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

The Department of Commerce (the Department) is conducting an administrative review of the antidumping duty order on certain oil country tubular goods (OCTG) from the Republic of Korea (Korea). The period of review (POR) is July 18, 2014, through August 31, 2015. The Department preliminarily determines that the producers or exporters subject to the review, including the mandatory respondents NEXTEEL Co. Ltd. (NEXTEEL) and SeAH Steel Corporation (SeAH), made sales of subject merchandise at less than normal value. We invite interested parties to comment on these preliminary results.

The Department of Commerce (the Department) preliminarily determines that countervailable subsidies are being provided to producers and exporters of new pneumatic off-the-road tires (OTR Tires) from the People's Republic of China (PRC). The period of review (POR) is January 1, 2014, through December 31, 2014. Interested parties are invited to comment on these preliminary results.

NMFS is proposing regulations under the authority of Section 303(b) of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSA) to implement an immediate closure of the California thresher shark/swordfish drift gillnet (DGN) (mesh size >=14 inches) fishery if a hard cap (i.e., limit) on mortality/injury is met or exceeded for certain protected species during a rolling 2-year period. The length of the closure would be dependent on whenduring the 2-year periodthe hard cap is reached.

Based on Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission recommendations, we are issuing this advance notice of proposed rulemaking announcing our intent to develop regulations in support of an Interstate Fishery Management Plan for Jonah crab. The advance notice of proposed rulemaking is necessary to provide the public with background information and to alert interested parties of future regulations governing Jonah crab fishing in Federal waters of the Exclusive Economic Zone. We are also announcing our intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act. This notice is to alert the interested public of the scoping process and potential development of a draft Environmental Impact Statement, and to outline opportunity for public participation in that process.

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

The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) will hold meetings of its Snapper Grouper Advisory Panel (AP) and Information and Education AP. The Snapper Grouper AP will meet to discuss items pertaining to the management of the snapper grouper fishery of the South Atlantic Region. A meeting of the Council's Information and Education AP will follow with the AP addressing outreach efforts and communication needs. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.

NMFS issues regulations to modify the recordkeeping and reporting requirements for the groundfish fisheries in the Gulf of Alaska and the Bering Sea/Aleutian Islands management areas. This rule is organized into four actions. Under the first action, NMFS implements a requirement for tender vessel operators to use the applications software ``tLandings'' to prepare electronic landing reports. This action is necessary to improve timeliness and reliability of landing reports for catcher vessels delivering to tender vessels for use in catch accounting and inseason management. Under the second action, NMFS modifies the definition of a buying station. This action is necessary to clarify the different requirements that apply to tender vessels and land-based buying stations. Under the third action, NMFS removes the requirement for buying stations to complete the buying station report because this report is no longer necessary. Under the fourth action, NMFS revises the definition of a mothership to remove unnecessary formatting without changing the substance of the definition. This final rule is intended to promote the goals and objectives of the Magnuson- Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area (BSAI FMP), the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA FMP), and other applicable laws.

The Department of Commerce (the Department) is conducting an administrative review and a new shipper review of the antidumping duty order on freshwater crawfish tail meat from the People's Republic of China (PRC). The period of review (POR) for the administrative review and the new shipper review is September 1, 2014, through August 31, 2015. The Department preliminarily determines that imports of freshwater crawfish tail meat from the PRC are being sold in the United States at prices below normal value. The Department also preliminarily determines that the new shipper review respondent, Hubei Qianjiang Huashan Aquatic Food and Product Co., Ltd. (Hubei Qianjiang), has not made sales of freshwater crawfish tail meat at prices below normal value. We invite interested parties to comment on these preliminary results.

The Department of Commerce (the Department) is rescinding the administrative review of the antidumping duty order on stainless steel butt-weld pipe fittings from Italy for the period February 1, 2015, through January 31, 2016.

In accordance with 5 U.S.C. 4314(c)(4), the Economics and Statistics Administration (ESA) announces the appointment of members who will serve on the ESA Performance Review Board (PRB). The purpose of the PRB is to provide fair and impartial review of senior executive service and scientific and professional performance appraisals, bonus recommendations, pay adjustments and Presidential Rank Award nominations. The term of each PRB member will expire on December 31, 2018.

NMFS issues regulations to implement management measures described in a framework action to the Fishery Management Plan for the Reef Fish Resources of the Gulf of Mexico (FMP), as prepared by the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (Council). This final rule revises the commercial quota and annual catch limit (ACL) and the recreational annual catch target (ACT) and ACL for red grouper in the Gulf of Mexico (Gulf) exclusive economic zone (EEZ). The purpose of this final rule is to adjust the allowable red grouper harvest to achieve optimum yield (OY) based upon an updated Gulf red grouper stock assessment.

The Economic and Statistics Administration (ESA) is giving notice of the fifth meeting of the Commerce Data Advisory Council (CDAC). The CDAC will discuss Council recommendations, the institutionalization of the Commerce Data Service, as well as other Council matters. The CDAC will meet in a plenary session on Friday, October 28, 2016. Last-minute changes to the schedule are possible, which could prevent giving advance public notice of schedule adjustments.

This final rule describes how articles the President determines no longer warrant control under Category XII (Fire Control, Laser, Imaging, and Guidance Equipment) of the United States Munitions List (USML) of the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) will be controlled under the Commerce Control List (CCL) of the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) by amending Export Control Classification Number (ECCN) 7A611 and creating new ``600 series'' ECCNs 7B611, 7D611, and 7E611. In addition, for certain dual-use infrared detection items, this final rule expands controls for certain software and technology, eliminates the use of some license exceptions, revises licensing policy, and expands license requirements for certain transactions involving military end users or foreign military commodities. This final rule also harmonizes provisions within the EAR by revising controls related to certain quartz rate sensors.

The Department of Commerce (the Department) is conducting an administrative review of the countervailing duty (CVD) order on certain lined paper products from India. The period of review (POR) is January 1, 2014, through December 31, 2014, and the review covers one producer/ exporter of the subject merchandise, Goldenpalm Manufacturers PVT Ltd. (Goldenpalm). We preliminarily determine that Goldenpalm received countervailable subsidies during the POR.

We, NMFS, announce a 90-day finding on a petition to list the Pacific bluefin tuna (Thunnus orientalis) as a threatened or endangered species under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and to designate critical habitat concurrently with the listing. We find that the petition presents substantial scientific information indicating the petitioned action may be warranted. We will conduct a status review of the Pacific bluefin tuna to determine whether the petitioned action is warranted. To ensure that the status review is comprehensive, we are soliciting scientific and commercial information pertaining to this species.

The Pacific Fishery Management Council (Pacific Council) is sponsoring a workshop to review methods used to reconstruct historical groundfish catches off Washington, Oregon, and California. The workshop is open to the public.

NMFS proposes regulations under the Tuna Conventions Act to implement provisions of two Resolutions adopted by the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC) in 2016: Resolution C-16-01 (Collection and Analyses of Data On Fish-Aggregating Devices) and Resolution C-16-06 (Conservation Measures for Shark Species, with Special Emphasis on the Silky Shark (Carcharhinus Falciformis) for the Years 2017, 2018, and 2019). Per Resolution C-16-01, these regulations would require the owner or operator of a U.S. purse seine vessel to ensure characters of a unique code be marked indelibly on each fish aggregating device (FAD) deployed or modified on or after January 1, 2017, in the IATTC Convention Area. The vessel owner or operator would also be required to record and submit information about the FAD, as described in Annex I of the Resolution C-16-01. Per Resolution C-16-06, these regulations would prohibit the owner or operator of a U.S. purse seine vessel from retaining on board, transshipping, landing, or storing, in part or whole, carcasses of silky sharks caught by purse- seine vessels in the IATTC Convention Area. These regulations would also provide limits on the retained catch of silky sharks caught in the IATTC Convention Area. This proposed rule is necessary for the United States to satisfy its obligations as a member of the IATTC.

Notice is hereby given that Joseph Wilson, 1st Augustine's Yard, Gaunts Lane, Bristol, BS1 5DE, United Kingdom, has applied in due form for a permit to conduct commercial or educational photography of killer (Orcinus orca) and minke (Balaenoptera bonaerensis) whales.

The Department of Commerce (Department) is rescinding the administrative review of the antidumping duty order on high pressure steel cylinders (steel cylinders) from the People's Republic of China (PRC) for the period of review June 1, 2015, through May 31, 2016.

The Department of Commerce (``Department'') preliminarily determines that 1,1,1,2-Tetrafluoroethane (``R-134a'') from the People's Republic of China (``PRC'') is being, or is likely to be, sold in the United States at less than fair value (``LTFV''). The period of investigation (``POI'') is July 1, 2015, through December 31, 2015. The estimated margins of sales at LTFV are shown in the ``Preliminary Determination'' section of this notice. The final determination will be issued 75 days after publication of this preliminary determination in the Federal Register. Interested parties are invited to comment on this preliminary determination.

The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (South Atlantic Council) has submitted Amendment 37 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic Region (FMP) for review, approval, and implementation by NMFS. If approved by the Secretary of Commerce, Amendment 37 would modify the management unit boundaries for hogfish in the South Atlantic by establishing two hogfish stocks off (1) Georgia through North Carolina and (2) Florida Keys/East Florida; establish a rebuilding plan for the Florida Keys/ East Florida hogfish stock; specify fishing levels and accountability measures (AMs), and modify or establish management measures for the Georgia through North Carolina and Florida Keys/East Florida stocks of hogfish. The purpose of Amendment 37 is to manage hogfish using the best scientific information available while ending overfishing and rebuilding the Florida Keys/East Florida hogfish stock.

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 United States Patent and Trademark Office (``USPTO'' or ``Office'') is amending the Trademark Rules of Practice (``Trademark Rules'' or ``Rules''), in particular the rules pertinent to practice before the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (``Board''), to benefit the public by providing for more efficiency and clarity in inter partes and ex parte proceedings. Certain amendments are directed to reducing the burden on the parties, to conforming the rules to current practice, to updating references that have changed, to reflecting technologic changes, and to ensuring the usage of standard, current terminology. This final rule also furthers strategic objectives of the Office to increase end-to-end electronic processing.