Department of Commerce September 11, 2008 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

Due to technical difficulties, NIST is extending the deadline for proposal submission for its Technology Innovation Program competition to 3 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday, September 15, 2008. NIST will accept only paper submissions during the extended time period.

Based on comments received in response to the May 8, 2008, notice (73 FR 26077-26078), the Foreign-Trade Zones (FTZ) Board staff is making a number of revisions to its proposal to make available an alternative framework (for grantees that choose to participate) to designate and manage their general-purpose FTZ sites. Comments on the May proposal were overwhelmingly supportive overall with regard to making such a framework available to grantees on an optional basis. However, comments also raised a number of important questions and concerns. In response, we have made some significant revisions to the proposal. Key revisions are allowance for a special transitional phase for each grantee applying to transfer to the alternative framework, elimination of a general initial limit on the number of ``usage- driven'' (formerly ``user-driven'') sites, elimination of the concept of an ``anchor'' site, and flexibility on the duration of the sunset limits for ``magnet'' siteswith five years established as a minimum rather than a fixed standardso that the FTZ Board may take specific circumstances into account. Comments and questions are summarized and addressed below by general topic. The revised proposal is delineated after the discussion of the comments/questions.

Pursuant to the Federal Advisory Committee Act, 5 U.S.C. app. 2, notice is hereby given that the Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) Advisory Board, National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) will meet Wednesday, October 22, 2008, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The MEP Advisory Board is composed of 10 members appointed by the Director of NIST who were selected for their expertise in the area of industrial extension and their work on behalf of smaller manufacturers. The Board was established to fill a need for outside input on MEP. MEP is a unique program consisting of centers across the United States and Puerto Rico, with partnerships at the state, federal, and local levels. The Board works closely with MEP to provide input and advice on MEP's programs, plans, and policies. For this meeting, discussions will focus on updates of MEP current key initiatives, MEP's next generation strategic plan and opportunities for MEP in emerging industries. The agenda may change to accommodate Board business.

On May 7, 2008, the Department of Commerce (the Department) published the preliminary results of the administrative reviews of the antidumping duty orders on ball bearings and parts thereof from France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and the United Kingdom. The reviews cover 27 manufacturers/exporters. The period of review is May 1, 2006, through April 30, 2007. Based on our analysis of the comments received, we have made changes, including corrections of certain programming and other ministerial errors, in the margin calculations. Therefore, the final results differ from the preliminary results. The final weighted-average dumping margins for the reviewed firms are listed below in the section entitled ``Final Results of the Reviews.''

Notice is hereby given that the following two entities have applied in due form for permits to conduct import marine mammal parts for scientific research purposes: National Marine Mammal Laboratory (NMML, Dr. John Bengtson, Responsible Party), 7600 Sand Point Way NE, Seattle, WA 98115 (File No. 13583) and National Ocean Service Marine Forensic Lab (NOS Lab, Julie Carter, Principal Investigator), 219 Fort Johnson Road, Charleston, SC 29412 (File No. 13599).

NMFS is reallocating the projected unused amount of Pacific cod from catcher vessels greater than or equal to 60 feet ([gteqt] 18.3 meters (m)) length overall (LOA) using hook-and-line gear and Pacific cod from vessels using jig gear to catcher vessels less than 60 feet (18.3 m) LOA using hook-and-line or pot gear in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). This action is necessary to allow the 2008 total allowable catch (TAC) of Pacific cod to be harvested.

The New England Fishery Management Council's (Council) Groundfish Oversight Committee will meet to consider actions affecting New England fisheries in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

The Manufacturing Council will hold a meeting to deliberate for approval a draft letter of recommendation on Sustainable Manufacturing metrics.

The Gulf of the Farallones National Marine Sanctuary (Sanctuary) is seeking applicants for the following vacant seats on its Sanctuary Advisory Council (council): Conservation Primary; Conservation Alternate, and Community-at-Large Marin/Sonoma 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 2-3 year terms, pursuant to the council's Charter.