Department of Commerce 2005 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

On June 1, 2005, the Department of Commerce (``the Department'') initiated a sunset review of the antidumping duty order on glycine from the People's Republic of China pursuant to section 751(c) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (``the Act''). See Initiation of Five-year (Sunset) Reviews, 70 FR 31423 (June 1, 2005). On the basis of a notice of intent to participate and an adequate substantive response filed on behalf of the domestic interested parties and inadequate response from respondent interested parties (in this case, no response), the Department conducted an expedited sunset review of the antidumping duty order pursuant to section 751(c)(3)(B) of the Act and section 351.218(e)(1)(ii)(B) of the Department's regulations. As a result of this sunset review, the Department finds that revocation of the antidumping duty order would likely lead to continuation or recurrence of dumping at the levels indicated in the ``Final Results of Review'' section of this notice.

The Department of Commerce is extending the time limit for the final results of the administrative review of the antidumping duty order on certain polyester staple fiber from the Republic of Korea. The period of review is May 1, 2003, through April 30, 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.

On June 1, 2005, the Department of Commerce (the Department) initiated a sunset review of the antidumping duty orders on antifriction bearings and parts thereof from France, Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom pursuant to section 751(c) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (the Act). On the basis of the notice of intent to participate and adequate substantive responses filed on behalf of the domestic interested parties and inadequate responses from respondent interested parties, the Department conducted expedited sunset reviews. As a result of these sunset reviews, the Department finds that revocation of the antidumping duty orders would likely lead to continuation or recurrence of dumping at the levels listed below in the section entitled ``Final Results of Reviews.''

Due to the need to reschedule three public hearings regarding the draft Consolidated Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Fishery Management Plan (FMP), and the extended recovery period needed for the Gulf region constituents from Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, NMFS is extending the comment period to provide adequate opportunity for public comment on the draft Consolidated HMS FMP and its proposed rule. NMFS is extending the comment period until March 1, 2006. The original comment period was scheduled to conclude on October 18, 2005. The three public hearings were cancelled in Federal Register documents on September 7 and 23, 2005. The draft Consolidated HMS FMP and its proposed rule describe a range of management measures that could impact fishermen and dealers for all HMS fisheries. NMFS is also rescheduling the October 11-13, 2005, HMS and Billfish Advisory Panels (AP) meeting to February 21-23, 2006. The intent of this meeting is to consider alternatives for the conservation and management of HMS as presented in the draft Consolidated HMS FMP and its proposed rule.

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 Western Pacific Fishery Management Council(s (Council) will convene a joint meeting of all its Plan Teams (Pelagics, Bottomfish, Crustaceans, Precious Corals, Coral Reef Ecosystem) on Thursday October 13 and Friday October 14, 2005, to review draft Fishery Ecosystem Plans (FEPs). Further, the Council will also hold several public hearings to seek input on the proposal to develop draft FEPs for the Mariana Islands, Hawaiian Islands, American Samoa, the US Pacific remote islands and the western Pacific pelagic ecosystem. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for specific times, dates, and agenda items.

NOAA publishes this notice to extend the solicitation period on the ``FY 2006 Coastal Services Center Environmental Characterization of a U.S. Coastal Region,'' which was originally announced in the Federal Register on June 30, 2005. The solicitation period is being extended from October 3, 2005 to October 24, 2005 to provide the public more time to submit proposals.

On March 1, 2005, the Department of Commerce (the Department) initiated a sunset review of the antidumping duty order on certain in- shell raw pistachios from Iran, pursuant to section 751(c) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (the Act). On the basis of a notice of intent to participate and an adequate substantive response filed on behalf of domestic interested parties and an inadequate response from respondent interested parties, the Department conducted an expedited (120-day) sunset review. As a result of this sunset review, the Department finds that revocation of the antidumping duty order would likely lead to the continuation or recurrence of dumping. The dumping margins are identified in the Final Results of Review section of this notice.

NMFS published a temporary rule in the Federal Register on August 2, 2005, to adjust the 2005 Winter II commercial scup quota and possession limit. NMFS has since received information that a substantial amount of scup landed during the 2005 Winter I period were misreported as porgies via the Electronic Dealer Reporting System. This action corrects the adjusted 2005 Winter II commercial scup quota and possession limit.

The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (Council) intends to prepare a draft supplemental environmental impact statement (DSEIS) to describe and analyze management alternatives to be included in a joint amendment to the Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for the Shrimp Fishery of the Gulf of Mexico (Shrimp FMP) and the FMP for the Reef Fish Resources of the Gulf of Mexico (Reef Fish FMP). These alternatives will consider measures to reduce red snapper fishing mortality and bycatch in the shrimp and reef fish fisheries. The purpose of this notice of intent is to solicit public comments on the scope of issues to be addressed in the DSEIS.

NMFS has determined that the red grouper quota for the commercial fishery will have been reached by October 10, 2005, and therefore closes the commercial fishery for shallow-water grouper (red, black, gag, scamp, yellowfin, yellowmouth, rock hind, and red hind) in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the Gulf of Mexico. The existing regulations require closure of the entire shallow-water grouper commercial fishery when either the red grouper quota or the shallow- water grouper quota is reached or is projected to be reached. This closure is necessary to protect the shallow-water grouper resource.

The Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary (GRNMS or Sanctuary) is seeking applicants for the following two vacant seats on its Sanctuary Advisory Council (Council): K-12 education and non-living resources research. Applicants are chosen based upon their particular expertise and experience in relation to the seat for which they are applying; community and professional affiliations; philosophy regarding the protection and management of marine resources; and possibly the length of residence in the area affected by the Sanctuary. Applicants who are chosen as members should expect to serve 3-year terms, pursuant to the Council's Charter.

The U.S. Bureau of the Census (Census Bureau) is giving notice of a meeting of the Census Advisory Committee of Professional Associations. The Committee members will address issues regarding Census Bureau programs and activities related to their areas of expertise. Members will address policy, research, and technical issues related to 2010 Decennial Census Programs, including the American Community Survey. The Committee also will discuss several economic initiatives, as well as issues pertaining to marketing services and measurement of local labor market activity. Last-minute changes to the agenda are possible, which could prevent giving advance notice of schedule adjustments.

The Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) of 1972, as amended, requires the Secretary of Commerce to prepare a conservation plan for any species or stock of marine mammals designated as depleted under the Act. The Southern Resident stock of killer whales (Orcinus orca) was designated as depleted on May 29, 2003, and a conservation plan was developed to promote the conservation and recovery of these whales. NMFS announces the availability for public review of the Proposed Conservation Plan for Southern Resident Killer Whales (Plan). NMFS is requesting review and comment on the Plan from the public and all interested parties.

NMFS is opening directed fishing for Pacific ocean perch in the Western Aleutian District of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area (BSAI). This action is necessary to allow the Pacific ocean perch fishery in the Western Aleutian District of the BSAI to resume.

The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) will hold a joint meeting of its Law Enforcement Committee and Advisory Panel (AP) in Charleston, South Carolina.

The Department of Commerce (the ``Department'') has determined that a request for a new shipper review of the antidumping duty order on fresh garlic from the People's Republic of China (``PRC''), received in May 2005, meets the statutory and regulatory requirements for initiation. The period of review (``POR'') of this new shipper review is November 1, 2004, through April 30, 2005.

The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), 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 the continuing information collection, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13 (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)).

On August 11, 2005, the Economic Development Administration (``EDA'') published an interim final rule in the Federal Register. This final rule delays the effective date of certain provisions in the interim final rule from October 1, 2005 until November 14, 2005. This final rule also extends the deadline for submitting public comments on the interim final rule from October 11, 2005 until November 14, 2005. The delay in effective date and the extension of the public comment period are necessary to provide additional time for the submission of public comments and to allow for EDA's additional consideration of matters pertaining to the effective implementation of the interim final rule. Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined in this final rule have the meanings ascribed to them in the interim final rule.

In accordance with 5 U.S.C. 4314(c)(4), NOAA announces the appointment of twenty-five members to serve on the NOAA Performance Review Board (PRB). The NOAA PRB is responsible for reviewing performance appraisals and ratings of Senior Executive Service (SES) members and making written recommendations to the appointing authority on SES retention and compensation matters, including performance-based pay adjustments, awarding of bonuses and reviewing recommendations for potential Presidential Rank Award nominees. The appointment of members to the NOAA PRB will be for a period of 24 months.