Department of Commerce July 2018 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

NMFS is closing the Southern Exclusion Zone (SEZ) to deep-set longline fishing through December 31, 2018, for all vessels registered under the Hawaii longline limited access program, as a result of the fishery reaching the established annual trigger of two observed false killer whale mortalities or serious injuries (M&SI) in the fishery within the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) around Hawaii. This action is necessary to comply with False Killer Whale Take Reduction Plan (Plan) regulations that establish the SEZ closure trigger and procedures to limit M&SI of false killer whales in the Hawaii deep-set longline fishery.

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 3 LCS other than sandbar sharks per vessel per trip to 36 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 36 LCS other than sandbar sharks per vessel per trip in the Atlantic region through the rest of the 2018 fishing season or until NMFS announces via a notification in the Federal Register another adjustment to the retention limit or a fishery closure. This retention limit adjustment affects anyone with a directed shark limited access permit fishing for LCS in the Atlantic region.

This notice announces the date, time, and location of the public meeting being held prior to the 67th meeting of the International Whaling Commission (IWC). Because the meeting will address U.S. positions, any U.S. citizen with an identifiable interest in U.S. whale conservation policy may participate, but NOAA reserves the authority to inquire about the interests of any person who appears at the meeting and to determine the appropriateness of that person's participation.

Notice is hereby given that three applicants have applied in due form for a permit or permit modification to take green (Chelonia mydas), hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata), Kemp's ridley (Lepidochelys kempii), loggerhead (Caretta caretta), and olive ridley (L. olivacea) sea turtles for purposes of scientific research.

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 National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), as part of its BroadbandUSA program, will host a series of webinars on a monthly basis to engage the public and stakeholders with information to accelerate broadband connectivity, improve digital inclusion, strengthen policies and support local priorities. The Practical Broadband Conversations webinar series will provide an ongoing source of information on a range of topics and issues being addressed by BroadbandUSA, including but not limited to best practices for improving broadband deployment, digital inclusion, workforce skills, and e-government.

This final rule makes editorial corrections amending the regulations for Atlantic highly migratory species (HMS). This final action will make the rules easier to use by making the cross-references in the regulations accurate, correcting grammatical and punctuation issues, and reformatting the regulations where needed to be consistent with Federal Register guidelines. The action also in several instances simplifies regulatory text by removing unnecessary language. The rule is administrative in nature and does not make any change with substantive effect to the regulations for HMS fisheries.

The Department of Commerce (Commerce) determines that Hyundai Steel Co. (Hyundai Steel), a producer/exporter of certain cut-to-length carbon-quality steel plate (CTL plate) from the Republic of Korea (Korea), received countervailable subsidies during the period of review (POR), January 1, 2016, through December 31, 2016, and that Dongkuk Steel Mill Co., Ltd. (DSM), a producer/exporter of CTL plate did not. We are also rescinding the review for 12 companies.

The Department of Commerce (Commerce) determines that Fushun Jinly Petrochemical Carbon Co., Ltd. (Fushun Jinly) did not make sales of small diameter graphite electrodes from the People's Republic of China (China) at less than normal value during the period of review (POR) February 1, 2016, through January 31, 2017.

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) on behalf of the Department of Commerce and the National Security Council is seeking information on the scope and sufficiency of efforts to educate, train, and attract the workforce necessary to meet the demands of the current and future semiconductor industry, in support of the President's National Security Strategy.

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.

NMFS requests information from the public to support a national initiative to reform and streamline observer program insurance requirements. The goals of this reform effort are to: ease the regulatory burden and reduce costs for private companies that provide observer staffing to NMFS observer programs through more efficient, nationally applicable insurance requirements; eliminate outdated and/or inappropriate regulatory requirements; reduce observer deployment risks for vessel owners and shore side processors; and identify insurance that could improve observer safety and facilitate full compensation for observer occupational injuries. To proceed with this effort, NMFS seeks technical information on the types of insurance and minimum coverage amounts (in dollars) that would minimize observer deployment risks to the extent practicable considering costs and other factors. Additionally, NMFS seeks public comment on Federal Employees Compensation Act (FECA) claims and benefits processing for observer occupational injuries and whether observer companies should carry private insurance to supplement FECA benefits for observers.

The Department of Commerce (Commerce) determines that certain companies covered by this administrative review made sales of certain cut-to-length carbon-quality steel plate products (CTL plate) from the Republic of Korea (Korea) at less than normal value during the period of review (POR) February 1, 2016, through January 31, 2017.

The Department of Commerce (Commerce) finds that Filmag Italia Spa (Filmag) did not sell stainless steel butt-weld pipe fittings at prices below normal value during the period of review (POR) February 1, 2016, through January 31, 2017.

This notice sets forth the schedule and proposed agenda of a meeting of the Environmental Technologies Trade Advisory Committee (ETTAC).

NMFS has received a request from the U.S. Navy (Navy) for authorization to take marine mammals incidental to the use of Surveillance Towed Array Sensor Systems Low Frequency Active (SURTASS LFA) sonar systems onboard U.S. Navy surveillance ships for training and testing activities conducted under the authority of the Secretary of the Navy in the western and central North Pacific and eastern Indian oceans beginning August 2019. Pursuant to the implementing regulations of the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), NMFS is announcing our receipt of the Navy's request for the development and implementation of regulations governing the incidental taking of marine mammals and inviting information, suggestions, and comments on the Navy's application and request.

The Department of Commerce (Commerce) preliminarily determines that countervailable subsidies are being provided to producers and exporters of certain new pneumatic off-the-road tires (OTR Tires) from the People's Republic of China (China) during the period of review (POR) January 1 through December 31, 2016. Additionally, Commerce is rescinding this review, in part, with respect to two companies. We invite interested parties to comment on these preliminary results.

The Department of Commerce (Commerce) determines that countervailable subsidies are being provided to producers and exporters of Cast Iron Soil Pipe Fittings (soil pipe fittings) from the People's Republic of China (China). The period of investigation is January 1, 2016, through December 31, 2016.

As a result of determinations by the Department of Commerce (Commerce) and the International Trade Commission (ITC) that revocation of the antidumping duty (AD) order on certain folding gift boxes from the People's Republic of China (China) would likely lead to a continuation or recurrence of dumping and material injury to an industry in the United States, Commerce is publishing a notice of continuation of the AD order on certain folding gift boxes from China.

As required by the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), NMFS has considered public comments for revisions of the 2017 marine mammal stock assessment reports (SAR). This notice announces the availability of the final 2017 SARs for the 75 stocks that were updated.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Office for Coastal Management announces its intention to prepare a programmatic environmental impact statement (PEIS) in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) for its Coral Reef Conservation Program (CRCP), which is managed out of NOAA's National Ocean Service in Silver Spring, MD, and implemented in coastal areas and marine waters of Florida, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Gulf of Mexico, Hawaii, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa, the U.S. Pacific Remote Island Area, and targeted international regions including the wider Caribbean, the Coral Triangle, the South Pacific, and Micronesia. Publication of this document begins the official scoping period that will help identify issues and alternatives to be considered in the PEIS.

The Department of Commerce (Commerce) is conducting an administrative review of the countervailing duty (CVD) order on high pressure steel cylinders (steel cylinders) from the People's Republic of China (PRC) for the period of review January 1, 2016, through December 31, 2016. Interested parties are invited to comment on these preliminary results.