Puget Sound & Pacific Railroad-Lease Amendment and Operation Exemption Including Interchange Commitment-Union Pacific Railroad Company, 23121-23122 [2020-08740]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 80 / Friday, April 24, 2020 / Notices State finds that there is an exceptional circumstance in that this advisory committee meeting must be held on May 5, due to the need to brief the community on the issues noted above, and because of difficult scheduling issues brought about by the ongoing public health emergency. Please send all inquiries to ITAC@ state.gov. Zachary A. Parker, Director, Office of Directives Management, U.S. Department of State. [FR Doc. 2020–08676 Filed 4–23–20; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4710–07–P DEPARTMENT OF STATE [Public Notice: 11095] Notice of Public Teleconference Concerning the Use of Digital Sequence Information of Genetic Resources ACTION: Notice of meeting. The U.S. Department of State (DOS) invites submission of comments from the public, academia, industry, and other stakeholders on the topic of ‘‘digital sequence information (DSI) on genetic resources,’’ also known as genetic sequence data (GSD). The United States will use these comments to inform policy development and international messaging on GSD, particularly regarding the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and the Nagoya Protocol. The Department will hold a public meeting and information session to discuss these issues, on May 14, 2020 at 10:00 a.m., by teleconference. This teleconference is in place of the postponed in-person public meeting on DSI originally scheduled for March 12, 2020 [Public Notice 11037]. DATES: A teleconference is planned on Thursday, May 14, 2020. The meeting will begin at 10:00 a.m. EDT and last for up to two hours. Dial-in details will be made available upon registration. Electronic comments are due on or before June 30, 2020. ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held by phone. You will receive dial-in details upon registration. One electronic submission per person by the June 30 deadline is welcome, with no more than 10 pages of single-spaced text including relevant examples, with no more than one page per example. Submissions should be made via the internet at www.regulations.gov docket number [DOS–2020–2017]. Note that relevant comments submitted to regulations.gov will be posted without editing and will be available to the public; therefore, khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES SUMMARY: VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:03 Apr 23, 2020 Jkt 250001 business-confidential information should be clearly identified as such and submitted by email instead to ReillyPK2@state.gov. The public is required to file submissions electronically rather than by facsimile or mail. You do not need to resubmit comments if you submitted comments for the original Federal Register Notice [Public Notice 11037] announcing the now postponed, in-person public meeting on DSI originally scheduled for March 12, 2020. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions regarding the submission of comments should be directed to Patrick Reilly (202) 647–4827, ReillyPK2@ state.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Secretariat of the CBD released three studies on ‘‘Digital Sequence Information on Genetic Resources’’ (https://www.cbd.int/dsi-gr/2019-2020/ studies/) that examine the scope, present use, traceability, access, and current benefit-sharing schemes relating to DSI/GSD. These studies were commissioned to inform decisions by the Parties to the CBD and the Nagoya Protocol at the 2020 Conference of Parties (COP) to the CBD and the Conference of Parties serving as the Meeting of the Parties to the Nagoya Protocol. (Originally planned for October 15–18, 2020 in Kunming, China, the CBD COP and related meetings have been postponed due to COVID–19; new dates have not yet been announced.) During the teleconference, DOS will provide a brief overview of the ongoing discussions regarding DSI/GSD in the context of the CBD and the Nagoya Protocol and public participants will have the opportunity to share their comments, concerns, and questions about this issue. The information obtained from these meetings will help the U.S. Government prepare for U.S. participation in international meetings, in particular, U.S. participation in upcoming CBD and Nagoya Protocol meetings. Documents and other information related to the CBD and Nagoya Protocol can be found at this website: www.cbd.int. We welcome examples, information, and comment on: (1) The CBD studies cited above; (2) practices regarding the collection, management, and use of DSI/GSD; (3) experiences with access and benefit-sharing (ABS) approaches or requirements related to DSI/GSD; (4) specific examples of actual and potential impacts that could occur if tracking and benefit sharing for the utilization of DSI/GSD were required by domestic legislation in other countries, PO 00000 Frm 00129 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 23121 or encouraged under the Nagoya Protocol or other international instruments, such as the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture and the World Health Organization Pandemic Influenza Preparedness Framework; (5) specific examples of actual and potential impacts that could occur if tracking and benefit sharing for the utilization of DSI/GSD were required on research collaborations, international sample sharing, academic and commercial research, pandemic and epidemic preparedness and response, and food security; (6) monetary or non-monetary benefits that are facilitated by international sharing of DSI/GSD; (7) how organizations can still advance science if national-level ABS frameworks in other countries require tracking and benefit sharing for the utilization of DSI/GSD; (8) non-ABS challenges and barriers to sharing DSI/GSD that have significant implications for global research efforts that might merit additional attention or analysis; and (9) issues and/or examples related to the items described above or other items that could affect the scientific process. Representatives from DOS will review written submissions and share them, as appropriate, with other Federal Agencies to inform U.S. Government policy and our international engagements on these issues. U.S. officials may contact individuals making submissions for further information or clarification. Status: The meeting will be open to the public. Persons wishing to dial-in should submit their full name and organization to Patrick Reilly at ReillyPK2@state.gov and copy RSVP– ECW@state.gov at least three days prior to the meeting. Requests made after that time will be considered but might not be accommodated. Zachary A. Parker, Director, Office of Directives Management, Department of State. [FR Doc. 2020–08784 Filed 4–23–20; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4710–09–P SURFACE TRANSPORTATION BOARD [Docket No. FD 36395] Puget Sound & Pacific Railroad— Lease Amendment and Operation Exemption Including Interchange Commitment—Union Pacific Railroad Company Puget Sound & Pacific Railroad (PSAP), a Class III rail carrier, has filed E:\FR\FM\24APN1.SGM 24APN1 khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES 23122 Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 80 / Friday, April 24, 2020 / Notices a verified notice of exemption under 49 CFR 1150.41 to amend an existing rail line lease between PSAP and Union Pacific Railroad Company (UP).1 PSAP states that, under the Amended Lease, it will continue to lease and operate 3.65 miles of rail line: Between milepost 53.83 and milepost 54.23 and between milepost 55.28 and milepost 56.70, in Aberdeen and Hoquiam, Wash.; and between milepost 2.41 at Blakeslee Junction, Wash., and milepost 4.26 at Raisch, Wash. (collectively, the Line). PSAP states that the Current Lease was entered into in 2000 and amended in 2002. See Ariz. & Cal. R.R.—Lease & Operation Exemption—Union Pac. R.R., FD 33886 (STB served July 7, 2000); Puget Sound & Pac. R.R.—Lease & Operation Exemption—Union Pac. R.R., FD 34213 (STB served Dec. 13, 2002). PSAP further states that the term of the Current Lease was extended in 2010, in accordance with its terms, for an additional 10 years. According to PSAP, the Amended Lease would extend the lease term for an additional 10 years and revise other commercial terms. PSAP certifies that the projected annual revenues as a result of the proposed transaction will not exceed those that would qualify it as a Class III carrier. Additionally, PSAP certifies that its total revenues exceed $5 million. Pursuant to 49 CFR 1150.42(e), if a carrier’s projected annual revenues will exceed $5 million, it must, at least 60 days before the exemption becomes effective, post notice of its intent to undertake the proposed transaction at the workplace of the employees on the affected lines, serve a copy of the notice on the national offices of the labor unions with employees on the affected lines, and certify to the Board that it has done so. However, PSAP’s verified notice includes a request for waiver of the 60-day advance labor notice requirements. PSAP’s waiver request will be addressed in a separate decision. As required under 49 CFR 1150.43(h)(1), PSAP has disclosed in its verified notice that the Amended Lease contains an interchange commitment.2 PSAP has provided additional information regarding the interchange commitment as required by 49 CFR 1150.43(h). The verified notice states that the Amended Lease will be effective upon the effective date of the verified notice 1 The existing lease, as previously amended from time to time, is referred to as the Current Lease; the Current Lease with the addition of the new amendment for which authority is sought here is referred to as the Amended Lease. 2 A copy of the Amended Lease with the interchange commitment was submitted under seal. See 49 CFR 1150.43(h)(1). VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:03 Apr 23, 2020 Jkt 250001 of exemption and that PSAP will continue to operate under the terms of the Current Lease until then. The Board will establish the effective date in its separate decision on the waiver request. If the verified notice contains false or misleading information, the exemption is void ab initio. Petitions to revoke the exemption under 49 U.S.C. 10502(d) may be filed at any time. The filing of a petition to revoke will not automatically stay the effectiveness of the exemption. Petitions to stay must be filed no later than May 1, 2020. All pleadings, referring to Docket No. FD 36395, must be filed with the Surface Transportation Board either via e-filing or in writing addressed to 395 E Street SW, Washington, DC 20423–0001. In addition, a copy of each pleading must be served on PSAP’s representative, Eric M. Hocky, Clark Hill PLC, Two Commerce Square, 2001 Market St., Suite 2620, Philadelphia, PA 19103. According to PSAP, this action is categorically excluded from environmental review under 49 CFR 1105.6(c) and from historic preservation reporting requirements under 49 CFR 1105.8(b). Board decisions and notices are available at www.stb.gov. Decided: April 21, 2020. By the Board, Allison C. Davis, Director, Office of Proceedings. Regena Smith-Bernard, Clearance Clerk. [FR Doc. 2020–08740 Filed 4–23–20; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4915–01–P OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE Notice of Product Exclusions: China’s Acts, Policies, and Practices Related to Technology Transfer, Intellectual Property, and Innovation Office of the United States Trade Representative. ACTION: Notice of product exclusions. AGENCY: In September 2018, the U.S. Trade Representative imposed additional duties on goods of China with an annual trade value of approximately $200 billion as part of the action in the Section 301 investigation of China’s acts, policies, and practices related to technology transfer, intellectual property, and innovation. The U.S. Trade Representative initiated a product exclusion process in June 2019, and interested persons have submitted requests for the exclusion of specific SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00130 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 products. This notice announces the U.S. Trade Representative’s determination to grant certain exclusion requests, as specified in the Annex to this notice, and corrects a technical error in a previously announced exclusion. DATES: The product exclusions announced in this notice will apply as of September 24, 2018, the effective date of the $200 billion action, and extend to August 7, 2020. The amendments announced in this notice are retroactive to the date that the original exclusions were published. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For general questions about this notice, contact Assistant General Counsels Philip Butler or Megan Grimball, or Director of Industrial Goods Justin Hoffmann at (202) 395–5725. For specific questions on customs classification or implementation of the product exclusions identified in the Annex to this notice, contact traderemedy@cbp.dhs.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A. Background For background on the proceedings in this investigation, please see the prior notices including 82 FR 40213 (August 24, 2017), 83 FR 14906 (April 6, 2018), 83 FR 28710 (June 20, 2018), 83 FR 33608 (July 17, 2018), 83 FR 38760 (August 7, 2018), 83 FR 47974 (September 21, 2018), 83 FR 49153 (September 28, 2018), 83 FR 65198 (December 19, 2018), 84 FR 7966 (March 5, 2019), 84 FR 20459 (May 9, 2019), 84 FR 29576 (June 24, 2019), 84 FRN 38717 (August 7, 2019), 84 FR 46212 (September 3, 2019), 84 FR 49591 (September 20, 2019), 84 FR 57803 (October 28, 2019), 84 FR 61674 (November 13, 2019), 84 FR 65882 (November 29, 2019), 84 FR 69012 (December 17, 2019), 85 FR 549 (January 6, 2020), 85 FR 6674 (February 5, 2020), 85 FR 9921 (February 20, 2020), 85 FR 15015 (March 16, 2020), and 85 FR 17158 (March 26, 2020). Effective September 24, 2018, the U.S. Trade Representative imposed additional 10 percent ad valorem duties on goods of China classified in 5,757 full and partial subheadings of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS), with an approximate annual trade value of $200 billion. See 83 FR 47974, as modified by 83 FR 49153. In May 2019, the U.S. Trade Representative increased the additional duty to 25 percent. See 84 FR 20459. On June 24, 2019, the U.S. Trade Representative established a process by which stakeholders could request exclusion of particular products E:\FR\FM\24APN1.SGM 24APN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 80 (Friday, April 24, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 23121-23122]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-08740]


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SURFACE TRANSPORTATION BOARD

[Docket No. FD 36395]


Puget Sound & Pacific Railroad--Lease Amendment and Operation 
Exemption Including Interchange Commitment--Union Pacific Railroad 
Company

    Puget Sound & Pacific Railroad (PSAP), a Class III rail carrier, 
has filed

[[Page 23122]]

a verified notice of exemption under 49 CFR 1150.41 to amend an 
existing rail line lease between PSAP and Union Pacific Railroad 
Company (UP).\1\ PSAP states that, under the Amended Lease, it will 
continue to lease and operate 3.65 miles of rail line: Between milepost 
53.83 and milepost 54.23 and between milepost 55.28 and milepost 56.70, 
in Aberdeen and Hoquiam, Wash.; and between milepost 2.41 at Blakeslee 
Junction, Wash., and milepost 4.26 at Raisch, Wash. (collectively, the 
Line).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ The existing lease, as previously amended from time to time, 
is referred to as the Current Lease; the Current Lease with the 
addition of the new amendment for which authority is sought here is 
referred to as the Amended Lease.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    PSAP states that the Current Lease was entered into in 2000 and 
amended in 2002. See Ariz. & Cal. R.R.--Lease & Operation Exemption--
Union Pac. R.R., FD 33886 (STB served July 7, 2000); Puget Sound & Pac. 
R.R.--Lease & Operation Exemption--Union Pac. R.R., FD 34213 (STB 
served Dec. 13, 2002). PSAP further states that the term of the Current 
Lease was extended in 2010, in accordance with its terms, for an 
additional 10 years. According to PSAP, the Amended Lease would extend 
the lease term for an additional 10 years and revise other commercial 
terms.
    PSAP certifies that the projected annual revenues as a result of 
the proposed transaction will not exceed those that would qualify it as 
a Class III carrier. Additionally, PSAP certifies that its total 
revenues exceed $5 million. Pursuant to 49 CFR 1150.42(e), if a 
carrier's projected annual revenues will exceed $5 million, it must, at 
least 60 days before the exemption becomes effective, post notice of 
its intent to undertake the proposed transaction at the workplace of 
the employees on the affected lines, serve a copy of the notice on the 
national offices of the labor unions with employees on the affected 
lines, and certify to the Board that it has done so. However, PSAP's 
verified notice includes a request for waiver of the 60-day advance 
labor notice requirements. PSAP's waiver request will be addressed in a 
separate decision.
    As required under 49 CFR 1150.43(h)(1), PSAP has disclosed in its 
verified notice that the Amended Lease contains an interchange 
commitment.\2\ PSAP has provided additional information regarding the 
interchange commitment as required by 49 CFR 1150.43(h).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \2\ A copy of the Amended Lease with the interchange commitment 
was submitted under seal. See 49 CFR 1150.43(h)(1).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The verified notice states that the Amended Lease will be effective 
upon the effective date of the verified notice of exemption and that 
PSAP will continue to operate under the terms of the Current Lease 
until then. The Board will establish the effective date in its separate 
decision on the waiver request.
    If the verified notice contains false or misleading information, 
the exemption is void ab initio. Petitions to revoke the exemption 
under 49 U.S.C. 10502(d) may be filed at any time. The filing of a 
petition to revoke will not automatically stay the effectiveness of the 
exemption. Petitions to stay must be filed no later than May 1, 2020.
    All pleadings, referring to Docket No. FD 36395, must be filed with 
the Surface Transportation Board either via e-filing or in writing 
addressed to 395 E Street SW, Washington, DC 20423-0001. In addition, a 
copy of each pleading must be served on PSAP's representative, Eric M. 
Hocky, Clark Hill PLC, Two Commerce Square, 2001 Market St., Suite 
2620, Philadelphia, PA 19103.
    According to PSAP, this action is categorically excluded from 
environmental review under 49 CFR 1105.6(c) and from historic 
preservation reporting requirements under 49 CFR 1105.8(b).
    Board decisions and notices are available at www.stb.gov.

    Decided: April 21, 2020.

    By the Board, Allison C. Davis, Director, Office of Proceedings.
Regena Smith-Bernard,
Clearance Clerk.
[FR Doc. 2020-08740 Filed 4-23-20; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4915-01-P
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