Department of Commerce January 2011 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

On November 3, 2010, the Department of Commerce (the Department) published the preliminary results of its administrative review of the antidumping duty order on stainless steel bar from Brazil. The review covers one producer/exporter of the subject merchandise, Villares Metals S.A. (VMSA). The period of review is February 1, 2009, through January 31, 2010. We gave interested parties an opportunity to comment on our preliminary results. We received no comments on our preliminary results. The final weighted-average dumping margin for VMSA is listed below in the ``Final Results of Review'' section of this notice.

The Department of Commerce (the Department) determines that countervailable subsidies are being provided to producers and exporters of drill pipe from the People's Republic of China (the PRC). For information on the estimated subsidy rates, see the ``Suspension of Liquidation'' section of this notice.

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.

We, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), will prepare critical habitat designation proposals for lower Columbia River (LCR) coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) and Puget Sound steelhead (O. mykiss) currently listed as threatened species under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The areas under consideration include watersheds in the lower Columbia River basin in southwest Washington and northwest Oregon, as well as watersheds in Puget Sound and the Strait of Juan de Fuca in Washington. This advance notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPR) identifies issues for consideration and evaluation, and solicits comments regarding them as well as information about the areas and species under consideration.

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)).

On September 1, 2010, the Department of Commerce (the Department) initiated the third sunset review of the antidumping duty order on polyethylene terephthalate film, sheet, and strip from the Republic of Korea, pursuant to section 751(c) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (the Act). The Department has conducted an expedited (120-day) sunset review pursuant to 19 CFR 351.218(e)(1)(ii)(C)(2). As a result of this sunset review, the Department finds that revocation of the antidumping duty order would be likely to lead to continuation or recurrence of dumping at the levels indicated in the ``Final Results of Review'' section of this notice.

The Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) is removing from the scope of items subject to the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) ``publicly available'' mass market encryption object code software with a symmetric key length greater than 64-bits, and ``publicly available'' encryption object code classified under Export Control Classification Number (ECCN) 5D002 on the Commerce Control List when the corresponding source code meets the criteria specified under License Exception TSU. This change is being made pursuant to a determination by BIS that, because there are no regulatory restrictions on making such software ``publicly available,'' and because, once it is ``publicly available,'' by definition it is available for download by any end user without restriction, removing it from the jurisdiction of the EAR will have no effect on export control policy. This action will not result in the decontrol of source code classified under ECCN 5D002, but it will result in a simplification of the regulatory provisions for publicly available mass market software and specified encryption software in object code.

On September 13, 2010, the United States Court of International Trade (``CIT'') sustained the remand determination made by the Department of Commerce (the ``Department'') pursuant to the CIT's remand of the final determination in the antidumping duty investigation on 1-hydroxyethylidene-1, 1-diphosphonic acid (``HEDP'') from the People's Republic of China (``PRC'') and ordered the case dismissed.\1\ This case arises out of the Department's final determination in the antidumping investigation on HEDP from the PRC.\2\ As there is now a final and conclusive court decision in this action with respect to Changzhou Wujin Fine Chemical Factory Co., Ltd. (``Wujin Fine''), the Department is amending its Final Determination and Antidumping Duty Order.

We, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), propose to designate critical habitat for the southern Distinct Population Segment (DPS) of Pacific eulachon (Thaleichthys pacificus), which was recently listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). We have proposed 12 specific areas for designation as critical habitat within the states of California, Oregon, and Washington. The proposed areas are a combination of freshwater creeks and rivers and their associated estuaries which comprise approximately 470 km (292 mi) of habitat. Three particular areas are proposed for exclusion after evaluating the impacts and benefits associated with tribal land ownership and management by Indian tribes, but no areas are proposed for exclusion based on economic impacts. We are soliciting comments from the public on all aspects of the proposal, including information on the economic, national security, and other relevant impacts of the proposed designation, as well as the benefits to the southern DPS of eulachon from designation. We will consider additional information received prior to making a final designation.

Notice is hereby given that Craig Matkin, North Gulf Oceanic Society, Homer, AK, has applied in due form for a permit to conduct research on marine mammals.

This notice announces changes to existing provisions of the National Institute of Standards and Technology's (NIST) Alternative Personnel Management System (APMS), primarily to expedite hiring and align APMS Direct-Hire procedures with the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Direct-Hire Authority (5 CFR part 337 and 69 FR 114). NIST will pilot direct-hire authority under 5 CFR part 337, subpart B, for a period of one year from the issuance date of this notice, for all positions within NIST in the Scientific and Engineering (ZP) career path at the Pay Band III and above, for Nuclear Reactor Operator positions in the Scientific and Engineering Technician (ZT) career path at Pay Band III and above, and for all occupations for which there is a special rate under the General Schedule pay system.

NMFS is adjusting the 2011 total allowable catch (TAC) amount for the Bering Sea pollock fishery. This action is necessary because NMFS has determined this TAC is incorrectly specified. This action will ensure the Bering Sea pollock TAC is the appropriate amount based on the best available scientific information for pollock in the Bering Sea subarea. This action is consistent with the goals and objectives of the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area.

The New England Fishery Management Council (Council) will hold a 3-day Council meeting on Tuesday-Thursday, January 25-27, 2011 to consider actions affecting New England fisheries in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

In response to requests from interested parties, the Department of Commerce (the Department) initiated an administrative review of the antidumping duty order on ball bearings and parts thereof from France. The period of review is May 1, 2009, through April 30, 2010. The Department is rescinding this review in part.

Notice is hereby given that the Aleut Community of St. Paul Island, Tribal Government, Ecosystem Conservation Office, St. Paul Island, AK, has applied for an amendment to Scientific Research Permit No. 14330.