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

NMFS hereby issues regulations to govern the unintentional taking of marine mammals incidental to construction and operation of the Liberty Drilling and Production Island (LDPI) in the Beaufort Sea, Alaska over the course of five years. These regulations, which allow for the issuance of a Letter of Authorization for the incidental take of marine mammals during the described activities and specified timeframes, prescribe the permissible methods of taking and other means of effecting the least practicable adverse impact on marine mammal species or stocks and their habitat, as well as requirements pertaining to the monitoring and reporting of such taking.

The Department of Commerce (Commerce) determines that Bongsan Co., Ltd. (Bongsan) did not make U.S. sales of phosphor copper from the Republic of Korea (Korea) below normal value during the period of review (POR), October 14, 2016 through March 31, 2018.

NMFS proposes 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). If implemented, this proposed rule would revise the commercial trip limit in the Gulf of Mexico (Gulf) exclusive economic zone (EEZ) for greater amberjack. In addition, this proposed rule would revise the boundaries of several Gulf reef fish management areas to reflect a change in the seaward boundary of Alabama, Louisiana, and Mississippi for purposes of management under the FMP to 9 nautical miles (nm). The purpose of this proposed rule and the framework action is to extend the commercial fishing season for greater amberjack by constraining the harvest rate while continuing to prevent overfishing and rebuild the stock in the Gulf, and to update the boundaries of reef fish management areas to reflect the current state boundaries.

NMFS has received a request from the National Science Foundation (NSF) Office of Polar Programs on behalf of the University of Houston for authorization to take marine mammals incidental to the THOR project in the Amundsen Sea, Antarctica. 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) is initiating and issuing expedited preliminary results of changed circumstances reviews (CCRs) of the antidumping duty (AD) and countervailing duty (CVD) orders on large diameter welded pipe from India.

The Department of Commerce (Commerce) is conducting an administrative review of the Agreement Suspending the Antidumping Investigation on Uranium from the Russian Federation (the Agreement). We preliminarily find that the State Atomic Energy Corporation ``ROSATOM'' (ROSATOM), its affiliates TENEX, Joint-Stock Company (TENEX) and TENEX-USA, Incorporated (TENEX-USA), and TENEX's unaffiliated resellers, Centrus Energy Corp. and United States Enrichment Corporation (collectively, Centrus) and Nukem, Inc. (Nukem), are in compliance with the Agreement.

The Department of Commerce (Commerce) preliminarily finds that sales of certain hot-rolled steel flat products from Australia were made at less than normal value during the period of review (POR) October 1, 2017 through September 30, 2018. We invite interested parties to comment on these preliminary results.

This implements the prohibition of gillnet fishing in the Nantucket Lightship and Closed Area I Closure Areas as ordered by a Federal Court. Until further notice, gillnet fishing will be prohibited in the Nantucket Lightship and Closed Area I Groundfish Closure Areas.

The Department of Commerce (Commerce) preliminarily finds that Colakoglu Metalurji A.S. and Colakoglu Dis Ticaret A.S. (collectively, Colakoglu), a producer and exporter of certain hot-rolled steel flat products (hot-rolled steel) from the Republic of Turkey (Turkey), sold subject merchandise in the United States at prices below normal value during the period of review (POR) October 1, 2017 through September 30, 2018. In addition, Commerce preliminarily determines that Eregli Demir ve Celik Fabrikalari T.A.S. and Iskenderun Iron & Steel Works Co. (collectively, Erdemir Group) had no shipments during the POR. We invite all interested parties to comment on these preliminary results.

The Department of Commerce (Commerce) hereby publishes a list of scope rulings and anti-circumvention determinations made during the period January 1, 2019 through March 31, 2019. We intend to publish future lists after the close of the next calendar quarter.

NMFS has received a request from the United States Department of the Navy (Navy) for authorization to take marine mammals incidental to Ice Exercise 2020 (ICEX20) north of Prudhoe 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 Navy's activities are considered military readiness activities pursuant to the MMPA, as amended by the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2004 (NDAA).

This rule implements changes to the Pacific Coast Groundfish Trawl Catch Share Program identified during the Catch Share Program 5- Year Review. This action is intended to modify outdated regulations, complete outstanding program elements, and respond to problems identified following implementation of the Catch Share Program. This action revises regulations consistent with Amendment 21-4 to the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery Management Plan, and revises elements in four areas of the Catch Share Program.

Based on affirmative final determinations by the Department of Commerce (Commerce) and the International Trade Commission (ITC), Commerce is issuing a countervailing duty order on refillable stainless steel kegs from the People's Republic of China (China).

NMFS publishes standard ex-vessel prices for groundfish and halibut for the calculation of the observer fee under the North Pacific Observer Program (Observer Program). This notice is intended to provide information to vessel owners, processors, registered buyers, and other Observer Program participants about the standard ex-vessel prices that will be used to calculate the observer fee for landings of groundfish and halibut made in 2020. NMFS will send invoices to processors and registered buyers subject to the fee by January 15, 2021. Fees are due to NMFS on or before February 15, 2021.

The Pacific Fishery Management Council's (Pacific Council) Ad Hoc Sablefish Management and Trawl Allocation Attainment Committee (SaMTAAC) will hold a meeting, which will be open to the public.

The Department of Commerce (Commerce) preliminarily determines that Nippon Steel Corporation (NSC) and Tokyo Steel Manufacturing Co., Ltd. (Tokyo Steel), producers and exporters of hot-rolled steel flat products (hot-rolled steel) from Japan, did not sell subject merchandise in the United States at prices below normal value during the period of review (POR) October 1, 2017 through September 30, 2018. In addition, Commerce preliminarily determines that Honda Trading Canada, Inc. (Honda) had no shipments during the POR. We invite interested parties to comment on these preliminary results.

The Department of Commerce (Commerce) preliminarily determines that sales of certain hot-rolled steel flat products (hot-rolled steel) from the Republic of Korea (Korea) were made at less than normal value during the period of review (POR) October 1, 2017 through September 30, 2018. We invite interested parties to comment on these preliminary results.

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 this information collection, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

On November 29, 2019, a NAFTA Binational Panel issued its Decision in the matter of the Review of the Final Determination of Antidumping Duties imposed on imports of ammonium sulphate from the United States of America (Final Determination). The Binational Panel remanded the Final Determination by Mexico's Investigating Authority, Secretaria de Economia (Economia), and ordered Economia to issue a redetermination within 90 days.

Based on affirmative final determinations by the Department of Commerce (Commerce) and the International Trade Commission (ITC), Commerce is issuing the antidumping duty (AD) and countervailing duty (CVD) orders on vertical metal file cabinets (file cabinets) from the People's Republic of China (China).

The Department of Commerce (Commerce) finds that sales of certain carbon and alloy steel cut-to-length plate (CTL plate) from Austria were made at less than normal value during the period of review (POR) November 14, 2016 through April 30, 2018.

The Department of Commerce (Commerce) preliminarily determines that countervailable subsidies are being provided to producers and exporters of utility scale wind towers (wind towers) from Indonesia. The period of investigation is January 1, 2018 through December 31, 2018. Interested parties are invited to comment on this preliminary determination.