Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 243 / Thursday, December 18, 1997 / Notices 66343

Supplementary information to the

Patent and Trademark Office.

DATES: Submit applications on or before

January 8, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Mail letters of request to

participate in the Public Advisory

Committee for Trademark Affairs to The

Honorable Bruce A. Lehman, Assistant

Secretary of Commerce and

Commissioner of Patents and

Trademarks, United States Patent and

Trademark Office, Washington, DC

20231.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

David E. Bucher, Deputy Assistant

Commissioner for Trademark Policy and

Projects, at (703) 308–9100, ext. 20.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This

Committee is chartered under the

Federal Advisory Committee Act (Pub.

L. 92–463). Its purpose has been, and

continues to be, that of advising the

Patent and Trademark Office (Office) on

ways to increase the Office’s efficiency

and effectiveness and to provide a

continuing flow of insights and

perceptions from the private sector to

the Office in the area of international

and domestic trademark law.

The Office amended the charter of the

Committee in 1996 to make the

Committee more diverse and more

representative of trademark owners,

trademark practitioners and the

Intellectual Property community as a

whole. Accordingly, the Commissioner

will select five representative

organizations from among intellectual

property organizations, bar groups,

business-related organizations and

academia. The five organizations whose

members’ terms will expire on

December 31, 1997, are not precluded

from responding to this notice.

However, no member may serve more

than two consecutive terms.

Each organization’s letter to the

Commissioner should explain the

nature, size and characteristics of the

organization and why this particular

group is deserving of membership on

this committee.

Selection of the organizations will be

based on the following criteria: (1)

members’ familiarity with the

operations of the Patent and Trademark

Office relating to trademarks and

trademark rules, trademark practices,

and the administration of the trademark

operations; (2) members’ experience

practicing before the Patent and

Trademark Office in trademark matters;

and (3) an indication of the

organization’s interest in trademark

practices by programs such as

established committees designed to

improve trademark operations, or legal

education activities regarding trademark

practices.

Dated: December 12, 1997.

Bruce A. Lehman,

Assistant Secretary of Commerce and

Commissioner of Patents and Trademarks.

[FR Doc. 97–33059 Filed 12–17–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3510–16–P

CORPORATION FOR NATIONAL AND

COMMUNITY SERVICE

Availability of Funds for

AmeriCorps*VISTA America Reads

Projects—Nationwide

AGENCY: Corporation for National and

Community Service.

ACTION: Notice of availability of funds.

SUMMARY: The Corporation for National

and Community Service (hereinafter

‘‘the Corporation’’) announces the

availability of funds for fiscal year 1998

for new AmeriCorps*VISTA (Volunteers

in Service to America) program grants

focusing on the America Reads initiative

in all fifty States, the District of

Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin

Islands. The program grants are

authorized under Title I, Part A of the

Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973,

as amended (Pub. L. 93–113). Project

applications will be written to cover a

24-month period although grants will be

awarded for a 12-month period with a

renewal option. As part of this effort,

the Corporation is soliciting applicants

which are public or private non-profit

organizations, including current

AmeriCorps*VISTA project sponsors.

Approximately 35–40 grants are

expected to be awarded in April 1998

with AmeriCorps*VISTA members

beginning service prior to the start of the

1998–99 school year.

DATES: Applications must be received

by 5:00 p.m., Eastern Standard Time,

January 28, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Application instructions

and kits are available from

AmeriCorps*VISTA, Corporation for

National and Community Service, 1201

New York Ave., NW, Washington, DC

20525, (202) 606–5000, ext. 249, TDD

(202) 565–2799, or TTY via the Federal

Information Relay Service at (800) 877–

8339. Applications should be submitted

to the Corporation for National and

Community Service, 1201 New York

Avenue, NW, Mailstop 9207,

Washington, DC 20525, Attn: Kathleen

Dennis. The Corporation will not accept

applications that are submitted via

facsimile or e-mail transmission.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For

further information, contact Kathleen

Dennis at (202) 606–5000, Ext. 249.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

A. Background

AmeriCorps*VISTA is authorized

under the Domestic Volunteer Service

Act of 1973, as amended (Pub. L. 93–

113). The statutory mandate of

AmeriCorps*VISTA is ‘‘to eliminate and

alleviate poverty and poverty-related

problems in the United States by

encouraging and enabling persons from

all walks of life, all geographical areas,

and all age groups . . . (to) assist in the

solution of (such) problems,

and . . . to generate the commitment

of private sector resources, to encourage

volunteer service at the local level, and

to strengthen local agencies and

organizations to carry out the purpose

(of the program).’’ (42 U.S.C. 4951)

AmeriCorps*VISTA carries out its

legislative mandate by assigning

individuals 18 years and older, on a

full-time, year-long basis, to public and

private non-profit organizations whose

goals are in accord with

AmeriCorps*VISTA’s legislative

mission. Each AmeriCorps*VISTA

project must focus on the mobilization

of community resources, the

transference of skills to community

residents, and the expansion of the

capacity of community-based

organizations to solve local problems.

Programming should encourage

permanent, long-term solutions to

problems confronting low-income

communities rather than short-term

approaches for handling emergency

needs.

AmeriCorps*VISTA project sponsors

must actively elicit the support and/or

participation of local public and private

sector elements in order to enhance the

chances of a project’s success as well as

to make the activities undertaken by

AmeriCorps*VISTA members selfsustaining when the Corporation no

longer provides resources.

B. Purpose of This Announcement

The goal of the America Reads

initiative is to mobilize Americans from

all walks of life to ensure that all

children can read well and

independently by the end of third grade.

The America Reads initiative is a

comprehensive, nationwide effort to

create in-school, after-school, weekend,

and summer tutoring programs in

reading. Working to support the efforts

of teachers and parents, this initiative

calls on Americans in all fields—

schools, libraries, religious

organizations, universities, community
66344 Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 243 / Thursday, December 18, 1997 / Notices

and national groups, and cultural

organizations, as well as college

students, business leaders, and senior

citizens—to ensure that every child can

read independently by the end of third

grade.

AmeriCorps*VISTA’s participation in

the America Reads initiative will focus

primarily on:

1. Initiation and/or expansion of

community-based children’s literacy

programs in areas with a substantial

percentage of children from low-income

families;

2. Support of after-school, weekend,

and in-school reading programs for

children being served;

3. Recruitment, training, coordination

and management of local volunteer

tutors;

4. Mobilization of resources needed to

support literacy programs;

5. Involvement of parents in family

literacy activities to prepare them to

effectively serve as first teachers of their

children;

6. Introduction of, and support for,

age-appropriate computer technology in

areas under served by such technology;

7. Promotion of literacy partnerships

among schools, libraries, youth-serving

groups, businesses, public and private

agencies, and other community

organizations; and,

8. Sustainability of activities and

programs developed or expanded

through AmeriCorps*VISTA’s efforts.

C. Eligible Applicants

Eligible applicants for

AmeriCorps*VISTA program grants

supporting the America Reads initiative

must be public or private non-profit

organizations. Such entities may

include: local, State, regional or national

literacy organizations; local and State

education agencies, educational

institutions, libraries, state or local

governments, tribal or territorial

governments, or organizations

representing tribal populations. Current

AmeriCorps*VISTA sponsoring

organizations may apply without

affecting the status of their existing

projects. Priority consideration will be

given to: (1) Entities planning or

operating city, county, statewide, or

multi-state America Reads initiatives;

(2) local governments planning or

operating area-wide America Reads

initiatives; (3) volunteer centers engaged

in recruiting trained literacy tutors for

the America Reads initiative; and, (4)

university service-learning centers

coordinating work-study and other

college students for the Initiative.

D. Scope of Grant

Each grant budget will support 20 or

more AmeriCorps*VISTA members on a

full-time basis for one year of service.

(Although the project application will

reflect two years of activity, grants will

be awarded on a twelve-month basis

with a renewal option subject to need,

satisfactory performance, and the

availability of Corporation resources.)

The amount of each grant will

include: a monthly subsistence

allowance for AmeriCorps*VISTA

members which is commensurate with

the cost-of-living of the assignment area

and covers the cost of food, housing,

utilities, and incidental expenses; an

end-of-service cash stipend payment,

accrued at the rate of $100 per month,

for those members not selecting the

AmeriCorps education award; and,

relocation expenses for those

AmeriCorps*VISTA members who must

relocate in order to serve. The grant will

also include funds for member inservice training, member supervision,

and member/supervisor job-related

transportation.

The average Federal cost per

AmeriCorps*VISTA service year

contained in the grant, i.e., total Federal

cost divided by total number of

members, will range from

approximately $11,000 to $13,000 in the

continental United States depending

upon the location of the assignment(s).

(Higher rates apply in Alaska and

Hawaii.) Specific budget guidance is

available in the project application kit;

average allowance costs contained in

the instructions should be used to

prepare the budget submission.

The following costs will be covered

by the Corporation outside of the grant

budget: an AmeriCorps education award

in the amount of $4725 for

AmeriCorps*VISTA members who

complete their year of service, health

support for all AmeriCorps*VISTA

members; a child care allowance for

eligible AmeriCorps*VISTA members;

pre-service orientation; and, travel from

home of record to training to assignment

for all AmeriCorps*VISTA members as

well as travel home at the end of

service.

Grant applicants should demonstrate

their commitment to matching the

Federal contribution toward the

operation of the AmeriCorps*VISTA

America Reads program grant by

offsetting all, or part of, the costs of

member supervision, transportation,

and training, as well as the basic costs

of the literacy program itself (e.g. books,

reading specialists, etc.). This support

can be achieved through cash or in-kind

contributions.

Publication of this announcement

does not obligate the Corporation to

award any specific number of grants or

to obligate the entire amount of funds

available, or any part thereof, for grants

under the AmeriCorps*VISTA program.

E. Submission Requirements

To be considered for funding

applicants must submit five copies, with

original signatures on items 2 and 3, of

the following:

(1) A one-page narrative summary

description, single-spaced, single-sided

in 10–12 point, of the proposed

AmeriCorps*VISTA America Reads

project including the name, address,

telephone number, and contact person

for the applicant organization as shown

on the SF 424. The summary should

include the major objectives and

expected outcomes of the project. The

summary will be used as a project

abstract to provide reviewers with an

introduction to the substantive parts of

the application. Therefore, care should

be taken to produce a summary which

accurately and concisely reflects the

proposal.

(2) Application for Federal

Assistance, SF 424, with a detailed

narrative budget justification.

(3) AmeriCorps*VISTA Project

Application, Form 1421, Parts A and B.

All project information must be

contained in the space provided on the

application form except where

additional sheets may be submitted for

the Project Work Plan and/or Member

Assignment Description(s).

(4) Current resume of potential

AmeriCorps*VISTA supervisor(s), if

available, or resume of the director of

the applicant organization.

(5) List of members of the Board of

Directors including their professional

affiliations and/or literacy-related

activities.

(6) Organizational chart illustrating

the location of the AmeriCorps*VISTA

project within the overall applicant

organization.

Applicants must also submit one copy

of the following:

(1) Current Articles of Incorporation.

(2) Proof of non-profit status, or an

application for non-profit status and

related documentation.

(3) CPA certification of accounting

capability.

No additional attachments, such as

annual reports or brochures, are to be

included. Such attachments will not be

read or given to reviewers. All

applications and related materials must

be complete at the time of submission.
Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 243 / Thursday, December 18, 1997 / Notices 66345

F. General Criteria for

AmeriCorps*VISTA Program Grant

Selection

The general criteria for

AmeriCorps*VISTA America Reads

program grants are consistent with those

established for the selection of all

AmeriCorps*VISTA sponsors and

projects. All of the following elements

must be incorporated in the applicant’s

submission:

The proposed project must:

1. Address the needs of low-income

communities and otherwise comply

with the provisions of the Domestic

Volunteer Service Act of 1973, as

amended (42 U.S.C. 4951 et seq.)

applicable to AmeriCorps*VISTA and

all applicable published regulations,

guidelines, and Corporation policies.

2. Lead to building organizational

and/or community capacity to continue

the efforts of the project once

AmeriCorps*VISTA resources are

withdrawn. This will be demonstrated

through measurable goals and

objectives, and the stated tasks of

AmeriCorps*VISTA members which

should be attainable within the time

frame of the project.

3. Be designed to generate public and/

or private sector resources, and to

promote local, part-time volunteer

service at the community level.

4. Describe in measurable terms the

anticipated self-sufficiency outcomes at

the conclusion of the project, including

outcomes related to the sustainability of

the project activities.

5. Clearly state how

AmeriCorps*VISTA members will be

trained, supervised, and supported to

ensure the achievement of program

goals and objectives as stated in the

project work plan.

6. Be internally consistent, i.e., the

problem statement which demonstrates

need, the project work plan, the

AmeriCorps*VISTA member assignment

description, and all other components

must be related logically to each other.

7. Ensure that AmeriCorps*VISTA

and community resources needed to

achieve project goals and objectives are

available.

8. Have the management and

technical capability to implement the

project successfully.

9. Describe how the number of

AmeriCorps*VISTA members requested

is appropriate for the project goals/

objectives, and how the skills requested

are appropriate for the assignment(s).

10. Describe how AmeriCorps*VISTA

assignments are designed to utilize the

full-time AmeriCorps*VISTA member’s

time to the maximum extent.

G. Specific Criteria for

AmeriCorps*VISTA America Reads

Project Selection

The following elements related to the

purpose of the America Reads initiative

must be incorporated in the applicant’s

submission:

1. Project applications must contain

clear and measurable outcome

objectives for a 24-month period that

address the overall objectives of the

America Reads initiative. Proposed

projects must show how the activities of

AmeriCorps*VISTA members contribute

to specific outcomes related to reading/

literacy achievements for children, birth

through third grade. Outcome objectives

should also address expectations for

community volunteers, schools and

teachers, parents, and the community

at-large. It is expected that outcome

objectives will reflect the evolution of

the project over the 24-month period.

2. Project activities must provide a

direct benefit to children that is valued

by the school and/or community-based

organization. Activities include the

involvement of volunteers from the

community in working with individual

children, supporting classroom

activities, supporting families, and

serving as catalysts/organizers of

community-level reading initiatives.

Activities proposed must be welldesigned and able to be successfully

implemented, including the use of

qualified professionals such as reading

specialists in the provision of on-going

training and support for the project, and

special efforts where appropriate to

meet the needs of children whose first

language is other than English.

3. Applicant organizations must

describe the specific approach that will

be used to improve children’s reading

abilities, and must demonstrate the

reliability and effectiveness of this

approach.

4. Projects must include activities and

mechanisms that provide for the

involvement of families, parents, or

guardians.

5. Projects must have systems for the

evaluation and monitoring of project

activities. Applicants must describe the

systems that will be used to track

progress toward the stated objectives,

and the management procedures that

will provide the feedback needed to

make adjustments and improve program

quality. Projects must also be prepared

to cooperate with the Corporation for

National Service and its evaluation

partners in all Corporation monitoring

and evaluation efforts.

6. Applicants should indicate how the

proposed project complements and/or

enhances children’s literacy activities

already underway in, or planned for, the

community(ies) which will be served by

the project. To the extent possible,

projects should seek out opportunities

to collaborate with other Corporation

programs, as well as with other

community partners such as literacy

groups, youth-serving organizations,

senior citizen groups, PTAs, churches,

libraries, institutions of higher

education, private volunteer

organizations, etc.

7. Letters of support must be provided

from participating schools and other

organizations which will be

collaborating in the overall project

effort. Letters should reflect knowledge

and endorsement of the specific

objectives of the project, as well as any

commitment of resources to the project

if applicable.

H. Application Review

The Corporation for National and

Community Service is looking for highquality programs that are innovative,

have potential to be replicated in other

areas, and can be sustained with other

support when the project period ends.

Proposal Evaluation

To ensure fairness to all applicants,

the Corporation reserves the right to

take action, up to and including

disqualification, in the event that a

proposal fails to comply with any

requirements specified in this Notice.

1. Project Application/Narrative (70%

as described below):

The project application allows the

Corporation to assess the capacity of the

applicant organization to implement the

project and accomplish the purpose of

the America Reads initiative. The

overall quality of the application will be

evaluated as follows:

a. Responsiveness to General Criteria

for AmeriCorps*VISTA Program Grant

Selection (30%)

b. Responsiveness to Specific

AmeriCorps*VISTA America Reads

Criteria (40%)

2. Organizational Capacity and

Sustainability (20%)

The applicant organization’s capacity

to direct, manage, support, provide

technical assistance, and assess the

project, and enhance sustainability of

the project’s efforts, must be reflected in

the Project Application.

3. Budget (10%)

Applicants must prepare the budget

according to information contained in

Item D above, and instructions about

costs and allowance levels contained in

the application kit. A detailed Budget

Narrative must identify and justify each

line item and cost. The Corporation will

assess the cost-effectiveness of the
66346 Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 243 / Thursday, December 18, 1997 / Notices

1 Koch Gateway Pipeline Co., 81 FERC ¶61,228

(1997).

proposed project and the project’s

ability to leverage significant resources

from private and/or public sources.

I. Geographic Diversity

In addition to evaluating the overall

quality of the proposal and its

responsiveness to the criteria noted

above, the Corporation will also ensure

that funded projects are geographically

diverse, include projects in both urban

and rural areas, and focus on the needs

of low-income communities, including

those in empowerment zones and

enterprise communities.

Dated: December 15, 1997.

Stewart A. Davis,

Acting General Counsel.

[FR Doc. 97–33052 Filed 12–17–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6050–28–P

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory

Commission

[Docket No. RP97–187–007]

Arkansas Western Pipeline Company,

Notice of Proposed Changes in FERC

Gas Tariff

December 12, 1997.

Take notice that on December 8, 1997,

Arkansas Western Pipeline Company

(AWP) tendered for filing as part of its

FERC Gas Tariff, First Revised Volume

No. 1, the following tariff sheets, with

an effective date of December 8, 1997:

Second Revised Sheet No. 7

Original Sheet No. 7A

Second Revised Sheet No. 8

Second Revised Sheet No. 29

AWP states that the filing sets forth

the revisions to AWP;s tariff sheets that

are necessary to comply with Order No.

587–C in Docket No. RM96–1–004.

Any person desiring to protest this

filing should file a protest with the

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission,

888 First Street N.E., Washington, DC

20426, in accordance with Section

385.211 of the Commission’s Rules and

Regulations. All such protests must be

filed as provided in Section 154.210 of

the Commission’s Regulations. Protests

will be considered by the Commission

in determining the appropriate action to

be taken, but will not serve to make

protestants parties to this proceeding.

Copies of this filing are on file with the

Commission and available for public

inspection in the Public Reference

Room.

Linwood A. Watson, Jr.,

Acting Secretary.

[FR Doc. 97–32983 Filed 12–17–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6717–01–M

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory

Commission

[Docket Nos. CP98–112–000]

Florida Gas Transmission Company;

Notice of Request Under Blanket

Authorization

December 12, 1997.

Take notice that on December 4, 1997,

Florida Gas Transmission Company

(FGY), 1400 Smith Street, Post Office

Box 1188, Houston, Texas 77251–1188,

filed in Docket No. CP98–112–000 a

request pursuant to Sections 157.205

and 157.212 of the Commission’s

Regulations under the Natural Gas Act

(18 CFR 157.205 and 157.212) for

authorization to construct and operate a

new delivery point in Gadsden County,

Florida to accommodate interruptible

natural gas deliveries to Chesapeake

Utilities Corporation (Chesapeake). FGT

makes such request under its blanket

certificate issued in Docket No. CP82–

553–000 pursuant to Section 7 of the

Natural Gas Act, all as more fully set

forth in the request on file with the

Commission and open to public

inspection. FGT proposes to construct, operate,

and own an additional delivery point

for Chesapeake at or near mile post

394.7 on FGT’s existing 24-inch

mainline. FGT states that the subject

delivery point will include a tap, minor

connecting pipe, electronic flow

measurement equipment, and any other

related appurtenant facilities necessary

for FGY to transport and deliver up to

820 MMBtu per day and 206,158

MMBtu per year of natural gas to

Chesapeake. FGT avers that the volumes

proposed to be delivered to Chesapeake

will be within Chesapeake’s existing

entitlement. It is stated that the end-use

of the gas will be for commercial,

industrial and residential uses.

It is stated that Chesapeake will

reimburse FGT for the $60,000

estimated construction cost. FGT further

states that Chesapeake will construct,

own, and operate the meter and

regulation station and any other

necessary appurtenant facilities

required for receiving the gas from FGT. 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.

Linwood A. Watson, Jr.,

Acting Secretary.

[FR Doc. 97–32973 Filed 12–17–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6717–01–M

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory

Commission

[Docket No. RP98–86–000]

Koch Gateway Pipeline Company;

Notice of Section 4 Filing

December 12, 1997.

Take notice that on December 10,

1997, Koch Gateway Pipeline Company

(Koch Gateway), tendered for filing a

section 4 filing pertaining to the

termination of gathering services

associated with the abandonment of

South Texas facilities granted in FERC

Docket No. CP97–337–001.1

Koch Gateway proposes no changes to

its published tariff therefore no revised

tariff sheets are included in this filing.

Koch Gateway filed with the

Commission a list of gathering

customers affected by the abandonment.

Any persons desiring to be heard or

to make any protest this filing should

file a motion to intervene or a protest

with the Federal Energy Regulatory

Commission, 888 First Street, NE,

Washington, D.C. 20426, in accordance

with Sections 385.214 and 385.211 of

the Commission’s Rules of Practice and

Procedures. All such motions or protests

should be filed as provided by Section

154.210 of the Commission’s

Regulations. Protest will be considered

by the Commission in determining the

appropriate action to be taken, but will

not served to make protestants parties at

the proceeding. Any person wishing to

become a party must file a motion to

intervene. Copies of this filing are on

file with the Commission and are

available for public inspection in the

Public Reference Room.

Linwood A. Watson, Jr.,

Acting Secretary.

[FR Doc. 97–32985 Filed 12–17–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6717–01–M