Department of Commerce November 30, 2007 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

Export Trading Company Affairs (``ETCA''), International Trade Administration, Department of Commerce, has received an application for an Export Trade Certificate of Review (``Certificate''). This notice summarizes the conduct for which certification is sought and requests comments relevant to whether the Certificate should be issued.

The Department of Commerce preliminarily determines that countervailable subsidies are being provided to producers and exporters of light-walled rectangular pipe and tube from the People's Republic of China. For information on the estimated subsidy rates, see the ``Suspension of Liquidation'' section of this notice.

NMFS announces that the New England Fishery Management Council (Council) has submitted Amendment 11 to the Atlantic Sea Scallop Fishery Management Plan (FMP) (Amendment 11), incorporating the Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (FSEIS) and the Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis (IRFA), for review by the Secretary of Commerce. NMFS is requesting comments from the public on Amendment 11. Amendment 11 was developed by the Council to control the capacity of the open access general category fleet. Amendment 11 would establish a new management program for the general category fishery, including a limited access program with individual fishing quotas (IFQs) for qualified general category vessels, a specific allocation for general category fisheries, and other measures to improve management of the general category scallop fishery.

NMFS proposes to repeal regulations providing for a groundfish vessel incentive program (VIP) that was designed to reduce the rate at which Pacific halibut and red king crab are taken as incidental catch in Alaska groundfish trawl fisheries. The VIP has not performed as intended because of the cost associated with enforcement, the relatively small number of vessels impacted by the regulation, and the implementation of more effective bycatch reduction programs. This action is necessary to reduce a regulatory burden on the industry and to reduce the administrative costs necessary to support a program no longer considered an effective means to reduce bycatch rates.

The Bureau of the Census (Census Bureau) is conducting the 2007 Annual Surveys in the Manufacturing Area. The 2007 Annual Surveys consist of the Current Industrial Reports surveys and the Survey of Industrial Research and Development. We have determined that annual data collected from these surveys are needed to aid the efficient performance of essential governmental functions and have significant application to the needs of the public and industry. The data derived from these surveys, most of which have been conducted for many years, are not publicly available from non-governmental or other governmental sources. As in prior years, these surveys will operate as separate collections of national statistical data on manufacturing. Because 2007 is an economic census year, the 2007 Annual Survey of Manufactures is being conducted as part of the economic census and is not covered in this notice of determination. The following two annual surveys in the manufacturing area will not be conducted in 2007: Survey of Plant Capacity Utilization, and the Survey of Pollution Abatement Costs and Expenditures.

In accordance with Title 13, United States Code (U.S.C.), sections 182, 224, and 225, the Bureau of the Census (Census Bureau) has determined that limited financial data (revenue, expenses, and the like) for selected service industries are needed to provide a sound statistical basis for the formation of policy by various governmental agencies. These data also apply to a variety of public and business needs. To obtain the desired data, the Census Bureau announces the administration of the 2007 Service Annual Survey (SAS).

NMFS announces that the Administrator, Northeast (NE) Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator), is increasing the Georges Bank (GB) yellowtail flounder trip limit to 7,500 lb (3,402 kg) for NE multispecies days-at-sea (DAS) vessels fishing in the U.S./Canada Management Area. This action is authorized by the regulations implementing Amendment 13 to the NE Multispecies Fishery Management Plan and is intended to prevent under-harvesting of the Total Allowable Catch (TAC) for GB yellowtail flounder while ensuring that the TAC will not be exceeded during the 2007 fishing year. This action is being taken to provide additional opportunities for vessels to fully harvest the GB yellowtail flounder TAC under the authority of the Magnuson- Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act).