Department of Commerce September 29, 2006 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) announces the availability of the Proposed Upper Columbia Spring Chinook Salmon, Steelhead, and Bull Trout Recovery Plan (Plan) for public review and comment. The Plan addresses the Upper Columbia Spring Chinook Salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) Evolutionarily Significant Unit (ESU), the Upper Columbia Steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss) Distinct Population Segment (DPS), and Bull Trout (Salvelinus confluentus) in the Upper Columbia region. The Plan was prepared by the Upper Columbia Salmon Recovery Board (UCSRB) in conjunction with NMFS. Bull trout, listed as threatened, are under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and are the subject of a draft recovery plan published by the USFWS in 2002. NMFS is soliciting review and comment from the public and all interested parties on the spring Chinook salmon and steelhead portions of the Proposed Plan. If comments are received on the bull trout portion of the Plan, NMFS will pass them on to the USFWS.

On August 11, 2006, the Department of Commerce (the Department) published a notice of initiation and preliminary results of a changed circumstances review with intent to revoke, in part, the antidumping duty (AD) finding on polychloroprene rubber from Japan. See Polychloroprene Rubber from Japan: Notice of Initiation and Preliminary Results of Changed Circumstances Review, and Intent to Revoke Finding in Part, 71 FR 46189 (August 11, 2006) (Initiation and Preliminary Results). We are now revoking this finding in part, with regard to certain polychloroprene rubber products from Japan, as described in the ``Scope of Changed Circumstances Review'' section of this notice, based on the fact that domestic parties have expressed no further interest in the relief provided by the finding with respect to the imports of such products.

The Department of Commerce (the Department) is rescinding new shipper reviews of three companies for whom it had initiated new shipper reviews on April 6, 2006. See Stainless Steel Flanges from India: Notice of Initiation of Antidumping Duty New Shipper Reviews, 71 FR 17439 (April 6, 2006). Our basis for rescinding these new shipper reviews is described below.

In accordance with the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act, 5 U.S.C. App. 2, and the General Services Administration (GSA) rule of Federal Advisory Committee Management, 41 CFR part 102-3, and after consultation with GSA, the Secretary of Commerce has determined that the establishment of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Climate Change Science Program (CCSP) Product Development Committee (CPDC) for Synthesis and Assessment Product 3.3 (CPDCS&A 3.3) is in the public interest, in connection with the performance of duties imposed on the Department by law. The CPDCS&A 3.3 will advise the Secretary, through the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere, on CCSP Topic 3.3: ``Weather and Climate Extremes in a Changing Climate''. This advice will be provided in the form of a draft Synthesis and Assessment product intended to be used by NOAA to develop a final product in accordance with the Guidelines for Producing the CCSP Synthesis and Assessment Products, the OMB Peer Review Bulletin, and the Information Quality Act Guidelines. The CPDCS&A 3.3 will consist of no more than 35 members to be appointed by the Under Secretary to assure a balanced representation among preeminent scientists, educators, and experts reflecting the full scope of the scientific issues addressed in CCSP Synthesis and Assessment Product 3.3. The CPDCS&A 3.3 will function solely as an advisory body, and in compliance with the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act. Its charter will be filed under the Act, fifteen days from the date of publication of this notice. Following establishment of CPDC-S&A 3.3, the first committee meeting will be held. All sessions of the meeting will be open to the public. Place: The first meeting of CPDCS&A 3.3.will be held at the International Pacific Research Center, Honolulu, Hawaii. Time and Date: The meeting will convene at 8:30 a.m. on Monday, October 30, 2006 and adjourn at 12 noon on Thursday, November 2, 2006. Meeting information will be available online on the CPDCS&A 3.3 Web site (https://www.climate.noaa.gov/index.jsp?pg=./ccsp/33.jsp). Please note that meeting times and agenda topics described below are subject to change. Status: The meeting will be open to public participation and will include a 60-minute public comment period on October 30 from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. (check Web site to confirm this time). The CPDCS&A 3.3 expects that public statements presented at its meetings will not be repetitive of previously submitted verbal or written statements. In general, each individual or group making a verbal presentation will be limited to a total time of five (5) minutes. Written comments (at least 35 copies) should be received by the CPDCS&A 3.3 Designated Federal Official (DFO) by October 20, 2006 to provide sufficient time for review. Written comments received after October 20 will be distributed to the CPDCS&A 3.3, but may not be reviewed prior to the meeting date. Seats will be available to the public on a first-come, first- served basis. Matters To Be Considered: The meeting will (1) work on an initial draft document based on detailed outline presented in the final Prospectus (2) review of plans for completion and submission of the First Draft of Synthesis and Assessment Product 3.3 to the National Research Council for expert review.

NMFS proposes a rule to implement Amendment 16-4 to the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery Management Plan (FMP) and to set the 2007-2008 harvest specifications and management measures for groundfish taken in the U.S. exclusive economic zone (EEZ) off the coasts of Washington, Oregon, and California. Amendment 16-4 would modify the FMP to implement revised rebuilding plans for seven overfished species: bocaccio, canary rockfish, cowcod, darkblotched rockfish, Pacific ocean perch (POP), widow rockfish, and yelloweye rockfish. Groundfish harvest specifications and management measures for 2007-2008 are intended to: achieve but not exceed optimum yields (OYs); prevent overfishing; rebuild overfished species; reduce and minimize the bycatch and discard of overfished and depleted stocks; provide harvest opportunity for the recreational and commercial fishing sectors; and, within the commercial fisheries, achieve harvest guidelines and limited entry and open access allocations as closely as possible. Together, Amendment 16-4 and the 2007-2008 harvest specifications and management measures are intended to rebuild overfished stocks as soon as possible, taking into account the status and biology of the stocks, the needs of fishing communities, and the interaction of the overfished stocks within the marine environment. In addition to the management measures implemented for directed and incidental groundfish fisheries, this proposed rule would implement a new Yelloweye Rockfish Conservation Area off Washington State, which will be closed to commercial salmon troll fishing.