Department of Commerce 2023 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) has submitted Amendment 24 to the Pacific Coast Salmon Fishery Management Plan (Salmon FMP) to the Secretary of Commerce for review. The intent of Amendment 24 is to clarify the technical process for reviewing updates to the models used to determine the Chinook salmon abundance threshold that may trigger additional management measures to limit the impact of ocean salmon fisheries on Southern Resident killer whales (SRKW). The whales are listed under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and Chinook salmon, some of which are listed as threatened under the ESA, are their preferred prey. This action is administrative in nature and does not change the formula for calculating the threshold or the fishery management responses currently described in the Salmon FMP.

On October 3, 2023, the U.S. Department of Commerce (Commerce) published in the Federal Register the final results of the administrative review of the countervailing duty (CVD) order on certain new pneumatic off-the-road tires from India, covering the period of review (POR) January 1, 2021, through December 31, 2021. Commerce is amending the final results to correct ministerial errors in the calculations for ATC Tires Private Limited (ATC), Balkrishna Tires Ltd. (BKT), and companies not selected for individual examination.

The U.S. Department of Commerce (Commerce) determines that imports of certain aluminum foil (aluminum foil) that were exported from the Republic of Korea (Korea) and from the Kingdom of Thailand (Thailand), using inputs (i.e., aluminum foil- and sheet-gauge products) manufactured in the People's Republic of China (China), as specified below, are circumventing the antidumping duty (AD) and countervailing duty (CVD) orders on aluminum foil from China.

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 Echo Offshore LLC (Echo) for the take of marine mammals incidental to geophysical survey activity in the Gulf of Mexico (GOM).

This notice sets forth the schedule and proposed agenda of a meeting of the Ocean Research Advisory Panel (ORAP). The members will discuss issues outlined in the section on matters to be considered.

The U.S. Department of Commerce (Commerce) published a notice in the Federal Register on August 3, 2023, in which Commerce announced the preliminary results of the antidumping duty (AD) administrative review and the partial rescission of the AD administrative reviews of the AD order on polyethylene terephthalate film, sheet, and strip from India. This notice incorrectly rescinded the review for Polyplex Corporation Ltd. (Polyplex).

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 the United States Army Corps of Engineers (Alaska District) (USACE) for authorization to take marine mammals incidental to Unalaska (Dutch Harbor) Channel Deepening in Iliuliuk Bay, Unalaska, Alaska.

Notice is hereby given that NMFS has issued a modification to Incidental Take Permit (ITP; No. 21516) to Virginia Electric and Power Company, d.b.a. Dominion Virginia Power (Dominion) pursuant to the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (ESA), as amended, for the incidental take of Atlantic sturgeon (Acipenser oxyrinchus oxyrinchus) associated with the otherwise lawful operation of the Dominion Chesterfield Power Station (CPS) in Chesterfield, VA.

Notice is hereby given that Adam Pack, Ph.D., University of Hawaii at Hilo, 200 West Kawili Street, Hilo, HI 96720, has applied for an amendment to Scientific Research Permit No. 26593.

The Mid-Atlantic and New England Fishery Management Councils (Councils) will hold a public meeting of their joint Northeast Trawl Advisory Panel (NTAP).

The United States Department of Commerce, International Trade Administration (ITA), is announcing one upcoming trade mission that will be recruited, organized, and implemented by ITA. This mission is: Asia Tech x Singapore 2024ICT Business Development Mission to SingaporeMay 27-30, 2024. A summary of the mission is found below. Application information and more detailed mission information, including the commercial setting and sector information, can be found at the trade mission website: https://www.trade.gov/trade-missions. For each mission, recruitment will be conducted in an open and public manner, including publication in the Federal Register, posting on the Commerce Department trade mission calendar (https://www.trade.gov/ trade-missions-schedule) and other internet websites, press releases to general and trade media, direct mail, broadcast fax, notices by industry trade associations and other multiplier groups, and publicity at industry meetings, symposia, conferences, and trade shows.

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) announces that the National Artificial Intelligence Advisory Committee (NAIAC or Committee) will hold an open meeting via web conference on Wednesday, December 13, 2023, from 1:00 p.m.-2:00 p.m. Eastern time. The primary purpose of this meeting is for the Committee to share and discuss updates on each working group's goals and deliverables. The Committee will also deliberate on draft findings and recommendations. The final agenda will be posted to the NAIAC website: ai.gov/naiac/.

NMFS issues this final rule to implement Amendment 123 to the Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands (BSAI) Management Area (BSAI FMP). This final rule amends the regulations governing limits on Pacific halibut (Hippoglossus stenolepis) (halibut) prohibited species catch (PSC) to link the halibut PSC limit for the Amendment 80 commercial groundfish trawl fleet in the BSAI groundfish fisheries to halibut abundance. This final rule is necessary to comply with the obligation in the Magnuson- Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act) that FMPs minimize bycatch to the extent practicable. It is also consistent with the Magnuson-Stevens Act's National Standards. This final rule is expected to minimize halibut mortality, and it may result in additional harvest opportunities in the commercial halibut fishery, as well as to the subsistence and recreational fisheries. This final rule is intended to promote the goals and objectives of the Magnuson- Stevens Act, other applicable laws, and Amendment 123 to the BSAI FMP.

The United States Travel and Tourism Advisory Board (Board or TTAB) will hold a meeting on Tuesday, December 12, 2023. The Board advises the Secretary of Commerce on matters relating to the U.S. travel and tourism industry. The main purpose of this meeting is for Board members to discuss priority issues related to travel and tourism. The final agenda will be posted on the Department of Commerce website for the Board at https://www.trade.gov/ttab-meetings at least two days prior to the meeting.

The U.S. Department of Commerce (Commerce) is rescinding the administrative reviews of the antidumping (AD) and countervailing duty (CVD) orders on certain large vertical shaft engines between 225CC and 999CC (large vertical shaft engines), and parts thereof from the People's Republic of China (China) for the period of reviews (PORs) March 1, 2022, through February 28, 2023, and January 1, 2022, through December 31, 2022, respectively, based on the timely withdrawals of the requests for review.

Notice is hereby given that the Institute of Marine Sciences, University of California at Santa Cruz, 130 McAllister Way, Santa Cruz, CA 95060 (Responsible Party: Daniel Costa, Ph.D.), has applied for an amendment to Scientific Research Permit No. 23188-03.

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) will hold public meetings of the Council and its Executive Committee.

In this rule, the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) amends the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) by removing one entity under the destination of the People's Republic of China (China).

The Pacific Fishery Management Council's (Pacific Council) Ad- hoc Sacramento River Fall Chinook (SRFC) Workgroup will hold two 2-day meetings.

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 NMFS has modified the expiration date of a Letter of Authorization (LOA) issued to CGG Inc. (CGG) for the take of marine mammals incidental to geophysical survey activity in the GOM.

The U.S. Department of Commerce (Commerce) published a notice in the Federal Register of November 6, 2023, in which Commerce announced its preliminary determination in the countervailing duty (CVD) investigation of certain paper shopping bags (paper bags) from the People's Republic of China (China). This notice incorrectly spelled two of the company names listed in the table in the ``Preliminary Determination'' section.

The Pacific Fishery Management Council (Pacific Council) is preparing for the annual preseason management process for the 2024 ocean salmon fisheries. This document announces public meetings planned for Winter 2024 and the anticipated availability of Pacific Council documents in the Winter/Spring of 2024.

The Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Advisory Committee (REEEAC or the Committee) will hold a virtual meeting, accessible to the public online, on Thursday, November 30, 2023, at the U.S. Department of Commerce in Washington, DC Registration instructions for the public to attend virtually are provided below.