Conduct of Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Investigations and Reviews, 35920-35926 [2014-14675]
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Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 122 / Wednesday, June 25, 2014 / Rules and Regulations
size standard. However, the
Commission still estimates that the
specific applicability of Reliability
Standard EOP–010–1 means that
generally only large entities will have to
meet the new requirements.
56. Based on the above, the
Commission certifies that Reliability
Standard EOP–010–1 will not have a
significant impact on a substantial
number of small entities. Accordingly,
no initial regulatory flexibility analysis
is required.
VI. Document Availability
57. In addition to publishing the full
text of this document in the Federal
Register, the Commission provides all
interested persons an opportunity to
view and/or print the contents of this
document via the Internet through the
Commission’s Home Page (https://
www.ferc.gov) and in the Commission’s
Public Reference Room during normal
business hours (8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Eastern time) at 888 First Street NE.,
Room 2A, Washington, DC 20426.
58. From the Commission’s Home
Page on the Internet, this information is
available on eLibrary. The full text of
this document is available on eLibrary
in PDF and Microsoft Word format for
viewing, printing, and/or downloading.
To access this document in eLibrary,
type the docket number excluding the
last three digits of this document in the
docket number field.
59. User assistance is available for
eLibrary and the Commission’s Web site
during normal business hours from the
Commission’s Online Support at (202)
502–6652 (toll free at 1–866–208–3676)
or email at ferconlinesupport@ferc.gov,
or the Public Reference Room at (202)
502–8371, TTY (202) 502–8659. Email
the Public Reference Room at
public.referenceroom@ferc.gov.
VII. Effective Date and Congressional
Notification
60. These regulations are effective
August 25, 2014. The Commission has
determined, with the concurrence of the
Administrator of the Office of
Information and Regulatory Affairs of
OMB, that this rule is not a ‘‘major rule’’
as defined in section 351 of the Small
Business Regulatory Enforcement
Fairness Act of 1996.
By the Commission.
Issued: June 19, 2014.
Nathaniel J. Davis, Sr.,
Deputy Secretary.
Appendix
Commenters
Abbreviation
Commenter
AEP ...........................................................................................................
AFS ...........................................................................................................
APS ...........................................................................................................
ASO ..........................................................................................................
Baker ........................................................................................................
Maine Representative Boland ..................................................................
CSP ..........................................................................................................
Dominion ...................................................................................................
EEI ............................................................................................................
EMP Coalition ...........................................................................................
Emprimus ..................................................................................................
Chamber of Commerce ............................................................................
Foundation ................................................................................................
IRC ............................................................................................................
ITC ............................................................................................................
Kappenman ..............................................................................................
NERC ........................................................................................................
Orquin .......................................................................................................
SmartSenseCom ......................................................................................
Stolov ........................................................................................................
concerning the conduct of antidumping
and countervailing duty investigations
and reviews. The amendments are
designed to increase efficiency in
processing and reviewing documents
filed with the Commission and reduce
Commission expenditures.
[FR Doc. 2014–14849 Filed 6–24–14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717–01–P
INTERNATIONAL TRADE
COMMISSION
19 CFR Parts 201 and 207
Conduct of Antidumping and
Countervailing Duty Investigations and
Reviews
International Trade
Commission.
ACTION: Final rule.
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AGENCY:
The United States
International Trade Commission
(‘‘Commission’’) amends its Rules of
Practice and Procedure concerning rules
of general application, and provisions
SUMMARY:
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This regulation is effective July
25, 2014. This regulation is applicable
to all proceedings pending before the
Commission as of July 25, 2014.
DATES:
[Docket No. MISC–013]
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American Electric Power Service Corporation.
Advanced Fusion Systems.
Arizona Public Service Company.
Atomic Safety Organization.
George H. Baker.
Hon. Andrea M. Boland, Maine State Representative.
Center for Security Policy.
Dominion Resources Services, Inc.
Edison Electric Institute.
EMP Coalition.
Emprimus LLC.
Institute for 21st Century Energy, U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
Foundation for Resilient Societies.
ISO/RTO Council.
International Transmission Company.
John G. Kappenman.
North American Electric Reliability Corporation.
Alberto Ramirez Orquin.
SmartSenseCom, Inc.
Jerome J. Stolov.
Jkt 232001
Lisa
R. Barton, Secretary, telephone (202)
205–2000, or David Goldfine, AttorneyAdvisor, Office of the General Counsel,
telephone (202) 708–5452, United States
International Trade Commission.
Hearing-impaired individuals are
advised that information on this matter
can be obtained by contacting the
Commission’s TDD terminal at (202)
205–1810. General information
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
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concerning the Commission may also be
obtained by accessing its Internet server
at https://www.usitc.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
Section 335 of the Tariff Act of 1930
(19 U.S.C. 1335) authorizes the
Commission to adopt such reasonable
procedures, rules, and regulations as it
deems necessary to carry out its
functions and duties. This rulemaking
seeks to improve provisions of the
Commission’s existing Rules of Practice
and Procedure. The Commission is
amending Part 201 of its rules, which
are rules of general application. The
Commission also is amending Part 207
of its rules covering proceedings such as
investigations and reviews conducted
under title VII of the Tariff Act of 1930
(‘‘title VII proceedings’’). The
Commission published a notice of
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proposed rulemaking (NOPR) in the
Federal Register at 78 FR 36446–36449
(June 18, 2013), proposing to amend the
Commission’s Rules of Practice and
Procedure to make certain changes to
rules of general application and
provisions concerning the conduct of
antidumping and countervailing duty
investigations and reviews.
Although the Commission considers
these rules to be procedural, which are
excepted from notice-and-comment
under 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(3)(A), the
Commission invited the public to
comment on all the proposed rules
amendments. The NOPR requested
public comment on the proposed rules
within 60 days of publication of the
NOPR. Three law firms which regularly
appear before the Commission in Title
VII proceedings filed comments: (1)
Wiley Rein LLP, (2) Stewart and Stewart
LLP, and (3) Cassidy Levy Kent LLP.
Wiley Rein LLP filed its comments on
behalf of Nucor Corporation, a domestic
producer of steel products that
frequently appears before the
Commission in Title VII proceedings.
Stewart and Stewart LLP and Cassidy
Levy Kent LLP each filed comments on
its own behalf.
The Commission carefully considered
all comments received. The
Commission’s response is provided
below in a section-by-section analysis.
The Commission appreciates the time
and effort the commentators devoted to
provide comments on the NOPR.
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Regulatory Analysis of Amendments to
the Commission’s Rules
The Regulatory Flexibility Act (5
U.S.C. 601 et seq.) is inapplicable to this
rulemaking because it is not one for
which a notice of final rulemaking is
required under 5 U.S.C. 553(b) or any
other statute. Although the Commission
chose to publish a notice of proposed
rulemaking, these regulations are
‘‘agency rules of procedure and
practice,’’ and thus are exempt from the
notice requirement imposed by 5 U.S.C.
553(b). Moreover, the rules are certified
as not having a significant economic
impact on a substantial number of small
entities under the Regulatory Flexibility
Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.).
The rules do not impose an
information collection burden under the
provisions of the Paperwork Reduction
Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.).
The rules do not contain any
unfunded mandate or significantly or
uniquely affect small governments, as
described in the Unfunded Mandates
Reform Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104–4).
The rules do not constitute a
‘‘significant regulatory action’’ under
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Executive Order 12866 (58 FR 51735,
October 4, 1993).
The rules do not have Federalism
implications as specified in Executive
Order 13132 (64 FR 43255, October 7,
1999).
The amendments are not major rules
as defined by section 804 of the Small
Business Regulatory Enforcement
Fairness Act of 1996 (5 U.S.C. 801 et.
seq.). Moreover, they are exempt from
the reporting requirements of the Act
because they concern rules of agency
organization, procedure, or practice that
do not substantially affect the rights or
obligations of non-agency parties.
Overview of the Amendments to the
Regulations
Most of the final rules set forth in this
document are identical to the
correspondingly numbered proposed
rules published on June 18, 2013. For
two of the proposed rules (§§ 207.10 and
207.45), no comments were submitted.
The Commission found no reason to
change those proposed rules on its own
before adopting them as final rules.
Thus, the preamble to those unchanged
final rules is as set forth in the sectionby-section analysis of the proposed
rules found at 78 FR 36446–36449 (June
18, 2013).
The Commission did receive
comments with suggestions for
modifications pertaining to the other
proposed rules. Those suggestions and
the views of the Commission are
summarized in the section-by-section
analysis of this final rule. The
commentary in the June 18, 2013, notice
is considered part of the preamble to
these final rules, to the extent that such
commentary is not inconsistent with the
discussion below.
The final rules differ from the
proposed rules in two respects. First,
with respect to § 201.8, relating to the
filing of documents, the Commission
has not adopted the proposed securely
bound provision in paragraph (d).
Second, the Commission has
determined to amend its rules to require
filing of nine confidential and two nonconfidential copies of briefs and other
written submissions (rather than eight
confidential and four non-confidential
copies as required under the current
rules) in preliminary and final phase
investigations and five-year reviews as
reflected in the amendments to
§§ 201.8(f), 207.15, 207.23, 207.25,
207.28, 207.30, 207.61(e), 207.62(b)(2),
207.65, 207.67(a), and 207.68(b). These
amendments simply change the
apportionment of confidential and
nonconfidential copies of these written
submissions in order to better meet the
needs of Commission staff and reduce
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internal photocopying expenses and
will result in a reduction of the overall
number of copies that need to be filed.
While the amendments to these
provisions were not included in the
proposed rules and therefore the
Commission did not receive comments
on them, there is no advance notice
requirement for procedural changes to
rules such as these under the
Administrative Procedure Act. See 5
U.S.C. 553(b)(A). Moreover, in the
proposed rulemaking, the Commission
received comments with respect to the
Commission’s retention of paper filing
requirements in § 201.8, and those
comments are addressed below.
Section-by-Section Analysis
19 CFR Part 201
Subpart B—Initiation and Conduct of
Investigations
201.8 Filing of Documents
The NOPR proposed to amend
paragraph (d) of § 201.8 by requiring
that all paper copies of electronic
submissions exceeding fifty (50) pages
in length be securely bound and have a
divider page and an identifying tab
preceding each exhibit and/or
attachment. Wiley Rein LLP objected to
the proposed amendment as
‘‘duplicative,’’ emphasizing that parties
are already required to supply
searchable electronic versions of
documents to the Commission. Wiley
Rein LLP also asserted that preparing
bound paper copies imposes an
additional burden on the parties
appearing before the Commission.
Cassidy Levy Kent LLP urged the
Commission to ‘‘abolish’’ all paper filing
requirements, emphasizing that many
other federal agencies and the U.S.
Court of International Trade have
transitioned from paper to electronic
filing.
We adopt the proposed amendments
to the rule as drafted in the NOPR,
except for the bound copy requirement.
We find the commenters’ suggestion
that the proposed bound copy
requirement not be adopted to be
persuasive. We also acknowledge that
there is a trend toward greater electronic
filing in agency and court proceedings.
For now, however, the Commission and
its staff will need to continue to rely on
receiving paper copies of documents in
light of the tight deadlines and
voluminous factual records entailed by
AD/CVD investigations and reviews, as
well as the constraints of current
technology and the Commission’s
ability to adopt new technology given
budgetary restrictions. Requiring divider
pages and tabs for exhibits and
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attachments will facilitate review of
lengthy, multi-part documents by
Commission staff. The Commission will
continue to monitor requirements
pertaining to filing of documents as
technology develops.
The Commission has amended
paragraph (f) of § 201.8 to require that
two copies of nonconfidential
documents be filed. As explained above,
this is one of several changes that will
result in an overall reduction in the
number of paper copies of certain
submissions to the Commission.
19 CFR Part 207
207.10 Filing of Petition With the
Commission
The NOPR proposed to amend
paragraph (a) of § 207.10 to require one
unbound copy of petitions. None of the
comments addressed this specific
proposal. Accordingly, we adopt the
proposed amendment to the rule as
drafted in the NOPR.
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Contents of Petition
The NOPR proposed to amend
§ 207.11(b)(2)(ii) and (iii) by requiring
petitioners to provide email addresses
for all U.S. producers and U.S.
importers identified in the petition.
Although the current rules specify that
petitioners are required to provide
contact information for U.S. producers
and U.S. importers, the information
required includes street addresses,
phone numbers, and contact person(s),
but not email addresses. Wiley Rein LLP
objected to the proposed amendments as
impracticable, particularly in instances
where petitioning firms and U.S.
importers are competitors. While
acknowledging that the proposed
amendments are generally sensible,
Stewart and Stewart LLP urged the
Commission to require parties to
provide such information only when it
is ‘‘reasonably available.’’
We adopt the proposed amendments
to § 207.11(b)(2)(ii) and (iii) as drafted in
the NOPR. We are mindful that the
objective of the proposals is to facilitate
the electronic distribution of
questionnaires. Under the proposed
amendments, email addresses for
individual contact persons are required
only for domestic producers, which
petitioners should be readily able to
obtain. For importers, there is no
requirement to provide email addresses
for an individual contact person;
instead, a general corporate email
account is sufficient, which petitioners
should be readily able to obtain.
Moreover, as under § 207.11(b)(3),
petitioners need not provide
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information that they can certify is not
reasonably available to them.
The NOPR proposed to amend
§ 207.11(b)(2)(v) by requiring that
petitioners provide the email address,
street address, city, state, and 5-digit zip
code for each purchaser/contact with
respect to each lost sales or lost revenue
allegation. Only Wiley Rein LLP
commented on this proposal. It asserted
that the Commission’s current approach
to investigating lost sales and lost
revenues allegations is overly rigid and
that the proposed amendment will only
further increase the number of lost sales
or lost revenue allegations that go
uninvestigated.
We adopt the proposed amendment as
drafted in the NOPR. It is not true that
Commission staff will not investigate
lost sales/lost revenues investigations
unless each element of the requested
contact information is provided. If no
contact information is provided for a
purchaser, Commission staff will be
unable to investigate the allegation. If
some information is provided,
Commission staff will make reasonable
efforts to investigate the allegation in
light of available resources. While there
may be valid concerns with easing the
burden of the process by which lost
sales and lost revenue allegations are
actually verified by the Commission, it
is important to keep in mind that this
amendment is designed to facilitate the
Commission staff’s ability to contact
purchasers concerning transmission of
lost sales and lost revenue allegations in
the first instance. Since email is now the
most common means of corporate
contact, requiring petitioners to provide
email addresses for purchasers is no
more burdensome than requiring
petitioners to provide phone contact
information. Also, under § 207.11(b)(3),
petitioners currently are not required to
provide information that they can
certify is not reasonably available to
them. Consequently, contact
information that is not reasonably
available need not be furnished by
petitioners if the required certification is
provided.
The NOPR also proposed to amend
§ 207.11(b)(2)(v) by requiring that
petitioners file any lost sales or revenue
allegation(s) identified in the petition
via a separate electronic data entry
process in a manner to be specified in
the Commission’s Handbook on Filing
Procedures. Only Wiley Rein LLP
commented on this proposal. While it
did not specifically object to the
proposed amendment, it cautioned that
any electronic filing system for
cataloguing lost sales and lost revenue
allegations must be secure and flexible
enough to permit petitioners to update
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lost sales and lost revenue allegations
throughout the investigation.
We adopt the proposed amendment as
drafted in the NOPR. Commission staff
is still in the process of examining
possible methods for electronic entry of
data pertaining to lost sales and lost
revenues allegations. Some basic
requirements will be specified in the
Commission’s Handbook on Filing
Procedures. As the technology available
to the Commission staff evolves, these
requirements may be modified.
207.15 Written Briefs and Conference
The Commission has amended the
rule to require that nine copies of
confidential briefs and witness
testimony be filed in preliminary phase
investigations. As explained above, this
is one of several changes that will better
facilitate work by Commission staff
while resulting in an overall reduction
in the number of paper copies of certain
submissions to the Commission. The
Commission has considered comments
submitted in response to the NOPR
objecting to the retention of
requirements for filing of paper copies,
but as indicated in the adopted
amendments to § 201.8, believes
retention of these requirements is
necessary at this time.
207.20 Investigative Activity
Following Preliminary Determination
The NOPR proposed to amend
paragraph (b) of § 207.20 by requiring
that all requests for collecting new
information be presented at the draft
questionnaire stage in final phase
investigations. Wiley Rein LLP objected
to the proposed amendment, claiming
that the need to collect information may
not be apparent until after comments on
the draft questionnaires are submitted.
While acknowledging that the proposed
amendment is sensible, Stewart and
Stewart nevertheless argued that where
a party comes across some new
development or information after
comments on the draft questionnaires
have been filed and can demonstrate the
relevance of this information, the
Commission should accept a request to
collect the information to ensure it has
a complete record.
We adopt the proposed amendment to
the rule as drafted in the NOPR. Prior
to the final phase questionnaires being
issued for comment, there already has
been a preliminary phase investigation.
With this in mind, parties should be
able to ascertain, either from their
participation in the preliminary phase
investigation or their review of the
record, what the contested issues in a
final phase investigation are likely to be
and the types of additional data that
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should be gathered. While we
appreciate the concerns expressed by
the commenters, it is important to
remember that the rule is not an
absolute bar from making subsequent
information requests, but permits such
requests to be made when there is a
compelling need for the information and
when the information could not have
been requested in the comments on
draft questionnaires.
207.23 Prehearing Brief
The Commission has amended the
rule to require that nine copies of
confidential prehearing briefs be filed in
final phase investigations. As explained
above, this is one of several changes that
will facilitate work by Commission staff
while resulting in an overall reduction
in the number of paper copies of certain
submissions to the Commission. The
Commission has considered comments
submitted in response to the NOPR
objecting to the retention of
requirements for filing of paper copies,
but as indicated in the adopted
amendments to § 201.8, believes
retention of these requirements is
necessary at this time.
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207.25 Posthearing Briefs
The Commission has amended the
rule to require that nine copies of
posthearing briefs be filed in final phase
investigations. As explained above, this
is one of several changes that will
facilitate work by Commission staff
while resulting in an overall reduction
in the number of paper copies of certain
submissions to the Commission. The
Commission has considered comments
submitted in response to the NOPR
objecting to the retention of
requirements for filing of paper copies,
but as indicated in the adopted
amendments to § 201.8, believes
retention of these requirements is
necessary at this time.
207.28 Anticircumvention
The Commission has amended the
rule to require that nine copies of
written submissions concerning
anticircumvention matters be filed in
final phase investigations. As explained
above, this is one of several changes that
will facilitate work by Commission staff
while resulting in an overall reduction
in the number of paper copies of certain
submissions to the Commission. The
Commission has considered comments
submitted in response to the NOPR
objecting to the retention of
requirements for filing of paper copies,
but as indicated in the adopted
amendments to § 201.8, believes
retention of these requirements is
necessary at this time.
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207.30 Comment on Information
The Commission has amended the
rule to require the filing of nine copies
of comments on information disclosed
to the parties after they have filed their
posthearing brief pursuant to § 207.25.
As explained above, this is one of
several changes that will facilitate work
by Commission staff while resulting in
an overall reduction in the number of
paper copies of certain submissions to
the Commission. The Commission has
considered comments submitted in
response to the NOPR objecting to the
retention of requirements for filing of
paper copies, but as indicated in the
adopted amendments to § 201.8,
believes retention of these requirements
is necessary at this time.
207.45 Investigation To Review
Outstanding Determination
The NOPR proposed to amend
paragraph (d) of § 207.45 by extending
the deadline currently specified in the
rule for instituting changed
circumstance reviews from 30 days to
45 days, and extending the deadline
from 120 days to 180 days for
completing changed circumstance
reviews. None of the comments
addressed this specific proposal.
Accordingly, we adopt the proposed
amendment to the rule as drafted in the
NOPR.
207.61(e) Responses to Notice of
Institution
The Commission has amended the
rule to require that nine copies of
responses to the notice of institution be
filed in five-year reviews. As explained
above, this is one of several changes that
will facilitate work by Commission staff
while resulting in an overall reduction
in the number of paper copies of certain
submissions to the Commission. The
Commission has considered comments
submitted in response to the NOPR
objecting to the retention of
requirements for filing of paper copies,
but as indicated in the adopted
amendments to § 201.8, believes
retention of these requirements is
necessary at this time.
207.62(b)(2) Rulings on Adequacy and
Nature of Commission Review
The Commission has amended the
rule to require that nine copies of
comments on adequacy be filed in fiveyear reviews. As explained above, this
is one of several changes that will
facilitate work by Commission staff
while resulting in an overall reduction
in the number of paper copies of certain
submissions to the Commission. The
Commission has considered comments
submitted in response to the NOPR
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35923
objecting to the retention of
requirements for filing of paper copies,
but as indicated in the adopted
amendments to § 201.8, believes
retention of these requirements is
necessary at this time.
207.65 Prehearing Briefs
The Commission has amended the
rule to require that nine copies of
prehearing briefs be filed in five-year
reviews. As explained above, this is one
of several changes that will facilitate
work by Commission staff while
resulting in an overall reduction in the
number of paper copies of certain
submissions to the Commission. The
Commission has considered comments
submitted in response to the NOPR
objecting to the retention of
requirements for filing of paper copies,
but as indicated in the adopted
amendments to § 201.8, believes
retention of these requirements is
necessary at this time.
207.67(a) Posthearing Briefs and
Statements
The Commission has amended the
rule to require that nine copies of
posthearing briefs and statements be
filed in five-year reviews. As explained
above, this is one of several changes that
will facilitate work by Commission staff
while resulting in an overall reduction
in the number of paper copies of certain
submissions to the Commission. The
Commission has considered comments
submitted in response to the NOPR
objecting to the retention of
requirements for filing of paper copies,
but as indicated in the adopted
amendments to § 201.8, believes
retention of these requirements is
necessary at this time.
207.68(b) Posthearing Briefs and
Statements
The Commission has amended the
rule to require that nine copies of final
comments be filed in five-year reviews.
As explained above, this is one of
several changes that will facilitate work
by Commission staff while resulting in
an overall reduction in the number of
paper copies of certain submissions to
the Commission. The Commission has
considered comments submitted in
response to the NOPR objecting to the
retention of requirements for filing of
paper copies, but as indicated in the
adopted amendments to § 201.8,
believes retention of these requirements
is necessary at this time.
List of Subjects in 19 CFR Parts 201 and
207
Administrative practice and
procedure, Business and industry,
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Customs duties and inspection, Imports,
Investigations.
For the reasons stated in the
preamble, 19 CFR parts 201 and 207 are
amended as set forth below:
PART 201—RULES OF GENERAL
APPLICATION
1. The authority citation for part 201
continues to read as follows:
■
Authority: Sec. 335 of the Tariff Act of
1930 (19 U.S.C. 1335), and sec. 603 of the
Trade Act of 1974 (19 U.S.C. 2482), unless
otherwise noted.
Subpart B—Initiation and Conduct of
Investigations
2. Amend § 201.8 by revising
paragraphs (d)(1) and (f) to read as
follows:
■
§ 201.8
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3. The authority citation for part 207
continues to read as follows:
Authority: 19 U.S.C. 1336, 1671–1677n,
2482, 3513.
*
*
*
*
(d) Filing. (1) Except as provided in
paragraphs (d)(2) through (6) and (f) of
this section, all documents filed with
the Commission shall be filed
electronically. Completion of filing
requires the submission of paper copies
by 12 noon, Eastern time, on the next
business day. A paper copy provided for
in this section must be a true copy of the
electronic version of the document, i.e.,
a copy that is identical in all possible
respects. All paper copies of electronic
submissions exceeding fifty (50) pages
in length must have a divider page and
an identifying tab preceding each
exhibit and/or attachment. The divider
page and/or tab must be labeled with a
letter or number that corresponds to a
more fully descriptive index. All filings
shall comply with the procedures set
forth in the Commission’s Electronic
Document Information System Web site
at https://edis.usitc.gov. Failure to
comply with the requirements of this
chapter and the Handbook on Filing
Procedures that apply to the filing of a
document may result in the rejection of
the document as improperly filed.
*
*
*
*
*
(f) Nonconfidential copies. In the
event that confidential treatment of a
document is requested under § 201.6(b),
a nonconfidential version of the
document shall be filed, in which the
confidential business information shall
have been deleted and which shall have
been conspicuously marked
‘‘nonconfidential’’ or ‘‘public
inspection.’’’ The nonconfidential
version shall be filed electronically, and
two (2) true paper copies shall be
submitted on the same business day as
this electronic filing, except as provided
in § 206.8 or § 207.3 of this chapter. In
VerDate Mar<15>2010
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PART 207—INVESTIGATIONS OF
WHETHER INJURY TO DOMESTIC
INDUSTRIES RESULTS FROM
IMPORTS SOLD AT LESS THAN FAIR
VALUE OR FROM SUBSIDIZED
EXPORTS TO THE UNITED STATES
■
Filing of documents.
*
the event that confidential treatment is
not requested for a document under
§ 201.6(b), the document shall be
conspicuously marked ‘‘No confidential
version filed,’’ and the document shall
be filed in accordance with paragraph
(d) of this section. The name of the
person signing the original shall be
typewritten or otherwise reproduced on
each copy.
*
*
*
*
*
4. Amend § 207.10 by revising
paragraph (a) to read as follows:
■
§ 207.10 Filing of petition with the
Commission.
(a) Filing of the petition. Any
interested party who files a petition
with the administering authority
pursuant to section 702(b) or section
732(b) of the Act in a case in which a
Commission determination under title
VII of the Act is required, shall file
copies of the petition and all exhibits,
appendices, and attachments thereto,
pursuant to section 201.8 of this
chapter, with the Secretary on the same
day the petition is filed with the
administering authority. A paper
original and eight (8) true paper copies
of a petition shall be filed. One copy of
all exhibits, appendices, and
attachments to the petition shall be filed
in electronic form on CD–ROM, DVD, or
other portable electronic format
approved by the Secretary. Petitioners
also must file one unbound copy of the
petition (the unbound copy of the
petition may be stapled or held together
by means of a clip). If the petition
complies with the provisions of
§ 207.11, it shall be deemed to be
properly filed on the date on which the
requisite number of copies of the
petition is received by the Secretary,
provided that, if the petition is filed
with the Secretary after 12:00 noon,
eastern time, the petition shall be
deemed filed on the next business day.
Notwithstanding § 207.11 of this
chapter, a petitioner need not file an
entry of appearance in the investigation
instituted upon the filing of its petition,
which shall be deemed an entry of
appearance.
*
*
*
*
*
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5. Amend § 207.11 by revising
paragraphs (b)(2)(ii), (iii), and (v) to read
as follows:
■
§ 207.11
Contents of Petition.
*
*
*
*
*
(b) * * *
(2) * * *
(ii) A listing of all U.S. producers of
the proposed domestic like product(s),
including a street address, phone
number, and contact person(s) with
email address(es) for each producer;
(iii) A listing of all U.S. importers of
the subject merchandise, including
street addresses, email addresses, and
phone numbers for each importer.
*
*
*
*
*
(v) A listing of all sales or revenue lost
by each petitioning firm by reason of the
subject merchandise during the three
years preceding filing of the petition.
For each named purchaser, petitioners
must provide the email address of the
specific contact person, street address,
city, state, and 5-digit zip code with
respect to each lost sales or lost revenue
allegation. Petitioners must certify that
all lost sales or lost revenue allegations
identified in the petition will also be
submitted electronically in the manner
specified in the Commission’s
Handbook on Filing Procedures.
*
*
*
*
*
■ 6. Revise § 207.15 to read as follows:
§ 207.15
Written briefs and conference.
Each party may submit to the
Commission on or before a date
specified in the notice of investigation
issued pursuant to 207.12 a written brief
containing information and arguments
pertinent to the subject matter of the
investigation. Briefs shall be signed,
shall include a table of contents, and
shall contain no more than fifty (50)
double-spaced and single-sided pages of
textual material, and shall be filed
electronically, and nine (9) true paper
copies shall be submitted on the same
business day (on paper measuring 8.5 x
11 inches, double-spaced and singlesided). Any person not a party may
submit a brief written statement of
information pertinent to the
investigation within the time specified
and the same manner specified for the
filing of briefs. In addition, the
presiding official may permit persons to
file within a specified time answers to
questions or requests made by the
Commission’s staff. If he deems it
appropriate, the Director shall hold a
conference. The conference, if any, shall
be held in accordance with the
procedures in § 201.13 of this chapter,
except that in connection with its
presentation a party may provide
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§ 207.20 Investigative activity following
preliminary determination.
single-sided, when printed out on paper
measuring 8.5 x 11 inches. In addition,
the presiding official may permit
persons to file answers to questions or
requests made by the Commission at the
hearing within a specified time. The
Secretary shall not accept for filing
posthearing briefs or answers which do
not comply with this section.
■ 10. Revise § 207.28 to read as follows:
*
§ 207.28
written witness testimony at the
conference; if written testimony is
provided, nine (9) true paper copies
shall be submitted. The Director may
request the appearance of witnesses,
take testimony, and administer oaths.
■ 7. Amend § 207.20 by revising
paragraph (b) to read as follows:
*
*
*
*
(b) The Director shall circulate draft
questionnaires for the final phase of an
investigation to parties to the
investigation for comment. Any party
desiring to comment on draft
questionnaires shall submit such
comments in writing to the Commission
within a time specified by the Director.
All requests for collecting new
information shall be presented at this
time. The Commission will disregard
subsequent requests for collection of
new information absent a showing that
there is a compelling need for the
information and that the information
could not have been requested in the
comments on the draft questionnaires.
■ 8. Revise § 207.23 to read as follows:
§ 207.23
Prehearing brief.
Each party who is an interested party
shall submit to the Commission, no later
than five (5) business days prior to the
date of the hearing specified in the
notice of scheduling, a prehearing brief.
Prehearing briefs shall be signed and
shall include a table of contents and
shall be filed electronically, and nine (9)
true paper copies shall be submitted on
the same business day. The prehearing
brief should present a party’s case
concisely and shall, to the extent
possible, refer to the record and include
information and arguments which the
party believes relevant to the subject
matter of the Commission’s
determination under section 705(b) or
section 735(b) of the Act. Any person
not an interested party may submit a
brief written statement of information
pertinent to the investigation within the
time specified and the same manner
specified for filing of prehearing briefs.
■ 9. Revise § 207.25 to read as follows:
ehiers on DSK2VPTVN1PROD with RULES
§ 207.25
Posthearing briefs.
Any party may file a posthearing brief
concerning the information adduced at
or after the hearing with the Secretary
within a time specified in the notice of
scheduling or by the presiding official at
the hearing. A posthearing brief shall be
filed electronically, and nine (9) true
paper copies shall be submitted on the
same business day. No such posthearing
brief shall exceed fifteen (15) pages of
textual material, double-spaced and
VerDate Mar<15>2010
14:16 Jun 24, 2014
Jkt 232001
Anticircumvention.
Prior to providing advice to the
administering authority pursuant to
section 781(e)(3) of the Act, the
Commission shall publish in the
Federal Register a notice that such
advice is contemplated. Any person
may file one written submission
concerning the matter described in the
notice no later than fourteen (14) days
after publication of the notice. Such a
statement shall be filed electronically,
and nine (9) true paper copies shall be
submitted on the same business day.
The statement shall contain no more
than fifty (50) double-spaced and singlesided pages of textual material, when
printed out on paper measuring 8.5 x 11
inches. The Commission shall by notice
provide for additional statements as it
deems necessary.
■ 11. Amend § 207.30 by revising
paragraph (b) to read as follows:
§ 207.30
Comment on information.
*
*
*
*
*
(b) The parties shall have an
opportunity to file comments on any
information disclosed to them after they
have filed their posthearing brief
pursuant to § 207.25. A comment shall
be filed electronically, and nine (9) true
paper copies shall be submitted on the
same business day. Comments shall
only concern such information, and
shall not exceed 15 pages of textual
material, double-spaced and singlesided, when printed out on paper
measuring 8.5 x 11 inches. A comment
may address the accuracy, reliability, or
probative value of such information by
reference to information elsewhere in
the record, in which case the comment
shall identify where in the record such
information is found. Comments
containing new factual information
shall be disregarded. The date on which
such comments must be filed will be
specified by the Commission when it
specifies the time that information will
be disclosed pursuant to paragraph (a)
of this section. The record shall close on
the date such comments are due, except
with respect to investigations subject to
the provisions of section 771(7)(G)(iii) of
the Act, and with respect to changes in
bracketing of business proprietary
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35925
information in the comments permitted
by § 207.3(c).
■ 12. Amend § 207.45 by revising
paragraph (c) to read as follows:
§ 207.45 Investigation to review
outstanding determination.
*
*
*
*
*
(c) Institution of an investigation.
Within forty-five (45) days after the
close of the period for public comments
following publication of the receipt of a
request, the Commission shall
determine whether the request shows
changed circumstances sufficient to
warrant a review and, if so, shall
institute a review investigation. The
Commission may also institute a review
investigation on its own initiative. The
review investigation shall be instituted
by notice published in the Federal
Register and shall be completed within
one hundred eighty (180) days of the
date of such publication. If the
Commission determines that a request
does not show changed circumstances
sufficient to warrant a review, the
request shall be dismissed and a notice
of the dismissal published in the
Federal Register stating the reasons
therefor.
*
*
*
*
*
■ 13. Amend § 207.61 by revising
paragraph (e) to read as follows:
§ 207.61 Responses to notice of
institution.
*
*
*
*
*
(e) A document filed under this
section shall be filed electronically, and
nine (9) true paper copies shall be
submitted on the same business day.
■ 14. Amend § 207.62 by revising
paragraph (b)(2) to read as follows:
§ 207.62 Rulings on adequacy and nature
of Commission review.
*
*
*
*
*
(b) * * *
(2) Comments shall be submitted
within the time specified in the notice
of institution. In a grouped review, only
one set of comments shall be filed per
party. Comments shall be filed
electronically, and nine (9) true paper
copies shall be submitted on the same
business day. Comments shall not
exceed fifteen (15) pages of textual
material, double spaced and single
sided, when printed out on paper
measuring 8.5 x 11 inches. Comments
containing new factual information
shall be disregarded.
*
*
*
*
*
■ 15. Revise § 207.65 to read as follows:
§ 207.65
Prehearing briefs.
Each party to a five-year review may
submit a prehearing brief to the
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Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 122 / Wednesday, June 25, 2014 / Rules and Regulations
Commission on the date specified in the
scheduling notice. A prehearing brief
shall be signed and shall include a table
of contents. A prehearing brief shall be
filed electronically, and nine (9) true
paper copies shall be submitted (on
paper measuring 8.5 x 11 inches and
single-sided) on the same business day.
The prehearing brief should present a
party’s case concisely and shall, to the
extent possible, refer to the record and
include information and arguments
which the party believes relevant to the
subject matter of the Commission’s
determination.
■ 16. Amend § 207.67 by revising
paragraph (a) to read as follows:
§ 207.67 Posthearing briefs and
statements.
Final comments on information.
ehiers on DSK2VPTVN1PROD with RULES
*
*
*
*
*
(b) The parties shall have an
opportunity to file comments on any
information disclosed to them after they
have filed their posthearing brief
pursuant to § 207.67. Comments shall be
filed electronically, and nine (9) true
paper copies shall be submitted on the
same business day. Comments shall
only concern such information, and
shall not exceed 15 pages of textual
material, double spaced and singlesided, when printed out on paper
measuring 8.5 x 11 inches and singlesided. A comment may address the
accuracy, reliability, or probative value
of such information by reference to
information elsewhere in the record, in
which case the comment shall identify
where in the record such information is
found. Comments containing new
factual information shall be disregarded.
VerDate Mar<15>2010
14:16 Jun 24, 2014
Jkt 232001
By order of the Commission.
Issued: June 19, 2014.
Lisa R. Barton,
Secretary to the Commission.
[FR Doc. 2014–14675 Filed 6–24–14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7020–02–P
SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION
(a) Briefs from parties. Any party to a
five-year review may file with the
Secretary a posthearing brief concerning
the information adduced at or after the
hearing within a time specified in the
scheduling notice or by the presiding
official at the hearing. A posthearing
brief shall be filed electronically, and
nine (9) true paper copies shall be
submitted on the same business day. No
such posthearing brief shall exceed
fifteen (15) pages of textual material,
double spaced and single sided, when
printed out on paper measuring 8.5 x 11
inches and single-sided. In addition, the
presiding official may permit persons to
file answers to questions or requests
made by the Commission at the hearing
within a specified time. The Secretary
shall not accept for filing posthearing
briefs or answers which do not comply
with this section.
*
*
*
*
*
■ 17. Amend § 207.68 by revising
paragraph (b) to read as follows:
§ 207.68
The date on which such comments must
be filed will be specified by the
Commission when it specifies the time
that information will be disclosed
pursuant to paragraph (a) of this section.
The record shall close on the date such
comments are due, except with respect
to changes in bracketing of business
proprietary information in the
comments permitted by § 207.3(c).
20 CFR Parts 404, 405, and 416
[Docket No. 2011–0056]
RIN 0960–AH37
Changes to Scheduling and Appearing
at Hearings
Social Security Administration.
Final rules.
AGENCY:
ACTION:
These final rules explain how
a claimant may object to appearing at a
hearing via video teleconferencing, or to
the time and place of a hearing. These
final rules adopt, with further
clarification regarding our good cause
exception, the notice of proposed
rulemaking (NPRM) that we published
in the Federal Register on June 27,
2013. We expect that these final rules
will have a minimal impact on the
public, help ensure the integrity of our
programs, and allow us to administer
our programs more efficiently.
DATES: These final rules are effective
July 25, 2014.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Maren Weight, Social Security
Administration, 5107 Leesburg Pike,
Falls Church, VA 22041–3260, (703)
605–7100 for information about this
notice. For information on eligibility or
filing for benefits, call our national tollfree number, 1–800–772–1213 or TTY
1–800–325–0778, or visit our Internet
site, Social Security Online, at https://
www.socialsecurity.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
SUMMARY:
Background
We are making final, with further
clarification regarding our good cause
exception, the proposed NPRM that we
published in the Federal Register on
June 27, 2013.1 As we discussed in the
1 The NPRM is available at: https://www.gpo.gov/
fdsys/pkg/FR-2013-06-27/pdf/2013-14894.pdf.
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preamble to the NPRM, our workloads
at the administrative law judge (ALJ)
hearing level continue to grow, and we
are implementing final rules that will
help us provide better service by
allowing us to conduct hearings and
issue decisions more expeditiously.
Objecting to Appearing by Video
Teleconferencing
As we explained in the NPRM, we
have conducted hearings by video
teleconferencing since 2003. Over the
last decade, we found that hearings held
by video teleconferencing help reduce
our average processing time, reduce
travel expenses, and allow us to better
serve the public. Therefore, we have
continued to improve our video
teleconferencing capabilities, added five
National Hearing Centers that hold
hearings exclusively by video
teleconferencing, and increased the
number of ALJs in traditional hearing
offices who hold hearings by video
teleconferencing.
However, we reiterate in these final
rules that while we have taken
significant strides in increasing our
video teleconferencing capacity, we
remain concerned that some individuals
are manipulating our rules in order to
obtain a hearing with an ALJ with a
higher allowance rate. As we previously
noted, this may be an unintended
consequence of our commitment to
transparency as we make more
information, such as an ALJ’s allowance
rates, available to claimants and their
representatives. Until the effective date
of this final rule, these types of efforts
to undermine the random assignment of
ALJs have generally been successful.
Our business process has been to
reschedule a hearing if the claimant, or
a representative on a claimant’s behalf,
objected to appearing by video
teleconferencing at any time before or at
the hearing, or to transfer a case if a
claimant indicated he or she moved
closer to another hearing office.
Our continued concerns about efforts
to undermine our rules are not merely
anecdotal. At the time of this final rule,
we brought and pursued sanction
actions against an appointed
representative for misrepresenting facts
in order to have cases transferred to a
hearing office with a higher allowance
rate. We have observed some
individuals decline hearings by video
teleconferencing after learning that the
claimant is scheduled to appear before
an ALJ with a lower allowance rate. We
have observed other questionable
conduct that, while not necessarily
constituting misconduct often delays
the processing of cases and prevents the
use of video teleconferencing
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Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 122 (Wednesday, June 25, 2014)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 35920-35926]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-14675]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION
19 CFR Parts 201 and 207
[Docket No. MISC-013]
Conduct of Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Investigations and
Reviews
AGENCY: International Trade Commission.
ACTION: Final rule.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The United States International Trade Commission
(``Commission'') amends its Rules of Practice and Procedure concerning
rules of general application, and provisions concerning the conduct of
antidumping and countervailing duty investigations and reviews. The
amendments are designed to increase efficiency in processing and
reviewing documents filed with the Commission and reduce Commission
expenditures.
DATES: This regulation is effective July 25, 2014. This regulation is
applicable to all proceedings pending before the Commission as of July
25, 2014.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lisa R. Barton, Secretary, telephone
(202) 205-2000, or David Goldfine, Attorney-Advisor, Office of the
General Counsel, telephone (202) 708-5452, United States International
Trade Commission. Hearing-impaired individuals are advised that
information on this matter can be obtained by contacting the
Commission's TDD terminal at (202) 205-1810. General information
concerning the Commission may also be obtained by accessing its
Internet server at https://www.usitc.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
Section 335 of the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. 1335) authorizes
the Commission to adopt such reasonable procedures, rules, and
regulations as it deems necessary to carry out its functions and
duties. This rulemaking seeks to improve provisions of the Commission's
existing Rules of Practice and Procedure. The Commission is amending
Part 201 of its rules, which are rules of general application. The
Commission also is amending Part 207 of its rules covering proceedings
such as investigations and reviews conducted under title VII of the
Tariff Act of 1930 (``title VII proceedings''). The Commission
published a notice of
[[Page 35921]]
proposed rulemaking (NOPR) in the Federal Register at 78 FR 36446-36449
(June 18, 2013), proposing to amend the Commission's Rules of Practice
and Procedure to make certain changes to rules of general application
and provisions concerning the conduct of antidumping and countervailing
duty investigations and reviews.
Although the Commission considers these rules to be procedural,
which are excepted from notice-and-comment under 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(3)(A),
the Commission invited the public to comment on all the proposed rules
amendments. The NOPR requested public comment on the proposed rules
within 60 days of publication of the NOPR. Three law firms which
regularly appear before the Commission in Title VII proceedings filed
comments: (1) Wiley Rein LLP, (2) Stewart and Stewart LLP, and (3)
Cassidy Levy Kent LLP. Wiley Rein LLP filed its comments on behalf of
Nucor Corporation, a domestic producer of steel products that
frequently appears before the Commission in Title VII proceedings.
Stewart and Stewart LLP and Cassidy Levy Kent LLP each filed comments
on its own behalf.
The Commission carefully considered all comments received. The
Commission's response is provided below in a section-by-section
analysis. The Commission appreciates the time and effort the
commentators devoted to provide comments on the NOPR.
Regulatory Analysis of Amendments to the Commission's Rules
The Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.) is
inapplicable to this rulemaking because it is not one for which a
notice of final rulemaking is required under 5 U.S.C. 553(b) or any
other statute. Although the Commission chose to publish a notice of
proposed rulemaking, these regulations are ``agency rules of procedure
and practice,'' and thus are exempt from the notice requirement imposed
by 5 U.S.C. 553(b). Moreover, the rules are certified as not having a
significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities
under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.).
The rules do not impose an information collection burden under the
provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.).
The rules do not contain any unfunded mandate or significantly or
uniquely affect small governments, as described in the Unfunded
Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-4).
The rules do not constitute a ``significant regulatory action''
under Executive Order 12866 (58 FR 51735, October 4, 1993).
The rules do not have Federalism implications as specified in
Executive Order 13132 (64 FR 43255, October 7, 1999).
The amendments are not major rules as defined by section 804 of the
Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996 (5 U.S.C.
801 et. seq.). Moreover, they are exempt from the reporting
requirements of the Act because they concern rules of agency
organization, procedure, or practice that do not substantially affect
the rights or obligations of non-agency parties.
Overview of the Amendments to the Regulations
Most of the final rules set forth in this document are identical to
the correspondingly numbered proposed rules published on June 18, 2013.
For two of the proposed rules (Sec. Sec. 207.10 and 207.45), no
comments were submitted. The Commission found no reason to change those
proposed rules on its own before adopting them as final rules. Thus,
the preamble to those unchanged final rules is as set forth in the
section-by-section analysis of the proposed rules found at 78 FR 36446-
36449 (June 18, 2013).
The Commission did receive comments with suggestions for
modifications pertaining to the other proposed rules. Those suggestions
and the views of the Commission are summarized in the section-by-
section analysis of this final rule. The commentary in the June 18,
2013, notice is considered part of the preamble to these final rules,
to the extent that such commentary is not inconsistent with the
discussion below.
The final rules differ from the proposed rules in two respects.
First, with respect to Sec. 201.8, relating to the filing of
documents, the Commission has not adopted the proposed securely bound
provision in paragraph (d). Second, the Commission has determined to
amend its rules to require filing of nine confidential and two non-
confidential copies of briefs and other written submissions (rather
than eight confidential and four non-confidential copies as required
under the current rules) in preliminary and final phase investigations
and five-year reviews as reflected in the amendments to Sec. Sec.
201.8(f), 207.15, 207.23, 207.25, 207.28, 207.30, 207.61(e),
207.62(b)(2), 207.65, 207.67(a), and 207.68(b). These amendments simply
change the apportionment of confidential and nonconfidential copies of
these written submissions in order to better meet the needs of
Commission staff and reduce internal photocopying expenses and will
result in a reduction of the overall number of copies that need to be
filed. While the amendments to these provisions were not included in
the proposed rules and therefore the Commission did not receive
comments on them, there is no advance notice requirement for procedural
changes to rules such as these under the Administrative Procedure Act.
See 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(A). Moreover, in the proposed rulemaking, the
Commission received comments with respect to the Commission's retention
of paper filing requirements in Sec. 201.8, and those comments are
addressed below.
Section-by-Section Analysis
19 CFR Part 201
Subpart B--Initiation and Conduct of Investigations
201.8 Filing of Documents
The NOPR proposed to amend paragraph (d) of Sec. 201.8 by
requiring that all paper copies of electronic submissions exceeding
fifty (50) pages in length be securely bound and have a divider page
and an identifying tab preceding each exhibit and/or attachment. Wiley
Rein LLP objected to the proposed amendment as ``duplicative,''
emphasizing that parties are already required to supply searchable
electronic versions of documents to the Commission. Wiley Rein LLP also
asserted that preparing bound paper copies imposes an additional burden
on the parties appearing before the Commission. Cassidy Levy Kent LLP
urged the Commission to ``abolish'' all paper filing requirements,
emphasizing that many other federal agencies and the U.S. Court of
International Trade have transitioned from paper to electronic filing.
We adopt the proposed amendments to the rule as drafted in the
NOPR, except for the bound copy requirement. We find the commenters'
suggestion that the proposed bound copy requirement not be adopted to
be persuasive. We also acknowledge that there is a trend toward greater
electronic filing in agency and court proceedings. For now, however,
the Commission and its staff will need to continue to rely on receiving
paper copies of documents in light of the tight deadlines and
voluminous factual records entailed by AD/CVD investigations and
reviews, as well as the constraints of current technology and the
Commission's ability to adopt new technology given budgetary
restrictions. Requiring divider pages and tabs for exhibits and
[[Page 35922]]
attachments will facilitate review of lengthy, multi-part documents by
Commission staff. The Commission will continue to monitor requirements
pertaining to filing of documents as technology develops.
The Commission has amended paragraph (f) of Sec. 201.8 to require
that two copies of nonconfidential documents be filed. As explained
above, this is one of several changes that will result in an overall
reduction in the number of paper copies of certain submissions to the
Commission.
19 CFR Part 207
207.10 Filing of Petition With the Commission
The NOPR proposed to amend paragraph (a) of Sec. 207.10 to require
one unbound copy of petitions. None of the comments addressed this
specific proposal. Accordingly, we adopt the proposed amendment to the
rule as drafted in the NOPR.
Contents of Petition
The NOPR proposed to amend Sec. 207.11(b)(2)(ii) and (iii) by
requiring petitioners to provide email addresses for all U.S. producers
and U.S. importers identified in the petition. Although the current
rules specify that petitioners are required to provide contact
information for U.S. producers and U.S. importers, the information
required includes street addresses, phone numbers, and contact
person(s), but not email addresses. Wiley Rein LLP objected to the
proposed amendments as impracticable, particularly in instances where
petitioning firms and U.S. importers are competitors. While
acknowledging that the proposed amendments are generally sensible,
Stewart and Stewart LLP urged the Commission to require parties to
provide such information only when it is ``reasonably available.''
We adopt the proposed amendments to Sec. 207.11(b)(2)(ii) and
(iii) as drafted in the NOPR. We are mindful that the objective of the
proposals is to facilitate the electronic distribution of
questionnaires. Under the proposed amendments, email addresses for
individual contact persons are required only for domestic producers,
which petitioners should be readily able to obtain. For importers,
there is no requirement to provide email addresses for an individual
contact person; instead, a general corporate email account is
sufficient, which petitioners should be readily able to obtain.
Moreover, as under Sec. 207.11(b)(3), petitioners need not provide
information that they can certify is not reasonably available to them.
The NOPR proposed to amend Sec. 207.11(b)(2)(v) by requiring that
petitioners provide the email address, street address, city, state, and
5-digit zip code for each purchaser/contact with respect to each lost
sales or lost revenue allegation. Only Wiley Rein LLP commented on this
proposal. It asserted that the Commission's current approach to
investigating lost sales and lost revenues allegations is overly rigid
and that the proposed amendment will only further increase the number
of lost sales or lost revenue allegations that go uninvestigated.
We adopt the proposed amendment as drafted in the NOPR. It is not
true that Commission staff will not investigate lost sales/lost
revenues investigations unless each element of the requested contact
information is provided. If no contact information is provided for a
purchaser, Commission staff will be unable to investigate the
allegation. If some information is provided, Commission staff will make
reasonable efforts to investigate the allegation in light of available
resources. While there may be valid concerns with easing the burden of
the process by which lost sales and lost revenue allegations are
actually verified by the Commission, it is important to keep in mind
that this amendment is designed to facilitate the Commission staff's
ability to contact purchasers concerning transmission of lost sales and
lost revenue allegations in the first instance. Since email is now the
most common means of corporate contact, requiring petitioners to
provide email addresses for purchasers is no more burdensome than
requiring petitioners to provide phone contact information. Also, under
Sec. 207.11(b)(3), petitioners currently are not required to provide
information that they can certify is not reasonably available to them.
Consequently, contact information that is not reasonably available need
not be furnished by petitioners if the required certification is
provided.
The NOPR also proposed to amend Sec. 207.11(b)(2)(v) by requiring
that petitioners file any lost sales or revenue allegation(s)
identified in the petition via a separate electronic data entry process
in a manner to be specified in the Commission's Handbook on Filing
Procedures. Only Wiley Rein LLP commented on this proposal. While it
did not specifically object to the proposed amendment, it cautioned
that any electronic filing system for cataloguing lost sales and lost
revenue allegations must be secure and flexible enough to permit
petitioners to update lost sales and lost revenue allegations
throughout the investigation.
We adopt the proposed amendment as drafted in the NOPR. Commission
staff is still in the process of examining possible methods for
electronic entry of data pertaining to lost sales and lost revenues
allegations. Some basic requirements will be specified in the
Commission's Handbook on Filing Procedures. As the technology available
to the Commission staff evolves, these requirements may be modified.
207.15 Written Briefs and Conference
The Commission has amended the rule to require that nine copies of
confidential briefs and witness testimony be filed in preliminary phase
investigations. As explained above, this is one of several changes that
will better facilitate work by Commission staff while resulting in an
overall reduction in the number of paper copies of certain submissions
to the Commission. The Commission has considered comments submitted in
response to the NOPR objecting to the retention of requirements for
filing of paper copies, but as indicated in the adopted amendments to
Sec. 201.8, believes retention of these requirements is necessary at
this time.
207.20 Investigative Activity Following Preliminary Determination
The NOPR proposed to amend paragraph (b) of Sec. 207.20 by
requiring that all requests for collecting new information be presented
at the draft questionnaire stage in final phase investigations. Wiley
Rein LLP objected to the proposed amendment, claiming that the need to
collect information may not be apparent until after comments on the
draft questionnaires are submitted. While acknowledging that the
proposed amendment is sensible, Stewart and Stewart nevertheless argued
that where a party comes across some new development or information
after comments on the draft questionnaires have been filed and can
demonstrate the relevance of this information, the Commission should
accept a request to collect the information to ensure it has a complete
record.
We adopt the proposed amendment to the rule as drafted in the NOPR.
Prior to the final phase questionnaires being issued for comment, there
already has been a preliminary phase investigation. With this in mind,
parties should be able to ascertain, either from their participation in
the preliminary phase investigation or their review of the record, what
the contested issues in a final phase investigation are likely to be
and the types of additional data that
[[Page 35923]]
should be gathered. While we appreciate the concerns expressed by the
commenters, it is important to remember that the rule is not an
absolute bar from making subsequent information requests, but permits
such requests to be made when there is a compelling need for the
information and when the information could not have been requested in
the comments on draft questionnaires.
207.23 Prehearing Brief
The Commission has amended the rule to require that nine copies of
confidential prehearing briefs be filed in final phase investigations.
As explained above, this is one of several changes that will facilitate
work by Commission staff while resulting in an overall reduction in the
number of paper copies of certain submissions to the Commission. The
Commission has considered comments submitted in response to the NOPR
objecting to the retention of requirements for filing of paper copies,
but as indicated in the adopted amendments to Sec. 201.8, believes
retention of these requirements is necessary at this time.
207.25 Posthearing Briefs
The Commission has amended the rule to require that nine copies of
posthearing briefs be filed in final phase investigations. As explained
above, this is one of several changes that will facilitate work by
Commission staff while resulting in an overall reduction in the number
of paper copies of certain submissions to the Commission. The
Commission has considered comments submitted in response to the NOPR
objecting to the retention of requirements for filing of paper copies,
but as indicated in the adopted amendments to Sec. 201.8, believes
retention of these requirements is necessary at this time.
207.28 Anticircumvention
The Commission has amended the rule to require that nine copies of
written submissions concerning anticircumvention matters be filed in
final phase investigations. As explained above, this is one of several
changes that will facilitate work by Commission staff while resulting
in an overall reduction in the number of paper copies of certain
submissions to the Commission. The Commission has considered comments
submitted in response to the NOPR objecting to the retention of
requirements for filing of paper copies, but as indicated in the
adopted amendments to Sec. 201.8, believes retention of these
requirements is necessary at this time.
207.30 Comment on Information
The Commission has amended the rule to require the filing of nine
copies of comments on information disclosed to the parties after they
have filed their posthearing brief pursuant to Sec. 207.25. As
explained above, this is one of several changes that will facilitate
work by Commission staff while resulting in an overall reduction in the
number of paper copies of certain submissions to the Commission. The
Commission has considered comments submitted in response to the NOPR
objecting to the retention of requirements for filing of paper copies,
but as indicated in the adopted amendments to Sec. 201.8, believes
retention of these requirements is necessary at this time.
207.45 Investigation To Review Outstanding Determination
The NOPR proposed to amend paragraph (d) of Sec. 207.45 by
extending the deadline currently specified in the rule for instituting
changed circumstance reviews from 30 days to 45 days, and extending the
deadline from 120 days to 180 days for completing changed circumstance
reviews. None of the comments addressed this specific proposal.
Accordingly, we adopt the proposed amendment to the rule as drafted in
the NOPR.
207.61(e) Responses to Notice of Institution
The Commission has amended the rule to require that nine copies of
responses to the notice of institution be filed in five-year reviews.
As explained above, this is one of several changes that will facilitate
work by Commission staff while resulting in an overall reduction in the
number of paper copies of certain submissions to the Commission. The
Commission has considered comments submitted in response to the NOPR
objecting to the retention of requirements for filing of paper copies,
but as indicated in the adopted amendments to Sec. 201.8, believes
retention of these requirements is necessary at this time.
207.62(b)(2) Rulings on Adequacy and Nature of Commission Review
The Commission has amended the rule to require that nine copies of
comments on adequacy be filed in five-year reviews. As explained above,
this is one of several changes that will facilitate work by Commission
staff while resulting in an overall reduction in the number of paper
copies of certain submissions to the Commission. The Commission has
considered comments submitted in response to the NOPR objecting to the
retention of requirements for filing of paper copies, but as indicated
in the adopted amendments to Sec. 201.8, believes retention of these
requirements is necessary at this time.
207.65 Prehearing Briefs
The Commission has amended the rule to require that nine copies of
prehearing briefs be filed in five-year reviews. As explained above,
this is one of several changes that will facilitate work by Commission
staff while resulting in an overall reduction in the number of paper
copies of certain submissions to the Commission. The Commission has
considered comments submitted in response to the NOPR objecting to the
retention of requirements for filing of paper copies, but as indicated
in the adopted amendments to Sec. 201.8, believes retention of these
requirements is necessary at this time.
207.67(a) Posthearing Briefs and Statements
The Commission has amended the rule to require that nine copies of
posthearing briefs and statements be filed in five-year reviews. As
explained above, this is one of several changes that will facilitate
work by Commission staff while resulting in an overall reduction in the
number of paper copies of certain submissions to the Commission. The
Commission has considered comments submitted in response to the NOPR
objecting to the retention of requirements for filing of paper copies,
but as indicated in the adopted amendments to Sec. 201.8, believes
retention of these requirements is necessary at this time.
207.68(b) Posthearing Briefs and Statements
The Commission has amended the rule to require that nine copies of
final comments be filed in five-year reviews. As explained above, this
is one of several changes that will facilitate work by Commission staff
while resulting in an overall reduction in the number of paper copies
of certain submissions to the Commission. The Commission has considered
comments submitted in response to the NOPR objecting to the retention
of requirements for filing of paper copies, but as indicated in the
adopted amendments to Sec. 201.8, believes retention of these
requirements is necessary at this time.
List of Subjects in 19 CFR Parts 201 and 207
Administrative practice and procedure, Business and industry,
[[Page 35924]]
Customs duties and inspection, Imports, Investigations.
For the reasons stated in the preamble, 19 CFR parts 201 and 207
are amended as set forth below:
PART 201--RULES OF GENERAL APPLICATION
0
1. The authority citation for part 201 continues to read as follows:
Authority: Sec. 335 of the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. 1335),
and sec. 603 of the Trade Act of 1974 (19 U.S.C. 2482), unless
otherwise noted.
Subpart B--Initiation and Conduct of Investigations
0
2. Amend Sec. 201.8 by revising paragraphs (d)(1) and (f) to read as
follows:
Sec. 201.8 Filing of documents.
* * * * *
(d) Filing. (1) Except as provided in paragraphs (d)(2) through (6)
and (f) of this section, all documents filed with the Commission shall
be filed electronically. Completion of filing requires the submission
of paper copies by 12 noon, Eastern time, on the next business day. A
paper copy provided for in this section must be a true copy of the
electronic version of the document, i.e., a copy that is identical in
all possible respects. All paper copies of electronic submissions
exceeding fifty (50) pages in length must have a divider page and an
identifying tab preceding each exhibit and/or attachment. The divider
page and/or tab must be labeled with a letter or number that
corresponds to a more fully descriptive index. All filings shall comply
with the procedures set forth in the Commission's Electronic Document
Information System Web site at https://edis.usitc.gov. Failure to
comply with the requirements of this chapter and the Handbook on Filing
Procedures that apply to the filing of a document may result in the
rejection of the document as improperly filed.
* * * * *
(f) Nonconfidential copies. In the event that confidential
treatment of a document is requested under Sec. 201.6(b), a
nonconfidential version of the document shall be filed, in which the
confidential business information shall have been deleted and which
shall have been conspicuously marked ``nonconfidential'' or ``public
inspection.''' The nonconfidential version shall be filed
electronically, and two (2) true paper copies shall be submitted on the
same business day as this electronic filing, except as provided in
Sec. 206.8 or Sec. 207.3 of this chapter. In the event that
confidential treatment is not requested for a document under Sec.
201.6(b), the document shall be conspicuously marked ``No confidential
version filed,'' and the document shall be filed in accordance with
paragraph (d) of this section. The name of the person signing the
original shall be typewritten or otherwise reproduced on each copy.
* * * * *
PART 207--INVESTIGATIONS OF WHETHER INJURY TO DOMESTIC INDUSTRIES
RESULTS FROM IMPORTS SOLD AT LESS THAN FAIR VALUE OR FROM
SUBSIDIZED EXPORTS TO THE UNITED STATES
0
3. The authority citation for part 207 continues to read as follows:
Authority: 19 U.S.C. 1336, 1671-1677n, 2482, 3513.
0
4. Amend Sec. 207.10 by revising paragraph (a) to read as follows:
Sec. 207.10 Filing of petition with the Commission.
(a) Filing of the petition. Any interested party who files a
petition with the administering authority pursuant to section 702(b) or
section 732(b) of the Act in a case in which a Commission determination
under title VII of the Act is required, shall file copies of the
petition and all exhibits, appendices, and attachments thereto,
pursuant to section 201.8 of this chapter, with the Secretary on the
same day the petition is filed with the administering authority. A
paper original and eight (8) true paper copies of a petition shall be
filed. One copy of all exhibits, appendices, and attachments to the
petition shall be filed in electronic form on CD-ROM, DVD, or other
portable electronic format approved by the Secretary. Petitioners also
must file one unbound copy of the petition (the unbound copy of the
petition may be stapled or held together by means of a clip). If the
petition complies with the provisions of Sec. 207.11, it shall be
deemed to be properly filed on the date on which the requisite number
of copies of the petition is received by the Secretary, provided that,
if the petition is filed with the Secretary after 12:00 noon, eastern
time, the petition shall be deemed filed on the next business day.
Notwithstanding Sec. 207.11 of this chapter, a petitioner need not
file an entry of appearance in the investigation instituted upon the
filing of its petition, which shall be deemed an entry of appearance.
* * * * *
0
5. Amend Sec. 207.11 by revising paragraphs (b)(2)(ii), (iii), and (v)
to read as follows:
Sec. 207.11 Contents of Petition.
* * * * *
(b) * * *
(2) * * *
(ii) A listing of all U.S. producers of the proposed domestic like
product(s), including a street address, phone number, and contact
person(s) with email address(es) for each producer;
(iii) A listing of all U.S. importers of the subject merchandise,
including street addresses, email addresses, and phone numbers for each
importer.
* * * * *
(v) A listing of all sales or revenue lost by each petitioning firm
by reason of the subject merchandise during the three years preceding
filing of the petition. For each named purchaser, petitioners must
provide the email address of the specific contact person, street
address, city, state, and 5-digit zip code with respect to each lost
sales or lost revenue allegation. Petitioners must certify that all
lost sales or lost revenue allegations identified in the petition will
also be submitted electronically in the manner specified in the
Commission's Handbook on Filing Procedures.
* * * * *
0
6. Revise Sec. 207.15 to read as follows:
Sec. 207.15 Written briefs and conference.
Each party may submit to the Commission on or before a date
specified in the notice of investigation issued pursuant to 207.12 a
written brief containing information and arguments pertinent to the
subject matter of the investigation. Briefs shall be signed, shall
include a table of contents, and shall contain no more than fifty (50)
double-spaced and single-sided pages of textual material, and shall be
filed electronically, and nine (9) true paper copies shall be submitted
on the same business day (on paper measuring 8.5 x 11 inches, double-
spaced and single-sided). Any person not a party may submit a brief
written statement of information pertinent to the investigation within
the time specified and the same manner specified for the filing of
briefs. In addition, the presiding official may permit persons to file
within a specified time answers to questions or requests made by the
Commission's staff. If he deems it appropriate, the Director shall hold
a conference. The conference, if any, shall be held in accordance with
the procedures in Sec. 201.13 of this chapter, except that in
connection with its presentation a party may provide
[[Page 35925]]
written witness testimony at the conference; if written testimony is
provided, nine (9) true paper copies shall be submitted. The Director
may request the appearance of witnesses, take testimony, and administer
oaths.
0
7. Amend Sec. 207.20 by revising paragraph (b) to read as follows:
Sec. 207.20 Investigative activity following preliminary
determination.
* * * * *
(b) The Director shall circulate draft questionnaires for the final
phase of an investigation to parties to the investigation for comment.
Any party desiring to comment on draft questionnaires shall submit such
comments in writing to the Commission within a time specified by the
Director. All requests for collecting new information shall be
presented at this time. The Commission will disregard subsequent
requests for collection of new information absent a showing that there
is a compelling need for the information and that the information could
not have been requested in the comments on the draft questionnaires.
0
8. Revise Sec. 207.23 to read as follows:
Sec. 207.23 Prehearing brief.
Each party who is an interested party shall submit to the
Commission, no later than five (5) business days prior to the date of
the hearing specified in the notice of scheduling, a prehearing brief.
Prehearing briefs shall be signed and shall include a table of contents
and shall be filed electronically, and nine (9) true paper copies shall
be submitted on the same business day. The prehearing brief should
present a party's case concisely and shall, to the extent possible,
refer to the record and include information and arguments which the
party believes relevant to the subject matter of the Commission's
determination under section 705(b) or section 735(b) of the Act. Any
person not an interested party may submit a brief written statement of
information pertinent to the investigation within the time specified
and the same manner specified for filing of prehearing briefs.
0
9. Revise Sec. 207.25 to read as follows:
Sec. 207.25 Posthearing briefs.
Any party may file a posthearing brief concerning the information
adduced at or after the hearing with the Secretary within a time
specified in the notice of scheduling or by the presiding official at
the hearing. A posthearing brief shall be filed electronically, and
nine (9) true paper copies shall be submitted on the same business day.
No such posthearing brief shall exceed fifteen (15) pages of textual
material, double-spaced and single-sided, when printed out on paper
measuring 8.5 x 11 inches. In addition, the presiding official may
permit persons to file answers to questions or requests made by the
Commission at the hearing within a specified time. The Secretary shall
not accept for filing posthearing briefs or answers which do not comply
with this section.
0
10. Revise Sec. 207.28 to read as follows:
Sec. 207.28 Anticircumvention.
Prior to providing advice to the administering authority pursuant
to section 781(e)(3) of the Act, the Commission shall publish in the
Federal Register a notice that such advice is contemplated. Any person
may file one written submission concerning the matter described in the
notice no later than fourteen (14) days after publication of the
notice. Such a statement shall be filed electronically, and nine (9)
true paper copies shall be submitted on the same business day. The
statement shall contain no more than fifty (50) double-spaced and
single-sided pages of textual material, when printed out on paper
measuring 8.5 x 11 inches. The Commission shall by notice provide for
additional statements as it deems necessary.
0
11. Amend Sec. 207.30 by revising paragraph (b) to read as follows:
Sec. 207.30 Comment on information.
* * * * *
(b) The parties shall have an opportunity to file comments on any
information disclosed to them after they have filed their posthearing
brief pursuant to Sec. 207.25. A comment shall be filed
electronically, and nine (9) true paper copies shall be submitted on
the same business day. Comments shall only concern such information,
and shall not exceed 15 pages of textual material, double-spaced and
single-sided, when printed out on paper measuring 8.5 x 11 inches. A
comment may address the accuracy, reliability, or probative value of
such information by reference to information elsewhere in the record,
in which case the comment shall identify where in the record such
information is found. Comments containing new factual information shall
be disregarded. The date on which such comments must be filed will be
specified by the Commission when it specifies the time that information
will be disclosed pursuant to paragraph (a) of this section. The record
shall close on the date such comments are due, except with respect to
investigations subject to the provisions of section 771(7)(G)(iii) of
the Act, and with respect to changes in bracketing of business
proprietary information in the comments permitted by Sec. 207.3(c).
0
12. Amend Sec. 207.45 by revising paragraph (c) to read as follows:
Sec. 207.45 Investigation to review outstanding determination.
* * * * *
(c) Institution of an investigation. Within forty-five (45) days
after the close of the period for public comments following publication
of the receipt of a request, the Commission shall determine whether the
request shows changed circumstances sufficient to warrant a review and,
if so, shall institute a review investigation. The Commission may also
institute a review investigation on its own initiative. The review
investigation shall be instituted by notice published in the Federal
Register and shall be completed within one hundred eighty (180) days of
the date of such publication. If the Commission determines that a
request does not show changed circumstances sufficient to warrant a
review, the request shall be dismissed and a notice of the dismissal
published in the Federal Register stating the reasons therefor.
* * * * *
0
13. Amend Sec. 207.61 by revising paragraph (e) to read as follows:
Sec. 207.61 Responses to notice of institution.
* * * * *
(e) A document filed under this section shall be filed
electronically, and nine (9) true paper copies shall be submitted on
the same business day.
0
14. Amend Sec. 207.62 by revising paragraph (b)(2) to read as follows:
Sec. 207.62 Rulings on adequacy and nature of Commission review.
* * * * *
(b) * * *
(2) Comments shall be submitted within the time specified in the
notice of institution. In a grouped review, only one set of comments
shall be filed per party. Comments shall be filed electronically, and
nine (9) true paper copies shall be submitted on the same business day.
Comments shall not exceed fifteen (15) pages of textual material,
double spaced and single sided, when printed out on paper measuring 8.5
x 11 inches. Comments containing new factual information shall be
disregarded.
* * * * *
0
15. Revise Sec. 207.65 to read as follows:
Sec. 207.65 Prehearing briefs.
Each party to a five-year review may submit a prehearing brief to
the
[[Page 35926]]
Commission on the date specified in the scheduling notice. A prehearing
brief shall be signed and shall include a table of contents. A
prehearing brief shall be filed electronically, and nine (9) true paper
copies shall be submitted (on paper measuring 8.5 x 11 inches and
single-sided) on the same business day. The prehearing brief should
present a party's case concisely and shall, to the extent possible,
refer to the record and include information and arguments which the
party believes relevant to the subject matter of the Commission's
determination.
0
16. Amend Sec. 207.67 by revising paragraph (a) to read as follows:
Sec. 207.67 Posthearing briefs and statements.
(a) Briefs from parties. Any party to a five-year review may file
with the Secretary a posthearing brief concerning the information
adduced at or after the hearing within a time specified in the
scheduling notice or by the presiding official at the hearing. A
posthearing brief shall be filed electronically, and nine (9) true
paper copies shall be submitted on the same business day. No such
posthearing brief shall exceed fifteen (15) pages of textual material,
double spaced and single sided, when printed out on paper measuring 8.5
x 11 inches and single-sided. In addition, the presiding official may
permit persons to file answers to questions or requests made by the
Commission at the hearing within a specified time. The Secretary shall
not accept for filing posthearing briefs or answers which do not comply
with this section.
* * * * *
0
17. Amend Sec. 207.68 by revising paragraph (b) to read as follows:
Sec. 207.68 Final comments on information.
* * * * *
(b) The parties shall have an opportunity to file comments on any
information disclosed to them after they have filed their posthearing
brief pursuant to Sec. 207.67. Comments shall be filed electronically,
and nine (9) true paper copies shall be submitted on the same business
day. Comments shall only concern such information, and shall not exceed
15 pages of textual material, double spaced and single-sided, when
printed out on paper measuring 8.5 x 11 inches and single-sided. A
comment may address the accuracy, reliability, or probative value of
such information by reference to information elsewhere in the record,
in which case the comment shall identify where in the record such
information is found. Comments containing new factual information shall
be disregarded. The date on which such comments must be filed will be
specified by the Commission when it specifies the time that information
will be disclosed pursuant to paragraph (a) of this section. The record
shall close on the date such comments are due, except with respect to
changes in bracketing of business proprietary information in the
comments permitted by Sec. 207.3(c).
By order of the Commission.
Issued: June 19, 2014.
Lisa R. Barton,
Secretary to the Commission.
[FR Doc. 2014-14675 Filed 6-24-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7020-02-P