Second Japan-U.S. Decommissioning and Remediation Fukushima Recovery Forum, Tokyo, Japan April 9-10, 2015, 8616-8618 [2015-03366]
Download as PDF
<![CDATA[
8616
Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 32 / Wednesday, February 18, 2015 / Notices
the end of the Final Rule.95 The
Department intends to reject factual
submissions if the submitting party does
not comply with the applicable revised
certification requirements.
Notification to Interested Parties
Interested parties must submit
applications for disclosure under APO
in accordance with 19 CFR 351.305. On
January 22, 2008, the Department
published Antidumping and
Countervailing Duty Proceedings:
Documents Submission Procedures;
APO Procedures, 73 FR 3627 (January
22, 2008). Parties wishing to participate
in these investigations should ensure
that they meet the requirements of these
procedures (e.g., the filing of letters of
appearance as discussed in 19 CFR
351.103(d)).
This notice is issued and published
pursuant to section 777(i) of the Act and
19 CFR 351.203(c).
Dated: February 10, 2015.
Paul Piquado,
Assistant Secretary for Enforcement and
Compliance.
emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with NOTICES
95 See Certification of Factual Information to
Import Administration during Antidumping and
Countervailing Duty Proceedings, 78 FR 42678 (July
17, 2013) (Final Rule); see also frequently asked
questions regarding the Final Rule, available at
https://enforcement.trade.gov/tlei/notices/factual_
info_final_rule_FAQ_07172013.pdf.
1 One of the key measurements of any grade of
paper is brightness. Generally speaking, the brighter
the paper the better the contrast between the paper
and the ink. Brightness is measured using a GE
Reflectance Scale, which measures the reflection of
light off a grade of paper. One is the lowest
reflection, or what would be given to a totally black
grade, and 100 is the brightest measured grade.
‘‘Colored paper’’ as used in this scope definition
means a paper with a hue other than white that
reflects one of the primary colors of magenta,
yellow, and cyan (red, yellow, and blue) or a
combination of such primary colors.
Jkt 235001
BILLING CODE 3510–DS–P
International Trade Administration
Scope of the Investigations
The merchandise covered by these
investigations includes uncoated paper in
sheet form; weighing at least 40 grams per
square meter but not more than 150 grams
per square meter; that either is a white paper
with a GE brightness level 1 of 85 or higher
or is a colored paper; whether or not surfacedecorated, printed (except as described
below), embossed, perforated, or punched;
irrespective of the smoothness of the surface;
and irrespective of dimensions (Certain
Uncoated Paper).
Certain Uncoated Paper includes (a)
uncoated free sheet paper that meets this
scope definition; (b) uncoated ground wood
paper produced from bleached chemithermo-mechanical pulp (BCTMP) that meets
this scope definition; and (c) any other
uncoated paper that meets this scope
definition regardless of the type of pulp used
to produce the paper.
Specifically excluded from the scope are
(1) paper printed with final content of
19:32 Feb 17, 2015
[FR Doc. 2015–03338 Filed 2–17–15; 8:45 am]
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Appendix I
VerDate Sep<11>2014
printed text or graphics and (2) lined paper
products, typically school supplies,
composed of paper that incorporates straight
horizontal and/or vertical lines that would
make the paper unsuitable for copying or
printing purposes.
Imports of the subject merchandise are
provided for under Harmonized Tariff
Schedule of the United States (HTSUS)
categories 4802.56.1000, 4802.56.2000,
4802.56.3000, 4802.56.4000, 4802.56.6000,
4802.56.7020, 4802.56.7040, 4802.57.1000,
4802.57.2000, 4802.57.3000, and
4802.57.4000. Some imports of subject
merchandise may also be classified under
4802.62.1000, 4802.62.2000, 4802.62.3000,
4802.62.5000, 4802.62.6020, 4802.62.6040,
4802.69.1000, 4802.69.2000, 4802.69.3000,
4811.90.8050 and 4811.90.9080. While
HTSUS subheadings are provided for
convenience and customs purposes, the
written description of the scope of the
investigations is dispositive.
Second Japan-U.S. Decommissioning
and Remediation Fukushima Recovery
Forum, Tokyo, Japan April 9–10, 2015
International Trade
Administration, Department of
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
Event Description
The U.S. Department of Commerce’s
International Trade Administration
(ITA), with the support of the U.S.
Department of Energy, is organizing the
second Japan-United States
Decommissioning and Remediation
Fukushima Recovery Forum
(‘‘Fukushima Recovery Forum’’) on
April 9–10, 2015 in Tokyo, Japan.
Building on the first Fukushima
Recovery Forum held in February 2014,
the 2nd Fukushima Recovery Forum
will continue to develop U.S.-Japanese
cooperation on Fukushima recovery
efforts. The event will allow U.S. firms
to hear from Japanese Ministries,
utilities, and commissioning entities on
the status of Fukushima recovery. It will
be a forum for U.S. and Japanese firms
to make contacts while sharing
experiences, expertise, and lessons
learned in remediation and
decommissioning, including work
underway at Fukushima Dai-ichi
Nuclear Power Station, and in Tohoku,
the area affected by the accident at
Fukushima. The event also addresses
interest in cooperation in areas related
to nuclear power as Japan moves
forward with its plan for restarting its
PO 00000
Frm 00028
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
nuclear reactors and decommissioning
some of its commercial reactor fleet.
U.S. firms will also network with
Japanese firms and identify potential
business partners.
ITA hopes that this cooperation
between the U.S. and Japanese private
sectors will lead to solutions that will
enhance Fukushima recovery efforts.
ITA is seeking the participation of a
maximum of 25 U.S. companies or
representatives of trade organizations
that produce technology or provide
services in the decommissioning or
remediation sector, including water
treatment and waste management. Staff
from the U.S. Department of
Commerce’s Global Markets, Industry &
Analysis (I&A), and U.S. & Foreign
Commercial Service (CS) units will also
be available in Tokyo to provide export
counseling and civil nuclear trade
policy guidance to participating
companies.
Support for the Fukushima Recovery
Forum was confirmed at meetings of the
U.S-Japan Bilateral Commission on Civil
Nuclear Cooperation. The Bilateral
Commission is a senior-level, forum for
consultations on mutual issues of
concern to further strengthen bilateral
cooperation and advance shared
interests in the area of civil nuclear
cooperation. The Bilateral Commission
is chaired by the Department of Energy
and Japan’s Ministry of Economy,
Trade, and Industry (METI).
The Decommissioning and
Environmental Management Working
Group (DEMWG) under the Bilateral
Commission addresses the long-term
consequences of the Fukushima
accident, including facility
decommissioning, spent fuel storage,
decontamination, and remediation of
contaminated areas. The Fukushima
Recovery Forum is under the auspices
of the DEMWG to further industry
cooperation in support of Fukushima
recovery efforts.
Event Goals
The Fukushima Recovery Forum is an
event to bring together U.S. and
Japanese private sector firms in the
remediation, decommissioning, and
waste management industries to
develop relationships that will assist
with the recovery of the Fukushima
region. The Forum is intended to create
better market opportunities for U.S.
companies. It will do this by:
• Allowing U.S. firms to meet key
Japanese officials involved in the
planning of decommissioning,
remediation, and other work related to
Fukushima Recovery.
• Creating a venue where U.S. and
Japanese firms can share experiences,
E:\FR\FM\18FEN1.SGM
18FEN1
Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 32 / Wednesday, February 18, 2015 / Notices
emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with NOTICES
expertise, and lessons learned in
remediation and decommissioning,
including on work already completed at
Fukushima Dai-ichi, and in Tohoku.
• Giving U.S. and Japanese firms an
opportunity to discuss key technical
challenges related to Fukushima cleanup and nuclear decommissioning.
• Fostering collaboration between the
U.S. and Japanese private sector to solve
other challenges related to remediation
and decommissioning.
• Providing an opportunity for
companies from both the United States
and Japan to network, build
relationships and identify partners for
current projects and potential joint
future work.
Event Scenario
On March 11, 2011, an earthquake
and tsunami hit Japan and led to a series
of events at the Fukushima Dai-ichi
Nuclear Power Station in which several
units and their adjacent spent fuel pools
experienced beyond-design-basis
accidents. The four reactors at the site
(Units 1–4) that received the brunt of
the damage (of the six reactors at the
site) also have integral spent fuel pools
containing significant amounts of spent
nuclear fuel, which were also damaged
by the disaster and the subsequent
explosions. Japan faces an
unprecedented cleanup and
decontamination challenge that will
take many years to resolve as it strives
to decommission Fukushima Dai-ichi
and remediate the surrounding areas. In
response to the Fukushima nuclear
accident, the Japanese government
introduced a system that limits the
maximum operating period for nuclear
power plants to 40 years. In January
2015, Japanese utilities announced
plans to decommission five aging
nuclear reactors.
The U.S. Government, and
specifically the U.S. Department of
Energy and its National Laboratories,
have been involved in numerous
exchanges of scientific and technical
information and expertise with the
Government of Japan to find solutions to
problems created by the accident at
Fukushima Dai-ichi related to
decommissioning and decontamination.
The U.S. Department of Commerce’s
International Trade Administration
(ITA), with the support of the U.S.
Department of Energy, proposed the
Japan-United States Decontamination
and Remediation Fukushima Recovery
Forum to bring U.S. and Japanese firms
together to complement the existing
exchanges of information and expertise
by providing an opportunity for
coordination between the U.S. and
Japanese private sectors to find
VerDate Sep<11>2014
19:32 Feb 17, 2015
Jkt 235001
solutions from U.S. firms that would
assist Japan with its recovery process. In
February 2014, ITA organized the first
Japan-U.S. Decommissioning and
Remediation Fukushima Recovery
Forum in Tokyo. This two day event
brought together 51 representatives from
26 U.S. firms and 101 representatives
from 46 Japanese firms to discuss
potential partnerships to help with
Fukushima recovery.
Participating firms will:
• Receive a briefing on the status of
Fukushima Dai-ichi decommissioning
and decontamination work from
relevant officials from the Japanese
Government and industry.
• Participate in panel or breakout
discussions focusing on
decontamination, remediation and
waste management. Firms with
appropriate experience or technologies
will be asked to present during these
discussions.
• Exchange views on viable solutions
to the challenges on Fukushima
recovery with counterparts from the
Japanese private sector;
• Participate in one-on-one
networking sessions with interested
Japanese firms;
• Attend a networking reception with
senior leaders from Japan’s Government
and industry hosted by a senior U.S.
Government representative from the
U.S. Embassy in Tokyo;
• Take advantage of the Commercial
Service in Tokyo’s business advisory
services if there is sufficient interest by
participating U.S. firms and mission
resources can accommodate such
interest.
• There may be an opportunity to
participate in an optional tour to the
Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power
Plant. This tour would incur additional
fees.
Proposed Schedule
April 9
Participate in discussions with U.S.
and Japanese firms consisting of
presentations and dialogues on specific
aspects of Fukushima Recovery,
including decommissioning,
remediation, waste management, and
water management.
Participate in networking
opportunities with Japanese firms.
Attend a networking reception with
senior leaders from Japan’s Government
and industry hosted by a senior U.S.
Government representative from the
U.S. Embassy in Tokyo.
April 10
Participate in briefings by Japanese
Government officials and other entities
PO 00000
Frm 00029
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
8617
on the status of the situation at the
Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power
Station and surrounding area.
Participate in networking activities
coordinated by ITA staff.
Event updates related to the
Fukushima Recovery Forum can be
found at: https://export.gov/japan/
fukushima/forum/.
Participation Requirements
All parties interested in participating
in the Fukushima Recovery Forum must
submit an application package for
consideration by the U.S. Department of
Commerce. All applicants will be
evaluated based on their ability to meet
certain conditions and best satisfy the
selection criteria as outlined below. A
maximum of 25 companies will be
selected to participate in the Forum
from the applicant pool. U.S. companies
already doing business in Japan as well
as U.S. companies seeking to enter to
the Japanese market for the first time
may apply.
Fees and Expenses:
After a company has been selected to
participate in the Forum, a participation
fee is required. The participation fee is
$930 for large firms and $665 for small
or medium-sized firms.1 The fee for
each additional company representative
is $500. As space permits, up to four
additional representatives can be
accommodated per company. Fees will
cover the cost for interpreters, a booklet
containing information about
participating U.S. and Japanese firms,
and reception costs.
Exclusions:
The participation fee does not include
personal travel expenses such as airfare,
lodging, most meals, incidentals, and
local ground transportation and
personal interpreters used during the
networking sessions. Delegation
members will be able to take advantage
of U.S. Embassy rates for hotel rooms.
Business visas may be required.
Government fees and processing
expenses to obtain visas are also not
included in the Fukushima Recovery
Forum costs. However, the U.S.
Department of Commerce will provide
instructions to each participant on the
procedures required to obtain necessary
business visas.
1 An SME is defined as a firm with 500 or fewer
employees or that otherwise qualifies as a small
business under SBA regulations (see https://
www.sba.gov/size). Parent companies, affiliates, and
subsidiaries will be considered when determining
business size. The dual pricing reflects the
Commercial Service’s user fee schedule that became
effective May 1, 2008. For additional information,
see https://www.export.gov/newsletter/march2008/
initiatives.html.
E:\FR\FM\18FEN1.SGM
18FEN1
8618
Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 32 / Wednesday, February 18, 2015 / Notices
Conditions for Participation
Applicants must submit a completed
mission application signed by a
company official, together with
supplemental application materials,
including adequate information on the
company’s products and/or services,
interest in doing business in Japan, and
goals for participation by February 27,
2015. If the U.S. Department of
Commerce receives an incomplete
application, it may reject the
application, request additional
information, or take the lack of
information into account in its
evaluation.
Each applicant must also certify that
the products or services it seeks to
export through its participation in the
Fukushima Recovery Forum are either
produced in the United States, or, if not,
marketed under the name of a U.S. firm
and have at least fifty-one percent U.S.
content.
Selection Criteria for Participation
Selection will be based on the
following criteria:
• Suitability of the company’s
products or services to the Japanese
decommissioning or remediation sector,
including water management and waste
management;
• The company’s potential for
business in Japan, including likelihood
of exports resulting from participation
in the Fukushima Recovery Forum;
• The company’s ability to identify
and engage on policy issues relevant to
U.S. competitiveness in the Japanese
decontamination or remediation sectors;
and
• Consistency of the company’s goals
and objectives with the scope of the
Fukushima Recovery Forum.
Additional factors, such as balance of
company size, industry subsector,
location, and demographics, may also be
considered during the review process.
Referrals from political organizations
and any documents containing
references to partisan political activities
(including political contributions) will
be removed from an applicant’s
submission and not considered during
the selection process.
emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with NOTICES
Timeframe for Recruitment and
Participation
Recruitment for the Fukushima
Recovery Forum will be conducted in
an open and public manner, including
publication in the Federal Register,
posting on CS Japan’s Web site, notices
by industry trade associations and other
multiplier groups, and publicity through
the ITA network. Recruitment will begin
immediately and conclude no later than
VerDate Sep<11>2014
19:32 Feb 17, 2015
Jkt 235001
February 27, 2015. The U.S. Department
of Commerce will review applications
and make selection decisions beginning
on or about March 2, 2015. Applications
received after March 2, 2015 will be
considered only if space and scheduling
constraints permit.
Applications for participation in the
Fukushima Recovery Forum are
available on line at: https://export.gov/
japan/fukushima/forum/.
DATES: The Fukushima Recovery Forum
will take place April 9–10, 2015.
Applications are due no later than
February 27, 2015.
Contacts
Danius Barzdukas, Japan Desk/Office of
East Asia and APEC, U.S. Department
of Commerce | International Trade
Administration, Phone: 202–482–
1147, Danius.Barzdukas@trade.gov
Gregory Taevs, U.S. Commercial Service
Tokyo, U.S. Department of Commerce
| International Trade Administration,
+81–3–3224–5070, Gregory.Taevs@
trade.gov
Jon Chesebro, Senior Nuclear Trade
Specialist, Industry & Analysis |
Office of Energy and Environmental
Industries, U.S. Department of
Commerce | International Trade
Administration, Phone: (202) 482–
1297, jonathan.chesebro@trade.gov
Frank Spector,
International Trade Specialist.
[FR Doc. 2015–03366 Filed 2–17–15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–DR–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
Proposed Information Collection;
Comment Request; Application and
Reports for Scientific Research and
Enhancement Permits under the
Endangered Species Act
National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
The Department of
Commerce, as part of its continuing
effort to reduce paperwork and
respondent burden, invites the general
public and other Federal agencies to
take this opportunity to comment on
proposed and/or continuing information
collections, as required by the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.
DATES: Written comments must be
submitted on or before April 20, 2015.
ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments
to Jennifer Jessup, Departmental
SUMMARY:
PO 00000
Frm 00030
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
Paperwork Clearance Officer,
Department of Commerce, Room 6616,
14th and Constitution Avenue NW.,
Washington, DC 20230 (or via the
Internet at JJessup@doc.gov).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Requests for additional information or
copies of the information collection
instrument and instructions should be
directed to Gary Rule, NOAA Fisheries,
1201 NE Lloyd Blvd. Suite 1100,
Portland, OR 97232, (503) 230–5424 or
gary.rule@noaa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Abstract
This request is for extension of a
currently approved information
collection.
The Endangered Species Act of 1973
(ESA; 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) imposed
prohibitions against the taking of
endangered species. Section 10 of the
ESA allows permits authorizing the
taking of endangered species for
research/enhancement purposes. The
corresponding regulations established
procedures for persons to apply for such
permits. In addition, the regulations set
forth specific reporting requirements for
such permit holders. The regulations
contain two sets of information
collections: (1) Applications for
research/enhancement permits, and (2)
reporting requirements for permits
issued.
The required information is used to
evaluate the impacts of the proposed
activity on endangered species, to make
the determinations required by the ESA
prior to issuing a permit, and to
establish appropriate permit conditions.
To issue permits under ESA Section
10(a)(1)(A), the National Marine
Fisheries Service (NMFS) must
determine that (1) such exceptions were
applied for in good faith, (2) if granted
and exercised, will not operate to the
disadvantage of such endangered
species, and (3) will be consistent with
the purposes and policy set forth in
Section 2 of the ESA.
The currently approved application
and reporting requirements apply to
Pacific marine and anadromous fish
species, as requirements regarding other
species are being addressed in a
separate information collection.
II. Method of Collection
Submissions may be electronically or
on paper.
III. Data
OMB Control Number: 0648–0402.
Form Number(s): None.
Type of Review: Regular submission
(extension of a currently approved
collection).
E:\FR\FM\18FEN1.SGM
18FEN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 32 (Wednesday, February 18, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8616-8618]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-03366]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
International Trade Administration
Second Japan-U.S. Decommissioning and Remediation Fukushima
Recovery Forum, Tokyo, Japan April 9-10, 2015
AGENCY: International Trade Administration, Department of Commerce.
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Event Description
The U.S. Department of Commerce's International Trade
Administration (ITA), with the support of the U.S. Department of
Energy, is organizing the second Japan-United States Decommissioning
and Remediation Fukushima Recovery Forum (``Fukushima Recovery Forum'')
on April 9-10, 2015 in Tokyo, Japan. Building on the first Fukushima
Recovery Forum held in February 2014, the 2nd Fukushima Recovery Forum
will continue to develop U.S.-Japanese cooperation on Fukushima
recovery efforts. The event will allow U.S. firms to hear from Japanese
Ministries, utilities, and commissioning entities on the status of
Fukushima recovery. It will be a forum for U.S. and Japanese firms to
make contacts while sharing experiences, expertise, and lessons learned
in remediation and decommissioning, including work underway at
Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Station, and in Tohoku, the area
affected by the accident at Fukushima. The event also addresses
interest in cooperation in areas related to nuclear power as Japan
moves forward with its plan for restarting its nuclear reactors and
decommissioning some of its commercial reactor fleet. U.S. firms will
also network with Japanese firms and identify potential business
partners.
ITA hopes that this cooperation between the U.S. and Japanese
private sectors will lead to solutions that will enhance Fukushima
recovery efforts. ITA is seeking the participation of a maximum of 25
U.S. companies or representatives of trade organizations that produce
technology or provide services in the decommissioning or remediation
sector, including water treatment and waste management. Staff from the
U.S. Department of Commerce's Global Markets, Industry & Analysis
(I&A), and U.S. & Foreign Commercial Service (CS) units will also be
available in Tokyo to provide export counseling and civil nuclear trade
policy guidance to participating companies.
Support for the Fukushima Recovery Forum was confirmed at meetings
of the U.S-Japan Bilateral Commission on Civil Nuclear Cooperation. The
Bilateral Commission is a senior-level, forum for consultations on
mutual issues of concern to further strengthen bilateral cooperation
and advance shared interests in the area of civil nuclear cooperation.
The Bilateral Commission is chaired by the Department of Energy and
Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry (METI).
The Decommissioning and Environmental Management Working Group
(DEMWG) under the Bilateral Commission addresses the long-term
consequences of the Fukushima accident, including facility
decommissioning, spent fuel storage, decontamination, and remediation
of contaminated areas. The Fukushima Recovery Forum is under the
auspices of the DEMWG to further industry cooperation in support of
Fukushima recovery efforts.
Event Goals
The Fukushima Recovery Forum is an event to bring together U.S. and
Japanese private sector firms in the remediation, decommissioning, and
waste management industries to develop relationships that will assist
with the recovery of the Fukushima region. The Forum is intended to
create better market opportunities for U.S. companies. It will do this
by:
Allowing U.S. firms to meet key Japanese officials
involved in the planning of decommissioning, remediation, and other
work related to Fukushima Recovery.
Creating a venue where U.S. and Japanese firms can share
experiences,
[[Page 8617]]
expertise, and lessons learned in remediation and decommissioning,
including on work already completed at Fukushima Dai-ichi, and in
Tohoku.
Giving U.S. and Japanese firms an opportunity to discuss
key technical challenges related to Fukushima clean-up and nuclear
decommissioning.
Fostering collaboration between the U.S. and Japanese
private sector to solve other challenges related to remediation and
decommissioning.
Providing an opportunity for companies from both the
United States and Japan to network, build relationships and identify
partners for current projects and potential joint future work.
Event Scenario
On March 11, 2011, an earthquake and tsunami hit Japan and led to a
series of events at the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Station in
which several units and their adjacent spent fuel pools experienced
beyond-design-basis accidents. The four reactors at the site (Units 1-
4) that received the brunt of the damage (of the six reactors at the
site) also have integral spent fuel pools containing significant
amounts of spent nuclear fuel, which were also damaged by the disaster
and the subsequent explosions. Japan faces an unprecedented cleanup and
decontamination challenge that will take many years to resolve as it
strives to decommission Fukushima Dai-ichi and remediate the
surrounding areas. In response to the Fukushima nuclear accident, the
Japanese government introduced a system that limits the maximum
operating period for nuclear power plants to 40 years. In January 2015,
Japanese utilities announced plans to decommission five aging nuclear
reactors.
The U.S. Government, and specifically the U.S. Department of Energy
and its National Laboratories, have been involved in numerous exchanges
of scientific and technical information and expertise with the
Government of Japan to find solutions to problems created by the
accident at Fukushima Dai-ichi related to decommissioning and
decontamination. The U.S. Department of Commerce's International Trade
Administration (ITA), with the support of the U.S. Department of
Energy, proposed the Japan-United States Decontamination and
Remediation Fukushima Recovery Forum to bring U.S. and Japanese firms
together to complement the existing exchanges of information and
expertise by providing an opportunity for coordination between the U.S.
and Japanese private sectors to find solutions from U.S. firms that
would assist Japan with its recovery process. In February 2014, ITA
organized the first Japan-U.S. Decommissioning and Remediation
Fukushima Recovery Forum in Tokyo. This two day event brought together
51 representatives from 26 U.S. firms and 101 representatives from 46
Japanese firms to discuss potential partnerships to help with Fukushima
recovery.
Participating firms will:
Receive a briefing on the status of Fukushima Dai-ichi
decommissioning and decontamination work from relevant officials from
the Japanese Government and industry.
Participate in panel or breakout discussions focusing on
decontamination, remediation and waste management. Firms with
appropriate experience or technologies will be asked to present during
these discussions.
Exchange views on viable solutions to the challenges on
Fukushima recovery with counterparts from the Japanese private sector;
Participate in one-on-one networking sessions with
interested Japanese firms;
Attend a networking reception with senior leaders from
Japan's Government and industry hosted by a senior U.S. Government
representative from the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo;
Take advantage of the Commercial Service in Tokyo's
business advisory services if there is sufficient interest by
participating U.S. firms and mission resources can accommodate such
interest.
There may be an opportunity to participate in an optional
tour to the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant. This tour would
incur additional fees.
Proposed Schedule
April 9
Participate in discussions with U.S. and Japanese firms consisting
of presentations and dialogues on specific aspects of Fukushima
Recovery, including decommissioning, remediation, waste management, and
water management.
Participate in networking opportunities with Japanese firms.
Attend a networking reception with senior leaders from Japan's
Government and industry hosted by a senior U.S. Government
representative from the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo.
April 10
Participate in briefings by Japanese Government officials and other
entities on the status of the situation at the Fukushima Dai-ichi
Nuclear Power Station and surrounding area.
Participate in networking activities coordinated by ITA staff.
Event updates related to the Fukushima Recovery Forum can be found
at: https://export.gov/japan/fukushima/forum/.
Participation Requirements
All parties interested in participating in the Fukushima Recovery
Forum must submit an application package for consideration by the U.S.
Department of Commerce. All applicants will be evaluated based on their
ability to meet certain conditions and best satisfy the selection
criteria as outlined below. A maximum of 25 companies will be selected
to participate in the Forum from the applicant pool. U.S. companies
already doing business in Japan as well as U.S. companies seeking to
enter to the Japanese market for the first time may apply.
Fees and Expenses:
After a company has been selected to participate in the Forum, a
participation fee is required. The participation fee is $930 for large
firms and $665 for small or medium-sized firms.\1\ The fee for each
additional company representative is $500. As space permits, up to four
additional representatives can be accommodated per company. Fees will
cover the cost for interpreters, a booklet containing information about
participating U.S. and Japanese firms, and reception costs.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ An SME is defined as a firm with 500 or fewer employees or
that otherwise qualifies as a small business under SBA regulations
(see https://www.sba.gov/size). Parent companies, affiliates, and
subsidiaries will be considered when determining business size. The
dual pricing reflects the Commercial Service's user fee schedule
that became effective May 1, 2008. For additional information, see
https://www.export.gov/newsletter/march2008/initiatives.html.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Exclusions:
The participation fee does not include personal travel expenses
such as airfare, lodging, most meals, incidentals, and local ground
transportation and personal interpreters used during the networking
sessions. Delegation members will be able to take advantage of U.S.
Embassy rates for hotel rooms. Business visas may be required.
Government fees and processing expenses to obtain visas are also not
included in the Fukushima Recovery Forum costs. However, the U.S.
Department of Commerce will provide instructions to each participant on
the procedures required to obtain necessary business visas.
[[Page 8618]]
Conditions for Participation
Applicants must submit a completed mission application signed by a
company official, together with supplemental application materials,
including adequate information on the company's products and/or
services, interest in doing business in Japan, and goals for
participation by February 27, 2015. If the U.S. Department of Commerce
receives an incomplete application, it may reject the application,
request additional information, or take the lack of information into
account in its evaluation.
Each applicant must also certify that the products or services it
seeks to export through its participation in the Fukushima Recovery
Forum are either produced in the United States, or, if not, marketed
under the name of a U.S. firm and have at least fifty-one percent U.S.
content.
Selection Criteria for Participation
Selection will be based on the following criteria:
Suitability of the company's products or services to the
Japanese decommissioning or remediation sector, including water
management and waste management;
The company's potential for business in Japan, including
likelihood of exports resulting from participation in the Fukushima
Recovery Forum;
The company's ability to identify and engage on policy
issues relevant to U.S. competitiveness in the Japanese decontamination
or remediation sectors; and
Consistency of the company's goals and objectives with the
scope of the Fukushima Recovery Forum.
Additional factors, such as balance of company size, industry
subsector, location, and demographics, may also be considered during
the review process.
Referrals from political organizations and any documents containing
references to partisan political activities (including political
contributions) will be removed from an applicant's submission and not
considered during the selection process.
Timeframe for Recruitment and Participation
Recruitment for the Fukushima Recovery Forum will be conducted in
an open and public manner, including publication in the Federal
Register, posting on CS Japan's Web site, notices by industry trade
associations and other multiplier groups, and publicity through the ITA
network. Recruitment will begin immediately and conclude no later than
February 27, 2015. The U.S. Department of Commerce will review
applications and make selection decisions beginning on or about March
2, 2015. Applications received after March 2, 2015 will be considered
only if space and scheduling constraints permit.
Applications for participation in the Fukushima Recovery Forum are
available on line at: https://export.gov/japan/fukushima/forum/.
DATES: The Fukushima Recovery Forum will take place April 9-10, 2015.
Applications are due no later than February 27, 2015.
Contacts
Danius Barzdukas, Japan Desk/Office of East Asia and APEC, U.S.
Department of Commerce [bond] International Trade Administration,
Phone: 202-482-1147, Danius.Barzdukas@trade.gov
Gregory Taevs, U.S. Commercial Service Tokyo, U.S. Department of
Commerce [bond] International Trade Administration, +81-3-3224-5070,
Gregory.Taevs@trade.gov
Jon Chesebro, Senior Nuclear Trade Specialist, Industry & Analysis
[bond] Office of Energy and Environmental Industries, U.S. Department
of Commerce [bond] International Trade Administration, Phone: (202)
482-1297, jonathan.chesebro@trade.gov
Frank Spector,
International Trade Specialist.
[FR Doc. 2015-03366 Filed 2-17-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DR-P
