Department of Commerce 2023 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Council will hold a meeting of the SMP Workgroup via webinar on November 15, 2023. The workgroup will discuss recent research and evaluation tools of the Spawning Special Management Zones (SMZs). This meeting is the first meeting of the workgroup to develop recommendations on the management of the Spawning SMZs.

The SEDAR 77 assessment process of HMS hammerhead sharks will consist of a Data Workshop, and a series of assessment webinars, and a Review Workshop, and webinars. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.

NMFS announces that the quotas for the Atlantic surfclam and ocean quahog fisheries for 2024 will remain status quo. NMFS also suspends the minimum size limit for Atlantic surfclams for the 2024 fishing year. Regulations for these fisheries require NMFS to notify the public of the allowable harvest levels for Atlantic surfclams and ocean quahogs from the Exclusive Economic Zone even if the previous year's quota specifications remain unchanged. The 2024 quotas were previously announced as projected values. This action confirms the final quotas are unchanged from those projections. This action would not result in harm to these fisheries.

On October 7, 2022, the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) released the interim final rule (IFR) ``Implementation of Additional Export Controls: Certain Advanced Computing and Semiconductor Manufacturing Items; Supercomputer and Semiconductor End Use'' (October 7 IFR), which amended the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) to implement controls on advanced computing integrated circuits (ICs), computer commodities that contain such ICs, and certain semiconductor manufacturing items. The October 7 IFR also made other EAR changes to ensure appropriate related controls, including on certain ``U.S. person'' activities. This IFR addresses comments received in response to only the part of the October 7 IFR that controls semiconductor manufacturing equipment (SME) and amends the EAR to implement SME controls more effectively and to address ongoing national security concerns.

On October 7, 2022, the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) released the interim final rule (IFR), ``Implementation of Additional Export Controls: Certain Advanced Computing and Semiconductor Manufacturing Items; Supercomputer and Semiconductor End Use; Entity List Modification'' (October 7 IFR), which amended the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) to implement controls on advanced computing integrated circuits (ICs), computer commodities that contain such ICs, and certain semiconductor manufacturing items, and to make other EAR changes to implement appropriate related controls, including on certain ``U.S. person'' activities. This Advanced Computing/ Supercomputing IFR (AC/S IFR) addresses comments received in response to only the part of the October 7 IFR that controls advanced computing ICs and computer commodities that contain such ICs. This rule also makes other changes to make the controls more effective and less burdensome, including by correcting and clarifying the controls to more effectively achieve the policy objectives identified in the October 7 IFR. This AC/S IFR is published concurrently with a second BIS IFR, ``Export Controls on Semiconductor Manufacturing Items,'' which addresses public comments received in response to other portions of the October 7 IFR. Together, these IFRs revise the October 7 IFR controls to more effectively achieve BIS's focused national security policy objectives. These revisions protect U.S. national security interests by further restricting China's ability to obtain critical technologies to modernize its military capabilities in ways that threaten the national security interests of the United States and its allies.

The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), Department of Commerce, announces a formal Tribal Consultation, and requests written comments on issues involving genetic resources (GR), traditional knowledge (TK), and traditional cultural expressions (TCEs). These topics are being discussed at the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). Specifically, the WIPO Intergovernmental Committee on Intellectual Property and Genetic Resources, Traditional Knowledge, and Folklore (traditional cultural expressions) (WIPO IGC) is undertaking negotiations regarding how best to protect GR, TK, and TCEs of Indigenous Peoples.

In accordance with the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), as amended, its implementing regulations, and NMFS' MMPA Regulations for Taking Marine Mammals Incidental to Geophysical Surveys Related to Oil and Gas Activities in the Gulf of Mexico (GOM), notification is hereby given that a Letter of Authorization (LOA) has been issued to Murphy Exploration & Production Company (Murphy) for the take of marine mammals incidental to geophysical survey activity in the GOM.

The U.S. Department of Commerce (Commerce) is rescinding the changed circumstances reviews (CCR) of the antidumping duty (AD) and countervailing duty (CVD) orders on certain quartz surface products (quartz surface products) from the People's Republic of China (China) regarding quartz surface products imported by AM Stone & Cabinets, Inc. (AM Stone) into the United States and exported by Universal Quartz and Stone Industrial SDN BHD (Universal Quartz).

In accordance with the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), as amended, its implementing regulations, and NMFS' MMPA Regulations for Taking Marine Mammals Incidental to Geophysical Surveys Related to Oil and Gas Activities in the Gulf of Mexico, notification is hereby given that a Letter of Authorization (LOA) has been issued to WesternGeco for the take of marine mammals incidental to geophysical survey activity in the Gulf of Mexico.

The MAFMC will hold a public meeting (webinar) of its Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish (MSB) Monitoring Committee. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for agenda details.

The Department of Commerce, in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, invites the general public and other Federal agencies to comment on proposed, and continuing information collections, which helps us assess the impact of our information collection requirements and minimize the public's reporting burden. The purpose of this notice is to allow for 60 days of public comment on the proposed revision of the American Community Survey and Puerto Rico Community Survey, prior to the submission of the information collection request (ICR) to OMB for approval.

The Department of Commerce (DOC), announces the appointment of those individuals who have been selected to serve as members of the Office of the Secretary (OS) Performance Review Board, International Trade Administration (ITA) Performance Review Board, and the Economic Development Administration (EDA), National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) Performance Review Board.

The Department of Commerce, in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), invites the general public and other Federal agencies to comment on proposed, and continuing information collections, which helps us assess the impact of our information collection requirements and minimize the public's reporting burden. The purpose of this notice is to allow for 60 days of public comment preceding submission of the collection to OMB.

The North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) Social Science Planning Team (SSPT) will meet in Anchorage, AK. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.

In this rule, the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) amends the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) by adding 13 entities to the Entity List under the destination of the People's Republic of China (China). These entities have been determined by the U.S. Government to be acting contrary to the national security or foreign policy interests of the United States.

As a result of these expedited sunset reviews, the U.S. Department of Commerce (Commerce) finds that revocation of the antidumping duty (AD) orders on low melt polyester staple fiber (low melt PSF) from the Republic of Korea (Korea) and Taiwan would be likely to lead to continuation or recurrence of dumping at the levels indicated in the ``Final Results of Expedited Sunset Reviews'' section of this notice.

Based on available information, the U.S. Department of Commerce (Commerce) is self-initiating scope inquiries, pursuant to the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (the Act), to determine whether imports of aluminum wire and cable (AWC), completed in Cambodia, the Republic of Korea (Korea), and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam (Vietnam) (collectively, the third countries) using AWC inputs manufactured in the People's Republic of China (China), are covered by the antidumping duty (AD) and countervailing duty (CVD) orders on AWC from China (collectively, the Orders). In addition, in accordance with our regulations, Commerce is also self-initiating country-wide circumvention inquiries to determine whether imports of AWC, if not covered by the scope of the Orders, are nonetheless circumventing the Orders, and is aligning the scope and circumvention inquiries in accordance with our regulations.

The Environmental Technologies Trade Advisory Committee (ETTAC) will hold a hybrid meeting, accessible in-person and online, on Tuesday, November 14, 2023 at the U.S. Department of Commerce in Washington, DC. The meeting is open to the public with registration instructions provided below. This notice sets forth the schedule and proposed topics for the meeting.

NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for pollock in Statistical Area 610 in the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the annual 2023 total allowable catch of pollock for Statistical Area 610 in the GOA.