52814 Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 177 / Thursday, September 11, 2008 / Notices 

with the Cooperating Agencies, will 

determine the scope of the EIS. 

The MCS Study included maps of 

only three of the four transmission line 

corridor alternatives. This report has 

been updated to include the map of four 

transmission line macrocorridor options 

that are currently part of the study area. 

Notices distributed in local areas to 

notify the public of the proposed project 

included only one macrocorridor option 

with two route alternatives the 

applicants proposed in the State of 

Minnesota Route Permit Application. To 

ensure that interested parties located 

within the any of the four transmission 

line macrocorridor alternatives are 

provided adequate opportunity for 

comment, notices are being reissued and 

the public comment period is being 

extended for one month. 

DATES: A Notice of Intent To Hold 

Public Scoping Meetings and Prepare an 

Environmental Impact Statement for the 

proposed project was published in the 

Federal Register on July 18, 2008. The 

public comment period has been 

extended and written comments relating 

to the proposed project will be accepted 

until 5 p.m. Eastern Time on September 

30, 2008. 

ADDRESSES: To send comments or for 

further information, contact Barbara 

Britton, Environmental Protection 

Specialist, USDA Rural Development 

Utilities Programs, at 1400 

Independence Avenue, SW., Stop 1571, 

Washington, DC 20250–1571, telephone 

(202) 720–1414, fax: (202) 690–0629, email Barbara.Britton@wdc.usda.gov or 

Suzanne Steinhauer, Project Manager, 

Minnesota Department of Commerce, 

Office of Energy Security, at 85 Seventh 

Place, Suite 500, Saint Paul, Minnesota 

55010, telephone (651) 296–2888, e-mail 

Suzanne.Steinhauer@state.mn.us. A 

copy of the AES and MCS can be 

obtained from the Agency Web site at 

http://www.usda.gov/rus/water/ees/ 

eis.htm, by contacting Bob Lindholm of 

Minnesota Power at (888) 373–4113, 

bemidjiinfo@capx2020.com, and at the 

public libraries listed below: 

Bemidji Public Library, 509 America 

Avenue, NW., Bemidji, MN 56601. 

Cass Lake Community Library, 223 

Cedar Avenue, NW., P.O. Box 836, 

Cass Lake, MN 56633. 

Grand Rapids Area Library, 140 NE. 2nd 

Street, Grand Rapids, MN 55744. 

Blackduck Community Library, 72 First 

Street, SE., P.O. Box 326, Blackduck, 

MN 56630. 

Margaret Welch Memorial Library, P.O. 

Box 106, 5051 State 84, Longville, MN 

56655. 

Walker Public Library, 207 4th Street, 

P.O. Box 550, Walker, MN 56484. 

Bovey Public Library, Village Hall, 402 

2nd Street, P.O. Box 130, Bovey, MN 

55709–0130. 

Coleraine Public Library, Independent 

Building, 203 Cole Avenue, P.O. Box 

225, Coleraine, MN 55722–0225. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Minnkota 

Power, Otter Tail Power, and Minnesota 

Power propose to construct a new 

transmission line from Bemidji to Grand 

Rapids, Minnesota. The proposal is 

designed to correct a local load serving 

inadequacy for the Bemidji area and the 

northern Red River Valley in West 

Central Minnesota. The line would 

originate from Minnkota’s 230 kV 

Wilton Substation located just west of 

Bemidji, Minnesota, to Minnesota 

Power’s 230 kV Boswell Substation in 

Cohasset, Minnesota, northwest of 

Grand Rapids, Minnesota. It is part of 

the CapX2020 long-range planning effort 

that has identified a comprehensive 

framework for new transmission 

infrastructure that will be needed to 

maintain reliability of the transmission 

system throughout Minnesota and the 

surrounding region. Minnkota Power, 

Otter Tail Power, and Minnesota Power 

are partners in this investment, and 

Minnkota Power is seeking financing 

from Rural Development Utilities 

Programs for its portion of the 

investment. 

The proposed project may require 

permits from the United States 

Department of the Army Corps of 

Engineers (COE) under section 10 of the 

Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899, 33 

U.S.C. 403, for the project’s overhead 

wires to cross the Mississippi River, and 

under section 404 of the Clean Water 

Act, 33 U.S.C. 1344, to place 

transmission line structures and 

associated backfill into waters of the 

United States. The proposed project 

may require a Special Use Permit to 

cross the Chippewa National Forest 

from the United States Forest Service 

under the Federal Land Policy and 

Management Act pursuant to 36 CFR 

251.58, if it traverses the Chippewa 

National Forest. The proposed project 

may require a permit to cross Federal 

Aid Highways under the Department of 

Transportation Act 23 CFR 1.23 and 

1.27; 23 U.S.C. 116, 123, and 315; 23 

CFR 645; and 23 CFR 771. The proposed 

project may require a certification from 

the U.S. Environmental Protection 

Agency under section 401 of the Clean 

Water Act if it traverses tribal lands. The 

proposed project must be considered by 

the United States Fish and Wildlife 

Service for compliance with the 

Endangered Species Act 16 U.S.C. 1531 

et seq., the Migratory Bird Act U.S.C. 

703–712, 50 CFR Ch 1, and the Bald and 

Golden Eagle Protection Act of 1972 16 

U.S.C. 668. The proposed project may 

require a right of way permit from the 

United States Bureau for Indian Affairs 

to cross American Indian trust lands 

pursuant to 25 CFR 169. The Leech Lake 

Band of Ojibwe may be a signatory to 

any agreement prepared under section 

106 of the National Historic 

Preservation Act addressing resolution 

of adverse effects of the proposed 

project, if identified, pursuant to 36 CFR 

800 6, particularly if the proposed 

project traverses the Leech Lake Band 

Reservation. 

Dated: September 5, 2008. 

Mark S. Plank, 

Director, Engineering and Environmental 

Staff, USDA/Rural Development/Utilities 

Programs. 

[FR Doc. E8–21178 Filed 9–10–08; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3410–15–P 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

Submission for OMB Review; 

Comment Request 

The Department of Commerce will 

submit to the Office of Management and 

Budget (OMB) for clearance the 

following proposal for collection of 

information under the emergency 

provisions of the Paperwork Reduction 

Act (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35). 

Agency: International Trade 

Administration. 

Title: Market Research to Broaden and 

Deepen U.S. Exporter Base. 

OMB Control Number: None. 

Form Number(s): ITA–8710; ITA–

8711; ITA–8712; and ITA–8713. 

Type of Review: Regular submission. 

Burden Hours: 1,800. 

Number of Respondents: 4,000. 

Average Hours per Response: 15 

minutes, ITA–8710 and ITA–8713; and 

30 minutes, ITA 8711 and ITA–8712. 

Needs and Uses: Expanding U.S. 

exports is a national priority essential to 

improving U.S. trade performance. The 

Department of Commerce (DOC), 

International Trade Administration 

(ITA), U.S. Commercial Service (CS) 

serves as the key U.S. government 

agency responsible for promoting 

exports of goods and services from the 

United States, particularly by small and 

medium-sized enterprises, and assisting 

U.S. exporters in their dealings with 

foreign governments. 

Section 4721 of 15 U.S. Code contains 

several provisions that direct the CS to, 

‘‘identify United States businesses with 

the potential to export goods and 

services and provide such businesses 

with advice and information on 

establishing export businesses.’’ As 


rmajette on PRODPC74 with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 177 / Thursday, September 11, 2008 / Notices 52815 

such, the long-term performance goal of 

the CS is to ‘‘broaden and deepen the 

U.S. exporter base.’’

Furthermore, the CS is mandated by 

the Government Performance and 

Results Act of 1993 to improve program 

performance and achieve better results 

for the American people. Based on this 

mandate, the CS developed new metrics 

driven by the 2008 Program Assessment 

Rating Tool (PART) to measure the 

effectiveness and impact of the CS at 

broadening and deepening the U.S. 

exporter base. 

In order to collect information that 

establishes the baseline metrics for some 

of these new performance measures and 

provides data points for determining 

how to meet program performance 

goals, the CS requests approval to 

conduct market research on prospective 

and existing U.S. exporters using the 

following four surveys: 

1. Commercial Service Brand Analysis 

and Strategy Survey (Form ITA–8710): 

The CS must increase awareness of our 

organization and the services provided 

to U.S. companies. Currently, there is no 

research available about CS awareness 

and brand position. This survey was 

designed to measure four new 

performance metrics (awareness, 

consideration, transaction and loyalty) 

related to broadening and deepening the 

U.S. exporter base. 

2. Market Segmentation Survey of 

Moderate U.S. Exporters—

Manufacturers (Form ITA–8711): The 

CS must gain market knowledge and 

generate statistically valid 

characterizations about the needs of 

exporting companies, especially small 

and medium-sized enterprises. This 

survey was designed to identify 

different segments of U.S. 

manufacturers so that the organization 

can measure our ability to broaden and 

deepen the exporter base of each unique 

segment. 

3. Market Segmentation Survey of 

U.S. Exporters—Service Providers 

(Form ITA–8712): CS must gain market 

knowledge and generate statistically 

valid characterizations about the needs 

of exporting companies. This survey 

was designed to identify different 

segments of U.S. service providers so 

that the organization can measure our 

ability to broaden and deepen the 

exporter base of each unique segment. 

4. Market Evaluation Survey of NonExporting Companies (Form ITA–8713): 

CS must gain market knowledge and 

generate statistically valid 

characterizations about the needs of 

non-exporting companies. This survey 

was designed to uncover the needs of 

U.S. companies that are not currently 

exporting so that the CS can measure 

the organization’s ability to turn nonexporters into exporters. 

The information will be used to 

improve and better target services 

provided to the public. Without this 

information, the CS is unable to 

measure program performance and 

systematically determine the needs and 

benefits desired of U.S. companies and 

how best to meet these needs in order 

to broaden and deepen the U.S. exporter 

base. 

Affected Public: Business or other forprofit organizations. 

Frequency: One-time, annually. 

Respondent’s Obligation: Voluntary. 

OMB Desk Officer: David Rostker, 

(202) 395–3897. 

Copies of the above information 

collection proposal can be obtained by 

calling or writing Diana Hynek, 

Departmental Paperwork Clearance 

Officer, (202) 482–0266, Department of 

Commerce, Room 6625, 14th and 

Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, 

DC 20230 (or via the Internet at 

dHynek@doc.gov). 

Written comments and 

recommendations for the proposed 

information collection should be sent 

within 30 days of publication of this 

notice to OMB Desk Officer, David 

Rostker, FAX number (202) 395–5806, 

or David_Rostker@omb.eop.gov. 

Dated: September 5, 2008. 

Gwellnar Banks, 

Management Analyst, Office of the Chief 

Information Officer. 

[FR Doc. E8–21030 Filed 9–10–08; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3510–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

Submission for OMB Review; 

Comment Request 

The Department of Commerce will 

submit to the Office of Management and 

Budget (OMB) for clearance the 

following proposal for collection of 

information under the provisions of the 

Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 

Chapter 35). 

Agency: National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). 

Title: Evaluation of Public Visitors’

Experience of Exhibits at Mokupapapa 

Discovery Center. 

OMB Control Number: None. 

Form Number(s): None. 

Type of Request: Regular submission. 

Burden Hours: 31. 

Number of Respondents: 250. 

Average Hours per Response: 7 to 8 

minutes. 

Needs and Uses: The National Marine 

Sanctuary Program (NMSP) education 

team has embarked on an ambitious 

evaluation project that will allow the 

NMSP to assess education program 

outcomes and impacts across all sites 

and activities and to link outcome 

measures to program efforts. The 

purpose of this effort is to evaluate if the 

current exhibits at the Mokupapapa 

Discovery Center (Hilo, HI) are meeting 

the goals and objectives of the 

educational mandates of the National 

Marine Sanctuaries Act, particularly in 

relation to the relatively recent 

establishment of the 

Papahanaumokuakea Marine National 

Monument in the Northwest Hawaiian 

Islands (NWHI). Randomly selected 

visitors to the Mokupapapa Discovery 

Center will be interviewed when leaving 

to explore their understanding of the 

location and geography of the islands, as 

well as their perception of interpretive 

messages, including the significance 

and sensitivity of the NWHI ecology. 

Application of findings from this 

evaluation will assist in adjusting 

program content, format, range of 

activities, and target audiences to 

improve overall effectiveness of 

educational efforts and expenditures. 

Affected Public: Individuals or 

households. 

Frequency: One-time only. 

Respondent’s Obligation: Voluntary. 

OMB Desk Officer: David Rostker, 

(202) 395–3897. 

Copies of the above information 

collection proposal can be obtained by 

calling or writing Diana Hynek, 

Departmental Paperwork Clearance 

Officer, (202) 482–0266, Department of 

Commerce, Room 6625, 14th and 

Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, 

DC 20230 (or via the Internet at 

dHynek@doc.gov). 

Written comments and 

recommendations for the proposed 

information collection should be sent 

within 30 days of publication of this 

notice to David Rostker, OMB Desk 

Officer, FAX number (202) 395–7285, or 

David_Rostker@omb.eop.gov. 

Dated: September 5, 2008. 

Gwellnar Banks, 

Management Analyst, Office of the Chief 

Information Officer. 

[FR Doc. E8–21031 Filed 9–10–08; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3510–22–P 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

Submission for OMB Review; 

Comment Request 

The Department of Commerce will 

submit to the Office of Management and 

Budget (OMB) for clearance the 

following proposal for collection of 

information under the provisions of the 


rmajette on PRODPC74 with NOTICES