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

Permits1564, 1565, 1566, and 1567 were issued on November 29, 2006; all other permits in this notice were issued on June 30, 2007. All the research actions and the species they affect are listed in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section below.

NMFS has determined that the Atlantic tunas General category daily Atlantic bluefin tuna (BFT) retention limit should be adjusted for the September and October time period of the 2007 fishing year. The adjustment will allow for maximum utilization of the General category quota. Therefore, NMFS increases the daily BFT retention limits to provide enhanced commercial fishing opportunities without risking overharvest of the General category quota.

This notice responds to Section 209 of the Sea Grant Program Improvement Act of 1976 (Pub. L. 94-461, 33 U.S.C. 1128), which requires the Secretary of Commerce to solicit nominations at least once a year for membership on the Sea Grant Review Panel. This advisory committee provides advice on the implementation of the National Sea Grant College Program.

On August 24, 2007, The U.S. Department of Commerce issued an amended Export Trade Certificate of Review to the American Sugar Alliance (``ASA'').

The New England Fishery Management Council (Council) is scheduling a public meeting of its Habitat/MPA/Ecosystem Committee, in September, 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 North Pacific Fishery Management Council's (Council) Crab Plan Team will meet in Seattle, WA.

NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for species that comprise the shallow-water species fishery by vessels using trawl gear in the Gulf of Alaska (GOA), effective 2400 hrs, Alaska local time, September 1, 2007. This adjustment is necessary to allow a 12-hour fishery for species that comprise the shallow-water species fishery without exceeding the fourth seasonal apportionment of the 2007 Pacific halibut bycatch allowance specified for the shallow-water species fishery in the GOA.

The Secretary of Commerce issued an Export Trade Certificate of Review to Refined Sugar Trading Institute on May 3, 1993. Because this Certificate Holder has failed to file a complete annual report as required by law, the Secretary is modifying the certificate. This notice summarizes the notification letter sent to Refined Sugar Trading Institute.

NOAA publishes this notice to amend the agency's solicitation for applications published on July 2, 2007 in an action entitled ``Omnibus Notice Announcing the Availability of Grant Funds for Fiscal Year 2008''.

In addition to the items noted in the earlier Notice for the September 17-21, 2007 meeting of the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council), the full Council will also consider a control date for the commercial dolphin/wahoo sector and the Council will take action as appropriate.

Notice is hereby given that, pursuant to section 4221 of the Internal Revenue Code, as amended (26 U.S.C. 4221), the Department of Commerce is undertaking to determine whether the governments of the countries or economies listed herein allow or will allow substantially reciprocal tax exemptions to aircraft of U.S. registry in connection with international commercial operations similar to those exemptions currently granted to or available to aircraft of those countries or economies by the United States under the aforementioned statute. The basis for this undertaking is a request from the U.S. Internal Revenue Service for a comprehensive review of the existing findings to determine whether those countries or economies previously subject to exemptions from certain U.S. internal revenue taxes continue to allow substantially reciprocal tax exemptions to aircraft of U.S. registry. The above-cited statute provides exemptions for aircraft of foreign registry from payment of certain internal revenue taxes on the purchase of supplies in the United States for such aircraft in connection with their international commercial operations. These exemptions apply upon a finding by the Secretary of Commerce, or his designee, and communicated to the Department of the Treasury, that such country allows, or will allow, ``substantially reciprocal privileges'' to aircraft of U.S. registry with respect to purchases of such supplies in that country. The Department of Commerce proposes that aircraft registered in the following countries or economies be provided exemptions as allowed by section 4221 of the Internal Revenue Code, as amended (26 U.S.C. 4221). Afghanistan, Albania, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Aruba, Australia, Austria, The Bahamas, Bahrain, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bermuda, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burma, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chad, Chile, People's Republic of China, Colombia, Democratic Republic of the Congo (only aircraft fuel and lubricants), Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Cuba, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt (only aircraft fuel and lubricants), El Salvador, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, The Gambia, Federal Republic of Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya (only aircraft fuel and lubricants), Kiribati, Republic of Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Liberia, Luxembourg, Macau, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mexico, Federated States of Micronesia, Moldova, Montenegro, Morocco, Namibia, Netherlands, Netherlands Antilles, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Republic of the Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Singapore, Slovak Republic, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Vietnam, Zambia, Zimbabwe. Interested parties are invited to submit their views, comments and supporting documentation in writing, both in regards to countries and economies listed as well as those that may be not recorded above, concerning this matter to Ms. Ana Guevara, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Services, Room 1128, U.S. Department of Commerce, Washington, DC 20230. Submissions should be sent electronically to OSImail@ita.doc.gov. All submissions should be received no later than thirty days from the date of publication of this notice. Comments received, with the exception of information marked ``business confidential,'' will be available for public inspection upon request. Information marked ``business confidential'' shall be protected from disclosure to the full extent permitted by law. It is suggested that those desiring additional information contact Mr. Eugene Alford, Office of Service Industries, Room 1104, U.S. Department of Commerce, Washington, DC 20230, or telephone 202-482- 5071.