Department of Commerce 2023 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The U.S. Department of Commerce (Commerce) determines that Norma (India) Limited, USK Exports Private Limited, Uma Shanker Khandelwal & Co., and Bansidhar Chiranjilal (collectively, the Norma Group), and R.N. Gupta & Co. Ltd. (RNG), and made sales of subject merchandise below normal value. The period of review (POR) is August 1, 2021, through July 31, 2022.

On November 29, 2023, the Department of Commerce (DOC) published in the Federal Register a notice entitled ``Request for Information (RFI) on Business Diversity Principles.'' This RFI invited comments from the public on the draft Business Diversity Principles (BDP), which describe best practices related to diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) in the private sector, and on the impact of DEIA initiatives. DOC is seeking input to inform the content of the BDP, share success stories and best practices related to Business Diversity, and comment on the impact of DEIA initiatives. In response from prospective commenters that they would benefit from additional time to adequately consider and respond to the RFI, DOC has determined that an extension of the comment period until February 2, 2024, is appropriate.

The North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) Bering Sea Aleutian Islands Crab Plan Team (BSAI CPT) will meet January 8, 2024, to January 12, 2024.

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.

NMFS announces that the State of North Carolina and the Commonwealth of Virginia are transferring a portion of their 2023 commercial summer flounder quotas to the State of New Jersey. These adjustments to the 2023 fishing year quota are necessary to comply with the Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Fishery Management Plan quota transfer provisions. This announcement informs the public of the revised 2023 commercial quotas for North Carolina, Virginia, and New Jersey.

Notice is hereby given that Shannon Atkinson, Ph.D., University of Alaska Fairbanks, 17101 Point Lena Loop Road, Juneau, AK 99801 has applied in due form for a permit to import, export, and receive marine mammal parts for scientific research.

NMFS announces 2024 specifications for the summer flounder, scup, and black sea bass fisheries, and projected 2025 specifications for summer flounder and scup. The implementing regulations for the Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Fishery Management Plan require us to publish specifications for the upcoming fishing year for each of these species and to respond to public comments received during the public comment period. This action is intended to inform the public of the specifications for the start of the 2024 fishing year for summer flounder, scup, and black sea bass. A Supplemental Information Report (SIR) was prepared for the 2024 black sea bass specifications. An Environmental Assessment (EA) was prepared for the 2024 and projected 2025 summer flounder and scup specifications.

The U.S. Department of Commerce (Commerce) determines that gas powered pressure washers (pressure washers) from the People's Republic of China (China) are being, or are likely to be, sold in the United States at less-than-fair value (LTFV). The period of investigation is April 1, 2022, though September 30, 2022.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is soliciting applications for membership on the United States Integrated Ocean Observing System Advisory Committee (the Committee), which is a Federal advisory committee. Members of the Committee will fulfill the requirements of the Integrated Coastal and Ocean Observation System (ICOOS) Act of 2009 (the Act). The Committee provides advice to the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere and to the Interagency Ocean Observation Committee on the planning, integrated design, operation, maintenance, enhancement, and expansion of the United States Integrated Ocean Observing System (U.S. IOOS).

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Office of Marine and Aviation Operations (OMAO) has prepared a draft programmatic environmental assessment (PEA) in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), as amended by the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023, to analyze the potential environmental impacts associated with OMAO's ongoing vessel operations as the NOAA fleet is modernized over a 15-year timeframe from 2023 to 2038. The Draft PEA assesses the direct, indirect, and cumulative environmental impacts from OMAO vessel operations while NOAA ships are underway, during which time OMAO conducts training, testing, calibration, and troubleshooting of vessel equipment and instruments in preparation for use by other NOAA Line Offices (LOs) or organizations outside of NOAA. OMAO's Proposed Action in the Draft PEA would ensure that NOAA's current and future fleet is maintained and operated in a safe, environmentally compliant manner, thus allowing NOAA to fulfill its at-sea mission objectives and data collection requirements in marine, coastal, and freshwater environments. The purpose of this NOA is to invite affected government agencies, non-governmental organizations, tribes and tribal organizations, and interested members of the public to participate in the Draft PEA process and provide comments on the structure, contents, and analysis in the Draft PEA. Publication of this document begins the 40-day public comment period for the Draft PEA.

The U.S. Department of Commerce (Commerce) determines that Nan Ya Plastics Corporation (Nan Ya) made no sales of subject merchandise to the United States at less than normal value during the period of review (POR) July 1, 2021, through June 30, 2022. We also continue to find that Shinkong Materials Technology Corporation (SMTC)/Shinkong Synthetic Fibers Corporation (SSFC) had no shipments of subject merchandise to the United States during the POR.

The Bureau of Industry and Security is seeking public comments on the impact that the implementation of the Chemical Weapons Convention, through the Chemical Weapons Convention Implementation Act of 1998 and the Chemical Weapons Convention Regulations, has had on commercial activities involving ``Schedule 1'' chemicals during calendar year 2023. The purpose of this notice of inquiry is to collect information to assist BIS in its preparation of the annual certification to the Congress on whether the legitimate commercial activities and interests of chemical, biotechnology, and pharmaceutical firms are harmed by such implementation. This certification is required under Condition 9 of Senate Resolution 75 (April 24, 1997), in which the Senate gave its advice and consent to the ratification of the Chemical Weapons Convention.

The U.S. Department of Commerce (Commerce) determines that ULMA Forja, S.Coop (ULMA) and companies not selected for individual examination made sales of finished carbon steel flanges (flanges) from Spain in the United States at less than normal value (NV) during the period of review (POR) June 1, 2021, through May 31, 2022.

NMFS, upon request from the United States Coast Guard (Coast Guard), hereby issues regulations to govern the unintentional taking of marine mammals incidental to maintenance and repair at facilities in Alaska, over the course of 5 years (2023-2028). These regulations, which allow for the issuance of a Letter of Authorization (LOA) for the incidental take of marine mammals during the described activities and specified timeframes, prescribe the permissible methods of taking and other means of effecting the least practicable adverse impact on marine mammal species or stocks and their habitat, as well as requirements pertaining to the monitoring and reporting of such taking.

The U.S. Department of Commerce (Commerce) published a notice in the Federal Register on March 16, 2020, in which commerce announced the final results of the 2017-2018 administrative review of the antidumping duty (AD) order on polyethylene terephthalate film, sheet, and strip from India. In this notice, the section titled ``Final Results of Review'' did not list both SRF Limited and SRF Limited of India.

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.

NMFS issues this final temporary rule to promulgate emergency measures, due to recently discovered circumstances that present serious conservation issues for the greater amberjack stock in the Gulf of Mexico (Gulf). As requested by the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (Council), NMFS issues this final temporary rule to reduce the Gulf greater amberjack commercial trip limit. The final temporary rule will be effective for 180 days unless superseded by subsequent rulemaking. The purpose of this emergency action is to decrease the likelihood of exceeding the commercial catch limits and extend the 2024 commercial fishing season.

The U.S. Department of Commerce (Commerce) preliminarily determines that countervailable subsidies are being provided to producers and exporters of certain pea protein (pea protein) from the People's Republic of China (China) during the period of investigation, January 1, 2022, through December 31, 2022. Interested parties are invited to comment on this preliminary determination.