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

Based on affirmative final determinations by the Department of Commerce (Commerce) and the International Trade Commission (ITC), Commerce is issuing antidumping duty orders on acetone from Belgium, the Republic of South Africa (South Africa), and the Republic of Korea (Korea).

NMFS approves and implements Framework Adjustment 32 to the Atlantic Sea Scallop Fishery Management Plan. This action is necessary to set scallop specifications and other measures for fishing years 2020 and 2021, and implement measures to protect small scallops and reduce bycatch of flatfish. This action is intended to prevent overfishing and improve both yield-per-recruit and the overall management of the Atlantic sea scallop resource.

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 a proposed extension of the Report of Organization, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

As a result of this sunset review, the Department of Commerce (Commerce) finds that revocation of the countervailing duty (CVD) order on carbon and certain alloy steel wire rod (wire rod) from the People's Republic of China (China) would be likely to lead to continuation or recurrence of countervailable subsidies at the levels indicated in the ``Final Results of Review'' section of this notice.

The Department of Commerce (Commerce) determines that sodium sulfate anhydrous (sodium sulfate) from Canada is being, or is 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. The final estimated weighted-average 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 a proposed exempted fishing permit contains all of the required information and warrants further consideration. This exempted fishing permit would allow midwater trawl Atlantic herring vessels to use electronic monitoring, coupled with portside sampling, in lieu of at-sea monitoring to satisfy their industry-funded monitoring requirements during 20202021. 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.

The New England Fishery Management Council (Council) has cancelled a public meeting of its Groundfish Committee that was scheduled for Friday, April 3, 2020.

This announcement provides notice that the decision record has closed for an administrative appeal filed with the Department of Commerce (Department) by WesternGeco requesting that the Secretary of Commerce (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.

On May 17, 2019, the United States announced joint understandings with Canada and Mexico, respectively, to eliminate tariffs imposed under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, as amended, on imports of steel and aluminum products from Canada and Mexico and to establish a process for monitoring such imports. Consistent with the joint understandings, and to enhance U.S. Government monitoring and analysis of steel imports more generally, the U.S. Department of Commerce (Commerce) publishes this proposed rule to enhance its existing Steel Import Monitoring and Analysis (SIMA) system to allow for the effective and timely monitoring of import surges of specific steel products which will aid in the prevention of transshipment of steel products. Specifically, Commerce proposes to modify its regulations to require import license applicants to identify the country where the steel used in the manufacture of the imported steel product was melted and poured, and to release this data on an aggregate basis, as appropriate; to harmonize the scope of SIMA's licensing requirement with the scope of steel products subject to Section 232 tariffs; to extend the SIMA system indefinitely by eliminating the regulatory provision concerning the duration of the SIMA system; and to expand eligibility for use of the low-value license for certain steel entries. Commerce will address the monitoring of aluminum imports in a separate rulemaking.

The Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) issued a notification of inquiry requesting comments on future extensions of a temporary general license under the Export Administration Regulations (EAR), published in the Federal Register on March 12, 2020 with the comment period starting on the date of display on the public inspection list on March 10, 2020 and closing on March 25, 2020. This notification reopens the comment period through April 22, 2020. Comments submitted anytime between March 10, 2020 and April 22, 2020 will be accepted and considered.

The United States Patent and Trademark Office has issued an order granting interim extension for a one-year interim extension of the term of U.S. Patent No. 8,858,612.

NMFS issues this temporary rule (also referred to herein as ``emergency action'') to provide it with authority to waive observer coverage requirements established in regulations promulgated under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSA) and other statutes, consistent with applicable law and international obligations. NMFS is taking this action to address public health concerns relating to the evolving pandemic of Coronavirus Disease 19 (COVID-19). NMFS is taking this action to protect public health, economic security, and food security, and to safeguard the health and safety of fishermen, observers, and other persons involved with such monitoring programs, while safeguarding the ability of fishermen to continue business operations and produce seafood for the Nation. This action also authorizes NMFS to waive some training or other program requirements to ensure that as many observers are available as possible while ensuring the safety and health of the observers and trainers.

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 comment on proposed and/or continuing information collections, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

The Department of Commerce (Commerce) is rescinding the administrative review of the antidumping duty order on steel concrete reinforcing bar from Taiwan for the period of review (POR): October 1, 2018, through September 30, 2019.

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) invites organizations to provide products and technical expertise to support and demonstrate security platforms for the Validating the Integrity of Computing Devices project. This notice is the initial step for the National Cybersecurity Center of Excellence (NCCoE) in collaborating with technology companies to address cybersecurity challenges identified under the Validating the Integrity of Computing Devices project. Participation in the building block is open to all interested organizations.

This final rule announces routine inseason adjustments to the harvest limits for incidental halibut retention in the primary sablefish fishery.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA's) Office of National Marine Sanctuaries (ONMS) announces the establishment of new indirect cost rates for the recovery of indirect costs for its component organizations involved in natural resource damage and restoration activities for fiscal year (FY) 2010. NOAA provides the indirect cost rates for this fiscal year and the dates of implementation in this notice. The public can obtain more information on this rate from the address provided below in the ADDRESSES section.

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 comment on continuing to collect qualitative feedback on the department's service delivery, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. The purpose of this notice is to allow for 60 days of public comment.