Department of Commerce – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents
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The 48th Meeting of the U.S. Coral Reef Task Force
NOAA and the Department of Interior (DOI) will hold the 48th meeting of the U.S. Coral Reef Task Force (USCRTF). NOAA and DOI will be accepting oral and written comments.
Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Atlantic Sea Scallop Fishery; 2024 Closure of the Northern Gulf of Maine Scallop Management Area to the Limited Access General Category Fishery
NMFS announces the closure of the Northern Gulf of Maine (NGOM) Scallop Management Area for the remainder of the 2024 fishing year for Limited Access General Category vessels. Regulations require this action once NMFS projects that 100 percent of the Northern Gulf of Maine Set-Aside will be harvested. This action is intended to prevent the overharvest of the 2024 Northern Gulf of Maine Set-Aside.
Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment Request; Applications for Trademark Registration
The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, invites comments on the extension and revision of an existing information collection: 0651- 0009 (Applications for Trademark Registration). The purpose of this notice is to allow 60 days for public comment preceding submission of the information collection to OMB.
Marine Fisheries Advisory Committee Meeting
This notice sets forth the proposed schedule and agenda of a forthcoming meeting of the Marine Fisheries Advisory Committee (MAFAC). The members will discuss and provide advice on issues outlined under SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION below.
Taking and Importing Marine Mammals; Taking Marine Mammals Incidental to Geophysical Surveys in the Gulf of Mexico
NMFS has reassessed the statutorily mandated findings supporting its January 19, 2021 final rule, "Regulations Governing Taking Marine Mammals Incidental to Geophysical Survey Activities in the Gulf of Mexico," issued pursuant to the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), as the estimates of incidental take of marine mammals anticipated from the activities analyzed for the 2021 final rule were erroneous. NMFS has corrected this error and considered and incorporated other newly available and pertinent information relevant to the analyses supporting some of the findings in the 2021 final rule and the taking allowable under the regulations. There are no changes to the specified activities or the specified geographical region in which those activities would be conducted, nor to the original 5-year period of effectiveness. In light of the new information, NMFS presents new analyses supporting our affirmance of the negligible impact determinations for all species, and affirms that the existing regulations, which contain mitigation, monitoring, and reporting requirements, are consistent with the "least practicable adverse impact (LPAI) standard" of the MMPA.
Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (MAFMC); Public Meeting
The MAFMC will hold a public meeting (webinar) of its Spiny Dogfish Advisory Panel. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for agenda details.
Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (MAFMC); Public Meetings and Request for Comments
The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) will hold three public hearings (one as a webinar) and accept written comments regarding an action intended to revise the species separation requirements in the Atlantic surfclam and ocean quahog fisheries.
Western Pacific Fishery Management Council; Public Meetings
The Western Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) will hold its Main Hawaiian Islands (MHI) Deep 7 Bottomfish (BF) Risk of Overfishing (P*) Working Group (WG), MHI Social, Economic, Ecological, and Management WG to discuss and make recommendations on fishery management issues in the Western Pacific Region.
Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment Request; Fastener Quality Act Insignia Recordal Process
The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, invites comments on the extension and revision of an existing information collection: 0651- 0028 Fastener Quality Act Insignia Recordal Process. The purpose of this notice is to allow 60 days for public comment preceding submission of the information collection to OMB.
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Essential Fish Habitat Amendments
The North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) submitted amendment 127 to the Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area (BSAI), amendment 115 to the FMP for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA), amendment 56 to the FMP for BSAI King and Tanner Crabs, amendment 17 to the FMP for the Salmon Fisheries in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) Off Alaska, and amendment 3 to the FMP for Fish Resources of the Arctic Management Area (amendments) to the Secretary of Commerce for review. If approved, these amendments would revise the FMPs by updating the description and identification of essential fish habitat (EFH) and updating information on adverse impacts to EFH based on the best scientific information available. These amendments are intended to promote the goals and objectives of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act), the FMPs, and other applicable laws.
Takes of Marine Mammals Incidental to Specified Activities; Taking Marine Mammals Incidental to the Port of Nome Modification Project in Nome, Alaska
NMFS has received a request from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) for the reissuance of a previously issued incidental harassment authorization (IHA) with the only change being effective dates. The initial IHA authorized take of 10 species of marine mammals, by Level B harassment only, incidental to construction activities associated with the Port of Nome Modification Project in Nome, Alaska. The project has been delayed by 1 year and none of the work covered in the initial IHA has been conducted. The initial IHA was effective from May 1, 2024 through April 30, 2025. USACE has requested reissuance with new effective dates of May 1, 2025 through April 30, 2026. The scope of the activities and anticipated effects remain the same, authorized take numbers are not changed, and the required mitigation, monitoring, and reporting remains the same as included in the initial IHA. NMFS is, therefore, issuing a second identical IHA to cover the incidental take analyzed and authorized in the initial IHA.
Takes of Marine Mammals Incidental to Specified Activities; Taking Marine Mammals Incidental to Phase 2 Construction of the Vineyard Wind 1 Offshore Wind Project Off Massachusetts
NMFS has received a request from Vineyard Wind LLC (Vineyard Wind) for authorization to take marine mammals incidental to the completion of the construction of a commercial wind energy project offshore Massachusetts in the northern portion of Lease Area OCS-A 0501. Pursuant to the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), NMFS is requesting comments on its proposal to issue an incidental harassment authorization (IHA) to incidentally take marine mammals during the specified activities; which consists of a subset of activities for which take was authorized previously, but which Vineyard Wind did not complete within the effective dates of the previous IHA. NMFS will consider public comments prior to making any final decision on the issuance of the requested MMPA authorization and agency responses will be summarized in the final notice of our decision. The IHA would be valid for 1 year from date of issuance.
Fisheries Off West Coast States; West Coast Salmon Fisheries; Measures To Keep Fishery Impacts Within the Conservation Objective for the California Coastal Chinook Salmon
This proposed rule would implement a set of management measures recommended by the Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) to ensure fishery impacts on California Coastal (CC) Chinook salmon, which are listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act, remain within the conservation objective in the Council's Pacific Coast Salmon Fishery Management Plan (Salmon FMP). Under the proposed rule, management tools (e.g., trip limits (also known as landing and possession limits) and inseason management) consistent with the provisions of the Salmon FMP would be used to provide greater certainty in avoiding exceedances of the conservation objectives for CC Chinook salmon.
Taking and Importing Marine Mammals; Taking Marine Mammals Incidental to Geophysical Surveys Related to Oil and Gas Activities in the Gulf of Mexico
In accordance with the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), as amended, its implementing regulations, and NMFS' MMPA Regulations for Taking Marine Mammals Incidental to Geophysical Surveys Related to Oil and Gas Activities in the Gulf of Mexico, notification is hereby given that a Letter of Authorization (LOA) has been issued to bp Exploration and Production Inc. (bp) for the take of marine mammals incidental to geophysical survey activity in the Gulf of Mexico.
Brass Rod From South Africa: Final Affirmative Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair Value
The U.S. Department of Commerce (Commerce) determines that imports of brass rod from South Africa are being, or are likely to be, sold in the United States at less than fair value (LTFV) for the period of investigation (POI) April 1, 2022, through March 31, 2023.
Brass Rod From Mexico: Final Affirmative Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair Value
The U.S. Department of Commerce (Commerce) determines that imports of brass rod from Mexico are being, or are likely to be, sold in the United States at less than fair value (LTFV) for the period of investigation (POI) April 1, 2022, through March 31, 2023.
Brass Rod From the Republic of Korea: Final Affirmative Countervailing Duty Determination
The U.S. Department of Commerce (Commerce) determines that countervailable subsidies are being provided to producers and exporters of brass rod from the Republic of Korea (Korea). The period of investigation is January 1, 2022, through December 31, 2022.
Brass Rod From the Republic of Korea: Final Affirmative Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair Value
The U.S. Department of Commerce (Commerce) determines that brass rod from the Republic of Korea (Korea) is being, or is likely to be, sold in the United States at less than fair value (LTFV) for the period of investigation (POI) April 1, 2022, through March 31, 2023.
Brass Rod From India: Final Affirmative Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair Value
The U.S. Department of Commerce (Commerce) determines that imports of brass rod from India are being, or are likely to be, sold in the United States at less than fair value (LTFV) for the period of investigation (POI) April 1, 2022, through March 31, 2023.
Brass Rod From Brazil: Final Affirmative Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair Value
The U.S. Department of Commerce (Commerce) determines that imports of brass rod from Brazil are being, or are likely to be, sold in the United States at less than fair value (LTFV) for the period of investigation (POI) April 1, 2022, through March 31, 2023.
Export Control Measures Under the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) To Address Iranian Aggression Against Israel and Military Support for Russia
In this final rule, the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) makes changes to the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) to expand the scope of items that require a license for export and reexport to Iran; this rule also expands the scope of the Russia/Belarus/ Temporarily occupied Crimea region of Ukraine Foreign Direct Product (FDP) rule and the Iran FDP rule. Certain foreign-made items located outside of the United States are subject to the EAR because they meet criteria specified under one of the FDP rules under the EAR. This final rule expands the product scope of two of the FDP rules to make additional items subject to the EAR and imposes a license requirement when they are reexported or exported from abroad to Iran, Russia, Belarus, or the Temporarily occupied Crimea region of Ukraine. Prior to this rule, BIS had not controlled all foreign transactions involving items covered by this rule, but in light of recent events and the need to fully leverage EAR controls to address U.S. national security and foreign policy interests, these additional controls are now warranted under the EAR.
Certain Non-Refillable Steel Cylinders From India: Final Affirmative Countervailing Duty Determination
The U.S. Department of Commerce (Commerce) determines that countervailable subsidies are being provided to producers and exporters of certain non-refillable steel cylinders (steel cylinders) from India. The period of investigation (POI) is April 1, 2022, through March 31, 2023.
Final Affirmative Determination in the Less-Than-Fair-Value Investigation of Certain Non-Refillable Steel Cylinders From India
The U.S. Department of Commerce (Commerce) determines that certain non-refillable steel cylinders (cylinders) from the India are being, or are likely to be, sold in the United States at less than fair value (LTFV). The period of investigation (POI) is April 1, 2022, through March 31, 2023.
Export Control Revisions for Australia, United Kingdom, United States (AUKUS) Enhanced Trilateral Security Partnership
With this interim final rule (IFR), the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) amends the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) to remove license requirements, expand the availability of license exceptions, and reduce the scope of end-use and end-user-based license requirements for exports, reexports, and transfers (in-country) to or within Australia and the United Kingdom (UK) to enhance technological innovation among the three countries and support the goals of the AUKUS Trilateral Security Partnership.
Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment Request; Regional Economic Development Data Collection Instrument
The Department of Commerce, in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), invites the general public and other Federal agencies to comment on proposed, and continuing information collections, which helps us assess the impact of our information collection requirements and minimize the public's reporting burden. The purpose of this notice is to allow for 60 days of public comment preceding submission of the collection to OMB.
Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; Meeting of the Atlantic Highly Migratory Species Advisory Panel
NMFS will hold a 3-day Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Advisory Panel (AP) meeting in May 2024. The intent of the meeting is to consider options for the conservation and management of Atlantic HMS. The meeting is open to the public.
Minority Business Development Agency's Request for Public Comment and Notice of Tribal Consultation Meetings
The Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) plans to establish a period for the submission and acceptance of written comments from the public through Sunday, June 16, 2024 and conduct virtual Tribal consultation meetings on Friday, May 17, 2024.
North Pacific Fishery Management Council; Public Meeting
The Center of Independent Experts (CIE) review of the Gulf of Alaska walleye pollock stock assessment will be held in May, in Seattle, WA.
Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment Request; Miscellaneous Short Supply Activities
The Department of Commerce, in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), invites the general public and other Federal agencies to comment on proposed, and continuing information collections, which helps us assess the impact of our information collection requirements and minimize the public's reporting burden. The purpose of this notice is to allow for 60 days of public comment preceding submission of the collection to OMB.
Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment Request; Request for Investigation Under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act
The Department of Commerce, in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), invites the general public and other Federal agencies to comment on proposed, and continuing information collections, which helps us assess the impact of our information collection requirements and minimize the public's reporting burden. The purpose of this notice is to allow for 60 days of public comment preceding submission of the collection to OMB.
Endangered and Threatened Wildlife; 90-Day Finding on a Petition To List the Whitespotted Eagle Ray as Threatened or Endangered Under the Endangered Species Act
We, NMFS, announce a 90-day finding on a petition under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) to list the whitespotted eagle ray (Aetobatus narinari) as a threatened or endangered species and to designate critical habitat concurrent with the listing. We find that the petition does not present substantial scientific or commercial information indicating that the petitioned action may be warranted.
Boltless Steel Shelving Units Prepackaged for Sale From Malaysia: Final Affirmative Determination of Sales at Less-Than-Fair Value
The U.S. Department of Commerce (Commerce) determines that imports of boltless steel shelving units prepackaged for sale (boltless steel shelving) from Malaysia are being, or are likely to be, sold in the United States at less-than-fair value (LTFV). The period of investigation is April 1, 2022, through March 31, 2023.
Boltless Steel Shelving Units Prepackaged for Sale From Thailand: Final Affirmative Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair Value
The U.S. Department of Commerce (Commerce) determines that boltless steel shelving units prepackaged for sale (boltless steel shelving) from Thailand are being, or are likely to be, sold in the United States at less than fair value (LTFV). The period of investigation is April 1, 2022, through March 31, 2023.
Boltless Steel Shelving Units Prepackaged for Sale From Taiwan: Final Affirmative Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair Value
The U.S. Department of Commerce (Commerce) determines that boltless steel shelving units prepackaged for sale (boltless steel shelving) from Taiwan are being, or are likely to be, sold in the United States at less-than-fair value (LTFV). The period of investigation is April 1, 2022, through March 31, 2023.
Boltless Steel Shelving Units Prepackaged for Sale From India: Final Negative Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair Value
The U.S. Department of Commerce (Commerce) determines that boltless steel shelving units prepackaged for sale (boltless steel shelving) from India are not being, or are not likely to be, sold in the United States at less than fair value (LTFV). The period of investigation is April 1, 2022, through March 31, 2023.
Boltless Steel Shelving Units Prepackaged for Sale From the Socialist Republic of Vietnam: Final Affirmative Determination of Sales at Less-Than-Fair-Value
The U.S. Department of Commerce (Commerce) determines that imports of boltless steel shelving units prepackaged for sale (boltless steel shelving) from the Socialist Republic of Vietnam (Vietnam) are being, or likely to be, sold in the United States at less than fair value (LTFV). The period of investigation is October 1, 2022, through March 31, 2023.
Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; 2024-2026 Specifications for the Atlantic Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish Fishery Management Plan
NMFS proposes the 2024-2026 specifications for the Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish Fishery Management Plan as recommended by the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council. This action proposes to set the 2024 Illex squid and 2024-2026 longfin squid specifications and reaffirms the 2024 chub mackerel and butterfish specifications. The implementing regulations for the Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish Fishery Management Plan require us to publish specifications every fishing year for each of these species and to provide an opportunity for public comment. The proposed specifications are intended to establish allowable harvest levels that will prevent overfishing, consistent with the most recent scientific information.
Patent Trial and Appeal Board Rules of Practice for Briefing Discretionary Denial Issues, and Rules for 325(d) Considerations, Instituting Parallel and Serial Petitions, and Termination Due to Settlement Agreement
The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO or Office) proposes modifications to the rules of practice for inter partes review (IPR) and post-grant review (PGR) proceedings before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB or Board) that the Director and, by delegation, the PTAB will use in exercising discretion to institute IPRs and PGRs. The Office proposes these provisions in light of stakeholder feedback received in response to an October 2020 Request for Comments (RFC) and an April 2023 Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM). The proposals enhance and build on existing precedent and guidance regarding the exercise of the Director's discretion pursuant to the America Invents Act (AIA) to determine whether to institute an IPR or PGR proceeding with regard to serial petitions, parallel petitions, and petitions implicating the same or substantially the same art or arguments previously presented to the Office. The proposed rules also provide a separate briefing process for discretionary institution arguments and align the procedures for termination of proceedings pre- and post- institution.
Fisheries Off West Coast States; Coastal Pelagic Species Fisheries; Harvest Specifications for the Central Subpopulation of Northern Anchovy
NMFS is issuing this final rule to revise the overfishing limit (OFL) and acceptable biological catch (ABC) for the central subpopulation of northern anchovy (CSNA) in the U.S. exclusive economic zone (EEZ) off the West Coast under the Coastal Pelagic Species (CPS) Fishery Management Plan (FMP) to 243,779 metric tons (mt) and an 60,945 mt, respectively. This final rule also maintains an annual catch limit (ACL) of 25,000 mt for CSNA. Under current regulations, if the ACL for this stock is reached or projected to be reached in a fishing year (January 1-December 31), then the fishery will be closed until it reopens at the start of the next fishing year. This rulemaking is intended to conserve and manage CSNA off the U.S. West Coast.
Draft Supplemental Programmatic Environmental Assessment for Fisheries Research Conducted and Funded by the Alaska Fisheries Science Center
NMFS announces the availability of the "Draft Supplemental Programmatic Environmental Assessment (SPEA) for Fisheries Research Conducted and Funded by the Alaska Fisheries Science Center." Publication of this notice begins the official public comment period for this SPEA. The purpose of this Draft SPEA is to evaluate potential direct, indirect, and cumulative effects of changes in research that were not analyzed in the 2019 Alaska Fisheries Science Center (AFSC) Programmatic Environmental Assessment (PEA), or new research activities in the North Pacific Ocean and marine waters off of Alaska. Where necessary, updates to certain information on species, stock status or other components of the affected environment that may result in different conclusions from the 2019 PEA are presented in this analysis.
Endangered and Threatened Species; Initiation of a 5-Year Review for the Endangered Western Distinct Population Segment of Steller Sea Lion
NMFS announces its intent to conduct a 5-year review of the endangered western distinct population segment (DPS) of the Steller sea lion (Eumetopias jubatus). NMFS is required by the Endangered Species Act (ESA) to conduct 5-year reviews to ensure that listing classifications of species are accurate. The 5-year review must be based on the best scientific and commercial data available at the time of the review. We request submission of any such information on the western DPS (WDPS) of Steller sea lion, particularly information on their status, threats, and recovery that has become available since the previous 5-year review was issued in 2020.
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