Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 46 / Thursday, March 8, 2012 / Notices 14031 

transactions to those most consistent 

with the demonstration’s primary 

purpose of enabling PHAs to access 

needed financing to address their 

capital repair needs. 

Waivers (§§ 1.6, 2.3.5, 2.3.6, 3.5). To 

carry out the goals of the demonstration, 

the 2012 Appropriations Act provides 

HUD with statutory and regulatory 

waiver authority. Rather than allow 

each PHA, Mod Rehab, Rent Supp or 

RAP owner to request specific waivers 

that would be extraordinarily difficult to 

administer on an individualized basis, 

HUD lists in each section of the Program 

Notice related to public housing, Mod 

Rehab, Rent Supp and RAP the waivers 

that are applicable to the specific type 

of conversions being undertaken. HUD 

invites comments on the range of 

waivers proposed to be offered and the 

need, if any, for additional waivers to 

facilitate successful RAD conversions by 

property type. 

No Partial Project Conversions. For 

administrative reasons, HUD will accept 

applications only for complete project 

conversions (excluding de minimis unit 

reductions as defined in Section I of the 

Program Notice). For example, if a PHA 

has a 200-unit project that consists of 

100 family units and 100 elderly units 

on separate sites, and wants only to 

convert only the family units, the PHA 

would first need to seek approval from 

HUD independent and in advance of a 

RAD application to divide the project 

into two different projects. Procedures 

for changing project groupings can be 

found in PIH Notice 2007–28 (which is 

available for download at: http:// 

portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/ 

program_offices/administration/ 

hudclips). HUD is particularly 

interested in receiving comments on any 

potential unintended consequences of 

this policy. 

Choice-Mobility (§§ 1.8.12, 1.12(D)(2), 

2.3.6.8, 2.3.9(C)(2)). HUD’s goal is to 

provide all residents of converted 

projects under both the first and second 

components of the demonstration with 

viable options to obtain a Housing 

Choice Voucher and move from a 

converted property as they deem in 

their best interests, i.e., to offer them 

choice and mobility after a reasonable 

tenure. For projects converting 

assistance to PBVs, existing PBV choice 

requirements specified under section 

8(o)(13)(E) of the United States Housing 

Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437f(o)(13)(E)) 

will apply. For projects converting 

assistance to PBRA, choice-mobility 

options will be required to be made 

available consistent with Sections 1.8.12 

and 2.3.6.8. HUD will further offer 

ranking factor points to encourage 

applicants to form partnerships to 

secure the needed turnover vouchers 

necessary to support the choice-mobility 

requirement where none is readily 

available. HUD is particularly interested 

in receiving comments on how the 

indicated choice-mobility objectives can 

best be achieved in the demonstration 

through the indicated ranking factors or 

other actions that it might facilitate. 

Demonstration Design. HUD will be 

evaluating the demonstration based on 

the goals detailed in the notice. In that 

context, HUD solicits public comments 

on the parameters of the current design 

and how it serves those goals. For 

example, the demonstration creates two 

fairly distinct program options that 

PHAs can choose from under the first 

component of RAD: PBRA or PBVs. 

HUD is interested in the reasons why a 

PHA may choose to convert public 

housing units to PBRA rather than PBVs 

or vice versa. HUD seeks feedback on 

whether there are additional 

modifications to the design to maximize 

the opportunity for learning and the 

long-term viability of converted 

properties. 

III. Environmental Review 

A Finding of No Significant Impact 

with respect to the environment has 

been made in accordance with HUD 

regulations in 24 CFR part 50 that 

implement section 102(2)(C) of the 

National Environmental Policy Act of 

1969 (42 U.S.C. 4332(2)(C)). The 

Finding is available for public 

inspection during regular business 

hours in the Regulations Division, 

Office of General Counsel, Department 

of Housing and Urban Development, 

451 7th Street, SW., Room 10276, 

Washington, DC 20410–0500. Due to 

security measures at the HUD 

Headquarters building, please schedule 

an appointment to review the Finding 

by calling the Regulations Division at 

202–402–3055 (this is not a toll-free 

number). Individuals with speech or 

hearing impairments may access this 

number via TTY by calling the Federal 

Relay Service at 800–877–8339. 

Dated: March 5, 2012. 

Sandra B. Henriquez, 

Assistant Secretary for Public and Indian 

Housing, 

Carol J. Galante, 

Acting Assistant Secretary for Housing— 

Federal Housing Commissioner. 

[FR Doc. 2012–5626 Filed 3–7–12; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4210–67–P 

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 

[Docket No. ONRR–2012–0002] 

Public Listening Sessions To Obtain 

Input on the Multi-Stakeholder Group 

Tasked With the Implementation of the 

Extractive Industries Transparency 

Initiative 

AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, Interior. 

ACTION: Notice. 

SUMMARY: The Department of the 

Interior (Department) announces four 

public listening sessions to receive 

comments regarding a multi-stakeholder 

group to implement the Extractive 

Industries Transparency Initiative 

(EITI). 

DATES: The public listening session 

dates and cities are: 

Session 1—March 19, 2012 (1–3 p.m. 

central time) in St. Louis, Missouri. 

Session 2—March 21, 2012 (1–3 p.m. 

mountain time) in Denver, Colorado. 

Session 3—March 28, 2012 (1–3 p.m. 

mountain time) in Houston, TX. 

Session 4—March 29, 2012 (1–3 p.m. 

eastern time) in Washington, DC. 

ADDRESSES: The public listening session 

locations are: 

Session 1—Renaissance St. Louis 

Grand Hotel, 800 Washington Ave., St. 

Louis, Missouri 63101, telephone 

number (314) 418–5820. 

Session 2— Denver Marriott City 

Center, 1701 California St., Denver, 

Colorado 80202, telephone number 

(303) 297–1300. 

Session 3—Hilton Houston Post Oak, 

2001 Post Oak Boulevard, Houston, 

Texas 77056, telephone number (713) 

961–9300. 

Session 4—Main Interior Building, 

1849 C Street, NW., Washington DC 

20240 (Yates Auditorium), telephone 

number (202) 254–5573. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ben 

Nussdorf, telephone (202) 254–5573, fax 

number (202) 254–5589, email 

benjamin.nussdorf@onrr.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On 

February 24th, 2012, the Department 

published a notice in the Federal 

Register seeking comment on the multistakeholder group for the Extractive 

Industries Transparency Initiative (74 

FR 11151). In that notice, the 

Department stated that it would hold a 

series of public listening sessions to 

provide additional opportunities for 

public comment on EITI 

implementation in the United States. 

In September 2011, President Barack 

Obama announced the United States’ 

commitment to participate in the 

Extractive Industries Transparency 


wreier-aviles on DSK5TPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
14032 Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 46 / Thursday, March 8, 2012 / Notices 

Initiative. EITI is a signature initiative of 

the U.S. national action plan for the 

international Open Government 

Partnership and offers a voluntary 

framework for governments and 

companies to publicly disclose in 

parallel the revenues paid and received 

for extraction of oil, gas and minerals 

owned by the state. The design of each 

framework is country-specific, and is 

developed through a multi-year, 

consensus based process by a multistakeholder group comprised of 

government, industry and civil society. 

Thirty-five countries are in various 

stages of implementing EITI, most of 

them developing countries. 

On October 25, President Obama 

named Secretary of the Interior Ken 

Salazar as the U.S. Senior Official 

responsible for implementing the 

United States Extractive Industries 

Transparency Initiative (USEITI). In 

response, Secretary Salazar posted a 

White House blog the same day, 

committing to work with industry and 

civil society to implement USEITI. 

EITI will strengthen relationships 

among the U.S. government, industry, 

and civil society; deliver a more 

transparent, participatory, and 

collaborative government; promote 

accountability to help ensure the full 

and fair return to the American people 

for the use of its public resources; and 

enable the U.S. to lead by example 

internationally on transparency and 

good governance. For further 

information on EITI, please visit the 

Department’s EITI Web page at http:// 

www.doi.gov/EITI. 

Accordingly, the Department of the 

Interior is seeking public comment and 

recommendations on the following 

specific issues: 

• The EITI requires a multistakeholder group to be formed to 

oversee implementation. Who are the 

key sectors or stakeholders that need to 

be involved in the multi-stakeholder 

group? 

• How best can a balance of interests 

and perspectives, be achieved in the 

formation of the multi-stakeholder 

group? 

• In your opinion, what are the key 

attributes of both a successful and high 

functioning multi-stakeholder group 

and the successful implementation of 

USEITI? 

• What key concerns, if any, do you 

have about implementing the USEITI 

process? 

We encourage stakeholders and 

members of the public to participate. 

The listening sessions will be open to 

the public without advance registration; 

however, attendance may be limited to 

the space available at each venue. For 

building security measures, each person 

may be required to present a picture 

identification to gain entry to the 

meetings. 

Dated: March 2, 2012. 

Gregory J. Gould, 

Director for Office of Natural Resources 

Revenue. 

[FR Doc. 2012–5668 Filed 3–7–12; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4310–T2–P 

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 

Fish and Wildlife Service 

[FWS–R9–FHC–2012–N030; FF09F21000, 

FXHC11240900000T5, 123] 

John H. Chafee Coastal Barrier 

Resources System; Lee County, FL, 

and Newport County, RI; Availability of 

Draft Maps and Request for Comments 

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, 

Interior. 

ACTION: Notice of availability; request 

for comments. 

SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and 

Wildlife Service (Service), announce the 

availability of two John H. Chafee 

Coastal Barrier Resources System 

(CBRS) draft revised maps for public 

review and comment. The first map, 

dated January 10, 2012, is for two CBRS 

units located in Lee County, Florida. 

The second map, dated September 30, 

2009, is for four CBRS units located in 

Newport County, Rhode Island. 

DATES: To ensure consideration, we 

must receive your written comments by 

April 23, 2012. 

ADDRESSES: Mail or hand-deliver 

(during normal business hours) 

comments to Katie Niemi, Coastal 

Barriers Coordinator, Division of Habitat 

and Resource Conservation, U.S. Fish 

and Wildlife Service, 4401 N. Fairfax 

Drive, Room 860A, Arlington, VA 

22203, or send comments by electronic 

mail (email) to 

CBRAcomments@fws.gov. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Katie Niemi, Coastal Barriers 

Coordinator, (703) 358–2161. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background 

Coastal barriers are typically 

elongated, narrow landforms located at 

the interface of land and sea. Coastal 

barriers provide important habitat for 

fish and wildlife and serve as the 

mainland’s first line of defense against 

the impacts of severe storms. With the 

passage of the Coastal Barrier Resources 

Act (CBRA) in 1982 (Pub. L. 97–348), 

Congress recognized that certain actions 

and programs of the Federal 

Government have historically 

subsidized and encouraged 

development on coastal barriers and 

have resulted in the loss of valuable 

natural resources; threats to human life, 

health, and property; and the 

expenditure of millions of tax dollars to 

build structures and infrastructure and 

then rebuild them again after damaging 

storms. The CBRA established the 

CBRS, a defined set of 186 geographic 

units, encompassing approximately 

453,000 acres, of undeveloped lands 

and associated aquatic habitat along the 

Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico coasts. 

Most new Federal expenditures and 

financial assistance that have the effect 

of encouraging development are 

prohibited within the CBRS. 

Development can still occur within the 

CBRS provided that private developers 

or other non-Federal parties bear the full 

cost instead of the American taxpayers. 

The CBRS was expanded by the Coastal 

Barrier Improvement Act of 1990 (Pub. 

L. 101–591) to include additional areas 

along the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico 

coasts as well as areas along the Great 

Lakes, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin 

Islands coasts. The CBRS now 

comprises 857 units encompassing 

approximately 3.1 million acres of 

coastal barrier lands and associated 

aquatic habitat. These areas are depicted 

on a series of maps entitled ‘‘John H. 

Chafee Coastal Barrier Resources 

System.’’ 

The CBRS includes two types of units, 

System units and Otherwise Protected 

Areas (OPAs). System units generally 

comprise private lands that were 

relatively undeveloped at the time of 

their designation within the CBRS. Most 

new Federal expenditures and financial 

assistance, including Federal flood 

insurance, are prohibited within System 

units. OPAs generally comprise lands 

established under Federal, State, or 

local law or held by a qualified 

organization primarily for wildlife 

refuge, sanctuary, recreational, or 

natural resource conservation purposes. 

OPAs are denoted with a ‘‘P’’ at the end 

of the unit number. The only Federal 

spending prohibition within OPAs is 

the prohibition on Federal flood 

insurance. 

The Secretary of the Interior 

(Secretary), through the Service, is 

responsible for administering the CBRA, 

which includes maintaining the official 

maps of the CBRS; consulting with 

Federal agencies that propose to spend 

funds within the CBRS; preparing draft 

maps that update and correct existing 

maps; and making recommendations to 

Congress regarding proposed changes to 

the CBRS. Aside from three minor 


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