Department of Commerce January 31, 2014 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

NMFS will host a meeting of the Council Coordination Committee (CCC), consisting of the Regional Fishery Management Council chairs, vice chairs, and executive directors in February 2014. The intent of this meeting is to discuss issues of relevance to the Councils, including budget allocations for FY 2014 and budget planning for FY 2015 and beyond, FY 2014 Priorities, update from the Marine Fisheries Advisory Committee Endangered Species Act work group report and the seafood certification process, fisheries allocation, national science program review, electronic monitoring workshop report, Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSA) reauthoization, National Fish Habitat Partnership Board`s consideration of habitat in the fishery management process, and other topics related to implementation of the MSA.

On September 6, 2013, the Department of Commerce (the Department) published the preliminary results of the administrative review of the antidumping duty (AD) order on light-walled rectangular pipe and tube (LWR pipe and tube) from Mexico.\1\ The period of review (POR) is August 1, 2011, through July 31, 2012. This review covers two producers or exporters of subject merchandise: Regiomontana de Perfiles y Tubos S.A. de C.V. (Regiopytsa) and Maquilacero S.A. de C.V. (Maquilacero). For the final results, we continue to find that Regiopytsa sold subject merchandise at less than normal value during the POR and that Maquilacero did not. For the final weighted-average dumping margins, see the ``Final Results of Review'' section below.

The New England Fishery Management Council (Council) is re- scheduling a public meeting of its Recreational Advisory Panel to consider actions affecting New England fisheries in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ). Recommendations from this group will be brought to the full Council for formal consideration and action, if appropriate.

NMFS implements an accountability measure (AM) through this temporary final rule for commercial harvest of king mackerel in the southern Florida west coast subzone of the eastern zone of the Gulf of Mexico (Gulf) exclusive economic zone (EEZ) using run-around gillnet gear. NMFS has determined that the commercial annual catch limit (ACL) (equal to the commercial quota) for king mackerel using run-around gillnet gear in the southern Florida west coast subzone of the Gulf EEZ will have been reached by January 29, 2014. Therefore, NMFS closes the southern Florida west coast subzone to commercial king mackerel fishing using run-around gillnet gear in the Gulf EEZ. This closure is necessary to protect the Gulf king mackerel resource.

Framework Adjustment 8 (Framework 8) proposes several changes to facilitate operation of the butterfish discard cap in the longfin squid fishery and the directed butterfish fishery. Framework 8 would allocate the butterfish discard cap among trimesters in the same percentages used for the trimester allocations for longfin squid: 43 percent to Trimester I (January to April); 17 percent to Trimester II (May to August), and 40 percent to Trimester III (September to December). Each trimester would close when it is estimated that 95 percent of the butterfish discard cap has been taken. In addition, Framework 8 would allow NMFS to transfer, in either direction, up to 50 percent of unused quota between the butterfish landing allocation and the discard cap on the longfin squid fishery. This would occur near the end of the year in order to optimally utilize the butterfish that is available for fishing each year.

This proposed rule would clarify existing standards and procedures by which the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) may require that certain contracts or orders that promote the national defense be given priority over other contracts or orders. It also proposes new standards and procedures for such prioritization with respect to contracts or orders for emergency preparedness activities. Finally, this rule proposes new standards and procedures by which BIS may allocate materials, services and facilities to promote the national defense. This rule implements provisions in the Defense Production Act Reauthorization of 2009 (123 Stat. 2006) (111 Pub. L. 67) (September 30, 2009) regarding publication of regulations providing standards and procedures for prioritization of contracts and orders and for allocation of materials, services, and facilities to promote the national defense under emergency and non-emergency conditions.