Department of Commerce 2018 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The New England Fishery Management Council submitted the New England Industry-Funded Monitoring Omnibus Amendment, incorporating the Environmental Assessment and the Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis, for review by the Secretary of Commerce. NMFS is requesting comments from the public on the proposed amendment, which was developed to allow for industry-funded monitoring in New England Council fishery management plans and implement industry-funded monitoring in the Atlantic herring fishery. This amendment would ensure consistency in industry-funded monitoring programs across New England fisheries and increase monitoring in the Atlantic herring fishery.

The Bureau of the Census (Census Bureau) gives notice of a meeting of the National Advisory Committee on Racial, Ethnic and Other Populations (NAC). The NAC addresses policy, research, and technical issues relating to all Census Bureau programs and activities. These activities include the production and dissemination of detailed demographic and economic statistics across all program areas, including the Decennial Census Program.

In accordance with the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), as amended, and implementing regulations, notification is hereby given that a Letter of Authorization (LOA) has been issued to the NMFS Northwest Fisheries Science Center (NWFSC) for the take of marine mammals incidental to fisheries research conducted in the Pacific Ocean, including Puget Sound and the Columbia River.

A meeting of the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council originally scheduled for September 16-21, 2018 has been postponed due to the threat of Hurricane Florence. The meeting has been rescheduled for September 30October 5, 2018. The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) will hold meetings of the following: Advisory Panel Selection Committee (Closed Session); Southeast Data, Assessment and Review (SEDAR) Committee; Standard Operating, Policy, and Procedure (SOPPs) Committee; Spiny Lobster Committee; Habitat Protection and Ecosystem-Based Management Committee; Snapper Grouper Committee; Mackerel Cobia Committee; and Executive Finance Committee. The Council meeting week will also include a Recreational Fishing Workshop, a formal public comment period, and a meeting of the full Council. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.

The Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) is requesting public comments on the effectiveness of its licensing procedures as defined in the Export Administration Regulations for the export of agricultural commodities to Cuba. BIS will include a description of these comments in its biennial report to the Congress, as required by the Trade Sanctions Reform and Export Enhancement Act of 2000, as amended (TSRA).

A Request for Panel Review was filed on behalf of Government of Canada; the Government of Alberta; the Government of British Columbia; the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador; the Government of Ontario; the Government of Quebec; Alberta Newsprint Company; Catalyst Paper Corporation, Catalyst Pulp and Paper Sales Inc. and Catalyst Paper (USA) Inc.; Kruger Trois-Rivieres L.P., Comer Brook Pulp and Paper Limited, Kruger Publication Papers Inc. and Kruger Brompton L.P.; Resolute FP Canada Inc. and Resolute FP US Inc.; and Tembec Inc. with the United States Section of the NAFTA Secretariat on September 10, 2018, pursuant to NAFTA Article 1904. Panel Review was requested of the Department of Commerce's final affirmative countervailing duty determination regarding Groundwood Paper from Canada. The final determination was published in the Federal Register on August 9, 2018 (83 FR 39414). The NAFTA Secretariat has assigned case number USA-CDA- 2018-1904-06 to this request.

The Department of Commerce (Commerce) is conducting an administrative review of the antidumping duty order on certain hot- rolled carbon steel flat products (hot-rolled steel) from the People's Republic of China (China), covering the period of review (POR) November 1, 2016, through October 31, 2017.

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

The North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) and its advisory committees will meet October 1, 2018 through October 9, 2018.

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, 2020.

The Pacific Fishery Management Council's (Pacific Council) Highly Migratory Species Management Team (HMSMT) will hold a webinar, which is open to the public.

The Department of Commerce (Commerce) preliminarily determines that certain frozen fish fillets from the Socialist Republic of Vietnam (Vietnam) are being, or are likely to be, sold in the United States at less than normal value (NV) during the period of review (POR), August 1, 2016, through July 31, 2017.

NMFS has received a request from the U.S. Air Force (USAF) for authorization to take marine mammals incidental to launching space launch vehicles, intercontinental ballistic and small missiles, and aircraft and helicopter operations at Vandenberg Air Force Base (VAFB), California, from March 27, 2019 through March 26, 2024. Pursuant to the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), NMFS is announcing our receipt of the USAF's request for the development and implementation of regulations governing the incidental taking of marine mammals and inviting information, suggestions, and comments on the USAF's application and request.

The Department of Commerce (Commerce) is rescinding its administrative review of polyethylene terephthalate resin from Canada for the period or review (POR) May 1, 2017, through April 30, 2018.

In accordance with the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (the Act), the Department of Commerce (Commerce) is automatically initiating the five-year reviews (Sunset Reviews) of the antidumping and countervailing duty (AD/CVD) order(s) listed below. The International Trade Commission (the Commission) is publishing concurrently with this notice its notice of Institution of Five-Year Reviews which covers the same order(s).

NMFS announces that the U.S. purse seine fishery on the high seas in the area of application of the Convention on the Conservation and Management of Highly Migratory Fish Stocks in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean (Convention) between the latitudes of 20[deg] N and 20[deg] S will close as a result of reaching the 2018 limit on purse seine fishing effort in that area. This action is necessary for the United States to implement provisions of a conservation and management measure adopted by the Commission for the Conservation and Management of Highly Migratory Fish Stocks in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean (WCPFC or Commission) and to satisfy the obligations of the United States under the Convention, to which it is a Contracting Party.