Notices. Notice of open teleconference meeting

10,743 words·~49 min read·/register/2007/12/13/07-6041

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

BILLING CODE 4140-01-M DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY Coast Guard [Docket No. USCG-2007-0107] National Offshore Safety Advisory Committee AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS. ACTION: Notice of open teleconference meeting. SUMMARY: This notice announces a teleconference of the National Offshore Safety Advisory Committee (NOSAC). The purpose of the teleconference is for NOSAC to vote on accepting the Subcommittee report “MARPOL Annex II Application to new Offshore Supply Vessels in International Service.

” DATES: The teleconference call will take place on Monday, January 14, 2008, from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. EST. ADDRESSES: Members of the committee and public may participate by coming to Room 1303, U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters; 2100 Second Street, SW., Washington, DC 20593-0001. We request that members of the public who plan to attend this meeting notify Mr. Jim Magill at 202-372-1414 so that he may notify building security officials. This notice and the report is available on our online docket, USCG-2007-0107, at *http://www.regulations.gov* .

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: CDR John Cushing, Executive Director of NOSAC, telephone 202-372-1410 or Mr. Jim Magill, Assistant Executive Director of NOSAC, telephone 202-372-1414. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Notice of this meeting is given under the Federal Advisory Committee Act, 5 U.S.C. App. (Pub. L. 92-463). Committee members and members of the public may participate by dialing 1-888-220-3046 on a touch-tone phone. You will then be prompted to enter your “participant code number,” which is 2556102#.

Please ensure that you enter the # mark after the participant code. Public participation is welcomed; however, the number of teleconference lines is limited, and lines are available first-come, first-served. Agenda of Meeting The agenda for the Monday, January 14th, 2008 teleconference Committee meeting is as follows: 10 a.m.-10:05 a.m. Welcome and Opening Remarks—NOSAC Chairman Mr. Chuck Bedell. 10:05 a.m.-10:30 a.m. Open discussion concerning the Subcommittee report “MARPOL Annex II Application to new Offshore Supply Vessels in International Service.” 10:30a.m.-10:45 a.m.

Public comment period. 10:45 a.m.-11 a.m. NOSAC vote on the report “MARPOL Annex II Application to new Offshore Supply Vessels in International Service.” 11 a.m. Adjourn. This agenda is subject to change and the meeting may adjourn early if all Committee business has been completed. Public Participation The Chairman of NOSAC is empowered to conduct the teleconference in a way that will, in his judgment, facilitate the orderly conduct of business. During its teleconference, the Committee welcomes public comment.

The Committee will make every effort to hear the views of all interested parties, including the public. Written comments may be submitted on or before the day of the teleconference (SEE ADDRESSES ). Information on Services for Individuals with Disabilities For information on facilities or services for individuals with disabilities or to request special assistance at the meeting, contact Mr. Magill as soon as possible. Dated: December 6, 2007. J. G. Lantz, Director of Commercial Regulations and Standards. [FR Doc.

E7-24127 Filed 12-12-07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910-15-P DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY Transportation Security Administration [Docket Nos. TSA-2006-24191; Coast Guard-2006-24196] Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC); Enrollment Dates for the Port of Los Angeles/Long Beach, CA AGENCY: Transportation Security Administration, United States Coast Guard, DHS. ACTION: Notice. SUMMARY: The Department of Homeland Security

(DHS)through the Transportation Security Administration

(TSA)issues this notice of the dates for the beginning of the initial enrollment for the Transportation Worker Identification Credential

(TWIC)for the Port of Los Angeles/Long Beach, CA. DATES: TWIC enrollment in Los Angeles/Long Beach will begin on December 12, 2007. ADDRESSES: You may view published documents and comments concerning the TWIC Final Rule, identified by the docket numbers of this notice, using any one of the following methods.

(1)Searching the Federal Docket Management System

(FDMS)Web page at *www.regulations.gov* ;

(2)Accessing the Government Printing Office's Web page at *http://www.gpoaccess.gov/fr/index.html* ; or

(3)Visiting TSA's Security Regulations Web page at *http://www.tsa.gov* and accessing the link for “Research Center” at the top of the page. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: James Orgill, TSA-19, Transportation Security Administration, 601 South 12th Street, Arlington, VA 22202-4220. Transportation Threat Assessment and Credentialing (TTAC), TWIC Program,

(571)227-4545; e-mail: *credentialing@dhs.gov* . Background The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), through the United States Coast Guard and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), issued a joint final rule (72 FR 3492; January 25, 2007) pursuant to the Maritime Transportation Security Act (MTSA), Pub. L. 107-295, 116 Stat. 2064 (November 25, 2002), and the Security and Accountability for Every Port Act of 2006 (SAFE Port Act), Pub. L. 109-347 (October 13, 2006). This rule requires all credentialed merchant mariners and individuals with unescorted access to secure areas of a regulated facility or vessel to obtain a TWIC. In this final rule, on page 3510, TSA and Coast Guard stated that a phased enrollment approach based upon risk assessment and cost/benefit would be used to implement the program nationwide, and that TSA would publish a notice in the **Federal Register** indicating when enrollment at a specific location will begin and when it is expected to terminate. This notice provides the start date for TWIC initial enrollment at the Port of Los Angeles/Long Beach, CA. Enrollment in Los Angeles/Long Beach will begin on December 12, 2007. The Coast Guard will publish a separate notice in the **Federal Register** indicating when facilities within the Captain of the Port Zone Los Angeles/Long Beach, including those in the Port of Los Angeles/Long Beach must comply with the portions of the final rule requiring TWIC to be used as an access control measure. That notice will be published at least 90 days before compliance is required. To obtain information on the pre-enrollment and enrollment process, and enrollment locations, visit TSA's TWIC Web site at *http://www.tsa.gov/twic* . Issued in Arlington, Virginia, on December 6, 2007. Stephen Sadler Director, Maritime and Surface Credentialing, Office of Transportation Threat Assessment and Credentialing, Transportation Security Administration. [FR Doc. E7-24184 Filed 12-12-07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 9110-05-P DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT [Docket No. FR-5117-N-104] Notice of Submission of Proposed ; Information Collection to OMB; Public Housing 5-Year and Annual PHA Plan; Correction AGENCY: Office of the Chief Information Officer, HUD. ACTION: Notice, Correction. SUMMARY: This notice was previously published on November 20, 2007, and is being republished to extend the comment period until December 31, 2007. The proposed information collection requirement described below has been submitted to the Office of Management and Budget

(OMB)for review, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act. The Department is soliciting public comments on the subject proposal. PHA's are required to submit annual and 5-Year Plans to HUD as required by section 5A of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C.1437c-1). The purpose of the plan is to provide a framework for local accountability and a means by which public housing residents, participants in the tenant-based assistance program, and other members of the public may locate basic PHA policies, rules and requirements concerning the PHA's operations, programs and services. DATES: *Comments Due Date:* December 31, 2007. ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments regarding this proposal. Comments should refer to the proposal by name and/or OMB approval Number (2577-0226) and should be sent to: HUD Desk Officer, Office of Management and Budget, New Executive Office Building, Washington, DC 20503; fax: 202-395-6974. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lillian Deitzer, Departmental PRA Officer, QDAM, Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC 20410; e-mail *Lillian_L._Deitzer@HUD.gov* or telephone

(202)402-8048. This is not a toll-free number. Copies of available documents submitted to OMB may be obtained from Ms. Deitzer. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On November 20, 2007 (72 FR 9348), this notice informed the public that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

(HUD)would be submitting the proposed information collection to OMB for review, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35, as amended). This Notice is soliciting comments from members of the public and affecting agencies concerning the proposed collection of information 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 estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information;

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

(4)Minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond; including through the use of appropriate automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting electronic submission of responses. Accordingly, FR Doc. E7-22700, published on November 20 2007, is being republished to extend the comment period until December 31, 2007. This Notice Also Lists the Following Information: *Title of Proposal:* Public Housing 5-Year and Annual PHA Plan. *OMB Approval Number:* 2577-0226. *Form Numbers:* HUD 50075, HUD 50075.1, HUD 50075.2, HUD 50077, HUD 50070, HUD 50071, SF LLL, and SF LLL-A. *Description of the Need for the Information and Its Proposed Use:* PHA's are required to submit annual and 5-Year Plans to HUD as required by section 5A of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C.1437c-1). The purpose of the plan is to provide a framework for local accountability and a means by which public housing residents, participants in the tenant-based assistance program, and other members of the public may locate basic PHA policies, rules and requirements concerning the PHA's operations, programs and services. *Frequency of Submission:* Annually. Number of respondents Annual responses × Hours per response = Burden hours Reporting Burden: 4,139 1 12.68 52,512 *Total Estimated Burden Hours:* 52,512. *Status:* Revision of a currently approved information collection. Authority: Section 3507 of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, 44 U.S.C. 35, as amended. Dated: December 7, 2007. Lillian L. Deitzer, Departmental Paperwork Reduction Act Officer, Office of the Chief Information Officer. [FR Doc. E7-24106 Filed 12-12-07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4210-67-P DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT [Docket No. FR-5117-N-101] HUD's Affordable Communities Award AGENCY: Office of the Chief Information Officer, HUD. ACTION: Notice. SUMMARY: The proposed information collection requirement described below has been submitted to the Office of Management and Budget

(OMB)for review, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act. The Department is soliciting public comments on the subject proposal. Application for HUD's Affordable Communities Award, a non-monetary award, to be presented annually, to acknowledge and honor those communities at the forefront in expanding affordable housing opportunities by reducing regulatory barriers and creating an environment supportive of the construction and rehabilitation of affordable housing. This award was designed and developed as part of HUD's Affordable Communities Initiative. DATES: *Comments Due Date: January 14, 2008.* ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments regarding this proposal. Comments should refer to the proposal by name and/or OMB approval Number (2501-0020) and should be sent to: HUD Desk Officer, Office of Management and Budget, New Executive Office Building, Washington, DC 20503; fax: 202-395-6974. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lillian Deitzer, Reports Management Officer, QDAM, Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC 20410; e-mail Lillian Deitzer at *Lillian_L_Deitzer@HUD.gov* or telephone

(202)708-2374. This is not a toll-free number. Copies of available documents submitted to OMB may be obtained from Ms. Deitzer. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice informs the public that the Department of Housing and Urban Development has submitted to OMB a request for approval of the Information collection described below. This notice is soliciting comments from members of the public and affecting agencies concerning the proposed collection of information 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 estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information;

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

(4)Minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond; including through the use of appropriate automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting electronic submission of responses. This notice also lists the following information: *Title Of Proposal:* HUD's Affordable Communities Award. *OMB Approval Number:* 2501-0020. *Form Numbers:* None. *Description of the Need for the Information and Its Proposed Use:* Application for HUD's Affordable Communities Award, a non-monetary award, to be presented annually, to acknowledge and honor those communities at the forefront in expanding affordable housing opportunities by reducing regulatory barriers and creating an environment supportive of the construction and rehabilitation of affordable housing. This award was designed and developed as part of HUD's Affordable Communities Initiative. *Frequency of Submission:* Annually. Number of respondents Annual responses × Hours per response = Burden hours Reporting Burden 30 1 8 240 *Total Estimated Burden Hours:* 240. *Status:* Extension of a currently approved collection. Authority: Section 3507 of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, 44 U.S.C. 35, as amended. Dated: December 7, 2007. Lillian L. Deitzer, Departmental Paperwork Reduction Act Officer, Office of the Chief Information Officer. [FR Doc. E7-24126 Filed 12-12-07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4210-67-P DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT [Docket No. FR-5121-N-38] Notice of Proposed Information Collection: Comment Request; Monthly Delinquent Loan Reports AGENCY: Office of the Assistant Secretary for Housing, HUD. ACTION: Notice. SUMMARY: The proposed information collection requirement described below will be submitted to the Office of Management and Budget

(OMB)for review, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act. The Department is soliciting public comments on the subject proposal. DATES: *Comments Due Date:* February 11, 2008. ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments regarding this proposal. Comments should refer to the proposal by name and/or OMB Control Number and should be sent to: Lillian L. Deitzer, Reports Management Officer, Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 7th Street, SW., L'Enfant Plaza Building, Room 8202, Washington, DC 20410. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Vance T. Morris, Director, Office of Single Family Asset Management, Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 7th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20410, telephone

(202)708-1672 (this is not a toll free number) for copies of the proposed forms and other available information. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Department is submitting the proposed information collection to OMB for review, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35, as amended). This Notice is soliciting comments from members of the public and affected agencies concerning the proposed collection of information to:

(1)Evaluate whether the proposed collection 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 estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information;

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

(4)Minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond; including the use of appropriate automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting electronic submission of responses. This Notice also lists the following information: *Title of Proposal:* Monthly Delinquent Loan Reports. *OMB Control Number, if applicable:* 2502-0060. *Description of the need for the information and proposed use:* Form HUD-92068-A is submitted electronically by mortgagees and is used to report information into HUD's Single Family Default Monitoring System (SFDMS), which provides reports that reflect default and foreclosure information. Used to identify potential areas of risk to the insurance fund. *Agency form numbers, if applicable:* HUD92068-A. *Estimation of the total numbers of hours needed to prepare the information collection including number of respondents, frequency of response, and hours of response:* The number of annual burden hours is 7200. The number of respondents is 240, the number of responses is 2880, the frequency of response is per month, and the burden hour per response is 1.50 hrs if submitted via EDI or 3.50 hrs. if submitted via FHAC. *Status of the proposed information collection:* Extension of a currently approved collection. Authority: The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, 44 U.S.C., Chapter 35, as amended. Dated: December 7, 2007. Frank L. Davis General Deputy Assistant Secretary for Housing-Deputy Federal Housing Commissioner. [FR Doc. E7-24132 Filed 12-12-07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4210-67-P DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT [Docket No. FR-5121-N-37] Notice of Proposed Information; Collection: Comment Request; Technical Suitability of Products Program Section 521 of the National Housing Act AGENCY: Office of the Assistant Secretary for Housing-Federal Housing Commissioner, HUD. ACTION: Notice. SUMMARY: The proposed information collection requirement described below will be submitted to the Office of Management and Budget

(OMB)for review, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act. The Department is soliciting public comments on the subject proposal. DATES: *Comments Due Date:* February 11, 2008. ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments regarding this proposal. Comments should refer to the proposal by name and/or OMB Control Number and should be sent to: Lillian L. Deitzer, Reports Management Officer, Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 7th Street, SW., L'Enfant Plaza Building, Room 8202, Washington, DC 20410. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jason McJury, Structural Engineer, Office of Manufactured Housing Programs, Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 7th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20410, telephone

(202)708-2866 x 2691 (this is not a toll free number) for copies of the proposed forms and other available information. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Department is submitting the proposed information collection to OMB for review, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35, as amended). This Notice is soliciting comments from members of the public and affected agencies concerning the proposed collection of information to:

(1)Evaluate whether the proposed collection 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 estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information;

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

(4)Minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond; including the use of appropriate automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting electronic submission of responses. This Notice also lists the following information: *Title of Proposal:* Technical Suitability of Products Program Section 521 of the National Housing Act. *OMB Control Number, if applicable:* 2502-0313. *Description of the need for the information and proposed use:* This information is needed under HUD's Technical Suitability of Products Program to determine the acceptance of materials and products to be used in structures approved for mortgages insured under the National Housing Act. *Agency form numbers, if applicable:* HUD 92005. *Estimation of the total numbers of hours needed to prepare the information collection including number of respondents, frequency of response, and hours of response:* The estimated number of burden hours needed to prepare the information collection is 2,220; the number of respondents is 50 generating approximately 50 annual responses; the frequency of response is on occasion; and the estimated time needed to prepare the response is 44 hours. *Status of the proposed information collection:* Request for extension of a currently approved collection. Authority: The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, 44 U.S.C., Chapter 35, as amended. Dated: December 7, 2007. Frank L. Davis, General Deputy Assistant Secretary for Housing-Deputy Federal Housing Commissioner. [FR Doc. E7-24133 Filed 12-12-07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4210-67-P DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT [Docket No. FR-5004-FA-05] Announcement of Funding Awards for the Emergency Capital Repair Grants Program Fiscal Year 2007 AGENCY: Office of the Assistant Secretary for Housing—Federal Housing Commissioner, HUD. ACTION: Notice of funding awards. SUMMARY: In accordance with section 102 (a)(4)(C) of the Department of Housing and Urban Development Reform Act of 1989, this announcement notifies the public of Emergency Capital Repair Grant funding decisions made by the Department in FY 2007. This announcement contains the names of the awardees and the amounts of the awards made available by HUD. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Willie Spearmon, Director, Office of Housing Assistance and Grant Administration, 451 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC 20410; telephone

(202)708-3000 (this is not a toll-free number). Hearing- and speech-impaired persons may access this number via TTY by calling the Federal Relay Service toll-free at

(800)877-8339. For general information on this and other HUD programs, visit the HUD Website at *http://www.hud.gov.* SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Emergency Capital Repair Grants Program is authorized by Section 202(b) of the Housing Act of 1959 (12 U.S.C. 1701q-2). Section 202b was amended to provide grants for “substantial capital repairs to eligible multifamily projects with elderly tenants that are needed to rehabilitate, modernize, or retrofit aging structures, common areas or individual dwelling units.” On May 22, 2006, at 71 FR 29538, HUD published a notice, entitled “Emergency Capital Repair Grants for Multifamily Housing Projects Designated for Occupancy by the Elderly,” which announced the availability of approximately $30 million in grant funds to make emergency capital repairs to eligible multifamily projects designated for occupancy by elderly tenants. HUD accepted applications on a first-come, first-serve basis and awarded emergency capital repair grants until available amounts were expended. A notice of funding awards announcing Emergency Capital Repair Grant funding decisions made by the Department in Fiscal Year 2006 was published on April 3, 2007, at 72 FR 15896. The amount awarded in FY 2006 was less than the total amount made available in the May 22, 2006, notice, and the Department has continued to make awards on a first-come, first-serve basis in FY 2007. This notice announces the additional funding decisions under the May 22, 2006, notice made by the Department in Fiscal Year 2007. The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance number for this program is 14.315. The Emergency Capital Repair Grant is designed to provide funds to make emergency capital repairs to eligible multifamily projects owned by private nonprofit entities designated for occupancy by elderly tenants. The capital repair needs must relate to items that present an immediate threat to the health, safety, and quality of life of the tenants. The intent of these grants is to provide one-time assistance for emergency items that could not be absorbed within the project's operating budget and other project resources. A total of $12,454,999 was awarded to 53 projects and 5,698 units. In accordance with section 102(a)(4)(C) of the Department of Housing and Urban Development Reform Act of 1989 (103 Stat. 1987, 42 U.S.C. 3545), the Department is publishing the grantees and amounts of the awards in Appendix A of this document. Dated: November 20, 2007. Brian D. Montgomery, Assistant Secretary for Housing—Federal Housing Commissioner. Appendix A.—Emergency Capital Repair Grant Awardees FY 2007 Name of owner/sponsor Name of development City State Number of units Dollar amount awarded Repairs funded Essex Manor, Inc Essex Manor Saginaw MI 75 $187,980 Replaced the roof and the roof ventilation system, replaced electrical outlets battery operated smoke detectors. Saginaw Westchester Village, Inc Saginaw Westchester Village Saginaw MI 156 23,964 Replaced the existing GFCI outlets and smoke alarms. Saginaw Westchester Village, Inc Westchester Village North Saginaw MI 101 2,333 Replaced the existing GFCI outlets and smoke alarms. Tucson Armory Park Foundation, Inc Armory Park Apartments Tucson AZ 140 417,311 Replaced two unreliable elevators. The Bernadine Apartments, Inc The Bernadine Apartments Syracuse NY 216 105,800 Repaired the leaking roof and replaced the failing alarm system. Marien-Heim of Sunset Park H. D. F. C Marien-Heim of Sunset Park Brooklyn NY 169 145,832 Replaced the failing exterior building facade. Encino Terrace Encino Terrace Albuquerque NM 153 499,520 Repaired to correct the existing smoke partitioning problems. Exchange Sunshine Home Corporation Exchange Sunshine Home Copperas TX 50 15,908 Replaced the heating and cooling units. Overlook Senior Citizens Housing of Marion Co., Inc Dogwood Terrace II Sweetwater TN 25 54,761 Replaced the roofs on six buildings and repaved the existing driveway and parking areas. Senior Housing, Inc Simon C. Fireman Community Randolph MA 160 83,564 Repaired the facility's heating system. Winter Valley Residences, Inc Winter Valley Residences Milton MA 128 475,000 Corrected serious water drainage problems. Metropolitan Detroit Baptist Manor, Inc Detroit Baptist Manor—Alpha Farmington Hills MI 101 62,637 Replaced the cracked and broken sidewalks and parking lots. Granada Trades Council Housing, Inc Granada Homes San Antonio TX 250 496,701 Replaced the front entry roof, back up chiller, pipe insulation, and two elevators. Methouse Inc Methouse Munhall PA 113 209,337 Repaired the balconies and window lintels. Rainbow Place Apartments Limited Partnership Rainbow Group Cleveland OH 181 256,442 Replaced the roof, heating and ventilation system, standby electrical generator and windows. United Church Residences of Bedford, OH, Inc South Haven Woods Bedford OH 60 124,416 Replaced the roof and heating and ventilation

(HVAC)system. Lawrence County Building Trades, Inc Riverside Apartments New Castle PA 128 155,264 Replaced the fire alarm system, emergency generator and unit doors. National Council of Senior Citizens I.W. Abel Place Pittsburgh PA 51 113,580 Replaced the windows. National Church Residences of Cuyahoga Falls, OH Portage Trail Village Cuyahoga Falls OH 220 155,500 Replaced the central water heater. First Baptist Housing of Bridgeport, Inc Washington Heights Apartments Bridgeport CT 120 411,464 Repaired the building exterior masonry and replaced the elevators. St. Paul Apartments, Inc St. Paul Apartments Macon GA 215 195,340 Replaced major plumbing fixtures and the elevator doors. Flint Heights Senior Citizen Apartments Association Flint Heights Flint MI 163 439,711 Repaired the building's exterior caulking, replaced roof, and repaired and resurfaced parking and drive. Westminster Manor Inc Westminster Manor San Diego CA 156 255,258 Replaced the elevator. Kivel Manor Kivel Manor Phoenix AZ 118 192,360 Replaced the elevator. Kivel Geriatric Center Kivel Manor East Phoenix AZ 73 117,894 Replaced the elevator. Kivel Manor West Kivel Manor West Phoenix AZ 65 208,078 Replaced the elevator. Cross-Lines Towers Inc Crossline Towers Kansas City KS 126 500,000 Replaced the existing heating system. New Horizons Assistance Corporation New Horizons Group Home Kansas City MO 35 38,800 Repaired the foundation. Lutheran Retirement Homes, Inc St. John's Lutheran Retirement Home Billings MT 112 500,000 Replaced the boiler system. Columbian Tower Development Corp Columbian Tower Hoboken NJ 135 86,990 Replaced all heating zone valves and flow restrictors. Union Baptist Community Housing Corp Herring Manor Wilmington DE 40 178,111 Replaced the roof. Bethany Villa Housing Association, Inc Bethany Villa I Troy MI 119 239,564 Replaced the boilers, domestic hot water tanks, concrete sidewalks, resurfaced the parking areas and service drive and repaired the roofs. Bethany Villa Housing Association, Inc Bethany Villa II Troy MI 119 294,606 Replaced the boilers, domestic hot water tanks, concrete sidewalks, resurfaced the parking areas and service drive and repaired the roofs. Housing for Independent Living, Inc Carver Elderly Housing Carver MA 40 500,000 Replaced the exterior siding, stairs, windows and doors. Bridgeport Rotary Club Housing Corporation Laurelwood Place Apartments Bridgeport CT 100 315,240 Replaced two elevators. Travis Towers, Inc Travis Towers Jacksonville TX 87 262,522 Replaced the fire alarm system and repaired the elevator. Loving Tender Care (LTC), Inc Gillbeke Apartments Marion IN 20 157,606 Replaced leaking roof, siding, and windows. East Orange Senior Housing Association Coppergate House East Orange NJ 128 420,000 Replaced the boiler and ventilation system. Presbyterian Home at Plainfield, Inc Plainfield Tower West Plainfield NJ 154 64,587 Replaced the existing two elevators. Barbara L. Andrews Memorial Housing Association Andrews Way Raytown MO 10 6,000 Replaced failing plumbing system. Overlook Senior Citizens Housing of Loudon Co., Inc Dogwood Terrace III Lenoir City TN 20 83,461 Repaired a water line, repaved the driveway, and replaced the air conditioning/heating systems. Mercy Douglas Human Services Residence Corp Mercy Douglas Residences Philadelphia PA 61 489,752 Replaced the deteriorating concrete slab and remediated soil conditions beneath the building. Century Homes for Elderly, Inc Springbrook Apartments Vonore TN 24 21,037 Replaced deteriorating and leaking roof system. Beaches Elderly Housing Corporation Pablo Hamlet Jacksonville Beach FL 104 74,226 Replaced deteriorating and leaking windows. Schnurman House, Inc Schnurman House Apartments Mayfield Heights OH 198 290,000 Replaced the roofs. Saraland Manor Inc Saraland Manor Gulfport MS 101 498,777 Replaced a fire alarm and emergency call system, replaced the roof condenser units and repaired the elevator doors. Omni-Governor, Inc The Governor Apartments Providence RI 57 425,327 Refurbished the existing chimney, replaced roof tiles, and repointed the exterior wall surface. Jewish Federation Housing, Inc Federation Towers Miami Beach FL 114 402,900 Replaced two malfunctioning elevator cars. Labelle Towers Labelle Towers Highland Park MI 214 338,657 Replaced a 35-year-old chiller. Villa Del Sol Senior Housing, Inc Villa Del Sol Senior Housing Sunland Park NM 30 55,838 Repaved buckling pavement, repaired heaving sidewalks, and repaired failing storm drainage systems. Chaparral Senior Housing, Inc Chaparral Senior Housing Las Cruces NM 40 98,543 Replaced faulty-inoperable windows, corrected flooding problems and repaired guttering systems on the roof. Elm Manor Homes, Inc Elm Manor Homes Roanoke VA 23 284,854 Replaced parts of an unreliable elevator, windows, the parapet cap, damaged vinyl siding, and failed retaining wall. Redeemer Lutheran Housing, Inc Luther Acres Vineland NJ 100 421,646 Replaced an inoperable corridor ventilation system. [FR Doc. E7-24130 Filed 12-12-07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4210-67-P DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT [Docket No. FR-5157-N-03] Mortgagee Review Board; Administrative Actions AGENCY: Office of the Assistant Secretary for Housing—Federal Housing Commissioner, HUD. ACTION: Notice. SUMMARY: In compliance with Section 202(c) of the National Housing Act, this notice advises of the cause and description of administrative actions taken by HUD's Mortgagee Review Board against HUD-approved mortgagees. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: David E. Hintz, Secretary to the Mortgagee Review Board, 451 Seventh Street, Room B-133 Portals 200, SW., Washington, DC 20410-8000, telephone:

(202)708-3856, extension 3594. A Telecommunications Device for Hearing- and Speech-Impaired Individuals

(TTY)is available at

(800)877-8339 (Federal Information Relay Service). SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 202(c)(5) of the National Housing Act (added by Section 142 of the Department of Housing and Urban Development Reform Act of 1989, Pub.L. 101-235, approved December 15, 1989), requires that HUD “publish a description of and the cause for administrative action against a HUD-approved mortgagee” by the Department's Mortgagee Review Board (Board). In compliance with the requirements of Section 202(c)(5), this notice advises of administrative actions that have been taken by the Board from April 27, 2007 to August 31, 2007. 1. America's Mortgage Resource, Metairie, LA [Docket No. 06-6031-MR] *Action:* Settlement Agreement signed August 24, 2007. Without admitting liability or fault, America's Mortgage Resource agreed to pay HUD $64,000. America's Mortgage Resource also agreed that it will not approve any HUD/FHA-insured mortgages in which the borrower is receiving a gift from a downpayment assistance provider unless that provider meets HUD's existing requirements for gift donors, including obtaining 501(c)(3) status from the Internal Revenue Service. *Cause:* The Board took this action based on the following violations of HUD/FHA requirements in the origination of HUD/FHA-insured loans where America's Mortgage Resource: Failed to ensure that borrowers received gift funds from acceptable sources; and failed to adopt a Quality Control Plan in accordance with HUD/FHA requirements. 2. Aspen Home Loans, LC, American Fork, UT [Docket No. 06-6028-MR] *Action:* On August 16, 2007, the Board issued a letter to Aspen Home Loans, LC (Aspen) immediately withdrawing its HUD/FHA approval for five years. *Cause:* The Board took this action based on the following violations of HUD/FHA requirements where Aspen failed to comply with the Board's directive. In a letter dated May 14, 2007, the Board put Aspen on a one year probation and imposed a $6,500 civil money penalty and, directed Aspen to: Provide the Board with Aspen's Senior Management Quality Control reports performed for the preceding six months within thirty days of Aspen's receipt of the Board's Notice letter; a copy of Aspen's current acceptable Quality Control Plan within fifteen days of the Aspen's receipt of the Board's Notice letter; and, copies of Aspen's Senior Management Quality Control reports for the following calendar year, completed quarterly, within thirty days of the end of each quarter. 3. Capital Mortgage Associates, LLC, North Haven, CT [Docket No. 07-7003-MR] *Action:* Settlement Agreement signed August 31, 2007. Without admitting liability or fault, Capital Mortgage Associates, LLC (Capital) agreed to make an administrative payment to HUD in the amount of $22,500. Capital also agreed to refund borrowers unallowable fees identified in two loans. *Cause:* The Board took this action based on the following violations of HUD/FHA requirements in the origination of HUD/FHA-insured loans where Capital: Allowed an unapproved branch to originate HUD/FHA loans in violation of HUD/FHA requirements; failed to ensure that borrowers were not charged unallowable fees; and failed to adopt a Quality Control Plan in accordance with HUD/FHA requirements. 4. Citybank, Puyallup, WA [Docket No. 07-7013-MR] *Action:* Settlement Agreement signed August 14, 2007. Without admitting liability or fault, Citybank agreed to waive all insurance benefits or indemnify HUD on two loans. Citybank also agreed to pay HUD an administrative payment in the amount of $17,500. *Cause:* The Board took this action based on the following violations of HUD/FHA requirements in the origination of HUD/FHA-insured loans where Citybank: Failed to verify the source of funds for a gift used by the borrower to meet his/her minimum investment; failed to ensure that borrowers met minimum credit requirements; and failed to reconcile discrepancies in appraisals and/or accepted incomplete appraisal reports. 5. Davis-Penn Mortgage Company, Houston, TX [Docket No. 07-7005-MR] *Action:* Settlement Agreement signed May 15, 2007. Without admitting liability or fault, Davis-Penn Mortgage Company (Davis-Penn) agreed to pay HUD an administrative payment in the amount of $83,000. *Cause:* The Board took this action based on the following violations of HUD/FHA requirements in the servicing of HUD/FHA-insured loans where Davis-Penn: Failed to report default on two multifamily insured mortgage loans; and failed to elect to assign two multifamily insured mortgage loans that were in default. 6. Mac-Clair Mortgage Corporation, Flint, MI [Docket No. 07-7017-MR] *Action:* Settlement Agreement signed August 31, 2007. Without admitting wrongdoing or fault, Mac-Clair Mortgage Corporation (Mac-Clair) agreed to pay HUD an administrative payment in the amount of $10,000. Mac-Clair also agreed to pay the entire debt owed to HUD on five Settlement Agreements in the amount of $915,627. *Cause:* The Board took this action because Mac-Clair failed to comply with the terms of the five Settlement Agreements. 7. Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency, Harrisburg, PA [Docket No. 06-6022-MR] *Action:* Settlement Agreement signed May 29, 2007. Without admitting liability or fault, Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency

(PHFA)agreed to pay HUD an administrative payment in the amount of $23,000. *Cause:* The Board took this action based on the following violations of HUD/FHA requirements in the servicing of HUD/FHA-insured loans where the PHFA: Failed to report a default in one multifamily insured mortgage loan in accordance with HUD/FHA requirements; failed to timely elect whether to assign the multifamily insured mortgage loan that was in default; and failed to assign the mortgage to HUD within 30 days from the date of the election to assign the mortgage to HUD. 8. Synergy Mortgage Corporation, Waco, TX [Docket No. 06-6021-MR] *Action:* Settlement Agreement signed August 14, 2007. Without admitting liability or fault, Synergy Mortgage Corporation (Synergy) agreed to pay HUD an administrative payment in the amount of $410,000. Synergy also agreed that Synergy, Synergy Bank and Premier Bancshares, Inc., and any existing or newly created subsidiaries or affiliates of these entities shall not seek HUD/FHA approval as mortgagee for a period of five years from the effective date of the Settlement Agreement. *Cause:* The Board took this action based on the following violations of HUD/FHA requirements in the origination of HUD/FHA-insured loans where Synergy: Failed to properly document, and calculate income; omitted and understated liabilities for loan qualification; failed to properly verify the source and adequacy of funds for the borrower's minimum required investment; failed to ensure property eligibility for HUD/FHA mortgage insurance; closed loans in excess of the maximum allowable amount by failing to consider inducements to purchase in computing the mortgage amount and failing to resolve conflicting information regarding the sales price; and approved a mortgage loan with an excessive debt to income ratio without adequate compensating factors. 9. Tranah Asset Management Corporation, San Antonio, TX [Docket No. 06-6030-MR] *Action:* Settlement Agreement signed April 27, 2007. Without admitting liability or fault, Tranah Asset Management Corporation (Tranah) agreed to pay HUD an administrative payment in the amount of $45,000. *Cause:* The Board took this action based on the following violation of HUD/FHA requirements in the origination of HUD/FHA-insured loans where Tranah permitted a debarred mortgagee to participate in the HUD/FHA mortgage insurance program. 10. Wall Street Financial Corporation, Fairfield, NJ [Docket No. 04-4264-MR] *Action:* Settlement Agreement signed May 17, 2007. Without admitting liability or fault, Wall Street Financial Corporation (Wall Street) agreed to pay HUD an administrative payment in the amount of $19,500. Wall Street also agreed to refund unallowable fees identified in 50 loans to mortgagors within 30 days of the effective date of the Settlement Agreement. *Cause:* The Board took this action based on the following violations of HUD/FHA requirements in the origination of HUD/FHA-insured loans where Wall Street: Approved mortgages with debt-to-income ratios that exceeded HUD/FHA standards without adequate compensating factors in nine mortgages; failed to adequately document the source of funds used for the downpayment or closing costs in one mortgage; failed to ensure that borrowers whom Wall Street charged a commitment fee, executed a Commitment Agreement guaranteeing discount points and/or interest rates at least fifteen days prior to closing; and charged unallowable fees for title review by an attorney, and/or overcharged for obtaining credit reports. Dated: December 6, 2007. Brian D. Montgomery, Assistant Secretary for Housing—Federal, Housing Commissioner. [FR Doc. E7-24113 Filed 12-12-07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4210-67-P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Fish and Wildlife Service Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Permits AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior. ACTION: Notice of Issuance of Enhancement of Survival and Incidental Take Permits. SUMMARY: Between June 1, 2005, and September 30, 2007, the Pacific Region of the Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) issued 18 permits for enhancement of survival or incidental take of threatened and endangered species. These permits were issued pursuant to sections 10(a)(1)(A) and 10(a)(1)(B) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). Copies of the permits and associated decision documents are available upon request. ADDRESSES: Documents are available from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 911 NE., 11th Avenue, Portland, Oregon 97232; facsimile

(503)231-6243. Charges for copying, shipping and handling may apply. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Please contact Shelly Sizemore, Administrative Assistant, at the above address and facsimile number or by telephone at

(503)231-2194. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 9 of the Act (16 U.S.C. 1531 *et seq.* ) and its implementing regulations prohibit the take of wildlife species listed as endangered or threatened. The term “take” means to harass, harm, pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, kill, trap, capture, or collect listed wildlife, or to attempt to engage in any such conduct. We may, under limited circumstances, issue permits to authorize take that is incidental to, and not the purpose of, carrying out an otherwise lawful activity. Regulations governing permits for threatened and endangered species are found at 50 CFR 17.32 and 17.22. Although not required by law or regulation, it is our regional policy to notify the public of permits issued for enhancement of survival or incidental take under Habitat Conservation Plans, Safe Harbor Agreements, or Candidate Conservation Agreements with Assurances. Within the Pacific Region of the Service, between June 1, 2005, and September 30, 2007, we issued 15 permits for enhancement of survival and 3 permits for incidental take of threatened and endangered species subject to certain conditions set forth therein, pursuant to sections 10(a)(1)(A) and 10(a)(1)(B) of the Act. The enhancement of survival permits are associated with Safe Harbor Agreements or Candidate Conservation Agreements with Assurances. The incidental take permits are associated with Habitat Conservation Plans. We issued each permit after determining that:

(1)The permit application was submitted in good faith;

(2)all permit issuance criteria were met, including the requirement that granting the permit will not jeopardize the continued existence of listed species; and

(3)the permit was consistent with the purposes and policy set forth in the Act and applicable regulations, including a thorough review of the environmental effects of the action and alternatives pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 *et seq.* ). Habitat Conservation Plans

(HCP)Permit No. Applicant Receipt of application Federal Register notice Permit issuance date Name of approved plan or agreement TE118901-0 Kaheawa Wind Power, LLC 70 FR 57888; October 4, 2005 January 30, 2006 HCP for the Kaheawa Wind Generation Facility, Ukumehame, Maui, HI. TE121202-0 Washington Department of Natural Resources 70 FR 7245; February 11, 2005 May 26, 2006 Washington Department of Natural Resources Forest Practices HCP. TE133608-0 Duane and Darlene Schwisow 71 FR 61501; October 18, 2006 April 10, 2007 HCP for the Schwisow Development in Adams County, ID. Safe Harbor Agreements

(SHA)Permit No. Applicant Receipt of application Federal Register notice Permit issuance date Name of approved plan or agreement TE106219-0 Chevron 69 FR 52027; August 24, 2004 September 23, 2005 SHA with Chevron Hawaii Refinery at James Campbell Industrial Park for management of the Hawaiian stilt and Hawaiian coot, Oahu, HI. TE134317-0 Peter Lancaster 71 FR 52816; September 7, 2006 March 9, 2007 Columbia Basin pygmy rabbit template SHA. TE134335-0 Billingsley Ranch ......do ......do Do. TE144773-0 Eric E. Long 72 FR 20557; April 25, 2007 August 8, 2007 Do. TE146604-0 Sagebrush Flats Farm ......do ......do Do. TE146607-0 ABS Farms LLC ......do ......do Do. TE146612-0 Raymond J. Mayer ......do ......do Do. TE146616-0 Rimrock Meadows Assoc ......do ......do Do. TE150086-0 Evans Bothers Inc ......do ......do Do. TE154037-0 The Nature Conservancy

(TNC)71 FR 65830; November 9, 2006 June 18, 2007 Oregon silverspot butterfly central coast programmatic SHA with TNC. TE162242-0 Big Island Resource Conservation and Development Council 71 FR 78452; December 29, 2006 September 12, 2007 Programmatic SHA covering Hawaiian goose, Hawaiian duck, Hawaiian moorhen, Hawaiian coot, and Hawaiian stilt for participants of USDA Farm Bill Conservation Programs. TE162243-0 Oahu Resource Conservation and Development Council ......do ......do Do. TE162244-0 Tri-Isle Resource Conservation and Development Council ......do ......do Do. TE162245-0 Garden Island Resource Conservation and Development Council ......do ......do Do. Symbol used in the three right columns: “......do...”—(ditto) indicates the entry is the same as the column entry directly above. Candidate Conservation Agreements with Assurances

(CCAA)Permit No. Applicant Receipt of application Federal Register notice Permit issuance date Name of approved plan or agreement TE109603-0 State of Idaho Department of Lands 71 FR 5358; February 1, 2006 September 29, 2006 CCAA for the Columbia spotted frog at Sam Noble Springs, Owyhee County, ID. Copies of each permit, the accompanying Habitat Conservation Plan, Safe Harbor Agreement, or Candidate Conservation Agreement with Assurances, and associated documents are available upon request. Decision documents for each permit include a Finding and Recommendation; a Biological Opinion; and either a Record of Decision, Finding of No Significant Impact, or an Environmental Action Statement. Associated documents may also include an Implementing Agreement, Environmental Impact Statement, or Environmental Assessment, as applicable. Dated: November 14, 2007. David J. Wesley, Deputy Regional Director, Portland, Oregon. [FR Doc. E7-24148 Filed 12-12-07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310-55-P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Fish and Wildlife Service California Aqueduct Operation and Maintenance Project in Kings and Kern County, San Joaquin Valley, CA AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior. ACTION: Notice of availability and receipt of application. SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce that the California Department of Water Resources San Joaquin Field Division (Applicant) has applied for an incidental take permit pursuant to section 10(a)(1)(B) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). We are considering the issuance of a 30-year permit to the Applicant that would authorize take of 20 species incidental to the Applicant's proposed operation and maintenance activities on sections of the California Aqueduct and Coastal Branch Phase 1 canal, as well as seven pumping plants and two Operations and Maintenance centers within the San Joaquin Field Divisions jurisdiction in Kern and Kings County, California. These activities within the 11,816-acre project area would result in the loss of up to 360 acres of permanent habitat loss to covered species habitat and 935 acres of temporary impacts to covered species habitat. We request comments from the public on the permit application and an Environmental Assessment. The permit application includes the proposed Habitat Conservation Plan

(Plan)and an accompanying Implementing Agreement. The Plan describes the proposed project and the measures that the Applicant would undertake to minimize and mitigate take of the covered species. DATES: We must receive your written comments on or before February 11, 2008. ADDRESSES: Please address written comments to Lori Rinek, Chief, Conservation Planning and Recovery Division, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Sacramento Fish and Wildlife Office, 2800 Cottage Way, W-2605, Sacramento, California 95825. You also may send comments by facsimile to

(916)414-6713. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Peter Cross, Chief Endangered Species Division, or Lori Rinek, Chief, Conservation Planning and Recovery Division, Sacramento Fish and Wildlife Office, at

(916)414-6600. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Availability of Documents You may obtain copies of these documents for review by contacting the individuals named above [see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT ]. Documents also will be available for public inspection, by appointment, during normal business hours at the Sacramento Fish and Wildlife Office [see ADDRESSES ]. Background Section 9 of the Act and Federal regulations prohibit the “take” of fish and wildlife species listed as endangered or threatened. Take of federally listed fish and wildlife is defined under the Act to include the following activities: harass, harm, pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, kill, trap, capture, or collect, or to attempt to engage in any such conduct. We may, under limited circumstances, issue permits to authorize incidental take ( *i.e.* , take that is incidental to, and not the purpose of, the carrying out of an otherwise lawful activity). Regulations governing incidental take permits for endangered are found in 50 CFR 17.22. The Applicant is seeking a permit for take of five federally listed animal species: the endangered San Joaquin kit fox ( *Vulpes macrotis mutica* ), blunt nosed leopard lizard ( *Gambelia sila* ), giant kangaroo rat ( *Dipodomys ingens* ), Tipton kangaroo rat ( *dipodomys nitratoides nitratoides* ), and the Buena Vista Lake shrew ( *Sorex ornatus relictus* ). The proposed permit would also authorize future incidental take of six currently unlisted animal species should any of these species become listed under the Act during the life of the permit: western burrowing owl ( *Athene cunicularia hypugea* ), Swainson's hawk ( *buteo swainsoni* ), San Joaquin antelope squirrel ( *Ammospermophilus nelsoni* ), short-nosed kangaroo rat ( *Dipodomys nitratoides brevinasus* ), white-tailed kite ( *Elanus leucurus* ) and western spadefoot ( *Spea hammondii* ). The following listed and unlisted plant species are also proposed to be included on the permit: the endangered Bakersfield cactus ( *Opuntia basilaris var. treleasei* ), and the unlisted lesser saltscale ( *Atriplex miniscula* ), recurved larkspur ( *Delphinium recurvatum* ), Lost Hills crownscale ( *atriplex vallicola* ), Kernmallow ( *Eremalche kernensis* ), San Joaquin woollythreads ( *Monolopia congdonii* ), oil neststraw ( *Stylocline citroleum* ), Bakersfield smallscale ( *Atriplex tularensis* ), Bakersfield cactus ( *opuntia basilaris var. treleasei* ) should any of these species become listed under the Act during the life of the permit. Take of listed plant species is not prohibited under the Act and cannot be authorized under a section 10 permit. However, plant species may be included on the permit in recognition of the conservation benefits provided for them under the Plan. These species would also receive “No Surprises” assurances under the Service's “No Surprises” regulation (63 FR 8859). Collectively, the 20 listed and unlisted species are referred to as the “covered species” in the Plan. The Applicant proposes to address potential impacts of the operation, maintenance, and use of the California Aqueduct right-of-way and pumping plants within the San Joaquin Field Division. The Plan would cover the following activities:

(1)Operation and maintenance activities (maintenance of embankments, roads, drainage and drainage structures, fences, and buildings and grounds; dredging and spoils removal; installation, monitoring and maintenance of observation wells; maintenance of turnout facilities, utilities and recreational facilities; and minor new construction); and

(2)establishment and management of conservation areas to compensate for impacts on covered species habitat. Project activities would result in 360 acres of permanent habitat loss to covered species habitat and 935 acres of temporary impacts to covered species habitat. The Applicant proposes to implement specific on-site measures to avoid and minimize take and associated adverse project impacts to covered species. Additionally, the Applicant proposes to mitigate for take of covered species by conserving approximately 567 acres of land located at three of their pumping plants within the Plan area. The Service's Environmental Assessment considers the environmental consequences of five alternatives. The Proposed HCP Project Alternative consists of the issuance of the incidental take permit and implementation of the Plan and Implementing Agreement. With Alternative 2 (Operation to Breakdown), maintenance would be deferred until an emergency condition resulted, rather than performed routinely or for minor damage. With Alternative 3 (Fenceline-to-fenceline Disturbance), the entire right-of-way along the canals would be cleared of vegetation. With Alternative 4 (Alternative Maintenance Procedures), various methods of road maintenance, rodent control, vegetation control, and erosion control that were previously considered and rejected would be selected and used to develop this alternative. With the No Action alternative, the HCP would not be implemented and the applicant would apply for permits each time take occurred. Public Review We invite the public to review the Plan, Implementing Agreement and Environmental Assessment during a 60-day public comment period (see DATES ). Before including your address, phone number, e-mail address, or other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment—including your personal identifying information—may be made publicly available at any time. While you may ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so. We provide this notice pursuant to section 10(a) of the Act and the regulations for implementing NEPA, as amended (40 CFR 1506.6). We will evaluate the application, associated documents, and comments submitted thereon to determine whether the application meets the requirements of NEPA regulations and section 10(a) of the Act. If we determine that those requirements are met, we will issue a permit to the Applicant for the incidental take of the covered species. We will make our final permit decision no sooner than 60 days from the date of this notice. Dated: December 7, 2007. Ken McDermond, Deputy Regional Director, California and Nevada Region, Sacramento, California. [FR Doc. E7-24135 Filed 12-12-07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310-55-P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Fish and Wildlife Service Notice of Intent To Conduct a Public Scoping Meeting and Perform an Environmental Review for the Kaua`i Island Utility Cooperative Habitat Conservation Plan, Kaua`i Island, HI AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior. ACTION: Notice of intent; scoping meeting. SUMMARY: Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) intends to conduct public scoping necessary to gather information to prepare an environmental assessment

(EA)or environmental impact statement

(EIS)(collectively referred to as “environmental document”) for a Habitat Conservation Plan

(HCP)being prepared by the Kaua`i Island Utility Cooperative (KIUC). The draft HCP is being prepared under section 10(a)(1)(B) of the Endangered Species Act (ESA). KIUC intends to apply for an incidental take permit under the ESA to authorize take of the federally endangered Hawaiian Petrel ( *Pterodroma sandwichensis* ), the federally threatened Newell's Shearwater ( *Puffinus auricularis newelli* ), and the Band-rumped Storm-Petrel ( *Oceanodroma castro* ), a Federal candidate for listing that could become listed during the term of the permit (collectively referred to as the “Covered Species”). This notice is provided to

(1)describe the proposed action and possible alternatives;

(2)advise other Federal and State agencies, affected Tribes, and the public of our intent to prepare an environmental document;

(3)announce the initiation of a public scoping period and the holding of a public scoping meeting;

(4)obtain information to assist the Service in determining whether to prepare an EA or EIS; and

(5)obtain suggestions and information on the scope of issues and alternatives to be addressed in the environmental document. Written comments will be accepted at a public meeting. In addition, written comments may be submitted by mail, facsimile transmission, or e-mail. DATES: Written comments must be received on or before February 8, 2008. Oral or written comments may be submitted at a public scoping meeting to be held on January 23, 2008, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. ADDRESSES: The public scoping meeting will be held at the Planning Commission Conference Room, Mo'ikeha Building, 4444 Rice Street, Li hu`e, Kaua`i, HI. Written comments, or questions related to the preparation of the environmental document, should be submitted to Jeff Newman, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Pacific Islands Fish and Wildlife Office, 300 Ala Moana Boulevard, Room 3-122, [or P.O. Box 50088], Honolulu, HI 96850-5000, fax

(808)792-9580, e-mail *Jeff_Newman@fws.gov.* FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jeff Newman, Pacific Islands Fish and Wildlife Office (see ADDRESSES ), or phone

(808)792-9400. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Reasonable Accommodation Persons needing reasonable accommodations in order to attend and participate in the public meeting should contact Jeff Newman as soon as possible. In order to allow sufficient time to process requests, please call no later than one week before the public meeting. Information regarding this proposed action is available in alternative formats upon request. Statutory Authority Section 9 of the ESA (16 U.S.C. 1538) and the implementing regulations prohibit the take of animal species listed as endangered or threatened. The term “take” is defined under the ESA (16 U.S.C. 1532(19)) as to harass, harm, pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, kill, trap, capture, or collect, or to attempt to engage in any such conduct. “Harm” is defined by Service regulation (50 CRF 17.3) to include significant habitat modification or degradation where it actually kills or injures wildlife by significantly impairing essential behavioral patterns, including breeding, feeding, and sheltering. However, under section 10(a)(1)(B) of the ESA, the Service may issue permits to authorize “incidental take” of listed species. “Incidental take” is defined by the ESA as take that is incidental to, and not the purpose of, carrying out an otherwise lawful activity. Regulations governing permits for threatened and endangered species are found in the Code of Federal Regulations at 50 CFR 17.32 and 50 CFR 17.22. Section 10 of the ESA specifies the requirements for the issuance of incidental take permits to non-Federal entities. Any proposed take must be incidental to otherwise lawful activities and cannot appreciably reduce the likelihood of the survival and recovery of the species in the wild. The impacts of such take must also be minimized and mitigated to the maximum extent practicable. To obtain an incidental take permit, an applicant must prepare an HCP describing the impact that will likely result from the proposed taking, the measures for minimizing and mitigating the take, the funding available to implement such measures, alternatives to the taking, and the reason why such alternatives are not being implemented. NEPA (42 U.S.C. 4321 *et seq.* ) requires that Federal agencies conduct an environmental analysis of their proposed actions to determine if the actions may significantly affect the human environment. Under NEPA, a reasonable range of alternatives to the proposed action is developed and considered in the Service's environmental review. Alternatives considered for analysis in an environmental document may include: Variations in the scope of covered activities; variations in the location, amount, and type of conservation; variations in permit duration; or a combination of these elements. In addition, the environmental document will identify potentially significant direct, indirect, and cumulative impacts on biological resources, land use, air quality, water quality, water resources, socioeconomics, and other environmental issues that could occur with the implementation of the proposed action and alternatives. For potentially significant impacts, the environmental document may identify avoidance, minimization and mitigation measures to reduce these impacts, where feasible, to a level below significance. Background KIUC is a utility cooperative that generates and distributes electricity to the entire island of Kaua‘i, Hawai‘i. KIUC is developing a draft HCP in anticipation of applying for an incidental take permit. The proposed HCP will address the incidental take of three Covered Species associated with the operation and maintenance of KIUC's existing and anticipated facilities over a period of 50 years. The three Covered Species are seabird species that breed on Kaua‘i and feed on the open ocean. Each of the covered species spends a large part of the year at sea. Adults generally return to their colonial nesting grounds in the interior mountains of Kaua‘i beginning in March and April, and depart beginning in September. Fledglings (i.e., young birds learning how to fly) fly from the nesting colony to the sea in the fall. Both adults and fledglings are known to occasionally collide with tall buildings, towers, powerlines, and other structures while flying at night between their nesting colonies and at-sea foraging areas. These birds, and particularly fledglings, are also attracted to bright lights. Disoriented birds are commonly observed circling repeatedly around exterior light sources until they fall exhausted to the ground or collide with structures. To address the issue that existing facilities currently impact the Covered Species, the Service and KIUC entered into a Memorandum of Agreement

(MOA)in November 2002, and again in January 2005. Under the MOAs KIUC agreed to implement certain defined interim conservation measures

(ICMs)to reduce the impacts of its facilities on seabirds while more long-term conservation actions are being developed in a HCP. Examples of ICMs implemented to date include: Shielding streetlights on KIUC power poles to minimize lighting disorientation of seabirds; and funding, enhancing and taking the lead on implementing the state's “Save Our Shearwaters”

(SOS)program to rescue downed fledglings. Proposed Plan Since November 2002, KIUC has been working with the Service to develop a draft HCP, and also to simultaneously implement certain interim conservation measures to benefit the Covered Species. (Because the Covered Species are also subject to protection under the State of Hawai‘i's own endangered species law, KIUC has also coordinated with the State's Department of Land and Natural Resources concerning the proposed HCP and the requirements for obtaining an incidental take license under state law.) Pursuant to NEPA, the Service conducted a public scoping meeting on the proposed HCP on September 16, 2004. Several comments received during that initial scoping period requested that additional information be made available regarding the proposed HCP, and that a second scoping meeting be convened after such additional information was provided. Since that time, KIUC has made progress in developing the draft HCP, based in part on consultations with the Service and the Hawai‘i Department of Land and Natural Resources. As a result, the Service is now able to provide additional information about the likely scope and contents of the proposed HCP, and has determined that it is appropriate to conduct an additional round of public scoping under NEPA at this time. The proposed HCP would cover KIUC activities within all areas on Kaua`i where its facilities (e.g., generating stations, power lines, utility poles, lights) are located. These activities include the continuing operation, maintenance, and repair of these and other existing facilities, and the construction, operation, maintenance and repair of certain new facilities, during the term of the incidental take permit. The proposed HCP will describe the impacts of take associated with those activities on the Covered Species, and will propose a program to minimize and mitigate these impacts of that take on each of the Covered Species. Minimization measures in the proposed HCP may include:

(i)Shielding KIUC's streetlights and facility lighting;

(ii)installing bird diverter devices on certain power lines;

(iii)developing and implementing lighting and power line performance standards; and

(iv)implementing design modifications that minimize or eliminate the risk of seabird collisions (e.g., installing power lines below seabird flight altitudes, modifying power line arrays, or installing bird diverter devices). Mitigation measures may include implementation of an expanded SOS program—a program begun by the State of Hawai‘i in the late 1970's to retrieve, evaluate, rehabilitate and release back to the wild downed seabirds during the fall fledging season. KIUC's proposed mitigation program may also include: breeding colony management actions aimed at reducing predation by invasive mammalian species; public education and outreach designed to reduce actions that contribute to bird downings; and additional scientific research. Environmental Review The Service will prepare an environmental document to analyze the environmental impacts associated with the potential issuance of the requested incidental take permit, and the associated implementation by KIUC of the HCP. A private contractor, Planning Solutions, Inc., will help to prepare the environmental document. The Service will supervise and be responsible for directing the consultant's work and for the scope and content of the document. The environmental document will consider the proposed action and a reasonable range of alternatives. The Service currently anticipates that the alternatives may consist of the following:

(1)A “no action” alternative, in which the requested incidental take permit would not be issued and the conservation program in the proposed HCP would not be implemented. However, this action is not considered to be viable because a permit for incidental take of the Covered Species is needed;

(2)an “under-grounding” alternative in which some of KIUC's power lines would be placed underground, thereby eliminating several sources of take of the Covered Species; and

(3)a conservation program alternative that in addition to the proposed minimization measures would implement a mitigation program aimed principally at actively managing multiple seabird breeding colonies with the biological goal of increasing reproductive success and colony size. We invite comments and suggestions from all interested parties to ensure that the environmental document addresses a reasonable range of alternatives and that all significant issues related to them are identified and addressed. Our environmental review will be conducted in accordance with the requirements of NEPA, its implementing regulations (40 CFR Parts 1500-1508), other applicable Federal laws and regulations, and applicable policies and procedures of the Service. This notice is being furnished in accordance with 40 CFR 1501.7 of the NEPA regulations to obtain suggestions and information from other agencies and the public on the scope of issues and alternatives to be addressed in the environmental document. The public scoping meeting will allocate time for presentations by the Service and KIUC; this will be followed by a period for the submission of oral and/or written comments. All comments and materials received, including names and addresses of those presenting them, will become part of the administrative record and may be released to the public. Dated: December 3, 2007. David J. Wesley, Deputy Regional Director, Region 1, Portland, Oregon. [FR Doc. E7-24149 Filed 12-12-07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310-55-P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Land Management [CO-140-08-1610-DP] Notice of Public Meeting, Northwest Colorado Resource Advisory Council Subcommittees for the Glenwood Springs Resource Management Plan Revision AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, DOI. ACTION: Notice of Public Meeting. SUMMARY: In accordance with the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA) and the Federal Advisory Committee Act of 1972 (FACA), the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management

(BLM)Northwest Colorado Resource Advisory Council

(RAC)Subcommittee on the Glenwood Springs Resource Management Plan

(RMP)Revision will meet as indicated below. DATES: January 16 and 30, February 6 and 20, 2008; from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. ADDRESSES: The Glenwood Springs Subcommittee will meet at the Glenwood Springs Energy Office Conference Room, 2425 S. Grand Ave, Glenwood Springs, CO. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Brian Hopkins, Planning and Environmental Coordinator, 50629 Hwy. 6&24, Glenwood Springs, CO, telephone 970-947-2840. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Northwest Colorado RAC advises the Secretary of the Interior, through the Bureau of Land Management, on a variety of public land issues in northwestern Colorado. A sub-committee has been formed under this RAC to advise it regarding the Glenwood Springs RMP Revisions. The 14 individuals on this subcommittee represent a broad range of interests and have specific knowledge of the subcommittee represent a broad range of interests and have specific knowledge of the Field Offices. Recommendations developed by these subcommittees will be presented formally for discussion to the NW RAC at publicly announced meetings of the full NW RAC. Both the subcommittee meetings and the full NW RAC meetings have public comment opportunities. Dated: December 6, 2007. Jamie Connell, Glenwood Springs Field Manager, Lead Designated Federal Officer for the Northwest Colorado RAC. [FR Doc. 07-6041 Filed 12-12-07; 8:45 am]

Connectionstraces to 8

Traces to 8 documents

public-private-law