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

The Department of Commerce (Commerce) determines that carbon and alloy steel threaded rod (steel threaded rod) from Thailand is being, or is likely to be, sold in the United States at less than fair value (LTFV) during the period of investigation (POI) January 1, 2018 through December 31, 2018. The final estimated dumping margins of sales at LTFV are shown in the ``Final Determination'' section of this notice.

The Assistant Regional Administrator for Sustainable Fisheries, Greater Atlantic Region, NMFS, has made a preliminary determination that an application submitted by the Cape Cod Commercial Fishermen's Alliance for an exempted fishing permit contains all of the required information and warrants further consideration. This exempted fishing permit would allow two commercial fishing vessels participating in an electronic monitoring program to fish in the Southern New England Regulated Mesh Area with a 6-inch (15.24 cm) diamond mesh codend. Regulations under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act require publication of this notification to provide interested parties the opportunity to comment on applications for proposed exempted fishing permits.

This final rule announces routine inseason adjustments to management measures in commercial groundfish fisheries. This action is intended to allow commercial fishing vessels to access more abundant groundfish stocks while protecting overfished and depleted stocks.

This announcement provides notice that the Department of Commerce (Department) has received a ``Notice of Appeal'' filed by WesternGeco (Appellant) requesting that the Secretary override an objection by the North Carolina Division of Coastal Management to a consistency certification for a proposed project to conduct a marine Geological and Geophysical seismic survey in the Atlantic Ocean.

NOAA announces the appointment of members who will serve on the NOAA Performance Review Board (PRB). The NOAA PRB is responsible for reviewing performance appraisals and ratings of Senior Executive Service (SES), Senior Level (SL), and Scientific and Professional (ST) members and making written recommendations to the appointing authority on retention and compensation matters, including performance-based pay adjustments, awarding of bonuses, and reviewing recommendations for potential Presidential Rank Award nominees. The appointment of members to the NOAA PRB will be for a period of two (2) years.

In January 2019, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) prepared revised guidance (2019 Patent Eligibility Guidance) for use by USPTO personnel in evaluating subject matter eligibility. The USPTO published the 2019 Patent Eligibility Guidance in the Federal Register and sought public comment on the guidance. In view of the comments received in response to the 2019 Patent Eligibility Guidance, the USPTO has produced an update of its 2019 Patent Eligibility Guidance (the October 2019 Patent Eligibility Guidance Update), which is available to the public on the USPTO's website. The October 2019 Patent Eligibility Guidance Update includes a new set of examples as well as a discussion of various issues raised by the public comments. The Update is intended to assist Office personnel in applying the 2019 Patent Eligibility Guidance. The Office continues to welcome public feedback on an ongoing basis on the October 2019 Patent Eligibility Guidance Update or on any patent eligibility issue.

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, 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 (Commerce) preliminarily determines that certain producers and exporters of passenger vehicle and light truck tires (passenger tires) from the People's Republic of China (China) received countervailable subsidies during the period of review (POR) January 1, 2017 through December 31, 2017.

The Department of Commerce (Commerce) preliminarily determines that certain steel nails (nails) from the People's Republic of China (China) were sold in the United States at less than normal value (NV) during the period of review (POR), August 1, 2017 through July 31, 2018.

NMFS has received a request from the City of Juneau for authorization to take marine mammals incidental to vibratory and impact pile driving, vibratory pile removal, and down the hole drilling in Auke Bay, Alaska. Pursuant to the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), NMFS is requesting comments on its proposal to issue an incidental harassment authorization (IHA) to incidentally take marine mammals during the specified activities. NMFS is also requesting comments on a possible one-year renewal that could be issued under certain circumstances and if all requirements are met, as described in Request for Public Comments at the end of this notice. NMFS will consider public comments prior to making any final decision on the issuance of the requested MMPA authorizations and agency responses will be summarized in the final notice of our decision.

The Department of Commerce (Commerce) seeks public comment on any subsidies, including stumpage subsidies, provided by certain countries exporting softwood lumber or softwood lumber products to the United States during the period January 1, 2019, through June 30, 2019.

The Department of Commerce (Commerce) preliminarily determines that both Hyosung Heavy Industries Corporation (Hyosung) and Hyundai Electric & Energy Systems Co. (Hyundai) made sales of subject merchandise at less than normal value during the period of review (POR) August 1, 2017 through July 31, 2018. Interested parties are invited to comment on these preliminary results.

The Department of Commerce (Commerce) preliminarily determines that producers and/or exporters subject to this administrative review made sales of subject merchandise at less than normal value (NV) during the August 1, 2017 through July 31, 2018 period of review (POR). Interested parties are invited to comment on these preliminary results of review.

The Department of Commerce (Commerce) is partially rescinding its administrative review of the antidumping duty order on frozen warmwater shrimp (shrimp) from the People's Republic of China (China) for the period of review February 1, 2018, through January 31, 2019.

NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Pacific cod by vessels using pot gear in the Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the 2019 Pacific cod total allowable catch apportioned to vessels using pot gear in the Central Regulatory Area of the GOA.

The Economic Development Administration (EDA) has received petitions for certification of eligibility to apply for Trade Adjustment Assistance from the firms listed below. Accordingly, EDA has initiated investigations to determine whether increased imports into the United States of articles like or directly competitive with those produced by each of the firms contributed importantly to the total or partial separation of the firms' workers, or threat thereof, and to a decrease in sales or production of each petitioning firm.

We, NMFS, will hold five public hearings related to our proposed rule to designate critical habitat for the Western North Pacific distinct population segment (DPS), the Central America DPS, and the Mexico DPS of humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). We will also hold three public hearings related to our proposed rule to revise the critical habitat designation for the Southern Resident killer whale DPS (Orcinus orca) under the ESA. Three of the public hearings will be joint hearings that address both of these proposed rules.

NMFS proposes to implement management measures described in Vision Blueprint Commercial Regulatory Amendment 27 (Regulatory Amendment 27) to the Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for the Snapper- Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic Region (Snapper-Grouper FMP), as prepared and submitted by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council). If implemented, this proposed rule would modify commercial fishing seasons, trip limits, and minimum size limits for selected snapper-grouper species in the South Atlantic exclusive economic zone (EEZ). The purpose of this proposed rule is to improve equitable access for commercial fishermen in the snapper-grouper fishery, minimize discards to the extent practicable, and improve marketability within the snapper-grouper fishery.

The Secretary of Commerce, through the Office of Trade and Economic Analysis (``OTEA''), issued an amended Export Trade Certificate of Review Certificate to AIA on September 30, 2019.

The Department of Commerce (Commerce) preliminarily determines to rescind this administrative review, as there is no evidence of any reviewable entries, shipments, or sales of certain magnesia carbon bricks (magnesia carbon bricks) from the People's Republic of China (China) to the United States during the September 1, 2017 through August 31, 2018 period of review (POR) by the companies subject to this review. Interested parties are invited to comment on these preliminary results.