46942 Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 172 / Friday, September 5, 1997 / Notices

ADDRESSES: Send written comments to

Sally Collins, Forest Supervisor,

Deschutes National Forest, 1645

Highway 20 East, Bend, Oregon 97701.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Paul Claeyssens, Project Coordinator,

1645 Highway 20 East, Bend, Oregon

97701, phone 541–383–5540.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Forest

Service is initiating this action in

response to a request by Crown Pacific

to exchange lands that will provide

public benefits while improving

management opportunities.

Consolidation will enable the Forest

Service to implement more effective

ecosystem-based management; better

protect wetlands and riparian areas; and

decrease the potential of urban

development of private inholdings

within NFS boundaries. Lands acquired

in the exchange by the Forest Service

will be managed in accord with the

LRMPs.

The proposed action will exchange

lands that are loosely clustered into

three groups. The first, northernmost

group, is located a short distance west

and northwest of Bend, within the Bull

Creek drainage near the Upper

Deschutes River. The second and largest

group is located southwest of Bend.

This group is roughly U-shaped, begins

west of La Pine, extends southward

through Gilchrist/Crescent along the

Little Deschutes River, and circles east

across Highway 31, then north. The

third group is largely on the Fremont

National Forest in Klamath and Lake

Counties and lies south of Highway 31.

An initial scoping letter was mailed

on April 22, 1996. Four public

involvement meetings were held

between August and October 1996.

These meetings were held in Bend, La

Pine, Gilchrist/Crescent, and Fort Rock.

Additional public meetings are

contemplated. Based on analysis

completed to date, it was determined

that an EIS is needed. Information and

data previously gathered will be carried

forward in this EIS.

Issues that have been identified to

date include: old growth allocations,

late and old structural stands, mule deer

winter range, sensitive plant species,

and cultural resources.

At this time, alternatives being

considered include: no action and

exchanging lands as identified in the

proposed action. The EIS will analyze

the direct, indirect, and cumulative

environmental effects of the

alternatives. Past, present, and projected

activities on both private and NFS lands

will be considered. The EIS will

disclose the analysis of site-specific

mitigation.

Public participation is important.

Comments from the public will

continue to be used to:

—Identify, confirm or redefine potential

issues.

—Identify, confirm or redefine major

issues to be analyzed in depth.

—Eliminate minor issues or those which

have been covered by a previous

environmental analysis, such as the

Deschutes, Fremont and Winema

LRMPs.

—Identify alternatives to the proposed

action.

—Identify, confirm or redefine potential

environmental effects of the proposed

action and alternatives (i.e. direct,

indirect, and cumulative effects).

—Determine potential cooperating

agencies and task assignments.

The draft EIS is expected to be filed

with the Environmental Protection

Agency (EPA) and available for public

review in November 1997. The

comment period on the draft EIS will be

45 days from the date the EPA publishes

the notice of availability in the Federal

Register. At that time, copies of the draft

EIS will be distributed to interested and

affected agencies, organizations, tribes,

and members of the public for their

review and comment.

It is important that those interested in

the management of the Deschutes,

Fremont and Winema National Forests

participate at that time. The Forest

Service believes it is important to give

reviewers notice at this stage of several

court rulings related to public

participation in the environmental

review process. First, reviewers of draft

EISs must structure their participation

in the environmental review of the

proposal so that it is meaningful and

alerts an agency to the reviewer’s

position and contentions (Vermont

Yankee Nuclear Power Corp. v. NRDC,

435 U.S. 519, 553 (1978)). Also,

environmental objections that could be

raised at the draft EIS stage but that are

not raised until after completion of the

final EIS may be waived or dismissed by

the courts (City of Angoon v. Hodel, 803

F.2d 1016, 1022 (9th Cir. 1986) and

Wisconsin Heritages, Inc. v. Harris, 490

F. Supp. 1334, 1338 (E.D. Wis. 1980)).

Because of these court rulings, it is very

important that those interested in this

proposed action participate by the close

of the 45-day comment period so that

substantive comments and objections

are made available to the Forest Service

at a time when it can meaningfully

consider them and respond to them in

the final EIS.

To assist the Forest Service in

identifying and considering these issues

and concerns on the proposed action,

comments on the draft EIS should be as

specific as possible. It is also helpful if

comments refer to specific pages or

chapters of the draft statement.

Comments may also address the

adequacy of the draft EIS or the merits

of the alternatives formulated and

discussed in the statement. (Reviewers

may wish to refer to the Council on

Environmental Quality regulations for

implementing the procedural provisions

of the National Environmental Policy

Act at 40 CFR 1503.3 in addressing

these points.)

The final EIS is scheduled to be

completed in February 1998. In the final

EIS, the Forest Service is required to

respond to comments and responses

received during the comment period

that pertain to the environmental

consequences discussed in the draft EIS

and applicable laws, regulations, and

policies considered in making the

decision regarding this proposal.

Sally Collins, Forest Supervisor,

Deschutes National Forest, Charles

Graham, Forest Supervisor, Fremont

National Forest, and Bob Castaneda,

Forest Supervisor, Winema National

Forest, are the responsible officials. As

the responsible officials, they will

document the Forest Service/Crown

Pacific Land Exchange decision and the

reasons for the decision in the Record of

Decision. That decision will be subject

to Forest Service appeal regulations at

36 CFR Part 215.

Dated: August 21, 1997.

Sally Collins,

Forest Supervisor, Deschutes National Forest.

Dated: August 22, 1997.

Charles Graham,

Forest Supervisor, Fremont National Forest.

Dated: August 26, 1997.

Bob Castaneda,

Forest Supervisor, Winema National Forest.

[FR Doc. 97–23582 Filed 9–4–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3410–11–M

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service

Beaver Creek Salvage Timber Sale and

Other Restoration Projects, WallowaWhitman National Forest, Union

County, OR

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Revised notice of intent to

prepare an environmental impact

statement.

SUMMARY: On December 30, 1996, a

notice of intent to prepare an

environmental impact statement (EIS)

for the Beaver Creek Salvage Timber
Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 172 / Friday, September 5, 1997 / Notices 46943

Sale was published in the Federal

Register (61 FR 68704). This notice

announces the new dates for release of

draft and final EIS and the change in EIS

title. The draft EIS is now expected to

be completed February, 1998 and the

final EIS to be published in December,

1998. The title of the EIS will be

‘‘Beaver Creek Fuels Reduction and

Watershed Restoration Project.’’ This

new title more accurately reflects the

purpose and need for this project and

the activities being proposed to

accomplish them.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Cindy Whitlock, Project Coordinator,

3502 Highway 30, La Grande, Oregon

97850, phone (541) 962–8501.

Dated: August 25, 1997.

Karyn L. Wood,

Forest Supervisor.

[FR Doc. 97–23581 Filed 9–4–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3410–11–M

COMMITTEE FOR PURCHASE FROM

PEOPLE WHO ARE BLIND OR

SEVERELY DISABLED

Procurement List Additions

AGENCY: Committee for Purchase From

People Who Are Blind or Severely

Disabled.

ACTION: Additions to the Procurement

List.

SUMMARY: This action adds to the

Procurement List commodities and

services to be furnished by nonprofit

agencies employing persons who are

blind or have other severe disabilities.

EFFECTIVE DATE: October 6, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Committee for Purchase

From People Who Are Blind or Severely

Disabled, Crystal Square 3, Suite 403,

1735 Jefferson Davis Highway,

Arlington, Virginia 22202–3461.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Beverly Milkman (703) 603–7740.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On July 7

and 18, 1997, the Committee for

Purchase From People Who Are Blind

or Severely Disabled published notices

(62 F.R. 36256 and 38518) of proposed

additions to the Procurement List.

After consideration of the material

presented to it concerning capability of

qualified nonprofit agencies to provide

the commodities and services and

impact of the additions on the current

or most recent contractors, the

Committee has determined that the

commodities and services listed below

are suitable for procurement by the

Federal Government under 41 U.S.C.

46–48c and 41 CFR 51–2.4.

I certify that the following action will

not have a significant impact on a

substantial number of small entities.

The major factors considered for this

certification were:

1. The action will not result in any

additional reporting, recordkeeping or

other compliance requirements for small

entities other than the small

organizations that will furnish the

commodities and services to the

Government.

2. The action will not have a severe

economic impact on current contractors

for the commodities and services.

3. The action will result in

authorizing small entities to furnish the

commodities and services to the

Government.

4. There are no known regulatory

alternatives which would accomplish

the objectives of the Javits-WagnerO’Day Act (41 U.S.C. 46–48c) in

connection with the commodities and

services proposed for addition to the

Procurement List.

Accordingly, the following

commodities and services are hereby

added to the Procurement List:

Commodities

Towel, Paper

8540–01–359–0798

8540–01–055–6134

Services

Grounds Maintenance, U.S. Department of

Energy, Western Area Power

Administration, 615 S. 43rd Avenue,

Phoenix, Arizona

Janitorial/Custodial

U.S. Department of Energy, Western Area

Power Administration, 615 S. 43rd

Avenue, Phoenix, Arizona

This action does not affect current

contracts awarded prior to the effective

date of this addition or options that may

be exercised under those contracts.

Beverly L. Milkman,

Executive Director.

[FR Doc. 97–23608 Filed 9–4–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6353–01–P

COMMITTEE FOR PURCHASE FROM

PEOPLE WHO ARE BLIND OR

SEVERELY DISABLED

Procurement List; Proposed Additions

and Deletion

AGENCY: Committee for Purchase From

People Who Are Blind or Severely

Disabled.

ACTION: Proposed additions to and

deletion from Procurement List.

SUMMARY: The Committee has received

proposals to add to the Procurement List

services to be furnished by nonprofit

agencies employing persons who are

blind or have other severe disabilities,

and to delete a commodity previously

furnished by such agencies.

COMMENTS MUST BE RECEIVED ON OR

BEFORE: October 6, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Committee for Purchase

From People Who Are Blind or Severely

Disabled, Crystal Square 3, Suite 403,

1735 Jefferson Davis Highway,

Arlington, Virginia 22202–3461.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Beverly Milkman (703) 603–7740.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This

notice is published pursuant to 41

U.S.C. 47(a)(2) and 41 CFR 51–2.3. Its

purpose is to provide interested persons

an opportunity to submit comments on

the possible impact of the proposed

actions.

Additions

If the Committee approves the

proposed addition, all entities of the

Federal Government (except as

otherwise indicated) will be required to

procure the services listed below from

nonprofit agencies employing persons

who are blind or have other severe

disabilities.

I certify that the following action will

not have a significant impact on a

substantial number of small entities.

The major factors considered for this

certification were:

1. The action will not result in any

additional reporting, recordkeeping or

other compliance requirements for small

entities other than the small

organizations that will furnish the

services to the Government.

2. The action does not appear to have

a severe economic impact on current

contractors for the services.

3. The action will result in

authorizing small entities to furnish the

services to the Government.

4. There are no known regulatory

alternatives which would accomplish

the objectives of the Javits-WagnerO’Day Act (41 U.S.C. 46–48c) in

connection with the services proposed

for addition to the Procurement List.

Comments on this certification are

invited. Commenters should identify the

statement(s) underlying the certification

on which they are providing additional

information.

The following services have been

proposed for addition to Procurement

List for production by the nonprofit

agencies listed:

Janitorial/Custodial

Calexico Border Patrol Station, Calexico,

California

NPA: Imperial County Work Training Center,

Inc. El Centro, California