35314 Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 107 / Friday, June 2, 2000 / Proposed Rules

2U.S. Bureau of the Census, U.S. Department of

Commerce, 1992 Census of Transportation,

Communications, and utilities, UC92–S–1, Subject

Series, Establishment and Firm Size, Table D,

Employment size of Firms: 1992, SIC Code 4899

(May 1995).

‘‘Not Elsewhere Classified.’’ This

definition provides that a small entity is

one with $11 million or less in annual

receipts. 13 CFR 121.201, Standard

Industrial Classification (SIC) Code

4899. According to the SBA, the Census

Bureau estimates that there are

approximately 631 entities providing

communications services, not elsewhere

classified. Of those, between 401 and

631 reported annual receipts of less than

$9.999 million or less and would qualify

as small entities subject to the proposed

rules.2 More precise data is not

available.

The proposed Notice requires Comsat

Corporation (‘‘Comsat’’) to provide

information concerning existing and

future capacity in the INTELSAT system

necessary for us to make the

determination required by the ORBIT

Act. The Commission also may seek

information directly from INTELSAT if

necessary and appropriate. Comsat’s

1999 revenues were in excess of $11

million. Thus, Comsat does not qualify

as a small entity under the SBA’s

definition. U.S. carriers and users,

including any small entities, that may

be affected indirectly, would likely

benefit from the proposed action.

IV. Description of Projected Reporting,

Recordkeeping or Other Compliance

Requirements

The proposals in the Notice are not

expected to result in any additional

reporting, recordkeeping and other

compliance.

V. Steps Taken To Minimize Significant

Economic Burden on Small Entities,

and Significant Alternatives Considered

The RFA requires an agency to

describe any significant alternatives that

it has considered in reaching its

proposed approach, which may include

the following four alternatives: (1) The

establishment of differing compliance or

reporting requirements or timetables

that take into account the resources

available to small entities; (2) the

clarification, consolidation, or

simplification of compliance or

reporting requirements under the rule

for small entities; (3) the use of

performance, rather than design,

standards; and (4) an exemption from

coverage of the rule, or any part thereof,

for small entities.

Without prejudgment as to whether it

will determine that ‘‘sufficient

opportunity’’ exists, the Commission is

seeking comment on alternatives for

‘‘appropriate action’’ should it

determine that sufficient opportunity

does not exist for users and service

providers to access INTELSAT directly.

The Commission tentatively concludes

that the first option for resolving this

problem should be commercial

solutions between Comsat and users and

service providers. It also seeks comment

on possible regulatory action should

commercial negotiations fail to yield a

solution. The intent of any regulatory

action would be to permit users and

service providers, including small

entities, to benefit from the availability

of direct access to INTELSAT space

segment capacity to meet service or

capacity requirements. We do not

expect the proposals to cause any

economic burden to small entities, and

seek comment on any issues pertinent to

this.

VI. Federal Rules That Overlap,

Duplicate, or Conflict With These

Proposed Rules

None.

List of Subjects in 47 CFR Part 25

Satellites.

Federal Communications Commission.

Magalie Roman Salas,

Secretary.

[FR Doc. 00–13759 Filed 6–1–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6712–01–P

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

50 CFR Part 16

Injurious Wildlife; Review of

Information Concerning Black Carp

(Mylopharyngodon piceus)

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service,

Interior.

ACTION: Advance notice of proposed

rulemaking.

SUMMARY: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife

Service is reviewing available economic

and biological information on the black

carp (Mylopharyngodon piceus) for

possible addition to the list of injurious

wildlife under the Lacey Act. The

importation and introduction of M.

piceus into the natural ecosystem of the

United States may pose a threat to

native mollusk and fish populations.

Listing M. piceus as injurious would

prohibit its importation into, or

transportation between, the continental

United States, the District of Columbia,

Hawaii, the Commonwealth of Puerto

Rico, or any territory or possession of

the United States, with limited

exceptions. This notice seeks comments

from the public to aid in determining if

a proposed rule is warranted.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on

or before August 1, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be mailed

or sent by fax to the Chief, Division of

Fish and Wildlife Management

Assistance, U.S. Fish and Wildlife

Service, 1849 C Street, NW, Mail Stop

840 ARLSQ, Washington, DC 20240, of

FAX (703) 358–2044.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Susan Mangin, Division of Fish and

Wildlife Management Assistance at

(703) 358–1718.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In a

February 24, 2000, letter to the Director

of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,

the Mississippi Interstate Cooperative

Resource Association (MICRA)

expressed concern that

Mylopharyngodon piceus posed a threat

to native fish and mollusk populations.

MICRA requested that the Director take

the necessary steps to list M. piceus as

an injurious species of wildlife.

M. piceus is a freshwater fish that

inhabits lakes and lower reaches of

rivers. It is native to most major Pacific

drainages of eastern Asia and highly

esteemed as a food fish in China. M.

piceus was introduced into the United

States in the early 1970s as a

‘‘contaminant’’ in imported grass carp

stocks. A second introduction occurred

in the 1980s for yellow grub control and

as a food fish.

M. piceus larvae and fingerlings feed

on zooplankton, while larger M. piceus

feed on benthic organisms with shells.

Because the species commonly feeds on

mollusks, M. piceus is considered an

effective method of biological control of

snails.

M. piceus spawn in rivers, and their

eggs are pelagic or semipelagic and drift

downstream. They are annual spawners,

with spawning triggered by water

temperature, rising water levels, and

availability of food. Research has

indicated that pond-cultured females

can produce an average of 65,000 eggs

per kg (29,000 per lb.) of body weight.

The Lacey Act (18 U.S.C. 42) and

implementing regulation in 50 CFR part

16 restrict the importation into or the

transportation of live wildlife or eggs

thereof between the continental United

States, the District of Columbia, Hawaii,

the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or

any territory or possession of the United

States of any nonindigenous species of

wildlife determined to be injurious or

potentially injurious to certain interests,

including those of agriculture,

horticulture, forestry, the health and

Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 107 / Friday, June 2, 2000 / Proposed Rules 35315

welfare of human beings, and the

welfare and survival of wildlife and

wildlife resources in the United States.

However, injurious wildlife may be

imported by permit for zoological,

educational, medical, or scientific

purposes in accordance with permit

regulations at 50 CFR 16.22, or by

Federal agencies without a permit solely

for their own use. If the process initiated

by this notice results in the addition of

M. piceus to the list of injurious wildlife

contained in 50 CFR part 16, their

importation into the United States

would be prohibited except under the

conditions, and for the purposes,

described above.

This notice solicits economic,

biologic, or other information

concerning M. piceus. The information

will be used to determine if the species

is a threat, or potential threat, to those

interests of the United States delineated

above, and thus warrants addition to the

list of injurious wildlife in 50 CFR

16.13. The information will also assist

us in preparing impact analyses and

examining alternative protective

measures under the Regulatory

Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601).

Authority: This notice is issued under the

authority of the Lacey Act (18 U.S.C. 42).

Dated: May 16, 2000.

Jamie Rappaport-Clark,

Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

[FR Doc. 00–13557 Filed 6–1–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310–55–M

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

50 CFR Part 17

RIN 1018–AF45

Endangered and Threatened Wildlife

and Plants; Reopening of Comment

Period and Notice of Public Hearing on

Proposed Rule To List the

Southwestern Washington/Columbia

River Coastal Cutthroat Trout in

Washington and Oregon as Threatened

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service,

Interior.

ACTION: Proposed rule; reopening of

comment period and notice of public

hearing.

SUMMARY: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife

Service (FWS) gives notice of a public

hearing on the proposed rule to list the

southwestern Washington/Columbia

River coastal cutthroat trout in

Washington and Oregon. In addition,

the comment period which originally

closed on May 15, 2000, will be

reopened. The new comment period and

hearing will allow all interested parties

to submit oral or written comments on

the proposal.

DATES: The comment period for this

proposal now closes on July 3, 2000.

Any comments received by the closing

date will be considered in the final

decision on this proposal. The public

hearing will be held from 1 p.m. until

3 p.m. and from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. on

June 20, 2000, in Ilwaco, Washington.

ADDRESSES: The public hearing will be

held at the Ilwaco Heritage Museum,

115 SE Lake Street, Ilwaco, Washington.

Written comments and materials should

be sent to Kemper McMaster, State

Supervisor, Oregon Fish and Wildlife

Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,

2600 SE 98th Avenue, Suite 100,

Portland, Oregon 97266. Comments and

materials received will be available for

public inspection, by appointment,

during normal business hours at the

above FWS address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Kemper McMaster, at the above

Portland, Oregon address, phone 503–

231–6179, facsimile 503–231–6195, for

written comments or Gerry Jackson,

State Supervisor, Western Washington

Fish and Wildlife Office, 510 Desmond

Dr., Suite 102, Lacey, Washington,

phone 360–753–9440, facsimile 503–

231–9008 for information on the public

hearing.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

On April 5, 1999, the National Marine

Fisheries Service (NMFS) and the Fish

and Wildlife Service (FWS) published a

notice in the Federal Register (64 FR

16397) proposing to list the coastal

cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarki

clarki) population in southwestern

Washington and the Columbia River,

excluding the Willamette River above

Willamette Falls, as threatened pursuant

to the Endangered Species Act of 1973,

as amended (Act). The FWS published

a notice in the Federal Register (65 FR

20123) on April 14, 2000, to extend the

deadline from April 5, 2000, to October

5, 2000 for the final action on the

proposed rule to list this population in

Washington and Oregon; and to provide

a 30-day comment period. The 6-month

extension was necessary to obtain and

review new information needed to

resolve substantial scientific

disagreement about the status of this

population.

In response to a request for a public

hearing during the public comment

period for the 6-month extension, the

FWS will hold a public hearing on the

date and address described in the DATES

and ADDRESSES sections above.

Anyone wishing to make an oral

statement for the record is encouraged

to provide a written copy of their

statement and present it to the FWS at

the hearing. In the event there is a large

attendance, the time allotted for oral

statements may be limited. Oral and

written statements receive equal

consideration. There are no limits to the

length of written comments presented at

the hearing or mailed to the FWS. Legal

notices announcing the date, time, and

location of the hearing will be published

in newspapers concurrently with the

Federal Register notice.

Comments from the public regarding

the accuracy of this proposed rule are

sought, especially regarding: (1)

Biological or other relevant data

concerning any threat to cutthroat trout;

(2) The range, distribution, and

population size of coastal cutthroat trout

in southwestern Washington and the

Columbia River; (3) Current or planned

activities in the subject area and their

possible impacts on the species; (4)

Cutthroat trout escapement, particularly

escapement data partitioned into natural

and hatchery components; (5) The

proportion of naturally reproducing fish

that were reared as juveniles in a

hatchery; (6) Homing and straying of

natural and hatchery fish; (7) The

reproductive success of naturally

reproducing hatchery fish and their

relationship to southwestern

Washington and the Columbia River

coastal cutthroat trout populations; and

(8) Efforts being made to protect native,

naturally reproducing populations of

coastal cutthroat trout.

Reopening of the comment period

will enable the FWS to respond to the

request for a public hearing on the

proposed action. The comment period

on this proposal closes on July 3, 2000.

Written comments should be submitted

to the FWS office listed in the

ADDRESSES section.

Author

The primary author of this notice is

Jim Muck (Fish and Wildlife Service,

Western Washington Office, 510

Desmond Dr. SE, Suite 102, Lacey,

Washington, 98503).

Authority

The authority for this action is the

Endangered Species Act of 1973, as

amended (16 U.S.C. 1531–1544).

Dated: May 12, 2000.

Thomas J. Dwyer,

Acting Regional Director.

[FR Doc. 00–12494 Filed 6–1–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310–55–U