Department of Commerce November 24, 2021 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) and the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS; hereafter collectively referred to as the ``Services'' or ``we''), are extending the comment period on our October 27, 2021, proposed rule to rescind the final rule titled ``Regulations for Listing Endangered and Threatened Species and Designating Critical Habitat'' that was published on December 16, 2020, and established a regulatory definition of the term ``habitat.'' We are extending the comment period by 15 days.

In response to allegations of circumvention from Auburn Manufacturing, Inc. (AMI), the Department of Commerce (Commerce) is initiating a country-wide circumvention inquiry to determine whether imports of certain amorphous silica fabric with 70-90 percent silica content (70-90 percent ASF) from the People's Republic of China (China) are circumventing the antidumping duty (AD) and countervailing duty (CVD) orders on certain amorphous silica fabric with a silica content of at least 90 percent from China.

NMFS approves and implements measures included in Amendment 7 to the Atlantic Bluefish Fishery Management Plan, as submitted by the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council. This amendment revises the goals and objectives of the fishery management plan, reallocates quota between the commercial and recreational fisheries, reallocates commercial quota among the states, implements a rebuilding plan, revises the sector quota transfer process, and revises how management uncertainty is applied during the specifications process. Amendment 7 is intended to use the best scientific information available and respond to changes in stock health and distribution, while recognizing economic need and reliance throughout the management area.

On January 26, 2021, the White House issued a Presidential Memorandum on Tribal Consultation and Strengthening Nation-to-Nation Relationships that reaffirmed Executive Order 13175 on Consultation and Coordination with Indian Tribal Governments (2000) and the associated Presidential Memorandum on Tribal Consultation released in November 2009. In response, NOAA is requesting review of its policy and procedures to implement these directives. NOAA is seeking comment from federally recognized Indian Tribes and other interested parties on its policies and guidance documents for government-to-government consultation with federally recognized Indian Tribes.

NMFS is transferring 9.5 metric tons (mt) of Atlantic bluefin tuna (BFT) quota from the Reserve category and 20.2 mt from the Harpoon category to the General category for the remainder of the 2021 fishing year. The adjusted General category December subquota, Reserve category quota, and Harpoon category quota will be 39.1 mt, 2 mt, and 0 mt respectively. This action is intended to provide further opportunities for General category fishermen to participate in the December General category fishery, based on consideration of the regulatory determination criteria regarding inseason adjustments. This action would affect Atlantic Tunas General category (commercial) permitted vessels and Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Charter/Headboat permitted vessels with a commercial sale endorsement when fishing commercially for BFT.