Federal Register / Vol. 60, No. 95 / Wednesday, May 17, 1995 / Notices 26409

North Dakota

Grand Forks Air Force Base

Ohio

Youngstown-Warren Municipal

Airport Air Reserve Station

Oklahoma

Tinker Air Force Base

Defense Distribution Depot Oklahoma

City

Vance Air Force Base

Pennsylvania

Letterkenny Army Depot

Tobyhanna Army Depot

Defense Distribution Depot

Tobyhanna

Texas

Kelly Air Force Base

Defense Distribution Depot San

Antonio

Carswell Air Reserve Station, Naval

Air Station Fort Worth Joint Reserve

Base Laughlin Air Force Base

Utah

Hill Air Force Base

Defense Distribution Depot Hill

Wisconsin

General Mitchell International Airport

Air Reserve Station

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Mr. Wade Nelson, Director of

Communications, at (703) 696–0504.

Dated: May 11, 1995.

L.M. Bynum,

Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison

Officer, Department of Defense.

[FR Doc. 95–12030 Filed 5–16–95; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 5000–04–M

Department of the Air Force

USAF Scientific Advisory Board

Meeting

The USAF Scientific Advisory

Board’s Science & Technology Review

of Advanced Weapons will meet on 5–

9 June 1995 at Kirtland AFB, NM from

8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

The purpose of the meeting is to

fulfill the yearly SAB Science and

Technology Review in the area of

Advanced Weapons.

The meeting will be closed to the

public in accordance with Section 552b

of Title 5, United States Code,

specifically subparagraphs (1) and (4)

thereof.

For further information, contact the

Scientific Advisory Board Secretariat at

(703) 697–8845.

Patsy J. Conner,

Air Force Federal Register Liaison Officer.

[FR Doc. 95–12130 Filed 5–16–95; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3910–01–P

Corps of Engineers

Intent To Prepare an Environmental

Impact Statement and Notice of Public

Scoping Meeting

AGENCY: Corps of Engineers, Omaha

District.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

SUMMARY: The Metropolitan Utilities

District (District), Omaha Nebraska,

proposes to construct a 104 million

gallon per day (MGD) well field near the

Platte River in western Douglas and

eastern Saunders Counties, Nebraska.

The proposed project also includes a

water treatment plant and transmission

pipelines. The purpose of the proposed

project is to provide additional public

water supply to meet customer

requirements through the year 2030 and

to improve water source reliability for

the District’s growing service area.

The proposed action will require a

Corps of Engineers’ permit pursuant to

Section 404 of the Clean Water Act (33

U.S.C. 1344), which authorizes the

Corps of Engineers to issue permits for

the discharge of dredged or fill material

into the waters of the United States. In

accordance with the National

Environmental Policy Act of 1969 and

implementing regulations, an

environmental impact statement will be

prepared to analyze the environmental

impacts of the proposed action and

alternatives. A public scoping meeting

has been scheduled to solicit comments

regarding the scope of the

environmental studies.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Questions about the proposed action

and Environmental Impact Statement

should be directed to: Mr. Richard D.

Gorton, Chief, Environmental Analysis

Branch, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers,

215 North 17th Street, Omaha, Nebraska

68102–4978; phone (402) 221–4598; fax

(402) 221–4886.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The

Metropolitan Utilities District (District)

is the potable water supplier of Omaha,

Nebraska, and the surrounding area. The

District is experiencing a steady growth

within its existing and expanding

service area boundaries. It has

determined that an additional 100 MGD

supply would be required by the year

2030. It has also concluded that if peak

day design conditions were to occur any

year after 1995, the District would not

be able to meet those demands. The

District does not currently have any

excess production capacity to provide

reliability during peak water demand

periods.

The proposed project would include a

total of 42 wells in the Platte River

alluvial aquifer and associated pumping

equipment, water transmission

pipelines, a water treatment facility, and

a 25-million-gallon storage reservoir.

These facilities would deliver water to

the western portion of the District’s

distribution system.

Alternatives to the proposed action

identified to date include:

• Construction of well facilities in the

Platte River alluvial aquifer in

alternative locations;

• Construction of additional facilities

to supply water from the Missouri River;

• No Federal action.

A public scoping meeting has been

scheduled for June 1, 1995 at 7:00 p.m.

at the Russell Middle School Cafeteria,

5304 South 172 Street, Omaha,

Nebraska.

The purpose of the scoping meetings

is to solicit public input on issues,

studies needed, alternatives to be

evaluated, and potential environmental

effects. Written comments will also be

requested.

Potential significant environmental

issues include effects on threatened and

endangered species and the indirect

effects of drawdown on wetlands and

recreational lakes.

Other applicable and pertinent

environmental review and consultation

requirements will be undertaken

simultaneously with the NEPA process,

including requirements of the

Endangered Species Act, Fish and

Wildlife Coordination Act, National

Historic Preservation Act, Clean Water

Act, Clean Air Act, and others.

Gregory D. Showalter,

Army Federal Register Liaison Officer.

[FR Doc. 95–12072 Filed 5–16–95; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3710–62–M

Department of the Army

International Personal Property

Program—Synopsis of Comments

Received

AGENCY: Military Traffic Management

Command, DOD.

ACTION: Notice (Provide industry a

synopsis of comments received from the

carrier industry regarding the increase

in carrier liability for international

shipments and the elimination of the

valuation charges for domestic

shipments).

SUMMARY: The following synopsis

includes the comments received from a

total of six carriers/associations/bureaus

and MTMC’s response to each of these

comments:

1. Comment: MTMC’s proposal states

that it is based upon the results of a
26410 Federal Register / Vol. 60, No. 95 / Wednesday, May 17, 1995 / Notices

General Accounting Office (GAO) study.

This study has not yet been released by

GAO in final form. Thus any attempt to

implement the so-called findings of this

study is premature.

MTMC Response: MTMC recognizes

the proposal to increase liability to

$1.25 times the net shipment weight is

based on a draft GAO report. MTMC

anticipates the final study will

recommend the increase in carrier

liability. However, MTMC will review

its proposal should GAO decide to

change the final study

recommendations.

2. Comment: Concerned that GAO has

misinterpreted the data collected and

thus drawn some erroneous

conclusions. Believe that GAO has used

an inflation index that has overstated

the actual level of inflation between

1986 and 1993.

MTMC Response: MTMC changes to

the domestic and international

solicitations will be based on a GAO’s

recommendations.

3. Comment: Change to the $1.25

carrier liability will expose the

Government to significant additional

risk of stranding shipments by

increasing the possibility of carriers

going bankrupt and out of the program.

Any increase in carrier liability beyond

the base liability of $.60 per pound per

article must be accompanied by an

appropriate compensatory valuation

charge, as in commercial practice.

Failure to pay this charge will

inappropriately transfer costs onto the

shoulders of private industry. Nothing is

accomplished in carrier liability in the

international program except to transfer

liability from the military to the mover.

MTMC Response: MTMC believes

international carriers will be able to

adapt to the increase in carrier liability

to $1.25 times the net shipment weight

just as carriers have adapted to a similar

increase in the domestic program and

the increase in carrier liability to $1.80

per pound per article in the

international program. MTMC feels

confident that carriers will be able to

adjust their rates appropriately, to

include costs for the increase in carrier

liability. In addition, as recommended

by GAO, MTMC will compensate

carriers with an appropriate valuation

charge.

4. Comment: By making household

goods carriers liable for much more of

the claims costs, the Government simply

transferred responsibility for paying

these costs to the carriers. This shifting

of claims costs can be characterized as

more of a tax than a savings.

MTMC Response: MTMC’s desire is to

transfer responsibility for loss and

damage to carriers and to improve

carrier quality control and assurance

programs. Limited or undervalued

liability provisions do not incentivize

carriers to provide quality service. In

addition, after MTMC raised the

domestic carrier liability in May 1987,

carrier rated did not significantly

increase. A study of selected personal

property shipping offices (PPSOs) did

not show significant increases. Some

decrease in rates occurred. Carriers with

successful programs to reduce loss and

damage will be subjected to a reduced

frequency of claims and reduction in

overall claims cost, to include personnel

costs associated with claims processing.

5. Comments: If increase in carrier

liability to $1.25 did not have the

desired effect in the domestic market,

there is no reason to expect that it

would work in the international market.

MTMC Response: Changes to the

domestic and international solicitations

will be based on GAP’s

recommendations. GAO concluded the

$1.25 minimum released valuation for

domestic shipments and resulted in

reducing shipment loss and damage and

overall program cost.

6. Comment: Nothing is accomplished

by the increase in carrier liability in the

program except to transfer liability from

the military to the mover. The liability

level should either be returned to the

$.60 per pound per article, or carriers

should be adequately compensated for

the additional liability.

MTMC Response: MTMC’s desire is to

transfer responsibility for less and

damage to carriers and to improve

carrier quality control and assurance

programs. Limited or undervalued

liability provisions do not incentive

carriers to provide quality service. In

addition, after MTMC raised the

domestic carrier liability in May 1987,

carrier rates did not significantly

increase. A study of selected PPSOs did

not show significant increase. Some

decrease in rates occurred. Carriers with

successful programs to reduce loss and

damage will be subjected to reduced

frequency of claims and reduction in

overall claims cost, to include personnel

costs associated with claims processing.

7.Comment: MTMC proposes to set

the valuation charge for international

shipments at $1.28 for $100 declared

value. The GAO report shows that this

level with be inadequate. It must be

increased to a reasonable level.

MTMC Response: MTMC is revising

the compensation charge originally

proposed in the Federal Register for

international shipments. The following

are the valuation charges in effect for 3

years: $2.04 for the first year (1 Oct 95–

30 Sep 96); $1.36 for the second year (1

Oct 96–30 Sep 97); and $.68 for the

third year (1 Oct 97–30 Sep 98).

Effective 1 Oct 98, the valuation charge

will be eliminated.

8. Comment: Table 3.2 of the GAO

draft report shows an average cost to

carriers of $6.2 million over FY 89 to FY

91, with liability at 60 cents per pound

per article. When the liability is

increased to $1.25, GAO projects a

recovery from carriers of $22.5 million.

To compensate carriers for the $16.3

million difference, a valuation charge of

$2.31 would be required. If MTMC is

not willing to pay this compensation, it

should return carrier liability to the 60

cents per pound per article level.

MTMC Response: MTMC does not

agree with the recommendation to

compensate carriers with a valuation

charge of $2.31 for each $100 declared

value. However, MTMC is

implementing the following valuation

charge, which will be in effect for 3

years: $2.04 for the first year (1 Oct 95–

30 Sept 96); $1.36 for the second year

(1 Oct 96–30 Sep 97); $.68 for the third

year (1 Oct 97–30 Sep 98). The

valuation charge will be eliminated

effective 1 Oct 98.

9. Comment: Strongly agree with

GAO’s recommendation to shorten the

time that a DOD member is given to file

his/her claim for damages to one year

from the current 2 years.

MTMC Response: Claims matters are

under the purview of the U.S. Army

Claims Service. Comments regarding

claims will be forwarded to them for

review.

10. Comment: The two most

important cost components which affect

increase or decrease in the

transportation rate level, in addition to

carrier liability, are steamship costs and

fluctuation in foreign currency. These

factors do not exist in connection with

the domestic program and their very

absence underscores the unreliability

and illogic of using domestic experience

as a predictor of the impact of the $1.25

liability on the international program.

MTMC Response: MTMC has

established a separate compensation

factor for international shipments. See

MTMC response to comment number 8.

11. Comment: Suggest MTMC let

carriers settle claims directly with the

member, both for the International and

Domestic programs. This is what is

really going to save the Government

money, not the proposal in the Federal

Register.

MTMC Response: At this time, MTMC

proposes no changes to the claims

settlement process. However, MTMC is

considering direct claims settlement as

part of the reengineering initiative.

12. Comment: In the Domestic

program, the current valuation charge of
Federal Register / Vol. 60, No. 95 / Wednesday, May 17, 1995 / Notices 26411

$.64 per $100 of declared value should

not only be retained, but increased to

$1.35 per $100 of declared value.

Removing the $.64 valuation charge will

simply serve to take even more money

away from carriers, with no valid

reason. Unless liability level is returned

to $.60 per pound per article, the

valuation charge is needed in return.

MTMC Response: MTMC agrees with

GAO’s recommendation that the

valuation charge is unnecessary.

Carriers should include appropriate

claims costs in their rates. MTMC is

examining alternatives to phase out/

eliminate the valuation charge.

13. Comment: The Total Quality

Assurance Program and the High Risk

Item Protection Program and the present

carrier liability should be used for

evaluation and utilized to reach a

supportable decision.

MTMC Response: The commenter has

mixed evaluation of carrier services

with liability for loss and damage. Each

of these areas is separate and distinct.

Also, the industry’s HRIP is an excellent

initiative to reduce loss and damage;

however, this also is a quality control/

assurance tool and should not be

confused with carrier liability when

loss/damage does occur.

14. Comment: It is unfair and not

justified to hold international carriers

responsible for the full value of damages

incurred on an international move. The

movement in international trade is

many times outside the carrier’s direct

control, such as movement by vessel,

aircraft, or the movement of goods in

foreign lands. It is just and right that the

Government should take part in a

portion of that risk.

MTMC Response: MTMC recognizes

international personal property

shipments require additional handling

and over-ocean movement. Accordingly,

MTMC expects carriers to subcontract

with ocean and linehaul carriers and

other parties that provide quality service

and damage-free movement. MTMC also

expects carriers to have appropriate

provisions in their contracts with

underlying service providers, which

include adequate reimbursement

options for loss and damage.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Questions should be referred to Mr.

Alex Moreno, MTOP–T–NP, (703) 756–

2383.

Gregory D. Showalter,

Army Federal Register Liaison Officer.

[FR Doc. 95–12071 Filed 5–16–95; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3710–08–M

Department of the Navy

CNO Executive Panel; Closed Meeting

Pursuant to the provisions of the

Federal Advisory Committee Act (5

U.S.C. App. 2), notice is hereby given

that the Chief of Naval Operations

Executive Panel will meet May 24-25,

1995, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on

each day. The meeting will be held at

4401 Ford Avenue, Alexandria,

Virginia. This session will be closed to

the public.

The purpose of this meeting is to

conduct discussions on strategies for an

uncertain future to include information

warfare, reserve structure and

mobilization, and the changing strategic

environment. These matters constitute

classified information that is

specifically authorized by Executive

order to be kept secret in the interest of

national defense and are, in fact,

properly classified pursuant to such

Executive order. Accordingly, the

Secretary of the Navy has determined in

writing that the public interest requires

that all sessions of the meeting be closed

to the public because they will be

concerned with matters listed in section

552b(c)(1) of title 5, United States Code.

For further information concerning

this meeting, contact: Timothy J. Galpin,

Assistant for CNO Executive Panel

Management, 4401 Ford Avenue, Suite

601, Alexandria, Virginia 22302-0268,

Phone: (703) 756-1205.

Dated: May 2, 1995

L. R. McNees,

LCDR, JAGC, USN, Federal Register Liaison

Officer

[FR Doc. 95-12073 Filed 5-16-95; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3810-FF-F

CNO Executive Panel; Closed Meeting

Pursuant to the provisions of the

Federal Advisory Committee Act (5

U.S.C. App. 2), notice is hereby given

that the Chief of Naval Operations

(CNO) Executive Panel will meet June

16, 1995, from 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.,

at the Pentagon, room 4E630. This

session will be closed to the public.

The purpose of this meeting is to brief

the Chief of Naval Operations on naval

warfare innovations in the areas of joint

operations, information warfare, naval

doctrine, and research and

development. These matters constitute

classified information that is

specifically authorized by Executive

order to be kept secret in the interest of

national defense and are, in fact,

properly classified pursuant to such

Executive order. Accordingly, the

Secretary of the Navy has determined in

writing that the public interest requires

that all sessions of the meeting be closed

to the public because they will be

concerned with matters listed in section

552b(c)(1) of title 5, United States Code.

For further information concerning

this meeting, contact: Timothy J. Galpin,

Assistant for CNO Executive Panel

Management, 4401 Ford Avenue, Suite

601, Alexandria, VA 22302-0268,

Phone: (703) 756-1205.

Dated: May 4, 1995

L. R. McNees,

LCDR, JAGC, USN, Federal Register Liaison

Officer.

[FR Doc. 95-12088 Filed 5-16-95; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3810-FF-F

Intent to Grant Exclusive Patent

License; Biocompatibles Limited

SUMMARY: The Department of the Navy

hereby gives notice of its intent to grant

Biocompatibles Limited, a revocable,

nonassignable, exclusive license in the

United States to practice the

Government owned inventions

described in U.S. Patents Nos.

4,867,917, ‘‘Method for Synthesis of

Diacetylenic Compounds,’’ patented 19

September 1989; 4,877,501, ‘‘Process for

Fabrication of Lipid Microstructures,’’

patented 31 October 1989; 4,911,981,

‘‘Metal Clad Lipid Microstructures,’’

patented 27 March 1990; 5,049,382,

‘‘Coating and Composition Containing

Lipid Microstructure Toxin Dispenses,’’

patented 17 September 1991; and Patent

Application Serial No. 08/077,503,

‘‘Method of Controlled Release and

Controlled Release Microstructures,’’

filed 17 June 1993 in the field of lipid

derived controlled release systems for

non-medical biofouling applications.

Anyone wishing to object to the

granting of this license has 60 days from

the date of this notice to file written

objections along with supporting

evidence, if any. Written objections are

to be filed with the Office of Naval

Research, ONR, 00CC, Ballston Tower

One, Arlington, Virginia 22217–5660.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr.

R.J. Erickson, Staff Patent Attorney,

Office of Naval Research, ONR 00CC,

Ballston Tower One, 800 North Quincy

Street, Arlington, Virginia 22217–5660,

telephone (703) 696–4001.

Dated: May 1, 1995.

L.R. McNees,

LCDR, JAGC, USN, Federal Register Liaison

Officer.

[FR Doc. 95–12131 Filed 5–16–95; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3810–AE–M