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

NMFS will hold a series of public hearings regarding the Draft Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (DPEIS) for Research on Steller Sea Lions and Northern Fur Seals.

NMFS announces several scoping meetings for the environmental impact statement for implementation of annual catch limit (ACL) and accountability measure (AM) requirements of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Reauthorization Act of 2006 (MSRA). Such guidance would be added to the National Standard 1 Guidelines. NMFS also extends the ending date of the scoping period for this action from April 2, 2007, through April 17, 2007.

On November 1, 2006, the Department of Commerce (the Department) initiated a sunset review of the countervailing duty (CVD) order on honey from Argentina, 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 the domestic interested parties and adequate substantive responses from respondent interested parties, the Department determined to conduct a full sunset review of this CVD order pursuant to section 751(c) of the Act and 19 CFR 351.218(e)(2). As a result of our analysis, the Department preliminarily finds that revocation of the countervailing duty order would be likely to lead to continuation or recurrence of a countervailable subsidy at the level indicated in the ``Preliminary Results of 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, 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, Pub. L. 104-13 (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)).

In December 2003, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (Office) proposed amendments to, inter alia, the rules governing disciplinary proceedings for attorneys and agents who practice before the Office, principally rules 11.2, 11.3, 11.5, and 11.14 through 11.62. One hundred fifty-seven written comments were received. After reviewing the written comments, the Office has decided to revise several of the rules as then proposed and request additional comments on those revised proposals. Other proposed rules contained in the earlier Notice of Proposed Rule making remain under consideration by the Office. This supplemental notice of proposed rule making sets forth revisions that the Office is proposing to the rules governing the conduct of investigations and disciplinary proceedings. Interested individuals are invited to comment on the proposed revisions in the rules.

Pursuant to the Notice of Consent Motion to Terminate the Panel Review by the complainants, the panel review is terminated as of February 21, 2007. A panel has not been appointed to this panel review. Pursuant to Rule 71(2) of the Rules of Procedure for Article 1904 Binational Panel Review, this panel review is terminated.

The Advisory Committee on Commercial Remote Sensing (ACCRES) will meet March 15, 2007.

On December 19, 2005, the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council), in cooperation with NMFS, announced its intent to prepare an environmental assessment (EA) for Amendment 10 (butterfish stock rebuilding program) and a supplemental environmental impact statement (SEIS) for Amendment 11 (Atlantic mackerel limited access program) to the Atlantic Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish Fishery Management Plan (FMP). Since then, the Council and NMFS have concluded that a SEIS must be prepared for Amendment 10; therefore, this supplemental NOI seeks comments on Amendment 10. In addition, the Council hereby notifies the public that SEIS documents for Amendment 10 and Amendment 11 will be developed simultaneously, but each amendment will remain separate fishery management actions.

The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) will hold a meeting of its Snapper Grouper Committee, Southeast Data, Assessment, and Review (SEDAR) Committee, Controlled Access Committee, Mackerel Committee, Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) Selection Committee, a joint meeting of its Habitat Committee and Ecosystem-Based Management Committee, Economics Committee, Shrimp Committee, Information and Education Committee, a joint meeting of its Executive Committee and Finance Committee, and a meeting of the full Council. In addition, the Council will also hold a public hearing regarding Amendment 18 to the Fishery Management Plan for Coastal Migratory Pelagics in the South Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico, and a general public input session. This document corrects an omitted agenda item for the March 6, 2007 meeting and adds a few words that were omitted from the March 8, 2007 meeting.

The Hydrographic Services Review Panel (HSRP) was established by the Secretary of Commerce to advise the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere on matters related to the responsibilities and authorities set forth in section 303 of the Hydrographic Services Improvement Act of 1998, its amendments, and such other appropriate matters that the Under Secretary refers to the Panel for review and advice.

The Science Advisory Board (SAB) was established by a Decision Memorandum dated September 25, 1997, and is the only Federal Advisory Committee with responsibility to advise the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere on strategies for research, education, and application of science to operations and information services. SAB activities and advice provide necessary input to ensure that National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) science programs are of the highest quality and provide optimal support to resource management. Times and Dates: The meeting will be held Tuesday March 6, 2007, from 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Wednesday March 7, 2007, from 7:45 a.m. to 4 p.m. These times and the agenda topics described below are subject to change. Please refer to the Web page https:// www.sab.noaa.gov/Meetings/meetings.html for the most up-to-date meeting agenda. Place: The meeting will be held both days tentatively at the Hilton Washington DC/Silver Spring, 8727 Colesville Road, Silver Spring, Maryland 20910, pending approval of a purchase order. Please check the SAB Web site https://www.sab.noaa.gov for confirmation of the venue. Status: The meeting will be open to public participation with a 30- minute public comment period on March 6 (check Web site to confirm time). The SAB 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 in the SAB Executive Director's Office by March 2, 2007, to provide sufficient time for SAB review. Written comments received by the SAB Executive Director after March 2, 2007, will be distributed to the SAB, but may not be reviewed prior to the meeting date. Seats will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. Matters to be Considered: The meeting will include the following topics: (1) NOAA's Regional Collaboration Initiative; (2) NOAA's Role in Research on Ocean Acidification; (3) Monitoring the Performance of Research in NOAA; (4) update on the NOAA Response to the Reports of the Hurricane Intensity Research Working Group (HIRWG); (5) update on the NOAA Response to the Report of the External Ecosystem Task Team (EETT); (6) Report on the Review of the Cooperative Institute for Climate Applications and Research (CICAR); and (7) Report on the Review of the Cooperative Institute for Oceanographic Satellite Studies (CIOSS). There will also be a joint meeting of the SAB and the NOAA Research Council.

NMFS announces that the State of North Carolina is transferring 3,914 lb (1,775 kg) of commercial summer flounder quota to the State of New Jersey from its 2007 quota. Bythis action, NMFS adjusts the quotas and announces the revised commercial quota for each state involved.

The Department of Commerce's Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) is considering amendments to the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) to further the national security interests of the United States by designating Country Group C for countries that are ``Destinations of Diversion Concern.'' This amendment would establish license requirements for exports and reexports to countries that represent a concern for the diversion of items subject to the EAR. BIS by this notice requests comments on Country Group C.

NMFS announces that the Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) has submitted Amendment 12 to the Coastal Pelagic Species (CPS) Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for Secretary of Commerce review. The intent of Amendment 12 to the CPS FMP is to protect all species of krill off the West Coast (i.e., California, Oregon and Washington). This action would prohibit the harvest of all species of krill by any fishing vessel operating in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) off the West Coast and would deny the use of exempted fishing permits to allow krill fishing.

NMFS issues this final rule to 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 final rule allows for an immediate closure of the fishery to enhance protection for sea turtles.

NMFS amends the regulations governing how fishing net mesh size is measured in the Northeast. This change will increase the weight used to measure mesh at or larger than 120 mm in all fisheries. The intent of this rule is to ensure consistent and accurate measurements of fishing net mesh size.

The Department of Commerce (``the Department'') is conducting a new shipper review of the countervailing duty (``CVD'') order on certain welded carbon steel standard pipe from Turkey for the period January 1, 2005, through December 31, 2005. We preliminarily find that the net subsidy rate for the company under review is de minimis. See the ``Preliminary Results of Review'' section of this notice, infra. Interested parties are invited to comment on these preliminary results. See the ``Public Comment'' section, infra.

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 revision of a continuing information collection, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13 (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)).

Notice is hereby given that the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (Kathryn Hattala, Principal Investigator), 21 South Putt Corners Road, New Paltz, NY 12561, has applied in due form for a permit modification to take shortnose sturgeon (Acipenser brevirostrum) for purposes of scientific research.

The Western Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) will hold its 137th meeting to consider and take actions on fishery management issues in the Western Pacific Region.

The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (Council) will convene the Standing Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) to address four issues (see SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION).