Department of Commerce May 27, 2005 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) and its Atlantic Mackerel, Squid, Butterfish Committee; its Tilefish Committee; its Ecosystems Committee; and, its Executive Committee will hold public meetings.

The United States Travel and Tourism Promotion Advisory Board (Board) will hold a Board meeting on June 10, 2005 at the Hotel George, 15 E Street, NW., Washington, DC 20001. The Board will discuss the results of the international advertising and promotion campaign launched in the United Kingdom in 2004/2005, which sought to encourage individuals to travel to the United States for the express purpose of engaging in tourism. The meeting will be open to the public. Time will be permitted for public comment. To sign up for public comment, please contact Julie Heizer at least 24 hours before the start of the meeting. Julie Heizer may be contacted at U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue, NW., Room 5204, Washington, DC 20230; via fax at (202) 482-2887; or, via e-mail at promotion@tinet.ita.doc.gov. Written comments concerning Board affairs are welcome anytime before or after the meeting. Written comments should be directed to Julie Heizer. Minutes will be available within 60 days of this meeting. The Board is mandated by Public Law 108-7, Section 210. As directed by Public Law 108-7, Section 210, the Secretary of Commerce shall design, develop and implement an international advertising and promotional campaign, which seeks to encourage individuals to travel to the United States. The Board shall recommend to the Secretary of Commerce the appropriate coordinated activities for funding. This campaign shall be a multi-media effort that seeks to leverage the Federal dollars with contributions of cash and in-kind products unique to the travel and tourism industry. The Board was chartered in August of 2003 and will expire on August 8, 2005. This meeting is physically accessible to people with disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids should be directed to OTTI.

This notice extends the comment period on an advance notice of proposed rulemaking addressing potential regulatory and policy changes that would effect existing BIS deemed export licensing practices. BIS is continuing to seek comments on how these revisions would impact industry, the academic community, and U.S. government agencies involved in research. The new comment period deadline is June 27, 2005.

NMFS proposes to require sea turtle conservation measures for all sea scallop dredge vessels fishing in the mid-Atlantic from May 1 through November 30 each year. The proposed rule would require all vessels with a sea scallop dredge and which are required to have a Federal Atlantic sea scallop fishery permit, regardless of dredge size or vessel permit category, to modify their dredge(s) when fishing south of 41[deg] 9.0' N. latitude, from the shoreline to the outer boundary of the Exclusive Economic Zone. Any incidental take of threatened sea turtles in sea scallop dredge gear in compliance with this proposed gear modification requirement and other applicable requirements would be exempted from the prohibition against takes. This action is necessary to help reduce the take of sea turtles in scallop dredge gear and conserve loggerhead sea turtles, listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act (ESA).

NMFS is reopening the comment period for the draft conservation plan for Cook Inlet beluga whales. The initial comment period ended May 16, 2005. The draft conservation plan is intended to promote the conservation and recovery of these whales so they are no longer considered depleted under the Marine Mammal Protection Act.

Notice is hereby given that Sea World, Inc., 7007 Sea World Drive, Orlando, FL 32821, has been issued an amendment to public display Permit No. 116-1742-00 to extend the expiration date through May 21, 2006.

This notice is to advise the public that the National Defense Stockpile Market Impact Committee, co-chaired by the Departments of Commerce and State, is seeking public comments on the potential market impact of proposed changes in the disposal levels of excess Chromium Metal, Ferrochromium, and Tungsten ores and concentrates under the Fiscal Year (FY) 2006 Annual Materials Plan (AMP).