Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 75 / Monday, April 20, 1998 / Notices 19471

agencies, organizations, tribes, and

members of the public for their review

and comment. It is very important that

those interested in the proposed action

participate at that time.

The Forest Service believes, at this

early stage, it is important to give

reviewers notice of several court rulings

related to public participation in the

environmental review process. First,

reviewers of draft environmental impact

statements must structure their

participation in the environmental

review of the proposal so that it is

meaningful and alerts an agency to the

reviewers’ position and contentions.

Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Corp. v.

NRDC, 435 U.S. 519, 553 (1978). Also,

environmental objections that could

have been raised at the draft stage but

that are not raised until after completion

of the final environmental impact

statement may be waived or dismissed

by the courts. City of Angoon v. Hodel,

(9th Circuit, 1986) and Wisconsin

heritages, Inc. v. Harris, 490 F. Supp.

1334, 1338 (E.D. Wis. 1980). Because of

these court rulings, it is very important

that those interested in this proposed

action participate by the close of the 45

day comment period so that substantive

comments and objections are made

available to the Forest Service at a time

when it can meaningfully consider them

and respond to them in the final

environmental impact statement.

To assist the Forest Service in

identifying and considering issues and

concerns on the proposed action,

comments on the draft environmental

impact statement should be as specific

as possible. It is also helpful if

comments refer to specific pages or

chapters of the draft statement.

Comments may also address the

adequacy of the draft environmental

impact statement. Reviewers may wish

to refer to the Council on Environmental

Quality Regulations for implementing

the procedural provisions of the

National Environmental Policy Act at 40

CFR 1503.3 in addressing these points.

The final EIS is scheduled to be

completed in November 1998. In the

final EIS, the Forest Service is required

to respond to comments received during

the comment period that pertain to the

environmental consequences discussed

in the draft EIS and applicable laws,

regulations, and policies considered in

making the decisions on this proposal.

Responsible Official

Jerry B. Reese, Forest Supervisor, is

the responsible official. As responsible

official, he will document the selected

alternative for the East Beaver Creek

Timber Sale and Prescribed Burning

Project EIS and his rationale in a Record

of Decision.

The decision for the East Beaver Creek

Timber Sale and Prescribed Burning

Project will be subject to Forest Service

Appeal Regulations (36 CFR part 215).

Dated: April 9, 1998.

Jerry B. Reese,

Forest Supervisor.

[FR Doc. 98–10270 Filed 4–17–98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3410–11–M

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Grain Inspection, Packers and

Stockyards Administration

Notice of Request for Extension of a

Currently Approved Information

Collection

AGENCY: Grain Inspection, Packers and

Stockyards Administration, USDA.

ACTION: Notice and request for

comments.

SUMMARY: In compliance with the

Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44

U.S.C. Chapter 35), Grain Inspection,

Packers and Stockyards Administration

(GIPSA) is announcing an opportunity

for the public to comment on its

intention to request an extension for a

currently approved information

collection, ‘‘Guidelines for Preparation

of Research Proposal.’’ These guidelines

provide instructions for submitting

grant proposals requesting funds from

GIPSA for research to develop

procedures and equipment that may be

used to measure grain quality.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be

received by June 19, 1998 to be assured

of consideration.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Steve Tanner, Director, Technical

Services Division, USDA, GIPSA, FGIS

Technical Service Center, 10383 N

Executive Hills Boulevard, Kansas City,

MO 64153–1394; telephone (816–891–

0401).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under

Section 4a of the United States Grain

Standards Act (USGSA; 7 U.S.C. 71 et

seq.), GIPSA is responsible for

establishing grain standards which

accurately describe the quality of grain

being traded and for applying these

standards uniformly in a nationwide

inspection system. Section 16e of the

USGSA authorizes the agency to

conduct a continuing research program

for the purpose of developing methods

to improve accuracy and uniformity in

grading grain. To carry out this

authority, GIPSA maintains an external

research program under which research

scientists are invited to submit research

grant proposals that include the

objectives of the proposed work;

application of the proposed work to the

grain inspection system; the procedures,

equipment, personnel, etc., that will be

used to reach the project objectives; the

cost of the project; a schedule for

completion; qualifications of the

investigator and the grantee

organization; and a listing of all other

sources of financial support for the

project. GIPSA utilizes the Guidelines

for Preparation of Research Proposals to

assist grant applicants with preparation

of grant proposals.

Title: Guidelines for Preparation of

Research Proposal.

OMB Number: 0580–0014.

Expiration Date of Approval: August

31, 1998.

Type of Request: Extension of a

currently approved information

collection.

Abstract: The Grain Inspection,

Packers and Stockyards Administration

is interested in supporting research to

develop procedures and equipment that

may be used to measure grain quality.

The Guidelines for Preparation of

Research Proposal provides instructions

for submitting grant proposals

requesting funds from GIPSA for this

purpose.

Estimate of Burden: Public reporting

for this collection of information is

estimated to average 20 hours per

response.

Respondents: Organizations who

employ scientists and engineers who do

research and development on

procedures and equipment which may

be used to provide measurement of

grain quality.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 3.

Estimated Number of Responses per

Respondent: 1.

Estimated Total Annual Burden on

Respondents: 60.

Copies of this information collection

can be obtained from Cathy McDuffie,

the Agency Support Services Specialist,

at (301) 734–5190.

Comments

Comments are invited on: (a) Whether

the collection of information is

necessary for the proper performance of

the functions of the agency, including

whether the information will have

practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the

agency’s estimate of the burden of the

proposed collection of information,

including the validity of the

methodology and assumptions used; (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
19472 Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 75 / Monday, April 20, 1998 / Notices

on those who are to respond, including

through the use of appropriate

automated, electronic, mechanical, or

other technological collection

techniques or forms of information

technology. Comments may be sent to:

Sharon Vassiliades, ARTS, GIPSA,

USDA, STOP 3649, Washington, D.C.

20250–3649; fax 202 720–4628; e-mail

svassili@fgisdc.usda.gov.

All responses to this notice will be

summarized and included in the request

for OMB approval. All comments will

also become a matter of public record.

Dated: April 13, 1998.

James R. Baker,

Administrator, Grain Inspection, Packers and

Stockyards Administration.

[FR Doc. 98–10189 Filed 4–17–98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3410–EN–P

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Grain Inspection, Packers and

Stockyards Administration

Deposting of Stockyards

Notice is hereby given, that the

livestock markets named herein,

originally posted on the dates specified

below as being subject to the Packers

and Stockyards Act, 1921, as amended

(7 U.S.C. 181 et seq.), no longer comes

within the definition of a stockyard

under the Act and are therefore, no

longer subject to the provisions of the

Act.

Facility No., name, and location of stockyard Date of posting

IA–153 North Iowa Livestock Exchange, Ltd., Garner, Iowa ................................................................................................ January 8, 1957.

IA–175 LeMars Auction Barn, LeMars, Iowa ........................................................................................................................ May 29, 1959.

IA–212 Northside Sales Company, Sibley, Iowa .................................................................................................................. May 19, 1959.

NB–104 Arnold Sale Barn, Arnold, Nebraska ....................................................................................................................... January 10, 1957.

NB–173 Livestock Exchange of Sargent, Sargent, Nebraska .............................................................................................. November 14, 1958.

NB–182 The Nebraska Sandhills Cattle Auction, Inc., Thedford, Nebraska ........................................................................ February 8, 1950.

NB–191 Wisner Sales Co., Inc., Wisner, Nebraska ............................................................................................................. June 29, 1983.

This notice is in the nature of a

change relieving a restriction and, thus,

may be made effective in less than 30

days after publication in the Federal

Register without prior notice or other

public procedure. This notice is given

pursuant to section 302 of the Packers

and Stockyards Act (7 U.S.C. 202) and

is effective upon publication in the

Federal Register.

Done at Washington, D.C., this 9th day of

April 1998.

Daniel L. Van Ackeren,

Director, Livestock Marketing Division,

Packers and Stockyards Programs.

[FR Doc. 98–10190 Filed 4–17–98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3210–KD–P

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Utilities Service

Information Collection Activity;

Comment Request

AGENCY: Rural Utilities Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice and request for

comments.

SUMMARY: In accordance with the

Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44

U.S.C. Chapter 35, as amended), the

Rural Utilities Service’s (RUS) invites

comments on this information

collection for which RUS intends to

request approval from the Office of

Management and Budget (OMB).

DATES: Comments on this notice must be

received by June 19, 1998.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sue

Arnold, Financial Analyst, Office of the

Assistant Administrator, Electric

Program, Rural Utilities Service, USDA,

1400 Independence Ave., SW., STOP

1560, Room 4024 South Building,

Washington, D.C. 20250–1560.

Telephone: (202) 690–1078. FAX: (202)

690–0717. E-mail:

sarnold@rus.usda.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Title: Electric Loan Application and

Related Reporting Burdens.

OMB Control Number: 0572–0032.

Type of Request: Extension of a

previously approved information

collection, with change.

Abstract: The Rural Electrification Act

of 1936 (7 U.S.C. 901 et seq.), as

amended (RE Act) authorizes and

empowers the Administrator of RUS to

make and guarantee loans to furnish and

improve electric service in rural areas.

These loans are amortized over a period

of up to 35 years and secured by the

borrower’s electric assets. In the interest

of protecting loan security, monitoring

compliance with debt convenants, and

ensuring that RUS loan funds are used

for purposes authorized by law, RUS

requires that borrowers prepare and

submit for RUS evaluation, certain

studies and reports. Some of these

studies and reports are required only

once for each loan application; others

must be submitted periodically until the

loan is completely repaid.

Estimate of Burden: Public reporting

burden for this collection of information

is estimated to average 6 hours per

response.

Respondents: Small business or

organizations.

Estimated Number of Respondents:

754.

Estimated Number of Responses per

Respondent: 4.

Estimated Total Annual Burden on

Respondents: 16,834.

Copies of this information collection,

and related form and instructions, can

be obtained from Dawn Wolfgang,

Program Development and Regulatory

Analysis, at (202) 720–0812.

Comments are invited on: (a) Whether

this proposed collection of information

is necessary for the proper performance

of the functions of the agency, including

whether the information will have

practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the

agency’s estimate of burden 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 may be sent to:

F. Lamont Heppe, Jr., Director, Program

Development and Regulatory Analysis,

Rural Utilities Service, U.S. Department

of Agriculture, Stop 1522, 1400

Independence Ave., SW., Washington,

DC 20250–1522. FAX: (202) 720–4120.

All responses to this notice will be

summarized and included in the request

for OMB approval. All comments will

also become a matter of public record.