Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 138 / Monday, July 20, 1998 / Notices 38843

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Minerals Management Service

Agency Information Collection

Activities: Approved Collection

AGENCY: Minerals Management Service

(MMS), Interior.

ACTION: Notice of approval of

information collection (1010–0051).

SUMMARY: As part of its continuing effort

to reduce paperwork and respondent

burden, this notice informs the public

and other Federal agencies of the

approval by the Office of Management

and Budget (OMB) of a collection of

information. The Paperwork Reduction

Act of 1995 (PRA) provides that an

agency may not conduct or sponsor, and

a person is not required to respond to,

a collection of information unless it

displays a currently valid OMB control

number.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Alexis London, Rules Processing Team,

telephone (703) 787–1600. You may also

contact Alexis London to obtain a copy

of this collection of information.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Title: 30 CFR Part 250, Subpart L, Oil

and Gas Production Measurement,

Surface Commingling, and Security.

Abstract: On May 12, 1998, MMS

published a final rule on the titled

collection (RIN 1010–AC23, 63 FR

26362). A correction to the final rule on

May 20, 1998 (63 FR 27677) made the

rule effective on June 29, 1998. The

Paperwork Reduction Act section of the

preamble to the final rule stated that the

information collection requirements

would not take effect until approved by

OMB. The preamble to the final rule

provided the required public comment

period and announced that we had

submitted the information collection

request to OMB for approval. On July 7,

1998, OMB approved the collection of

information required in 30 CFR 250,

subpart L, with an expiration date of

July 31, 2001.

MMS Information Collection

Clearance Officer: Jo Ann Lauterbach

(202) 208–7744.

Dated: July 10, 1998.

William S. Cook,

Acting Chief, Engineering and Operations

Division.

[FR Doc. 98–19254 Filed 7–17–98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310–MR–P

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

Correction; Grand Canyon National

Park; Concession Contract for

Operation of Accommodations,

Facilities, and Services at Grand

Canyon National Park (South Rim)

CORRECTION: In notice document 98–

15128, appearing on pages 31228-31229,

in the issue of Monday, June 8, 1998,

the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION is

corrected to read as follows:

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This

contract renewal has been determined to

be categorically excluded from the

procedural provisions of the National

Environmental Policy Act and no

environmental document will be

prepared.

The existing concessioner has

performed its obligation to the

satisfaction of the Secretary under an

existing contract, which expires by

limitation of time on December 31,

1998. Therefore, pursuant to the

provisions of Section 5 of the Act of

October 9, 1965 (79 Stat. 969; 16 U.S.C.

20), the concessioner is entitled to be

given preference in the renewal of the

contract and in the award of a new

contract, providing that the existing

concessioner submits a responsive offer

(a timely offer which meets the terms

and conditions of the Prospectus). This

means that the contract will be awarded

to the party submitting the best offer,

provided that if the best offer was not

submitted by the existing concessioner,

then the existing concessioner will be

afforded the opportunity to match the

best offer. If the existing concessioner

agrees to match the best offer, then the

contract will be awarded to the existing

concessioner.

If the existing concessioner does not

submit a responsive offer, the right of

preference in renewal shall be

considered to have been waived, and

the contract will then be awarded to the

party that has submitted the best

responsive offer.

The Secretary will consider and

evaluate all offers received as a result of

this notice. Any offer, including that of

the existing concessioner, must be

received by the Regional Director,

Intermountain Region, P.O. Box 25287,

Denver, Colorado 80225–0287 (street

address: 12795 West Alameda Parkway,

Lakewood, Colorado 80228); no later

than one hundred and twenty (120) days

following release of the Prospectus to be

considered and evaluated.

Dated: July 7, 1998.

Michael D. Snyder,

Acting Director, Intermountain Region.

[FR Doc. 98–19149 Filed 7–17–98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310–70–P

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

Notice of Availability of Reference

Manual Concerning Wilderness

Preservation and Management Within

the National Park Service

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Public notice.

SUMMARY: The National Park Service

(NPS) is converting and updating its

current system of internal instructions

to a three-level system consisting of: (1)

NPS Management Policies; (2) Director’s

Orders; and (3) Reference Manuals/

Handbooks and other helpful

information. When these documents

contain new policy or procedural

requirements that may affect parties

outside the NPS, this information is

being made available for public

comments. Reference Manual #41

establishes operation policies and

procedural guidance for the day-to-day

and long-term preservation and

management of the Service’s wilderness

resources.

DATES: Written comments will be

accepted until August 17, 1998.

ADDRESSES: The draft Reference Manual

#41 is available on the Internet at:

http://www.nps.gov/refdesk/Dorders/

index.htm. The specific link can

subsequently be reached at:

‘‘Dorder41.htm’’. Requests for copies

and written comments should be sent to

Jim Walters, National Park Service

Deputy Wilderness Program

Coordinator, National Park Service, P.O.

Box 728 Santa Fe, New Mexico 87504–

0728.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jim

Walters at 509 988–6022 (fax)( 505 988–

6123 or Wes Henry at 202 208–5211.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Table of Contents: Reference Manual

#41: Wilderness Preservation and

Management.

I. Background and Purpose

The purpose of Reference Manual #41:

Wilderness Preservation and

Management is to provide national park

managers with the information they

need to understand the laws and

policies affecting the NPS wilderness

resource and guidance for the

application of the edicts into the day-today and long-term preservation of these
38844 Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 138 / Monday, July 20, 1998 / Notices

resources. The Reference Manual

contains: (1) An update of the NPS

Management Policies pertaining to

wilderness; (2) the Director’s Orders

intended to assist managers in the

application of these policies, and (3)

specific detailed references and

background information affecting the

Service’s wilderness resource.

II. Legislative Guidance Applicable To

NPS Wilderness Preservation

This information is intended to

provide park managers and the public

with an understanding of the primary

laws regulating the wilderness resource.

This discussion includes: the

relationship between the Wilderness

Act and the NPS Organic Act, the

clarification of Section 4(a)(3) of the

Wilderness ACt which is often

misinterpreted by park managers, the

implication of the Redwood Act

Amendments to the Service’s

wilderness program, and an explanation

of the Eastern Wilderness Act as it

applies to the National Park Service.

III. Revised Management Policies

Guiding Wilderness Preservation and

Management (Level One)

The ‘‘Level One’’ wilderness policy

statements will revise and update

previous policies included in Chapter 6

of the 1988 Wilderness Policies

handbook. These revised policies

include general statements addressing:

wilderness characteristics and values,

the process for reviewing potential

wilderness additions, general

wilderness policies, consistency of the

Service’s wilderness program, zoning,

accountability and responsibility,

management plans, the minimum

requirement process, monitoring

strategies, signing, research protocols,

NPS administrative facilities, fire

management, cultural resources,

environmental compliance standards,

general public use, commercial services,

special events, grazing and livestock

driveways, rights-of-way and mineral

development and public education

standards.

IV. Director’s Order #41 (Level Two)

The ‘‘Level Two’’ Director’s Order are

intended as more detailed guidance and

standards for managers to use in the

application of the revised policy

statements. Director’s Order #41 will be

issued by the NPS Associate Director—

Operations and Parks as required

standards at which the respective

programs and functions must be

managed within NPS wilderness. These

program, identified as ‘‘Critical Issues’’

include: wilderness management plan

requirements, procedures for applying

the ‘‘minimum requirement’’ concept,

interagency coordination, cultural

resource management, climbing

protocols, fire management,

interpretation and education, mineral

development, research and other

scientific uses, wilderness use by

persons with disabilities, special events,

training requirements, and the

administration of commercial services

in wilderness.

IV. Appendices

The appendices of the Level 3

Reference Manual are intended as a

reference and bibliography for

wilderness managers. This information

includes: a glossary of wilderness terms,

the text of the Wilderness Act, the

Wilderness Access Decision Tool,

examples of minimum requirement

decision tools, the minimum

requirements of a wilderness

management plan, the Alaska National

Interest Lands Conservation Act, the

format of the annual Report to Congress,

and a list of suggested readings relating

to wilderness management.

Dated: July 10, 1998.

Maureen Finnerty,

Associate Director, Operations and

Education.

[FR Doc. 98–19151 Filed 7–17–98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310–70–M

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

Notice of the Intent to Issue a

Prospectus for the Operation of

Commercial Visitor Services Within

Carlsbad Caverns National Park

SUMMARY: The National Park Service

will be releasing a concession

Prospectus authorizing continued

operation of food and beverage,

merchandise (souvenir and gifts),

kennels and storage lockers services for

the public within Carlsbad Caverns

National Park, New Mexico. The

operation consists of providing these

services at one location in the park. The

proposed operation will be provided on

a daily basis year round. The term of the

proposed concession contract will be for

ten (10) years beginning on January 1,

1999.

EFFECTIVE DATE: Offers will be accepted

for SIXTY (60) days under the terms

described in the Prospectus. The SIXTY

day application period will begin with

the release of the Prospectus, which will

occur within thirty days of the

publication of this notice. The actual

release date of the Prospectus shall be

the date of publication in the

‘‘Commerce Business Daily’’.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This

contract renewal has been determined to

be categorically excluded from the

procedural provisions of the National

Environmental Policy Act and no

environmental document will be

prepared.

The existing concessioner has

performed its obligations to the

satisfaction of the Secretary under an

existing contract, which expires by

limitation of time on December 31,

1998. Therefore, pursuant to the

provision of Section 5 of the Act of

October 9, 1965 (79 Stat. 969; 16 U.S.C.

sec. 20), the concessioner is entitled to

be given preference in the renewal of

the contract and in the award of a new

contract, providing that the existing

concessioner submits a responsive offer

(a timely offer which meets the terms

and conditions of the Prospectus). This

means that the contract will be awarded

to the party submitting the best offer,

provided that if the best offer was not

submitted by the existing concessioner,

then the existing concessioner will be

afforded the opportunity to match the

best offer. If the existing concessioner

agrees to match the best offer, then the

contract will be awarded to the existing

concessioner.

If the existing concessioner does not

submit a responsive offer, the right of

preference in renewal shall be

considered to have been waived, and

the contract will then be awarded to the

party that has submitted the best

responsive offer.

The Secretary will consider and

evaluate all offers received as a result of

this notice. Any offer, including that of

the existing concessioner, must be

received by the Regional Director,

Intermountain Region, P.O. Box 25287,

Denver, Colorado 80225–0287 (street

address; 12795 West Alameda Parkway,

Lakewood, Colorado 80228); not later

than SIXTY (60) days following release

of the Prospectus to be considered and

evaluated.

ADDRESSES: Parties interested in

obtaining a copy should contact the

National Park Service, Concessions

Management Program, Intermountain

Region-Denver Support Office, Office of

Concessions Management, 12795 West

Alameda Parkway, P.O. Box 25287,

Denver, Colorado 80225–0287;

Attention: Judy Jennings. Please include

a mailing address indicating where to

send the Prospectus in your request.

Inquires may be directed to Ms. Judy

Jennings, Office of Concessions

Management Program (303) 969–2661.