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

In accordance with the Foundations for Evidence-Based Policymaking Act of 2018 (the Evidence Act), Public Law 115-435,\1\ the Department of Commerce has developed a draft Learning Agenda for FY 2022 to FY 2026. The Learning Agenda lists significant priority evidence/evaluation questions that will be researched over the next four years to help achieve the Department's Strategic Objectives. The final plan will be published in February 2022 and will be reviewed annually for possible updates and improvements.

As a result of this sunset review, the Department of Commerce (Commerce) finds that revocation of the countervailing duty order (CVD) order on narrow woven ribbons with woven selvedge (ribbons) from the People's Republic of China (China) would be likely to lead to continuation or recurrence of countervailable subsidies at the levels indicated in the ``Final Results of Sunset Review'' section of this notice.

The Department of Commerce, with the concurrence of the General Services Administration, renewed the Advisory Committee on Supply Chain Competitiveness.

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.

NMFS has received a request from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) for authorization to take marine mammals incidental to the NOAA Port Facility Project in Ketchikan, Alaska. Pursuant to the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), NMFS is requesting comments on its proposal to issue an incidental harassment authorization (IHA) to incidentally take marine mammals during the specified activities. NMFS is also requesting comments on a possible one-year renewal that could be issued under certain circumstances and if all requirements are met, as described in Request for Public Comments at the end of this document. 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 Department of Commerce (Commerce) is amending its notice of final results of the 2018 administrative review of the countervailing duty (CVD) order on multilayered wood flooring (wood flooring) from the People's Republic of China (China).