This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER

contains documents other than rules or

proposed rules that are applicable to the

public. Notices of hearings and investigations,

committee meetings, agency decisions and

rulings, delegations of authority, filing of

petitions and applications and agency

statements of organization and functions are

examples of documents appearing in this

section.

Notices Federal Register

200

Vol. 63, No. 2

Monday, January 5, 1998

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food Safety and Inspection Service

[Docket No. 97–077N]

Availability of Survey Results From a

Nutritional Analysis of Meat and

Poultry Products

AGENCY: Food Safety and Inspection

Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

SUMMARY: The Food Safety and

Inspection Service (FSIS) is announcing

the availability of results from the

‘‘Nutritional Analysis of Meat and

Poultry Products,’’ a survey conducted

to determine the accuracy of the

nutrition labeling of meat and poultry

products. The products, which were

statistically representative of nationally

available products under the mandatory

nutrition labeling program, were

analyzed under contract for specific

nutrients. The survey found that

approximately 92 percent of all tested

nutrients had values consistent with

labeling claims.

ADDRESSES: Submit written requests for

single copies of the summary or the full

report to the FSIS Docket Room, Docket

#97–077N, Attn: Ms. Diane Moore,

Room 102, Cotton Annex Building, 300

12th Street, SW, Washington, DC

20250–3700.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On

January 6, 1993, FSIS published a final

rule entitled ‘‘Nutrition Labeling of

Meat and Poultry Products’’ (58 FR 632)

with corrections on August 18, 1993, (58

FR 43787) and technical amendments

on September 10, 1993, (58 FR 47624).

The final rule permits voluntary

nutrition labeling on single-ingredient,

raw meat and poultry products and

establishes mandatory nutrition labeling

for all other meat and poultry products,

with certain exemptions.

In 1996, Covance (formerly Corning

Hazelton) Laboratories was awarded a

contract to analyze samples of meat and

poultry products for specified nutrients

in order to provide an overall

assessment of the accuracy of nutrition

labeling. The survey was conducted as

part of FSIS’ effort to verify that

nutrition information, which is

provided by food manufacturers, is

accurate and consistent with the

Agency’s regulatory requirements. In

addition, the survey responds to the

General Accounting Office (GAO)

recommendation that FSIS and the Food

and Drug Administration (FDA) develop

a coordinated strategy to evaluate the

overall effectiveness of Federal food

labeling regulations.

Three hundred products were

analyzed in the survey. The sampling

design was developed using A.C.

Nielsen’s Scantrack Tapes. Covance

analyzed all samples for protein, total

fat, saturated fat, cholesterol, sodium,

moisture, and ash. Calories, calories

from fat, and carbohydrate values were

calculated for all products. Covance also

analyzed products with label nutrient

values greater than 6 percent of the

Daily Value for fiber, vitamins A and C,

calcium, and iron.

FSIS evaluated the data to determine

whether the label values were within

the regulatory specifications for

compliance, and 92 percent were

consistent with labeling values. These

results are comparable to those obtained

by FDA in a similar study conducted in

December 1996.

Done in Washington, DC, on: December 16,

1997.

Thomas J. Billy,

Administrator.

[FR Doc. 98–63 Filed 1–2–98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3410–DM–P

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service

Whiskey Campo Resource

Management Project, Boise National

Forest, Elmore County, ID

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice; intent to prepare

environmental impact statement.

SUMMARY: The Mountain Home Ranger

District of the Boise National Forest will

prepare an environmental impact

statement (EIS) for a resource

management project in the Whiskey

Campo project area, located

approximately 5 miles west of

Featherville, Idaho, in the middle to

upper elevation of the Trinity Creek

watershed. The project area

encompasses about 12,870 acres of

National Forest System land.

Approximately 5,550 acres of the project

area are located within the Whiskey Jack

Inventoried Roadless Area (RARE No.

02009) and about 900 acres of the

project area are located within the

Rainbow Inventoried Roadless Area

(RARE No. 02008). Access is via Forest

Development Road (FDR) 172. The

project area is located about 130 road

miles east of Boise, Idaho.

The agency invites written comments

and suggestions on the scope of the

analysis. The agency also hereby gives

notice of the environmental analysis

and decisionmaking process that will

occur on the proposal so that interested

and affected people are aware of how

they may participate and contribute to

the final decision.

Proposed Action

Timber Stand Management

Activities—Approximately 2,000 acres

of forested land would be commercially

thinned and underburned with low

severity prescribed fire. Some salvage

harvest of large diameter, beetle-infested

Douglas-fir would occur in these stands.

On approximately 5,000 acres of

forested land, bark beetle infested and

severely dwarf mistletoe infected trees

would be salvage harvested.

Helicopter yarding would be done on

approximately 6,000 acres. Skyline

yarding would be done on

approximately 200 acres. A combination

of tractor and offroad jammer

(excavator) yarding would be done on

approximately 800 acres.
Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 2 / Monday, January 5, 1998 / Notices 201

Approximately 2 miles of road would be

constructed to access timber stands

proposed for treatment. The newly

constructed roads would be closed to all

motorized use and revegetated following

the project. Two helicopter landings

would be constructed and revegetated.

Six existing helicopter landings would

be used and revegetated.

Aspen Stand Rejuvenation—On

approximately 400 acres of aspen stands

dispersed throughout the project area,

prescribed fire and/or harvest of

invading conifer trees would be used to

rejuvenate decadent stands or maintain

vigorous, young stands. These activities

would promote regeneration of aspen

suckers and saplings and prevent

conversion to conifer stands.

Elk Habitat Improvement—

Approximately 7 miles of the roads in

the Spring Creek drainage would be

obliterated and/or closed to all

motorized vehicles with earthen

barricades. Such closures would bring

the elk habitat effectiveness of the

Spring Creek drainage into compliance

with the Forest Plan.

Fish Habitat Improvements—Five

existing culverts currently posing a

barrier to upstream fish passage would

be replaced with bottomless culverts or

other suitable structures to allow fish

passage upstream. Bottomless culverts

provide for slower water velocity and

more pools, which facilitate upstream

fish passage.

Approximately 13.7 miles of FDR 172

would be graveled. Graveling of the road

surface would help retain the fine

sediment particles on the road surface.

Travel Safety Modifications to FDR

172—Approximately 25 ‘‘blind’’ curves

and narrow road sections would be

modified to improve sight distance and

provide sufficient safe passing

opportunities.

Preliminary Issues

The potential development of the

Whiskey Jack and Rainbow Inventoried

Roadless Areas is an anticipated

concern. Under the Proposed Action,

approximately 1.9 miles of road

construction, 150 acres of ground-based

yarding methods, and 1,750 of

helicopter yarding would occur in the

Whiskey Jack IRA. Approximately 250

acres of helicopter yarding would occur

in the Rainbow IRA.

The effects of road construction and

timber stand management activities on

wildlife and fisheries are also

anticipated concerns. Trinity Creek is

designated a high priority watershed

(Forest Plan—Inland Native Fish

Strategy) because of its potential bull

trout habitat. Habitat for some

threatened, endangered or sensitive

species exists in the project area.

Proposed activities have the potential to

have both beneficial and adverse effects

to wildlife and fisheries habitat.

Possible Alternative to the Proposed

Action

One alternative to the Proposed

Action has been identified. It is the No

Action Alternative. Other alternatives

may be developed as issues are raised

and information is received

Decisions To Be Made

The Boise National Forest Supervisor

will decide whether or not to implement

the project. If the project is to be

implemented, the Forest Supervisor will

decide which activities to include in the

project, when the project should occur,

and what mitigation and monitoring is

needed to ensure the project is

environmentally acceptable.

Schedule

Draft EIS, May 1998. Final, July 1998.

Public Involvement

Scoping is being initiated with this

notice, a legal notice in the Idaho

Statesman, and a letter to individuals,

groups, organizations, and agencies who

have expressed an interest in this type

of project. Comments received from

these public involvement efforts will be

incorporated into the analysis process.

Comments

Written comments concerning the

proposed project and analysis are

encouraged and should be postmarked

within 30 days following publication of

this announcement in the Federal

Register. Comments received in

response to this notice will be released

in their entirety if requested pursuant to

the Freedom of Information Act. Mail

comments to Frank Marsh, Mountain

Home Ranger District, 2180 American

Legion Boulevard, Mountain Home, ID

83647; telephone 208–587–7961 or 208–

373–4310. Further information can be

obtained at the same location.

The comment period on the draft EIS

will be 45 days from the date the

Environmental Protection Agency

publishes the notice availability in the

Federal Register.

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 EIS must structure

their participation in the environmental

review of the proposal so that it is

meaningful and alerts an agency to the

reviewer’s position and contentions.

Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Corp. v.

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

environmental objections that could be

raised at the draft EIS stage but that are

not raised until after completion of the

final EIS may be waived or dismissed by

the courts. City of Angoon v. Hodel, 803

F.2d 1016, 1002 (9th Cir., 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 for those interested in this

Proposed Action participate by the close

of the 45-day comment period so

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 EIS.

To assist the Forest Service in

identifying and considering issues and

concerns on the Proposed Action,

comments on the draft EIS 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 EIS or the merits

of the alternatives formulated and

discussed in the 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. Comments received on the

draft EIS will be released in their

entirety if requested pursuant to the

Freedom of Information Act.

Responsible Official

David D. Rittenhouse, Forest

Supervisor, Boise National Forest, 1249

South Vinnell Way, Suite 200, Boise, ID

83709.

Dated: December 22, 1997.

David D. Rittenhouse,

Forest Supervisor.

[FR Doc. 98–039 Filed 1–2–98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3410–11–M

DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR

National Park Service

Blackstone River Valley National

Heritage Corridor; Sunshine Act

Meeting

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of meeting.

Notice of Meeting

Notice is hereby given in accordance

with Section 552b of Title 5, United

States Code, that a meeting of the

Blackstone River Valley National