Department of Commerce July 19, 2013 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This final action amends the guidelines for National Standard 2 (NS2) of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSA) regarding scientific information. Consistent with the President's memo on Scientific Integrity (March 9, 2009) and NOAA Administrative Order 202-735D, the revised NS2 guidelines are intended to ensure the highest level of integrity and strengthen public confidence in the quality, validity and reliability of scientific information disseminated by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) in support of fishery management actions. This action provides guidance on what constitutes best scientific information available (BSIA) for the effective conservation and management of fisheries managed under Federal fishery management plans (FMPs), and adds new language to the NS2 guidelines regarding the advisory role of the Scientific and Statistical Committees (SSCs) of the Regional Fishery Management Councils (Councils) and the relationship of SSCs to the peer review process. The revised NS2 guidelines also clarify the content and purpose of the Stock Assessment and Fishery Evaluation (SAFE) Report and related documents. This action makes modest adjustments to current operating practices; it is intended to ensure that scientific information, including its collection and analysis, has been validated through peer review, as appropriate, is transparent to the public, and is used appropriately by SSCs, Councils, and NMFS in the conservation and management of marine fisheries.

In accordance with the regulations implementing the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) as amended, notification is hereby given that we have issued an incidental harassment authorization (IHA) to the U.S. Navy (Navy) to incidentally harass, by Level B harassment only, six species of marine mammals during construction activities associated with a wharf construction project in Hood Canal, Washington.

The SEDAR 32 and 32A review of the South Atlantic stock of Blueline Tilefish and Gulf of Mexico stock of Menhaden will consist of one workshop. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.

This notice announces the Secretary of Commerce's approval of Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS) 186-4, Digital Signature Standard (DSS). FIPS 186-4 specifies three techniques for the generation and verification of digital signatures that can be used for the protection of data: The Digital Signature Algorithm (DSA), the Elliptic Curve Digital Signature Algorithm (ECDSA) and the Rivest- Shamir Adelman Algorithm (RSA). This revision includes a clarification of terms, a reduction of restrictions on the use of random number generators and the retention and use of prime number generation seeds, a correction of wording and typographical errors, and further aligns the FIPS with Key Cryptography Standard (PKCS) 1. FIPS 186-4 is available at https://csrc.nist.gov/publications/PubsFIPS.html.

The Department of Commerce (``Department'') is rescinding the 2011-2012 antidumping duty administrative review on lightweight thermal paper from the People's Republic of China (``PRC'') because Appleton Papers Inc. (``Petitioner''), timely withdrew its request for review.

The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (Council) will hold a meeting of the Standing, Special Mackerel and Special Reef Fish Scientific and Statistical Committees (SSC).

This proposed action would implement revisions to the Pacific coast groundfish trawl rationalization program (program), a catch share program, and includes clarifications of regulations that affect the limited entry trawl and limited entry fixed gear sectors managed under the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery Management Plan (FMP). This action proposes to implement trailing actions for the program that either implement original provisions of the program, including quota share (QS) permit application and transfer regulations, increase flexibility or efficiency, or address minor revisions/clarifications.