This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER

contains documents other than rules or

proposed rules that are applicable to the

public. Notices of hearings and investigations,

committee meetings, agency decisions and

rulings, delegations of authority, filing of

petitions and applications and agency

statements of organization and functions are

examples of documents appearing in this

section.

Notices Federal Register

28562

Vol. 61, No. 109

Wednesday, June 5, 1996

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food Safety and Inspection Service

[Docket No. 96–026N]

National Advisory Committee on

Microbiological Criteria for Foods;

Renewal

AGENCY: Food Safety and Inspection

Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of Reestablishment of

Committee.

This notice announces the renewal of

the National Advisory Committee on

Microbiological Criteria for Foods. The

Committee is being renewed in

cooperation with the Department of

Health and Human Services (HHS), and

was recommended by a 1985 report of

the National Academy of Sciences

Committee on Food Protection,

Subcommittee on Microbiological

Criteria, ‘‘An Evaluation of the Role of

Microbiological Criteria for Foods.’’

USDA is charged with the

enforcement of the Federal Meat

Inspection Act (FMIA), the Poultry

Products Inspection Act (PPIA), and the

Egg Products Inspection Act (EPIA).

Under these Acts, USDA is responsible

for the wholesomeness and safety of

meat, poultry, egg products and

products thereof intended for human

consumption. Similarly, the Secretary of

HHS is charged with the enforcement of

the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic

Act (FFDCA). Under this Act, HHS is

responsible for ensuring the safety of

human foods and animal feeds.

In order to continue to meet the

responsibilities of the FMIA, PPIA, EPIA

and the FFDCA, the National Advisory

Committee on Microbiological Criteria

for Foods is being renewed. The

Committee will be tasked with advising

and providing recommendations to the

Secretaries on the development of

microbiological criteria by which the

safety and wholesomeness of food can

be assessed, including criteria for

microorganisms that indicate whether

foods have been processed using good

manufacturing practices.

Renewal of this Committee is

necessary and in the public interest

because the development of a sound

public policy in this area can best be

accomplished by a free and open

exchange of information and ideas

among Federal, State, and local

agencies, the industry, the scientific

community, consumer organizations,

and other interested parties. The

complexity of the issues to be addressed

assures that more than one meeting will

be required to accomplish the

Committee’s tasks.

Members will be appointed by the

Secretary of USDA after consultation

with the Secretary of HHS. Because of

their interest in the matters to be

addressed by this Committee, advice on

membership appointments will be

requested from the Department of

Commerce’s National Marine Fisheries

Services and the Department of

Defense’s Veterinary Service Activity.

For additional information, please

contact: Mr. Craig Fedchock, Advisory

Committee Specialist, U.S. Department

of Agriculture, Food Safety and

Inspection Service, Room 311, 1255

22nd Street, NW., Washington, DC

20250–3700. Background materials are

available for inspection by contacting

Mr. Fedchock on (202)254–2517.

Done at Washington, DC, on: May 23, 1996.

Wardell Townsend, Jr.,

Assistant Secretary for Administration.

[FR Doc. 96–14013 Filed 6–4–96; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3410–DM–P

Forest Service

Appalachian Power Company

Transmission Line ConstructionCloverdale, Virginia, to Oceana, West

Virginia. George Washington and

Jefferson National Forests,

Appalachian National Scenic Trail, the

New River, and R.D. Bailey Lake

Flowage Land. Virginia Counties of

Botetourt, Roanoke, Craig,

Montgomery, Pulaski, Bland, and Giles

and the West Virginia Counties of

Monroe, Summers, Mercer, and

Wyoming

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Revised Notice—Revises the

publication date for the Draft

Environmental Impact Statements; and

identifies the dates and locations for

seven public information meetings on

the Draft Environmental Impact

Statement.

SUMMARY: The Forest Service will

prepare a draft and final environmental

impact statement on a proposed action

to authorize the Appalachian Power

Company (name recently changed to

American Electric Power) to construct a

765,000-volt transmission line across

approximately twelve miles of the

George Washington and Jefferson

National Forests, as well as portions of

the Appalachian National Scenic Trail,

the New River (at Bluestone Lake) and

R.D. Bailey Lake Flowage Easement

Land (at Buyandotte River).

The federal agencies identified a

study area in which alternatives to the

proposed action were developed. The

study area includes land located in the

Virginia counties of Botetourt, Roanoke,

Craig, Montgomery, Pulaski, Bland and

Giles and the West Virginia counties of

Monroe, Summers, Mercer and

Wyoming.

The Applachian Power Company

(APCo) proposal involves federal land

under the administrative jurisdiction of

the USDA Forest Service (George

Washington and Jefferson National

Forests), the USDI National Park Service

(Appalachian National Scenic Trail) and

the US Army Corps of Engineers (New

River and R.D. Bailey Lake Flowage

Easement Land).

The Forest Service is the lead agency

and is responsible for the preparation of

the environmental impact statement.

The National Park Service and the US

Army Corps of Engineers are

cooperating agencies in accordance with

40 CFR 1501.6.

In initiating and conducting the

analysis the federal agencies are

responding to the requirements of their

respective permitting processes and the

need for the APCo to cross federal lands

with the proposed transmission line.

The Forest Service additionally will

assess how the proposed transmission

line conforms to the direction contained

in the Jefferson National Forest’s Land

and Resource Management Plan

(LRMP). Changes in the LRMP could be

required if the transmission line is

authorized across the George

Washington and Jefferson National

Forests.
Federal Register / Vol. 61, No. 109 / Wednesday, June 5, 1996 / Notices 28563

The total length of the electric

transmission line proposed by the APCo

is approximately 115 miles.

The Notice of Intent for the proposed

action was published in the Federal

Register on November 21, 1991 (56 FR

58677–58679). The Notice was revised

on March 13, 1992 (57 FR 8859), April

24, 1992 (57 FR 15049), June 16, 1993

(58 FR 33248–33250), June 21, 1994 (59

FR 31975–31978), June 9, 1995 (60 FR

30511–30514) and October 3, 1995 (60

FR 51770–51773).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Frank Bergmann, Forest Service Project

Coordinator, George Washington and

Jefferson National Forests, 5162

Valleypointe Parkway, Roanoke,

Virginia, 24019/ (540) 265–6005.

TO PROVIDE COMMENTS TO THE FEDERAL

AGENCIES: Write to the George

Washington and Jefferson National

Forests, Attn: Transmission Line

Analysis, 5162 Valleypointe Parkway,

Roanoke, Virginia, 24019.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: APCo

submitted an application to the Jefferson

National Forest (name changed to

George Washington and Jefferson

National Forest in 1995) for

authorization to construct a 765,000-volt

electric transmission line across

approximately twelve miles of the

National Forest. Portions of the

Appalachian National Scenic Trail, the

New River (at Bluestone Lake), and R.D.

Bailey Lake Flowage Easement Land (at

Guyandotte River) would also be

crossed by the proposed transmission

line.

Studies conducted by APCo and

submitted to the Virginia State

Corporation Commission, as part of its

application and approval process,

indicate a need to reinforce its extra

high voltage transmission system by the

mid-to-late 1990s in order to maintain a

reliable power supply for projected

demands within its service territory in

central and western Virginia and

southern West Virginia.

A study to evaluate potential route

locations for the proposed transmission

line was prepared for APCo through a

contract with Virginia Polytechnic

Institute and State University (VPI) and

West Virginia University (WVU). The

information gathered by VPI and WVU,

along with other information collected

during the analysis process, will be

utilized in the preparation of the

environmental impact statement.

Information about the transmission line

proposal is available from the George

Washington and Jefferson National

Forests.

The decisions to be made following

the Federal agencies’ analysis are

whether the Forest Service, the National

Park Service, and the U.S. Army Corps

of Engineers will authorize APCO to

cross the George Washington and

Jefferson National Forests, the

Appalachian National Scenic Trail, and

the New River and R.D. Bailey Lake

Flowage Easement Land, respectively,

with the proposed 765,000-volt

transmission line and, if so, under what

conditions a crossing would be

authorized.

In preparing the draft environmental

impact statement, a range of routing

alternatives was considered to meet the

purpose and need for the proposed

action. A no action alternative was also

analyzed. Under the no action

alternative APCO would not be

authorized to cross the George

Washington and Jefferson National

Forests, the Appalachian National

Scenic Trail, the New River or R.D.

Bailey Lake Flowage Easement Land.

The alternatives developed by VPI and

WVU will also be considered.

In July of 1994, the Federal agencies

identified a number of alternatives to

the proposed action in the Virginia

counties of Botetourt, Roanoke, Craig,

Montgomery, Pulaski, Bland, and Giles

and the West Virginia counties of

Monroe, Summers, and Mercer. These

alternative corridors were modified by

the Federal agencies in May 1995. A

public comment period was afforded by

the Federal agencies on these alternative

corridor modifications between May 25

and Jun3 30, 1995.

The Federal analysis includes an

analysis of the effects of the proposed

transmission line along the entire

proposed route as well as all alternative

routes which were considered in detail.

The significant issues identified for

the Federal analysis are listed below:

—The construction and maintenance of

the 765kV transmission line and the

associated access roads and right-ofway may (1) affect soil productivity

by increasing soil compaction and

erosion; (2) affect geologic resources

(karst areas, Peters, Lewis, Potts

Mountains, Arnolds Knob) and

unique geologic features like caves

through blasting, earthmoving or

construction machinery operations;

and (3) result in unstable structural

conditions due to the placement of

the towers.

—The construction and maintenance of

the 765kV transmission line and the

associated access roads and right-ofway may (1) degrade surface and

ground water quality due to the

application of herbicides; (2) degrade

surface and ground water quality

because of sedimentation resulting

from soil disturbance and vegetation

removal; (3) reduce the quantity of

ground and spring water due to the

disturbance of aquifers resulting from

blasting, earthmoving or construction

machinery operation; and (4)

adversely affect the commercial use of

ground and surface waters due to

herbicide contamination and

sedimentation.

—The construction and maintenance of

the 765kV transmission line and the

associated access roads and right-ofway may affect existing cultural

resources, and historic structures and

districts through the direct effects of

the construction and maintenance

activities and by changing the existing

resource setting.

—The operation and maintenance of the

765kV transmission line and the

associated access roads and right-ofway may adversely affect human

health through (1) direct and indirect

exposure to herbicides; and (2)

exposure to electromagnetic fields

and induced voltage.

—The construction of the 765kV

transmission line may adversely affect

the safety of those operating aircraft at

low altitudes or from airports located

near the transmission line.

—The operation of the 765kV

transmission line may (1) adversely

affect communications by introducing

a source of interference; (2) increase

noise levels for those in close

proximity to the line.

—The construction, operation, and

maintenance of the 765kV

transmission line and the associated

access roads and right-of-way may (1)

adversely affect trails (including the

Appalachian Trail) and trail facilities

by facilitating vehicle access through

new road construction and the

upgrading of existing roads; and (2)

reduce hiker safety by facilitating

vehicle access to remote trail

locations.

—The construction, operation, and

maintenance of the 765kV

transmission line and the associated

access roads and right-of-way may

affect hunting, fishing, hiking,

camping, boating, and birding

opportunities and experiences

because (1) the setting in which these

pursuits take place may be altered;

and (2) the noise associated with the

operation of the line may detract from

the backcountry or recreation

experience.

—The construction and operation of the

765kV transmission line and the

associated access roads and right-ofway may affect local communities by

(1) reducing the value of private lands

adjacent to the line; (2) decreasing tax
28564 Federal Register / Vol. 61, No. 109 / Wednesday, June 5, 1996 / Notices

revenues due to the reductions in

land value; and (3) influencing

economic growth, industry siting, and

employment.

—The construction, operation, and

maintenance of the 765kV

transmission line and the associated

access roads and right-of-way may (1)

conflict with management direction

contained in resource management

plans and designations; (2) affect the

uses that presently occur on and

adjacent to the proposed right-of-way;

(3) affect the wild, scenic, and/or

recreational qualities of the New

River; (4) affect sensitive land uses

like schools, churches, and

community facilities; (5) affect the

cultural attachment residents feel

toward Peters Mountain; (6) affect the

scenic and/or recreational qualities of

the Appalachian National Scenic Trail

(Appalachian Trail); and (7) result in

family displacement.

—The construction, operation, and

maintenance of the 765kV

transmission line and the associated

access roads and right-of-way may

adversely affect the visual attributes

of the area because the line, the

associated right-of-way, and access

roads may (1) alter the existing

landscape; and (2) conflict with the

standards established for scenic

designations.

—The construction, operation, and

maintenance of the 765kV

transmission line and the associated

access roads and right-of-way may

affect wildlife, plant and aquatic

populations, habitat, and livestock

because (1) habitats are created,

changed, or eliminated; (2) herbicides

are used and herbicides may be toxic;

(3) the transmission line presents a

flight hazard to birds; (4)

electromagnetic fields and induced

voltage may be injurious.

—The construction of the 765kV

transmission line and the associated

access roads and right-of-way may

have a disproportionately high and

adverse human health or

environmental effects on minority and

low income populations as indicated

in Executive Order 12898.

—The construction and operation of the

765kV transmission line may

adversely affect astronomical

observation activities at the Martin

Observatory (VPI) due to the

introduction of obstructions to the sky

(lines and towers), the introduction of

light from coronal discharge, and the

disruption of sensitive electronic

equipment by electromagnetic fields.

—The construction and operation of the

765kV transmission line may

adversely affect seismological

observation activities at the VPI

seismic stations located near Forest

Hill and Potts Mountain.

—The construction and maintenance of

the 765kV transmission line and the

associated access roads and right-ofway may affect the cultural

attachment that residents have for the

valley between Blacksburg and

Catawba, Craig County, Giles County,

Mercer County and portions of

Montgomery County.

The following permits and/or licenses

would be required to implement the

proposed action:

—Certificate of Public Convenience and

Necessity (Virginia State Corporation

Commission)

—Certificate of Public Convenience and

Necessity (West Virginia Public

Service Commission)

—Special use Authorization (Forest

Service)

—Right-of-Way Authorization (National

Park Service)

—Section 10 Permit (U.S. Army Corps

of Engineers)

—Right-of-Way Easement (U.S. Army

Corps of Engineers)

—Consent to Easement (U.S. Army

Corps of Engineers)

Other authorizations may be required

from a variety of Federal and State

agencies.

Public participation will occur at

several points during the federal

analysis process. The first point in the

analysis was the scoping process (40

CFR 1501.7). The Forest Service

obtained information, comments, and

assistance from Federal, State and local

agencies, the proponent of the action,

and other individuals or organizations

who are interested in or affected by the

electric transmission line proposal. This

input will be utilized in the preparation

of the draft environmental impact

statement. The scoping process

included, (1) identifying potential

issues, (2) identifying issues to be

analyzed in depth, (3) eliminating

insignificant issues or those which have

been covered by a relevant previous

environmental analysis.

Public participation was solicited

through contacts with known interested

and/or affected groups, and individuals;

news releases; direct mailings; and/or

newspaper advertisements. Public

meetings were also held to hear

comments concerning the APCo

proposal and to develop the significant

issues to be considered in the analysis.

A similar process of public

involvement was implemented by the

federal agencies for the Preliminary

Alternative Corridors announced in July

of 1995.

Other public participation

opportunities will be provided

throughout the federal analysis process.

The draft environmental impact

statement will be filed with the

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

and available for public review by June

28, 1996. This revises the April 12, 1996

date previously announced. At that

time, EPA will publish a notice of

availability of the draft environmental

impact statement in the Federal

Register.

The federal agencies have established

the following public meeting schedule

to explain the analysis documented in

the draft environmental impact

statement and to hear comments related

to the analysis. The public meetings will

begin at 4:00 p.m. and end at 8:00 p.m.

on the date and at the locations

indicated:

July 31, 1996

McCleary Elementary School, Highway

615, New Castle, VA

August 2, 1996

Concord College, Vermillian Street,

Athens, WV

August 6, 1996

Blacksburg High School, 520 Patrick

Henry Drive, Blacksburg, VA

August 8, 1996

Twin Falls Resort State Park, Route 10,

Mullens, WV

August 1, 1996

James Monroe High School, Weikel

Road, Lindside, WV

August 5, 1996

Lord Botetourt High School, 755

Roanoke, Road (Highway 220),

Daleville, VA

August 7, 1996

Giles County High School, Route 460

(Business), Pearisburg, VA.

Reviewers need to be aware of several

court rulings related to public

participation in the environmental

impact statement review process. First,

reviewers of draft environmental impact

statements must structure their

participation in the environmental

review of the proposal so that it is

meaningful and alerts an agency to the

reviewer’s position and contentions.

Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Corp. v.

NRDC, 435 U.S. 519, 553 (1978). Also,

environmental objections that could be

raised at the draft environmental impact

statement stage but that are not raised

until after completion of the final

environmental impact statement may be

waived or dismissed by the courts. City
Federal Register / Vol. 61, No. 109 / Wednesday, June 5, 1996 / Notices 28565

of Angoon v. Hodel, 803 F.2d 1016,

1022 (9th Cir. 1986) and Wisconsin

Heritages, Inc. v. Harris, 490 F. Supp.

1334, 1338 (E.D. Wis. 1980). Because of

these court rulings, it is very important

that those interested in this proposed

action participate by the close of the 90-

day comment period so that substantive

comments and objections are made

available to the Forest Service at a time

when it can meaningfully consider them

and respond to them in the final

environmental impact statement.

To assist the Forest Service in

identifying and considering issues and

concerns on the proposed action,

comments on the draft environmental

impact statement should be as specific

as possible. It is also helpful if

comments refer to specific pages or

chapters of the draft statement.

Comments may also address the

adequacy of the draft environmental

impact statement or the merits of the

alternatives formulated and discussed in

the statement. (Reviewers may wish to

refer to the Council on Environmental

Quality Regulations for implementing

the procedural provisions of the

National Environmental Policy Act at 40

CFR 1503.3 in addressing these points.)

After the comment period ends on the

draft environmental impact statement,

the comments will be analyzed,

considered, and responded to by the

three federal agencies in preparing the

final environmental impact statement.

The federal agencies have decided to

await the decisions of the Virginia State

Corporation Commission and the West

Virginia Public Service Commission on

the APCo proposal before publishing the

final environmental impact statement. It

is not known when the two

Commission’s will issue their decisions.

When these decisions are made the

federal agencies will announce the

publication date of the final

environmental impact statement.

The responsible officials will consider

the comments, responses,

environmental consequences discussed

in the final environmental impact

statement, and applicable laws,

regulations, and policies in making a

decision regarding the proposal to cross

federal lands with a 765,000-volt

transmission line. The responsible

officials will document their decisions

and reasons for their decisions in a

Record of Decision.

The responsible official for the Forest

Service is William E. Damon, Jr., Forest

Supervisor, George Washington and

Jefferson National Forests, 5162

Valleypointe Parkway, Roanoke,

Virginia, 24019. The responsible official

for the National Park Service is Pamela

Underhill, Park Manager, Appalachian

National Scenic Trail, National Park

Service, Harpers Ferry Center, Harpers

Ferry, West Virginia 25425. The

responsible official for the US Army

Corps of Engineers in West Virginia is

Colonel Richard Jemiola, US Army

Corps of Engineers, Huntington District,

508 8th Street, Huntington, West

Virginia 25701–2070. The responsible

official for the US Army Corps of

Engineers in Virginia is Colonel Andrew

M. Perkins, Jr., US Army Corps of

Engineers, Norfolk District, 803 Front

Street, Norfolk, Virginia 23510.

Dated: May 28, 1996.

William E. Damon, Jr.,

Forest Supervisor, George Washington and

Jefferson National Forests.

[FR Doc. 96–14007 Filed 6–4–96; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3410–11–M

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Bureau of the Census

1997 Economic Census Covering

Manufacturing

ACTION: Proposed Agency Information

Collection Activity; Comment Request.

SUMMARY: The Department of

Commerce, as part of its continuing

effort to reduce paperwork and

respondent burden, invites the general

public and other Federal agencies to

take this opportunity to comment on

proposed and/or continuing information

collections, as required by the

Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Pub.

L. 104–13 (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)).

DATES: Written comments must be

submitted on or before August 5, 1996.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments

to Linda Engelmeier, Acting

Departmental Forms Clearance Officer,

Department of Commerce, Room 5327,

14th and Constitution Avenue, NW,

Washington, DC 20230.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Requests for additional information or

copies of the information collection

instrument(s) and instructions should

be directed to Michael Zampogna for

Food, Textiles, Apparel, Wood and

Chemical Products, Bureau of the

Census, Room 2212, Building 4,

Washington, DC 20233 on (301) 457-

4810 and to Kenneth Hansen for

Electrical, Transportation, Metals and

Industrial Machinery, Bureau of the

Census, Room 2207, Building 4,

Washington, DC 20233 on (301) 457–

4755.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

The Census Bureau is the preeminent

collector and provider of timely,

relevant and quality data about the

people and economy of the United

States. Economic data are the Census

Bureau’s primary program commitment

during nondecennial census years. The

economic census, conducted under

authority of Title 13 U.S.C., is the

primary source of facts about the

structure and functioning of the

Nation’s economy and features unique

industry and geographic detail.

Economic census statistics serve as part

of the framework for the national

accounts and provide essential

information for government, business

and the general public. The 1997

Economic Census will cover virtually

every sector of the U.S. economy

including more than 400,000

manufacturing establishments.

The information collected from

companies in the manufacturing sector

of the economic census will produce

basic statistics by industry for number

of establishments, payroll, employment,

value of shipments, value added, capital

expenditures, depreciation, materials

consumed, selected purchased services,

electric energy used and inventories

held. Primary strategies for reducing

burden in Census Bureau economic data

collections are to increase electronic

reporting through broader use of

computerized self-administered census

questionnaires, electronic data

interchange, and other electronic data

collection methods.

II. Method of Collection

Establishments included in this

collection will be selected from a frame

given by the Census Bureau’s Standard

Statistical Establishment List. To be

eligible for selection, an establishment

will be required to satisfy the following

conditions: (i) It must be classified in

the manufacturing sector; (ii) it must be

an active operating establishment of a

multi-establishment company, or it

must be an operating singleestablishment company with payroll;

and (iii) it must be located in one of the

50 states or the District of Columbia.

Most establishments will be included in

the mail protion of the collection. Forms

tailored for the particular kind of

business will be mailed to the

establishment to be filled out and

returned. Establishments not meeting

certain cutoffs for payroll will be

included in the non-mail portion of the

collection. We will use administrative

data in lieu collecting data directly from

these establishments.