77344 Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 238 / Monday, December 11, 2000 / Notices

the same environmental review

questions. Except for site-specific

issues, RUS has found performing

individual environmental reviews for

each CT is needlessly redundant and

does not contribute to better

environmental decisionmaking.

Therefore, RUS plans to address

environmental issues common to all

CTs in this programmatic level analysis.

RUS will perform site-specific

environmental review and analyses on

each proposed CT when presented with

proposed siting alternatives. This tiered

approach is practicable, reduces

paperwork and delays and fosters better

decision making (see 7 CFR 1794.16).

Along with programmatic level

environmental analysis, this document

offers guidance to RUS borrowers on the

scope of actions permissible under 7

CFR 1794.15 that they may take pending

completion by RUS of the second

analytical tier, i.e., the site specific

environmental analysis.

This analysis finds that considering

the similar characteristics of most CTs

and the limited reliable and affordable

alternatives presently available for

addressing rural America’s needs for

peaking supplies of electricity, RUS

should tier its environmental analysis of

CTs because it is practicable, reduces

paperwork and delay, and produces

better decision making. This

programmatic analysis considers

common characteristics and

alternatives. RUS intends to consider on

a case-by-case basis as they arise,

whether the installation or operation of

any particular CT on its proposed site

will result in any significant

environmental impacts. In making such

individual determinations, RUS will

consider the findings and requirements

of other governmental entities having

jurisdiction over the siting,

development and operation of the CT

and reserves the right to update this

programmatic analysis to take

additional information into account or

develop particular elements of the

analysis more fully as may be warranted

in individual circumstances. Ordinarily,

however, the analysis contained in this

document will be incorporated either in

its entirety or in part by reference in any

further RUS analysis of particular CT

projects.

In determining which loan applicant

activities may proceed in connection

with CTs before RUS completes the

second tier of its environmental review,

RUS has determined that 7 CFR 1794.15

permits an applicant to take all

appropriate actions necessary to assure

timely acquisition of CTs. Generally,

during this period, applicants will take

actions that do not have an adverse

impact and do not preclude the search

for alternatives, e.g., site acquisition,

executing a purchase contract for a CT,

making manufacturer’s progress

payments, and site planning and design.

As contrasted with site development or

project construction, which may have

adverse environmental consequences,

these purchase, planning and design

activities clearly do not. Nor do the

expenditures for these permissible

activities preclude the search for

alternatives. CTs are fungible, in limited

supply, and have a broad worldwide

market. In the unlikely event that an

applicant can find no environmentally

suitable site on which to locate a CT or

otherwise changes its plans,

commercially reasonable alternatives

exist to effectively ‘‘unwind’’ the

transaction in the case of a CT that has

not yet been installed.

RUS believes that in the event that the

proposed CT project is not approved by

the Administrator, the amount of

unrecoverable losses which an applicant

would consequently absorb would not

jeopardize the Government’s security

interest in existing assets or otherwise

compromise the objectivity of RUS

review. In such an eventuality, RUS

expects that even in a worse case

scenario the applicant would incur only

a modest cancellation charge as the

manufacturer could reasonably be

expected to sell the CT to another

purchaser for a similar price. Given the

current demand for CTs, at least for

some time to come, it appears that a

proactive applicant may be able to

assign its purchase rights or otherwise

transfer its rights in the CT to a third

party and completely avoid losses.

Accordingly, these pre-installation

expenditures will not compromise RUS

objectivity.

In a deregulated electricity market,

failure to take prudent steps to acquire

reasonably priced, reliable power

supply resources in a timely manner

exposes RUS borrowers, Rural

Electrification Act (RE Act)

beneficiaries, and RUS to unacceptably

high levels of market risk and thereby

frustrates the objectives of the RE Act.

This tiered analysis and regulation

interpretation is fully consistent with

NEPA and eliminates unnecessary

procedural delays, costs and risks.

This programmatic environmental

assessment can be reviewed at the

headquarters of RUS at the address

provided above. The document is also

available for public inspection on the

RUS website at: www.usda.gov/rus/

water/ees/ea.htm.

Questions and comments should be

sent to RUS at the address provided.

RUS will accept questions and

comments on its proposed action for at

least 30 days from the date of

publication of this notice. RUS will take

no final action related to this proposal

until after notification of that action is

published in the Federal Register.

Dated: December 1, 2000.

Lawrence R. Wolfe,

Acting Director, Engineering and

Environmental Staff.

[FR Doc. 00–31179 Filed 12–8–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3410–15–P

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Bureau of Export Administration

International Import Certificate

ACTION: Proposed collection; comment

request.

SUMMARY: The Department of

Commerce, as part of its continuing

effort to reduce paperwork and

respondent burden, invites the general

public and other Federal agencies to

take this opportunity to comment on

proposed and/or continuing information

collections, as required by the

Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995,

Public Law 104–13 (44 U.S.C.

3506(c)(2)(A)).

DATES: Written comments must be

submitted on or before February 9, 2001.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments

to Madeleine Clayton, Departmental

Clearance Officer, Department of

Commerce, Room 6086, 14th and

Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington

DC 20230.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Requests for additional information or

copies of the information collection

instrument(s) and instructions should

be directed to Dawnielle Battle,

Department of Commerce, Room 6883,

14th & Constitution Avenue, NW.,

Washington, DC, 20230.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Abstract

The United States and several other

countries have undertaken to increase

the effectiveness of their respective

controls over international trade in

strategic commodities by means of an

Import Certificate procedure. For the

U.S. importer, this procedure provides

that, where required by the exporting

country with respect to a specific

transaction, the importer certifies to the

U.S. Government that he/she will

import specific commodities into the

United States and will not reexport such

commodities except in accordance with

the export control regulations of the

Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 238 / Monday, December 11, 2000 / Notices 77345

United States. The U.S. Government, in

turn, certifies that such representations

have been made.

Data

OMB Number: 0694–0017.

Form Number: Form BXA–645P,

International Import Certificate.

Type of Review: Regular submission

for extension of a currently approved

collection.

Affected Public: Individuals,

businesses or other for-profit and notfor-profit institutions.

Estimated Number of Respondents:

1,008.

Estimated Time Per Response: 16

minutes per response.

Estimated Total Annual Burden

Hours: 270.

Estimated Total Annual Cost: No

start-up capital expenditures.

Request for Comments

Comments are invited on: (a) Whether

the proposed collection of information

is necessary for the proper performance

of the functions of the agency, including

whether the information shall have

practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the

agency’s estimate of the burden

(including hours and cost) of the

proposed collection of information; (c)

ways to enhance the quality, utility, and

clarity of the information to be

collected; and (d) ways to minimize the

burden of the collection of information

on respondents, including through the

use of automated collection techniques

or other forms of information

technology.

Comments submitted in response to

this notice will be summarized and/or

included in the request for OMB

approval of this information collection;

they will also become a matter of public

record.

Dated: December 6, 2000.

Madeleine Clayton,

Departmental Clearance Officer, Office of the

Chief Information Officer.

[FR Doc. 00–31405 Filed 12–8–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3510–33–U

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Bureau of Export Administration

One-time Report for Foreign Software

or Technology Eligible for De Minimis

Exclusion

ACTION: Notice and request for

comments.

SUMMARY: The Department of

Commerce, as part of its continuing

effort to reduce paperwork and

respondent burden, invites the general

public and other Federal agencies to

take this opportunity to comment on

proposed and/or continuing information

collections, as required by the

Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995,

Public Law 104–13 (44 U.S.C.

3506(c)(2)(A)).

DATES: Written comments must be

submitted on or before February 9, 2001.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments

to Madeleine Clayton, Departmental

Forms Clearance Officer, Department of

Commerce, Room 6086, 14th and

Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington,

DC 20230.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Requests for additional information or

copies of the information collection

instrument(s) and instructions should

be directed to Dawnielle Battle,

Management Analyst, Department of

Commerce, Room 6883, 14th &

Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington,

DC 20230.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Abstract

Section 734.4 exempts from the EAR

reexports of foreign technology

commingled with or drawn from

controlled U.S. origin technology valued

at 10% or less of the total value of the

foreign technology. However, persons

must submit a one-time report for the

foreign software or technology to BXA

prior to reliance upon this de minimis

exclusion.

Method of Collection

Exporters intending to rely on the de

minimis exclusion for foreign software

and technology commingled with U.S.

software and technology must file a onetime report for the foreign software or

technology.

Data

OMB Number: 0694–0101.

Form Number: None.

Type of Review: Regular submission

for extension of a currently approved

collection.

Affected Public: Individuals,

businesses or other for-profit and notfor-profit institutions.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 7.

Estimated Time Per Response: 25

hours.

Estimated Total Annual Burden

Hours: 175.

Estimated Total Annual Cost: No

start-up capital expenditures.

Request for Comments

Comments are invited on: (a) Whether

the proposed collection of information

is necessary for the proper performance

of the functions of the agency, including

whether the information shall have

practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the

agency’s estimate of the burden

(including hours and cost) of the

proposed collection of information; (c)

ways to enhance the quality, utility, and

clarity of the information to be

collected; and (d) ways to minimize the

burden of the collection of information

on respondents, including through the

use of automated collection techniques

or other forms of information

technology. Comments submitted in

response to this notice will be

summarized and/or included in the

request for OMB approval of this

information collection; they will also

become a matter of public record.

Dated: December 6, 2000.

Madeleine Clayton,

Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Office

of the Chief Information Officer.

[FR Doc. 00–31406 Filed 12–8–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3510–JT–U

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration,

Commerce

Export Trade Certificate of Review

ACTION: Notice of Issuance of an

Amended Export Trade Certificate of

Review, Application No. 89–8A016.

SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce

issued an amended Export Trade

Certificate of Review to The Geothermal

Energy Association (‘‘GEA’’) on

November 13, 2000. Notice of issuance

of the original Certificate was published

in the Federal Register on February 9,

1990 (55 FR 4647).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Morton Schnabel, Director, Office of

Export Trading Company Affairs,

International Trade Administration,

(202) 482–5131. This is not a toll-free

number.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Title III of

the Export Trading Company Act of

1982 (15 U.S.C. Sections 4001–21)

authorizes the Secretary of Commerce to

issue Export Trade Certificates of

Review. The regulations implementing

Title III are found at 15 CFR part 325

(1998).

The Office of Export Trading

Company Affairs (‘‘OETCA’’) is issuing

this notice pursuant to 15 CFR 325.6(b),

which requires the Department of

Commerce to publish a summary of a

Certificate in the Federal Register.

Under Section 305(a) of the Act and 15

CFR 325.11(a), any person aggrieved by

the Secretary’s determination may,