Department of Commerce January 2006 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

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 burdens, invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on the continuing information collections, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13 (44 U.S.C. 3506 (2)(A)).

NOAA's Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management (OCRM) announces availability of the Record of Decision (ROD) and Final Findings of Approvability (Findings) for OCRM's Review of Amendments to the Alaska Coastal Management Program (ACMP) final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). On June 2, 2005, OCRM received the State of Alaska's request to incorporate Executive Order 106, House Bills 191, 69, 86, Senate Bill 102, revisions to statute AS 46, and new implementing regulations at 11 AAC 110, 11 AAC 112, and 11 AAC 114 as an amendment to the ACMP. The new implementing regulations replace the existing consistence review procedure regulations previously found at 6 AAC 50, the statewide standards previously found at 6 AAC 80, and the district program guidelines previously found at 6 AAC 85 as the enforceable policies of the ACMP. The final EIS was released to the public for 30 days after the publication of a Notice of Availability in the Federal Register on November 25, 2005 (79 FR 71139). The ROD documents the selection of Alternative 1 (the NOAA preferred alternative) in the final EIS. The Findings make a final determination that the ACMP, as amended by the June 2, 2005, ACMP Amendment Document, still constitutes an approvable program and that procedural requirements of the CZMA and its implementing regulations have been met. The ROD and Findings were signed by the Deputy Assistant Administrator, National Ocean Service (NOS) on December 29, 2005. Federal consistency applies to the revised ACMP enforceable policies as of December 29, 2005.

On August 24, 2005, the Department of Commerce published its preliminary determination of sales at less than fair value (LTFV) in the antidumping duty investigation of certain orange juice from Brazil. The period of investigation (POI) is October 1, 2003, through September 30, 2004. Based on our analysis of the comments received, we have made changes in the margin calculations. Therefore, the final determination differs from the preliminary determination. The final weighted-average dumping margins for the investigated companies are listed below in the section entitled ``Final Determination Margins.'' In addition, we have determined that Coinbra Frutesp S.A. (Coinbra-Frutesp) is the successor-in-interest to Frutropic S.A. (Frutropic) and, thus, its production and/or exports of frozen concentrated orange juice for further manufacture (FCOJM) are covered by the scope of this proceeding. Finally, we determine that critical circumstances exist with regard to certain exports of subject merchandise from Brazil.

The Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary (FKNMS or Sanctuary) is seeking applicants for the following vacant seats on its Sanctuary Advisory Council (Council): Citizen-at-Large, Middle Keys; Maritime Heritage; Research & Monitoring Alternate; Marine Life Alternate; Education Alternate and South Florida Ecosystem Restoration Alternate. 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 2 or 3 year terms, pursuant to the Council's Charter.

In response to requests by Essar Steel Ltd. (Essar), a producer/exporter of the subject merchandise, and by petitioners,\1\ the Department of Commerce (the Department) is conducting an administrative review of the antidumping duty order on certain hot- rolled carbon steel flat products (HRS) from India. This review covers one producer/exporter of the subject merchandise.

The U.S. Department of Commerce requests comments from interested parties regarding issues related to Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) protection at trade events, including policies and current practices, and problems of infringement.

NMFS announces that the Administrator, Northeast Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator) has determined that the quota for the tilefish Full-time Tier 1 permit category has been exceeded for fishing year (FY) 2005, requiring an adjustment of the Full-time Tier 1 permit category quota for FY 2006. This action complies with the Fishery Management Plan for the Tilefish Fishery (FMP) and is intended to continue the rebuilding program in the FMP by taking into account previous overages of the tilefish quota.

NMFS proposes a rule to implement Amendment 19 to the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery Management Plan (FMP). Amendment 19 provides for a comprehensive program to describe and protect essential fish habitat (EFH) for Pacific Coast Groundfish. The proposed management measures are intended to minimize, to the extent practicable, adverse effects to EFH from fishing. The measures include fishing gear restrictions and prohibitions, areas that would be closed to bottom trawl, and areas that would be closed to all fishing that contacts the bottom.

NMFS issues a final rule to open the Cape Sarichef Research Restriction Area in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area (BSAI) to directed fishing for groundfish using trawl, pot, and hook- and-line gear from March 15, 2006, through March 31, 2006. Because NMFS' Alaska Fisheries Science Center (AFSC) will not conduct research in this area in 2006, closure of the Cape Sarichef Research Restriction Area is not needed. This action is intended to relieve an unnecessary restriction on groundfish fisheries and allow the optimum utilization of fishery resources, in accordance with the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act). This final rule also will remove the regulations for the Cape Sarichef Research Restriction Area, and regulations for the Chiniak Gully Research Area because both research projects have ended.

Notice is hereby given that a request for modification of scientific research Permit No. 1227 submitted by the National Marine Fisheries Service, Southwest Fisheries Science Center (SWFSC) has been granted.

The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (Council) previously published a notice of intent in the Federal Register (70 FR 57859, October 5, 2005) to prepare a DSEIS for a joint Amendment 14 to the Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for the Shrimp Fishery of the Gulf of Mexico (Shrimp FMP) and Amendment 27 to the FMP for the Reef Fish Resources of the Gulf of Mexico (Reef Fish FMP). This notice supplements the previous notice and provides notice of the Council's intent to prepare a second DSEIS for a subsequent joint Amendment 15 to the Shrimp FMP and Amendment 28 to the Reef Fish FMP. The alternatives in the two joint amendments will consider measures to reduce red snapper fishing mortality and bycatch in the shrimp and reef fish fisheries, and to achieve optimum yield (OY) in the shrimp fishery. The purpose of this notice of intent is to solicit public comments on the scope of issues to be addressed in the DSEISs.

EDA is soliciting proposals for FY 2006 University Center Program funding in the areas served by its Atlanta and Seattle regional offices. EDA's mission is to lead the federal economic development agenda by promoting innovation and competitiveness, preparing American regions for growth and success in the worldwide economy. Institutions of higher education have many assets, such as faculty, staff, libraries, laboratories, and computer systems, which can help to address local economic problems and opportunities. With funding from EDA, institutions of higher education establish and operate University Centers, which provide technical assistance to public and private sector organizations with the goal of enhancing local economic development. EDA has traditionally renewed an award to a University Center on an annual basis, as long as it maintained a satisfactory level of performance and Congress appropriated funds for EDA's Local and National Technical Assistance Programs. In FY 2004, EDA began a phased implementation of a three-year competitive grant cycle for all University Center projects, beginning with those in its Austin and Denver regional offices. In FY 2005, with the competition announced in this notice for University Center projects in the areas served by EDA's Atlanta and Seattle regional offices, EDA is completing the phased implementation of competition for University Center Program funding.

NMFS has determined that the Atlantic bluefin tuna (BFT) General category daily retention limit for five previously designated restricted fishing days (RFD) should be adjusted. These General category RFDs are being waived to provide reasonable opportunity for utilization of the coastwide General category BFT quota. Therefore, NMFS waives five RFDs scheduled for January 2006, and increases the daily retention limit from zero to two large medium or giant BFT on these previously designated RFDs.

Notice is hereby given that Molly Lutcavage, Department of Biology, 177 A Spaulding Hall, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH 03824-2617, has applied in due form for a permit to take leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea) sea turtles for purposes of scientific research.

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, 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 New England Fishery Management Council (Council) is scheduling a public meeting of its Scallop Committee in January, 2006 to consider actions affecting New England fisheries in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ). Recommendations from this group will be brought to the full Council for formal consideration and action, if appropriate.