Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 2 / Monday, January 5, 1998 / Notices 201

Approximately 2 miles of road would be

constructed to access timber stands

proposed for treatment. The newly

constructed roads would be closed to all

motorized use and revegetated following

the project. Two helicopter landings

would be constructed and revegetated.

Six existing helicopter landings would

be used and revegetated.

Aspen Stand Rejuvenation—On

approximately 400 acres of aspen stands

dispersed throughout the project area,

prescribed fire and/or harvest of

invading conifer trees would be used to

rejuvenate decadent stands or maintain

vigorous, young stands. These activities

would promote regeneration of aspen

suckers and saplings and prevent

conversion to conifer stands.

Elk Habitat Improvement—

Approximately 7 miles of the roads in

the Spring Creek drainage would be

obliterated and/or closed to all

motorized vehicles with earthen

barricades. Such closures would bring

the elk habitat effectiveness of the

Spring Creek drainage into compliance

with the Forest Plan.

Fish Habitat Improvements—Five

existing culverts currently posing a

barrier to upstream fish passage would

be replaced with bottomless culverts or

other suitable structures to allow fish

passage upstream. Bottomless culverts

provide for slower water velocity and

more pools, which facilitate upstream

fish passage.

Approximately 13.7 miles of FDR 172

would be graveled. Graveling of the road

surface would help retain the fine

sediment particles on the road surface.

Travel Safety Modifications to FDR

172—Approximately 25 ‘‘blind’’ curves

and narrow road sections would be

modified to improve sight distance and

provide sufficient safe passing

opportunities.

Preliminary Issues

The potential development of the

Whiskey Jack and Rainbow Inventoried

Roadless Areas is an anticipated

concern. Under the Proposed Action,

approximately 1.9 miles of road

construction, 150 acres of ground-based

yarding methods, and 1,750 of

helicopter yarding would occur in the

Whiskey Jack IRA. Approximately 250

acres of helicopter yarding would occur

in the Rainbow IRA.

The effects of road construction and

timber stand management activities on

wildlife and fisheries are also

anticipated concerns. Trinity Creek is

designated a high priority watershed

(Forest Plan—Inland Native Fish

Strategy) because of its potential bull

trout habitat. Habitat for some

threatened, endangered or sensitive

species exists in the project area.

Proposed activities have the potential to

have both beneficial and adverse effects

to wildlife and fisheries habitat.

Possible Alternative to the Proposed

Action

One alternative to the Proposed

Action has been identified. It is the No

Action Alternative. Other alternatives

may be developed as issues are raised

and information is received

Decisions To Be Made

The Boise National Forest Supervisor

will decide whether or not to implement

the project. If the project is to be

implemented, the Forest Supervisor will

decide which activities to include in the

project, when the project should occur,

and what mitigation and monitoring is

needed to ensure the project is

environmentally acceptable.

Schedule

Draft EIS, May 1998. Final, July 1998.

Public Involvement

Scoping is being initiated with this

notice, a legal notice in the Idaho

Statesman, and a letter to individuals,

groups, organizations, and agencies who

have expressed an interest in this type

of project. Comments received from

these public involvement efforts will be

incorporated into the analysis process.

Comments

Written comments concerning the

proposed project and analysis are

encouraged and should be postmarked

within 30 days following publication of

this announcement in the Federal

Register. Comments received in

response to this notice will be released

in their entirety if requested pursuant to

the Freedom of Information Act. Mail

comments to Frank Marsh, Mountain

Home Ranger District, 2180 American

Legion Boulevard, Mountain Home, ID

83647; telephone 208–587–7961 or 208–

373–4310. Further information can be

obtained at the same location.

The comment period on the draft EIS

will be 45 days from the date the

Environmental Protection Agency

publishes the notice availability in the

Federal Register.

The Forest Service believes, at this

early stage, it is important to give

reviewers notice of several court rulings

related to public participation in the

environmental review process. First,

reviewers of draft EIS must structure

their participation in the environmental

review of the proposal so that it is

meaningful and alerts an agency to the

reviewer’s position and contentions.

Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Corp. v.

NRDC, 435 U.S. 519, 553 (1978). Also,

environmental objections that could be

raised at the draft EIS stage but that are

not raised until after completion of the

final EIS may be waived or dismissed by

the courts. City of Angoon v. Hodel, 803

F.2d 1016, 1002 (9th Cir., 1986) and

Wisconsin Heritages, Inc. v. Harris, 490

F. Supp. 1334, 1338 (E.D. Wis. 1980).

Because of these court rulings, it is very

important for those interested in this

Proposed Action participate by the close

of the 45-day comment period so

substantive comments and objections

are made available to the Forest Service

at a time when it can meaningfully

consider them and respond to them in

the final EIS.

To assist the Forest Service in

identifying and considering issues and

concerns on the Proposed Action,

comments on the draft EIS should be as

specific as possible. It is also helpful if

comments refer to specific pages or

chapters of the draft statement.

Comments may also address the

adequacy of the draft EIS or the merits

of the alternatives formulated and

discussed in the statement. Reviewers

may wish to refer to the Council on

Environmental Quality Regulations for

implementing the procedural provisions

of the National Environmental Policy

Act at 40 CFR 1503.3 in addressing

these points. Comments received on the

draft EIS will be released in their

entirety if requested pursuant to the

Freedom of Information Act.

Responsible Official

David D. Rittenhouse, Forest

Supervisor, Boise National Forest, 1249

South Vinnell Way, Suite 200, Boise, ID

83709.

Dated: December 22, 1997.

David D. Rittenhouse,

Forest Supervisor.

[FR Doc. 98–039 Filed 1–2–98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3410–11–M

DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR

National Park Service

Blackstone River Valley National

Heritage Corridor; Sunshine Act

Meeting

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of meeting.

Notice of Meeting

Notice is hereby given in accordance

with Section 552b of Title 5, United

States Code, that a meeting of the

Blackstone River Valley National
202 Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 2 / Monday, January 5, 1998 / Notices

Heritage Corridor Commission will be

held on Thursday, January 29, 1998.

The Commission was established

pursuant to Public Law 99-647. The

purpose of the Commission is to assist

federal, state and local authorities in the

development and implementation of an

integrated resource management plan

for those lands and waters within the

Corridor.

The meeting will convene at 7:00 PM

in the ITU Union Hall, Museum of Work

and Culture, 42 South Main St.,

Woonsocket, RI for the following

reasons:

1. Status of Ten Year Plan

2. Nominations of Commissioners

3. Budget

It is anticipated that about twenty

people will be able to attend the session

in addition to the Commission

members.

Interested persons may make oral or

written presentations to the Commission

or file written statements. Such requests

should be made prior to the meeting to:

Susan K. Moore, Executive Director

Blackstone River Valley National

Heritage Corridor Commission, One

Depot Square, Woonsocket, RI 02895,

Tel.: (401) 762-0250.

Further information concerning this

meeting may be obtained from Susan K.

Moore, Executive Director of the

Commission at the aforementioned

address.

Susan K. Moore,

Executive Director BRVNHCC.

[FR Doc. 97–34240 Filed 12–31–97; 10:42

am]

BILLING CODE 4310–70–P

COMMITTEE FOR PURCHASE FROM

PEOPLE WHO ARE BLIND OR

SEVERELY DISABLED

Procurement List; Proposed Addition

AGENCY: Committee for Purchase From

People Who Are Blind or Severely

Disabled.

ACTION: Proposed Addition to

Procurement List.

SUMMARY: The Committee has received a

proposal to add to the Procurement List

a service to be furnished by nonprofit

agencies employing persons who are

blind or have other severe disabilities.

COMMENTS MUST BE RECEIVED ON OR

BEFORE: February 4, 1998.

ADDRESS: Committee for Purchase From

People Who Are Blind or Severely

Disabled, Crystal Gateway 3, Suite 310,

1215 Jefferson Davis Highway,

Arlington, Virginia 22202–4302.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Beverly Milkman (703) 603–7740.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This

notice is published pursuant to 41

U.S.C. 47(a) (2) and 41 CFR 51–2.3. Its

purpose is to provide interested persons

an opportunity to submit comments on

the possible impact of the proposed

actions.

If the Committee approves the

proposed addition, all entities of the

Federal Government (except as

otherwise indicated) will be required to

procure the service listed below from

nonprofit agencies employing persons

who are blind or have other severe

disabilities.

I certify that the following action will

not have a significant impact on a

substantial number of small entities.

The major factors considered for this

certification were:

1. The action will not result in any

additional reporting, recordkeeping or

other compliance requirements for small

entities other than the small

organizations that will furnish the

service to the Government.

2. The action will result in

authorizing small entities to furnish the

service to the Government.

3. There are no known regulatory

alternatives which would accomplish

the objectives of the Javits-WagnerO’Day Act (41 U.S.C. 46–48c) in

connection with the service proposed

for addition to the Procurement List.

Comments on this certification are

invited. Commenters should identify the

statement(s) underlying the certification

on which they are providing additional

information.

The following service has been

proposed for addition to Procurement

List for production by the nonprofit

agency listed: Laundry Service, Naval

Hospital, San Diego, California, NPA:

Job Options, Inc., San Diego, California.

Beverly L. Milkman,

Executive Director.

[FR Doc. 98–127 Filed 1–2–98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6353–01–P

COMMITTEE FOR PURCHASE FROM

PEOPLE WHO ARE BLIND OR

SEVERELY DISABLED

Procurement list Proposed Additions

AGENCY: Committee for Purchase From

People Who Are Blind or Severely

Disabled.

ACTION: Proposed additions to

procurement list.

SUMMARY: The Committee has received

proposals to add to the Procurement List

commodities and services to be

furnished by nonprofit agencies

employing persons who are blind or

have other severe disabilities.

COMMENTS MUST BE RECEIVED ON OR

BEFORE: February 2, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Committee for Purchase

From People Who Are Blind or Severely

Disabled, Crystal Gateway 3, Suite 310,

1215 Jefferson Davis Highway,

Arlington, Virginia 22202–4302.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Beverly Milkman (703) 603–7740.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This

notice is published pursuant to 41

U.S.C. 47(a) (2) and 41 CFR 51–2.3. Its

purpose is to provide interested persons

an opportunity to submit comments on

the possible impact of the proposed

actions.

If the Committee approves the

proposed additions, all entities of the

Federal Government (except as

otherwise indicated) will be required to

procure the commodities and services

listed below from nonprofit agencies

employing persons who are blind or

have other severe disabilities. I certify

that the following action will not have

a significant impact on a substantial

number of small entities. The major

factors considered for this certification

were:

1. The action will not result in any

additional reporting, recordkeeping or

other compliance requirements for small

entities other than the small

organizations that will furnish the

commodities and services to the

Government.

2. The action does not appear to have

a severe economic impact on current

contractors for the commodities and

services.

3. The action will result in

authorizing small entities to furnish the

commodities and services to the

Government.

4. There are no known regulatory

alternatives which would accomplish

the objectives of the Javits-WagnerO’Day Act (41 U.S.C. 46–48c) in

connection with the commodities and

services proposed for addition to the

Procurement List. Comments on this

certification are invited. Commenters

should identify the statement(s)

underlying the certification on which

they are providing additional

information.

The following commodities and

services have been proposed for

addition to Procurement List for

production by the nonprofit agencies

listed:

Commodities

Office and Miscellaneous Supplies

(Requirements for Hurlburt Field Air Force

Base, Florida)