Limitations of Duty- and Quota-Free Imports of Apparel Articles Assembled in Beneficiary Sub-Saharan African Countries From Regional and Third-Country Fabric, 66640-66641 [2016-23317]
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Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 188 / Wednesday, September 28, 2016 / Notices
mstockstill on DSK3G9T082PROD with NOTICES
such takings are set forth. NMFS has
defined ‘‘negligible impact’’ in 50 CFR
216.103 as ‘‘an impact resulting from
the specified activity that cannot be
reasonably expected to, and is not
reasonably likely to, adversely affect the
species or stock through effects on
annual rates of recruitment or survival.’’
Concern for Cook Inlet Beluga Whales
Cook Inlet is a semi-enclosed tidal
estuary located in southcentral Alaska
and home to the Cook Inlet beluga
whale, a small resident population that
was designated as depleted under the
MMPA and listed as an endangered
species under the Endangered Species
Act (ESA) in 2008. The stock has not
recovered, despite implementing
subsistence hunting regulations in 1999,
and cessation of hunting in 2007. In
light of this, and in recognition of the
increasing industrial activity and
development in Cook Inlet, NMFS has
taken a number of actions that reflect
the high level of concern for the species,
including:
(1) On October 14, 2014, NMFS
announced its intent to prepare an
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)
pursuant to the National Environmental
Policy Act to analyze the effects on the
human environment of issuing
authorizations for the incidental take of
marine mammals from activities
occurring in both the state and Federal
waters of Cook Inlet, AK, from Knik
Arm in the northern part of the Inlet to
the southern edge of Kachemak Bay on
the southeastern part of the Inlet and to
the southern edge of Cape Douglas on
the southwestern part of the Inlet
(‘‘Cook Inlet beluga EIS’’). NMFS
included a 75-day public comment
period for the Notice of Intent and
conducted a scoping meeting in
Anchorage Alaska on November 3, 2014.
(2) On November 3, 2014, NMFS
convened a multi-stakeholder meeting
in Anchorage Alaska: Conservation and
Recovery of Cook Inlet Beluga Whales in
the Context of Continued Development.
The purpose of the meeting was to
engage stakeholders and begin exploring
Cook Inlet specific solutions for
mitigating and monitoring adverse
effects on belugas, while also allowing
for sustainable development. The first
day of the two-day workshop was
devoted to background and updates
related to the status, ecology, and
stressors of Cook Inlet belugas and the
standards set by the MMPA and the
ESA. The second day included an
exploration of measures and strategies
to minimize anthropogenic impacts,
promote recovery, and increase
understanding of impacts, as well as a
discussion of these objectives in the
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20:30 Sep 27, 2016
Jkt 238001
context of ensuring MMPA and ESA
compliance for future activities.
(3) In May 2015, NMFS unveiled its
‘‘Species in the Spotlight: Survive to
Thrive’’ initiative. This initiative
includes targeted efforts vital for
stabilizing eight species—including the
Cook Inlet beluga whale—identified
among the most at risk for extinction.
The approach involves intensive human
efforts to stabilize these species, with
the goal that they will become
candidates for recovery.
(4) On May 15, 2015, NMFS released
the Draft Recovery Plan for Cook Inlet
Beluga Whale. The population
continues to show a negative trend,
despite the cessation of subsistence
since 2007. Although the exact cause of
the continued decline in the absence of
subsistence hunting is unknown, the
Recovery Plan identifies likely threats,
including three threats of high relative
concern: Noise, catastrophic events, and
the cumulative and synergistic effects of
multiple stressors. Threats of medium
relative concern include disease, habitat
loss or degradation, reduction in prey,
and unauthorized take. Due to an
incomplete understanding of the threats
facing Cook Inlet beluga whales, NMFS
is unable to identify with certainty the
actions that will most immediately
encourage recovery. Until we know
which threats are limiting recovery, the
strategy of the Recovery Plan is to focus
on threats identified as medium or high
concern.
Announcements
The actions summarized above are
multi-year efforts that are not likely to
result in substantial changes in the
short-term. NMFS announces here
additional steps to help inform agency
decision making in the interim.
The preparation of an EIS is a lengthy
and intensive process that, in the case
of the for Cook Inlet beluga EIS, will
likely take two or more years.
Accordingly, in recognition of our
ongoing concern over Cook Inlet
belugas, while the Cook Inlet beluga EIS
is being prepared, NMFS will develop
an Environmental Assessment (EA) to
analyze the effects of issuing of
multiple, concurrent, one-year MMPA
authorizations to take Cook Inlet beluga
whales. An EA will aid us in more
effectively assessing the cumulative
effects of multiple activities and to more
comprehensively consider a range of
mitigation and monitoring measures in
the context of the multiple activities.
MMPA Authorization Cycle
(Application Deadlines)
To support NMFS’ efforts to prepare
an EA that covers multiple MMPA
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incidental harassment authorizations,
NMFS is continuing an application
cycle for incidental harassment
authorizations that include Cook Inlet
beluga whales for the 2017 open water
season. NMFS requests all prospective
MMPA incidental harassment
authorization applicants for a given
open water season to submit their
applications by October 15th of the
preceding calendar year (unless the
activity is scheduled to occur before
May, in which case they should be
submitted earlier). Further, we refer
potential applicants to our new
Technical Guidance for Assessing the
Effects of Anthropogenic Sound on
Marine Mammal Hearing (https://
www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/acoustics/
guidelines.htm), which should be used
in the analysis of auditory effects in an
application. Receipt of those MMPA
applications by October 15th will aid
NMFS in the development of a timely
and well-informed EA and related
MMPA authorizations.
Dated: September 22, 2016.
Donna S. Wieting,
Director, Office of Protected Resources,
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2016–23327 Filed 9–27–16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
COMMITTEE FOR THE
IMPLEMENTATION OF TEXTILE
AGREEMENTS
Limitations of Duty- and Quota-Free
Imports of Apparel Articles Assembled
in Beneficiary Sub-Saharan African
Countries From Regional and ThirdCountry Fabric
Committee for the
Implementation of Textile Agreements
(CITA).
ACTION: Publishing the New 12-Month
Cap on Duty- and Quota-Free Benefits.
AGENCY:
DATES:
Effective Date: October 1, 2016.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Homer Boyer, International Trade
Specialist, Office of Textiles and
Apparel, U.S. Department of Commerce,
(202) 482–5156.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Authority: Title I, Section 112(b)(3) of the
Trade and Development Act of 2000 (TDA
2000), Public Law (Pub. L.) 106–200, as
amended by Division B, Title XXI, section
3108 of the Trade Act of 2002, Pub. L. 107–
210; Section 7(b)(2) of the AGOA
Acceleration Act of 2004, Pub. L. 108–274;
Division D, Title VI, section 6002 of the Tax
Relief and Health Care Act of 2006 (TRHCA
2006), Pub.L. 109–432, and section 1 of The
African Growth and Opportunity
Amendments (Pub. L. 112–163), August 10,
E:\FR\FM\28SEN1.SGM
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Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 188 / Wednesday, September 28, 2016 / Notices
mstockstill on DSK3G9T082PROD with NOTICES
2012; Presidential Proclamation 7350 of
October 2, 2000 (65 FR 59321); Presidential
Proclamation 7626 of November 13, 2002 (67
FR 69459); and Title I, Section 103(b)(2) and
(3) of the Trade Preferences Extension Act of
2015, Pub. L. 114–27, June 29, 2015.
Title I of TDA 2000 provides for dutyand quota-free treatment for certain
textile and apparel articles imported
from designated beneficiary subSaharan African countries. Section
112(b)(3) of TDA 2000 provides dutyand quota-free treatment for apparel
articles wholly assembled in one or
more beneficiary sub-Saharan African
countries from fabric wholly formed in
one or more beneficiary sub-Saharan
African countries from yarn originating
in the United States or one or more
beneficiary sub-Saharan African
countries. This preferential treatment is
also available for apparel articles
assembled in one or more lesserdeveloped beneficiary sub-Saharan
African countries, regardless of the
country of origin of the fabric used to
make such articles, subject to
quantitative limitation. Public Law 114–
27 extended this special rule for lesserdeveloped countries through September
30, 2025.
The AGOA Acceleration Act of 2004
provides that the quantitative limitation
for the twelve-month period beginning
October 1, 2016 will be an amount not
to exceed 7 percent of the aggregate
square meter equivalents of all apparel
articles imported into the United States
in the preceding 12-month period for
which data are available. See Section
112(b)(3)(A)(ii)(I) of TDA 2000, as
amended by Section 7(b)(2)(B) of the
AGOA Acceleration Act of 2004. Of this
overall amount, apparel imported under
the special rule for lesser-developed
countries is limited to an amount not to
exceed 3.5 percent of all apparel articles
imported into the United States in the
preceding 12-month period. See Section
112(b)(3)(B)(ii)(II) of TDA 2000, as
amended by Section 6002(a)(3) of
TRHCA 2006. The Annex to Presidential
Proclamation 7350 of October 2, 2000
directed CITA to publish the aggregate
quantity of imports allowed during each
12-month period in the Federal
Register.
For the one-year period, beginning on
October 1, 2016, and extending through
September 30, 2017, the aggregate
quantity of imports eligible for
preferential treatment under these
provisions is 1,966,511,796 square
meters equivalent. Of this amount,
983,255,898 square meters equivalent is
available to apparel articles imported
under the special rule for lesserdeveloped countries. Apparel articles
entered in excess of these quantities will
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20:30 Sep 27, 2016
Jkt 238001
be subject to otherwise applicable
tariffs.
These quantities are calculated using
the aggregate square meter equivalents
of all apparel articles imported into the
United States, derived from the set of
Harmonized System lines listed in the
Annex to the World Trade Organization
Agreement on Textiles and Clothing
(ATC), and the conversion factors for
units of measure into square meter
equivalents used by the United States in
implementing the ATC.
Felicia Pullam,
Chairman, Committee for the Implementation
of Textile Agreements.
[FR Doc. 2016–23317 Filed 9–27–16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–DR–P
COMMODITY FUTURES TRADING
COMMISSION
Renewal of the Global Markets
Advisory Committee
66641
Additionally, the GMAC will assist the
Commission in assessing the impact on
U.S. markets and firms of the
Commission’s international efforts and
the initiatives of foreign regulators and
market authorities. The GMAC will also
assist with identifying methods to
improve both domestic and
international regulatory structures while
continuing to allow U.S. markets and
firms to remain competitive in the
global market.
The GMAC will operate for two years
from the date of renewal unless the
Commission directs that the GMAC
terminate on an earlier date. A copy of
the GMAC renewal charter has been
filed with the Commission; the Senate
Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition
and Forestry; the House Committee on
Agriculture; the Library of Congress;
and the General Services
Administration’s Committee
Management Secretariat. A copy of the
renewal charter will be posted on the
Commission’s Web site at www.cftc.gov.
AGENCY:
Commodity Futures Trading
Commission.
ACTION: Notice.
Dated: September 23, 2016.
Christopher J. Kirkpatrick,
Secretary of the Commission.
The Commodity Futures
Trading Commission (Commission) is
publishing this notice to announce the
renewal of the Global Markets Advisory
Committee (GMAC). The Commission
has determined that the renewal of the
GMAC is necessary and in the public’s
interest, and the Commission has
consulted with the General Services
Administration’s Committee
Management Secretariat regarding the
GMAC’s renewal.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Ward P. Griffin, GMAC Designated
Federal Officer, at 202–418–5425 or
wgriffin@cftc.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
GMAC’s objectives and scope of
activities are to conduct public
meetings, and to submit reports and
recommendations on matters of public
concern to the exchanges, firms, market
users, and the Commission regarding
the regulatory challenges of a global
marketplace, which reflect the
increasing interconnectedness of
markets and the multinational nature of
business. The GMAC will help the
Commission determine how it can avoid
unnecessary regulatory or operational
impediments to global business while
still preserving core protections for
customers and other market
participants. The GMAC will also make
recommendations for appropriate
international standards for regulating
futures, swaps, options, and derivatives
markets, as well as intermediaries.
[FR Doc. 2016–23351 Filed 9–27–16; 8:45 am]
SUMMARY:
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BILLING CODE 6351–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Office of the Secretary
[Docket ID DOD–2016–HA–0032]
Submission for OMB Review;
Comment Request
ACTION:
Notice.
The Department of Defense
has submitted to OMB for clearance, the
following proposal for collection of
information under the provisions of the
Paperwork Reduction Act.
DATES: Consideration will be given to all
comments received by October 28, 2016.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Fred
Licari, 571–372–0493.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title, Associated Form and OMB
Number: Women, Infants, and Children
Overseas Program (WIC Overseas)
Eligibility Application: OMB Control
Number 0720–0030.
Type of Request: Extension.
Number of Respondents: 14,550.
Responses per Respondent: 2.
Annual Responses: 29,100.
Average Burden per Response: 15
minutes.
Annual Burden Hours: 7,275 hours.
Needs and Uses: The information
collection requirement is necessary for
SUMMARY:
E:\FR\FM\28SEN1.SGM
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 188 (Wednesday, September 28, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 66640-66641]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-23317]
=======================================================================
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COMMITTEE FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF TEXTILE AGREEMENTS
Limitations of Duty- and Quota-Free Imports of Apparel Articles
Assembled in Beneficiary Sub-Saharan African Countries From Regional
and Third-Country Fabric
AGENCY: Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements (CITA).
ACTION: Publishing the New 12-Month Cap on Duty- and Quota-Free
Benefits.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DATES: Effective Date: October 1, 2016.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Homer Boyer, International Trade
Specialist, Office of Textiles and Apparel, U.S. Department of
Commerce, (202) 482-5156.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Authority: Title I, Section 112(b)(3) of the Trade and
Development Act of 2000 (TDA 2000), Public Law (Pub. L.) 106-200, as
amended by Division B, Title XXI, section 3108 of the Trade Act of
2002, Pub. L. 107-210; Section 7(b)(2) of the AGOA Acceleration Act
of 2004, Pub. L. 108-274; Division D, Title VI, section 6002 of the
Tax Relief and Health Care Act of 2006 (TRHCA 2006), Pub.L. 109-432,
and section 1 of The African Growth and Opportunity Amendments (Pub.
L. 112-163), August 10,
[[Page 66641]]
2012; Presidential Proclamation 7350 of October 2, 2000 (65 FR
59321); Presidential Proclamation 7626 of November 13, 2002 (67 FR
69459); and Title I, Section 103(b)(2) and (3) of the Trade
Preferences Extension Act of 2015, Pub. L. 114-27, June 29, 2015.
Title I of TDA 2000 provides for duty- and quota-free treatment for
certain textile and apparel articles imported from designated
beneficiary sub-Saharan African countries. Section 112(b)(3) of TDA
2000 provides duty- and quota-free treatment for apparel articles
wholly assembled in one or more beneficiary sub-Saharan African
countries from fabric wholly formed in one or more beneficiary sub-
Saharan African countries from yarn originating in the United States or
one or more beneficiary sub-Saharan African countries. This
preferential treatment is also available for apparel articles assembled
in one or more lesser-developed beneficiary sub-Saharan African
countries, regardless of the country of origin of the fabric used to
make such articles, subject to quantitative limitation. Public Law 114-
27 extended this special rule for lesser-developed countries through
September 30, 2025.
The AGOA Acceleration Act of 2004 provides that the quantitative
limitation for the twelve-month period beginning October 1, 2016 will
be an amount not to exceed 7 percent of the aggregate square meter
equivalents of all apparel articles imported into the United States in
the preceding 12-month period for which data are available. See Section
112(b)(3)(A)(ii)(I) of TDA 2000, as amended by Section 7(b)(2)(B) of
the AGOA Acceleration Act of 2004. Of this overall amount, apparel
imported under the special rule for lesser-developed countries is
limited to an amount not to exceed 3.5 percent of all apparel articles
imported into the United States in the preceding 12-month period. See
Section 112(b)(3)(B)(ii)(II) of TDA 2000, as amended by Section
6002(a)(3) of TRHCA 2006. The Annex to Presidential Proclamation 7350
of October 2, 2000 directed CITA to publish the aggregate quantity of
imports allowed during each 12-month period in the Federal Register.
For the one-year period, beginning on October 1, 2016, and
extending through September 30, 2017, the aggregate quantity of imports
eligible for preferential treatment under these provisions is
1,966,511,796 square meters equivalent. Of this amount, 983,255,898
square meters equivalent is available to apparel articles imported
under the special rule for lesser-developed countries. Apparel articles
entered in excess of these quantities will be subject to otherwise
applicable tariffs.
These quantities are calculated using the aggregate square meter
equivalents of all apparel articles imported into the United States,
derived from the set of Harmonized System lines listed in the Annex to
the World Trade Organization Agreement on Textiles and Clothing (ATC),
and the conversion factors for units of measure into square meter
equivalents used by the United States in implementing the ATC.
Felicia Pullam,
Chairman, Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements.
[FR Doc. 2016-23317 Filed 9-27-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DR-P
