-year repayment obligations were satisfied, another rate adjustment would be necessary to decrease the rates. While repayment of capital debt and irrigation assistance prior to complete repayment of deficits is not typical, the approach approved within this Rate Order is well within the bounds of the discretion allowed under DOE Order RA 6120.2. Under the adjustment in power rate schedules P-SED-F9 and P-SED-FP9, Western will repay deficits and also make previously planned payments for irrigation assistance and other investments that are due within the required repayment period. Prepaying irrigation and capital investments has been part of the P-SMBP repayment plans and approved rate adjustments for the past 20 years. Prepayment is an integral part of the long-term plan for the project and has provided rate stability for consumers while meeting Federal repayment obligations. Modest irrigation and investment payments for a brief period of 2 to 3 years will reduce the single-year revenue requirement for irrigation assistance and hold increases to the “lowest possible rates to consumers consistent with sound business principles,” as outlined in section 5 of the Flood Control Act of 1944. Existing and Provisional Rates A comparison of the existing and provisional firm power and firm peaking power rates follow: Comparison of Existing and Provisional Rates Pick-Sloan Missouri Basin Program—Eastern Division Firm electric service Existing rates effective January 1, 2007 Provisional rates effective January 1, 2008 Percent change P-SMBP—ED Revenue Requirement $189.9 million $235.9 million 24.2 P-SMBP—ED Composite Rate 19.54 mills/kWh 24.49 mills/kWh 25.3 Firm Capacity $4.45/kWmonth $5.65/kWmonth 27.0 Firm Energy 11.29 mills/kWh 13.99 mills/kWh 23.9 Tiered > 60 Percent Load Factor 5.21 mills/kWh Eliminated N/A Firm Peaking Capacity $4.45/kWmonth $5.10/kWmonth 14.6 Firm Peaking Energy 1 11.29 mills/kWh 13.99 mills/kWh 23.9 1 Firm Peaking Energy is normally returned. This rate will be assessed in the event Firm Peaking Energy is not returned. Western Division The LAP rate is designed to recover the P-SMBP—WD revenue requirement for the P-SMBP and the revenue requirement for Fry-Ark. The adjustment to the LAP rate is a separate formal rate process which is documented in Rate Order No. WAPA-134. Rate Order No. WAPA-134 is also scheduled to go into effect on the first day of the first full billing period beginning on January 1, 2008. Certification of Rates Western's Administrator certified that the provisional rates for P-SMBP—ED firm power and firm peaking power rates are the lowest possible rates consistent with sound business principles. The provisional rates were developed following administrative policies and applicable laws. P-SMBP—ED Firm Power Rate Discussion According to Reclamation Law, Western must establish power rates sufficient to recover operation, maintenance, purchased power and interest expenses, and repay power investment and irrigation aid. The P-SMBP—ED firm power and firm peaking power rates must be increased due to the economic impact of the drought, increased O&M and other annual expenses, increased investments, and increased interest expense associated with deficits. The existing rates for P-SMBP—ED firm power and firm peaking power under Rate Schedules P-SED-F8 and P-SED-FP8 expire December 31, 2010. Effective January 1, 2008, Rate Schedules P-SED-F8 and P-SED-FP8 will be superseded by the new rates in Rate Schedule P-SED-F9 and Rate Schedule P-SED-FP9. The provisional rates under P-SED-F9 for firm power consist of a capacity charge of $5.65/kWmonth, and an energy charge of 13.99 mills/kWh. The provisional rates under P-SED-FP9 for firm peaking power consist of a capacity of $5.10/kWmonth, and an energy charge of 13.99 mills/kWh. These rates are comprised of Base and Drought Adder components. Additionally, under Rate Schedules P-SED-F9 and P-SED-FP9, Western will identify its firm and firm peaking electric service revenue requirements using Base and Drought Adder components. The Base is a revenue requirement that includes annual O&M expenses, investment repayment and associated interest, normal timing power purchases, and transmission costs. Normal timing power purchases are purchases due to operational constraints (e.g., management of endangered species habitat, water quality, navigation, control area purposes, etc.) and are not associated with the current drought in the region. The Base revenue requirement may not be adjusted without Western going through a public process to do so. The Drought Adder revenue requirement is a formula-based revenue requirement that includes costs attributable to the present drought conditions within the P-SMBP. The Drought Adder includes costs associated with future non-timing power purchases of additional power to firm obligations not covered with available system generation due to the drought, previously incurred deficits due to purchased power debt incurred from non-timing power purchases made during this drought, and the interest associated with previously incurred and future drought debt. The Drought Adder is designed to repay drought debt within 10 years of the year the debt was incurred. Adjustments to the Drought Adder of less than or equal to the equivalent of 2 mills/kWh to the PRS composite rate will be made by customer notification of a revised rate schedule with a January implementation date. The annual revenue requirement calculation can be summarized by the following formula: Annual Revenue Requirement = Base Revenue Requirement + Drought Adder Revenue Requirement. Under this provisional rate, the P-SMBP—ED annual revenue requirement equals $245.2 million and is comprised of a Base revenue requirement of $157.2 million plus a Drought Adder revenue requirement of $88.0 million. Both the Base and the Drought Adder recover portions of the firm power revenue requirement, which when combined with the firm peaking power revenue requirement equals the P-SMBP—ED annual revenue requirement. Below is a table identifying the rates for the revenue requirement components: Service Base component Drought adder component Rates Firm Capacity ($/kWmonth) $3.65 $2.00 $5.65 Firm Energy (mills/kWh) 8.93 5.06 13.99 Firm Peaking Capacity ($/kWmonth) $3.25 $1.85 $5.10 Firm Peaking Energy (mills/kWh) 1 8.93 5.06 13.99 1 Firm Peaking Energy is normally returned. This rate will be assessed in the event Firm Peaking Energy is not returned. Western reviews its firm electric service rates annually. Western will review the Base after the annual PRS is completed, generally in the first quarter of the calendar year. If an adjustment to the Base is necessary, Western will initiate a public process pursuant to 10 CFR part 903 prior to making an adjustment. Western will review the Drought Adder each September to determine if drought costs differ from those projected in the PRS and whether an adjustment to the Drought Adder is necessary. Western will use recent Corps of Engineers and Bureau of Reclamation hydrological estimates and historical data to determine the estimated amounts for future purchase power costs. For any adjustments attributed to drought costs of less than or equal to the equivalent of 2 mills/kWh to the PRS composite rate, Western will notify customers by letter in October of the planned adjustment and implement the adjustment in the following January billing cycle. For the portion of any planned incremental adjustment greater than the equivalent of 2 mills/kWh to the PRS composite rate, Western will engage in a public process pursuant to 10 CFR part 903 prior to implementing that portion of the adjustment. Although decremental adjustments to the Drought Adder may occur, the adjustment cannot result in the Drought Adder being a negative number. Western will conduct a preliminary review of the Drought Adder in early summer and advise customers by letter of any estimated change to the Drought Adder for the following January. Customers will also be notified by letter in October of the final Drought Adder adjustment to be effective with the following January billing period. Western has also redesigned its revenue recovery methodology for firm peaking service. Under Rate Schedule P-SED-FP9, the firm peaking demand charge is calculated by dividing one-half of the P-SMBP—ED revenue requirement by the sum of the total allocated seasonal CRODs modeled as monthly billing units for both firm electric and firm peaking service. Statement of Revenue and Related Expenses The following table provides a summary of projected revenue and expense data for the total P-SMBP, including both the Eastern and Western Divisions, firm electric service revenue requirement through the 5-year rate approval period. The firm power rates for both divisions have been developed with the following revenues and expenses for the P-SMBP: Total P-SMBP Firm Power Comparison of 5-Year Rate Period (FY 2008-2012) Existing rate ($000) Proposed rate ($000) Difference ($000) Total revenues and expenses Total Revenues $1,723,061 $2,127,445 $404,384 Revenue Distribution Expenses: O&M 829,319 910,948 81,629 Purchased Power and Wheeling 84,040 290,654 206,614 Integrated Projects Requirements 0 0 0 Interest 499,116 530,912 31,796 Transmission 58,956 60,856 1,900 Total Expenses 1,471,431 1,793,370 321,939 Principal Payments: Capitalized Expenses 218,819 127,958 (90,861) Original Project and Additions 26,392 188,898 162,506 Replacements 2,019 2,219 200 Irrigation 4,400 15,000 10,600 Total Principal Payments 251,630 334,075 82,445 Total Revenue Distribution 1,723,061 2,127,445 404,384 Basis for Rate Development The existing rates for P-SMBP—ED firm power in Rate Schedule P-SED-F8, which expire December 31, 2010, no longer provide sufficient revenues to pay all annual costs, including interest expense, and repay investment and irrigation aid within the allowable period. The adjusted rates reflect increases due to the economic impact of the drought, increased O&M and other annual expenses, increased investments, and increased interest expense associated with drought deficits. The provisional rates will provide sufficient revenue to pay all annual costs, including interest expense, and repay power investment and irrigation aid within the allowable periods. The provisional rates will take effect on January 1, 2008, to correspond with the start of the calendar year, and will remain in effect on an interim basis, pending FERC's confirmation and approval of them or substitute rates on a final basis, through December 31, 2012. The P-SMBP—ED provisional firm power rate under rate schedule P-SED-F9 is designed to recover 50 percent of the revenue requirement from the capacity rate and 50 percent from the energy rate. The firm capacity rate of $5.65 per kWmonth is calculated by dividing 50 percent of the total annual revenue by the total firm power billing units (kWmonths) in a year. The firm energy rate of 13.99 mills/kWh is calculated by dividing 50 percent of the total annual revenue requirement by the annual energy sales. Historically, the P-SMBP—ED firm peaking rate has been equal to the demand charge for the firm power rate. The customer pays the demand rate on their total firm peaking CROD each month rather than firm energy peaking delivered each month. Contract terms vary among firm peaking customers with respect to return of peaking energy. One customer may return all peaking energy, while another peaking customer may pay for 20 to 40 percent of the peaking energy they use and return the rest to Western. When a peaking customer does not return peaking energy, they are billed at the firm energy rate. Previously, Western used the sum of the metered billing units for firm electric service and the seasonal CROD modeled as monthly billing units for firm peaking service. Western is changing the methodology for the firm peaking rate design to use the sum of the total allocated seasonal CRODs for both firm electric demand and firm peaking demand modeled as billing units. Changing the methodology is consistent with the principle that Western's rate design for firm electric demand and firm peaking demand should be representative of the different products. The firm peaking rate under P-SED-FP9 is $5.10/kWmonth. The revenue requirement for firm peaking demand is calculated by multiplying the firm peaking power billing units per year (4,272,000 kWmonth/year) by the firm peaking demand rate yielding a firm peaking revenue requirement of $21.8 million. With this rate adjustment, the P-SMBP—ED is also eliminating the tiered rate. The tiered rate charge was implemented in the mid-1970s for loads in excess of 60 percent monthly load factor. Continuing the tiered rate charge discourages load management. Moreover, eliminating the tiered rate from the P-SMBP—ED firm electric service schedule is consistent with the administration of firm electric service rates in the P-SMBP—WD, as well as all other Western regions, which do not assess a tiered rate charge. Comments The comments and responses below regarding the firm power and firm peaking power rates are paraphrased for brevity when not affecting the meaning of the statement(s). Direct quotes from comment letters are used for clarification when necessary. A. *Comment:* Western received numerous comments that strongly supported Western's rate adjustment proposal. These comments support the establishment of a Drought Adder and Base component as it will ensure timely repayment of obligations to the Treasury while insulating the Base from inflation brought about by drought related costs. Comments expressed support for elimination of the tiered rate because it has penalized customers for making efficient use of renewable energy resources that do not contribute to global warming. Comments also supported the redesign of the peaking rate as it better reflects the value and limitations of the peaking product. *Response:* Western appreciates customer support received for the rate adjustment proposal, including separation of the annual revenue requirement into a Base component and Drought Adder component, elimination of the tiered rate and redesign of the peaking rate. B. *Comment:* Western received one comment opposed to the elimination of the tiered rate. “It appears to me to be a push put on by those systems with load management systems. They manage their peaks & thus buy more power in the over 60% load factor range. The systems that do not use load control helped pay for the load control systems of those that do & now they are asking us to pay again.” *Response:* P-SMBP—ED customers that have load management systems in place have paid for those systems themselves. Western has not recovered costs for load management systems of others nor has Western passed those costs on to customers that do not have load management systems. Western does not charge a tiered rate in the P-SMBP—WD nor in any other projects marketed by Western. Western endeavors to treat customers fairly and we believe penalizing customers for efficient management is unjust. Furthermore, penalizing customers for managing the load on their power system is unreasonable in an era when use of renewable energy is at the forefront of efficient energy management. C. *Comment:* Western received one comment opposed to the proposed firm peaking capacity rate and the proposed peaking energy charge. The percentage increase for the firm peaking capacity is only 14.6% compared to the 25.3% increase in firm power. The peaking energy charge of 13.99 mills/kWh seems low. *Response:* Those customers who have peaking capacity pay for the service each month of the season for which they have a CROD whether they are allowed to use the capacity under the contract terms or not. Typically, peaking capacity is used one to four times annually by the peaking customers, thus paying monthly for a product they are not allowed to use. Western's new peaking rate is reflective of the peaking customer's historical usage and their impact on drought costs. Western believes we have treated both the firm and firm peaking customers equitably by separating the rate designs of the two products. This separation is demonstrated in the new peaking product rate design which better reflects the value and restrictions of the peaking product. D. *Comment:* Western received numerous comments encouraging Western to include identification of the portion of the total rate which will be attributed to the Drought Adder and that such amount be identified in terms of both the energy and capacity rates. *Response:* Western agrees with this request to identify the portion of the rate attributable to the Drought Adder and has identified both the Base component and Drought Adder component in energy and capacity rates in the firm and firm peaking rate schedules. E. *Comment:* Western received several comments encouraging Western to keep preference customers informed throughout the year on the progress made in paying down the drought deficits and provide early and timely information to customers on any changes to the Drought Adder so customers can plan accordingly. *Response:* Western intends to inform customers annually of the status of the drought costs and the repayment of those costs. It is Western's intention to include the most current hydrological and operations cost data into projections in the PRS as soon as they are available and will notify customers as soon as practical of any changes to the Drought Adder. F. *Comment:* Many comments supported the increase in rates, recognizing Western's need to generate added revenue in order to meet its operations and repayment obligations due to pressure from the long-term drought affecting the Missouri River Basin. *Response:* Western appreciates the customer support it has received for the rate adjustment proposal. G. *Comment:* Western received one comment that the 25% rate increase for the area utilities should not decrease the Tribal benefits, rather the opposite should happen and Tribal benefits should increase due to the increased value of the hydro resource. *Response:* Western does provide bill crediting of the Tribal benefits according to the composite rate for the P-SMBP—ED as provided in the Tribal contracts. Native American contractual arrangements do allow for the composite rate to be modified. Under this rate adjustment, the composite rate for P-SMBP—ED is increasing from 19.54 mills per kWh to 24.49 mills per kWh. Benefits to a Tribe are determined from the difference between the composite rate for Western and the composite rate of the power supplier the Tribe has designated. As Western's composite rate increases, it is likely that the composite rates for the Tribes designated power suppliers will increase as well, although such increase is not within the control of Western. (In addition, this comment pertains to contract administration and is outside the scope of this rate process.) H. *Comment:* Two comments received expressed appreciation for Western's commitment to supply the full firm power allocation during this drought cycle. However, there is also concern that adequate long term purchase power arrangements have not been pursued by Western, leaving UGPR to continually rely on short-term, spot market energy purchases to meet its shortfall. *Response:* Although this comment is not directly related to the proposed rate action and is outside the scope of this rate process, Western is actively addressing these issues as well as other options and evaluating them based on cost and benefit to Western's customers. I. *Comment:* Commenters state that by relying on non-firm transmission for spot energy purchases, the likelihood of curtailments is increased. It is their understanding that a number of short-term purchases by Western have been curtailed, causing additional drought-related expenses as higher cost energy is generated or purchased to replace the curtailed purchases in real time. *Response:* This comment is not directly related to the proposed rate action and is outside the scope of this rate process. However, Western is actively addressing these issues as well as other options and evaluating them based on cost and benefit to Western's customers. J. *Comment:* Commenters state that one area of controllable cost that causes significant concern is the area of regional transmission. The commenters understand that UGPR is considering the logistics of participating in the Midwest Independent Transmission System Operator

(MISO)and its Day Two Markets. Before pursuing such a radical departure from past practice, they suggest a thorough review of costs and benefits to all Western customers. If Western joins MISO, and other area transmission owners that also serve Western customers do not join, there could be significant seams issues. If there are benefits to participating in the Day Two Market, those benefits should flow to all Western customers, not just those that participate in joint dispatching arrangements inside the Integrated System. *Response:* This comment is not directly related to the proposed rate action and is outside the scope of this rate process. However, Western is actively addressing these issues as well as other options and evaluating them based on cost and benefit to Western's customers. Availability of Information Information about this rate adjustment, including the PRS, comments, letters, memorandums and other supporting material made or kept by Western that was used to develop the provisional rates, is available for public review in the Upper Great Plains Regional Office, Western Area Power Administration, 2900 4th Avenue North, Billings, Montana. Ratemaking Procedure Requirements Environmental Compliance In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969

(NEPA)(42 U.S.C. 4321, *et seq.* ); the Council on Environmental Quality Regulations for implementing NEPA (40 CFR parts 1500-1508); and DOE NEPA Implementing Procedures and Guidelines (10 CFR part 1021, Subpart D, App. B4.3), Western has determined that this action is categorically excluded from preparing an environmental assessment or an environmental impact statement. Determination Under Executive Order 12866 Western has an exemption from centralized regulatory review under Executive Order 12866; accordingly, no clearance of this notice by the Office of Management and Budget is required. Submission to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission The provisional rates herein confirmed, approved, and placed into effect, together with supporting documents, will be submitted to FERC for confirmation and final approval. Order In view of the foregoing and under the authority delegated to me, I confirm and approve on an interim basis, effective January 1, 2008, Rate Schedules P-SED-F9 and P-SED-FP9 for the Pick-Sloan Missouri Basin Program—Eastern Division of the Western Area Power Administration. The rate schedules shall remain in effect on an interim basis, pending FERC's confirmation and approval of them or substitute rates on a final basis through December 31, 2012. Dated: November 1, 2007. Clay Sell, Deputy Secretary of Energy. Rate Schedule P-SED-F9 (Supersedes Schedule P-SED-F8) Effective January 1, 2008 United States Department of Energy, Western Area Power Administration Pick-Sloan Missouri Basin Program—Eastern Division, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa, Nebraska Schedule of Rates for Firm Power Service (Approved Under Rate Order No. WAPA-135) *Effective:* The first day of the first full billing period beginning on or after January 1, 2008, through December 31, 2012. *Available:* Within the marketing area served by the Eastern Division of the Pick-Sloan Missouri Basin Program. *Applicable:* To the power and energy delivered to customers as firm power service. *Character:* Alternating current, 60 hertz, three phase, delivered and metered at the voltages and points established by contract. *Monthly Rates:* *Demand Charge:* $5.65 for each kilowatt per month (kWmonth) of billing demand. *Energy Charge:* 13.99 mills per kilowatthour

(kWh)for all energy delivered as firm power service. *Billing Demand:* The billing demand will be as defined by the power sales contract. *Charge Components:* *Base:* A fixed revenue requirement that includes operation and maintenance expense, investments and replacements, interest on investments and replacements, normal timing purchase power costs (purchases due to operational constraints, not associated with drought), and transmission costs. The Base revenue requirement is $157.2 million. EN14NO07.004 EN14NO07.005 *Drought Adder:* A formula-based revenue requirement that includes future purchase power expense excluding timing purchases, previous purchase power drought deficits, and interest on the purchase power drought deficits. For the period beginning January 2008, the Drought Adder revenue requirement is $88 million. EN14NO07.006 EN14NO07.007 *Process:* Any proposed change to the Base component will require a public process. The Drought Adder component may be adjusted annually using the above formula for any costs attributed to drought of less than or equal to the equivalent of 2 mills/kWh to the Power Repayment Study

(PRS)composite rate. Any planned incremental adjustment to the Drought Adder component greater than the equivalent of 2 mills/kWh to the PRS composite rate will require a public process. *Adjustments:* *For Drought Adder:* Adjustments pursuant to the Drought Adder component will be documented in a revision to this rate schedule. *For Character and Conditions of Service:* Customers who receive deliveries at transmission voltage may in some instances be eligible to receive a 5 percent discount on demand and energy charges when facilities are provided by the customer that results in a sufficient savings to Western to justify the discount. The determination of eligibility for receipt of the voltage discount shall be exclusively vested in Western. *For Billing of Unauthorized Overruns:* For each billing period in which there is a contract violation involving an unauthorized overrun of the contractual firm power and/or energy obligations, such overrun shall be billed at 10 times the above rate. *For Power Factor:* None. The customer will be required to maintain a power factor at the point of delivery between 95 percent lagging and 95 percent leading. Rate Schedule P-SED-FP9 (Supersedes Schedule P-SED-FP8) Effective January 1, 2008 United States Department of Energy, Western Area Power Administration Pick-Sloan Missouri Basin Program—Eastern Division, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa, Nebraska Schedule of Rates for Firm Peaking Power Service (Approved Under Rate Order No. WAPA-135) *Effective:* The first day of the first full billing period beginning on or after January 1, 2008, through December 31, 2012. *Available:* Within the marketing area served by the Eastern Division of the Pick-Sloan Missouri Basin Program, to customers with generating resources enabling them to use firm peaking power service. *Applicable:* To the power sold to customers as firm peaking power service. *Character:* Alternating current, 60 hertz, three phase, delivered and metered at the voltages and points established by contract. *Monthly Rates:* *Demand Charge:* $5.10 for each kilowatt per month (kWmonth) of the effective contract rate of delivery for peaking power or the maximum amount scheduled, whichever is greater. *Energy Charge:* 13.99 mills for each kilowatthour

(kWh)for all energy scheduled for delivery without return. *Charge Components:* *Base:* A fixed revenue requirement that includes operation and maintenance expense, investment and replacements, normal timing purchase power costs (purchases due to operational constraints, not associated with drought), and transmission costs. The Base peaking revenue requirement is $13.9 million. EN14NO07.008 Energy 1 : = 8.93 mills/kWh. 1 Firm peaking energy is normally returned. This rate will be assessed in the event firm peaking energy is not returned. This rate is calculated in accordance with the schedule of rates for firm power service, Rate Schedule P-SED-F9 or its successor. *Drought Adder:* A formula-based revenue requirement that includes future purchase power above timing purchases, previous purchase power drought deficits, and interest on the purchase power drought deficits. For the period beginning January 2008, the Drought Adder peaking revenue requirement is $7.9 million. EN14NO07.009 Energy 1 : = 5.06 mills/kWh. *Process:* Any proposed change to the Base component will require a public process. The Drought Adder component may be adjusted annually using the above formula for any costs attributed to drought of less than or equal to the equivalent of 2 mills/kWh to the Power Repayment Study

(1)The highest 30-minute integrated demand measured during the month up to, but not in excess of, the delivery obligation under the power sales contract, or

(2)the contract rate of delivery. *Adjustments:* *For Drought Adder:* Adjustments pursuant to the Drought Adder component will be documented in a revision to this rate schedule. *Billing for Unauthorized Overruns:* For each billing period in which there is a contract violation involving an unauthorized overrun of the contractual obligation for peaking demand and/or energy, such overrun shall be billed at 10 times the above rate. [FR Doc. E7-22192 Filed 11-13-07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6450-01-P ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY [EPA-HQ-OPPT-2007-0716; FRL-8144-6] Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Collection; Comment Request; TSCA Section 4 Test Rules, Consent Orders, Test Rule Exemptions, and Voluntary Data Submission; EPA ICR No. 1139.08, OMB Control No. 2070-0033 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 *TSCA Section 4 Test Rules, Consent Orders, Test Rule Exemptions, and Voluntary Data Submission* and identified by EPA ICR No. 1139.08 and OMB Control No. 2070-0033, is scheduled to expire on June 30, 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 January 14, 2008. ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by docket identification

(ID)number EPA-HQ-OPPT-2007-0716, 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, Rm. 6428, 1201 Constitution Ave., NW., Washington, DC. Attention: Docket ID Number EPA-HQ-OPPT-2007-0716. 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-2007-0716. EPA's policy is that all comments received will be included in the public 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 public 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)554-1404; e-mail address: *TSCA-Hotline@epa.gov* . *For technical information contact* : Mike Mattheisen, Chemical Control Division (7405M), Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics, Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460-0001; telephone number:

(202)564-3077; fax number:

(202)564-4755; e-mail address: *mattheisen.mike@epa.gov* . SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: I. What Information is EPA Particularly Interested in? Pursuant to section 3506(c)(2)(A) of 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 persons who manufacture, process or import, use, distribute, or dispose of one or more specified chemical substances. *Title* : TSCA Section 4 Test Rules, Consent Orders, Test Rule Exemptions, and Voluntary Data Submission. *ICR numbers* : EPA ICR No. 1139.08, OMB Control No. 2070-0033. *ICR status* : This ICR is currently scheduled to expire on June 30, 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 4 of the Toxic Substances Control Act

(TSCA)is designed to assure that chemicals that may pose serious risks to human health or the environment undergo testing by manufacturers or processors, and that the results of such testing are made available to EPA. EPA uses the information collected under the authority of TSCA section 4 to assess risks associated with the manufacture, processing, distribution, use, or disposal of a chemical, and to support any necessary regulatory action with respect to that chemical. EPA must assure that appropriate tests are performed on a chemical if it decides: 1. That a chemical being considered under TSCA section 4(a) may pose an “unreasonable risk” or is produced in “substantial” quantities that may result in substantial or significant human exposure or substantial environmental release of the chemical. 2. That additional data are needed to determine or predict the impacts of the chemical's manufacture, processing, distribution, use, or disposal. 3. That testing is needed to develop such data. Rules and consent orders under TSCA section 4 require that one manufacturer or processor of a subject chemical perform the specified testing and report the results of that testing to EPA. TSCA section 4 also allows a manufacturer or processor of a subject chemical to apply for an exemption from the testing requirement, if that testing will be or has been performed by another party. This information collection applies to reporting and recordkeeping activities associated with the information that EPA requires industry to provide in response to TSCA section 4 test rules, consent orders, test rule exemptions, and other data submissions. Responses to the collection of information are mandatory (see 40 CFR part 790). Respondents may claim all or part of a document confidential. EPA will disclose information that is covered by a claim of confidentiality only to the extent permitted by, and in accordance with, the procedures in TSCA section 14 and 40 CFR part 2. *Burden statement* : The annual public reporting and recordkeeping burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 243 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* : 58. *Frequency of response* : On occasion. *Estimated total average number of responses for each respondent* : 10.4. *Estimated total annual burden hours* : 112,590 hours. *Estimated total annual costs* : $ 5,662,701. This includes an estimated burden cost of $ 5,662,701 and an estimated cost of $ 0 for capital investment or maintenance and operational costs. IV. Are There Changes in the Estimates from the Last Approval? There is a net decrease of 90,424 hours in the total estimated respondent burden compared with that identified in the ICR currently approved by OMB. This decrease reflects EPA's revised estimates of the number of test rules and consent orders that the Agency expects to issue in the future, as well as revised estimates of the amount of testing still to be done under EPA’s High Production Volume Challenge Program. The supporting statement includes detailed analyses of these revised estimates. This change is an adjustment. 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 technical person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT . List of Subjects Environmental protection, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements. Dated: November 7, 2007. James Jones, Acting Assistant Administrator, Office of Prevention, Pesticides and Toxic Substances. [FR Doc. E7-22201 Filed 11-13-07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560-50-S ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY [EPA-HQ-OEI-2007-0412; FRL-8494-7] Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Collection; Comment Request; Cross-Media Electronic Reporting and Recordkeeping Rule (Renewal); EPA ICR No. 2002.04, OMB Control No. 2025-0003 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 an Information Collection Request

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

(OMB)for review and approval. This is a request to renew an existing approved collection. The ICR, which is abstracted below, describes the nature of the information collection and its estimated burden and cost. DATES: Additional comments may be submitted on or before December 14, 2007. ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, referencing Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OEI-2007-0412, to

(1)EPA online using *http://www.regulations.gov* (our preferred method), by e-mail to *oei.docket@epa.gov* , or by mail to: EPA Docket Center, Environmental Protection Agency, OEI Docket, Mail Code: 28221T, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460, and

(2)OMB by mail to: Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget (OMB), Attention: Desk Officer for EPA, 725 17th Street, NW., Washington, DC 20503. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Katrail Holloway, Cross-Media Electronic Reporting and Recordkeeping Rule, Information Exchange & Services Division, Office of Environmental Information, 2823T, Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460; telephone number: 202-566-2133; fax number: 202-566-1684; e-mail address: *holloway.katrail@epa.gov.* SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: EPA has submitted the following ICR to OMB for review and approval according to the procedures prescribed in 5 CFR 1320.12. On June 15, 2007, (72 FR 33216), EPA sought comments on this ICR pursuant to 5 CFR 1320.8(d). EPA received no additional comments on the renewal, during the comment period. Any additional comments on this ICR should be submitted to EPA and OMB within 30 days of this notice. EPA has established a public docket for this ICR under Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OEI-2007-0412, which is available for online viewing at *www.regulations.gov* , or in person viewing at the Docket in the EPA Docket Center (EPA/DC), EPA West, Room 3334, 1301 Constitution Ave., NW., Washington, DC. The EPA/DC Public Reading Room is open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays. The telephone number for the Reading Room is 202-566-1744, and the telephone number for the Office of Environmental Information Docket is 202-566-1752. Use EPA's electronic docket and comment system at *www.regulations.gov* , to submit or view public comments, access the index listing of the contents of the docket, and to access those documents in the docket that are available electronically. Once in the system, select “docket search,” then key in the docket ID number identified above. Please note that EPA's policy is that public comments, whether submitted electronically or on paper, will be made available for public viewing at *www.regulations.gov* as EPA receives them and without change, unless the comment contains copyrighted material, Confidential Business Information (CBI), or other information whose public disclosure is restricted by statute. For further information about the electronic docket, go to *www.regulations.gov.* *Title:* Cross-Media Electronic Reporting and Recordkeeping Rule (Renewal). *ICR Numbers:* EPA ICR Number 2002.04, OMB Control Number 2025-0003. *ICR Status:* This ICR is scheduled to expire on November 30, 2007. Under OMB regulations, the Agency may continue to conduct or sponsor the collection of information while this submission is pending at OMB. 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:* The scope of this Information Collection Request will focus on the final electronic reporting components of CROMERRR, which is designed to allow EPA to comply with the Government Paperwork Elimination Act of 1998; to provide a uniform, technology-neutral framework for electronic reporting across all EPA programs; to allow EPA programs to offer electronic reporting as they become ready for CROMERRR; and to provide states with a streamlined process—together with uniform set of criteria—for approval of their electronic reporting provisions for all their EPA-authorized programs. Responses to the collection of information are voluntary. In order to accommodate CBI, the information collected must be in accordance with the confidentiality regulations set forth in 40 CFR Part 2, Subpart B. Additionally, EPA will ensure that the information collection procedures comply with the Privacy Act of 1974 and the OMB Circular 108. *Burden Statement:* The annual public reporting and recordkeeping burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 0.69 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. *Respondents/Affected Entities:* State and Local Receiving Systems. *Estimated Number of Respondents:* 220,826. *Frequency of Response:* Annually. *Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours:* 151,963. *Estimated Total Annual Cost:* $10,763,740 which includes $4,450,658 annualized Capital Startup Costs, $657,707 annualized Operating and Maintenance (O&M) costs and $5,655,374 annualized Labor Costs. *Changes in the Estimates:* There is no significant change in the ICR compared to the previous ICR. This is due to the regulations having not changed over the past three years and is not anticipated to change over the next three years. There is, however, an adjustment in the labor cost estimate. This is due to the inflation of the labor rates over the past three years. Dated: November 7, 2007. Sara Hisel-McCoy, Director, Collection Strategies Division. [FR Doc. E7-22225 Filed 11-13-07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560-50-P ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY [EPA-HQ-OPPT-2007-1004; FRL-8153-4] National Advisory Committee for Acute Exposure Guideline Levels for Hazardous Substances; Notice of Public Meeting AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ACTION: Notice. SUMMARY: A meeting of the National Advisory Committee for Acute Exposure Guideline Levels for Hazardous Substances (NAC/AEGL Committee) will be held on December 5-7, 2007, in Orlando, FL. At this meeting, the NAC/AEGL Committee will address, as time permits, the various aspects of the acute toxicity and the development of Acute Exposure Guideline Levels (AEGLs) for the following chemicals: 1,1,1-trichloroethane; 2-chloroethanol; allyl chloride; boron tribromide; carbonyl fluoride; carbonyl sulfide; chloropicrin; chloropivaloyl chloride; diethyl dichlorosilane; dimethyl chlorosilane; ethyl trichlorosilane; ethylene fluorohydrin; methanesulfonyl chloride; methyl iodide; methyl vinyl dichlorosilane; N,N -dimethylformamide; Nerve Agent VX; stibine; sulfuryl fluoride; tetrachloroethylene; thiophosgene. DATES: A meeting of the NAC/AEGL Committee will be held from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on December 5, 2007; 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on December 6, 2007 and 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. on December 7, 2007. ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the Orlando World Center Marriott Resort & Convention Center, 8701 World Center Drive, Orlando, FL 32821 . 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* : Paul S. Tobin, Designated Federal Officer (DFO), Risk Assessment Division (7403M), Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460-0001; telephone number:

(202)564-8557; e-mail address: *tobin.paul@epa.gov* . To request accommodation of a disability, please contact the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT , preferably at least 10 days prior to the meeting, to give EPA as much time as possible to process your request. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: I. General Information A. Does this Action Apply to Me? This action is directed to the public in general. This action may be of particular interest to anyone who may be affected if the AEGL values are adopted by government agencies for emergency planning, prevention, or response programs, such as EPA's Risk Management Program under the Clean Air Act and Amendments Section 112r. It is possible that other Federal agencies besides EPA, as well as State agencies and private organizations, may adopt the AEGL values for their programs. As such, 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. How Can I Get Copies of this Document and Other Related Information? 1. *Docket* . EPA has established a docket for this action under docket identification

(ID)number EPA-HQ-OPPT-2007-1004. All documents in the docket are listed in the docket's index available at *http://www.regulations.gov* . Although listed in the index, some information is not publicly available, e.g., Confidential Business Information

(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. 2. *Electronic access* . You may access this **Federal Register** document electronically through the EPA Internet under the “ **Federal Register** ” listings at *http://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr* . II. Meeting Procedures For additional information on the scheduled meeting, the agenda of the NAC/AEGL Committee, or the submission of information on chemicals to be discussed at the meeting, contact the DFO listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT . The meeting of the NAC/AEGL Committee will be open to the public. Oral presentations or statements by interested parties will be limited to 10 minutes. Interested parties are encouraged to contact the DFO to schedule presentations before the NAC/AEGL Committee. Since seating for outside observers may be limited, those wishing to attend the meeting as observers are also encouraged to contact the DFO at the earliest possible date to ensure adequate seating arrangements. Inquiries regarding oral presentations and the submission of written statements or chemical-specific information should be directed to the DFO. III. Future Meetings Another meeting of the NAC/AEGL Committee is scheduled for March 3-5, 2008 in Alexandria, Virgina. The NAC/AEGL Committee is planning to address at the meeting AEGL values for the following chemicals: 1,2-butylene oxide; allyl alcohol; cyanogen; ethyl benzene; ethyl isocyanate; ethyl phosphonothioic dichloride; ethylphosphono dichloridate; germane; isobutyl isocyanate; isopropyl isocyanate; methoxy methyl isocyanate; methyl isothiocyanate; n-butyl isocyanate; nitrogen tetroxide; nitrogen trioxide; n-propyl isocyanate; phenyl isocyanate; t-butyl isocyanate; trifluoroacetyl chloride; trimethylacetyl chloride. List of Subjects Environmental protection, Chemicals, Hazardous substances, Health. Dated: November 1, 2007. Wendy C. Hamnett, Acting Director, Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics. [FR Doc. E7-22226 Filed 11-13-07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560-50-S ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY [FRL-8494-8] Notice of Meeting of the EPA's Children's Health Protection Advisory Committee (CHPAC) AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ACTION: Notice of meeting. SUMMARY: Pursuant to the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act, Public Law 92-463, notice is hereby given that the next meeting of the Children's Health Protection Advisory Committee (CHPAC) will be held November 27-29, 2007 at RESOLVE, Washington, DC. The CHPAC was created to advise the Environmental Protection Agency on science, regulations, and other issues relating to children's environmental health. DATES: The CHPAC will meet on Tuesday, November 27th, Wednesday, November 28th, and Thursday, November 29, 2007 at RESOLVE. ADDRESSES: RESOLVE, 1255 23rd Street, NW., Suite 275 Washington, DC. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Carolyn Hubbard, Child and Aging Health Protection Division, USEPA, MC 1107A, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20460,

(202)564-2189, *hubbard.carolyn@epa.gov.* SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The meetings of the CHPAC are open to the public. The CHPAC plenary will meet on Tuesday November 27th from 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., Wednesday November 28th from 9 a.m. to 5:45 p.m., and Thursday, November 29th from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The Task Group will meet Tuesday, November 27th from 4:45 to 6 p.m. Agenda items include orientation for new CHPAC members, discussion and next steps from the NAAQS for Lead and EPA Framework to Determine a Mutagenic Mode of Action Task Groups, and a presentation on EPA Climate Change Activities. Draft agenda attached. Access and Accommodations: For information on access or services for individuals with disabilities, please contact Carolyn Hubbard at 202-564-2189 or *hubbard.carolyn@epa.gov.* To request accommodation of a disability, please contact Carolyn Hubbard preferably at least 10 days prior to the meeting, to give EPA as much time as possible to process your request. Dated: November 8, 2007. Carolyn Hubbard, Designated Federal Official. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency CHILDREN'S HEALTH PROTECTION ADVISORY COMMITTEE RESOLVE 1255 23rd St, NW. Suite 275, Washington, DC 20037,

(202)944-2300. November 27-29, 2007. Draft Agenda Tuesday, November 27th CHPAC Plenary Session 1-1:50 Welcome, Member Introductions, and Review of Meeting Agenda 1:50-2 Introduce Acting Office Director and Staff 2-3:15 Orientation to the CHPAC 3:15-3:30 Break 3:30-4:30 EPA Framework to Determine a Mutagenic Mode of Action 4:30 Adjourn Plenary for the Day 4:45-6 Mutagenicity Framework Task Group Wednesday, November 28, 2007 CHPAC Plenary Session Continued 9-9:10 Check In and Agenda Review 9:10-9:55 Highlights of Recent EPA Activities 9:55-10:10 Break 10:10-11:10 National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) for Lead 11:10-12:30 EPA Framework to Determine a Mutagenic Mode of Action 12:30-2:30 LUNCH (on your own) 2:30-3:45 EPA Framework to Determine a Mutagenic Mode of Action 3:45-5:15 Discussion of Children's Environmental Health Issues 5:15-5:45 Public Comment 5:45 Adjourn for the Day Thursday, November 29, 2007 CHPAC Plenary Session Continued 9-9:05 Check In and Agenda Review 9:05-10 Pediatric Environmental Health Specialty Units (PEHSU) Program 10-10:15 Break 10:15-11 EPA Plans, Policies, and Activities to Address Climate Change 11-12 EPA Framework to Determine a Mutagenic Mode of Action 12-12:20 Near Term CHPAC Priorities 12:20-12:30 Wrap Up/Next Steps 12:30 Adjourn Plenary [FR Doc. E7-22236 Filed 11-13-07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560-50-P DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES [Document Identifier: Grants.Gov-4040-New] Agency Information Collection Request: 60-Day Public Comment Request *Agency:* Office of the Secretary, HHS. In compliance with the requirement of section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Office of the Secretary (OS), Department of Health and Human Services, is publishing the following summary of a proposed information collection request for public comment. Interested persons are invited to send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including any of the following subjects:

(1)The necessity and utility of the proposed information collection for the proper performance of the agency's functions;

(2)the accuracy of the estimated burden;

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

(4)the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology to minimize the information collection burden. To obtain copies of the supporting statement and any related forms for the proposed paperwork collections referenced above, e-mail your request, including your address, phone number, OMB number, and OS document identifier, to *Sherette.funncoleman@hhs.gov,* or call the Reports Clearance Office on

(202)690-6162. Written comments and recommendations for the proposed information collections must be received within 60 days, and directed to the OS Paperwork. *Title:* SF-424 Project/Performance Site Location(s)—OMB No. 4040-New—Grants.gov. *Proposed Project:* The SF-424 Project/Performance Site Location(s) form is a new form based on the Research & Related Project/Performance Site Location(s) form currently in use with the SF-424 (R&R) family (OMB No. 4040-0001). The new form will be used to meet the requirements of the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act (FFATA) (Pub. L. 109-282). FFATA requires the Office of Management and Budget

(OMB)to establish a publicly available, online database containing information about entities that receive Federal grants, loans, and contracts. The new form will assist agencies in collecting a unique recipient entity identification number, a required data element by FFATA. In addition, the form will be implemented as a required form within the following SF-424 4040 collections that have applications for federal assistance and are cleared under the following OMB numbers: 4040-0001 (R&R); OMB No. 4040-0002 (Mandatory); 4040-0003 (Short Organizational); and 4040-0004 (Core). The form will be optional for the OMB No. 4040-0005 (Individual) collection. All SF-424 forms and data sets support the Federal Grants Streamlining Initiative (Pub. L. 106-107) by establishing consistency among Federal grant making agencies in their data collection processes. The revisions include removal of “Research & Related” from the form title and addition of a mandatory DUNS number field in the primary and additional performance location sections. A 3-year clearance is requested. Frequency of data collection varies by Federal agency. Estimated Annualized Burden Table Agency Number of respondents Number of responses per respondent Average burden per response (in hours) Total burden hours NSF 34,000 1 10/60 5,667 VA 750 1 20/60 250 USAID 150 2 5/60 25 IMLS 140 3 5/60 35 DOD 2,502 4.88 4/60 814 HHS 76,949 1.2 11/60 16,929 DOI 10,876 7 19/60 24,108 SSA 1,000 2 2/60 67 NEA 5,345 1 5/60 445 DOJ 16,571 1 15/60 4,143 USDA 7,150 1 10/60 1,192 EPA 3,816 4 5/60 1,272 HUD 9,100 1 30/60 4,550 NASA 1,887 5 15/60 2,359 NARA 125 1.2 10/60 25 NEH 2,500 1.5 15/60 938 DOT 3,400 1 53/60 2,975 Total 65,793 Alice Bettencourt, Office of the Secretary, Paperwork Reduction Act Reports Clearance Officer. [FR Doc. E7-22196 Filed 11-13-07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4151-AE-P DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES [Document Identifier: OS-0990-0279] Agency Information Collection Request; 60-Day Public Comment Request *Agency:* Office of the Secretary, HHS. In compliance with the requirement of section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Office of the Secretary (OS), Department of Health and Human Services, is publishing the following summary of a proposed information collection request for public comment. Interested persons are invited to send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including any of the following subjects:

(1)The necessity and utility of the proposed information collection for the proper performance of the agency's functions;

(2)the accuracy of the estimated burden;

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

(202)690-6162. Written comments and recommendations for the proposed information collections must be directed to the OS Paperwork Clearance Officer at the above email address within 60 days. *Proposed Project:* Institutional Review Board/Independent Ethics Committee Forms Extension—OMB No. 0990-0279—Assistant Secretary for Health, Office of Public Health and Science, Office for Human Research Protections. *Abstract:* The Office for Human Research Protections

(OHRP)is requesting a three year extension of the Institutional Review Board

(IRB)Independent Ethics Committee

(IEC)Registration Form designed to provide a simplified procedure for institutions engaged in Department of Health and Human Services

(HHS)conducted or supported research to satisfy the assurance requirements of Section 491(a) of the Public Health Service Act and HHS regulations for the protection of human subjects at 45 CFR 46.103. Respondents are institutions or organizations operating IRBs or IECs designated by an institution under an assurance of compliance approved for federal-wide use by OHRP and that review HHS-conducted or supported research. Data is collected as needed. Estimated Annualized Burden Table Forms Number of respondents Number of responses per respondent Average burden per response (in hours) Total burden hours IRB/IEC-0279 6,000 2 1 12,000 Alice Bettencourt, Office of the Secretary, Paperwork Reduction Act Reports Clearance Officer. [FR Doc. E7-22247 Filed 11-13-07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4150-28-P DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES [Document Identifier: OS-0990-0278] Agency Information Collection Request; 60-Day Public Comment Request AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, HHS. In compliance with the requirement of section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Office of the Secretary (OS), Department of Health and Human Services, is publishing the following summary of a proposed information collection request for public comment. Interested persons are invited to send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including any of the following subjects:

(1)The necessity and utility of the proposed information collection for the proper performance of the agency's functions;

(2)the accuracy of the estimated burden;

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

(202)690-6162. Written comments and recommendations for the proposed information collections must be directed to the OS Paperwork Clearance Officer at the above e-mail address within 60 days. *Proposed Project:* Federal-wide Assurance Forms—Extension—OMB No. 0990-0278—Assistant Secretary for Health, Office of Public Health and Science, Office for Human Research Protections. *Abstract:* The Office for Human Research Protections

(OHRP)is requesting a three year extension of the Federal-wide Assurance

(FWA)forms. The FWA forms were designed to provide a simplified procedure for institutions engaged in HHS-conducted or supported research to satisfy the assurance requirements of Section 49(a) of the Public Health Service Act and HHS Regulations for the protection of human subjects at 45 CFR 46.103. The respondents are institutions engaged in human subjects research that is conducted or supported by HHS. Data is collected as needed. Estimated Annualized Burden Table Forms Number of respondents Number of responses per respondent Average burden per response (in hours) Total burden hours FWA 0278 10,000 2 45/60 15,000 Alice Bettencourt, Office of the Secretary, Paperwork Reduction Act Reports Clearance Officer. [FR Doc. E7-22248 Filed 11-13-07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4150-28-P DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology; American Health Information Community Consumer Empowerment Workgroup Meeting ACTION: Announcement of meeting. SUMMARY: This notice announces the 21st meeting of the American Health Information Community Consumer Empowerment Workgroup in accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act (Pub. L. No. 92-463, 5 U.S.C., App.) DATES: December 5, 2007, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. [Eastern]. ADDRESSES: Mary C. Switzer Building (330 C Street, SW., Washington, DC 20201), Conference Room 4090. Please bring photo ID for entry to a Federal building. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: *http://www.hhs.gov/healthit/ahic/consumer/.* SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Workgroup will continue its discussion on how to encourage the widespread adoption of a personal health record that is easy-to-use, portable, longitudinal, affordable, and consumer-centered. The meeting will be available via Web cast. For additional information, go to: *http://www.hhs.gov/healthit/ahic/consumer/ce_instruct.html.* Dated: November 2, 2007. Judith Sparrow, Director, American Health Information Community, Office of Programs and Coordination, Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology. [FR Doc. 07-5641 Filed 11-13-07; 8:45 am]

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