Department of Commerce 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).

The Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) requests public comments regarding areas and priorities for U.S. and EU export control cooperation to help inform the work of the U.S-EU Trade and Technology Council (TTC) Export Control Working Group. Comments should address ways in which existing U.S. and/or European Union dual-use export control policies and practices may be more transparent, more efficient and effective, more convergent, and fit for today's challenges, in particular with regards to the control of emerging technologies.

NMFS is reallocating the projected unused amount of Pacific cod from pot catcher vessels greater than or equal to 60 feet (18.3 meters (m)) length overall (LOA) and trawl catcher vessels to catcher vessels less than 60 feet (18.3 m) LOA using hook-and-line or pot gear, pot catcher/processors, and American Fisheries Act (AFA) trawl catcher/ processors in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). This action is necessary to allow the 2021 total allowable catch (TAC) of Pacific cod to be harvested.

NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Atka mackerel in the Bering Sea subarea and Eastern Aleutian District (BS/EAI) of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI) by vessels participating in the BSAI trawl limited access sector fishery. This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the 2021 total allowable catch (TAC) of Atka mackerel in the BS/EAI allocated to vessels participating in the BSAI trawl limited access sector fishery.

The Department of Commerce (Commerce) determines that countervailable subsidies are being provided to producers and exporters of finished carbon steel flanges (steel flanges) from India during the period of review (POR), January 1, 2019, through December 31, 2019.

The Department of Commerce (Commerce) determines that diamond sawblades and parts thereof (diamond sawblades) from the People's Republic of China (China) were sold at less than normal value by certain exporters during the period of review (POR) November 1, 2019, through October 31, 2020.

As a result of these expedited sunset reviews, the Department of Commerce (Commerce) finds that revocation of the antidumping duty (AD) orders on heavy walled rectangular welded carbon steel pipes and tubes (HWR pipes and tubes) from the Republic of Korea (Korea), Mexico, and the Republic of Turkey (Turkey) would be likely to lead to the continuation or recurrence of dumping at the levels indicated in the ``Final Results of Review'' section of this notice.

The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, invites comments on the extension and revision of an existing information collection: 0651- 0066 (Patents for Humanity Program). The purpose of this notice is to allow 60 days for public comment preceding submission of the information collection to OMB.

NMFS publishes standard prices and fee percentages for cost recovery for the Amendment 80 Program, the American Fisheries Act (AFA) Program, the Aleutian Islands Pollock (AIP) Program, and the Western Alaska Community Development Quota (CDQ) Program in the Bering Sea Aleutian Islands (BSAI) management area. The fee percentage for 2021 is 1.43 percent for the Amendment 80 Program, 0.25 percent for the AFA inshore cooperatives, zero percent for the AIP program, and 0.83 percent for the CDQ Program. This notice is intended to provide the 2021 standard prices and fee percentages to calculate the required payment for cost recovery fees due by December 31, 2021.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has prepared a draft management plan as part of the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary (SBNMS or sanctuary) management plan review pursuant to the National Marine Sanctuaries Act. The draft management plan, which would update the 2010 sanctuary management plan, addresses current and emerging threats in SBNMS and reflects changes in new science and technologies, how people use the sanctuary, and community needs. The draft management plan supports continued protection of sanctuary resources through enforcement of existing sanctuary regulations, education and outreach strategies that promote ocean stewardship, and community engagement. Consistent with the information provided in the 2020 Notice of Intent, NOAA is not proposing modifications to the sanctuary regulations at this time, but may consider regulatory changes in the future. NOAA also prepared an environmental assessment, which evaluates the environmental impacts of implementing the draft management plan and ongoing field activities. NOAA is soliciting public comments on the draft updated management plan and environmental assessment at this time.

The Department of Commerce (Commerce) is conducting an administrative review of the antidumping duty order on strontium chromate from France. The period of review (POR) is May 17, 2019, through October 31, 2020. The review covers one producer/exporter of the subject merchandise, Soci[eacute]t[eacute] Nouvelle des Couleurs Zinciques (SNCZ). We determine that sales of subject merchandise by SNCZ were sold at prices below normal value (NV).

The Department of Commerce (Commerce) determines that Oman Fasteners LLC (Oman Fasteners) made sales of subject merchandise below normal value. The period of review (POR) is July 1, 2019, through June 30, 2020.