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

The Department of Commerce (``the Department'') has received requests to conduct administrative reviews of various antidumping and countervailing duty orders and findings with November anniversary dates. In accordance with the Department's regulations, we are initiating those administrative reviews. The Department also received a request to revoke one antidumping duty order in part.

The Department of Commerce (the Department) is revoking the antidumping duty and countervailing duty orders on honey from Argentina because we have concluded that substantially all domestic producers lack interest in the relief provided by these orders.

On April 23, 2012, NMFS published in the Federal Register the final rule to implement the 2012 summer flounder, scup, and black sea bass specifications, which established commercial summer flounder allocations for each coastal state from North Carolina to Maine, and the summer flounder recreational harvest limit. Following publication, an error was identified in the commercial summer flounder quota and recreational harvest limit. This rule corrects that error.

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) announces its intent to hold a workshop. The purpose of the workshop is to consider options for improving the management of the longfin and Illex squid fisheries, with a focus on responsive harvest strategies that account for changing stock conditions over the course of the year. The Council intends for managers, scientists, and fishermen to collaboratively consider if responsive harvest strategies are feasible and appropriate for optimizing yield in these fisheries. Discussions at the workshop will culminate in a workshop report and a series of follow-up port meetings that will inform consideration of future management actions.

The Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) of the Mid- Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) will hold a meeting.

NMFS is reallocating the projected unused amount of Pacific cod from catcher vessels using trawl gear to vessels using pot gear and catcher vessels less than 50 feet length overall using hook-and-line gear in the Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska management area. This action is necessary to allow the 2012 total allowable catch of Pacific cod to be harvested.

The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council will convene a meeting of the Socioeconomic Scientific and Statistical Committee.

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) will hold public hearings on January 15, 16, and 17, 2013 to allow for public input on the potential designation of the State of Delaware's five artificial reef sites located in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) as Special Management Zones (SMZs) under provisions of Amendment 9 to the Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Fishery Management Plan (FMP).

We, NMFS, issue a final determination to list the Arctic (Phoca hispida hispida), Okhotsk (Phoca hispida ochotensis), and Baltic (Phoca hispida botnica) subspecies of the ringed seal (Phoca hispida) as threatened and the Ladoga (Phoca hispida ladogensis) subspecies of the ringed seal as endangered under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). We will propose to designate critical habitat for the Arctic ringed seal in a future rulemaking. To assist us in this effort, we solicit information that may be relevant to the designation of critical habitat for Arctic ringed seals. In light of public comments and upon further review, we are withdrawing the proposed ESA section 4(d) protective regulations for threatened subspecies of the ringed seal because we have determined that such regulations are not necessary or advisable for the conservation of the Arctic, Okhotsk, or Baltic subspecies of the ringed seal at this time. Given their current population sizes, the long-term nature of the primary threat to these subspecies (habitat alteration stemming from climate change), and the existing protections under the Marine Mammal Protection Act, it is unlikely that the proposed protective regulations would provide appreciable conservation benefits.

On August 1, 2012, the Department of Commerce (``Department'') published in the Federal Register the notice of initiation of the sunset review of the suspended antidumping duty investigation on lemon juice from Mexico. On September 19, 2012, based on the adequacy of responses from both the domestic and the respondent interested parties, the Department determined to conduct a full sunset review as provided for in section 751(c)(5)(A) of the Act and in 19 CFR 351.218(e)(2). As a result of its analysis, the Department preliminarily finds that termination of the suspended antidumping duty investigation would be likely to lead to continuation or recurrence of dumping at the margins indicated in the ``Preliminary 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 large residential washers (washing machines) from the Republic of Korea (Korea). For information on the estimated subsidy rates, see the ``Suspension of Liquidation'' section of this notice.

This notice sets forth a request for nominations from U.S. state officials, or representatives from associations that represent U.S. states, to serve on the Environmental Technologies Trade Advisory Committee (ETTAC). One person will be appointed under this notice increasing the total number of members to 36. The ETTAC was established pursuant to provisions under Title IV of the Jobs Through Trade Expansion Act, 22. U.S.C. 2151, and under the Federal Advisory Committee Act, 5 U.S.C. App.2. ETTAC was first chartered on May 31, 1994. ETTAC serves as an advisory body to the Environmental Trade Working Group of the Trade Promotion Coordinating Committee (TPCC), reporting directly to the Secretary of Commerce in his/her capacity as Chairman of the TPCC. ETTAC advises on the development and administration of policies and programs to expand U.S. exports of environmental technologies, goods, and services.

At the request of the North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council), this notice announces a control date of December 31, 2012, that may be used as a reference for future management actions applicable to, but not limited to, qualifying landings and permit history for an allocation-based management or catch share program in the Central Gulf of Alaska (GOA) trawl groundfish fisheries. This date corresponds to the end of the fishing year for this fishery, so that the full catch history for 2012 may be considered in any such future management actions. We also expect that this notice will publish close to the control date of December 31, 2012, and so will not either prompt speculation in advance of the control date, or disadvantage any fishers regarding their fishing activity after the control date, but before publication. This notice is intended to promote awareness of possible rulemaking and provide notice to the public that any accumulation of landings history in the Central GOA trawl groundfish fisheries occurring after the control date may not be credited for purposes of making any allocation under a future management program. This notice is also intended to discourage speculative entry into the fisheries while the Council considers whether and how allocations of fishing privileges should be developed under a future management program.

On August 2, 2012, the Department of Commerce (``the Department'') published its notice of preliminary determination of sales at less than fair value (``LTFV'') in the antidumping investigation of steel wire garment hangers from the Socialist Republic of Vietnam (``Vietnam'').\1\ We invited interested parties to comment on our Preliminary Determination of sales at LTFV. We continue to determine that steel wire garment hangers from Vietnam are being, or are likely to be, sold in the United States at LTFV as provided in section 735 of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (``the Act''). The estimated margins of sales at LTFV are shown in the ``Final Determination Margins'' section of this notice.

The Department of Commerce (the Department) determines that countervailable subsidies are being provided to producers and exporters of steel wire garment hangers (garment hangers) from the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. For information on the estimated subsidy rates, see the ``Suspension of Liquidation'' section of this notice.

On August 2, 2012, the Department of Commerce (``Department'') published its preliminary determination of sales at less than fair value (``LTFV'') and postponement of final determination in the antidumping investigation of utility scale wind towers (``wind towers'') from the Socialist Republic of Vietnam (``Vietnam'').\1\ Based on the Department's analysis of the comments received, the Department has made changes from the Preliminary Determination. The Department determines that wind towers from Vietnam are being, or are likely to be, sold in the United States at LTFV, as provided in section 735 of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (the ``Act''). The final weighted-average dumping margins for this investigation are listed in the ``Final Determination'' section below.

This notice responds to the Hydrographic Service Improvements Act Amendments of 2002, Public Law 107-372, which requires the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), to solicit nominations (on a yearly basis) for membership on the Hydrographic Services Review Panel (HSRP). The HSRP, a Federal advisory committee, advises the Administrator on matters related to the responsibilities and authorities set forth in section 303 of the Hydrographic Services Improvement Act of 1998 (as amended) and such other appropriate matters as the Administrator refers to the Panel for review and advice. The Act 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.'' The NOAA Administrator is seeking to broaden the areas of expertise represented on the Panel and 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 apply for Panel membership. To apply for membership on the Panel, applicants should submit a current resume as indicated in the ADDRESSES section. A cover letter highlighting specific areas of expertise relevant to the purpose of the Panel is helpful, but not required. NOAA is an equal opportunity employer.

Notice is hereby given that NMFS has received a scientific research permit application request relating to salmonids listed under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The proposed research program is intended to increase knowledge of the species and to help guide management and conservation efforts. The applications 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 (707) 575-6097 or fax (707) 578-3435.