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

We, NMFS, announce a 90-day finding on a petition to list five species of sturgeon (Acipenser sturio, A. naccarii, A. mikadoi, A. sinensis, and Huso dauricus), or any distinct population segments of these species that the Secretary of Commerce determines may exist, as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). We find that the petition and information in our files present substantial scientific or commercial information indicating that these petitioned actions may be warranted. We will conduct a status review of these species to determine if the petitioned actions are warranted. To ensure that the status review is comprehensive, we are soliciting scientific and commercial information regarding these species (see below).

NMFS is modifying the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council's risk policy regarding stocks without an overfishing limit. Framework Adjustment 6 was initiated by the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council in order to clarify its tolerance for risk for such stocks. The modification will allow increases of the acceptable biological catch for stocks that have stable or increasing trends in abundance, and for which there is robust scientific information to suggest that an increased acceptable biological catch will not lead to overfishing.

On October 24, 2011, the Department of Commerce (Department) published in the Federal Register its preliminary results of the administrative review of the antidumping duty order on wooden bedroom furniture from the People's Republic of China (PRC), covering the period January 1, 2010 through December 31, 2010.\1\ We gave interested parties an opportunity to comment on the Preliminary Results. Based on the analysis of the record and the comments received, the Department is rescinding the review with respect to Tube-Smith Enterprises (ZhangZhou) Co., Ltd., Tube-Smith Enterprise (Haimen) Co., Ltd., and Billionworth Enterprise, Ltd. (collectively, Tube-Smith).

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 North Pacific Fishery Management Council's (Council) Gulf of Alaska (GOA) and Bering Sea/Aleutian Islands (BS/AI) groundfish plan teams will meet in Seattle, WA.

Notice is hereby given that NMFS has received one scientific research and enhancement permit application request relating to anadromous species listed under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The proposed research activities are intended to increase knowledge of the species and to help guide management and conservation efforts. The application and related documents may be viewed online at: https:// apps.nmfs.noaa.gov/preview/previewopenforcomment.cfm. These documents are also available upon written request or by appointment by contacting NMFS by phone (916) 930-3607 or fax (916) 930-3629.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) and the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) (collectively referred to as the ``Services'' or ``we''), propose to revise our regulations pertaining to impact analyses conducted for designations of critical habitat under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (the Act). These changes are being proposed as directed by the President's February 28, 2012, memorandum, which directed us to take prompt steps to revise our regulations to provide that the economic analysis be completed and made available for public comment at the time of publication of a proposed rule to designate critical habitat.

NMFS has received an application from the National Ocean Service's Office of National Marine Sanctuaries Gulf of the Farallones National Marine Sanctuary (GFNMS) for an Incidental Harassment Authorization (IHA) to take marine mammals, by harassment, incidental to rocky intertidal monitoring work and searching for black abalone, components of the Sanctuary Ecosystem Assessment Surveys. Pursuant to the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), NMFS is requesting comments on its proposal to issue an IHA to GFNMS to incidentally take, by Level B harassment only, marine mammals during the specified activity.

The Department of Commerce, International Trade Administration (ITA) is requesting nominations for memberships on the Environmental Technologies Trade Advisory Committee (ETTAC). The ETTAC was established under the Federal Advisory Committee Act, 5 U.S.C. App., and pursuant to Section 2313(c) of the Export Enhancement Act of 1988, as amended, 15 U.S.C. 4728(c). ETTAC was first chartered on May 31, 1994. ETTAC advises the Environmental Trade Working Group (ETWG) of the Trade Promotion Coordinating Committee (TPCC), through the Secretary of Commerce in his capacity as Chairman of the TPCC. ETTAC advises on the development and administration of programs to expand U.S. exports of environmental technologies, goods, and services and products that comply with United States environmental, safety, and related requirements. The Department of Commerce anticipates rechartering ETTAC for a new two-year term in October 2012, and is seeking nominations for membership on the ETTAC for the new charter term.

This document contains a correction to the final rule to implement Amendment 11 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Spiny Lobster Fishery in the Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic Regions that published on Friday, July 27, 2012.

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 January 22, 2008, the Department of Commerce (the Department) signed the current antidumping suspension agreement on fresh tomatoes with growers/exporters of Mexican tomatoes accounting for substantially all (i.e., not less than 85 percent) of Mexico's tomato exports to the United States. The agreement covers all fresh or chilled tomatoes of Mexican origin, except tomatoes that are for processing. On June 22, 2012, the U.S. petitioners in the underlying suspended antidumping duty investigation (i.e., the Florida Tomato Exchange, the Florida Tomato Growers Exchange, the Florida Fruit and Vegetable Association, the Florida Farm Bureau Federation, the Gadsen County Tomato Growers Association, Inc., the South Carolina Tomato Association, Inc., and the Ad Hoc Group of Florida, California, Georgia, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia Tomato Growers (collectively, the petitioners)) filed a request for withdrawal of the petition and termination of the investigation and the suspension agreement.\1\ For the reasons stated in this notice, the Department is initiating a changed circumstances review of the suspended investigation. Interested parties are invited to submit comments for the Department's consideration.

The Department of Commerce (the Department) is conducting an administrative review of the antidumping duty order on certain small diameter carbon and alloy seamless standard, line and pressure pipe from Romania. The review covers one producer/exporter of the subject merchandise, ArcelorMittal Tubular Products Roman S.A. (AMTP). The period of review (POR) is August 1, 2010, through July 31, 2011. We preliminarily determine that AMTP did not sell the subject merchandise at less than normal value during the POR. We invite interested parties to comment on these preliminary results.

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) announces that the Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) Advisory Board will hold an open meeting on Wednesday, August 29, 2012, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time.

Notice is hereby given that a major amendment to Permit No. 15748 has been issued to Alaska SeaLife Center (ASLC), Seward, AK.

NMFS has received a request from the California Department of Transportation (CALTRANS) for an incidental take authorization to take small numbers of California sea lions, Pacific harbor seals, harbor porpoises, and gray whales, by harassment, incidental to construction activities associated with the East Span of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge (SF-OBB) in California. Pursuant to the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), NMFS is requesting comments on its proposal to issue an authorization to CALTRANS to incidentally take, by harassment, small numbers of marine mammals for a period of 1 year. NMFS is also requesting comments, information, and suggestions concerning CALTRANS' application and the structure and content of future regulations.

NMFS implements an accountability measure (AM) for commercial king mackerel in the western zone of the Gulf of Mexico (Gulf) exclusive economic zone (EEZ) through this temporary final rule. NMFS has determined that the commercial annual catch limit (ACL) (equal to the commercial quota) for king mackerel in the western zone of the Gulf EEZ will have been reached by August 22, 2012. Therefore, NMFS closes the western zone of the Gulf to commercial king mackerel fishing in the EEZ. This closure is necessary to protect the Gulf king mackerel resource.

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.

NMFS, Southeast Region, will hold workshops to discuss administrative changes to the Gulf of Mexico Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) programs. Workshops will be open to the public. Topics to be discussed during the workshops include: Ex-vessel price reporting, share and allocation price reporting, landing notification and landing transaction procedures, measures to enhance IFQ enforceability, offloading requirements, and other administrative changes.