Department of Commerce 2024 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

NMFS proposes a revision to the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) to update the description of the western North Pacific gray whale distinct population segment (DPS) under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) of 1973 in light of the best available science. The proposed revision is informed by our recently completed 5-year review and a DPS analysis prepared by a Status Review Team. We do not propose to change the ESA-listing status of western North Pacific gray whales, which are classified as an endangered species.

Notice is hereby given of the two-year renewed charter for the Marine and Coastal Area-based Management Advisory Committee (MCAM), effective on December 6, 2024.

NMFS announces that the State of New Jersey is transferring a portion of their 2024 commercial bluefish quota to the State of North Carolina. This quota adjustment is necessary to comply with the Atlantic Bluefish Fishery Management Plan (FMP) quota transfer provisions. This announcement informs the public of the revised 2024 commercial bluefish quotas for New Jersey and North Carolina.

Federal agencies are required to develop procedures to implement the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) regulations implementing NEPA. Consistent with these requirements, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is proposing new NEPA implementing procedures (NEPA Procedures), including the establishment of new categorical exclusions (CEs) as part of its NEPA Procedures. CEs are categories of actions that an agency has determined normally do not have a significant effect on the human environment, individually or in the aggregate. CEs are a form of review that agencies use to comply with NEPA for proposed actions that normally have no or minimal environmental effects. NIST requests the views of the public on its draft NEPA Procedures as well as its substantiation record for the proposed CEs.

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

The Pacific Fishery Management Council (Pacific Council) will host an online meeting of the Area 2A Pacific halibut governmental management entities that is open to the public.

The U.S. Department of Commerce (Commerce) determines that the sole producer/exporter under administrative review, OCTAL SAOC FZC (OCTAL), did not sell subject merchandise at less than normal value during the period of review (POR), May 1, 2022, through April 30, 2023.

The U.S. Department of Commerce (Commerce) is rescinding the administrative review of the antidumping duty (AD) order on carbon and alloy steel wire rod (wire rod) from Ukraine for the period of review (POR) March 1, 2023 through February 29, 2024.

Notice is hereby given that Kori Johnsen, 1792 Harrison Avenue, Melbourne, FL 32935, has withdrawn their application for a permit to conduct research on green (Chelonia mydas), hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata), and Kemp's ridley (Lepidochelys kempii) sea turtles.

The U.S. Department of Commerce (Commerce) finds that revocation of the countervailing duty (CVD) order on Laminated Woven Sacks (LWS) from the Socialist Republic of Vietnam (Vietnam) would be likely to lead to continuation or recurrence of countervailing subsidies at the levels indicated in the "Final Results of Sunset Review" section of this notice.

The President's Advisory Council on Doing Business in Africa (PAC-DBIA or Council) will hold a meeting to deliberate and adopt a report commemorating the 10-year anniversary of the establishment of the PAC-DBIA. The PAC-DBIA will present summaries of past recommendations across twelve key topics: Infrastructure, Financing, Technology & Digital Economy, Energy & Environment, Health, Agribusiness & Food-Water Security, Trade Facilitation & Supply-Value Chains, Bilateral Engagement Mechanisms, Public Procurement, Workforce & Skills Development, SMEs & Women Entrepreneurs, and the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA). U.S. Government principals will provide feedback summarizing actions taken by departments, agencies, and programs that have address the PAC-DBIA's recommendations. The PAC- DBIA will also present a review of key fact-finding activities conducted and analytical reports produced over the 10 years of the PAC- DBIA's existence. Finally, the PAC-DBIA will present forward-looking recommendations regarding utilization of the PAC-DBIA and U.S.-Africa commercial engagement in general. The final agenda for the meeting will be posted prior to the meeting on the Council's website at https:// trade.gov/pac-dbia.

On November 25, 2024, the U.S. Court of International Trade (CIT) issued its final judgment in New American Keg v. United States, Court No. 20-00008, sustaining the U.S. Department of Commerce's (Commerce) third remand redetermination pertaining to the less-than- fair-value (LTFV) investigation of refillable stainless steel kegs (kegs) from the People's Republic of China (China) covering the period of investigation (POI) January 1, 2018, through June 30, 2018. Commerce is notifying the public that the CIT's final judgment is not in harmony with Commerce's final determination in that investigation, and that Commerce is amending the final determination and the resulting antidumping duty (AD) order with respect to the dumping margin for certain respondents eligible for a separate rate, i.e., Ningbo Master International Trade Co., Ltd. (Ningbo Master), Guangzhou Jingye Machinery Co., Ltd. (Guangzhou Jingye), and Guangzhou Ulix Industrial & Trading Co., Ltd. (Guangzhou Ulix). The merchandise exported by these three exporters is included in the amended AD order.

The U.S. Department of Commerce (Commerce) determines that countervailable subsidies were provided to certain producers and exporters of organic soybean meal from India. The period of review (POR) is September 3, 2021, through December 31, 2022.

NMFS announces that the 2024 summer flounder commercial quota allocated to the State of Connecticut has been harvested. Vessels issued a commercial Federal fisheries permit for the summer flounder fishery may not land summer flounder in Connecticut for the remainder of calendar year 2024, unless additional quota becomes available through a transfer from another state. Regulations governing the summer flounder fishery require publication of this notification to advise Connecticut that the quota has been harvested, and to advise vessel permit holders and dealer permit holders that no Federal commercial quota is available for landing summer flounder in Connecticut.

The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) seeks to improve intellectual property (IP) enforcement and reduce IP crime and infringement (USPTO 2022-2026 Strategic Plan, Goal 3, Objectives 3.3 and 3.4). As part of this effort, the USPTO will bring interested stakeholders together for an Anti-Piracy Symposium on Thursday, January 23, 2025, held at the USPTO in person and virtually.

The Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) is seeking public comments on the impact that implementation of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC or "the Convention"), through the Chemical Weapons Convention Implementation Act of 1998 and the Chemical Weapons Convention Regulations (CWCR), has had on commercial activities involving "Schedule 1" chemicals during calendar year 2024. 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 CWC.

The U.S. Department of Commerce (Commerce) finds that Shanti Worldwide (Shanti) made sales of subject merchandise at less than normal value during the period of review (POR) November 2, 2021, through April 30, 2023. Additionally, we are rescinding the review with respect to Shri Sumati Industries Pvt. Ltd. (Sumati), because we find that they did not make bona fide sales during the POR.

The U.S. Department of Commerce (Commerce) determines that RZBC Group Co., Ltd., RZBC Co., Ltd., RZBC Import & Export Co., Ltd., and RZBC (Juxian) Co., Ltd. (collectively, RZBC) did not sell subject merchandise in the United States at prices below normal value during the May 1, 2022, through April 30, 2023 period of review (POR).

The U.S. Department of Commerce (Commerce) determines that melamine from Germany is being, or is likely to be, sold in the United States at less than fair value (LTFV). The period of investigation (POI) is January 1, 2023, through December 31, 2023.

The U.S. Department of Commerce (Commerce) determines that countervailable subsidies are being provided to producers and exporters of melamine from Trinidad & Tobago. The period of investigation is January 1, 2023, through December 31, 2023.

The U.S. Department of Commerce (Commerce) determines that melamine from Qatar is not being, or is not likely to be, sold in the United States at less than fair value (LTFV). The period of investigation (POI) is January 1, 2023, through December 31, 2023.