Department of Commerce – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents
On January 22, 2013, the Department of Commerce published the preliminary results of the administrative review of the antidumping duty order on certain cut-to-length carbon-quality steel plate products from the Republic of Korea. For these final results, we continue to find that subject merchandise has not been sold at less than normal value.
The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has modified the After Final Consideration Pilot Program (AFCP) to create the After Final Consideration Pilot Program 2.0 (AFCP 2.0). Applicants who wish to participate in AFCP 2.0 must file a request to have a response after final rejection (which the examiner may have sufficient basis not to consider under current practice) considered by the examiner without reopening prosecution. The response after final rejection must include an amendment to at least one independent claim. The examiner will be allotted a set amount of time under AFCP 2.0 to consider the response. If the examiner's consideration of a proper AFCP 2.0 request and response does not result in a determination that all pending claims are in condition for allowance, the examiner will request an interview with the applicant to discuss the response. There are thus three main differences between AFCP and AFCP 2.0: an applicant must request to participate in AFCP 2.0; a response after final rejection under AFCP 2.0 must include an amendment to at least one independent claim; and the examiner will request an interview with the applicant to discuss a response, if the response did not result in a determination that all pending claims are in condition for allowance. The goal of AFCP 2.0 is to reduce pendency by reducing the number of Requests for Continued Examination (RCE) and encouraging increased collaboration between the applicant and the examiner to effectively advance the prosecution of the application. There is no additional fee required to request consideration of an amendment after final rejection under AFCP 2.0, but any necessary existing fee, e.g., the fee for an extension of time, must still be paid.
We, NMFS, announce a 90-day finding on a petition to list the Pacific harbor seals in Iliamna Lake (Phoca vitulina richardii) as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). We find that the petition presents substantial scientific or commercial information indicating that the petitioned action may be warranted. Therefore, we are initiating a status review of the harbor seals in Iliamna Lake to determine if listing under the ESA is warranted. To ensure this status review is comprehensive, we solicit scientific and commercial information regarding this species.
We, NMFS, announce a 90-day finding on petitions to list the dusky shark (Carcharhinus obscurus) range-wide or, in the alternative, the Northwest Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico population of the dusky shark as a threatened or endangered distinct population segment (DPS) under the Endangered Species Act (ESA), and to designate critical habitat concurrently with the listing. We find that the petitions present substantial scientific or commercial information indicating that the petitioned action may be warranted for the Northwest Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico population of dusky shark; we find that the petitions fail to present substantial scientific or commercial information indicating that the petitioned action may be warranted for the dusky shark range- wide. Therefore, we will conduct a status review of the Northwest Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico population of dusky shark to determine if the petitioned action is warranted. To ensure that the status review is comprehensive, we are soliciting scientific and commercial information pertaining to this petitioned species from any interested party.
The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council will convene a meeting of the Standing, Special Mackerel and Special Reef Fish Scientific and Statistical Committees.
The New England Fishery Management Council's (Council) Vessel Monitoring System (VMS)/Enforcement will meet jointly with the Advisory Panel to consider actions affecting New England fisheries in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
The North Pacific Fishery Management Council Joint Protocol Committee of the AK B0F and Council will meet in Juneau, AK.
The Pacific Fishery Management Council's (Pacific Council) ad hoc South of Humbug Pacific Halibut Workgroup (Workgroup) will hold a webinar to review analysis of recreational management measures designed to reduce Pacific halibut catch in southern Oregon and northern California (i.e., south of Humbug Mountain).
Notice is hereby given that Kristen Hart, Ph.D., U.S. Geological Survey, has applied in due form for a permit to take loggerhead (Caretta caretta), hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata), Kemp's ridley (Lepidochelys kempii), and green (Chelonia mydas) sea turtles for purposes of scientific research.
Notice is hereby given that a permit has been issued to Peter Rogers, Ph.D., Georgia Institute of Technology, Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, Atlanta, GA 30332 to conduct research on cetacean species not listed under the Endangered Species Act (ESA).
The North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) and its advisory committees will hold public meetings, June 3-11, 2013 at the Centennial Hall, 101 Egan Drive, Juneau, AK. This document is making the public aware of all of the issues being discussed at the council plenary session. An additional issue is being added to agenda item 7, under the heading ``Council Plenary Session''. The original notice published on May 10, 2013, will not be repeated here and all other text in the original notice remains unchanged.
This final rule adjusts the 2013 fishing season quotas for North and South Atlantic swordfish based upon 2012 commercial quota underharvests and international quota transfers consistent with the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) Recommendations 11-02 and 12-01. This final rule will affect commercial and recreational fishing for swordfish in the Atlantic Ocean, including the Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico. This action implements ICCAT recommendations, consistent with the Atlantic Tunas Convention Act (ATCA), and furthers domestic management objectives under the Magnuson- Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act).
At the request of the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council, this notice announces a control date that may be applicable, but not limited to, qualifying landings history for continued access to the longfin squid/butterfish moratorium limited access permit program. NMFS intends this notice to promote awareness of possible rulemaking, alert interested parties of potential eligibility criteria for future access, and discourage speculative entry into and/or investment in the longfin squid/butterfish fishery while the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council considers if and how access to the longfin squid/butterfish fishery should be controlled.
Notice is hereby given that NMFS has issued Permit 17299 to the NMFS Southwest Fisheries Science Center (SWFSC), Permit 16543-M1 to the California Department of Water Resources (CDWR), Permit 17428 to the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), and Permit 17777 to Natural Resource Scientists Incorporated (NRSI).
Notice is hereby given that NMFS has received an application for a direct take permit, in the form of a Hatchery and Genetic Management Plan (HGMP), pursuant to the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (ESA). The application is for a hatchery program in Idaho, for the propagation of sockeye salmon. The proposed permit would be issued for a period of 10 years. This document serves to notify the public of the availability of the permit application for public review, comment, and submission of written data, views, arguments, or other relevant information. This document also serves to notify the public of NMFS' intent to adopt an existing environmental assessment that addresses the proposed Snake River sockeye salmon hatchery program. All comments and other information received will become part of the public record and will be available for review pursuant to section 10(c) of the ESA.
Notice is hereby given that NMFS has issued Permit 17299 to the NMFS Southwest Fisheries Science Center (SWFSC), Permit 16543-M1 to the California Department of Water Resources (CDWR), Permit 17428 to the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), and Permit 17777 to Natural Resource Scientists Incorporated (NRSI).
Notice is hereby given that a permit has been issued to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G; Responsible Party: Robert Small, Ph.D.), 1255 West 8th Street, Juneau, AK 99811, to collect, receive, import, and export marine mammal parts for scientific research purposes.
On January 9, 2013, the Department of Commerce (the Department) published in the Federal Register its preliminary results of the administrative review of the antidumping duty order \1\ on hand trucks and certain parts thereof (hand trucks) from the People's Republic of China (PRC).\2\ The period of review (POR) is December 1, 2010, through November 30, 2011. We gave interested parties an opportunity to comment on the Preliminary Results. Based upon our analysis of the comments and information received, we made changes to the margin calculations for these final results. The final dumping margins are listed below in the ``Final Results of the Review'' section of this notice. In addition, we are rescinding this review with respect to WelCom Products, Inc. (WelCom), Yangjiang Shunhe Industrial Co., Ltd. and Yangjiang Shunhe Industrial & Trade Co., Ltd. (collectively, Shunhe), and Yuhuan Tongsheng Industry Company (Tongsheng) at this time (see ``Final Partial Rescission,'' infra).
The Department of Commerce (``the Department'') published the preliminary results of the third administrative review of the antidumping duty order on steel wire garment hangers from the People's Republic of China (``PRC'') on November 8, 2012.\1\ We gave interested parties an opportunity to comment on the Preliminary Results. Based upon our analysis of the comments and information received, we made no changes to the margin calculations for these final results. The final dumping margins are listed below in the ``Final Results of the Administrative Review'' section of this notice. The period of review (``POR'') is October 1, 2010, through September 30, 2011.
NMFS issues regulations to implement Amendment 41 to the Fishery Management Plan for Bering Sea/Aleutian Islands King and Tanner Crabs (FMP). These regulations amend the Bering Sea/Aleutian Islands Crab Rationalization Program (CR Program) by establishing a process whereby holders of regionally designated individual fishing quota (IFQ) and individual processor quota (IPQ) in six CR Program fisheries may receive an exemption from regional delivery requirements in the North or South Regions. The six CR Program fisheries are Bristol Bay red king crab, Bering Sea snow crab, Saint Matthew Island blue king crab, Eastern Aleutian Islands golden king crab, Western Aleutian Islands red king crab, and Pribilof Islands red and blue king crab. This action is necessary to mitigate disruptions in a CR Program fishery that prevent participants from complying with regional delivery requirements. This action is intended to promote the goals and objectives of the Magnuson- Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, the FMP, and other applicable law.
The New England Fishery Management Council (Council) is scheduling a public meeting of its Herring Committee to consider actions affecting New England fisheries in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ). Recommendations from this group will be brought to the full Council for formal consideration and action, if appropriate.
On November 8, 2012, the Department of Commerce (the Department) published the preliminary results of the administrative review of the antidumping duty order on carbon and certain alloy steel wire rod (wire rod) from Mexico. The period of review (POR) is October 1, 2010, through September 30, 2011, and the review covers one producer/exporter of the subject merchandise, Deacero S.A. de C.V. and Deacero USA, Inc. (collectively, Deacero). Based on our analysis of the comments received, we have made certain changes in the margin calculations. The final results, consequently, differ from the preliminary results. The final weighted- average dumping margins for the reviewed firms are listed below in the section entitled ``Final Results of Review.''
NMFS received an application from Shell Gulf of Mexico Inc. (Shell) for an Incidental Harassment Authorization (IHA) to take marine mammals, by harassment only, incidental to a marine surveys program in the Chukchi Sea, Alaska, during the open water season of 2013. Pursuant to the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), NMFS is requesting comments on its proposal to issue an IHA to Shell to take, by Level B harassment, 13 species of marine mammals during the specified activity.
NMFS announces an adjustment to the start of the annual closure of the shrimp fishery in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) off Texas. The closure is normally from May 15 to July 15 each year. For 2013, the closure will begin on May 23. The Texas closure is intended to prohibit the harvest of brown shrimp during the major period of emigration of these shrimp from Texas estuaries to the Gulf of Mexico (Gulf) so the shrimp may reach a larger, more valuable size and to prevent the waste of brown shrimp that would be discarded in fishing operations because of their small size.
The Department of Commerce (the Department) is conducting an administrative review of the antidumping duty order on polyethylene retail carrier bags (PRCBs) from Thailand. The review covers 11 respondents. The period of review (POR) is August 1, 2011, through July 31, 2012. We preliminarily find that subject merchandise has been sold at less than normal value by the companies subject to this review.
In response to a request from The Polyethylene Retail Carrier Bag Committee and its individual members: PCL Packaging, Inc., Hilex Poly Co., LLC, Superbag Corp., and Inteplast Group, Ltd., (collectively, the petitioners), the Department of Commerce (the Department) is initiating an anticircumvention inquiry pursuant to section 781(a) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (the Act), to determine whether imports of unfinished polyethylene retail carrier bags (PRCBs) from the People's Republic of China (PRC) are circumventing the antidumping duty order on PRCBs from the PRC.\1\
NMFS is prohibiting retention of big skate in the Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary because the 2013 total allowable catch of big skate in the Central Regulatory Area of the GOA has been reached.
NMFS, Southeast Region, in collaboration with the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (Council) intends to prepare a DEIS to describe and analyze a range of alternatives for management actions to be included in Amendment 39 to the Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for the Reef Fish Resources of the Gulf of Mexico (Amendment 39). The purpose of this NOI is to inform the public of upcoming opportunities to provide comments on the actions to be addressed in the DEIS, as specified in this notice.
The SEDAR 36 assessment of the South Atlantic stock of snowy grouper will consist of a series of webinars. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.
The Department of Commerce (``the Department'') is conducting an administrative review of the antidumping duty order on frontseating service valves from the People's Republic of China (``PRC''). The period of review (``POR'') is April 1, 2011, through March 31, 2012. The review covers two exporters of subject merchandise, Zhejiang DunAn Hetian Metal Co., Ltd. (``DunAn'') and Zhejiang Sanhua Co., Ltd. (``Sanhua''). The Department preliminarily finds that DunAn did not have reviewable transactions during the POR. In addition, we preliminarily determine that Sanhua made sales of subject merchandise at less than normal value during the POR.
