Department of Commerce October 30, 2019 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

On October 18, 2019, the United States Court of International Trade (CIT) issued a final judgment in CSC Sugar LLC v. United States, Ct. No. 17-00214, Slip Op. 19-131 (CIT October 18, 2019) (CSC Sugar II). Commerce is notifying the public of the CIT's ruling that Commerce's 2017 amendment to the Agreement Suspending the Countervailing Duty Investigation on Sugar from Mexico (CVD Agreement) must be vacated. Commerce intends to take action to implement the CIT ruling by November 18, 2019.

NMFS solicits nominations for the Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Advisory Panel (AP). NMFS consults with and considers the comments and views of the HMS AP when preparing and implementing Fishery Management Plans (FMPs) or FMP amendments for Atlantic tunas, swordfish, sharks, and billfish. Nominations are being sought to fill approximately one-third (10) of the seats on the HMS AP for 3-year appointments. Individuals with definable interests in the recreational and commercial fishing and related industries, environmental community, academia, and non-governmental organizations are considered for membership on the HMS AP.

The Department of Commerce (Commerce) is rescinding the administrative review of the countervailing duty order on circular welded carbon-quality steel pipe (CWP) from the People's Republic of China (China) for the period January 1, 2018, through December 31, 2018, based on the timely withdrawal of the request for review.

This final rule implements the measures of Framework Adjustment 13 to the Atlantic Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish Fishery Management Plan. This action establishes a 5-year rebuilding program for Atlantic mackerel, sets 2019-2021 Atlantic mackerel specifications and a river herring and shad cap for the Atlantic mackerel fishery, modifies the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council's risk policy, and modifies in-season closure measures. This action is necessary to prevent overfishing and rebuild the Atlantic mackerel stock based on a recent stock assessment that found the Atlantic mackerel stock to be overfished and subject to overfishing. The intended effect of this final rule is to sustainably manage the Atlantic mackerel fishery and achieve optimum yield on a continuing basis.

The Department of Commerce (Commerce) determines that countervailable subsidies are being provided to producers and exporters of aluminum wire and cable from the People's Republic of China (China).

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) will hold a webinar-based meeting with the public to provide information on options available to commercial fishing operators for electronically submitting required Vessel Trip Reports (VTRs) in the Greater Atlantic Region. This is in support of the Council's joint action with the New England Fishery Management Council that could require electronic reporting of VTRs by operators holding commercial fishing permits for species managed by either council that require the submission of VTRs.