64402 Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 234 / Friday, December 5, 1997 / Notices

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

Request for Comments on the National

Park Service Franchise Fee

Determination Guideline

SUMMARY: The National Park Service

(NPS) is considering revising that

portion of its concession management

guideline (NPS–48) that concerns the

franchise fees to be charged NPS

concessioners. This portion of NPS–48

(Chapter 24, Section D) was adopted on

December 31, 1986, after receipt and

consideration of public comment

solicited by an August 7, 1985 Federal

Register notice. It was amended on July

20, 1995, after consideration of public

comment received in response to a

January 17, 1995, Federal Register

notice. It was clarified on August 11,

1997, after consideration of public

comment received in response to a May

28, 1997, Federal Register notice.

NPS invites further public comment

on Section D, Chapter 24, or NPS–48 in

order to assist it in considering possible

revisions to the document. Comments

may suggest, among other matters,

specific proposed changes to Section D

as it now exists or alternative methods,

in concept or in detail, for dealing with

concession contract franchise fees. All

written comments received will be duly

considered by NPS.

COMMENT DATE: Comments on this notice

must be received no later than January

5, 1998 to be assured of consideration.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NPS notes

that NPS–48 is an agency staff manual

and as such is not required to be

published in the Federal Register

pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 552 nor

promulgated as a rule after public notice

and comment pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553.

In addition, NPS notes that the

rulemaking requirements of 5 U.S.C.

553, even if otherwise applicable to an

agency staff manual such as NPS–48, are

expressly not applicable to matters

relating to agency management or

personnel or to public property, loans,

grants, benefits or contracts. NPS–48, as

a matter concerning the administration

of public property and contracts, falls

within this exemption to the extent it

may be considered a rule or regulation

within the meaning of 5 U.S.C. 553.

Nonetheless, NPS, as a matter of policy,

seeks further public comment on

Section D of Chapter 24, NPS–48, for the

reasons stated above.

Dated: November 14, 1997.

Robert K. Yearout,

Concession Program Manager.

[FR Doc. 97–31890 Filed 12–4–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310–70–M

INTERNATIONAL TRADE

COMMISSION

[Investigation 332–387]

North American Free Trade

Agreement: Probable Economic Effect

on U.S. Industries and Consumers of

Accelerated Elimination of U.S. Tariffs

on Certain Articles From Mexico,

Round Two

AGENCY: United States International

Trade Commission.

ACTION: Amendment to scope of the

investigation.

EFFECTIVE DATE: December 1, 1997.

SUMMARY: Following receipt on

November 25, 1997, of a request from

the Office of the United States Trade

Representative (USTR), the Commission

amended the scope of its investigation

No. 332–387, North American Free

Trade Agreement: Probable Economic

Effect on U.S. Industries and Consumers

of Accelerated Elimination of U.S.

Tariffs on Certain Articles from Mexico,

Round Two, to add three subheadings of

the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the

United States (HTS), 2918.90.05,

2918.90.43, and 2918.90.47, to the list of

articles for which the USTR is seeking

the Commission’s advice. The purpose

of the investigation, conducted under

section 332(g) of the Tariff Act of 1930

(19 U.S.C. 1332(g)), is to provide the

President, with respect to specified

articles, of the Commission’s judgment

as to the probable economic effect of the

immediate elimination of the U.S. tariff

under the North American Free Trade

Agreement (NAFTA) on domestic

industries producing like or directly

competitive articles and on consumers.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

General information may be obtained

from the project leader, Carl Seastrum

(202–205–3493), Minerals, Metals,

Machinery, and Miscellaneous

Manufactures Division, Office of

Industries, U.S. International Trade

Commission, Washington, DC 20436.

For information on the products listed

in this expanded scope notice, contact

Elizabeth Howlett (202–205–3365) of

the Energy, Chemicals, and Textiles

Division of the Office of Industries. For

information on the legal aspects of this

investigation, contact William Gearhart

of the Office of the General Counsel

(202–205–3091). The media should

contact Margaret O’Laughlin, Office of

External Relations (202–205–1819).

Hearing impaired individuals are

advised that information on this matter

can be obtained by contacting the TDD

terminal on (202) 205–1810.

Background

The Commission’s notice of

institution of the investigation and the

scheduling of a public hearing was

published in the Federal Register of

November 6, 1997 (62 FR 60100). As

stated by the USTR in her letter of

October 20, 1997, requesting the

investigation, the Governments of the

United States, Mexico, and Canada have

agreed to enter into consultations to

consider accelerated elimination of the

import duty on certain articles. The

accelerated elimination of tariffs in this

second round of negotiations between

the United States and Mexico will be

pursued on a reciprocal basis in

response to petitions submitted to the

Governments of Canada, Mexico, and

the United States. The USTR included

with its original request a list of

products to be considered for immediate

reciprocal elimination of tariffs. The

Commission will submit its report no

later than February 17, 1998. USTR has

indicated that it may classify all or part

of the Commission’s report as

Confidential.

Public Hearing

A public hearing will be held on

January 7, 1998, and continuing, if

necessary on January 8, 1998, as

announced in the notice published on

November 6, 1997. Persons wishing to

appear at the public hearing to offer

testimony concerning the probable

economic effect of the immediate

elimination of the U.S. tariffs on HTS

subheadings 2918.90.05, 2918.90.43,

and 2918.90.47 should file a request to

testify with the Secretary, United States

International Trade Commission, 500 E

Street SW, Washington, DC 20436, not

later than 5:15 p.m., December 18, 1997.

Any prehearing briefs (original and 14

copies) should be filed not later than

5:15 p.m., December 19, 1997. For all

other articles subject to this

investigation, all the dates announced in

the notice published on November 6,

1997, will remain the same.

Written Submissions

In lieu of or in addition to

participating in the hearing, interested

parties are invited to submit written

statements concerning the investigation.

Written statements should be submitted

by the close of business on January 14,

1998. Commercial or financial

information that a submitter desires the