21774 Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 84 / Tuesday, May 1, 2001 / Notices

of raising the ESRD base rates by 1

percent. Since the proposed notice

results in increases in total expenditures

of less than $100 million per year, this

notice is not a major rule as defined in

Title 5, United States Code, section

804(2) and is not an economically

significant rule under Executive Order

12866.

The RFA requires agencies to analyze

the economic impact on small entities,

and if an agency finds that a regulation

imposes a significant burden on a

substantial number of small entities, it

must explore options for reducing the

burden. For purposes of the RFA, small

entities include small businesses,

nonprofit organizations, and

government agencies. Most hospitals

and most other providers and suppliers

are small entities, either by nonprofit

status or by having revenues of $7.5

million or less annually. For purposes of

the RFA, most managed care

organizations are not considered to be

small entities. Individuals and States are

not included in the definition of a small

entity.

In addition, section 1102(b) of the Act

requires us to prepare a regulatory

impact analysis if a rule may have a

significant impact on the operations of

a substantial number of small rural

hospitals. This analysis must conform to

the provisions of section 603 of the

RFA. For purposes of section 1102(b) of

the Act, we define a small rural hospital

as a hospital that is located outside of

a Metropolitan Statistical Area and has

fewer than 100 beds.

Section 202 of the Unfunded

Mandates Reform Act of 1995 also

requires that agencies assess anticipated

costs and benefits before issuing any

rule that may result in expenditure in

anyone year by State, local, or tribal

governments, in the aggregate, or by the

private sector, of $110 million. This

proposed notice would have no

consequential effect on State, local, or

tribal governments, and the private

sector cost of this rule falls below these

thresholds as well.

We have reviewed this proposed

notice under the threshold criteria of

E.O. 13132, Federalism. We have

determined that the proposed notice

would not significantly affect the rights,

roles, and responsibilities of the States.

We have examined the economic

impact of this notice on M+C

organizations and find that the overall

impact is positive. However, because

the number of ESRD patients enrolled in

M+C organizations represents a very

small fraction of M+C organizations’

annual receipts and because a small

number of M+C organizations qualify as

small entities under the RFA, the

Secretary is initially certifying that this

notice will not have a significant impact

on a substantial number of small

entities. To our knowledge, no small

rural hospitals will be affected by this

notice, so the Secretary is also initially

certifying that this notice will not have

a significant impact on a substantial

number of small rural hospitals.

In accordance with the provisions of

E.O. 12866, this proposed notice was

reviewed by OMB.

Works Cited

Eggers, Paul W., Diane L. Frankenfield, Joel

W. Greer, William McClellan, William F.

Owen, Jr., and Michael V. Rocco,

‘‘Comparison of Mortality and Intermediate

Outcomes between Dialysis Patients Enrolled

in HMO and Fee for Service,’’ February 2001.

Under review at the American Journal of

Kidney Disease.

Eggers, Paul. ‘‘Outcome of ESRD Patients

in HMOs.’’ RPA/REF 2000 Annual Meeting.

Washington DC March 25–27, 2000.

The Lewin Group and University Renal

Research and Education Association

(URREA). ‘‘Capitation Models for ESRD:

Methodology and Results.’’ Prepared for

Renal Physicians Association, American

Society of Nephrology, American Society of

Transplant Physicians, American Society for

Pediatric Nephrology, and Amgen. January 7,

2000.

Section 1853(a)(1)(B) of the Social

Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395w–

23(a)(1)(B))

(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance

Program No. 93.773, Medicare-Hospital

Insurance; and Program No. 93.774,

Medicare-Supplementary Medical Insurance

Program)

Dated: March 19, 2001.

Michael McMullan,

Acting Deputy Administrator, Health Care

Financing Administration.

Dated: April 12, 2001.

Tommy G. Thompson,

Secretary.

[FR Doc. 01–10865 Filed 4–26–01; 3:48 pm]

BILLING CODE 4120–01–P

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND

HUMAN SERVICES

Health Resources and Services

Administration

Postponement of Meeting of the

Advisory Committee on Organ

Transplantation

AGENCY: Health Resources and Services

Administration, HHS.

ACTION: Notice; postponement.

SUMMARY: A notice announcing the first

meeting of the Advisory Committee on

Organ Transplantation (ACOT),

Department of Health and Human

Services (HHS), was published in the

Federal Register dated April 12, 2001

(66 FR, page 18962). This meeting,

scheduled for May 1–2, 2001, has been

postponed.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This

notice is to inform the public that the

first meeting of the Advisory Committee

on Organ Transplantation (ACOT),

Department of Health and Human

Services (HHS), which was scheduled

for May 1–2, 2001, has been postponed.

The Secretary of HHS will publish a

notice in the Federal Register once the

date for the rescheduled ACOT meeting

is determined. Individuals with

questions should contact the ACOT

Executive Director, Ms. Lynn Rothberg

Wegman, M.P.A., by telephone at (301)–

443–7577, by e-mail at

Lwegman@hrsa.gov, or in writing at the

Division of Transplantation, Office of

Special Programs, Health Resources and

Services Administration, Room 7C–22,

Parklawn Building, 5600 Fishers Lane,

Rockville, MD 20857.

Dated: April 27, 2001.

Elizabeth M. Duke,

Acting Administrator, Health Resources and

Services Administration.

[FR Doc. 01–11004 Filed 4–27–01; 3:10 pm]

BILLING CODE 4180–15–P

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

Information Collection Renewal and

Revision to be Submitted to the Office

of Management and Budget (OMB) for

Approval under the Paperwork

Reduction Act

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service,

Interior.

ACTION: Proposed information

collection; request for comments.

SUMMARY: The collection of information

described below will be submitted to

OMB for approval under the provisions

of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

Copies of specific information collection

requirements, related forms and

explanatory material may be obtained

by contacting the Information Collection

Clearance Officer of the U.S. Fish and

Wildlife Service at the address and/or

phone numbers listed below.

DATES: Consideration will be given to all

comments received on or before July 2,

2001.

ADDRESSES: Comments and suggestions

on specific requirements should be sent

to Rebecca A. Mullin, Information

Collection Clearance Officer, U.S. Fish

and Wildlife Service, 4401 North Fairfax

Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 84 / Tuesday, May 1, 2001 / Notices 21775

Drive, Suite 222, Arlington, VA 22203,

(703) 358–2278 or

Rebecca_Mullin@FWS.gov Email.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ren

Lohoefener, Chief, Division of

Consultation, Recovery, Habitat, and

State Grants, 703/358–2171

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The U.S.

Fish and Wildlife Service (Service)

proposes to submit the following

information collection requirements to

the Office of Management and Budget

(OMB) for review and approval under

the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995,

Public Law 104–13. Comments are

invited on (1) whether the collection of

information is necessary for the proper

performance of the functions of the

agency, including whether the

information will have practical utility;

(2) the accuracy of the agency’s estimate

of burden, including the validity of the

methodology and assumptions used; (3)

ways to enhance the quality, utility, and

clarity of the information on those who

are to respond, including through the

use of appropriate automated,

electronic, mechanical, or other

technological collection techniques or

other forms of information technology.

The information collections in this

program will not be part of a system of

records covered by the Privacy Act (5

U.S.C. 552(a)).

Experimental populations established

under section 10(j) of the Endangered

Species Act of 1973 (ESA), as amended,

require information collection and

reporting to the Service. Section 9 of the

ESA describes prohibited acts involving

threatened or endangered species (16

U.S.C. section 1538 (a)(1)(B)). There are

three major categories of information

collected under the already issued

experimental population rules. To date

these categories have encompassed

information relating to: (1) The general

taking or removal of individuals of an

experimental population, and (2) the

authorized taking of individuals related

to reports of depredation on livestock or

pets caused by individuals that are part

of an experimental population and (3)

the collection of specimens or the

recovery of dead animals that are part of

an experimental population. These three

categories have adequately described

the types of information needed to

evaluate the efficacy of the program and

are expected to continue to accurately

describe activities under the program.

Because individuals of designated

experimental populations for species

listed as threatened or endangered

under the ESA are categorically

protected, documentation of humanrelated mortalities, recovery of dead

specimens and other types of take

related to the status of experimental

populations is important to the Service

in order to monitor the success of

reintroduction efforts, and recovery

efforts in general. In order to minimize

potential conflict with humans which

could undermine recovery efforts,

livestock depredations connected with

experimental populations of listed

species require prompt attention for

purposes of determining the location,

timing, and nature of the predatory

behavior involved, accurate

determination of the species responsible

for a livestock kill, and the timely

application of necessary control

measures. The Service, in cooperation

with the United States Department of

Agriculture/Animal Plant Health

Inspection Service Division of Wildlife

Services or other cooperating State or

Federal agencies, relies on prompt

public reporting of depredation in order

to resolve livestock related problems,

and, therefore, a time sensitive

requirement for reporting problems

(generally within 24 hours) to the

appropriate Service office is necessary.

Information collection is achieved

primarily by means of telephone calls

by members of the public to Service

offices specified in the individual rules

(some may choose to use facsimile or

electronic mail). Information required is

limited to the identity of the caller,

species involved, time and place of an

incident, the type of incident, and

circumstances related to the incident

described. The vast majority of the

information supplied to the Service as a

result of experimental population

regulations, is provided by cooperating

State and Federal agencies under

cooperative agreement. However, some

of the information collected by the

Service under the experimental

population rules is provided by the

public.

The collected information can be

separated into three categories; general

take or removal, depredation related

take, and specimen collection. General

take or removal information refers to

human-related mortality including

unintentional taking incidental to

otherwise lawful activities (e.g. highway

mortalities), take in defense of human

life, take related to defense of property

(if authorized), or take in the form of

authorized harassment. Most contacts

related to this type of information

collection are in regard to sightings of

experimental animals, or the

inadvertent discovery of an injured or

dead individual. Depredation related

take refers to the reporting of take for

management purposes, where livestock

depredation has been documented or

may include authorized harassment or

lethal take of experimental animals in

the act of attacking livestock. The

information collection required by the

rules for this type of take include the

necessary follow-up reports after the

Service has authorized harassment or

lethal take of experimental animals in

relation to confirmed instances of

livestock depredation or in defense of

human life. Specimen collection is for

the purpose of documenting incidental

or authorized scientific collection. Most

of the information collection

requirement for this take pertains

primarily to the reporting of sightings of

experimental population animals or the

inadvertent discovery of an injured or

dead individual. Information collection

is required for necessary follow-up

reports when the Service has authorized

take of experimental animals for

specimen collection.

The standard information collection

includes the name, address, and phone

number of the reporting party, location

and time of the reported incident,

species of experimental population

involved. Reporting parties include, but

are not limited to, individuals or

households, farms, businesses, and

other non-profit organizations. The

reporting of specimen collections,

recovery, or even the reporting of dead

individuals from experimental

populations is important to the Service’s

efforts in monitoring these individuals

and for other scientific purposes.

Federal agencies 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. The control numbers

for this collection are 1018–0095 and

1018–0096.

Because the number of reports

generated annually by the general

public (rather than cooperating agencies

or separately permitted individuals)

under these rules is extremely small (far

less than one report per year, per rule)

and to assure thorough documentation

of results, the Service is estimating the

number of expected reports to assume a

maximum number per year based on

allowance for increased population size

and public awareness of experimental

populations.

The following existing experimental

populations described under Title 50 of

the Code of Federal Regulations contain

information collection requirements:

21776 Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 84 / Tuesday, May 1, 2001 / Notices

50 CFR Section Species (scientific name) Type of reporting

17.84(c) ................................ Red Wolf (Canis rufus): .................................................. Take in defense of human life, incidental take, take related to livestock depredation.

17.84(g) ................................ Black footed ferret (Mustela nigripes): ............................ Incidental take, specimen collection/reporting.

17.84(h) ................................ Whooping crane (Grus americana): ................................ Specimen collection/reporting.

17.84(i) ................................. Gray wolf (Canis lupus): ................................................. Take in defense of human life, incidental take, take related to livestock depredation.

17.84(j) ................................. California condors (Gymnogyps californianus): .............. Specimen collection/reporting, incidental take.

17.84(k) ................................ Mexican gray wolf (Canus lupus baileyi) ........................ Take in defense of human life, incidental take, take related to livestock depredation.

17.84(l) ................................. Grizzly bear (Ursus horribilis) ......................................... Take in defense of human life, incidental take, take related to livestock depredation.

Future experimental populations that

are established will require the same

types of reports as listed above. This

proposed information collection notice

would also apply to future experimental

populations that encompass the same

information requirements outlined

above to streamline the process.

Title: Endangered and Threatened

Wildlife, 50 CFR 17.84, Experimental

populations.

Description of respondents: Private

individuals and households, businesses,

not-for-profit organizations, and farms.

Bureau form number: N/A.

Frequency of collection: On occasion.

Species]

BURDEN ESTIMATES FOR REPORTING REQUIREMENTS FOR EXPERIMENTAL POPULATINS

Type of report Number of respondents

Average time required per report

(in minutes)

Total annual burden (in hours)

General take or removal a .......................................................................................... 20 15 5

Depredation related take b ......................................................................................... 22 15 5.5

Specimen collection c ................................................................................................. 20 15 5

(a) General take or removal includes human related mortality including unintentional taking incidental to otherwise lawful activities (e.g. highway mortalities), take in defense of human life, take related to defense of property (if authorized) or take in the form of authorized harassment.

(b) Depredation-related take is take for management purposes where livestock depredation has been documented and may include authorized

harassment or authorized lethal take of experimental animals in the act of attacking livestock.

(c) Specimen collection, recovery, or reporting of dead individuals from experimental populations for documentation purposes or authorized scientific collection purposes.

Dated: April 26, 2001.

Rebecca A. Mullin,

Fish and Wildlife Service, Information

Collection Office.

[FR Doc. 01–10810 Filed 4–30–01; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310–55–P

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

Availability of a Habitat Conservation

Plan and Receipt of an Application for

an Incidental Take Permit for the

Northern Spotted Owl, Boise Cascade

Corporation, Klickitat County, WA

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service,

Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

SUMMARY: This notice advises the public

that the Boise Cascade Corporation

(Boise) has applied to the Fish and

Wildlife Service (Service) for an

incidental take permit pursuant to

section 10(a)(1)(B) of the Endangered

Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act).

The application has been assigned

permit number TE 028219–0. The

proposed permit would authorize the

incidental take, in the form of habitat

modification (i.e., harm), of the northern

spotted owl (Strix occidentalis caurina),

a species that is federally listed as

threatened. The proposed duration of

the permit and habitat conservation

plan (HCP) is 5 years, or as long as the

owl site is active. We also announce the

opening of a 30-day comment period to

receive comments from the public on

Boise’s incidental take permit

application and the accompanying

proposed HCP. The HCP fully describes

the proposed project and the measures

Boise will undertake to minimize and

mitigate for project impacts to the owl.

These measures and associated impacts

are also described in the background

and summary information that follow.

We also request comments from the

public on our preliminary

determination that Boise’s HCP would

qualify as a ‘‘Low Effect’’ HCP, eligible

for a categorical exclusion under the

National Environmental Policy Act, as

provided by the Department of the

Interior Manual (516 DM2, Appendix 1

and 516 DM 6, Appendix 1). The basis

for this determination is discussed in an

Environmental Action Statement, which

is also available for public review. All

comments received will become part of

the public record and will be available

for review pursuant to section 10(c) of

the Act.

DATES: Written comments must be

received by 5 p.m. on May 31, 2001.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be

addressed to the State Supervisor, Fish

and Wildlife Service, Western

Washington Office, 510 Desmond Drive

SE, Suite 102, Lacey, Washington

98503, fax number (306) 753-9518 (for

further information and instruction on

the reviewing and commenting process,

see Public Review and Comment section

below).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr.

Joseph Zisa, Fish and Wildlife Service,

Western Washington Office, telephone

(360) 534–9330.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 9

of the Act and Federal regulation

prohibit the taking of a species listed as

endangered or threatened. The term

‘‘take’’ is defined under the Act to mean

harass, harm, pursue, hunt, shoot,

wound, kill, trap, capture or collect, or

to attempt to engage in any such

conduct. ‘‘Harm’’ is defined to include

significant habitat modification or

degradation where it actually kills or

injures wildlife by significantly

impairing essential behavioral patterns,