65090 Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 237 / Wednesday, December 10, 1997 / Notices

Number of

respondents

Number of

responses

per respondent

frequency

Total annual

responses

Hours per

response Total hours

Applications ............................................................................................... 280 1 280 40 11,200

Workplan Development ............................................................................ 90 1 90 8 720

Quarterly Reports (including final report) ................................................. 90 4 360 4 1,440

Recordkeeping .......................................................................................... 90 12 1080 1 1,080

Total ............................................................................................... .................... .................... .................... .................... 14,440

Status of the proposed information

collection: Publication of the Notice of

Funding Availability is anticipated in

January 1998. Awards are expected to be

made by September 1998.

Authority: Section 3506 of the Paperwork

Reduction Act of 1995, 44 U.S.C. Chapter 35,

as amended.

Dated: December 2, 1997.

Saul N. Ramirez, Jr.,

Assistant Secretary for Community Planning

and Development.

[FR Doc. 97–32248 Filed 12–9–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4210–29–M

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Geological Survey

Species at Risk Program

AGENCY: Biological Resources Division,

U.S. Geological Survey; Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

SUMMARY: The Biological Resources

Division (BRD) is announcing the

availability of funds through the Species

at Risk Program (SAR). The basic

purpose of SAR is to fund short-term

research and assessment projects to

generate information that allows

development of conservation

agreements, action plans, and

management alternatives that provide

for the protection of flora and fauna and

their habitats and thereby reduce the

need for listing species as threatened or

endangered.

DATES: Information packages describing

requirements for participation in this

program will be available upon request

until December 31, 1997. Pre-proposals

are due to the address below by January

2, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Parties interested in this

program should request an information

package from: Species at Risk Program,

12201 Sunrise Valley Drive, MS 300,

Reston, VA 20192 ATTN: Dr. Nancy

Milton.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Dr. Nancy Milton, Species at Risk

Program, 12201 Sunrise Valley Drive,

MS 300, Reston, VA 20192,

nancylmlmilton@nbs.gov; or 703–

648–4074.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

A. Purpose

Species at Risk (SAR) is a program

that develops scientific information on

the status of sensitive species or group

of species, particularly with respect to

the relationship of species abundance

and distribution to habitat conditions

and stresses. The basic purpose of SAR

is to generate information that allows

the development of conservation

agreements, action plans, management

alternatives, etc., that provide for the

protection of species and their habitats

and thereby preclude the need for

listing species as threatened or

endangered.

The initiative provides an opportunity

for scientists to participate through

survey and research activities. Projects

are specifically intended to be of short

duration and should seek to optimize

partnerships with Federal agencies,

states, universities, and the private

sector. Successful SAR projects are often

conducted by investigators who have

identified key, small but critical gaps in

our biological knowledge. Projects then

fill these gaps and provide resource

managers, regulators, and private

landowners with usable information

from which prudent resource

management decisions can be made.

This initiative is designed to develop

strategies that will assure long-term,

population stability for targeted species

and reduce the likelihood they will have

to be dealt with through the regulatory

processes. Projects should fit into one of

two categories:

1. Projects should focus on species or

groups of species for which their is

concern but limited information on their

abundance, distribution, and/or status.

Projects should identify or develop new

information that will reduce the need

for a formal listing under the

Endangered Species Act. Regional

offices of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife

Service have provided a list of species

of particular concern. Projects should

focus on these species. Principal

investigators are encouraged to

communicate directly with USFWS

regional contacts before project

submission.

or

2. Projects submitted should focus on

providing critical habitat information

and should demonstrate how study

results will strongly support

management and conservation

applications. Projects that focus on

multiple species of concern within the

same critical habitat or ecosystem are

especially encouraged. Multiple species

might include both those having formal

listed status with USFWS and those not

formally listed. Research efforts should

provide information needed by Federal

agencies to meet requirements for

recovery plan implementation, multispecies conservation plans, habitat

reserve agreements, or other

conservation-oriented plans.

In addition, projects funded in the FY

1998 cycle will be expected to focus in

geographic areas of particular current

importance to the DOI and its bureaus.

Those areas of concern are: Arizona and

New Mexico (in support of the

Secretary’s Southwestern Initiative); San

Francisco Bay Delta (also a Secretarial

initiative); southeastern aquatic habitats;

California’s Majave Desert and Central

Valley; South Florida; Colorado plateau;

and Hawaii.

This program is conducted in

furtherance of the Secretary’s

obligations under the Fish and Wildlife

Act of 1956 (16 USC 742a–742j, as

amended) and the Fish and Wildlife

Coordination Act (16 U.S.C. 661–667e,

as amended).

B. Background

The Biological Resources Division

(BRD) of the U.S. Geological Survey

gathers and analyzes biological

information and services as an

information clearinghouse, providing

broad access to the widest possible

range of factual data on the status and

trends of the Nation’s biota and the

potential effects of land management

choices. This information serves public

and private landowners who are
Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 237 / Wednesday, December 10, 1997 / Notices 65091

interested in sustaining biological

resources. It also provides

understanding to help avoid conflicts

that can both impede development and

degrade natural habitats.

The Species at Risk Program will

develop scientific information and

alternatives to assist Federal, State, and

other land managers in their decisions

regarding the protection of sensitive

species and habitats.

C. Availability of Funds

Through this program, pre-proposals

are invited for funding in Fiscal Year

1998. Total funding anticipated for the

fiscal year is approximately $375,000.

Monies will be provided to successful

applicants on a competitive basis. There

is no minimum project cost; the

maximum project cost will be $80,000.

D. Eligibility Requirements

Under the terms specified in the

information package, pre-proposals will

be accepted from State agencies, private

and industry groups, academic

institutions, and Native American

Tribes and Nations. Pre-proposals will

be evaluated in light of their scientific

merit, partnership opportunities,

potential for providing useful

information to resource managers,

potential for conservation agreements,

possibilities for cost sharing, and

demonstration of successful completion

within 18 months of date of initiation.

Possible selectees will then be invited to

submit a full proposal for consideration

of funding.

E. Application Process

Parties interested in participating in

this program should request an

information package that will include

detailed application forms, Federal

Assistance Forms (Standard Form 424,

etc), proposal format requirements, etc.,

from: Mail: Species at Risk Program,

12201 Sunrise Valley Drive, MS 300,

Reston, VA 20192, ATTN: Dr. Nancy

Milton, or E-Mail:

nancylmlmilton@nbs.gov, or call:

(703) 648–4074.

F. Dates

Notice of interest in this program

must be received by December 31, 1997.

W. James Fleming,

Acting Chief Biologist, Biological Resources

Division.

[FR Doc. 97–32314 Filed 12–9–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310–31–M

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[AZ–930–1430–01; AZA 13411, AZA 13431]

Public Land Order No. 7300;

Revocation of Two Secretarial Orders

Dated November 18, 1904, and April 26,

1916; Arizona

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management,

Interior.

ACTION: Public land order.

SUMMARY: This order revokes, in their

entirety, two Secretarial orders as they

affect 5,922.44 acres of public lands

withdrawn for the Bureau of

Reclamation’s Little Colorado Project.

The project has not been developed and

there is no further need for the lands to

be withdrawn. The lands are closed to

surface entry and mining and will not

be opened at this time. The lands have

been and will continue to be open to

mineral leasing.

EFFECTIVE DATE: December 10, 1997.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cliff

Yardley, BLM Arizona State Office, 222

North Central Ave., Phoenix, Arizona

85004–2203, 602–417–9437.

By virtue of the authority vested in

the Secretary of the Interior by Section

204 of the Federal Land Policy and

Management Act of 1976, 43 U.S.C.

1714 (1994), it is ordered as follows:

1. The Secretarial orders dated

November 18, 1904, and April 26, 1916,

which withdrew public lands for the

Bureau of Reclamation’s Little Colorado

River Project, are hereby revoked in

their entirety.The lands involved

aggregate 5,922.44 acres in Coconino

and Navajo Counties.

2. The lands will not be opened until

an analysis is completed to determine if

any of the lands need special

designation and to identify any land

exchange potential.

Dated: November 26, 1997.

Bob Armstrong,

Assistant Secretary of the Interior.

[FR Doc. 97–32318 Filed 12–9–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310–32–P

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[OR–958–0777–63; GP7–0018; OR–19136]

Public Land Order No. 7301;

Revocation of Secretarial Order Dated

June 18, 1924; Oregon

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management,

Interior.

ACTION: Public Land Order.

SUMMARY: This order revokes in its

entirety a Secretarial order which

withdrew 16,285 acres of National

Forest System lands and 20 acres of

public lands for the Bureau of Land

Management’s Powersite Classification

No. 78. The lands are no longer needed

for the purpose for which they were

withdrawn. The lands will remain

closed to surface entry and mining by

other overlapping withdrawals, and a

portion of the lands have been and will

remain open to mineral leasing.

EFFECTIVE DATE: January 9, 1998.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Betty McCarthy, BLM Oregon/

Washington State Office, P.O. Box 2965,

Portland, Oregon 97208–2965, 503–952–

6155.

By virtue of the authority vested in

the Secretary of the Interior by Section

204 of the Federal Land Policy and

Management Act of 1976, 43 U.S.C.

1714 (1994), it is ordered as follows:

1. The Secretarial Order dated June

18, 1924, which established Powersite

Classification No. 78, is hereby revoked

in its entirety:

Willamette Meridian

Public Lands

T. 5 S., R. 49 E.,

Protraction block no. 45 (formerly

identified as sec. 30).

Wallowa and Whitman National Forests

T. 5 N., R. 47 E., (unsurveyed),

Sec. 1, all unsurveyed lands lying within 1⁄4 mile of the Snake River.

T. 4 N., R. 48 E.,

Sec. 2, lot 1;

Sec. 3, lots 3, 4, 5, and 6;

Sec. 11, lots 1, 2, 3, and 4;

Sec. 13, lot 1;

Sec. 14, lots 1, 2, 3, and 4.

T. 5 N., R. 48 E., (unsurveyed),

Secs. 6, 7, 18, 19, 20, 28, 29, 33, and 34,

all unsurveyed lands lying within 1⁄4

mile of the Snake River.

T. 4 N., R. 49 E.,

Sec. 16, lots 1 to 5, inclusive, and

SE1⁄4SW1⁄4;

Sec. 17, lots 1, 2, 3, and 4;

Sec. 18, lot 3 and that portion of Mineral

Survey No. 469 formerly known as lots

1, 2, and 3;

Sec. 19, lots 1 and 2;

Sec. 27, lots 1, 2, and 3, and SE1⁄4NW1⁄4;

Sec. 35, lots 1, 2, 3, and 4, SE1⁄4NW1⁄4, and

NW1⁄4SE1⁄4.

T. 1 N., R. 50 E., (unsurveyed),

Secs. 24, 25, 26, 35, and 36, all unsurveyed

lands lying within 1⁄4 mile of the Snake

River.

T. 2 N., R. 50 E.,

Sec. 1, lots 1 and 4;

Sec. 12, all lands lying within 1⁄4 mile of

the Snake River.

T. 3 N., R. 50 E.,

Sec. 4, lots 1, 2, 3, and 4;

Sec. 10, lot 2, SW1⁄4NE1⁄4, and NE1⁄4SE1⁄4;

Sec. 11, lots 1, 2, and 3, and S1⁄2SW1⁄4;