Department of Commerce March 2016 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

NMFS is adjusting the commercial aggregated large coastal shark (LCS) and hammerhead shark management group retention limit for directed shark limited access permit holders in the Atlantic region from 36 LCS other than sandbar sharks per vessel per trip to 3 LCS other than sandbar sharks per vessel per trip. This action is based on consideration of the regulatory determination criteria regarding inseason adjustments. The retention limit will remain at 3 LCS other than sandbar sharks per vessel per trip in the Atlantic region through the rest of the 2016 fishing season or until NMFS announces via a notice in the Federal Register another adjustment to the retention limit or a fishery closure is warranted. This retention limit adjustment will affect anyone with a directed shark limited access permit fishing for LCS in the Atlantic region.

We propose specifications for the 2016-2018 bluefish fishery. This action is necessary to comply with the implementing regulations for the Bluefish Fishery Management Plan that require us to publish specifications and provide an opportunity for public comment. The proposed specifications are necessary to constrain harvest for this species within scientifically sound recommendations to prevent overfishing.

The U.S. Global Change Research Program (USGCRP) is initiating an Interagency Special Report on Physical Climate Science (referred to as ``the Report'' throughout this notice). The focus of the Report will be an update to the physical climate science presented in the 2014 National Climate Assessment (NCA). Specifically, the Report will update Chapter 2 and Appendices 3 and 4 of the 2014 NCA (https:// www.globalchange.gov/nca3-downloads-materials). The report will provide updated climate science findings and projections, and will be an important input to the authors of the next quadrennial NCA, expected in 2018. The Report will be a product of the USGCRP, organized and led by an interagency team. This request for public engagement seeks nominations for technical contributors with expertise in climate data sets and trends, climate processes and feedbacks, global/regional climate models and associated projections, climate extremes, attribution and detection studies, and particular components of the Earth system, as well as other physical science disciplines. Refer to the Report prospectus (accessible via www.globalchange.gov/notices for further information on the goals, outline, and timeline for the report, as well as the process for technical contributors' involvement. The report will adhere to the Information Quality Act requirements https://www.cio.noaa.gov/services_programs/info_quality.html for quality, transparency, and accessibility as appropriate for a Highly Influential Scientific Assessment (HISA).

On December 1, 2015, the Department of Commerce (the ``Department'') published the notice of initiation of the first five- year (``sunset'') review of the antidumping duty order on certain petroleum wax candles (``candles'') from the People's Republic of China (``PRC'') pursuant to section 751(c) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (the ``Act'').\1\ As a result of this sunset review, the Department finds that revocation of the antidumping duty order on candles from the PRC would be likely to lead to continuation or recurrence of dumping. The magnitude of the dumping margins likely to prevail is indicated in the ``Final Results of Review'' section of this notice.

NMFS has received an application from Quintillion Subsea Operations, LLC (Quintillion) for an Incidental Harassment Authorization (IHA) to take marine mammals, by harassment, incidental to a subsea cable-laying operation in the state and federal waters of the Bering, Chukchi, and Beaufort seas, Alaska, during the open-water season of 2016. Pursuant to the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), NMFS is requesting comments on its proposal to issue an IHA to Quintillion to incidentally take, by Level B Harassments, marine mammals during the specified activity.

The Department of Commerce (``the Department'') published the Preliminary Results of the 11th administrative review of the antidumping duty order on certain frozen fish fillets (``fish fillets'') from the Socialist Republic of Vietnam (``Vietnam'') on September 14, 2015.\1\ We gave interested parties an opportunity to comment on the Preliminary Results. Based upon our analysis of the comments and information received, we made changes to the margin calculations for these final results. The final dumping margins are listed below in the ``Final Results of the Administrative Review'' section of this notice. The period of review (``POR'') is August 1, 2013, through July 31, 2014.

We, NMFS, issue a final rule to list the Tanzanian Distinct Population Segment (DPS) of African coelacanth (Latimeria chalumnae) as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). We will not designate critical habitat for this species because the geographical areas occupied by the species are entirely outside U.S. jurisdiction, and we have not identified any unoccupied areas within U.S. jurisdiction that are essential to the conservation of the species.

In accordance with the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (OPA) and the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), notice is hereby given that the Deepwater Horizon Federal and State natural resource trustee agencies (Trustees) have issued a Record of Decision (ROD) for the Final Programmatic Damage Assessment and Restoration Plan and Final Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (Final PDARP/PEIS). Based on the Trustees' injury determination established in the Final PDARP/ PEIS, the ROD sets forth the basis for the Trustees' decision to select Alternative A: Comprehensive Integrated Ecosystem Alternative. The Trustees' selection of this alternative includes the funding allocations established in the Final PDARP/PEIS.

NMFS implements accountability measures for commercial gray triggerfish in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the South Atlantic. NMFS projects commercial landings for gray triggerfish will reach the commercial annual catch limit (ACL) for the January through June period by April 2, 2016. Therefore, NMFS is closing the commercial sector for gray triggerfish in the South Atlantic EEZ on April 2, 2016. This closure is necessary to protect the gray triggerfish resource.

NMFS implements an accountability measure (AM) to close the hook-and-line component of the commercial sector for king mackerel in the Florida west coast southern subzone. This closure is necessary to protect the Gulf of Mexico (Gulf) king mackerel resource.

The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council will hold a Post Council Meeting Briefing for the public via webinar.

This final rule announces an inseason change to management measures in the Pacific Coast groundfish fishery. This action, which is authorized by the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery Management Plan (PCFMP) and the Northern Pacific Halibut Act, implements changes to the incidental retention allowance for halibut in the limited entry fixed gear sablefish primary fishery.

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) will hold public meetings of the Council and its Committees.

The Department of Commerce, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on the proposed Survey of Income and Program Participation 2014 Panel, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

The SEDAR 49 assessment process of Gulf of Mexico Data-limited Species will consist of a data workshop, a series of assessment webinars, and a review workshop. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.

The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is revising its patent quality metrics to better identify quality-related issues and more clearly communicate its quality measurements to the public. The new patent quality metrics are part of the USPTO's Enhanced Patent Quality Initiative (EPQI), which was launched in 2015 to engage patent stakeholders in enhancing patent quality. As part of the Enhanced Patent Quality Initiative, the prior patent quality metrics have been reassessed, and new patent quality metrics are now being designed for adoption for fiscal year 2017. The new patent quality metrics for use in fiscal year 2017 are planned to focus on the correctness and clarity of Office actions and will be applied through a newly unified review process using a standardized review form that will permit data from a significantly larger number of finished product quality reviews conducted at the agency to be aggregated and mined for information. The USPTO will also mine data on transactions during patent prosecution (e.g., the types of actions taken by the applicant and the USPTO) to assess examination processes and identify potential quality issues requiring further study. The review process will apply the new quality metrics and standardized form to increase the accuracy, consistency, transparency, clarity, and simplicity of USPTO quality review procedures. The USPTO is seeking comment from its stakeholders on further improvements to the changes proposed herein.

NMFS is reallocating the projected unused amounts of the Aleut Corporation's pollock directed fishing allowance and the Community Development Quota from the Aleutian Islands subarea to the Bering Sea subarea directed fisheries. These actions are necessary to provide opportunity for harvest of the 2016 total allowable catch of pollock, consistent with the goals and objectives of the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area.

NMFS implements accountability measures (AMs) for the commercial sector for vermilion snapper in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the South Atlantic. NMFS projects that commercial landings for vermilion snapper will reach the commercial annual catch limit (ACL) for the January through June, 2016, fishing period by March 29, 2016. Therefore, NMFS closes the commercial sector for vermilion snapper in the South Atlantic EEZ on March 29, 2016, and it will remain closed until July 1, 2016, the start of the July through December fishing period. This closure is necessary to protect the South Atlantic vermilion snapper resource.

The Science Advisory Board (SAB) was established by a Decision Memorandum dated September 25, 1997, and is the only Federal Advisory Committee with responsibility to advise the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere on strategies for research, education, and application of science to operations and information services. SAB activities and advice provide necessary input to ensure that National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) science programs are of the highest quality and provide optimal support to resource management. Time and Date: The meeting will be held Thursday April 28 from 9:45 a.m. EDT to 5:45 p.m. EDT and on Friday April 29, from 9:00 a.m. EDT to 1:00 p.m. EDT. These times and the agenda topics described below are subject to change. Please refer to the Web page https:// www.sab.noaa.gov/Meetings/meetings.html for the most up-to-date meeting times and agenda. Place: The meeting will be held at Sheraton Silver Spring Magnolia Ballroom, 8777 Georgia Avenue, Silver Spring, Maryland. Please check the SAB Web site https://www.sab.noaa.gov/Meetings/meetings.html for directions to the meeting location. Status: The meeting will be open to public participation with a 15- minute public comment period on April 28 from 5:30-5:45 p.m. EDT (check Web site to confirm time). The SAB expects that public statements presented at its meetings will not be repetitive of previously submitted verbal or written statements. In general, each individual or group making a verbal presentation will be limited to a total time of two (2) minutes. Individuals or groups planning to make a verbal presentation should contact the SAB Acting Executive Director by April 21, 2016 to schedule their presentation. Written comments should be received in the SAB Executive Director's Office by April 21, 2016, to provide sufficient time for SAB review. Written comments received by the SAB Executive Director after April 21, 2016, will be distributed to the SAB, but may not be reviewed prior to the meeting date. Seating at the meeting will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. Special Accommodations: These meetings are physically accessible to people with disabilities. Requests for special accommodations may be directed no later than 12:00 p.m. on April 21, 2016, to Dr. Elizabeth Turner, Acting SAB Executive Director, Room 146, Gregg Hall, 35 Colovos Road, Durham, NH 03824; Email: Elizabeth.Turner@noaa.gov. Matters To Be Considered: The meeting will include the following topics: (1) Report on Ecosystem Services Valuation from the Ecosystem Sciences and Management Working Group; (2) Updates from the NOAA Administrator, Chief Scientist and the Chief Economist; (3)SAB Strategy Discussion and Implications for NOAA; and (4) Discussion of Working Group Issues and Working Group Concept of Operations.

This final rule creates a temporary general license that temporarily restores the licensing requirements and policies under the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) for exports, reexports, and transfers (in-country) to two entities added to the Entity List on March 8, 2016. BIS is issuing this rule in connection with a request to remove or modify the listing.

The Assistant Regional Administrator for Sustainable Fisheries, Greater Atlantic Region, NMFS, has made a preliminary determination that Exempted Fishing Permits to facilitate the use of monkfish research set-aside days-at-sea warrants further consideration. This notice is to provide interested parties the opportunity to comment on the proposed Exempted Fishing Permits.