Department of Commerce March 2013 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

NMFS provides notice of the 2013 Pacific halibut guideline harvest levels (GHLs) for the guided sport fishery in International Pacific Halibut Commission (IPHC) Regulatory Areas 2C (Southeast Alaska) and 3A (Central Gulf of Alaska). This notice is necessary to meet the regulatory requirement to publish notice announcing the GHLs and to inform the public about the 2013 GHLs for the guided sport fishery for halibut. The GHLs are benchmark harvest levels for participants in the guided sport fishery. The Area 2C GHL is 788,000 lb (357.4 mt); and the Area 3A GHL is 2,734,000 lb (1,240.1 mt). These GHLs revise and supersede those published in the 2013 IPHC annual management measures (78 FR 16423, March 15, 2013).

Notice is hereby given that Yoko Mitani, Ph.D., Hokkaido University, 3-1-1 Minato-cho, Hakodate, Hokkaido 041-8611, Japan, has applied in due form for a permit to conduct research on gray (Eschrichtius robustus) and killer (Orcinus orca) whales.

The United States Department of Commerce, International Trade Administration, U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service (CS) is publishing this supplement to the Notice of the U.S. Healthcare Trade Mission to Russia published at 77 FR 77032, December 31, 2012, to amend the Notice to revise the dates of the application deadline from March 15, 2013 to the new deadline of March 29, 2013.

NMFS proposes approval of, and regulations to implement, measures in Framework Adjustment 48 to the NE Multispecies Fishery Management Plan (FMP). Framework 48 is the first of two parallel actions developed by the New England Fishery Management Council (Council) as part of the biennial review process to respond to updated stock information and to adjust other management measures in the NE multispecies (groundfish) fishery. Framework 48 proposes new status determination criteria for Gulf of Maine (GOM) cod, Georges Bank (GB) cod, and Southern New England/Mid-Atlantic (SNE/MA) yellowtail flounder, based on new benchmark assessments completed for these stocks in 2012 and 2013. Framework 48 would also establish allocations of SNE/ MA windowpane flounder and GB yellowtail flounder for exempted fisheries, and modify the allocation of GB yellowtail flounder to the scallop fishery, to address increased bycatch of these species. In addition, Framework 48 would amend existing accountability measures (AMs) for GOM/GB and SNE/MA windowpane flounders, ocean pout, and Atlantic halibut and establish new ``reactive'' AMs for Atlantic wolffish and SNE/MA winter flounder. These measures would make way for the other parallel action, Framework 50, which would set acceptable biological catches (ABCs) and annual catch limits (ACLs) for fishing years (FY) 2013-2015. Framework 48 also contains several measures intended to improve the administration of the fishery and enhance fishing opportunities for groundfish vessels to mitigate potential negative economic impacts from reductions in catch limits proposed by Framework 50. These measures include: Clarification of the goals and performance standard for sector monitoring programs; elimination of dockside monitoring requirements; cost-sharing of monitoring costs between the industry and NMFS; reduction of the minimum fish size for several stocks; and allowing groundfish sectors to petition the Regional Administrator for limited access to groundfish mortality closures. This rule also proposes several regulatory changes to correct inadvertent errors in the NE multispecies regulations.

NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Pacific cod by catcher vessels (CVs) less than 50 feet (15.2 meters (m)) in length overall (LOA) using hook-and-line gear in the Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the A season allowance of the 2013 Pacific cod total allowable catch apportioned to CVs less than 50 feet (15.2 m) LOA using hook-and-line gear in the Central Regulatory Area of the GOA.

NMFS is opening directed fishing for pollock in Statistical Area 630 of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA) for 96 hours. This action is necessary to fully use the 2013 total allowable catch of pollock in Statistical Area 630 of the GOA.

NMFS is opening directed fishing for pollock in the West Yakutat District of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary to fully use the 2013 pollock total allowable catch in the West Yakutat District of the GOA.

On September 17, 2012, the Department of Commerce (``the Department'') published in the Federal Register the preliminary results of the 2011-2012 administrative review of the antidumping duty order on uncovered innerspring units (``innersprings'') from the People's Republic of China (``PRC'') for the period February 1, 2011, through January 31, 2012.\1\ The Department gave interested parties an opportunity to comment on the Preliminary Results. Based upon our analysis of the comments and information received, the Department has made changes to its treatment of Tai Wa Hong and its affiliates for the final results. The final dumping margin for this administrative review is listed in the ``Final Results of Review'' section below.

The Department of Commerce (the Department) is conducting an administrative review of the antidumping duty order on polyester staple fiber (PSF) from Taiwan. The period of review (POR) is May 1, 2011, through April 30, 2012. The review covers two producers/exporters of the subject merchandise, Far Eastern New Century Corporation (FENC) and Nan Ya Plastics Corporation (Nan Ya). We preliminarily find that FENC has not sold subject merchandise at less than normal value and that Nan Ya had no shipments during the POR.

Notice is hereby given that Brian Skerry, 285 High Street, Uxbridge, MA 01569, has applied in due form for a permit to conduct commercial or educational photography on bottlenose (Tursiops truncatus) and spinner (Stenella longirostris) dolphins.

On February 22, 2013, NMFS published a proposed rule for Draft Amendment 8 to the 2006 Consolidated Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Fishery Management Plan (FMP) to address several new proposed North Atlantic swordfish commercial fishery management measures, including a new open access permit that would allow the retention and sale of swordfish caught with certain handgears. We announced the date and location for six public hearings and a comment period ending on April 23, 2013. In this notice, NMFS announces the dates and logistics for two additional public hearings, and an extension of the comment period from April 23, 2013, to May 8, 2013, to provide additional opportunities for the five Fishery Management Councils, the Atlantic and Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commissions, and other interested parties to comment on the swordfish management measures proposed in Draft Amendment 8.

At the request of the North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council), this notice announces a control date of March 1, 2013, 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 Western Gulf of Alaska (GOA) trawl groundfish fisheries. This notice is 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. The Council selected the control date based on previous fishing activity in the Western GOA groundfish fisheries, in which the majority of the fishery has concluded by March 1 each year. This notice is publishing close to the control date of March 1, 2013, and so will not either prompt speculation in advance of its publication, or disadvantage any fishers regarding their fishing activity after the control date, but before publication. This notice is also intended to promote awareness of possible rulemaking and provide notice to the public that any accumulation of landings history in the Western GOA trawl groundfish fisheries occurring after the control date may not be credited for purposes of making any allocation under a future management program.

In accordance with Section 743 of Division C of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2010 (Pub. L. 111-117), the Department of Commerce is publishing this notice to advise the public of the availability of the Fiscal Year (FY) 2012 Service Contract Inventory and a report that analyzes the Department's FY 2011 Service Contract Inventory. The service contract inventory provides information on service contract actions over $25,000 made in FY 2012. The information is organized by function to show how contracted resources are distributed throughout the agency. The inventory has been developed in accordance with guidance memo on service contract inventories issued on November 5, 2010 by the Office of Management and Budget's Office of Federal Procurement Policy (OFPP).

The SEDAR 31 assessment of the Gulf of Mexico red snapper fishery will consist of a series of workshops and supplemental webinars. This notice is for two webinars in the Assessment Workshop portion of the SEDAR process. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) and its Research Set-Aside (RSA) Committee will hold public meetings.

Notice is hereby given that the NMFS Southeast Fisheries Center (SEFSC); 75 Virginia Beach Drive, Miami, FL 33149 [Responsible Party: Bonnie Ponwith, Ph.D.], has applied in due form for a permit to take smalltooth sawfish (Pristis pectinata) for purposes of scientific research.

NMFS proposes regulations to implement a regulatory amendment (Regulatory Amendment 13) to the Fishery Management Plan for the Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic Region (FMP), as prepared by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council). If implemented, this rule would revise the annual catch limits (ACLs) (including sector ACLs) for 37 species in the snapper-grouper fishery management unit (FMU). The intent of this rule is to ensure that the ACLs are based on the best scientific information available, and to prevent unnecessary negative socio-economic impacts to participants in the snapper-grouper fishery and fishing community that could occur if the ACLs are not revised, in accordance with the provisions set forth in the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act).

NMFS proposes regulations to implement Amendment 9 (Amendment 9) to the Fishery Management Plan for the Shrimp Fishery of the South Atlantic Region (FMP) as prepared and submitted by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council). If implemented, this rule would revise the criteria and procedures by which a South Atlantic state may request a concurrent closure of the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) to the commercial harvest of penaeid shrimp (brown, pink, and white shrimp) when state waters close as a result of severe winter weather. Amendment 9 would also revise the overfished and overfishing status determination criteria for pink shrimp. The intent of this rule is to increase the flexibility and timeliness of the criteria and process for implementing a concurrent closure of penaeid shrimp harvest in the EEZ to maximize protection of overwintering white shrimp in the South Atlantic.

NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for pollock in Statistical Area 620 in the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the B season allowance of the 2013 total allowable catch of pollock for Statistical Area 620 in the GOA.

As a result of the determinations by the International Trade Commission (the ``ITC'') that revocation of the antidumping duty (``AD'') orders on corrosion-resistant carbon steel flat products (``CORE'') from Germany and the Republic of Korea (``Korea'') and the countervailing duty (``CVD'') order on CORE from Korea would not be likely to lead to the continuation or recurrence of material injury to an industry in the United States, the Department of Commerce (the ``Department'') is revoking these AD and CVD orders.

In accordance with the requirements of the Privacy Act of 1974, as amended, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is amending the system of records currently listed under ``COMMERCE/ PAT-TM-20 Customer Call Center, Assistance and Satisfaction Survey Records.'' This action is being taken to update the Privacy Act notice. We invite the public to comment on the amendments noted in this publication.

In accordance with the requirements of the Privacy Act of 1974, as amended, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is amending the system of records currently listed under ``COMMERCE/ PAT-TM-5 Non-Registered Persons Rendering Assistance to Patent Applicants.'' This action is being taken to update the Privacy Act notice. We invite the public to comment on the amendments noted in this publication.