13600 Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 55 / Friday, March 21, 1997 / Notices

Applications for Duty-Free Entry of

Scientific Instruments

Pursuant to Section 6(c) of the

Educational, Scientific and Cultural

Materials Importation Act of 1966 (Pub.

L. 89–651; 80 Stat. 897; 15 CFR part

301), we invite comments on the

question of whether instruments of

equivalent scientific value, for the

purposes for which the instruments

shown below are intended to be used,

are being manufactured in the United

States.

Comments must comply with 15 CFR

301.5(a) (3) and (4) of the regulations

and be filed within 20 days with the

Statutory Import Programs Staff, U.S.

Department of Commerce, Washington,

D.C. 20230. Applications may be

examined between 8:30 A.M. and 5:00

P.M. in Room 4211, U.S. Department of

Commerce, 14th Street and Constitution

Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C.

Docket Number: 97–014. Applicant:

University of New Orleans, Department

of Chemistry, 2000 Lakeshore Drive,

New Orleans, LA 70148. Instrument:

Mass Spectrometer, Model VG

AutoSpec. Manufacturer: Micromass,

Inc., United Kingdom. Intended Use:

The article is intended to be used for

studies of compounds (anti-convulsant

compounds, cocaine analogues,

carceplexes, glycolipids, phosphazine

derivatives, natural toxins and

environmental pollutants) synthesized

in coordination with on-going research

in organic, inorganic, physical and

analytical chemistry laboratories. The

objectives of the investigations will be

identification of compounds polluting

the environment, synthesis of new

products for the treatment of drug

addiction, synthesis of new drugs for

the treatment of epilepsy and related

disorders, and remediation of

environmental pollution. In addition,

the instrument will be used for

educational purposes in the courses

CHEM 4030 Instrumental Analysis

Laboratory and CHEM 6117 Advanced

Mass Spectrometry. Application

accepted by Commissioner of Customs:

February 6, 1997.

Docket Number: 97–016. Applicant:

Duke University, Free-Electron Laser

Laboratory, LaSalle Street Extension,

Durham, NC 27708–0319. Instrument:

Interferometer. Manufacturer: SF SDB

‘‘Granat’’, C.I.S. Intended Use: The

instrument will be used for studies of

the following phenomena: (1) Extremely

narrowband, nonlinear optical processes

in solids and gases, e.g. surface studies,

(2) chemical reaction dynamics under

single mode excitation, e.g. isotope

separation, (3) molecular energy transfer

in long-lived excited states, (4) highly

resolved and efficient spectral hole

burning, (5) the strength and shape of

‘‘forbidden’’ transitions and (6) the

efficiency of nonlinear frequencymixing interactions. Application

accepted by Commissioner of Customs:

February 11, 1997.

Docket Number: 97–017. Applicant:

University of California, San Diego,

Department of Medicine 0931, 9500

Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093–0931.

Instrument: Sleep Recorder, Model

Vitaport 2. Manufacturer: TEMEC

Instruments BV, The Netherlands.

Intended Use: The instrument will be

used for studies of the effects of

microgravity on the human body,

especially sleep functions, circadian

rhythm changes and pulmonary

function. Application accepted by

Commissioner of Customs: February 11,

1997.

Docket Number: 97–018. Applicant:

Ohio University, Department of

Biological Sciences, Irvine Hall, Athens,

OH 45701. Instrument: Electron

Microscope, Model JEM–1010.

Manufacturer: JEOL Ltd., Japan.

Intended Use: The instrument will be

used for processing of biological tissues

in various studies of muscles, the

nervous system, mosquitoes, Antarctic

fishes and the invertebrate digestive

system to show the subtle changes and

the minute structural adaptations of the

tissues. Application accepted by

Commissioner of Customs: February 13,

1997.

Docket Number: 97–019. Applicant:

The Johns Hopkins University, 3400 N.

Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21218.

Instrument: Fiber-Electrode

Micromanipulator. Manufacturer:

Thomas Recording Sci. Res., Germany.

Intended Use: The instrument will be

used in studies of brain functions;

specifically, how do neurons in the

brain process sensory information?

Application accepted by Commissioner

of Customs: February 20, 1997.

Docket Number: 97–020. Applicant:

University of Texas at Austin, Marine

Science Institute, 750 Channelview

Drive, Port Aransas, TX 78373.

Instrument: IR Mass Spectrometer,

Model DELTAplus. Manufacturer:

Finnigan MAT, Germany. Intended Use:

The article is intended to be used for

microbiological, ecological,

physiological and chemical studies of

the ocean. This research will use the

stable isotope compositions of the

bioactive elements, such as carbon,

nitrogen and sulfur to delineate

metabolic pathways, understand food

webs in natural environments and

determine the sources, transformations

and fates of these elements in

ecosystems. The instrument will

determine the carbon nitrogen and

sulfur isotopic ratios of gases, solids and

liquids in the natural state with minimal

sample preparation. Application

accepted by Commissioner of Customs:

February 20, 1997.

Frank W. Creel,

Director, Statutory Import Programs Staff.

[FR Doc. 97–7240 Filed 3–20–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3510–DS–P

Telecommunications Trade Mission to

Rome

AGENCY: International Trade

Administration, Department of

Commerce.

ACTION: Notice.

SUMMARY: The Deputy Assistant

Secretary for Technology and Aerospace

Industries will lead a

telecommunications trade mission to

Rome, Italy on May 11–14, 1997. The

mission’s goal is to provide first-hand

market information and access to key

Italian government officials and

potential business partners for 7 to 15

U.S. telecom firms desiring to expand

their presence in the Italian market.

New opportunities for U.S. firms are

being opened by the liberalization of

Italian regulatory policy to allow

competition in telecom services and

related infrastructure.

DATES: Interested U.S. firms should

apply to participate in the mission as

soon as possible. All application

requirements must be completed by

April 11.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Requests for further information should

be addressed to the Project Officer,

Myles Denny-Brown, Room 4324, the

Department of Commerce, Washington,

D.C., 20230. Due to the short deadline,

it is recommended that replies be by fax

at (202) 482–5834 or phone at (202)

482–0398.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The

criteria for selection of mission

participants are:

• Relevance of a company’s business

line to mission goals

• Timeliness of completed

application by company (including

participation fee)

• Minimum of seven, maximum of

fifteen participating companies in

mission

• Potential for business in Italy for

company

Any partisan political activities

(including political contributions) of an

applicant are entirely irrelevant to the

selection process.

Italy has one of the fastest growing

telecommunications markets in Europe,
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.