Department of Commerce May 4, 2021 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

NMFS received a request from the U.S. Navy (Navy) for an incidental harassment authorization (IHA) to incidentally take marine mammals, by Level B harassment only, during target and missile launch activities on San Nicolas Island (SNI). The Navy is requesting, and NMFS is proposing to issue, an IHA authorizing incidental take of marine mammals during continuation of target and missile launch activities identical to those already analyzed in a 2019 IHA issued on June 12, 2019 and a currently active Renewal IHA issued on June 19, 2020, which expires on June 11, 2021. The proposed mitigation, monitoring, and reporting measures remain the same as prescribed in the previous IHAs. This IHA would be effective from June 12, 2021 through June 11, 2022. Pursuant to the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), NMFS is requesting comments on its proposal to issue an IHA to incidentally take marine mammals during the specified activities. NMFS will consider public comments prior to making any final decision on the issuance of the requested MMPA authorizations and agency responses will be summarized in the final notification of our decision. The Navy's activities are considered military readiness activities pursuant to the MMPA, as amended by the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2004 (NDAA).

The Department of Commerce (Commerce) preliminarily determines that certain aluminum foil (aluminum foil) from the Republic of Turkey (Turkey) is not being, or is not likely to be, sold in the United States at less than fair value (LTFV). The period of investigation is July 1, 2019, through June 30, 2020. Interested parties are invited to comment on this preliminary determination.

The Department of Commerce (Commerce) preliminarily determines that certain aluminum foil (aluminum foil) from the Republic of Armenia (Armenia) 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, 2020, through June 30, 2020. Interested parties are invited to comment on this preliminary determination.

The Department of Commerce (Commerce) preliminarily determines that certain aluminum foil (aluminum foil) from Brazil is being, or is likely to be, sold in the United States at less than fair value (LTFV). The period of investigation (POI) is July 1, 2019, through June 30, 2020. Interested parties are invited to comment on this preliminary determination.

NMFS issues final revised specifications for the 2021 Atlantic spiny dogfish fishery, and projected specifications for fishing year 2022, based on the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council's updated risk policy, as recommended by the Mid-Atlantic and New England Fishery Management Councils. This action is necessary to establish allowable harvest levels to prevent overfishing while enabling optimum yield, using the best scientific information available, consistent with the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act and the Spiny Dogfish Fishery Management Plan. This rule also informs the public of these revised fishery specifications for the 2021 fishing year.

NMFS issues the revised proposed rule for the 2021 Pacific whiting fishery under the authority of the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery Management Plan, the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, the Pacific Whiting Act of 2006 (Whiting Act), and other applicable laws. NMFS issued a proposed rule on February 16, 2021 that proposed the 2021 Pacific whiting tribal allocation and set-asides for research and incidental mortality. NMFS is issuing a revised proposed rule to include additional actions due to the lack of a bilateral agreement on the 2021 Pacific whiting coastwide total allowable catch (TAC) by the Governments of Canada and the United States. This revised proposed rule includes the 2021 coastwide TAC and U.S. TAC for Pacific whiting as determined by NMFS under the Whiting Act, the non-tribal sector allocations, and the tribal allocation and set-asides included in the original proposed rule. The proposed measures are intended to help prevent overfishing, achieve optimum yield, and ensure that management measures are based on the best scientific information available.