63532 Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 230 / Monday, December 1, 1997 / Notices

comment period of forty-five days will

provide sufficient time for public

consideration of these issues and will

look with disfavor upon requests for

extension of the comment period.

Accordingly, for the above reasons,

the Commission finds that publication

of the CBT’s draft proposed revisions is

in the public interest and will assist the

Commission in its consideration of

these issues. Commenters are invited to

analyze the following issues relating to

the CBT’s draft proposed revisions and

to submit written data, views or

comments relating to the draft proposed

revisions:

1. Would available deliverable

supplies of corn and soybeans be

sufficient ‘‘to tend to prevent or

diminish price manipulation, market

congestion, or the abnormal movement

of such commodity in interstate

commerce,’’ as required by the Act?

2. Would the price differentials for

delivery at non-par locations

appropriately reflect cash market price

differentials for corn or soybeans at such

locations relative to each commodity’s

value at the par delivery point of

Chicago, Illinois?

3. Would the proposed load-out

provisions calling for three barges per

day at Chicago/Burns Harbor and at St.

Louis/East St. Louis/Alton (for

soybeans) and one barge per day at all

other locations conform to commercial

practices?

4. Under the contingency plan for

river obstructions, the maker would be

required to provide the product in

loaded barges cif New Orleans. Would

the reimbursement to makers of delivery

reflect commercial practices? How does

the reimbursement scheme relate to the

locational price differentials for noncontingency conditions?

5. Would the minimum net worth

requirements be necessary to ensure

performance on the corn and soybean

futures contracts? Do they unduly limit

eligibility of firms to become issuers of

shipping certificates?

Issued in Washington, D.C., this 26th day

of November, 1997, by the Commodity

Futures Trading Commission.

Jean A. Webb,

Secretary of the Commission.

[FR Doc. 97–31534 Filed 11–28–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6351–01–P

COMMODITY FUTURES TRADING

COMMISSION

Proposed Amendments to Minneapolis

Grain Exchange Durum Wheat Futures

Contract and an Application for

Designation as a Contract Market in

Durum Wheat Futures Options

AGENCY: Commodity Futures Trading

Commission.

ACTION: Notice of availability of

proposed rule amendments and an

application for contract market

designation.

SUMMARY: The Minneapolis Grain

Exchange (MGE or Exchange) has

proposed amendments to the dormant

durum wheat futures contract, along

with a proposal to reactivate trading in

that futures contract pursuant to the

provisions of Commission Regulation

5.2. In addition, the Exchange submitted

an application for designation as a

contract market in durum wheat futures

options. The proposals were submitted

under the Commission’s 45-day Fast

Track procedures. The Acting Director

of the Division of Economic Analysis

(Division) of the Commission, acting

pursuant to the authority delegated by

Commission Regulation 140.96, has

determined that publication of the

proposals for comment is in the public

interest, will assist the Commission in

considering the views of interested

persons, and is consistent with the

purpose of the Commodity Exchange

Act.

DATES: Comments must be received on

or before December 16, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons should

submit their views and comments to

Jean A. Webb, Secretary, Commodity

Futures Trading Commission, Three

Lafayette Centre, 1155 21st Street, NW

Washington, DC 20581. In addition,

comments may be sent by facsimile

transmission to facsimile number (202)

418–5521, or by electronic mail to

secretary@cftc.gov. Reference should be

made to MGE durum wheat.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Please contact John Bird of the Division

of Economic Analysis, Commodity

Futures Trading Commission, Three

Lafayette Centre, 21st Street NW,

Washington, 20581, telephone (202)

418–5274. Facsimile number: (202) 418–

5527. Electronic mail: jbird@cftc.gov

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The

proposed amendments and the

designation application were submitted

pursuant to the Commission’s Fast

Track procedures for streamlining the

review of futures contract rule

amendments and new contract

approvals (62 FR 10434). Under those

procedures, the proposals, absent any

contrary action by the Commission, may

be deemed approved at the close of

business on January 2, 1998, 45 days

after receipt of the proposals. In view of

the limited review period provided

under the Fast Track procedures, the

Commission has determined to publish

for public comment notice of the

availability of the terms and conditions

for 15 days, rather than 30 days as

provided for proposals submitted under

the regular review procedures.

The amended durum wheat futures

contract would call for the delivery at

par of shipping certificates representing

5,000 bushels of durum wheat meeting

or exceeding specified quality

requirements, including a minimum test

weight of 60 pounds per bushel and a

minimum protein content of 13 percent.

Issuers of the proposed shipping

certificates would be required to meet

certain financial and other

requirements, and must be approved by

the MGE. Upon surrender of a shipping

certificate, the issuer would be required

to load the delivery durum wheat in rail

cars at a location specified by the

certificate issuer, with the issuer being

obligated to pay the railroad freight

costs to a point designated by the issuer

located in the Minneapolis-St. Paul

Switching District. Delivery by truck

would also be permitted under specified

conditions.

Shipping certificate receivers would

be obligated to pay a premium charge of

one-twelfth of one cent per bushel for

each calendar day that the receiver

holds the certificates.

Trading would be conducted in the

contract months of March, May, July,

September, and December. Prices would

be quoted in dollars and cents per

bushel. The minimum price fluctuation

would be one-quarter (1⁄4) cent per

bushel. A maximum daily price

fluctuation limit of 20 cents per bushel

would be applicable to trading at all

times in each contract month, except

that such price limit would not be

applicable to expiring contract months

commencing on the first business day of

such months.

Delivery of shipping certificates could

be made on any business day of the

contract month. Trading in an expiring

contract month would end on the

business day immediately preceding the

last seven business day of that month.

Durum wheat options would trade in

the same months as the futures contract.

The last trading day for expiring option

contract months would be the Friday

that precedes the first notice day of the

underlying futures contract month by at

least five business days. The options for
Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 230 / Monday, December 1, 1997 / Notices 63533

such months would expire at 10:00 a.m.

on the first Saturday following the last

trading day. Thus, delivery on the

futures contract would not be made

until after the corresponding option had

expired.

Copies of the proposed amendments

and terms and conditions will be

available for inspection at the Office of

the Secretariat, Commodity Futures

Trading Commission, Three Lafayette

Centre, 1155 21st Street NW,

Washington, DC 20581. Copies can be

obtained through the Office of the

Secretariat by mail at the above address,

by phone at (202) 418–5100, or via the

internet on the CFTC website at

www.cftc.gov under ‘‘What’s Pending.’’

Other materials submitted by the MGE

in support of the proposals may be

available upon request pursuant to the

Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C.

552) and the Commission’s regulations

thereunder (17 CFR Part 145 (1987)),

except to the extent they are entitled to

confidential treatment as set forth in 17

CFR 145.5 and 145.9. Requests for

copies of such materials should be made

to the FOI, Privacy and Sunshine Act

Compliance Staff of the Office of

Secretariat at the Commission’s

headquarters in accordance with 17 CFR

145.7 and 145.8.

Any person interested in submitting

written data, views, or arguments on the

proposals, or with respect to other

materials submitted by the MGE, should

send such comments to Jean A. Webb,

Secretary, Commodity Futures Trading

Commission, Three Lafayette Centre,

1155 21st Street NW, Washington, DC

20581 by the specified date.

Issued in Washington, DC, on November

24, 1997.

John R. Mielke,

Acting Director.

[FR Doc. 97–31318 Filed 11–28–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6351–01–P

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Office of the Secretary

National Defense Panel Meeting

AGENCY: National Defense Panel, DoD.

ACTION: Notice.

SUMMARY: This notice sets forth the

schedule and summary agenda for the

meeting of the National Defense Panel

on December 8 & 9, 1997. In accordance

with Section 10(d) of the Federal

Advisory Committee Act, Public Law

No. 92–463, as amended [5 U.S.C. App.

II, (1982)], it has been determined that

this National Defense Panel meeting

concerns matters listed in 5 U.S.C.

552b(c)(1)(1982), and that accordingly

this meeting will be closed to the public

from 0900–1700, December 8 & 9, 1997

in order for the Panel to discuss

classified material.

DATES: December 8 & 9, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Suite 532, 1931 Jefferson

Davis Hwy, Arlington, VA.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The

National Defense Panel was established

on January 14, 1997 in accordance with

the Military Force Structure Review Act

of 1996, Public Law 104–201. The

mission of the National Defense Panel is

to provide the Secretary of Defense and

Congress with an independent, nonpartisan assessment of the Secretary’s

Quadrennial Defense Review and an

Alternative Force Structure Analysis.

This analysis will explore innovative

ways to meet the national security

challenges of the twenty-first century.

PROPOSED SCHEDULE AND AGENDA: The

National Defense Panel will meet in

closed session from 0900–1700 on

December 8 & 9. During the closed

sessions on December 8th & 9th from

0900–1700 the Panel will meet in

Executive Session to write and review

the NDP Report at the Crystal Mall 3

office.

The determination to close the

meeting is based on the consideration

that it is expected that discussion will

involve classified matters of national

security concern throughout.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: Please

contact the National Defense Panel at

(703) 602–4175/6.

Dated: November 21, 1997.

Patricia L. Toppings,

Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison

Officer, Department of Defense.

[FR Doc. 97–31325 Filed 11–28–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 5000–04–M

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Office of the Secretary

National Defense Panel Meeting

AGENCY: National Defense Panel, DoD.

ACTION: Notice.

SUMMARY: This notice sets forth the

schedule and summary agenda for the

meeting of the National Defense Panel

on November 24 & 25, 1997. In

accordance with Section 10(d) of the

Federal Advisory Committee Act, Public

Law 92–463, as amended [5 U.S.C. App.

II, (1982)], it has been determined that

this National Defense Panel meeting

concerns matters listed in 5 U.S.C.

552b(c)(1) (1982), and that accordingly

this meeting will be closed to the public

from 0900–1700, November 24 & 25,

1997 in order for the Panel to discuss

classified material.

DATES: November 24 & 25, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Suite 532, 1931 Jefferson

Davis Hwy, Arlington VA.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The

National Defense Panel was established

on January 14, 1997 in accordance with

the Military Force Structure Review Act

of 1996, Public Law 104–201. The

mission of the National Defense Panel is

to provide the Secretary of Defense and

Congress with an independent, nonpartisan assessment of the Secretary’s

Quadrennial Defense Review and an

Alternative Force Structure Analysis.

This analysis will explore innovative

ways to meet the national security

challenges of the twenty-first century.

PROPOSED SCHEDULE AND AGENDA: The

National Defense Panel will meet in

closed session from 0900–1700 on

November 24 & 25. During the closed

sessions on November 24th & 25th from

0900–1700 the Panel will meet in

Executive Session to write and review

the NDP Report at the Crystal Mall 3

office.

The determination to close the

meeting is based on the consideration

that it is expected that discussion will

involve classified matters of national

security concern throughout.

This Notification also is written

verification that the Panel was unable to

provide notice of this meeting 15 days

prior to the date of the meeting due to

scheduling conflicts; finding it

necessary to change meeting dates to

ensure that all Panel members be in

attendance.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Please contact the National Defense

Panel at (703) 602–4175/6.

Dated: November 21, 1997.

Patricia L. Toppings,

Alternate OSD Federal Register, Liaison

Officer Department of Defense.

[FR Doc. 97–31326 Filed 11–28–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 5000–04–M

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Environmental Management SiteSpecific Advisory Board, Hanford Site

AGENCY: Department of Energy.

ACTION: Notice of open meeting.

SUMMARY: Pursuant to the provisions of

the Federal Advisory Committee Act

(Public Law 92–463, 86 Stat. 770) notice

is hereby given of the following

Advisory Committee meeting:

Environmental Management Site-