Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 240 / Monday, December 15, 1997 / Notices 65687

Dated: December 9, 1997.

Eve M. Bither,

Executive Director.

[FR Doc. 97–32598 Filed 12–12–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4000–01–M

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Office of Energy Research; Energy

Research Financial Assistance

Program Notice 98–06; Plasma Physics

Junior Faculty Development Program

AGENCY: U.S. Department of Energy

(DOE).

ACTION: Notice inviting grant

applications.

SUMMARY: The Office of Fusion Energy

Sciences (OFES) of the Office of Energy

Research (OER), U.S. Department of

Energy hereby announces its interest in

receiving grant applications for support

under its Plasma Physics Junior Faculty

Development Program. Applications

should be from tenure-track faculty

investigators who are currently involved

in experimental or theoretical plasma

physics research and should be

submitted through a U.S. academic

institution. The purpose of this program

is to support the development of the

individual research programs of

exceptionally talented scientists and

engineers early in their careers.

DATES: To permit timely consideration

for awards in FY 1998, formal

applications in response to this notice

should be received on or before March

4, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Completed formal

applications referencing Program Notice

98–06 should be forwarded to: U.S.

Department of Energy, Office of Energy

Research, Grants and Contracts

Division, ER–64, 19901 Germantown

Road, Germantown, Maryland 20874–

1290, ATTN: Program Notice 98–06.

The above address must also be used

when submitting applications by U.S.

Postal Service Express, and commercial

mail delivery service or when hand

carried by the applicant.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr.

Ronald McKnight, U.S. Department of

Energy, Office of Fusion Energy

Sciences, Science Division, ER–55,

19901 Germantown Road, Germantown,

Maryland 20874–1290. Telephone: (301)

903–4597. E-mail:

ron.mcknight@oer.doe.gov

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The

Plasma Physics Junior Faculty

Development Program was started in FY

1997. A principal goal of this program

is to identify exceptionally talented

plasma faculty members early in their

careers and assist and facilitate the

development of their research programs.

Eligibility for awards under this notice

is, therefore, restricted to tenure-track

regular academic faculty investigators

who are conducting experimental or

theoretical plasma physics research.

Emphasis is to be placed on basic

plasma science research. For

applications to be considered for

funding, certification of the status of the

applicant as a tenure-track regular

academic faculty member by the head of

the applicant’s academic department or

other university/college certifying

official will be required before the grant

is awarded. Awards made under this

program will help to maintain the

vitality of university plasma physics

research and assure continued

excellence in the teaching of plasma

physics and related disciplines.

Applications from Junior Faculty

involved in any areas of plasma physics

research, not only magnetic fusion, are

welcomed and encouraged.

It is anticipated that annual funding

levels up to $150,000 per award may be

made available for grants under this

notice during FY 1998, contingent upon

the availability of appropriated funds.

Funding for equipment above this level

will be considered on a case-by-case

basis. DOE may make up to four awards

during FY 1998, depending on the

number of meritorious applications and

the availability of appropriated funds.

Multiple year funding of grant awards is

expected, with funding provided on an

annual basis subject to availability of

funds. These grants will not normally be

renewed after the project period is

completed; grantees may, however,

submit new grant applications to

continue their research using the usual

Departmental grant application process.

Applications will be subjected to formal

merit review and will be evaluated

against the following criteria, which are

listed in descending order of importance

as set forth in 10 CFR Part 605:

1. Scientific and/or technical merit of

the project;

2. Appropriateness of the proposed

method or approach;

3. Competency of applicant’s

personnel and adequacy of proposed

resources; and

4. Reasonableness and

appropriateness of the proposed budget.

General information about

development and submission of

applications, eligibility, limitations,

evaluations and selection processes, and

other policies and procedures are

contained in the Application Guide for

the Office of Energy Research Financial

Assistance Program and 10 CFR Part 605

which is available on the World Wide

Web at: http://www.er.doe.gov/

production/grants/grants.html

(The Catalog Of Federal Domestic Assistance

Number for this program is 81.049, and the

solicitation control number is ERFAP 10 CFR

Part 605)

Issued in Washington, DC on December 1,

1997.

John Rodney Clark,

Associate Director for Resource Management,

Office of Energy Research.

[FR Doc. 97–32642 Filed 12–12–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6450–01–P

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory

Commission

[Docket No. CP98–106–000]

Northern Natural Gas Company; Notice

of Request Under Blanket

Authorization

December 9, 1997.

Take notice that on December 1, 1997,

Northern Natural Gas Company

(Northern), 1111 South 103rd Street,

Omaha, Nebraska 68124–1000, filed in

Docket No. CP98–106–000 a request

pursuant to Sections 157.205 and

157.216 of the Commission’s

Regulations under the Natural Gas Act

(18 CFR 157.205 and 157.216) for

authorization to abandon a small

volume measurement station (farm tap)

located in Dodge County, Minnesota,

under Northern’s blanket certificate

issued in Docket No. CP82–401–000

pursuant to Section 7 of the Natural Gas

Act, all as more fully set forth in the

request that is on file with the

Commission and open to public

inspection.

Northern states that it is in the

process of replacing its Dodge Center

Branchline. Northern states that it has

negotiated with the two landowners

along the route of the original pipeline

regarding service lines to reconnect farm

tap facilities. One of the farm tap users

elected to reconnect their service line to

Northern and will continue to receive

service from their local distribution

company (LDC). The other farm tap user

(City of Dodge Center) elected to

disconnect from Northern and has

connected their service line directly to

the LDC. As a result, Northern is

requesting authority to abandon the City

of Dodge Center farm tap facility.

Northern states that the proposed

activity is not prohibited by its existing

tariff and that it has sufficient capacity

to accommodate the proposed changes

without detriment or disadvantage to

Northern’s other customers.
65688 Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 240 / Monday, December 15, 1997 / Notices

Any person or the Commission’s staff

may, within 45 days after issuance of

the instant notice by the Commission,

file pursuant to Rule 214 of the

Commission’s Procedural Rules (18 CFR

385.214) a motion to intervene or notice

of intervention and pursuant to Section

157.205 of the Regulations under the

Natural Gas Act (18 CFR 157.205) a

protest to the request. If no protest is

filed within the time allowed therefor,

the proposed activity shall be deemed to

be authorized effective the day after the

time allowed for filing a protest. If a

protest is filed and not withdrawn

within 30 days after the time allowed

for filing a protest, the instant request

shall be treated as an application for

authorization pursuant to Section 7 of

the Natural Gas Act.

Lois D. Cashell,

Secretary.

[FR Doc. 97–32595 Filed 12–12–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6717–01–M

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory

Commission

[Docket No. CP98–110–000]

Northern Natural Gas Company; Notice

of Application for Abandonment by

Sale

December 9, 1997.

Take notice that on December 2, 1997,

Northern Natural Gas Company

(Northern), 1111 South 103rd Street,

Omaha, Nebraska 68124–1000, filed in

Docket No. CP98–110–000, an

application pursuant to Section 7(b) of

the Natural Gas Act (NGA), as amended,

and Sections 157.7 and 157.18 of the

Commission’s Regulations requesting

permission and approval to abandon by

sale to Samedan Oil Corporation

(Samedan), certain non-contiguous

pipeline facilities, with appurtenances,

which are known as the Grand Isle 83

and the Grand Isle 83 Compressor (GI 83

facilities) and located in the Grand Isle

Area, Offshore Louisiana. Northern also

requests approval to abandon certain

services, all as more fully set forth in the

application which is on file with the

Commission and open to public

inspection.

Northern states that its role in the

marketplace has changed from a

merchant of natural gas to a transporter

of natural gas and that the GI 83

facilities are non-contiguous to its

traditional transmission pipeline system

and are no longer needed by Northern.

Northern further states that the GI 83

facilities, which are owned by Northern

and operated by Trunkline Gas

Company (Trunkline), were declared

non-jurisdictional gathering facilities

pursuant to an order issued February 13,

1995 in Trunkline’s Docket No. CP92–

498–005. Northern proposes to transfer

the GI 83 facilities to Samedan who will

assume all current and future service

obligations, and operational and

economic responsibilities for these

facilities.

Northern states that it entered into a

Transportation and Sales Agreement

dated October 30, 1980, as amended,

(X–99 Agreement), with Panhandle

Eastern Pipeline Company (Panhandle)

and Trunkline, which provides for the

transportation of Northern’s Grand Isle

Block 83 gas and, as partial

consideration of such transport service,

Panhandle had the option to purchase

up to 20 percent of such gas. The

Commission granted a certificate to

Northern authorizing the sale of natural

gas to Panhandle in a July 31, 1981

order in Docket No. CP81–256. Northern

states that it filed the X–99 Agreement

as Rate Schedule X–99 in its FERC Gas

Tariff, Original Volume No. 2. Northern

seeks abandonment, in this instant

proceeding, for the X–99 Agreement

which was authorized in Docket No.

CP81–256. Northern states that it has

entered into an Assignment and Bill of

Sale Agreement (Agreement) with

Samedan dated October 23, 1997

covering the sale of the GI 83 facilities,

which will be transferred to Samedan

pursuant to the Agreement.

Any person desiring to be heard or to

make any protest with reference to said

application should on or before

December 30, 1997, file with the Federal

Energy Regulatory Commission, 888

First Street, N.E., Washington, D.C.

20426, a motion to intervene or a protest

in accordance with the requirements of

the Commission’s Rules of Practice and

Procedure (18 CFR 385.214 or 385.211)

and the Regulations under the NGA (18

CFR 157.10). All protests filed with the

Commission will be considered by it in

determining the appropriate action to be

taken but will not serve to make the

protestants parties to the proceeding.

Any person wishing to become a party

to a proceeding or to participate as a

party in any hearing therein must file a

motion to intervene in accordance with

the Commission’s Rules.

Take further notice that, pursuant to

the authority contained in and subject to

the jurisdiction conferred upon the

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

by Sections 7 and 15 of the NGA and the

Commission’s Rules of Practice and

Procedure, a hearing will be held

without further notice before the

Commission or its designee on this

application if no motion to intervene is

filed within the time required herein, if

the Commission on its own review of

the matter finds that a grant of the

certificate is required by the public

convenience and necessity. If a motion

for leave to intervene is timely filled, or

if the Commission on its own motion

believes that a formal hearing is

required, further notice of such hearing

will be duly given.

Under the procedure herein provided

for, unless otherwise advised, it will be

unnecessary for Northern to appear to

be represented at the hearing.

Lois D. Cashell,

Secretary

[FR Doc. 97–32596 Filed 12–12–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6717–01–M

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory

Commission

[Project No. 2100–067]

California Department of Water

Resources; Notice of Availability of

Final Environmental Assessment

December 9, 1997.

A final environmental assessment

(FEA) is available for public review. The

FEA was prepared for California

Department of Water Resources’

(licensee) application to expand the

Feather River Fish Hatchery.

In summary, the FEA examines the

environmental impacts of three

alternatives for expanding the hatchery:

(1) licensee’s proposed action: 600 feet

of new raceways with hatching and

incubation facilities; (2) proposed

alternative: 1,600 feet of raceways; and

(3) no-action. These alternatives are

described in detail on pages two and

three of the FEA.

The FEA recommends the licensee

construct 600 feet of new raceways at

the Feather River Fish Hatchery in

accordance with licensee’s proposed

action alternative. The FEA concludes

that implementation of this alternative

would not constitute a major federal

action significantly affecting the quality

of the human environment.

This FEA was written by staff in the

Office of Hydropower Licensing (OHL).

Copies of the FEA can be obtained by

contacting the Commission’s Public

Reference Room at (202) 208–1371.

Lois D. Cashell,

Secretary.

[FR Doc. 97–32594 Filed 12–12–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6717–01–M