Department of Commerce January 2012 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) published a notice on August 29, 2011 requesting comments on a proposal to establish a retention period of one year for patent-related papers that have been scanned into the Image File Wrapper system (IFW) or the Supplemental Complex Repository for Examiners (SCORE). The USPTO has considered the comment and is establishing a one-year retention period that: (1) Began on September 1, 2011, for papers scanned into IFW or SCORE prior to September 1, 2011; or (2) began or begins on a paper's submission date, for papers scanned into IFW or SCORE on or after September 1, 2011. After the expiration of the one-year retention period (after September 1, 2012, or later), the USPTO will dispose of the paper unless, within sufficient time prior to disposal of the paper, the relevant patent applicant, patent owner, or reexamination party files a bona fide request to correct the electronic record of the paper in IFW or SCORE, and the request remains outstanding at the time disposal of the paper would have otherwise occurred. The one-year retention period for papers scanned into IFW or SCORE replaces the USPTO's past practice of indefinitely retaining the papers, which has been rendered unnecessary and not cost-effective by improvements in scanning and indexing.

This correction adds a compliance date of February 9, 2012, to a final rule published on January 9, 2012 (77 FR 1017). That final rule imposed a license requirement on exports and reexports to all destinations other than Canada of two types of microwave and millimeter wave electronic components. The two components are packaged high electron mobility transistors and packaged microwave ``monolithic integrated circuits'' power amplifiers that meet certain criteria with respect to frequency range, size and output power. BIS is publishing this correction to make sure exporters and reexporters have sufficient time to comply with the rule.

NMFS developed a final national policy, comprised of a Policy Directive and associated Procedural Directive, for distinguishing serious from non-serious injuries of marine mammals. The Directives provide technical guidance for analyzing marine mammal injury reports (e.g., observer, disentanglement, and stranding program reports) and incorporating the results into marine mammal stock assessment reports and marine mammal conservation management regimes (e.g., Marine Mammal Protection Act List of Fisheries, take reduction plans, ship speed regulations). NMFS is releasing its final Policy and Procedural Directives and responding to comments on the draft policy.

As a result of the determinations by the Department of Commerce (the Department) and the International Trade Commission (ITC) that revocation of the antidumping duty order on certain stainless steel wire rods from India would likely lead to continuation or recurrence of dumping and material injury to an industry in the United States, the Department is publishing a notice of continuation of the antidumping duty order.

The Visiting Committee on Advanced Technology (VCAT or Committee), National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), will meet Wednesday, February 8, 2012, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern Standard Time and Thursday, February 9, 2012, from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. The VCAT is composed of fifteen members appointed by the Under Secretary of Commerce for Standards and Technology who are eminent in such fields as business, research, new product development, engineering, labor, education, management consulting, environment, and international relations.

The North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) Golden King Crab Price Formula Workgroup is meeting in February in Seattle, WA.

The SEDAR assessment of the HMS stocks of Gulf of Mexico blacktip sharks will consist of one workshop and a series of webinars. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.

NMFS has received an application from Ocean Renewable Power Company Maine, LLC (ORPC) for an Incidental Harassment Authorization (IHA) to take marine mammals, by harassment, incidental to pile driving in Cobscook Bay, Maine. Pursuant to the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), NMFS is proposing to issue an IHA to incidentally harass, by Level B harassment, four species of marine mammals during the specified activity within a specific geographic region and is requesting comments on its proposal.

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 accordance with the Privacy Act of 1974, as amended, 5 U.S.C. 552a(e)(4) and (11), and Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Circular A-130, Appendix I, ``Federal Agency Responsibility for Maintaining Records about Individuals,'' DOC OIG proposes to amend the system of records entitled ``Investigative and Inspection Records COMMERCE/DEPT-12,'' to include the new automated Inspector General Complaint Intake Reporting and Tracking System (``IG-CIRTS''); change the system name to ``OIG Investigative Records''; update OIG routine uses; update OIG's practices for electronically storing, retrieving, and safeguarding records in the System, and generally update the systems notice. The new system will enhance efficiency in the complaint intake and case tracking processes, reduce burdens of paper storage, and update protections in access and storage of information within the records system. Accordingly, ``Investigative and Inspection Records COMMERCE/DEPT12,'' published in the Federal Register, 50 FR 9102-9105 (Mar. 6, 1985), is amended and restated as shown below. DOC OIG invites public comment on the amended system announced in this publication.

The National Advisory Council for Minority Business Enterprise (NACMBE) will hold its fifth meeting to discuss the work of the three subcommittees and deliverables to fulfill the NACMBE's charter mandate. The agenda may change to accommodate Council business.

On December 30, 2011, notice was published in the Federal Register that NMFS had released for public comment the ``Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the Effects of Oil and Gas Activities in the Arctic Ocean.'' Based on several written requests received by NMFS, the public comment period for this DEIS has been extended by 15 days. Additionally, on December 30, 2011, NMFS announced that public meetings would be held in January and February 2012. This notice provides additional updates on the DEIS public meeting schedule.

Notice is hereby given that Dorian Houser, Ph.D., National Marine Mammal Foundation, 2240 Shelter Island Drive, 200, San Diego, CA 92106, has applied in due form for a permit to conduct scientific research on cetaceans stranded or in rehabilitation facilities in the U.S.

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 July 13, 2011, the Department of Commerce (``Department'') published the preliminary results and intent to rescind in part, of the 2009-2010 administrative review of the antidumping duty order on tapered roller bearings (``TRBs'') from the People's Republic of China (``PRC''). See Tapered Roller Bearings and Parts Thereof, Finished or Unfinished, From the People's Republic of China: Preliminary Results of the 2009-2010 Administrative Review of the Antidumping Duty Order and Intent To Rescind Administrative Review, in Part, 76 FR 41207 (July 13, 2011) (``Preliminary Results''). The period of review (``POR'') is June 1, 2009, through May 31, 2010. This review covers four respondents: (1) Changshan Peer Bearing Company, Ltd. (``CPZ/SKF,'' also referred to as ``SKF''); (2) Tainshui Hailin Import and Export Corporation (``Hailin I&E''); \1\ (3) Zhejiang Sihe Machine Co., Ltd. (``Sihe''); and (4) Xinchang Kaiyuan Automotive Bearing Co., Ltd. (``Kaiyuan'').