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

The America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010 directs the Department of Commerce (DOC), in consultation with the National Economic Council (NEC), to deliver to Congress a study by January 4, 2011 on our nation's innovative capacity and international competitiveness. Section 604, Public Law No: 111-358. To assist with that effort, the DOC is initiating a series of public engagements, seeking input on a range of policy matters that can affect our innovativeness and competitiveness. The subject area is quite broad. As a starting point, DOC publishes this Notice and Request for Information (RFI) to obtain comment on the Administration's Innovation Strategy (see https://www.Commerce.gov/competes for a link to the report). This strategy document summarizes policy initiatives that aim to improve our national innovation system, and thereby accelerate our economic growth by increasing the international competitiveness of American businesses and workers. This RFI provides an opportunity for interested parties to discuss those initiatives. In the coming months, DOC will create additional opportunities for the public to comment on a range of related topics, such as those specifically identified in the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act but not mentioned in the Strategy.

We, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), are issuing a 12-month finding on a petition to delist coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) in coastal counties south of the ocean entrance to San Francisco Bay, California from the Federal List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) of 1973, as amended. Coho salmon populations in this region are currently listed under the ESA as part of the endangered Central California Coast (CCC) Evolutionarily Significant Unit (ESU). The petition was accepted on April 2, 2010, triggering a formal review of the petition and a status review of the listed ESU. A biological review team (BRT) was convened to assist in reviewing the petition and the status of the species. Based upon our review of the petitioned action and the status of the species, we conclude that the petitioned action is not warranted and that coho salmon populations south of San Francisco Bay are part of the endangered CCC coho salmon ESU. We further conclude that the southern boundary of the CCC coho ESU should be extended southward from its current boundary at the San Lorenzo River to include Soquel and Aptos Creeks in Santa Cruz County, California, and are proposing this change in the ESU boundary. As a result of this proposal, we are also soliciting comments and any relevant scientific and commercial data concerning the proposed range extension.

NMFS is reopening the comment period for a draft technical framework for ranking recovery potential of populations of Puget Sound Chinook salmon and watersheds supporting them. The comment period is being reopened to provide additional opportunity for public comment.

Notice is hereby given that NMFS has received an application for a scientific research and enhancement permit (permit 14868) relating to salmon listed under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The application includes a Hatchery and Genetic Management Plan (HGMP) that provides detailed information regarding the proposed enhancement activities. This document serves to notify the public of the availability of the permit application and HGMP for review and comment. The applications and related documents may be viewed online at: https:// swr.nmfs.noaa.gov/sjrrestorationprogram/salmonreintroduction. htm. These documents are also available upon written request or by appointment by contacting NMFS by phone (916) 930-3600, fax (916) 930-3629.

NMFS closes the southern Florida west coast subzone in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the Gulf of Mexico (Gulf) to commercial king mackerel fishing using run-around gillnets. This closure is necessary to protect the Gulf king mackerel resource.

The Department of Commerce (the ``Department'') has determined that a request for a new shipper review of the antidumping duty order on chlorinated isocyanurates from the People's Republic of China (``PRC''), received on December 20, 2010, meets the statutory and regulatory requirements for initiation. The period of review (``POR'') of this new shipper review is June 1, 2010, through December 31, 2010.

The Department of Commerce (``Department'') has determined that a request for a new shipper review (``NSR'') of the antidumping duty order on tapered roller bearings (``TRBs'') from the People's Republic of China (``PRC'') meets the statutory and regulatory requirements for initiation. The period of review (``POR'') for this NSR is June 1, 2010, through November 30, 2010.

The Pacific Fishery Management Council's (Pacific Council) Groundfish Essential Fish Habitat Review Committee (EFHRC) will hold a work session by conference call to follow up on work assignments from its December 20, 2010 meeting.

On January 14, 2011, NOAA published a proposed rule in the Federal Register to revise the regulations for the Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary (76 FR 2611). This notice extends the public comment period stated in that proposed rule by an additional 10 days.

NMFS is reallocating the projected unused amounts of the Aleut Corporation's pollock directed fishing allowance and the Community Development Quota from the Aleutian Islands subarea to the Bering Sea subarea directed fisheries. These actions are necessary to provide opportunity for harvest of the 2011 total allowable catch of pollock, consistent with the goals and objectives of the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area.

This notice: (1) Announces the addition of four MPAs managed by the National Marine Fisheries Service in consultation with the Mid Atlantic Fishery Management Council to the National System of MPAs (national system), thereby updating the List of National System MPAs; and (2) corrects a Federal Register notice published on December 27, 2010 announcing the nomination of 38 existing marine protected areas to the national system. In August 2010, NOAA and the Department of the Interior (DOI) invited Federal, State, commonwealth, and territorial marine protected area (MPA) programs with potentially eligible existing MPAs to nominate their sites to the national system. The national system and the nomination process are described in the Framework for the National System of Marine Protected Areas of the United States (Framework), developed in response to Executive Order 13158 on Marine Protected Areas. The final Framework was published on November 19, 2008, (73 FR 69608) and provides guidance for collaborative efforts among Federal, State, commonwealth, territorial, Tribal and local governments and stakeholders to develop an effective and well coordinated national system of MPAs that includes existing MPAs meeting national system criteria as well as new sites that may be established by managing agencies to fill key conservation gaps in important ocean areas.

NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Pacific cod by vessels harvesting Pacific cod for processing by the inshore component in the Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the A season allowance of the 2011 Pacific total allowable catch (TAC) apportioned to vessels harvesting Pacific cod for processing by the inshore component of the Central Regulatory Area of the GOA.

The Bering Sea/Aleutian Islands (BSAI) Crab Rationalization Program (Program) allocates BSAI crab resources among harvesters, processors, and coastal communities. Amendment 37 would amend the Fishery Management Plan for Bering Sea/Aleutian Islands King and Tanner Crabs (FMP) and the Program by establishing a process for eligible fishery participants to request that NMFS exempt holders of West- designated individual fishing quota (IFQ) and individual processor quota (IPQ) in the Western Aleutian Islands golden king crab fishery from the West regional delivery requirements. Federal regulations require West-designated golden king crab IFQ to be delivered to a processor in the West region of the Aleutian Islands with an exact amount of unused West-designated IPQ. However, processing capacity may not be available each season. Amendment 37 is necessary to prevent disruption to the Western Aleutian Islands golden king crab fishery, while providing for the sustained participation of municipalities in the region. This proposed action is intended to promote the goals and objectives of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act), the FMP, and other applicable laws.

The Department of Commerce (the Department) has determined that imports of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) from Taiwan are being, or are likely to be, sold in the United States at less than fair value (LTFV), as provided in section 735 of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (the Act). The estimated margins of sales at LTFV are listed in the ``Final Determination'' section of this notice.

The United States Patent and Trademark Office has issued a certificate under 35 U.S.C. 156(d)(5) for a fourth one-year interim extension of the term of U.S. Patent No. 4,971,802.

The Economic Development Administration (EDA) is an agency within the U.S. Department of Commerce that leads the Federal economic development agenda by making strategic grants-based investments. EDA's regulations provide the framework through which the agency administers its economic development assistance programs. EDA is beginning the process of updating the agency's regulations and is committed to ensuring that public feedback helps shape the revised regulations. As part of the Administration's commitment to open government and in response to Executive Order 13563 ``Improving Regulation and Regulatory Review'', EDA requests input from the public on any obstacles created by EDA's current regulations and ways to improve them to help the agency better advance innovative economic development in the 21st century. EDA expects that this process will result in an updated rulemaking that reflects current economic development practice to advance an innovative economy.