[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 243 (Thursday, December 18, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Page 66386]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-33069]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Reclamation


Prospective Grant of Exclusive Patent Licenses

AGENCY: Bureau of Reclamation, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: This notice is issued in accordance with 35 U.S.C. 209(c)(1) 
and 37 CFR 404.7(a)(1)(I). The Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) is 
contemplating the granting of an exclusive license in the United States 
to practice the invention embodied in U.S. Patent Number 4,806.264, 
titled ``Method of Selectively Removing Selenium Ions From an Aqueous 
Solution''. The exclusive license is to be granted to Rust 
Environmental & Infrastructure Inc., having a place of business in Salt 
Lake City, Utah. The patent rights in this invention has been assigned 
to the United States of America.
    The prospective exclusive license will be royalty-bearing and will 
comply with the terms and conditions of 35 U.S.C. 209 and 37 CFR 404.7. 
While the primary purpose of this notice is to announce Reclamation's 
intent to grant an exclusive license to practice the patent listed 
above, it also serves to publish the availability of this patent for 
licensing in accordance with law. The prospectus license may be granted 
unless Reclamation receives written evidence and argument which 
establish that the grant of the license would not be consistent with 
the requirements of 35 U.S.C. 209 and 37 CFR 404.7.

DATES: Written evidence and arguments against granting the prospective 
license must be received by March 18, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Inquiries, comments, and other materials relating to the 
contemplated license may be submitted to Donald E. Ralston, Bureau of 
Reclamation, Research and Technology Transfer, MS-7621, 1849 C Street, 
NW., Washington, DC 20240.
    A copy of the above-identified patent may be purchased from the 
NTIS Sales Desk by telephoning 1-800-553-NTIS or by writing NTIS at 
5285 Port Royal Road, Springfield, VA 22161.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Donald E. Ralston by telephone at (202) 208-5671.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The invention relates to removal techniques 
of selenium from water. The patent, a method of selectivity removing 
selenium ions from an aqueous solution containing selenium ions, 
comprises contacting the solution with an amount of ferrous ion 
effective to reduce the selenium ions to elemental selenium. The 
contacting is preferably conducted at a pH of about 9 and the ferrous 
ions are preferably provided in situ in the form of ferrous hydroxide. 
The method may further comprise removing ferric oxides to which the 
ferrous ions are oxidized, these ferric oxides containing the elemental 
selenium produced by the reduction of the selenium ions, and separating 
the ferric oxides from the elemental selenium by adding a strong acid 
thereto.
    Properly filed competing applications received by Reclamation in 
response to this notice will be considered as objections to the grant 
of the contemplated license.

    Dated: December 1, 1997.
Stanley L. Ponce,
Director, Research and Technology Transfer.
[FR Doc. 97-33069 Filed 12-17-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-94-M