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

On May 5, 2023, NMFS published the proposed rule for Draft Amendment 15 to the 2006 Consolidated Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Fishery Management Plan (FMP) regarding spatial fisheries management and electronic monitoring (EM) cost allocation. In the proposed rule, NMFS announced a comment period ending on September 15, 2023. Due to requests from multiple constituents, NMFS is extending the comment period for this action to October 2, 2023. Furthermore, NMFS canceled the Amendment 15 public hearing originally scheduled for August 29, 2023, in Panama City, Florida due to Hurricane Idalia and reschedules it for September 18, 2023.

The U.S. Department of Commerce (Commerce) is conducting an administrative review of the antidumping duty order on certain frozen fish fillets (fish fillets) from the Socialist Republic of Vietnam (Vietnam). The period of review (POR) is August 1, 2021, through July 31, 2022. Commerce preliminarily determines that certain exporters made sales of subject merchandise at prices below NV during the POR, and that 10 exporters did not have shipments during the POR. We invite interested parties to comment on these preliminary results.

The U.S. Department of Commerce (Commerce) preliminarily determines that countervailable subsidies are being provided to producers and exporters of certain metal lockers and parts thereof (metal lockers) from the People's Republic of China (China) during the period of review (POR) from December 14, 2020, through December 31, 2021. Additionally, Commerce is rescinding the review with respect to four companies. Interested parties are invited to comment on these preliminary results.

The U.S. Department of Commerce (Commerce) preliminarily finds that utility scale wind towers (wind towers) from Indonesia were sold at less than normal value during the period of review (POR) August 1, 2021, through July 31, 2022. We invite interested parties to comment on these preliminary results of review.

The U.S. Department of Commerce (Commerce) preliminarily finds that producers and/or exporters subject to this administrative review made sales of subject merchandise at less than normal value (NV) during the period of review (POR) August 1, 2021, through July 31, 2022. Interested parties are invited to comment on these preliminary results.

The U.S. Department of Commerce (Commerce) is rescinding the administrative review of the antidumping duty (AD) order on magnesium metal from the People's Republic of China (China) for the period of review (POR) April 1, 2022, through March 31, 2023.

The U.S. Department of Commerce (Commerce) is conducting an administrative review of the countervailing duty order on utility scale wind towers (wind towers) from Malaysia. Commerce preliminarily finds that CS Wind Malaysia Sdn Bhd (CS Wind) received countervailable subsidies during the period of review (POR), March 25, 2021, through December 31, 2021. We invite interested parties to comment on these preliminary results.

The U.S. Department of Commerce (Commerce) determines large diameter welded pipe (welded pipe) from the Republic of Turkey (Turkey) is not being sold in the United States at less than normal value during the period of review (POR) May 1, 2021, through April 30, 2022. Additionally, Commerce determines that four companies for which we initiated a review had no shipments during the POR.

NMFS has received a request from the U.S. Coast Guard (Coast Guard or USCG) for authorization to take marine mammals incidental to pier maintenance and bank stabilization construction activities at USCG Air Station Port Angeles, Port Angeles, Washington. 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-time, 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 notice. NMFS will consider public comments prior to making any final decision on the issuance of the requested MMPA authorization and agency responses will be summarized in the final notice of our decision.

The Pacific Fishery Management Council's (Pacific Council) Groundfish Subcommittee of the Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) will hold a meeting to review rebuilding analyses for quillback rockfish in California and any remaining 2023 stock assessment review requests from the September 2023 Council meeting. This meeting is open to the public.

NMFS has received a request from TC Energy Columbia Gulf Transmission, LLC for authorization to take marine mammals incidental to the East Lateral XPRESS Project in Barataria Bay, Louisiana. 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-time, 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 notice. NMFS will consider public comments prior to making any final decision on the issuance of the requested MMPA authorization and agency responses will be summarized in the final notice of our decision.

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) announces the approval of Amendment 53 to the Fishery Management Plan for Bering Sea/ Aleutian Islands King and Tanner Crabs (Crab FMP). Amendment 53 adds a new rebuilding plan for snow crab (Chionoecetes opilio) to the Crab FMP. The objective of this amendment is to rebuild the snow crab stock. In order to comply with provisions of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act), this action is necessary to implement a rebuilding plan prior to the start of the 2023/2024 fishing season. Amendment 53 is intended to promote the goals and objectives of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, the Crab FMP, and other applicable laws.

NIST is seeking information on behalf of the U.S. Department of Commerce and the U.S. Government to support the development of an implementation plan for the United States Government National Standards Strategy for Critical and Emerging Technology (USG NSSCET). The USG NSSCET is intended to support and complement existing private sector- led activities and plans, including the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) United States Standards Strategy (USSS), with a focus on critical and emerging technology(ies) (CET). The USG NSSCET reinforces the U.S. Government's support of a private sector-led, open, consensus-based international standards system, corresponding to the World Trade Organization (WTO) Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee decision that articulates and elaborates on principles that are fundamental to the development of an international standards: transparency; openness; impartiality and consensus; effectiveness and relevance; and coherence. To inform the USG NSSCET implementation, including how to best partner with relevant stakeholders, NIST is requesting information that will support the identification and prioritization of key activities that will optimize the USG NSSCET implementation and further enhance the U.S. Government's ability to support a private sector-led, open, consensus-based international standards system, to which the U.S. Government is an active stakeholder and participant.

In accordance with the regulations implementing the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) as amended, notification is hereby given that NMFS has issued an Incidental Harassment Authorization (IHA) to Municipality of Skagway (MOS) to incidentally harass marine mammals during construction associated with the Ore Terminal redevelopment project in Skagway, Alaska.

The U.S. Department of Commerce (Commerce) determines that 1,1,1,2-Tetrafluoroethane (R-134a) from the People's Republic of China (China) was sold in the United States at less than normal value during the period of review (POR), April 1, 2021, through March 31, 2022. In addition, Commerce determines that certain companies had no shipments during the POR or did not establish their eligibility for a separate rate.

On August 21, 2023, the U.S. Court of International Trade (CIT) issued its final judgment in Hyundai Steel Company v. United States, Court No. 21-00536, sustaining the U.S. Department of Commerce (Commerce)'s remand results pertaining to the administrative review of the countervailing duty (CVD) order on certain hot-rolled steel flat products (HRS) from the Republic of Korea (Korea) covering the period January 1, 2018, through December 31, 2018. Commerce is notifying the public that the CIT's final judgement 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 countervailable subsidy rate assigned to Hyundai Steel Company (Hyundai Steel).

Notice is hereby given that Brent Stewart, Ph.D., Brent S Stewart Associates, 3889 Creststone Place, San Diego, CA 92130, has applied in due form for a permit to conduct research on pinnipeds in California.

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council's Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Monitoring Committee will hold a public webinar meeting.

The U.S. Department of Commerce (Commerce) finds that revocation of the countervailing duty (CVD) order on stainless steel flanges 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 Review'' section of this notice.

NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Pacific cod by catcher vessels using trawl gear in the Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the 2023 total allowable catch of Pacific cod by catcher vessels using trawl gear in the Central Regulatory Area of the GOA.

The National Defense Stockpile Market Impact Committee, co- chaired by the Departments of Commerce and State, is seeking public comments on the potential market impact of proposed changes of the Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 Annual Materials Plan (AMP). Potential changes to the AMP are decided by the National Defense Stockpile Market Impact Committee, who advise the Defense Logistics Agency in its role as the National Defense Stockpile Manager on the projected domestic and foreign economic effects of all acquisitions, conversions, and disposals involving the National Defense Stockpile.

The North Pacific Fishery Management Council's (Council) Groundfish Plan Teams will hold a meeting. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for agenda.

The Ecosystem-Based Management and Groundfish Subcommittees of the Pacific Fishery Management Council's (Pacific Council) Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) will convene an online meeting to review a proposed approach for developing the use of ecosystem risk evaluation tables and any other Ecosystem and Climate Information for Species, Fisheries, and Fishery Management Plan (Initiative 4) materials provided by the Council's Ecosystem Workgroup. The SSC Ecosystem-Based Management and Groundfish Subcommittee meeting is open to the public.

The Coastal Pelagic Species (CPS) Subcommittee of the Pacific Fishery Management Council's (Pacific Council's) Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) will hold an online meeting to update the Accepted Practices Guidelines for CPS Stock Assessments document. The meeting is open to the public.