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

The United States Patent and Trademark Office (Office) published a final rule in the Federal Register of August 22, 2007, adjusting patent fees for fiscal year 2007 to reflect fluctuations in the Consumer Price Index (CPI). This document corrects errors in that final rule.

In accordance with 5 U.S.C. 4314(c)(4), the Economic Development Administration (EDA), Department of Commerce (DOC), announces the appointment of those individuals who have been selected to serve as members of EDA's Performance Review Board. The Performance Review Board is responsible for (1) reviewing performance appraisals and ratings of Senior Executive Service (SES) members and (2) making recommendations to the appointing authority on other performance management issues, such as pay adjustments, bonuses and Presidential Rank Awards for SES members. The appointment of these members to the Performance Review Board will be for a period of twenty- four (24) months.

NMFS proposes coastwide summer flounder recreational management measures to administratively complete the rulemaking process initiated in March 2007. This action is necessary to propose appropriate coastwide management measures to be in place on January 1, 2008, following the expiration of the current state-by-state conservation equivalency management measures on December 31, 2007. The intent of these measures is to prevent overfishing of the summer flounder resource during the interim between the aforementioned expiration of the 2007 recreational measures and the implementation of measures for 2008.

NMFS closes the commercial fishery for golden tilefish in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in the South Atlantic. This closure is necessary to protect the golden tilefish resource.

The Department of Commerce (``the Department'') has received a request from Dujiangyan Xingda Foodstuff Co., Ltd. (``Xingda''), a producer and exporter of preserved mushrooms, to conduct a new shipper review (``NSR'') of the antidumping duty order on certain preserved mushrooms from the People's Republic of China (``PRC''). Since this request meets the statutory and regulatory requirements for initiation, the Department is initiating a NSR of Xingda, in accordance with section 751(a)(2)(B) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (``the Act''), and 19 CFR 351.214(d).

Notice is hereby given that the Estuarine Reserves Division, Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management, National Ocean Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce is announcing the availability of the updated Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve Management Plan. The Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve was designated in 1979 pursuant to Section 315 of the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972, as amended, 16 U.S.C. 1461. The Reserve has been operating under a management plan approved in 1985. Pursuant to 15 CFR 921.33(c), a state must revise its management plan every five years. The submission of this plan fulfills this requirement and sets a course for successful implementation of the goals and objectives of the reserve. This plan contains important revisions to the original management plan developed for the Reserve. For the revision, the Reserve used a collaborative approach, which focused on integrating the Reserve's programs in order to better achieve conservation success. The plan describes the Reserve's long-term conservation goals and details the process involved in identifying those goals. It also maps out the objectives and strategies that the Reserve will use over the next five years in order to move toward accomplishing its goals. The plan also provides an overview of the Reserve's research and monitoring, education, stewardship, coastal training, volunteer, and administration programs and describes the Reserve's plan for public access, acquisition, and facilities.

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 purpose of the conference call is to allow Panel members to deliberate and vote on recommendations conceptualized during a meeting in Seattle, Washington, on September 14, 2007. Written public comments should be submitted to Captain Steven Barnum, Designated Federal Officer (DFO), by October 11, 2007. Date and Time: The conference call will covene at 2 p.m. Eastern Time, October 15, 2007, and end at or about 3:30 p.m.

This announcement provides notice that Mill River Pipeline, LLC (Mill River) has filed an administrative appeal with the Department of Commerce asking that the Secretary override the Commonwealth of Massachusetts' objection to Mill River's proposed natural gas pipeline, which is part of a proposed liquefied natural gas terminal to be constructed in Fall River, Massachusetts.

Notice is hereby given that the NOAA Fisheries Northeast Region, Protected Resources Division, One Blackburn Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930, has applied in due form for a permit to take dead shortnose sturgeon for purposes of scientific research and enhancement.

NMFS is opening directed fishing for pollock in Statistical Area 630 of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary to fully use the C season allowance of the 2007 total allowable catch (TAC) of pollock specified for Statistical Area 630 of the GOA.

The Western Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) will hold its 139th meeting to consider and take actions on fishery management issues in the Western Pacific Region.

The Environmental Technologies Trade Advisory Committee (ETTAC) will hold a plenary meeting on September 28, 2007, at the U.S. Department of Commerce, 14th Street and Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20230, in Room 4830. The ETTAC will discuss updated negotiations in the World Trade Organization's environmental goods and services trade liberalization, among other administrative committee priority items. The meeting is open to the public and time will be permitted for public comment. Written comments concerning ETTAC affairs are welcome anytime before or after the meeting. Minutes will be available within 30 days of this meeting. The ETTAC is mandated by Public Law 103-392. It was created to advise the U.S. government on environmental trade policies and programs, and to help it to focus its resources on increasing the exports of the U.S. environmental industry. ETTAC operates as an advisory committee to the Secretary of Commerce and the Trade Promotion Coordinating Committee (TPCC). ETTAC was originally chartered in May of 1994. It was most recently rechartered until September 2008. For further information phone Ellen Bohon, Office of Energy and Environmental Technologies Industries (OEEI), International Trade Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce at (202) 482-0359. This meeting is physically accessible to people with disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids should be directed to OEEI at (202) 482-5225.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration publishes this notice to announce a 45-day public comment period for the draft report titled, U.S. Climate Change Science Program Synthesis and Assessment Product 5.1: ``Uses and limitations of observations, data, forecasts, and other projections in decision support for selected sectors and regions.'' This draft document is being released solely for the purpose of pre-dissemination peer review under applicable information quality guidelines. This document has not been formally disseminated by NOAA. It does not represent and should not be construed to represent any Agency policy or determination. After consideration of comments received on the draft report, a revised version along with the comments received will be published on the CCSP Web site.

NMFS issues this temporary rule to amend, and extend the effective date of, interim measures to reduce overfishing of red snapper in Federal waters of the Gulf of Mexico implemented by a temporary rule published by NMFS on April 2, 2007. This temporary rule amends the regulations to provide an option for a special procedure for the initial calculation of Gulf of Mexico red snapper 2008 individual fishing quota allocations. The intended effect is to reduce overfishing of red snapper in the Gulf of Mexico.

Notice is hereby given that the Estuarine Reserves Division, Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management, National Ocean Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), U.S. Department of Commerce has approved the revised management plan and expansion of the boundary for the Great Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve. The Great Bay Reserve was designated in 1989 pursuant to section 315 of the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972, as amended, 16 U.S.C. 1461. The reserve has been operating under a management plan approved in 1989. Pursuant to 15 CFR 921.33(c), a state must revise their management plan every five years. The submission of this plan fulfills this requirement and sets a course for successful implementation of the goals and objectives of the reserve. The mission of the Great Bay Reserve is to promote informed management of the Great Bay estuary and estuarine habitats through linked programs of stewardship, public education, and scientific understanding. The management plan establishes goals consistent with the reserve's mission. These goals cover three general areas: (1) Protect and improve habitat and biological diversity within the boundary of the Reserve, (2) improve decisions affecting estuarine and coastal resources, and (3) promote education, stewardship, and scientific research focusing on estuarine ecosystems. Organized in a framework of programmatic goals and objectives, the Great Bay Reserve's management plan identifies specific strategies or actions for research, education/interpretation, public access, construction, acquisition, and resource protection, restoration, and manipulation. Overall, the plan seeks to accomplish the mission of the reserve by facilitating scientific research, encouraging stewardship, and addressing the local education and outreach needs. Specifically, stewardship is encompassed under resource protection, habitat restoration, and resource manipulation plans. These plans address reserve efforts to evaluate natural and anthropogenic processes that affect the reserve and its habitats, support for research and monitoring of important resources, restore and protect natural habitats and to actively educate the public to inform resource management. Research and monitoring support independent research projects within the reserve and its vicinity with resources and background data. Staff and visiting researchers conduct monitoring and research within the boundaries of the reserve and Great Bay watershed and use GIS to map critical habitats. Research and monitoring results are made available to others and are translated to public and private users through education, training and outreach programs. Education at the reserve targets a wide variety of audiences including students, teachers, adults, resource users and coastal decision-maker audiences. The reserve's comprehensive approach to education including a K-12 education program, outreach and a coastal training program are designed to increase knowledge about estuaries for target audiences. Public access at Great Bay Reserve includes improving and enhancing water access to facilitate the implementation of reserve programs. Also, the reserve will reduce impacts on natural resources and maximize public outreach by designating specific areas (i.e., boardwalks) and create guidelines for public access. Administration at the reserve includes supporting the staffing and budget necessary to carry out the goals and objectives of the plan. The administration of the Great Bay Reserve is a collective effort involving the New Hampshire Department of Fish and Game, other state or local agencies and organizations, and the Reserve Advisory Committee. An established administrative framework implements and coordinates Reserve programs under the plan. The boundary expansion incorporates additional open water and salt marsh in Little Bay and up to the first dams of five of the seven tidal rivers, namely: Bellamy River, Oyster River, Lamprey River, Squamscott River, and Winnicut River. Additional upland includes parcels purchased through the Nature Conservancy (TNC) on behalf of the Great Bay Resource Protection Partnership and transferred to New Hampshire Fish and Game Department, and the rest of the Great Bay National Wildlife Refuge. The expansion provides a broader and more representative diversity of wetland and water habitats. The new boundary of the reserve includes tidal freshwater riverine, emergent and forested wetland communities that are necessary to protect the ecological units of the natural estuarine system for research purposes.

The Monitor National Marine Sanctuary (MNMS or Sanctuary) is seeking applicants for the following vacant seats on its Sanctuary Advisory Council (Council): Recreational Diving; Maritime Archaeological Research; Conservation; Heritage Tourism; and Citizen- At-Large. 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 2-year terms, pursuant to the Council's Charter.

The United States Department of Commerce is organizing a Clean Energy Trade Mission to China and India, January 8-17, 2008. The trade mission will target a broad range of clean energy technologies such as renewable energy, biofuels, energy efficiency, clean coal, and distributed generation, and be led by Assistant Secretary of Commerce David Bohigian. ITA seeks to match participating U.S. companies with prescreened partners, agents, distributors, representatives, licensees or retailers in each of these important sectors. In addition to one-on-one business meetings, the agenda will also include meetings with national and local government officials, networking opportunities, country briefings, and site visits. This mission builds on the first U.S. Clean Energy Technologies Trade Mission, which took place in April 2007 and brought 17 U.S. companies to China and India. The trade mission takes place within the context of both the President's new international framework on climate change, energy security, and economic growth involving the 15 major economies (the Global-15), as well as the Asia-Pacific Partnership on Clean Development and Climate (APP). On May 31, 2007, President Bush announced an effort to develop and implement the Global-15 framework by 2012, which would complement the current United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and advance the APP. The APP is a public-private partnership in which member countries work together to facilitate commercial deployment of technologies that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and enhance energy security.