[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 28 (Thursday, February 10, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Page 6623]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-3110]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Reclamation


Prospective Grant of Exclusive Patent License

AGENCY:  Bureau of Reclamation, Interior.

ACTION:  Notice.

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SUMMARY:  This notice is issued in accordance with 35 U.S.C. 209(c)(1) 
and 37 CFR 404.7(a)(1)(I). The Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) is 
contemplating the granting of an exclusive license in the United States 
to practice the invention embodied in U.S. Patent No. 5,544,973 titled 
``Concrete Step Embankment Protection''. The exclusive license is to be 
granted to Lee Masonary Products, L.L.C., DBA Armortec, having a place 
of business in Bowling Green, Kentucky. The patent rights in this 
invention has been assigned to the United States of America.
    The prospective exclusive license will be royalty-bearing and will 
comply with the terms and conditions of 35 U.S.C. 209 and 37 CFR 404.7. 
While the primary purpose of this notice is to announce Reclamation's 
intent to grant an exclusive license to practice the invention listed 
above, it also serves to publish the availability of this invention for 
licensing in accordance with law. The prospective license may be 
granted unless Reclamation receives written evidence and argument which 
establish that the grant of the license would not be consistent with 
the requirements of 35 U.S.C. 209 and 37 CFR 404.7

DATES:  Written evidence and arguments against granting the prospective 
license must be received by May 10, 2000.

ADDRESSES:  Inquiries, comments, and other materials relating to the 
contemplated license may be submitted to Donald E. Ralston, Bureau of 
Reclamation, Research and Technology Transfer, MS-7620, 1849 C Street, 
N.W., Washington, D.C. 20240.
    A copy of the above-identified patent may be purchased from the 
NTIS Sales Desk by telephoning 1-800-553-NTIS or by writing NTIS at 
5285 Port Royal Road, Springfield, VA 22161.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  Donald Ralston by telephone at (202) 
208-5671.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:  The present invention relates to a dam 
spillway system for embankment dam overtopping protection comprising a 
layer of freedraining, angular, gravel filter material, a plurality of 
rows of overlapping, tapered, concrete blocks assembled over the filter 
material in shingle-fashion, from the toe of the dam, up the slope to 
the top of the dam, and a plurality of fixed concrete toe blocks 
located at the toe of the dam, usually beneath the tailwater, and 
supporting each of the rows of concrete blocks. The invention has 
particular application to providing erosion protection for embankment 
dams that may be subject to overtopping flows.
    Properly filed competing applications received by Reclamation in 
response to this notice will be considered as objections to the grant 
of the contemplated license.

    Dated: January 12, 2000.
Stanley L. Ponce,
Director, Research and Technology Transfer.
[FR Doc. 00-3110 Filed 2-9-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-94-M