Department of Commerce September 11, 2023 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

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

In accordance with the regulations implementing the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), as amended, notification is hereby given that NMFS has issued a Renewal incidental harassment authorization (IHA) to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) to incidentally harass marine mammals incidental to the Elkhorn Slough Tidal Marsh Restoration Project, Phase III, in Monterey County, California.

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

The International Trade Administration (ITA) creates prosperity by strengthening the international competitiveness of U.S. industry, promoting trade and investment, and ensuring fair trade and compliance with trade laws and agreements. The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) promotes U.S. innovation and industrial competitiveness by advancing standards, and technology in ways that enhance economic security and improve our quality of life. The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) plays an important role in incentivizing and protecting innovation, including innovations contributed to international standards bodies. In May 2023, the White House announced the United States Government National Standards Strategy for Critical and Emerging Technology (``the Strategy''), which, among other things, seeks to strengthen U.S. engagement in standards for critical and emerging technologies. As a means to further the implementation of the Strategy, and pursuant to a Request for Information on Implementation of the United States Government National Standards Strategy for Critical and Emerging Technology published by NIST (Docket No. NIST-2023-0005), ITA, NIST, and the USPTO (``the Agencies'') are initiating a listening session with stakeholders focused on issues at the intersection of standards and intellectual property. The Agencies are seeking stakeholder input on the current state of U.S. firm participation in standard setting, and the ability of U.S. industry to readily adopt standards to grow and compete, especially as that relates to the standardization of critical and emerging technologies.

The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council has submitted amendments to three fishery management plans (FMPs) for review, approval, and implementation by NMFS. If approved by the Secretary of Commerce, the amendments would revise the FMPs for the Snapper-Grouper Fishery and the Golden Crab Fishery of the South Atlantic Region, and the Dolphin and Wahoo Fishery of the Atlantic, referenced here as the Acceptable Biological Catch (ABC) Control Rule Amendments. The ABC Control Rule Amendments would modify the ABC control rules, allow phase-in of ABC changes, allow for some carry-over of an unharvested portion of the annual catch limit (ACL) to the following fishing year, and modify the FMP framework procedures to implement carry-overs of ACLs when appropriate. The purpose of the ABC Control Rule Amendments is to ensure catch level recommendations are based on the best scientific information available, prevent overfishing while achieving optimum yield, and increase flexibility in setting catch limits.

The U.S. Department of Commerce (Commerce) determines that countervailable subsidies were provided to producers and exporters of wood mouldings and millwork products (millwork products) from the People's Republic of China (China) during the period of review (POR) from June 12, 2020, through December 31, 2021. Commerce is also rescinding the review with respect to five companies that had no reviewable entries during the POR.

Notice is hereby given that NMFS has received one Incidental Take Permit (ITP) application for the City of Santa Cruz's Anadromous Salmonid Habitat Conservation Plan (ASHCP). The ASHCP has been submitted pursuant to section 10(a)(1)(B) of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) of 1973, as amended. NMFS has also prepared a draft environmental assessment (EA) under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) describing the potential effects of NMFS' proposed issuance of the Permit associated with the submitted ASHCP. NMFS is furnishing this notice in order to allow other agencies, tribes, and the public an opportunity to review and comment on these documents.