Department of Commerce August 2005 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

On November 3, 2004, in response to requests from Dafeng Shunli Import & Export Co., Ltd., and Shanghai Blessing Trade Co. Ltd., the Department of Commerce (``the Department'') initiated new shipper reviews of the antidumping duty order on freshwater crawfish tail meat from the People's Republic of China. The period of review is September 1, 2003, through August 31, 2004. For the reasons discussed below, we are rescinding these new shipper reviews.

Notice is hereby given that Guam Division of Aquatic and Wildlife Resources (DAWR), 142 Dairy Road, Mangilao, Guam 96913, has been issued a permit to take green (Chelonia mydas) and hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata) sea turtles for purposes of scientific research.

This emergency rule, implemented under the authority of the Pacific Coast groundfish fishery management plan (FMP), establishes a salmon conservation zone for the primary Pacific whiting (whiting) fishery, shoreward of a boundary line approximating the 100-fm (183-m) depth contour. Under this rule, fishing for Pacific whiting within the salmon conservation zone is prohibited.

The Department of Commerce, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continued information collections, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13 (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)).

The Department of Commerce, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing information collections, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

The Department of Commerce, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing information collections, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

The Department of Commerce published the final results and partial rescission of the administrative review of the antidumping duty order on certain cased pencils from the People's Republic of China covering the period of review (POR) December 1, 2002, through November 30, 2003, on July 22, 2005. See Certain Cased Pencils From the People's Republic of China; Final Results and Partial Rescission of Antidumping Duty Administrative Review, 70 FR 42301 (July 22, 2005) (Final Results). We are amending our final results to correct ministerial errors alleged by China First Pencil Co., Ltd./Shanghai Three Star Stationery Industry Corp. (CFP/Three Star) and Orient International Holding Shanghai Foreign Trade Co., Ltd. (SFTC) pursuant to section 751(h) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (the Act).

The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (Council) will convene public meetings.

In accordance with Executive Order 11625 and 15 U.S.C. 1512, the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) is soliciting competitive applications from organizations to operate Minority Business Opportunity Centers (MBOC) (formerly Minority Business Opportunity Committees). The Minority Business Opportunity Centers through their staff will provide brokering services and assistance to MBEs that (a) generate $500,000 or more in annual gross revenues or (b) are capable of creating significant employment and long-term economic impact (commonly referred to as ``rapid growth-potential MBEs). In addition, MBOCs provide access to buyers of goods and services and procurement and financing opportunities within the public and private sectors. MBOC operators and executive directors should have experience in and knowledge of the local minority business sector and established working relationships with buying organizations. MBOCs are supported by a volunteer advisory committee that assists the MBOC in implementing program requirements and providing contract and financing opportunities to MBEs. The program is primarily evaluated by MBDA based on the number and dollar value of contracts and financial transactions awarded to minority business enterprises.

NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for pollock in Statistical Area 620 of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the C season allowance of the 2005 total allowable catch (TAC) of pollock for Statistical Area 620 of the GOA.

On February 2, 2005, the Department of Commerce (the Department) initiated a sunset review of the antidumping duty order on fresh and chilled Atlantic salmon from Norway (Salmon from Norway) (70 FR 5415) pursuant to section 751(c) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (the Act). On the basis of substantive responses filed by domestic and respondent interested parties, the Department determined to conduct a full review. As a result of this review, the Department preliminarily finds that revocation of the antidumping duty order would likely lead to continuation or recurrence of dumping at the levels indicated in the Preliminary Results of Review section of this notice.

On March 26, 2004, the United States Court of International Trade (CIT) sustained the Department of Commerce's (the Department) third remand determination of the Final Affirmative Countervailing Duty Determination: Certain Cut-to-Length Carbon Steel Plate from Italy, 64 FR 73244 (December 29, 1999) (Italian Plate). See ILVA Lamiere e Tubi S.p.A. v. United States, Court No. 00- 03-00127, Slip. Op. 04-29 (CIT, March 26, 2004) (ILVA v. United States). The Department appealed this decision to the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (Federal Circuit). On February 10, 2005, the Federal Circuit affirmed the CIT's decision in a non- precedential judgment. See Ilva Lamiere E Tubi S.r.L. and Ilva S.p.A. v. United States, Court No. 04-1415 (February 10, 2005). Because all litigation in this matter has concluded, the Department is issuing the amended final determination in Italian Plate in accordance with the CIT's decision.

NMFS is prohibiting retention of yellowfin sole in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). NMFS is requiring that catch of yellowfin sole in this area be treated in the same manner as prohibited species and discarded at sea with a minimum of injury. This action is necessary because the 2005 total allowable catch (TAC) of yellowfin sole in the BSAI has been reached.

In response to a request from Produits Forestiers Arbec Inc. (Arbec), the Department of Commerce is initiating a changed circumstances review of the antidumping duty order on certain softwood lumber products from Canada and preliminarily finds that Arbec is the successor-in-interest to Unifor[ecirc]t Inc. (Unifor[ecirc]t).

Notice is hereby given that East Coast Observers Inc., Patricia Bargo, Principal Investigator, PO Box 6192, Norfolk Virginia 23508, has applied in due form for a permit to take loggerhead (Caretta caretta), green (Chelonia mydas), hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata), Kemp's ridley (Lepidochelys kempii), and leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea) marine turtles, and shortnose sturgeon (Acipenser brevirostrom) for purposes of scientific research.

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) publishes this notice to announce the availability of Notify U.S., a free, web-based e-mail service that offers U.S. citizens, industries, and organizations an opportunity to review and comment on proposed foreign technical regulations that can affect their businesses and their access to international markets. The service is operated by the National Center for Standards and Certification Information (NCSCI) at NIST. NCSCI is the nation's designated Inquiry Point under the World Trade Organization (WTO) Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT). Notify U.S. is the successor to Export Alert!, an e-mail service for proposed technical regulations previously offered by NIST. This new, web-based service offers fast and comprehensive information on proposed technical regulations and conformity assessment procedures from foreign governments that might influence U.S. exports. Notify U.S. provides users with access to notifications and full texts of regulations issued by the WTO members. In addition, users can monitor proposed changes across chosen countries and 41 fields of industrial or technical activities, or they can select a subset of fields.

The Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), United States Department of Commerce, and the Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), United States Department of Commerce, are amending the rules that implement the Fastener Quality Act of 1999 to provide that all documents submitted in connection with the recordal of fastener insignia must be mailed to a particular postal box maintained by United States Patent and Trademark Office.

On December 2, 2004, the proposed List of Fisheries (LOF) for 2005 under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) was published in the Federal Register. NMFS subsequently prepared a draft Environmental Assessment (EA) on the process for classifying U.S. commercial fisheries on the LOF. NMFS is reopening the comment period on the proposed 2005 LOF for an additional 60 days to allow the public to concurrently review and comment on both the draft EA and proposed 2005 LOF.

We preliminarily determine that certain orange juice from Brazil is being, or is likely to be, sold in the United States at less than fair value, as provided in section 733(b) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (the Act). In addition, we preliminarily determine that there is a reasonable basis to believe or suspect that critical circumstances exist with respect to the subject merchandise exported from Brazil. Interested parties are invited to comment on this preliminary determination. Because we are postponing the final determination, we will make our final determination not later than 135 days after the date of publication of this preliminary determination in the Federal Register.

The Department of Commerce is extending the time limit for the final results of the administrative review of the antidumping duty order on stainless steel bar from India. The period of review is February 1, 2003, through January 31, 2004. This extension is made pursuant to section 751(a)(3)(A) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended by the Uruguay Round Agreements Act.

NMFS initiated a Community-based Restoration Program (Program) in 1996 that provides Federal financial and technical assistance to encourage locally led coastal and marine habitat restoration, and to promote stewardship and conservation values for NOAA trust resources. The Program is a systematic national effort to foster partnerships at national, regional and local levels to implement sound habitat restoration. Partnerships are forged between government, not-for-profit organizations, community groups, recreational and commercial fishing organizations, students and educational institutions, businesses, youth conservation corps and private landowners. Under the Program, partners may contribute funding, land, technical assistance, workforce support or other in-kind services; promote local participation in habitat restoration activities; undertake research and monitoring to evaluate and improve project success; and facilitate stewardship for restored resources at the local level. To date, the Program has funded more than 1000 community-based habitat restoration projects in 27 states, Canada, and the Caribbean. NMFS is issuing revised guidelines for Program implementation for FY 2006 and beyond, to reflect the evolution of the program since its original implementation. NMFS is seeking comments from interested parties on the revised guidelines. One or more constituent meetings are also planned to solicit feedback on the Program and the revised Program guidelines. This is not a solicitation of project proposals.