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

The Governments of the United States and Brazil have agreed to establish a U.S.-Brazil CEO Forum. This notice announces membership opportunities for appointment as American representatives to the U.S. Section of the Forum.

The New England Fishery Management Council (Council) will hold a three-day Council meeting on April 10-12, 2007, to consider actions affecting New England fisheries in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

The New England Fishery Management Council (Council) is scheduling a public meeting of its Multispecies (Skate) Committee, in April, 2007, 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.

The Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary (TBNMS or sanctuary) is seeking applicants for the following vacant seats on its Sanctuary Advisory Council (council): Business/Economic Development, Citizen-at- Large alternate, and Education 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 3-year terms, pursuant to the council's Charter.

This rule corrects errors that were published on April 24, 2006, in the rule that implemented the new formula for calculating computer performance in Weighted TeraFLOPS (71 FR 20876). These errors include references to Missile Technology controls that were removed by the April 24, 2006 rule, as well as errors related to scope of controls and license exceptions described in certain Export Control Classification Numbers.

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 order on clad steel plate from Japan would likely lead to continuation or recurrence of dumping and material injury to an industry in the United States, the Department is publishing notice of continuation of this antidumping duty order.

The Economic Development Administration (EDA) is soliciting proposals or applications (as appropriate) for the following programs authorized by the Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 3121 et seq.) (PWEDA): (1) Public Works and Economic Development Investments Program, (2) Planning Program, (3) Local Technical Assistance Program, and (4) Economic Adjustment Assistance Program. 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. In implementing this mission pursuant to its authorizing statute, PWEDA, EDA advances economic growth by assisting communities and regions experiencing chronic high unemployment and low per capita income to create an environment that fosters innovation, promotes entrepreneurship, and attracts increased private capital investment. Under the Trade Act of 1974, as amended (19 U.S.C. 2341-2391) (Trade Act), EDA also provides technical assistance to firms adversely affected by increased import competition.

On September 11, 2006, the Department of Commerce (the ``Department'') published in the Federal Register the preliminary results of the second administrative review of the antidumping duty order on certain frozen fish fillets from the Socialist Republic of Vietnam (``Vietnam''). See Certain Frozen Fish Fillets From the Socialist Republic of Vietnam: Preliminary Results of Antidumping Duty Administrative Review, 71 FR 53387 (September 11, 2006) (``Preliminary Results''). We gave interested parties an opportunity to comment on the Preliminary Results and conducted verification of one respondent, QVD Food Company, Ltd. (``QVD''). Based upon our analysis of the comments and information received, we made changes to the dumping margin calculations for the final results. See Memorandum to the File from Julia Hancock, Senior Case Analyst, through Alex Villanueva, Program Manager; Analysis for the Final Results of Certain Frozen Fish Fillets from the Socialist Republic of Vietnam: QVD Food Company, (March 12, 2007) (``QVD Final Analysis Memo''.)

On February 15, 2007, the NMFS announced receipt of seven applications for permits to conduct research on free-ranging threatened and endangered Steller sea lions (Eumetopias jubatus) in California, Washington, Oregon, and Alaska; five applications for permits to conduct research on free-ranging northern fur seals (Callorhinus ursinus) in Alaska; and one application for an amendment to a permit for activities with captive Steller sea lions in Alaska. Written comments were due by April 2, 2007. NMFS has decided to allow additional time for submission of public comments on this action.

The Department of Commerce (``the Department'') requests public comment on two aspects of its non-market economy (``NME'') methodology in antidumping proceedings. First, the Department seeks comment on certain aspects of the methodology by which it selects an economically comparable surrogate market economy country for the NME country under investigation or review. Second, the Department is requesting comment on the methodology under which individual NME exporters can demonstrate independence from government control of their export activities and thereby qualify for separate rate status.

In accordance with the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), as amended, and implementing regulations, notification is hereby given that a 1-year letter of authorization (LOA) has been issued to the 30th Space Wing, U.S. Air Force, to take four species of seals and sea lions incidental to rocket and missile launches on Vandenberg Air Force Base (VAFB), California.

NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Pacific cod by catcher processor vessels using trawl gear in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the 2007 first seasonal allowance of the Pacific cod total allowable catch (TAC) specified for catcher processor vessels using trawl gear in the BSAI.

The President's Advisory Commission on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (Commission) will convene a teleconference meeting on April 5, 2007 to deliberate the draft Commission report to the President. This meeting is open to the public and interested persons may listen to the teleconference by using the call-in number and pass code provided below (see ADDRESSES).

NMFS is proposing to implement new management measures for the monkfish fishery through Framework Adjustment 4 (Framework 4) to the Monkfish Fishery Management Plan (FMP). Due to concerns over the status of the monkfish resource and the fact that monkfish is nearing the end of the rebuilding program, NMFS intends to delay making a decision on Framework 4 until the results of an upcoming monkfish stock assessment are available in July 2007. Since a decision on Framework 4 would be delayed beyond the start of the fishing year, NMFS is proposing two options for interim management measures for the start of the fishing year on May 1, 2007, that are partially based on the information and management measures contained in Framework 4: Implement the proposed target total allowable catch (TAC), trip limits, and days-at-sea (DAS) contained in Framework 4 for the Northern Fishery Management Area (NFMA), but maintaining the fishing year (FY) 2006 target TAC, trip limits, and DAS for the Southern Fishery Management Area (SFMA); or implement the proposed target TAC, trip limits, and DAS contained in Framework 4 for the NFMA, but close the directed monkfish fishery in the SFMA. In addition, the proposed interim rule would temporarily implement Framework 4 measures that have been determined not to result in any additional negative biological effects. The intent of these proposed actions is to eliminate overfishing and rebuild the monkfish resource in accordance with Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act) requirements.

On September 11, 2006, the Department of Commerce (the Department) published the preliminary results of the antidumping duty administrative review for certain corrosion-resistant carbon steel flat products (CORE) from the Republic of Korea (Korea). See Certain Corrosion-Resistant Carbon Steel Flat Products from Korea: Notice of Preliminary Results and Partial Rescission of Antidumping Duty Administrative Review, 71 FR 53370 (September 11, 2006) (Preliminary Results). This review covers four manufacturers/exporters of the subject merchandise: Union Steel Manufacturing Co., Ltd. (Union); Pohang Iron & Steel Company, Ltd. (POSCO) and Pohang Coated Steel Co., Ltd. (POCOS) (collectively, the POSCO Group); Hyundai HYSCO (HYSCO); and Dongbu Steel Co., Ltd. (Dongbu) (collectively, respondents). The period of review (POR) is August 1, 2004, through July 31, 2005. As a result of our analysis of the comments received, these final results differ from the preliminary results. For our final results, we have found that during the POR, Union and Dongbu sold subject merchandise at less than normal value (NV). We have also found that HYSCO and the POSCO Group did not make sales of the subject merchandise at less than NV (i.e., they have a zero or de minimis dumping margin).