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

The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is requesting information from its stakeholders regarding issues to be discussed in upcoming World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) meetings related to intellectual property, genetic resources, and associated traditional knowledge.

The SEDAR Data Best Practices Panel will develop, review, and evaluate best practice recommendations for SEDAR Data Workshops, see SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.

On behalf of the Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements (CITA), 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 proposed and/or continuing information collections, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

The Department of Commerce (the Department) is rescinding its administrative review in part on freshwater crawfish tail meat from the People's Republic of China for the period of review (POR) September 1, 2014, through August 31, 2015.

NMFS issues this interim final rule to revise regulations implementing the Dolphin Protection Consumer Information Act (DPCIA) to enhance the requirements for documentation that demonstrates the accuracy of dolphin-safe labels on tuna products. This interim final rule: Modifies the regulations (referred to hereafter as the ``determination provisions'') under which the NMFS Assistant Administrator (Assistant Administrator) may require proof of an observer certification if the Assistant Administrator determines that a fishery has a regular and significant association between dolphins and tuna and/or has a regular and significant mortality or serious injury of dolphins, to apply equally to purse seine and other gear-type tuna fisheries; provides that a government certificate validating the catch documentation, segregation, and chain of custody may be required for tuna produced from a fishery about which the Assistant Administrator has made a determination under the determination provisions; restructures NOAA regulations such that they now provide for one straightforward certification regarding intentional deployment and mortality/serious injury for all fisheries that produce tuna that is potentially eligible for the dolphin-safe label; modifies the Fisheries Certificate of Origin (FCO) to require captains to complete a training for certifications that must accompany the FCO; enhances chain of custody tracking requirements for tuna and tuna product; and makes several non-substantive modifications to the regulations. This interim final rule brings the United States into compliance with its obligations as a Member of the World Trade Organization (WTO).

The Department of Commerce (the ``Department'') preliminarily determines that certain hot-rolled steel flat products (``hot-rolled steel'') from Japan are being, or are likely to be, sold in the United States at less than fair value (``LTFV''), as provided in section 733(b) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (``the Act''). The period of investigation (``POI'') is July 1, 2014, through June 30, 2015. The estimated weighted-average dumping margins of sales at LTFV are shown in the ``Preliminary Determination'' section of this notice. Interested parties are invited to comment on this preliminary determination.

The Department of Commerce (the Department) preliminarily determines that certain hot-rolled steel flat products (hot-rolled steel) from the Netherlands are being, or are likely to be, sold in the United States at less than fair value (LTFV), as provided in section 733(b) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (the Act). The period of investigation (POI) is July 1, 2014, through June 30, 2015. The estimated weighted-average dumping margins of sales are shown in the ``Preliminary Determination'' section of this notice. Interested parties are invited to comment on this preliminary determination.

The Department of Commerce (the ``Department'') preliminarily determines that certain hot-rolled steel flat products (``hot-rolled steel'') from Australia are being, or are likely to be, sold in the United States at less than fair value (``LTFV''), as provided in section 733(b) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (``the Act''). The period of investigation (``POI'') is July 1, 2014, through June 30, 2015. The estimated weighted-average dumping margins of sales at LTFV are shown in the ``Preliminary Determination'' section of this notice. Interested parties are invited to comment on this preliminary determination.

On December 14, 2015, the Department of Commerce (the Department) published the Final Results of the administrative review of the countervailing duty (CVD) order \1\ on aluminum extrusions from the People's Republic of China (PRC) for the January 1, 2013, through December 31, 2013 period of review (POR).\2\ As explained below, the Department is amending the Final Results to correct the net subsidy rates for the Jangho Companies,\3\ non-selected cooperative respondents, and companies for which we applied total adverse facts available (AFA) in the Final Results. The amended final net subsidy rates are listed below in ``Amended Final Results of Administrative Review.'' \4\

The National Marine Fisheries Service will host a public meeting, consisting of representatives from the Regional Fishery Management Councils, the National Marine Fisheries Service, and interested members of the public. The purpose of the meeting is to identify and share opportunities, challenges, and successful approaches for the effective implementation of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act Essential Fish Habitat authorities. Registration is required, and participation may be limited. See https://www.fisheriesforum.org/our- work/special-projects/efh-summit for more information and to register.

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) will hold a public information meeting to gather input on the likely impacts of alternative spiny dogfish trip limits.

NMFS (hereinafter, ``we'' or ``our'') received an application from Point Blue Conservation Science (Point Blue) requesting an Incidental Harassment Authorization (Authorization) to take marine mammals, by harassment, incidental to conducting proposed seabird research activities on Southeast Farallon Island, A[ntilde]o Nuevo Island, and Point Reyes National Seashore in central California from May 2016 through May 2017. Per the Marine Mammal Protection Act, we request comments on our proposal to issue an Authorization to Point Blue to incidentally take, by Level B harassment only, five species [i.e., California sea lion (Zalophus californianus), Pacific harbor seal (Phoca vitulina), northern elephant seal (Mirounga angustirostris), northern fur seal (Callorhinus ursinus), and Steller sea lion (Eumetopias jubatus)] of marine mammals during the specified activity.

This action transfers unused quota of Georges Bank and Southern New England/Mid-Atlantic yellowtail flounder from the Atlantic scallop fishery to the Northeast multispecies fishery for the remainder of the 2015 fishing year. This quota transfer is justified when the scallop fishery is not expected to catch the entire allocation of either stock of yellowtail flounder. The quota transfer is intended to provide additional harvest opportunities for groundfish vessels to help achieve the optimum yield for these stocks while ensuring sufficient amounts of yellowtail flounder are available for the scallop fishery.

In response to a request from the Aluminum Extrusions Fair Trade Committee (Petitioner), the Department of Commerce (the Department) is initiating an anti-circumvention inquiry pursuant to sections 781(c) and (d) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended, (the Act) to determine whether extruded aluminum products that meet the chemical specifications for 5050-grade aluminum alloy, which are heat- treated, and exported by China Zhongwang Holdings Ltd. and its affiliates (collectively, Zhongwang) are circumventing the antidumping duty (AD) and countervailing duty (CVD) orders on aluminum extrusions from the People's Republic of China (PRC).\1\

NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for species that comprise the deep-water species fishery by vessels using trawl gear in the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary because the first seasonal apportionment of the Pacific halibut bycatch allowance specified for the deep-water species fishery in the GOA has been reached.

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council's (Council) Atlantic Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish Advisory Panel and the Council's River Herring and Shad Advisory Panel will hold a public meeting.

NOAA Fisheries has received an application from the Port of Kalama (POK) for an Incidental Harassment Authorization (IHA) to take marine mammals, by harassment, incidental to Port of Kalama Expansion Project. Pursuant to the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), NOAA Fisheries is requesting comments on its proposal to issue an IHA to the POK to incidentally take, by Level B Harassment only, marine mammals during the in-water construction of Kalama Marine Manufacturing and Export Facility during the 2016-2017. Work is anticipated to occur between September 1, 2016 and January 31, 2017. The authorization for this proposed project would be 120 days of in-water work between September 1, 2016 through August 31, 2017 to account for the possible need to vary the schedule due to logistics and weather. Per the Marine Mammal Protection Act, we are requesting comments on our proposal to issue and Incidental Harassment Authorization to the Port of Kalama to incidentally take, by Level B harassment only, 3 species of marine mammals during the specified activity. NOAA Fisheries does not expect, and is not proposing to authorize, Level A harassment (injury), serious injury, or mortality as a result of the proposed activity.

NMFS is opening directed fishing for sablefish with fixed gear managed under the Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) Program and the Community Development Quota (CDQ) Program. The season will open 1200 hours, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), March 19, 2016, and will close 1200 hours, A.l.t., November 7, 2016. This period is the same as the 2016 commercial halibut fishery opening dates adopted by the International Pacific Halibut Commission. The IFQ and CDQ halibut season is specified by a separate publication in the Federal Register of annual management measures.

The North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) and its advisory committees will meet in Anchorage, AK.

The Department of Commerce, having determined that it is in the public interest in connection with the performance of duties imposed on the Department by law, and with the concurrence of the General Services Administration, announces establishment of The United States Investment Advisory Council. This advisory committee will provide advice on strategies to attract foreign direct investment to the United States. The establishment of this federal advisory committee is necessary to provide input to the Secretary of Commerce on the development and implementation of strategies and programs to attract and retain foreign investment in the United States and to help support the United States remaining the world's preeminent destination for foreign direct investment.

NMFS announces final 2016 and 2017 harvest specifications, apportionments, and Pacific halibut prohibited species catch limits for the groundfish fishery of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary to establish harvest limits for groundfish during the 2016 and 2017 fishing years and to accomplish the goals and objectives of the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska. The intended effect of this action is to conserve and manage the groundfish resources in the GOA in accordance with the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act.

This action corrects an error in the Gulf of Maine haddock closed season in the proposed rule to implement 2016 recreational groundfish management measures for Gulf of Maine cod and haddock. NMFS is also extending the public comment period to provide additional time for the public to submit comments on the corrected measure.