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Notices Federal Register

67410 

Vol. 70, No. 214 

Monday, November 7, 2005 

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 

Commodity Credit Corporation 

Actions Taken To Ease Transportation 

Issues Exacerbated by Hurricane 

Katrina 

AGENCY: Commodity Credit Corporation, 

USDA. 

ACTION: Notice; Request for proposal. 

SUMMARY: The Commodity Credit 

Corporation (CCC) is providing 

notification to all interested parties 

regarding additional actions pursuant to 

the September 20, 2005 announcement 

to ease transportation issues exacerbated 

by Hurricane Katrina. CCC is seeking 

proposals from interested parties for 

unloading barges of agricultural 

commodities located in the New 

Orleans area to make them available to 

transport 2005-crop agricultural 

commodities. 

DATES: Proposals should be submitted 

November 14, 2005 to be assured 

consideration. 

ADDRESSES: CCC invites interested 

persons to submit proposals on this 

notice. Proposals may be submitted by 

any of the following methods: 

• E-Mail: Send proposals to: 

Richard.Mashek@kcc.usda.gov. 

• Fax: Send proposals to (816) 823– 

1805. 

• Mail: Send proposals to: Contract 

Reconciliation Division, ATTN: Rick 

Mashek, P.O. Box 419205, Stop 8758, 

Kansas City, MO 64133–4676. 

• Hand Delivery or Courier: Deliver 

proposals to 6501 Beacon Drive, STOP 

8758, Kansas City, MO 64133. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

James Goff, Warehouse and Inventory 

Division, Farm Service Agency, United 

States Department of Agriculture, 1400 

Independence Avenue, SW., STOP 

0553, Washington, DC 20250–0553, 

telephone (202) 720–5396, fax (202) 

690–3123, e-mail: 

James.Goff@wdc.usda.gov. Persons with 

disabilities who require alternative 

means for communication for regulatory 

information (Braille, large print, 

audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA’s 

TARGET Center at (202) 720–2600 

(voice and TDD). 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On 

September 20, 2005, CCC announced 

additional steps to reduce further stress 

on the grain transportation system 

caused by Hurricane Katrina. The 

industry-focused actions outlined in the 

press release include assisting with the 

movement of barges of agricultural 

commodities from New Orleans, 

providing incentives for alternative 

storage of grain, and encouraging 

alternative shipping patterns to relieve 

pressure on the Mississippi River 

transportation system. The goals of 

these actions were to create velocity and 

capacity in the transportation system 

and to take advantage of under-utilized 

handling facilities. In a Federal Register 

Notice emergency-filed by the Office of 

the Federal Register for public 

inspection on September 30, 2005, and 

published October 5, 2005 (70 FR 

58179), CCC requested proposals related 

to these steps be submitted to USDA by 

October 5, 2005. This notice is seeking 

additional proposals from interested 

parties related to unloading barges of 

agricultural commodities in New 

Orleans to make the barges available to 

transport 2005-harvested commodities. 

The CCC Charter Act (15 U.S.C. 714 

et. seq.) provides the authority for this 

action. Specifically, sections 5(b) and 

5(d) (15 U.S.C. 714c(b) and 714c(d)) 

allow CCC to make available materials 

and facilities required in connection 

with the production and marketing of 

agricultural commodities, and allows 

CCC to remove and dispose of, or aid in 

the removal and disposition of, surplus 

agricultural commodities. 

Barges containing agricultural 

commodities originally loaded and 

shipped to the New Orleans area for 

export or further processing remain 

without an outlet because of conditions 

caused by Hurricane Katrina. Some of 

the agricultural commodities stored on 

the barges have deteriorated in quality, 

further limiting possible outlets. 

CCC will provide up to $7.6 million 

in funding for this initiative. CCC will 

consider all proposals on a competitive 

basis, but will not consider proposals in 

excess of $30 per ton. This per-ton cap 

reflects current barge freight rates as 

shown below: 

BARGE TRANSPORTATION RATES

[Dollars per short ton] 

2005 2004 

This week Next month 2 months 

out 

3 months 

out This week Next month 2 months out 

3 months 

out 

Minneapolis-St. Paul 

8/3/2005 ........ 20.49 23.58 25.56 ....... 22.35 ....... 8/4/2004 ....... 13.68 17.27 18.57 ....... 17.27 

8/10/2005 ...... 21.48 24.51 25.07 ....... 22.59 ....... 8/11/2004 ..... 13.93 17.58 18.57 ....... 17.33 

8/17/2005 ...... 23.83 25.19 25.07 ....... 22.59 ....... 8/18/2004 ..... 14.55 17.52 18.88 ....... 17.39 

8/24/2005 ...... 23.15 25.13 25.56 ....... 22.96 ....... 8/25/2004 ..... 14.18 17.39 18.57 ....... 17.52 

8/31/2005 ...... 31.57 31.32 27.86 ....... 27.11 ....... 9/1/2004 ....... 14.24 18.63 16.90 ....... closed 

9/7/2005 ........ 33.18 34.54 30.95 ....... closed ...... 9/8/2004 ....... 14.24 18.63 16.90 ....... closed 

9/14/2005 ...... 34.05 37.26 31.26 ....... closed ...... 9/15/2004 ..... 19.44 20.86 17.95 ....... closed 

9/21/2005 ...... 30.02 33.30 28.16 ....... closed ...... 9/22/2004 ..... 20.74 21.48 17.52 ....... closed 

9/28/2005 ...... 33.92 35.90 29.90 ....... closed ...... 9/29/2004 ..... 23.65 23.71 18.57 ....... closed 

10/5/2005 ...... 36.71 32.93 closed ...... closed ...... 10/6/2004 ..... 24.76 20.80 closed ...... closed 

10/12/2005 .... 41.66 35.90 closed ...... closed ...... 10/13/2004 ... 20.74 19.37 closed ...... closed 

Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 214 / Monday, November 7, 2005 / Notices 67411 

BARGE TRANSPORTATION RATES—Continued 

[Dollars per short ton] 

2005 2004 

This week Next month 2 months 

out 

3 months 

out This week Next month 2 months out 

3 months 

out 

10/19/2005 .... 38.69 35.16 closed ...... closed ...... 10/20/2004 ... 19.93 19.93 closed ...... closed 

10/26/2005 .... 44.26 39.93 closed ...... closed ...... 10/27/2004 ... 23.65 22.22 closed ...... closed 

St. Louis 

8/3/2005 ........ 9.46 12.37 13.29 ........ 10.93 ....... 8/4/2004 ....... 7.18 10.29 10.69 ....... 7.46 

8/10/2005 ...... 10.93 13.21 13.77 ....... 11.25 ....... 8/11/2004 ..... 7.14 10.45 10.77 ....... 7.46 

8/17/2005 ...... 13.09 14.48 14.36 ....... 11.21 ....... 8/18/2004 ..... 8.70 10.57 10.89 ....... 7.42 

8/24/2005 ...... 14.08 14.88 15.36 ....... 11.33 ....... 8/25/2004 ..... 8.30 10.81 10.89 ....... 7.42 

8/31/2005 ...... 23.94 21.95 18.95 ....... 13.69 ....... 9/1/2004 ....... 8.46 10.77 7.70 .......... 6.30 

9/7/2005 ........ 27.33 22.62 19.95 ....... 12.97 ....... 9/8/2004 ....... 10.33 10.97 7.70 .......... 6.42 

9/14/2005 ...... 28.05 24.34 18.47 ....... 13.49 ....... 9/15/2004 ..... 14.88 12.77 8.10 .......... 6.58 

9/21/2005 ...... 20.31 22.46 16.48 ....... 13.17 ....... 9/22/2004 ..... 15.56 13.09 10.61 ....... 6.62 

9/28/2005 ...... 28.53 23.94 17.48 ....... 13.33 ....... 9/29/2004 ..... 16.52 13.73 9.54 .......... 7.02 

10/5/2005 ...... 30.76 18.83 14.28 ....... 13.69 ....... 10/6/2004 ..... 16.08 9.30 7.38 ......... 7.22 

10/12/2005 .... 36.75 19.15 15.08 ....... 14.12 ........ 10/13/2004 ... 12.25 9.30 7.02 ......... 6.98 

10/19/2005 .... 25.62 18.87 14.88 ....... 14.32 ........ 10/20/2004 ... 11.05 9.62 7.26 ......... 7.26 

10/26/2005 .... 21.35 17.44 14.36 ....... 14.12 ........ 10/27/2004 ... 14.68 10.93 7.78 .......... 7.90 

I. Unloading Barges of Agricultural 

Commodities 

CCC will consider proposals and enter 

into agreements with operators to 

unload barges of agricultural 

commodities located in the New 

Orleans area for the purpose of making 

the barges available to move 2005-crop 

commodities. CCC has not and will not 

take title to the agricultural commodity. 

The barges must have been loaded and 

shipped to the New Orleans area before 

August 29, 2005, when Hurricane 

Katrina made landfall. The barges must 

be unloaded by December 1, 2005, 

unless extended in writing by CCC, to 

accelerate barge availability to 

geographical areas under harvest 

pressure. There are no restrictions on 

the actual unload location, final 

destination or disposition of the 

agricultural commodities; however there 

must not be a negative market impact. 

This offer of economic assistance is only 

available to unload barges of 

agricultural commodities and facilitate 

barge availability. 

II. Proposal Requirements 

Proposals must include the following 

information: 

(1) Number of barges that contain 

agricultural commodities; 

(2) Type of agricultural commodity; 

(3) Quantity of agricultural 

commodities; 

(4) Market value of the agricultural 

commodity as of date proposal is 

submitted: 

(5) Current location; 

(6) Date the barges arrived in the New 

Orleans area; 

(7) Location where barge will be 

discharged, if different from item 4 

above; 

(8) Proposed disposition and 

compensation received for the sale of 

the agricultural commodity; 

(9) Dollar amount per ton of 

assistance requested, not to exceed $30 

per ton; 

(10) Whether the loss or damage to the 

agricultural commodity was covered by 

an insurance policy and, if so, the 

amount of indemnity received; and 

(11) A point of contact with 

applicable phone number, facsimile 

number, e-mail address and mailing 

address. 

Operators entering into agreements 

with CCC will be required to meet 

certain documentation and certification 

requirements. These requirements will 

allow CCC to verify the unloading of the 

barges, the quantity and value of the 

agricultural commodity, and any 

compensation received for the final 

disposition of the agricultural 

commodity. 

III. Proposal Evaluation Criteria and 

Award 

Proposals must be evaluated 

objectively in accordance with the 

regulations on ‘‘Competition in the 

awarding of discretionary grants and 

cooperative agreements’’ found at 7 CFR 

part 3015.158. The following criteria 

must be used equally in the evaluation: 

(1) Proposal’s cost in relation to the 

agricultural commodity’s current market 

value; 

(2) Net positive impact on barge 

availability; and 

(3) Overall cost-effectiveness of 

proposal. 

CCC will notify interested parties of 

approval of their proposal. 

Signed at Washington, DC November 1, 

2005. 

Teresa C. Lasseter, 

Executive Vice-President, Commodity Credit 

Corporation. 

[FR Doc. 05–22239 Filed 11–3–05; 1:51 pm] 

BILLING CODE 3410–05–P 

BROADCASTING BOARD OF 

GOVERNORS 

Sunshine Act Meeting 

DATE AND TIME: Wednesday, November 

9th, 2005, 2–4:30 p.m. 

PLACE: Cohen Building, Room 3321, 330 

Independence Ave., SW., Washington, 

DC 20237. 

CLOSED MEETING: The members of the 

Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG) 

will meet in closed session to review 

and discuss a number of issues relating 

to U.S. Government-funded nonmilitary international broadcasting. 

They will address internal procedural, 

budgetary, and personnel issues, as well 

as sensitive foreign policy issues 

relating to potential options in the U.S. 

international broadcasting field. This 

meeting is closed because if open it 

likely would either disclose matters that 

would be properly classified to be kept 

secret in the interest of foreign policy 

under the appropriate executive order (5 

U.S.C. 552b.(c)(1)) or would disclose 

information the premature disclosure of 

which would be likely to significantly