Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 123 / Monday, June 29, 2009 / Notices 31007 

1To view the notice, environmental assessment, 

finding of no significant impact, and the comment 

we received, go to http://www.regulations.gov/ 

fdmspublic/component/ 

main?main=DocketDetail&d=APHIS-2009-0008. 

SUMMARY: We are advising the public 

that an environmental assessment and 

finding of no significant impact have 

been prepared by the Animal and Plant 

Health Inspection Service relative to the 

release of a gall midge, Jaapiella 

ivannikovi, into the continental United 

States for use as a biological control 

agent to reduce the severity of Russian 

knapweed infestations. Based on its 

finding of no significant impact, the 

Animal and Plant Health Inspection 

Service has determined that an 

environmental impact statement need 

not be prepared. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. 

L. Carmen Soileau, Senior Staff 

Entomologist, Permits, Registrations, 

Imports, and Manuals, PPQ, APHIS, 

4700 River Road, Unit 133, Riverdale, 

MD 20737–1237; (866) 524–5421. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background 

The Animal and Plant Health 

Inspection Service (APHIS) is proposing 

to issue permits for the release of a gall 

midge, Jaapiella ivannikovi, into the 

continental United States for use as a 

biological control agent to reduce the 

severity of Russian knapweed 

(Acroptilon repens) infestations. 

Russian knapweed is a long-lived 

perennial in the plant tribe Asteraceae 

(sunflower, aster, or daisy family). The 

highly invasive weed was first 

introduced into North America in 1898. 

By 1998, the weed had spread to 313 

counties in 45 of the 48 contiguous 

States in the United States with 80 

percent of the infestation occurring in 

the States of Colorado, Idaho, 

Washington, and Wyoming. 

The proposed biological control agent, 

J.ivannikovi, is an insect measuring 1.6 

to 2.5 mm in length with relatively large 

wings, long legs, and a long ovipositor 

(egg-laying organ) that can be extended 

from the tip of the abdomen. The female 

gall midge deposits its eggs on the 

surface of the buds situated on the tips 

of the main and side shoots of the 

Russian knapweed. Larval feeding 

causes stunted growth of the shoot and 

fusion of leaves, resulting in a so-called 

‘‘rosette gall.’’ 

On March 12, 2009, we published in 

the Federal Register (74 FR 10707– 

10708, Docket No. APHIS–2009–0008) a 

notice 1 in which we announced the 

availability, for public review and 

comment, of an environmental 

assessment (EA) that examined the 

potential environmental impacts 

associated with the proposed release of 

this biological control agent into the 

continental United States. 

We solicited comments on the EA for 

30 days ending April 14, 2009. We 

received one comment by that date, 

from the Tribal Historic Preservation 

Officer of the Bois Forte Band of Ojibwe 

in Minnesota. The commenter indicated 

her disagreement with biological control 

in general, but did not raise any specific 

issues regarding the content of the EA 

on the release of the particular organism 

under consideration. 

In this document, we are advising the 

public of our finding of no significant 

impact (FONSI) regarding the release of 

the gall midge J. ivannikovi into the 

continental United States for use as a 

biological control agent to reduce the 

severity of Russian knapweed 

infestations. The finding, which is based 

on the EA, reflects our determination 

that release of this biological control 

agent will not have a significant impact 

on the quality of the human 

environment. 

The EA and FONSI may be viewed on 

the Regulations.gov Web site (see 

footnote 1). Copies of the EA and FONSI 

are also available for public inspection 

at USDA, room 1141, South Building, 

14th Street and Independence Avenue, 

SW., Washington, DC, between 8 a.m. 

and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, 

except holidays. Persons wishing to 

inspect copies are requested to call 

ahead on (202) 690–2817 to facilitate 

entry into the reading room. In addition, 

copies may be obtained by writing to the 

individual listed under FOR FURTHER

INFORMATION CONTACT. 

The EA and FONSI have been 

prepared in accordance with: (1) The 

National Environmental Policy Act of 

1969 (NEPA), as amended (42 U.S.C. 

4321 et seq.), (2) regulations of the 

Council on Environmental Quality for 

implementing the procedural provisions 

of NEPA (40 CFR parts 1500–1508), (3) 

USDA regulations implementing NEPA 

(7 CFR part 1b), and (4) APHIS’ NEPA 

Implementing Procedures (7 CFR part 

372). 

Done in Washington, DC, this 23rd day of 

June 2009. 

Kevin Shea, 

Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant 

Health Inspection Service. 

[FR Doc. E9–15307 Filed 6–26–09; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3410–34–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 Institute of 

Standards and Technology (NIST). 

Title: Manufacturing Extension 

Partnership (MEP) Management 

Information Reporting System. 

OMB Control Number: 0693–0032. 

Form Number(s): None. 

Type of Request: Regular submission. 

Burden Hours: 7,080. 

Number of Respondents: 59. 

Average Hours per Response: 120. 

Needs and Uses: Sponsored by NIST, 

the Manufacturing Extension 

Partnership (MEP) is a national network 

of locally-based manufacturing 

extension centers working with small 

manufacturers to assist them in 

improving their productivity, 

profitability, and enhance their 

economic competitiveness. The 

information collected will provide the 

MEP with information regarding MEP 

Center performance regarding the 

delivery of technology, and business 

solutions to U.S.-based manufacturers. 

The collected information will assist in 

determining the performance of the 

MEP Centers at both local and national 

levels, provide information critical to 

monitoring and reporting on MEP 

programmatic performance, and assist 

management in policy decisions. 

Responses to the collection of 

information are mandatory per the 

regulations governing the operation of 

the MEP Program (15 CFR parts 290, 

291, 292, and H.R. 1274—section 2). 

The information collected will include 

center inputs and activities including 

services delivered, clients served, center 

staff, quarterly expenses and revenues, 

partners and affiliates, strategic plan, 

operating plans, and client success 

stories. No confidentiality for 

information submitted is promised or 

provided. 

Affected Public: Business or other forprofit organizations. 

Frequency: Quarterly, annually, and 

biennially. 

Respondent’s Obligation: Required to 

obtain or retain benefits. 

OMB Desk Officer: Jasmeet Seehra, 

(202) 395–3123. 

Copies of the above information 

collection proposal can be obtained by 

calling or writing Diana Hynek, 


sroberts on PROD1PC70 with NOTICES
31008 Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 123 / Monday, June 29, 2009 / Notices 

Departmental Paperwork Clearance 

Officer, (202) 482–0266, Department of 

Commerce, Room 7845, 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 Jasmeet Seehra, OMB Desk 

Officer, FAX number (202) 395–5167 or 

via the Internet at 

Jasmeet_K._Seehra@omb.eop.gov. 

Dated: June 24, 2009. 

Gwellnar Banks, 

Management Analyst, Office of the Chief 

Information Officer. 

[FR Doc. E9–15320 Filed 6–26–09; 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 Institute of 

Standards and Technology (NIST). 

Title: Summer Undergraduate 

Research Fellowship (SURF) Program 

Student Applicant Information. 

OMB Control Number: 0693–0042. 

Form Number(s): None. 

Type of Request: Regular submission. 

Burden Hours: 400. 

Number of Respondents: 200. 

Average Hours per Response: 2. 

Needs and Uses: The SURF Program 

provides an opportunity for the NIST 

laboratories and the National Science 

Foundation (NSF) to join in a 

partnership to encourage outstanding 

undergraduate students to pursue 

careers in science and engineering. The 

Program also provides research 

opportunities for students to work with 

internationally known NIST scientists, 

to expose them to cutting-edge research, 

and promote the pursuit of graduate 

degrees in science and engineering. 

The information is used for evaluation 

and selection, and includes: Student’s 

name, host institution, e-mail address/ 

contact information, home address, 

class standing, first- and second-choice 

NIST laboratories they wish to apply to, 

academic major (minor), current overall 

GPA, need for housing and gender (for 

housing purposes only), availability 

dates, resume, personal statement of 

commitment and research interests, two 

letters of recommendation, academic 

transcripts, verification of U.S. 

citizenship or permanent legal 

residency, and verification of health 

coverage. 

Affected Public: Individuals or 

households. 

Frequency: Annually. 

Respondent’s Obligation: Required to 

obtain or retain benefits. 

OMB Desk Officer: Jasmeet Seehra, 

(202) 395–3123. 

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 7845, 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 Jasmeet Seehra, OMB Desk 

Officer, FAX number (202) 395–5167 via 

the Internet at 

Jasmeet_K._Seehra@omb.eop.gov. 

Dated: June 24, 2009. 

Gwellnar Banks, 

Management Analyst, Office of the Chief 

Information Officer. 

[FR Doc. E9–15335 Filed 6–26–09; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3510–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration 

RIN 0648–XP52 

Endangered and Threatened Species: 

Notice of Availability for Public 

Comment on Guidance for Monitoring 

the Recovery of Pacific Northwest 

Salmon and Steelhead Listed under 

the Federal Endangered Species Act 

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries 

Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 

Commerce. 

ACTION: Notice of availability. 

SUMMARY: The National Marine 

Fisheries Service’s (NMFS) Northwest 

Region has drafted guidance on 

monitoring the recovery of Pacific 

Northwest salmon and steelhead listed 

under the Endangered Species Act 

(ESA). This draft Pacific Northwest 

monitoring guidance is intended to 

assist NMFS’ recovery partners in 

Oregon, Washington, and Idaho in 

understanding the recovery monitoring 

needs under the ESA. NMFS’ Northwest 

Region is soliciting public review and 

comment on the draft Pacific Northwest 

monitoring guidance. 

DATES: All comments must be received 

no later than 5 p.m. Pacific Standard 

Time on [August 28, 2009. 

ADDRESSES: Copies of the draft Pacific 

Northwest monitoring guidance are 

available on the Internet at: http:// 

www.nwr.noaa.gov, or upon request (see 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT, 

below). You may submit comments on 

the draft Pacific Northwest monitoring 

guidance by any of the following 

methods: 

E-mail: The mailbox address for 

submitting e-mail comments on the 

draft monitoring guidance is 

rmelguidance.nwr@noaa.gov. Please 

include in the subject line of the e-mail 

comment the identifier ‘‘Draft Pacific 

Northwest Monitoring Guidance.’’ 

Mail: You may submit written 

comments and information to Dr. Scott 

Rumsey, NMFS, 1201 NE Lloyd 

Boulevard, Suite 1100, Portland, OR 

97232. Please identify the comment as 

regarding the ‘‘Draft Pacific Northwest 

Monitoring Guidance.’’ 

Hand Delivery/Courier: You may 

hand deliver written comments and 

information to NMFS, 1201 NE Lloyd 

Boulevard, Suite 1100, Portland, OR 

97232. Business hours are 8 a.m. to 5 

p.m., Monday through Friday, except 

Federal holidays. Please identify the 

comment as regarding the ‘‘Draft Pacific 

Northwest Monitoring Guidance.’’ 

Fax: (503) 230–6893. Please identify 

the fax comment as regarding the ‘‘Draft 

Pacific Northwest Monitoring 

Guidance.’’ 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Bruce Crawford, NMFS, Northwest 

Region, by phone at (360) 534–9348, or 

by e-mail at bruce.crawford@noaa.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background 

Section 4(c)(2) of the ESA requires 

that, at least every 5 years, the Secretary 

shall conduct a review of all ESA-listed 

species and determine whether any 

species should: (1) Be removed from 

such list; (2) be changed in status from 

an endangered species to a threatened 

species; or (3) be changed in status from 

a threatened species to an endangered 

species. In the Pacific Northwest, 

NMFS’ reviews of the status of listed 

salmon and steelhead populations, and 

the extent to which the threats and other 

factors limiting the species’ recovery 

have been addressed, are largely 

dependent upon monitoring information 

collected by state, tribal, and Federal comanagers. In an effort to provide more 

direction to agencies monitoring the 

status of ESA-listed salmon and 


sroberts on PROD1PC70 with NOTICES