Department of Commerce April 2021 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS) Program Office will hold a virtual, organizational meeting of the NIDIS Executive Council on May 4, 2021.

The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, invites comments on the extension and revision of an existing information collection: 0651-0016 (Rules for Patent Maintenance Fees). The purpose of this notice is to allow 60 days for public comment preceding submission of the information collection to OMB.

NMFS is adjusting the current regulations for North Atlantic swordfish and shark retention limits for certain permit holders in U.S. Atlantic and Caribbean waters. Specifically, this action will modify swordfish retention limits for highly migratory species (HMS) Commercial Caribbean Small Boat permit holders, Swordfish General Commercial permit holders, and HMS Charter/Headboat permit holders with a commercial endorsement on a non-for hire (i.e., commercial) trip. This action will also modify the shark retention limits for HMS Commercial Caribbean Small Boat permit holders. Additionally, this action will add regulatory criteria for inseason adjustment of swordfish and shark retention limits for the HMS Commercial Caribbean Small Boat permit. The changes are expected to provide fishermen with greater flexibility, establish greater consistency across regions, and improve the efficiency of swordfish and shark management.

The Pacific Fishery Management Council's (Pacific Council) Highly Migratory Species Management Team (HMSMT) will hold an online meeting, which is open to the public.

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.

National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)'s Advisory Committee on Earthquake Hazards Reduction (ACEHR or Committee) will hold a virtual meeting via web conference on Monday, May 24, 2021, from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time. The primary purpose of this meeting is for the Committee to develop their draft 2021 biennial report on the effectiveness of the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP). The agenda may change to accommodate Committee business. The final agenda and any meeting materials will be posted on the NEHRP website at https://nehrp.gov/.

The Department of Commerce (Commerce) is rescinding the administrative review of the antidumping duty (AD) order on coated paper suitable for high-quality print graphics using sheet-fed presses (coated paper) from Indonesia for the period of review (POR) November 1, 2019, through October 31, 2020, based on the timely withdrawal of the request for review.

The Office of Trade and Economic Analysis (``OTEA'') of the International Trade Administration, Department of Commerce, has received an application for an amended Export Trade Certificate of Review (``Certificate''). This notice summarizes the proposed application and requests comments relevant to whether the Certificate should be issued.

In accordance with the regulations implementing the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) as amended, notification is hereby given that NMFS has issued an incidental harassment authorization (IHA) to Halibut Point Marine Services, LLC (HPMS) to incidentally harass, by Level A and Level B harassment only, marine mammals during construction activities associated with the Old Sitka Dock North Dolphins Expansion Project in Sitka, Alaska.

The SEDAR 72 stock assessment process for Gulf of Mexico gag grouper will consist of a series of data and assessment webinars. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.

NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Greenland turbot in the Aleutian Islands subarea of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the 2021 Greenland turbot initial total allowable catch (ITAC) in the Aleutian Islands subarea of the BSAI.

The Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), Department of Commerce is announcing its recruitment of candidates to serve on one of its seven Technical Advisory Committees (``TACs'' or ``Committees''). TAC members advise the Department of Commerce on the technical parameters for export controls applicable to dual-use items (commodities, software, and technology) and on the administration of those controls. The TACs are composed of representatives from industry, academia, and the U.S. Government and reflect diverse points of view on the concerns of the exporting community. Industry representatives are selected from firms producing a broad range of items currently controlled for national security, non-proliferation, foreign policy, and short supply reasons or that are proposed for such controls. Representation from the private sector is balanced to the extent possible among large and small firms. Six TACs are responsible for advising the Department of Commerce on the technical parameters for export controls and the administration of those controls within specified areas: Information Systems TAC: Control List Categories 3 (electronics), 4 (computers), and 5 (telecommunications and information security); Materials TAC: Control List Category 1 (materials, chemicals, microorganisms, and toxins); Materials Processing Equipment TAC: Control List Category 2 (materials processing); Sensors and Instrumentation TAC: Control List Category 6 (sensors and lasers); Transportation and Related Equipment TAC: Control List Categories 7 (navigation and avionics), 8 (marine), and 9 (propulsion systems, space vehicles, and related equipment); and the Emerging Technology TAC (identification of emerging and foundational technologies that may be developed over a period of five to ten years with potential dual-use applications). The seventh TAC, the Regulations and Procedures TAC, focuses on the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) and procedures for implementing the EAR. TAC members are appointed by the Secretary of Commerce and serve terms of not more than four consecutive years. TAC members must obtain secret-level clearances prior to their appointment. These clearances are necessary so that members may be permitted access to classified information that may be needed to formulate recommendations to the Department of Commerce. Applicants are strongly encouraged to review materials and information on each Committee website, including the Committee's charter, to gain an understanding of each Committee's responsibilities, matters on which the Committee will provide recommendations, and expectations for members. Members of any of the seven TACs may not be registered as foreign agents under the Foreign Agents Registration Act. No TAC member may represent a company that is majority owned or controlled by a foreign government entity (or foreign government entities). TAC members will not be compensated for their services or reimbursed for their travel expenses. If you are interested in becoming a TAC member, please provide the following information: 1. Name of applicant; 2. affirmation of U.S. citizenship; 3. organizational affiliation and title, as appropriate; 4. mailing address; 5. work telephone number; 6. email address; 7. summary of qualifications for membership; 8. an affirmative statement that the candidate will be able to meet the expected commitments of Committee work. Committee work includes: (a) Attending in-person/ teleconference Committee meetings roughly four times per year (lasting 1-2 days each); (b) undertaking additional work outside of full Committee meetings including subcommittee conference calls or meetings as needed, and (c) frequently drafting, preparing or commenting on proposed recommendations to be evaluated at Committee meetings. Finally, candidates must provide an affirmative statement that they meet all Committee eligibility requirements. The Department of Commerce is committed to equal opportunity in the workplace and seeks diverse Advisory Committee membership. To respond to this recruitment notice, please send a copy of your resume to Ms. Yvette Springer at Yvette.Springer@bis.doc.gov, by September 30, 2021.

We are extending the public comment period on our Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Louisiana Trustee Implementation Group Draft Phase II Restoration Plan #3.2: Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion (Draft Phase II RP #3.2). We opened the original comment period via a March 5, 2021, Federal Register notice. This notice extends that comment period through June 3, 2021.

The New England Fishery Management Council (Council) is scheduling a public meeting of its Skate Committee via webinar 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.

The SEDAR Steering Committee will meet via webinar to discuss the SEDAR stock assessment process and assessment schedule. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.

Based on affirmative final determinations by the Department of Commerce (Commerce) and the International Trade Commission (ITC), Commerce is issuing the countervailing duty orders on common alloy aluminum sheet (aluminum sheet) from Bahrain, India, and the Republic of Turkey (Turkey).

The Department of Commerce (Commerce) determines that countervailable subsidies are being provided to producers and exporters of finished carbon steel flanges (steel flanges) from India during the period of review, January 1, 2018, through December 31, 2018.

In accordance with the regulations implementing the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) as amended, notification is hereby given that NMFS has issued an incidental harassment authorization (IHA) to the Army Corps of Engineers (ACOE) to incidentally harass, by Level B harassment only, marine mammals during construction activities associated with the Port San Luis Breakwater Repair Project in Avila Beach, California.

NMFS, on behalf of the Secretary of Commerce, is reopening a request for nominations for the advisory committee established under the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Convention Implementation Act (Act). The Permanent Advisory Committee, composed of individuals from groups concerned with the fisheries covered by the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Convention (Convention), will be given the opportunity to provide input to the U.S. Commissioners to the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (Commission) regarding the deliberations and decisions of the Commission. Nominations previously submitted in response to the notice published on January 4, 2021, need not be resubmitted.

On April 14, 2021, the U.S. Court of International Trade (CIT) issued its final judgment in Sao Ta Foods Joint Stock Company et al. v. United States, Consol. Court No. 18-00205, sustaining the Department of Commerce (Commerce)'s second remand results pertaining to the administrative review of the antidumping duty (AD) order on certain frozen warmwater shrimp (shrimp) from the Socialist Republic of Vietnam (Vietnam) covering the period February 1, 2016, through January 31, 2017. Commerce is notifying the public that the CIT's final judgment is not in harmony with Commerce's Final Results of the administrative review, and that Commerce is amending the Final Results with respect to the separate rate (SR) status for Frozen Seafoods Factory No. 32 and Seafoods and Foodstuff Factory.