Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 235 / Monday, December 8, 1997 / Notices 64595

SUMMARY: This Notice invites interested

parties to attend a public meeting and/

or to submit written comments on the

Department’s administration of FHIP

funding, including criteria and/or

incentives to be included in the FY 1998

FHIP Notice of Funding Availability

(NOFA) for activities that assist the

Department in its efforts to double

enforcement actions under the Fair

Housing Act.

DATES: The public meeting will be held

on December 15, 1997 at 2:00 p.m. The

written comment Due Date is December

19, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Persons interested in

attending the public meeting are invited

to attend in Room 10233, Department of

Housing and Urban Development, 451

Seventh Street, S.W., Washington, D.C.

20410. Persons interested in submitting

written comments are invited to submit

comments regarding this Notice to the

Rules Docket Clerk, Office of General

Counsel, Room 10278, Department of

Housing and Urban Development, 451

Seventh Street, S.W., Washington, D.C.

20410. Communications should refer to

the above docket number and title. A

copy of each communication submitted

will be available for public inspection

and copying between 7:30 a.m. and 5:30

p.m. weekdays at the above address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Maxine B. Cunningham, Director, Office

of Fair Housing Initiatives and

Voluntary Programs, Room 5234, 451

Seventh Street, S.W., Washington, D.C.

20410–2000; telephone number (202)

708–0800 (this is not a toll free number).

Persons who use a text telephone (TTY)

may call 1–800–290–1617.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Fair

Housing Initiatives Program is an

essential component in the enforcement

of the Fair Housing Act and in the

Department’s commitment to doubling

its enforcement actions. In anticipation

of the next round of funding under the

FHIP, the Department desires to provide

an opportunity for comment from prior

grantees and applicants, potential

applicants and any other interested

parties, on the administration of FHIP

funding, application procedures for

funding in general, and on the content

of FHIP NOFAs in particular. The

Department is also interested in

suggestions regarding criteria and/or

incentives to include in the FY 1998

FHIP Notice of Funding Availability

(NOFA) to assist the Department in its

efforts to double enforcement actions

under the Fair Housing Act. In addition

to suggestions, the Department

welcomes comments on the merits of:

bonus points for activities that result in

enforcement actions by HUD;

requirements that specific types of cases

be filed with HUD; and incentives for

other cooperative activities that further

the Department’s enforcement program.

Enforcement actions are defined as

issuance of a charge by HUD or referral

by HUD to the Department of Justice for

enforcement. The Department will

consider the comments received in

response to this Notice when

formulating plans for the disposition of

funds appropriated for Fiscal Year 1998.

Dated: December 3, 1997.

Eva M. Plaza,

Assistant Secretary for Fair Housing and

Equal Opportunity.

[FR Doc. 97–32151 Filed 12–4–97; 11:12 am]

BILLING CODE 4210–28–P

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Environmental Statements;

Availability, etc.: National Bison Range

Complex, MT: Comprehensive

Conservation Plan

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service.

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare a

comprehensive conservation plan.

SUMMARY: This notice advises that the

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service)

intends to gather information necessary

to prepare a comprehensive

conservation plan (CCP) and associated

environmental document for the

National Bison Range Complex in

northwestern Montana. The Service is

furnishing this notice in compliance

with Service CCP policy to advise other

agencies and the public of its intentions

and to obtain suggestions and

information on the scope of issues to be

considered in the planning process.

DATES: Written comments should be

received by January 7, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Comments and requests for

more information to Project Leader,

Attention Planning Team, National

Bison Range Complex, 132 Bison Range

Road, Moiese, Montana 59824.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Dave Wiseman, Refuge Manager 406–

644–2211.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The

Service has initiated Comprehensive

Conservation Planning for the National

Bison Range Complex. The Complex

includes the National Bison Range;

Ninepipe, Pablo, and Swan River

National Wildlife Refuges; and the

Northwest Montana Wetland

Management District. Each National

Wildlife Refuge has purposes for which

it was established. Those purposes are

used to develop and prioritize

management goals and objectives within

the National Wildlife Refuge System

mission, and to guide which public uses

occur on the refuge. The planning

process is a way for the Service and the

public to evaluate management goals

and objectives for the best possible

conservation efforts of this important

wildlife habitat, while providing for

wildlife-dependent recreation

opportunities that are compatible with

each national wildlife refuge’s

establishing purposes.

In 1908, the first purchase of land for

the exclusive protection of wildlife

occurred when Congress appropriated

money for the establishment of the

National Bison Range ‘‘for a permanent

national bison range for the herd of

bison.’’ (45 Stat. 267–8) and

subsequently in 1921 ‘‘as refuges and

breeding grounds for birds,’’ (Executive

Order 3596). Ninepipe and Pablo

National Wildlife Refuges were

established as easement refuges in 1921

‘‘as a refuge and breeding ground for

native birds,’’ (Executive Order 3503-

Ninepipe, Executive Order 3504—

Pablo). The Tribes have the right to use

these for all purposes consistent with

the permanent refuge easements. Swan

River National Wildlife Refuge was

established in 1973 ‘‘for use as an

inviolate sanctuary, or for any other

management purpose, for migratory

birds,’’ (Migratory Bird Conservation

Act, 16 U.S.C. 715–715r). Finally, the

Northwest Montana Wetland

Management District are lands acquired

‘‘as Waterfowl Production Areas’’

subject to ‘‘all of the provisions of such

Act (Migratory Bird Conservation Act)

* * * except the inviolate sanctuary

provisions,’’ (Migratory Bird Hunting

and Conservation Stamp Act, 16 U.S.C.

718).

The National Bison Range Complex is

an integral part of the community in

northwestern Montana. The National

Bison Range, Ninepipel and Pablo

National Wildlife Refuges, and that

portion of the Wetland Management

District in Lake County, Montana lie

within the exterior boundaries of the

Flathead Indian Reservation of the

Confederated Salish and Kootenai

Tribes. The units of the Complex that

are not within the reservation include

the Swan River National Wildlife Refuge

and that portion of the Wetland

Management District in Flathead

County, Montana. The Comprehensive

Conservation Plan will define how the

Complex is managed, not who manages

it. Therefore, this planning effort is

separate from the Confederated Salish

and Kootenai Tribes’ compacting

requests for management authority. The

Service and the Tribes have discussed

working together to develop the CCP.
64596 Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 235 / Monday, December 8, 1997 / Notices

The Service may contract with the

Tribes for resource personnel or services

as needed. The Service will conduct the

planning process providing the Tribes,

as well as other governments, agencies,

organizations, and the public with an

opportunity to participate in the scoping

and public comment process.

The Service is requesting input for

concerns, ideas, and suggestions for the

future management of the National

Bison Range Complex. Anyone

interested in providing input is invited

to respond to the following three

questions.

(1) What makes the National Bison

Range Complex (or any specific unit)

special or unique for you?

(2) What problems or issues do you

want to see addressed in the

Comprehensive Conservation Plan?

(3) What improvements would you

recommend for the National Bison

Range Complex (or any specific unit)?

The Service has provided the above

questions for your optional use. There is

no requirement to provide information

to the Service. The Planning Team

developed these questions to facilitate

finding out more information about

individual issues and ideas concerning

the National Bison Range Complex.

Comments received by the Planning

Team will be used as part of the

planning process, individual comments

will not be reference in our reports or

directly responded to.

There will also be an opportunity to

provide input at open houses scheduled

for late January 1998 to scope issues and

concerns (schedule can be obtained

from the National Bison Range at above

address). All information provided

voluntarily by mail, phone, or at public

meetings becomes part of the official

public record (e.g., names, addresses,

letters of comment, input recorded

during meetings). If requested under the

Freedom of Information Act by a private

citizen or organization, the Service may

provide copies of such information.

The environmental review of this

project will be conducted in accordance

with the requirements of the National

Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as

amended (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq), NEPA

Regulations (40 CFR 1500–1508), other

appropriate Federal laws and

regulations, Executive Order 12996, the

National Wildlife Refuge System

Improvement Act of 1997, and Service

policies and procedures for compliance

with those regulations.

We estimate that the draft

environmental document will be

available for review in June 1999.

Dated: November 26, 1997.

Ralph O. Morgenweck,

Regional Director, Denver, Colorado.

[FR Doc. 97–32007 Filed 12–5–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310–55–M

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Geological Survey

Technology Transfer Act of 1986

AGENCY: United States Geological

Survey, Interior.

ACTION: Notice to accept contribution

from private sources.

SUMMARY: The United States Geological

Survey (USGS) is accepting a $25,000

contribution per year for two years from

Amoco Overseas Exploration Company

to support the World Energy Project.

ADDRESSES: If any other parties are

interested in making contributions for

the same or similar purposes, please

contact Mr. Vito Nuccio of the U.S.

Geological Survey, Central Region

Energy Resources Team, Mail Stop 939,

Denver Colorado 80225–0046; telephone

(303) 236–1654; e-mail

vnuccio@usgs.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This

notice is to meet the USGS requirement

stipulated in the Survey Manual.

Dated: November 21, 1997.

P. Patrick Leahy,

Chief, Geologic Division.

[FR Doc. 97–32000 Filed 12–5–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4210–31–M

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[AK–910–0777–74]

Committees, Establishment, Renewal,

Termination, etc: Alaska Resource

Advisory Council; Nominations

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management,

Interior.

ACTION: Call for Nominations for Alaska

Resource Advisory Council.

SUMMARY: The Bureau of Land

Management, Alaska State Office, is

soliciting nominations for the Alaska

Resource Advisory Council. The council

provides advice and recommendations

to BLM on land use planning and

management of 90 million acres of

public lands in Alaska. Public

nominations will be considered for 30

days after the publication date of this

notice.

The Federal Land Policy and

Management Act (FLPMA) directs the

Secretary of the Interior to involve the

public in planning and issues related to

management of lands administered by

BLM. Section 309 of FLPMA directs the

Secretary to select 10—15 member

citizen-based advisory councils as

established and authorized under the

Federal Advisory Committee Act.

Council members represent the various

interests concerned with the

management of the public lands in

Alaska. These include three categories:

• Category One—Representatives of

energy and mining development, timber

industry, off-road vehicle use and

developed recreation.

• Category Two—Representatives of

environmental and resource

conservation organizations and

archaeological or historic interests.

• Category Three—Representatives of

state and local government, Alaska

Natives, academicians involved in

natural sciences, and the public-at-large.

BLM is currently seeking nominations

to fill vacancies in categories one and

two.

Individuals may nominate themselves

or others. Nominees must be residents

of the State of Alaska, and will be

evaluated on the basis of education,

training, experience of the issues, and

knowledge of Alaska’s public lands.

Nominees should have a demonstrated

commitment to collaborative resource

decision making. All nominations must

be accompanied by letters of reference

from represented interests or

organizations and a completed

nomination form.

ADDRESSES: To request a nomination

package, contact External Affairs,

Bureau of Land Management, 222 W.

7th Avenue, #13, Anchorage, AK 99513–

7599.

DATES: All nominations should be

received on or before January 7, 1998.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Teresa McPherson, Bureau of Land

Management, Alaska State Office, (907)

271–5555.

Dated: November 24, 1997.

Tom Allen,

State Director.

[FR Doc. 97–32005 Filed 12–5–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310–JA–P