Department of Commerce 2020 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

On December 2, 2020, the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) within the Department of Commerce (Commerce), published the Notice of Request for Public Comments on Condition of the Public Health Industrial Base and Recommend Policies and Actions to Strengthen the Public Health Industrial Base to Ensure Essential Medicines, Medical Countermeasures, and Critical Inputs Are Made in the United States. The December 2 notice invited interested parties to submit written comments, data, analyses, or other information pertinent to the investigation to BIS. The deadline for written comments was December 23, 2020. In response to requests from the public for additional time, this notice reopens the deadline for the submission of public comment until January 15, 2021. Comments previously submitted need not be resubmitted and will be fully considered.

As a result of this second sunset review, the Department of Commerce (Commerce) finds that revocation of the countervailing duty (CVD) order on prestressed concrete steel wire strand (PC strand) from the People's Republic of China (China) would be likely to lead to continuation or recurrence of a countervailable subsidy at the level indicated in the ``Final Results of Review'' section of this notice.

The Department of Commerce (Commerce) finds that revocation of the antidumping duty order on prestressed concrete steel wire strand (PC strand) from the People's Republic of China (China) would be likely to lead to continuation or recurrence of dumping at the levels indicated in the ``Final Results of Sunset Review'' section of this notice.

NMFS is opening directed fishing for Pacific cod by various sectors in the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary to fully use the 2021 total allowable catch (TAC) of Pacific cod in the GOA.

NMFS issues this final rule to revise the annual reference points, including the overfishing limit (OFL), acceptable biological catch (ABC) and annual catch limit (ACL), for the central subpopulation of northern anchovy in the U.S. exclusive economic zone off the west coast under the Coastal Pelagic Species Fishery Management Plan. NMFS prepared this rulemaking in response to a September 2020 court decision (Oceana, Inc. v. Ross et al.) that vacated the OFL, ABC, and ACL for the central subpopulation of northern anchovy and ordered NMFS to promulgate a new rule in compliance with the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act and Administrative Procedure Act. NMFS is implementing an OFL of 119,153 metric tons (mt), an ABC of 29,788 mt, and an ACL of 25,000 mt. If the ACL for this stock is reached or projected to be reached, then fishing will be closed until it reopens at the start of the next fishing season. This rule is intended to conserve and manage the central subpopulation of northern anchovy off the U.S. West Coast.

NMFS proposes to amend the regulations implementing the Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan to reduce the incidental mortality and serious injury to North Atlantic right whales (Eubalaena glacialis), fin whales (Balaenoptera physalus), and humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) in northeast commercial lobster and crab trap/ pot fisheries to meet the goals of the Marine Mammal Protection Act and the Endangered Species Act. In addition, this action also proposes a small revision to Federal regulations implemented under the Atlantic State Marine Fisheries Commissions' Interstate Fishery Management Plan for Lobster to increase the maximum length of a lobster trap trawl groundline. This action is necessary to reduce the risks to North Atlantic right whales and other large whales associated with the presence of fishing gear in waters used by these animals.

The Department of Commerce (Commerce) preliminarily determines that certain walk-behind lawn mowers and parts thereof (lawn mowers) from the Socialist Republic of Vietnam (Vietnam) are being, or are likely to be, sold in the United States at less than fair value (LTFV). The period of investigation (POI) is October 1, 2019 through March 31, 2020. Interested parties are invited to comment on this preliminary determination.

In accordance with the regulations implementing the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), as amended, notification is hereby given that NMFS has issued a modified incidental harassment authorization (IHA) to United States Navy (Navy) to incidentally harass marine mammals incidental to the Service Pier Extension (SPE) project at Naval Base Kitsap Bangor, Washington.

The Department of Commerce (Commerce) determines that Reliance Industries Limited (Reliance) received countervailable subsidies that are above de minimis during the period of review, November 6, 2017 through December 31, 2018.

The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) proposes to amend the rules of practice to expand when certain types of patent applicants and patentees may, subject to other conditions, obtain or enforce a second patent for an invention that is similar (i.e., patentably indistinct) to a first patent. Ordinarily, in examination before the USPTO, any application for a second patent covering such similar invention would be rejected. The proposed rule change is limited to the situation where owners of the first and second patents or patent applications are different but have an agreement to conduct research together (i.e., a joint research agreement). For this limited situation, the proposed rule change would increase the ability to file a document, called a terminal disclaimer, that ties the rights of a second patent to the first patent. Specifically, a terminal disclaimer causes the second patent to limit its enforceable patent term to end no later than the first patent's term and limits when the second patent can be enforced. The proposed rule change would expand when a terminal disclaimer is permitted to be filed in the joint research agreement situation by eliminating the requirement that the second patent or patent application be filed later than the first patent or patent application. The USPTO also proposes to amend its rules of practice to explicitly state existing practices in the rules regarding when certain affidavits and declarations, as well as terminal disclaimers, may be filed.

NMFS has received a request from the Northeast Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC) for regulations and associated Letter of Authorization (LOA) to take small numbers of marine mammals incidental to fishery and ecosystem research in the Atlantic Ocean over the course of five years from the date of issuance. Pursuant to regulations implementing the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), NMFS is announcing receipt of the NEFSC's request for the development and implementation of regulations governing the incidental taking of marine mammals. NMFS invites the public to provide information, suggestions, and comments on the NEFSC's application and request.

As a result of the determinations by the Department of Commerce (Commerce) and the International Trade Commission (ITC) that revocation of the antidumping duty (AD) orders on non-oriented electrical steel (NOES) from People's Republic of China (China), Germany, Japan, Republic of Korea (Korea), Sweden, and Taiwan and revocation of the countervailing duty (CVD) orders on NOES from China and Taiwan would likely lead to a continuation or recurrence of dumping, countervailable subsidies, and material injury to an industry in the United States, Commerce is publishing a notice of continuation of these AD and CVD orders.

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.

NMFS issues this notice to inform the public that there will be an increase of the fee rate required to repay the $35,000,000 reduction loan financing the non-pollock groundfish fishing capacity reduction program. Effective January 1, 2021, NMFS is increasing the Loan A fee rate to $0.024 per pound to ensure timely repayment of the loan. The fee rate for Loan B will remain unchanged at $0.001 per pound. The increased Loan A fee rate is due to the 20 percent decrease in non-pollock groundfish Total Allowable Catch (TAC) for 2021.

The Department of Commerce (Commerce) preliminarily determines that Hanwha Chemical Corporation (Hanwha Chemical) made sales of subject merchandise at less than normal value (NV) during the August 1, 2018 through July 31, 2019 period of review (POR). Commerce preliminarily determines that sales of subject merchandise have not been made below NV by Aekyung Petrochemical Co., Ltd. (AKP) and LG Chem Ltd. (LG Chem) during the POR. Interested parties are invited to comment on these preliminary results of review.

The SEDAR 71 assessment of the South Atlantic stock of gag grouper will consist of a data webinar and a series assessment webinars.

The Pacific Fishery Management Council's (Pacific Council) Highly Migratory Species Advisory Subpanel (HMSAS) and HMS Management Team (HMSMT) will conduct online meetings, which are open to the public.

The Ecosystem Subcommittee of the Pacific Fishery Management Council's (Pacific Council's) Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) will hold an online meeting to consult with the NMFS California Current Integrated Ecosystem Assessment (CCIEA) team on how COVID-19 impacts may affect its annual Ecosystem Status Report to the Pacific Council. The meeting is open to the public.

NMFS is adjusting the 2021 total allowable catch (TAC) amounts for the Gulf of Alaska (GOA) pollock and Pacific cod fishery. This action is necessary because NMFS has determined these TACs are incorrectly specified, and will ensure the GOA pollock and Pacific cod TACs are the appropriate amount based on the best available scientific information for pollock and Pacific cod in the GOA. This action is consistent with the goals and objectives of the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska.

In this final rule, the U.S. Department of Commerce (Commerce) adopts the Aluminum Import Monitoring and Analysis (AIM) system by promulgating new regulations that establish a website for the AIM system that consists of an online aluminum import license application platform and public AIM monitor; require importers, customs brokers or their agents to apply for and obtain an import license for each entry of certain aluminum products into the United States through the AIM system website; require license applicants to identify, among other requirements, the country or countries where the largest and the second largest volume of primary aluminum used in the manufacture of the imported aluminum product was smelted (subject to certain exceptions) and the country where the aluminum product was most recently cast; allow for the public release of certain import license data on an aggregate basis, as appropriate, on the public AIM monitor; and apply the license requirement to all imports of basic aluminum products. Further, Commerce is adopting the aluminum import license application form in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA). Lastly, Commerce is notifying parties that, after the AIM system is in place, Commerce will seek additional comment from parties on potential improvements or changes to the system in a subsequent notice.

In this final rule, the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) amends the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) by adding a new `Military End User' (MEU) List that includes the first tranche of entities. The U.S. Government has determined that these entities are `military end users' for purposes of the `military end user' control in the EAR that applies to specified items for exports, reexports, or transfers (in-country) to the People's Republic of China (China), Russia, and Venezuela when such items are destined for a `military end user.' The existing `military end-use' and `military end user' controls under the EAR, including BIS's authority to inform the public of a license requirement for an item due to an unacceptable risk of diversion to a `military end user' via amendment to the EAR, are essential for protecting U.S. national security interests. The addition of the new MEU List via amendment to the EAR and this first tranche of entities is also responsive to requests received from the public. This final rule will add one hundred and two `military end users' to the MEU List consisting of fifty-seven under China and forty-five under Russia. However, the establishment of the MEU List does not imply that other parties, not included on the list, are not subject to the `military end-use' and `military end user' controls under the EAR.

Notice is hereby given that NMFS has issued an Incidental Take Permit (ITP) (No. 23861) to Midwest Biodiversity Institute (MBI), pursuant to the Endangered Species Act (ESA) of 1973, as amended, for the incidental take of shortnose sturgeon (Acipenser brevirostrum), Gulf of Main Distinct population segment (GOM DPS) Atlantic sturgeon, or the New York Bight (NYB DPS) of Atlantic sturgeon. (A. oxyrinchus) and the GOM DPS Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) associated with the otherwise lawful sampling of non-ESA listed fish in the Lower Kennebec River. The permit is issued for a duration of 10 years.

The Department of Commerce, in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), invites the general public and other Federal agencies to comment on proposed, and continuing information collections, which helps us assess the impact of our information collection requirements and minimize the public's reporting burden. The purpose of this notice is to allow for 60 days of public comment preceding submission of the collection to OMB.

The Department of Commerce, in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), invites the general public and other Federal agencies to comment on proposed, and continuing information collections, which helps us assess the impact of our information collection requirements and minimize the public's reporting burden. The purpose of this notice is to allow for 60 days of public comment preceding submission of the collection to OMB.