57824 Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 187 / Tuesday, September 26, 2000 / Notices

Dated: September 19, 2000.

Harold Lucas,

Assistant Secretary for Public and Indian

Housing.

[FR Doc. 00–24614 Filed 9–25–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4210–33–M

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Species at Risk Program

AGENCY: U.S. Geological Survey.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

SUMMARY: The U.S. Geological Survey is

announcing the availability of funds

through the Species at Risk Program

(SAR). The basic purpose of SAR is to

fund short-term research and

assessment projects to generate

information that allows development of

conservation agreements, action plans,

and management alternatives that

provide for the protection of flora and

fauna and their habitats and thereby

reduce the need for listing species as

threatened or endangered.

DATES: Information packages describing

requirements for participation in this

program will be available upon request

until November 2, 2000. Pre-proposals

are due to the address below by

November 3, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Parties interested in this

program should request an information

package from: Species at Risk Program,

U.S. Geological Survey, 12201 Sunrise

Valley Drive, MS 301, Reston, VA 20192

ATTN: Dr. Al Sherk.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr.

Al Sherk, Species at Risk Program, U.S.

Geological Survey, 12201 Sunrise Valley

Drive, MS 301, Reston, VA 20192;

Al_Sherk@usgs.gov; or 703–648–4076.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Purpose

Species at Risk (SAR) is a program

that develops scientific information on

the status of sensitive species or groups

of species, particularly with respect to

the relationship of species abundance

and distribution to habitat conditions

and environmental stresses. The basic

purpose of SAR is to generate

information that allows the

development of conservation

agreements, action plans, management

alternatives, etc., to provide for the

protection of species and their habitats

and thereby preclude the need for

listing species as threatened or

endangered.

The initiative provides an opportunity

for scientists to participate through

survey and research activities. Projects

are specifically intended to be of short

duration and should seek to optimize

partnerships with Federal agencies,

states, universities, and the private

sector. Successful SAR projects are often

conducted by investigators who have

identified key, small but critical gaps in

our biological knowledge. Projects

provide resource managers, regulators,

and private landowners with usable

information for which prudent resource

management decisions can be based.

Projects must be new, self-contained

work designed to be completed,

including the final report, within 18

months.

Projects must focus on species or

groups of species for which there is

concern but limited information.

Projects that focus on groups of species

within the same habitat or ecosystem

are encouraged. Projects should identify

or develop new information that will

reduce the need for a formal listing

under the Endangered Species Act of

1972, as amended. Regional and

national offices of the U.S. Fish and

Wildlife Service have provided a list of

species or groups and their management

needs. Projects must focus on these

species or groups and demonstrate how

they support management needs.

Principal investigators are encouraged

to communicate directly with USFWS

regional contacts before project

submission.

This program is conducted in

furtherance of the Secretary’s

obligations under the Fish and Wildlife

Act of 1956 (16 U.S.C. 742a–742j, as

amended) and the Fish and Wildlife

Coordination Act (16 U.S.C. 661–667e,

as amended).

B. Background

The U.S. Geological Survey gathers

and analyzes biological information and

serves as an information clearinghouse,

providing broad access to the widest

possible range of factual data on the

status and trends of the Nation’s biota

and the potential effects of land

management choices. This information

serves public and private landowners

who are interested in sustaining

biological resources. It also provides

understanding to help avoid conflicts

that can both impede development and

degrade natural habitats.

The Species at Risk Program will

develop scientific information and

alternatives to assist Federal, State, and

other land managers in their decisions

regarding the protection of sensitive

species and habitats.

C. Availability of Funds

Through this program, pre-proposals

are invited for funding in Fiscal Year

2001 from non-Federal research,

scientific or technical organizations.

Total funding anticipated for the fiscal

year is approximately 370,000. Monies

will be provided to successful

applicants on a competitive basis. There

is no minimum project cost; the

maximum project cost will be $80,000.

Funds for this program are not

currently available. Funding of the

program is contingent on a Fiscal Year

2001 appropriation.

D. Eligibility Requirements

Under the terms specified in the

information package, pre-proposals will

be accepted from State agencies, private

and industry groups, academic

institutions, and Native American

Tribes and Nations. Pre-proposals will

be evaluated in light of their relevance

to an identified management need,

partnership opportunities, potential for

providing useful information to resource

managers, potential for conservation

agreements, possibilities for cost

sharing, and demonstration of

successful completion within 18 months

of date of initiation. Possible selectees

will then be invited to submit a full

project proposal for scientific peer

review and consideration of funding.

E. Application Process

Parties interested in participating in

this program should request an

information package that will include

detailed application forms, proposal

format requirements, etc., from:

Mail: Species at Risk Program, U.S.

Geological Survey, 12201 Sunrise Valley

Drive, MS 301, Reston, VA 20192, Attn:

Dr. Al Sherk

or E-Mail: AlSherk@usgs.gov

or Call: (703)648–4076.

F. Dates

Notice of interest in this program

must be received by November 2, 2000.

Susan D. Haseltine,

Assocaite Chief Biologist for Science.

[FR Doc. 00–24593 Filed 9–25–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310–Y7–M

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[OR–104–1430–DE: GPO–0304]

Final Environmental Impact Statement

(FEIS)—North Bank Habitat

Management Area (NBHMA)

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management,

Department of the Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Availability.

SUMMARY: Notice is given that the

Bureau of Land Management (BLM),