13480 Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 55 / Thursday, March 22, 2007 / Notices 

ACTION: Notice of availability. 

SUMMARY: NMFS has received an 

application for an incidental take permit 

(Permit) from the North Carolina 

Division of Marine Fisheries (NCDMF) 

pursuant to the Endangered Species Act 

of 1973, as amended (ESA). As required 

by the ESA, NCDMF’s application 

includes a conservation plan designed 

to minimize and mitigate any such take 

of endangered or threatened species. 

The Permit application is for the 

incidental take of ESA-listed adult and 

juvenile sea turtles associated with 

commercial shrimp trawling without the 

use of a turtle excluder device (TED) off 

the coast of North Carolina from Browns 

Inlet to Rich Inlet due to high 

concentrations of algae which clog 

shrimp trawls and TEDs. The duration 

of the proposed Permit is for 5 years. 

NMFS is furnishing this notice in order 

to allow other agencies and the public 

an opportunity to review and comment 

on this document. All comments 

received will become part of the public 

record and will be available for review. 

DATES: Written comments from 

interested parties on the Permit 

application and Plan must be received 

at the appropriate address or fax number 

(see ADDRESSES) no later than 5 p.m. 

Eastern daylight time on April 23, 2007. 

ADDRESSES: Written comments on this 

action should be addressed to David 

Cottingham, Chief, Marine Mammal and 

Sea Turtle Conservation Division, 

NMFS Office of Protected Resources, 

1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, 

MD, 20910; or by fax (301) 427–2522, or 

by e-mail at: nmfs.itp.1603@noaa.gov. 

The application is available for 

download and review at http:// 

www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/permits/ 

esalreview.htm. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Barbara Schroeder (ph. 301–713–2322, 

fax 301–427–2522, e-mail 

Barbara.Schroeder@noaa.gov; Dennis 

Klemm (ph. 727–824–5312, fax 727–

824–5309, e-mail 

Dennis.Klemm@noaa.gov). Comments 

received will also be available for public 

inspection, by appointment, during 

normal business hours by calling 301–

713–2322. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 9 

of the ESA and Federal regulations 

prohibit the ‘‘taking’’ of a species listed 

as endangered or threatened. The term 

‘‘take’’ is defined under the ESA to 

mean harass, harm, pursue, hunt, shoot, 

wound, kill, trap, capture, or collect, or 

to attempt to engage in any such 

conduct. NMFS may issue permits, 

under limited circumstances, to take 

listed species incidental to, and not the 

purpose of, otherwise lawful activities. 

Section 10(a)(1)(B) of the ESA provides 

for authorizing incidental take of listed 

species. NMFS regulations governing 

permits for threatened and endangered 

species are promulgated at 50 CFR 

222.307. 

Species Covered in This Notice 

The following species are included in 

the conservation plan and Permit 

application: Loggerhead (Caretta 

caretta), green (Chelonia mydas), 

leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea), 

hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata), and 

Kemp’s ridley (Lepidochelys kempii) sea 

turtles. 

Background 

NMFS issued Permit 1325 to NCDMF 

(66 FR 51023, October 5, 2001) and 

Permit 1008 (61 FR 39442, July 29, 

1996). Permit 1325 expired December 

31, 2006 and had been issued for the 

years 2001–2006, replacing the previous 

permit (1008) which had been issued for 

the years 1996–2000. Permit 1008 

replaced NMFS emergency rules which 

were issued from 1992 through 1995. 

The two previously issued permits and 

the emergency rules allowed limited 

tow times in lieu of the use of TEDs in 

an area off the North Carolina coast from 

Browns Inlet to Rich Inlet 

(approximately 30 nautical miles long 

(55.6km) and extending 1 nautical mile 

(1.9km) offshore) because of high 

concentrations of algae which clog 

shrimp trawl nets and TEDs. On 

December 18, 2006 NCDMF submitteD 

an application to NMFS for a Permit 

(1603) to authorize the continued use of 

limited tow times in lieu of TEDs in the 

same area (Browns Inlet to Rich Inlet) 

when high concentrations of algae clog 

shrimp trawl nets and TEDs. 

Conservation Plan 

The conservation plan prepared by 

the NCDMF describes measures 

designed to monitor, minimize, and 

mitigate the incidental take of ESAlisted sea turtles annually from April 1 

through November 30. The conservation 

plan includes two primary management 

measures, the issuance of proclamations 

by the NCDMF requiring vessels to 

obtain a tow time permit if they wish to 

trawl without TEDs in the restricted 

area and the implementation of 

seasonally-based tow time requirements 

in lieu of TEDs within the restricted 

area for authorized vessels. NCDMF 

proposes to monitor compliance and 

effectiveness of the management 

measures via monitoring of sea turtle 

strandings. NCDMF proposes to 

terminate or modify tow time permits if 

strandings exceed specified thresholds 

in the restricted area. This is a change 

in monitoring from the previous 

conservation plan and permit, which 

included on-board observer coverage. 

The conservation plan also includes 

enforcement of tow times in the 

restricted area by Marine Patrol officers. 

This notice is provided pursuant to 

section 10(c) of the ESA and the 

National Environmental Policy Act 

(NEPA) regulations (40 CFR 1506.6). 

NMFS will evaluate the application, 

associated documents, and comments 

submitted thereon to determine whether 

the application meets the requirements 

of the NEPA regulations and section 

10(a) of the ESA. If it is determined that 

the requirements are met, a permit will 

be issued for incidental takes of ESAlisted sea turtles under the jurisdiction 

of NMFS. The final NEPA and permit 

determinations will not be completed 

until after the end of the 30–day 

comment period and will fully consider 

all public comments received during the 

comment period. NMFS will publish a 

record of its final action in the Federal 

Register. 

Dated: March 16, 2007. 

Thomas C. Eagle, 

Acting Chief, Marine Mammal and Sea Turtle 

Conservation Division, Office of Protected 

Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service. 

[FR Doc. E7–5272 Filed 3–21–07; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3510–22–S 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

Technology Administration 

National Medal of Technology 

Nomination Evaluation Committee 

Meeting 

AGENCY: Technology Administration, 

U.S. Department of Commerce. 

ACTION: Notice of closed meeting. 

SUMMARY: The National Medal of 

Technology Nomination Evaluation 

Committee will meet in closed session 

on Tuesday, April 3, 2007. The primary 

purpose of the meeting is the discussion 

of relative merits of persons and 

companies nominated for the Medal. 

DATES: The meeting will convene 

Tuesday, April 3, 2007 at 10 a.m. and 

adjourn at 4 p.m. 

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at 

the Department of Commerce, 

Technology Administration, 1401 

Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, 

DC, Room 4824. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Connie Chang, Research Director, Office 

of the Under Secretary, U.S. Department 

of Commerce, 1401 Constitution 

Avenue, NW., Herbert C. Hoover 


rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 55 / Thursday, March 22, 2007 / Notices 13481 

Building, Room 4824, Washington, DC 

20230, telephone: 202–482–1575. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant 

to the Federal Advisory Committee Act, 

5 U.S.C. app. 2, notice is hereby given 

that the National Medal of Technology 

Nomination Evaluation Committee 

(NMTNEC), Technology Administration, 

will meet at the U.S. Department of 

Commerce in the District of Columbia. 

The committee, consisting of twelve 

members, was established in accordance 

with the provisions of the Committee’s 

charter and the Federal Advisory 

Committee Act. The NMTNEC meeting 

will be closed to the public in 

accordance with Section 552b(c)(9)(B) of 

Title 5, U.S.C. because it will involve 

discussion of relative merits of persons 

and companies nominated for the 

Medal. Public disclosure of this 

information would likely frustrate 

implementation of the National Medal 

of Technology program because 

premature publicity about candidates 

under consideration for the Medal, who 

may or may not ultimately receive the 

award, would be likely to discourage 

nominations for the Medal. 

The Secretary of Commerce is 

responsible for recommending to the 

President prospective recipients of the 

National Medal of Technology. The 

committee makes its recommendations 

for Medal candidates to the Secretary of 

Commerce, who in turn makes 

recommendations to the President for 

final selection. Committee members are 

drawn from both the public and private 

sectors and are appointed by the 

Secretary for three-year terms, with 

eligibility for one reappointment. The 

committee members are composed of 

distinguished experts in the fields of 

science, technology, business and patent 

law. 

The Assistant Secretary for 

Administration, with the concurrence of 

the General Counsel, formally 

determined on March 14, 2007 pursuant 

to Section 10(d) of the Federal Advisory 

Committee Act, that the meeting may be 

closed because they are concerned with 

matters that are within the purview of 

5 U.S.C. 552(c)(4), (6) and (9)(B). Due to 

closure of the meeting, copies of the 

minutes of the meeting will not be 

available. A copy of the determination 

is available for public inspection in 

Technology Administration, Room 

4824, U.S. Department of Commerce. 

Dated: March 19, 2007. 

Robert C. Cresanti, 

Under Secretary for Technology. 

[FR Doc. 07–1436 Filed 3–21–07; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3510–18–M 

CORPORATION FOR NATIONAL AND 

COMMUNITY SERVICE 

Information Collection; Submission for 

OMB Review, Comment Request 

AGENCY: Corporation for National and 

Community Service. 

ACTION: Notice. 

SUMMARY: The Corporation for National 

and Community Service (hereinafter the 

‘‘Corporation’’), has submitted a public 

information collection request (ICR) 

entitled the Learn and Serve America 

Progress Report to the Office of 

Management and Budget (OMB) for 

review and approval in accordance with 

the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, 

Pub. L. 104–13, (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35). 

Copies of this ICR, with applicable 

supporting documentation, may be 

obtained by calling the Corporation for 

National and Community Service, Ms. 

Cara Patrick at (202) 606–6905. 

Individuals who use a 

telecommunications device for the deaf 

(TTY–TDD) may call (202) 565–2799 

between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. eastern 

time, Monday through Friday. 

ADDRESSES: Comments may be 

submitted, identified by the title of the 

information collection activity, to the 

Office of Information and Regulatory 

Affairs, Attn: Ms. Katherine Astrich, 

OMB Desk Officer for the Corporation 

for National and Community Service, by 

any of the following two methods 

within 30 days from the date of 

publication in this Federal Register: 

(1) By fax to: (202) 395–6974, 

Attention: Ms. Katherine Astrich, OMB 

Desk Officer for the Corporation for 

National and Community Service; and 

(2) Electronically by e-mail to: 

Katherine_T._Astrich@omb.eop.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The OMB 

is particularly interested in comments 

which: 

• Evaluate whether the proposed 

collection of information is necessary 

for the proper performance of the 

functions of the Corporation, including 

whether the information will have 

practical utility; 

• Evaluate the accuracy of the 

agency’s estimate of the burden of the 

proposed collection of information, 

including the validity of the 

methodology and assumptions used; 

• Propose ways to enhance the 

quality, utility, and clarity of the 

information to be collected; and 

• Propose ways to minimize the 

burden of the 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 

submissions of responses. 

Comments 

A 60-day public comment Notice was 

published in the Federal Register on 

October 3, 2006. This comment period 

ended December 11, 2006. No public 

comments were received from this 

notice. 

Description: The Corporation was 

soliciting comments concerning the 

proposed renewal of its Learn and Serve 

America Progress Report. These reports 

must be completed by all Learn and 

Serve America grantees in order to 

ensure appropriate Federal oversight, 

determine progress toward meeting 

program objectives and make decisions 

related to continuation funding. 

Learn and Serve America provides 

grants to state education agencies, 

higher education institutions, tribes, 

and U.S. Territories, national nonprofits 

and state commissions on nation and 

community service to implement 

service-learning programs. To ensure 

appropriate oversight of Federal funds, 

Learn and Serve America requires all 

grant recipients to submit Progress 

Reports describing grant activities and 

progress toward approved program 

objectives. Information received from 

the reports informs continuation 

funding decisions and how to target 

training and technical assistance. 

Type of Review: Renewal. 

Agency: Corporation for National and 

Community Service. 

Title: Learn and Serve America 

Progress Report. 

OMB Number: 3045–0089. 

Agency Number: None. 

Affected Public: State and Local 

Government, Not-for-profit institutions. 

Total Respondents: 103. 

Frequency: Twice annually. 

Average Time Per Response: 2 hours. 

Estimated Total Burden Hours: 412 

hours. 

Total Burden Cost (capital/startup): 

None. 

Total Burden Cost (operating/ 

maintenance): None. 

Dated: January 27, 2007. 

Amy Cohen, 

Director, Learn and Serve America. 

[FR Doc. E7–5228 Filed 3–21–07; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 6050–$$–P 


rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with NOTICES