January 14, 2009 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Department of Commerce (the Department) has determined that small diameter graphite electrodes from the People's Republic of China (PRC) are being, or are likely to be, sold in the United States at less than fair value (LTFV) as provided in section 735 of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (the Act). The final dumping margins for this investigation are listed in the ``Final Determination Margins'' section below. The period covered by the investigation is July 1, 2007, through December 31, 2007 (the POI).

The Rural Housing Service is delaying the effective date of a direct final rule, which was published on November 4, 2008 to amend its existing income limit structure for the Single Family Housing Guaranteed Loan Program.

In 1985, EPA prohibited the discharge of dredged or fill material to wetlands in the Bayou aux Carpes Swamp pursuant to Section 404(c) of the Clean Water Act (CWA). On November 4, 2008, the New Orleans District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) requested that EPA modify that designation to accommodate discharges to the Bayou aux Carpes wetlands associated with post-Katrina upgrades to the West Bank and Vicinity Hurricane Protection Levee system in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana. EPA solicits written public comment on that request and will hold a public hearing for receipt of comments. Public Hearing: The public hearing will be held in the District Assembly Room at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers New Orleans District office, 7400 Leake Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70118. The public hearing will commence at 6 p.m. on February 11, 2009, and will end when all comments have been received. During the hearing, any member of the public may submit written comments or present comments verbally. Public Comments: In addition to providing comments at the public hearing, written comments on the CWA Section 404(c) modification request may be submitted to EPA for 30 days following the date of this notice. Comments should be addressed to Ms. Barbara Keeler (6WQ-EC), EPA Region 6, 1445 Ross Avenue, Dallas, TX 75202-2733. All comments should directly address whether the 1985 Bayou aux Carpes CWA Section 404(c) EPA Final Determination should be modified as requested by the Corps.

The Department of Defense, General Services Administration, and National Aeronautics and Space Administration have agreed to delay the effective and applicability dates of FAR Case 2007-013, Employment Eligibility Verification, to January 19, 2009, and February 20, 2009, respectively.

The Department of Commerce (the Department) received a request from Awaji Materia (Thailand) Co., Ltd. (AMT), for initiation of a changed-circumstances review of the antidumping duty order on certain carbon steel butt-weld pipe fittings (pipe fittings) from Thailand. After reviewing this request, we preliminarily determine that AMT is the successor-in-interest to Awaji Sangyo (Thailand) Co., Ltd. (AST), and, as a result, should be accorded the same treatment previously accorded to AST with respect to the antidumping duty order on pipe fittings from Thailand. Interested parties are invited to comment on these preliminary results.

The Department of Commerce (Department) has determined the allocation for Calendar Year 2009 of imports of certain cotton fabrics under tariff rate quotas established by Division B, Title IV of the Tax Relief and Health Care Act of 2006 (Public Law No. 109-432). The companies that are being provided an allocation are listed below.

On December 10, 2008, the Department of Commerce (``the Department'') published a notice in the Federal Register requesting comments regarding the Department's withdrawal of the regulatory provisions governing targeted dumping in antidumping duty investigations. The Department is extending the comment period to January 23, 2009.

EPA issued a notice in the Federal Register of November 19, 2008, concerning a petition for rulemaking and collateral relief filed by the International Center for Technology Assessment (ICTA) and others. In general, the petition requests that the Agency classify nanoscale silver as a pesticide, require formal pesticide registration of all products containing nanoscale silver, analyze the potential human health and environmental risks of nanoscale silver, take regulatory actions under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) against existing products that contain nanoscale silver, and take other regulatory actions under FIFRA as appropriate for nanoscale silver products. This document extends the comment period for 60 days from January 20, 2009 to March 20, 2009.

This notice sets forth the schedule and proposed agenda of a forthcoming meeting of the Sea Grant Advisory Board (Board). Board members will discuss and provide advice on the National Sea Grant College Program in the areas of program evaluation, strategic planning, education and extension, science and technology programs, and other matters as described in the Agenda below.

NMFS proposes to implement identification and certification procedures to address illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing activities and bycatch of protected living marine resources (PLMRs) pursuant to the High Seas Driftnet Fishing Moratorium Protection Act (Moratorium Protection Act). The objective of these procedures is to promote the sustainability of transboundary and shared fishery stocks and to enhance the conservation and recovery of PLMRs. The proposed rule is intended to implement existing U.S. statutory authorities to address noncompliance with international fisheries management and conservation agreements and encourage the use of bycatch reduction methods in international fisheries that are comparable to methods used by U.S. fishermen. NMFS is seeking public comment on these procedures and on the sources and types of information to be considered in these procedures.

NMFS is notifying the owners and operators of registered vessels of their assignments for the 2009 A season Atka mackerel fishery in harvest limit area (HLA) 542 and/or 543 of the Aleutian Islands subarea of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). This action is necessary to allow the harvest of the 2009 A season HLA limits established for area 542 and area 543 pursuant to the 2008 and 2009 harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI.