Reporting on Offsets Agreements in Sales of Weapon Systems or Defense-Related Items to Foreign Countries or Foreign Firms for Calendar Year 2008, 8502-8503 [E9-3876]
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Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 36 / Wednesday, February 25, 2009 / Notices
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Bureau of Industry and Security
Materials Processing Equipment
Technical Advisory Committee; Notice
of Partially Closed Meeting
The Materials Processing Equipment
Technical Advisory Committee will
meet on March 12, 2009, 9 a.m., Room
6087B, in the Herbert C. Hoover
Building, 14th Street between
Pennsylvania and Constitution
Avenues, NW., Washington, DC. The
Committee advises the Office of the
Assistant Secretary for Export
Administration with respect to technical
questions that affect the level of export
controls applicable to materials
processing equipment and related
technology.
Agenda
1. Opening Remarks and
Introductions.
2. Presentation of Papers and
Comments by the Public.
3. Discussion on 2009 Proposals to
Wassenaar.
4. Report on proposed changes to the
Export Administration Regulation.
5. Other Business.
pwalker on PROD1PC71 with NOTICES
Closed Session
6. Discussion of matters determined to
be exempt from the provisions relating
to public meetings found in 5 U.S.C.
app. 2 sections 10(a)(1) and 10(a)(3).
The open session will be accessible
via teleconference to 20 participants on
a first come, first serve basis. To join the
conference, submit inquiries to Ms.
Yvette Springer at
Yspringer@bis.doc.gov no later than
March 5, 2009.
A limited number of seats will be
available for the public session.
Reservations are not accepted. To the
extent that time permits, members of the
public may present oral statements to
the Committee. The public may submit
written statements at any time before or
after the meeting. However, to facilitate
the distribution of public presentation
materials to the Committee members,
the Committee suggests that presenters
forward the public presentation
materials prior to the meeting to Ms.
Springer via email.
The Assistant Secretary for
Administration, with the concurrence of
the delegate of the General Counsel,
formally determined on February 18,
2009, pursuant to Section 10(d) of the
Federal Advisory Committee Act, as
amended (5 U.S.C. app. 2 sections
(10)(d)), that the portion of the meeting
18:09 Feb 24, 2009
Dated: February 19, 2009.
Yvette Springer,
Committee Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. E9–4043 Filed 2–24–09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–JT–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Bureau of Industry and Security
Open Session
VerDate Nov<24>2008
dealing with matters the disclosure of
portion of the meeting dealing with
matters the disclosure of which would
be likely to frustrate significantly
implementation of an agency action as
described in 5 U.S.C. 552b(c)(9)(B) shall
be exempt from the provisions relating
to public meetings found in 5 U.S.C.
app. 2 section 10(a)1 and 10(a)(3).
The remaining portions of the meeting
will be open to the public.
For more information, call Yvette
Springer at (202) 482–2813.
Jkt 217001
[Docket No. 090213182–9184–01]
Reporting on Offsets Agreements in
Sales of Weapon Systems or DefenseRelated Items to Foreign Countries or
Foreign Firms for Calendar Year 2008
AGENCY: Bureau of Industry and
Security, Department of Commerce.
ACTION: Notice.
SUMMARY: This notice is to remind the
public that U.S. firms are required to
report annually to the Department of
Commerce (Commerce) on contracts for
the sale of defense-related items or
defense-related services to foreign
countries or foreign firms that are
subject to offsets agreements exceeding
$5,000,000 in value. U.S. firms are also
required to report annually to
Commerce on offsets transactions
completed in performance of existing
offsets commitments for which offsets
credit of $250,000 or more has been
claimed from the foreign representative.
Such reports must be submitted to
Commerce no later than June 15, 2009.
ADDRESSES: Reports should be
addressed to ‘‘Offsets Program Manager,
U.S. Department of Commerce, Office of
Strategic Industries and Economic
Security, Bureau of Industry and
Security, Room 3878, Washington, DC
20230.’’
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Ronald DeMarines, Office of Strategic
Industries and Economic Security,
Bureau of Industry and Security, U.S.
Department of Commerce, telephone:
202–482–3755; fax: 202–482–5650;
e-mail: rdemarin@bis.doc.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
PO 00000
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Background
In 1984, the Congress enacted
amendments to the Defense Production
Act (DPA), including the addition of
Section 309, which addresses offsets in
defense trade (See 50 U.S.C. app.
section 2099). Offsets are compensation
practices required as a condition of
purchase in either government-togovernment or commercial sales of
defense articles and/or services, as
defined by the Arms Export Control Act
and the International Traffic in Arms
Regulations.
Section 309(a)(1) requires the
President to submit an annual report to
the Congress on the impact of offsets on
the U.S. defense industrial base. In
1992, section 309 was amended to direct
the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary)
to function as the President’s executive
agent for carrying out the
responsibilities set forth in that section.
Specifically, section 309 authorizes the
Secretary to develop and administer the
regulations necessary to collect offsets
data from U.S. defense exporters.
The authorities of the Secretary
regarding offsets have been redelegated
to the Under Secretary of the Bureau of
Industry and Security (BIS). The
regulations associated with offsets
reporting are set forth in Part 701 of title
15 of the Code of Federal Regulations.
The offsets regulations of Part 701 set
forth the obligations of U.S. industry to
report to the Bureau of Industry and
Security, no later than June 15 of each
year, offsets agreement and transaction
data for the previous calendar year.
As described in section 701.1 of the
regulations, U.S. firms are required to
report on contracts for the sale of
defense-related items or defense-related
services to foreign countries or foreign
firms that are subject to offsets
agreements exceeding $5,000,000 in
value. U.S. firms are also required to
report annually on offsets transactions
completed in performance of existing
offsets commitments for which offsets
credit of $250,000 or more has been
claimed from the foreign representative.
The required data elements and filing
procedures for such reports are outlined
in § 701.4 of title 15, Code of Federal
Regulations.
The Department’s annual report to
Congress includes an aggregated
summary of the data reported by
industry in accordance with the offsets
regulation and the DPA. As provided by
section 309(c) of the DPA, BIS will not
publicly disclose the information it
receives through offsets reporting unless
the firm furnishing the information
specifically authorizes public
disclosure. The information collected is
E:\FR\FM\25FEN1.SGM
25FEN1
Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 36 / Wednesday, February 25, 2009 / Notices
sorted and organized into an aggregate
report of national offsets data, and
therefore does not identify companyspecific information.
Required information must be
submitted to BIS no later than June 15,
2009.
Dated: February 19, 2009.
Matthew S. Borman,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Export
Administration.
[FR Doc. E9–3876 Filed 2–24–09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–JT–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
International Trade Administration
pwalker on PROD1PC71 with NOTICES
Application(s) for Duty-Free Entry of
Scientific Instruments
Pursuant to Section 6(c) of the
Educational, Scientific and Cultural
Materials Importation Act of 1966 (Pub.
L. 89–651, as amended by Pub. L. 106–
36; 80 Stat. 897; 15 CFR part 301), we
invite comments on the question of
whether instruments of equivalent
scientific value, for the purposes for
which the instruments shown below are
intended to be used, are being
manufactured in the United States.
Comments must comply with 15 CFR
301.5(a)(3) and (4) of the regulations and
be postmarked on or before March 17,
2009. Address written comments to
Statutory Import Programs Staff, Room
3720, U.S. Department of Commerce,
Washington, DC 20230. Applications
may be examined between 8:30 a.m. and
5 p.m. at the U.S. Department of
Commerce in Room 3720.
Docket Number: 09–001. Applicant:
Childrens Hospital, 4650 Sunset
Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90027.
Instrument: Transmission Electron
Microscope. Manufacturer: FEI
Company, Czech Republic. Intended
Use: The instrument will be used for the
study of ultrastructural changes in
human and animal tissue and tissue
culture samples in various disease
processes and experimental conditions.
Justification for Duty-Free Entry:
Instrument is not manufactured by any
company in the United States.
Application accepted by Commissioner
of Customs: January 30, 2009.
Docket Number: 09–002. Applicant:
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,
Acquisition Management Unit, TMS,
R8, 1595 Winkoop Street, Denver, CO
80202. Instrument: Transmission
Electron Microscope. Manufacturer:
JEOL Ltd., Japan. Intended Use: The
instrument will be used for qualitative
and quantitative analysis of asbestos in
air, dust, soil, water and biological
VerDate Nov<24>2008
18:09 Feb 24, 2009
Jkt 217001
sample matrices. Justification for DutyFree Entry: No instruments available
domestically with the capabilities
required for the intended use.
Application accepted by Commissioner
of Customs: February 5, 2009.
Docket Number: 09–003. Applicant:
U.S. Food and Drug Administration,
Center for Food Safety & Applied
Nutrition, 8301 MuirKirk Road, Laurel,
MD 20708. Instrument: Transmission
Electron Microscope. Manufacturer:
JEOL Ltd., Japan. Intended Use: The
instrument will be used for evaluation
of biological specimens for the
expression of microbial structures
important in the causation of disease.
Justification for Duty-Free Entry: No
domestic suppliers of transmission
electron microscopes. Application
accepted by Commissioner of Customs:
February 5, 2009.
Dated: February 20, 2009.
Chris Cassel,
Acting Director, IA Subsidies Enforcement
Office.
[FR Doc. E9–4029 Filed 2–24–09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–DS–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
International Trade Administration
Notice and Call for Applications for the
Environmental and Clean Energy
Technologies Trade Mission to Croatia,
Italy, and Greece, March 30 to April 4,
2009
AGENCY: International Trade
Administration, Department of
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice and Call for Applications
for the Environmental and Clean Energy
Technologies Trade Mission to Croatia,
Italy, and Greece, March 30 to April 4,
2009.
Mission Description
The United States Department of
Commerce, International Trade
Administration, U.S. and Foreign
Commercial Service (USFCS) is
organizing an Environmental and Clean
Energy Technologies Trade Mission to
Zagreb, Croatia; Milan, Italy; and
Athens, Greece, from March 30 to April
4, 2009. All three fast growing markets
hold promising potential for U.S. firms
offering equipment, services, and
technologies in the target sectors. The
mission will introduce participating
U.S. firms to prospective
representatives, distributors, end-users,
and partners through one-on-one
appointments in all three cities and will
include participation in the EcoTec
PO 00000
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Fmt 4703
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8503
Environmental Tradeshow (EcoTec
2009) in Athens, where the USFCS will
provide entry to the trade show, manage
a booth, and organize meetings with
business and industry contacts for each
of the mission participants.
Commercial Setting
Greece
Environmental protection is a priority
issue in Greece, where the market for
environmental equipment and services
is expected to far outstrip local capacity
in the future. The Greek Ministry of
Environment estimates the country’s
environmental market to be about
US$2.2 billion, or 1.5 percent of GDP.
Investment in environmental
infrastructure through European Union
(EU) and national programs has been the
centerpiece of environmental progress
in Greece. These investments have been
used to construct numerous wastewater
and solid waste treatment facilities, as
well as new recycling plants,
composting facilities, and treatment
plants for industrial and hazardous
waste materials.
The implementation of EU
environmental legislation in national
laws has created the institutional basis
for successfully facing environmental
protection challenges. In January 2007,
the Minister of Environment announced
a US$6.3 billion investment plan for
2007–2013 for the upgrading,
modernization and maintenance of
environmental projects in waste
management, recycling, and water
treatment, to be implemented under the
‘‘Environment and Sustainable
Development’’ program.
Following EU directives and
practices, Greece is committed to
introducing the necessary legislative
framework for promoting the use of
‘‘clean’’ or ‘‘green’’ technologies.
Renewable energy will play a major role
in these initiatives. Furthermore, in an
effort to catch up with commitments
under the Kyoto Protocol, Greece’s
Minister of Environment has approved a
National Allocation Plan for Emission
Trading for 2008–2012, which aims to
bring about a 16.6 percent reduction in
greenhouse gas emissions.
Areas holding the greatest potential
for U.S. firms in the Greek
environmental market include waste
management, recycling and biomass
facilities; hazardous waste treatment
and disposal; water treatment; air and
sea pollution control; clean coal plants;
‘‘green’’ building materials; emissions
monitoring and reduction; and
photovoltaic plants.
At the EcoTec Environmental
Tradeshow, to be held April 3–6, 2009,
E:\FR\FM\25FEN1.SGM
25FEN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 36 (Wednesday, February 25, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8502-8503]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-3876]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Bureau of Industry and Security
[Docket No. 090213182-9184-01]
Reporting on Offsets Agreements in Sales of Weapon Systems or
Defense-Related Items to Foreign Countries or Foreign Firms for
Calendar Year 2008
AGENCY: Bureau of Industry and Security, Department of Commerce.
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: This notice is to remind the public that U.S. firms are
required to report annually to the Department of Commerce (Commerce) on
contracts for the sale of defense-related items or defense-related
services to foreign countries or foreign firms that are subject to
offsets agreements exceeding $5,000,000 in value. U.S. firms are also
required to report annually to Commerce on offsets transactions
completed in performance of existing offsets commitments for which
offsets credit of $250,000 or more has been claimed from the foreign
representative. Such reports must be submitted to Commerce no later
than June 15, 2009.
ADDRESSES: Reports should be addressed to ``Offsets Program Manager,
U.S. Department of Commerce, Office of Strategic Industries and
Economic Security, Bureau of Industry and Security, Room 3878,
Washington, DC 20230.''
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ronald DeMarines, Office of Strategic
Industries and Economic Security, Bureau of Industry and Security, U.S.
Department of Commerce, telephone: 202-482-3755; fax: 202-482-5650; e-
mail: rdemarin@bis.doc.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
In 1984, the Congress enacted amendments to the Defense Production
Act (DPA), including the addition of Section 309, which addresses
offsets in defense trade (See 50 U.S.C. app. section 2099). Offsets are
compensation practices required as a condition of purchase in either
government-to-government or commercial sales of defense articles and/or
services, as defined by the Arms Export Control Act and the
International Traffic in Arms Regulations.
Section 309(a)(1) requires the President to submit an annual report
to the Congress on the impact of offsets on the U.S. defense industrial
base. In 1992, section 309 was amended to direct the Secretary of
Commerce (Secretary) to function as the President's executive agent for
carrying out the responsibilities set forth in that section.
Specifically, section 309 authorizes the Secretary to develop and
administer the regulations necessary to collect offsets data from U.S.
defense exporters.
The authorities of the Secretary regarding offsets have been
redelegated to the Under Secretary of the Bureau of Industry and
Security (BIS). The regulations associated with offsets reporting are
set forth in Part 701 of title 15 of the Code of Federal Regulations.
The offsets regulations of Part 701 set forth the obligations of U.S.
industry to report to the Bureau of Industry and Security, no later
than June 15 of each year, offsets agreement and transaction data for
the previous calendar year.
As described in section 701.1 of the regulations, U.S. firms are
required to report on contracts for the sale of defense-related items
or defense-related services to foreign countries or foreign firms that
are subject to offsets agreements exceeding $5,000,000 in value. U.S.
firms are also required to report annually on offsets transactions
completed in performance of existing offsets commitments for which
offsets credit of $250,000 or more has been claimed from the foreign
representative. The required data elements and filing procedures for
such reports are outlined in Sec. 701.4 of title 15, Code of Federal
Regulations.
The Department's annual report to Congress includes an aggregated
summary of the data reported by industry in accordance with the offsets
regulation and the DPA. As provided by section 309(c) of the DPA, BIS
will not publicly disclose the information it receives through offsets
reporting unless the firm furnishing the information specifically
authorizes public disclosure. The information collected is
[[Page 8503]]
sorted and organized into an aggregate report of national offsets data,
and therefore does not identify company-specific information.
Required information must be submitted to BIS no later than June
15, 2009.
Dated: February 19, 2009.
Matthew S. Borman,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Export Administration.
[FR Doc. E9-3876 Filed 2-24-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-JT-P
