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

NMFS implements accountability measures (AMs) applicable to the commercial harvest of hogfish in the South Atlantic exclusive economic zone (EEZ) off Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina (Georgia-North Carolina) for the 2021 fishing year through this temporary rule. NMFS estimates that commercial landings of the Georgia- North Carolina hogfish stock have reached the sector's annual catch limit (ACL). Therefore, NMFS closes the commercial sector for the Georgia-North Carolina hogfish stock on November 10, 2021. This closure is necessary to protect the hogfish resource.

The Department of Commerce (Commerce) finds that producers or exporters subject to this administrative review made sales of subject merchandise below normal value during the period of review October 31, 2018, through May 31, 2020.

Notice is hereby given that NMFS has drafted Proposed Evaluation and Pending Determinations (PEPD) for five resource management plans (RMPs) for the rearing and releasing Chinook salmon, coho salmon, and chum salmon, and for research of Puget Sound Steelhead in the Hood Canal Basin of Washington State. The RMPs are in the form of hatchery and genetic management plans (HGMPs) for hatchery programs operated by Long Live the Kings (LLTK), the Port Gamble S'Klallam Tribe (PGST), the Skokomish Tribe (ST), and Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW). In 2016 NMFS certified that the five HGMPs satisfied limit 6 of the 4(d) rule. The revised HGMPs will replace the versions of the same plans now in place. NMFS is notifying the public of the availability and opportunity to comment on PEPDs for the new programs. The hatchery programs are intended to contribute to fulfilling Federal tribal trust responsibilities and treaty rights guaranteed through treaties and affirmed in U.S. v. Washington (1974). The program operators submitted revised HGMPs for the following changes: (1) Improve the available forage to southern resident killer whales; and (2) investigate genetic diversity of Puget Sound Steelhead and the effects of release timing on marine survival of fall Chinook salmon.

Notice is hereby given that permits and permit amendments have been issued to the following entities under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) and the Endangered Species Act (ESA), as applicable.

NMFS proposes regulations to clarify terms used in the Direct Enhancement of Snapper Conservation and the Economy through Novel Devices Act of 2020 (Descend Act). Section 3 of the Descend Act requires commercial and recreational fishermen to have a descending device or a venting tool on the vessel and ready for use when fishing for federally managed reef fish species in Gulf of Mexico (Gulf) Federal waters. The purpose of this proposed rule is to clarify the statutory definitions of descending device and venting tool.

The Department of Commerce, in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), invites the general public and other Federal agencies to comment on proposed, and continuing information collections, which helps us assess the impact of our information collection requirements and minimize the public's reporting burden. The purpose of this notice is to allow for 60 days of public comment preceding submission of the collection to OMB.

The Department of Commerce, in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, invites the general public and other Federal agencies to comment on proposed, and continuing information collections, which helps us assess the impact of our information collection requirements and minimize the public's reporting burden. The purpose of this notice is to allow for 60 days of public comment on the proposed revision of the National Survey of Children's Health, prior to the submission of the information collection request (ICR) to OMB for approval.

The Secretary of Commerce, through the Office of Trade and Economic Analysis (OTEA), issued an amended Export Trade Certificate of Review (Certificate) to CAEA on October 15, 2021.

NMFS announces that the quotas for the Atlantic surfclam and ocean quahog fisheries for 2022 will remain status quo. NMFS also suspends the minimum size limit for Atlantic surfclams for the 2022 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 even if the previous year's quota specifications remain unchanged.

NMFS issues this temporary rule for a period of 30 days, to allow shrimp fishers to use limited tow times as an alternative to Turtle Excluder Devices (TEDs) in specific Louisiana state waters (from 91[deg] 23' West longitude eastward to the Louisiana/Mississippi border, and seaward out 3 nautical miles (5.6 kilometers)). This action is necessary because environmental conditions resulting from Hurricane Ida are preventing fishers from using TEDs effectively.

The Department of Commerce in this notice is publishing the Report on the Effect of Imports of Automobiles and Automobile Parts on the National Security. The report documents the findings of the Department of Commerce's investigation to determine the effects on the national security of imports of automobiles, including cars, SUVs, vans and light trucks, and automotive parts. This investigation was carried out under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, as amended. All classified and business confidential information in the report was redacted before the release. This report was completed on February 17, 2019 and posted on the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) website on July 6, 2021. The Department of Commerce has not published the appendices to the report in this notification of report findings, but they are available online at the BIS website, along with the rest of the report (see the ADDRESSES section).

In accordance with the regulations implementing the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) as amended, notification is given that NMFS has issued an incidental harassment authorization (IHA) to the National Science Foundation (NSF) to incidentally harass, by Level B harassment and Level A harassment, marine mammals during pile driving activities associated with the construction of the Palmer Station Pier Replacement Project in Anvers Island, Antarctica.

In response to requests from interested parties, the Department of Commerce (Commerce) is rescinding the administrative review, in part, of the antidumping duty order on certain crystalline silicon photovoltaic products (solar products) from Taiwan during the period of review (POR), February 1, 2020, to January 31, 2021. Specifically, Commerce is rescinding the review with respect to eleven companies under review, including the mandatory respondents, Inventec Solar Energy Corporation (ISEC) and Sino-American Silicon Products Inc. (SAS), because all requests to review these companies have been timely withdrawn. Moreover, Commerce preliminarily determines that sixteen of the companies under review made no shipments of solar products from Taiwan during the POR. Finally, with respect to the companies that did not submit no-shipment certifications and were not selected as mandatory respondents, we have determined to preliminarily apply a rate of 7.89 percent, i.e., the non-selected rate from the prior administrative review under this antidumping duty order. We invite interested parties to comment on these preliminary results.

In accordance with the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), as amended, its implementing regulations, and NMFS' MMPA Regulations for Taking Marine Mammals Incidental to Geophysical Surveys Related to Oil and Gas Activities in the Gulf of Mexico, notification is hereby given that a Letter of Authorization (LOA) has been issued to WesternGeco for the take of marine mammals incidental to the Engagement 2 geophysical survey activity in the Gulf of Mexico.

The Department of Commerce (Commerce) has received requests to conduct administrative reviews of various antidumping duty (AD) and countervailing duty (CVD) orders with September anniversary dates. In accordance with Commerce's regulations, we are initiating those administrative reviews.

The Department of Commerce (Commerce) preliminarily determines that certain walk-behind snow throwers and parts thereof (snow throwers) from the People's Republic of China (China) 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, 2020, through December 31, 2020. Interested parties are invited to comment on this preliminary determination.

The New England Fishery Management Council (Council) is scheduling a public meeting of its Groundfish Advisory Panel 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.

This final rule amends the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) by adding four entities to the Entity List. These four entities have been determined by the U.S. Government to be acting contrary to the foreign policy and national security interests of the United States and will be listed on the Entity List under the destinations of Israel, Russia, and Singapore.

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is soliciting public comment on People's Republic of China (PRC) policies and influence in the development of international standards for emerging technologies. Section 9414 of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) of 2021 directs NIST to enter into an agreement with an appropriate entity to conduct a study and provide recommendations with respect to the effect of policies of the PRC and coordination among industrial entities within the PRC on international bodies engaged in developing and setting international standards for emerging technologies. NIST is seeking comments to provide information for the study and resulting recommendations. In addition to the specific topic areas found in the Request for Information section of this notice, commenters may provide responses to any other relevant issues. Recommendations on the actions the United States could take to mitigate any undue influence of the PRC and bolster United States public and private sector participation in international standards- setting bodies are also sought. Comments received in response to this request will be used to inform the work of the entity.

The Department of Commerce (Commerce) preliminarily determines that certain producers/exporters of certain hot-rolled steel flat products (hot-rolled steel) from the Republic of Korea (Korea) received countervailable subsidies during the period of review (POR) January 1, 2019, through December 31, 2019. Additionally, we are rescinding this review with respect to 13 companies. We invite interested parties to comment on these preliminary results.

The Department of Commerce (Commerce) preliminarily finds that certain producers/exporters of stainless steel flanges (flanges) from India made sales of subject merchandise in the United States at prices below normal value (NV) during the period of review (POR), October 1, 2019, through September 30, 2020. We preliminarily find that BFN Forgings Private Limited (BFN Forgings) is the successor-in-interest to Bebitz Flanges Works Private Limited (Bebitz Flanges). Finally, we are rescinding this review with respect to 38 companies. We invite interested parties to comment on these preliminary results.