Department of Commerce 2023 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

In response to requests from interested parties, the U.S. Department of Commerce (Commerce) is conducting an administrative review of the antidumping duty (AD) order on electrolytic manganese dioxide (EMD) from the People's Republic of China (China) covering the period of review (POR) October 1, 2021, through September 30, 2022. Commerce preliminarily determines that Duracell (China) Limited (DCL), an exporter of EMD from China and the sole mandatory respondent, is not eligible for a separate rate and is part of the China-wide entity. Interested parties are invited to comment on these preliminary results.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is considering a request to expand the boundary of the South Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve (SSNERR or the Reserve) and is soliciting comments from the public on the proposed boundary expansion. The public is also invited to comment on the draft environmental assessment for the proposed boundary expansion.

The Secretary of Commerce, through the Office of Trade and Economic Analysis (OTEA) of the International Trade Administration, has received an application for an amended Export Trade Certificate of Review (Certificate). This notice summarizes the proposed application and seeks public comments on whether the Certificate should be issued.

On August 30, 2023, the U.S. Department of Commerce (Commerce) published the notice of initiation and preliminary results of a changed circumstances review (CCR) of the antidumping duty (AD) order on certain frozen warmwater shrimp from India. For these final results, Commerce continues to find that Highland Agro Food Private Limited (HA Food) is the successor-in-interest to Highland Agro.

The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (Council) has submitted Amendment 56 to the Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for the Reef Fish Resources of the Gulf of Mexico (Gulf) for review, approval, and implementation by NMFS. If approved by the Secretary of Commerce, Amendment 56 would revise stock status determination criteria for Gulf gag, establish a rebuilding plan, and revise catch limits. Amendment 56 would also revise the sector allocations of the annual catch limit, revise recreational accountability measures (AMs), and revise the recreational fishing season. The purpose of this action is to implement a rebuilding plan for gag and to implement revised management measures to end overfishing and rebuild the stock.

The Secretary of Commerce, through the Office of Trade and Economic Analysis (OTEA), issued an Export Trade Certificate of Review to CPEC on September 29, 2023.

The United States Patent and Trademark Office has issued an order granting a one-year interim extension of the term of U.S. Patent No. 7,199,162 (`162 patent).

We, NMFS, are extending the public comment period by 60 days for our proposed rule to promulgate protective regulations for the Banggai cardinalfish (Pterapogon kauderni). The end of the public comment period is extended from October 16, 2023, to December 15, 2023.

NMFS is adjusting the 2023 Atlantic herring specifications for the remainder of 2023. Herring regulations specify that NMFS will subtract 1,000 metric tons (mt) from the management uncertainty buffer and reallocate it to the herring annual catch limit and Area 1A sub- annual catch limit if NMFS determines that the New Brunswick weir fishery landed less than 2,722 mt of herring through October 1.

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 extension of the Generic Clearance for Internet Panel Pretesting and Qualitative Survey Methods Testing, prior to the submission of the information collection request (ICR) to OMB for approval.

The U.S. Department of Commerce, Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) is extending the deadline for nominations for the Minority Business Enterprises Advisory Council (MBEAC) pursuant to the authority of the Minority Business Development Act of 2021 and the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), as amended. The Council will advise the Under Secretary of Commerce for Minority Business Development on various topics impacting socially and economically disadvantaged businesses. MBDA is looking to appoint nine (9) members for the initial term of the Council. These individuals shall be from the private sector with a balanced and broad range of interests regarding the social and economic life of minority business concerns. The private sector members may include individuals from academia and think tanks, companies, chambers of commerce, financial entities, labor and trade associations, non-profit organizations, and stakeholders involved in socially and economically disadvantaged business concerns.

The Secretary of Commerce (Secretary) seeks nominations to fill vacancies on the Marine Fisheries Advisory Committee (MAFAC or Committee). MAFAC is responsible to advise the Secretary, NOAA, and NMFS on all matters concerning living marine resources that are the responsibility of the Department of Commerce. The Committee makes recommendations to assist in the development and implementation of departmental regulations, policies, and programs critical to the mission and goals of NMFS. Nominations are encouraged from all individuals involved with or representing interests affected by NMFS actions in managing living marine resources. Nominees should possess demonstrable expertise in a field related to the management of living marine resources and be able to fulfill the time commitment required for two annual meetings and year-round subcommittee work. Individuals serve for a term of 3 years for no more than two consecutive terms if re-appointed. NMFS seeks qualified nominees to fill pending vacancies.

NOAA announces the appointment of members who will serve on the 2023 NOAA Performance Review Board (PRB). The NOAA PRB is responsible for reviewing performance appraisals and ratings of Senior Executive Service (SES), Senior Level (SL), and Scientific and Professional (ST) members and making written recommendations to the appointing authority on retention and compensation matters, including performance-based pay adjustments, awarding of bonuses, and reviewing recommendations for potential Presidential Rank Award nominees. The appointment of members to the NOAA PRB will be for a period of 2 years.

The USA-CDA-2020-1904-05 Panel has granted a consent motion filed on behalf of the Full Member Subgroup of the American Institute of Steel Construction, LLC, requesting the termination of panel review in the Certain Fabricated Structural Steel from Canada; Final Negative Injury Determination (Fabricated Structural Steel from Canada IN) dispute. Given the Panel's ruling on this consent motion, and pursuant to Rule 71(2) of the NAFTA Rules of Procedure for Article 1904 Binational Panel Reviews (Rules), the Fabricated Structural Steel from Canada IN dispute has been terminated. As a result, and in accordance with Rule 78(a), notice is hereby given that panel review of the Fabricated Structural Steel from Canada IN dispute has been completed effective September 28, 2023.

NMFS has received a request from BNSF Railway (BNSF) for the reissuance of two consecutive, previously issued incidental harassment authorizations (IHA) with the only change being effective dates. The initial IHAs authorized take of seven species of marine mammals, by Level A and Level B harassment, incidental to construction.

As a result of the determinations by the U.S. Department of Commerce (Commerce) and the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) that revocation of the antidumping duty (AD) orders on steel wire garment hangers (hangers) from Taiwan and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam (Vietnam), and the countervailing duty (CVD) order on hangers from Vietnam would likely lead to the continuation or recurrence of dumping, countervailable subsidies, and material injury to an industry in the United States, Commerce is publishing a notice of continuation of these AD orders and this CVD order.

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council will hold a public webinar to collect input on summer flounder commercial mesh regulations and exemptions.

The SEDAR 87 assessment process of Gulf of Mexico white, pink, and brown shrimp will consist of a Data Workshop, and a series of assessment webinars, and a Review Workshop. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.

The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) will hold a series of scoping meetings via webinar pertaining to Framework Amendment 13 to the Fishery Management Plan for Coastal Migratory Pelagic Resources in the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic Region. The amendment addresses Atlantic migratory group Spanish mackerel catch levels.

Notice is hereby given that permits, permit amendments, and permit modifications have been issued to the following entities under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) and the Endangered Species Act (ESA), as applicable.

On July 14, 2023, the U.S. Court of International Trade (CIT) issued its final judgment in NEXTEEL Co., Ltd. et al. v. United States, Slip. Op. 23-103, Consol. Court No. 20-03898 (CIT 2023), sustaining the U.S. Department of Commerce's (Commerce) second final results of redetermination pertaining to the administrative review of the antidumping duty order on welded line pipe (WLP) from the Republic of Korea (Korea) covering the period of review (POR) December 1, 2017, through November 30, 2018. Commerce is notifying the public that the CIT's final judgment 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 dumping margins assigned to NEXTEEL Co., Ltd. (NEXTEEL), SeAH Steel Corporation (SeAH), and non-selected respondents Husteel Co., Ltd. (Husteel) and Hyundai Steel Company/ Hyundai HYSCO (Hyundai Steel).

The U.S. Department of Commerce (Commerce) finds that certain producers/exporters subject to this administrative review made sales of subject merchandise at less than normal value during the period of review (POR) March 1, 2021, through February 28, 2022.