Department of Commerce October 2023 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The U.S. Department of Commerce (Commerce) is rescinding the changed circumstances reviews (CCR) of the antidumping duty (AD) and countervailing duty (CVD) orders on certain quartz surface products (quartz surface products) from the People's Republic of China (China) regarding quartz surface products imported by Global Stone Collection LLC (Global Stone) into the United States and exported by Bada Industries SDN BHD (Bada Industries).

The United States Department of Commerce, International Trade Administration (ITA), is announcing one upcoming trade mission that will be recruited, organized, and implemented by ITA. This mission is: Global Diversity Export Initiative (GDEI) Trade Mission to Panama, Costa Rica and Colombia in Conjunction with the ``Opportunities for Women-Owned Businesses in the Americas'' ConferenceMarch 10-15, 2024. A summary of the mission is found below. Application information and more detailed mission information, including the commercial setting and sector information, can be found at the trade mission website: https:// www.trade.gov/trade-missions. For each mission, recruitment will be conducted in an open and public manner, including publication in the Federal Register, posting on the Commerce Department trade mission calendar (https://www.trade.gov/trade-missions-schedule) and other internet websites, press releases to general and trade media, direct mail, broadcast fax, notices by industry trade associations and other multiplier groups, and publicity at industry meetings, symposia, conferences, and trade shows.

The SEDAR 74 assessment process of Gulf of Mexico red snapper will consist of a Data Workshop, and a series of assessment webinars, and a Review Workshop. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.

As a result of this expedited sunset review, the U.S. Department of Commerce (Commerce) finds that revocation of the countervailing duty (CVD) order on drawn stainless steel sinks from the People's Republic of China (China) would be likely to lead to the continuation or recurrence of countervailable subsidies at the levels indicated in the ``Final Results of Sunset Review'' section of this notice.

On October 5, 2023, the Binational Panel issued its Decision in the matter of Certain Softwood Lumber Products from Canada: Final Affirmative Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair Value and Affirmative Final Determination of Critical Circumstances (Secretariat File Number: USA-CDA-2017-1904-03). The Binational Panel affirmed in part and remanded in part the Department of Commerce's Final Determination.

In accordance with the regulations implementing the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), as amended, notification is hereby given that NMFS promulgates regulations to govern the incidental taking of marine mammals incidental to Revolution Wind, LLC's (Revolution Wind), a subsidiary wholly owned by Orsted Wind Power North America, LLC (Orsted), construction of the Revolution Wind Offshore Wind Energy Project (hereafter known as the ``Project'') in Federal and State waters offshore Rhode Island, specifically within the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) Commercial Lease of Submerged Lands for Renewable Energy Development on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Lease Area OCS-A-0486 (Lease Area) and along two export cable routes to sea- to-shore transition points (collectively referred to as the ``Project Area''), over the course of 5 years (November 20, 2023 through November 19, 2028). These regulations, which allow for the issuance of a Letter of Authorization (LOA) for the incidental take of marine mammals during construction-related activities within the Project Area during the effective dates of the regulations, 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, as well as requirements pertaining to the monitoring and reporting of such taking.

NMFS announces its intent to issue exempted fishing permits (EFPs), scientific research permits (SRPs), display permits, letters of acknowledgment (LOAs), and shark research fishery permits for Atlantic highly migratory species (HMS) in 2024. EFPs and related permits would authorize collection of a limited number of HMS, including tunas, swordfish, billfishes, and sharks, from Federal waters in the Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico, and Caribbean Sea for the purposes of scientific research, data collection, the investigation of bycatch, and public display, among other things. LOAs acknowledge that scientific research activity aboard a scientific research vessel is being conducted. Generally, EFPs and related permits would be valid from the date of issuance through December 31, 2024, unless otherwise specified in the permit, subject to the terms and conditions of individual permits.

NMFS proposes Amendment 16 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Salmon Fisheries in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) Off Alaska (Salmon FMP) and associated implementing regulations. If approved, Amendment 16 and this proposed rule would establish Federal fishery management for all salmon fishing that occurs in the Cook Inlet EEZ, which includes commercial drift gillnet and recreational salmon fishery sectors. This action is necessary to comply with rulings from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit and the U.S. District Court for the District of Alaska, and to ensure the Salmon FMP is consistent with the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson- Stevens Act). This action is intended to promote the goals and objectives of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, the Salmon FMP, and other applicable laws.

NOAA is beginning the process to identify Aquaculture Opportunity Areas (AOAs) in Alaska state waters to help sustainably advance invertebrate (e.g., shellfish, sea cucumber) and seaweed (e.g., macroalgae, kelp) aquaculture, in partnership with the State of Alaska. NOAA requests data, comments, views, information, analysis, or suggestions from the public to support the identification of AOAs in Alaska state waters, including siting parameters that can be used to select potential study areas for further analysis. Please respond to the questions listed in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section, as appropriate.

This action proposes regulations for the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument (the Monument). This action is necessary to conform U.S. fishing regulations consistent with Presidential Proclamations 9496 and 10287, which prohibited commercial fishing in the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument and directed the Secretaries of Commerce and Interior to promulgate regulations necessary for the proper care and management of the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument. The measures herein are intended to define the boundary coordinates of the Monument area and reflect the prohibition on commercial fishing in the Magnuson- Stevens Act regulations.

In accordance with the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) as amended, and implementing regulations, notification is hereby given that a Letter of Authorization (LOA) has been issued to Ocean Wind, LLC (Ocean Wind), a subsidiary wholly owned by Orsted Wind Power North America, LLC (Orsted), for the taking of marine mammals incidental to the construction of the Ocean Wind 1 Project.

In response to requests from interested parties, the U.S. Department of Commerce (Commerce) is conducting an administrative review of the antidumping duty (AD) order on electrolytic manganese dioxide (EMD) from the People's Republic of China (China) covering the period of review (POR) October 1, 2021, through September 30, 2022. Commerce preliminarily determines that Duracell (China) Limited (DCL), an exporter of EMD from China and the sole mandatory respondent, is not eligible for a separate rate and is part of the China-wide entity. Interested parties are invited to comment on these preliminary results.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is considering a request to expand the boundary of the South Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve (SSNERR or the Reserve) and is soliciting comments from the public on the proposed boundary expansion. The public is also invited to comment on the draft environmental assessment for the proposed boundary expansion.

The Secretary of Commerce, through the Office of Trade and Economic Analysis (OTEA) of the International Trade Administration, has received an application for an amended Export Trade Certificate of Review (Certificate). This notice summarizes the proposed application and seeks public comments on whether the Certificate should be issued.

On August 30, 2023, the U.S. Department of Commerce (Commerce) published the notice of initiation and preliminary results of a changed circumstances review (CCR) of the antidumping duty (AD) order on certain frozen warmwater shrimp from India. For these final results, Commerce continues to find that Highland Agro Food Private Limited (HA Food) is the successor-in-interest to Highland Agro.

The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (Council) has submitted Amendment 56 to the Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for the Reef Fish Resources of the Gulf of Mexico (Gulf) for review, approval, and implementation by NMFS. If approved by the Secretary of Commerce, Amendment 56 would revise stock status determination criteria for Gulf gag, establish a rebuilding plan, and revise catch limits. Amendment 56 would also revise the sector allocations of the annual catch limit, revise recreational accountability measures (AMs), and revise the recreational fishing season. The purpose of this action is to implement a rebuilding plan for gag and to implement revised management measures to end overfishing and rebuild the stock.

The Secretary of Commerce, through the Office of Trade and Economic Analysis (OTEA), issued an Export Trade Certificate of Review to CPEC on September 29, 2023.

The United States Patent and Trademark Office has issued an order granting a one-year interim extension of the term of U.S. Patent No. 7,199,162 (`162 patent).

We, NMFS, are extending the public comment period by 60 days for our proposed rule to promulgate protective regulations for the Banggai cardinalfish (Pterapogon kauderni). The end of the public comment period is extended from October 16, 2023, to December 15, 2023.

NMFS is adjusting the 2023 Atlantic herring specifications for the remainder of 2023. Herring regulations specify that NMFS will subtract 1,000 metric tons (mt) from the management uncertainty buffer and reallocate it to the herring annual catch limit and Area 1A sub- annual catch limit if NMFS determines that the New Brunswick weir fishery landed less than 2,722 mt of herring through October 1.