35916 Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 126 /Wednesday, July 1, 1998 / Notices

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Corps of Engineers, Department of the

Army

Intent To Prepare a Draft Supplemental

Environmental Impact Statement (E–

SEIS) for Permitting Continued Mining

Operations of PCS Phosphate, White

Springs (Hamilton County), Florida

AGENCY: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers,

Department of Defense.

ACTION: Notice of Intent.

SUMMARY: The Jacksonville District, U.S.

Army Corps of Engineers, Regulatory

Division (Corps), has received a request

for a modification to Department of the

Army permit no. 19840452 for the PCS

Phosphate-White Springs mine (PCS

Phosphate), located in Hamilton

County, Florida. A more minor

modification was issued in 1997. The

Corps has determined that the proposed

modification of the existing permit will

involve substantial changes that are

relevant to environmental concerns.

Therefore, a Supplement to the Final

Environmental Impact Statement, dated

February 1986 will be prepared.

ADDRESSES: Chief, Regulatory Division,

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, P.O. Box

4970, Jacksonville, Florida 32232–0019.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Osvaldo Collazo, 904–232–1675.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: PCS

Phosphate has been engaged in

phosphate mining in its project area in

Hamilton County under permits from

the Corps, Florida Department of

Environmental Protection (DEP), and

Hamilton County. The current Federal

permit will expire in 2002. PCS

Phosphate has begun the application

process with state and Federal

regulatory agencies for the permitting of

continued mining operations within the

company’s 100,000-acre project area in

Hamilton County. The modification

involves mining new sites within the

general boundary of the project area.

This is the same project area reviewed

under the original EIS.

Proposed new mining areas include

jurisdictional wetlands. Permit

modification would be issued under

Section 404 of the Clean Water Act, as

amended. Permits would be issued

under a joint permitting process with

the DEP. A new permit would also be

required from Hamilton County. Other

state, regional, and Federal agencies are

expected to participate in the permit

evaluation. Mitigation for loss of

wetland functions and values is

anticipated.

In addition, PCS Phosphate has

requested that the DEP initiate a process

under s. 403.752, Florida Statutes for

coordinated review and agency actions.

The process will be expected to result

in a binding ecosystem management

agreement, which would include the

required state permits and approvals.

The ecosystem management agreement

process requested by PCS Phosphate

includes the opportunity for public

participation and comment. The Corps

agreed that these public meetings would

also serve the purpose of the scoping

process and review and the SEIS and

permit actions. The first public meeting

was held on December 11, 1997. Public

comment was initially requested in two

areas: (1) the scope of the environmental

studies to be performed for support of

permitting actions and (2) identification

of persons or organizations for both

active participation in the process and

receipt of periodic mailings.

Coordination has included a number of

Federal, state, regional, local agencies,

and environmental groups including but

not limited to the following: U.S. Fish

and Wildlife Service, U.S.

Environmental Protection Agency,

Florida Department of Environmental

Protection, State Historic Preservation

Officer, Suwannee River Water

Management District, Hamilton County,

Florida Department of Community

Affairs, Florida Game and Freshwater

Fish Commission, Sierra Club, 4 Rivers

Audubon, and Florida Defenders of the

Environment.

Scoping: The public meetings

provided much information that has

served the scoping process. A draft Plan

of Study for the Ecosystem Management

Agreement and the SEIS has been

prepared. This Plan of Study is intended

to fulfill the information requirements

for all anticipated regulatory actions.

The results of the study will be

compiled into a Supplemental

Technical Background Document (TDB)

and analyzed in a SEIS. The document

can be made available for review upon

request. The Corps will hold a formal

public scoping meeting on July 30,

1998. All parties are invited to

participate in the scoping process by

identifying any additional concerns on

issues, studies needed, alternatives,

procedures, and other matters related to

the scoping process.

Public Participation: We invite the

participation of affected Federal, state

and local agencies, and other interested

private organizations and individuals.

Draft SEIS Preparation: We estimate

that the Supplemental TBD will be

available to the public on or about mid

1999, and the Draft SEIS will be

prepared later that year.

Dated: June 17, 1998.

Marie G. Burns,

Acting Chief, Regulatory Division.

[FR Doc. 98–17483 Filed 6–30–98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3710–AJ–M

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

National Assessment Governing Board

AGENCY: National Assessment

Governing Board; Department of

Education.

ACTION: Notice of Information Collection

Activity; Request for Comment.

SUMMARY: In compliance with the

Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C.

3501 et seq.), this notice announces a

proposed information collection request

(ICR) of the National Assessment

Governing Board. The information

collection is to conduct pilot tests of

items developed for use in the proposed

voluntary national tests in 4th grade

reading and 8th grade mathematics.

Before submitting the ICR to the Office

of Management and Budget (OMB), the

Governing Board is soliciting comments

on the information collection as

described below.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on

or before August 31, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Submit written comments

identified by ‘‘ICR: Voluntary National

Tests—Pilot,’’ by mail or in person

addressed to Ray Fields, Assistant

Director for Policy and Research,

National Assessment Governing Board,

Suite 825, 800 North Capitol Street, NW,

Washington, DC, 20002. Comments may

be submitted electronically by sending

electronic mail (e-mail) to Ray l

Fields@ED.GOV. Comments sent by email must be submitted as an ASCII file

avoiding the use of special characters

and any form of encryption.

All written comments will be

available for public inspection at the

address given above from 8 a.m. to 4:30

p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding

legal holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ray

Fields, Assistant Director for Policy and

Research, National Assessment

Governing Board, Suite 825, 800 North

Capitol Street, NW, Washington, DC,

20002, Telephone: (202) 357–0395, email: Ray l Fields@ED.GOV.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Information Collection Request

The National Assessment Governing

Board is seeking comments on the

following Information Collection

Request (ICR).

Type of Review: New.
Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 126 /Wednesday, July 1, 1998 / Notices 35917

Title: Pilot Tests for the Voluntary

National Tests in 4th Grade Reading and

8th Grade Mathematics.

Affected Entities: Parties affected by

this information collection are state,

local, Tribal Government or non-public

education agencies.

Abstrate: Pub. L. 105–78 vests

exclusive authority to develop the

voluntary national tests in the

Governing Board and also prohibits the

use of Fiscal Year 1998 funds for pilot

testing, field testing, implementation,

administration, or distribution of

voluntary national tests. If Congress

does not prohibit further development

of the voluntary national tests after

September 30, 1998, the Governing

Board intends to begin pilot testing of

items (i.e., test questions) in March

1999.

Public Law 105–78 also requires the

Governing Board to make four

determinations about the voluntary

national tests: (1) the extent to which

test items selected for use on the tests

are free from racial, cultural, or gender

bias, (2) whether the test development

process and test items adequately assess

student reading and mathematics

comprehension in the form most likely

to yield accurate information regarding

student achievement in reading and

mathematics, (3) whether the test

development process and test items take

into account the needs of

disadvantaged, limited English

proficient, and disabled students, and

(4) whether the test development

process takes into account how parents,

guardians, and students will

appropriately be informed about testing

content, purpose and uses.

The purpose of the pilot test is to

gather data on the test questions in

order to construct multiple equated test

forms (i.e., test booklets that are

essentially interchangeable) in 4th grade

reading and in 8th grade mathematics

and to provide information related to

the four determinations. Test forms

would be constructed on the basis of the

pilot test data and would be field-tested

in March of 2000. The overall purpose

of the field-testing is to ensure that the

test forms are in fact equated to each

other. Test forms developed in this first

cycle would be available for use in

March 2001. Further item and test

development is expected, with pilot

testing in March of 2000 and 2001, and

field-testing, for respective cycles, in

March 2001 and 2002.

Approximately 1,100 test items in 4th

grade reading and 1,100 test items in 8th

grade mathematics will be pilot tested

in March 1999. Individual 4th grade

students will respond to 45 reading

items; individual 8th grade students

will respond to 60 mathematics items.

This is the same number of items that

will be on the respective test forms for

field-testing. The objective is to produce

six equated test forms in reading and in

mathematics for the year 2000 field test.

Thus, 270 reading test items and 360

mathematics test items are required for

the field-test forms. This provides a

ratio of pilot tested items to field-tested

items of 4:1 for reading and 3:1 for

mathematics.

The pilot tests will be conducted on

nationally representative samples. The

sample size is based on at least 800

students per test item. For 4th grade

reading, the March 1999 pilot will

involve an estimated 24,000 students in

558 schools. The March 2000 and 2001

pilot tests in 4th grade reading will each

involve an estimated 16,000 students in

374 schools. For 8th grade mathematics,

the March 1999 pilot test will involve

an estimated 19,200 students in 344

schools. The March 2000 and 2001 pilot

tests in 8th grade mathematics will each

involve an estimated 13,000 students in

231 schools. The reason for the smaller

sample sizes in 2000 and 2001 is that

the target is to field test four test forms

in the second and third development

cycles as opposed to six in the first

cycle (i.e., March 1999 pilot test, March

2000 field test).

In order to ensure adequate control

and proper identification of the booklets

of test items, and conduct necessary

analyses of the data that results from the

information collection, the following

background information will be

collected on the cover of the booklets of

test questions: student name, date of

birth, race/ethnicity, and sex (all to be

supplied by the student), and special

education status, limited English

proficiency status, disadvantaged status,

test administration accommodations,

primary language, the test administrator

under contract). Although students will

write their name on each booklet for

identification purposes during the

administration of the pilot test, the

students’ names will be removed from

the booklet shortly after the pilot test.

Student names will not be included in

the database for analysis and will not

leave the school building where pilot

testing is taking place. Instead, a unique

numeric or alphanumeric identifier will

be assigned to each booklet for tracking

and analysis purposes. No third party

notification or public disclosure burden

is associated with this collection.

Burden Statement: The annual burden

respondent estimate is based on 90

minutes of testing and 30 minutes of test

administration activities (e.g., delivering

instructions, handing out and collecting

booklets, and providing background

information as described above) per

student, or two hours per student. For

4th grade reading, the burden estimate

is 48,000 hours in 1999, 32,000 hours in

2000, and 32,000 hours in 2001. For 8th

grade mathematics, the burden estimate

is 38,400 hours in 19999, 26,000 hours

in 2000, and 26,000 hours in 2001. Each

respondent is required to respond only

once per event. Respondents will be

different individuals in different pilot

test years.

Participation in the pilot test is

voluntary. State, local, and non-public

education agencies are not mandated or

required to participate.

II. Request for Comments

The National Assessment Governing

Board solicits comments to:

(a) Evaluate whether the proposed

collection of information is necessary

for the proper performance of the

functions of the Governing Board,

including whether the information will

have practical utility;

(b) Evaluate the accuracy of the

Governing Board’s estimates of the

burden of the proposed collection of

information;

(c) Enhance the quality, utility, and

clarity of the information to be

collected;

(d) Minimize the burden of the

collection of information on those who

are to respond, including through the

use of appropriate automated,

mechanical, or other technological

collection techniques or other forms of

information technology, e.g., permitting

electronic submission of responses.

III. Public Record

A record has been established for this

action. A public version of this record,

including printed, paper versions of

electronic comments, is available for

inspection from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.,

Monday through Friday, excluding legal

holidays. The public record is located in

Suite 825, 800 North Capital Street,

NW., Washington, DC, 20002.

Comments may be submitted

electronically by sending electronic

mail (e-mail) to RaylFields@ED.GOV.

Comments sent by e-mail must be

submitted as an ASCII file avoiding the

use of special characters and any form

of encryption.

The official record for this action, as

well as the public version, as described

above will be kept in paper form.

Accordingly, the National Assessment

Governing Board will transfer all

comments received electronically into

printed, paper form as they are received

and will place the paper copies in the

official record which will also include

all comments submitted directly in
35918 Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 126 /Wednesday, July 1, 1998 / Notices

writing. The official record is the paper

record maintained at the National

Assessment Governing Board, Suite 825,

800 North Capitol Street, NW.,

Washington, DC 20002.

List of Subjects

Pilot tests for the voluntary national

tests in 4th grade reading and 8th grade

mathematics and Information Collection

Requests.

Dated: June 25, 1998.

Roy Truby,

Executive Director, National Assessment

Governing Board.

[FR Doc. 98–17408 Filed 6–30–98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4000–01–M

DEPARTENT OF EDUCATION

Submission for OMB Review;

Comment Request

AGENCY: Department of Education.

ACTION: Submission for OMB review;

comment request.

SUMMARY: The Acting Deputy Chief

Information Officer, Office of the Chief

Information Officer, invites comments

on the submission for OMB review as

required by the Paperwork Reduction

Act of 1995.

DATES: Interested persons are invited to

submit comments on or before July 31,

1998.

ADDRESSES: Written comments should

be addressed to the Office of

Information and Regulatory Affairs,

Attention: Danny Werfel, Desk Officer,

Department of Education, Office of

Management and Budget, 725 17th

Street, NW., New Executive Office

Building, Washington, DC 20503.

Requests for copies of the proposed

information collection requests should

be addressed to Patrick J. Sherrill,

Department of Education, 600

Independence Avenue, SW., Room

5624, Regional Office Building 3,

Washington, DC 20202–4651.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Patrick J. Sherrill (202) 708–8196.

Individuals who use a

telecommunications device for the deaf

(TDD) may call the Federal Information

Relay Service (FIRS) at 1–800–877–8339

between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., Eastern time,

Monday through Friday.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section

3506 of the Paperwork Reduction Act of

1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35) requires

that the Office of Management and

Budget (OMB) provide interested

Federal agencies and the public an early

opportunity to comment on information

collection requests. OMB may amend or

waive the requirement for public

consultation to the extent that public

participation in the approval process

would defeat the purpose of the

information collection, violate State or

Federal law, or substantially interfere

with any agency’s ability to perform its

statutory obligations. The Acting Deputy

Chief Information Officer, Office of the

Chief Information Officer, publishes this

notice containing proposed information

collection requests prior to submission

of these requests to OMB. Each

proposed information collection,

grouped by office, contains the

following: (1) Type of review requested,

e.g., new, revision, extension, existing

or reinstatement; (2) Title; (3) Summary

of the collection; (4) Description of the

need for, and proposed use of, the

information; (5) Respondents and

frequency of collection; and (6)

Reporting and/or Recordkeeping

burden. OMB invites public comment at

the address specified above. Copies of

the requests are available from Patrick J.

Sherrill at the address specified above.

Hazel Fiers,

Acting Deputy Chief Information Officer,

Office of the Chief Information Officer.

Office of Postsecondary Education

Type of Review:

Title: Application for Seven Foreign

Language and Area Studies Programs.

Frequency: Annually or Every 3

Years.

Affected Public: Individuals or

households; Not-for-profit institutions.

Reporting and Recordkeeping Hour

Burden: Responses: 469; Burden Hours:

43,213.

Abstract: Collect program and budget

information to make grants to institution

of higher education. This information

collection falls under the streamlined

process for discretionary grants under

OMB Control Number 1890–0001.

Office of the Under Secretary

Type of Review: New.

Title: Local Implementation of Federal

Programs.

Frequency: One time.

Affected Public: State, local or Tribal

Gov’t, SEAs or LEAs.

Reporting and Recordkeeping Hour

Burden: Responses: 849; Burden Hours:

872.

Abstract: The Department of

Education is charged with evaluating

Title I of ESEA and other elementary

and secondary education legislation

enacted by the 103rd Congress. These

studies will collect information on the

operations and effects at the district

level of legislative provisions and

federal assistance, in the context of state

education reform efforts. Findings will

be used in reporting to Congress and

improving information dissemination.

Respondents are local superintendents,

directors of federal programs, directors

of research and assessment, and school

principals.

No comments were received during

the 60-day comment period. Minor

revisions have been made to the

instrument during the interim. There are

two differences between the earlier

version of the survey and the revised

version being submitted to OMB, the are

as follows:

(1) The original survey addressed a

wide range of topics concerning the

implementation of federal programs,

with emphasis on data use, crossprogram coordination,

intergovernmental relations, and

services to homeless children and

youth. The revised survey is more

focused on data needed for ED reporting

to Congress under the Government

Performance and Results Act (GPRA). It

incorporates a number of data elements

required in the Department’s Strategic

Plan and Annual Performance Plans.

Questions about services to homeless

children and youth have been dropped,

and the number of questions about

intergovernmental relations and the

implementation of specific federal

programs has been reduced.

(2) The revised version required a

smaller sample. Rather than drawing a

large random sample of approximately

1500 districts stratified by proverty and

district size as previously planned, the

instrument will now draw a smaller

random sample of 789 districts that will

permit national estimates, but not

estimates for distinct strata.

Additionally, the entire sample of

districts in the ED Study of Education

Resources and Funding is being

incorporated into this sample so that the

two studies can share key data elements.

[FR Doc. 98–17535 Filed 6–30–98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4000–01–M

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory

Commission

[Docket No. RP97–406–000]

CNG Transmission Corporation; Notice

of Informal Settlement Conference

June 25, 1998.

Take notice that an informal

settlement conference will be convened

in this proceeding on Wednesday, July

1, 1998, at 10:00 a.m., at the offices of

the Federal Energy Regulatory

Commission, 888 First Street, N.E.,