Department of Commerce April 2010 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

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, Public Law 104-13 (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)).

In compliance with Executive Order 12866, entitled ``Regulatory Planning and Review,'' and the Regulatory Flexibility Act, as amended, the Department of Commerce (Department), in the spring and fall of each year, publishes in the Federal Register an agenda of regulations under development of review over the next 12 months. Rulemaking actions are grouped according to prerulemaking, proposed rules, final rules, long-term actions, and rulemaking actions completed since the fall 2009 agenda. The purpose of the agenda is to provide information to the public on regulations currently under review, being proposed, or issued by the Department. The agenda is intended to facilitate comments and views by interested members of the public.

NMFS announces a temporary closure of the Eastern U.S./Canada Area to limited access Northeast (NE) multispecies days-at-sea (DAS) vessels and a prohibition on the harvest, possession, and landing of Georges Bank (GB) yellowtail flounder by all federally-permitted vessels within the entire U.S./Canada Management Area. Based upon vessel monitoring system (VMS) reports and other available information, the Administrator, Northeast Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator) has projected that 100 percent of the fishing year (FY) 2009 total allowable catch (TAC) of GB yellowtail flounder allocated to be harvested from the U.S./Canada Management Area has been harvested. This action is being taken to prevent the FY 2009 TAC for GB yellowtail flounder in the U.S./Canada Management Area from being exceeded during FY 2009 in accordance with the regulations implemented under Amendment 13 to the NE Multispecies Fishery Management Plan (FMP) and the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act.

NMFS announces the receipt of a petition for rulemaking under the Administrative Procedure Act (APA). The Pribilof Island Community of St. George Island, Traditional Council (Council) petitioned NMFS to revise regulations governing the subsistence taking of northern fur seals to allow residents of St. George Island to take male fur seal young of the year during the fall. NMFS solicits public comments on this request.

In response to a request from ArcelorMittal USA, Inc.; Nucor Corporation; SSAB N.A.D., Evraz Claymont Steel and Evraz Oregon Steel Mills (collectively ``Domestic Producers''), the Department of Commerce (``Department'') is initiating an antidumping circumvention inquiry, pursuant to section 781(c) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (the ``Act''), to determine whether certain imports of certain cut-to-length carbon steel plate (``CTL plate'') are circumventing the antidumping duty order on CTL plate from the People's Republic of China (``PRC''). See Suspension Agreement on Certain Cut-to-Length Carbon Steel Plate From the People's Republic of China; Termination of Suspension Agreement and Notice of Antidumping Duty Order, 68 FR 60081 (October 21, 2003) (``Order'').

The Department of Commerce's Internet Policy Task Force is conducting a comprehensive review of the nexus between privacy policy and innovation in the Internet economy. The Department seeks public comment from all Internet stakeholders, including the commercial, academic and civil society sectors, on the impact of current privacy laws in the United States and around the world on the pace of innovation in the information economy. The Department also seeks to understand whether current privacy laws serve consumer interests and fundamental democratic values. After analyzing the comments responding to this Notice, the Department intends to issue a report, which will contribute to the Administration's domestic policy and international engagement in the area of Internet privacy.

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 Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (MAFMC) will hold public hearings.

The SEDAR 22 assessments of the Gulf of Mexico stocks of yellowedge grouper and tilefish will consist of a series of workshops and webinars: a Data Workshop, a series of Assessment webinars, and a Review Workshop. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.

NMFS announces its intent to prepare an Environmental Assessment (EA) to analyze the potential impacts of the proposed reintroduction of spring-run Chinook salmon to the mainstem of the San Joaquin River.

NMFS announces the reduction of the scup coastwide commercial possession limit from Maine through North Carolina for the Winter I period. Regulations governing the scup fishery require publication of this notification to advise the coastal states from Maine through North Carolina that 80 percent of the commercial quota allocated to the Winter I period is projected to be harvested and to announce that the possession limit for a Federal vessel permit holder is reduced.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is soliciting additional applications for membership on the Hydrographic Services Review Panel (the Panel), a Federal advisory committee. NOAA is extending the previous membership solicitation period, which ended July 24, 2009, and will hereby accept additional membership applications through Wednesday, June 30, 2010. NOAA is seeking to broaden the areas of expertise represented on the Panel. The Hydrographic Services Improvement Act Amendments of 2008 states, ``the voting members of the Panel shall be individuals who, by reason of knowledge, experience, or training, are especially qualified in one or more of the disciplines and fields relating to hydrographic data and hydrographic services, marine transportation, port administration, vessel pilotage, coastal and fishery management, and other disciplines as determined appropriate by the Administrator.'' NOAA encourages individuals with expertise in navigation data, products and services; coastal management; fisheries management; coastal and marine spatial planning; geodesy; water levels; and other science-related fields to submit applications for Panel membership. To apply for membership on the Panel, applicants should submit a resume as indicated in the

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.

This notice responds to Section 209 of the Sea Grant Program Improvement Act of 1976 (Pub. L. 94-461, 33 U.S.C. 1128), which requires the Secretary of Commerce to solicit nominations at least once a year for membership on the National Sea Grant Advisory Board, an advisory committee that provides advice on the implementation of the National Sea Grant College Program.

This action corrects a final rule published on December 15, 2008, that revised the Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) Program for the sablefish and halibut fisheries off Alaska. The December 2008 final rule erroneously removed a paragraph requiring the IFQ permit holder be aboard the vessel at all times during a fishing trip and be present during the landing of harvested fish. This action corrects the error by restoring the removed paragraph, thereby eliminating the public's possible confusion about the program's owner-on-board requirements and restoring NMFS' ability to enforce the provision. This action is intended to promote the goals and objectives of the Northern Pacific Halibut Act of 1982 (Halibut Act), the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act), and other applicable law.

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 in due form for a permit to conduct research on northern elephant seals (Mirounga angustirostris).

On April 14, 2010, the binational panel issued its decision in the review of the final results of the 2004/2005 antidumping administrative review made by the International Trade Administration, respecting Stainless Steel Sheet and Strip in Coils from Mexico, NAFTA Secretariat File Number USA-MEX-2007-1904-01. The binational panel affirmed in part and remanded in part the International Trade Administration's determination, with one dissenting opinion. Copies of the panel decision are available from the U.S. Section of the NAFTA Secretariat.