Department of Commerce May 6, 2008 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

In response to requests by interested parties, the Department of Commerce (Department) initiated an administrative review of the antidumping duty order on polyethylene retail carrier bags (PRCBs) from Malaysia with respect to three producers/exporters of the subject merchandise. The period of review (POR) is August 1, 2006, through July 31, 2007. The Department is rescinding this administrative review in part with respect to one company. In addition, the Department has preliminarily determined that there were no entries of subject merchandise from the two remaining companies during the POR to review and, therefore, intends to rescind the administrative review in its entirety. Interested parties are invited to comment on this intent to rescind the administrative review.

In accordance with section 304(e) of the National Marine Sanctuaries Act, as amended, (NMSA) NOAA is soliciting public comment on the draft management plan and draft environmental assessment for the Gerry E. Studds Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary.

The Assistant Regional Administrator for Sustainable Fisheries, Northeast Region, NMFS (Assistant Regional Administrator) has made a preliminary determination that the subject exempted fishing permit (EFP) application contains all the required information and warrants further consideration. Therefore, NMFS announces that the Assistant Regional Administrator proposes to recommend that an EFP be issued that would allow one commercial fishing vessel to conduct fishing operations that are otherwise restricted by the regulations governing the fisheries of the Northeastern United States. The EFP, which would enable the applicants to investigate the feasibility of using a trawl net with buoyant ground cables and a buoyant sweep to reduce seabed contact and improve species selectivity, would allow for exemptions for one vessel from the Northeast Multispecies Fishery Management Program as follows: Gulf of Maine (GOM) Rolling Closure Areas II, III, and IV. Regulations under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act require publication of this notification to provide interested parties the opportunity to comment on applications for proposed EFPs.

Pursuant to the Federal Advisory Committee Act, 5 U.S.C. app. 2, notice is hereby given that the Visiting Committee on Advanced Technology (VCAT), National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), will meet Tuesday, June 10, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Wednesday, June 11, from 9 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. The Visiting Committee on Advanced Technology is composed of fifteen members appointed by the Director of NIST who are eminent in such fields as business, research, new product development, engineering, labor, education, management consulting, environment, and international relations. The purpose of this meeting is to review and make recommendations regarding general policy for the Institute, its organization, its budget, and its programs within the framework of applicable national policies as set forth by the President and the Congress. The theme for the meeting is ``NIST's Roles in the Innovation Ecosystem.'' The agenda will include discussions on guiding principles for the VCAT and the NIST leadership as well as NIST's 2008 priorities for the VCAT; an update on NIST including its response to the recommendations and findings in the 2007 VCAT Annual Report; and an overview of the innovation ecosystem with a focus on the drivers and the NIST role, as highlighted in presentations and discussions under three thematic sessions. Session I will cover NIST's role in enhancing use inspired basic research by working with academia, industry, and other agencies via joint research institutes, the Rapid Innovation and Competitiveness Initiative, and the Technology Innovation Program. Session II will focus on NIST's role in deploying technology and operational excellence by transforming manufacturing advances more quickly and measuring performance excellence. Session III will address NIST's role in responding to fast-paced standards issues. Other agenda items include two laboratory tours, feedback from the VCAT on NIST's role in the innovation ecosystem; a discussion of the VCAT's future structure; and presentations on NIST strategic planning topics, including biosciences, for the October 2008 VCAT meeting. The agenda may change to accommodate Committee business. The final agenda will be posted on the NIST Web site at https://www.nist.gov/director/vcat/agenda.htm.

The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council will convene a joint meeting of The Standing and Special Reef Fish SSCs (SSC).

The New England Fishery Management Council (Council) is scheduling a public meeting of its Scallop Survey Advisory Panel in May, 2008 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.

NMFS closes the commercial fishery for deepwater grouper (misty grouper, snowy grouper, yellowedge grouper, warsaw grouper, and speckled hind) in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the Gulf of Mexico. NMFS has determined that the deepwater grouper quota for the commercial fishery will have been reached by May 10, 2008. This closure is necessary to protect the deepwater grouper resource.

NMFS published a notice of Pacific halibut guideline harvest levels (GHLs) for the guided sport charter vessel fishery in the International Pacific Halibut Commission regulatory areas 2C and 3A in the Federal Register on February 5, 2008 (73 FR 6709). This notice contained an incorrect metric conversion for the Area 2C GHL.

The U.S. Travel and Tourism Advisory Board (Board) will hold a meeting to discuss topics related to the travel and tourism industry. The Board was re-chartered on September 21, 2007, to advise the Secretary of Commerce on matters relating to the travel and tourism industry.