Department of Commerce February 14, 2020 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The New England Fishery Management Council (Council) is scheduling a public meeting of its Herring Committee to consider actions affecting New England fisheries in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ). Recommendations from this group will be brought to the full Council for formal consideration and action, if appropriate.

Notice is hereby given that the Environmental Institute of Houston at the University of Houston, Clear Lake (Responsible Party: George Guillen), 2700 Bay Area Blvd., Box 540, Houston, TX 77508-1002, has applied in due form for a permit to conduct research on bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus).

Notice is hereby given that NMFS has issued one direct take permit (#14741) pursuant to the Endangered Species Act (ESA) of 1973, as amended, to the Monterey Peninsula Water Management District (District) for the Carmel River Steelhead Rescue and Rearing Enhancement Program (Program) for a five year period (with the opportunity for a five year renewal). On June 4, 2018, NMFS provided notice of our receipt of this permit application and Rescue and Rearing Management Plan (RRMP) in the Federal Register. The RRMP specifies operational methods for South-Central California Coast (S-CCC) steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss) rescue, rearing, and translocation activities associated with the Sleepy Hollow Steelhead Rearing Facility (Facility). The Facility is located on the Carmel River on the Central California Coast.

The SEDAR 65 assessment of the Atlantic stock of Blacktip Shark will consist of a series of workshops and webinars: Data Workshop; Assessment Webinars; and a Review workshop.

The Department of Commerce (Commerce) preliminarily determines that utility scale wind towers (wind towers) from Canada are being sold, or are likely to be sold, in the United States at less-than-fair- value (LTFV). The period of investigation (POI) is July 1, 2018 through June 30, 2019. Interested parties are invited to comment on this preliminary determination.

The New England Fishery Management Council (Council) is scheduling a public meeting of its Herring Advisory Panel to consider actions affecting New England fisheries in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ). Recommendations from this group will be brought to the full Council for formal consideration and action, if appropriate.

NMFS issues regulations to modify the medical and beneficiary transfer provisions of the Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) Program for the fixed-gear commercial Pacific halibut and sablefish fisheries. This final rule is intended to simplify administration of the medical and beneficiary transfer provisions while promoting the long-standing objective of maintaining an owner-operated IFQ fishery. This final rule makes minor technical corrections to regulations for improved accuracy and clarity. This final rule is intended to promote the goals and objectives of the IFQ Program, the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, the Northern Pacific Halibut Act of 1982, and other applicable laws.

The Department of Commerce (Commerce) preliminarily determines that utility scale wind towers (wind towers) from the Republic of Korea (Korea) are being, or are likely to be, sold in the United States at less than fair value (LTFV). The period of investigation (POI) is July 1, 2018 through June 30, 2019. Interested parties are invited to comment on this preliminary determination.

The Economic Development Administration (``EDA''), U.S. Department of Commerce (``DOC''), is issuing a final rule to update the agency's regulations implementing the Trade Adjustment Assistance for Firms (``TAAF'') provisions of the Trade Act of 1974, as amended (``Trade Act''), and the Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965, as amended (``PWEDA''). The changes to the TAAF program regulations clarify the process for import-impacted U.S. manufacturing firms, oil and natural gas production firms, and service firms to obtain technical assistanceidentified in the Trade Act as ``adjustment assistance''through the TAAF program, reorganize the regulations to make them easier to read and understand, incorporate best practices, and bring the regulations into closer alignment with the program's statutory requirements. The result will be to ease the burden on firms seeking adjustment assistance through the TAAF program and make it easier for Trade Adjustment Assistance Centers (``TAACs'') to work with firms. EDA is also eliminating certain TAAF and PWEDA regulations that are unnecessary or duplicative because they describe requirements already established in other regulations or award documentation.