Texas A&M University; Notice of Decision on Application for Duty-Free Entry of Scientific Instruments, 55597 [2015-23048]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 179 / Wednesday, September 16, 2015 / Notices DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE International Trade Administration asabaliauskas on DSK7TPTVN1PROD with NOTICES Texas A&M University; Notice of Decision on Application for Duty-Free Entry of Scientific Instruments This is a decision pursuant to Section 6(c) of the Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Materials Importation Act of 1966 (Pub. L. 89–651, as amended by Pub. L. 106–36; 80 Stat. 897; 15 CFR part 301). Related records can be viewed between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. in Room 3720, U.S. Department of Commerce, 14th and Constitution Ave. NW., Washington, DC. Docket Number: 14–035. Applicant: Texas A&M University, 200 Seawolf Parkway, Galveston, TX 77553. Instrument: Wartsila, W8L20 Generator set and special purpose tools. Manufacturer: Wartsila Ship Power, Finland. Intended use of instrument: See Application(s) for Duty-Free Entry of Scientific Instruments, 80 FR 31890, 31890 (June 4, 2015) (Application Notice) (explaining that the instrument would ‘‘be used to prepare students to serve as licensed engineering officers in the U.S. Merchant Service and for other careers in demand in the Houston job market and elsewhere’’). Comments: No comments have been received with respect to this application. Decision: Application denied. Reasons: To qualify for duty-free entry under item 851.60, an applicant must show that no instrument or apparatus of equivalent scientific value for the purposes for which the instrument or apparatus is intended to be used is being manufactured in the United States. See 15 CFR 351.1(b)(2) (‘‘Annex D of the Agreement provides that scientific instruments and apparatus intended exclusively for education purposes or pure scientific research use by qualified nonprofit institutions shall enjoy duty-free entry if instruments or apparatus of equivalent scientific value are not being manufactured in the country of importation’’). As explained in the Application Notice, ‘‘Marine Diesel engines of different design but in the same general category to that being donated are available in the US.’’ Application Notice, 80 FR at 31890. Therefore, the Wartsila, W8L20 Generator set and special purpose tools do not qualify for duty-free entry under item 851.60. The Applicant states that no domestically produced engine was offered as a donation, but this is not a pertinent specification, as defined in 15 CFR 301.2(s). Section 301.2(s) provides VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:18 Sep 15, 2015 Jkt 235001 that pertinent specifications are those ‘‘necessary for the accomplishment of the specific scientific research or science-related education purposes described by the applicant,’’ while ‘‘specifications of features (even if guaranteed) which afford greater convenience, satisfy personal preferences, accommodate institutional commitments or limitations, or assure lower costs of acquisition, installation, operation, servicing or maintenance are not pertinent.’’ Accordingly, the applicant has failed to establish that domestic instruments of equivalent scientific value to the foreign instruments for the intended purposes are not available. Therefore, the application is denied. Dated: September 2, 2015. Gregory W. Campbell, Director, Subsidies Enforcement Office, Enforcement and Compliance. [FR Doc. 2015–23048 Filed 9–15–15; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–DS–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request The Department of Commerce will submit to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for clearance the following proposal for collection of information under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35). Agency: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Title: NOAA Restoration Center Program Progress Report and Administrative Progress Report. OMB Control Number: 0648–0472. Form Number(s): None. Type of Request: Regular (revision and extension of a currently approved information collection) Number of Respondents: 130. Average Hours per Response: Program progress report: semi-annual, 6 hours; annual, 9.75 hours; administrative progress report: semi-annual, 2.75 hours; annual, 5.5 hours. Burden Hours: 1,824. Needs and Uses: This request is for revision and extension of a currently approved information collection. The NOAA Restoration Center (NOAA RC) provides technical and financial assistance to identify, develop, implement, and evaluate communitydriven habitat restoration projects. Awards are made as grants or cooperative agreements under the PO 00000 Frm 00010 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 55597 authority of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act of 2006, 16 U.S.C. 1891a and the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act, 16 U.S.C. 661, as amended by the Reorganization Plan No. 4 of 1970. The NOAA RC requires specific information on habitat restoration projects that we fund, as part of routine progress reporting. Recipients of NOAA RC funds submit information such as project location, restoration techniques used, species benefited, acres restored, stream miles opened to access for diadromous fish, volunteer participation, and other parameters. The required information enables NOAA to track, evaluate and report on coastal and marine habitat restoration and demonstrate accountability for federal funds. This information is used to populate a database of NOAA RCfunded habitat restoration. The database, with its robust querying capabilities, is instrumental to provide accurate and timely responses to NOAA, Department of Commerce, Congressional and constituent inquiries. It also facilitates reporting by NOAA on the Government Performance and Results Act ‘‘acres restored’’ performance measure. Grant recipients are required by the NOAA Grants Management Division to submit periodic performance reports and a final report for each award; this collection stipulates the information to be provided in these reports. Since the last extension of this collection approved by OMB, the database used to track and report on restoration projects has been updated and redesigned. The NOAA RC is revising and streamlining the progress report form to ensure it aligns with the updated database and collects only the information we need to effectively track, evaluate, and report on restoration projects completed with federal funds. The NOAA RC has also divided the information collected into two forms for simplicity. The Performance Report Form focuses on tracking project implementation, milestones, performance measures, monitoring, and expenditures. The Administrative Form only applies to recipients with an award that will implement multiple projects. It collects information on the administration of the award, the number of projects supported by the award, and award expenditures. Affected Public: Not-for-profit institutions; state, local and tribal government. Frequency: Semi-annual and annual. Respondent’s Obligation: Required to obtain or retain benefits. E:\FR\FM\16SEN1.SGM 16SEN1

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[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 179 (Wednesday, September 16, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Page 55597]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-23048]



[[Page 55597]]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration


Texas A&M University; Notice of Decision on Application for Duty-
Free Entry of Scientific Instruments

    This is a decision pursuant to Section 6(c) of the Educational, 
Scientific, and Cultural Materials Importation Act of 1966 (Pub. L. 89-
651, as amended by Pub. L. 106-36; 80 Stat. 897; 15 CFR part 301). 
Related records can be viewed between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. in Room 
3720, U.S. Department of Commerce, 14th and Constitution Ave. NW., 
Washington, DC.
    Docket Number: 14-035. Applicant: Texas A&M University, 200 Seawolf 
Parkway, Galveston, TX 77553. Instrument: Wartsila, W8L20 Generator set 
and special purpose tools. Manufacturer: Wartsila Ship Power, Finland. 
Intended use of instrument: See Application(s) for Duty-Free Entry of 
Scientific Instruments, 80 FR 31890, 31890 (June 4, 2015) (Application 
Notice) (explaining that the instrument would ``be used to prepare 
students to serve as licensed engineering officers in the U.S. Merchant 
Service and for other careers in demand in the Houston job market and 
elsewhere'').
    Comments: No comments have been received with respect to this 
application.
    Decision: Application denied.
    Reasons: To qualify for duty-free entry under item 851.60, an 
applicant must show that no instrument or apparatus of equivalent 
scientific value for the purposes for which the instrument or apparatus 
is intended to be used is being manufactured in the United States. See 
15 CFR 351.1(b)(2) (``Annex D of the Agreement provides that scientific 
instruments and apparatus intended exclusively for education purposes 
or pure scientific research use by qualified nonprofit institutions 
shall enjoy duty-free entry if instruments or apparatus of equivalent 
scientific value are not being manufactured in the country of 
importation''). As explained in the Application Notice, ``Marine Diesel 
engines of different design but in the same general category to that 
being donated are available in the US.'' Application Notice, 80 FR at 
31890. Therefore, the Wartsila, W8L20 Generator set and special purpose 
tools do not qualify for duty-free entry under item 851.60.
    The Applicant states that no domestically produced engine was 
offered as a donation, but this is not a pertinent specification, as 
defined in 15 CFR 301.2(s). Section 301.2(s) provides that pertinent 
specifications are those ``necessary for the accomplishment of the 
specific scientific research or science-related education purposes 
described by the applicant,'' while ``specifications of features (even 
if guaranteed) which afford greater convenience, satisfy personal 
preferences, accommodate institutional commitments or limitations, or 
assure lower costs of acquisition, installation, operation, servicing 
or maintenance are not pertinent.''
    Accordingly, the applicant has failed to establish that domestic 
instruments of equivalent scientific value to the foreign instruments 
for the intended purposes are not available. Therefore, the application 
is denied.

    Dated: September 2, 2015.
Gregory W. Campbell,
Director, Subsidies Enforcement Office, Enforcement and Compliance.
[FR Doc. 2015-23048 Filed 9-15-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P

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