Department of Commerce March 2014 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Pacific cod, except for the Community Development Quota program (CDQ), in the Aleutian Islands subarea of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the non-CDQ allocation of the 2014 Pacific cod total allowable catch (TAC) in the Aleutian Islands subarea of the BSAI.

NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Pacific cod by catcher/processors using trawl 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 2014 Pacific cod total allowable catch apportioned to catcher/processors using trawl gear in the Central Regulatory Area of the GOA.

NMFS proposes to supplement the regulations implementing Amendments 26 and 29 to the Fishery Management Plan for Reef Fish Resources of the Gulf of Mexico (FMP), as prepared and submitted by the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (Council). Amendment 26 established an individual fishing quota (IFQ) program for the red snapper commercial sector of the reef fish fishery in the Gulf of Mexico (Gulf) exclusive economic zone (EEZ). Amendment 29 established a multi-species IFQ program for the grouper and tilefish component of the commercial sector of the reef fish fishery in the Gulf EEZ. If implemented, this rule would specify procedures for closing an IFQ account and modify requirements for IFQ landing transactions, landing notifications, and offloading. The purpose of this proposed rule is to enhance the monitoring, enforcement, and review of the IFQ programs as specified in Amendments 26 and 29 to the FMP.

NMFS proposes to implement management measures described in a framework action to the Fishery Management Plan for the Coastal Migratory Pelagic Resources in the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic Region (FMP) (Framework Action), as prepared and submitted by the South Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Councils (Councils). If implemented, this rule would allow transfer of Atlantic migratory group Spanish mackerel caught in excess of the trip limit with gillnet gear from one vessel with a Federal Spanish mackerel commercial permit to another vessel with a Federal Spanish mackerel commercial permit that has not yet harvested the trip limit; allow the receiving vessel involved in a Spanish mackerel transfer-at-sea to have three gillnets onboard instead of two; and modify the commercial trip limits for king mackerel in the Florida east coast subzone. This rule also proposes an administrative change to correct an inadvertent error in a prior rulemaking unrelated to this Framework Action. The purpose of this rule is to modify the restrictions on transfer-at-sea and gillnet allowances for Atlantic migratory group Spanish mackerel to minimize dead discards of Spanish mackerel and modify the king mackerel trip limit in the Florida east coast subzone to optimize utilization of the resource.

The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (SAFMC) will hold the AP meetings in North Charleston, SC.

This rule updates the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) legal authority paragraphs in the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) to cite a Presidential notice extending an emergency declared pursuant to the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. This is a procedural rule that only updates authority paragraphs of the EAR. It does not alter any right, obligation or prohibition that applies to any person under the EAR.

The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), as part of its continuing efforts to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on this extension of a continuing information collection, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13 (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)).

The Office of Trade and Economic Analysis (``OTEA'') of the International Trade Administration, Department of Commerce, has received an application for an Export Trade Certificate of Review (``Certificate''). This notice summarizes the application and requests comments relevant to whether the Certificate should be issued.

NMFS has received a request from the U.S. Navy (Navy) for authorization to take marine mammals incidental to the training and testing activities conducted in the Mariana Islands Training and Testing (MITT) study area from March 2015 through March 2020. Pursuant to the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), NMFS is requesting comments on its proposal to issue regulations and subsequent Letter of Authorization (LOA) to the Navy to incidentally harass marine mammals.

NMFS announces that the butterfish trip limit for longfin squid/butterfish moratorium permit holders will be reduced to no more than 5,000 lb (2.27 mt), effective 0001 hours, March 18, 2014. Vessels issued a Federal longfin squid/butterfish moratorium permit and using greater than 3-inch (76-mm) mesh may not fish for, catch, possess or land more than 5,000 lb (2.27 mt) of butterfish per trip or calendar day for the remainder of the year (through December 31, 2014). The possession limit remains unchanged at 2,500-lb (1.13 mt) per trip or calendar day for vessels issued a Federal longfin squid/butterfish moratorium permit and fishing with less than 3-inch (76-mm). The incidental possession limit also remains unchanged at 600 lb (0.27 mt). Federally permitted dealers also may not purchase more than 5,000 lb (2.27 mt) of butterfish from federally permitted vessels per trip or per day, through December 31, 2014. This action is necessary to prevent the fishery from exceeding the domestic annual harvest (DAH) of 2,570 mt, and to allow for effective management of this stock.

NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Pacific cod by catcher vessels using hook-and-line gear in the Western Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the A season allowance of the 2014 Pacific cod total allowable catch apportioned to catcher vessels using hook-and-line gear in the Western Regulatory Area of the GOA.

The Department of Commerce (Department) completed its administrative review of the countervailing duty (CVD) order on certain kitchen appliance shelving and racks from the People's Republic of China (PRC) for the period January 1, 2011, through December 31, 2011. The final net subsidy rate for New King Shan (Zhu Hai) Co., Ltd. (NKS) is listed below in the section entitled ``Final Results of the Review.''

NMFS is proposing two actions in this rulemaking: A requirement for daily Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) catch reporting for vessels declared to fish in the Eastern U.S./Canada Area; and the de minimis amount of unused fishing year (FY) 2013 sector annual catch entitlement (ACE) that may be carried over, beginning in FY 2014, without being subject to potential accountability measures. The revision to the reporting requirement is necessary to better ensure accurate and timely Eastern U.S./Canada Area catch reporting for quota monitoring purposes. The proposed de minimis carryover amount is necessary to complete the carryover process NMFS described for FY 2014 in conjunction with the May 2013 rulemaking for Framework Adjustment 50 to the Northeast (NE) Multispecies Fishery Management Plan (FMP). The intended effect of these actions is to inform the public and solicit public comment on NMFS's proposed measures.

The New England Fishery Management Council's (Council) Herring Advisory Panel and Oversight Committee will meet to consider actions affecting New England fisheries in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

This action proposes approval of, and regulations to implement, Framework Adjustment 51 to the Northeast Multispecies (Groundfish) Fishery Management Plan. This rule would set catch limits for groundfish stocks, revise the rebuilding programs for Gulf of Maine cod and American plaice, modify management measures for yellowtail flounder, and revise management measures for the U.S./Canada Management Area. Although not part of Framework 51, this action also proposes fishing year 2014 trip limits for the common pool fishery and announces 2014 accountability measures for windowpane flounder. This action is necessary to respond to updated scientific information and achieve the goals and objectives of the Groundfish Plan. The proposed measures are intended to help prevent overfishing, rebuild overfished stocks, achieve optimum yield, and ensure that management measures are based on the best scientific information available.

NMFS has received an application from the Lamont Doherty Earth Observatory (Observatory) in collaboration with the National Science Foundation (Foundation), for an Incidental Harassment Authorization (Authorization) to take marine mammals, by harassment incidental to conducting a marine geophysical (seismic) survey in the northwest Atlantic Ocean off the New Jersey coast June through July, 2014. The proposed dates for this action would be May 29, 2014 through August 17, 2014 to account for minor deviations due to logistics and weather. Per the Marine Mammal Protection Act, we are requesting comments on our proposal to issue an Authorization to the Observatory to incidentally take, by Level B harassment only, 26 species of marine mammals during the specified activity.

NMFS will hold a 2-day Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Advisory Panel (AP) meeting in April 2014. The intent of the meeting is to consider options for the conservation and management of Atlantic HMS. The meeting is open to the public.

On December 31, 2013, the Department of Commerce (the ``Department'') published the preliminarily determination of the antidumping investigation of steel threaded rod from Thailand. The period of investigation (``POI'') is April 1, 2012, through March 31, 2013. We gave interested parties an opportunity to comment on the preliminary determination, but we received no comments. The final weighted-average dumping margins of sales at less than fair value (``LTFV'') are listed below in the ``Final Determination'' section of this notice.

NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Pacific cod by catcher vessels less than 60 feet (18.3 meters (m)) length overall (LOA) using jig or hook-and-line gear in the Bogoslof Pacific cod exemption area of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the limit of Pacific cod for catcher vessels less than 60 feet (18.3 m) LOA using jig or hook-and-line gear in the Bogoslof Pacific cod exemption area in the BSAI.