33858 Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 102 / Thursday, May 25, 2000 / Notices

of the Bureau’s policy on diversity.

Achievable and relevant features should

be cited in both program administration

(selection of participants, program

venue and program evaluation) and

program content (orientation and wrapup sessions, program meetings, resource

materials and follow-up activities). The

proposal should demonstrate an

understanding of the specific diversity

needs in Romania and strategies for

addressing these needs as relevant to

achieve program goals.

6. Institutional capacity and record:

Proposed personnel and institutional

resources should be adequate and

appropriate to achieve the program or

project’s goals. Proposals should

demonstrate an institutional record of

successful exchange programs,

including responsible fiscal

management and full compliance with

all reporting requirements for past

Bureau grants as determined by the

grants staff. The Bureau will consider

the past performance of prior recipients

and the demonstrated potential of new

applicants.

7. Project evaluation: Proposals

should include a plan to evaluate the

project’s success, both as the activities

unfold and at the end of the program. A

draft survey questionnaire or other

technique plus description of a

methodology to use to link outcomes to

original project objectives are

recommended. Successful applicants

will be expected to submit intermediate

program and financial reports after each

project component is concluded or

quarterly, whichever is less frequent.

8. Cost-effectiveness/Cost-sharing:

The overhead and administrative

components of the proposal, including

salaries and honoraria, should be kept

as low as possible. All other items

should be necessary and appropriate

and should reflect a commitment to

pursuing project objectives. Proposals

should maximize cost-sharing through

other private sector support as well as

institutional direct funding

contributions.

Authority

Overall grant making authority for

this program is contained in the Mutual

Educational and Cultural Exchange Act

of 1961, Public Law 87–256, as

amended, also known as the FulbrightHays Act. The purpose of the Act is ‘‘to

enable the Government of the United

States to increase mutual understanding

between the people of the United States

and the people of other countries* * *;

to strengthen the ties which unite us

with other nations by demonstrating the

educational and cultural interests,

developments, and achievements of the

people of the United States and other

nations* * *and thus to assist in the

development of friendly, sympathetic

and peaceful relations between the

United States and the other countries of

the world.’’ The funding authority for

the program above is provided through

the Support for East European

Democracy (SEED) Act.

The terms and conditions published

in this RFP are binding and may not be

modified by any Bureau representative.

Explanatory information provided by

the Bureau that contradicts published

language will not be binding. Issuance

of the RFP does not constitute an award

commitment on the part of the

Government. The Bureau reserves the

right to reduce, revise, or increase

proposal budgets in accordance with the

needs of the program and the

availability of funds. Awards made will

be subject to periodic reporting and

evaluation requirements.

Notification

Final awards cannot be made until

funds have been appropriated by

Congress, allocated and committed

through internal Department of State

procedures.

Dated: May 16, 2000.

Evelyn S. Lieberman,

Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and

Public Affairs, Department of State.

[FR Doc. 00–12939 Filed 5–24–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4710–11–P

DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice #3312]

Shipping Coordinating Committee,

Subcommittee on Safety of Life at Sea,

Working Group on Fire Protection;

Notice of Meeting

The U.S. Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS)

Working Group on Fire Protection will

conduct an open meeting on Tuesday,

June 13, 2000, at 9:30 AM, in room 6103

at U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters, 2100

Second Street, SW, Washington, DC

20593. The purpose of the meeting will

be to discuss the outcome of the Fortyfourth Session of the International

Maritime Organization’s Subcommittee

on Fire Protection, held February 21–25,

2000. In addition, preparations for the

next session will also be discussed at

the meeting.

The meeting will focus on proposed

amendments to the 1974 SOLAS

Convention for the fire safety of

commercial vessels. Specific discussion

areas include: comprehensive review of

SOLAS Chapter II–2, unified

interpretations to SOLAS II–2 and

related fire test procedures,

recommendations on evacuation

analysis for passenger ships and highspeed passenger craft, fire test

procedures for fire retardant materials

used in the construction of lifeboats,

and use of perfluorocarbons in

shipboard fire-extinguishing systems.

Although the meeting will focus

primarily on the outcome of the

previous session, preparations and

plans for the next session will also be

discussed. This offers the opportunity

for members of the public to be involved

early in the standards development

process. Members of the public wishing

to make a statement on new issues or

proposals at the meeting are requested

to submit a brief summary to the U. S.

Coast Guard five days prior to the

meeting.

Members of the public may attend

this meeting up to the seating capacity

of the room. Interested persons may

obtain more information regarding the

meeting of the SOLAS Working Group

on Fire Protection by writing: Office of

Design and Engineering Standards,

Commandant (G–MSE–4), U.S. Coast

Guard, 2100 Second St., SW,

Washington, DC 20593, by calling:

LCDR Kevin Kiefer at (202) 267–1444, or

by visiting the following World Wide

Website: http://www.uscg.mil/hq/g-m/

mse4/stdimofp.htm.

Dated: May 17, 2000.

Stephen M. Miller,

Executive Secretary, Shipping Coordinating

Committee, U.S. Department of State.

[FR Doc. 00–13193 Filed 5–24–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4710–07–P

OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES

TRADE REPRESENTATIVE

Generalized System of Preferences

(GSP): Notice of Review Timetable and

Pubic Hearings Regarding Additional

Product Designation for Beneficiaries

of the African Growth and Opportunity

Act

AGENCY: Office of the United States

Trade Representative.

ACTION: Notice.

SUMMARY: This notice lists products that

the Trade Policy Staff Committee

(TPSC) will be reviewing for possible

duty-free importation from certain subSaharan African countries as provided

under the African Growth and

Opportunity Act (AGOA), which

Congress recently enacted. The notice

provides the dates and places the TPSC

will hold public hearings on this

subject, explains how to make written

comments on products included in the

Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 102 / Thursday, May 25, 2000 / Notices 33859

list, and provides the deadline for these

submissions.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: GSP

Subcommittee, Office of the United

States Trade Representative, 600 17th

Street, NW, Room 518, Washington, DC

20508. Telephone: (202) 395–6971.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Congress

established the Generalized System of

Preferences (GSP) program in Title V of

the Trade Act of 1974, as amended

(‘‘Trade Act’’) (19 U.S.C. 2461 et seq.).

Under the GSP program, the President

may exempt certain products of

designated developing countries from

import duties. The President

implemented the program by Executive

Order 11888 of November 24, 1975, and

has modified it through later Executive

Orders and Presidential Proclamations.

On May 18, 2000, the President

signed into law the Trade and

Development Act of 2000, which

includes the AGOA. The AGOA amends

the GSP program, authorizing the

President to provide GSP (duty-free)

treatment for selected products from

designated sub-Saharan African

countries if, after receiving advice from

the U.S. International Trade

Commission, he determines that the

products are not import-sensitive in the

context of imports from these countries.

The AGOA names those countries

whose products the President may

designate for duty-free importation.

I. TPSC Review of Products To Be

Selected for Duty-Free Treatment

This notice lists by Harmonized Tariff

System numbers those products not

currently receiving GSP treatment that

the Congress determined are eligible for

designation under the AGOA for such

treatment when imported from subSaharan African countries. The TPSC’s

GSP Subcommittee will review this list,

after holding hearings and receiving

written comments from the public and

advice from the International Trade

Commission, to decide which of the

products the TPSC will recommend to

the President for GSP treatment if

imported from countries designated as

AGOA beneficiaries.

Listing the products proposed for GSP

eligibility does not indicate any opinion

about the merits of granting eligibility

for these products. Placement on the list

indicates only that the products have

been found eligible for review by the

GSP Subcommittee and the TPSC, and

that such review will take place.

The GSP Subcommittee of the TPSC

invites submissions supporting or

opposing the granting of GSP eligibility

for any article on the attached list. All

such submissions should include an

original and thirteen (13) copies in

English and conform to 15 CFR 2007,

particularly 2007.0, 2007.1(a)(1),

2007.1(a)(2), and 2007.1(a)(3). All

submissions should identify the subject

article(s) in terms of the current HTS

nomenclature and should be provided

by 5 p.m., July 5, 2000.

All communications about public

comments should be addressed to:

Chairman of the GSP Subcommittee,

Office of the United States Trade

Representative, 600 17th Street, NW,

Room 518, Washington, DC 20508.

Telephone number: (202) 395–6971.

Questions may be directed to any staff

member of the GSP Information Center.

Public versions of all documents

relating to this review will be available

for inspection by appointment in the

USTR public reading room.

Appointments may be made from 10

a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. by

calling (202) 395–6186.

Submissions that are granted

‘‘business confidential’’ status pursuant

to 15 CFR 2203.6, and other qualifying

information submitted in confidence

pursuant to 15 CFR 2007.7, will not be

available for public inspection. If a

document contains such business

confidential information, an original

and thirteen (13) copies of the business

confidential versions of the document

along with an original and thirteen (13)

copies of the non-confidential version

must be submitted. The document that

contains business confidential

information should be clearly marked

‘‘business confidential’’ at the top and

bottom of each page. The version that

does not contain business confidential

information (the public version) should

also be clearly marked at the top and

bottom of every page (either ‘‘public

version’’ or ‘‘nonconfidential’’).

II. Requests To Participate in the Public

Hearings

The GSP Subcommittee will hold

hearings on September 7, 2000 and, if

needed, on September 8, 2000 beginning

at 10 a.m. in the Truman Room of the

White House Conference Center, 726

Jackson Place, NW., Washington, DC.

The hearings will be open to the public,

and a transcript of the hearings will be

available for public inspection or it can

be purchased from the reporting

company. No electronic media coverage

will be allowed.

All interested parties wishing to make

an oral presentation at the hearings

must submit the name, address,

telephone number, and fax number of

the witness or witnesses representing

their organization to the Chairman of

the GSP Subcommittee by 5 p.m. August

9, 2000 as well as an original and

thirteen (13) copies (in English) or all

written briefs or statements. Oral

testimony before the GSP Subcommittee

will be limited to five minute

presentations that summarize or

supplement information contained in

the briefs or statements submitted for

the record.

If, by the close of business on August

9, 2000 no witnesses are scheduled to

appear at the hearing, the hearing will

be canceled. Any person interested in

attending the hearing as an observer or

non-participant may call the GSP

Information Office (202) 395–6971 after

August 9, 2000 to determine whether a

hearing will be held.

Post-hearing and rebuttal written

briefs or statements will be accepted if

they conform with the regulations cited

above and if an original and thirteen

(13) copies in English are submitted no

later than 5 p.m. September 27, 2000.

Parties not wishing to appear at the

public hearings may submit pre-hearing

written briefs or statements by August 9,

2000, and may submit post-hearing and

rebuttal written briefs or statements by

September 27, 2000. Comments by

interested persons on the USITC Report

prepared as part of this product review

should be submitted as an original and

thirteen (13) copies, in English, by 5

p.m. October 20, 2000.

On behalf of the President and in

accordance with section 111 of AGOA

(Section 506A of the Trade Act), on May

22, 2000 the list of products proposed

for duty-free treatment eligibility under

the GSP was furnished to the U.S.

International Trade Commission

(USITC) to secure its advice on (1) the

probable economic effect of the

elimination of U.S. import duties under

GSP on U.S. industries producing like

or directly competitive products, and on

consumers; and (2) to the extent

possible, the level of U.S. sensitivity to

imports of such Sub-Saharan products.

Announcement of Products To Be

Accepted for Designation as Eligible

Articles for GSP Purposes When

Imported Only From the Beneficiaries

of the African Growth and Opportunity

Act

The AGOA authorizes the President to

provide GSP (duty-free) treatment for

selected products from designated subSaharan African countries if, after

receiving advice from the U.S.

International Trade Commission, he

determines that the products are not

import-sensitive in the context of

imports from these countries. The list of

products designated as eligible for dutyfree treatment under the GSP as a result

33860 Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 102 / Thursday, May 25, 2000 / Notices

of the review will be announced this

winter.

H. John Rosenbaum,

Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Trade

and Development.

Attachment: List of HTS Numbers of the

Products Proposed for Duty-Free Treatment

Eligibility Under GSP

BILLING CODE 3901–01–M

Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 102 / Thursday, May 25, 2000 / Notices 33861

33862 Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 102 / Thursday, May 25, 2000 / Notices

Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 102 / Thursday, May 25, 2000 / Notices 33863

33864 Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 102 / Thursday, May 25, 2000 / Notices

Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 102 / Thursday, May 25, 2000 / Notices 33865

33866 Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 102 / Thursday, May 25, 2000 / Notices

Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 102 / Thursday, May 25, 2000 / Notices 33867

[FR Doc. 00–13169 Filed 5–24–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3901–01–C