### 11982 Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 48 / Friday, March 12, 2010 / Notices

www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants

. http://fa.statebuy.state.gov

. VI.3. Reporting Requirements

You must provide ECA with a hard copy original of the following reports plus two copies of the following reports:

(1) A final program and financial report no more than 90 days after the expiration of the award;

(2) A concise, one-page final program report summarizing program outcomes no more than 90 days after the expiration of the award. This one-page report will be transmitted to OMB, and be made available to the public via OMB’s USAspending.gov Web site—as part of ECA’s Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act (FFATA) reporting requirements.

(3) A SF–PPR, ‘‘ Performance Progress
Report’’ Cover Sheet with all program

reports.

(4) One interim report, midway into the program, describing activities and

progress.

Award recipients will be required to provide reports analyzing their evaluation findings to the Bureau in their regular program reports. (Please refer to IV. Application and Submission Instructions (IV.3.d.3) above for Program Monitoring and Evaluation information.

All data collected, including survey responses and contact information, must

be maintained for a minimum of three years and provided to the Bureau upon

request.

All reports must be sent to the ECA Grants Officer and ECA Program Officer

listed in the final assistance award

document.

VI.4. Program Data Requirements

Award recipients will be required to maintain specific data on program participants and activities in an electronically accessible database format

that can be shared with the Bureau as required. As a minimum, the data must include the following:

(1) Name, address, contact information of all persons who travel internationally on funds provided by the agreement.

(2) Itineraries of international and domestic travel, providing dates of travel and cities in which any exchange experiences take place. Final schedules for in-country and U.S. activities must be received by the ECA Program Officer at least three work days prior to the official opening of the activity.

(3) Information about schools including, but not limited to, location, demography, participating teachers and

students.

Note: All travelers must have been selected to participate in theme-based projects. Collaboration with partner country and school will determine travel itinerary.

VII. Agency Contacts

For questions about this

announcement, contact: Anna Mussman, Office of Citizen Exchanges,

ECA–PE–C–PY, Room 3–H17, ECA–PE– C–PY–10–05, U.S. Department of State, SA–5, 2200 C Street, NW., Washington,

DC 20037, telephone: 202–632–6427, fax number: 202–632–9355, E-mail: MussmanAP@state.gov

.

All correspondence with the Bureau concerning this RFGP should reference

the above title and number: ECA–PE–C–

PY–10–05.

Please read the complete announcement before sending inquiries or submitting proposals. Once the RFGP deadline has passed, Bureau staff may not discuss this competition with applicants until the proposal review process has been completed.

VIII. Other Information

Notice: The terms and conditions published in this RFGP 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 RFGP 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 per section VI.3

above.

Dated: March 5, 2010.

Maura M. Pally,

Acting Assistant Secretary for Educational and Cultural Affairs, U.S. Department of

State.

[FR Doc. 2010–5489 Filed 3–11–10; 8:45 am]

**BILLING CODE 4710–05–P**

**DEPARTMENT OF STATE**

**[Public Notice 6921]**

**Request for Information for the 2010 Trafficking in Persons Report** 

**SUMMARY :**  The Department of State ( ‘‘ the
Department’’ ) requests written information to assist in reporting on the degree to which the United States and foreign governments comply with the

minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking in persons ( ‘‘ minimum

standards ’’ ) that are prescribed by the Trafficking Victims Protection Act
( ‘‘ TVPA ’’ ) of 2000, Div. A of Public Law
106–386, section 108, as amended. This information will assist in the preparation of the Trafficking in Persons Report ( ‘‘ TIP Report ’’ ) that is submitted annually by the Department to the U.S. Congress. The TVPA mandates a report on countries’ level of compliance with the minimum standards and expresses the United States’ policy not to provide
nonhumanitarian, nontrade-related foreign assistance to any government that does not comply with the minimum standards and is not making significant efforts to do so. For the 2010 TIP Report, the United States will voluntarily report on its compliance with the minimum

standards. Submissions must be made in writing to the Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons at the Department of State by March 26, 2010. Please refer to the Addresses, Scope of Interest and Information Sought sections

of this Notice for additional instructions on submission requirements.

**DATES :**  Submissions must be received by

the Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons by 5 p.m. on
March 26, 2010.

**ADDRESSES :**  Written submissions and supporting documentation may be

submitted to the Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons by the following methods:

• Facsimile (fax): 202–312–9637.

• Mail, Express Delivery, Hand Delivery and Messenger Service: U.S. Department of State, Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons, 1800 G Street, NW., Suite 2148, Washington,

DC 20520. Please note that materials submitted by mail may be delayed due to security screenings and processing.

• E-mail (preferred): tipreport@state.gov for submissions related to foreign governments and tipreportUS@state.gov for submissions

related to the United States.

Scope of Interest: The Department requests information relevant to assessing compliance with the

minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking in persons in the year

2009. The minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking in persons are

listed in the Background section.

Submissions must include information relevant and probative of the minimum

standards for the elimination of trafficking in persons and should
include, but need not be limited to, answering the questions in the Information Sought section. These questions are designed to elicit

information relevant to the minimum

standards for the elimination of trafficking in persons. Only those questions for which the submitter has direct professional experience should be answered and that experience should be


### 11983 Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 48 / Friday, March 12, 2010 / Notices

noted. For any critique or deficiency described, please provide a recommendation to remedy it. Note the country or countries that are the focus

of the submission.

Submissions may include written narratives that answer the questions presented in this Notice, research, studies, statistics, fieldwork, training
materials, evaluations, assessments and
other relevant evidence of local, state and federal government efforts. To the extent possible, precise dates should be

included.

Where applicable, written narratives providing factual information should provide citations to sources and copies

of the source material should be provided. If possible, send electronic copies of the entire submission, including source material. If primary
sources are utilized, such as research
studies, interviews, direct observations, or other sources of quantitative or qualitative data, details on the research or data-gathering methodology should be provided. The Department does not include in the report, and is therefore not seeking, information on prostitution, human smuggling, visa fraud, or child
abuse, unless such conduct occurs in the context of human trafficking.

Confidentiality: Please provide the name, phone number and e-mail address of a single point of contact for any submission. It is Department practice not to identify in the TIP Report information concerning sources in order to safeguard those sources. Please note, however, that any information submitted to the Department may be releasable pursuant to the provisions of

the Freedom of Information Act or other applicable law. When applicable, portions of submissions relevant to efforts by other U.S. government agencies may be shared with those agencies.

Response: This is a request for information only; there will be no response to submissions.

**SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION :** 

I. Background

The TIP Report: The TIP Report is the most comprehensive worldwide report on foreign governments’ efforts to combat trafficking in persons. It represents an updated, global look at the nature and scope of trafficking in persons and the broad range of government actions to confront and

eliminate it. The U.S. Government uses the TIP Report to engage in public diplomacy to encourage partnership in creating and implementing laws and policies to combat trafficking and to target resources on prevention, protection and prosecution programs. Worldwide, the report is used by international organizations, foreign governments, and nongovernmental organizations alike as a tool to examine

where resources are most needed. Freeing victims, preventing trafficking, and bringing traffickers to justice are the ultimate goals of the report and of the U.S government’s anti-human trafficking policy.

The Department prepares the TIP Report using information from across
the U.S. Government, U.S. Embassies, foreign government officials, nongovernmental and international organizations, published reports, and research trips to every region. The TIP Report focuses on concrete actions that governments take to fight trafficking in persons, including prosecutions, convictions, and prison sentences for traffickers as well as victim protection measures and prevention efforts. Each TIP Report narrative also includes a

section on recommendations. These

recommendations are then used to measure progress and determine

whether there is a serious and sustained effort from one year to the next.

The TVPA creates a three tier ranking system. This placement is based more on the extent of government action to combat trafficking than on the size of the problem, although that is also an important factor. The Department first evaluates whether the government fully complies with the TVPA’s minimum

standards for the elimination of trafficking. Governments that fully comply are placed on Tier 1. For other governments, the Department considers

the extent of efforts to reach compliance. Governments that are making significant efforts to meet the minimum standards are placed on Tier 2. Governments that do not fully comply

with the minimum standards and are not making significant efforts to do so are placed on Tier 3. Finally, the Department considers Special Watch List criteria and, when applicable,

moves Tier 2 countries to Tier 2 Watch
List. For more information, the 2009 TIP Report can be found at http:// www.state.gov/g/tip/rls/tiprpt/2009

.

Since the inception of the TIP Report
in 2001, the number of countries

included and ranked has more than

doubled to include 175 countries in the 2009 TIP Report. The number of countries on Tier 1 has grown from 12

to 28 and the number of countries on

Tier 3 has decreased from 23 to 17. Around the world, the TIP Report and the best practices reflected therein have inspired legislation, national action plans, implementation of policies and funded programs, protection mechanisms that complement prosecution efforts, and a comprehensive understanding of the

issue.

Since 2003, the primary reporting on the United States’ anti-trafficking activities has been through the Attorney General’s Report to Congress and

Assessment of U.S. Government Activities to Combat Human Trafficking
( ‘‘ AG Report’’ ), mandated by the Trafficking TVPA, 22 U.S.C. 7103(d)(7). The TIP Report has also historically

included a brief narrative on the United States. This year, for the first time, the United States will voluntarily, through a collaborative interagency process, include in the TIP Report an analysis of U.S. government anti-trafficking efforts in light of the minimum standards to eliminate trafficking in persons set forth by the TVPA. This analysis in the TIP report will be done in addition to the AG Report, resulting in a multi-faceted self-assessment process of expanded

scope.

II. Minimum Standards for the Elimination of Trafficking in Persons

The TVPA sets forth the minimum

standards for the elimination of trafficking in persons as follows:

(1) The government of the country should prohibit severe forms of trafficking in persons and punish acts of such trafficking.

(2) For the knowing commission of any act of sex trafficking involving
force, fraud, coercion, or in which the victim of sex trafficking is a child incapable of giving meaningful consent, or of trafficking which includes rape or kidnapping or which causes a death, the government of the country should prescribe punishment commensurate with that for grave crimes, such as

forcible sexual assault.

(3) For the knowing commission of any act of a severe form of trafficking in persons, the government of the country should prescribe punishment that is sufficiently stringent to deter and that adequately reflects the heinous nature of

the offense.

(4) The government of the country

should make serious and sustained

efforts to eliminate severe forms of trafficking in persons.

The following factors should be

considered as indicia of serious and

sustained efforts to eliminate severe forms of trafficking in persons:

(1) Whether the government of the country vigorously investigates and prosecutes acts of severe forms of trafficking in persons, and convicts and sentences persons responsible for such acts, that take place wholly or partly within the territory of the country, including, as appropriate, requiring


### 11984 Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 48 / Friday, March 12, 2010 / Notices

incarceration of individuals convicted of such acts. For purposes of the preceding sentence, suspended or significantly reduced sentences for convictions of principal actors in cases of severe forms of trafficking in persons shall be considered, on a case-by-case
basis, whether to be considered as an

indicator of serious and sustained

efforts to eliminate severe forms of trafficking in persons. After reasonable requests from the Department of State for data regarding investigations, prosecutions, convictions, and sentences, a government which does not provide such data, consistent with the capacity of such government to obtain such data, shall be presumed not to have vigorously investigated, prosecuted, convicted or sentenced such acts. During the periods prior to the annual report submitted on June 1, 2004, and on June 1, 2005, and the periods afterwards until September 30 of each such year, the Secretary of State may disregard the presumption contained in the preceding sentence if the government has provided some data to the Department of State regarding such acts and the Secretary has determined that the government is making a good faith effort to collect

such data.

(2) Whether the government of the country protects victims of severe forms of trafficking in persons and encourages their assistance in the investigation and prosecution of such trafficking, including provisions for legal

alternatives to their removal to countries in which they would face retribution or hardship, and ensures that victims are not inappropriately incarcerated, fined, or otherwise penalized solely for unlawful acts as a direct result of being trafficked, including by providing training to law enforcement and immigration officials regarding the

identification and treatment of trafficking victims using approaches

that focus on the needs of the victims.

(3) Whether the government of the country has adopted measures to prevent severe forms of trafficking in persons, such as measures to inform and educate the public, including potential
victims, about the causes and consequences of severe forms of trafficking in persons, measures to establish the identity of local populations, including birth registration, citizenship, and nationality, measures to ensure that its nationals who are deployed abroad as part of a peacekeeping or other similar mission do not engage in or facilitate severe forms of trafficking in persons or exploit victims of such trafficking, and measures to prevent the use of forced labor or child labor in violation of

international standards.

(4) Whether the government of the country cooperates with other governments in the investigation and prosecution of severe forms of trafficking in persons.

(5) Whether the government of the country extradites persons charged with acts of severe forms of trafficking in persons on substantially the same terms and to substantially the same extent as persons charged with other serious crimes (or, to the extent such extradition

would be inconsistent with the laws of such country or with international agreements to which the country is a party, whether the government is taking all appropriate measures to modify or replace such laws and treaties so as to permit such extradition).

(6) Whether the government of the country monitors immigration and emigration patterns for evidence of severe forms of trafficking in persons and whether law enforcement agencies of the country respond to any such

evidence in a manner that is consistent with the vigorous investigation and prosecution of acts of such trafficking, as well as with the protection of human rights of victims and the internationally recognized human right to leave any country, including one’s own, and to return to one’s own country.

(7) Whether the government of the country vigorously investigates, prosecutes, convicts, and sentences public officials who participate in or facilitate severe forms of trafficking in persons, including nationals of the country who are deployed abroad as part of a peacekeeping or other similar mission who engage in or facilitate severe forms of trafficking in persons or exploit victims of such trafficking, and takes all appropriate measures against officials who condone such trafficking. After reasonable requests from the Department of State for data regarding such investigations, prosecutions,
convictions, and sentences, a government which does not provide

such data consistent with its resources shall be presumed not to have vigorously investigated, prosecuted,
convicted, or sentenced such acts. During the periods prior to the annual report submitted on June 1, 2004, and on June 1, 2005, and the periods afterwards until September 30 of each such year, the Secretary of State may disregard the presumption contained in the preceding sentence if the government has provided some data to the Department of State regarding such acts and the Secretary has determined that the government is making a good

faith effort to collect such data. (8) Whether the percentage of victims of severe forms of trafficking in the country that are non-citizens of such countries is insignificant.

(9) Whether the government of the country, consistent with the capacity of such government, systematically monitors its efforts to satisfy the criteria described in paragraphs (1) through (8) and makes available publicly a periodic

assessment of such efforts.

(10) Whether the government of the country achieves appreciable progress in eliminating severe forms of trafficking when compared to the assessment in the previous year.

(11) Whether the government of the country has made serious and sustained
efforts to reduce the demand for (A)
commercial sex acts; and (B) participation in international sex tourism by nationals of the country.

III. Information Sought Relevant to the

Minimum Standards

Submissions should include, but need
not be limited to, answers to relevant questions below for which the submitter has direct professional experience and that experience should be noted.

Citations to source material must also be provided. Note the country or countries

that are the focus of the submission.

Please see the Scope of Interest section for detailed information regarding submission requirements.

1. How have trafficking methods changed in the past 12 months? e.g. Are

there victims from new countries of origin? Is internal trafficking or child trafficking increasing? Has sex trafficking changed from brothels to private apartments? Is labor trafficking now occurring in additional types of industries or agricultural operations? Is forced begging a problem?

2. In what ways has the government’s efforts to combat trafficking in persons changed in the past year? What new laws, regulations, policies and implementation strategies exist? e.g.

substantive criminal laws and procedures, mechanisms for civil remedies, victim-witness security generally and in relation to court proceedings.

3. Please provide observations regarding the implementation of existing laws and procedures.

4. Is the government equally vigorous in pursuing labor trafficking and sex trafficking?

5. Are the anti-trafficking laws and sentences strict enough to reflect the nature of the crime? Are sex trafficking sentences commensurate with rape

sentences?

6. Do government officials understand the nature of trafficking? If not, please


### 11985 Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 48 / Friday, March 12, 2010 / Notices

provide examples of misconceptions or misunderstandings.

7. Do judges appear appropriately knowledgeable and sensitized to trafficking cases? What sentences have courts imposed upon traffickers? How common are suspended sentences and prison time of less than one year for

convicted traffickers?

8. Please provide observations regarding the efforts of police and prosecutors to pursue trafficking cases.

9. Are government officials (including law enforcement) complicit in human trafficking by, for example, profiting from, taking bribes or receiving sex for allowing it to continue? Are government officials operating trafficking rings or activities? If so, have these government officials been subject to an investigation and/or prosecution? What punishments have been imposed?

10. Has the government vigorously investigated, prosecuted, convicted and sentenced nationals of the country deployed abroad as part of a peacekeeping or other similar mission who engage in or facilitate trafficking?

11. Has the government investigated, prosecuted, convicted and sentenced organized crime groups that are involved in trafficking?

12. Is the country a source of sex
tourists and, if so, what are their destination countries? Is the country a
destination for sex tourists and, if so,

what are their source countries?

13. Please provide observations regarding government efforts to address

the issue of child soldiers.

14. Does the government make a coordinated, proactive effort to identify victims? Is there any screening conducted before deportation to

determine whether individuals were

trafficked?

15. What victim services are provided (legal, medical, food, shelter, interpretation, mental health care, health care, repatriation)? Who provides these services? If nongovernment organizations provide the services, does the government support their work either financially or otherwise?

16. How could victim services be improved?

17. Are services provided equally and adequately to victims of labor and sex trafficking? Men, women and children?

Citizen and noncitizen?

18. Do service organizations and law enforcement work together cooperatively, for instance, to share information about trafficking trends or to plan for services after a raid? What is the level of cooperation, communication and trust between service organizations

and law enforcement? 19. May victims file civil suits or seek legal action against their trafficker? Do

victims avail themselves of those

remedies?

20. Does the government repatriate victims? Does the government assist with third country resettlement? Does the government determine whether victims face retaliation, retrafficking, punishment or adverse conditions in their country of origin? Are victims awaiting repatriation or third country

resettlement offered services? Are victims indeed repatriated or are they deported?

21. Does the government detain or imprison identified trafficking victims?

22. Does the government punish trafficking victims for forgery of documents, illegal immigration, unauthorized employment, or participation in illegal activities directed by the trafficker?

23. What efforts has the government made to prevent human trafficking?

24. Are there efforts to address root causes of trafficking such as poverty;

lack of access to education and economic opportunity; and discrimination against women, children

and minorities?

25. Does the government undertake activities that could prevent or reduce vulnerability to trafficking, such as registering births of indigenous populations?

26. Does the government provide financial support to NGOs working to promote public awareness or does the government implement such campaigns itself? Have public awareness campaigns proven to be effective?

27. Please provide additional recommendations to improve the government’s anti-trafficking efforts.

28. Please highlight effective strategies and practices that other governments could consider adopting.

Dated: March 8, 2010.

Luis CdeBaca,

Ambassador-at-Large, Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons, Department of State.

[FR Doc. 2010–5498 Filed 3–11–10; 8:45 am]

**BILLING CODE 4710–02–P**

**SUSQUEHANNA RIVER BASIN**

**COMMISSION**

**Notice of Actions Taken at December 17, 2009, Meeting** 

**AGENCY :**  Susquehanna River Basin

Commission.

**ACTION :**  Notice of commission actions.

**SUMMARY :**  At its regular business meeting on December 17, 2009, in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, the Commission held a public hearing as part of its regular business meeting. At the public hearing, the Commission: (1) Approved and tabled certain water resources projects; (2) rescinded approval for a water resources project; (3) approved settlement involving a water resources project; (4) tabled a request for extension from Sunnyside
Ethanol, LLC until its March 2010 meeting; (5) adopted a revised Regulatory Program Fee Schedule to take effect on January 1, 2010; and (6) amended its comprehensive plan. Details concerning these and other matters addressed at the public hearing and business meeting are contained in the Supplementary Information section

of this notice.

**DATES :**  December 17, 2009.

**ADDRESSES :**  Susquehanna River Basin

Commission, 1721 N. Front Street, Harrisburg, PA 17102–2391.

**FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT :**  Richard A. Cairo, General Counsel, telephone: (717) 238–0423, ext. 306; fax: (717) 238–2436; e-mail: rcairo@srbc.net; or Stephanie L. Richardson, Secretary to the Commission, telephone: (717) 238–0423, ext. 304; fax: (717) 238–2436; email: srichardson@srbc.net. Regular mail inquiries may be sent to the above

address.

**SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION :**  In addition to the public hearing and its
related action items identified below, the following items were also presented or acted on at the business meeting: (1) A report on Pennsylvania’s current involvement in Marcellus Gas Drilling regulation and Chesapeake Bay clean-up by Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection Secretary John Hanger; (2) information on hydrologic conditions in the basin indicating a mostly normal status; (3) adoption of a resolution urging the U.S. Congress to provide adequate funding to the Susquehanna Flood Forecast & Warning System (SFFWS) for FY 2011; (4) adoption of a Water Resources Program for FY 2010/2011 along with a presentation by the Executive Director focusing on the Priority Management
Area (PMA) of Coordination, Cooperation and Public Information; (5) adoption of a Low Flow Monitoring Plan designed to help the Commission follow low flow events occurring throughout the basin; (6) approval/ ratification of several grants and

contracts related to water resources management, approval of a contract for compensation and benefits review, and approval for deployment of the Remote Water Quality Monitoring Network project; and (7) acceptance of the Fiscal