Notices. Notice

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BILLING CODE 3410-16-C DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE International Trade Administration [A-475-818] Certain Pasta from Italy: Notice of Initiation of Antidumping Duty Changed Circumstances Review AGENCY: Import Administration, International Trade Administration, Department of Commerce. SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce (the Department) has obtained information with respect to Pasta Lensi S.r.l. (Lensi), a producer/exporter of pasta from Italy, and American Italian Pasta Company (AIPC), Lensi's corporate parent and importer of subject merchandise produced by Lensi, sufficient to warrant the self-initiation of a changed circumstances review.

Interested parties are invited to submit comments, as indicated below. EFFECTIVE DATE: November 19, 2007. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dennis McClure or Eric Greynolds, AD/CVD Operations, Office 3, Import Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, Room 4012, 14th Street and Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20230; telephone:

(202)485-5973 or

(202)482-6071, respectively. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background On July 24, 1996, the Department published in the **Federal Register** the antidumping duty order on pasta from Italy (61 FR 38547). Neither Lensi nor its predecessor IAPC 1 was individually investigated during the less-than-fair-value investigation. The Department conducted administrative reviews of Lensi/IAPC for the following periods: July 1, 2000 - June 30, 2001, July 1, 2001 - June 30, 2002, and July 1, 2002 - June 30, 2003. A *de minimis* margin was found for IAPC in the 2000-2001 review period. 2 A *de minimis* margin was found for Lensi in the 2001-2002 review period. 3 In the final results of the 2002-2003 administrative review, we again found a *de minimis* margin for Lensi and also found that Lensi had met the requirements for revocation from the order under 19 CFR 351.222(b)(2) and 351.222(e)(1). 4 Effective July 1, 2003, the antidumping duty order was revoked with respect to Lensi based on the three consecutive reviews resulting in *de minimis* dumping margins (see 19 CFR 351.222(b)). 5 1 *See Notice of Final Results of Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Changed Circumstances Review: Certain Pasta from Italy* , 68 FR 41553 (July 14, 2003), in which the Department determined that Lensi was the successor-in-interest to IAPC. 2 *See Notice of Final Results of the Antidumping Duty Administrative Review and Determination Not to Revoke in Part: Certain Pasta from Italy* , 68 FR 6882 (February 11, 2003). 3 *See Final Results of the Sixth Administrative Review of the Antidumping Duty Order on Certain Pasta from Italy and Determination Not to Revoke in Part* , 69 FR 6255 (February 10, 2004). 4 *See Notice of Final Results of the Seventh Administrative Review of the Antidumping Duty Order on Certain Pasta from Italy and Determination to Revoke in Part* , 70 FR 6832 (February 9, 2005) ( *Seventh Review Final* ). 5 *See Seventh Review Final* . Lensi and AIPC voluntarily disclosed to the Department in letters and in meetings with Department officials 6 that if Lensi had correctly reported its U.S. sales data in the seventh review, the data would have resulted in the Department calculating an above *de minimis* dumping margin in the *Seventh Review Final* and the antidumping duty order would not have been revoked with respect to Lensi. In their submissions, AIPC and Lensi suggest various processes for the Department to address this voluntary disclosure including reinstating Lensi under the order. 7 6 *See* August 31, September 18, and December 7, 2006, letters to the Secretary of Commerce from Lensi and AIPC. *See also* Memo to The File from Gary Taverman re: *Ex Parte* Meeting with Counsel for Lensi, August 31, 2006; Memorandum to The File from Eric B. Greynolds re: *Ex Parte* Meeting with Representatives of Lensi and the American Italian Pasta Company, September 7, 2006; and Memorandum to The File from Eric B. Greynolds re: *Ex Parte* Meeting with Representatives of Lensi and the American Italian Pasta Company, November 14, 2006. 7 *See* September 18 and December 7, 2006, letters. Scope of the Order Imports covered by this order are shipments of certain non-egg dry pasta in packages of five pounds four ounces or less, whether or not enriched or fortified or containing milk or other optional ingredients such as chopped vegetables, vegetable purees, milk, gluten, diastasis, vitamins, coloring and flavorings, and up to two percent egg white. The pasta covered by this scope is typically sold in the retail market, in fiberboard or cardboard cartons, or polyethylene or polypropylene bags of varying dimensions. Excluded from the scope of this order are refrigerated, frozen, or canned pastas, as well as all forms of egg pasta, with the exception of non-egg dry pasta containing up to two percent egg white. Also excluded are imports of organic pasta from Italy that are accompanied by the appropriate certificate issued by the Instituto Mediterraneo Di Certificazione, by Bioagricoop Scrl, by QC&I International Services, by Ecocert Italia, by Consorzio per il Controllo dei Prodotti Biologici, by Associazione Italiana per l'Agricoltura Biologica, or by Instituto per la Certificazione Etica e Ambientale

(ICEA)are also excluded from this order. The merchandise subject to this order is currently classifiable under items 1902.19.20 and 1901.90.9095 of the *Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States* ( *HTSUS* ). Although the HTSUS subheading is provided for convenience and customs purposes, the written description of the merchandise subject to the order is dispositive. Initiation of Changed Circumstances Review As a result of information submitted to the Department by Lensi and AIPC, the Department finds, pursuant to section 751(b)(1) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (the Act), that there is sufficient cause to warrant initiation of a changed circumstances review of the antidumping duty order on certain pasta from Italy with respect to Lensi. AIPC informed the Department that certain information was not included in the data reported to the Department during the seventh review. Lensi and AIPC acknowledge that, contrary to the final results of the seventh administrative review, Lensi did, in fact, make sales at less than normal value during the 2002 - 2003 review period. As a result, Lensi was not entitled to the *de minimis* rate it received in the seventh review. Nor was Lensi entitled to revocation from the order because it did not satisfy the criteria of having made sales at not less than normal value for a period of at least three consecutive years. Interested parties are invited to comment on this initiation and to address this voluntary disclosure, the possible reinstatement of the order with respect to Lensi, and the appropriate rate in the event that we reinstate the order. Interested parties may submit comments within 14 days of publication of this notice, or the first workday thereafter. Rebuttal comments may be filed not later than 21 days after the date of publication of this notice. The Department will publish in the **Federal Register** a notice of preliminary results of changed circumstances review, in accordance with 19 CFR 351.221(c)(3)(i), which will set forth the factual and legal conclusions upon which our preliminary results are based. In the event that the Department preliminarily finds that Lensi should be reinstated in the existing antidumping duty order on pasta from Italy, we will order U.S. Customs and Border Protection to suspend liquidation of entries for all shipments of the subject merchandise entered, or withdrawn from warehouse, for consumption on or after the publication date of the preliminary results. The Department will also issue its final results of review within 270 days of the date on which the changed circumstances review is initiated, in accordance with 19 CFR 351.216(e), and will publish these final results in the **Federal Register** . This notice is in accordance with section 751(b)(1) of the Act and 19 CFR 351.216 and 351.222. Dated: November 9, 2007. David M. Spooner, Assistant Secretary for Import Administration. [FR Doc. E7-22554 Filed 11-16-07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-DS-S DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE International Trade Administration [A-489-807] Certain Steel Concrete Reinforcing Bars from Turkey; Notice of Partial Rescission of Antidumping Duty Administrative Review AGENCY: Import Administration, International Trade Administration, Department of Commerce. EFFECTIVE DATE: November 19, 2007. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Irina Itkin, AD/CVD Operations, Office 2, Import Administration, International Trade Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 14th Street and Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, DC, 20230; telephone

(202)482-0656. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background On April 2, 2007, the Department of Commerce (the Department) published in the **Federal Register** a notice of “Opportunity to Request Review” of the antidumping duty order on certain steel concrete reinforcing bars (rebar) from Turkey for the period of review April 1, 2006, through March 31, 2007. * See Antidumping or Countervailing Duty Order, Finding, or Suspended Investigation; Opportunity to Request a Review * , 72 FR 15650 (April 2, 2007). The Department received timely requests for review from the following foreign producers/exporters in this proceeding: Colakoglu Metalurji A.S. and Colakoglu Dis Ticaret (collectively “Colakoglu”); Diler Demir Celik Endustrisi ve Ticaret A.S., Yazici Demir Celik Sanayi ve Turizm Ticaret A.S., and Diler Dis Ticaret A.S. (collectively “Diler”); Ekinciler Demir ve Celik Sanayi A.S. and Ekinciler Dis Ticaret A.S. (collectively “Ekinciler”); Habas Sinai ve Tibbi Gazlar Istihsal Endustrisi A.S. (Habas); Izmir Demir Celik Sanayi A.S.; and Nursan Celik Sanayi ve Haddecilik A.S. The Department also received a timely request for review from Nucor Corporation, Gerdau Ameristeel Corporation, and Commercial Metals Company, domestic producers of rebar and interested parties in this proceeding, for the producers/exporters referenced above, as well as for Ege Celik Endustrisi Sanayi ve Ticaret A.S. and Ege Dis Ticaret A.S.; Kaptan Demir Celik Endustrisi ve Ticaret A.S. and Kaptan Metal Dis Ticaret ve Nakliyat A.S.; and Kroman Celik Sanayii A.S. On May 30, 2007, the Department published a notice of initiation of administrative review of the antidumping duty order on rebar from Turkey. *See Initiation of Antidumping Duty and Countervailing Duty Administrative Reviews and Request for Revocation in Part* , 72 FR 29968 (May 30, 2007). The Department issued quantity and value questionnaires to the producers/exporters for which an administrative review was requested in May 2007. After selecting Colakoglu, Diler, Ekinciler, and Habas as mandatory respondents, the Department issued the antidumping duty questionnaire to them in July 2007. Ekinciler and Habas responded to the Department's questionnaire in September 2007. The preliminary results for this proceeding are due no later than April 29, 2008. Scope of the Order The product covered by this order is all stock deformed steel concrete reinforcing bars sold in straight lengths and coils. This includes all hot-rolled deformed rebar rolled from billet steel, rail steel, axle steel, or low-alloy steel. It excludes

(i)plain round rebar,

(ii)rebar that a processor has further worked or fabricated, and

(iii)all coated rebar. Deformed rebar is currently classifiable in the *Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States* (HTSUS) under item numbers 7213.10.000 and 7214.20.000. The HTSUS subheadings are provided for convenience and customs purposes. The written description of the scope of this proceeding is dispositive. Determination to Rescind, in Part On November 6, 2007, the Department published its final results for the April 1, 2005, through March 31, 2006, administrative review and found that Colakoglu and Diler met the requirements of revocation as described in 19 CFR 351.222. *See Certain Steel Concrete Reinforcing Bars From Turkey; Final Results of Antidumping Duty Administrative Review and New Shipper Review and Determination To Revoke in Part* , 72 FR 62630 (Nov. 6, 2007). Due to Colakoglu's and Diler's revocation in 2005-2006 administrative review, we are rescinding the April 1, 2006, through March 31, 2007, administrative review with respect to them because there is no statutory or regulatory basis to conduct an administrative review for a producer/exporter that has been revoked from the antidumping duty order. The Department will issue appropriate assessment instructions directly to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection

(CBP)15 days after the publication of this notice. Because we have revoked the order with respect to subject merchandise produced and exported by Colakoglu, as well as with respect to subject merchandise produced and exported by Diler, we will instruct CBP that entries of such merchandise that were suspended on or after April 1, 2006, should be liquidated without regard to antidumping duties and that all cash deposits collected will be returned with interest. This notice serves as a reminder to parties subject to an administrative protective order

(APO)of their responsibility concerning the disposition of proprietary information disclosed under APO in accordance with 19 CFR 351.305. Timely notification of return/destruction of APO materials or conversion to judicial protective order is hereby requested. Failure to comply with the regulations and the terms of an APO is a sanctionable violation. This determination is issued and published pursuant to sections 751(a) and 777(i) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended, and 19 CFR 351.213(d)(4). Dated: November 13, 2007. Stephen J. Claeys, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Import Administration. [FR Doc. E7-22556 Filed 11-16-07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-DS-S DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Institute of Standards and Technology [Docket No.: 070927542-7543-01] Voting Equipment Evaluations Phase II AGENCY: National Institute of Standards and Technology, Commerce. ACTION: Notice. SUMMARY: In accordance with the provisions of the Help America Vote Act (HAVA), the National Institute of Standards and Technology

(NIST)conducted initial benchmark research (Phase I) on voting equipment used in the 2004 elections. (See: *http://vote.nist.gov/meeting-08172007/Usability-Benchmarks-080907.doc)* . NIST is soliciting interest in Phase II of the benchmark research for voting equipment certified or submitted for certification to the 2005 Voluntary Voting System Guidelines. The NIST research is designed to:

(1)Determine the realistic usability benchmarks for current and future voting system technology to support usability performance standards in next generation voluntary voting systems standards, and

(2)develop usability test protocols for conformance testing of such standards. NIST may also examine relevant instructions, documentation and error messages, without doing any direct usability studies thereon. Manufacturers interested in participating in Phase II of this research will be asked to execute a Letter of Understanding. Interested parties are invited to contact NIST for information regarding participation, Letters of Understanding and shipping. DATES: Manufacturers who wish to participate in the program must submit a request and an executed Letter of Understanding by 5 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on March 18, 2008. ADDRESSES: Letters of Understanding may be obtained from and should be submitted to Allan C. Eustis, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Information Technology Laboratory Office, Technology Building 222, Room A328, 100 Bureau Drive, Mail Stop 8970, Gaithersburg, MD 20899-8970. Letters of Understanding may be faxed to: Allan C. Eustis at

(301)975-6097. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For shipping and further information, you may telephone Allan C. Eustis at

(301)975-5099, or e-mail: *allan.eustis@nist.gov* . SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In accordance with the provisions of the Help America Vote Act (Pub. L. 107- 252), the National Institute of Standards and Technology

(NIST)will be conducting Phase II research on voting equipment certified or submitted for certification to the 2005 Voluntary Voting System Guidelines. NIST Phase I and NIST Phase II research support Technical Guidelines Development Committee Resolution 05-05, Human Performance-Based Standards and Usability Testing, and are designed to:

(1)Determine the realistic usability benchmarks for current voting system technology to support usability performance standards in next generation voluntary voting systems standards, and

(2)develop usability test protocols for conformance testing of such standards. NIST may also examine relevant instructions, documentation and error messages, without doing any direct usability studies thereon. Phase I provided research for determining initial benchmarks (see: *http://vote.nist.gov/meeting-08172007/Usability-Benchmarks-080907.doc* ), and Phase II continues the research to develop usability test protocols. Interested manufacturers should contact NIST at the address given above. NIST will supply a Letter of Understanding, which the manufacturer must execute and send back to NIST. NIST will then provide the manufacturer with shipping instructions for the manufacturer's equipment. The equipment provided will be returned to the manufacturer after the NIST experiments, approximately one year from commencement of the experiments. Manufacturers should be aware that some of the testing could damage or destroy the equipment, although NIST expects only normal wear and tear associated with approximately 100 to 1,000 votes cast on the equipment by simulated voters. At the conclusion of the experiments, the equipment will be returned to the manufacturer in its post-testing condition. Neither NIST, nor the Election Assistance Commission, nor the Technical Guidelines Development Committee, will be responsible for the condition of the equipment when returned to the manufacturer. As a condition for participating in this program, each manufacturer must agree in advance to hold harmless all of these parties for the condition of the equipment. Information acquired during the tests regarding potential usability problems will be reported to the respective manufacturer. Results for identifiable vendor equipment will not be released. Comparative information may be released in a blind manner. Performance standards benchmarks and conformance test procedures will be made publicly available. Participating manufacturers should include or provide a technical tutorial on the setup and deployment of the equipment. NIST will pay all shipping costs, and there is no cost to the manufacturer for the testing. No modification to the equipment is permitted during the testing process. Voting equipment certified or submitted for certification to the 2005 Voluntary Voting System Guidelines that will be accepted for the experiments includes Direct Recording Electronic, and Optical Scan systems and Accessible Voting Systems used to cast and count votes as well as software used for ballot design and creation. Dated: November 9, 2007. Richard F. Kayser, Acting Deputy Director. [FR Doc. E7-22570 Filed 11-16-07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-13-P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration RIN: 0648-XD96 South Atlantic Fishery Management Council; Public Meetings AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice of public meetings. SUMMARY: The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) will hold a meeting of its, Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC), Spiny Lobster Committee, Joint Executive and Finance Committees, Southeast Data, Assessment, and Review (SEDAR) Committee, Snapper Grouper Committee, Ecosystem-based Management Committee, SSC Selection Committee (Closed Session), Standard Operations, Policy, and Procedures (SOPPs) Committee, and a meeting of the full Council. The Council will also hold a meeting of the Limited Access Privilege

(LAP)Program Exploratory Workgroup and public hearings regarding Amendment 15A to the Snapper Grouper Fishery Management Plan

(FMP)to address rebuilding plans for snowy grouper, black sea bass, and red porgy, and Amendment 15B to the Snapper Grouper FMP addressing the sale of recreationally-caught snapper grouper species, methods to reduce the effects of incidental hooking on sea turtles and smalltooth sawfish, commercial permit renewal periods and transferability requirements, implementation of a plan to monitor and access bycatch, establishment of reference points, such as Maximum Sustainable Yield

(MSY)and Optimum Yield

(OY)for golden tilefish, and establishment of allocations for snowy grouper and red porgy. In addition, the Council will hold a public scoping meeting for: 1) Amendment 7 to the Shrimp FMP addressing current qualifying criteria for a limited access program for the South Atlantic rock shrimp fishery and 2) allocation of the South Atlantic commercial king mackerel quota. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for additional details. DATES: The meetings will be held in December 2007. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for specific dates and times. ADDRESSES: The meetings will be held at the Sheraton Atlantic Beach Oceanfront Hotel, 2717 W. Fort Macon Road, Atlantic Beach, NC 28512; telephone: (1-800) 624-8875 or

(252)240-1155. Copies of documents are available from Kim Iverson, Public Information Officer, South Atlantic Fishery Management Council, 4055 Faber Place Drive, Suite 201, North Charleston, SC 29405. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kim Iverson, Public Information Officer; telephone:

(843)571-4366 or toll free at

(866)SAFMC-10; fax:

(843)769-4520; email: *kim.iverson@safmc.net* . SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Meeting Dates 1. Scientific and Statistical Committee Meeting: December 2, 2007, 3 p.m. until 6 p.m.; December 3, 2007 from 8 a.m. until 6 p.m., and December 4, 2007 from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m (Concurrent Sessions) The Scientific and Statistical Committee will meet to identify an independent reviewer and SSC participants for SEDAR assessments, review scheduling and planning for upcoming SEDAR assessment activities, and discuss fishing level recommendations. The SSC will also receive an update on the status of Amendment 14 to the Snapper Grouper FMP addressing marine protected areas. The Committee will be provided with at status update and provide recommendations on Amendment 16 to the Snapper Grouper FMP to address overfishing for gag and vermilion snapper, and Amendments 15A and Amendment 15B to the Snapper Grouper FMP. The SSC will also review additional proposed amendments to the Snapper Grouper FMP, a proposed Comprehensive Allocation Amendment, Amendment 7 to the Shrimp FMP, the Council's Fishery Ecosystem Plan

(FEP)and the FEP Comprehensive Amendment, and potential methods for allocation of the commercial king mackerel quota, and conduct other business as required. 2. Spiny Lobster Committee Meeting: December 3, 2007, 1:30 p.m. until 3 p.m. The Spiny Lobster Committee will meet to discuss the development of a three-Council amendment to address imports, with the Caribbean Fishery Management Council as the administrative lead. The Committee will review and discuss other issues in the fishery and develop a timeline for the next amendment. 3. Joint Executive and Finance Committees Meeting: December 3, 2007, 3 p.m. until 4:30 p.m. The Executive and Finance Committees will meet to discuss and approve the Calendar Year

(CY)2008 FMP/Amendment/Framework Schedule, Activities Schedule, and the 2008 budget. The Committees will also discuss a proposed new Scoping/Public Hearing Process and develop recommendations for the Council. 4. SEDAR Committee Meeting: December 3, 2007, 4:30 p.m. until 5 p.m. The SEDAR Committee will meet to review and discuss actions from the recent SEDAR Steering Committee meeting, review and discuss SEDAR 17 addressing South Atlantic Spanish mackerel and vermilion snapper, and develop recommendations for the May 2008 SEDAR Steering Committee meeting. Note: The Council will hold a public scoping meeting and public hearings on December 3, 2007 beginning at 7 p.m. Public scoping will be held for Amendment 7 to the Shrimp FMP addressing permit renewal qualifications for the South Atlantic rock shrimp fishery. A scoping session will also be held to address potential methods for allocation of the South Atlantic commercial king mackerel quota. Public hearings will be held for Amendment 15A to the Snapper Grouper FMP addressing stock rebuilding plans for snowy grouper, black sea bass, and red porgy, and Amendment 15B to the Snapper Grouper FMP that addresses:

(1)the sale of recreationally-caught snapper grouper species,

(2)methods to reduce the effects of incidental hooking on sea turtles and smalltooth sawfish,

(3)changes to commercial permit renewal periods and transferability requirements,

(4)implementation of a plan to monitor and access bycatch,

(5)establishment of reference points, such as Maximum Sustainable Yield

(MSY)and Optimum Yield

(OY)for golden tilefish, and

(6)establishment of allocations for snowy grouper and red porgy. 5. Snapper Grouper Committee Meeting: December 4, 2007, 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. and December 5, 2007, from 8 a.m. until 12 noon The Snapper Grouper Committee will begin its meeting with a legal briefing on recent litigation (CLOSED SESSION). The Committee will then complete its meeting in Open Session. The Committee will review amendment content and timing, and review and approve Amendment 16 for public hearing. The Committee will also review Amendment 15A public hearing and SSC comments and approve the amendment for formal review by the Secretary of Commerce. They will also review Amendment 15B public hearing comments and SSC comments and provide direction to staff, and review Amendment 17 and approve for public scoping. Management issues covered in Amendment 17 include but are not limited to: allocation overages, bycatch reduction in the deepwater snapper grouper fishery, changes in the golden tilefish fishing year, regional quotas for snowy grouper, snapper grouper longline fishery, etc. 6. LAP Program Exploratory Workgroup Meeting: December 5, 2007, 8 a.m. until 6 p.m. and December 6, 2007, 8 a.m. until 3 p.m. (Concurrent Sessions) The LAP Program Workgroup will meet to review the updated LAP Program Workgroup Draft Working Document, receive updates from the Outreach Sub-Committee and the Monitoring Sub-Committee, and receive a presentation on Status Quo Expectations. The Workgroup will receive law enforcement option recommendations, a presentation on Initial Allocation Analyses, and discuss Initial Allocation Options. The Workgroup will also discuss LAP Program options that consider regional differences, community quota and regional fishing associations, and cooperatives and sector allocation programs. 7. Joint Habitat and Ecosystem-based Management Committees Meeting: December 5, 2007, 1:30 p.m. until 6 p.m. The Habitat Committee will meet jointly with the Ecosystem-based Management Committee to review recommendations from the recent meeting of the joint Habitat and Coral Advisory Panels, review a proposal from Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary for a closed research area, and receive updates on the development of the Fishery Ecosystem Plan

(FEP)and the FEP Comprehensive Amendment. The Committee will discuss and develop a position on a Liquefied Natural Gas

(LNG)proposal, and receive reports on Ocean Observing Systems and an alternative energy workshop. 8. SSC Selection Committee Meeting: December 6, 2007, 8 a.m. until 10:30 a.m. (CLOSED SESSION) The SSC Selection Committee will discuss SSC tasks, personnel requirements, and technical committees. 9. SOPPs Committee Meeting: December 6, 2007, 10:30 a.m. until 12 noon The SOPPs Committee will receive an update on the review of the Council's SOPPs by the Secretary of Commerce and develop changes if necessary. 10. Council Session: December 6, 2007, 1:30 p.m. until 6 p.m. and December 7, 2007, 8 a.m. until 12 noon Council Session: December 6, 2007, 1:30 p.m. until 7 p.m. *From 1:30 p.m. - 1:45 p.m.* , the Council will call the meeting to order, adopt the agenda, and approve the September 2007 meeting minutes. *From 1:45 p.m. - 2:15 p.m.* , the Council will receive a presentation from the NOAA Fisheries Southeast Fisheries Science Center on the Data Improvement Plan. *From 2:15 p.m. - 2:45 p.m.* , the Council will receive a presentation on the South Atlantic Alliance. *From 2:45 p.m. - 3:15 p.m.* , the Council will receive a report from the SSC. *From 3:15 p.m. - 3:45 p.m.* , the Council will receive a presentation on the Marine Recreational Fisheries Statistics Survey (MRFSS) Program. *From 3:45 p.m. - 4 p.m.* , the Council will receive a report from the Spiny Lobster Committee and take action as appropriate. *From 4 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.* , the Council will receive a report from the Snapper Grouper Committee, approve Amendment 15A for submission to the Secretary of Commerce, and consider other recommendations and take action as appropriate. *4 p.m* - Public Comment Session: Public comment on Amendment 15A to the Snapper Grouper FMP. *From 5:30 p.m. - 5:45 p.m.* , the Council will receive a report from the LAP Program Work Group and take action as appropriate. *From 5:45 p.m. - 6 p.m.* , the Council will receive a report from the Joint Executive and Finance Committees and take action as appropriate. *From 6 p.m. - 7 p.m.* , the Council will receive a presentation on the Gulf of Mexico Council's Aquaculture Plan (that will amend the joint Spiny Lobster and Coastal Migratory Pelagics FMPs), allow for public comment (immediately following the presentation) and take Council action. Council Session: December 7, 2007, 8 a.m. - 12 noon. *From 8 a.m. - 8:15 a.m.* , the Council will receive a report from the SEDAR Committee and take action as appropriate. *From 8:15 a.m. - 8:30 a.m.* , the Council will receive a report from the joint Habitat and Ecosystem-based Committees and take action as appropriate. *From 8:30 a.m. - 8:45 a.m.* , the Council will receive a report from the SSC Selection Committee and take action as appropriate. *From 8:45 a.m. - 9 a.m.* , the Council will receive a report from the SOPPs Committee and take action as appropriate. *From 9 a.m. - 10 a.m.* , the Council will discuss a Comprehensive Allocation Amendment and provide guidance to staff. *From 10 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.* , the Council will review and develop comments on the Environmental Assessment for “Atlantic Highly Migratory Species Pelagic Longline Research”. *From 10:30 a.m. - 10:45 a.m.* , the Council will review and develop recommendations on Experimental Fishing Permits as necessary. *From 10:45 a.m. - 12 noon* , the Council will receive status reports from NOAA Fisheries' Southeast Regional Office, NOAA Fisheries' Southeast Fisheries Science Center, agency and liaison reports, and discuss other business including upcoming meetings. Documents regarding these issues are available from the Council office (see ADDRESSES ). Although non-emergency issues not contained in this agenda may come before this Council for discussion, those issues may not be the subjects of formal final Council action during this meeting. Council 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. Except for advertised (scheduled) public hearings and public comment, the times and sequence specified on this agenda are subject to change. Special Accommodations These meetings are physically accessible to people with disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids should be directed to the Council office (see ADDRESSES ) by November 30, 2007. Dated: November 13, 2007. Tracey L. Thompson, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. E7-22516 Filed 11-16-07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-22-S PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE Patent Prosecution Highway

(PPH)Pilot Program ACTION: Proposed collection; comment request. SUMMARY: The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public and other Federal agencies to comment on the proposed addition to this continuing information collection, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13 (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)). DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before January 18, 2008. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by any of the following methods: • *E-mail: Susan.Fawcett@uspto.gov.* Include “0651-0058 comment” in the subject line of the message. • *Fax:* 571-273-0112, marked to the attention of Susan Fawcett. • *Mail:* Susan K. Fawcett, Records Officer, Office of the Chief Information Officer, Customer Information Services Group, Public Information Services Division, United States Patent and Trademark Office, P.O. Box 1450, Alexandria, VA 22313-1450. • *Federal e-Rulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov.* FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information should be directed to Robert A. Clarke, Director, Office of Patent Legal Administration, United States Patent and Trademark Office, P.O. Box 1450, Alexandria, VA 22313-1450; by telephone at 571-272-7735; or by e-mail at *Robert.Clarke@uspto.gov.* SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: I. Abstract A work-sharing pilot program is being established between the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and the Japan Patent Office (JPO). This work-sharing program is called the “New Route.” Under the New Route, a filing in one member office of this arrangement would be deemed a filing in all member offices. The first office and applicant would be given a 30-month processing time frame in which to make available a first office action and any necessary translations to the second office(s), and the second office(s) would exploit the search and examination results in conducting their own examination. The New Route proposal permits the search and examination results of the first office to be transmitted to the second office(s) according to an internationally coordinated time frame. By allowing the second office to exploit the search and examination results of the first office, the primary benefits of the New Route program would be to reduce overall office workload, minimize duplication of search efforts, and increase examination quality. Because the New Route, as envisioned, would require changes in law in both the USPTO and JPO, the USPTO and JPO agreed to commence a pilot program to test the New Route concept based on the two filing scenarios currently available under existing law in both offices. The two filing scenarios eligible to participate in the New Route pilot program are:

(1)A priority application is filed in the first office and a Patent Cooperation Treaty

(PCT)application claiming priority to that application is filed with the same office as the PCT Receiving Office; if the priority application is examined within about 24 months and the corresponding PCT application enters the national stage in the second office, that national stage application would be eligible to participate in the New Route pilot program based on the priority application; and

(2)a PCT application is filed at the first office as the PCT Receiving Office (no priority application), the PCT application enters the national stage early in the first office so that search and examination results on the national stage application are available by about the 24th month, and the PCT application enters national stage in the second office at the 30th month. That national stage application in the second office would be eligible to participate in the New Route pilot program based on the national stage application in the first office. In order to participate in the New Route pilot program, applicants must submit the following at the time of entry into the national stage of the PCT application in the USPTO:

(a)A copy of the first office action by the JPO and English translation thereof;

(b)a copy of the claims searched and examined by the JPO and English translation thereof;

(c)a statement that the translations are accurate; and

(d)a request to participate in the New Route pilot program along with a petition to make special and the required petition fee. The pilot program will begin on January 28, 2008, and will end when the number of requests reaches 50 or the expiration of one year, whichever occurs first. The information collection includes one proposed form, Request for Participation in the New Route Pilot Program Between the JPO and the USPTO (PTO/SB/10), which may be used by applicants to request participation in the pilot program and to ensure that they meet the program requirements. II. Method of Collection Requests to participate in the New Route pilot program must be submitted by fax to the Office of the Commissioner for Patents (571-273-0125) to ensure that the request is processed in a timely manner. The USPTO will consider alternative methods of submission under this program after the pilot period is concluded. III. Data *OMB Number:* 0651-0058. *Form Number(s):* PTO/SB/10, PTO/SB/20. *Type of Review:* Revision of a currently approved collection. *Affected Public:* Individuals or households; businesses or other for-profits; and not-for-profit institutions. *Estimated Number of Respondents:* 800 responses per year, including 50 responses per year using the Request for Participation in the New Route Pilot Program. *Estimated Time per Response:* The USPTO estimates that it will take the public approximately 1.5 hours to gather the necessary information, prepare the form, and submit the completed Request for Participation in the New Route Pilot Program to the USPTO. *Estimated Total Annual Respondent Burden Hours:* 1,575 hours per year, including 75 hours for using the Request for Participation in the New Route Pilot Program. *Estimated Total Annual Respondent Cost Burden:* $478,800 per year. The USPTO expects that the information in this collection will be prepared by attorneys. Using the professional rate of $304 per hour for associate attorneys in private firms, the USPTO estimates that the respondent cost burden for submitting the Request for Participation in the New Route Pilot Program will be approximately $22,800 per year, which would result in a total annual respondent cost burden of $478,800 for this collection. Item Estimated time for response (hours) Estimated annual responses Estimated annual burden hours Request for Participation in the New Route Pilot Program Between the JPO and the USPTO (PTO/SB/10) 1.5 50 75 Total 50 75 *Estimated Total Annual Non-hour Respondent Cost Burden:* $104,000 per year. There are no capital start-up, maintenance, postage, or recordkeeping costs associated with this collection. However, there are additional filing fees associated with the proposed Requests for Participation in the New Route Pilot Program. The filing fee for a Request for Participation in the New Route Pilot Program is $130 under 37 CFR 1.17(h), and up to 50 filings are expected per year, for a total of $6,500 in filing fees due to these requests. When added to the previously approved burden for this collection, the total annual (non-hour) cost burden for this collection is estimated to be $104,000 per year. 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, e.g., the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology. Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized or included in the request for OMB approval of this information collection; they also will become a matter of public record. Dated: November 8, 2007. Susan K. Fawcett, Records Officer, USPTO, Office of the Chief Information Officer, Customer Information Services Group, Public Information Services Division. [FR Doc. E7-22541 Filed 11-16-07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-16-P DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE Department of the Army Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement

(EIS)for Disposal and Reuse of Fort McPherson, GA, Resulting From the 2005 Base Closure and Realignment Commission's Recommendations AGENCY: Department of the Army, DoD ACTION: Notice of Intent (NOI). SUMMARY: The Department of the Army intends to prepare an EIS for the disposal and reuse of Fort McPherson in Atlanta, Georgia. Pursuant to the BRAC law, Fort McPherson is to close by September 14, 2011. Other actions included in the closing of Fort McPherson are relocating the tenant headquarters organizations to Fort Sam Houston, Texas; Fort Eustis, Virginia; Pope air Force Base (AFB), North Carolina; and Shaw AFB, South Carolina. These relocations have been or will be addressed in separate National Environmental Policy Act documents for those locations. ADDRESSES: For further information regarding the EIS, please contact Mr. Victor Bonilla, BRAC Environmental Division, 2053 North D Avenue, Building 400, Fort Gillem, GA 30297-5161. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Bonilla at

(404)469-3557; fax:

(404)469-3565; e-mail: *bonillav@forscom.army.mil.* SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Fort McPherson is a 487-acre installation located approximately 4 miles southwest of downtown Atlanta and 3 miles north of Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. The proposed action (Army primary action) is to dispose of the surplus property generated by the BRAC-mandated closure of Fort McPherson. Reuse of Fort McPherson by others is a secondary action resulting from disposal. The Army has identified two disposal alternatives (early transfer and traditional disposal), a caretaker status alternative, and the no action alternative (as required by the National Environmental Policy Act). Reuse scenarios are evaluated as secondary actions. The EIS will analyze each alternative's impact upon a wide range of environmental resource areas including, but not limited to, air quality, traffic, noise, biological resources, cultural resources, socioeconomic, utilities, land use, hazardous and toxic substances, and cumulative environmental effects. Impacts to air quality conditions in the region, traffic conditions, land use, and community facilities and services could possibly be significant. Additional resources and conditions may be identified as a result of the scoping process initiated by this NOI. Opportunities for public participation will be announced in the respective local news media. The public will be invited to participate in scoping activities for the EIS and comments from the public will be considered before any action is taken to implement the disposal and reuse of Fort McPherson. Dated: November 9, 2007. Addison D. Davis, IV, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army (Environment, Safety and Occupational Health). [FR Doc. 07-5702 Filed 11-16-07; 8:45 am]

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