41586 Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 149 /Tuesday, August 4, 1998 / Notices

BRD then commissioned the

American Institute of Biological

Sciences (AIBS), a leading national

professional society representing a

cross-section of the biological science

disciplines, to conduct an expert peer

review of the strawman standard from

the point of view of its completeness

and utility for the biological science

community. In May 1995 AIBS

convened a panel of national biological

science experts to review and analyze

the draft standard. The panel released a

draft report and recommendations in

July 1995, which was then reviewed by

BRD and its partners and cooperators.

The panel’s final report and

recommendations were released in

September 1995. BRD then used the

recommendations of the AIBS review

(and the results of limited test

implementations) in revising the

strawman standard. The resulting Draft

Content Standard for NBII Metadata was

originally presented to the FGDC

Standards Working Group in January

1996 for formal consideration.

Subsequently, the FGDC Biological Data

Working Group has adopted and

endorsed the draft biological metadata

standard and has undertaken the

responsibility for moving the draft

standard through the FGDC standards

process.

Related Standards: As a user-defined

profile, the proposed biological resource

metadata content standard is dependent

upon the completion of the revision of

the FGDC geospatial metadata standard

which is currently underway.

Depending on the outcome of the

revision of the FGDC geospatial

metadata standard, it may be necessary

to make subsequent revision to the

proposed biological resource metadata

standard to ensure that it is fully

compatible with new aspects of the

FGDC standard (particularly as these

apply to the development of userdefined profiles). The proposed

biological resource metadata standard

also relates to the vegetation, earth

cover, soils, and wetlands classification

standards which are adopted or

currently under development.

Schedule: As noted above, the

proposed biological resource metadata

standard was originally presented for

consideration by the Standards Working

Group In January 1996. At that time, the

SWG indicated that because this

proposed standard was an enhancement

of the FGDC geospatial metadata

standard, formal action on the biological

metadata standard would most

appropriately be done after the revision

of the FGDC geospatial metadata

standard was completed. The SWG also

indicated that since the design and

structure of the proposed biological

resource metadata standard was in

agreement with the existing form of the

FGDC metadata standard, it was

acceptable for the BRD and its partners

and cooperators in the NBII effort to

begin implementation of the biological

resource metadata standard in the

interim.

Following the revision of the FGDC

geospatial metadata standard, the BRD

would make necessary revisions to the

biological resource metadata standard to

bring it into congruence and

compatibility and would then present

this revised version for formal review

through the FGDC SWG process. It is

anticipated that this revised version of

the proposed standard could be

represented to the SEG within six

months of the end point of the current

revision of the FGDC geospatial

metadata standard.

Resources: This proposed standard

has been developed using staffing and

funding resources of the USGS BRD. It

is anticipated that any necessary

revisions to the proposed standard,

based on the results of the current

revi8sion to the FGDC geospatial

metadata content standard, can be

completed using existing BRD

resources.

Potential Participants: To date, the

BRD has consulted with a broad variety

of government and non-government

agencies and organizations in the

development and refinement of this

proposed standard (e.g. American

institute of Biological Sciences,

Ecological Society of America, The

Nature Conservancy, Fish and Wildlife

Information Exchange, Association of

Systematics Collections, and several

Federal agencies). Information on the

standard was presented at the First IEEE

International Metadata Conference in

1996 and at Eco-Informa 96.

Subsequently, the FGDC Biological Data

Working Group has adopted and

endorsed the draft biological metadata

standard and has undertaken the

responsibility for moving the draft

standard through the FGDC standards

process.

We expect to continue to solicit

involvement and input of all interested

parties as the standard moves through

the formal FGDC approval process.

Target Authorization Body: This

proposed standard is not currently

targeted for consideration by any other

authorizing bodies. As a user-defined

profile of the FGDC geospatial metadata

standard, it is expected that this

proposed standard (once approved by

the FGDC) could be ‘‘linked’’ with the

FGDC geospatial metadata standard in

any subsequent authorization of that

standard by ANSI, ISO, or other group.

Dated: July 27, 1998.

Richard E. Witmer,

Chief, National Mapping Division, U.S.

Geological Survey.

[FR Doc. 98–20761 Filed 8–3–98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310–Y7–M

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[MT–921–08–1320–01; NDM 86601]

Availability of Final Environmental

Analysis and Request for Comments

on the Fair Market Value and Maximum

Economic Recovery; Coal Lease

Application NDM 86601—Knife River

Corporation

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management,

Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

SUMMARY: The Bureau of Land

Management requests public comment

on the final environmental analysis,

maximum economic recovery, and the

fair market value of certain coal

resources it proposes to offer for

competitive lease sale.

The land included in Coal Lease

Application NDM 86601, located in

Mercer County, North Dakota, and is

described as follows:

T. 143 N., R. 88 W., 5th P.M.

Sec. 24: NW1⁄4NW1⁄4, S1⁄2NW1⁄4, SW1⁄4,

S1⁄2SE1⁄4,

Containing 360.000 acres

There are three principal minable coal

seams in the tract. They are the School

House, Upper Beulah-Zap, and Lower

Beulah-Zap. The tract contains an

estimated 6.21 million tons of

recoverable reserves.

The School House seam averages 5.8

feet in thickness. Coal quality, as

received, averages 6643 BTU/lb., 36.66

percent moisture, 10.43 percent ash, and

1.24 percent sulfur.

The Upper Beulah-Zap seam averages

10.9 feet in thickness. Coal quality, as

received, averages 6776 BTU/lb., 38.52

percent moisture, 5.94 percent ash, and

0.49 percent sulfur.

The Lower Beulah-Zap seam averages

3.5 feet in thickness. Coal quality, as

received, averages 6717 BTU/lb., 38.27

percent moisture, 7.32 percent ash, and

0.76 percent sulfur.

The public is invited to submit

written comments on the environmental

analysis, fair market value, and the

maximum economic recovery of the

tract.

In addition, notice is also given that

a public hearing will be held on
Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 149 /Tuesday, August 4, 1998 / Notices 41587

Monday, August 17, 1998, on the

environmental assessment, the proposed

lease sale, the fair market value, and

maximum economic recovery of the

proposed lease tract.

DATES: Comments must be received on

or before August 17, 1998. The public

hearing will be held at 1:00 p.m. on the

same date, at the Dickinson Field Office,

2933 Third Avenue West, Dickinson,

North Dakota.

ADDRESSES: For more complete data on

this tract, please contact Rebecca Good

(telephone 406–255–2828), Bureau of

Land Management, Montana State

Office, 222 North 32nd Street, P.O. Box

36800, Billings, Montana 59107 or Gene

Campbell (telephone 701–225–9148),

Bureau of Land Management, Dickinson

Field Office, 2933 Third Avenue West,

Dickinson, North Dakota 58601-2619.

Copies of the environmental assessment

are available at both addresses.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In

accordance with the Federal Coal

Management Regulations 43 CFR 3422

and 3425, not less than 30 days prior to

publication of a notice of sale, the

Secretary shall solicit public comments

on the environmental assessment, the

proposed sale, fair market value, and

maximum economic recovery on the

proposed lease tract. Proprietary data

marked as confidential may be

submitted to the Bureau of Land

Management in response to this

solicitation of public comments. Data so

marked shall be treated in accordance

with the laws and regulations governing

the confidentiality of such information.

A copy of the comments submitted by

the 3 public on fair market value and

maximum economic recovery, except

those portions identified as proprietary

by the author and meeting exemptions

stated in the Freedom of Information

Act, will be available for public

inspection at the Bureau of Land

Management, 222 North 32nd Street,

Billings, Montana, during regular

business hours (9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.)

Monday through Friday.

Comments should be sent to the

Bureau of Land Management P.O. Box

36800, Billings, Montana 59107 and

should include, but not necessarily be

limited to, the following:

1. The quality and quantity of the coal

resources.

2. The mining method or methods

which would achieve maximum

economic recovery of the coal including

specification of the seams to be mined,

timing and rate of production,

restriction to mining, and inclusion of

the tract in an existing mining

operation.

3. The fair market value appraisal

including but not limited to the

evaluation of the tract as an incremental

unit of an existing mine, selling price of

the coal, mining and reclamation costs,

net present value discount factors,

depreciation and other tax accounting

factors, value of the surface estate, and

any comparable sales data of similar

coal lands.

The values given above may or may

not change as a result of comments

received from the public and changes in

market conditions between now and

when final economic evaluations are

completed.

Dated: July 29, 1998.

Janet Singer,

Acting State Director.

[FR Doc. 98–20721 Filed 8–3–98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310–DN–P

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[OR–130–1020–00; GP8–0275]

Notice of Meeting of the Eastern

Washington Resource Advisory

Council

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management,

Spokane District.

NOTICE: Notice of Meeting of the Eastern

Washington Resource Advisory Council.

ACTION: Meeting of the Eastern

Washington Resource Advisory Council;

August 27, 1998, in Spokane

Washington.

SUMMARY: A meeting of the Eastern

Washington Resource Advisory Council

will be held on August 27, 1998. The

meeting will convene at 9:00 a.m., at the

Spokane District Office of the Bureau of

Land Management, 1103 N. Fancher,

Spokane, Washington, 99212–1275. The

meeting will adjourn upon conclusion

of business, but no later than 4:00 p.m..

Public comments will be heard from

10:00 a.m. until 10:30 a.m.. If necessary

to accommodate all wishing to make

public comments, a time limit may be

placed upon each speaker. At an

appropriate time, the meeting will

adjourn for approximately one hour for

lunch. Topics to be discussed include:

the Interior Columbia Basin Ecosystem

Management Project and

implementation of Standards for

Rangeland Health and Guidelines for

Livestock Grazing Management.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Richard Hubbard, Bureau of Land

Management, Spokane District Office,

1103 N. Fancher Road, Spokane,

Washington, 99212–1275; or call 509–

536–1200.

Dated: July 29, 1998.

Gary J. Yeager,

Acting District Manager.

[FR Doc. 98–20720 Filed 8–3–98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310–33–P

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[OR–958–1430–01; GP7–0139; OR–19111]

Public Land Order No. 7350;

Revocation of Executive Order Dated

August 16, 1917; Oregon

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management,

Interior.

ACTION: Public Land Order.

SUMMARY: This order revokes an

Executive order in its entirety as to the

remaining 98 acres of lands withdrawn

for Bureau of Land Management

Powersite Reserve No. 653. The lands

are no longer needed for the purpose for

which they were withdrawn. Of the

lands being revoked, 59 acres will be

opened to surface entry, except to the

agricultural land laws. Of the remaining

lands, 21 acres will remain closed to

surface entry and mining due to other

overlapping withdrawals, 6 acres have

been conveyed out of Federal ownership

with a reservation of all minerals to the

United States, and 12 acres have been

conveyed out of Federal ownership and

have no remaining reservations to the

United States.

EFFECTIVE DATE: November 3, 1998.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Kenneth St. Mary, BLM Oregon/

Washington State Office, P.O. Box 2965,

Portland, Oregon 97208–2965, 503–952–

6168.

By virtue of the authority vested in

the Secretary of the Interior by Section

204 of the Federal Land Policy and

Management Act of 1976, 43 U.S.C.

1714 (1994), it is ordered as follows:

1. The Executive Order dated August

16, 1917, which established Powersite

Reserve No. 653, is hereby revoked in its

entirety.

Willamette Meridian

(a) Public Lands

All portions of the following described

lands lying within 50 feet of the center line

of the transmission line:

T. 34 S., R. 5 W.,

Sec. 4, unnumbered lot in the NE1⁄4NW1⁄4,

SE1⁄4NW1⁄4, N1⁄2SW1⁄4, and SE1⁄4SW1⁄4;

Sec. 20, E1⁄2W1⁄2;

Sec. 29, W1⁄2SE1⁄4NW1⁄4.

T. 35 S., R. 5 W.,

Sec. 4, S1⁄2SW1⁄4;

Sec. 28, NW1⁄4NE1⁄4 and NE1⁄4NW1⁄4.

T. 33 S., R. 6 W.,