Department of Commerce January 2007 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

A process to develop and standardize one or more new hash algorithms \\ to augment and revise FIPS 180-2, Secure Hash Standard, is being initiated by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). As a first step in this process, NIST is publishing draft minimum acceptability requirements, submission requirements, and evaluation criteria for candidate algorithms to solicit public comment. It is intended that the revised hash function standard will specify one or more additional unclassified, publicly disclosed hash algorithms that are available royalty-free worldwide, and are capable of protecting sensitive government information well into the foreseeable future.

The United States Patent and Trademark Office (Office) is amending the rules of practice to support implementation of the Office's electronic filing system (EFS) for patent correspondence, and in particular, the Web-based electronic filing system (EFS-Web). EFS- Web permits most patent correspondence, that is, most patent applications and other patent related documents, to be submitted in a portable document file (``PDF'') format. The major changes that the Office is adopting are changes to provide patent users with a process for showing that correspondence submitted in an application which has entered national stage under 35 U.S.C. 371 submitted via EFS-Web was actually received by the Office by relying on the acknowledgment receipt, and to treat certain correspondence as received, for timeliness purposes, as of the date submitted by applicant rather than the date received by the Office if the correspondence is filed via EFS- Web.

On September 29, 2006, the Department of Commerce (the Department) published in the Federal Register a notice of initiation of the antidumping duty administrative review on floor-standing, metal-top ironing tables and certain parts thereof (ironing tables) from the People's Republic of China (PRC). The period of review (POR) is August 1, 2005, through July 31, 2006. This review is now being rescinded for Foshan Shunde Yongjian Housewares & Hardware Co., Ltd. (Foshan Shunde) because the only requesting party withdrew its request in a timely manner.

As a result of the determinations by the Department of Commerce (the Department) and the International Trade Commission (ITC) that revocation of the antidumping duty orders on stainless steel bar from Brazil, India, Japan, and Spain would be likely to lead to continuation or recurrence of dumping and of material injury to an industry in the United States within a reasonably foreseeable time, the Department is publishing notice of the continuation of these antidumping duty orders.

NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for pollock in Statistical Area 630 in the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the A season allowance of the 2007 total allowable catch (TAC) of pollock for Statistical Area 630 in the GOA.

The Joint Canada-U.S. Review Panel for Pacific hake / Whiting will hold a work session which is open to the public.

In accordance with the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), as amended, notification is hereby given that a letter of authorization (LOA) to take three species of marine mammals incidental to missile launch operations from San Nicolas Island, CA (SNI) has been issued to the Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division (NAWC-WD), Point Mugu, CA.

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) announces a 5- year review of the Hawaiian monk seal (Monachus schauinslandi) under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) of 1973. The Hawaiian monk seal was listed as a threatened species under the ESA on November 23, 1976. On April 30, 1986, critical habitat was designated at all beach areas, lagoon waters, and ocean waters out to a depth of 10 fathoms around Kure Atoll, Midway, Pearl and Hermes Reef, Lisianski Island, Laysan Island, Gardner Pinnacles, French Frigate Shoals, Necker Island and Nihoa Island; critical habitat was extended to include Maro Reef and waters around all habitat out to the 20 fathom isobath on May 26, 1988. A 5-year review is a periodic process conducted to ensure that the listing classification of a species is accurate. A 5-year review is based on the best scientific and commercial data available at the time of the review; therefore, we are requesting submission of any such information on Hawaiian monk seals that has become available since their original listing as an endangered species in 1976. Based on the results of this 5-year review, we will make the requisite findings under the ESA.

The Assistant Regional Administrator for Sustainable Fisheries, Northeast Region, NMFS (Assistant Regional Administrator), has made a preliminary determination that an Exempted Fishing Permit (EFP) application submitted by the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) contains all of the required information and warrants further consideration. The Assistant Regional Administrator has made a preliminary determination that the activities authorized under this EFP would be consistent with the goals and objectives of the Northeast (NE) Multispecies and Monkfish Fishery Management Plans (FMPs). However, further review and consultation may be necessary before a final determination is made to issue an EFP. Therefore, NMFS announces that the Assistant Regional Administrator proposes to recommend that an EFP be issued that would allow one commercial fishing vessel to conduct fishing operations that are otherwise restricted by the regulations governing the fisheries of the Northeastern United States. The EFP, which would enable researchers to study the biology of large monkfish, would grant exemptions from the NE Multispecies FMP as follows: Western Gulf of Maine (GOM) Closure Area; GOM Rolling Closure Areas I and II; and NE multispecies effort control measures. Regulations under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act require publication of this notification to provide interested parties the opportunity to comment on applications for proposed EFPs.

Notice is hereby given that NMFS has received an ESA application for a Section 10 permit for scientific research from Mr. David A. Vogel, Natural Resource Scientists in Red Bluff, CA. This notice is relevant to Federally endangered Sacramento River winter-run Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha), threatened Central Valley spring-run Chinook salmon (O. tshawytscha), threatened Central Valley steelhead (O. mykiss), and threatened Southern Distinct Population Segment of North American green sturgeon (Acipenser medirostris). This document serves to notify the public of the availability of the permit applications for review and comment.

Notice is hereby given that Molly Lutcavage, Department of Zoology, 177 A Spaulding Hall, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH 03824-2617, has been issued a modification to File No. 1557.

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) announces the adoption of its Endangered Species Act (ESA) Recovery Plan (Recovery Plan) for the Puget Sound Chinook Salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) Evolutionarily Significant Unit (ESU). The Recovery Plan consists of two documents: the Puget Sound Salmon Recovery Plan prepared by the Shared Strategy for Puget Sound (the Shared Strategy Plan), and NMFS' Final Supplement to the Shared Strategy Plan (Supplement). The Final Supplement contains revisions and additions in consideration of public comments on the Shared Strategy Plan and the draft NMFS Supplement.

In response to a request from Globe Metallurgical Inc. (Globe), a domestic producer of silicon metal, the Department of Commerce initiated an administrative review of the antidumping duty order on silicon metal from Brazil. The period of review covers July 1, 2005, through February 15, 2006. Because the respondents had no sales or shipments to the United States during the period of review, we are now rescinding the review of these companies.

NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for pollock in Statistical Area 610 in the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the A season allowance of the 2007 total allowable catch (TAC) of pollock for Statistical Area 610 in the GOA.

The Department of Commerce (``Department'') has received information sufficient to warrant initiation of a changed circumstances review of the antidumping duty order on wooden bedroom furniture (``WBF'') from the People's Republic of China (``PRC''). Based on a request filed by Tradewinds Furniture Ltd. (``Tradewinds Furniture'') and Tradewinds International Enterprise Ltd. (``Tradewinds International''), the Department is initiating a changed circumstances review to determine whether Tradewinds Furniture and Tradewinds International are successors-in-interest to Nanhai Jiantai Woodwork Co. (``Nanhai Jiantai'') and its affiliated exporter, Fortune Glory Industrial Limited Co. (``Fortune Glory''), respondents in the original investigation.

On September 11, 2006, the Department of Commerce published the preliminary results of the 2004/2005 administrative review of the antidumping duty order on polyethylene retail carrier bags from Thailand. We gave interested parties an opportunity to comment on the preliminary results. Based on our analysis of the comments received and an examination of our calculations, we have made certain changes for the final results. The final weighted-average dumping margins for the respondents are listed below in the ``Final Results of the Review'' section of this notice.

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.

NMFS announces availability of the updated Observer Coverage Plan for the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery pursuant to the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery Management Plan (FMP). NMFS also announces the receipt of applications for, and the issuance of, an exemption to the prohibition of at-sea processing for sablefish caught during the primary sablefish fishery, a prohibition implemented as part of Amendment 14 to the FMP.

This proposed rule would permanently remove the 7-day delay in effectiveness when closing the Hawaii-based shallow-set longline fishery as a result of reaching interaction limits for sea turtles. This action would allow immediate closure of the fishery, and would enhance protection of sea turtles.

Notice is hereby given that Harold M. Brundage, Environmental Research and Consulting Inc., PMB 781, 873 East Baltimore Pike, Kennett Square, Pennsylvania 19348, has requested a modification to scientific research Permit No. 1486.