Department of Commerce June 2009 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

On July 30, 2008, the U.S. Department of Commerce (the Department) published a notice of initiation of an administrative review of the antidumping duty order on certain large diameter carbon and alloy seamless standard, line, and pressure pipe from Japan. The review covers four manufacturers/exporters: JFE Steel Corporation; Nippon Steel Corporation; NKK Tubes; and Sumitomo Metal Industries, Ltd. (SMI). The period of review (POR) is June 1, 2007, through May 31, 2008. Following the receipt of a certification of no shipments from all four respondents, we notified the domestic interested party of the Department's intent to rescind this review and provided an opportunity to comment on the rescission. We received no comments. Therefore, we are rescinding this administrative review.

The Department of Commerce (the ``Department'') has determined that a request for a new shipper review of the antidumping duty order on pure magnesium from the People's Republic of China (``PRC''), received on May 21, 2009, meets the statutory and regulatory requirements for initiation. The period of review (``POR'') of this new shipper review is May 1, 2008, through April 30, 2009.

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) seeks comments on a report, entitled ``Report to NIST on the Smart Grid Interoperability Standards Roadmap'' (the ``EPRI Report''), prepared by the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) under a contract (Contract No. SB1341-09-CN-0031Deliverable 7) awarded to engage Smart Grid stakeholders in the development of a draft interim standards roadmap. NIST will consider the EPRI Report, and comments received on the EPRI Report, in the development of NIST's interim ``roadmap'' for Smart Grid interoperability standards, a responsibility assigned to NIST under the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007. All comments submitted should reference this notice.

NMFS issues this proposed rule to implement Amendment 15B to the Fishery Management Plan for the Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic Region (FMP), as prepared and submitted by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council). This proposed rule would, for South Atlantic snapper-grouper, require a private recreational vessel that fishes in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ), if selected by NMFS, to maintain and submit fishing records; require a vessel that fishes in the EEZ, if selected by NMFS, to carry an observer and install an electronic logbook (ELB) and/or video monitor provided by NMFS; prohibit the sale of snapper-grouper harvested or possessed in the EEZ under the bag limits and prohibit the sale of snapper-grouper harvested or possessed under the bag limits by vessels with a Federal charter vessel/headboat permit for South Atlantic snapper-grouper regardless of where the snapper-grouper were harvested; require an owner and operator of a vessel for which a commercial or charter vessel/headboat permit has been issued and that has on board any hook-and-line gear to comply with sea turtle and smalltooth sawfish release protocols, possess on board specific gear to ensure proper release of such species, and comply with guidelines for proper care and release of such species that are incidentally caught; and expand the allowable transfer of a commercial vessel permit under the limited access program and extend the allowable period for renewal of such a permit. Amendment 15B also proposes to revise the stock status determination criteria for golden tilefish and specify commercial/ recreational allocations for snowy grouper and red porgy. In addition, NMFS proposes to remove language specifying commercial quotas for snowy grouper that are no longer in effect and proposes to revise sea turtle bycatch mitigation requirements applicable to the Gulf reef fish fishery to add two devices that were inadvertently omitted from a prior rule. The intended effects of this rule are to provide additional information for, and otherwise improve the effective management of, the South Atlantic snapper-grouper fishery; minimize the impacts on incidentally caught threatened and endangered sea turtles and smalltooth sawfish; and remove outdated language.

The Department of Commerce (the ``Department'') has determined that a request for a new shipper review of the antidumping duty order on fresh garlic from the People's Republic of China (``PRC''), received on May 21, 2009, meets the statutory and regulatory requirements for initiation. The period of review (``POR'') of this new shipper review is November 1, 2008 through April 30, 2009.

NMFS announces the closure of Closed Area II Scallop Access Area (CA II) to scallop vessels until June 15, 2010. This closure is based on a determination by the Northeast Regional Administrator (RA) that scallop vessels will have caught the yellowtail flounder (yellowtail) total allowable catch (TAC) for the CA II by June 29, 2009. Effective 0001 hours, June 29, 2009, vessels may not fish for scallops in the CA II. Vessels on a CA II scallop trip at the time of this announcement must leave the CA II prior to 0001 hour, June 29, 2009. This action is being taken to prevent the scallop fleet from exceeding the yellowtail TAC allocated to the CA II for the 2009 scallop fishing year in accordance with the regulations implementing the Atlantic Sea Scallop Fishery Management Plan (FMP), Northeast (NE) Multispecies FMP and the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act.

Notice is hereby given that the Dr. Terrie Williams, Department of Biology, University of California at Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA 95064 has been issued an amendment to scientific research Permit No. 984-1587-07.

The Manufacturing Council will hold an introductory meeting with the Secretary of Commerce to discuss topics related to the U.S. manufacturing sector.

Notice is hereby given that Lawrence Wood, Marinelife Center of Juno Beach, 14200 U.S. Hwy. 1, Juno Beach, FL 33408, has been issued a permit to take hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata) sea turtles for purposes of scientific research.

In accordance with the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), as amended, and implementing regulations, notice is hereby given that NMFS has issued a letter of authorization (LOA) to BP Exploration (Alaska), Inc. (BPXA) to take marine mammals incidental to the production of offshore oil and gas at the Northstar development in the Beaufort Sea off Alaska.

NMFS reviewed the Alaska, Atlantic, and Pacific regional marine mammal stock assessment reports (SARs) in accordance with the Marine Mammal Protection Act. SARs for marine mammals in the Alaska, Atlantic, and Pacific regions were revised according to new information. NMFS solicits public comments on draft 2009 SARs.

The Department of Commerce, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing information collections, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

The Department of Commerce, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing information collections, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

The U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) will host a half-day roundtable for industry participants during which senior U.S. government officials will outline the draft negotiation text of a new agreement under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), provide updates on recent developments, and solicit individual input from participants. The purpose of the industry roundtable is to allow private sector stakeholders, particularly industry and trade associations, to advise U.S. officials on the impact a new UNFCCC agreement could have on their respective operations and on associated commercial opportunities. The DOC anticipates additional outreach events will be held throughout the United States.

The Department of Commerce (``the Department'') has received requests to conduct administrative reviews of various antidumping and countervailing duty orders and findings with May anniversary dates. In accordance with the Department's regulations, we are initiating those administrative reviews. The Department also received requests to revoke two antidumping duty orders in part.

NMFS issues this final rule to resolve an error contained in the rule to implement Amendment 30B to the Fishery Management Plan for the Reef Fish Resources of the Gulf of Mexico (FMP) prepared by the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (Council) that published in the Federal Register on November 18, 2008. The error would have implemented a restriction for the Edges seasonal-area closure that was not intended. This final rule establishes the Edges seasonal-area closure consistent with the intent of Amendment 30B.

Notice is hereby given that Douglas Peterson, PhD, University of Georgia, Warnell School of Forest Resources, Athens, GA 30602, has applied in due form for a permit to take shortnose sturgeon (Acipenser brevirostrum) for purposes of scientific research.

NMFS implements recreational management measures for the 2009 summer flounder and black sea bass fisheries and notifies the public that the recreational management measures for the scup fishery remain the same as in 2008. These actions are necessary to comply with regulations implementing the Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Fishery Management Plan (FMP) and to ensure compliance with the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson- Stevens Act). The intent of these measures is to prevent overfishing of the summer flounder, scup, and black sea bass resources.