Department of Commerce December 2, 2021 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

We, NMFS, announce a 90-day finding on a petition to list the Atlantic humpback dolphin (Sousa teuszii) as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). We find that the petition presents substantial scientific or commercial information indicating that the petitioned action may be warranted. Therefore, we are initiating a status review of the species to determine whether listing under the ESA is warranted. To ensure this status review is comprehensive, we are soliciting scientific and commercial information regarding this species.

The SEDAR 78 assessment of the South Atlantic Stock of Spanish mackerel will consist of a series of assessment webinars. A SEDAR 78 Assessment Webinar 2 is scheduled for January 5, 2022. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.

We, NMFS, have completed a comprehensive status review under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) for the black teatfish (Holothuria nobilis). After reviewing the best scientific and commercial data available, including the H. nobilis Status Review Report, we have determined that listing H. nobilis as a threatened or endangered species under the ESA is not warranted at this time.

The Foundations for Evidence-Based Policymaking Act of 2018 requires Federal agencies to modernize their data management practices to develop and support evidence-based policymaking. The Act requires the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), or the head of an agency designated by the Director, to establish the Advisory Committee on Data for Evidence Building (Advisory Committee). In a letter dated September 3, 2019, OMB delegated managerial and administrative responsibility for this Federal advisory committee to the Department of Commerce Office of Under Secretary for Economic Affairs (OUSEA). The Advisory Committee is required to deliver publicly available annual reports on its activities and findings to the OMB Director. The Advisory Committee submitted its first-year report on October 29, 2021. This FRN requests comments from the public on the Advisory Committee's first annual report.

The Department of Commerce (Commerce) determines that producers and/or exporters subject to this administrative review made sales of subject merchandise at less than normal value during the period of review (POR), January 1, 2019, through December 31, 2019.

NMFS proposes Atlantic bluefish specifications for the 2022 fishing year, and projected specifications for fishing year 2023, as recommended by the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council. This action is necessary to establish allowable harvest levels to prevent overfishing while enabling optimum yield, using the best scientific information available. This rule also informs the public of the proposed fishery specifications and provides an opportunity for comment.