Department of Commerce 2009 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

NMFS informs surfclam and ocean quahog allocation owners that they will be required to purchase their year 2010 cage tags from the National Band and Tag Company. The intent of this notice is to comply with regulations for the Atlantic surfclam and ocean quahog fisheries and to promote efficient distribution of cage tags.

NMFS closes the commercial fishery for king mackerel in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in the northern Florida west coast subzone of the Gulf of Mexico. This closure is necessary to protect the Gulf king mackerel resource.

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) will host a public meeting regarding data related to broadband Internet access that the agency collects, data needs of researchers, and future broadband research.

The Department of Commerce (the Department) determines that countervailable subsidies are being provided to producers and exporters of commodity matchbooks from India. For information on the estimated subsidy rates, see the ``Suspension of Liquidation'' section of this notice.

This rule implements an area closure and associated gear restrictions applicable to the bottom longline component of the reef fish fishery in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the Gulf of Mexico to reduce incidental take and mortality of sea turtles. Specifically, this rule prohibits the use of bottom longline gear for the harvest of reef fish shoreward of a line approximating the 35-fathom depth contour in the eastern Gulf of Mexico and limits bottom longline vessels operating in the reef fish fishery east of longitude 85[deg]30'W to 1,000 hooks onboard, of which only 750 may be actively fished or rigged for fishing.

Notice is hereby given that Blair Witherington, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, 9700 South A1A, Melbourne Beach, Florida, 32951, has applied in due form for a permit to take loggerhead (Caretta caretta), leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea), Kemp's ridley (Lepidochelys kempii), green (Chelonia mydas), and hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata) sea turtles for purposes of scientific research.

In an effort to avoid duplication of work and to expedite the patent examination process, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has been developing work-sharing initiatives in which an office uses, to the maximum extent practicable, the work already done by another office. The USPTO is conducting a roundtable to obtain input from diverse sources in the patent community and/or the public sector to evaluate views on work sharing. The roundtable is open to the public. The USPTO plans to invite a number of roundtable participants from patent user groups, practitioners, industry, independent inventor organizations, academia, and Government. To ensure that the USPTO is receiving a balanced array of views on work sharing, the USPTO also plans to have a few ``at-large'' participants based upon requests received in response to this notice. To ensure that all who are speaking will have a meaningful chance to do so, the number of participants in the roundtable is limited. Those who wish to participate in the roundtable must do so by written request. Members of the public who wish solely to attend and observe the roundtable need not submit a request.

Notice is hereby given that Daniel P. Costa, Ph.D., University of California at Santa Cruz, Long Marine Laboratory, 100 Shaffer Road, Santa Cruz, CA, has applied for an amendment to Scientific Research Permit No. 87-1851-01.

On September 15, 2009, the Department of Commerce (``Department'') published the final results and final partial rescission of the antidumping duty administrative review of the antidumping duty order on certain frozen warmwater shrimp from the Socialist Republic of Vietnam (``Vietnam'') covering the period February 1, 2007, through January 31, 2008. See Certain Frozen Warmwater Shrimp From the Socialist Republic of Vietnam: Final Results and Final Partial Rescission of Antidumping Duty Administrative Review, 74 FR 47191 (September 15, 2009) (``Final Results''). Pursuant to section 751(h) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (``the Act''), and 19 CFR 351.224(e), we are amending the Final Results to correct a ministerial error in the name assigned to a respondent not selected for individual examination, Thuan Phuoc Seafoods and Trading Corporation, that received a separate rate.

We, NMFS, have completed a comprehensive status review of the spotted seal (Phoca largha) under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Based on the findings from the status review and consideration of the factors affecting this species, we conclude the spotted seal exists as three (3) distinct population segments (DPS) within the North Pacific Ocean. These are the southern, Okhotsk, and Bering DPSs. Based on consideration of information presented in the Status Review, an analysis of the extinction risk probabilities for each of these DPSs, and assessment of the factors in section 4(a)(1) of the ESA, we have determined the southern DPS is likely to become endangered throughout all or a significant portion of its range in the foreseeable future, and should be listed as a threatened species. The Okhotsk and Bering Sea DPSs are not in danger of extinction nor likely to become endangered throughout all or a significant portion of their ranges in the foreseeable future. Accordingly, we are now issuing a proposed rule to list the southern DPS of the spotted seal as a threatened species. No listing action is proposed for the Okhotsk and Bering Sea DPSs. Because the southern DPS occurs outside the United States, no critical habitat can be designated. We request comments and information related to this proposed rule and finding.

This notice announces a public meeting of the Online Safety and Technology Working Group (OSTWG).

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

The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council and NOAA Fisheries Service's Southeast Fisheries Science Center are convening a workshop to develop a fishery independent monitoring program for the fisheries resources of the South Atlantic. The workshop will be held in Beaufort, NC.

NMFS has received a request from the U.S. Navy (Navy) for authorization for the Department of Defense (including the Navy, the U.S. Air Force (USAF), and the U.S. Marine Corps (USMC)) to take marine mammals incidental to training activities conducted in the Mariana Islands Range Complex (MIRC) study area for the period of March 2010 through February 2015 (amended from the initial request for January 2010 through December 2014). Pursuant to the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), NMFS is proposing regulations to govern that take and requesting information, suggestions, and comments on these proposed regulations.

On September 15, 2009, the Department of Commerce (Department) published in the Federal Register the final results of the administrative review of the antidumping duty order on certain frozen warmwater shrimp (shrimp) from Ecuador for the period of review (POR) of February 1, 2007, through August 14, 2007. See Certain Frozen Warmwater Shrimp From Ecuador: Final Results of Antidumping Duty Administrative Review, 74 FR 47201 September 15, 2009) (Final Results), and accompanying Issues and Decision Memorandum. Based on the correction of a ministerial error with respect to the calculation of the indirect selling expense ratio for the respondent Sociedad Nacional de Galapagos, S.A. (Songa), we have changed the final results margin for Songa and, as a result, the final results margins for the respondents not selected for individual examination in this administrative review.

We, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), are issuing this notice to advise the public that NMFS is extending the public comment period for proposed regulations under the Endangered Species Act and Marine Mammal Protection Act to prohibit vessels from approaching killer whales within 200 yards and from parking in the path of whales for vessels in inland waters of Washington State. The proposed regulations would also prohibit vessels from entering a conservation area during a defined season. The proposed rule was published July 29, 2009, opening a 90-day public comment period and noticing two public meetings. In response to requests from the public, on September 17, 2009, we published a notice in the Federal Register announcing an additional public meeting. We are issuing this notice to announce an 80-day extension of the public comment period in response to requests to provide more time for the public to review the proposed regulation and provide comments.

The Eight Regional Fishery Management Councils will convene a meeting of representatives of their respective Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSCs) at the Wyndam Sugar Bay Resort, St. Thomas, United States Virgin Islands, November 10-13, 2009.

On June 8, 2009, the Department of Commerce (the Department) published the preliminary results of the antidumping duty order on stainless steel plate in coils (SSPC) from Belgium. See Stainless Steel Plate in Coils From Belgium: Preliminary Results of Antidumping Duty Administrative Review, 74 FR 27097 (June 8, 2009) (Preliminary Results). This review covers one manufacturer/exporter of the subject merchandise: ArcelorMittal Stainless Belgium N.V. (AMS Belgium). The period of review (POR) is May 1, 2007, through April 30, 2008.