45388 Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 166 / Wednesday, August 27, 1997 / Notices

formation and results in male sterility of

the transformed plants. The subject

Radicchio rosso lines also contain the

nptII selectable marker gene and the bar

gene isolated from the bacterium

Streptomyces hygroscopicus. The bar

gene encodes a phosphinothricin

acetyltransferase (PAT) enzyme, which,

when introduced into a plant cell,

inactivates glufosinate. Linkage of the

barnase gene, which induces male

sterility, with the bar gene, a glufosinate

tolerance gene used as a marker, enables

identification of the male sterile line for

use in the production of pure hybrid

seed. The subject Radicchio rosso lines

were transformed by the Agrobacterium

tumefaciens method, and expression of

the introduced genes is controlled in

part by gene sequences derived from the

plant pathogen A. tumefaciens.

Radicchio rosso lines RM3–3, RM3–4,

and RM3–6 are currently considered

regulated articles under the regulations

in 7 CFR part 340 because they contain

gene sequences derived from the plant

pathogen A. tumefaciens. The subject

Radicchio rosso lines have been

evaluated in field trials conducted since

1993 in Europe, and since 1995 in the

United States. In the process of

reviewing the permit applications for

the U.S. field trials of these Radicchio

rosso lines, APHIS determined that the

trials, which were conducted under

conditions of reproductive and physical

containment or isolation, would not

present a risk of plant pest introduction

or dissemination.

In the Federal Plant Pest Act, as

amended (7 U.S.C. 150aa et seq.), ‘‘plant

pest’’ is defined as ‘‘any living stage of:

Any insects, mites, nematodes, slugs,

snails, protozoa, or other invertebrate

animals, bacteria, fungi, other parasitic

plants or reproductive parts thereof,

viruses, or any organisms similar to or

allied with any of the foregoing, or any

infectious substances, which can

directly or indirectly injure or cause

disease or damage in any plants or parts

thereof, or any processed, manufactured

or other products of plants.’’ APHIS

views this definition very broadly. The

definition covers direct or indirect

injury, disease, or damage not just to

agricultural crops, but also to plants in

general, for example, native species, as

well as to organisms that may be

beneficial to plants, for example,

honeybees, rhizobia, etc.

The U.S. Environmental Protection

Agency (EPA) is responsible for the

regulation of pesticides under the

Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and

Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), as amended (7

U.S.C. 136 et seq.). FIFRA requires that

all pesticides, including herbicides, be

registered prior to distribution or sale,

unless exempt by EPA regulation. In

cases in which the genetically modified

plants allow for a new use of an

herbicide or involve a different use

pattern for the herbicide, the EPA must

approve the new or different use. In

conducting such an approval, the EPA

considers the possibility of adverse

effects to human health and the

environment from the use of this

herbicide. When the use of the herbicide

on the genetically modified plant would

result in an increase in the residues of

the herbicide in a food or feed crop for

which the herbicide is currently

registered, or in new residues in a crop

for which the herbicide is not currently

registered, establishment of a new

tolerance or a revision of the existing

tolerance would be required. Residue

tolerances for pesticides are established

by the EPA under the Federal Food,

Drug and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA) (21

U.S.C. 301 et seq.), and the Food and

Drug Administration (FDA) enforces

tolerances set by the EPA under the

FFDCA.

The FDA published a statement of

policy on foods derived from new plant

varieties in the Federal Register on May

29, 1992 (57 FR 22984–23005). The FDA

statement of policy includes a

discussion of the FDA’s authority for

ensuring food safety under the FFDCA,

and provides guidance to industry on

the scientific considerations associated

with the development of foods derived

from new plant varieties, including

those plants developed through the

techniques of genetic engineering. Bejo

has begun consultation with FDA on the

subject Radicchio rosso lines.

In accordance with § 340.6(d) of the

regulations, we are publishing this

notice to inform the public that APHIS

will accept written comments regarding

the Petition for Determination of

Nonregulated Status from any interested

person for a period of 60 days from the

date of this notice. The petition and any

comments received are available for

public review, and copies of the petition

may be ordered (see the ADDRESSES

section of this notice).

After the comment period closes,

APHIS will review the data submitted

by the petitioner, all written comments

received during the comment period,

and any other relevant information.

Based on the available information,

APHIS will furnish a response to the

petitioner, either approving the petition

in whole or in part, or denying the

petition. APHIS will then publish a

notice in the Federal Register

announcing the regulatory status of the

Bejo Zaden BV Radicchio rosso lines

RM3–3, RM3–4, and RM3–6 and the

availability of APHIS’ written decision.

Authority: 7 U.S.C. 150aa-150jj, 151–167,

and 1622n; 31 U.S.C. 9701; 7 CFR 2.17, 2.51,

and 371.2(c).

Done in Washington, DC, this 21st day of

August 1997.

Terry L. Medley,

Administrator, Animal and Plant Health

Inspection Service.

[FR Doc. 97–22760 Filed 8–26–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3410–34–P

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service

Information Collection To Improve

Methods of Measuring Public Benefits

of Natural Resource Management and

Agency Communication

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of intent; request for

comments.

SUMMARY: In accordance with the

Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the

Forest Service announces its intent to

establish a new information collection.

The new collection will provide

information that will help Forest

Service personnel better identify and

measure the benefits that the public

perceives and demands from public

lands. The agency also will use the

information collection to evaluate and

improve its methods of communicating

with the public about Forest Service

programs and services. Respondents

will be randomly selected members of

the general public, both users and nonusers of National Forest System lands

and grasslands. Data gathered in this

information collection is not available

from other sources.

DATES: Comments must be received in

writing on or before October 27, 1997.

ADDRESSES: All comments should be

addressed to George Peterson, Rocky

Mountain Forest and Range Experiment

Station, Forest Service, USDA, 3825

East Mulberry, Fort Collins, CO 80524.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

George Peterson, Rocky Mountain Forest

and Range Experiment Station, at (970)

498–1885.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

The mission of the Forest Service is

‘‘caring for the land and serving the

people.’’ As the U.S. population grows

and diversifies, demands on natural

resources from the public lands are

increasing. Public perceptions of forests

seem to be changing from the forest as

a source of products to the forest as a

source of services. Currently, the agency

is unable to accurately identify and
Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 166 / Wednesday, August 27, 1997 / Notices 45389

measure the services and benefits the

public perceives, needs, expects, or

demands from the land. Research is

needed to develop more accurate

measures of what the public wants in

order for the agency to meet these

wants. So, Forest Service research

personnel will ask members of the

public to help the agency develop more

effective methods of evaluating and

measuring their needs and expectations.

The agency will use a two-phase

information collection approach which

includes focus groups and experimental

applications. During Phase I, the focus

group phase, the agency will ask small

groups of people, selected to represent

a diverse cross-section of the public, to

identify benefits that they perceive from

the land resource. The goal of this phase

will be to determine a baseline of

information on what members of the

public know about the land, its natural

resources, the benefits available

therefrom, and the terminology they use

to describe these benefits. The agency

also will ask focus groups to construct

alternative question formats that will

allow the determination and

measurement of preferences, values,

concerns, expectations, and sources of

conflict related to perceived benefits.

In Phase II, Forest Service personnel

will use the results of the focus groups

to design, test, and apply information

collection measures and methods,

including interactive computerized

interviews, personal interviews, and

mail-in questionnaires. Using these

alternative formats, Forest Service

personnel will conduct surveys of users

and non-users of National Forest System

lands and grasslands to obtain rankings,

weightings, values, or other measures of

benefits that people receive, perceive to

be available, expect, or demand from

natural resources on the public lands.

Results of this research, and

subsequent application of the

experimental measures and methods

developed, will help the agency better

understand public demands for its

programs and services, how well it

communicates its programs and services

to the public, and how well it meets the

needs and expectations of the public.

Once the research project has been

completed, the Forest Service will

publish the results of the data collection

in Forest Service Research Station

papers for agency use and will submit

articles to scientific journals, such as the

‘‘Journal of Environmental

Management,’’ the ‘‘Journal of

Environmental Psychology,’’ or the

‘‘Journal of Leisure Research.’’

Description of Information Collection

Title: Phase I—Focus Groups to

Improve Methods to Measure Public

Benefits of Forest Service

Communication and Natural Resource

Management.

OMB Number: New.

Expiration Date of Approval: New.

Type of Request: The following

describes Phase I of a new collection

requirement and has not received

approval from the Office of Management

and Budget.

Abstract: The agency will use a series

of small focus groups to identify, using

the focus groups’ own terminology and

understandings, benefits that members

of the public perceive from the public

lands. The focus groups also will be

asked to design alternative question

formats to identify and measure

preferences, values, concerns,

expectations, and sources of conflict

related to their perceived benefits.

The focus group phase of the research

will be sequential and developmental;

that is, each focus group will build on

the results of the previous group. The

first group will be asked to identify and

discuss benefits from natural resources

and public lands. Ideas, terms, issues,

concerns, and other information that

surface from this group will become the

baseline from which the next focus

group will begin. Successive groups will

develop, discuss, and refine alternative

question formats. In this way, the

agency will learn how people describe,

measure, and rank benefits. The number

of individuals in each focus group, the

issues addressed, and the time required

will vary from group to group,

depending on what is learned as the

focus group phase of the research

progresses.

Forest Service research personnel

and/or professional facilitators will

facilitate focus group discussions.

Data gathered in this information

collection are not available from other

sources.

Estimated Burden per Respondent: 2

hours.

Type of Respondents: Voluntarily

responding individuals chosen to

represent a diverse cross section of the

general public, including both visitors

and non-visitors to National Forest

System lands and grasslands.

Estimated Number of Respondents:

72.

Estimated Number of Responses per

Respondent: 1.

Estimated total burden on

respondents: 144 hours.

Description of Information Collection

Title: Phase II—Experimental

Applications to Improve Methods to

Measure Public Benefits of Forest

Service Communication and Natural

Resource Management.

OMB Number: New.

Expiration Date of Approval: New.

Type of Request: The following

describes Phase II of a new collection

requirement and has not received

approval from the Office of Management

and Budget.

Abstract: Forest Service research

personnel will use the issues and

methods developed by the focus groups

to design, test, and apply information

collection methods and measures,

including interactive computerized

interviews, personal interviews, and

mail-in questionnaires. These will be

used to collect information from the

public to obtain rankings, weightings,

values, or other measures of benefits

that people receive, perceive to be

available, expect, or demand from

natural resources on the public lands.

Forest Service personnel will use the

results to evaluate whether the agency’s

land management programs produce the

benefits desired by the public and to

evaluate agency information

dissemination to the public about Forest

Service programs and the benefits they

are designed to deliver.

Data gathered in this information

collection are not available from other

sources.

Estimated Burden per Respondent: 30

minutes.

Type of respondents: Voluntarily

responding individuals selected from

the general public using random

processes; these will include users of

and visitors on National Forest System

lands and grasslands, as well as nonusers and non-visitors.

Estimated Number of Respondents:

1,900.

Number of Responses per

Respondent: 1.

Estimated Total Burden on

Respondents: 950 hours.

Comments Are Invited

The agency invites comments on the

following: (a) Whether the proposed

collection of information is necessary

for the proper performance of the

functions of the agency, including

whether the information will have

practical or scientific utility; (b) the

accuracy of the estimate of the burden

of the proposed collection of

information, including the validity of

the methodology and assumptions used;

(c) ways to enhance the quality, utility,

and clarity of the information to be

collected; and (d) ways to minimize the

burden of the collection of information

on respondents, including the use of

automated, mechanical, or other
45390 Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 166 / Wednesday, August 27, 1997 / Notices

technological collection techniques or

other forms of information technology.

Use of Comments

All comments received in response to

this notice will be summarized and

included in the request for Office of

Management and Budget approval.

Those who submit comments should be

aware that all comments, including

names and addresses when provided,

are placed in the record and are

available for public inspection.

Dated: August 20, 1997.

Ronald E. Stewart,

Acting Associate Chief.

[FR Doc. 97–22732 Filed 8–26–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3410–11–P

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service

California Spotted Owl Federal

Advisory Committee

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of meeting.

SUMMARY: The California Spotted Owl

Federal Advisory Committee will meet

on September 11–13, 1997, in Visalia,

California. This is the third meeting of

the committee. The three day meeting

will be a working session for the

advisory committee; the public is

invited to observe.

Those needing California Spotted Owl

RDEIS documents should contact Mike

Skinner at (415) 705–1870.

DATES: The meeting will be held

September 11–13, 1997, as follows:

Thursday, September 11, 8:00 A.M.–

5:00 P.M., 7:00–10:00 P.M.; Friday,

September 12, 8:00 A.M.–5:00 P.M.,

7:00–10:00 P.M.; Saturday, September

13, 8:00 A.M.–3:00 P.M.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at

the Radisson Hotel, 300 South Court,

Visalia, California, 93291, phone (209)

636–1111.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Charles Philpot, Committee Chair, (503)

808–2113; or Jonathan Stephens, Forest

Service, (202) 205–0948; or Katherine

Clement, (415) 705–1834.

Dated: August 21, 1997.

Michael D. Srago,

Acting Assistant Regional Forester, Ecosystem

Conservation.

[FR Doc. 97–22727 Filed 8–26–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3410–11–M

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Housing Service

Request for Extension of a Currently

Approved Information Collection

AGENCY: Rural Housing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Proposed collection, comments

requested.

SUMMARY: In accordance with the

Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this

notice announces the Rural Housing

Service’s (RHS) intention to request an

extension for a currently approved

information collection in support of the

program for Fire and Rescue Loans.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be

received by October 27, 1997 to be

assured of consideration.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Yoonie MacDonald, Loan Specialist,

Community Programs Division, RHS,

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Stop

3222, 1400 Independence, SW.,

Washington, DC 20250–3222.

Telephone (202) 720–1501.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Title: Fire and Rescue Loans.

OMB Number: 0575–0120.

Expiration Date of Approval: January

31, 1998.

Type of Request: Extension of a

currently approved information

collection.

Abstract: The Fire and Rescue Loan

program is authorized by Section 306 of

the Consolidated Farm and Rural

Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1926) to

make loans to public entities, nonprofit

corporations, and Indian tribes for the

development of community facilities for

public use in rural areas and is covered

by 7 CFR 1942–C. The primary

regulation for administering the

Community Facilities program is 7 CFR

1942–A (OMB Number 0575–0015)

which outlines eligibility, project

feasibility, security, and monitoring

requirements.

The Community Facilities fire and

rescue program has been in existence for

many years. This program has financed

a wide range of fire and rescue projects

varying in size and complexity from

construction of a fire station with

firefighting and rescue equipment to

financing a 911 emergency system.

These facilities are designed to provide

fire protection and emergency rescue

services to rural communities.

Information will be collected by the

field offices from applicants, borrowers,

and consultants. This information will

be used to determine applicant/

borrower eligibility, project feasibility,

and to ensure borrowers operate on a

sound basis and use funds for

authorized purposes. Failure to collect

proper information could result in

improper determination of eligibility,

improper use of funds, and/or unsound

loans.

Estimate of Burden: Public reporting

burden for this collection of information

is estimated to average 2.16 hours per

response.

Respondents: Not-for-profit

institutions, state, local or Tribal

governments.

Estimated Number of Respondents:

1,130.

Estimated Number of Responses per

Respondent: 2.73.

Estimated Total Annual Burden on

Respondents: 6,695.

Copies of this information collection

can be obtained from Barbara Williams,

Regulations and Paperwork

Management Branch, (202) 720–9734.

Comments: Comments are invited on:

(a) Whether the proposed collection of

information is necessary for the proper

performance of the functions of RHS,

including whether the information will

have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of

RHS’s estimate of the burden of the

proposed collection of information

including the validity of the

methodology and assumptions used; (c)

ways to enhance the quality, utility, and

clarity of the information to be

collected; and (d) 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. Comments may be sent to

Barbara Williams, Regulations and

Paperwork Management Branch,

Support Services Division, U.S.

Department of Agriculture, Rural

Development, 1400 Independence Ave.,

SW., STOP 0743, Washington, DC

20250–0743. All responses to this notice

will be summarized and included in the

request for OMB approval. All

comments will also become a matter of

public record.

Dated: August 19, 1997.

Jan E. Shadburn,

Acting Administrator, Rural Housing Service.

[FR Doc. 97–22711 Filed 8–26–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3410–XV–P

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Submission for OMB; Comment

Request

DOC has submitted to the Office of

Management and Budget (OMB) for