Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 240 / Thursday, December 14, 2006 / Notices 75249 

life that depends on those waters, and 

in human uses of that water. This 

phenomenon is called eutrophication. 

Eutrophication of United States surface 

waters is a long standing-problem. 

Eutrophication due to excessive 

nutrients is one of the top five causes of 

waterbody impairment in the U.S., 

according to information provided by 

states on their CWA section 303(d) lists. 

Chronic symptoms of over-enrichment 

include low dissolved oxygen, fish kills, 

cloudy murky water, and depletion of 

desirable flora and fauna. 

Within wetlands chronic symptoms of 

over-enrichment include low dissolved 

oxygen, fish kills, increased sediment 

accumulation, and species and 

abundance shifts of flora and fauna. The 

problem is national in scope, but varies 

in nature from one region of the country 

to another due to geographical 

variations in geology and soil types. 

B. What Has EPA Done To Develop 

Criteria for Nutrients? 

In 1998, EPA published a report 

entitled ‘‘National Strategy for the 

Development of Regional Nutrient 

Criteria.’’ This report outlined a 

framework for development of 

waterbody-specific technical guidance 

that can be used to assess nutrient status 

and develop region-specific numeric 

nutrient criteria. We have already 

released the companion Nutrient 

Criteria Technical Guidance Manuals 

for Rivers and Streams (2000), Lakes 

and Reservoirs (2000), and Estuarine 

and Coastal Marine Waters (2001). The 

document presented here is the 

wetland-specific technical guidance for 

developing numeric nutrient criteria. 

C. What Is Included in the Draft 

Guidance? 

The guidance explains how to 

consider water, vegetation and soil 

conditions to develop regionally-based 

numeric nutrient criteria for wetland 

systems. While the manual does not 

provide specific recommendations for 

nutrient criteria, it does give EPA’s 

recommendations on defensible 

technical approaches for developing 

regional nutrient criteria. This 

document provides elements considered 

important to criteria development 

including Classification, Sampling 

Design and Criteria Development 

(setting a benchmark). 

1. Classification of Wetlands 

Classification strategies for nutrient 

criteria development can include 

physiographic regions, 

hydrogeomorphic class, water depth 

and duration, and/or vegetation type or 

zone. Choosing a specific classification 

scheme will depend on practical 

considerations, such as: Whether a 

classification scheme is available in 

mapped digital form or can be readily 

derived from existing map layers; 

whether a hydrogeomorphic or other 

classification scheme has been refined 

for a particular region and wetland type; 

and whether classification schemes are 

already in use for monitoring and 

assessment of other water body types in 

a state or region. 

2. Sampling Design 

Three sampling designs for new 

wetland monitoring programs are 

described including: stratified random 

sampling, targeted/tiered approach, and 

BACI (Before/After, Control/Impact). 

These approaches are designed to allow 

one to obtain a significant amount of 

information for statistical analyses with 

relatively minimal effort. Sampling 

efforts should be designed to collect 

information that will answer 

management questions in a way that 

will allow robust statistical analysis. In 

addition, site selection, characterization 

of reference sites or systems, and 

identification of appropriate index 

periods are all of particular concern 

when selecting an appropriate sampling 

design. Careful selection of sampling 

design will allow the best use of 

financial resources and will result in the 

collection of high quality data for 

evaluation of the wetland resources of a 

State or Tribe. 

3. Criteria Development 

Several methods can be used to 

develop numeric nutrient criteria for 

wetlands; they include but are not 

limited to three criteria development 

methods that are detailed in this 

document: (1) Identification of reference 

systems for each established wetland 

type and class based on either best 

professional judgment (BPJ) or 

percentile selections of data plotted as 

frequency distributions; (2) refinement 

of classification systems, use of models, 

and/or examination of system biological 

attributes to assess the relationships 

among nutrients, vegetation or algae, 

soil, and other variables; and (3) use of 

published nutrient and vegetation, algal, 

and soil relationships and values that 

may be used (or modified for use) as 

criteria. A weight of evidence approach 

with multiple attributes that combine 

one or more of the development 

approaches will produce criteria of 

greater scientific validity. 

Recognizing relationships between 

nutrient input and wetland response is 

the first step in mitigating the effects of 

cultural eutrophication. Once 

relationships are established, nutrient 

criteria can be developed to manage 

nutrient pollution and protect wetlands 

from eutrophication. 

Dated: December 7, 2006. 

Ephraim King, 

Director, Office of Science and Technology. 

[FR Doc. E6–21287 Filed 12–13–06; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 6560–50–P 

EXPORT-IMPORT BANK 

[Public Notice 95] 

Agency Information Collection 

Activities; Submission for OMB 

Review; Comment Request 

AGENCY: Export-Import Bank of the 

United States (Ex-Im Bank). 

ACTION: Notice and request for 

comments. 

SUMMARY: The Export-Import Bank, as a 

part of its continuing effort to reduce 

paperwork and respondent burden, 

invites the general public and other 

Federal agencies to comment on the 

proposed information collection as 

required by the Paperwork Reduction 

act of 1995. The purpose of the survey 

is to fulfill a statutory mandate (The 

Export-Import Bank Act of 1945, as 

amended, 12 U.S.C. 635) which directs 

Ex-Im Bank to report annually to the 

U.S. Congress any action taken toward 

providing export credit programs that 

are competitive with those offered by 

official foreign export credit agencies. 

The Act further stipulates that the 

annual report on competitiveness 

should include the results of a survey of 

U.S. exporters and U.S. commercial 

lending institutions which provide 

export credit to determine their 

experience in meeting financial 

competition from other countries whose 

exporters compete with U.S. exporters. 

Accordingly, Ex-Im Bank is requesting 

that the proposed survey (EIB No. 00–

02) be sent to approximately 60 

applicants of Ex-Im Bank’s mediumand long-term programs. The revised 

survey is similar to the previous survey, 

as it asks bankers and exporters to 

evaluate the competitiveness of Ex-Im 

Bank’s programs vis-a ́-vis foreign export 

credit agencies. However, it has been 

modified in order to account for newer 

policies and to capture enough 

information to provide a better analysis 

of our competitiveness. In addition, the 

survey will be available on Ex-Im Bank’s 

website, www.exim.gov, with recipients 

encouraged to respond on-line as well. 

DATES: Written comments should be 

received on or before January 16, 2007 

to be assured of consideration. 


rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with NOTICES
75250 Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 240 / Thursday, December 14, 2006 / Notices 

ADDRESSES: Direct all comments to 

David Rostker, Office of Management 

and Budget, Office of Information and 

Regulatory Affairs, NEOB, Room 10202, 

Washington, DC 20503 (202) 395–3897. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: With 

respect to the proposed collection of 

information, Ex-Im Bank invites 

comments as to: 

—Whether the proposed collection of 

information is necessary for the 

proper performance of the functions 

of Ex-Im Bank, including whether the 

information will have a practical use; 

—The accuracy of Ex-Im Bank’s 

estimate of the burden of the 

proposed collection of information, 

including the validity of the 

methodology and assumptions used; 

—Ways to enhance the quality, 

usefulness, and clarity of the 

information to be collected; and 

—Ways to minimize the burden of 

collection of information on those 

who are to respond, including 

through the use of appropriate 

automated electronic, mechanical, or 

other technological collection 

techniques or other forms of 

information technology; e.g., 

permitting electronic submission of 

responses 

Title & Form Number: 2006 Exporter 

& Banker Survey of Ex-Im Bank 

Competitiveness, EIB Form 00–02. 

OMB Number: 3048–0004. 

Type of Review: Revision of a 

currently approved collection. 

Annual Number of Respondents: 60. 

Annual Burden Hours: 60. 

Frequency of Reporting or Use: 

Annual Survey. 

Dated: December 8, 2006. 

Solomon Bush, 

Agency Clearance Officer. 

[FR Doc. 06–9680 Filed 12–13–06; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 6690–01–M 

FEDERAL ELECTION COMMISSION 

Sunshine Act Notices Meeting 

DATE AND TIME: Thursday, December 14, 

2006 at 10 a.m. 

PLACE: 999 E Street, NW., Washington, 

DC (ninth floor). 

STATUS: This meeting will be open to the 

public. 

THE FOLLOWING ITEM HAS BEEN ADDED TO

THE AGENDA: Purpose of Disbursement 

Policy Statement. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. 

Robert Biersack, Press Officer, 

Telephone: (202) 694–1220. 

Mary W. Dove, 

Secretary of the Commission. 

[FR Doc. 06–9721 Filed 12–12–06; 10:53 am] 

BILLING CODE 6715–01–M 

FEDERAL RESERVE SYSTEM 

Sunshine Act Meeting 

AGENCY HOLDING THE MEETING: Board of 

Governors of the Federal Reserve 

System. 

TIME AND DATE: 10:00 a.m., Monday, 

December 18, 2006. 

PLACE: Marriner S. Eccles Federal 

Reserve Board Building, 20th Street 

entrance between Constitution Avenue 

and C Streets, N.W., Washington, D.C. 

20551. 

STATUS: Open. 

We ask that you notify us in advance 

if you plan to attend the open meeting 

and provide your name, date of birth, 

and social security number (SSN) or 

passport number. You may provide this 

information by calling (202) 452–2474 

or you may register online. You may 

pre–register until close of business 

December 15, 2006. You also will be 

asked to provide identifying 

information, including a photo ID, 

before being admitted to the Board 

meeting. The Public Affairs Office must 

approve the use of cameras; please call 

(202) 452–2955 for further information. 

If you need an accommodation for a 

disability, please contact Penelope 

Beattie on (202) 452–3982. For the 

hearing impaired only, please use the 

Telecommunication Device for the Deaf 

(TDD) on (202) 263–4869. 

Privacy Act Notice: Providing the 

information requested is voluntary; 

however, failure to provide your name, 

date of birth, and social security number 

or passport number may result in denial 

of entry to the Federal Reserve Board. 

This information is solicited pursuant to 

Sections 10 and 11 of the Federal 

Reserve Act and will be used to 

facilitate a search of law enforcement 

databases to confirm that no threat is 

posed to Board employees or property. 

It may be disclosed to other persons to 

evaluate a potential threat. The 

information also may be provided to law 

enforcement agencies, courts, and 

others, but only to the extent necessary 

to investigate or prosecute a violation of 

law. 

MATTERS TO BE CONSIDERED: 

Discussion Agenda: 

1. Proposed joint rules implementing 

the ‘‘Broker’’ exceptions for banks under 

the Gramm–Leach–Bliley Act. 

NOTE: This meeting will be recorded for 

the benefit of those unable to attend. 

Cassettes will be available for listening 

in the Board’s Freedom of Information 

Office, and copies may be ordered for $6 

per cassette by calling 202–452–3684 or 

by writing to: Freedom of Information 

Office, Board of Governors of the 

Federal Reserve System, Washington, 

D.C. 20551. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Michelle Smith, Director, or Dave 

Skidmore, Assistant to the Board, Office 

of Board Members at 202–452–2955. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: You may 

call (202) 452–3206 for a recorded 

announcement of this meeting; or you 

may contact the Board’s Web site at 

http://www.federalreserve.gov for an 

electronic announcement. (The Web site 

also includes procedural and other 

information about the open meeting.) 

Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve 

System, December 11, 2006. 

Robert deV. Frierson, 

Deputy Secretary of the Board. 

[FR Doc. 06–9715 Filed 12–11–06; 4:19 pm] 

BILLING CODE 6210–01–S 

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND 

HUMAN SERVICES 

Medicare Program; Medicare Appeals; 

Adjustment to the Amount in 

Controversy Threshold Amounts for 

Calendar Year 2007 

ACTION: Notice. 

SUMMARY: This notice announces the 

annual adjustment in the amount in 

controversy (AIC) threshold amounts for 

administrative law judge (ALJ) hearings 

and judicial review under the Medicare 

appeals process. The adjustments to the 

AIC threshold amounts will be effective 

for requests for ALJ hearings and 

judicial review filed on or after January 

1, 2007. The 2007 AIC threshold 

amounts are $110 for ALJ hearings and 

$1,130 for judicial review. 

DATES: Effective Date: January 1, 2007. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Michael L. Lipinski, Office of Medicare 

Hearings and Appeals, Office of the 

Secretary; (216) 615–4084. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Background 

Section 1869(b)(1)(E) of the Social 

Security Act, as amended by Section 

521 of the Medicare, Medicaid and 

SCHIP Benefits Improvement and 


rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with NOTICES