Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 55 / Friday, March 21, 1997 / Notices 13601

valued at $8 billion for telecom

equipment and $20 billion for

telecommunications services in 1996.

The Deputy Assistant Secretary and his

delegation will meet with senior

officials from the Italian Ministry of

Communications to obtain detailed

information on steps the Government of

Italy is taking to introduce

telecommunications services

competition in its market by January

1998. Similarly the delegation will meet

with senior officials from STET/

Telecom Italia to obtain in-depth

information on their privatization plans

and strategic partner search and on

opportunities for U.S. telecom firms in

this regard. Finally participating U.S.

firms will be introduced to qualified

Italian business partners through

mission events and a series of one-onone meetings.

Dated: March 17, 1997.

Myles Denny-Brown,

Project Officer.

[FR Doc. 97–7207 Filed 3–20–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3510–DR–P

National Oceanic and Atmospheric

Administration

[I.D. 031397E]

Endangered Species; Permits

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries

Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),

Commerce.

ACTION: Issuance of scientific research

permit 1028, modification 1 to scientific

research permit 943, and receipt of a

request to modify scientific research

permit 984.

SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that on

February 7, 1997, NMFS issued

modification 1 to scientific research

Permit 943 to Thomas Savoy, of

Connecticut Department of

Environmental Protection (P430A). On

March 6, 1997, NMFS issued scientific

research Permit 1028 to Steve Serfling of

Mote Marine Laboratory (P610A). In

addition, Drs. Mary L. Moser and Steve

W. Ross of the University of North

Carolina (P423B) have requested a

modification to Permit 984. All three

permits authorize the take of listed

shortnose sturgeon for the purpose of

scientific research subject to certain

conditions set forth therein.

DATES: Written comments or requests for

a public hearing on the request to

modify Permit 984 must be received on

or before April 21, 1997, and must be

submitted to the Chief, Endangered

Species Division, Office of Protected

Resources (see ADDRESSES).

ADDRESSES: The applications, permits,

and related documents are available for

review by appointment in the following

offices:

Office of Protected Resources, F/PR3,

NMFS, 1315 East-West Hwy., Room

13307, Silver Spring, MD 20910–3226

(301–713–1401); and

Director, Northeast Region, NMFS,

NOAA, One Blackburn Drive,

Gloucester, MA 01930–2298 (508–281–

9250) for Permit 943; or

Director, Southeast Region, NMFS,

NOAA, 9721 Executive Center Drive, St.

Petersburg, FL 33702–2432 (813–893–

3141) for Permits 984 and 1028.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Notice

was published on September 6, 1996 (61

FR 47113) that an application had been

filed by Thomas Savoy, Connecticut

Department of Environmental Protection

(P430A), for a modification to Permit

943 to take listed shortnose sturgeon as

authorized by the Endangered Species

Act of 1973 (ESA) (16 U.S.C. 1531–

1543) and NMFS regulations governing

listed fish and wildlife permits (50 CFR

parts 217–222).

On February 7, 1997, NMFS issued

modification 1 to Permit 943. The

original permit authorized collecting,

handling, and tagging of 800 shortnose

sturgeon (Acipenser brevirostrum) per

year in the Connecticut River, within

the boundaries of the State of

Connecticut. These sturgeon were

captured, measured, examined, tagged,

and released. Ten of these sturgeon

could receive a radio or sonic

transmitter. The purpose of the research

is to determine current numbers,

locations, and movement patterns of

shortnose sturgeon within the

Connecticut River. The purpose of the

modification request is to test theories

and gain information on spawning and

migration. The modified permit

authorizes: 1) The collection and release

of 400 adult shortnose sturgeon and 100

juvenile shortnose sturgeon; 2) the

lethal take of 150 shortnose sturgeon

larvae and 150 shortnose sturgeon eggs;

3) the attachment of a radio or sonic

transmitter to 25 of the adult shortnose

sturgeon; and 4) a increase in the study

area to include the CT River in CT and

southern MA downstream of the

Holyoke Dam.

Notice was published on November

22, 1996 (61 FR 59419) that an

application had been filed by Steven

Serfling of Mote Marine Laboratory

(P610A), to take listed shortnose

sturgeon as authorized by the ESA. The

applicant requested a five-year permit to

hold, breed, and conduct research on

the following captive, hatchery-raised,

shortnose sturgeon: 150 fry, 130

fingerlings, 110 juveniles, and 80 adults.

The research would be conducted at the

Mote Marine Laboratory in Florida, to

determine effects of high temperatures,

low oxygen, and salinity on the survival

and growth of shortnose sturgeon.

The applicant also requested

authorization to locate wild shortnose

sturgeon in the St. John’s and St. Marys

rivers in Florida. If any sturgeon are

found, tissue samples would be

collected for toxic compound analysis,

and the fish would be released at the

original location of take. On March 6,

1997, NMFS issued Permit 1028

authorizing the above activities. Captive

shortnose sturgeon must be returned to

the hatchery where they originated, and

may not be released into the wild.

Drs. Mary Moser and Steve W. Ross of

the University of North Carolina

(P423B) have requested a modification

to Permit 984 to take listed shortnose

sturgeon as authorized by the ESA. The

applicants currently have a 2-year

permit to take shortnose sturgeon in

rivers of NC, to determine distribution

and habitat use. The permit authorizes

30 adult shortnose sturgeon to be

weighed, measured, photographed,

tagged, have tissue samples taken, and

be released. Up to 10 of these adult

shortnose sturgeon may be tagged with

an ultrasonic transmitter, and tracked.

Eggs and larvae may be collected to

gather information on spawning sites.

The applicants request two changes to

their permit: 1) To extend the permit

until December 31, 2000; and 2) to

remove authorization to conduct

research in the Alligator and Chowan

Rivers and instead have authorization to

conduct research on the Pee Dee and

Waccamaw Rivers.

Issuance of this permit and modified

permits, as required by the ESA, was

based on a finding that such permit and

modification: (1) Were applied for in

good faith, (2) will not operate to the

disadvantage of the listed species that

are the subject of the permits and

modifications, and (3) are consistent

with the purposes and policies set forth

in section 2 of the ESA.

Those individuals requesting a

hearing on the request to modify Permit

984 should set out the specific reasons

why a hearing on this particular

application would be appropriate (see

ADDRESSES). The holding of such

hearing is at the discretion of the

Assistant Administrator for Fisheries,

NOAA. All statements and opinions

contained in the request summary are

those of the applicant and do not

necessarily reflect the views of NMFS.
13602 Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 55 / Friday, March 21, 1997 / Notices

Dated: March 17, 1997.

Joseph R. Blum,

Acting Chief, Endangered Species Division,

Office of Protected Resources, National

Marine Fisheries Service.

[FR Doc. 97–7208 Filed 3–20–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3510–22–F

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Navy

Notice of Public Hearing for the Joint

Draft Environmental Impact Statement/

Environment Impact Report (EIS/EIR)

for the Disposal and Proposed Reuse

of the Fleet and Industrial Supply

Center, Oakland, CA

SUMMARY: Pursuant to Section 102(2)(c)

of the National Environmental Policy

Act (NEPA) of 1969 as implemented by

the Council on Environmental Quality

regulations (40 CFR Parts 1500–1508)

and the California Environmental

Quality Act (CEQA) Section 15170, the

Department of the Navy, in coordination

with the Port of Oakland, has prepared

and filed with the U.S. Environmental

Protection Agency a joint Draft

Environmental Impact Statement/

Environmental Impact Report (EIS/EIR)

for the Navy disposal and Port of

Oakland reuse of the Navy Fleet and

Industrial Supply Center, Oakland

(FISCO) property and structures in

Oakland, California. The Navy will be

the EIS lead agency for the NEPA

documentation and the Port of Oakland

will be the EIR lead agency for the

CEQA documentation. The Federal

Highway Administration is a

cooperating agency for the EIS and the

California Department of Transportation

is a responsible agency for the EIR.

FISCO is scheduled to close in

September 1998 in compliance with the

1995 Base Realignment and Closure

(BRAC) directive from Congress. The

Draft EIS/EIR addresses the potential

impacts to the environment that may

result from the disposal of FISCO via

special legislation (Public Law 104–106

Section 2867) to the Port of Oakland.

FISCO is within the planning

jurisdiction of the Port of Oakland. The

Port of Oakland Vision 2000 Program

proposes development of ship, railroad,

and truck freight handling facilities to

meet the anticipated demand for

transportation services in the San

Francisco Bay area and northern

California and an intermodal port of

national and international commerce.

The Vision 2000 Program also includes

development of public waterfront access

and marine habitat enhancement.

The joint EIS/EIR provides a program

level analysis supporting both the Navy

NEPA requirements to describe

potential environmental impacts

associated with the property disposal at

FISCO, and the Port of Oakland CEQA

requirements to analyze environmental

impacts of implementing the Vision

2000 Program.

The Draft EIS/EIR evaluates a ‘‘No

Action’’ alternative and four Port of

Oakland reuse alternatives. The ‘‘No

Action’’ alternative would result in the

federal government indefinitely

retaining ownership of the

nonreversionary Navy property. Under

the ‘‘No Action’’ alternative, the Navy

would continue leasing the property to

the Port of Oakland under the existing

50 year lease agreement allowed by

Public Law 102–484.

The four reuse alternatives combine

the common land use components of a

railroad terminal, marine terminals,

public waterfront access and marine

habitat enhancement. As FISCO is

within the Port of Oakland jurisdiction

and is designated as a Port Priority use

area in the April 1996 San Francisco

Bay Conservation and Development

Commission and the Metropolitan

Transportation Commission Seaport

Plan Update, these four alternatives

emphasize port-related activities. The

Port of Oakland Vision 2000 Program

may require additional property outside

the FISCO boundary in order to meet

the objectives of the Program.

ADDRESSES: The Draft EIS/EIR is

available for review at the following

public libraries in the vicinity of FISCO:

(1) West Oakland Public Library, 1801

Adeline Street, Oakland, CA; (2)

Oakland Main Library, 125 14th Street,

Oakland, CA; and (3) Alameda Main

Library, 2264 Santa Clara Avenue,

Alameda, CA. The Navy will conduct a

public hearing on Tuesday, April 8,

1997, at 7:00 p.m., in the West Oakland

Library, 1801 Adeline Street, Oakland,

California. Federal, state and local

agencies, and interested individuals are

invited to be present or represented at

the hearing. Oral comments will be

heard and transcribed by a

stenographer. To assure accuracy of the

record, all comments should be

submitted in writing. All comments,

both oral and written, will become part

of the public record in the study. In the

interest of available time, each speaker

will be asked to limit oral comments to

five minutes. Longer comments should

be summarized at the public hearing

and submitted in writing either at the

hearing or mailed to the address listed

below.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: All

written comments concerning the Draft

EIS/EIR must be submitted no later than

April 22, 1997 to Mr. Gary J. Munekawa

(Code 1852GM), Engineering Field

Activity West, Naval Facilities

Engineering Command, 900 Commodore

Drive, San Bruno, California 94066–

5006, telephone (415) 244–3022, fax

(415) 244–3737. For information

regarding the Port of Oakland Vision

2000 Program or the Draft EIR, please

contact Ms. Loretta Meyer, Port of

Oakland, Environmental Assessment

Section, 530 Water Street, Oakland,

California 94607, telephone (510) 272–

1181, or fax (510) 465–3755. A limited

number of additional Draft EIS/EIR

documents are available on request.

Dated: March 18, 1997.

D.E. Koenig,

LCDR, JAGC, USN, Federal Register Liaison

Officer.

[FR Doc. 97–7238 Filed 3–20–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3810–FF–P

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Multi-Purpose Pilot Plant Campus;

Expression of Interest and Comment

Request

AGENCY: U.S. Department of Energy

(DOE), Savannah River (SR) Office.

ACTION: Expressions of interest.

SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of

Energy (DOE) at SR is requesting

Expressions of Interest and soliciting

comments on several key issues which

could significantly affect the MultiPurpose Pilot Plant Campus (MPPC,

formerly known as ‘‘TNX’’) located at

the Savannah River Site in Aiken, South

Carolina. DOE is in the initial phases of

executing a program to: (1) obtain a

manager, operator, and marketer for the

MPPC as a location for technology

research, development, demonstration

and commercial operations; (2) establish

partnerships with industry to develop

applied technologies for

commercialization; and, (3) manage and

operate Centers of Excellence in the

program areas of soil remediation,

groundwater contamination,

radioecology, and (municipal) solid

waste minimization.

DATES: Due April 7, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Angela M. Sistrunk,

Contract Specialist, U.S. Department of

Energy, Savannah River Operations

Office, Contracts Management Division,

P.O. Box A, Aiken, SC 29802.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Angela M. Sistrunk, Contract Specialist,

(803) 725–8123.