Department of Commerce November 8, 2024 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

NMFS requests applications for the 2025 shark research fishery from commercial shark fishermen with Atlantic shark Directed or Incidental limited access permits. The shark research fishery provides fishery-dependent and biological data collection to support stock assessments and other NMFS' research and management objectives. The only commercial vessels authorized to land sandbar sharks are those participating in the shark research fishery. Shark research fishery participants may also land other species of sharks, dependent on the terms and conditions of their permit. Commercial shark fishermen who are interested in participating in the shark research fishery must submit a completed Shark Research Fishery Permit Application to be considered.

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 silicomanganese from the People's Republic of China and Ukraine would likely lead to the continuation or recurrence of dumping, and material injury to an industry in the United States, Commerce is publishing a notice of continuation of these AD orders.

In accordance with the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), NMFS has finalized the Conservation Plan for the Eastern Pacific Stock of Northern Fur Seal (Laaquda) based on public comments received. The goal of the Conservation Plan is to conserve and restore the stock to its optimum sustainable population. The Final Conservation Plan (Plan) for this stock is now available.

NMFS has received a request from the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (ADOT&PF) for the re-issuance of a previously issued incidental harassment authorization (IHA) with the only change being effective dates. The initial IHA authorized take of 11 species of marine mammals, by Level A and Level B harassment, incidental to construction associated with the Ferry Berth construction Ketchikan, Alaska. The project has been delayed and none of the work covered in the initial IHA has been conducted. The scope of the activities and anticipated effects remain the same, authorized take numbers are not changed, and the required mitigation, monitoring, and reporting remains the same as included in the initial IHA. NMFS is, therefore, issuing a second identical IHA to cover the incidental take analyzed and authorized in the initial IHA.

The U.S. Department of Commerce (Commerce) finds that revocation of the antidumping duty (AD) orders on steel propane cylinders from the People's Republic of China (China) and Thailand would be likely to lead to continuation or recurrence of dumping at the levels indicated in the "Final Results of the Sunset Review" section of this notice.

As a result of this expedited fifth sunset review, the U.S. Department of Commerce (Commerce) finds that revocation of the antidumping duty (AD) order on persulfates from the People's Republic of China (China) would likely lead to continuation or recurrence of dumping at the level indicated in the "Final Results of Expedited Sunset Review" section of this notice.

To provide updates to patent examination policy and procedures in a single source, which will improve access to essential guidance for all stakeholders and help to ensure issuance of robust and reliable patents that promote and protect innovation, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO or Office) issued a revision of the Ninth Edition of the Manual of Patent Examining Procedure (MPEP), published in November 2024 (January 2024 revision). The MPEP provides patent examiners and the public with a reference work on the practices and procedures relative to the prosecution of patent applications and other proceedings before the USPTO. The MPEP contains instructions to examiners, as well as other material in the nature of information and interpretation, and outlines the current procedures that examiners are required or authorized to follow in appropriate cases in the normal examination of patent applications and during other Office proceedings.