Certain Oil Country Tubular Goods From the Republic of Korea: Preliminary Results of Antidumping Duty Administrative Review and Preliminary Determination of No Shipments; 2019-2020,

Download as PDF 54928 Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 190 / Tuesday, October 5, 2021 / Notices Background On July 25, 2016, Commerce published in the Federal Register the CVD order on CORE from India.1 On July 1, 2021, Commerce published the notice of initiation of the first sunset review of the CVD order on CORE from India, pursuant to section 751(c) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (the Act).2 In June 2021, Commerce received timely notices of intent to participate from California Steel Industries (CSI), Cleveland-Cliffs Inc., Nucor Corporation (Nucor), Steel Dynamics Inc. (SDI), and United States Steel Corporation (U.S. Steel) (collectively, domestic interested parties).3 The companies claimed interested party status under section 771(9)(C) of the Act as domestic producers of CORE. On July 1, 2021, Commerce received a timely and adequate substantive response from the domestic interested parties.4 We received no substantive responses from any other interested parties, including the Government of India, nor was a hearing requested. On July 22, 2021, Commerce notified the U.S. International Trade Commission that it did not receive an adequate substantive response from respondent interested parties.5 As a result, pursuant to 751(c)(3)(B) of the Act and 19 CFR 351.218(e)(1)(ii)(C)(2), Commerce conducted an expedited (120-day) sunset review of the CVD order on CORE from India. Analysis of Comments Received All issues raised in this sunset review are addressed in the accompanying Issues and Decision Memorandum, which is hereby adopted by this notice. The issues discussed in the Issues and Decision Memorandum are the likelihood of continuation or recurrence of a countervailable subsidy, the net countervailable subsidy rate likely to prevail if the order were revoked, and the nature of the subsidy programs. A list of the topics discussed in the Issues and Decision Memorandum is attached as an appendix to this notice. The Issues and Decision Memorandum is a public document and is on file electronically via Enforcement and Compliance’s Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Centralized Electronic Service System (ACCESS). ACCESS is available to registered users at https://access.trade.gov. In addition, a complete version of the Issues and Decision Memorandum can be accessed directly at https://enforcement.trade.gov/ frn/. Final Results of Sunset Review Pursuant to sections 751(c)(1) and 752(b) of the Act, Commerce determines that revocation of the CVD order on CORE from India would be likely to lead to the continuation or recurrence of countervailable subsidies at the rates listed below: Scope of the Order The product covered by the order is CORE. For a full description of the lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with NOTICES1 1 See Certain Corrosion-Resistant Steel Products from India, Italy, Republic of Korea and the People’s Republic of China: Countervailing Duty Order, 81 FR 48387 (July 25, 2016). 2 See Initiation of Five-Year (Sunset) Reviews, 86 FR 29239 (June 1, 2021). 3 See Cleveland-Cliffs’ Letter, ‘‘Five-Year (‘‘Sunset’’) Review of Countervailing Duty Order On Corrosion-Resistant Steel Products From India: Notice Of Intent To Participate In Sunset Review,’’ dated June 14, 2021; U.S. Steel’s Letter, ‘‘Five-Year (‘‘Sunset’’) Review of Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Orders on Corrosion-Resistant Steel Products from India: Notice of Intent to Participate,’’ dated June 16, 2021; CSI/SDI’s Letter, ‘‘Notice of Intent to Participate in the First FiveYear Review of the Countervailing Duty Order on Certain Corrosion-Resistant Steel Products from India,’’ dated June 16, 2021; and Nucor’s Letter, ‘‘Certain Corrosion-Resistant Steel Products from India: Notice of Intent to Participate in Sunset Review,’’ dated June 16, 2021. 4 See Domestic Interested Parties’ Letter, ‘‘First Five-Year (‘‘Sunset’’) Review of Countervailing Duty Order on Corrosion-Resistant Steel Products from India: Domestic Industry’s Substantive Response to Notice of Initiation,’’ dated July 1, 2021. 5 See Commerce’s Letter, ‘‘Sunset Reviews Initiated on June 1, 2021,’’ dated July 22, 2021. VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:56 Oct 04, 2021 Jkt 256001 Notification to Interested Parties scope, see the Issues and Decision Memorandum.6 Net subsidy rate (percent) Producer/exporter JSW Steel Limited and JSW Steel Coated Products Limited ............. Uttam Galva Steels Limited and Uttam Value Steels Limited ......... All Others ........................................ 6.69 530.74 6.12 Notification Regarding Administrative Protective Order (APO) This notice also serves as the only reminder to parties subject to an APO of their responsibility concerning the destruction of proprietary information disclosed under APO in accordance with 19 CFR 351.305. Timely notification of the return or destruction of APO materials or conversion to judicial protective order is hereby requested. Failure to comply with the regulations and terms of an APO is a sanctionable violation. 6 See Memorandum, ‘‘Issues and Decision Memorandum for the Final Results of the Expedited First Sunset Review of the Countervailing Duty Order on Certain Corrosion-Resistant Steel Products from India,’’ dated concurrently with, and hereby adopted by, this notice (Issues and Decision Memorandum). PO 00000 Frm 00013 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 We are issuing and publishing these results in accordance with sections 751(c), 752(b), and 777(i)(1) of the Act and 19 CFR 351.218. Dated: September 29, 2021. Christian Marsh, Acting Assistant Secretary for Enforcement and Compliance. Appendix List of Topics Discussed in the Issues and Decision Memorandum I. Summary II. Background III. Scope of the Order IV. History of Order V. Legal Framework VI. Discussion of the Issues 1. Likelihood of Continuation or Recurrence of a Countervailable Subsidy 2. Net Countervailable Subsidy Rates That Are Likely to Prevail 3. Nature of the Subsidies VII. Final Results of the Review VIII. Recommendation [FR Doc. 2021–21660 Filed 10–4–21; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–DS–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE International Trade Administration [A–580–870] Certain Oil Country Tubular Goods From the Republic of Korea: Preliminary Results of Antidumping Duty Administrative Review and Preliminary Determination of No Shipments; 2019–2020 Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade Administration, Department of Commerce. SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce (Commerce) preliminarily finds that certain oil country tubular goods (OCTG) from the Republic of Korea (Korea) were sold in the United States at prices below normal value. The period of review (POR) is September 1, 2019, through August 31, 2020. Interested parties are invited to comment on these preliminary results. DATES: Applicable October 5, 2021. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Davina Friedmann, Mark Flessner, or Frank Schmitt, AD/CVD Operations, Office VI, Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20230; telephone: (202) 482–0698, (202) 482–6312, or (202) 482–4880, respectively. AGENCY: SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: E:\FR\FM\05OCN1.SGM 05OCN1 Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 190 / Tuesday, October 5, 2021 / Notices Background These preliminary results are made in accordance with section 733(b) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (the Act). Commerce published the notice of initiation of this administrative review on October 30, 2020.1 Commerce selected Hyundai Steel Company (Hyundai Steel) and SeAH Steel Corporation (SeAH) as the two mandatory respondents in this review.2 On April 29, 2021, in accordance with section 751(a)(3)(A) of the Act, Commerce extended the preliminary results of review by 120 days, until September 30, 2021.3 For a complete description of the events that followed the initiation of this administrative review, see the Preliminary Decision Memorandum.4 A list of topics included in the Preliminary Decision Memorandum is included as Appendix I to this notice. The Preliminary Decision Memorandum is a public document and is on file electronically via Enforcement and Compliance’s Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Centralized Electronic Service System (ACCESS). ACCESS is available to registered users at https://access.trade.gov. In addition, a complete version of the Preliminary Decision Memorandum can be accessed directly at https://enforcement.trade.gov/ frn/. Scope of the Order The product covered by the Order 5 is OCTG from Korea. For a complete description of the scope of the Order, see the Preliminary Decision Memorandum. lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with NOTICES1 Methodology Commerce is conducting this administrative review in accordance 1 See Initiation of Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Administrative Reviews, 85 FR 68840 (October 30, 2020). 2 See Memorandum, ‘‘2019–2020 Administrative Review of the Antidumping Duty Order on Oil Country Tubular Goods from the Republic of Korea: Respondent Selection,’’ dated December 18, 2020. 3 See Memorandum, ‘‘Oil Country Tubular Goods from the Republic of Korea: Extension of Time Limit for Preliminary Results of Antidumping Duty Administrative Review, 2019–20,’’ dated April 29, 2021. 4 See Memorandum, ‘‘Decision Memorandum for the Preliminary Results of the 2019–2020 Administrative Review of Oil Country Tubular Goods from the Republic of Korea’’ dated concurrently with, and hereby adopted by, this notice (Preliminary Decision Memorandum). 5 See Certain Oil Country Tubular Goods from India, the Republic of Korea, Taiwan, the Republic of Turkey, and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam: Antidumping Duty Orders; and Certain Oil Country Tubular Goods from the Socialist Republic of Vietnam: Amended Final Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair Value, 79 FR 53691 (September 10, 2014) (Order). VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:56 Oct 04, 2021 Jkt 256001 with section 751(a)(2) of the Act. Commerce has calculated export prices in accordance with section 772(a) of the Act. Constructed export prices have been calculated in accordance with section 772(b) of the Act. Normal value (NV) is calculated in accordance with section 773 of the Act. Commerce preliminarily does not find that a costbased particular market situation existed in Korea during the POR.6 For a full description of the methodology underlying our conclusions, see the Preliminary Decision Memorandum. Preliminary Determination of No Shipments On November 25, 2020, HiSteel Co., Ltd. (HiSteel) submitted a letter certifying that it had no exports or sales of subject merchandise into the United States during the POR.7 U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) did not have any information to contradict this claim of no shipments during the POR.8 Therefore, we preliminarily determine that HiSteel did not have any shipments of subject merchandise during the POR. Consistent with Commerce’s practice, we will not rescind the review with respect to HiSteel but will complete the review and issue instructions to CBP based on the final results.9 Rates for Non-Examined Companies The statute and Commerce’s regulations do not address the rate to be applied to companies not selected for examination when Commerce limits its examination in an administrative review pursuant to section 777A(c)(2) of the Act. Generally, Commerce looks to section 735(c)(5) of the Act, which provides instructions for calculating the all-others rate in a market economy investigation, for guidance when calculating the rate for companies which were not selected for individual examination in an administrative review. Under section 735(c)(5)(A) of 6 For a complete discussion, see Preliminary Decision Memorandum at 15–28. 7 See HiSteel’s Letter, ‘‘Administrative Review of the Antidumping Order on Oil Country Tubular Goods from Korea for the 2019–20 Review Period— No Shipments Letter,’’ dated November 25, 2020. 8 See Memorandum, ‘‘Certain Oil Country Tubular Goods from the Republic of Korea 2019– 20: No Shipment Inquiry for HiSteel Co., Ltd., During the Period 09/01/2019 through 08/31/2020,’’ dated September 27, 2021. 9 See, e.g., Certain Frozen Warmwater Shrimp from Thailand; Preliminary Results of Antidumping Duty Administrative Review, Partial Rescission of Review, Preliminary Determination of No Shipments; 2012–2013, 79 FR 15951, 15952 (March 24, 2014), unchanged in Certain Frozen Warmwater Shrimp from Thailand: Final Results of Antidumping Duty Administrative Review, Final Determination of No Shipments, and Partial Rescission of Review; 2012–2013, 79 FR 51306, 51307 (August 28, 2014). PO 00000 Frm 00014 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 54929 the Act, the all-others rate is normally ‘‘an amount equal to the weighted average of the estimated weightedaverage dumping margins established for exporters and producers individually investigated, excluding any zero or de minimis margins, and any margins determined entirely {on the basis of facts available}.’’ In this review, we preliminarily calculated dumping margins for the two mandatory respondents, Hyundai Steel and SeAH, of 19.38 and 3.85 percent, respectively, and we have assigned to the non-selected companies a rate of 11.62 percent, which is the simple average of Hyundai Steel’s and SeAH’s margins.10 Preliminary Results of Review Commerce preliminarily finds that, for the period September 1, 2019, through August 31, 2020, the following weighted-average dumping margins exist: Exporter/producer Estimated weightedaverage dumping margin (percent) Hyundai Steel Company ............. SeAH Steel Corporation ............. Non-examined companies 11 ...... 19.38 3.85 11.62 Disclosure, Public Comment, and Opportunity to Request a Hearing We intend to disclose the calculations performed for these preliminary results of review to interested parties within five days of the date of publication of this notice in accordance with 19 CFR 351.224(b). Pursuant to 19 CFR 351.309(c), interested parties may submit case briefs no later than 30 days after the date of publication of this notice. Rebuttal briefs, the content of which is limited to issues raised in the case briefs, may be filed no later than seven days after the date for filing case briefs.12 Parties who submit case briefs or rebuttal briefs in this proceeding are encouraged to submit with each argument: (1) A statement of the issue; (2) a brief summary of the argument; and (3) a table of authorities.13 Executive summaries should be limited to five pages total, including footnotes. Case and rebuttal briefs should be filed 10 Commerce was unable to compare a simple average to a weighted-average relative to publicly available data because public data for volume of U.S. sales were not available for both respondents. 11 See Appendix II. 12 See 19 CFR 351.309(d). 13 See 19 CFR 351.309(c)(2) and (d)(2). E:\FR\FM\05OCN1.SGM 05OCN1 54930 Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 190 / Tuesday, October 5, 2021 / Notices using ACCESS 14 and must be served on interested parties.15 An electronically filed document must be received successfully in its entirety by Commerce’s electronic records system, ACCESS, by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on the date that the document is due. Pursuant to 19 CFR 351.310(c), interested parties who wish to request a hearing must submit a written request to the Assistant Secretary for Enforcement and Compliance, filed electronically via Commerce’s electronic records system, ACCESS. An electronically filed request must be received successfully in its entirety by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time within 30 days of the date of publication of this notice.16 Requests should contain: (1) The party’s name, address and telephone number; (2) the number of participants; and (3) a list of issues parties intend to discuss. Issues raised in the hearing will be limited to those raised in the respective case and rebuttal briefs. If a request for a hearing is made, Commerce intends to hold the hearing at a time and date to be determined.17 Parties should confirm the date, time, and location of the hearing two days before the scheduled date. Pursuant to Section 751(a)(2)(B)(iv) of the Act and 19 CFR 351.213(h)(2), Commerce intends to issue the final results of this administrative review, including the results of its analysis of the issues raised in any case or rebuttal briefs, no later than 120 days after the date of publication of this notice, unless extended.18 lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with NOTICES1 Assessment Rates Upon issuance of the final results, Commerce shall determine, and CBP shall assess, antidumping duties on all appropriate entries covered by this review.19 For any individually examined respondents whose weighted-average dumping margin is above de minimis (i.e., greater than or equal to 0.5 percent) in the final results of this review, we will calculate importer-specific ad valorem duty assessment rates based on the ratio of the total amount of antidumping duties calculated for the examined sales to the total entered value of the examined sales to that importer, and we will instruct CBP to assess antidumping duties on all appropriate entries covered by this review. For entries of subject 14 See generally 19 CFR 351.303. 15 See 19 CFR 351.303(f). 16 See 19 CFR 351.310(c). 17 See 19 CFR 351.310(d). 18 See section 751(a)(3)(A) of the Act and 19 CFR 351.213(h). 19 See 19 CFR 351.212(b)(1). VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:56 Oct 04, 2021 Jkt 256001 merchandise during the POR produced by each respondent for which it did not know its merchandise was destined for the United States, we will instruct CBP to liquidate such entries at the all-others rate if there is no rate for the intermediate company(ies) involved in the transaction.20 Where the individually-selected respondent’s weighted-average dumping margin is zero or de minimis, or an importerspecific assessment rate is zero or de minimis, we will instruct CBP to liquidate the appropriate entries without regard to antidumping duties. For the companies which were not selected for individual review, we intend to assign an assessment rate based on the methodology described in the ‘‘Rates for Non-Examined Companies’’ section. The final results of this review shall be the basis for the assessment of antidumping duties on entries of merchandise covered by this review where applicable. Commerce intends to issue assessment instructions to CBP no earlier than 35 days after the date of publication of the final results of this review in the Federal Register.21 If a timely summons is filed at the U.S. Court of International Trade, the assessment instructions will direct CBP not to liquidate relevant entries until the time for parties to file a request for a statutory injunction has expired (i.e., within 90 days of publication). Cash Deposit Requirements The following cash deposit requirements will be effective upon publication of the notice of final results of this administrative review for all shipments of the subject merchandise entered, or withdrawn from warehouse, for consumption on or after the date of publication, as provided by section 751(a)(2) of the Act: (1) The cash deposit rate for the companies listed in the final results of review will be equal to the weighted-average dumping margin established in the final results of this administrative review; (2) for merchandise exported by producers or exporters not covered in this review but covered in a prior segment of the proceeding, the cash deposit rate will continue to be the company-specific rate published for the most recently completed segment of this proceeding in 20 For a full discussion of this clarification, see Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Proceedings: Assessment of Antidumping Duties, 68 FR 23954 (May 6, 2003). 21 See Notice of Discontinuation of Policy to Issue Liquidation Instructions After 15 Days in Applicable Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Administrative Proceedings, 86 FR 884 (January 15, 2021). PO 00000 Frm 00015 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 which they were reviewed; (3) if the exporter is not a firm covered in this review, a prior review, or the original investigation but the producer is, then the cash deposit rate will be the rate established for the most recently completed segment of this proceeding for the producer of the merchandise; (4) the cash deposit rate for all other producers or exporters will continue to be 5.24 percent, the all-others rate established in the less-than-fair-value investigation.22 These cash deposit requirements, when imposed, shall remain in effect until further notice. Notification to Importers This notice serves as a preliminary reminder to importers of their responsibility under 19 CFR 351.402(f)(2) to file a certificate regarding the reimbursement of antidumping duties prior to liquidation of the relevant entries during this POR. Failure to comply with this requirement could result in Commerce’s presumption that reimbursement of antidumping duties occurred and the subsequent assessment of double antidumping duties. Notification to Interested Parties The preliminary results of this administrative review are issued and published in accordance with sections 751(a)(1) and 777(i)(1) of the Act, and 19 CFR 351.221(b)(4). Dated: September 29, 2021. Christian Marsh, Acting Assistant Secretary for Enforcement and Compliance. Appendix I—List of Topics Discussed in the Preliminary Decision Memorandum I. Summary II. Background III. Scope of the Order IV. Rates for Non-Examined Companies V. Preliminary Determination of No Shipments VI. Affiliation VII. Discussion of the Methodology VIII. Currency Conversion IX. Recommendation Appendix II—List of Companies Not Individually Examined 1. AJU Besteel Co., Ltd. 2. DB Inc. 3. Dong-A Steel Co., Ltd. 4. FM Oilfield Services Solutions LLC 5. Hengyang Steel Tube Group International Trading Inc. 6. Husteel Co., Ltd. 7. Hyundai Corporation 8. Hyundai Heavy Industries Co., Ltd. 22 See Certain Oil Country Tubular Goods from the Republic of Korea: Notice of Court Decision Not in Harmony With Final Determination, 81 FR 59603 (August 30, 2016). E:\FR\FM\05OCN1.SGM 05OCN1 Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 190 / Tuesday, October 5, 2021 / Notices 9. ILJIN Steel Corporation 10. K Steel Corporation 11. KASCO 12. Kenwoo Metals Co., Ltd. 13. Kukje Steel Co., Ltd. 14. Kumkang Kind Co., Ltd. 15. Kumsoo Connecting Co., Ltd. 16. Master Steel Corporation 17. NEXTEEL Co., Ltd. 18. POSCO International Corporation 19. Pusan Coupling Corporation 20. Pusan Fitting Corporation 21. Sang Shin Industrial Co., Ltd. (a.k.a. SIC Tube Co., Ltd.) 22. SeAH Changwon Integrated Special Steel Co., Ltd. 23. Shin Steel Co., Ltd. 24. Sichuan Y&J Industries Co. Ltd. 25. Steel-A Co., Ltd. 26. Sungwon Steel Co., Ltd. 27. TGS Pipe Co., Ltd. 28. TJ Glovsteel Co., Ltd. 29. TPC Co., Ltd. 30. T-Tube Co., Ltd. [FR Doc. 2021–21659 Filed 10–4–21; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–DS–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration [RTID 0648–XB379] Takes of Marine Mammals Incidental to Specified Activities; Taking Marine Mammals Incidental to the Office of Naval Research’s Arctic Research Activities in the Beaufort and Chukchi Seas (Year 4) National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice; issuance of an incidental harassment authorization. AGENCY: In accordance with the regulations implementing the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) as amended, notification is hereby given that NMFS has issued an IHA to the U.S. Navy’s Office of Naval Research (ONR) to incidentally harass, by Level B harassment only, marine mammals during oceanographic research activities associated with the Arctic Research Activities (Year 4) in the Beaufort and eastern Chukchi Seas. The Navy’s activities are considered military readiness activities pursuant to the MMPA, as amended by the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2004 (NDAA). DATES: This Authorization is effective from October 5, 2021 through October 4, 2022. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kelsey Potlock, Office of Protected Resources, NMFS, (301) 427–8401. lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with NOTICES1 SUMMARY: VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:56 Oct 04, 2021 Jkt 256001 Electronic copies of the application and supporting documents, as well as a list of the references cited in this document, may be obtained online at: https:// www.fisheries.noaa.gov/action/ incidental-take-authorization-officenaval-research-arctic-researchactivities-beaufort-1. In case of problems accessing these documents, please call the contact listed above. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background The MMPA prohibits the ‘‘take’’ of marine mammals, with certain exceptions. Sections 101(a)(5)(A) and (D) of the MMPA (16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.) direct the Secretary of Commerce (as delegated to NMFS) to allow, upon request, the incidental, but not intentional, taking of small numbers of marine mammals by U.S. citizens who engage in a specified activity (other than commercial fishing) within a specified geographical region if certain findings are made and either regulations are issued or, if the taking is limited to harassment, a notice of a proposed incidental take authorization may be provided to the public for review. Authorization for incidental takings shall be granted if NMFS finds that the taking will have a negligible impact on the species or stock(s) and will not have an unmitigable adverse impact on the availability of the species or stock(s) for taking for subsistence uses (where relevant). Further, NMFS must prescribe the permissible methods of taking and other ‘‘means of effecting the least practicable adverse impact’’ on the affected species or stocks and their habitat, paying particular attention to rookeries, mating grounds, and areas of similar significance, and on the availability of the species or stocks for taking for certain subsistence uses (referred to in shorthand as ‘‘mitigation’’); and requirements pertaining to the mitigation, monitoring and reporting of the takings are set forth. The NDAA (Pub. L. 108–136) removed the ‘‘small numbers’’ and ‘‘specified geographical region’’ limitations indicated above and amended the definition of ‘‘harassment’’ as it applies to a ‘‘military readiness activity.’’ The activity for which incidental take of marine mammals is being requested addressed here qualifies as a military readiness activity. The definitions of all applicable MMPA statutory terms cited above are included in the relevant sections below. Summary of Request On June 4, 2021, NMFS received a request from the Office of Naval Research (ONR) for an IHA to take PO 00000 Frm 00016 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 54931 marine mammals incidental to oceanographic research activities, known as Arctic Research Activities, in the Beaufort and eastern Chukchi Seas. The application was deemed adequate and complete on August 4, 2021. ONR’s request is for take of beluga whales (Delphinapterus leucas; two stocks) and ringed seals (Pusa hispida hispida) by Level B harassment only. Neither ONR nor NMFS expects serious injury or mortality to result from this activity and, therefore, an IHA is appropriate. This IHA will cover the fourth year of a larger project for which ONR obtained prior IHAs (83 FR 48799, September 27, 2018; 84 FR 50007, September 24, 2019; 85 FR 53333, August 28, 2020) and may request take authorization for subsequent facets of the overall project. This IHA will be valid for a period of one year, October 5, 2021 to October 4, 2022. The larger project involves several scientific objectives that support the Arctic and Global Prediction Program, as well as the Ocean Acoustic Program and the Naval Research Laboratory, for which ONR is the parent command. ONR has complied with all the requirements (e.g., mitigation, monitoring, and reporting) of the previous IHAs (83 FR 48799, September 27, 2018; 84 FR 50007, September 24, 2019; 85 FR 53333, August 28, 2020). Description of Activities Overview ONR’s Arctic Research Activities include scientific experiments to be conducted in support of the following programs: The Arctic and Global Prediction Program, the Ocean Acoustic Program, and the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL), for which ONR is the parent command. Specifically, the project includes the Arctic Mobile Observing System (AMOS), Ocean Acoustics field work, and NRL experiments in the Beaufort and Chukchi Seas. Project activities involve acoustic testing during cruises (two planned) and a multi-frequency navigation system concept test using left-behind active acoustic sources. More specifically, these experiments involve the deployment of moored, drifting, and ice-tethered active acoustic sources as well as a towed source (see details in the proposed notice (86 FR 47065; August 23, 2021) on the Shallow Water Integrate Mapping System) from the Research Vessel (R/V) Sikuliaq and another vessel, most likely the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter (CGC) HEALY. Underwater sound from the acoustic sources may result in behavioral harassment of marine mammals. E:\FR\FM\05OCN1.SGM 05OCN1

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