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
Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 223 / Wednesday, November 19, 1997 / Notices 61727

accommodated at one time would

increase from 250 to 1,130.

Specific expansions proposed by

Alpine Recreation include the

following: additional ski runs (43 acres);

a triple chair lift (approximately 5,600

feet in length); three new handle tows

(ranging from 400 to 600 feet in length);

a maintenance building (2,400 square

feet); construction of a new Top Vista

Lodge with composting restrooms (800

square feet); new parking facilities

(75,000 square feet); construction of a

new bases lodge (4,600 square feet) with

additional outside deck seating (2,500

square feet); three new water

impoundments (capacity of 24 acrefeet); infrastructure for snowmaking

(2,000 subsurface distribution system

for snowmaking on 7 acres); a new

septic system; a summer trail which

would generally follow runs 18, 18A, 12

and 7; a picnic area along the edge of

run 12; implementation of a sky ride

program during the summer recreation

period; and expansion of the permit area

from the current 37 acres to

approximately 200 acres.

Preliminary Identification of

Environmental and Cultural Issues: The

USDA, FS has identified the following

preliminary issues for analysis for

alternative actions in the DEIS.

Additional issues may be identified as

a result of the scoping process. Issues

include impacts of the action

alternatives on:

—Water quality and quantity,

—Water rights,

—Soil erosion and disturbance,

—Threatened, endangered, and

sensitive species and their habitat,

—Visual quality,

—Fire occurrence,

—Cultural resources,

—Traditional uses of the area by

American Indians,

—Rights of American Indians for which

the area has religious and cultural

significance,

—Socioeconomic resources of local

communities,

—Demand for additional skiing facilities

in Northern Arizona.

Cooperating Agencies and Groups

Involved in the Preparation of the DEIS:

United States Department of Agriculture

Forest Service, Region 3, Kaibab

National Forest; Alpine Research

Company, LLC., and SWCA, Inc.,

Environmental Consultants.

Dated: November 12, 1997.

Bruce J. Higgins,

Acting Forest Supervisor.

[FR Doc. 97–30326 Filed 11–18–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3410–11–M

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Housing Service

Notice of Request for Extension of a

Currently Approved Information

Collection

AGENCIES: Rural Housing Service,

USDA.

ACTION: Proposed collection: comments

request.

SUMMARY: In accordance with the

Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this

notice announces the Rural Housing

Service (RHS) intention to request an

extension for a currently approved

information collection in support of

compliance with applicable acts for

planning and performing site and other

development work.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be

received by January 20, 1998 to be

assured consideration.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Samuel J. Hodges III, Architect, Program

Support Staff, RHS, U.S. Department of

Agriculture, Stop 0761, 1400

Independence Ave., S.W., Washington,

DC 20250–0761, Telephone (202) 720-

9653.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Title: 7 CFR 1924 Subpart C,

‘‘Planning and Performing Site

Development Work.’’

OMB Number: 0575–0164.

Expiration Date of Approval: January

31, 1998.

Type of Request: Extension of a

currently approved information

collection.

Abstract: The information collection

under OMB Number 0575–0042 enables

RHS to effectively administer the

policies, methods and responsibilities in

planning and performing site

development work for the related

construction programs.

Section 501 of Title V of the Housing

Act of 1949, as amended, authorizes the

Secretary of Agriculture to extend

financial assistance to construct,

improve, repair, replace or rehabilitate

dwellings, farm buildings and/or related

facilities to provide decent, safe and

sanitary living conditions and adequate

farm buildings and other structures in

rural areas.

The Agency makes direct and

guaranteed loans to applicants of up to

100 percent of the appraised value of

the property, therefore, the site and its

development are an integral part of the

building construction and related

facilities being financed. The

information collection required by this

regulation is necessary to assure orderly

development of rural areas leading to

economically stable communities that

consider the impact of the environment

and protection of the borrower and

Government security interests.

Other information collection is

required to conform to numerous Public

Laws applying to all federal agencies,

such as: Civil Rights Acts of 1964 and

1968, Historic Preservation Act,

Environmental Policy Act; and to

conform to Executive Orders governing

use of federal funds. This information is

cleared through the appropriate

enforcing Agency or other executive

Department.

The Agency provides forms and/or

guidelines to assist in the collection and

submission of information. The

information is usually submitted via

hand delivery or U.S. Postal Service to

the appropriate Agency office.

The information is used by the

Agency to determine whether a loan can

be approved, to ensure that the Agency

has adequate security for the loans

financed, to provide for sound

construction and site development work

and to determine that the requirements

of the applicable Acts have been met.

The information is also used to monitor

compliance with the terms and

conditions of the Agency loans and to

monitor the prudent use of federal

funds.

If the information were not collected

and submitted, the Agency would not

have control over the type and quality

of construction and site development

work planned and performed with

federal funds. The Agency would not be

assured that the security provided for

loans is adequate, nor would the Agency

be certain that decent, safe and sanitary

dwelling or other adequate structures

were being provided to rural residents

as required by the different Acts.

Estimate of Burden: Public reporting

burden for this collection of information

is estimated to average 0.138 hours per

response.

Respondents: Individuals or

households, business or other for-profit,

non-profit institutions, and small

businesses or organizations.

Estimated Number of Respondents:

30,000.

Estimated Number of Responses per

Respondent: 1.5.

Estimated Total Annual Burden on

Respondents: 6210 hours.

Copies of this information collection

can be obtained from Renita Bolden,

Regulations and Paperwork

Management Branch, at (202) 690–1766.

Comments

Comments are invited on: (a) Whether

the proposed collection of information