Title: Industry Responses to Noncompliance Records.

OMB Number: 0583-0146.

Type of Request: Request to renew an approved information collection.

Abstract: FSIS has been delegated the authority to exercise the functions of the Secretary (7 CFR 2.18, 2.53), as specified in the Federal Meat Inspection Act (FMIA) (21 U.S.C. 601, et seq. ), the Poultry Products Inspection Act (PPIA) (21 U.S.C. 451, et seq. ), and the Egg Products Inspection Act (EPIA) (21 U.S.C. 1031, et seq. ). These statutes mandate that FSIS protect the public by verifying that meat, poultry, and egg products are safe, wholesome, unadulterated, and properly labeled and packaged.

FSIS is requesting a renewal of the approved information collection regarding industry responses to noncompliance records. The approval for this information collection will expire on November 30, 2022. FSIS is making no changes to the existing information collection.

The noncompliance record, FSIS Form 5400-4, serves as FSIS' official record of noncompliance with one or more regulatory requirements. Inspection program personnel use the form to document their findings and provide written notification of the official establishment's or plant's failure to comply with regulatory requirements. The establishment or plant management receives a copy of the form and has an opportunity to respond in writing using the noncompliance record form. The establishment or plant management can also choose to respond to FSIS electronically by using the Industry Module in PHIS.

FSIS has made the following estimates based upon an information collection assessment:

Estimate of burden: FSIS estimates that it will take respondents an average of 60 minutes per response.

Respondents: Official establishments.

Estimated total number of respondents: 7,057.

Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 17.

Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 119,969 hours.

All responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the request for OMB approval. All comments will also become a matter of public record. Copies of this information collection assessment can be obtained from Gina Kouba, Office of Policy and Program Development, Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Mailstop 3758, South Building, Washington, DC 20250-3700; (202) 720-5627.

Comments are invited on: (a) whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of FSIS' functions, including whether the information will have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of FSIS' estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information, including the validity of the method and assumptions used; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information, including through the use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques, or other forms of information technology. Comments may be sent to both FSIS, at the addresses provided above, and the Desk Officer for Agriculture, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget (OMB), Washington, DC 20253.

Public awareness of all segments of rulemaking and policy development is important. Consequently, FSIS will announce this Federal Register publication on-line through the FSIS web page located at: https://www.fsis.usda.gov/federal-register.

FSIS will also announce and provide a link to this Federal Register publication through the FSIS Constituent Update, which is used to provide information regarding FSIS policies, procedures, regulations, Federal Register notices, FSIS public meetings, and other types of information that could affect or would be of interest to our constituents and stakeholders. The Constituent Update is available on the FSIS web page. Through the web page, FSIS can provide information to a much broader, more diverse audience. In addition, FSIS offers an email subscription service which provides automatic and customized access to selected food safety news and information. This service is available at: https://www.fsis.usda.gov/subscribe. Options range from recalls to export information, regulations, directives, and notices. Customers can add or delete subscriptions themselves and have the option to password protect their accounts.

In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity (including gender expression), sexual orientation, disability, age, marital status, family/parental status, income derived from a public assistance program, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity, in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA (not all bases apply to all programs). Remedies and complaint filing deadlines vary by program or incident.

Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information ( e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the responsible Agency or USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.

To file a program discrimination complaint, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, AD-3027, found online at https://www.usda.gov/oascr/how-to-file-a-program-discrimination-complaint and at any USDA office or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by: (1) mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410; (2) fax: (202) 690-7442; or (3) email: program.intake@usda.gov.

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

Title: Certificates of Medical Examination.

OMB Number: 0583-0167.

Type of Request: Request to revise an approved information collection.

Abstract: FSIS has been delegated the authority to exercise the functions of the Secretary (7 CFR 2.18, 2.53), as specified in the Federal Meat Inspection Act (FMIA) (21 U.S.C. 601, et seq. ), the Poultry Products Inspection Act (PPIA) (21 U.S.C. 451, et seq. ), and the Egg Products Inspection Act (EPIA) (21 U.S.C. 1031, et seq. ). These statutes mandate that FSIS protect the public by verifying that meat, poultry, and egg products are safe, wholesome, unadulterated, and properly labeled and packaged.

The current information collection approval includes two FSIS forms that are completed by healthcare providers for medication certification. First, FSIS uses Form 4339-1, “Certificate of Medical Examination (with Medical History)” to determine whether an applicant for a Food Inspector, Consumer Safety Inspector, or Veterinary Medical Officer in-plant position meets the medical qualification standards for the position approved by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM). The certificates of medical examination ensure accurate collection of the required data. The OPM-approved medical qualification standards apply only to positions in FSIS, not positions in other Federal agencies. When requesting that applicants for the positions listed above undergo the medical examination, a representative of FSIS notifies the applicants in writing of the reasons for the examination, the process, and the consequences of the failure to report for an examination or provide medical documentation. Any physical condition that would hinder an individual's full, efficient, and safe performance of his or her duties is considered disqualifying for employment, except when the individual presents convincing evidence that he or she can perform the essential functions of the job efficiently and without hazard.

Second, FSIS uses Form 4306-5, “Medical Documentation for Employee's Reasonable Accommodation Request,” to help determine whether the Agency will provide reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals. In accordance with the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act of 2008, FSIS makes reasonable accommodations for the known physical or mental limitations of qualified individuals with disabilities, unless the accommodation would impose an undue hardship on the operation of FSIS. FSIS requires medical information from a health care provider to determine whether the person's condition rises to the level of disability under the law and to determine whether the limitations can be effectively accommodated.

There has been an increase in hiring and an increase in applications for Reasonable Accommodation. As a result, the Agency has increased the burden estimate by 733 hours. FSIS has also discontinued use of FSIS Form 4630-7 “Confidential Medical Information,” because the Leave Bank Program now accepts a Department of Labor form. The approval for this information collection will expire on November 20, 2022.

FSIS has made the following estimates based upon an information collection assessment:

Estimate of Burden: FSIS estimates that it will take each respondent an average of 90 minutes to complete the FSIS Form 4339-1, 10 minutes to complete the FSIS Form 4306-5, and 15 minutes to complete the FSIS Form 4630-8.

Respondents: Health Care Providers.

Estimated Total Number of Annual Respondents: 1,250 respondents.

Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.

Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 1,524 hours.

All responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the request for OMB approval. All comments will also become a matter of public record. Copies of this information collection assessment can be obtained from Gina Kouba, Office of Policy and Program Development, Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Mailstop 3758, South Building, Washington, DC 20250-3700; (202) 720-5627.

Comments are invited on: (a) whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of FSIS' functions, including whether the information will have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of FSIS' estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information, including the validity of the method and assumptions used; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information, including through the use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques, or other forms of information technology. Comments may be sent to both FSIS, at the addresses provided above, and the Desk Officer for Agriculture, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget (OMB), Washington, DC 20253.

Public awareness of all segments of rulemaking and policy development is important. Consequently, FSIS will announce this Federal Register publication on-line through the FSIS web page located at: https://www.fsis.usda.gov/federal-register.

FSIS will also announce and provide a link to this Federal Register publication through the FSIS Constituent Update, which is used to provide information regarding FSIS policies, procedures, regulations, Federal Register notices, FSIS public meetings, and other types of information that could affect or would be of interest to our constituents and stakeholders. The Constituent Update is available on the FSIS web page. Through the web page, FSIS can provide information to a much broader, more diverse audience. In addition, FSIS offers an email subscription service which provides automatic and customized access to selected food safety news and information. This service is available at: https://www.fsis.usda.gov/subscribe. Options range from recalls to export information, regulations, directives, and notices. Customers can add or delete subscriptions themselves and have the option to password protect their accounts.

In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity (including gender expression), sexual orientation, disability, age, marital status, family/parental status, income derived from a public assistance program, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity, in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA (not all bases apply to all programs). Remedies and complaint filing deadlines vary by program or incident.

Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information ( e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the responsible Agency or USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.

To file a program discrimination complaint, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, AD-3027, found online at https://www.usda.gov/oascr/how-to-file-a-program-discrimination-complaint and at any USDA office or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992.

Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by: (1) mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410; (2) fax: (202) 690-7442; or (3) email: program.intake@usda.gov.

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

The purpose of the meeting is to:

1. Introductions of the committee members;

2. Elect a Chairperson;

3. Discuss available funding;

4. Discuss a process for soliciting and reviewing project proposals;

5. Approve meeting minutes;

6. Schedule the next meeting.

The meeting is open to the public. The agenda will include time for people to make oral statements of three minutes or less. Individuals wishing to make an oral statement should make a request in writing at least three days prior to the meeting date to be scheduled on the agenda. Anyone who would like to bring related matters to the attention of the committee may file written statements with the committee staff before or after the meeting. Written comments and requests for time for oral comments must be sent to Matt Zumstein, DFO, Carson Ranger District, 1536 South Carson Street, Carson City, Nevada 89701; or by email to matthew.zumstein@usda.gov.

USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity (including gender expression), sexual orientation, disability, age, marital status, family/parental status, income derived from a public assistance program, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity, in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA (not all bases apply to all programs). Remedies and complaint filing deadlines vary by program or incident.

Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information ( e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the responsible Agency or USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.

Equal opportunity practices in accordance with USDA's policies will be followed in all appointments to the Committee. To ensure that the recommendations of the Committee have taken in account the needs of the diverse groups served by USDA, membership shall include to the extent possible, individuals with demonstrated ability to represent minorities, women, and person with disabilities. USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

The meeting agenda will include:

1. Black Hills National Forest Video “ Your Forest, Your Future”;

2. Purpose and Need for NFAB;

3. Getting to know our members;

4. NFAB Charter review;

5. NFAB By-Laws review; and

6. Process for electing Chair and Vice-Chair at next meeting.

The meeting is open to the public. The agenda will include time for people to make oral statements of three minutes or less. Individuals wishing to make an oral statement should make a request in writing by at least three days before the meeting to be scheduled on the agenda. Anyone who would like to bring related matters to the attention of the committee may file written statements with the committee staff before or after the meeting. Written comments and requests for time for oral comments must be sent to Scott Jacobson, NFAB Committee Coordinator, Mystic Ranger District Office, 8221 Mount Rushmore Road, Rapid City, South Dakota 57702; or by email to scott.j.jacobson@usda.gov. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information ( e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the responsible Agency or USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.

USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity (including gender expression), sexual orientation, disability, age, marital status, family/parental status, income derived from a public assistance program, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity, in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA (not all bases apply to all programs). Remedies and complaint filing deadlines vary by program or incident.

Equal opportunity practices in accordance with USDA's policies will be followed in all appointments to the Committee. To ensure that the recommendations of the Committee have taken in account the needs of the diverse groups served by USDA, membership shall include to the extent possible, individuals with demonstrated ability to represent minorities, women, and person with disabilities. USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

The Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) regulation (5 CFR part 1320) implementing provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13) requires that interested members of the public and affected agencies have an opportunity to comment on information collection and recordkeeping activities (see 5 CFR 1320.8(d)). This notice identifies the following information collection that RUS is submitting to OMB as extension to an existing collection with Agency adjustment.

Title: Request for Approval to Sell Capital Assets.

OMB Control Number: 0572-0020.

Expiration Date of Approval: November 30, 2022.

Type of Request: Revision of a currently approved information collection.

Estimate of Burden: Public reporting for this collection of information is estimated to average 3 hours per response.

Respondents: Not-for-profit institutions; Businesses or other for-profits.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 33.

Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.

Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 99 hours.

Abstract: The Rural Utilities Service (RUS) is a credit agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). It makes mortgage loans and loan guarantees to finance electric, telecommunications, and water and waste facilities in rural areas. In addition to providing loans and loan guarantees, one of the Agency's main objectives is to safeguard loan security until the loan is repaid. When a borrower enters into the mortgage agreement with the Agency, all current and future capital assets of the borrower are ordinarily mortgaged or pledged to the Federal Government as security for Agency loans. The Agency's policy on sales of capital assets requires that the sale meet several requirements including the following: (1) the selling price shall be greater than or equal to the fair market value; and (2) the sale shall not jeopardize the repayment of the Agency's loan.

The selling of assets reduces the security and increases the risk to the government. RUS Form 369 allows the borrower to seek agency permission to sell some of its assets. The form collects detailed information regarding the proposed sales of a portion of the borrower's systems. RUS electric utility borrowers complete this form to request RUS approval in order to sell capital assets when the fair market value exceeds 10 percent of the borrower's net utility plant.

Comments are invited on:

(a) Whether the collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information will have practical utility;

(b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the collection of information including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used;

(c) ways to enhance the quality, utility and clarity of the information to be collected; and

(d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on respondents, including through the use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology. All responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the request for OMB approval. All comments will become a matter of public record.

Copies of this information collection can be obtained from Kimble Brown, Rural Development Innovation Center—Regulations Management Division, at (202) 720-6780. Email: kimble.brown@usda.gov.

All responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the request for OMB approval. All comments will also become a matter of public record.

The Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) regulation (5 CFR 1320) implementing provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13) requires that interested members of the public and affected agencies have an opportunity to comment on information collection and recordkeeping activities (see 5 CFR 1320.8(d)). This notice identifies an information collection that RUS is submitting to OMB for an extension.

Title: Emergency and Imminent Community Water Assistance Grants, 7 CFR 1778.

OMB Control Number: 0572-0110.

Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved information collection.

Abstract: Rural Utilities Service (RUS), an agency delivering the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) administers Emergency and Imminent Community Water Assistance Grants pursuant to 7 CFR 1778 and awards grants to qualified rural communities that have experienced a significant decline in quality or quantity of water or expect such a decline to be imminent. Grants under this RUS program may be made to public bodies and private nonprofit corporations serving rural areas. Public bodies include counties, cities, townships, incorporated towns and villages, boroughs, authorities, districts, and other political subdivisions of a state. Public bodies also include Indian Tribes on Federal and State reservations and other Federally-recognized Indian tribal groups in rural areas. Applicants will provide information to be collected as part of the application and grant process through documentation, certifications, or completed application forms. These procedures are codified at 7 CFR part 1778.

Estimate of burden: Public reporting for this collection of information is estimated to average 6.86 hours per response.

Respondents: Public bodies; not-for-profit institutions; federally-recognized tribes and tribal organizations.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 49.

Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.

Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 3,173 hours.

Comments are invited on:

(a) Whether this collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the Agency, including whether the information will have practical utility;

(b) the accuracy of the Agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used;

(c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and

(d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on respondents, including through the use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology.

Copies of this information collection can be obtained from Kimble Brown, Rural Development Innovation Center—Regulations Management Division, at (202) 720-6780. Email: kimble.brown@usda.gov.

All responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the request for OMB approval. All comments will also become a matter of public records.

The Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) regulation (5 CFR part 1320) implementing provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13) requires that interested members of the public and affected agencies have an opportunity to comment on information collection and recordkeeping activities (see 5 CFR 1320.8(d)). This notice identifies the following information collection that RUS is submitting to OMB as extension to an existing collection with Agency adjustment.

Title: Wholesale Contracts for the Purchase and Sale of Electric Power.

OMB Control Number: 0572-0089.

Expiration Date of Approval: November 30, 2022.

Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved information collection.

Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 6 hours per response.

Respondents: Small business or other for-profit; not-for-profit organizations.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 10.

Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.

Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 60 hours.

Abstract: Most RUS financed electric systems are cooperatives and are organized in a two-tiered structure. Retail customers are members of the distribution system that provides electricity to their homes and business. Distribution cooperatives, in turn, are members of power supply cooperatives, also known as generation and transmission cooperatives (G&T's) that generate or purchase power and transmit the power to the distribution systems.

For a distribution system, a lien on the borrower's assets generally represents adequate security. However, since most G&T revenues flow from its distribution members, RUS requires, as a condition of a loan or loan guarantee to a G&T the long-term requirements wholesale power contract (WPC) to purchase their power from the G&T at rates that cover all the G&T's expenses, including debt service and margins. RUS considers Form 444 as an example for the G&T's to utilize as either their WPC or create their own WPC if it has all the same information as the form. The WPC is specialized based on the combined requirements of the G&T and its members. The WPC is used by RUS G&T borrowers to enter into agreement with their distribution members for purchase of power from the G&T. The WPC is prepared and executed by the G&T and each member and by RUS and the information allows RUS to determine credit quality and credit worthiness to determine repayment ability for loans and loan guarantees.

Comments are invited on:

(a) Whether the collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information will have practical utility;

(b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the collection of information including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used;

(c) ways to enhance the quality, utility and clarity of the information to be collected; and

(d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on respondents, including the use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology. All responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the request for OMB approval. All comments will become a matter of public record.

Copies of this information collection can be obtained from Crystal Pemberton, Rural Development Innovation Center—Regulations Management Division, at (202) 260-862. Email: Crystal.Pemberton@usda.gov.

All responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the request for OMB approval. All comments will also become a matter of public record.

Commerce published the initiation of this administrative review on February 4, 2022, with respect to four companies: Tianjin Tonghe, Ningbo Homey, and Wah Yuen. 1 The POR is December 1, 2020, through November 30, 2021.

Imports covered by the Order are shipments of certain cased pencils of any shape or dimension (except as described below) which are writing and/or drawing instruments that feature cores of graphite or other materials, encased in wood and/or man-made materials, whether or not decorated and whether or not tipped ( e.g., with erasers, etc. ) in any fashion, and either sharpened or unsharpened. The pencils subject to the Order are currently classifiable under subheading 9609.10.00 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS). Specifically excluded from the scope of the Order are mechanical pencils, cosmetic pencils, pens, non-cased crayons (wax), pastels, charcoals, chalks, and pencils produced under U.S. patent number 6,217,242, from paper infused with scents by the means covered in the above-referenced patent, thereby having odors distinct from those that may emanate from pencils lacking the scent infusion. Also excluded from the scope of the Order are pencils with all of the following physical characteristics: (1) length: 13.5 or more inches; (2) sheath diameter: not less than one-and-one quarter inches at any point (before sharpening); and (3) core length: not more than 15 percent of the length of the pencil.

In addition, pencils with all of the following physical characteristics are excluded from the scope of the Order: novelty jumbo pencils that are octagonal in shape, approximately ten inches long, one inch in diameter before sharpening, and three-and-one eighth inches in circumference, composed of turned wood encasing one-and-one half inches of sharpened lead on one end and a rubber eraser on the other end.

Although the HTSUS subheading is provided for convenience and customs purposes, the written description of the scope of the Order is dispositive.

In the Initiation Notice, we instructed producers or exporters under review that had no exports, sales, or entries during the POR to notify Commerce within 30 days of publication of the notice. Wah Yuen submitted a timely no-shipment certification stating that Wah Yuen did not export subject merchandise to the United States during the POR. 3 Accordingly, we submitted a no-shipment inquiry to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) regarding Wah Yuen's no-shipment certification. In response, CBP reported that it has no evidence to contradict Wah Yuen's no-shipment claim. 4 No party commented on CBP's report.

Based on record evidence, we preliminarily determine that Wah Yuen did not have shipments to the United States during the POR. Consistent with our practice in non-market economy (NME) cases, we are not rescinding the review of Wah Yuen but intend to complete the review and issue appropriate instructions to CBP based on the final results. 5

Commerce's policy regarding conditional review of the China-wide entity applies to this administrative review. 6 Under this policy, the China-wide entity will not be under review unless a party specifically requests, or Commerce self-initiates, a review of the entity. Because no party requested a review of the China-wide entity, the entity is not under review, and the entity's rate of 114.90 percent is not subject to change. 7

Aside from Wah Yuen, which we preliminarily find made no shipments, Commerce considers all other companies for which a review was requested and which did not demonstrate separate rate eligibility to be part of the China-wide entity. 8 Accordingly, for the preliminary results, we consider Tianjin Tonghe and Ningbo Homey, neither of which submitted a separate rate application, to be part of the China-wide entity.

Normally, Commerce discloses the calculations used in its analysis to parties in a review within five days of the date of publication of the notice of preliminary results, in accordance with 19 CFR 351.224(b). However, in this case, there are no calculations to disclose.

Interested parties may submit case briefs no later than 30 days after the date of publication of these preliminary results of review. 9 Rebuttal briefs may be filed no later than seven days after the written comments are filed, and all rebuttal comments must be limited to comments raised in the case briefs. 10 Pursuant to 19 CFR 351.309(c)(2) and (d)(2), parties who submit case or rebuttal briefs in this review are encouraged to submit with each argument: (1) a statement of the issue; (2) a brief summary of the argument; and (3) a table of authorities. Note that Commerce has temporarily modified certain of its requirements for serving documents containing business proprietary information, until further notice. 11

Pursuant to 19 CFR 351.310(c), interested parties who wish to request a hearing, limited to issues raised in the case and rebuttal briefs, must submit a request to the Assistant Secretary for Enforcement and Compliance, U.S. Department of Commerce, within 30 days after the date of publication of this notice. Requests should contain the party's name, address, telephone number, the number of participants, and a list of the issues to be discussed. If a request for a hearing is made, we intend to hold the hearing at the date and time to be determined. 12 Parties should confirm by telephone the date, time, and location of the hearing two days before the scheduled date.

Unless the deadline is otherwise extended, we intend to issue the final results of this review, which will include the results of our analysis of the issues raised in any briefs, within 120 days of publication of these preliminary results in the Federal Register , pursuant to section 751(a)(3)(A) of the Act, and 19 CFR 351.213(h).

Upon issuance of the final results, Commerce will determine, and CBP shall assess, antidumping (AD) duties on all appropriate entries covered by this review, in accordance with 19 CFR 351.212(b). If Commerce continues to find that Tianjin Tonghe and Ningbo Homey are part of the China-wide entity in the final results, Commerce intends to instruct CBP to liquidate POR entries of subject merchandise from these companies at the China-wide rate. Moreover, if Commerce continues to make a no-shipment finding for Wah Yuen in the final results, any suspended entries of subject merchandise associated with Wah Yuen will also be liquidated at the China-wide rate. Commerce intends to issue assessment instructions to CBP no earlier than 35 days after the date of publication of the final results of this review. If a timely summons is filed at the U.S. Court of International Trade, the assessment instructions will direct CBP not to liquidate relevant entries until the time for parties to file a request for a statutory injunction has expired ( i.e., within 90 days of publication).

The following cash deposit requirements will be effective for all shipments of the subject merchandise entered, or withdrawn from warehouse, for consumption on or after the publication date of the final results of this administrative review, as provided for by section 751(a)(2)(C) of the Act: (1) Wah Yuen's cash deposit rate will continue to be its existing exporter-specific rate;  13 (2) for previously investigated or reviewed Chinese and non-Chinese exporters for which a review was not requested and that received a separate rate in a prior segment of this proceeding, the cash deposit rate will continue to be the existing exporter-specific rate; (3) for all Chinese exporters of subject merchandise that have not been found to be entitled to a separate rate, the cash deposit rate will be the rate for the China-wide entity; and (4) for all non-Chinese exporters of subject merchandise that have not received their own rate, the cash deposit rate will be the rate applicable to the Chinese exporter that supplied that non-Chinese exporter. These cash deposit requirements, when imposed, shall remain in effect until further notice.

This notice also serves as a preliminary reminder to importers of their responsibility under 19 CFR 351.402(f) to file a certificate regarding the reimbursement of AD duties prior to liquidation of the relevant entries during this review period. Failure to comply with this requirement could result in Commerce's presumption that reimbursement of AD duties occurred and the subsequent assessment of double AD duties.

We are issuing and publishing the preliminary results of this administrative review in accordance with sections 751(a)(l) and 777(i)(l) of the Act, and 19 CFR 351.213 and 19 CFR 351.221(b)(4).

Sections 101(a)(5)(A) and (D) of the MMPA (16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq. ) direct the Secretary of Commerce to allow, upon request, the incidental, but not intentional, taking of small numbers of marine mammals by U.S. citizens who engage in a specified activity (other than commercial fishing) within a specified geographical region if certain findings are made and either regulations are issued or, if the taking is limited to harassment, a notice of a proposed authorization is provided to the public for review.

An authorization for incidental takings shall be granted if NMFS finds that the taking will have a negligible impact on the species or stock(s), will not have an unmitigable adverse impact on the availability of the species or stock(s) for subsistence uses (where relevant), and if the permissible methods of taking and requirements pertaining to the mitigation, monitoring and reporting of such takings are set forth. NMFS has defined “negligible impact” in 50 CFR 216.103 as an impact resulting from the specified activity that cannot be reasonably expected to, and is not reasonably likely to, adversely affect the species or stock through effects on annual rates of recruitment or survival.

Except with respect to certain activities not pertinent here, the MMPA defines “harassment” as: any act of pursuit, torment, or annoyance which (i) has the potential to injure a marine mammal or marine mammal stock in the wild (Level A harassment); or (ii) has the potential to disturb a marine mammal or marine mammal stock in the wild by causing disruption of behavioral patterns, including, but not limited to, migration, breathing, nursing, breeding, feeding, or sheltering (Level B harassment).

On January 19, 2021, we issued a final rule with regulations to govern the unintentional taking of marine mammals incidental to geophysical survey activities conducted by oil and gas industry operators, and those persons authorized to conduct activities on their behalf (collectively “industry operators”), in Federal waters of the U.S. Gulf of Mexico (GOM) over the course of 5 years (86 FR 5322; January 19, 2021). The rule was based on our findings that the total taking from the specified activities over the 5-year period will have a negligible impact on the affected species or stock(s) of marine mammals and will not have an unmitigable adverse impact on the availability of those species or stocks for subsistence uses. The rule became effective on April 19, 2021.

Our regulations at 50 CFR 217.180 et seq. allow for the issuance of LOAs to industry operators for the incidental take of marine mammals during geophysical survey activities and prescribe the permissible methods of taking and other means of effecting the least practicable adverse impact on marine mammal species or stocks and their habitat (often referred to as mitigation), as well as requirements pertaining to the monitoring and reporting of such taking. Under 50 CFR 217.186(e), issuance of an LOA shall be based on a determination that the level of taking will be consistent with the findings made for the total taking allowable under these regulations and a determination that the amount of take authorized under the LOA is of no more than small numbers.

CGG plans to conduct a 3D ocean bottom node (OBN) survey of approximately 144 lease blocks in the central GOM (Green Canyon and Walker Ridge protraction areas), with approximate water depths ranging from 100 to 2,500 meters (m). See Section F of the LOA application for a map of the area.

CGG anticipates using two dual source vessels, towing airgun array sources consisting of either 32 elements, with a total volume of 5,110 cubic inches (in 3 ), or 28 elements, with total volume of 4,470 in 3 . Please see CGG's application for additional detail.

Consistent with the preamble to the final rule, the survey effort proposed by CGG in its LOA request was used to develop LOA-specific take estimates based on the acoustic exposure modeling results described in the preamble (86 FR 5322, 5398; January 19, 2021). In order to generate the appropriate take number for authorization, the following information was considered: (1) survey type; (2) location (by modeling zone);  1 (3) number of days; and (4) season. 2 The acoustic exposure modeling performed in support of the rule provides 24-hour exposure estimates for each species, specific to each modeled survey type in each zone and season.

No 3D OBN surveys were included in the modeled survey types, and use of existing proxies ( i.e., 2D, 3D NAZ, 3D WAZ, Coil) is generally conservative for use in evaluation of 3D OBN survey effort, largely due to the greater area covered by the modeled proxies. Summary descriptions of these modeled survey geometries are available in the preamble to the proposed rule (83 FR 29212, 29220; June 22, 2018). Coil was selected as the best available proxy survey type in this case, because the spatial coverage of the planned survey is most similar to the coil survey pattern. The planned 3D OBN survey will involve two source vessels sailing along survey lines approximately 65 km in length. The coil survey pattern was assumed to cover approximately 144 kilometers squared (km 2 ) per day (compared with approximately 795 km 2 , 199 km 2 , and 845 km 2 per day for the 2D, 3D NAZ, and 3D WAZ survey patterns, respectively). Among the different parameters of the modeled survey patterns ( e.g., area covered, line spacing, number of sources, shot interval, total simulated pulses), NMFS considers area covered per day to be most influential on daily modeled exposures exceeding Level B harassment criteria. Although CGG is not proposing to perform a survey using the coil geometry, its planned 3D OBN survey is expected to cover approximately 100 km 2 per day, meaning that the coil proxy is most representative of the effort planned by CGG in terms of predicted Level B harassment exposures.

In addition, all available acoustic exposure modeling results assume use of a 72-element, 8,000 in 3 array. Thus, estimated take numbers for this LOA are considered conservative due to differences in both the airgun array (maximum 32 elements, 5,110 in 3 ) and the daily survey area planned by CGG (100 km 2 ), as compared to those modeled for the rule.

The survey will take place over approximately 90 days, including 65 days of sound source operation. The survey plan includes 20 days within Zone 2 and 45 days within Zone 5. The seasonal distribution of survey days is not known in advance. Therefore, the take estimates for each species are based on the season that produces the greater value.

Additionally, for some species, take estimates based solely on the modeling yielded results that are not realistically likely to occur when considered in light of other relevant information available during the rulemaking process regarding marine mammal occurrence in the GOM. The approach used in the acoustic exposure modeling, in which seven modeling zones were defined over the U.S. GOM, necessarily averages fine-scale information about marine mammal distribution over the large area of each modeling zone. This can result in unrealistic projections regarding the likelihood of encountering particularly rare species and/or species not expected to occur outside particular habitats. Thus, although the modeling conducted for the rule is a natural starting point for estimating take, our rule acknowledged that other information could be considered (see, e.g., 86 FR 5322, 5442 (January 19, 2021), discussing the need to provide flexibility and make efficient use of previous public and agency review of other information and identifying that additional public review is not necessary unless the model or inputs used differ substantively from those that were previously reviewed by NMFS and the public). For this survey, NMFS has other relevant information reviewed during the rulemaking that indicates use of the acoustic exposure modeling to generate a take estimate for certain marine mammal species produces results that are inconsistent with what is known regarding their occurrence in the GOM. Accordingly, we have adjusted the calculated take estimates for those species as described below.

Rice's whales (formerly known as GOM Bryde's whales)  3 are mostly found in a “core habitat area” located in the northeastern GOM in waters between 100-400 m depth along the continental shelf break (Rosel et al., 2016). (Note that this core habitat area is outside the scope of the rule.) However, whaling records suggest that Rice's whales historically had a broader distribution within similar habitat parameters throughout the GOM (Reeves et al., 2011; Rosel and Wilcox, 2014). In addition, habitat-based density modeling identified similar habitat ( i.e., approximately 100-400 m water depths along the continental shelf break) as being potential Rice's whale habitat (Roberts et al., 2016), although the core habitat area contained approximately 92 percent of the predicted abundance of Rice's whales. See discussion provided at, e.g., 83 FR 29212, 29228, 29280 (June 22, 2018); 86 FR 5322, 5418 (January 19, 2021).

There are few data on Rice's whale occurrence outside of the northeastern GOM core habitat area. There were two sightings of unidentified large baleen whales (recorded as Balaenoptera sp. or Bryde's/sei whale) in 1992 in the western GOM during systematic survey effort and, more recently, a NOAA survey reported observation of a Rice's whale in the western GOM in 2017 (NMFS, 2018). There were five potential sightings of Rice's whales by protected species observers (PSOs) aboard industry geophysical survey vessels west of New Orleans from 2010-2014, all within the 200-400 m isobaths (Rosel et al., 2021). In addition, sporadic, year-round recordings of Rice's whale calls were made south of Louisiana within approximately the same depth range between 2016 and 2017 (Soldevilla et al., in press).

Although Rice's whales may occur outside of the core habitat area, we expect that any such occurrence would be limited to the narrow band of suitable habitat described above ( i.e., 100-400 m) and that, based on the few available records, these occurrences would be rare. CGG's planned activities will overlap this depth range, with approximately 18 percent of the area expected to be ensonified by the survey above root-mean-squared pressure received levels (RMS SPL) of 160 dB (referenced to 1 micropascal (re 1 μPa)) overlapping the 100-400 m isobaths. Therefore, while we expect take of Rice's whale to be unlikely, there is some reasonable potential for take of Rice's whale to occur in association with this survey. However, NMFS' determination in reflection of the data discussed above, which informed the final rule, is that use of the generic acoustic exposure modeling results for Rice's whales would result in estimated take numbers that are inconsistent with the assumptions made in the rule regarding expected Rice's whale take (86 FR 5322, 5403; January 19, 2021).

Killer whales are the most rarely encountered species in the GOM, typically in deep waters of the central GOM (Roberts et al., 2015; Maze-Foley and Mullin, 2006). As discussed in the final rule, the density models produced by Roberts et al. (2016) provide the best available scientific information regarding predicted density patterns of cetaceans in the U.S. GOM. The predictions represent the output of models derived from multi-year observations and associated environmental parameters that incorporate corrections for detection bias. However, in the case of killer whales, the model is informed by few data, as indicated by the coefficient of variation associated with the abundance predicted by the model (0.41, the second-highest of any GOM species model; Roberts et al., 2016). The model's authors noted the expected non-uniform distribution of this rarely-encountered species and expressed that, due to the limited data available to inform the model, it “should be viewed cautiously” (Roberts et al., 2015).

NOAA surveys in the GOM from 1992-2009 reported only 16 sightings of killer whales, with an additional three encounters during more recent survey effort from 2017-18 (Waring et al., 2013; www.boem.gov/gommapps ). Two other species were also observed on less than 20 occasions during the 1992-2009 NOAA surveys (Fraser's dolphin and false killer whale). 4 However, observational data collected by PSOs on industry geophysical survey vessels from 2002-2015 distinguish the killer whale in terms of rarity. During this period, killer whales were encountered on only 10 occasions, whereas the next most rarely encountered species (Fraser's dolphin) was recorded on 69 occasions (Barkaszi and Kelly, 2019). The false killer whale and pygmy killer whale were the next most rarely encountered species, with 110 records each. The killer whale was the species with the lowest detection frequency during each period over which PSO data were synthesized (2002-2008 and 2009-2015). This information qualitatively informed our rulemaking process, as discussed at 86 FR 5322, 5334 (January 19, 2021), and similarly informs our analysis here.

The rarity of encounter during seismic surveys is not likely to be the product of high bias on the probability of detection. Unlike certain cryptic species with high detection bias, such as Kogia spp. or beaked whales, or deep-diving species with high availability bias, such as beaked whales or sperm whales, killer whales are typically available for detection when present and are easily observed. Roberts et al. (2015) stated that availability is not a major factor affecting detectability of killer whales from shipboard surveys, as they are not a particularly long-diving species. Baird et al. (2005) reported that mean dive durations for 41 fish-eating killer whales for dives greater than or equal to 1 minute in duration was 2.3-2.4 minutes, and Hooker et al. (2012) reported that killer whales spent 78 percent of their time at depths between 0-10 m. Similarly, Kvadsheim et al. (2012) reported data from a study of four killer whales, noting that the whales performed 20 times as many dives to 1-30 m depth than to deeper waters, with an average depth during those most common dives of approximately 3 m.

In summary, killer whales are the most rarely encountered species in the GOM and typically occur only in particularly deep water. While this information is reflected through the density model informing the acoustic exposure modeling results, there is relatively high uncertainty associated with the model for this species, and the acoustic exposure modeling applies mean distribution data over areas where the species is in fact less likely to occur. In addition, as noted above in relation to the general take estimation methodology, the assumed proxy source (72-element, 8,000-in 3 array) results in a significant overestimate of the actual potential for take to occur. NMFS' determination in reflection of the information discussed above, which informed the final rule, is that use of the generic acoustic exposure modeling results for killer whales for this survey would result in estimated take numbers that are inconsistent with the assumptions made in the rule regarding expected killer whale take (86 FR 5322, 5403; January 19, 2021).

In past authorizations, NMFS has often addressed situations involving the low likelihood of encountering a rare species such as Rice's whales or killer whales in the GOM through authorization of take of a single group of average size ( i.e., representing a single potential encounter). See 83 FR 63268; December 7, 2018. See also 86 FR 29090; May 28, 2021 and 85 FR 55645; September 9, 2020. For the reasons expressed above, NMFS determined that a single encounter of Rice's whales or killer whales is more likely than the model-generated estimates and has authorized take associated with a single group encounter ( i.e., up to 2 and 7 animals, respectively).

Based on the results of our analysis, NMFS has determined that the level of taking authorized through the LOA is consistent with the findings made for the total taking allowable under the regulations for the affected species or stocks of marine mammals. See Table 1 in this notice and Table 9 of the rule (86 FR 5322; January 19, 2021).

Under the GOM rule, NMFS may not authorize incidental take of marine mammals in an LOA if it will exceed “small numbers.” In short, when an acceptable estimate of the individual marine mammals taken is available, if the estimated number of individual animals taken is up to, but not greater than, one-third of the best available abundance estimate, NMFS will determine that the numbers of marine mammals taken of a species or stock are small. For more information please see NMFS' discussion of the MMPA's small numbers requirement provided in the final rule (86 FR 5322, 5438; January 19, 2021).

The take numbers for authorization are determined as described above in the Summary of Request and Analysis section. Subsequently, the total incidents of harassment for each species are multiplied by scalar ratios to produce a derived product that better reflects the number of individuals likely to be taken within a survey (as compared to the total number of instances of take), accounting for the likelihood that some individual marine mammals may be taken on more than one day (see 86 FR 5322, 5404; January 19, 2021). The output of this scaling, where appropriate, is incorporated into adjusted total take estimates that are the basis for NMFS' small numbers determinations, as depicted in Table 1.

This product is used by NMFS in making the necessary small numbers determinations through comparison with the best available abundance estimates (see discussion at 86 FR 5322, 5391; January 19, 2021). For this comparison, NMFS' approach is to use the maximum theoretical population, determined through review of current stock assessment reports (SAR; www.fisheries.noaa.gov/national/marine-mammal-protection/marine-mammal-stock-assessments ) and model-predicted abundance information ( https://seamap.env.duke.edu/models/Duke/GOM/ ). For the latter, for taxa where a density surface model could be produced, we use the maximum mean seasonal ( i.e., 3-month) abundance prediction for purposes of comparison as a precautionary smoothing of month-to-month fluctuations and in consideration of a corresponding lack of data in the literature regarding seasonal distribution of marine mammals in the GOM. Information supporting the small numbers determinations is provided in Table 1.

Based on the analysis contained herein of CGG's proposed survey activity described in its LOA application and the anticipated take of marine mammals, NMFS finds that small numbers of marine mammals will be taken relative to the affected species or stock sizes and therefore is of no more than small numbers.

NMFS has determined that the level of taking for this LOA request is consistent with the findings made for the total taking allowable under the incidental take regulations and that the amount of take authorized under the LOA is of no more than small numbers. Accordingly, we have issued an LOA to CGG authorizing the take of marine mammals incidental to its geophysical survey activity, as described above.

This request is for an extension of a currently approved information collection and is sponsored by National Marine Fisheries Service Office of Protected Resources.

The Marine Mammal Protection Act (16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.; MMPA or the Act) mandates the protection and conservation of marine mammals and makes the taking of marine mammals, except under limited exceptions, a violation of the Act. MMPA section 118 provides an exception to that prohibition for taking of marine mammals incidental to commercial fishing operations subject to requirements listed in that section. The owner of any fishing vessel engaged in any fishery identified by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) as having either frequent (Category I) or occasional (Category II) takes of a marine mammal is to register with the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary) in order to obtain an authorization for the purpose of lawfully, incidentally taking marine mammals. Fishers operating in fisheries identified by NMFS as having only a remote chance (Category III) of taking marine mammals need not register for such an authorization.

The owner or operator of a commercial fishing vessel, regardless of the classification of the fishery, is required under the Act to report all incidental mortality and injury of marine mammals in the course of commercial fishing operations. Supplying the information within 48-hours after the end of a fishing trip is mandated under Section 118(e) of the MMPA and is needed by NMFS to determine the correct category placement for fisheries. MMPA section 118(c) requires NMFS to reexamine the classification of fisheries based on information gathered under the MMPA, including these injury and mortality reports from fishermen.

Minor revisions are being made to the form to clarify the instructions for completing the “Description of the mortality/injury incident” (DESCRIPTION OF UNKNOWN SPECIES OR CIRCUMSTANCES OF MORTALITY/INJURY INCIDENT field) and the “Coast Guard document number” (COAST GUARD DOCUMENT NO. or VESSEL'S STATE REGISTRATION NO field).

Respondents have a choice of either electronic or paper forms. Methods of submittal include online forms, email of electronic or scanned forms, mail and facsimile transmission of paper forms.

OMB Control Number: 0648-0292.

Form Number(s): None.

Type of Review: Regular submission (extension of currently approved collection).

Affected Public: Business or other for-profit organizations; Individuals or households; State, local, or tribal government.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 200.

Estimated Time per Response: 15 minutes.

Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 50.

Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $0.

Respondent's Obligation: Mandatory.

Legal Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1387 Sec. 118.

We are soliciting public comments to permit the Department/Bureau to: (a) evaluate whether the proposed information collection is necessary for the proper functions of the Department, including whether the information will have practical utility; (b) evaluate the accuracy of our estimate of the time and cost burden for this proposed collection, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (c) evaluate ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) minimize the reporting burden on those who are to respond, including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology.

Comments that you submit in response to this notice are a matter of public record. We will include or summarize each comment in our request to OMB to approve this Information Collection Request. Before including your address, phone number, email address, or other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment—including your personal identifying information—may be made publicly available at any time. While you may ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so.

This request is for an extension, without change, of a currently approved information collection.

Section 4(d) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (ESA) authorizes the Secretary of Commerce to adopt regulations determined to be necessary and advisable for the conservation of species listed as threatened. Such regulations may include any or all of the prohibitions described in section 9(a)(1) of the ESA. As the agency with jurisdiction over the Southern Distinct Population Segment of North American green sturgeon (Acipenser medirostris; hereafter, “Southern DPS”), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA's) National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) determined that protective regulations (a “4(d) rule”) are necessary and advisable for the conservation of the Southern DPS after it was listed as a threatened species in April 2006. Protective regulations under section 4(d) of the ESA were promulgated for the species on June 2, 2010 (75 FR 30714) (the final ESA 4(d) Rule) and codified at 50 CFR 223.210. To comply with the ESA and the protective regulations, entities must obtain take authorization prior to engaging in activities involving take of Southern DPS fish unless the activity is covered by an exception or exemption. “Take” is defined as to harass, harm, pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, kill, trap, capture or collect, or to attempt to engage in any such conduct. Certain activities described in the “exceptions” provision of 50 CFR 223.210(b) are not subject to the take prohibitions if they adhere to specific criteria and reporting requirements. Under the “exemption” provision of 50 CFR 223.210(c), the take prohibitions do not apply to scientific research, scientific monitoring, and fisheries activities conducted under an approved 4(d) program or plan; similarly, take prohibitions do not apply to tribal resource management activities conducted under a Tribal Plan for which the requisite determinations described in 50 CFR 223.210(c)(3) have been made.

To ensure that activities qualify under exceptions to or exemptions from the take prohibitions, local, state, and federal agencies, non-governmental organizations, academic researchers, and private organizations are asked to voluntarily submit detailed information regarding their activity on a schedule to be determined by National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) staff. This information is used by NMFS to (1) track the number of Southern DPS fish taken as a result of each action; (2) understand and evaluate the cumulative effects of each action on the Southern DPS; and (3) determine whether additional protections are needed for the species, or whether additional exceptions may be warranted. NMFS designed the criteria to ensure that plans meeting the criteria would adequately limit effects on threatened Southern DPS fish, such that additional protections in the form of a federal take prohibition would not be necessary and advisable.

Respondents have a choice of either electronic or paper forms. Methods of submittal include email of electronic forms, and mail and facsimile transmission of paper forms.

OMB Control Number: 0648-0613.

Form Number(s): None.

Type of Review: Regular submission (extension of a currently approved collection).

Affected Public: Not-for-profit institutions; State, Local, or Tribal government; Federal government; business or other for-profit organizations.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 58.

Estimated Time per Response: Written notification describing research, monitoring or habitat restoration activities, 40 hours; development of fisheries management and evaluation plans or state 4(d) research programs, 40 hours; reports, 5 hours; development of a tribal fishery management plan, 20 hours.

Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 1,760.

Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $200.

Respondent's Obligation: Required to Obtain or Retain Benefits.

Legal Authority: Endangered Species Act.

We are soliciting public comments to permit the Department/Bureau to: (a) Evaluate whether the proposed information collection is necessary for the proper functions of the Department, including whether the information will have practical utility; (b) Evaluate the accuracy of our estimate of the time and cost burden for this proposed collection, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (c) Evaluate ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) Minimize the reporting burden on those who are to respond, including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology.

Comments that you submit in response to this notice are a matter of public record. We will include or summarize each comment in our request to OMB to approve this ICR. Before including your address, phone number, email address, or other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment—including your personal identifying information—may be made publicly available at any time. While you may ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so.

I. Abstract

This is a request for a new collection of information.

The data collection is sponsored by DOC/NOAA/National Weather Service (NWS)/Office of Science and Technology Integration (OSTI). Compound hazards, like tornadoes and flash floods (called TORFFs), are a significant issue for risk communication and are common in landfalling tropical cyclones. Currently, NOAA lacks data and data collection instruments that articulate and explain how emergency managers and broadcast meteorologists receive, interpret, and respond to NWS prediction information about these compound hazards before and during landfalling tropical cyclones, like Hurricane Ida. Furthermore, NOAA lacks adequate knowledge about how these risks are best communicated during COVID-19, when it is important for those who are most vulnerable to adjudicate their risks of exposure to both severe weather and COVID-19. Such knowledge about compound weather hazards would be particularly useful for NWS forecasters who communicate risk information to their colleagues in emergency management and broadcast meteorology (hereafter “partners”), especially when information about sheltering practices, evacuation, and vulnerability can be complicated by exposure to public health threats and bilingual needs.

Without this type of information about how partners grapple with the communication of compound hazards amid the pandemic, NOAA, and specifically the NWS, cannot determine if it has met its mission of saving lives and property, propose societal impact performance metrics, nor demonstrate if progress or improvements have been made, as outlined in the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017. This effort aims to advance the goal to collaborate across sectors on “research necessary to enhance the integration of social science knowledge into weather forecast and warning processes, including to improve the communication of threat information necessary to enable improved severe weather planning and decision making on the part of individuals and communities (Pub. L. 115-25)”. This work addresses NOAA's 5-year Research and Development Vision Areas (2020-2026) Section 1.4 (FACETs). This effort also advances the NWS Strategic Plan (2019-2022) “Transformative Impact- Based Decision Support Services (IDSS) and Research to Operations and Operations to Research (R2O/O2R)” with specific attention to Goal 1, sections 1.1, 1.2, 1.5, 1.13 and Goal 3, sections 3.6 and 3.8. Furthermore, data collected with NWS partners furthers the NWS Weather Ready Nation (WRN) Roadmap (2013) Sections 1.1.10, and 1.2.2.

Two types of data—interviews and surveys—will be collected by researchers at Texas Tech University's Risk and Equity in Disasters (RED) Lab and at Texas A&M. They have begun to develop data collection instruments that will allow them to gather risk information from both English and Spanish speaking partners. These instruments are being created in collaboration with experts in emergency management and broadcast meteorology through the Board on Emergency Management and the Board on Professional Development within the American Meteorological Society. This helps assure the appropriateness of questions relative to different decision spaces, job roles, and communication processes.

This data collection serves many purposes, including building knowledge of how partners attend to, make sense of, and communicate compound hazards, as well as challenges they face in identifying vulnerable populations to severe weather in the context of COVID-19. This data may be used by the NWS training centers in Norman, OK, and Kansas City, MO, to inform their practices for Impact-Based Decision Support Services (IDSS) and to improve the information and services it provides to members of the Weather Enterprise. Specifically, data collected will help NWS develop new forecaster training modules, situational awareness strategies, and best practices for IDSS with partners. This research-to-operations application of knowledge is a necessary step in improving risk communication among expert groups, which, in turn, benefits vulnerable populations who ultimately must act quickly and safely to adjudicate which risks pose the greatest threat to them as the threats evolve.

The primary methods of data collection for this study will be virtual or in-person semi-structured interviews (COVID-19 restriction dependent) with partners for a case study of TORFFs in the first year of the grant (2021-2022, or Phase 1) followed by a national online survey of partners in the second year (2022-2023, or Phase 2). For Phase 1, semi-structured interviews will be conducted with partners in local areas impacted by a recent hurricane with embedded TORFF hazards, such as Hurricane Ida and its remnants. Questions will focus on risk assessment, risk communication, and vulnerability within the context of a pandemic. Convenience sampling will be used based on those areas that experienced TORFF warnings, as verified by sources like the Iowa Environmental Mesonet, and internet searches of news stories about TORFF impacts. For Phase 2, a national online survey will be designed and fielded after interview data have been analyzed. Results from Phase 1 will be used to guide survey design, including sampling strategy and sampling frame. Survey questions will reflect findings and elicit information about compound hazard risk communication and vulnerability for the same population. The survey will be designed with assistance from a consulting service ( e.g., Qualtrics) and suggestions from collaborators from public safety. Interview guides and survey questions will be translated into and conducted in Spanish, where appropriate.

Respondents will include adults (age 18+) who reside in the United States, recruited through emails and phone calls to partners in areas impacted by TORFFs embedded in landfalling tropical cyclones. Contact information for respondents is publicly available and will be obtained both by internet searches and, when needed, with the assistance of local NWS Weather Forecast Office staff to identify appropriate participants in emergency management and broadcast media markets. For interviews, emails and phone calls will be used to recruit participants and coordinate interviews via Zoom or other video platform; interviews may also be conducted in person, depending on local COVID restrictions. Survey respondents will likewise be contacted through email and directed to an online survey. NWS staff may assist in facilitating email introductions to their partners for interview requests and to help distribute survey links to ensure sufficient response rates. Our collaborators with the American Meteorological Society and the National Weather Association will also help us identify outreach approaches to recruit participants ( e.g., social media and message boards) and ensure sufficient response rates.

OMB Control Number: 0648-XXXX.

Form Number(s): None.

Type of Review: Regular (New information collection).

Affected Public: Business or other for-profit organizations; State, Local, or Tribal government; Federal government.

Estimated Number of Respondents for interviews for Interviews: 30.

Estimated Time Per Response: 1 hour per respondent.

Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours for Interviews: 30.

Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: None.

Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary.

Legal Authority: 15 U.S.C. Ch. 111, Weather Research and Forecasting Information.

We are soliciting public comments to permit the Department/Bureau to: (a) Evaluate whether the proposed information collection is necessary for the proper functions of the Department, including whether the information will have practical utility; (b) Evaluate the accuracy of our estimate of the time and cost burden for this proposed collection, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (c) Evaluate ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) Minimize the reporting burden on those who are to respond, including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology.

Comments that you submit in response to this notice are a matter of public record. We will include or summarize each comment in our request to OMB to approve this ICR. Before including your address, phone number, email address, or other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment—including your personal identifying information—may be made publicly available at any time. While you may ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so.

This is a request for a new collection of information.

The data collection is sponsored by DOC/NOAA/National Weather Service (NWS)/Office of Dissemination (DISS) in consultation with the NWS Communications Division. Weather.gov is the main entry point to NWS forecasts, warnings, and other information for a diverse user community, including the public, partners and emergency managers, academia, researchers, and employees. The user interface is intended to serve many purposes for these audiences but regular feedback through Customer Satisfaction Surveys from all users emphasizes varying levels of difficulty locating basic information. Such difficulty diminishes the overall customer experience. Additionally, during high impact events, Weather.gov is known to suffer performance issues due to increased traffic.

The Weather.gov Survey is permitted under 15 U.S.C. Ch. 111, Weather Research and Forecasting Information. It also advances the NWS Strategic Plan (2019-2022) “Transformative Impact-Based Decision Support Services (IDSS) and Research to Operations and Operations to Research (R2O/O2R). The Survey also addresses the NWS Weather Ready Nation (WRN) Roadmap (2013) Sections 1.1.1, 1.1.2, 1.1.3, 1.1.8, and 3.1.4.

The purpose of this collection is to help determine the appropriate web content for weather.gov so the customer experience can be improved and the content can be better accessed and used. NWS is looking to improve functionality, ease of use, and formatting but feedback on any other areas of weather.gov that NWS should consider updating is welcome as well. The collection will create a high-level data requirements document that identifies a set of high-priority NWS products, services, and observations that provide mission-critical, timely, and reliable information to make decisions with when seconds count. The document will also identify high-level partner requirements for accessibility (mobile versus desktop), timeliness, and reliability.

This information would be collected on a one-off basis and analyzed by Forrester Research, who has assisted NWS in creating a survey instrument and would provide NWS with a summary of findings, raw data and access to interactive “dashboards”, or tools, to visualize the aggregated data. Respondents include the general public, defined as (adults ages 18+) who reside in the United States, as well as NWS partners. Forrester will oversee recruitment of U.S. adults by an online market research company that aggregates large panels of people who sign up to complete internet surveys. Respondents will be asked questions about their preferred way of getting weather information (including weather on regular days and during severe/hazardous weather), their use of Weather.gov and other weather websites, interest in different types of weather information on a website, priorities and preferences in accessing weather-related information online, and preferred format of receiving weather information. This data collection serves many purposes, including gaining a better understanding of the online weather information needs (including information about hazardous weather) of different customer groups, including historically underserved and socially vulnerable communities, how they prefer to receive this information, how they would like the Weather.gov main page to be organized, what additional functionality they expect that would make them feel better prepared for hazardous weather, and has the potential to explore possible correlations and causal relationships with other observed variables of interest. This data will be used by the OSTI in NWS to develop a set of website content requirements to improve the structure and navigation on Weather.gov.

Since the primary objective is to inform website content requirements for Weather.gov, the method of data collection will be a web-based survey interface. Survey sample respondents (from an online panel) will be nationally representative, using demographic questions captured in the survey to set quotas that mirror the distribution of demographic groups in the U.S. and Territories. The survey will be translated to Spanish.

OMB Control Number: 0648-XXXX.

Form Number(s): None.

Type of Review: Regular (New information collection).

Affected Public: Individuals and Households.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 14,750.

Estimated Time per Response: Weather.gov Survey: 15 minutes.

Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 3,688.

Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: None.

Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary.

Legal Authority: 15 U.S.C. Ch. 111, Weather Research and Forecasting Information.

We are soliciting public comments to permit the Department/Bureau to: (a) Evaluate whether the proposed information collection is necessary for the proper functions of the Department, including whether the information will have practical utility; (b) Evaluate the accuracy of our estimate of the time and cost burden for this proposed collection, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (c) Evaluate ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) Minimize the reporting burden on those who are to respond, including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology.

Comments that you submit in response to this notice are a matter of public record. We will include or summarize each comment in our request to OMB to approve this ICR. Before including your address, phone number, email address, or other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment—including your personal identifying information—may be made publicly available at any time. While you may ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so.

This request is for extension of a currently approved information collection. Under the provisions of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. ), NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is responsible for management of the nation's marine fisheries. Catch reporting from recreational and commercial handgear fisheries provides important data used to monitor catches of Atlantic highly migratory species (HMS) and supplements other existing data collection programs. Data collected through this program are used for both domestic and international fisheries management and stock assessment purposes. NMFS would also like to expand the title of the collection to “Atlantic Highly Migratory Species Recreational Landings and Bluefin Tuna Catch Reports” from the current “Atlantic Highly Migratory Species Recreational Landings Reports.”

Atlantic bluefin tuna (BFT) catch reporting provides real-time catch information used to monitor the BFT fishery. Under the Atlantic Tunas Convention Act of 1975 (ATCA, 16 U.S.C. 971), the United States is required to adopt regulations, as necessary and appropriate, to implement binding recommendations of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT), including recommendations on a specified BFT quota. BFT catch reporting helps the U.S. monitor this quota and supports scientific research consistent with ATCA and the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act, 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. ). Recreational anglers and commercial handgear fishermen are required to report specific information regarding their catch of BFT.

Atlantic billfish and swordfish are managed internationally by ICCAT and nationally under ATCA and the Magnuson-Stevens Act. This collection provides information needed to monitor the recreational catch of Atlantic blue and white marlin, which is applied to the recreational limit established by ICCAT, and the recreational catch of North Atlantic swordfish, which is applied to the U.S. quota established by ICCAT. This collection also provides information on recreational landings of West Atlantic sailfish, which is unavailable from other established monitoring programs. Collection of sailfish catch information is authorized under the Magnuson-Stevens Act for purposes of stock management.

Respondents reporting BFT, Atlantic marlin, West Atlantic sailfish, or North Atlantic swordfish catch in states (and the United States Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico) other than Maryland and North Carolina may use either an internet website, mobile smartphone app, or a toll-free telephone number. In Maryland and North Carolina, a paper reporting system is used for all of the aforementioned species. Under state law, respondents in Maryland and North Carolina must submit a landing card at a state-operated reporting station. States that participate in a landing card program must submit weekly reports and one annual report to NMFS to summarize landings and results to date.

OMB Control Number: 0648-0328.

Form Number(s): None.

Type of Review: Regular submission (extension of an approved information collection).

Affected Public: Businesses or other for-profit organizations; individuals or households; and State, Local, or Tribal government.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 14,193.

Estimated Time per Response: 5 minutes for an initial call-in, internet, or smartphone app report; 5 minutes for a confirmation call; 10 minutes for a landing card; 1 hour for a weekly state report; and 4 hours for an annual state report.

Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 1,637.

Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $0.

Respondent's Obligation: Mandatory.

Legal Authority: Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. ), and the Atlantic Tunas Convention Act of 1975 (16 U.S.C. 971 et seq. )

We are soliciting public comments to permit the Department/Bureau to: (a) Evaluate whether the proposed information collection is necessary for the proper functions of the Department, including whether the information will have practical utility; (b) Evaluate the accuracy of our estimate of the time and cost burden for this proposed collection, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (c) Evaluate ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) Minimize the reporting burden on those who are to respond, including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology.

Comments that you submit in response to this notice are a matter of public record. We will include or summarize each comment in our request to OMB to approve this Information Collection Review (ICR). Before including your address, phone number, email address, or other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment—including your personal identifying information—may be made publicly available at any time. While you may ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so.

The OMB is particularly interested in comments which:

• Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of CNCS, including whether the information will have practical utility;

• Evaluate the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions;

• Propose ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and

• Propose ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology.

A 60-day Notice requesting public comment was published in the Federal Register on March 14, 2022 at 87 FR 14255. This comment period ended May 13, 2022, and AmeriCorps received 56 comments by the comment deadline identifying a number of issues.

Many comments directly addressed the time burden required by this information collection. Everyone who commented on the agency's estimated time burden stated that the estimated 5 minutes per individual was significantly lower than the time actually required to fulfill a National Service Criminal History Check (NSCHC) for an individual in order to obtain the required records under this information collection. Recommended new estimates ranged from 30 minutes per individual to 4 hours per individual. Several commenters noted that a missing element of the estimate is the travel time it takes to take individuals to get fingerprinted, given that the closest fingerprinting facilities in rural or remote areas may be located up to a four hours' drive away. A few commenters also noted that the burden of completing the NSCHC training course and staying updated on requirements had not been factored into the time estimate. Based on this input, AmeriCorps has adjusted its estimates of time burden to reflect that it takes, on average, an estimated 135 minutes (2 hours and 15 minutes) per covered individual. AmeriCorps has streamlined and clarified requirements on its website at americorps.gov/grantees-sponsors/history-check over the past year, and will continue to review to determine whether any additional clarifications could be made to reduce burden given that respondents are responsible for reading and understanding the requirements for compliance with the law.

Commenters also raised issues related to difficulties with the AmeriCorps-approved vendors. AmeriCorps underwent the required Federal procurement process to select Fieldprint and Truescreen as contractors to serve as the approved vendors. AmeriCorps will forward these comments to the vendors for any appropriate remedial action and will consider the issues presented in soliciting future proposals for approved vendor contracts. Comments also raised issues that are beyond the scope of this information collection; however, AmeriCorps is maintaining a comprehensive record of all these comments and the issues raised in the comments for consideration as it continues implementation of the statutory requirements for NSCHCs.

Finally, the other issues raised in the comments in response to the 60-day notice were already raised and addressed in the rulemaking process that culminated in 2021 in the current regulation, such as who must undergo an NSCHC, what the NSCHC consists of, and when the NSCHC must be completed. See 86 FR 1141 (February 24, 2021).

Title of Collection: National Service Criminal History Check Recordkeeping Requirement.

OMB Control Number: 3045-0150.

Type of Review: Renewal.

Respondents/Affected Public: Businesses and organizations (AmeriCorps grantees and subgrantees).

Total Estimated Number of Annual Responses: 337,071.

Total Estimated Number of Annual Burden Hours: 758,410.

Abstract: Section 189D of the National and Community Service Act of 1990, as amended, requires AmeriCorps grantees and subgrantees to conduct a National Service Criminal History Check on individuals in covered positions. Documenting compliance with the requirement is critical to that responsibility. The Check includes a nationwide check of the National Sex Offender Public website, a check of the State criminal history record repository or agency-designated alternative for the individual's State of residence and State of service, and a fingerprint-based check of the FBI criminal history record database through the State criminal history record repository or agency-approved vendor. One way for grant recipients or subrecipients to obtain and document the required components is through the use of agency-approved vendors, but use of vendors is not required. The currently approved information collection is due to expire on July 31, 2022. This notice announces AmeriCorps' intention to seek renewal of the information collection approval without revisions, but with an adjustment of burden hours.

The purpose of the Proposed Action is to replace aging F-15C/D aircraft currently utilized by the Air National Guard with the state-of-the-art fighter aircraft to better address future mission requirements, offer expanded capability, and provide life-cycle cost savings in comparison to continued operation of existing F-15C/D aircraft. The Proposed Action is needed because the F-15C/D aircraft are reaching the end of their service life. It is not economically feasible to retain the F-15C/D aircraft beyond fiscal year 2026 and DAF has already begun to retire aircraft that have reached the end of their serviceability. The proposed basing alternatives include the 104th Fighter Wing at Barnes Air National Guard Base (ANGB), Westfield-Barnes Regional Airport, Westfield, Massachusetts; the 144th Fighter Wing at Fresno Yosemite International Airport, Fresno, California; the 144th Fighter Wing at Naval Air Station Lemoore, Lemoore, California; and the 159th Fighter Wing at Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base New Orleans, Belle Chasse, Louisiana. These aircraft would replace the legacy F-15C/D aircraft at the selected installations, with the exception of NAS Lemoore, which does not currently have F-15C/D aircraft to replace.

The EIS will assess the potential environmental consequences of each alternative in support of these operational beddowns. Each of the two F-15EX beddowns would include one squadron of 21 Primary Aircraft Authorized, 2 Backup Aircraft Inventory, and 1 Aircraft Reserve; the F-35A beddown would include one squadron of 21 Primary Aircraft Authorized and 2 Backup Aircraft Inventory. These aircraft are being acquired in support of the Air National Guard mission.

Resource areas being analyzed for impacts under the Proposed Action include noise, biological resources, cultural resources, socioeconomics, soils and geology, water resources, infrastructure and transportation, land use, hazardous materials and wastes, health and safety, air quality, and environmental justice and other sensitive receptors. Potential significant impacts as a result of the Proposed Action include those related to aircraft noise, air quality, and land use. Should any permits be required for the Proposed Action, the DAF will identify and obtain all appropriate permits. The DAF will also consult with appropriate resource agencies and Native American tribes to determine the potential for significant impacts. Consultation will be incorporated into the preparation of the EIS and will include, but not be limited to, consultation under Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act and consultation under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act.

The Draft EIS is anticipated in summer 2023 and the Final EIS is anticipated in Winter/Spring 2024. The Record of Decision would be approved and signed no earlier than 30 days after the Final EIS.

Scoping and Agency Coordination: To effectively define the full range of issues to be evaluated in the EIS, DAF will determine the scope of the analysis by soliciting comments from interested local, state, and federal elected officials and agencies, Tribes, members of the public, and others. Consistent with Executive Order (E.O.) 11988 and E.O. 11990, this Notice of Intent initiates early public review of the Proposed Action and alternatives and invites public comments and identification of potential alternatives. Comments will be accepted throughout the process, but in order to have comments incorporated into the Draft EIS, comments should be received within 45 days of the publication of this notice in the Federal Register . The scheduled dates, times, locations, and addresses for the scoping meetings are concurrently being published in local media and on the website. Public scoping will be accomplished both remotely and in-person during the scoping period. The project website provides posters, a presentation, an informational fact sheet, downloadable comment forms to fill out and return by mail, and the capability for the public to submit scoping comments online.

This meeting is being held under the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) (5 U.S.C.), the Government in the Sunshine Act (5 U.S.C. 552b), and 41 CFR 102-3.140 and 102-3.150.

Availability of Materials for the Meeting: Additional information, including the agenda, is available on the DHB website, http://www.health.mil/dhb . A copy of the agenda or any updates to the agenda for the August 10, 2022 meeting will be available on the DHB website. Any other materials presented in the meeting may be obtained at the meeting.

Purpose of the Meeting: The DHB provides independent advice and recommendations to maximize the safety and quality of, as well as access to, health care for DoD health care beneficiaries. The purpose of the meeting is to provide progress updates on specific tasks before the DHB. In addition, the DHB will receive information briefings on current issues related to military medicine.

Agenda: The DHB anticipates receiving an introductory briefing about the Lovell Federal Health Care Center, information briefings on moving towards health equity for veterans and telehealth for veterans, and an update on low volume high risk surgical procedures. The DHB also expects to receive progress updates from the Health Care Delivery Subcommittee on the Optimizing Virtual Health review, from the Health Systems Subcommittee on the Eliminating Racial and Ethnic Health Outcome Disparities review, and the Neurological/Behavioral Health Subcommittee on the Beneficiary Mental Health Care Access review. Any changes to the agenda can be found at the link provided in this SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section.

Meeting Accessibility: Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 552b and 41 CFR 102-3.140 through 102-3.165 and subject to the availability of space, this meeting is open to the public from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on August 10, 2022. Seating is limited and is on a first-come basis. All members of the public who wish to participate must register by emailing their name, rank/title, and organization/company to dha.ncr.dhb.mbx.defense-health-board@mail.mil or by contacting Mr. Rubens Lacerda at (703) 275-6012 no later than Wednesday, August 3, 2022. Once registered, participant access information will be provided.

Special Accommodations: Individuals requiring special accommodations to access the public meeting should contact Mr. Rubens Lacerda at least five (5) business days prior to the meeting so that appropriate arrangements can be made.

Written Statements: Any member of the public wishing to provide comments to the DHB related to its current taskings or mission may do so at any time in accordance with section 10(a)(3) of the FACA, 41 CFR 102-3.105(j) and 102-3.140, and the procedures described in this notice. Written statements may be submitted to the DHB's Designated Federal Officer (DFO), Captain Gorman, at gregory.h.gorman.mil@mail.mil. Supporting documentation may also be included, to establish the appropriate historical context and to provide any necessary background information. If the written statement is not received at least five (5) business days prior to the meeting, the DFO may choose to postpone consideration of the statement until the next open meeting. The DFO will review all timely submissions with the DHB President and ensure they are provided to members of the DHB before the meeting that is subject to this notice. After reviewing the written comments, the President and the DFO may choose to invite the submitter to orally present their issue during an open portion of this meeting or at a future meeting.

Due to circumstances beyond the control of the Designated Federal Officer, the Reserve Forces Policy Board was unable to provide notification required by 41 CFR 102-3.150(a) concerning its July 20, 2022 meeting. Accordingly, the Advisory Committee Management Officer (ACMO) for the Department of Defense, pursuant to 41 CFR 102-3.150(b), waives the 15-calendar day notification requirement. This meeting is being held under the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) (5 U.S.C., Appendix), the Government in the Sunshine Act (5 U.S.C. 552b), and 41 CFR 102-3.140 and 102-3.150.

Purpose of the Meeting: The purpose of the meeting is to obtain, review, and evaluate information related to strategies, policies, and practices designed to improve and enhance the capabilities, efficiency, and effectiveness of the Reserve Components.

Agenda: The RFPB will hold a meeting from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The portion of the meeting from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. will be closed to the public and will consist of remarks to the RFPB from following invited speakers: the Secretary of Defense (SecDef) will address key National Defense Military Strategy challenges facing our Nation and priorities for adapting the Total Force with the integration of the Reserve Components; the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness (USD P&R) will discuss his provided guidance for Office of the Secretary of Defense (Personnel & Readiness) with its effects on the oversight of Reserve Component policies and programs, his views on key Reserve Component challenges, and the overall DoD force readiness; the executive performing the duties of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Manpower & Reserve Affairs will discuss his guidance to the Office of Manpower and Reserve Affairs, its oversight of Reserve Component policies and programs, and his views on key Reserve Component readiness challenges for the Total Force Integration; the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Reserve Integration will address current Reserve Component programs, challenges, and readiness issues within Reserve Integration and the Total Force Integration; the Senior Advisor to the Principal Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Manpower and Reserve Affairs will address current Reserve Component personnel programs, challenges and readiness issues within Military Personnel Policy and the Total Force Integration; and the Chair will address matters pertaining to the capabilities and use of the Reserve Components as a part of the Total Force and will define a focused business case on proposed areas received from this meeting's discussions to be presented to the SecDef and the Sponsor, USD(P&R) for approval in their tasking to support future decisions.

The portion of the meeting from 11:40 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. will be open to the public and will consist of Subcommittee Break-out Sessions with the Subcommittee for Integration of Total Force Personnel Policy, the Subcommittee for the Reserve Components' Role in Homeland Defense and Support to Civil Authorities, and the Subcommittee for Total Force Integration conducting discussions on the subcommittees' priorities and focus areas received from the meeting's discussions and other areas where the RFPB can use its role to best provide recommended support to the taskings of the Secretary of Defense and the Sponsor, USD(P&R). The Subcommittee Chairs will then submit their Subcommittees' discussions to the RFPB and provide proposed recommendations to be presented to the SecDef and the Sponsor, USD(P&R), for approval of RFPB taskings to support their future decisions. The meeting will conclude with the Designated Federal Officer's and Chair's closing remarks.

Meeting Accessibility: Pursuant to section 10(a)(1) of the FACA and 41 CFR 102-3.140 through 102-3.165, and subject to the availability of space, the meeting is open to the public from 11:40 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Seating is on a first-come basis. All members of the public who wish to attend the public meeting must contact Mr. Alex Sabol, the Designated Federal Officer, no later than 12:00 p.m. on Monday, July 18, 2022, as listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section to make arrangements for a Pentagon escort, if necessary. Public attendees requiring escort should arrive at the Pentagon Metro Entrance at 11:00 a.m. to provide sufficient time to complete security screening to attend the beginning of the Open Meeting at 11:40 a.m. on July 20th. To complete the security screening, please be prepared to present two forms of identification. One must be a picture identification card. In accordance with section 10(d) of the FACA, 5 U.S.C. 552b(c), and 41 CFR 102-3.155, the DoD has determined that the portion of this meeting scheduled to occur from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. will be closed to the public. Specifically, the USD(P&R), in coordination with the DoD FACA Attorney, has determined in writing that this portion of the meeting will be closed to the public because it is likely to disclose classified matters covered by 5 U.S.C. 552b(c)(1).

Written Statements: Pursuant to section 10(a)(3) of the FACA and 41 CFR 102-3.105(j) and 102-3.140, interested persons may submit written statements to the RFPB about its approved agenda or at any time on the RFPB's mission. Written statements should be submitted to the RFPB's Designated Federal Officer at the address, email, or facsimile number listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section. If statements pertain to a specific topic being discussed at the planned meeting, then these statements must be submitted no later than five (5) business days prior to the meeting in question. Written statements received after this date may not be provided to or considered by the RFPB until its next meeting. The Designated Federal Officer will review all timely submitted written statements and provide copies to all the RFPB members before the meeting that is the subject of this notice. Please note that since the RFPB operates in accordance with the provisions of the FACA, all submitted comments and public presentations will be treated as public documents and will be made available for public inspection, including, but not limited to, being posted on the RFPB's website.

The Department of Education (ED), in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA) (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)), provides the general public and Federal agencies with an opportunity to comment on proposed, revised, and continuing collections of information. This helps the Department assess the impact of its information collection requirements and minimize the public's reporting burden. It also helps the public understand the Department's information collection requirements and provide the requested data in the desired format. ED is soliciting comments on the proposed information collection request (ICR) that is described below. The Department of Education is especially interested in public comment addressing the following issues: (1) is this collection necessary to the proper functions of the Department; (2) will this information be processed and used in a timely manner; (3) is the estimate of burden accurate; (4) how might the Department enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (5) how might the Department minimize the burden of this collection on the respondents, including through the use of information technology. Please note that written comments received in response to this notice will be considered public records.

Title of Collection: Guaranty Agencies Security Self-assessment and Attestation.

OMB Control Number: 1845-0134.

Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved collection.

Respondents/Affected Public: Private Sector; State, Local, and Tribal Governments.

Total Estimated Number of Annual Responses: 19.

Total Estimated Number of Annual Burden Hours: 6,954.

Abstract: This is a request for a revision of the approved information collection used by Federal Student Aid (FSA) to ensure that all data collected and managed by Guaranty Agencies (GAs) in support federal student financial aid programs is secure. FSA continues to use a formal assessment program that ensures the GAs have security protocols in place to protect the confidentiality and integrity of data entrusted to FSA by students and families. This assessment will identify security deficiencies based on the federal standards described in the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) publications. The increasing number of hours is to account for the revision from NIST 800-53 R4 to R5. There is an increase of the number of controls that need to be assessed for each of the 19 GAs (~70 controls and 2 new control families).

Purpose of the Board: The purpose of the Board is to make recommendations to DOE-EM and site management in the areas of environmental restoration, waste management, and related activities.

Public Participation: The meeting is open to the public. In addition to participation in the live public comment period, written statements may be filed with the Board via email either before or after the meeting. Public comments received by no later than 5:00 p.m. EDT on Friday, August 5, 2022, will be read aloud during the meeting. Comments will be accepted after the meeting, by no later than 5:00 p.m. EDT on Wednesday, August 17, 2022. Please submit comments to orssab@orem.doe.gov. The Deputy Designated Federal Officer is empowered to conduct the meeting in a fashion that will facilitate the orderly conduct of business. Individuals wishing to make live public comments will be provided a maximum of five minutes to present their comments. Individuals wishing to submit written public comments should email them as directed above.

Minutes: Minutes will be available by emailing or calling Melyssa P. Noe at the email address and telephone number listed above. Minutes will also be available at the following website: https://www.energy.gov/orem/listings/oak-ridge-site-specific-advisory-board-meetings.

WAPA is a Federal agency within the Department of Energy (DOE) that markets and transmits wholesale electrical power through an integrated 17,000-circuit mile, high-voltage transmission system across 15 western states. WAPA's Tariff provides open access to its electric transmission system, in accordance with relevant FERC Orders. The Tariff's Large Generator Interconnection Procedures (LGIP) provide a framework for processing interconnection requests. WAPA's LGIP provides for transmission and system studies to ensure that reliability and service to existing customers are not adversely affected by new interconnections. System impact studies (SIS) take the proposed interconnection into account and model power flows to determine if there would be any potential power system issues, which are typically related to overloads. SIS also identify any system upgrades necessary to resolve power system issues and accommodate the interconnection request. System upgrades could include transmission line reconductoring, additional structures to maintain ground clearance, and substation equipment additions or replacements. WAPA's SIS, completed in 2020, determined that no additional system upgrades would be required to accommodate ConnectGen's proposed Project.

ConnectGen filed two interconnection requests with WAPA to interconnect its proposed Project to the Ault-Craig 345-kV transmission line owned by WAPA, Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, and Platte River Power Authority. WAPA initiated the LGIP process to consider ConnectGen's interconnection requests in accordance with the Tariff. Since system effects vary depending on the transmission line that would host the interconnection and the geographical location of the interconnection, an applicant must specify the point of interconnection in their request. ConnectGen filed two interconnection requests with WAPA, each 252 MW, to accommodate build-out of their proposed Project in two stages if necessary. However, there would be only one interconnection point on the Ault-Craig transmission line.

ConnectGen's interconnection requests trigger the need for WAPA to consider taking a Federal action. Federal actions that have the potential to affect the human environment are subject to environmental review under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA, 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq. ). WAPA determined that while its Federal action to approve or deny ConnectGen's interconnection requests was a minor action environmentally, ConnectGen's proposed Project, as a connected action, had the potential for significant environmental impacts. Therefore, WAPA determined that its Federal action combined with ConnectGen's proposed Project constituted a major Federal action requiring the preparation of an EIS. The completed EIS ensures WAPA's Administrator is presented with the impacts of both the Federal action and proposed Project when making an informed decision on the interconnection requests.

The proposed Federal action being considered by WAPA is whether to approve or deny ConnectGen's interconnection requests. FERC mandates, as reflected in WAPA's Tariff, and the FPA, as amended, generally require that interconnection requests be accommodated so long as capacity is available, operation of the power system would not be negatively affected, the applicant funds any necessary system upgrades, and existing power customers would not be impacted. WAPA can deny an interconnection request if any of these conditions are not met. If ConnectGen's interconnection request is approved, WAPA would construct, own, operate, and maintain an interconnection switchyard in the Project Area. The interconnection switchyard would be located adjacent to the existing Ault-Craig 345-kV transmission line within a fenced area of up to eight acres. It would consist of breakers, switches, buswork, other typical substation equipment, and a small control building, and would be funded and constructed by ConnectGen next to the westernmost Project substation. WAPA would own, operate, and maintain the switchyard as part of WAPA's transmission system.

Under the No Action Alternative, WAPA would not approve the interconnection request, and the Project would not be allowed to connect to WAPA's transmission system. While this would not preclude the Project from being constructed and connected to a non-WAPA-managed transmission system, for the purposes of analysis, the EIS assumed that the Project would not be built. Rationale for this assumption includes: the nearest non-WAPA regional transmission lines would require a much longer generation-tie line (gen-tie line), affecting the economics of the Project; and any non-WAPA transmission lines may not have sufficient available transmission capacity to support ConnectGen's Project.

ConnectGen proposes to develop a 504-MW wind energy generation Project comprised of 84 to 149 wind turbine generators and associated access roads, collection lines, a 4-mile 345-kV gen-tie line, meteorological towers, 2 substations, and an operations and maintenance building. ConnectGen's proposed site is in southeastern Albany County, Wyoming, on approximately 26,000 acres of private and State land. No federally managed lands are located within the Project Area. The Project Area is just north of the Colorado-Wyoming state line, approximately 15 miles south of Laramie, around Tie Siding on U.S. Highway 287. The Ault-Craig 345-kV transmission line bisects the Project Area from east to west. The westernmost of the proposed Project substations would be located adjacent to the transmission line and WAPA's switchyard. The approximately four-mile-long 345-kV gen-tie transmission line would connect the two ConnectGen substations, each consisting of about five acres.

ConnectGen proposes to construct the Project in two phases, generally situated west and east of U.S. Highway 287. The wind turbines would be arranged in collinear strings within the 1,000-foot-wide corridors analyzed in the EIS. Project access roads and collector lines would be located within these corridors to the extent practicable. Final design will utilize the corridor width to site Project facilities to avoid cultural resources sites, sensitive natural resources, and areas of constructability constraints. The total number of wind turbines will depend on the turbine model selected and final Project design. ConnectGen's Project would also include about 60 miles of improved and new access roads, and temporary crane paths. An underground 34.5-kV collector line system would carry power from the turbines to the two Project substations; overhead lines could be required where bedrock prevents trenching.

Other Project components would include two 15-acre temporary laydown yards, at least three self-supported 105-meter meteorological towers, and an approximately 7,000-square-foot operations and maintenance building within a security fenced area of about five acres. Section 2.2 of the final EIS describes ConnectGen's proposed Project in more detail.

ConnectGen's Project was approved by the Albany County Board of County Commissioners on July 13, 2021, the Wyoming State Board of Land Commissioners on January 21, 2021, and the Wyoming Industrial Siting Council on November 2, 2021, with associated conditions. These conditions were incorporated into the Project's committed Environmental Protection Measures (table 2-6 in the final EIS). The design features, best management practices, and avoidance and minimization measures in table 2-6 are considered an integral part of the proposed Project to be implemented by ConnectGen. These measures, as described in detail in the Final EIS, reflect all practicable means to avoid or minimize environmental harm from the Project. WAPA may also include these mitigation measures as an appendix to the interconnection agreement.

Given that WAPA's Federal action is to either approve or deny ConnectGen's interconnection requests, a yes or no decision, no additional alternatives beyond the proposed Federal action and the No Action Alternative were identified for analysis in the EIS. EIS alternatives must be reasonable and feasible alternatives to the proposed Federal action that meet the agency's purpose and need. WAPA has no interest or role in ConnectGen's proposed wind energy Project, nor will the agency have any sort of continuing involvement in the construction or operation of the Project other than its switchyard. As the proposed Project is a private sector development and does not involve any oversight or participation by WAPA in its construction or operation, ConnectGen's Project is not a Federal action. WAPA does not have jurisdiction over ConnectGen's proposed Project and does not possess the regulatory authority to approve or deny the siting, design, construction, or operation of the Project. Therefore, the proposed Project was analyzed as a connected action. Connected actions are actions that are “closely related” to a Federal action and “should be discussed” in the same NEPA document (40 CFR 1501.9(e)(1)). More specifically, connected actions “(i) Automatically trigger other actions that may require environmental impact statements; (ii) Cannot or will not proceed unless other actions are taken previously or simultaneously; or (iii) Are interdependent parts of a larger action and depend on the larger action for their justification.” Id. Design variations or options developed in conjunction with ConnectGen's proposed Project are not alternatives to WAPA's defined Federal action and, therefore, are not “alternatives” as defined by NEPA and applicable implementing regulations (40 CFR 1502.14 and 1502.17; 10 CFR part 1021).

WAPA's proposed Federal action is limited to consideration of the interconnection requests submitted by ConnectGen within the established LGIP. WAPA must also consider the interconnection facilities and associated system upgrades that would be required, if any. ConnectGen's requests for interconnection of their proposed Project is the impetus for WAPA's need for Federal action. Consistent with 40 CFR 1501.9(e)(1), WAPA fully analyzed the potential environmental effects of ConnectGen's Project in the EIS, as a connected action, to inform WAPA's Federal action decision. In the event that WAPA denies the interconnection request, the proposed Project would not be allowed to interconnect to the WAPA transmission system. ConnectGen's decision to construct their Project could proceed regardless of WAPA's involvement if the Project could interconnect with other non-WAPA transmission lines with sufficient available transmission capacity. This scenario was not analyzed in the EIS, as there would be no Federal nexus in that case and no WAPA Federal action to address under NEPA.

The EIS analysis identified three areas where potentially significant environmental impacts could occur from developing and operating ConnectGen's proposed Project. The first is significant impacts on visual resources generally. The large wind turbines would result in an obvious man-made change to the existing visual environment that would be seen for a considerable distance, depending on the viewer's location and intervening topography. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)-required synchronized flashing red warning lights on each turbine nacelle would serve as a constant visual intrusion at night. ConnectGen will seek authorization from the FAA to install an Aircraft Detection Lighting System (ADLS), which would allow the red lighting to remain off until an approaching aircraft was detected. If the FAA does approve an ADLS for the Project, nighttime visual impacts would be greatly reduced.

The second is significant adverse visual impacts to the Ames Monument National Historic Landmark (NHL) and to other National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) listed or eligible cultural resources where they were found associated with a significant event in history (NRHP Criterion A) or significant in their engineering or architecture (NRHP Criterion C) and where “setting” or “feeling” were aspects of integrity important to their NRHP eligibility. None of these locations would be physically affected; the impact would be from the visual intrusion on the sites' aspect, setting, or feeling. A programmatic agreement (PA) has been prepared in accordance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA). Under the PA, a historic properties treatment plan (HPTP) is being developed that will satisfy the stipulations of the PA and identify specific avoidance, minimization, and mitigation measures to resolve adverse effects of ConnectGen's proposed Project. Under NHPA's provisions, implementing the PA and mitigation measures as outlined in the HPTP would resolve all adverse effects under the NHPA. However, within the context of NEPA, visual impacts to these cultural resources could still remain potentially significant.

The last significant impact identified by WAPA is the risk of eagle fatalities posed by the operation of ConnectGen's Project. Eagles and other raptors are known to suffer fatalities from collisions with operating wind turbine blades. Because golden and bald eagles have been documented in the Project Area, individuals of those species are considered at risk of fatality from collision with operating turbines. Preliminary information suggests that there could be multiple eagle fatalities per year resulting from operation of the Project, with the larger proportion expected to be golden eagles. ConnectGen has committed to establishing a one-mile spatial buffer around known eagle nests, to preparing an eagle conservation plan, and to applying for an eagle incidental take permit from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) in compliance with the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act.

As part of the eagle incidental take permitting process, the FWS will model expected take resulting from the Project and perform a separate additional NEPA process. That NEPA process will determine the significance of potential impacts on eagles and will consider measures implemented through the eagle conservation plan and offset mitigation. Additional avoidance, minimization, and mitigation measures may be developed by the FWS during this process that ConnectGen would implement to further reduce the risk of eagle take. Based on the best available information at this time, WAPA considers the risk of Project-related incidental take of eagles to be a significant impact for the purposes of its NEPA process. It should be noted that WAPA has no role in the eagle incidental take permit process outlined above—that effort is between ConnectGen and the FWS alone. WAPA further notes that the potential risk to eagles as presently understood may be reduced as a result of implementing additional measures developed as part of the FWS incidental take permitting process.

WAPA has before it a Federal action of approving or denying an interconnection request. As discussed above, WAPA's Tariff and FERC Orders on open access to transmission generally require WAPA to make uncommitted capacity available to applicants so long as the operation of the integrated power system is not adversely affected, service to existing power customers is not degraded, and any necessary system upgrades are fully funded by the requesting applicant. As detailed in the EIS, WAPA considered the expected environmental impacts of ConnectGen's connected action in addition to the Federal action of approving or denying the interconnection requests. WAPA finds that ConnectGen has adopted all practicable means to avoid or minimize environmental harm from its proposed Project, which includes WAPA's interconnection switchyard. These means include the design features, best management practices, and avoidance and minimization measures described in detail in the final EIS and incorporated into the Project's committed Environmental Protection Measures (table 2-6 in the final EIS). WAPA has determined that the Agency Preferred Alternative is to approve ConnectGen's interconnection requests.

As required by 40 CFR 1505.2, WAPA identifies the No Action Alternative as the Environmentally Preferred Alternative. Under the No Action Alternative, WAPA would not enter into an interconnection agreement for the proposed Project and there would be no interconnection with the WAPA transmission system and no interconnection switchyard. Although it is possible that ConnectGen could still construct and operate their Project, to do so the Project would need to identify and interconnect with another non-WAPA transmission line that had sufficient available transmission capacity. For purposes of the NEPA analysis, the No Action Alternative assumed the proposed Project would not be constructed. WAPA has identified the No Action Alternative as its Environmentally Preferred Alternative as none of the identified Project-related impacts would occur, including the potentially significant visual impacts and risk of eagle mortality. The beneficial impacts of renewable energy generation would also not occur.

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Flood Insurance Rate Maps were reviewed to assess floodplains within the Project Area. Approximately 15.8 acres of the overall 6,361.5 acres within the siting corridors are in the 100-year floodplain, associated with Pump Creek, Dale Creek, and their tributaries. No aboveground structures would be located within that small amount of floodplain but buried collector lines may cross designated floodplain areas. Many of the streams in the Project Area are ephemeral and intermittent streams, driven by spring snowmelt and to a lesser extent, rainfall. As measured in linear feet, only about five percent of streams mapped in the siting corridors are perennial streams, with the rest being intermittent or ephemeral drainages. Wetland surveys mapped approximately 67.5 acres of wetlands within the siting corridors, which are mostly associated with streams and their tributaries.

Given the approximately 26,000-acre size of the Project Area and the need for access roads and collector lines to each turbine location and temporary crane walks connecting the linear siting corridors, it is not possible to completely avoid the many drainages and swales on the site. Despite ConnectGen's efforts to avoid or minimize surface water crossings, a total of 17 crossings of perennial streams and 169 crossings of intermittent or ephemeral streams have been identified. Except for a few collector line crossings of the 15.8 acres of floodplain within the siting corridors mentioned above, none of these crossings would be across FEMA-designated floodplains.

Of the 17 perennial stream crossings 5 would be by access roads, 7 by collector lines, and 5 by temporary crane paths. Two of the access road crossings would follow existing roads that would be improved for Project use and to reduce potential erosion. The collector line crossings would consist of a narrow band of disturbance where the collector line would be trenched in and backfilled, and most would be co-located with access road crossings. Crane path crossings would be temporary for construction use and would be reclaimed following construction.

Of the identified 169 crossings of intermittent and ephemeral drainages, 75 would be by access roads, 62 by collection lines, and 18 by crane paths. The gen-tie line between substations would span over six drainages, and construction of one substation and seven turbines would result in drainage disturbance. Approximately half (94 total) of these 169 intermittent and ephemeral stream crossings are upland swales without defined beds or banks.

In accordance with 10 CFR part 1022, the EIS included a description of WAPA's Federal action, a description of ConnectGen's proposed Project, and maps of the Project Area. The EIS process provided an opportunity for public review and comment on floodplain and wetland issues, evaluated potential effects to floodplains and wetlands, and listed the environmental protection measures committed to by ConnectGen to minimize impacts to floodplains and wetlands. The proposed Project would not affect flood flows or impede water movement during flood events. Three new access roads are proposed to cross perennial streams. Wetland areas have been avoided to the extent practicable. Disturbance to wetlands would occur on approximately 9.9 acres during the construction of access roads, electrical collection lines, a portion of one turbine construction pad, and crane path crossings. After the Project is operational, access roads would remain on approximately 0.8 acres of wetlands. Table 2-6 in the final EIS lists 14 water quality environmental protection measures and impact minimization measures ConnectGen has committed to implementing. These measures, which conform to applicable floodplain standards, will minimize harm to the 15.8 acres of 100-year floodplain within the identified corridors.

WAPA consulted with the FWS under Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act. Only one listed species, Preble's meadow jumping mouse ( Zapus hudsonius preblei ), was determined to potentially inhabit the Project Area. Suitable habitat exists, although the presence of this species has not been established and the suitable habitat may not be occupied. Consultation with the FWS resulted in a “may affect, but is not likely to adversely affect” determination for this species. ConnectGen has committed to implement the species-specific conservation measures identified by the FWS.

Interconnecting ConnectGen's proposed Project to WAPA's transmission system constitutes a Federal undertaking pursuant to regulations that implement Section 106 of the NHPA. Section 106 requires WAPA to consider the effects of projects on NRHP-listed or eligible cultural resources, and on locations or resources of traditional religious and cultural importance to Native American tribes. A PA was developed in accordance with the Section 106 process to identify NRHP listed or eligible cultural resources in the area of potential effects, ensure consideration of effects on all NRHP listed or eligible cultural resources, and direct the treatment of NRHP listed or eligible cultural resources. Completion of the PA process and requirements would resolve the adverse effects from the undertaking and meet WAPA's NHPA Section 106 responsibilities. The PA also establishes the framework for a HPTP that will identify specific avoidance, mitigation, and minimization measures for each affected NRHP listed or eligible cultural resource and resolve adverse effects to them. WAPA's HPTP is currently under development, and the requirements of the HPTP and PA must be completed prior to any Project ground-disturbing activities that could affect listed or eligible cultural resources. ConnectGen Albany County LLC has signed the PA as an invited signatory.

Parties involved in this process in addition to WAPA and ConnectGen include the Wyoming and Colorado State Historic Preservation Officers; the National Park Service; the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation; the Northern Arapaho Tribe of the Wind River Reservation; Northern Cheyenne Tribe of the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation; Rosebud Sioux Tribe; Standing Rock Sioux Tribe; Ute Tribe of the Uintah and Ouray Reservation; the Yankton Sioux Tribe; Wyoming Office of State Lands and Investments; Albany County Historic Preservation Board; and Wyoming State Parks, Historic Sites, and Trails, among others. The Section 106 process is separate from the NEPA process, and although the two processes are typically coordinated to the extent possible, there is no requirement that all NHPA activities be completed before a ROD is issued. All requirements of the PA must, however, be concluded before any construction activities commence.

A historic properties visual impact analysis identified adverse visual effects on the Ames Monument NHL and two segments of the Overland Trail. In addition, the NEPA analysis identified strong, but less than adverse, visual impacts to the historic Union Pacific Railroad and moderate impacts to certain segments of the Cheyenne Pass Road. Cultural resource field surveys did not identify any additional cultural resources eligible under Criterion A or C where integrity of “setting” or “feeling” are integral to their eligibility. WAPA is also continuing government-to-government consultations with Native American tribes on traditional cultural properties they have identified in the Project area, with the goal of avoiding all these locations. A detailed discussion of the NHPA, Section 106 process, PA, and the HPTP is found in Section 3.6 of the final EIS. The PA itself is posted on WAPA's Project website.

Public involvement for the EIS process began with the publication of a notice to prepare an EIS published in the Federal Register on December 30, 2019. At the same time, a description of ConnectGen's proposed Project and an invitation to scheduled scoping meetings was mailed to all residents within the Project Area and within three miles of the Project Area boundaries. Scoping meeting information was also advertised in local newspapers, posted on WAPA's Project website, and distributed via news releases to media outlets. Two public scoping meetings were hosted in Laramie, Wyoming, in January 2020, with approximately 80 individuals attending each scoping meeting. The 32-day scoping period ran from December 30, 2019, through January 31, 2020.

On April 2, 2021, the draft EIS was noticed in the Federal Register by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), beginning the public review and comment period. Interested parties on the Project mailing list were contacted directly, and WAPA provided news releases to local media announcing the release of the draft EIS and public hearings on the proposed Project. The comment period was open for 45 days, ending on May 17, 2021. Due to Covid-19 restrictions, WAPA held two virtual public hearings during the comment period, one each on April 28, 2021, and on April 29, 2021. Recordings and transcripts of the virtual public hearings were captured, and meeting materials, recordings, transcripts, and a question-and-answer report are available on WAPA's Project website. Public comments were accepted via online form, email, postal mail, and verbally at the virtual public hearings; a total of 124 comment submittals were received. The comments in these submittals were considered and incorporated into the final EIS as appropriate. The comments and associated responses are provided as appendix C to the final EIS.

In addition to public outreach, 17 Federal agencies or offices, 30 State agencies or offices, and 12 local agencies were contacted to initiate coordination with the NEPA review process. Seven of these agencies agreed to participate in the NEPA review process as cooperating agencies. Government-to-government consultation under Section 106 of the NHPA was also initiated with 17 potentially interested Native American tribes. Six of these tribes are actively participating in the ongoing Section 106 process, and tribal members assisted with cultural resources field surveys.

WAPA considered all alternatives, information, analyses, comments, and objections submitted by State, tribal, and local governments and public commenters in developing the EIS, in accordance with 40 CFR 1505.2.

A comment letter received after the release of the final EIS (and well after the 30-day waiting period established by regulation) identified two specific wind energy projects that the author claimed were not considered in the cumulative effects analysis in the final EIS. These are the Boswell Springs Wind Project and the Rock Creek Wind Energy Project.

A memorandum dated August 17, 2020, was prepared, titled “Determination of Reasonably Foreseeable Actions Considered in Cumulative Effects Analysis” at the time that the impact analysis was being completed for the draft EIS. This memo includes the methodology used to identify projects with potential to spatially and temporally overlap with the Rail Tie Wind Project. The memo identified the Boswell Springs Wind Project, and it was considered for cumulative impact analysis. However, that project was ultimately not included because it would not overlap with the Rail Tie Wind Project in either time or space. It is more than 50 miles from the Rail Tie Wind Project Area and did not overlap with the resource analysis areas, except for the socio-economic and transportation analysis areas that were based upon county boundaries. In the case of these latter two resources, the temporal impacts were limited to the active construction phase, which was scheduled to conclude in 2020 and not overlap with the Rail Tie Wind Project's construction phase. The Boswell Springs Wind Project presently appears to be inactive, and no updated project schedule is publicly available.

The Rock Creek Wind Farm was not identified in August 2020 and was, therefore, not included in the cumulative impacts analysis in the draft or final EIS. The Rock Creek Wind Energy Project was made public on September 21, 2021, through the submission of an application for a Commercial Wind Energy Conversion System Permit to Albany County, Wyoming. No comments were received during the draft EIS public comment period indicating that the Rock Creek Project or any other additional projects should be analyzed. Likewise, no cooperating agency brought up any additional projects that should be considered between the draft and final EIS. As a result, WAPA was not aware of the Rock Creek Wind Farm project prior to the publication of the final EIS.

The proposed Rock Creek Wind Energy Project is located approximately 35 miles northwest of the Rail Tie Wind Project and therefore overlaps spatially with the resource analysis area for public health and safety (resource analysis areas were variable, with the largest being Project Area plus Wyoming emergency service provider response areas overlapping the Project Area), recreational resources (50 miles), social and economic resources (the analysis area was Albany County, WY), and transportation and access (the analysis area included major interstates and highways in Albany County, WY). Additionally, the Rock Creek Wind Energy Project could potentially overlap temporally with both the Rail Tie Wind Project's construction and operation phases. Because the Rock Creek Wind Energy project overlaps spatially and possibly temporally with the Rail Tie Wind Project, and is a reasonably foreseeable project, its potential environmental effects should be considered as part of the cumulative impact analysis. Accordingly, disclosure of the potentially relevant cumulative impacts of the Rock Creek Wind Energy Project have been included in this ROD.

Both projects would use common emergency services providers in Albany County, and the Rock Creek Project would also use providers from Carbon County. Providers in common include Albany County Sheriff's Office and Ivinson Memorial Hospital in Albany County, along with the more regional providers of Rawlins Interagency Dispatch Center and Wyoming State Forestry Division Casper Interagency Dispatch Center for wildland fire. Both projects would complete Emergency Response Plans (PHS-2 and PHS-13) and would coordinate these plans with the local emergency service providers to minimize impacts to the providers. The Rock Creek Project's location at the Albany-Carbon County boundary means it identified different local fire departments as the nearest and most likely to respond. Regarding the Rail Tie Wind Project, the Wyoming Industrial Siting Council (ISC) granted requests for impact assistance funds to Albany County and the City of Laramie to offset Project impacts to emergency response services (WyISC 2021). The Rock Creek Project's application is being considered by the ISC as well and the impact assistance funding consideration is standard practice; it is assumed that similar funds will also be allocated for that project. The ISC application for the Rail Tie Wind Project indicated that the Project would have no impact to the levels of service provided by the Ivinson Memorial Hospital.

Recreational resources in the cumulative projects' area are distributed in nature as noted in cumulative impacts of the EIS, and the peak workforces are relatively small in comparison to local populations (each project's peak workforce is less than 200 workers (Tetra Tech 2021, Jacobs 2021)); these factors naturally would attenuate any cumulative impact experienced from multiple large construction projects. Similarly, large, concentrated events, such as Cheyenne Frontier Days, would not be affected by attendance increases based on the high number of attendees (approximately 500,000 people in 2019, WyomingNews.com ).

The addition of the Rock Creek Project does not materially affect the qualitative assessment of the socioeconomic resources. It is anticipated that the geography and timing of housing demand for construction crews would be spread across a large area. Local tax revenue would increase, and sales tax would fluctuate with construction; when more equipment and materials are purchased, sales tax revenue would increase. Property tax revenue would increase with the completion of each project, and slowly decline with the depreciation rate of each project.

Cumulative effects to transportation between the Rail Tie and Rock Creek projects would be limited to equipment or materials shipment along I-80 or US 287, which could result in additional temporary increases of annual average daily traffic and peak hourly vehicles along these portions of highway affected by both projects. While equipment and materials shipments may have a cumulative impact, the daily workforce commute between home and the worksite could more materially increase traffic during construction. This commuter increase would not be expected to create a cumulative impact between these two projects, as the Rail Tie Wind Project traffic would travel south from Laramie, while Rock Creek Wind Energy Project would travel to the north of Laramie. The same would be true of the much-reduced post-construction operations traffic. It should also be noted that the final schedules for delivery of equipment and materials, as well as construction, have not been determined for either project, so any overlap of construction traffic would be speculative and may not actually occur. ConnectGen has committed to schedule Project component deliveries to avoid local traffic volume peaks to the extent practicable (TRANS-2).

Based on the consideration of the Rock Creek Wind Energy Project in the analysis of emergency service providers, recreational resources, social and economic resources, and transportation, the cumulative impacts to these resources would not be significant. 1

Informed by the SIS, the analyses and environmental impacts documented in the final EIS, input from Sections 7 and 106 consultations, and in compliance with its Tariff, WAPA has determined that ConnectGen's two interconnection requests will be approved.

In making this decision, WAPA is cognizant that ConnectGen's Project will have significant impacts on visual resources in the Project viewshed, potentially significant impacts on eagles through collisions with operating turbines, and significant adverse effects on certain NRHP-listed or eligible cultural resources eligible under Criterion A and/or C, where integrity of “setting” and/or “feeling” contribute to their NRHP eligibility. Impacts to these important cultural resources, which includes the Ames Monument NHL, is non-physical (visual).

WAPA is further aware that potential eagle impacts will also be analyzed in the FWS's process for authorizing an eagle incidental take permit, and that additional avoidance, minimization, and mitigation measures may be identified and required of ConnectGen as a result of that process. The FWS is the regulatory agency charged with administering and enforcing the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act (16 U.S.C. 668-668d, as amended) and authorizing eagle incidental take permits. Similarly, WAPA's HPTP developed under the PA process will analyze potential adverse effects to listed or eligible cultural resources and may identify additional measures to reduce those effects. The appropriate parties are involved in this process, as evidenced by the list provided previously.

WAPA's decision must also consider Federal open access to transmission mandates arising under FERC orders implementing the FPA. For WAPA, this means complying with the requirements of its Tariff and LGIP, which were approved by FERC. FERC Orders on open access to transmission and the conforming Tariff require that WAPA provide available transmission capacity access on a nondiscriminatory basis so long as system reliability and service to its existing customers are not degraded. Pursuant to WAPA's LGIP, transmission and system studies were conducted to model the effects to power flows from the proposed interconnection and ascertain whether there would be negative effects to the operation of the transmission system. The results of these studies indicated that approving ConnectGen's two interconnection requests would not negatively affect the reliability of the transmission system or degrade service to existing customers and that no system upgrades would be required to support the interconnection of ConnectGen's proposed Project with the transmission system.

This ROD was prepared pursuant to the requirements of the Council on Environmental Quality Regulations for Implementing NEPA (40 CFR parts 1500-1508) and DOE's Procedures for Implementing NEPA (10 CFR part 1021).

This document of the Department of Energy was signed on July 11, 2022, by Tracey A. LeBeau, Administrator, Western Area Power Administration, pursuant to delegated authority from the Secretary of Energy. That document with the original signature and date is maintained by DOE. For administrative purposes only, and in compliance with requirements of the Office of the Federal Register, the undersigned DOE Federal Register Liaison Officer has been authorized to sign and submit the document in electronic format for publication, as an official document of the Department of Energy. This administrative process in no way alters the legal effect of this document upon publication in the Federal Register .

Supporting documents that explain in detail the information that the EPA will be collecting are available in the public docket for this ICR (Docket ID EPA-HQ-OW-2019-0143). The docket can be viewed online at www.regulations.gov or in person at the EPA Docket Center, WJC West, Room 3334, 1301 Constitution Ave. NW, Washington, DC. The telephone number for the Docket Center is 202-566-1744. For additional information about EPA's public docket visit http://www.epa.gov/dockets.

Pursuant to Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq. ), EPA is soliciting comments and information to enable it to: (i) evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the Agency, including whether the information will have practical utility; (ii) evaluate the accuracy of the Agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (iii) enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (iv) minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate automated electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting electronic submission of responses. EPA will consider the comments received and amend the ICR as appropriate. The final ICR package will then be submitted to OMB for review and approval. At that time, EPA will issue another Federal Register notice to announce the submission of the ICR to OMB and the opportunity to submit additional comments to OMB.

Abstract: In 2016, EPA issued regulations establishing a process for federally recognized tribes to obtain treatment in a similar manner as states (TAS) for purposes of administrating the water quality restoration provisions of Clean Water Act (CWA) Section 303(d), including establishing lists of impaired waters on their reservations and developing total maximum daily loads (TMDLs). The CWA does not require tribes to administer the CWA Section 303(d) program. However, tribes seeking to be authorized must apply for and be found eligible for TAS through the procedures described in the regulations.

Section 303(d) of the CWA requires states, territories, and authorized tribes to identify and establish a priority ranking for waters that do not meet EPA-approved or promulgated water quality standards (WQS) following the implementation of technology-based controls. For waters so identified, Section 303(d) requires states, territories, and authorized tribes to establish TMDLs in accordance with their priority ranking for those pollutants the Administrator identified as suitable for TMDL calculation. A TMDL is the calculation and allocation to point and nonpoint sources of the maximum amount of a pollutant that a water body can receive and still meet applicable WQS, with a margin of safety.

Form Numbers: None.

Respondents/affected entities: Any federally recognized tribe with a reservation.

Respondent's obligation to respond: Voluntary.

Estimated number of respondents: Five.

Frequency of response: Once for initial TAS status, thereafter biennially for lists of impaired waters, and from time to time for TMDLs.

Total estimated burden: 34,757 hours (per year). Burden is defined at 5 CFR 1320.03(b).

Total estimated cost: $2,309,452 (per year). This action does not include annualized capital or operation & maintenance costs.

Changes in Estimates: There is no change of hours in the total estimated respondent burden compared with the ICR currently approved by OMB.

Supporting documents that explain in detail the information that the EPA will be collecting are available in the public docket for this ICR (Docket ID EPA-HQ-OW-2003-0026). The docket can be viewed online at www.regulations.gov or in person at the EPA Docket Center, WJC West, Room 3334, 1301 Constitution Ave. NW, Washington, DC. The telephone number for the Docket Center is 202-566-1744. For additional information about EPA's public docket, visit http://www.epa.gov/dockets.

Pursuant to section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the PRA (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq. ), EPA is soliciting comments and information to enable it to: (i) evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the Agency, including whether the information will have practical utility; (ii) evaluate the accuracy of the Agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (iii) enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (iv) minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate automated electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting electronic submission of responses. EPA will consider the comments received and amend the ICR as appropriate. The final ICR package will then be submitted to OMB for review and approval. At that time, EPA will issue another Federal Register notice to announce the submission of the ICR to OMB and the opportunity to submit additional comments to OMB.

Abstract: The Clean Water Act Section 305(b) reports contain information on whether waters assessed by a state meet the state's water quality standards, and, when waters are impaired, the pollutants and potential sources affecting water quality. This information helps states and the public track progress in addressing water pollution. Section 303(d) of the Clean Water Act requires states to identify and rank waters that cannot meet water quality standards (WQS) following the implementation of technology-based controls. Under Section 303(d), states are also required to establish total maximum daily loads (TMDLs) for listed waters not meeting standards because of pollutant discharges. In developing the Section 303(d) lists, states are required to consider various sources of water quality related data and information, including the Section 305(b) state water quality reports. Section 106(e) requires that states annually update monitoring data and use it in their Section 305(b) report. Section 314(a) requires states to report on the condition of their publicly owned lakes within the Section 305(b) report.

Pursuant to the Clean Water Act and its implementing regulations, EPA reviews and approves or disapproves state Section 303(d) lists and TMDLs from 56 respondents (the 50 States, the District of Columbia, and the five Territories). Section 303(d) specifically requires states to develop lists and TMDLs, and EPA is to review and approve or disapprove the lists and the TMDLs. EPA also collects state 305(b) reports from 59 respondents (the 50 States, the District of Columbia, five Territories, and 3 River Basin Commissions).

Tribes are not required to submit Section 305(b) reports. However, to meet the needs of Tribes at all levels of development, EPA has prepared guidance that presents the basic steps a Tribe should take to collect the water quality information it needs to make effective decisions about its program, its goals, and its future directions. Tribal water quality monitoring and reporting activities are covered under the Section 106 Tribal Grants Program and are not included in the burden estimates for this ICR. In addition, ICR number 2553.02 “Treatment of Indian Tribes in a Similar Manner as States for Purposes of Section 303(d) of the Clean Water Act (Final Rule)” addresses the tribes' CWA Section 303(d) Impaired Water Listing and TMDL TAS application and 303(d) Program implementation burden, as well as EPA's burden for reviewing the tribes' applications and 303(d) Program submittals.

During the period covered by this ICR renewal, respondents will: complete their 2024 Section 305(b) reports and 2024 Section 303(d) lists; complete their 2026 Section 305(b) reports and 2026 Section 303(d) lists; transmit annual electronic updates of ambient monitoring data via the Water Quality Exchange; and continue to develop TMDLs according to their established schedules. EPA will prepare biennial updates on assessed and impaired waters for Congress and the public for the 2024 reporting cycle and for the 2026 cycle, and EPA will review 303(d) list and TMDL submissions from respondents.

The burdens of specific activities that states undertake as part of their Section 305(b) and 303(d) programs are derived from a project among EPA, states, and other interested stakeholders to develop a tool for estimating the states' resource needs for state water quality management programs. This project has developed the State Water Quality Management Workload Model (SWQMWM), which estimates and sums the workload involved in more than one hundred activities or tasks comprising a state water quality management program. Over twenty states contributed information about their activities that became the basis for the model. According to the SWQMWM, to meet Section 305(b) and 303(d) reporting requirements the states will conduct: watershed monitoring and characterization; modeling and analysis; development of Section 303(d) lists and TMDLs for public review; public outreach; formal public participation; tracking; planning; legal support; etc. In general, respondents have conducted each of these reporting and record keeping activities for past Section 305(b) and 303(d) reporting cycles and thus have staff and procedures in place to continue their Section 305(b) and 303(d) reporting programs. The burden associated with these tasks is estimated in this ICR to include the total number of TMDLs that may be submitted during the period covered by this ICR.

Form Numbers: None.

Respondents/affected entities: Entities potentially affected by this action are States, Territories and Tribes with Clean Water Act (CWA) responsibilities.

Respondent's obligation to respond: Mandatory: Integrated Water Quality Inventory Reports. (Clean Water Act Sections 305(b), 303(d), 314(a), and 106(e)).

Estimated number of respondents: 59 (total).

Frequency of response: Biennial.

Total estimated burden: 3,696,243 hours (per year). Burden is defined at 5 CFR 1320.03(b).

Total estimated cost: $243,597,191 (per year), includes $0 annualized capital or operation & maintenance costs.

Changes in Estimates: There is a decrease of 10,944 hours in the total estimated respondent burden compared with the ICR currently approved by OMB. This decrease is due to efficiencies gained from the use of EPA's modernized Assessment and Total Maximum Daily Load Tracking and Implementation System (ATTAINS) database and the integration of EPA's data and information systems to better support reporting, tracking water quality protection, and restoration actions. These efficiencies streamlined water quality assessment and reporting by reducing paper copy transactions and improving electronic data exchange.

This document provides the receipt and status reports for the period from 06/01/2022 to 06/30/2022. The Agency is providing notice of receipt of PMNs, SNUNs, and MCANs (including amended notices and test information); an exemption application under 40 CFR part 725 (Biotech exemption); TMEs, both pending and/or concluded; NOCs to manufacture a new chemical substance; and a periodic status report on new chemical substances that are currently under EPA review or have recently concluded review.

EPA is also providing information on its website about cases reviewed under the amended TSCA, including the section 5 PMN/SNUN/MCAN and exemption notices received, the date of receipt, the final EPA determination on the notice, and the effective date of EPA's determination for PMN/SNUN/MCAN notices on its website at: https://www.epa.gov/reviewing-new-chemicals-under-toxic-substances-control-act-tsca/status-pre-manufacture-notices. This information is updated on a weekly basis.

Under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), 15 U.S.C. 2601 et seq., a chemical substance may be either an “existing” chemical substance or a “new” chemical substance. Any chemical substance that is not on EPA's TSCA Inventory of Chemical Substances (TSCA Inventory) is classified as a “new chemical substance,” while a chemical substance that is listed on the TSCA Inventory is classified as an “existing chemical substance.” (See TSCA section 3(11).) For more information about the TSCA Inventory please go to: https://www.epa.gov/tsca-inventory.

Any person who intends to manufacture (including import) a new chemical substance for a non-exempt commercial purpose, or to manufacture or process a chemical substance in a non-exempt manner for a use that EPA has determined is a significant new use, is required by TSCA section 5 to provide EPA with a PMN, MCAN or SNUN, as appropriate, before initiating the activity. EPA will review the notice, make a risk determination on the chemical substance or significant new use, and take appropriate action as described in TSCA section 5(a)(3).

TSCA section 5(h)(1) authorizes EPA to allow persons, upon application and under appropriate restrictions, to manufacture or process a new chemical substance, or a chemical substance subject to a significant new use rule (SNUR) issued under TSCA section 5(a)(2), for “test marketing” purposes, upon a showing that the manufacture, processing, distribution in commerce, use, and disposal of the chemical will not present an unreasonable risk of injury to health or the environment. This is referred to as a test marketing exemption, or TME. For more information about the requirements applicable to a new chemical go to: https://www.epa.gov/oppt/newchems.

Under TSCA sections 5 and 8 and EPA regulations, EPA is required to publish in the Federal Register certain information, including notice of receipt of a PMN/SNUN/MCAN (including amended notices and test information); an exemption application under 40 CFR part 725 (biotech exemption); an application for a TME, both pending and concluded; NOCs to manufacture a new chemical substance; and a periodic status report on the new chemical substances that are currently under EPA review or have recently concluded review.

This action provides information that is directed to the public in general.

No.

1. Submitting confidential business information (CBI). Do not submit this information to EPA through regulations.gov or email. Clearly mark the part or all of the information that you claim to be CBI. For CBI information in a disk or CD-ROM that you mail to EPA, mark the outside of the disk or CD-ROM as CBI and then identify electronically within the disk or CD-ROM the specific information that is claimed as CBI. In addition to one complete version of the comment that includes information claimed as CBI, a copy of the comment that does not contain the information claimed as CBI must be submitted for inclusion in the public docket. Information so marked will not be disclosed except in accordance with procedures set forth in 40 CFR part 2.

2. Tips for preparing your comments. When preparing and submitting your comments, see the commenting tips at https://www.epa.gov/dockets/comments.html.

In the past, EPA has published individual notices reflecting the status of TSCA section 5 filings received, pending or concluded. In 1995, the Agency modified its approach and streamlined the information published in the Federal Register after providing notice of such changes to the public and an opportunity to comment (See the Federal Register of May 12, 1995, (60 FR 25798) (FRL-4942-7). Since the passage of the Lautenberg amendments to TSCA in 2016, public interest in information on the status of section 5 cases under EPA review and, in particular, the final determination of such cases, has increased. In an effort to be responsive to the regulated community, the users of this information, and the general public, to comply with the requirements of TSCA, to conserve EPA resources and to streamline the process and make it more timely, EPA is providing information on its website about cases reviewed under the amended TSCA, including the section 5 PMN/SNUN/MCAN and exemption notices received, the date of receipt, the final EPA determination on the notice, and the effective date of EPA's determination for PMN/SNUN/MCAN notices on its website at: https://www.epa.gov/reviewing-new-chemicals-under-toxic-substances-control-act-tsca/status-pre-manufacture-notices. This information is updated on a weekly basis.

For the PMN/SNUN/MCANs that have passed an initial screening by EPA during this period, Table I provides the following information (to the extent that such information is not subject to a CBI claim) on the notices screened by EPA during this period: The EPA case number assigned to the notice that indicates whether the submission is an initial submission, or an amendment, a notation of which version was received, the date the notice was received by EPA, the submitting manufacturer ( i.e., domestic producer or importer), the potential uses identified by the manufacturer in the notice, and the chemical substance identity.

As used in each of the tables in this unit, (S) indicates that the information in the table is the specific information provided by the submitter, and (G) indicates that this information in the table is generic information because the specific information provided by the submitter was claimed as CBI. Submissions which are initial submissions will not have a letter following the case number. Submissions which are amendments to previous submissions will have a case number followed by the letter “A” ( e.g., P-18-1234A). The version column designates submissions in sequence as “1”, “2”, “3”, etc. Note that in some cases, an initial submission is not numbered as version 1; this is because earlier version(s) were rejected as incomplete or invalid submissions. Note also that future versions of the following tables may adjust slightly as the Agency works to automate population of the data in the tables.

In Table II of this unit, EPA provides the following information (to the extent that such information is not claimed as CBI) on the NOCs that have passed an initial screening by EPA during this period: The EPA case number assigned to the NOC including whether the submission was an initial or amended submission, the date the NOC was received by EPA, the date of commencement provided by the submitter in the NOC, a notation of the type of amendment ( e.g., amendment to generic name, specific name, technical contact information, etc.) and chemical substance identity.

In Table III of this unit, EPA provides the following information (to the extent such information is not subject to a CBI claim) on the test information that has been received during this time period: The EPA case number assigned to the test information; the date the test information was received by EPA, the type of test information submitted, and chemical substance identity.

If you are interested in information that is not included in these tables, you may contact EPA's technical information contact or general information contact as described under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT to access additional non-CBI information that may be available.

Authority: 15 U.S.C. 2601 et seq.

This action is directed to the public in general. Although this action may be of particular interest to those persons who conduct or sponsor research on pesticides, the Agency has not attempted to describe all the specific entities that may be affected by this action.

1. Submitting CBI. Do not submit this information to EPA through regulations.gov or email. Clearly mark the part or all of the information that you claim to be CBI. For CBI information in a disk or CD-ROM that you mail to EPA, mark the outside of the disk or CD-ROM as CBI and then identify electronically within the disk or CD-ROM the specific information that is claimed as CBI. In addition to one complete version of the comment that includes information claimed as CBI, a copy of the comment that does not contain the information claimed as CBI must be submitted for inclusion in the public docket. Information so marked will not be disclosed except in accordance with procedures set forth in 40 CFR part 2.

2. Tips for preparing your comments. When preparing and submitting your comments, see the commenting tips at https://www.epa.gov/dockets/comments.html.

3. Environmental justice. EPA seeks to achieve environmental justice, the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of any group, including minority and/or low-income populations, in the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies. To help address potential environmental justice issues, the Agency seeks information on any groups or segments of the population who, as a result of their location, cultural practices, or other factors, may have atypical or disproportionately high and adverse human health impacts or environmental effects from exposure to the pesticide(s) discussed in this document, compared to the general population.

Under section 5 of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), 7 U.S.C. 136c, EPA can allow manufacturers to field test pesticides under development. Manufacturers are required to obtain an EUP before testing new pesticides or new uses of pesticides if they conduct experimental field tests on 10 acres or more of land or one acre or more of water.

Pursuant to 40 CFR 172.11(a), the Agency has determined that the following EUP application may be of regional and national significance, and therefore is seeking public comment on the EUP application:

Experimental Use Permit Number: 524-EUP-RRT. Docket ID Number: EPA-HQ-OPP-2022-0036. Submitter: Bayer CropScience LP 800 North Lindbergh Blvd. St. Louis, Missouri 63167. Pesticide Chemical: GA20ox_SUP miRNA. Summary of Request: Bayer CropScience LP is proposing to use 0.93 grams of GA20ox_SUP miRNA in MON 94804 over 10,000 acres from 2023 to 2024 as a plant-incorporated protectant for field corn. Proposed testing will include the following states and U.S. territories: AL, AR, CA, CO, FL, GA, HI, IA, IL, IN, KS, LA, MI, MN, MO, MS, NC, ND, OH, PA, PR, SC, SD, TN, TX, WA, and WI to generate data to fulfill the requirements for Section 3 product registration under FIFRA. Contact: BPPD.

Following the review of the application and any comments and data received in response to this solicitation, EPA will decide whether to issue or deny the EUP request, and if issued, the conditions under which it is to be conducted. Any issuance of an EUP will be announced in the Federal Register .

Authority: 7 U.S.C. 136 et seq.

Background: The National Shipper Advisory Committee is a federal advisory committee. It operates under the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act, 5 U.S.C. App., and 46 U.S.C. chapter 425. The Committee was established on January 1, 2021, when the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 became law. Public Law 116-283, section 8604, 134 Stat. 3388 (2021). The Committee will provide information, insight, and expertise pertaining to conditions in the ocean freight delivery system to the Commission. Specifically, the Committee will advise the Federal Maritime Commission on policies relating to the competitiveness, reliability, integrity, and fairness of the international ocean freight delivery system. 46 U.S.C. 42502(b).

The Committee will receive updates from each of its subcommittees. The Committee will receive proposals for recommendations to the Federal Maritime Commission and may vote on these recommendations. These recommendations will also be available for the public to view in advance of the meeting on the NSAC's website, https://www.fmc.gov/industry-oversight/national-shipper-advisory-committee/.

Public Comments: Members of the public may submit written comments to NSAC at any time. Comments should be addressed to NSAC, c/o Dylan Richmond, Federal Maritime Commission, 800 North Capitol St. NW, Washington, DC 20573 or nsac@fmc.gov.

The Committee will also take public comment at its meeting. If attending the meeting and providing comments, please note that in the registration request. Comments are most helpful if they address the Committee's objectives or their proposed recommendations. Comments at the meeting will be limited to 3 minutes each.

A copy of all meeting documentation, including meeting minutes, will be available at www.fmc.gov following the meeting.

Sec. 4314(c) (1) through (5) of title 5, U.S.C., requires each agency to establish, in accordance with regulations prescribed by the Office of Personnel Management, one or more performance review boards. The board shall review and evaluate the initial appraisal of a senior executive's performance by the supervisor, along with any recommendations to the appointing authority relative to the performance of the senior executive.

A. OMB Control Number, Title, and Any Associated Form(s)

9000-0029, Extraordinary Contractual Action Requests.

This justification supports an extension of OMB Control No. 9000-0029. This clearance covers the information that contractors must submit to comply with the following Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) requirements:

FAR 50.103-3, Contract Adjustment. FAR 50.103-3 specifies the minimum information that a contractor must include when seeking a contract adjustment that would facilitate the national defense, as set forth in Public Law 85-804. The request, normally a letter, shall state as a minimum—

(1) The precise adjustment requested;

(2) The essential facts, summarized chronologically in narrative form;

(3) The contractor's conclusions based on these facts, showing, in terms of the considerations set forth in FAR 50.103-1 and 50.103-2, when the contractor considers itself entitled to the adjustment; and

(4) Whether or not—

(i) All obligations under the contracts involved have been discharged;

(ii) Final payment under the contracts involved has been made;

(iii) Any proceeds from the request will be subject to assignment or other transfer, and to whom; and

(iv) The contractor has sought the same, or a similar or related, adjustment from the Government Accountability Office or any other part of the Government, or anticipates doing so.

If the request exceeds the simplified acquisition threshold, the contractor must certify that the request is made in good faith and the data are accurate and complete.

FAR 50.103-4, Facts and Evidence. FAR 50.103-4 sets forth additional information that the contracting officer or other agency official may request from the contractor to support any request made under FAR 50.103-3.

FAR 50.104-3 Special Procedures for Unusually Hazardous or Nuclear Risks. FAR 50.104-3 provides the information a contractor shall submit to the contracting officer when requesting the inclusion of the indemnification clause for unusually hazardous or nuclear risks at FAR 52.250-1.

FAR 52.250-1, Indemnification Under Public Law 85-804. This clause allows contractors to be indemnified against unusually hazardous or nuclear risks. Paragraph (g) requires the contractor to promptly notify the contracting officer and furnish pertinent information for any claim or loss that may involve indemnification under the clause.

This information is used by the Government to determine if relief can be granted to the contractor and to determine the appropriate type and amount of relief.

Respondents: 28.

Total Annual Responses: 165.

Total Burden Hours: 6,848.

A 60-day notice was published in the Federal Register at 87 FR 29315, on May 13, 2022. No comments were received.

Obtaining Copies: Requesters may obtain a copy of the information collection documents from the GSA Regulatory Secretariat Division, by calling 202-501-4755 or emailing GSARegSec@gsa.gov. Please cite OMB Control No. 9000-0029, Extraordinary Contractual Action Requests.

The AIA Program actively seeks to commission works from the full spectrum of American artists and strives to promote new media and inventive solutions for public art. The GSA Form 7437, Art in Architecture Program National Artist Registry, will be used to collect information from artists across the country to participate and to be considered for commissions.

The AIA Program is the result of a policy decision made in January 1963 by GSA Administrator Bernard L. Boudin, who served on the Ad Hoc Committee on Federal Office Space in 1961-1962.

The program has been modified over the years, most recently in 2020, to align with Executive Order (E.O.) 13934 issued July 3, 2020, Building and Rebuilding Monuments to American Heroes. As mandated by E.O. 13934, the AIA program prioritized the commissioning of artworks that portray historically significant Americans or events of American historical significance, or that illustrate the ideals upon which the Nation was founded. Priority was to be given to public-facing monuments to former Presidents of the United States, and to individuals and events relating to the discovery of America, the founding of the United States, and the abolition of slavery. Such works of art were to be designed to be appreciated by the general public and by those who use and interact with Federal buildings. When an artwork commissioned by GSA was meant to depict a historically significant American, the artwork was required to be a lifelike or realistic representation of that person, not an abstract or modernist representation. The AIA program has been modified in 2022 to align with E.O. 14029, Revocation of Certain Presidential Actions and Technical Amendment, which revoked E.O. 13934, and to support the goals of E.O. 13895, Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government.

With the implementation of the 2022 policy, the AIA program actively seeks to commission works from the full spectrum of American artists and strives to promote new media and inventive solutions for public art. In support of the AIA program's goal to commission the most talented contemporary American artists to create works for the nation's important new civic buildings, it is necessary to identify those artists. The National Artist Registry (Registry) offers the opportunity for artists across the country to participate and to be considered for commissions.

Respondents: 300.

Responses per Respondent: 1.

Total Responses: 300.

Hours per Response: .25.

Total Burden Hours: 75.

A 60-day notice published in the Federal Register as part of final rule FMR 2021-02, published at 87 FR 5711 on February 2, 2022. There were three comments received on the PRA portion of the rule.

Two comments offered no specific suggestions. One comment provided detailed and specific suggestions and recommendations that were primarily outside of the mission of the Art in Architecture program, and in a number of instances, duplicate work already being done by the National Endowment for the Arts. In addition, the comments were operational and are either already in place or will be addressed as part of the management of the Art in Architecture program. For example, the Registry form can now be submitted directly online via the AiA website, and the site includes information on the selection process and project timeframes.

Obtaining Copies of Proposals: Requesters may obtain a copy of the information collection documents from the GSA Regulatory Secretariat Division by calling 202-501-4755 or emailing GSARegSec@gsa.gov. Please cite OMB Control No. 3090-0274, Art-in Architecture Program Historic Buildings and the Arts, GSA Form 7437.

A. OMB Control Number, Title, and any Associated Form(s)

9000-0136, Commercial Acquisitions.

This clearance covers the information that offerors must submit to comply with the following Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) requirements:

FAR 52.212-3, Offeror Representations and Certifications—Commercial Products and Commercial Services. Paragraph (b)(2) requires offerors to identify the applicable paragraphs at (c) through (v) of this provision that the offeror has completed for the purposes of the relevant solicitation only, if any. The provision stipulates that any changes provided by the offeror under paragraph (b)(2) are applicable to that specific solicitation only, and do not result in an update to the representations and certifications posted electronically in the System for Award Management. The contracting officer will use the information to determine a contractor's eligibility for award, and to incorporate appropriate terms and conditions into the contract award.

Respondents: 140,055.

Total Annual Responses: 414,909.

Total Burden Hours: 207,455.

Obtaining Copies: Requesters may obtain a copy of the information collection documents from the GSA Regulatory Secretariat Division by calling 202-501-4755 or emailing GSARegSec@gsa.gov. Please cite OMB Control No. 9000-0136, Commercial Acquisitions.

This is an ongoing activity of AHRQ's Evidence-based Practice Center (EPC) Program.

AHRQ's EPC Program develops evidence reports and technology assessments on topics relevant to clinical and other health care organization and delivery issues—specifically those that are common, expensive, and/or significant for the Medicare and Medicaid populations. For example, recent reviews have focused on clinical conditions, such as “Radiation Therapy for Brain Metastases”; health delivery topics, such as “Transitions of Care From Pediatric to Adult Services for Children With Special Healthcare Needs”; and specific technologies, such as “Telehealth for Women's Preventive Services.” These evidence reports include systematic reviews, technical briefs, and rapid reviews; and provide an essential foundation from which to understand what we know from existing research and what critical research gaps remain. These reports, reviews, and technology assessments are based on rigorous, comprehensive syntheses and analyses of the scientific literature on topics. EPC reports and assessments emphasize explicit and detailed documentation of methods, rationale, and assumptions. EPC reports are conducted in accordance with an established policy on financial and nonfinancial interests. These scientific syntheses may include meta-analyses and cost analyses.

The EPC Program supports AHRQ's mission by synthesizing and disseminating the available research as a “science partner” with private and public organizations in their efforts to improve the quality, effectiveness, and appropriateness of health care. The EPC Program is a trusted source of rigorous, comprehensive, and unbiased evidence reviews for stakeholders. The resulting evidence reports and technology assessments are used by Federal and State agencies, private-sector professional societies, health delivery systems, providers, payers, and others committed to evidence-based health care. These end-users may use EPC Program evidence reports to inform policy decisions, clinical practice guidelines, and other healthcare decisions.

This research has the following goals:

○ Use research methods to gather knowledge on the effectiveness and harms of certain treatments and healthcare delivery processes and models for medical conditions, both published and unpublished, to evaluate the quality of research studies and the evidence from these studies.

○ Promote the use of evidence in healthcare decision making to improve healthcare and health.

○ Identify research gaps to inform future research investments.

This study is being conducted by AHRQ pursuant to its statutory authority to conduct and support research on healthcare and on systems for the delivery of such care, including activities with respect to the quality, effectiveness, efficiency, appropriateness and value of healthcare services and with respect to quality measurement and improvement. 42 U.S.C. 299a(a)(1) and (2).

To achieve the goals of this project the following data collection will be implemented:

• Online Submission Form. This information is collected for the purposes of providing supplemental evidence and data for systematic reviews (SEADS). The online submission form (OSF) collects data from respondents on their name, organization name, description of the submission, medical condition, intervention, and email address. For the purposes of meta-analyses, trial summary data from missing and unidentified studies are sought. For the purposes of constructing evidence tables and quality ratings ( e.g., on public reporting of cost measures or health information exchange), data can vary ( e.g., URLs, study designs, and consumer-mediated exchange forms). Information on both completed and ongoing studies is requested. Submitters may alternatively email their submission to the AHRQ EPC mailbox at epc@ahrq.hhs.gov.

The EPC Program currently uses a broad-based announcement via email listserv and a Federal Register notice, as needed, to publicize the opportunity to submit scientific information about each topic. AHRQ plans to conduct one SEADS collection per topic. Up to twenty-four topics per year with SEADS portals are anticipated; over the past 5 years the number of SEADS portals has ranged from 11-20, with an average range of 0-5 potential respondents per topic. The EPC Program does not anticipate more than 40 topics per year with SEADS portals.

Exhibit 1 presents estimates of the reporting burden hours for the data collection efforts. Time estimates are based on pilot testing of materials and what can reasonably be requested of respondents. The number of respondents listed in “Number of respondents” of Exhibit 1 reflects a projected upper range response rate per SEADS portal multiplied by the anticipated upper limit of number of SEADS portals per year, based on historical information over the past 3 years.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act, 44 U.S.C. 3501-3520, comments on AHRQ's information collection are requested with regard to any of the following: (a) whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of AHRQ's health care research and health care information dissemination functions, including whether the information will have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of AHRQ's estimate of burden (including hours and costs) of the proposed collection(s) of information; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information upon the respondents, including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology.

Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized and included in the Agency's subsequent request for OMB approval of the proposed information collection. All comments will become a matter of public record.

Description: The TANF State Plan is a mandatory statement submitted to the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services by the state. It consists of an outline specifying how the state's TANF program will be administered and operated and certain required certifications by the state's Chief Executive Officer. It is used to provide the public with information about the program.

Authority to require states to submit a state TANF plan is contained in section 402 of the Social Security Act, as amended by Public Law 104-193, the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996. States are required to submit new plans within a 27-month period.

Respondents: The 50 States of the United States, the District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands.

Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 594.

Authority: Section 402 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 602), as amended by Pub. L. 104-193, the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996.

Under the PRA (44 U.S.C. 3501-3520), Federal agencies must obtain approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for each collection of information they conduct or sponsor. “Collection of information” is defined as and includes agency requests or requirements that members of the public submit reports, keep records, or provide information to a third party. The PRA requires Federal agencies to provide a 60-day notice in the Federal Register concerning each proposed collection of information, including each proposed extension of an existing collection of information, before submitting the collection to OMB for approval. To comply with this requirement, ACL is publishing a notice of the proposed collection of information set forth in this document.

With respect to the following collection of information, ACL invites comments on our burden estimates or any other aspect of this collection of information, including:

(1) whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of ACL's functions, including whether the information will have practical utility;

(2) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected;

(3) accuracy of ACL's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used to determine burden estimates;

(4) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on respondents, including through the use of automated collection techniques when appropriate, and other forms of information technology.

(5) ways to ensure that ACL is gathering necessary and relevant demographic information to assess diversity and equity in evidence-based program scaling and participation, and advances the Executive Order on Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government and the Executive Order on Advancing Equality for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and Intersex Individuals .

The Evidence-Based Chronic Disease Self-Management Education (CDSME) Grant Program is financed through the Prevention and Public Health Fund (PPHF). The statutory authority for cooperative agreements under the most recent program announcement (FY 2022) is contained in the Older Americans Act, Title IV; and the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, 42 U.S.C. 300u-11 (Prevention and Public Health Fund). The CDSME Grant Program supports a National CDSME Resource Center that provides technical assistance, education, and resources for the national CDSME network of partners, and awards competitive grants to implement and promote the sustainability of evidence-based CDSME programs that have been proven to provide older adults and adults with disabilities with education and tools to help them better manage chronic conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, arthritis, chronic pain, and depression. OMB approval of the existing set of CDSME data collection tools (OMB Control Number, 0985-0036) expires on 11/30/2022. This data collection continues to be necessary for the monitoring of program operations and outcomes.

ACL currently uses and proposes to continue to use a set of tools to collect information for each program including: (1) Program Information Cover Sheet and Attendance Log, to be completed by the program leaders; and a (2) Participant Information Survey to be completed by participants on a voluntary basis before or at the beginning of the first program session and to answer three questions at the last session to document their demographic and health characteristics. ACL/AoA intends to continue using an online data entry system for the program and participant survey data.

During the 60-day public comment period, ACL intends to analyze public comments received, conduct focus groups that includes a sub-set of current CDSME grantees, as well as consult with subject-matter experts to gather feedback and determine if changes to the data collection tools are warranted.

The proposed data collection tools may be found on the ACL website for review at https://www.acl.gov/about-acl/public-input.

ACL estimates the burden associated with this collection of information as follows:

FEMA proposes to make flood hazard determinations for each community listed below, in accordance with section 110 of the Flood Disaster Protection Act of 1973, 42 U.S.C. 4104, and 44 CFR 67.4(a).

These proposed flood hazard determinations, together with the floodplain management criteria required by 44 CFR 60.3, are the minimum that are required. They should not be construed to mean that the community must change any existing ordinances that are more stringent in their floodplain management requirements. The community may at any time enact stricter requirements of its own or pursuant to policies established by other Federal, State, or regional entities. These flood hazard determinations are used to meet the floodplain management requirements of the NFIP.

The communities affected by the flood hazard determinations are provided in the tables below. Any request for reconsideration of the revised flood hazard information shown on the Preliminary FIRM and FIS report that satisfies the data requirements outlined in 44 CFR 67.6(b) is considered an appeal. Comments unrelated to the flood hazard determinations also will be considered before the FIRM and FIS report become effective.

Use of a Scientific Resolution Panel (SRP) is available to communities in support of the appeal resolution process. SRPs are independent panels of experts in hydrology, hydraulics, and other pertinent sciences established to review conflicting scientific and technical data and provide recommendations for resolution. Use of the SRP only may be exercised after FEMA and local communities have been engaged in a collaborative consultation process for at least 60 days without a mutually acceptable resolution of an appeal. Additional information regarding the SRP process can be found online at https://www.floodsrp.org/pdfs/srp_overview.pdf.

The watersheds and/or communities affected are listed in the tables below. The Preliminary FIRM, and where applicable, FIS report for each community are available for inspection at both the online location https://hazards.fema.gov/femaportal/prelimdownload and the respective Community Map Repository address listed in the tables. For communities with multiple ongoing Preliminary studies, the studies can be identified by the unique project number and Preliminary FIRM date listed in the tables. Additionally, the current effective FIRM and FIS report for each community are accessible online through the FEMA Map Service Center at https://msc.fema.gov for comparison.

FEMA proposes to make flood hazard determinations for each community listed below, in accordance with section 110 of the Flood Disaster Protection Act of 1973, 42 U.S.C. 4104, and 44 CFR 67.4(a).

These proposed flood hazard determinations, together with the floodplain management criteria required by 44 CFR 60.3, are the minimum that are required. They should not be construed to mean that the community must change any existing ordinances that are more stringent in their floodplain management requirements. The community may at any time enact stricter requirements of its own or pursuant to policies established by other Federal, State, or regional entities. These flood hazard determinations are used to meet the floodplain management requirements of the NFIP.

The communities affected by the flood hazard determinations are provided in the tables below. Any request for reconsideration of the revised flood hazard information shown on the Preliminary FIRM and FIS report that satisfies the data requirements outlined in 44 CFR 67.6(b) is considered an appeal. Comments unrelated to the flood hazard determinations also will be considered before the FIRM and FIS report become effective.

Use of a Scientific Resolution Panel (SRP) is available to communities in support of the appeal resolution process. SRPs are independent panels of experts in hydrology, hydraulics, and other pertinent sciences established to review conflicting scientific and technical data and provide recommendations for resolution. Use of the SRP only may be exercised after FEMA and local communities have been engaged in a collaborative consultation process for at least 60 days without a mutually acceptable resolution of an appeal. Additional information regarding the SRP process can be found online at https://www.floodsrp.org/pdfs/srp_overview.pdf.

The watersheds and/or communities affected are listed in the tables below. The Preliminary FIRM, and where applicable, FIS report for each community are available for inspection at both the online location https://hazards.fema.gov/femaportal/prelimdownload and the respective Community Map Repository address listed in the tables. For communities with multiple ongoing Preliminary studies, the studies can be identified by the unique project number and Preliminary FIRM date listed in the tables. Additionally, the current effective FIRM and FIS report for each community are accessible online through the FEMA Map Service Center at https://msc.fema.gov for comparison.