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

NMFS implements an accountability measure for the commercial longline component for golden tilefish in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the South Atlantic. Commercial longline landings for golden tilefish are projected to reach the longline component's commercial quota by February 18, 2020. Therefore, NMFS closes the commercial longline component of golden tilefish in the South Atlantic EEZ on February 18, 2020, at 12:01 a.m. eastern time. This closure is necessary to protect the golden tilefish resource.

The U.S. Government has decided to extend through April 1, 2020, the temporary general license to Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. (Huawei) and one hundred and fourteen of its non-U.S. affiliates on the Entity List. In order to implement this decision, this final rule revises the temporary general license to remove the expiration date of February 16, 2020, and substitute the date of April 1, 2020.

The Department of Commerce (Commerce) preliminarily determines that imports of certain corrosion-resistant steel products (CORE), completed in South Africa are not circumventing the antidumping duty (AD) and countervailing duty (CVD) orders on CORE from the People's Republic of China (China) at this time.

The Department of Commerce (Commerce) preliminarily determines that imports of certain corrosion-resistant steel products (CORE) completed in Guatemala are not circumventing the antidumping duty (AD) and countervailing duty (CVD) orders on CORE from the People's Republic of China (China) at this time.

The Department of Commerce (Commerce) preliminarily determines that imports of certain corrosion-resistant steel products (CORE) completed in Malaysia, using hot-rolled steel (HRS) and/or cold-rolled steel (CRS) flat products manufactured in Taiwan, are circumventing the antidumping duty (AD) order on CORE from Taiwan.

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) determines that carbon and alloy steel threaded rod (steel threaded rod) from India is being, or is likely to be, sold in the United States at less than fair value (LTFV).

The Department of Commerce (Commerce) determines that countervailable subsidies are being provided to producers and exporters of carbon and alloy steel threaded rod (steel threaded rod) from the People's Republic of China (China).

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.

The Department of Commerce (Commerce) determines that imports of acetone 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 January 1, 2018 through December 31, 2018. For information on the estimated weighted-average dumping margins of sales at LTFV, see the ``Final Determination'' section of this notice.

The Department of Commerce (Commerce) determines that Euro SME Sdn Bhd (Euro SME), the sole producer/exporter subject to this administrative review did not make sales of subject merchandise at less than normal value (NV) during the August 1, 2017 through July 31, 2018 period of review (POR).

The Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) is seeking public comments on the impact that implementation of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), through the Chemical Weapons Convention Implementation Act and the Chemical Weapons Convention Regulations (CWCR), has had on commercial activities involving ``Schedule 1'' chemicals during calendar year 2019. The purpose of this notice of inquiry is to collect information to assist BIS in its preparation of the annual certification to the Congress on whether the legitimate commercial activities and interests of chemical, biotechnology, and pharmaceutical firms are harmed by such implementation. This certification is required under Condition 9 of Senate Resolution 75 (April 24, 1997), in which the Senate gave its advice and consent to the ratification of the CWC.

NMFS announces that the quotas for the Atlantic surfclam and ocean quahog fisheries for 2020 will remain status quo. NMFS also suspends the minimum size limit for Atlantic surfclams for the 2020 fishing year. Regulations for these fisheries require NMFS to notify the public of the allowable harvest levels for Atlantic surfclams and ocean quahogs from the Exclusive Economic Zone if the previous year's quota specifications remain unchanged.

On December 20, 2019, NMFS published a final rule under the Tuna Conventions Act of 1950 (TCA), as amended, and the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), as amended, to implement International Maritime Organization (IMO) requirements in Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC) Resolution C-18-06 (Resolution (Amended) on a Regional Vessel Register) and amendments to existing regulations governing inclusion on the IATTC Regional Vessel Register (Vessel Register) by purse seine vessels fishing in the eastern Pacific Ocean (EPO). The December 20th final rule inadvertently contained provisions allowing for the collection of a ``business email address'' without Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval under the Paperwork Reduction Act. This amendment is necessary to correct those two revised collection-of-information requirements, because they became effective before approval by OMB.