Department of Commerce – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

Two Requests for Panel Review were filed in the matter of Tin Mill Products from Canada: Final Affirmative Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair Value and Final Negative Determination of Critical Circumstances with the U.S. Section of the USMCA Secretariat on February 8, 2024. The First Request for Panel Review was filed on behalf of The Government of Canada, and the second was filed on behalf of ArcelorMittal Dofasco G.P.

The New England Fishery Management Council (Council) is scheduling a public hybrid meeting of its Risk Policy Working Group to consider actions affecting New England fisheries in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ). This meeting will be held in-person with a webinar option. Recommendations from this group will be brought to the full Council for formal consideration and action, if appropriate.

The Western Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) will hold its 151st Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC), Executive and Budget Standing Committee (SC) and its 198th Council meeting to take actions on fishery management issues in the Western Pacific Region. The Council will also hold a joint meeting of the Advisory Panel (AP), the Fishing Industry Advisory Committee (FIAC), and the Non-Commercial Fisheries Advisory Committee (NCFAC).

The North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) submitted Amendments 54 and 55 to the Fishery Management Plan for Bering Sea/Aleutian Islands King and Tanner Crabs (Crab FMP) to NMFS for review. If approved, Amendments 54 and 55 would revise two provisions of the Crab Rationalization Program (CR Program) to complete the following: change active participation requirements for crab quota share (crab QS) established for vessel operators and crew; and expand the exemptions for CR Program custom processing from processor use caps and remove the CR Program processor facility use cap. These actions are intended to provide operators and crew greater flexibility in meeting CR Program participation requirements and to improve CR Program processor efficiency. This action is intended to promote the goals and objectives of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act), the Crab FMP, and other applicable laws.

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 a Letter of Authorization (LOA) has been issued to LLOG Exploration Company (LLOG) for the take of marine mammals incidental to geophysical survey activity in the GOM.

The U.S. Department of Commerce (Commerce) is expanding the period of review (POR) for the current antidumping duty (AD) and countervailing duty (CVD) administrative reviews of certain quartz surface products (quartz surface products) from the People's Republic of China (China) to include entries suspended by the final scope ruling on Malaysian processed quartz slab prior to the current POR of the instant reviews. Additionally, Commerce is providing a supplemental opportunity for interested parties to request a review of certain companies currently ineligible for the scope certification process with suspended entries during the expanded POR solely for the purposes of examining their certification status.

This notice sets forth the schedule and proposed agenda for a meeting of the Civil Nuclear Trade Advisory Committee (CINTAC).

The U.S. Department of Commerce (Commerce) is rescinding the administrative review of the antidumping duty (AD) order on utility scale wind towers (wind towers) from Spain for the period of review (POR) August 1, 2022, through July 31, 2023.

The U.S. Department of Commerce (Commerce) finds that Sahamitr Pressure Container Plc. (also known as Sahamitr Pressure Container Public Company Limited) (SMPC) made sales of subject merchandise in the United States at prices below normal value during the period of review (POR) August 1, 2021, through July 31, 2022.

NMFS is proposing to codify a schedule of restricted-fishing days (RFDs) for the 2024 fishing year and subsequent fishing years; reestablish a General category default retention limit for large medium or giant bluefin tuna (BFT) on open days; and make clarifications to the BFT dealer regulations and the definition of a bluefin statistical document (BSD) tag. This proposed action is necessary to increase the likelihood of pacing General category landings to extend fishing opportunities through a greater portion of the General category time period subquotas. Lastly, this proposed action would clarify existing regulations to ensure better understanding and compliance by General category quota participants.

In accordance with the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) of 1972, and the False Killer Whale Take Reduction Plan, NMFS is publishing a new trigger value for the Southern Exclusion Zone (SEZ) closure. The new trigger is three observed mortality or serious injuries of false killer whales incidental to the deep-set longline fishery within the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone.

With this final rule, the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) amends the Export Administration Regulations (EAR), which it maintains, by revising license requirements for certain cameras, systems, and related components. These revisions will better align controls with technological and commercial developments, such as the items' global commercial availability, while recognizing the cooperative strategic relationship the United States has with our closest allies. In addition to these changes, BIS is adding controls on certain cameras that are not already controlled by either export control classification number (ECCN) 6A003 or 6A203. These new controls are detailed under new ECCN 6A293, which is a classification for temporary controls for which BIS is seeking multilateral agreement.

This notice sets forth the schedule and proposed topics of discussion for the upcoming public meeting of the Advisory Committee on Supply Chain Competitiveness (Committee).

NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Pacific cod by vessels using pot gear in the Western Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the A season allowance of the 2024 total allowable catch (TAC) of Pacific cod by vessels using pot gear in the Western Regulatory Area of the GOA.

The U.S. Department of Commerce (Commerce) is rescinding the administrative review of the antidumping duty (AD) order on utility scale wind towers (wind towers) for the period of review (POR) August 1, 2022, through July 31, 2023.

As part of its initiatives to expand access to practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO or Office), the USPTO proposes to amend the rules regarding admission to practice before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB or Board) in proceedings under the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act (AIA proceedings) to give parties the option to designate non-registered practitioners who are recognized pro hac vice (i.e., granted recognition in a specific PTAB proceeding) as lead counsel; excuse parties from the requirement to designate back-up counsel upon a showing of good cause such as a lack of resources to hire two counsel; establish a streamlined alternative procedure for recognizing counsel pro hac vice that is available when counsel has previously been recognized pro hac vice in a different PTAB proceeding; and clarify that those recognized pro hac vice have a duty to inform the Board of subsequent events that render inaccurate or incomplete representations they made to obtain pro hac vice recognition.

We, NMFS, are issuing a final rule to list the Atlantic humpback dolphin (Sousa teuszii) as endangered under the Endangered Species Act (ESA), in response to a petition from the Animal Welfare Institute, the Center for Biological Diversity, and VIVA Vaquita. We have reviewed the status of the Atlantic humpback dolphin, including efforts being made to protect the species, and considered public comments submitted on the proposed listing rule as well as new information received since publication of the proposed rule. Based on all of this information, we have determined that the Atlantic humpback dolphin warrants listing as an endangered species. We will not designate critical habitat for this species, because the geographical areas occupied by this species are entirely outside U.S. jurisdiction.

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) announces that the National Artificial Intelligence Advisory Committee (NAIAC or Committee) will hold a public briefing session virtually via web conference on March 5, 2024, from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. eastern time. The primary purpose of this meeting is for the Committee to examine the concept of ``AI safety'' through the testimony of a group of experts, followed by questions and discussion.

On behalf of the National Science and Technology Council (NSTC)'s Subcommittee on Aquaculture (SCA), NMFS announces the availability of the draft Overview of the National Aquaculture Development Plan (NADP) and draft Strategic Plan for Aquaculture Economic Development (Economic Development Plan) for public comment.

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) and countervailing duty (CVD) orders on drawn stainless steel sinks from the People's Republic of China (China) would likely lead to the continuation or recurrence of dumping and countervailable subsidies, and material injury to an industry in the United States, Commerce is publishing a notice of continuation of these AD and CVD orders.