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

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) (hereafter, ``the agencies'') invite public comment on the agencies' proposed finding that Ohio has satisfied all conditions the agencies established as part of their 2002 approval of the state's coastal nonpoint pollution control program (coastal nonpoint program). The Coastal Zone Act Reauthorization Amendments (CZARA) directs states and territories with coastal zone management programs previously approved under Section 306 of the Coastal Zone Management Act to develop and implement coastal nonpoint programs, which must be submitted to the federal agencies for approval. Prior to making such a finding, NOAA and EPA invite public input on the agencies' rationale for this proposed finding.

In accordance with the regulations implementing the individual fishing quota (IFQ), Federal dealer reporting, and Federal charter vessel and headboat (for-hire vessel) reporting programs specific to the reef fish fishery in the Gulf of Mexico (Gulf) and the coastal migratory pelagic (CMP) fisheries in the Gulf, the Regional Administrator (RA), Southeast Region, NMFS, has determined that the catastrophic conditions caused by Hurricane Ida in the Gulf still exists for Jefferson parish in Louisiana. This temporary rule authorizes any dealer in the affected area described in this temporary rule who does not have access to electronic reporting to delay reporting of trip tickets to NMFS and authorizes IFQ participants within the affected area to use paper-based forms, if necessary, for basic required administrative functions. This rule also authorizes any Federal for-hire owner or operator in the affected area described in this temporary rule who does not have access to electronic reporting to delay reporting of logbook records to NMFS. This temporary rule is intended to facilitate continuation of IFQ, dealer, and Federal for- hire reporting operations during the period of catastrophic conditions.

The Assistant Regional Administrator for Sustainable Fisheries, Greater Atlantic Region, NMFS, has made a preliminary determination that an Exempted Fishing Permit (EFP) application contains all of the required information and warrants further consideration. The EFP would allow commercial fishing vessels to fish outside of fishery regulations in support of research conducted by the applicant. 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 EFPs.

On behalf of the Alaska Mapping Executive Committee (AMEC), a Federal-state partnership to coordinate the modernization of critical Alaska map layers, NOAA requests review of the draft Alaska Coastal Mapping Strategy (ACMS) Implementation Plan from all interested parties. Through this request for information (RFI), AMEC's Coastal Subcommittee seeks input from the public on the Implementation Plan and its milestones targeted at improving the coordination and collection of coastal mapping in Alaska. AMEC seeks to ensure that program implementation is informed by and responsive to all sectors through sustained engagement and effective partnerships.

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council's Ecosystem and Ocean Planning Advisory Panel will hold a public meeting.

NMFS announces that the State of North Carolina is transferring a portion of its 2021 commercial summer flounder quota to the State of Connecticut. This adjustment to the 2021 fishing year quota is necessary to comply with the Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Fishery Management Plan quota transfer provisions. This announcement informs the public of the revised 2021 commercial quotas for North Carolina and Connecticut.

On October 22, 2021, the Court of International Trade (CIT) issued its final judgment in Carbon Activated Tianjin Co., Ltd. and Carbon Activated Corporation, et al. v. United States, Consol. Court No. 20-00007, sustaining the Department of Commerce (Commerce)'s remand results pertaining to the eleventh administrative review of the antidumping duty (AD) order on certain activated carbon from the People's Republic of China (China) covering the period of April 1, 2017, through March 31, 2018. 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 dumping margin assigned to Carbon Activated Tianjin Co., Ltd. (Carbon Activated), Datong Juqiang Activated Carbon Co., Ltd. (Datong Juqiang) (collectively, the mandatory respondents), Beijing Pacific Activated Carbon Products Co., Ltd. (Beijing Pacific), Ningxia Guanghua Cherishmet Activated Carbon Co., Ltd. (GHC), Ningxia Mineral & Chemical Limited (Ningxia Mineral), and Shanxi Sincere Industrial Co., Ltd. (Shanxi Sincere).

The SEDAR 78 assessment of the South Atlantic stock of Spanish mackerel will consist of a series of assessment webinars. A SEDAR 78 Data/Assessment Webinar 1 is scheduled for November 17, 2021. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council's Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Advisory Panel will hold a public webinar meeting, jointly with the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission's Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Advisory Panel.

The SEDAR 80 stock assessment of U.S. Caribbean queen triggerfish will consist of a series of data webinars. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.

The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (Council) will hold a one-day in-person and virtual (hybrid) meeting of its Standing, Reef Fish, Ecosystem and Socioeconomic Scientific and Statistical Committees (SSC).

This document corrects an inadvertent drafting error in final regulations published in the Federal Register on August 5, 2021, and effective on September 7, 2021. NMFS is reinstating a reporting requirement for the main Hawaiian Islands (MHI) non-commercial bottomfish fishery that was removed inadvertently in the final rule. The intent of this rule is to ensure continued timely monitoring and reporting of catch and other information.