Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 223 / Wednesday, November 19, 1997 / Notices 61725

protect the public by ensuring that meat

and poultry products are safe,

wholesome, unadulterated, and

properly labeled and packaged.

FSIS is requesting an extension and

revision to the information collection

package addressing meat and poultry

paperwork and recordkeeping

requirements regarding exportation,

transportation, and importation of meat

and poultry products. FSIS requires that

meat and poultry establishments

exporting product to foreign countries

complete an export certificate.

Establishments must supply the type,

amount, and destination of product

being exported. The information

required by on this form does not

duplicate any information required by

other Federal agencies. The form is

necessary to certify to the importing

countries that FSIS inspectors have

inspected the product and have found it

sound and wholesome. Additionally,

FSIS uses the information from the form

in its annual Report to Congress as

required by sections 301(c)(4) and 20(e)

of the FMIA and sections 27 and 5(c)(4)

of the PPIA.

Meat and poultry products not

marked with the mark of inspection and

shipped from one official establishment

to another for further processing must

be transported under FSIS seal to

prevent such unmarked product from

entering into commerce. To track

product shipped under seal, FSIS

requires shipping establishments to

complete a form that identifies the type,

amount, and weight of the product.

A foreign country exporting meat or

poultry products to the U.S. must

establish eligibility for importation of

product into the U.S. and annually

certify that its inspection systems are

‘‘at least equal to’’ the U.S. inspection

system. To maintain eligibility, a

written report must be prepared

monthly by a representative of the

foreign inspection system for each

establishment listed in the certification.

Additionally, meat and poultry products

intended for import into the U.S. must

be accompanied by a health certificate,

signed by an official of the foreign

government, stating that the products

have been produced by certified foreign

establishments. Establishments or

brokers wishing to import product into

the United States must complete a form

that specifies the type, amount,

originating country and destination of

the meat and poultry product. The

amount of meat and poultry product

imported into the United States is

included in FSIS’s annual Report to

Congress. Additionally, FSIS has

established procedures allowing

establishments importing product to

stamp such product with the inspection

legend prior to FSIS inspection, if they

receive FSIS prior approval.

Estimate of Burden: The public

reporting burden for this collection of

information is estimated to average

.0773501 hours per response.

Respondents: Meat and poultry

establishments.

Estimated Number of Respondents:

7,374.

Estimated Number of Responses per

Respondent: 295.88866.

Estimated Total Annual Burden on

Respondents: 168,769 hours.

Copies of this information collection

assessment and comments can be

obtained from Lee Puricelli, Paperwork

Specialist, Food Safety and Inspection

Service, USDA, 300 12th Street SW,

Room 109, Washington, DC 20250–

3700, (202) 720–0346.

Comments are invited on: (a) whether

the proposed collection of information

is necessary for the proper performance

of FSIS’s functions, including whether

the information will have practical

utility; (b) the accuracy of FSIS’ 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 use of appropriate automated,

electronic, mechanical, or other

technological collection techniques, or

other forms of information technology.

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: November 10, 1997.

Thomas J. Billy,

Administrator.

[FR Doc. 97–30319 Filed 11–18–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3410–DM–P

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food Safety and Inspection Service

[Docket No. 97–065N]

Notice of Request for Extension and

Revision of a Currently Approved

Information Collection

AGENCY: Food Safety and Inspection

Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice and request for

comments.

SUMMARY: In accordance with the

Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 and

the Office of Management and Budget

(OMB) regulations, this notice

announces the Food Safety and

Inspection Service’s (FSIS) intention to

request an extension for and revision to

a currently approved information

collection package regarding official

marking devices, labeling, and

packaging material.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be

received on or before January 20, 1998.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION OR COMMENTS:

Contact Lee Puricelli, Paperwork

Specialist, (202) 720–0346.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Title: Official Marking Devices,

Labeling, and Packaging Material.

OMB Number: 0583–0092.

Expiration Date of Approval:

December 31, 1997.

Type of Request: Extension and

revision of a currently approved

information collection.

Abstract: FSIS has been delegated the

authority to exercise the functions of the

Secretary as provided in the Federal

Meat Inspection Act (FMIA) (21 U.S.C.

601 et seq.) and the Poultry Products

Inspection Act (PPIA) (21 U.S.C. 451 et

seq.). These statutes mandate that FSIS

protect the public by ensuring that meat

and poultry products are safe,

wholesome, unadulterated, and

properly labeled and packaged.

FSIS is requesting an extension and

revision to the information collection

package addressing meat and poultry

paperwork and recordkeeping

requirements regarding official marking

devices, labeling, and packaging

material. To control the manufacture of

marking devices bearing official marks,

FSIS requires that official meat and

poultry establishments and

manufacturers of such marking devices

complete a form. The establishment

completes the first part of the form

requesting that certain brands or other

devices be manufactured. The

manufacturer of the brands then

provides its business name and address,

and serial numbers of brands or devices.

Such certification is necessary to help

prevent the manufacture and use of

counterfeit marks of inspection. To

ensure that meat and poultry products

are accurately labeled, FSIS approves

meat and poultry product labelings. To

ensure that packaging material does not

render meat and poultry products

adulterated, FSIS requires a statement of

assurance from packaging

manufacturers when such packaging is

intended for use in meat and poultry

establishments. The statement is a

guaranty that the packaging material

conforms with Federal Food, Drug and

Cosmetic Act (FFDCA) regulations for

food contact materials.
61726 Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 223 / Wednesday, November 19, 1997 / Notices

Estimate of Burden: The public

reporting burden for this collection of

information is estimated to average

.2596531 hours per response.

Respondents: Meat and poultry

establishments.

Estimated Number of Respondents:

7,374.

Estimated Number of Responses per

Respondent: 62.153919.

Estimated Total Annual Burden on

Respondents: 119,005 hours.

Copies of this information collection

assessment and comments can be

obtained from Lee Puricelli, Paperwork

Specialist, Food Safety and Inspection

Service, USDA, 300 12th Street SW,

Room 109, Washington, DC 20250–

3700, (202) 720–0346.

Comments are invited on: (a) whether

the proposed collection of information

is necessary for the proper performance

of FSIS’s functions, including whether

the information will have practical

utility; (b) the accuracy of FSIS’ 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 use of appropriate automated,

electronic, mechanical, or other

technological collection techniques, or

other forms of information technology.

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: November 10, 1997.

Thomas J. Billy,

Administrator.

[FR Doc. 97–30320 Filed 11–18–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3410–DM–P

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service

Notice of Intent To Prepare an

Environmental Impact Statement for

the Expansion of the Bill Williams Ski

Area

AGENCY: Forest Service, United States

Department of Agriculture.

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an

Environmental Impact Statement for the

Expansion of the Bill Williams

Mountain Ski Area.

SUMMARY: The United States Department

of Agriculture Forest Service (USDA,

FS), Region 3, Kaibab National Forest,

announces its intent to prepare an

Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)

pursuant to Sec. 102(2)(c) of the

National Environmental Quality

requestions for implementing NEPA.

This Environmental Impact Statement

will evaluate potential impacts from

expanding the Bill Williams Mountain

Ski area, Coconino County, Arizona.

The USDA, FS invites the general

public, local governments, Indian tribes,

other Federal agencies, and states to

submit written comments or suggestions

concerning the scope of the issues to be

addressed, alternatives to be analyzed,

and the environmental impacts and

cultural impacts to be addressed in the

Draft Environmental Impact Statement

(DEIS). The public is invited to

participate in scoping activities

including an open house in which

comments and suggestions will be

received. Oral and written comments

will be considered equally in

preparation of the DEIS.

DATES: All comments must be received

or postmarked by December 22, 1997, to

be considered in the preparation of the

DEIS. To the extent practicable, the

USDA, FS will consider comments

received or postmarked after the

deadline. An open house will be

conducted at the Williams Holiday Inn

(950 N. Grand Canyon Blvd., Williams,

AZ) on December 4, 1997, between 4:30

and 8:00 P.M. The date, time, and

specific location of the scoping meeting

will be announced at least 15 days

before the meeting in the local media.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Please direct written comments/

suggestions on the scope of the DEIS or

questions concerning the project to: Teri

Cleeland at USDA, FS Williams/

Chalendar Ranger District, 501 W. Route

66, Williams, AZ 86046, 520/635–2676

or Dave Brewer at Kaibab National

Forest, 800 S. 6th St., Williams, AZ

86046, 520/635–8331.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Purpose and Need: The proposed ski

expansion area is located in the Kaibab

National Forest approximately four

miles south of Williams, Arizona on Bill

Williams Mountain. A comparison of

the existing and desired conditions for

this management area outlined in the

Kaibab National Forest Land and

Resource Management Plan indicates a

need to improve not only the existing

ski facilities but also expand on the 16

acres of the skiable terrain to promote a

quality alpine skiing experience. The

current vertical drop, ski run length,

and ski run configuration do not

provide for a good cross-section for the

various experience levels of skiers.

Provision of higher elevation runs and

snowmaking will increase the season of

use through enhanced snow cover on

runs.

The proposed expansion of the Bill

Williams Ski Area will satisfy the

following needs:

—improve the quality of recreation

experience in the Williams area,

—diversify the local economic base for

the City of Williams

—increase skier capacity to

accommodate unmet skier demand in

the region,

—provide better and more consistent

skiing conditions by increasing

reliability of skiable snow cover,

particularly at the beginning of the

season when skiing is frequently

delayed,

—encourage efficient use of facilities by

expanding use into the summer

months,

—satisfy Forest Service management

objective (see below).

The expansion of the Bill Williams

Ski Area will meet the following Forest

Service management objectives:

—It is Forest Service policy to provide,

under special-use authorization,

suitable facilities and services that

supplement or complement those

provided by the private sector on

private lands on National Forest

System land to meet public needs. In

addition, it is Forest Service policy to

facilitate the use, enjoyment, and

appreciation of the National Forests in

a natural resource setting (FSM

2340.2).

—Update and modify the previous

approved Environmental Impact

Statement which authorized a new ski

area on the north slopes of Bill

Williams Mountain (USDA-Kaibab

National Forest 1986).

—To provide a diversity of recreation

activities that emphasize the forest

setting and rustic, natural resource

based recreation opportunities (FSM

2343.02).

Decision to be Made: Based on public

response to the DEIS, a decision will be

made regarding expansion of the Bill

Williams Ski Area. Possible decisions

include the following: 1.) implement the

proposed action as defined; 2.) take no

action at all; or 3.) take action to some

other degree, based on issues generated

through public scoping.

Proposed Action: The USDA—Kaibab

National Forest, proposes to authorize

Alpine Recreation Company LLC., to

incorporate the existing Bill Williams

ski area and construct, operate, and

maintain an expansion of current

facilities. Under the proposed action,

the skiable terrain would increase from

16.4 acres to 62.6 acres. The total

number of skiers that could be