Notices. Notice of an Open Meeting

23,229 words·~106 min read·/register/2007/12/28/07-6193·

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

BILLING CODE 4001-01-P DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Office of Elementary and Secondary Education; Overview Information: Early Reading First Program; Notice Inviting Applications for New Awards for Fiscal Year

(FY)2008 *Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance

(CFDA)Numbers:* 84.359A and B. *DATES: Applications Available:* December 28, 2007. *Deadline for Transmittal of Pre-Applications:* February 1, 2008. *Deadline for Transmittal of Full Applications:* April 18, 2008 (for applicants invited to submit full applications only). *Deadline for Intergovernmental Review:* June 16, 2008. Full Text of Announcement I. Funding Opportunity Description *Purpose of Program:* This program supports local efforts to enhance the oral language, cognitive, and early reading skills of preschool-aged children, especially those from low-income families, through strategies, materials, and professional development that are grounded in scientifically based reading research. The specific activities for which recipients must use grant funds are identified in section 1222(d) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as amended (ESEA). This and other relevant provisions of the ESEA are included in the application package. *Priorities:* This competition includes one competitive preference priority and three invitational priorities. *Competitive Preference Priority:* In accordance with 34 CFR 75.105(b)(2)(ii), this priority is from § 75.225 of the Education Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR), which apply to this program (34 CFR 75.225). Competitive Preference Priority—Novice Applicant For FY 2008 and any subsequent year in which we make awards from the list of unfunded applicants from this competition, this priority is a competitive preference priority. Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(2)(i) we award an additional five

(5)points to a pre-application and an additional five

(5)points to a full application that meets this competitive preference priority. This priority is: Novice Applicant The applicant must be a “novice applicant” as defined in 34 CFR 75.225. Under this competition we are particularly interested in applications that address the following invitational priorities. *Invitational Priorities:* For FY 2008 and any subsequent year in which we make awards from the list of unfunded applicants from this competition, these priorities are invitational priorities. Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(1) we do not give an application that meets these invitational priorities a competitive or absolute preference over other applications. These priorities are: Invitational Priority 1—Intensity The Secretary is especially interested in preschool programs that operate full-time, full-year early childhood educational programs, at a minimum of 6.5 hours per day, 5 days per week, 46 weeks per year, and that serve children for the two consecutive years prior to their entry into kindergarten. Scientifically based research on increasing the effectiveness of early childhood education programs serving children from low-income families tells us that children attending such programs that have a greater intensity of service make higher and more persistent gains in the language and cognitive domains than children who attend early childhood programs that have lesser intensity of service. In other words, children who spend more time in high-quality early childhood education programs learn more than children who spend less time in those programs. The purpose of this invitational priority is to encourage preschool programs supported with Early Reading First funds to provide services that are of a sufficient duration and intensity to maximize language and early literacy gains for children enrolled in those programs. Invitational Priority 2—English Language Acquisition Plan For applicants serving children with limited English proficiency, the Secretary is especially interested in applications that include a specific plan for the development of English language proficiency for these children from the start of their preschool experience. The Early Reading First program is designed to prepare children to enter kindergarten with the necessary cognitive, early language, and literacy skills for success in school. School success often is dependent on each child entering kindergarten as proficient as possible in English so that the child is ready to benefit from formal reading instruction in English when he or she starts school. Note: The term “limited English proficient” is defined in section 9101(25) of the ESEA (20 U.S.C. 7801(25)). That definition is included in the application package. An English language acquisition plan should, at a minimum:

(1)Include a description of the applicant's approach to the development of language, based on the linguistic factors or skills that serve as the foundation for a strong language base, which foundation is a necessary precursor for success in the development of pre-literacy and literacy skills for children with limited English proficiency;

(2)explain the instructional strategies, based on best available valid and reliable research, that the applicant will use to address English language acquisition in a multi-lingual classroom;

(3)describe how the project will facilitate the children's transition to English proficiency through such means as the use of environmental print in appropriate multiple languages and hiring bilingual teachers, paraprofessionals, or translators to work in the preschool classroom;

(4)include intensive professional development for instructors and paraprofessionals on the development of English language proficiency; and

(5)include a timeline that describes benchmarks for the introduction of the development of English language proficiency and use of measurement tools. Ideally, at least one instructional staff member in each Early Reading First classroom should be dual-language proficient in a child's first language and in English to facilitate the children's understanding of instruction and transition to English proficiency. At a minimum, each classroom should include a teacher who is proficient in English. Invitational Priority 3—Faith-based Organizations The Secretary is especially interested in applications that propose to engage faith-based and community organizations in the delivery of services under this program. *Program Authority:* 20 U.S.C. 6371-6376. *Applicable Regulations:*

(a)The Education Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR parts 74, 75, 77, 79, 80, 81, 82, 84, 85, 86, 97, 98, and 99. Note: The regulations in 34 CFR part 79 apply to all applicants except federally recognized Indian tribes. Note: The regulations in 34 CFR part 86 apply to institutions of higher education only. II. Award Information *Type of Award:* Discretionary grant. *Estimated Available Funds:* The Administration has requested $117,666,000 for awards for the Early Reading First program for FY 2008, of which we intend to use an estimated $116,489,340 for this competition. The actual level of funding, if any, depends on final congressional action. However, we are inviting applications to allow enough time to complete the grant process before the end of the current fiscal year if Congress appropriates funds for this program. Contingent upon the availability of funds and the quality of applications, we may make additional awards in FY 2009 from the list of unfunded applicants from this competition. *Estimated Range of Awards:* $1,500,000-$4,500,000. *Estimated Average Size of Awards:* $3,000,000. *Estimated Number of Awards:* 25-77. Note: The Department is not bound by any estimates in this notice. *Project Period:* Up to 36 months. III. Eligibility Information 1. *Eligible Applicants:* Under this competition, eligible applicants are

(a)one or more local educational agencies (LEAs), including charter schools that are considered LEAs under State law, that are eligible to receive a subgrant under the Reading First program (Title I, Part B, Subpart 1 of the ESEA;

(b)one or more public or private organizations or agencies (including faith-based organizations) located in a community served by an eligible LEA; or

(c)one or more eligible LEAs, applying in collaboration with one or more eligible organizations or agencies. To qualify under paragraph

(b)of this definition, the organization's or agency's application must be on behalf of one or more programs that serve preschool-aged children (such as a Head Start program, a child care program, a family literacy program such as Even Start, or a lab school at a university), unless the organization or agency itself operates a preschool program. Lists, by State, of LEAs that qualify under paragraph

(a)of this definition for this FY 2008 competition are posted on the Early Reading First Web site at *http://www.ed.gov/programs/earlyreading/eligibility.html.* These lists are based on the most recent information provided by each State and the Bureau of Indian Education

(BIE)to the Department's Reading First program, and are posted for the convenience of Early Reading First applicants. However, we consider it to be each applicant's responsibility to verify with the Reading First office in its State, or with the BIE, as appropriate, whether a particular LEA is eligible to receive a subgrant under the Reading First program as of the date of publication of this notice in the **Federal Register** . A list of State and BIE contacts for this purpose is also posted at the Early Reading First Web site at *http://www.ed.govprograms/earlyreading/eligibility.html.* *Eligibility determination date:* The date governing whether an LEA is eligible to receive a subgrant under the Reading First program is the date of publication in the **Federal Register** of this notice inviting applications for new awards under the Early Reading First program for FY 2008. *Required submission of eligibility information:* Each applicant must complete as follows and submit with its pre-application for this competition Pre-Application Form A, Applicant Eligibility, which is included in the application package: • LEAs included on a posted eligibility list: If the LEA on which you, the applicant, are basing your Early Reading First eligibility *is* included on the State's Reading First subgrant eligibility list posted on the Early Reading First Web site, you must complete Section I of Pre-Application Form A (Applicant Eligibility) and submit that form with your pre-application. • *LEAs not included on a posted eligibility list:* If the LEA on which you, the applicant, are basing your Early Reading First eligibility is *not* included on the State's Reading First subgrant eligibility list posted on the Early Reading First Web site, you must complete *both* Section I and Section II of Pre-Application Form A (Applicant Eligibility) and submit that form with your pre-application. Section II requires you to verify with your State's Reading First office, or the BIE, as appropriate, that the LEA is in fact eligible to receive a Reading First subgrant as of the date of publication in the **Federal Register** of this notice. You must also submit the name of, and contact information for, the person with whom you verified that information. If you are invited to submit a full application and we are unable to verify the LEA's eligibility from the contact information that you have provided, we may not consider the LEA as an eligible LEA for the purposes of this competition or we may require you to submit additional written information demonstrating eligibility. 2. *Cost Sharing or Matching:* This program does not require cost sharing or matching. IV. Application and Submission Information 1. *Address to Request Application Package:* You can access the electronic grant application for the Early Reading First Program at *http://www.Grants.gov* You must search for the downloadable application package for this competition by the CFDA number. Do not include the CFDA number's alpha suffix in your search (e.g., search for 84.359, not 84.359A or B). You also can obtain a copy from the Education Publications Center (ED Pubs). To obtain a copy from ED Pubs, write, fax, or call the following: Education Publications Center, P.O. Box 1398, Jessup, MD 20794-1398. Telephone, toll free: 1-877-433-7827. FAX:

(301)470-1244. If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD), call, toll free: 1-877-576-7734. You can contact ED Pubs at its Web site, also: *www.ed.gov/pubs/edpubs.html* or at its e-mail address: *edpubs@inet.ed.gov.* If you request an application package from ED Pubs, be sure to identify this program or competition as follows: CFDA numbers 84.359A and B. Individuals with disabilities can obtain a copy of the application package in an alternative format (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, or computer diskette) by contacting the program contact person or team listed under *Alternative Format* in section VIII of this notice. 2. *Content and Form of Application Submission:* Requirements concerning the content of the pre-application and the full application, together with the forms you must submit, are in the application package for this competition. *Pre-Application:* All applicants must apply in the pre-application phase; as explained in the application package, only selected applicants will be invited to submit a full application. *Page Limits:* You must include in Part I of the pre- and full applications an Abstract briefly describing your proposed project. You must limit each Abstract to one

(1)page. The pre-application narrative and the full application narrative for this program (Part II of the pre- and full applications) are where you, the applicant, address the selection criteria that reviewers use to evaluate your pre- and full applications. You must limit Part II of the pre-application to the equivalent of no more than twelve

(12)pages and Part II of the full application to no more than thirty-five

(35)pages. Part III of the pre-application is where you, the applicant, provide the Appendices. Pre-application Appendices are limited to the following: A list and a brief description of the existing preschool programs that the proposed Early Reading First project would support; an English language acquisition plan, if applicable; and endnote citations for research cited specifically in the pre-application narrative. You must limit the list and the brief description of the existing preschool programs to the equivalent of no more than five

(5)pages. You must limit any English language acquisition plan to the equivalent of no more than two

(2)pages. No page limit applies to the pre-application endnote citations. Part III of the full application is where you, the applicant, provide a budget narrative that reviewers use to evaluate your full application. You must limit the budget narrative in Part III of the full application to the equivalent of no more than five

(5)pages. Part IV of the full application is where you, the applicant, provide the Appendices. Full application Appendices are limited to the following: A list and a brief description of the existing preschool programs that the proposed Early Reading First project would support; an English language acquisition plan, if applicable; position descriptions (and resumes or curriculum vitae if available) for up to five

(5)key personnel; endnote citations for research cited specifically in the full application narrative; and documentation demonstrating the stakeholder support for the project. You must limit the list and the brief description of the existing preschool programs to the equivalent of no more than five

(5)pages. You must limit each resume or curriculum vitae to the equivalent of no more than three

(3)pages each, and limit the documentation demonstrating stakeholder support for the project to the equivalent of no more than five

(5)pages. You must limit any English language acquisition plan to the equivalent of no more than five

(5)pages. For all page limits, use the following standards: • A “page” is 8.5″ x 11″, on one side only, with 1″ margins at the top, bottom, and both sides. • Double space (no more than three lines per vertical inch) all text in the application and budget narratives, including titles, headings, quotations, references, and captions included in the body of the narrative. • Text in charts, tables, figures, and graphs may be single-spaced. • Use the Modern Language Association

(MLA)standard to format endnotes. • Use one of the following commonly used 12-point fonts, including for text in endnotes, charts, tables, figures, and graphs: Times New Roman, Times, Courier, or CG Times. The page limits do not apply to any title page or table of contents, or the forms in Part I of the pre- and full applications; or the following portions of the full application: the budget form (ED Form 524) in Part III; or the assurances and certifications and the endnotes in Part IV. Our reviewers will not read any pages of your pre-application or full application that exceed the page limit if you apply these standards; or exceed the equivalent of the page limit if you apply other standards. 3. *Submission Dates and Times:* *Applications Available:* December 28, 2007. *Deadline for Transmittal of Pre-Applications:* February 1, 2008. *Deadline for Transmittal of Full Applications:* April 18, 2008 (for applicants invited to submit full applications only). Pre- and full applications for grants under this competition must be submitted electronically using the Grants.gov Apply site (Grants.gov). For information (including dates and times) about how to submit your application electronically, or in paper format by mail or hand delivery if you qualify for an exception to the electronic submission requirement, please refer to section IV. 6. *Other Submission Requirements* in this notice. We do not consider an application that does not comply with the deadline requirements. Individuals with disabilities who need an accommodation or auxiliary aid in connection with the application process should contact the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT in section VII in this notice. If the Department provides an accommodation or auxiliary aid to an individual with a disability in connection with the application process, the individual's application remains subject to all other requirements and limitations in this notice. Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: June 16, 2008. 4. *Intergovernmental Review:* This competition is subject to Executive Order 12372 and the regulations in 34 CFR part 79. Information about Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs under Executive Order 12372 is in the application package for this competition. 5. *Funding Restrictions:* We reference regulations outlining funding restrictions in the *Applicable Regulations* section in this notice. 6. *Other Submission Requirements:* Pre- and full applications for grants under this competition must be submitted electronically unless you qualify for an exception to this requirement in accordance with the instructions in this section. a. *Electronic Submission of Applications.* Pre- and full applications for grants under the Early Reading First program, CFDA Number 84.359A (pre-application) and CFDA Number 84.359B (full application), must be submitted electronically using the Governmentwide Grants.gov Apply site at *http://www.Grants.gov* . Through this site, you will be able to download a copy of the application package, complete it offline, and then upload and submit your pre- or full application. You may not e-mail an electronic copy of a grant application to us. We will reject your pre- or full application if you submit it in paper format unless, as described elsewhere in this section, you qualify for one of the exceptions to the electronic submission requirement *and* submit, no later than two weeks before the pre- or full application deadline date, a written statement to the Department that you qualify for one of these exceptions. Further information regarding calculation of the date that is two weeks before the pre- or full application deadline date is provided later in this section under *Exception to Electronic Submission Requirement* . You may access the electronic grant application for the Early Reading First competition at *http://www.Grants.gov* . You must search for the downloadable application package for this competition by the CFDA number. Do not include the CFDA number's alpha suffix in your search (e.g., search for 84.359, not 84.359A). Please note the following: • When you enter the Grants.gov site, you will find information about submitting an application electronically through the site, as well as the hours of operation. • Applications received by Grants.gov are date and time stamped. Your pre- and full applications must be fully uploaded and submitted and must be date and time stamped by the Grants.gov system no later than 4:30 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the pre- or full application deadline date. Except as otherwise noted in this section, we will not consider your pre- or full application if it is date and time stamped by the Grants.gov system later than 4:30 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the pre- or full application deadline date. When we retrieve your pre- or full application from Grants.gov, we will notify you if we are rejecting your pre- or full application because it was date and time stamped by the Grants.gov system after 4:30 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the pre- or full application deadline date. • The amount of time it can take to upload an application will vary depending on a variety of factors, including the size of the application and the speed of your Internet connection. Therefore, we strongly recommend that you do not wait until the pre- or full application deadline date to begin the submission process through Grants.gov. • You should review and follow the Education Submission Procedures for submitting an application through Grants.gov that are included in the application package for this competition to ensure that you submit your pre- and any full application in a timely manner to the Grants.gov system. You can also find the Education Submission Procedures pertaining to Grants.gov at *http://e-Grants.ed.gov/help/GrantsgovSubmissionProcedures.pdf* . • To submit your pre- or full application via Grants.gov, you must complete all steps in the Grants.gov registration process (see *http://www.grants.gov/applicants/get_registered.jsp* ). These steps include

(1)registering your organization, a multi-part process that includes registration with the Central Contractor Registry (CCR);

(2)registering yourself as an Authorized Organization Representative (AOR); and

(3)getting authorized as an AOR by your organization. Details on these steps are outlined in the Grants.gov 3-Step Registration Guide (see *http://www.grants.gov/section910/Grants.govRegistrationBrochure.pdf* ). You also must provide on your pre- and full application the same D-U-N-S Number used with this registration. Please note that the registration process may take five or more business days to complete, and you must have completed all registration steps to allow you to submit successfully a pre- or full application via Grants.gov. In addition you will need to update your CCR registration on an annual basis. This may take three or more business days to complete. • You will not receive additional point value because you submit your pre- or full application in electronic format, nor will we penalize you if you qualify for an exception to the electronic submission requirement, as described elsewhere in this section, and submit your pre- or full application in paper format. • You must submit all documents electronically, including all information you typically provide on the following forms: Application for Federal Assistance (SF 424), the Department of Education Supplemental Information for SF 424, Budget Information—Non-Construction Programs (ED 524), and all necessary assurances and certifications. Please note that two of these forms—the SF 424 and the Department of Education Supplemental Information for SF 424—have replaced the ED 424 (Application for Federal Education Assistance). • You must attach any narrative sections of your pre- and full applications as files in a .DOC (document), .RTF (rich text), or .PDF (Portable Document) format. If you upload a file type other than the three file types specified in this paragraph or submit a password-protected file, we will not review that material. • Your electronic pre- and full applications must comply with any page-limit requirements described in this notice. • After you electronically submit your pre- or full application, you will receive from Grants.gov an automatic notification of receipt that contains a Grants.gov tracking number. (This notification indicates receipt by Grants.gov only, not receipt by the Department.) The Department then will retrieve your pre- or full application from Grants.gov and send a second notification to you by e-mail. This second notification indicates that the Department has received your pre- or full application and has assigned your pre- or full application a PR/Award number (an ED-specified identifying number unique to your pre- or full application). • We may request that you provide us original signatures on forms at a later date. *Application Deadline Date Extension in Case of Technical Issues with the Grants.gov System:* If you are experiencing problems submitting your pre- or full application through Grants.gov, please contact the Grants.gov Support Desk, toll free, at 1-800-518-4726. You must obtain a Grants.gov Support Desk Case Number and must keep a record of it. If you are prevented from electronically submitting your pre- or full application on the pre- or full application deadline date because of technical problems with the Grants.gov system, we will grant you an extension until 4:30 p.m., Washington, DC time, the following business day to enable you to transmit your pre- or full application electronically or by hand delivery. You also may mail your pre- and full applications by following the mailing instructions described elsewhere in this notice. If you submit a pre- or full application after 4:30 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the pre- or full application deadline date, please contact the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT in section VII in this notice and provide an explanation of the technical problem you experienced with Grants.gov, along with the Grants.gov Support Desk Case Number. We will accept your pre- or full application if we can confirm that a technical problem occurred with the Grants.gov system and that that problem affected your ability to submit your pre- or full application by 4:30 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the pre- or full application deadline date. The Department will contact you after a determination is made on whether your pre- or full application will be accepted. Note: The extensions to which we refer in this section apply only to the unavailability of, or technical problems with, the Grants.gov system. We will not grant you an extension if you failed to fully register to submit your pre- or full application to Grants.gov before the pre- or full application deadline date and time or if the technical problem you experienced is unrelated to the Grants.gov system. *Exception to Electronic Submission Requirement:* You qualify for an exception to the electronic submission requirement, and may submit your pre- or full application in paper format, if you are unable to submit a pre- or full application through the Grants.gov system because— • You do not have access to the Internet; or • You do not have the capacity to upload large documents to the Grants.gov system; *and* • No later than two weeks before the pre- or full application deadline date (14 calendar days or, if the fourteenth calendar day before the pre- or full application deadline date falls on a Federal holiday, the next business day following the Federal holiday), you mail or fax a written statement to the Department, explaining which of the two grounds for an exception prevent you from using the Internet to submit your pre- or full application. If you mail your written statement to the Department, it must be postmarked no later than two weeks before the pre- or full application deadline date. If you fax your written statement to the Department, we must receive the faxed statement no later than two weeks before the pre- or full application deadline date. Address and mail or fax your statement to: Pilla Parker, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., room 3C136, Washington, DC 20202-6132. FAX:

(202)260-7764; or Rebecca Marek, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., room 3C138, Washington, DC 20202-6132. FAX:

(202)260-7764. Your paper pre- or full application must be submitted in accordance with the mail or hand delivery instructions described in this notice. b. *Submission of Paper Applications by Mail.* If you qualify for an exception to the electronic submission requirement, you may mail (through the U.S. Postal Service or a commercial carrier) your pre- or full application to the Department. You must mail the original and two copies of your pre- or full application, on or before the pre- or full application deadline date, to the Department at the applicable following address: *By mail through the U.S. Postal Service:* U.S. Department of Education, Application Control Center, Attention: (CFDA Numbers 84.359A and B), 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20202-4260. or *By mail through a commercial carrier:* U.S. Department of Education, Application Control Center, Stop 4260, Attention: (CFDA Numbers 84.359A and B), 7100 Old Landover Road, Landover, MD 20785-1506. Regardless of which address you use, you must show proof of mailing consisting of one of the following:

(1)A legibly dated U.S. Postal Service postmark.

(2)A legible mail receipt with the date of mailing stamped by the U.S. Postal Service.

(3)A dated shipping label, invoice, or receipt from a commercial carrier.

(4)Any other proof of mailing acceptable to the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education. If you mail your pre-or full application through the U.S. Postal Service, we do not accept either of the following as proof of mailing:

(1)A private metered postmark.

(2)A mail receipt that is not dated by the U.S. Postal Service. If your pre-or full application is postmarked after the pre-or full application deadline date, we will not consider your pre-or full application. Note: The U.S. Postal Service does not uniformly provide a dated postmark. Before relying on this method, you should check with your local post office. c. *Submission of Paper Applications by Hand Delivery.* If you qualify for an exception to the electronic submission requirement, you (or a courier service) may deliver your paper pre-or full application to the Department by hand. You must deliver the original and two copies of your pre-or full application by hand, on or before the pre-or full application deadline date, to the Department at the following address: U.S. Department of Education, Application Control Center, Attention: (CFDA Numbers 84.359A and B), 550 12th Street, SW., Room 7041, Potomac Center Plaza, Washington, DC 20202-4260. The Application Control Center accepts hand deliveries daily between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Washington, DC time, except Saturdays, Sundays, and Federal holidays. *Note for Mail or Hand Delivery of Paper Applications:* If you mail or hand deliver your pre-or full application to the Department—

(1)You must indicate on the envelope and—if not provided by the Department—in Item 11 of the SF 424 the CFDA number, including the suffix letter, if any, of the competition under which you are submitting your pre-or full application; and

(2)The Application Control Center will mail to you notification of receipt of your grant application. If you do not receive this notification within 15 business days from the pre-or full application deadline date, you should call the U.S. Department of Education Application Control Center at

(202)245-6288. V. Application Review Information 1. *Selection Criteria:* This competition has separate selection criteria for pre-applications and full applications. A. *Pre-application:* The following selection criteria for this competition for the pre-application are from 34 CFR 75.210 of EDGAR. Further information about each of these selection criteria is in the application package. There are two selection criteria, *Need for Project* and *Quality of the Project Design* . The maximum score for the pre-application selection criteria is 100 points.

(i)*Need for project* (0-20 points) The Secretary considers the need for the proposed project. In determining the need for the proposed project, the Secretary considers the following factors:

(a)The extent to which the proposed project will provide services or otherwise address the needs of students at risk of educational failure. (34 CFR 75.210(a)(2)(iii))

(b)The extent to which the proposed project will focus on serving or otherwise addressing the needs of disadvantaged individuals. (34 CFR 75.210(a)(2)(iv))

(ii)*Quality of the project design* (0-80 points) The Secretary considers the quality of the design of the proposed project. In determining the quality of the design of the proposed project, the Secretary considers the following factors:

(a)The extent to which the design of the proposed project reflects up-to-date knowledge from research and effective practice. (34 CFR 75.210(c)(2)(xiii))

(b)The extent to which the proposed project represents an exceptional approach for meeting statutory purposes and requirements. (34 CFR 75.210(c)(2)(xiv))

(c)The extent to which the proposed project will be coordinated with similar or related efforts, and with other appropriate community, State, and Federal resources. (34 CFR 75.210(c)(2)(xvi)) B. *Full Application:* The following selection criteria for those invited to submit full applications are from 34 CFR 75.210 of EDGAR. Further information about each of these selection criteria is in the application package. The maximum score for each criterion is indicated after the title of the criterion. The maximum score for the full application selection criteria is 100 points.

(i)*Quality of the project design* (0-60 points) The Secretary considers the quality of the design of the proposed project. In determining the quality of the design of the proposed project, the Secretary considers the following factors:

(a)The extent to which the design of the proposed project reflects up-to-date knowledge from research and effective practice. (34 CFR 75.210(c)(2)(xiii))

(b)The extent to which the proposed project represents an exceptional approach for meeting statutory purposes and requirements. (34 CFR 75.210(c)(2)(xiv))

(c)The extent to which the proposed project will be coordinated with similar or related efforts, and with other appropriate community, State, and Federal resources. (34 CFR 75.210(c)(2)(xvi))

(ii)*Quality of project personnel* (0-10 points) The Secretary considers the quality of the personnel who will carry out the proposed project. In determining the quality of project personnel, the Secretary considers the extent to which the applicant encourages applications for employment from persons who are members of groups that have traditionally been underrepresented based on race, color, national origin, gender, age, or disability. (34 CFR 75.210(e)(1), (2)) In addition, the Secretary considers the following factors:

(a)The qualifications, including relevant training and experience, of the project director or principal investigator. (34 CFR 75.210(e)(3)(i))

(b)The qualifications, including relevant training and experience, of key project personnel. (34 CFR 75.210(e)(3)(ii))

(c)The qualifications, including relevant training and experience, of project consultants or subcontractors. (34 CFR 75.210(e)(3)(iii))

(iii)*Adequacy of resources* (0-5 points) The Secretary considers the adequacy of resources for the proposed project. In determining the adequacy of resources for the proposed project, the Secretary considers the following factors:

(a)The relevance and demonstrated commitment of each partner in the proposed project to the implementation and success of the project. (34 CFR 75.210(f)(2)(ii))

(b)The extent to which the costs are reasonable in relation to the objectives, design, and potential significance of the proposed project. (34 CFR 75.210(f)(2)(iv))

(iv)*Quality of the management plan* (0-15 points) The Secretary considers the quality of the management plan for the proposed project. In determining the quality of the management plan for the proposed project, the Secretary considers the following factors:

(a)The adequacy of the management plan to achieve the objectives of the proposed project on time and within budget, including clearly defined responsibilities, timelines, and milestones for accomplishing project tasks. (34 CFR 75.210(g)(2)(i))

(b)The adequacy of procedures for ensuring feedback and continuous improvement in the operation of the proposed project. (34 CFR 75.210(g)(2)(ii))

(c)The extent to which the time commitments of the project director and principal investigator and other key project personnel are appropriate and adequate to meet the objectives of the proposed project. (34 CFR 75.210(g)(2)(iv))

(v)*Quality of the project evaluation* (0-10 points) The Secretary considers the quality of the evaluation to be conducted of the proposed project. In determining the quality of the evaluation, the Secretary considers the following factors:

(a)The extent to which the methods of evaluation are thorough, feasible, and appropriate to the goals, objectives, and outcomes of the proposed project. (34 CFR 75.210(h)(2)(i))

(b)The extent to which the methods of evaluation include the use of objective performance measures that are clearly related to the intended outcomes of the project and will produce quantitative and qualitative data to the extent possible. (34 CFR 75.210(h)(2)(iv)) VI. Award Administration Information 1. *Award Notices:* If your pre-application is successful, we notify you in writing and post the list of successful applicants on the Early Reading First Web site at *www.ed.gov/programs/earlyreading/awards.html.* If your full application is successful, we notify your U.S. Representative and U.S. Senators and send you a Grant Award Notification (GAN). We may notify you informally, also. If your pre-application is not evaluated, or following the submission of your pre-application you are not invited to submit a full application, we notify you. If your full application is not evaluated or not selected for funding, we notify you. 2. *Administrative and National Policy Requirements:* We identify administrative and national policy requirements in the application package and reference these and other requirements in the *Applicable Regulations* section in this notice. We reference the regulations outlining the terms and conditions of an award in the *Applicable Regulations* section in this notice and include these and other specific conditions in the GAN. The GAN also incorporates your approved application as part of your binding commitments under the grant. 3. *Reporting:* At the end of your project period, you must submit a final performance report, including financial information, as directed by the Secretary. If you receive a multi-year award, you must submit an annual performance report that provides the most current performance and financial expenditure information as directed by the Secretary under 34 CFR 75.118. The Secretary may also require more frequent performance reports under 34 CFR 75.720(c). Early Reading First grantees also are required to meet the annual reporting requirements outlined in section 1225 of the ESEA. For specific requirements on reporting, please go to: *http://www.ed.gov/fund/grant/apply/appforms/appforms.html.* 4. *Performance Measures:* Under the Government Performance and Results Act of 1993 (GPRA), the Secretary has established the following five

(5)measures for evaluating the overall effectiveness of the Early Reading First program:

(1)The cost per preschool-aged child participating in Early Reading First programs who achieves a significant gain in oral language skills as measured by the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test-III, Receptive (PPVT-III, Receptive);

(2)the percentage of preschool-aged children participating in Early Reading First programs who demonstrate age-appropriate oral language skills as measured by the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test, Receptive (PPVT-III, Receptive);

(3)the average number of letters Early Reading First preschool-aged children are able to identify as measured by the PALS Pre-K Upper Case Alphabet Knowledge subtask;

(4)the percentage of preschool-aged children participating in Early Reading First programs who achieve significant gains in oral language skills as measured by the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test, Receptive (PPVT-III, Receptive); and

(5)the Early Reading First teachers' average score on the Literacy Environment Checklist on the Early Language and Literacy Classroom Observation (ELLCO) Toolkit after each year of implementation. All grantees must provide information on these performance measures in the annual performance report referred to in section VI.3. of this notice. VII. Agency Contact FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Pilla Parker, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., room 3C136, Washington, DC 20202-6132. Telephone:

(202)260-3710 or by e-mail: *Pilla.Parker@ed.gov;* or Rebecca Marek, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., room 3C138, Washington, DC 20202-6132. Telephone:

(202)260-0968 or by e-mail: *Rebecca.Marek@ed.gov.* If you use a TDD, call the Federal Relay Service (FRS), toll free, at 1-800-877-8339. VIII. Other Information *Alternative Format:* Individuals with disabilities can obtain this document and a copy of the application package in an alternative format (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, or computer diskette) on request to the program contact persons listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT in section VII in this notice. *Electronic Access to This Document:* You can view this document, as well as all other documents of this Department published in the **Federal Register** , in text or Adobe Portable Document Format

(PDF)on the Internet at the following site: *www.ed.gov/news/fedregister.* To use PDF you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is available free at this site. If you have questions about using PDF, call the U.S. Government Printing Office (GPO), toll free, at 1-888-293-6498; or in the Washington, DC, area at

(202)219-2195; fax:

(202)219-1466; e-mail: *Norma.Garza@ed.gov* . Individuals who use a telecommunications device for the deaf

(TDD)may call the Federal Information Relay Service

(FRS)at 1-800-877-8339. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The National Board for Education Sciences is authorized by section 116 of the Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002. The Board advises the Director of the Institute of Education Sciences

(IES)on the establishment of activities to be supported by the Institute, on the funding for applications for grants, contracts, and cooperative agreements for research after the completion of peer review, and reviews and evaluates the work of the Institute. On January 24, from 9 a.m. to 11:45 a.m., the Board will receive reports from the Director of IES and the commissioners of the IES centers on projects underway since October 2007. From 1 p.m. to 1:30 p.m., the Board will review and discuss its ongoing evaluation of IES, after which the Board's Communication and Legislation committees will give their respective reports. Following a summary and review of next steps, the meeting will adjourn at 5:30 p.m. A final agenda will be available from Norma Garza (see contact information above) on January 14. Individuals who will need accommodations for a disability in order to attend the meeting ( *e.g.* , interpreting devices, assistance listening devices, or materials in alternative format) should notify Norma Garza no later than January 12. We will attempt to meet requests for accommodations after this date but cannot guarantee their availability. The meeting site is accessible to individuals with disabilities. Records are kept of all committee proceedings and are available for public inspection at 555 New Jersey Ave., NW., Room 627 H, Washington, DC, 20208, from the hours of 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. *Electronic Access to This Document:* You may view this document as well as all other documents of this Department published in the **Federal Register** in text or Adobe Portable Document Format

(PDF)on the Internet at the following site: *http://www.ed.gov/news/fed-register/index.html* . To use PDF you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is available free at this site. If you have questions about using PDF, call the U.S. Government Printing Office

(GPO)toll-free at 1-888-293-6498, or in the Washington, DC, area at

(202)512-1530. Note: The official version of this document is the document published in the **Federal Register** . Free Internet access to the official edition of the **Federal Register** and the Code of Federal Regulations is available on GPO Access at: *http://www.gpoaccess.gov/nara/index.html* . Grover J. Whitehurst, Director, Institute of Education Sciences. [FR Doc. E7-25219 Filed 12-27-07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4000-01-P DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Combined Notice of Filings #1 December 19, 2007. Take notice that the Commission has received the following Natural Gas Pipeline Rate and Refund Report filings: *Docket Numbers:* RP98-18-031. *Applicants:* Iroquois Gas Transmission System, L.P. *Description:* Iroquois Gas Transmission System submits its Third Revised Sheet 8 to FERC Gas Tariff, First Revised Volume No. 1. *Filed Date:* 12/14/2007. *Accession Number:* 20071217-0195. *Comment Date:* 5 p.m. Eastern Time on Wednesday, December 26, 2007. *Docket Numbers:* RP06-200-040. *Applicants:* Rockies Express Pipeline LLC. *Description:* Rockies Express Pipeline LLC submits First Revised Sheet 9H and 9J to its FERC Gas Tariff, Second Revised Volume 1, to become effective 12/19/07. *Filed Date:* 12/18/2007. *Accession Number:* 20071219-0134. *Comment Date:* 5 p.m. Eastern Time on Monday, December 31, 2007. *Docket Numbers:* RP08-34-001. *Applicants:* Kinder Morgan Illinois Pipeline LLC. *Description:* Kinder Morgan Illinois Pipeline, LLC submits Substitute Original Sheet 123 to FERC Gas Tariff, Original Volume 1, to be effective 12/1/07. *Filed Date:* 12/14/2007. *Accession Number:* 20071217-0134. *Comment Date:* 5 p.m. Eastern Time on Wednesday, December 26, 2007. *Docket Numbers:* RP08-34-002. *Applicants:* Kinder Morgan Illinois Pipeline LLC. *Description:* Kinder Morgan Illinois Pipeline LLC submits Amendment 1 to the Transportation Rate Schedule FTS Agreement with a negotiated rate exhibit between KMIP and the Peoples Gas Light and Coke Co. *Filed Date:* 12/18/2007. *Accession Number:* 20071219-0131. *Comment Date:* 5 p.m. Eastern Time on Monday, December 31, 2007. *Docket Numbers:* RP08-36-001. *Applicants:* High Island Offshore System, L.L.C. *Description:* High Island Offshore System LLC submits Substitute Fourth Revised Sheet 173B, proposed to become effective 12/1/07. *Filed Date:* 12/14/2007. *Accession Number:* 20071219-0130. *Comment Date:* 5 p.m. Eastern Time on Wednesday, December 26, 2007. *Docket Numbers:* RP08-119-000. *Applicants:* Questar Overthrust Pipeline Company. *Description:* Questar Overthrust Pipeline Company submits Second Revised Sheet 6 to Second Revised Volume No 1-A, to be effective January 1, 2008. *Filed Date:* 12/14/2007. *Accession Number:* 20071214-0050. *Comment Date:* 5 p.m. Eastern Time on Wednesday, December 26, 2007. *Docket Numbers:* RP08-120-000. *Applicants:* Texas Gas Transmission, LLC. *Description:* Texas Gas Transmission, LLC submits Twelfth Revised Sheet 20 et al to FERC Gas Tariff, Second Revised Volume 1. *Filed Date:* 12/14/2007. *Accession Number:* 20071217-0136. *Comment Date:* 5 p.m. Eastern Time on Wednesday, December 26, 2007. *Docket Numbers:* RP08-120-000. *Applicants:* Texas Gas Transmission, LLC. *Description:* Texas Gas Transmission LLC submits its Twelfth Revised Sheet 20 et al to its FERC Gas Tariff, Second Revised Volume 1, errata filing #1 to its December 14, 2007 filing. *Filed Date:* 12/17/2007. *Accession Number:* 20071218-0129. *Comment Date:* 5 p.m. Eastern Time on Wednesday, December 26, 2007. *Docket Numbers:* RP08-120-001. *Applicants:* Texas Gas Transmission, LLC. *Description:* Texas Gas Transmission LLC submits Substitute Eleventh Revised Sheet 25 et al to its FERC Gas Tariff, Second Revised Volume 1, errata filing #2 to its December 14, 2007 filing. *Filed Date:* 12/18/2007. *Accession Number:* 20071219-0132. *Comment Date:* 5 p.m. Eastern Time on Wednesday, December 26, 2007. *Docket Numbers:* RP08-121-000. *Applicants:* Northern Natural Gas Company. *Description:* Northern Natural Gas Co notifies FERC of a receipt point that will no longer provide gathering service effective 12/14/07. *Filed Date:* 12/14/2007. *Accession Number:* 20071217-0135. *Comment Date:* 5 p.m. Eastern Time on Wednesday, December 26, 2007. *Docket Numbers:* RP08-123-000. *Applicants:* Central Kentucky Transmission Company. *Description:* Central Kentucky Transmission Co submits Second Revised Sheet 355 et al to FERC Gas Tariff, Second Revised Volume 1, to be effective 5/1/08. *Filed Date:* 12/17/2007. *Accession Number:* 20071218-0117. *Comment Date:* 5 p.m. Eastern Time on Monday, December 31, 2007. *Docket Numbers:* RP08-124-000. *Applicants:* Columbia Gulf Transmission Company. *Description:* Columbia Gas Transmission Corp submits Ninth Revised Sheet 318 et al to FERC Gas Tariff, Second Revised Volume 1, to be effective 5/1/08. *Filed Date:* 12/17/2007. *Accession Number:* 20071218-0118. *Comment Date:* 5 p.m. Eastern Time on Monday, December 31, 2007. *Docket Numbers:* RP08-125-000. *Applicants:* Crossroads Pipeline Company. *Description:* Crossroads Pipeline Co submits Second Revised Sheet 555 et al to FERC Gas Tariff, First Revised Volume 1, to be effective 5/1/08. *Filed Date:* 12/17/2007. *Accession Number:* 20071218-0119. *Comment Date:* 5 p.m. Eastern Time on Monday, December 31, 2007. *Docket Numbers:* RP08-126-000. *Applicants:* Hardy Storage Company, LLC. *Description:* Hardy Storage Co, LLC submits First Revised Sheet 203 FERC Gas Tariff, Original Volume 1, to be effective 1/18/08. *Filed Date:* 12/17/2007. *Accession Number:* 20071218-0120. *Comment Date:* 5 p.m. Eastern Time on Monday, December 31, 2007. *Docket Numbers:* RP08-127-000. *Applicants:* Columbia Gas Transmission Corporation. *Description:* Columbia Gas Transmission Corp submits Tenth Revised Sheet 501 et al to FERC Gas Tariff, Second Revised Volume 1, to be effective 5/1/08. *Filed Date:* 12/17/2007. *Accession Number:* 20071218-0121. *Comment Date:* 5 p.m. Eastern Time on Monday, December 31, 2007. *Docket Numbers:* RP08-128-000. *Applicants:* Northern Border Pipeline Company. *Description:* Northern Border Pipeline Company submits Eleventh Revised Sheet 1 et al to FERC Gas Tariff, First Revised Volume 1, to become effective 1/16/08. *Filed Date:* 12/17/2007. *Accession Number:* 20071218-0133. *Comment Date:* 5 p.m. Eastern Time on Monday, December 31, 2007. *Docket Numbers:* RP08-129-000. *Applicants:* Northern Natural Gas Company. *Description:* Petition of Northern Natural Company for a limited waiver of tariff provisions. *Filed Date:* 12/18/2007. *Accession Number:* 20071219-0133. *Comment Date:* 5 p.m. Eastern Time on Monday, December 31, 2007. Any person desiring to intervene or to protest in any of the above proceedings must file in accordance with Rules 211 and 214 of the Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure (18 CFR 385.211 and 385.214) on or before 5 p.m. Eastern time on the specified comment date. It is not necessary to separately intervene again in a subdocket related to a compliance filing if you have previously intervened in the same docket. Protests will be considered by the Commission in determining the appropriate action to be taken, but will not serve to make protestants parties to the proceeding. Anyone filing a motion to intervene or protest must serve a copy of that document on the Applicant. In reference to filings initiating a new proceeding, interventions or protests submitted on or before the comment deadline need not be served on persons other than the Applicant. The Commission encourages electronic submission of protests and interventions in lieu of paper, using the FERC Online links at *http://www.ferc.gov* . To facilitate electronic service, persons with Internet access who will eFile a document and/or be listed as a contact for an intervenor must create and validate an eRegistration account using the eRegistration link. Select the eFiling link to log on and submit the intervention or protests. Persons unable to file electronically should submit an original and 14 copies of the intervention or protest to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First St. NE., Washington, DC 20426. The filings in the above proceedings are accessible in the Commission's eLibrary system by clicking on the appropriate link in the above list. They are also available for review in the Commission's Public Reference Room in Washington, DC. There is an eSubscription link on the Web site that enables subscribers to receive e-mail notification when a document is added to a subscribed dockets(s). For assistance with any FERC Online service, please e-mail *FERCOnlineSupport@ferc.gov* . or call

(866)208-3676 (toll free). For TTY, call

(202)502-8659. Nathaniel J. Davis, Sr., Deputy Secretary. [FR Doc. E7-25203 Filed 12-27-07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6717-01-P DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Combined Notice of Filings #1 December 21, 2007. Take notice that the Commission has received the following Natural Gas Pipeline Rate and Refund Report filings: *Docket Numbers:* RP97-186-005. *Applicants:* Trunkline Gas Company. *Description:* Trunkline Gas Co, LLC submits Substitute Second Revised Sheet 28 to FERC Gas Tariff, Third Revised Volume 1, to become effective 12/15/07. *Filed Date:* 12/19/2007. *Accession Number:* 20071220-0199. *Comment Date:* 5 p.m. Eastern Time on Monday, December 31, 2007. *Docket Numbers:* RP06-540-005. *Applicants:* High Island Offshore System. *Description:* High Island Offshore System, LLC submits a Report of Refunds. *Filed Date:* 12/19/2007. *Accession Number:* 20071220-0200. *Comment Date:* 5 p.m. Eastern Time on Monday, December 31, 2007. *Docket Numbers:* RP08-130-000. *Applicants:* Northwest Pipeline GP. Description: Northwest Pipeline GP submits its First Revised Sheet 2 *et al.* to FERC Gas Tariff, Fourth Revised Volume 1. *Filed Date:* 12/19/2007. *Accession Number:* 20071220-0204. *Comment Date:* 5 p.m. Eastern Time on Monday, December 31, 2007. *Docket Numbers:* RP08-131-000. *Applicants:* Eastern Shore Natural Gas Company. *Description:* Eastern Shore Natural Gas Co. submits the Twentieth Revised Sheet 4 et al to FERC Gas Tariff, Second Revised Volume 1, to be effective 1/18/08. *Filed Date:* 12/19/2007. *Accession Number:* 20071220-0201. *Comment Date:* 5 p.m. Eastern Time on Monday, December 31, 2007. Any person desiring to intervene or to protest in any of the above proceedings must file in accordance with Rules 211 and 214 of the Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure (18 CFR 385.211 and 385.214) on or before 5 p.m. Eastern time on the specified comment date. It is not necessary to separately intervene again in a subdocket related to a compliance filing if you have previously intervened in the same docket. Protests will be considered by the Commission in determining the appropriate action to be taken, but will not serve to make protestants parties to the proceeding. Anyone filing a motion to intervene or protest must serve a copy of that document on the Applicant. In reference to filings initiating a new proceeding, interventions or protests submitted on or before the comment deadline need not be served on persons other than the Applicant. The Commission encourages electronic submission of protests and interventions in lieu of paper, using the FERC Online links at *http://www.ferc.gov* . To facilitate electronic service, persons with Internet access who will eFile a document and/or be listed as a contact for an intervenor must create and validate an eRegistration account using the eRegistration link. Select the eFiling link to log on and submit the intervention or protests. Persons unable to file electronically should submit an original and 14 copies of the intervention or protest to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First St., NE., Washington, DC 20426. The filings in the above proceedings are accessible in the Commission's eLibrary system by clicking on the appropriate link in the above list. They are also available for review in the Commission's Public Reference Room in Washington, DC. There is an eSubscription link on the web site that enables subscribers to receive email notification when a document is added to a subscribed dockets(s). For assistance with any FERC Online service, please e-mail *FERCOnlineSupport@ferc.gov.* or call

(866)208-3676 (toll free). For TTY, call

(202)502-8659. Nathaniel J. Davis, Sr., Deputy Secretary. [FR Doc. E7-25204 Filed 12-27-07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6717-01-P ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY [ER-FRL-6694-5] Environmental Impact Statements and Regulations; Availability of EPA Comments Availability of EPA comments prepared pursuant to the Environmental Review Process (ERP), under section 309 of the Clean Air Act and Section 102(2)(c) of the National Environmental Policy Act as amended. Requests for copies of EPA comments can be directed to the Office of Federal Activities at 202-564-7167. An explanation of the ratings assigned to draft environmental impact statements

(EISs)was published in FR dated April 6, 2007 (72 FR 17156). Draft EISs EIS No. 20070357, ERP No. D-BLM-J65490-UT, Moab Field Office Planning Area, Resource Management Plan, Implementation, Grand and San Juan Counties, UT. *Summary:* EPA expressed environmental concerns about air quality impacts and the; mitigation measures proposed under the Preferred Alternative (Alternative C) not being able to fully address significant environmental impacts associated with travel and recreation management issues. Consequently, EPA recommends specific environmentally-protective mitigation measures be included in the final EIS. Rating EC2. EIS No. 20070406, ERP No. D-AFS-L65500-AK, Iyouktug Timber Sales, Proposes Harvesting Timber, Implementation, Hoonah Ranger District, Tongass National Forest, Hoonah, AK. *Summary:* EPA expressed environmental concerns about potential adverse impacts to water quality and wetlands. The final EIS should include additional information about effected resources and mitigation measures to avoid or compensate for impacts. Rating EC2. EIS No. 20070476, ERP No. D-FRC-G03035-00, Gulf Crossing Project, Construction and Operation of Natural Gas Pipeline to Facilitate the Transport of up to 1.73 Billion Cubic Feet Per Day of Natural Gas, Locate in various Counties and Parishes in OK, TX, LA, and MS. *Summary:* EPA expressed environmental concerns about wetland, air quality, and environmental justice impacts, and requested additional information and mitigation measures for these issues. Rating EC2. EIS No. 20070443, ERP No. DS-FTA-K54022-CA, Third Street Light Rail Phase 2, Updated Information on the Central Subway Project Area, Funding, San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency, in the City and County San Francisco, CA. *Summary:* EPA does not object to the proposed project. Rating LO. Final EISs EIS No. 20070459, ERP No. F-FRC-E05102-SC, Santee Cooper Hydroelectric Project (FERC. No. 199), Relicensing for Existing 130-megawatt (MW), Santee and Cooper Rivers, Berkeley, Calhoun, Clarendon, Orangeburg and Sumter Counties, SC. *Summary:* EPA's previous concerns have been resolved; therefore, EPA does not object to the proposed action. EIS No. 20070489, ERP No. F-DOE-A09834-00, FutureGen Project, Planning, Design, Construction and Operation of a Coal Fueled Electric Power and Hydrogen Gas Production Plant, Four Alternative Sites: Mattoon, IL, Tuscola, IL, Jewett, TX, and Odessa, TX. *Summary:* EPA does not object to the proposed project. EIS No. 20070522, ERP No. F-IBR-K39109-CA, Lower Yuba River Accord, Proposal to Resolve Instream Flow Issues Associated with Operation, Yuba River, Yuba County, CA. *Summary:* No formal comment letter was sent to the preparing agency. EIS No. 20070494, ERP No. LF-COE-G39050-LA, Mississippi River—Gulf Outlet

(MRGO)Deep-Draft Navigation De-Authorization Study, Implementation, St. Bernard Parish, LA. *Summary:* No formal comment letter was sent to the preparing agency. Dated: December 21, 2007. Robert W. Hargrove, Director, NEPA Compliance Division, Office of Federal Activities. [FR Doc. E7-25192 Filed 12-27-07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560-50-P ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY [ER-FRL-6694-4] Environmental Impacts Statements; Notice of Availability *Responsible Agency:* Office of Federal Activities, General Information

(202)564-7167 or *http://www.epa.gov/compliance/nepa/.* Weekly receipt of Environmental Impact Statements Filed 12/17/2007 through 12/21/2007 Pursuant to 40 CFR 1506.9. *EIS No. 20070536, Draft EIS, AFS, 00,* National Forest System Lands in Utah Wild and Scenic River Suitability Study for 86 Eligible River Segments for Inclusion in the National Wild and Scenic River System, Ashley, Dixie, Fishlake, Manti-LaSal, Uinta, Wasatch-Cache National Forests in Utah and Portions of National Forests in Colorado and Wyoming, Comment Period Ends: 02/15/2008, *Contact:* Catherine Kahlow 435-783-4338. This document is available on the Internet at: *http://www.fs.fed.us/r4/rivers/deis_wsr.shtml* . *EIS No. 20070537, Draft EIS, AFS, NM,* Perk-Grindstone Fuel Reduction Project, To Protect Life, Property, and Natural Resources, Village of Ruidoso, Lincoln National Forest, Lincoln County, New Mexico, *Comment Period Ends:* 02/11/2008, Contact: Buck Sanchez 505-885-4181. This document is available on the Internet at *http://www.fs.fed.us/r3/lincoln/Projects/index.shtml.* *EIS No. 20070538, Draft EIS, COE, NC,* North Topsail Beach Shoreline Protection Project, Seeking Federal and State Permits to Allow Implementation of a Non-Federal Shoreline and Inlet Management Project, New River Inlet, Onslow County, NC, *Comment Period Ends:* 02/11/2008, *Contact:* Mickey T. Sugg 910-251-4811. *EIS No. 20070539, Final EIS, SFW, CA, Programmatic* —South Bay Salt Pond Restoration Project, Restored Tidal Marsh, Managed Ponds, Flood Control Measures and Public Access Features, Don Edward San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge, Alameda, Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties, CA, *Wait Period Ends:* 01/28/2008, *Contact:* Mendel Stewart 510-792-4275 Ext. 23. *EIS No. 20070540, Draft EIS, NOA, 00,* Amendment 1 to the Tilefish Fishery Management Plan, Proposed Individual Fishing Quota

(IFQ)Program, To Reduce Overcapacity in the Commercial Tilefish Fishery, Maine to North Carolina, *Comment Period Ends:* 02/11/2008, *Contact:* Patricia A. Kurkul 978-281-9200. *EIS No. 20070541, Draft Supplement, NOA, AK,* Cook Inlet Beluga Whale Subsistence Harvest Project, Proposes to Implement a Long-Term Harvest Plan and Fulfill the Federal Government's Trust Responsibility, Cook Inlet, AK, *Comment Period Ends:* 02/11/2008, *Contact:* Barbara Mahoney 907-271-3448. *EIS No. 20070542, Revised Draft EIS, BLM, WY,* Pinedale Anticline Oil and Gas Exploration and Development Project, Additional Information on Two New Alternatives, Consolidated Development with Year-Round Development (Construction, Drilling, Completion, and Production), Sublette County, WY , *Comment Period Ends:* 02/11/2008, *Contact:* Caleb Hiner 307-367-5352. *EIS No. 20070543, Final EIS, AFS, 00,* Sierra Nevada Forests Management Indicator Species Amendment (MIS), Proposes to Adopt a Common List of Management Indicator Species (MIS), and Amending Land & Resource Management Plans for Following Ten Forests: Eldorado, Inyo, Lassen, Modoc, Plumas, Sequoia, Sierra, Stanislaus and Tahoe National Forests and Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit, Several Counties, CA and Douglas, Esmeralda, Mineral Counties, NV, *Wait Period Ends:* 01/08/2008, *Contact:* Diana Craig 707-562-8737. *EIS No. 20070544, Final EIS, AFS, OR,* Invasive Plant Treatments within the Deschutes and Ochoco National Forests and the Crooked River National Grassland, Reduction of Invasive Plant Infestation and Protection of Uninfested Areas, Implementation, Several Cos. OR, *Wait Period Ends:* 02/11/2008, Contact: Beth Peer 541-383-5300. *EIS No. 20070545, Draft EIS, IBR, ND,* Northwest Area Water Supply Project, To Construct a Biota Water Treatment Plant, Lake Sakakawea, Missouri River Basin to Hudson Bay Basin, ND, *Comment Period Ends:* 02/11/2008, *Contact:* Alice Waters 701-221-1206. *EIS No. 20070546, Final EIS, IBR, 00,* Red River Valley Water Supply Project, Development and Delivery of a Bulk Water Supply to meet Long-Term Water Needs of the Red River Valley, Implementation, ND and MN, *Wait Period Ends:* 01/28/2008, *Contact:* Todd Dixon 202-513-0675. Amended Notices *EIS No. 20070416, Draft EIS, BLM, WY,* Moxa Arch Area Infill Gas Development Project, Drill, Extract, Remove, and Market Natural Gas Under Valid Existing Oil and Gas Leases, Approval, Right-of-Way Grants and U.S. Army COE Section 404 Permit(s), Lincoln, Uinta and Sweetwater Counties, WY, *Comment Period Ends:* 01/10/2008, *Contact:* Michele Easley 307-828-4524. *Revision of FR Notice Published 10/12/2007:* Extending Comment Period from 12/11/2007 to 01/10/2008. Dated: December 21, 2007. Ken Mittelholtz, Environmental Protection Specialist, Office of Federal Activities. [FR Doc. E7-25194 Filed 12-27-07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560-50-P ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY [EPA-HQ-ORD-2007-1053; FRL-8511-9] Board of Scientific Counselors, National Exposure Research Laboratory

(NERL)Standing Subcommittee Meeting—2008 AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ACTION: Notice of meeting. SUMMARY: Pursuant to the Federal Advisory Committee Act, Public Law 92-463, the Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development (ORD), gives notice of a meeting of the Board of Scientific Counselors

(BOSC)National Exposure Research Laboratory

(NERL)Standing Subcommittee. DATES: The meeting (a teleconference call) will be held on Friday, January 18, 2008 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. All times noted are eastern time. The meeting may adjourn early if all business is finished. Requests for the draft agenda or for making oral presentations at the conference call will be accepted up to 1 business day before the meeting. ADDRESSES: Participation in the meeting will be by teleconference only—meeting rooms will not be used. Members of the public may obtain the call-in number and access code for the call from Susan Peterson, whose contact information is listed under the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section of this notice. Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-ORD-2007-1053, by one of the following methods: • *www.regulations.gov:* Follow the on-line instructions for submitting comments. • *E-mail:* Send comments by electronic mail (e-mail) to: *ORD.Docket@epa.gov,* Attention Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-ORD-2007-1053. • *Fax:* Fax comments to:

(202)566-0224, Attention Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-ORD-2007-1053. • *Mail:* Send comments by mail to: Board of Scientific Counselors, National Exposure Research Laboratory

(NERL)Standing Subcommittee—2007 Docket, Mailcode: 28221T, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC, 20460, Attention Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-ORD-2007-1053. • *Hand Delivery or Courier:* Deliver comments to: EPA Docket Center (EPA/DC), Room B102, EPA West Building, 1301 Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC, Attention Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-ORD-2007-1053. Note: This is not a mailing address. Such deliveries are only accepted during the docket's normal hours of operation, and special arrangements should be made for deliveries of boxed information . *Instructions:* Direct your comments to Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-ORD-2007-1053. EPA's policy is that all comments received will be included in the public docket without change and may be made available online at *www.regulations.gov,* including any personal information provided, unless the comment includes information claimed to be Confidential Business Information

(CBI)or other information whose disclosure is restricted by statute. Do not submit information that you consider to be CBI or otherwise protected through *www.regulations.gov* or e-mail. The *www.regulations.gov* Web site is an “anonymous access” system, which means EPA will not know your identity or contact information unless you provide it in the body of your comment. If you send an e-mail comment directly to EPA without going through *www.regulations.gov,* your e-mail address will be automatically captured and included as part of the comment that is placed in the public docket and made available on the Internet. If you submit an electronic comment, EPA recommends that you include your name and other contact information in the body of your comment and with any disk or CD-ROM you submit. If EPA cannot read your comment due to technical difficulties and cannot contact you for clarification, EPA may not be able to consider your comment. Electronic files should avoid the use of special characters, any form of encryption, and be free of any defects or viruses. For additional information about EPA's public docket visit the EPA Docket Center homepage at *http://www.epa.gov/epahome/dockets.htm.* *Docket:* All documents in the docket are listed in the *www.regulations.gov* index. Although listed in the index, some information is not publicly available, e.g., CBI or other information whose disclosure is restricted by statute. Certain other material, such as copyrighted material, will be publicly available only in hard copy. Publicly available docket materials are available either electronically in *www.regulations.gov* or in hard copy at the Board of Scientific Counselors, National Exposure Research Laboratory

(NERL)Standing Subcommittee—2007 Docket, EPA/DC, EPA West, Room B102, 1301 Constitution Ave., NW., Washington, DC. The Public Reading Room is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays. The telephone number for the Public Reading Room is

(202)566-1744, and the telephone number for the ORD Docket is

(202)566-1752. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: The Designated Federal Officer via mail at: Susan Peterson, Mail Code 8104-R, Office of Science Policy, Office of Research and Development, Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20460; via phone/voice mail at:

(202)564-1077; via fax at:

(202)565-2911; or via e-mail at: *peterson.susan@epa.gov.* SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: General Information Participation in the meeting will be by teleconference only—meeting rooms will not be used. Members of the public who wish to obtain the call-in number and access code to participate in the conference call may contact Susan Peterson, the Designated Federal Officer, via any of the contact methods listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section above, by 4 working days prior to the conference call. The purpose of the meeting is to discuss the subcommittee's input to their draft letter report and follow-up from their December 11-12, 2007 face-to-face meeting. Proposed agenda items for the conference call include, but are not limited to: Review of December 11-12, 2007 face-to-face meeting, discussion of the charge to subcommittee, and subcommittee responses to the charge questions for the draft letter report. The conference call is open to the public. *Information on Services for Individuals with Disabilities:* For information on access or services for individuals with disabilities, please contact Susan Peterson at

(202)564-1077 or *peterson.susan@epa.gov.* To request accommodation of a disability, please contact Susan Peterson, preferably at least 10 days prior to the meeting, to give EPA as much time as possible to process your request. Dated: December 18, 2007. Connie Bosma, Acting Director, Office of Science Policy. [FR Doc. E7-25284 Filed 12-27-07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560-50-P ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY [EPA-HQ-OPP-2007-1174; FRL-8344-9] Inert Ingredients: Updates to Lists of Inert Ingredients Permitted in Pesticide Products AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ACTION: Notice. SUMMARY: EPA has released on its website updates to the listings of inert ingredients permitted in pesticide products applied to non-food sites, including those permitted for use in minimum risk pesticides exempted under FIFRA Section 25(b) and those eligible for USDA’s National Organic Program. The lists were last updated in 2004. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Karen Angulo, Registration Division (7505P), Office of Pesticide Programs, Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460-0001; telephone number:

(703)306-0404; fax number:

(703)605-0781; e-mail address: *angulo.karen@epa.gov* . SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: I. General Information A. Does this Action Apply to Me? You may be potentially affected by this action if you are an agricultural producer, food manufacturer, or pesticide manufacturer. Potentially affected entities may include, but are not limited to: • Crop production (NAICS code 111). • Animal production (NAICS code 112). • Food manufacturing (NAICS code 311). • Pesticide manufacturing (NAICS code 32532). This listing is not intended to be exhaustive, but rather provides a guide for readers regarding entities likely to be affected by this action. Other types of entities not listed in this unit could also be affected. The North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS) codes have been provided to assist you and others in determining whether this action might apply to certain entities. To determine whether you or your business may be affected by this action, you should carefully examine the applicability provisions in Unit II. If you have any questions regarding the applicability of this action to a particular entity, consult the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT . B. How Can I Get Copies of this Document and Other Related Information? 1. *Docket* . EPA has established a docket for this action under docket identification

(ID)number EPA-HQ-OPP-2007-1174. Publicly available docket materials are available either in the electronic docket at *http://www.regulations.gov* , or, if only available in hard copy, at the Office of Pesticide Programs

(OPP)Regulatory Public Docket in Rm. S-4400, One Potomac Yard (South Bldg.), 2777 S. Crystal Dr., Arlington, VA. The hours of operation of this Docket Facility are from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays. The Docket Facility telephone number is

(ID)number EPA-HQ-OPPT-2004-0109 must be received on or before February 11, 2008. ADDRESSES: Follow the detailed instructions as provided under ADDRESSES in the **Federal Register** document of June 18, 2007. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Linda Phillips, Office of Science Coordination and Policy (7203M), Office of Prevention, Pesticides, and Toxic Substances, Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460-0001; telephone number:

(202)564-1264; e-mail address: *phillips.linda@epa.gov* . SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: I. General Information A. Does this Action Apply to Me? The Agency included in the June 18, 2007 notice a list of those who may be potentially affected by this action. If you have questions regarding the applicability of this action to a particular entity, consult the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT . B. What Should I Consider as I Prepare My Comments for EPA? When preparing comments follow the procedures and suggestions given in Unit I.B. of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION of the June 18, 2007 **Federal Register** notice. C. How and to Whom Do I Submit Comments? To submit comments, or access the public docket, please follow the detailed instructions as provided in Unit I.B.3. of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION of the June 18, 2007 **Federal Register** notice. If you have questions, consult the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT . II. What Action is EPA Taking? This document extends the public comment period that was originally established in the **Federal Register** of June 18, 2007 (72 FR 33486) (FRL-8129-3), and was extended in the **Federal Register** of September 12, 2007 (72 FR 52108) (FRL-8146-3), and November 15, 2007 (72 FR 64218) (FR-8156-9).In the **Federal Register** notice of June 18, 2007, EPA announced the draft list of the first group of chemicals that will be screened in the Agency's EDSP. The draft list was developed using the approach described in the **Federal Register** notice of September 27, 2005 (70 FR 56449) (FRL-7716-9). As required by the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA), all pesticides must eventually be screened under the EDSP, and this first group is simply a starting point. Because EPA developed this draft list of chemicals based upon exposure potential, it should not be construed as a list of known or likely endocrine disruptors, and it would be inappropriate to do so. Following consideration of comments on this draft list of chemicals, EPA will issue a **Federal Register** notice containing the final list of chemicals. EPA is hereby extending the comment period, which was set to end on December 31, 2007 to February 11, 2008. III. What is the Agency's Authority for Taking this Action? Section 408(p) of FFDCA requires EPA to “develop a screening program, using appropriate validated test systems and other scientifically relevant information, to determine whether certain substances may have an effect in humans that is similar to an effect produced by a naturally occurring estrogen, or such other endocrine effect as [EPA] may designate.” (21 U.S.C. 346a(p)). The statute generally requires EPA to “provide for the testing of all pesticide chemicals.” (21 U.S.C. 346a(p)(3)). However, EPA is authorized to exempt a chemical, by order upon a determination that “the substance is anticipated not to produce any effect in humans similar to an effect produced by a naturally occurring estrogen.” (21 U.S.C. 346a(p)(4)). “Pesticide chemical” is defined as “any substance that is a pesticide within the meaning of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act, including all active and inert ingredients of such pesticide.” (21 U.S.C. 321(q)(1)). List of Subjects Environmental protection, Chemicals, Endocrine disruptors, Pesticides. Dated: December 19, 2007. James B. Gulliford. Assistant Administrator, Office of Prevention, Pesticides and Toxic Substances. [FR Doc. E7-25106 Filed 12-27-07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560-50-S ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY [EPA-HQ-OPPT-2006-0794; FRL-8345-6] Review of Chemical Proposals for Addition under the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants; Solicitation of Information for the Development of Risk Management Evaluations and Risk Profiles AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ACTION: Notice. SUMMARY: This notice solicits information relevant to the development of risk management evaluations pursuant to the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants

(POPs)(hereafter Convention) for the following chemicals which are being reviewed for possible addition to the Convention’s Annexes A, B, and/or C as POPs: Commercial octabromodiphenyl ether (c-octaBDE) (CAS No. 32536-52-0 ), pentachlorobenzene

(PeCB)(CAS No. 608-93-5), alpha-hexachlorocyclohexane (alpha-HCH) (CAS No. 319-84-6), and beta-hexachlorocyclohexane (beta-HCH) (CAS No. 319-85-7). Additionally, this notice solicits additional information relevant to the development of the risk profile pursuant to the Convention for the following chemical which is also being reviewed for possible addition to the Convention’s Annexes A, B, and/or C as POPs: Short-chained chlorinated paraffins

(SCCP)(CAS No. 85535-84-8). EPA is issuing this notice to alert interested and potentially affected persons of these proposals and the status of their review under the Convention, and to encourage such persons to provide information relevant to the development of risk profiles and risk management evaluations under the Convention. DATES: Comments must be received on or before January 22, 2008. ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by docket identification

(ID)number EPA-HQ-OPPT-2006-0794, by one of the following methods: • *Federal eRulemaking Portal* : *http://www.regulations.gov* . Follow the on-line instructions for submitting comments. • *Mail* : Document Control Office (7407M), Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics (OPPT), Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460-0001. • *Hand Delivery* : OPPT Document Control Office (DCO), EPA East Bldg., Rm. 6428, 1201 Constitution Ave., NW., Washington, DC. Attention: Docket ID Number EPA-HQ-OPPT-2006-0794. The DCO is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays. The telephone number for the DCO is

(202)564-8930. Such deliveries are only accepted during the DCO’s normal hours of operation, and special arrangements should be made for deliveries of boxed information. *Instructions* : Direct your comments to docket ID number EPA-HQ-OPPT-2006-0794. EPA's policy is that all comments received will be included in the docket without change and may be made available on-line at *http://www.regulations.gov* , including any personal information provided, unless the comment includes information claimed to be Confidential Business Information

(CBI)or other information whose disclosure is restricted by statute. Do not submit information that you consider to be CBI or otherwise protected through regulations.gov or e-mail. The regulations.gov website is an “anonymous access” system, which means EPA will not know your identity or contact information unless you provide it in the body of your comment. If you send an e-mail comment directly to EPA without going through regulations.gov, your e-mail address will be automatically captured and included as part of the comment that is placed in the docket and made available on the Internet. If you submit an electronic comment, EPA recommends that you include your name and other contact information in the body of your comment and with any disk or CD-ROM you submit. If EPA cannot read your comment due to technical difficulties and cannot contact you for clarification, EPA may not be able to consider your comment. Electronic files should avoid the use of special characters, any form of encryption, and be free of any defects or viruses. For additional information about EPA’s public docket, visit the EPA Docket Center homepage at *http://www.epa.gov/epahome/dockets.htm* . *Docket* : All documents in the docket are listed in the docket index available in regulations.gov. To access the electronic docket, go to *http://www.regulations.gov* , select “Advanced Search,” then “Docket Search.” Insert the docket ID number where indicated and select the “Submit” button. Follow the instructions on the regulations.gov website to view the docket index or access available documents. Although listed in the index, some information is not publicly available, e.g., CBI or other information whose disclosure is restricted by statute. Certain other material, such as copyrighted material, will be publicly available only in hard copy. Publicly available docket materials are available electronically at *http://www.regulations.gov* , or, if only available in hard copy, at the OPPT Docket. The OPPT Docket is located in the EPA Docket Center (EPA/DC) at Rm. 3334, EPA West Bldg., 1301 Constitution Ave., NW., Washington, DC. The EPA/DC Public Reading Room hours of operation are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding Federal holidays. The telephone number of the EPA/DC Public Reading Room is

(202)566-1744, and the telephone number for the OPPT Docket is

(202)566-0280. Docket visitors are required to show photographic identification, pass through a metal detector, and sign the EPA visitor log. All visitor bags are processed through an X-ray machine and subject to search. Visitors will be provided an EPA/DC badge that must be visible at all times in the building and returned upon departure. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: *For general information contact* : Colby Lintner, Regulatory Coordinator, Environmental Assistance Division (7408M), Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics, Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460-0001; telephone number:

(202)554-1404; e-mail address: *TSCA-Hotline@epa.gov* . *For technical information contact* : Amy Breedlove, Chemical Control Division (7405M), Office Pollution Prevention and Toxics, Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460-0001; telephone number:

(202)564-9823; e-mail address: *breedlove.amy@epa.gov* . SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: I. General Information A. Does this Action Apply to Me? This action is directed to the public in general, and may be of particular interest to chemical substance and pesticide manufacturers, importers, and processors. Since other entities may also be interested, the Agency has not attempted to describe all the specific entities that may be affected by this action. If you have any questions regarding the applicability of this action to a particular entity, consult the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT . B. What Should I Consider as I Prepare My Comments for EPA? 1. *Submitting CBI* . Do not submit this information to EPA through regulations.gov or e-mail. Clearly mark the part or all of the information that you claim to be CBI. For CBI information in a disk or CD-ROM that you mail to EPA, mark the outside of the disk or CD-ROM as CBI and then identify electronically within the disk or CD-ROM the specific information that is claimed as CBI. In addition to one complete version of the comment that includes information claimed as CBI, a copy of the comment that does not contain the information claimed as CBI must be submitted for inclusion in the public docket. Information so marked will not be disclosed except in accordance with procedures set forth in 40 CFR part 2. 2. *Procedures for preparing confidential information related to pesticides and industrial chemicals* . Procedures for preparing confidential information related to pesticides and industrial chemicals are in Unit I.B.1. Send confidential information about industrial chemicals using the submission procedures under ADDRESSES . Send confidential information about pesticides to: Janice K. Jensen, Office of Pesticide Programs (7506P), Environmental Protection, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460-0001 or hand delivered to: Janice K. Jensen, Government and International Services Branch, Office of Pesticide Programs, Potomac Yard South, 2777 S. Crystal Dr., Rm. #S11315, Arlington, VA 22202. If you have CBI pesticide information to submit or questions about delivering CBI to Janice, please contact her at *jensen.janice@epa.gov* . 3. *Incorporation of comments in U.S. response* . Commenters should note that none of the CBI information received by EPA will be forwarded to the Stockholm Convention Secretariat (hereafter Secretariat). Information from submissions containing CBI may be considered by EPA in the development of the U.S. response. If commenters wish EPA to consider incorporating information in documents with CBI as part of the U.S. response, commenters should provide a sanitized copy of the documents. Sanitized copies must be complete except that all information claimed as CBI is deleted. EPA will place sanitized copies in the public docket. 4. *CD-ROMs* . Please note that due to incoming mail being x-rayed, CD-ROM’s tend to melt and become unusable. It is recommended that they not be sent through the mail. 5. *Tips for preparing your comments* . When submitting comments, remember to: i. Identify the document by docket ID number and other identifying information (subject heading, **Federal Register** date and page number). ii. Follow directions. The Agency may ask you to respond to specific questions or organize comments by referencing a Code of Federal Regulations

(CFR)part or section number. iii. Explain why you agree or disagree; suggest alternatives and substitute language for your requested changes. iv. Describe any assumptions and provide any technical information and/or data that you used. v. If you estimate potential costs or burdens, explain how you arrived at your estimate in sufficient detail to allow for it to be reproduced. vi. Provide specific examples to illustrate your concerns and suggest alternatives. vii. Explain your views as clearly as possible, avoiding the use of profanity or personal threats. viii. Make sure to submit your comments by the comment period deadline identified. II. Background A. What Action is the Agency Taking? The Agency is issuing this notice to increase awareness of the proposals concerning the chemicals subject to this notice, and to provide interested persons with an opportunity to provide relevant information to EPA for its consideration in the development of the United States’ submissions relevant to Convention Annexes E and F for the chemical substances under review at this time for possible addition to Annexes A, B, and/or C of the Convention. On December 3 and 4, 2007, the Secretariat invited Parties and observers to submit to the POPs Review Committee (POPRC) (via the Secretariat) information specified in Annex E and Annex F of the Convention, and other relevant information (the Secretariat’s invitation letters can be found at *http://www.pops.int/documents/meetings/poprc/docs/comments.htm* ). The United States is an observer. EPA is requesting that any information be submitted to EPA no later than January 22, 2008. The United States intends to make a submission by February 4, 2008, to meet the Secretariat’s deadline. In addition, EPA will consider the information during its review of the draft risk management evaluations developed by ad hoc working groups established under POPRC in the coming months. The chemical listing process is discussed in more detail in Unit II.B. Individuals or organizations that wish to submit information directly to POPRC via the Secretariat should work through their respective observer organizations, if any. B. The Convention Chemical Listing Process The Convention is a multilateral environmental agreement designed to protect human health and the environment from persistent organic pollutants. The United States signed the Convention in May of 2001 but has not yet ratified it (and thus is not a Party to the Convention). The United States currently participates as an observer in Convention activities. The Convention, which went into force in May of 2004, requires the Parties to reduce or eliminate the production and use of a number of intentionally produced POPs used as pesticides or industrial chemicals. The Convention also calls upon Parties to take certain specified measures to reduce releases of certain unintentionally produced POPs with the goal of their continuing minimization and, where feasible, ultimate elimination. The Convention also imposes controls on the handling of POPs wastes and on trade in POPs chemicals. In addition, there are specific science-based procedures that Parties to the Convention must use when considering the addition of new chemicals to the Convention’s Annexes. Article 8 of the Convention provides the process that must be followed for listing new chemicals in Annexes A, B, and/or C, and is described in summary in this unit with certain associated implementation procedures being followed by POPRC: 1. A Party to the Convention may submit a proposal to the Secretariat for listing a chemical in Annexes A, B and/or C of the Convention. The proposal shall contain the information specified in Annex D of the Convention (“Information Requirements and Screening Criteria”). 2. The Secretariat verifies that the proposal contains the information specified in Annex D of the Convention, and if the Secretariat is satisfied, the proposal is forwarded to POPRC. 3. POPRC examines the proposal, applies the Convention Annex D screening criteria, and determines whether the screening criteria have been fulfilled. 4. If POPRC is satisfied that the criteria have been fulfilled, POPRC, through the Secretariat, will make the proposal and POPRC’s evaluation available to all Parties and observers and invite them to submit the information specified in Annex E (“Information Requirements for the Risk Profiles”) of the Convention. 5. Draft risk profiles are prepared by ad hoc working groups under POPRC in accordance with Annex E of the Convention for consideration by POPRC and made available to all Parties and observers to collect technical comments. 6. POPRC reviews the draft risk profile and technical comments, completes the risk profile, and determines whether the chemical is likely, as a result of its long-range environmental transport, to lead to significant adverse human health and/or environmental effects, such that global action is warranted. 7. If POPRC determines that action is warranted, then POPRC, through the Secretariat, will ask Parties and observers to provide information specified in Annex F (“Information on Socio-Economic Considerations”) of the Convention to aid in the development of risk management evaluations (that include an analysis of possible control measures). 8. Draft risk management evaluations are prepared by ad hoc working groups under POPRC in accordance with Annex F of the Convention for consideration by POPRC and made available to Parties and observers to collect technical comments. 9. POPRC reviews the draft risk management evaluation prepared by the ad hoc working group and completes it. 10. On the basis of the risk profile and the risk management evaluation for each chemical, POPRC recommends whether the chemical should be considered by the Conference of the Parties

(COP)for listing in Convention Annexes A, B, and/or C. (The type(s) of control measure(s) that might be introduced for a specific chemical would dictate whether the chemical would be listed in Annex A (elimination), Annex B (restriction), and/or Annex C (unintentional production) of the Convention.) 11. The COP makes the final decision on listing the chemical in Annexes A, B, and/or C of the Convention. EPA anticipates issuing **Federal Register** notices soliciting information, when appropriate, during the listing process. C. What Information is Being Requested for Risk Management Evaluations? For the chemicals currently at the risk management stage (see Unit II.G.), EPA is seeking information that is supplementary to the information provided during previous stages in the review process; i.e., information relevant to Convention Annexes D and E; the proposals, evaluations and risk profiles. These documents, as well as the Secretariat’s letter soliciting information, are available at the Convention website ( *http://www.pops.int/documents/meetings/poprc/poprc.htm* ). In addition, POPRC identified specific areas where information and data relevant to the chemicals under consideration would be particularly useful for the future process. This information is discussed in Unit II.G. When providing information, keep in mind that the possible control measures under the Convention include, among others, the prohibition or severe restriction of production and use. Therefore, the provision of accurate, high-quality information, as described in this notice and in the Secretariat letter soliciting information, is a priority for POPRC’s evaluation. Commenters are invited to provide information they deem relevant to POPRC’s development of the risk management evaluation, such as that specified in Annex F of the Convention and other related information, as described in this unit and in Unit II.G. Provide summary information and relevant references for: 1. Efficacy and efficiency of possible control measures in meeting risk reduction goals: i. Describe possible control measures. ii. Technical feasibility. iii. Costs, including environmental and health costs. 2. Alternatives (products and processes): i. Describe alternatives. ii. Technical feasibility. iii. Costs, including environmental and health costs. iv. Efficacy. v. Risk. vi. Availability. vii. Accessibility. 3. Positive and/or negative impacts on society of implementing possible control measures: i. Health, including public, environmental and occupational health. ii. Agriculture, including aquaculture and forestry. iii. Biota (biodiversity). iv. Economic aspects. v. Movement towards sustainable development. vi. Social costs. 4. Waste and disposal implications (in particular, obsolete stocks of pesticides and clean-up of contaminated sites): i. Technical feasibility. ii. Cost. 5. Access to information and public education. 6. Status of control and monitoring capacity. 7. Any national or regional control actions taken, including information on alternatives, and other relevant risk management information. 8. Other relevant information for the risk management evaluation. 9. Other information requested by POPRC. POPRC would also like to collect more Convention Annex E information and has requested additional or updated information for the following: • Production data, including quantity and location. • Uses. • Releases, such as discharges, losses and emissions. D. What Information is Being Requested for Risk Profiles? For chemicals at the risk profile stage (see Unit II.H.), EPA is seeking information that is supplementary to the information in the proposals on the chemicals and POPRC’s evaluation of the proposals against the Convention‘s Annex D screening criteria. The proposals and the evaluations, as well as the Secretariat’s letter inviting Parties and observers to provide information, are available at the Convention website: *http://www.pops.int/documents/meetings/poprc/poprc.htm* . Commenters are invited to provide information they deem relevant to POPRC’s development of risk profiles, such as that specified in Annex E of the Convention and other related information, as described in this unit and in Unit II.H.: 1. Sources, including as appropriate: i. Production data, including quantity and location. ii. Uses. iii. Releases, such as discharges, losses and emissions. 2. Hazard assessment for the endpoint(s) of concern (as identified in the proposals and/or POPRC’s evaluation of the proposals against the screening criteria of Convention Annex D), including a consideration of toxicological interactions involving multiple chemicals. 3. Environmental fate, including data and information on the chemical and physical properties of a chemical as well as its persistence and how they are linked to its environmental transport, transfer within and between environmental compartments, degradation and transformation to other chemicals. 4. Monitoring data. 5. Exposure in local areas and, in particular, as a result of long range environmental transport, and including information regarding bio-availability. E. How Should the Information be Provided? 1. EPA requests that commenters, where possible, use the questionnaire developed by POPRC to provide their information. The questionnaire with explanatory notes can be found on the Convention website at: *http://www.pops.int/documents/meetings/poprc/request.htm* . Information does not need to be provided for each item in the questionnaire. The explanatory notes under each item have been developed by POPRC and are meant to guide and assist the providers of information. Commenters are requested to include clear and precise references for all sources. Without the exact source of the information, POPRC will not be able to use the information. If the information is not readily available in the public literature, commenters may consider attaching the original source of the information to their submission. Commenters should indicate clearly on the questionnaire which chemical the information concerns and use one questionnaire per chemical. If for some reason the questionnaire does not provide an adequate mechanism for a type of comment or information, EPA requests that such comment or information be submitted using a similar format. 2. Although POPRC has developed provisional arrangements for the treatment of confidential information, as mentioned in Unit I.B.3., no CBI will be forwarded to the Secretariat. EPA will, however, consider such information in development of the U.S. response to the Secretariat. Instructions on where and how to submit comments and confidential information can be found in Unit I.B.2. and 3. and ADDRESSES . 3. Anyone wishing to have an opportunity to communicate with EPA orally on this issue should consult the technical person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT . F. What is the Agency's Authority for Taking this Action? EPA is requesting comment and information under the authority of section 102(2)(F) of the National Environmental Policy Act, 42 U.S.C. 4321 *et seq* ., which directs all agencies of the Federal Government to “[r]ecognize the worldwide and long-range character of environmental problems and, where consistent with the foreign policy of the United States, lend appropriate support to initiatives, resolutions and programs designed to maximize cooperation in anticipating and preventing a decline in the quality of mankind’s world environment.” Section 17(d) of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) also provides additional support in that it directs the Administrator of the EPA “in cooperation with the Department of State and any other appropriate Federal agency, [to] participate and cooperate in any international efforts to develop improved pesticide research and regulations.” G. What is the Status of Chemicals at the Risk Management Stage? The second meeting of POPRC took place on November 6-10, 2006, in Geneva, Switzerland. EPA provided notice of this meeting and POPRC’s intention to consider proposals for the five chemicals listed in this unit in the **Federal Register** notice of October 6, 2006 (71 FR 59108) (FRL-8099-2). Information about the November 2006 POPRC meeting is available at the Convention website *http://www.pops.int* . POPRC had before it five proposals which were submitted for its consideration by Parties to the Convention for addition to Annexes A, B, and/or C of the Convention. 1. Two of the five proposals were for industrial chemicals: i. Octabromodiphenyl ether. ii. Short-chained chlorinated paraffins. 2. One of the five proposals was for a chemical with both industrial and pesticidal uses: Pentachlorobenzene. 3. Two of the five proposals were for pesticides: i. Alpha-hexachlorocyclohexane. ii. Beta-hexachlorocyclohexane. In accordance with the procedure in Article 8 of the Convention and discussed in Unit II.B., during the November 2006 meeting, POPRC examined the proposals and applied the screening criteria in Annex D of the Convention. With regard to all five chemicals, POPRC decided that it was satisfied that the screening criteria had been fulfilled and, that further work should therefore be undertaken to develop risk profiles. Therefore, POPRC, through the Secretariat, on December 8, 2006, requested that Parties and observers provide information relevant to POPRC’s development of risk profiles for the five chemicals listed in this unit. In addition to the Convention Annex E information discussed in Unit II.D., POPRC determined, and the Secretariat requested in their December 2006 letter, that additional information on the environmental fate of SCCP or information relating to their properties which would enable a fuller evaluation of environmental fate as being particularly useful for the future process. In the **Federal Register** notice of December 20, 2006 (71 FR 76325) (FRL-8109-1), EPA invited commenters to provide EPA with information for the risk profiles. Using the information in the proposal and information submitted by Parties and observers in response to the Secretariat’s request in December 2006 in accordance with paragraph 4(a) of Article 8 of the Convention, risk profiles were prepared for each of the chemicals to, as noted in Convention Annex E, “evaluate whether the chemical is likely, as a result of its long-range environmental transport, to lead to significant adverse human health and/or environmental effects, such that global action is warranted.” The risk profile must further evaluate and elaborate on the information referred to in Annex D of the Convention and include, as far as possible, the information listed in Convention Annex E. A draft outline of the risk profile has been developed by POPRC, available at *http://www.pops.int/documents/meetings/poprc/request.htm* . The draft risk profiles developed by ad hoc working groups established by POPRC were presented in November 2007 at the third meeting of the POPRC (POPRC 3) for consideration. In accordance with the procedure in Article 8 of the Convention and described Unit II.B., POPRC 3 examined the risk profiles and decided that the chemicals, except for SCCP, are likely, as a result of their long-range environmental transport, to lead to significant adverse human health and/or environmental effects such that global action is warranted. At that meeting, POPRC 3 also examined the draft risk profile for SCCP, but considered that the information available was insufficient to support the Convention Annex E-related decision on likely significant adverse effects from long-range environmental transport and did not approve the risk profile for the chemical. Therefore, POPRC 3 agreed to defer its final Convention Annex E- related decision on SCCP to its fourth meeting. POPRC, through the Secretariat, as described in Unit II.H., has asked for additional information for the SCCP risk profile. The next step in the process for substances found by POPRC to be likely, as a result of their long-range environmental transport, to lead to significant adverse human health and/or environmental effects such that global action is warranted is for POPRC to prepare a risk management evaluation that includes an analysis of possible control measures, which as noted in Annex F (“Information on Socio-Economic Considerations”) of the Convention should encompass “the full range of options, including management and elimination.” The risk management evaluation shall further evaluate and elaborate on the information referred to in Annexes D and E of the Convention. Relevant information should include socio-economic considerations associated with possible control measures (see Unit II.C.) and should reflect due regard for the differing capabilities and conditions among the Parties. A draft outline of the risk management evaluation has been developed by POPRC and is available at *http://www.pops.int/documents/meetings/poprc/request.htm* . The risk management evaluation will take into account information to be submitted by Parties and observers as requested by POPRC through the Secretariat on December 4, 2007. Draft risk management evaluations developed by ad hoc working groups established under POPRC will be considered by the full POPRC and proceed as discussed in Unit II.B. In addition to the Convention Annex F information discussed in Unit II.C., POPRC 3 identified the following specific areas where information and data relevant to the chemicals under consideration would be particularly useful for the future process. 1. *Commercial octabromodiphenyl ether (c-octaBDE)* . When evaluating commercial c-octaBDE against the criteria contained in Annex D of the Convention and during the preparation of the risk profile as described in Annex E of the Convention, there was a further need identified for information on octabromodiphenyl ether (octaBDE) and nonabromodiphenyl ether (nonaBDE) related to risk estimations and bioaccumulation, including the environmental and health relevance of debromination. The POPRC 3 invited the intersessional working group on c-octaBDE to explore the information and if appropriate revise the risk profile for consideration by POPRC at its fourth meeting. Therefore, in addition to Convention Annex F information, POPRC is seeking: i. Information on octa-BDE and nona-BDE related to risk estimation and bioaccumulation. ii. Information on quantitative assessments of the role of debromination. iii. Toxicological and ecotoxicological information for the commercial mixture and its components. Further, EPA notes that: • The POPRC 3 Convention Annex E/risk profile-related decision on c-octaBDE actually was based on the hexabromodiphenyl ether (hexaBDE) through nonaBDE congeners that are components of the commercial mixture. • The POPRC 3 Convention Annex F/risk management-related recommendation that related to the commercial pentabromodiphenyl ether risk management evaluation actually covered the tetrabromodiphenyl ether and pentabromodiphenyl ether congener components of that commercial mixture. (These decisions will be reflected in the POPRC 3 final report which will be available at: *http://www.pops.int/documents/meetings* once it is finalized.) Given this history, EPA believes there is a reasonable possibility that the POPRC will consider recommending the listing of the component congeners of c-octaBDE at its next meeting in October 2008 (POPRC 4). As such, EPA believes the type of information described in Annex F of the Convention (as described in Unit II.C.) relating to the hexaBDE through nonaBDE congeners that are components of the commercial mixture would be of use to POPRC, and is interested in information in this regard to inform its decisions and recommendations at POPRC 4. 2. *Pentachlorobenzene (PeCB)* . At its third meeting of POPRC, it was noted that there were information gaps in the risk profile regarding environmental burden caused by intentional use and unintentional releases of PeCB. It was discussed that the comparison of exposure and effect data would provide a more complete basis for decisionmaking on the relative risk posed by a substance and such information is particularly important with a substance like PeCB that has both intended uses and unintentional sources. Quantitative data would provide useful understanding of the toxicity of the chemical and enable a clearer estimation of the costs and benefits that might be expected from listing it. Therefore, in addition to seeking information under the headings listed in Convention Annex F information, POPRC is seeking: i. Information related to environmental burden caused by intentional use of PeCB. ii. Information related to environmental burden caused by unintentional releases of PeCB. H. What is the Status of the Chemical at the Risk Profile Stage? In accordance with paragraph 7(a) of Article 8 of the Convention POPRC at its third meeting in November 2007 examined the draft risk profile for SCCP and considered that the information available was insufficient to support a decision on the risk profile. Therefore, POPRC agreed to defer its final decision to its fourth meeting and in its letter of December 3, 2007, the Secretariat invited Parties and observers to submit to the Secretariat additional information specified in Annex E of the Convention, particularly information on toxicity and ecotoxicity. In addition, EPA is interested in receiving other information that would help support a determination of whether SCCP are likely, as a result of long-range environmental transport, to lead to significant adverse human health and/or environmental effects, such that global action is warranted. In particular, EPA would be interested in comparisons of toxicity or ecotoxicity data with detected or predicted levels of the substances resulting or anticipated from long-range environmental transport. List of Subjects Environmental protection, Chemicals, Hazardous substances. Dated: December 20, 2007. Wendy C. Hamnett, Acting Director, Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics. [FR Doc. E7-25226 Filed 12-27-07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560-50-S ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY [EPA-HQ-OPP-2004-0369; FRL-8343-3] Chloroneb; Notice of Receipt of Requests to Voluntarily Terminate Certain Uses of Pesticide Registrations AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ACTION: Notice. SUMMARY: In accordance with section 6(f)(1) of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), as amended, EPA is issuing a notice of receipt of requests by the registrants to voluntarily terminate certain uses of its products containing the pesticide chloroneb. The requests would terminate chloroneb’s use on residential lawns and turf, as well as on lawns and turf at parks and schools. The requests would not terminate the last chloroneb products registered for use in the United States. EPA intends to grant these requests at the close of the comment period for this announcement unless the Agency receives substantive comments within the comment period that would merit its further review of the requests, or unless the registrants withdraw their requests within this period. Upon acceptance of these requests, any sale, distribution, or use of products listed in this notice will be permitted only if such sale, distribution, or use is consistent with the terms as described in the final order. DATES: Comments must be received on or before January 28, 2008. ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by docket identification

(ID)number EPA-HQ-OPP-2004-0369, by one of the following methods: • *Federal eRulemaking Portal* : *http://www.regulations.gov* . Follow the on-line instructions for submitting comments. • *Mail* : Office of Pesticide Programs

(OPP)Regulatory Public Docket (7502P), Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460-0001. • *Delivery* : OPP Regulatory Public Docket (7502P), Environmental Protection Agency, Rm. S-4400, One Potomac Yard (South Bldg.), 2777 S. Crystal Dr., Arlington, VA. Deliveries are only accepted during the Docket’s normal hours of operation (8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays). Special arrangements should be made for deliveries of boxed information. The Docket Facility telephone number is

(703)305-5805. *Instructions* : Direct your comments to docket ID number EPA-HQ-OPP-2004-0369. EPA's policy is that all comments received will be included in the docket without change and may be made available on-line at *http://www.regulations.gov* , including any personal information provided, unless the comment includes information claimed to be Confidential Business Information

(CBI)or other information whose disclosure is restricted by statute. Do not submit information that you consider to be CBI or otherwise protected through regulations.gov or e-mail. The regulations.gov website is an “anonymous access” system, which means EPA will not know your identity or contact information unless you provide it in the body of your comment. If you send an e-mail comment directly to EPA without going through regulations.gov, your e-mail address will be automatically captured and included as part of the comment that is placed in the docket and made available on the Internet. If you submit an electronic comment, EPA recommends that you include your name and other contact information in the body of your comment and with any disk or CD-ROM you submit. If EPA cannot read your comment due to technical difficulties and cannot contact you for clarification, EPA may not be able to consider your comment. Electronic files should avoid the use of special characters, any form of encryption, and be free of any defects or viruses. *Docket* : All documents in the docket are listed in the docket index available in regulations.gov. To access the electronic docket, go to *http://www.regulations.gov* , select “Advanced Search,” then “Docket Search.” Insert the docket ID number where indicated and select the “Submit” button. Follow the instructions on the regulations.gov website to view the docket index or access available documents. Although listed in the index, some information is not publicly available, e.g., CBI or other information whose disclosure is restricted by statute. Certain other material, such as copyrighted material, is not placed on the Internet and will be publicly available only in hard copy form. Publicly available docket materials are available either in the electronic docket at *http://www.regulations.gov* , or, if only available in hard copy, at the OPP Regulatory Public Docket in Rm. S-4400, One Potomac Yard (South Bldg.), 2777 S. Crystal Dr., Arlington, VA. The hours of operation of this Docket Facility are from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays. The Docket Facility telephone number is

(703)305-5805. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Wilhelmena Livingston, Special Review and Reregistration Division (7508P), Office of Pesticide Programs, Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460-0001; telephone number:

(703)308-8025; fax number:

(703)308-8005; e-mail address: *livingston.wilhelmena@epa.gov* . SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: I. General Information A. Does this Action Apply to Me? This action is directed to the public in general, and may be of interest to a wide range of stakeholders including environmental, human health, and agricultural advocates; the chemical industry; pesticide users; and members of the public interested in the sale, distribution, or use of pesticides. Since others also may be interested, the Agency has not attempted to describe all the specific entities that may be affected by this action. If you have any questions regarding the applicability of this action to a particular entity, consult the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT . B. What Should I Consider as I Prepare My Comments for EPA? 1. *Submitting CBI* . Do not submit this information to EPA through regulations.gov or e-mail. Clearly mark the part or all of the information that you claim to be CBI. For CBI information in a disk or CD-ROM that you mail to EPA, mark the outside of the disk or CD-ROM as CBI and then identify electronically within the disk or CD-ROM the specific information that is claimed as CBI. In addition to one complete version of the comment that includes information claimed as CBI, a copy of the comment that does not contain the information claimed as CBI must be submitted for inclusion in the public docket. Information so marked will not be disclosed except in accordance with procedures set forth in 40 CFR part 2. 2. *Tips for preparing your comments* . When submitting comments, remember to: i. Identify the document by docket ID number and other identifying information (subject heading, **Federal Register** date and page number). ii. Follow directions. The Agency may ask you to respond to specific questions or organize comments by referencing a Code of Federal Regulations

(CFR)part or section number. iii. Explain why you agree or disagree; suggest alternatives and substitute language for your requested changes. iv. Describe any assumptions and provide any technical information and/or data that you used. v. If you estimate potential costs or burdens, explain how you arrived at your estimate in sufficient detail to allow for it to be reproduced. vi. Provide specific examples to illustrate your concerns and suggest alternatives. vii. Explain your views as clearly as possible, avoiding the use of profanity or personal threats. viii. Make sure to submit your comments by the comment period deadline identified. II. Background on the Receipt of Requests to Amend Registrations to Delete Uses This notice announces receipt by EPA of requests from registrants, The Andersons Lawn and Fertilizer Division, Inc., and PBI/Gordon Corporation to terminate certain uses of three chloroneb product registrations. Chloroneb is a fungicide currently registered for use on commercial turf (golf course tees, greens, collars, aprons, and spot treatment on fairways, as well as athletic fields used only by professional athletes), and ornamentals. In letters dated January 19, 2007, and January 3, 2007, The Andersons Lawn and Fertilizer Division, Inc., and PBI/Gordon Corporation requested EPA to terminate certain uses of pesticide product registrations identified in Table 1 of Unit III. Specifically, the registrants' requests to revise their labels to reflect the cancellation order published in the **Federal Register** issue of August 16, 2006 (71 FR 47213) (FRL-8083-2), as requested by the technical registrant, Kincaid Inc., and accepted by the Agency to terminate the use of chloroneb on residential lawns and turf, as well as on lawns and turf of parks and schools. The action on the registrants’ requests will not terminate the last chloroneb products registered in the United States. III. What Action is the Agency Taking? This notice announces receipt by EPA of requests from registrants to terminate certain uses of chloroneb product registrations. The affected products and the registrants making the requests are identified in Tables 1 and 2 of this unit. Under section 6(f)(1)(A) of FIFRA, registrants may request, at any time, that their pesticide registrations be canceled or amended to terminate one or more pesticide uses. Section 6(f)(1)(B) of FIFRA requires that before acting on a request for voluntary cancellation, EPA must provide a 30-day public comment period on the request for voluntary cancellation or use termination. In addition, section 6(f)(1)(C) of FIFRA requires that EPA provide a 180-day comment period on a request for voluntary cancellation or termination of any minor agricultural use before granting the request, unless: 1. The registrants request a waiver of the comment period, or 2. The Administrator determines that continued use of the pesticide would pose an unreasonable adverse effect on the environment. The chloroneb registrants have requested that EPA waive the 180-day comment period. EPA will provide a 30-day comment period on the proposed requests. Unless a request is withdrawn by the registrant within 30 days of publication of this notice, or if the Agency determines that there are substantive comments that warrant further review of this request, an order will be issued terminating the affected registrations. **Table 1.—Chloroneb Product Registrations with Pending Requests for Termination of Certain Uses** Registration Number Product Name Company 2217-692 Teremec SP Turf Fungicide PBI/Gordon Corporation 9198-182 Proturf Fungicide II The Andersons Lawn Fertilizer Division, Inc. 9198-204 9198-182 The Andersons Lawn Fertilizer Division, Inc. Table 2 of this unit includes the names and addresses of record for the registrants of the products listed in Table 1 of this unit. **Table 2.—Registrants Requesting Voluntary Termination of Certain Uses** EPA Company Number Company Name and Address 2217 PBI/Gordon Corporation 1217 West 12 th St. P.O. Box 014090 Kansas City, Missouri 64101-0090 9198 The Andersons Lawn Fertilizer Division, Inc. P.O. Box 119 Maumee, Ohio 43537 IV. What is the Agency's Authority for Taking this Action? Section 6(f)(1) of FIFRA provides that a registrant of a pesticide product may at any time request that any of its pesticide registrations be canceled or amended to terminate one or more uses. FIFRA further provides that, before acting on the request, EPA must publish a notice of receipt of any such request in the **Federal Register** . Thereafter, following the public comment period, the Administrator may approve such a request. V. Procedures for Withdrawal of Request and Considerations for Reregistration of Chloroneb Registrants who choose to withdraw a request for cancellation must submit such withdrawal in writing to the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT , postmarked before January 28, 2008. This written withdrawal of the request for cancellation will apply only to the applicable FIFRA section 6(f)(1) request listed in this notice. If the products have been subject to a previous cancellation action, the effective date of cancellation and all other provisions of any earlier cancellation action are controlling. VI. Provisions for Disposition of Existing Stocks Existing stocks are those stocks of registered pesticide products which are currently in the United States and which were packaged, labeled, and released for shipment prior to the effective date of the termination action. In any order issued in response to these requests for termination of certain uses of a product registration, the Agency proposes to include the following provisions for the treatment of any existing stocks of the products identified or referenced in Table 2 of Unit III.: Registrants may sell and distribute existing stocks for 1 year from the date of the use termination request. The product may be sold, distributed, and used by people other than the registrant until existing stocks have been exhausted, provided that such sale, distribution, and use complies with the EPA-approved label and labeling of the product. If the request for voluntary use termination is granted, the Agency intends to publish the cancellation order in the **Federal Register** . List of Subjects Environmental protection, Pesticides and pests. Dated: December 13, 2007. Steve Bradbury, Director, Special Review and Reregistration Division, Office of Pesticide Programs. [FR Doc. E7-25101 Filed 12-27-07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560-50-S ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY [EPA-HQ-2007-0244; FRL-8345-5] Notice of Receipt of Requests for Amendments to Delete Uses in Certain Pesticide Registrations AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ACTION: Notice. SUMMARY: In accordance with section 6(f)(1) of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), as amended, EPA is issuing a notice of receipt of request for amendments by registrants to delete uses in certain pesticide registrations. Section 6(f)(1) of FIFRA provides that a registrant of a pesticide product may at any time request that any of its pesticide registrations be amended to delete one or more uses. FIFRA further provides that, before acting on the request, EPA must publish a notice of receipt of any request in the **Federal Register** . DATES: The deletions are effective by June 25, 2008 or January 28, 2008 for registrations for which the registrant requested a waiver of the 180-day comment period. The Agency will consider withdrawal requests postmarked no later than June 25, 2008 or January 28, 2008, whichever is applicable. Comments must be received on or before June 25, 2008 or January 28, 2008, for those registrations where the 180-day comment period has been waived. Users of these products who desire continued use on crops or sites being deleted should contact the applicable registrant on or before June 25, 2008 or January 28, 2008 for registrations for which the registrant requested a waiver of the 180-day comment period. ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by docket identification

(ID)number EPA-HQ-OPP-2007-0244, by one of the following methods: • *Mail:* Office of Pesticide Programs

(OPP)Regulatory Public Docket (7502P), Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460-0001. • *Delivery* : OPP Regulatory Public Docket (7502P), Environmental Protection Agency, Rm. S-4400, One Potomac Yard (South Bldg.), 2777 S. Crystal Dr., Arlington, VA. Deliveries are only accepted during the Docket's normal hours of operation (8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays). Special arrangements should be made for deliveries of boxed information. The Docket Facility telephone number is

(703)305-5805. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Office of Pesticide Programs

(OPP)Regulatory Public Docket (7502P), Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460-0001; telephone number:

(703)305-6426; e-mail address: *jamula.john@epa.gov* . SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: I. General Information A. Does this Action Apply to Me? This action is directed to the public in general. Although this action may be of particular interest to persons who produce or use pesticides, the Agency has not attempted to describe all the specific entities that may be affected by this action. If you have any questions regarding the information in this notice, consult the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT . B. How Can I Get Copies of this Document and Other Related Information? 1. *Docket.* EPA has established a docket for this action under docket identification

(ID)number EPA-HQ-OPPT-2007-0244. Publicly available docket materials are available either in the electronic docket at *http://www.regulations.gov* , or, if only available in hard copy, at the Office of Pesticide Programs

(703)305-5805. 2. *Electronic access* . You may access this **Federal Register** document electronically through the EPA Internet under the “ **Federal Register** ” listings at *http://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr* . II. What Action is the Agency Taking? This notice announces receipt by the Agency of applications from registrants to delete uses in certain pesticide registrations. These registrations are listed in Table 1 of this unit by registration number, product name, active ingredient, and specific uses deleted: **Table 1.—Registrations With Requests for Amendments to Delete Uses in Certain Pesticides** EPA Reg. No. Product Name Active Ingredient Delete From Label 000100-00889 Mertect 340-F Fungicide Thiabendazole Sugar Beet 000100-00999 Paclobutrazol Technical Paclobutrazol Residential Turf Uses 000100-01014 Paclobutrazol 2SC Paclobutrazol Residential Turf Uses 000464-00688 UCARCIDE 25 Antimicrobial Glutaraldehyde Once-Through Cooling Water Systems and Macrofouling Control 000464-00690 UCARCIDE 225 Antimicrobial Glutaraldehyde Once-Through Cooling Water Systems and Macrofouling Control 000464-00691 UCARCIDE 250 Antimicrobial Glutaraldehyde Once-Through Cooling Water Systems and Macrofouling Control 000464-00692 UCARCIDE 45 Antimicrobial Glutaraldehyde Once-Through Cooling Water Systems and Macrofouling Control 000464-00693 UCARCIDE 15 Antimicrobial Glutaraldehyde Once-Through Cooling Water Systems and Macrofouling Control 000464-00700 UCARCIDE 14 Antimicrobial Glutaraldehyde Once-Through Cooling Water Systems and Macrofouling Control 000464-00702 UCARCIDE 42 Antimicrobial Glutaraldehyde Once-Through Cooling Water Systems and Macrofouling Control 000464-00704 UCARCIDE 50 Antimicrobial Glutaraldehyde Once-Through Cooling Water Systems and Macrofouling Control 000464-00707 AQUACAR 504 Water Treatment Microbiocide Glutaraldehyde Once-Through Cooling Water Systems and Macrofouling Control 000829-00286 SA-50 Dithane M-45 Mancozeb Pachysandra 005481-00526 Thimet 10-G Phorate Wheat 005481-00527 Thimet 15-G Phorate Wheat 010163-00219 MSR 50% Concentrate Oxydemeton-methyl Sorghum 010163 01-01-6322 MSR Spray Concentrate Oxydemeton-methyl Sorghum 019713-00497 Drexel Acephate 75SP Acephate Trees, Shrubs, Flowers 033560 03-35-6043 Bareground 21 Sodium Chlorate Ditch Bank/Right of WAy 033560 03-35-6046 Weed and Grass Killer Sodium Chlorate Ditch Bank/Right of WAy 033560 03-35-6047 Ureabor Sodium Chlorate Ditch Bank/Right of WAy 033560 03-35-6048 Monbor-Chlorate Sodium Chlorate Ditch Bank/Right of WAy 043410-00033 CHEM-TEK 100 Thiabendazole Sugar Beet 043813-00016 WOCOSEN 250 EC Propiconzole Apparel, Furnishings (except shower curtains), and carpet fibers 043813-00019 WOCOSEN 100SL Propiconzole Apparel, Furnishings (except shower curtains), and carpet fibers 043813-00037 WOCOSEN 500SL Propiconzole Apparel, Furnishings (except shower curtains), and carpet fibers 043813-00041 WOCOSEN 150 EC Propiconzole Apparel, Furnishings (except shower curtains), and carpet fibers 043813-00043 WOCOSEN 450 EC Propiconzole Apparel, Furnishings (except shower curtains), and carpet fibers 066330-00297 Iprodione 4L AG Iprodione Rice 066330-00354 Acephate 75 SP Acephate Cotton Seed Hopper Box Treatment 070506-00001 Acephate 75 WSP Acephate Hopper Box Cotton Seed Treatment 070506-00002 Acephate 90 WSP Acephate Hopper Box Cotton Seed Treatment 073220-00012 Quali-Pro T-Nex AQ Trinexapac-ethyl Perennial Ryegrass Grown for Seed 083504-00001 Fosetyl-Al Technical Fosetyl-Al Tobacco Users of these products who desire continued use on crops or sites being deleted should contact the applicable registrant before June 25, 2008 or January 28, 2008 for registrations for which the registrant requested a waiver of the 180-day comment period to discuss withdrawal of the application for amendment. This time period will also permit interested members of the public to intercede with registrants prior to the Agency's approval of the deletion. A request to waive the 180-day comment period has been received for the following registrations: 829-286; 19713-497; 43410-33; 70506-1; 70506-2, Table 2 of this unit includes the names and addresses of record for all registrants of the products listed in Table 1 of this unit, in sequence by EPA company number. **Table 2.—Registrants Requesting Amendments to Delete Uses in Certain Pesticide Products** EPA Company no. Company Name and Address 000100 Syngenta Crop Protction, Inc., ATTN: Regulatory Affairs, P.O. Box 18300, Greensboro, NC 27419. 000464 The Dow Chemical Company, Agent for: Dow Chemical Co., 1500 East Lake Cook Road, Buffalo Grove, IL 60089. 000829 Southern Agricultural Insecticides, Inc., P.O. Box 218, Palmetto, FL 34220. 005481 AMVAC Chemical Corporation, d/b/a AMVAC, 4695 MaCarthur Court, Suite 1250, Newport Beach, CA 92660. 010163 GOWAN Co., P.O. Box 5569, Yuma, AZ 85366. 019713 Drexel Chemical Co., 1700 Channel Avenue, Memphis, TN 38106. 033560 Pro Serve, Inc., 400 East Brooks Rd., Memphis, TN 38109. 043410 Agri-Chem Consulting, Inc., 27536 CR 561, Tavares, FL 32778. 043813 Janssen Pharmaceutica Inc., Plant Protection Division, 1125 Trenton-Harbourton Rd., Titusville, NJ 08560. 066330 Arysta Lifescience North America Corporation, 15401 Weston Parkway, Suite 150, Cary, NC 27513. 070506 United Phosphorus, Inc., 630 Freedom Business Center, Suite 402, King of Prussia, PA 19406. 073220 Tab Regulatory Consulting, LLC, Agent for: Farmsaver.com, LLC, P.O. Box 805, Collierville, TN 38027. 083504 Kerley Trading, Inc., P.O. Box 15627, Phoenix, AZ 85060. III. What is the Agency's Authority for Taking this Action? Section 6(f)(1) of FIFRA provides that a registrant of a pesticide product may at any time request that any of its pesticide registrations be amended to delete one or more uses. The Act further provides that, before acting on the request, EPA must publish a notice of receipt of any such request in the **Federal Register** . Thereafter, the Administrator may approve such a request. IV. Procedures for Withdrawal of Request Registrants who choose to withdraw a request for use deletion must submit the withdrawal in writing to John Jamula at the address listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT . The Agency will consider written withdrawal requests postmarked no later than June 25, 2008. V. Provisions for Disposition of Existing Stocks The Agency has authorized the registrants to sell or distribute product under the previously approved labeling for a period of 18 months after approval of the revision, unless other restrictions have been imposed, as in special review actions. List of Subjects Environmental protection, Pesticides and pests. Dated: December 18, 2007. Kathryn Bouve, Acting Director, Information Technology and Resources Management Division, Office of Pesticide Programs. [FR Doc. E7-25285 Filed 12-27-07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560-50-S ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY [EPA-HQ-OPP-2007-1008; FRL-8347-4] Pesticides; Draft Guidance for Pesticide Registrants on Label Statements Regarding Third-Party Endorsements and Cause Marketing Claims; Extension of Comment Period AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ACTION: Notice; extension of comment period. SUMMARY: EPA issued a notice in the **Federal Register** of October 31, 2007, announcing the availability of and seeking comment on the draft Pesticide Registration Notice (PR Notice) entitled “Label Statements Regarding Third-Party Endorsements & Cause Marketing Claims.” This document is extending the comment period for 90 days, from December 31, 2007, to March 27, 2008. DATES: Comments, identified by docket identification

(ID)number EPA-HQ-OPP-2007-1008 must be received on or before March 27, 2008. ADDRESSES: Follow the detailed instructions as provided under ADDRESSES in the **Federal Register** document of October 31, 2007. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Nicole Zinn, Immediate Office, (7501P), Office of Pesticide Programs, Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460-0001; telephone number: 703-308-7076; e-mail address: *zinn.nicole@epa.gov* . SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: I. General Information A. Does this Action Apply to Me? The Agency included in the notice a list of those who may be potentially affected by this action. If you have questions regarding the applicability of this action to a particular entity, consult the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT . B. What Should I Consider as I Prepare My Comments for EPA? When preparing comments follow the procedures and suggestions given in Unit I.B of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION of the October 31, 2007 **Federal Register** document. C. How and to Whom Do I Submit Comments? To submit comments, or access the public docket, please follow the detailed instructions as provided in ADDRESSES and Unit I.B of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION of the October 31, 2007 **Federal Register** document. If you have questions, consult the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT . II. What Action is EPA Taking? This document extends the public comment period established in the **Federal Register** of October 31, 2007, 72 FR 61638 (FRL-8152-6). In that document, EPA announced the availability of and sought comment on the draft Pesticide Registration Notice (PR Notice) entitled “Label Statements Regarding Third-Party Endorsements & Cause Marketing Claims.” In response to requests from multiple entities, EPA is hereby extending the comment period, which was set to end on December 31, 2007, to March 27, 2008. III. What is the Agency's Authority for Taking this Action? This action is taken as provided in Section 21(c) of the Federal, Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodencticide Act, which reads: In addition to any other authority relating to public hearings and solicitation of views, in connection with the suspension or cancellation of a pesticide product registration or any other actions authorized under this subchapter, the Administrator may, at the Administrator's discretion, solicit the views of all interested persons, either orally or in writing, and seek such advice from scientists, farmers, farm organizations, and other qualified persons as the Administrator deems proper. List of Subjects Environmental protection, Pesticides and pests, Administrative practice and procedure, Agricultural commodities. Dated: December 19, 2007. Debra Edwards, Director, Office of Pesticide Programs. [FR Doc. E7-25089 Filed 12-28-07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560-50-S ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY [FRL-8511-8; Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-ORD-2007-1141] Draft Toxicological Review of Acrylamide: In Support of Summary Information on the Integrated Risk Information System

(IRIS)AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ACTION: Notice of Public Comment Period. SUMMARY: The EPA is announcing a public comment period to review the final draft document titled, “Toxicological Review of Acrylamide: In Support of Summary Information on the Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS)” (EPA/635/R-07/009), related to the human health assessment for acrylamide. The document was prepared by the National Center for Environmental Assessment

(NCEA)within EPA's Office of Research and Development. EPA is releasing this draft document solely for the purpose of pre-dissemination peer review under applicable information quality guidelines. This document has not been formally disseminated by EPA. It does not represent and should not be construed to represent any Agency policy or determination. EPA will consider any public comments submitted in accordance with this notice when revising the document. DATES: The 60-day public comment period begins on December 28, 2007 and ends February 26, 2008. Technical comments should be in writing and must be received by EPA by February 26, 2008. ADDRESSES: The draft “Draft Toxicological Review of Acrylamide: In Support of Summary Information on the Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS)” (EPA/635/R-07/009) is available primarily via the Internet on NCEA's home page under the Recent Additions menu at *www.epa.gov/ncea.* A limited number of paper copies are available by contacting the IRIS Hotline at

(202)566-1676,

(202)566-1749 (facsimile), or *hotline.iris@epa.gov.* If you are requesting a paper copy, please provide your name, mailing address, the document title, and the EPA number of the requested publication. Technical comments may be submitted electronically via *www.regulations.gov,* by mail, by facsimile, or by hand delivery/courier. Please follow the detailed instructions provided in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this notice. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information on the public comment period, contact the Office of Environmental Information Docket; telephone: 202-566-1752; facsimile: 202-566-1753; or e-mail: *ORD.Docket@epa.gov.* For general information about the IRIS assessment process, terms, and existing values go to NCEA's home page via the Internet and click on “IRIS” in the Quick Finder section at *www.epa.gov/ncea* (or go to *http://www.epa.gov/iriswebp/iris/index.html* ). For information on the status and estimated completion dates of the Toxicological Review of Acrylamide go to the IRIS home page and click on “IRIS Track” in the left hand column (or go to: *http://cfpub.epa.gov/iristrac/index.cfm).* If you have questions or need information regarding communications and outreach, contact Linda Tuxen, National Center for Environmental Assessment; telephone: 703-347-8609; facsimile: 703-347-8699; e-mail: *tuxen.linda@epa.gov.* For technical and scientific questions concerning the draft Toxicological Review of Acrylamide, contact the Chemical Manager, Robert DeWoskin, National Center for Environmental Assessment; telephone: 919-541-1089; facsimile: 919-541-0248; e-mail: *dewoskin.rob@epa.gov.* SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: I. Information About the Document Acrylamide is a monomer used primarily in the production of polyacrylamide polymers. Polyacrylamides are used as a flocculent in water purification, oil recovery, and soil stabilization; and in the manufacturing of a wide range of products as a coating, matrix, additive, or stabilizer. Human exposure to acrylamide occurs primarily in the workplace from dermal contact and inhalation of dust and vapor during processing or use. The public may be exposed to acrylamide through emissions from production facilities, use in consumer products, contaminated drinking water, and cigarette smoke. In early 2002, Swedish scientists reported high concentrations of acrylamide in certain fried, baked, and deep-fried foods. Subsequent research demonstrated that acrylamide forms “de novo” (i.e., newly formed, not present as an environmental contaminant) during high temperature cooking of carbohydrate-rich foods that contain asparagine and in a few other food processes. Considerable research is on-going to assess the level of and the potential risk from exposure to acrylamide in food (additional information is available on the U.S. FDA's Internet site for acrylamide: *http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/lrd/pestadd.html#acrylamide* ). This public review draft of “Toxicological Review of Acrylamide” is an update and reassessment of the human health effects that may result from exposure to acrylamide. The acrylamide oral and inhalation reference values and carcinogenicity classification have been revised based upon new data and changes in guidance that have occurred since the previous assessment in 1988. IRIS is a database of human health effects that may result from exposure to various chemical substances found in the environment. The database (available on the Internet at *http://www.epa.gov/iris* ) contains qualitative and quantitative health effects information for more than 540 chemical substances that may be used to support the first two steps (hazard identification and dose response evaluation) of the risk assessment process. When supported by available data, the database provides oral reference doses

(RfDs)and inhalation reference concentrations

(RfCs)for health effects, and oral slope factors and inhalation unit risks for carcinogenic effects. Combined with specific exposure information, government and private entities use IRIS to help characterize public health risks of chemical substances in a site-specific situation and thereby support risk management decisions designed to protect public health. II. How to Submit Technical Comments to the Docket at www.regulations.gov Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-ORD-2007-1141 by one of the following methods: • *www.regulations.gov:* Follow the on-line instructions for submitting comments. • *E-mail: ORD.Docket@epa.gov.* • *Fax:* 202-566-1753. • *Mail:* Office of Environmental Information

(OEI)Docket (Mail Code: 2822T). U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460. The phone number is 202-566-1752. • *Hand Delivery:* The OEI Docket is located in the EPA Headquarters Docket Center, EPA West Building, Room 3334, 1301 Constitution Ave., NW., Washington, DC. The EPA Docket Center Public Reading Room is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays. The telephone number for the Public Reading Room is 202-566-1744. Such deliveries are only accepted during the docket's normal hours of operation, and special arrangements should be made for deliveries of boxed information. If you provide comments in writing, please submit one unbound original with pages numbered consecutively, and three copies of the comments. For attachments, provide an index, number pages consecutively with the comments, and submit an unbound original and three copies. *Instructions:* Direct your comments to Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-ORD-2007-1141. EPA's policy is that all comments received will be included in the public docket without change and may be made available online at *www.regulations.gov,* including any personal information provided, unless the comment includes information claimed to be Confidential Business Information

(CBI)or other information whose disclosure is restricted by statute. Do not submit information that you consider to be CBI or otherwise protected through www.regulations.gov or e-mail. The *www.regulations.gov* Web site is an “anonymous access” system, which means EPA will not know your identity or contact information unless you provide it in the body of your comment. If you send an e-mail comment directly to EPA without going through *www.regulations.gov,* your e-mail address will be automatically captured and included as part of the comment that is placed in the public docket and made available on the Internet. If you submit an electronic comment, EPA recommends that you include your name and other contact information in the body of your comment and with any disk or CD-ROM you submit. If EPA cannot read your comment due to technical difficulties and cannot contact you for clarification, EPA may not be able to consider your comment. Electronic files should avoid the use of special characters, any form of encryption, and be free of any defects or viruses. For additional information about EPA's public docket visit the EPA Docket Center homepage at *www.epa.gov/epahome/dockets.htm.* *Docket:* All documents in the docket are listed in the *www.regulations.gov* index. Although listed in the index, some information is not publicly available, e.g., CBI or other information whose disclosure is restricted by statute. Certain other material, such as copyrighted material, will be publicly available only in hard copy. Publicly available docket materials can be accessed either electronically in *www.regulations.gov* or in hard copy from the OEI Docket in the EPA Headquarters Docket Center. Dated: December 18, 2007. Rebecca M. Clark, Acting Director, National Center for Environmental Assessment. [FR Doc. E7-25282 Filed 12-27-07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560-50-P EXPORT-IMPORT BANK OF THE UNITED STATES Notice of Open Special Meeting of the Sub-Saharan Africa Advisory Committee

(SAAC)of the Export-Import Bank of the United States (Export-Import Bank) SUMMARY: The Sub-Saharan Africa Advisory Committee was established by (Pub. L.) 105-121, November 26, 1997, to advise the Board of Directors on the development and implementation of policies and programs designed to support the expansion of the Bank's financial commitments in Sub-Saharan Africa under the loan, guarantee and insurance programs of the Bank. Further, the committee shall make recommendations on how the Bank can facilitate greater support by U.S. commercial banks for trade with Sub-Saharan Africa. TIME AND PLACE: January 16, at 9:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. The meeting will be held at the Export-Import Bank in Room 1143, 811 Vermont Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20571. *Agenda:* Introduction of SAAC members, ethics training, report to congress, 2007 SAAC recommendations update, bank operating issues and processes, business development update and “Attracting the interest of new U.S. companies to the African market”. *Public Participation:* The meeting will be open to public participation, and the last 10 minutes will be set aside for oral questions or comments. Members of the public may also file written statement(s) before or after the meeting. If any person wishes auxiliary aids (such as a sign language interpreter) or other special accommodations please contact, prior to January 16, 2008, Barbara Ransom, Room 1241, 811 Vermont Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20571, Voice:

(202)565-3525 or TDD

(202)565-3377. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information, contact Barbara Ransom, Room 1241, 811 Vermont Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20571,

(202)565-3525. Kamil Cook, Deputy General Counsel. [FR Doc. 07-6193 Filed 12-27-07; 8:45 am]

Connectionstraces to 11

Traces to 11 documents

CFR