Notices. Notice of petitions for modification of existing mandatory safety standards

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BILLING CODE 4410-11-M DEPARTMENT OF LABOR Mine Safety and Health Administration Petitions for Modification AGENCY: Mine Safety and Health Administration, Labor. ACTION: Notice of petitions for modification of existing mandatory safety standards. SUMMARY: Section 101(c) of the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977 and 30 CFR Part 44 govern the application, processing, and disposition of petitions for modification. This notice is a summary of petitions for modification filed by the parties listed below to modify the application of existing mandatory safety standards published in Title 30 of the Code of Federal Regulations.

DATES: All comments on the petitions must be received by the Office of Standards, Regulations, and Variances on or before December 19, 2007. ADDRESSES: You may submit your comments, identified by “docket number” on the subject line, by any of the following methods: 1. *Electronic mail: Standards-Petitions@dol.gov* . 2. *Facsimile:* 1-202-693-9441. 3. *Regular Mail:* MSHA, Office of Standards, Regulations, and Variances, 1100 Wilson Boulevard, Room 2349, Arlington, Virginia 22209, *Attention:* Patricia W.

Silvey, Director, Office of Standards, Regulations, and Variances. 4. *Hand-Delivery or Courier:* MSHA, Office of Standards, Regulations, and Variances, 1100 Wilson Boulevard, Room 2349, Arlington, Virginia 22209, *Attention:* Patricia W. Silvey, Director, Office of Standards, Regulations, and Variances. We will consider only comments postmarked by the U.S. Postal Service or proof of delivery from another delivery service such as UPS or Federal Express on or before the deadline for comments.

Individuals who submit comments by hand-delivery are required to check in at the receptionist desk on the 21st floor. Individuals may inspect copies of the petitions and comments during normal business hours at the address listed above. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Edward Sexauer, Chief, Regulatory Development Division at 202-693-9444 (Voice), *sexauer.edward@dol.gov* (E-mail), or 202-693-9441 (Telefax), or contact Barbara Barron at 202-693-9447 (Voice), *barron.barbara@dol.gov* (E-mail), or 202-693-9441 (Telefax). [These are not toll-free numbers].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: I. Background Section 101(c) of the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977 (Mine Act) allows the mine operator or representative of miners to file a petition to modify the application of any mandatory safety standard to a coal or other mine if the Secretary determines that:

(1)An alternative method of achieving the result of such standard exists which will at all times guarantee no less than the same measure of protection afforded the miners of such mine by such standard; or

(2)that the application of such standard to such mine will result in a diminution of safety to the miners in such mine. In addition, the regulations at 30 CFR 44.10 and 44.11 establish the requirements and procedures for filing petitions for modifications. II. Petitions for Modification *Docket Number:* M-2007-061-C. *Petitioner:* D & R Coal Company, P.O. Box 728, Barbourville, Kentucky 40906. *Mine:* Mine # 3, MSHA I.D. No. 15-19018, located in Knox County, Kentucky. *Regulation Affected:* 30 CFR 75.342 (Methane monitors). *Modification Request:* The petitioner requests a modification of the existing standard to permit the use of hand-held continuous-duty methane and oxygen indicators in lieu of machine-mounted methane monitors on three-wheel tractors with drag bottom buckets. The petitioner states that:

(1)All persons will be qualified to use the hand-held detectors;

(2)a gas test will be taken to determine if any methane concentration is present in the atmosphere prior to allowing the coal-loading tractor in the face area and air quality will be monitored by the hand-held detector during each trip;

(3)if one percent (1%) of methane is detected, the operator will manually de-energize his/her battery operated tractor immediately, production will immediately cease, work will be performed to eliminate the elevated methane levels, and production will resume when the methane has been lowered to less than one percent;

(4)a spare continuous-duty hand-held methane and oxygen detector will be available to ensure that all coal hauling tractors are equipped with a working detector; and

(5)the monitors will be inspected daily and fully charged, calibrated at least every 30 days, and will not be changed from manufacturer's specifications unless by a person qualified to do so. The petitioner asserts that application of the existing standard reduces protection and the proposed alternative method would greatly increase the safety and well being of miners. *Docket Number:* M-2007-062-C. *Petitioner:* D & R Coal Company, Inc., P.O. Box 728, Barbourville, Kentucky 40906. *Mine:* Mine # 3, MSHA I.D. No. 15-19018, located in Knox County, Kentucky. *Regulation Affected:* 30 CFR 75.380(f)(4) (Escapeways; bituminous and lignite mines). *Modification Request:* The petitioner requests a modification of the existing to permit an alternative method for the use of mobile equipment traveling in the primary escapeway. The petitioner asserts that technology has not developed a fire suppression system that will fit on the type of equipment used in this mine, which is operated in the Blue Gem Seam of coal and has seam averaging 24 to 25 inches. The petitioner proposes to use portable fire suppression equipment on three-wheel tractors in lieu of installing fire suppression systems. The petitioner proposes to use one twenty or two ten pound portable chemical fire extinguishers on each Mescher tractor used at the mine. If two extinguishers are used, a ten pound extinguisher will be mounted in the operators' deck with the other mounted on the tractor accessible to the operator. If one extinguisher is used, it will be mounted in the operators' deck. In either case, the petitioner proposes to use a total of twenty pounds of fire extinguisher capability on each Mescher tractor, which will be readily available to the operator. The petitioner states that:

(1)The fire hazard potential on a Mescher tractor is extremely low because no hydraulics are used on these machines;

(2)all other components of the tractor are permissible and are not susceptible to fire hazard;

(3)the equipment operator will inspect each fire extinguisher daily before entering the primary escapeway;

(4)a record of the inspections will be maintained; and

(5)defective fire extinguishers will be replaced prior to entering the mine. The petitioner further states that:

(1)The main travelway of the mine is also the primary escapeway;

(2)the amount of time each Mescher tractor is in the primary escapeway is limited to the travel time to the face at the start of the shift, at mid-shift, to change batteries, and to travel out at the end of the shift during which time the drag bucket is empty and the tractor is not transporting coal;

(3)portable fire suppression equipment can be used to direct the chemical fire suppressant by the operator in a more effective manner in case there is a fire; and

(4)in this low coal mine the small fire extinguishers would be more effective to extinguish a fire than the machine-mounted systems. The petitioner also states that application of the existing standard will reduce the safety of the affected miners, since fire suppression equipment is not presently available for this type of equipment and currently, technology does not provide fire suppression equipment for the type of machinery used at the mine. The petitioner asserts that the proposed alternative method would provide at least the same measure of protection as the existing standard. *Docket Number:* M-2007-063-C. *Petitioner:* Alden Resources, LLC, 332 W. Cumberland Gap Parkway, Suite 100, Corbin, Kentucky 40701. *Mine:* Bain Branch Refuse Piles (I.D. No. 1211-KY7-07157-01), MSHA I.D. No. 15-17691, located in Whitley County, Kentucky. *Regulation Affected:* 30 CFR 77.214(a) (Refuse piles; general). *Modification Request:* The petitioner requests a modification of the existing standard because:

(1)The proposed refuse pile is constructed over abandoned underground mine openings in the Blue Gem coal bed;

(2)the abandoned openings have been sealed and backfilled with dirt; and

(3)the abandoned pit is a “box-cut” and the refuse will be placed in 2-foot lifts and used to reclaim the pit to approximately the original contour. The petitioner states that:

(1)The proposed modification will not reduce or diminish the safety of the proposed refuse pile since the pit being reclaimed is a box-cut and the dip of the coal seam is away from the portal area;

(2)there is no danger of water from the abandoned workings saturating the fill and causing a failure; and

(3)modification of the standard will allow for safe disposal of coal refuse at this site and will allow mining to continue in the area. The petitioner asserts that the proposed alternative method would provide at least the same measure of protection as the existing standard. *Docket Number:* M-2007-064-C. *Petitioner:* P & A Engineers and Consultants, Inc., for Stirrat Coal Company, P.O. Box 279, Louisa, Kentucky 41230. Preparation Plant, MSHA I.D. No. 46-02515, located in Logan County, West Virginia. *Regulation Affected:* 30 CFR 77.214(a) (Refuse piles; general). *Modification Request:* The petitioner requests a modification of the existing standard to permit a dry refuse structure to be added to the existing plant and rescue facility located near Stirrat in Logan County, West Virginia. The petitioner states that:

(1)The mine (Williamson Seam) was faced up using the conventional method of creating two mine benches and two high-walls for the mine entries;

(2)it is estimated that mining was completed in Mid-1988;

(3)the mine seals were certified by Registered Professional Engineer on September 20, 1988; and

(4)upon completion of mining the portals were sealed and the high-walls were returned to an approximate 2:1 slope; and

(5)a 6-inch Interior Diameter

(ID)steel drain was installed eliminating any potential head of water on the mine seals. The petitioner has provided with this petition a photo of the installed drain pipe and the backfilled portals. The petitioner further states that:

(1)The existing drain pipe will be routed to the outside and beyond the limits of the coarse refuse fill; and

(2)a rock filter will be placed around the extended pipe and wrapped in filter fabric (Mirafi 140N or equivalent) and extended through the refuse pile. The petitioner asserts that the proposed alternative method would provide at least the same measure of protection as the existing standard. *Docket Number:* M-2007-065-C. *Petitioner:* R S & W Coal Company, 207 Creek Road, Klingerstown, Pennsylvania 17941. *Mine:* R S & W Drift Mine, MSHA I.D. No. 36-01818, located Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania. *Regulation Affected:* 30 CFR 75.311(a) (Main mine fan operation). *Modification Request:* The petitioner requests a modification of the existing standard to allow the main mine fan to be idle during non-working hours. The petitioner states that historically, the main mine fan operation has been shut down during non-working shifts, because of icing during the winter months. The petitioner proposes to use the following stipulations in the fan stoppage plan:

(1)Shut the main mine fan down during idle periods;

(2)no mechanized equipment will be used underground;

(3)no electric power circuits enter the underground mine;

(4)the main mine fan will be operated for a minimum of one-half hour after the pressure recorder indicates that the normal mine ventilating pressure has been reached prior to any one entering the mine;

(5)the mine battery locomotive may be used to make the required pre-shift examination;

(6)the communication circuit 9-volts will be energized prior to the pre-shift being made;

(7)a certified person will conduct an examination of the entire mine according to the requirements in 30 CFR 75.360;

(8)persons will be allowed to enter the mine after it is determined to be safe and the pre-shift examination results have been recorded. The petitioner further states that the gangway, chutes, and headings are developed in rock and tests have shown that measurements taken every three seconds at the main mine fan found no detectable methane concentrations. The petitioner asserts that the proposed alternative method would provide at least the same measure of protection as the existing standard. Dated: November 13, 2007. Jack Powasnik, Deputy Director, Office of Standards, Regulations, and Variances. [FR Doc. E7-22561 Filed 11-16-07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4510-43-P LEGAL SERVICES CORPORATION Notice of Intent To Award—Grant Awards for the Provision of Civil Legal Services to Eligible Low-Income Clients Beginning January 1, 2008 AGENCY: Legal Services Corporation. ACTION: Announcement of intention to make FY 2008 Competitive Grant Awards. SUMMARY: The Legal Services Corporation

(LSC)hereby announces its intention to award grants and contracts to provide economical and effective delivery of high quality civil legal services to eligible low-income clients, beginning January 1, 2008. DATES: All comments and recommendations must be received on or before the close of business on December 19, 2007. ADDRESSES: Legal Services Corporation—Competitive Grants, Legal Services Corporation; 3333 K Street, NW., Third Floor; Washington, DC 2007. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Reginald Haley, Office of Program Performance, at

(202)295-1545, or *haleyr@lsc.gov.* SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to LSC's announcement of funding availability on April 13, 2007 (72 FR 18690), and Grant Renewal applications due on June 14, 2007, LSC intends to award funds to the following organizations to provide civil legal services in the indicated service areas. Amounts are subject to change. Service area Applicant name Grant amount Alabama: AL-4 Legal Services Alabama, Inc $6,194,159 MAL Texas RioGrande Legal Aid, Inc 31,723 Alaska: AK-1 Alaska Legal Services Corporation 717,081 NAK-1 Alaska Legal Services Corporation 522,566 Arizona: AZ-2 DNA-Peoples Legal Services, Inc 520,360 AZ-3 Community Legal Services, Inc 3,755,950 AZ-5 Southern Arizona Legal Aid, Inc 1,811,524 MAZ Community Legal Services, Inc 143,149 NAZ-5 DNA-Peoples Legal Services, Inc 2,521,402 NAZ-6 Southern Arizona Legal Aid, Inc 615,905 Arkansas: AR-6 Legal Aid of Arkansas, Inc 1,442,661 AR-7 Center for Arkansas Legal Services 2,153,508 MAR Texas RioGrande Legal Aid, Inc 76,207 California: CA-1 California Indian Legal Services, Inc 32,757 CA-2 Greater Bakersfield Legal Assistance, Inc 910,038 CA-12 Inland Counties Legal Services, Inc 4,043,496 CA-14 Legal Aid Society of San Diego, Inc 2,827,558 CA-19 Legal Aid Society of Orange County, Inc 3,949,336 CA-26 Central California Legal Services 2,847,151 CA-27 Legal Services of Northern California, Inc 3,518,106 CA-28 Bay Area Legal Aid 4,147,448 CA-29 Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles 7,863,346 CA-30 Neighborhood Legal Services of Los Angeles County 4,644,807 CA-31 California Rural Legal Assistance, Inc 4,641,722 MCA California Rural Legal Assistance, Inc 2,545,202 NCA-1 California Indian Legal Services, Inc 853,675 Colorado: CO-6 Colorado Legal Services 3,325,621 MCO Colorado Legal Services 143,193 NCO-1 Colorado Legal Services 92,795 Connecticut: CT-1 Statewide Legal Services of Connecticut, Inc 2,298,378 NCT-1 Pine Tree Legal Assistance, Inc 15,127 Delaware: DE-1 Legal Services Corporation of Delaware, Inc 599,465 MDE Legal Aid Bureau, Inc 23,937 District of Columbia: DC-1 Neighborhood Lgl. Svcs. Program of the Dist. of Col. 976,561 Florida: FL-5 Legal Services of Greater Miami, Inc 3,423,045 FL-13 Legal Services of North Florida, Inc 1,405,569 FL-14 Three Rivers Legal Services, Inc 1,731,241 FL-15 Community Legal Services of Mid-Florida, Inc 2,988,418 FL-16 Bay Area Legal Services, Inc 2,535,686 FL-17 Florida Rural Legal Services, Inc 2,669,506 FL-18 Coast to Coast Legal Aid of South Florida, Inc 1,794,874 MFL Florida Rural Legal Services, Inc 865,911 Georgia: GA-1 Atlanta Legal Aid Society, Inc 2,496,865 GA-2 Georgia Legal Services Program 6,344,861 MGA Georgia Legal Services Program 378,014 Guam: GU-1 Guam Legal Services Corporation 310,288 Hawaii: HI-1 Legal Aid Society of Hawaii 1,275,228 MHI Legal Aid Society of Hawaii 66,442 NHI-1 Native Hawaiian Legal Corporation 221,338 Idaho: ID-1 Idaho Legal Aid Services, Inc 1,146,232 MID Idaho Legal Aid Services, Inc 180,213 NID-1 Idaho Legal Aid Services, Inc 62,776 Illinois: IL-3 Land of Lincoln Legal Assistance Foundation, Inc 2,386,562 IL-6 Legal Assistance Foundation of Metro. Chicago 6,229,752 IL-7 Prairie State Legal Services, Inc 2,665,154 MIL Legal Assistance Foundation of Metro. Chicago 240,680 Indiana: IN-5 Indiana Legal Services, Inc 4,880,056 MIN Indiana Legal Services, Inc 109,625 Iowa: IA-3 Iowa Legal Aid 2,264,631 MIA Iowa Legal Aid 36,378 Kansas: KS-1 Kansas Legal Services, Inc 2,287,952 MKS Kansas Legal Services, Inc 11,460 Kentucky: KY-2 Legal Aid Society 1,136,065 KY-5 Appalachian Res. and Defense Fund of Kentucky 1,960,479 KY-9 Kentucky Legal Aid 1,177,670 KY-10 Legal Aid of the Bluegrass 1,223,911 MKY Texas RioGrande Legal Aid, Inc 41,033 Louisiana: LA-1 Capital Area Legal Services Corporation 1,366,338 LA-10 Acadiana Legal Service Corporation 1,935,365 LA-11 Legal Services of North Louisiana, Inc 1,815,850 LA-12 Southeast Louisiana Legal Services Corporation 2,446,431 MLA Texas RioGrande Legal Aid, Inc 26,550 Maine: ME-1 Pine Tree Legal Assistance, Inc 1,139,240 MMX-1 Pine Tree Legal Assistance, Inc 120,416 NME-1 Pine Tree Legal Assistance, Inc 62,279 Maryland: MD-1 Legal Aid Bureau, Inc 3,824,613 MMD Legal Aid Bureau, Inc 87,659 Massachusetts: MA-4 Merrimack Valley Legal Services, Inc 800,191 MA-10 Massachusetts Justice Project, Inc 1,454,397 MA-11 Volunteer Lawyers Project of the Boston Bar Assoc 1,963,315 MA-12 New Center for Legal Advocacy, Inc 880,028 Michigan: MI-9 Legal Services of Northern Michigan, Inc 680,801 MI-12 Legal Services of South Central Michigan 1,231,866 MI-13 Legal Aid and Defender Association, Inc 3,689,294 MI-14 Legal Services of Eastern Michigan 1,321,121 MI-15 Legal Aid of Western Michigan 1,607,597 MMI Legal Services of South Central Michigan 580,362 NMI-1 Michigan Indian Legal Services, Inc 159,061 Micronesia: MP-1 Micronesian Legal Services, Inc 1,590,295 Minnesota: MN-1 Legal Aid Service of Northeastern Minnesota 402,923 MN-4 Legal Services of Northwest Minnesota Corporation 361,122 MN-5 Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services, Inc 1,173,577 MN-6 Central Minnesota Legal Services, Inc 1,262,697 MMN Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services, Inc 192,904 NMN-1 Anishinabe Legal Services, Inc 230,916 Mississippi: MS-9 North Mississippi Rural Legal Services, Inc 1,934,821 MS-10 Mississippi Center for Legal Services 2,898,120 MMS Texas RioGrande Legal Aid, Inc 55,026 NMS-1 Mississippi Center for Legal Services 80,322 Missouri: MO-3 Legal Aid of Western Missouri 1,712,138 MO-4 Legal Services of Eastern Missouri, Inc 1,890,273 MO-5 Mid-Missouri Legal Services Corporation 376,819 MO-7 Legal Services of Southern Missouri 1,631,168 MMO Legal Aid of Western Missouri 78,544 Montana: MT-1 Montana Legal Services Association 1,092,089 MMT Montana Legal Services Association 52,627 NMT-1 Montana Legal Services Association 153,854 Nebraska: NE-4 Legal Aid of Nebraska 1,397,489 MNE Legal Aid of Nebraska 40,766 NNE-1 Legal Aid of Nebraska 31,940 Nevada: NV-1 Nevada Legal Services, Inc 1,831,947 MNV Nevada Legal Services, Inc 2,426 NNV-1 Nevada Legal Services, Inc 128,487 New Hampshire: NH-1 Legal Advice & Referral Center, Inc 690,772 New Jersey: NJ-8 Essex-Newark Legal Services Project, Inc 1,048,148 NJ-12 Ocean-Monmouth Legal Services, Inc 641,988 NJ-15 Legal Services of Northwest Jersey 378,763 NJ-16 South Jersey Legal Services, Inc 1,289,417 NJ-17 Central Jersey Legal Services, Inc 1,052,474 NJ-18 Northeast New Jersey Legal Services Corporation 1,712,762 MNJ South Jersey Legal Services, Inc 116,340 New Mexico: NM-1 DNA-Peoples Legal Services, Inc 209,287 NM-5 New Mexico Legal Aid 2,640,049 MNM New Mexico Legal Aid 84,207 NNM-2 DNA-Peoples Legal Services, Inc 21,952 NNM-4 New Mexico Legal Aid 448,960 New York: NY-7 Nassau/Suffolk Law Services Committee, Inc 1,341,108 NY-9 Legal Services for New York City 14,721,878 NY-20 Legal Services of the Hudson Valley 1,725,088 NY-21 Legal Aid Society of Northeastern New York, Inc 1,295,651 NY-22 Legal Aid Society of Mid-New York, Inc 1,698,288 NY-23 Legal Assistance of Western New York, Inc 1,664,791 NY-24 Neighborhood Legal Services, Inc 1,296,346 MNY Legal Aid Society of Mid-New York, Inc 266,882 North Carolina: NC-5 Legal Aid of North Carolina, Inc 8,032,991 MNC Legal Aid of North Carolina, Inc 516,748 NNC-1 Legal Aid of North Carolina, Inc 210,882 North Dakota: ND-3 Legal Services of North Dakota 543,360 MND Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services, Inc 111,756 NND-3 Legal Services of North Dakota 260,282 Ohio: OH-5 The Legal Aid Society of Columbus 1,229,387 OH-17 Ohio State Legal Services 1,646,749 OH-18 Legal Aid Society of Greater Cincinnati 1,388,723 OH-20 Community Legal Aid Services, Inc 1,606,732 OH-21 The Legal Aid Society of Cleveland 2,044,258 OH-23 Legal Aid of Western Ohio, Inc 2,403,409 MOH Legal Aid of Western Ohio, Inc 121,450 Oklahoma: OK-3 Legal Aid Services of Oklahoma, Inc 4,320,679 MOK Legal Aid Services of Oklahoma, Inc 60,333 NOK-1 Oklahoma Indian Legal Services, Inc 791,159 Oregon: OR-6 Legal Aid Services of Oregon 2,929,860 MOR Legal Aid Services of Oregon 537,064 NOR-1 Legal Aid Services of Oregon 178,371 Pennsylvania: PA-1 Philadelphia Legal Assistance Center 2,959,139 PA-5 Laurel Legal Services, Inc 735,176 PA-8 Neighborhood Legal Services Association 1,602,505 PA-11 Southwestern Pennsylvania Legal Services, Inc 534,121 PA-23 Legal Aid of Southeastern Pennsylvania 1,086,577 PA-24 North Penn Legal Services, Inc 1,733,337 PA-25 MidPenn Legal Services, Inc 2,120,537 PA-26 Northwestern Legal Services 699,396 MPA Philadelphia Legal Assistance Center 159,799 Puerto Rico: PR-1 Puerto Rico Legal Services, Inc 15,608,934 PR-2 Community Law Office, Inc 330,452 MPR Puerto Rico Legal Services, Inc 280,322 Rhode Island: RI-1 Rhode Island Legal Services, Inc 1,073,387 South Carolina: SC-8 South Carolina Legal Services, Inc 4,695,383 MSC South Carolina Legal Services, Inc 190,710 South Dakota: SD-2 East River Legal Services 389,661 SD-4 Dakota Plains Legal Services, Inc 461,784 MSD Dakota Plains Legal Services, Inc 3,826 NSD-1 Dakota Plains Legal Services, Inc 902,194 Tennessee: TN-4 Memphis Area Legal Services, Inc 1,370,636 TN-7 West Tennessee Legal Services, Inc 639,447 TN-9 Legal Aid of East Tennessee 2,093,683 TN-10 Lgl. Aid Soc. of Middle Tenn. and the Cumberlands 2,495,215 MTN Texas RioGrande Legal Aid, Inc 61,153 Texas: TX-13 Lone Star Legal Aid 9,247,199 TX-14 Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas 7,295,862 TX-15 Texas RioGrande Legal Aid, Inc 9,921,650 MTX Texas RioGrande Legal Aid, Inc 1,339,253 NTX-1 Texas RioGrande Legal Aid, Inc 30,241 Utah: UT-1 Utah Legal Services, Inc 1,774,709 MUT Utah Legal Services, Inc 65,398 NUT-1 Utah Legal Services, Inc 79,494 Vermont: VT-1 Legal Services Law Line of Vermont, Inc 487,210 Virgin Islands: VI-1 Legal Services of the Virgin Islands, Inc 311,527 Virginia: VA-15 Southwest Virginia Legal Aid Society, Inc 791,148 VA-16 Legal Aid Society of Eastern Virginia 1,366,739 VA-17 Virginia Legal Aid Society, Inc 823,566 VA-18 Central Virginia Legal Aid Society, Inc 970,897 VA-19 Blue Ridge Legal Services, Inc 685,028 MVA Central Virginia Legal Aid Society, Inc 152,067 Washington: WA-1 Northwest Justice Project 4,757,580 MWA Northwest Justice Project 703,757 NWA-1 Northwest Justice Project 275,255 West Virginia: WV-5 Legal Aid of West Virginia, Inc 2,781,120 MWV Legal Aid of West Virginia, Inc 35,245 Wisconsin: WI-2 Wisconsin Judicare, Inc 849,376 WI-5 Legal Action of Wisconsin, Inc 3,089,820 MWI Legal Action of Wisconsin, Inc 87,783 NWI-1 Wisconsin Judicare, Inc 149,888 Wyoming: WY-4 Wyoming Legal Services, Inc 476,526 MWY Wyoming Legal Services, Inc 11,995 NWY-1 Wyoming Legal Services, Inc 166,972 These grants and contracts will be awarded under the authority conferred on LSC by the Legal Services Corporation Act, as amended (42 U.S.C. 2996e(a)(1)). Awards will be made so that each service area is served, although none of the listed organizations are guaranteed an award or contract. This public notice is issued pursuant to the LSC Act (42 U.S.C. 2996f(f)), with a request for comments and recommendations concerning the potential grantees within a period of thirty

(30)days from the date of publication of this notice. Grants will become effective and grant funds will be distributed on or about January 1, 2008. Dated: November 13, 2007. Michael A. Genz, Director, Office of Program Performance, Legal Services Corporation. [FR Doc. E7-22539 Filed 11-16-07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 7050-01-P THE NATIONAL FOUNDATION ON THE ARTS AND THE HUMANITIES Meetings of Humanities Panel AGENCY: The National Endowment for the Humanities. ACTION: Notice of Meetings. SUMMARY: Pursuant to the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (Pub. L. 92-463, as amended), notice is hereby given that the following meetings of Humanities Panels will be held at the Old Post Office, 1100 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20506. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Heather C. Gottry, Acting Advisory Committee Management Officer, National Endowment for the Humanities, Washington, DC 20506; telephone

(202)606-8322. Hearing-impaired individuals are advised that information on this matter may be obtained by contacting the Endowment's TDD terminal on

(202)606-8282. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The proposed meetings are for the purpose of panel review, discussion, evaluation and recommendation on applications for financial assistance under the National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities Act of 1965, as amended, including discussion of information given in confidence to the agency by the grant applicants. Because the proposed meetings will consider information that is likely to disclose trade secrets and commercial or financial information obtained from a person and privileged or confidential and/or information of a personal nature the disclosure of which would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of personal privacy, pursuant to authority granted me by the Chairman's Delegation of Authority to Close Advisory Committee meetings, dated July 19, 1993, I have determined that these meetings will be closed to the public pursuant to subsections (c)(4), and

(6)of section 552b of Title 5, United States Code. 1. Date: December 3, 2007. Time: 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Room: 315. Program: This meeting will review applications for Teaching and Learning Resources and Curriculum Development, submitted to the Division of Education Programs, at the October 1, 2007 deadline. 2. Date: December 6, 2007. Time: 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Room: 315. Program: This meeting will review applications for Teaching and Learning Resources and Curriculum Development, submitted to the Division of Education Programs, at the October 1, 2007 deadline. 3. Date: December 6, 2007. Time: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Room: 415. Program: This meeting will review applications for Digital Humanities Start-Up Grants, submitted to the Digital Humanities Initiative, at the October 16, 2007 deadline. 4. Date: December 10, 2007. Time: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Room: 415. Program: This meeting will review applications for Digital Humanities Start-Up Grants, submitted to the Digital Humanities Initiative, at the October 16, 2007 deadline. 5. Date: December 10, 2007. Time: 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Room: 315. Program: This meeting will review applications for Teaching and Learning Resources and Curriculum Development, submitted to the Division of Education Programs, at the October 1, 2007 deadline. 6. Date: December 11, 2007. Time: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Room: 415. Program: This meeting will review applications for Digital Humanities Start-Up Grants, submitted to the Digital Humanities Initiative, at the October 16, 2007 deadline. 7. Date: December 11, 2007. Time: 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Room: 315. Program: This meeting will review applications for Teaching and Learning Resources and Curriculum Development, submitted to the Division of Education Programs, at the October 1, 2007 deadline. 8. Date: December 13, 2007. Time: 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Room: 315. Program: This meeting will review applications for Fellowship Programs at Independent Research Institutions in Fellowships at Independent Research Institutions, submitted to the Division of Research Programs, at the September 1, 2007 deadline. Heather C. Gottry, Acting Advisory Committee Management Officer. [FR Doc. E7-22569 Filed 11-16-07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 7536-01-P NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION Agency Information Collection Activities: Comment Request AGENCY: National Science Foundation. ACTION: Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request. SUMMARY: The National Science Foundation

(NSF)has submitted the following information collection requirement to OMB for review and clearance under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Pub. L. 104-13. This is the second notice for public comment; the first was published in the **Federal Register** at 72 FR 50410, and no substantial comments were received. NSF is forwarding the proposed renewal submission to the Office of Management and Budget

(OMB)for clearance simultaneously with the publication of this second notice. The full submission may be found at: *http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain.* Comments regarding

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

(d)ways to 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 should be addressed to: Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs of OMB, *Attention:* Desk Officer for National Science Foundation, 725 17th Street, NW., Room 10235, Washington, DC 20503, and to Suzanne Plimpton, Reports Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation, 4201 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 295, Arlington, Virginia 22230 or send e-mail to *splimpto@nsf.gov.* Comments regarding these information collections are best assured of having their full effect if received within 30 days of this notification. Copies of the submission(s) may be obtained by calling 703-292-7556. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Suzanne Plimpton at

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(TDD)may call the Federal Information Relay Service

(FIRS)at 1-800-877-8339 between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., Eastern time, Monday through Friday. NSF may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information unless the collection of information displays a currently valid OMB control number and the agency informs potential persons who are to respond to the collection of information that such persons are not required to respond to the collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: *Title of Collection:* Recurring Study of National Science Foundation-sponsored Graduate Education Impacts or Legacy (GEIL). (Formerly called the Evaluation of the Initial Impacts of the Integrative Graduate Education Research and Traineeship (IGERT) Program.) *OMB Control No.:* 3145-0182. Abstract The National Science Foundation

(NSF)requests reinstatement of this data collection (e.g., interviews, surveys, focus groups, site visits) measuring NSF's contribution to the Nation's graduate education enterprise and overall science and engineering workforce. This continuation expands the data collection formerly called “The Evaluation of the Initial Impacts of the IGERT Program” most recently approved through July 2005 (OMB 3145-0182). IGERT began data collection in the late 1990s for use in program research, management, and evaluation. Data collection was concurrent with NSF-funding in order to document IGERT's initial impact within individual departments or institutions (often called projects), and on student, faculty, and other participants as compared to the educational and training experiences of individuals who were external to IGERT. This request expands data collection to the portfolio of NSF-funded graduate education programs and projects, typically on a program-by-program sub-study basis in order to address long-term impact. For over fifty years NSF has funded directly and indirectly (e.g., via institutions), tens of thousands of individuals who pursue post-undergraduate education or research training. NSF's graduate education portfolio includes: The Integrative Graduate Education Research and Traineeship (IGERT) program. IGERT provides grants to institutions to recruit and support doctoral students in interdisciplinary Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics programs (STEM). The Graduate Teaching Fellows in K-12 Education (GK-12) program. GK-12 provides grants to institutions to support STEM graduate students' acquisition of skills that will prepare them for careers in the 21st century. The Graduate Research Fellowship

(GRF)program. GRF provides three years of funding to eligible individuals for graduate study leading to research-based masters or doctoral degrees at an IHE of their choice. A longer list of NSF's graduate education opportunities and eligibility information is on the NSF Web site under the link: “Specialized information for Graduate Students” at: *http://www.nsf.gov/funding/education/jsp?org=NSF@fund--type-2* . Through longitudinal study NSF aims to learn about the long-term impact or legacy of its program strategies in graduate education. A primary goal is to identify and follow-up with individuals who participate in NSF-funded programs or projects, especially students who graduated with masters or doctoral degrees. The primary means of data collection will be surveys. Site visits, focus groups and interviews are used to improve survey instruments, clarify responses or address questions of institutional impact. Typical respondents are former NSF-funded fellows, trainees or to her participants in NSF-funded projects or are professional scientists, engineers, IHE faculty, K-graduate educators, education administrators and K-IHE policymakers. NSF uses the analysis of responses to prepare and publish reports and to respond to requests from Committees of Visitors, Congress and the Office of management and Budget, particularly as related to the Government Performance and Results Act

(GPRA)and the Program Assessment Rating Tool (PART). The study's broad questions include but are not limited to: What do individuals following post-participation in IGERT or other NSF-funded graduate opportunities do? Do IGERT or other NSF-funded opportunities provide graduates with the professional and/or research skills needed to work in science and engineering? Are IGERT or other NSF-sponsored graduates satisfied that their NSF-funded graduate education advanced their careers in science or engineering? To what extent do IGERT or other former-NSF-sponsored graduates engage in the science and engineering workforce conduct inter- or multi-disciplinary science? Is there evidence of a legacy from NSF-funding that changed a degree-granting department beyond number of students supported and degrees awarded? To what extent have projects achieved or contributed to individual project goals or the NSF program goals? To what extent have NSF-funded projects or programs broadened participation by diverse individuals, particularly individuals traditionally underemployed in science or engineering, including but not limited to women, minorities, and persons-with-disabilities? *Respondents:* Individuals or households, not-for-profit institutions, business or other for profit, and Federal, State, Local, or Tribal Government. *Number of Respondents:* 3,345. *Burden on the Public:* 1,552 hours. This estimate covers three graduate education programs, their participants, and comparison group respondents over a three year period. Dated: November 13, 2007. Suzanne H. Plimpton, Reports Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation. [FR Doc. 07-5707 Filed 11-16-07; 8:45 am]

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