Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 218 / Thursday, November 9, 2000 / Notices 67441

public affairs sections at U.S. embassies

overseas for their review, with the goal

of reducing the time it takes to get posts’

comments for the Bureau’s grants

review process.

Diversity, Freedom and Democracy

Guidelines

Pursuant to the Bureau’s authorizing

legislation, programs must maintain a

non-political character and should be

balanced and representative of the

diversity of American political, social,

and cultural life. ‘‘Diversity’’ should be

interpreted in the broadest sense and

encompass differences including, but

not limited to ethnicity, race, gender,

religion, geographic location, socioeconomic status, and physical

challenges. Applicants are strongly

encouraged to adhere to the

advancement of this principle both in

program administration and in program

content. Please refer to the review

criteria under the ‘‘Support for

Diversity’’ section for specific

suggestions on incorporating diversity

into the total proposal. Public Law 104–

319 provides that ‘‘in carrying out

programs of educational and cultural

exchange in countries whose people do

not fully enjoy freedom and

democracy,’’ the Bureau ‘‘shall take

appropriate steps to provide

opportunities for participation in such

programs to human rights and

democracy leaders of such countries.’’

Public Law 106–113 requires that the

governments of the countries described

above do not have inappropriate

influence in the selection process.

Proposals should reflect advancement of

these goals in their program contents, to

the full extent deemed feasible.

Review Process

The Bureau will acknowledge receipt

of all proposals and will review them

for technical eligibility. Proposals will

be deemed ineligible if they do not fully

adhere to the guidelines stated herein

and in the Solicitation Package. All

eligible proposals will be evaluated by

independent external reviewers.

The independent external reviewers,

who will be professional, scholarly, or

educational experts with appropriate

regional and thematic knowledge, will

provide recommendations and

assessments for consideration by the

Bureau. The Bureau will consider for

funding only those proposals that are

recommended for further consideration

by the independent external reviewers.

Proposals will also be reviewed by

Department staff as well as by the

officers of the Office of the Coordinator

of United States Assistance to the New

Independent States and the public

diplomacy sections of U.S. Embassies.

Proposals may also be reviewed by the

Office of the Legal Advisor or by other

offices of the U.S. Department of State.

Funding decisions will be made at the

discretion of the Assistant Secretary for

Educational and Cultural Affairs. Final

technical authority for assistance

awards (grants or cooperative

agreements) resides with the Bureau’s

Grants Officer.

Review Criteria

All reviewers will use the criteria

below to reach funding

recommendations and decisions.

Technically eligible applications will be

competitively reviewed according to

these criteria, which are not rankordered or weighted.

(1) Broad Significance of Institutional

Objectives: Project objectives should

have significant but realistically

anticipated ongoing consequences for

the participating institutions that will

also contribute to the transition of the

New Independent States to market

economies and democratic societies.

(2) Clarity and Relevance of Project

Objectives to Institutional Needs:

Proposed projects should outline clearly

formulated objectives that relate

specifically to the needs of the

participating institutions.

(3) Creativity and Feasibility of

Project Implementation: Plan to achieve

project objectives should demonstrate

the feasibility of doing so during a threeyear period by utilizing and reinforcing

exchange activities realistically and

with creativity.

(4) Institutional Commitment to

Cooperation: Proposals should

demonstrate significant understanding

at each institution of its own needs and

capacities and of the needs and

capacities of its proposed partner(s),

together with a strong commitment,

during and after the period of grant

activity, to cooperate with one another

in the mutual pursuit of institutional

objectives.

(5) Project Evaluation: Proposals

should outline a methodology for

determining the degree to which a

project meets its objectives, both while

the project is underway and at its

conclusion. The final project evaluation

should include an external component

and should provide observations about

the project’s influence within the

participating institutions as well as their

surrounding communities or societies.

(6) Cost-effectiveness: Administrative

and program costs should be reasonable

and appropriate with cost-sharing

provided by all participating

institutions within the context of their

respective capacities and as a reflection

of their commitment to cooperate with

one another in pursuing project

objectives. Although indirect costs are

eligible for inclusion among costs to be

contributed by the applicant,

contributions should not be limited to

indirect costs.

(7) Support of Diversity: Proposals

should demonstrate substantive support

of the Bureau’s policy on diversity by

explaining how issues of diversity relate

to project objectives for all institutional

partners and how these issues will be

addressed during project

implementation. Proposals should also

outline the institutional profile of each

participating institution with regard to

issues of diversity.

Notice

The terms and conditions published

in this RFP are binding and may not be

modified by any Bureau representative.

Explanatory information provided by

the Bureau that contradicts published

language will not be binding. Issuance

of the RFP does not constitute an award

commitment on the part of the

Government. The Bureau reserves the

right to reduce, revise, or increase

proposal budgets in accordance with the

needs of the program and the

availability of funds. Awards made will

be subject to periodic reporting and

evaluation requirements.

Notification

Final awards cannot be made until

funds have been appropriated by

Congress, allocated and committed

through internal Bureau procedures.

Dated: November 1, 2000.

Helena Kane Finn,

Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau

of Educational and Cultural Affairs,

Department of State.

[FR Doc. 00–28673 Filed 11–8–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4710–11–U

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Coast Guard

[USCG 2000–8229]

Deepwater Capability Replacement

Project: Programmatic Environmental

Impact Statement

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of intent and request for

public comments; public meeting

notice.

SUMMARY: The Coast Guard announces

its intent to prepare a draft

Programmatic Environmental Impact

Statement (PEIS) for the development of

67442 Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 218 / Thursday, November 9, 2000 / Notices

a proposed action to modernize and

replace the aging and technologically

obsolete Coast Guard assets required for

Deepwater missions. The Deepwater

Capability Replacement Project

(Deepwater Project) has been initiated to

ensure the timely acquisition over the

next few decades of appropriate assets

for Deepwater missions. The Coast

Guard seeks public and agency input on

the scope of the PEIS. Specifically, the

Coast Guard requests input on any

environmental concerns that the public

may have related to existing Deepwater

assets, the proposal to replace and/or

modernize these assets, sources of

relevant data or information, and any

suggested analysis methods for

inclusion in the PEIS.

DATES: Comments must reach the Coast

Guard on or before January 19, 2001.

Open houses will be held on the

following dates:

Oakland, CA, November 27, 2000 from

2 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Seattle, WA, November 28, 2000 from 2

p.m. to 8 p.m.

Juneau, AK, November 30, 2000 from 2

p.m. to 8 p.m.

Cleveland, OH, December 4, 2000 from

2 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Cambridge, MA, December 5, 2000 from

2 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Portsmouth, VA, December 7, 2000 from

2 p.m. to 8 p.m.

New Orleans, LA, December 11, 2000

from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Miami, FL, December 12, 2000 from 2

p.m. to 8 p.m.

Honolulu, HI, December 14, 2000 from

2 p.m. to 8 p.m.

ADDRESSES: The open houses will be

held at the following locations:

Oakland, CA—Marriott at City Center,

Room 210, 1001 Broadway

Seattle, WA—Seattle Center, Shaw

Room, Northwest Rooms Building,

305 Harrison Street

Juneau, AK—Centennial Hall

Convention Center, Egan Room, 101

Egan Drive

Cleveland, OH—Cleveland State

University, University Center, Room

364, 2121 Euclid Avenue

Cambridge, MA—Radisson Hotel,

Ballroom, 777 Memorial Drive

Portsmouth, VA—Tidewater

Community College, Waterfront

Room, 7000 College Drive

New Orleans, LA—New Orleans Public

Library, Smith Branch, 6301 Canal

Blvd

Miami, FL—West Dade Regional

Library, Auditorium, 9445 SW 24th

Street

Honolulu, HI—Honolulu Maritime

Center, Pacific Room, Pier 7 Honolulu

Harbor

Comments may be submitted in

several ways. To make sure your

comments and related material are not

entered more than once in the docket,

please submit them by only one of the

following means:

(1) By mail to the Docket Management

Facility (USCG–2000–8229), US

Department of Transportation, Room

PL–401, 400 Seventh Street SW,

Washington, DC 20590–0001.

(2) By delivery to Room PL–401 on

the Plaza Level of the Nassif Building,

400 Seventh Street SW, Washington, DC

between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday

through Friday, except Federal holidays.

The telephone number is 202–366–

9329.

(3) By fax to the Docket Management

Facility at 202–493–2251.

(4) Electronically through the Web

Site for the Docket Management System

at http://dms.dot.gov.

The Docket Management Facility

maintains the public docket for this

notice. Comments will become part of

this docket and will be available for

inspection or copying at Room PL–401,

located on the Plaza Level of the Nassif

Building at the above address between

9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through

Friday, except Federal holidays. You

may also view this docket, including

this notice and comments, on the

Internet at http://dms.dot.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If

you have questions about the project,

you may contact LCDR Eric Johnson,

Deepwater Environmental & Facilities

Planner, by phone at (202) 267–1665 or

by e-mail at ejohnson@comdt.uscg.mil

or at the Coast Guard’s Deepwater EIS

Web Page at http://

www.deepwaterEIS.com. For questions

on viewing, or submitting material to

the docket, contact Dorothy Beard,

Chief, Dockets, DOT, 202–366–9329.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Request for Comments

We encourage you to submit

comments and related materials on this

notice. Persons submitting comments

should include their names and

addresses, identify this notice (USCG–

2000–8229), and the reasons for each

comment. You may submit your

comments and materials by mail, hand

delivery, fax, or electronic means to the

Docket Management Facility at the

address given under ADDRESSES; but

please submit your comments and

materials by only one means. If you

submit them by mail or hand delivery,

submit them in an unbound format, no

larger than 81⁄2 by 11 inches, suitable for

copying and electronic filing. If you

submit them by mail and would like to

know if they reached the Facility, please

enclose a stamped, self-addressed

postcard or envelope. We will consider

all comments and materials received

during the comment period. For

additional information about this notice

or the Programmatic Environmental

Impact Statement, contact Joan Lang,

Deepwater Project NEPA Coordinator

(under contract to the Coast Guard),

202–267–0284, or via email at

jlang@comdt.uscg.mil.

Open Houses

The Coast Guard intends to hold open

houses at the times and locations listed

in DATES and ADDRESSES. Comments on

issues that the public feels should be

included in the Programmatic

Environmental Impact Statement will be

accepted at these meetings.

Background Information

Deepwater missions are defined as

Coast Guard operations that occur at

least 50 nautical miles offshore, or

require an extended on-scene presence,

long transit times to reach the

operations area, and/or the forward

deployment of forces. The Coast Guard’s

current Deepwater assets—medium- and

high-endurance cutters, fixed and rotary

wing aircraft and their supporting

command, control and communications

systems—are aging and technologically

obsolete. The average age of the Coast

Guard’s Deepwater cutters is 27 years,

making this force older than 40 of the

world’s 42 major naval fleets. While

some cutters have received mid-life

upgrades, during the next ten to fifteen

years all of our assets will reach the end

of their projected service life. As a result

of this age, Coast Guard assets lack the

ability and technology necessary for

efficient and effective mission

performance.

The Deepwater Project is the Coast

Guard’s answer, ensuring the timely

acquisition of appropriate resources to

remedy the aging fleet dilemma and

meeting deepwater mission

requirements. These Deepwater

missions include search and rescue,

maritime law enforcement (MLE,

including drug LE, living marine

resources LE and alien migrant

interdiction), national defense and

marine environmental protection.

Detailed information about the Project is

included in the Appendix to this notice.

It may also be found at the Project’s web

site at http://www.uscg.mil/deepwater.

Proposed Action

In accordance with the National

Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of

1969 (Section 102[2][c]), as

implemented by the Council on

Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 218 / Thursday, November 9, 2000 / Notices 67443

Environmental Quality regulations (40

CFR Parts 1500–1508), Department of

Transportation (DOT) Order 5610.1C

(Procedures for Considering

Environmental Impacts), and Coast

Guard Policy (NEPA: Implementing

Procedures and Policy for Considering

Environmental Impacts, COMDTINST

M16475.1C), the Coast Guard intends to

prepare a Programmatic Environmental

Impact Statement (PEIS) on the

Deepwater Project. The purpose of a

PEIS is to develop a high-level approach

and direction for implementing a broad

policy or program. The Deepwater

Project meets those criteria.

NEPA requires federal agencies to

consider all significant aspects of

environmental impacts that may result

from a proposed action, to inform the

public of potential impacts and

alternatives, and to facilitate public

involvement in the assessment process.

The core of the impact assessment

process is the environmental impact

statement, or EIS. The EIS must include,

among other topics, discussions of the

purpose and need for the proposed

action, a description of alternatives, and

an evaluation of the environmental

impacts of the proposed action and

alternatives. Once an EIS is completed,

the lead agency prepares a record of

decision (ROD), a legally binding

document that identifies the agency’s

decision including any mitigation

measures required to offset impacts.

A programmatic EIS is prepared on a

‘‘broad federal action such as the

adoption of new agency programs’’.

When preparing a PEIS, the agency may

evaluate the program based on common

geographic locations, similarities of

impacts, or stages of development.

Because no site-specific homeporting

and bedding down decisions—

allocating assets and staff to Coast

Guard facilities—will be made during

this stage of the project, the PEIS is

expected to facilitate and expedite the

preparation of subsequent projectspecific NEPA documents.

The PEIS will address the general

environmental impacts of each of the

three alternative systems being

considered for replacement of the

current Deepwater system, and the no

action alternative, while subsequent

analyses will address specific

implementing actions, such as

homeporting new ships and aircraft.

Hence, as the first-tier EIS, the PEIS

would cover general issues in a broader

program-oriented analysis. Subsequent

NEPA documentation will concentrate

on the issues specific to the action being

considered.

The environment to be affected by the

proposed action may be the entire

marine and terrestrial coastal region of

the continental US, Alaska, Hawaii, the

Caribbean, Guam, and the Great Lakes

where the Coast Guard has Deepwater

facilities, as well as the areas where

Deepwater missions are conducted.

Deepwater missions are defined as Coast

Guard operations that occur at least 50

nautical miles offshore, or require an

extended on-scene presence, long transit

times to reach the operations area, and/

or the forward deployment of forces.

The PEIS will discuss the general

aspects of the affected environment,

such as air quality, water quality,

terrestrial and marine vegetation and

wildlife, endangered species and their

habitat, wetlands, historic and cultural

resources, public safety, and land use.

The PEIS will compare the potential

environmental impacts and benefits that

would result from each of the three

alternatives and the no action

alternative. For the purposes of the

PEIS, the location of these assets

throughout the country will be

designated on a regional level. As

required by NEPA, the Coast Guard also

will analyze the ‘‘no action’’ alternative

as a baseline for comparing the impacts

of the proposed project.

The Coast Guard encourages public

participation in the PEIS process.

Presently, the Coast Guard is conducting

a nationwide public scoping process to

help identify environmental issues to be

addressed in the PEIS. The scoping

period will be 45 days starting with

publication of this notice in the Federal

Register. The public and agencies will

be able to select from a variety of

outreach tools to learn about the

Deepwater Project. Multiple methods for

providing comments will be available,

including mail, Internet, and fax. These

opportunities will be widely publicized

through multiple news media and the

Deepwater Project EIS web site at http:/

/www.DeepwaterEIS.com. Information

on the Coast Guard’s Deepwater mission

can be found at http://www.uscg.mil/

deepwater. In addition, the Coast Guard

will conduct open houses according to

the schedule provided in this Federal

Register notice (see DATES). This process

is designed to ensure the public

participation process is accessible to all

interested parties and that it meets the

goal established by Executive Order

12898 (Environmental Justice) by

including all affected low-income and

minority populations in the public

participation process.

In order to obtain maximum public

input and participation, the USCG will

release all relevant information allowed

by law. Some procurement sensitive and

other information may be withheld from

public documents. To the fullest extent

possible, the USCG will segregate any

procurement sensitive information that

is exempt from disclosure under the

Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) into

an appendix to facilitate public review

of the remainder of the NEPA

document. If segregation of information

exempt from FOIA would leave

essentially meaningless material, the

USCG will withhold portions of the

NEPA document or the entire NEPA

document from the public. However, the

USCG shall circulate the complete

NEPA document including procurement

sensitive information withheld from

public review, to the USCG decision

makers, in accordance with the CEQ,

DOT and USCG Regulations.

Following the scoping process, the

Coast Guard will prepare a Draft PEIS.

Unless the USCG finds that the entire

NEPA document must be withheld from

public review, a notice of availability

will be published in the Federal

Register and national newspapers when

the Draft PEIS is available. Public

notices will be mailed or e-mailed to

those on the PEIS distribution list. This

period will provide the public with an

opportunity to review the document and

to offer appropriate comments. Public

hearings may be held during the review

period to capture verbal comments on

the Draft PEIS. If public hearings will be

held, the time and place of the hearings

will be announced in the Federal

Register and other media.

Unless the USCG finds that the entire

NEPA document must be withheld from

public review, the comments received

during the Draft PEIS review period will

be published and made available in the

Final PEIS. A notice of availability of

the Final PEIS will be published in the

Federal Register and in other public

notices. NEPA provides for a 30-day

comment period after publication of the

Final PEIS, during which the public

may comment on the adequacy of

responses to comments and the Final

PEIS. After that time, a ROD detailing

the Coast Guard’s decision identifying

the selected alternative will be prepared

and published in the Federal Register.

The entire ROD will be available for

public review regardless of whether

parts or all of the DEIS and FEIS must

be withheld from the public.

Dated: November 3, 2000.

R.J. Casto,

RADM, USCG, Assistant Commandant for

Acquisition.

Appendix

The Coast Guard Deepwater Capabilities

Replacement Project

The Coast Guard operates in inland,

coastal, and Deepwater maritime regions.

67444 Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 218 / Thursday, November 9, 2000 / Notices

Deepwater missions are defined as operations

that occur at least 50 nautical miles offshore,

or require an extended on-scene presence,

long transit times to reach the operations

area, and/or the forward deployment of

forces. Deepwater missions typically require

Coast Guard personnel to be involved in

long-term, continuous missions, often with

deployments away from home stations for

several months on end. These missions may

also take place in severe environments from

arctic to tropical, 24 hours a day, wherever

the Coast Guard’s presence is required.

Overall, the Coast Guard performs fourteen

statutorily mandated missions in the

Deepwater regions around the globe. These

fall into four main categories: Maritime Law

Enforcement; Maritime Safety; National

Defense; and Marine Environmental

Protection.

Maritime Law Enforcement includes:

Living marine resources enforcement, drug

interdiction, alien migrant interdiction and

general law enforcement.

Maritime Safety includes: Search and

rescue (SAR) and the International Ice Patrol.

National Defense includes: General

defense operations, maritime intercept

operations, deployed port security and

defense operations, environmental defense

operations, and peacetime military

engagement.

Marine Environmental Protection includes:

Maritime pollution enforcement and

response, lightering zone enforcement and

foreign vessel inspection.

In 1999, an Interagency Task Force on

United States Coast Guard Roles and

Missions was appointed to ‘‘provide advice

and recommendations regarding the

appropriate roles and missions for the Coast

Guard through the year 2020,’’ with special

attention to the Deepwater missions. The

Task Force’s findings affirmed that the Coast

Guard must remain a military, multi-mission,

maritime service in the 21st century to meet

national policies and statutory mandates. The

Task Force further recommended that the

Coast Guard forces possess inherent

operational flexibility and adaptability,

including the ability to operate alongside the

forces and personnel of other US armed

services, US civilian agencies, and nations. In

addition, the Coast Guard must strive to be

cost effective across all missions.

The Coast Guard’s Deepwater ships and

aircraft (assets) are aging and technologically

obsolete. This equipment was originally

acquired from the early 1960s to the mid

1980s. The average age of the Deepwater

cutters is 27 years old, making this force

older than 36 of the world’s 41 major naval

fleets. Although some cutters received

upgrades, during the next 10 years these

cutters will reach the ends of their projected

service lives.

Consequently, Deepwater assets lack

fundamental capabilities and technologies

necessary for efficient and effective mission

performance. Examples include poor sensors

and night operations capability, inadequate

communication systems among Coast Guard

units and forces of other services, agencies

and navies of other countries. In addition,

antiquated technology increases operating

and maintenance hours and costs, placing

greater demands on the logistics

infrastructure.

[FR Doc. 00–28779 Filed 11–8–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910–15–P

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Coast Guard

[USCGD08–00–025]

Lower Mississippi River Waterway

Safety Advisory Committee

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of meeting.

SUMMARY: The Lower Mississippi River

Waterway Safety Advisory Committee

(LMRWSAC) will meet to discuss

various issues relating to navigational

safety on the Lower Mississippi River

and related waterways. The meeting

will be open to the public.

DATES: LMRWSAC will meet on

Thursday, December 7, 2000, from 9

a.m. to 12 noon. This meeting may close

early if all business is finished. Written

material and requests to make oral

presentations should reach the Coast

Guard on or before November 20, 2000.

Requests to have a copy of your material

distributed to each member of the

committee should reach the Coast Guard

on or before November 20, 2000.

ADDRESSES: LMRWSAC will meet at the

Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, 900

Center Blvd, New Orleans, LA Hall D,

Room 338 during the International

Workboat Show. Send written material

and requests to make oral presentations

to LT(jg), Zeital Merchant, Committee

Administrator, c/o Commanding Officer,

Marine Safety New Orleans, 1615

Poydras Steet, New Orleans, LA 70112.

This notice is available on the Internet

at http://dms.dot.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For

questions on this notice, contact LT(jg)

Zeita Merchant, Committee

Administrator, telephone (504) 589–

4222, Fax (504) 589–4241.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Notice of

this meeting is given under the Federal

Advisory Committee Act, 5 U.S.C. App.

2.

Agenda of Meeting

Lower Mississippi River Waterway

Safety Advisory Committee (LMRWSAC)

The agenda includes the following:

(1) Introduction of committee members.

(2) Election of Committee Chairman &

Vice Chairman

(3) Remarks by RADM P. Pluta,

Committee Sponsor.

(a). Establishment of a working group to

develop strategic planning to guide

LMRWSAC.

(4) Approval of the April 26, 2000

minutes.

(5) Old Business:

Captain of the Port status report

VTS update report

PORTS update report

River crossing dredging ranges side

markings

(6) New Business:

(7) Next meeting.

(8) Adjournment.

Procedural

The meeting is open to the public.

Please note that the meeting may close

early if all business is finished. At the

Chair’s discretion, members of the

public may make oral presentations

during the meeting. If you would like to

make an oral presentation at the

meeting, please notify the Committee

Administrator no later than November

20, 2000. Written material for

distribution at the meeting should reach

the Coast Guard no later than November

20, 2000. If you would like a copy of

your material distributed to each

member of the committee or

subcommittee in advance of the

meeting, please submit 30 copies to the

Committee Administrator at the location

indicated under Addresses no later than

November 20, 2000.

Information on Services for Individuals

with Disabilities

For information on facilities or

services for individuals with

disabilities, or to request special

assistance at the meetings, contact the

Committee Administrator at the location

indicated under Addresses as soon as

possible.

Dated: October 16, 2000.

Paul J. Pluta,

Rear Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard, Commander,

Eighth Coast Guard District.

[FR Doc. 00–28701 Filed 11–8–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910–15–U

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

Public Notice For Waiver of

Aeronautical Land-use Assurance

Lawrence Municipal Airport, North

Andover, Massachusetts

AGENCY: Federal Aviation

Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Request for Public Comments.

Notice of Intent to Waiver with respect

to land.