[Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions] [Department of Commerce Semiannual Regulatory Agenda] [From the U.S. Government Printing Office, www.gpo.gov] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Part IV Department of Commerce ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Semiannual Regulatory Agenda [[Page 22376]]DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE (DOC) _______________________________________________________________________ DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE Office of the Secretary 13 CFR Ch. III 15 CFR Subtitle A; Subtitle B, Chs. I, II, III, VII, VIII, IX, and XI 19 CFR Ch. III 37 CFR Chs. I, IV, and V 48 CFR Ch. 13 50 CFR Chs. II, III, IV, and VI Spring 2006 Semiannual Agenda of Regulations AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, Commerce. ACTION: Semiannual regulatory agenda. _______________________________________________________________________ SUMMARY: In compliance with Executive Order 12866 entitled ``Regulatory Planning and Review'' and the Regulatory Flexibility Act, as amended, the Department of Commerce (Department), in the spring and fall of each year, publishes in the Federal Register an agenda of regulations under development or review over the next 12 months. Rulemaking actions are grouped according to prerulemaking, proposed rules, final rules, long- term actions, and rulemaking actions completed since the fall 2005 agenda. The purpose of the agenda is to provide information to the public on regulations currently under review, being proposed, or issued by the Department. The agenda is intended to facilitate comments and views by interested members of the public. The Department's spring 2006 regulatory agenda includes regulatory activities that are expected to be conducted during the period April 1, 2006, through March 31, 2007. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Specific: For additional information about specific regulatory actions listed in the agenda, contact the individual identified as the contact person. General: Comments or inquiries of a general nature about the agenda should be directed to Daniel Cohen, Chief Counsel for Regulation, Office of the Assistant General Counsel for Legislation and Regulation, U.S. Department of Commerce, Washington, DC 20230; telephone: 202-482-3151. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Executive Order 12866 requires agencies to publish an agenda of those regulations that are under consideration pursuant to this order. By memorandum of January 6, 2006, the Office of Management and Budget issued guidelines and procedures for the preparation and publication of the spring 2006 Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions. The Regulatory Flexibility Act, 5 U.S.C. 601 et seq., requires agencies to publish, in the spring and fall of each year, a regulatory flexibility agenda which contains a brief description of the subject area of any rule which is likely to have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. The agenda also identifies those entries that have been selected for periodic review under section 610 of the Regulatory Flexibility Act. Within the Department, the Office of the Secretary and various operating units may issue regulations. Operating units, such as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the Bureau of Industry and Security, and the Patent and Trademark Office issue the greatest share of the Department's regulations. A large number of regulatory actions reported in the agenda deal with fishery management programs of NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS). To avoid repetition of programs and definitions, as well as to provide some understanding of the technical and institutional elements of the NMFS programs, a section on ``Explanation of Information Contained in NMFS Regulatory Entries'' is provided below. Explanation of Information Contained in NMFS Regulatory Entries The Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.) (Act) governs the management of fisheries within the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). The EEZ refers to those waters from the outer edge of the State boundaries, generally 3 nautical miles, to a distance of 200 nautical miles. Fishery Management Plans (FMPs) are to be prepared for fisheries, which require conservation and management measures. Regulations implementing these FMPs regulate domestic fishing and foreign fishing where permitted. Foreign fishing can be conducted in a fishery in which there is no FMP only if a preliminary fishery management plan has been issued to govern that foreign fishing. Under the Act, eight Regional Fishery Management Councils (Councils) prepare FMPs or amendments to FMPs for fisheries within their respective areas. In the development of such plans or amendments and their implementing regulations, the Councils are required by law to conduct public hearings on the draft plans and to consider the use of alternative means of regulating. The Council process for developing FMPs and amendments makes it difficult for NMFS to determine the significance and timing of some regulatory actions under consideration by the Councils at the time the semiannual regulatory agenda is published. The Department's spring 2006 regulatory agenda follows. John J. Sullivan, General Counsel. Bureau of Economic Analysis--Proposed Rule Stage ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Regulation Sequence Title Identifier Number Number ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 303 Change in Reporting Requirements for BE-577, Direct Transactions of U.S. Reporter With 0691-AA57 Foreign Affiliate..................................................................... 304 Benchmark Survey of Transactions Between U.S. and Foreign Persons in Selected Services 0691-AA60 and in Intangible Assets.............................................................. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [[Page 22377]] Bureau of Economic Analysis--Completed Actions ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Regulation Sequence Title Identifier Number Number ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 305 Change in Reporting Requirements for BE-11, Annual Survey of U.S. Direct Investment 0691-AA58 Abroad................................................................................ ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Bureau of the Census--Final Rule Stage ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Regulation Sequence Title Identifier Number Number ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 306 Cutoff Dates for Recognition of Boundary Changes for Census 2000 and for the 0607-AA35 Intercensal Period.................................................................... 307 Mandatory Automated Export System (AES) Filing for Export Shipments Requiring 0607-AA38 Shipper's Export Declaration Information.............................................. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Bureau of the Census--Long-Term Actions ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Regulation Sequence Title Identifier Number Number ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 308 Establishment of the 2010 Census Redistricting Program................................ 0607-AA42 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Bureau of the Census--Completed Actions ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Regulation Sequence Title Identifier Number Number ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 309 Annual Trade Survey................................................................... 0607-AA45 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Economic Development Administration--Final Rule Stage ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Regulation Sequence Title Identifier Number Number ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 310 Economic Development Administration Regulations....................................... 0610-AA63 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- General Administration--Final Rule Stage ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Regulation Sequence Title Identifier Number Number ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 311 Disclosure of Government Information.................................................. 0605-AA19 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- General Administration--Completed Actions ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Regulation Sequence Title Identifier Number Number ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 312 Disclosure of Government Information; Addition of Designating Official................ 0605-AA21 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [[Page 22378]] International Trade Administration--Proposed Rule Stage ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Regulation Sequence Title Identifier Number Number ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 313 Procedures for Conducting Five-Year (Sunset) Reviews of Antidumping and Countervailing 0625-AA51 Duty Orders........................................................................... ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- International Trade Administration--Long-Term Actions ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Regulation Sequence Title Identifier Number Number ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 314 Commercial Availability of Fabric and Yarn............................................ 0625-AA59 315 Proposed Amendment to Regulation Concerning Certification of Factual Information To 0625-AA66 Import Administration During Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Proceedings.......... ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- International Trade Administration--Completed Actions ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Regulation Sequence Title Identifier Number Number ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 316 Steel Import Monitoring and Analysis System........................................... 0625-AA64 317 Imports of Certain Worsted Wool Fabric: Implementation of Tariff Rate Quota 0625-AA67 Established Under Title V of the Trade and Development Act of 2000.................... 318 Changes in the Insular Possessions Watch, Watch Movement, and Jewelry Programs........ 0625-AA68 319 Procedures for Conducting Five-Year (``Sunset'') Reviews of Antidumping and 0625-AA69 Countervailing Duty Orders............................................................ ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Bureau of Industry and Security--Prerule Stage ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Regulation Sequence Title Identifier Number Number ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 320 Revisions to the DPAS Regulation and Associated Notices............................... 0694-AD69 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Bureau of Industry and Security--Proposed Rule Stage ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Regulation Sequence Title Identifier Number Number ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 321 Short Supply Controls: Crude Oil Exports.............................................. 0694-AC25 322 Additional Protocol Regulations....................................................... 0694-AD26 323 Clarification of Deemed Export Related Regulatory Requirements........................ 0694-AD29 324 Removal of License Exception GBS and TSR Eligibility for Certain Microwave Monolithic 0694-AD36 Integrated Circuit Power Amplifiers and Related Software and Technology............... 325 Chemical Weapons Convention Regulations: UDOC ``Change in Inspection Status Form''.... 0694-AD53 326 Voluntary Disclosure Provisions and Administrative Case Settlement Guidance Related to 0694-AD63 Restrictive Trade Practices or Boycotts............................................... 327 Removal of License Exception ``Additional Permissive Reexports'' (APR) Eligibility for 0694-AD70 Reexports of Commodities Controlled for National Security Reasons to Country Group D:1 Destinations.......................................................................... ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Bureau of Industry and Security--Final Rule Stage ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Regulation Sequence Title Identifier Number Number ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 328 Chemical Weapons Convention Regulations............................................... 0694-AB06 329 De Minimis Expansion of Eligibility: U.S.-Origin Software Incorporated Into Foreign- 0694-AC17 Made Commodities...................................................................... 330 License Exception AVS: Clarifications................................................. 0694-AC33 331 Clarifications to Part 752: Special Comprehensive License Requirements................ 0694-AC34 [[Page 22379]] 332 Imposition of License Requirement for Exports and Reexports of Missile Technology (MT)- 0694-AC48 Controlled Items to Canada............................................................ 333 Export and Reexport Controls on Iraq.................................................. 0694-AC84 334 Knowledge Definition, Safe Harbor, Red Flags.......................................... 0694-AC94 335 Clarification of ``Space-Qualified'' Parts, Components, and Technology Subject to the 0694-AD07 Export Administration Regulations..................................................... 336 Cuba: Clarification of Personal Baggage Rules......................................... 0694-AD23 337 License Exception GOV Exports and Reexports for Official IAEA International Inspection 0694-AD27 and Verification Use in Accordance With the U.S.-IAEA Safeguards Agreement, as Amended by the Additional Protocol............................................................ 338 Revisions and Clarification of License Exception Availability for Certain Crime 0694-AD47 Control Items and Removal of License Requirements on Other Crime Control Items........ 339 Expansion of Requirement of People's Republic of China (PRC) End-User Certificates 0694-AD52 Under the EAR; Elimination of Submission Requirement.................................. 340 Technical Amendments to the Export Administration Regulations......................... 0694-AD54 341 Revisions and Clarifications to the Export Administration Regulations................. 0694-AD55 342 Establishment of New License Exception for the Export or Reexport to Libya of Certain 0694-AD57 Items Controlled for Anti-Terrorism Reasons on the Commerce Control List.............. 343 Implementation of the Understandings Reached at the 2004 Gotebarg and 2005 Oslo 0694-AD58 Nuclear Supplier Group (NSG) Plenary Meetings......................................... 344 Conforming Changes to Certain End-User/End-Use Based Controls in the EAR; 0694-AD59 Clarification of Export Clearance Requirements under the EAR.......................... 345 Revised Appeal Procedure for Persons Designated as Related Persons to Denial Orders 0694-AD60 Issued Pursuant to Section 766.25 of the Export Administration Regulations............ 346 Implementation of Unilateral Chemical/Biological Controls on Certain Biological Agents 0694-AD62 and Toxins Selected for Domestic Control by CDC and APHIS; Clarification of Controls on Certain Medical Products........................................................... 347 Clarification of Licensing Requirements for Certain Photovoltaic Arrays and Related 0694-AD64 Software and Technology............................................................... 348 Revisions to the Export Administration Regulations Based on the 2005 Missile 0694-AD65 Technology Control Regime Plenary Agreements.......................................... 349 Implementation of New Formula for Calculating Computer Performance: Adjusted Peak 0694-AD66 Performance (APP) in Weighted TeraFLOPS; Bulgaria; XP and NP Controls................. 350 Clarification to the Export Administration Regulations; General Order To Implement the 0694-AD68 Syria Accountability and Lebanese Sovereignty Act..................................... 351 Revisions to License Requirements for Certain Thermal Imaging Cameras Incorporating 0694-AD71 Focal Plane Arrays.................................................................... 352 Revisions to License Exceptions TMP and BAG: Expansion of Eligible Items.............. 0694-AD72 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Bureau of Industry and Security--Long-Term Actions ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Regulation Sequence Title Identifier Number Number ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 353 Export Administration Regulations: Support Documentation Consolidation and 0694-AC04 Reorganization........................................................................ 354 Exports and Reexports to Sudan........................................................ 0694-AC05 355 Expansion of License Exception GOV; Exports and Reexports to International 0694-AC15 Organizations......................................................................... 356 Mandatory Electronic Filing of License Applications, Classification Requests, and 0694-AC20 License Exceptions Notifications Via BIS's Simplified Network Application Process (SNAP)................................................................................ 357 Revision to the Export Administration Regulations: Replacement Licenses............... 0694-AC23 358 Chemical Weapons Convention: Revisions to the Export Administration Regulations....... 0694-AC35 359 General Order Providing for Notification To Stop Specific Export or Reexport Under 0694-AC47 Designation NLR....................................................................... 360 Revisions of Aircraft Export Licensing Jurisdiction Based on Review of the U.S. 0694-AC74 Munitions List........................................................................ 361 Imposition of Foreign Policy Controls on Surreptitious Communications Intercepting 0694-AC82 Devices............................................................................... 362 Export Administration Regulations: Removal of Country Groups.......................... 0694-AD09 363 Implementation of the Wassenaar Arrangement Statement of Understanding on the Control 0694-AD10 of Non-Listed Dual-Use Items.......................................................... 364 Export Administration Regulations: Establish Special Intra-Company License (SIL)...... 0694-AD22 365 December 2005 Wassenaar Arrangement Plenary Agreement Implementation: Categories 1, 2, 0694-AD73 3, 5 Part I (telecommunications), 5 Part II (Information Security), 6, 8, and 9 of the Commerce Control List; W.............................................................. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [[Page 22380]] Bureau of Industry and Security--Completed Actions ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Regulation Sequence Title Identifier Number Number ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 366 License Exception APR for Reexports To, From, and Among Countries in Country Group A:1 0694-AC69 367 Revisions to License Exception TSR: Expansion to Scope of Eligible Countries.......... 0694-AC71 368 Revisions and Clarifications to the Export Administration Regulations................. 0694-AD30 369 Clarification on License Exception Restrictions as Relating to Exports and Reexports 0694-AD33 of Crime Control and Detection Instrument Equipment, and Related Technology and Software.............................................................................. 370 Removal of Certain Night Vision Devices From Eligibility for License Exception APR for 0694-AD34 Reexports To, From, and Among Country Group A:1....................................... 371 Revisions to the Import Certificate Requirements in the Export Administration 0694-AD50 Regulations........................................................................... 372 Removal of Restriction on Certain Exports of Crime Control Commodities When Being 0694-AD56 Exported for Official Use of U.S. Government Agencies................................. 373 Revision of National Security Based License Requirements and Licensing Policy, 0694-AD61 Increased Availability of License Exceptions for Certain NATO Member States........... 374 Corrections and Clarifications to the Export Administration Regulations............... 0694-AD67 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- National Institute of Standards and Technology--Final Rule Stage ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Regulation Sequence Title Identifier Number Number ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 375 Changes to Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS) Publication 201, Standard 0693-AB56 for Personal Identity Verification of Federal Employees and Contractors............... ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration--Proposed Rule Stage ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Regulation Sequence Title Identifier Number Number ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 376 Amendment 18A to the Fishery Management Plan for the Reef Fish Resources of the Gulf 0648-AN09 of Mexico............................................................................. 377 Measures To Prevent or Mitigate and Conserve, Manage, and Allow Full Utilization of 0648-AN76 Sharks................................................................................ 378 Atlantic Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish Fisheries; Amendment 9....................... 0648-AP60 379 Implementation of the Regulatory Changes Resulting From the Amendments and Extension 0648-AP61 of the South Pacific Tuna Act......................................................... 380 Amendment 71A to the Fishery Management Plan for the Groundfish Fishery of the Bering 0648-AP67 Sea and Aleutian Islands Area......................................................... 381 Regulatory Amendment to Section 679 Permits or Permit-Related Issues.................. 0648-AQ07 382 Regulatory Amendment To Adjust Permit Renewal Requirements and Transferability 0648-AQ20 Restrictions in NWHI's Hoomalu Zone and Mau Limited Access Programs................... 383 Fisheries of the United States; National Standard 1................................... 0648-AQ63 384 Amendment 1 to the Atlantic Herring Fishery Management Plan........................... 0648-AQ87 385 Amendment 62 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Groundfish Fishery of the Gulf of 0648-AR06 Alaska and Amendment 62 to the FMP for the Groundfish Fishery of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Area (BSAI).......................................................... 386 Regulatory Rulemaking To Revise Accounting for Externally Tagged Halibut and Sablefish 0648-AR09 387 Catcher Vessel Electronic Report...................................................... 0648-AR30 388 Atlantic Striped Bass Fisheries in the EEZ; Modification of Federal Regulations....... 0648-AR33 389 Maximize Retention and Monitoring Program in the Shore-Based Pacific Whiting Fishery.. 0648-AR63 390 Amendment 72 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska.. 0648-AR72 391 Revisions to the Definitions of Exempted Fishing and Scientific Research.............. 0648-AR78 392 Individual Fishing Quota for Guided Recreational Charter Halibut Fishery.............. 0648-AR96 393 Community Development Quota Regulatory Amendment To Modify Several Fishery Management 0648-AS13 Elements of the CDQ Program........................................................... 394 Amendment 13 to Fishery Management Plan for the Shrimp Fishery of the Gulf of Mexico, 0648-AS15 U.S. Waters........................................................................... 395 Amendment 14 to the Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Fishery................. 0648-AS22 396 Amendment 1 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Tilefish Fishery................... 0648-AS25 397 Regulatory Amendment To Establish Measures Authorizing the Optional Use of Electronic 0648-AS29 Logbook Forms in the Western Pacific Fisheries........................................ 398 Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (HMS); Reducing Sea Turtle Takes.................... 0648-AS49 399 Revise Precious Coral Measures To Increase the Protection of Black Coral Resources in 0648-AS64 Hawaii................................................................................ [[Page 22381]] 400 Generic Amendment To Provide for Regulations of Offshore Aquaculture of Selected Fish. 0648-AS65 401 Amendment 26 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Reef Fish Resources of the Gulf of 0648-AS67 Mexico To Establish a Red Snapper Individual Fishing Quota Program.................... 402 Amendment 25 to the Reef Fish Fishery Management Plan for the Reef Fish Resources of 0648-AS68 the Gulf of Mexico.................................................................... 403 Amendment 17 to the Fishery Management Plan for Coastal Migratory Pelagic Resources of 0648-AS70 the Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic................................................. 404 Establish Management Measures for the Western Pacific Squid Fishery................... 0648-AS71 405 Amendment to Regulations Implementing the Antarctic Marine Living Resources Convention 0648-AS75 Act of 1984........................................................................... 406 Individual Fishing Quota Program; Restructure Date-Specific Quota Share Regulations... 0648-AS77 407 Amendment 67 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska.. 0648-AS84 408 Fisheries off West Coast States and in the Western Pacific; West Coast Salmon 0648-AS96 Fisheries; Amendment 14; Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) Descriptions for Pacific Salmon. 409 Identify and Manage Alaska Fishery Management Plans for EFH and HAPC.................. 0648-AT09 410 Transfer of Management Authority for the Atlantic Coast Red Drum Resource From the 0648-AT13 South................................................................................. 411 Specifications for the 2006 Monkfish Fishery.......................................... 0648-AT22 412 Framework 42 to the Northeast Multispecies Fishery.................................... 0648-AT24 413 Framework 18 to the Atlantic Sea Scallop Fishery...................................... 0648-AT25 414 Framework 6 to the Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Fisheries................ 0648-AT26 415 Specifications for the 2006 Recreational Fisheries for Summer Flounder, Scup, and 0648-AT28 Black Sea Bass........................................................................ 416 American Lobster Fishery; Fishing Effort Control Measures To Complement Interstate 0648-AT31 Lobster Management Recommendations by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission. 417 West Coast Highly Migratory Species, Correcting Amendment............................. 0648-AT32 418 Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (HMS); Atlantic Shark Commercial Management Measures 0648-AT37 419 Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) Cost Recovery Program Amendments....................... 0648-AT43 420 Management Measures for Pacific Bigeye Tuna........................................... 0648-AT55 421 Omnibus Amendments to Fishery Management Plans to Address Essential Fish Habitat...... 0648-AT57 422 Amendment 10 to the Atlantic Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish Fishery Management Plan.. 0648-AT58 423 Specifications for the 2006/2007 Fishing Year for the Spiny Dogfish Fishery........... 0648-AT59 424 Specifications for the 2007 Fishing Year for the Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea 0648-AT60 Bass Fisheries........................................................................ 425 Specifications for the 2007 Fishing Year for the Surfclam and Ocean Quahog Fishery.... 0648-AT61 426 Framework 1 to the Surfclam and Ocean Quahog Fishery Management Plan.................. 0648-AT62 427 Specifications for the 2007 Fishing Year for the Tilefish Fishery..................... 0648-AT63 428 Specifications for the 2007 Fishing Year for the Atlantic Mackerel, Squid, and 0648-AT65 Butterfish Fisheries.................................................................. 429 Specifications for the 2007 Fishing Year for the Atlantic Herring Fishery............. 0648-AT66 430 Specifications for the 2007 Fishing Year for the Atlantic Bluefish Fishery............ 0648-AT67 431 Amendment 68; Central Gulf of Alaska Rockfish Pilot Program........................... 0648-AT71 432 Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (HMS); 2006 Bluefin Tuna Quota Specifications and 0648-AT72 Effort Controls....................................................................... 433 Amendment 13C to the Fishery Management Plan for the Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the 0648-AT75 South Atlantic........................................................................ 434 Joint Amendment to the Fishery Management Plans for the Shrimp (Amendment 14) and Reef 0648-AT87 Fish Fisheries (Amendment 27) of the Gulf of Mexico................................... 435 Interagency Electronic Reporting System (IERS)........................................ 0648-AT91 436 Western Pacific Precious Corals FMP: Amendment To Manage Hawaii Black Coral Fishery... 0648-AT93 437 Western Pacific Bottomfish FMP: Amendment 9 to Limit Large Vessel Fishing Effort 0648-AT94 Around Guam........................................................................... 438 Western Pacific Omnibus: Bottomfish Amendment 8, Amendment 12 Crustaceans, and 0648-AT95 Amendment 6 Precious Corals........................................................... 439 Amendment 84-A to the FMP for the Groundfish Fishery of the Bering Sea and Aleutian 0648-AU03 Islands Management Area Implementing Salmon Bycatch Measures.......................... 440 Regulatory Amendment to the Reef Fish Management Plan to Set Recreational Management 0648-AU04 Measures for Grouper Starting in 2006................................................. 441 Amendment 20 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands 0648-AU06 Crabs................................................................................. 442 American Lobster Fishery: Egg Production Measures as Approved in Addenda II Through 0648-AU07 VII to Amendment 3 of the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission's Interstate Fishery Management Plan............................................................... 443 Expansion of the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery Vessel Monitoring System to the Open 0648-AU08 Access Fishery........................................................................ 444 Sea Turtle Conservation: Additional Exception to Sea Turtle Take Prohibitions......... 0648-AU10 445 Amendment 18 (Bycatch Minimization) to the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery Management 0648-AU12 Plan.................................................................................. 446 Specification of Total Allowable Catches (TACs) for the Northeast Multispecies Fishery 0648-AU13 for Fishing Year 2006................................................................. 447 Subsistence Halibut Program Amendments................................................ 0648-AU14 448 A Regulatory Amendment To Permit the Seasonal Closure of Chiniak Gully in the Gulf of 0648-AU15 Alaska to Trawl Fishing............................................................... [[Page 22382]] 449 BSAI Pacific Cod License Endorsement Requirements for the Trawl Catcher Vessel 0648-AU16 Sectors; Notice of Control Date....................................................... 450 Regulatory Amendment To Revise Certain Species Codes in Table 2a and Table 2d......... 0648-AU20 451 Reorganize Western and Central Pacific Regulations Into New CFR Part.................. 0648-AU21 452 Amendment 10 to the Bottomfish and Seamount Groundfish FMP: Measures to End Bottomfish 0648-AU22 Overfishing in the Hawaiian Archipelago............................................... 453 Regulatory Amendment Modifying Section 680.22 Sideboard Protections for the Gulf of 0648-AU24 Alaska (GOA) Groundfish Fisheries..................................................... 454 Authorize an Exempted Fishing Permit Under the Highly Migratory Species FMP........... 0648-AU25 455 Amendment 12 to the Coastal Pelagic Species(CPS) Fishery Management Plan(FMP)......... 0648-AU26 456 Announcement of the Optimum Yield and Harvest Quotas for Pacific Mackerel............. 0648-AU27 457 Amendment 14 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the 0648-AU28 South Atlantic Region................................................................. 458 Amendment 15 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the 0648-AU29 South Atlantic Region................................................................. 459 Amendment 10 to the Fishery Management Plan for Atlantic Mackerel, Squid, and 0648-AU31 Butterfish............................................................................ 460 Amendment 11 to the Atlantic Sea Scallop Fishery Management Plan...................... 0648-AU32 461 Framework 43 to the Northeast Multispecies Fishery Management Plan.................... 0648-AU33 462 Framework 4 to the Fishery Management Plan for Monkfish............................... 0648-AU34 463 Amendment 14 to the Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Fishery Management Plan. 0648-AU35 464 Amendment 15 to the Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Fishery Management Plan. 0648-AU36 465 Amendment 21 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands 0648-AU37 Crabs................................................................................. 466 North Atlantic Whale Protection....................................................... 0648-AM85 467 Preventing Harassment From Human Activities Directed at Marine Mammals in the Wild.... 0648-AN43 468 Taking and Importing Marine Mammals: Taking Marine Mammals Incidental To Conducting 0648-AQ71 Oil and Gas Exploration Activities in the Gulf of Mexico.............................. 469 Right Whale Ship Strike Reduction..................................................... 0648-AS36 470 Taking and Importing of Marine Mammals; Taking Marine Mammals Incidental to U.S. Air 0648-AT39 Force Precision Strike Weapons Exercises in the Northern Gulf of Mexico............... 471 Taking and Importing of Marine Mammals; Taking Marine Mammals Incidental to Coastal 0648-AT46 Commercial Fireworks Displays at Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, CA........... 472 Taking and Importing of Marine Mammals; Taking Marine Mammals Incidental To Assessing 0648-AT77 Naval Ship Survivability.............................................................. 473 Taking and Importing of Marine Mammals; Taking Marine Mammals Incidental To Deployment 0648-AT78 of a Naval At-Sea Gunnery Scoring System.............................................. 474 Taking and Importing of Marine Mammals; Taking Marine Mammals Incidental to the 0648-AT79 Explosive Removal of Offshore Structures in the Gulf of Mexico........................ 475 Taking and Importing of Marine Mammals; Taking Marine Mammals Incidental To Testing 0648-AT80 and Training of the Navy's Surveillance Towed Array Sensor System--Low Frequency Active Sonar.......................................................................... 476 Taking and Importing of Marine Mammals; Taking Marine Mammals Incidental to Naval 0648-AT81 Training Operations at the East Coast Shallow Water Training Range.................... 477 Taking and Importing of Marine Mammals; Taking Marine Mammals Incidental to U.S. Air 0648-AT82 Force Air-to-Surface Gunnery Exercises in the Northern Gulf of Mexico................. 478 Taking and Importing of Marine Mammals; Taking Marine Mammals Incidental to Naval 0648-AT83 Explosives Ordnance Testing and Training Exercises in the Northern Gulf of Mexico..... 479 Spinner Dolphins in the Main Hawaiian Islands......................................... 0648-AU02 480 List of Fisheries for 2006............................................................ 0648-AU19 481 Designation of Critical Habitat for the Southern Resident Killer Whale (Orcinus orca). 0648-AU38 482 Northwest Hawaiian Islands National Marine Sanctuary; Designation and Implementation 0648-AS83 of Regulations........................................................................ 483 Gulf of the Farallones National Marine Sanctuary Management Plan Review............... 0648-AT14 484 Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary Management Plan Review......................... 0648-AT15 485 Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary Management Plan Review...................... 0648-AT17 486 Consideration of Marine Reserves and Marine Conservation Areas Within the Channel 0648-AT18 Islands National Marine Sanctuary..................................................... 487 Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary Management Plan Review......................... 0648-AT16 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [[Page 22383]] National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration--Final Rule Stage ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Regulation Sequence Title Identifier Number Number ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 488 Require Mandatory Observer Coverage in the At-Sea Processing Sector of the Whiting 0648-AK26 Fishery............................................................................... 489 Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (HMS); Recreational Atlantic Blue and White Marlin 0648-AQ65 Landings Limit; Amendments to the Fishery Management Plan for Atlantic Tunas, Swordfish, and Sharks and the Fishery................................................. 490 Fish and Seafood Promotion Act Provisions; Seafood Marketing Councils................. 0648-AS09 491 Fee System for Repayment of the Loan to Harvestors of Bering Sea/Aleutian Islands King 0648-AS46 and Tanner Crabs...................................................................... 492 Amendments 18 and 19 to the Fishery Management Plan for Bering Sea/Aleutian Islands 0648-AS47 King and Tanner Crabs--Crab Rationalization Program................................... 493 West Coast Highly Migratory Species Fishery Management Plan, Correcting Amendment..... 0648-AS89 494 Changes to Regulations Governing the Observer Communications System................... 0648-AS93 495 Amendment 79 to the FMP for the Groundfish Fishery of the Bering Sea and Aleutian 0648-AT04 Islands Management Area Establishing a Groundfish Retention Standard.................. 496 Amendment 11 to the Coastal Pelagic Species Fishery Management Plan................... 0648-AT11 497 Specifications for the 2006 Fishing Year for the Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea 0648-AT27 Bass Fisheries........................................................................ 498 2006-2007 Management Measures for Commercial, Recreational, and Treaty Salmon 0648-AT34 Fisheries Off the Coasts of Washington, Oregon, and California........................ 499 Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; Reef Fish Fishery of 0648-AT45 the Gulf of Mexico; Gulf Grouper Recreational Management Measures..................... 500 Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act Provisions; Fisheries of the 0648-AT48 Northeastern U.S.; Fishery Closure Due to the Presence of the Toxin that Causes Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning......................................................... 501 2006 Scallop Research Set-Aside Request for Proposals................................. 0648-AT68 502 Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; North and South Atlantic Swordfish Commercial 0648-AT73 Management Measures................................................................... 503 Implement Specification Management Measures for the 2006 Pacific Sardine Fishery 0648-AT76 Coastal Pelagic Species FMP........................................................... 504 Revision of Critical Habitat for the Northern Right Whale (Eubalaena glacialis)....... 0648-AT84 505 Amendment 19 to the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery Management Plan.................. 0648-AT98 506 Resource Agency Procedures for Conditions and Prescriptions in Hydropower Licenses.... 0648-AU01 507 Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Recordkeeping and Reporting Requirements; 0648-AU05 Regulatory Amendment to Modify Seafood Dealer Reporting Requirements; Correction...... 508 2006 Secretarial Action for Northeast Multispecies.................................... 0648-AU09 509 Final Rule to Implement the 2006 Acceptable Biological Catch and Optimum Yield for 0648-AU39 Pacific Whiting....................................................................... 510 Provide Regulations for Permits for Capture, Transport, Import, and Export of 0648-AH26 Protected Species for Public Display, and for Maintaining a Captive Marine Mammal Inventory............................................................................. 511 Taking of the Cook Inlet, Alaska, Stock of Beluga Whales by Alaska Natives............ 0648-AO16 512 Regulations Implementing the Bottlenose Dolphin Take Reduction Plan................... 0648-AR39 513 Taking Marine Mammals Incidental to Navy Operations................................... 0648-AR99 514 Taking of Marine Mammals Incidental to Commercial Fishing Operations; Atlantic Large 0648-AS01 Whale Take Reduction Plan Regulations................................................. 515 Sea Turtle Requirements for Commercial Scallop Fishing................................ 0648-AS92 516 Taking of Marine Mammals Incidental to Commercial Fishing Operations, Atlantic Large 0648-AU23 Whale Take Reduction Plan (ALWTRP) and Endangered Species Conservation; Restrictions to Fishing Activities................................................................. 517 Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary................................................. 0648-AQ41 518 Certification Requirements for NOAA Electronic Navigational Chart Distribution........ 0648-AR87 519 Licensing of Private Land Remote-Sensing Space Systems................................ 0648-AT00 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration--Long-Term Actions ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Regulation Sequence Title Identifier Number Number ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 520 Procedural Changes to the Federal Consistency Process................................. 0648-AP98 521 Coastal Zone Management Act Federal Consistency Regulations........................... 0648-AR16 522 Regional Marine Research Program...................................................... 0648-AF20 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [[Page 22384]] National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration--Completed Actions ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Regulation Sequence Title Identifier Number Number ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 523 Proposed Highly Migratory Species Process............................................. 0648-AK40 524 Amendment 12 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Crustacean Fisheries of the 0648-AL67 Western Pacific Region................................................................ 525 Amendment 7 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Bottomfish Fisheries of the Western 0648-AM98 Pacific Region........................................................................ 526 Revision of American Lobster Regulations for the EEZ.................................. 0648-AP18 527 Regulatory Amendment To Implement Permit Stacking in the Limited-Entry Fixed-Gear 0648-AP38 Sablefish Fishery in 2005 and Beyond.................................................. 528 Comprehensive Amendment Addressing Sustainable Fisheries Act Requirements Regarding 0648-AP51 Overfishing, Bycatch, Fishing Communities and Provisions for Fishery Management Plans for the Caribbean..................................................................... 529 Turtle Mitigation for Non-Hawaii-Based Pelagic Longline and Non-Longline Vessels...... 0648-AQ91 530 Amendment 13B to the Fishery Management Plan for the Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the 0648-AR38 South Atlantic Region................................................................. 531 Amendment 8 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Bottomfish Fisheries of the Western 0648-AR65 Pacific Region........................................................................ 532 Regulatory Amendment To Add and Revise Certain Species Codes.......................... 0648-AR67 533 Amendment 6 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Shrimp Fishery of the South 0648-AS16 Atlantic Region....................................................................... 534 Measures to Reduce Interactions with Seabirds in the Hawaii-Based Longline Fishery.... 0648-AS30 535 Amendment 6 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Precious Corals Fisheries of the 0648-AS31 Western Pacific Region................................................................ 536 Fee System for Repayment of the Loan to Harvesters of Pacific Groundfish Fishery and 0648-AS38 California, Washington, and Oregon Fisheries for Dungeness Crab and Pink Shrimp....... 537 Civil Procedures Governing Prosecution and Administrative Proceedings................. 0648-AS54 538 Announcement of the Optimum Yield and Harvest Limit for Pacific Mackerel.............. 0648-AS59 539 Establish Management Measures for the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands 0648-AS63 Bottomfish Fishery Under the Western Pacific Bottomfish and Seamount Groundfish FMP... 540 Generic Amendment for Addressing Essential Fish Habitat Requirements, Habitat Areas of 0648-AS66 Particular Concern, and Gear Restrictions for All Fishery Management Plans of the Gulf of Mexico............................................................................. 541 Correct and Clarify Amendment 13 and Framework 40-A to the Northeast Multispecies 0648-AS80 Fishery Management Plan............................................................... 542 Framework Adjustment 41 to the Northeast Multispecies Fishery Management Plan......... 0648-AT08 543 Regulatory Amendment to the Reef Fish Management Plan To Set Commercial and 0648-AT12 Recreational Management Measures for Grouper Starting in 2006......................... 544 Specifications for the 2006 Atlantic Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish Fisheries........ 0648-AT19 545 Specifications for the 2006 Atlantic Bluefish Fishery................................. 0648-AT20 546 Specifications for the 2006 Atlantic Herring Fishery.................................. 0648-AT21 547 Framework 1 to the Spiny Dogfish Fishery Management Plan.............................. 0648-AT29 548 Restrictions for 2005 and 2006 Purse Seine and Longline Fisheries for Tuna in the 0648-AT33 Eastern Tropical Pacific Ocean (ETP).................................................. 549 Temporary Rule To Address Haddock Bycatch in the 2005 Herring Fishery................. 0648-AT36 550 Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Atlantic Bluefish and Summer Flounder 0648-AT50 Fisheries; State Quota Transfers and Combinations..................................... 551 Remove Regulations That Implement Seasonal Area Closures to Groundfish Fishing in 0648-AT54 Waters off Cape Sarichef and in the Chiniak Gully Research Area....................... 552 Pacific Halibut Catch Sharing Plan for 2006 and Beyond................................ 0648-AT56 553 Establish a New Control Date for the Commercial Spanish Mackerel Fishery in the South 0648-AT64 Atlantic Exclusive Economic Zone...................................................... 554 Closure of the U.S. Longline Bigeye Tuna Fishery for 2005 in the Eastern Tropical 0648-AT70 Pacific Ocean......................................................................... 555 Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (HMS); Atlantic Shark Commercial Management Measures 0648-AT74 556 2006 and 2007 Quota Specifications for Atlantic Surfclam and Ocean Quahog Fishery..... 0648-AT85 557 Framework Adjustment to the Bycatch Reduction Criteria for the Fishery Management Plan 0648-AT86 for the Shrimp Fishery of the Gulf of Mexico.......................................... 558 Control Date for the South Atlantic Snapper Grouper Fishery........................... 0648-AT88 559 Central Gulf of Alaska Rockfish Pilot Program......................................... 0648-AT90 560 Regulatory Amendment To Implement Amendment 69 to the Fishery Management Plan for the 0648-AT92 Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska...................................................... 561 Effectiveness and Enforcement of Collection of Information Requirement................ 0648-AT97 562 Reinstatement of Amendment 10 Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) Closed Areas Under the 0648-AT99 Atlantic Sea Scallop Fishery Management Plan (FMP).................................... 563 2005-2006 Pacific Coast Groundfish Specifications and Management Measures, Including 0648-AU00 Inseason Actions and Corrections...................................................... 564 Fisheries Off West Coast States and in the Western Pacific; Western Pacific Pelagic 0648-AU11 Fisheries; Guam Longline Fishing Prohibited Area...................................... 565 Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (HMS); Atlantic Shark Commercial Management Measures 0648-AU17 566 Hydropower/Mandatory Conditions Review Process (MCRP) Rule............................ 0648-AS55 [[Page 22385]] 567 Taking Marine Mammals Incidental to Rocket Launches From the Kodiak Launch Complex, 0648-AP62 Kodiak Island, Alaska................................................................. 568 List of Fisheries for 2005............................................................ 0648-AS78 569 Threatened Status for Southern Resident Killer Whales................................. 0648-AS95 570 Taking Marine Mammals Incidental To Operation of Offshore Oil Production Facilities in 0648-AS98 Beaufort Sea.......................................................................... 571 Proposed Threatened Status for Southern Distinct Population Segment of North American 0648-AT02 Green Sturgeon........................................................................ 572 Marine Mammals; Subsistence Taking of Northern Fur Seals; Harvest Estimates........... 0648-AT49 573 Sea Turtle Requirements for Commercial Shrimp Fishing................................. 0648-AT89 574 Sea Turtle Requirements for Commercial Shrimp Fishing................................. 0648-AT96 575 Endangered and Threatened Species: Final Protective Regulations for Threatened Upper 0648-AU18 Columbia River Steelhead.............................................................. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Patent and Trademark Office--Prerule Stage ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Regulation Sequence Title Identifier Number Number ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 576 Regulations Governing Duty of Disclosure in Patent Applications and the Doctrine of 0651-AC04 Inequitable Conduct................................................................... ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Patent and Trademark Office--Proposed Rule Stage ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Regulation Sequence Title Identifier Number Number ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 577 Changes to Representation of Others Before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office....... 0651-AB55 578 Revision of Patent and Trademark Fees for Fiscal Year 2007............................ 0651-AB81 579 Amendment of Rules for Filing Intent To Use Documents in Section 1(b) Applications.... 0651-AB90 580 Changes to Practice for Continuing Applications, Requests for Continued Examination 0651-AB93 Practice, and Applications Containing Patentably Indistinct Claims.................... 581 Changes to Practice for the Examination of Claims in Patent Applications.............. 0651-AB94 582 Changes to Information Disclosure Statement Requirements and Other Related Matters.... 0651-AB95 583 Interim Guidelines for Examination of Patent Applications for Patent Subject Matter 0651-AB98 Eligibility........................................................................... 584 Examination of Patent Applications That Include Claims Containing Markush or Other 0651-AC00 Alternative Language.................................................................. 585 Changes To Eliminate the Disclosure Document Program.................................. 0651-AC01 586 Changes To Implement Preexamination Search Reports.................................... 0651-AC03 587 Changes in the Requirements for Filing Requests for Reconsideration of Final Office 0651-AC05 Actions in Trademark Cases............................................................ ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Patent and Trademark Office--Final Rule Stage ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Regulation Sequence Title Identifier Number Number ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 588 Changes in Trademark Rules of Practice in Inter Partes Proceedings Before the 0651-AB56 Trademark Trial and Appeal Board...................................................... 589 Clarification of Filing Date Requirements for Ex Parte and Inter Partes Reexamination 0651-AC02 Proceedings........................................................................... ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Patent and Trademark Office--Long-Term Actions ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Regulation Sequence Title Identifier Number Number ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 590 Changes To Implement Priority Application Exchange Between Intellectual Property 0651-AB75 Offices............................................................................... 591 Revision of Ex Parte and Inter Partes Reexamination Practice.......................... 0651-AB77 592 Changes To Implement the Refund Provisions of the United States Patent and Trademark 0651-AB79 Fee Modernization Act of 2004......................................................... 593 Amendment of Trademark Rules of Practice.............................................. 0651-AB89 [[Page 22386]] 594 Acceptance, Processing, Use and Dissemination of Chemical and Three-Dimensional 0651-AB91 Biological Structural Data in Electronic Format....................................... 595 Revisions To Facilitate Web-Based Patent Correspondence and Amendment Requirements for 0651-AB92 Reissue Applications and Reexamination Proceedings.................................... 596 Pre-Brief Appeal Conference for Patent Applications Under Appeal to the Board of 0651-AB96 Patent Appeals and Interferences...................................................... 597 Changes to Examination Practice for Means- (or Step-) Plus-Function Claim Elements in 0651-AB97 Patent Applications................................................................... 598 Revision to the Time for Required Filing of a Biological Deposit and to the Date of 0651-AB99 Availability of the Biological Deposit................................................ ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Patent and Trademark Office--Completed Actions ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Regulation Sequence Title Identifier Number Number ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 599 Changes To Implement the Cooperative Research and Technology Enhancement (CREATE) Act 0651-AB76 of 2004............................................................................... 600 Provisions for Claiming the Benefit of a Provisional Application With a Non-English 0651-AB85 Specification and Other Miscellaneous Matters......................................... ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Technology Administration--Completed Actions ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Regulation Sequence Title Identifier Number Number ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 601 Licensing of Government-Owned Inventions.............................................. 0692-AA19 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- _______________________________________________________________________ Department of Commerce (DOC) Proposed Rule Stage Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) _______________________________________________________________________ 303. CHANGE IN REPORTING REQUIREMENTS FOR BE-577, DIRECT TRANSACTIONS OF U.S. REPORTER WITH FOREIGN AFFILIATE Priority: Substantive, Nonsignificant Legal Authority: 22 USC 3101 to 3108 CFR Citation: 15 CFR 806 Legal Deadline: None Abstract: This action would amend 15 CFR 806.14 to change the reporting requirements for the BE-577, Direct Transactions of U.S. Reporter with Foreign Affiliate, and to bring the survey into conformity with the BE- 10, Benchmark Survey of U.S. Direct Investment Abroad-2004. Timetable: ________________________________________________________________________ Action Date FR Cite ________________________________________________________________________ NPRM 03/01/06 71 FR 10454 NPRM Comment Period End 04/01/06 Final Action 06/00/06 Final Action Effective 07/00/06 Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: No Small Entities Affected: No Government Levels Affected: None Agency Contact: Obie G. Whichard, Chief, International Investment Division, Department of Commerce, Bureau of Economic Analysis, 14th & Pennsylvania Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20230 Phone: 202 606-9890 Fax: 202 606-5318 Email: [email protected] RIN: 0691-AA57 _______________________________________________________________________ 304. BENCHMARK SURVEY OF TRANSACTIONS BETWEEN U.S. AND FOREIGN PERSONS IN SELECTED SERVICES AND IN INTANGIBLE ASSETS Priority: Substantive, Nonsignificant Legal Authority: 22 USC 3101 to 3108 CFR Citation: 15 CFR 801.10 Legal Deadline: None Abstract: This action would amend 15 CFR 801.10 to provide for the conduct of the BE-20, Benchmark Survey of Transactions Between U.S. and Foreign Persons in Selected Services and in Intangible Assets-2006. The existing rule covers a related survey for 2001, which the new survey will update. Timetable: ________________________________________________________________________ Action Date FR Cite ________________________________________________________________________ NPRM 06/00/06 NPRM Comment Period End 08/00/06 [[Page 22387]] Final Action 11/00/06 Final Action Effective 12/00/06 Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: No Small Entities Affected: No Government Levels Affected: None Agency Contact: Obie G. Whichard, Chief, International Investment Division, Department of Commerce, Bureau of Economic Analysis, 14th & Pennsylvania Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20230 Phone: 202 606-9890 Fax: 202 606-5318 Email: [email protected] RIN: 0691-AA60 _______________________________________________________________________ Department of Commerce (DOC) Completed Actions Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) _______________________________________________________________________ 305. CHANGE IN REPORTING REQUIREMENTS FOR BE-11, ANNUAL SURVEY OF U.S. DIRECT INVESTMENT ABROAD Priority: Substantive, Nonsignificant Legal Authority: 22 USC 3101 to 3108 CFR Citation: 15 CFR 806 Legal Deadline: None Abstract: This action would amend 15 CFR 806.14 to change the reporting requirements for the BE-11, Annual Survey of U.S. Direct Investment Abroad, and to bring the survey into conformity with the BE-10, Benchmark Survey of U.S. Direct Investment Abroad-2004. Timetable: ________________________________________________________________________ Action Date FR Cite ________________________________________________________________________ NPRM 08/22/05 70 FR 48920 NPRM Comment Period End 10/21/05 Final Action 11/28/05 70 FR 71238 Final Action Effective 12/28/05 Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: No Small Entities Affected: No Government Levels Affected: None Agency Contact: Obie G. Whichard, Chief, International Investment Division, Department of Commerce, Bureau of Economic Analysis, 14th & Pennsylvania Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20230 Phone: 202 606-9890 Fax: 202 606-5318 Email: [email protected] RIN: 0691-AA58 _______________________________________________________________________ Department of Commerce (DOC) Final Rule Stage Bureau of the Census (CENSUS) _______________________________________________________________________ 306. CUTOFF DATES FOR RECOGNITION OF BOUNDARY CHANGES FOR CENSUS 2000 AND FOR THE INTERCENSAL PERIOD Priority: Substantive, Nonsignificant Legal Authority: 5 USC 553(b)(3)(A); 5 USC 604(a); 44 USC 35 CFR Citation: 15 CFR 70 Legal Deadline: None Abstract: The Bureau of the Census (Census Bureau) is establishing cutoff dates for recognition of boundary changes to geographic entities for which the Census Bureau reports data in various surveys, estimates, censuses, programs, compilations, and publications throughout the period between decennial censuses (years 2001 through 2009). Timetable: ________________________________________________________________________ Action Date FR Cite ________________________________________________________________________ NPRM 01/25/02 67 FR 3631 NPRM Comment Period End 02/25/02 Final Action 12/00/06 Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: No Small Entities Affected: No Government Levels Affected: Local, State Agency Contact: Robert La Macchia, Chief, Geography Division, Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, Washington Plaza, Room 651, 4700 Silver Hill Road, Washington, DC 20233 Phone: 301 763-1022 RIN: 0607-AA35 _______________________________________________________________________ 307. MANDATORY AUTOMATED EXPORT SYSTEM (AES) FILING FOR EXPORT SHIPMENTS REQUIRING SHIPPER'S EXPORT DECLARATION INFORMATION Priority: Substantive, Nonsignificant Legal Authority: PL 107-228, sec 1404 CFR Citation: 15 CFR 30 Legal Deadline: None Abstract: The Bureau of the Census is amending the Foreign Trade Statistics Regulations to require mandatory filing through the Automated Export System (AES) of all export information for shipments where filing of a Shipper's Export Declaration was formerly required. The AES is an electronic method by which export information is transmitted. This amendment will specify the provisions and filing responsibilities of parties exporting commodities from the United States. Timetable: ________________________________________________________________________ Action Date FR Cite ________________________________________________________________________ ANPRM 10/22/03 68 FR 60301 ANPRM Comment Period End 11/21/03 NPRM 02/17/05 70 FR 8200 NPRM Comment Period End 04/18/05 Final Action 06/00/06 Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: No Small Entities Affected: No Government Levels Affected: None Agency Contact: Stephanie Dunlap, Regulations, Outreach, & Education Branch, Foreign Trade Division, Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, 4700 Silver Hill Road, FB-3, Washington, DC 20233 Phone: 301 763-2238 Fax: 301 457-3765 [[Page 22388]] Email: [email protected] Related RIN: Related to 0607-AA29, Related to 0607-AA31, Related to 0607-AA30 RIN: 0607-AA38 _______________________________________________________________________ Department of Commerce (DOC) Long-Term Actions Bureau of the Census (CENSUS) _______________________________________________________________________ 308. ESTABLISHMENT OF THE 2010 CENSUS REDISTRICTING PROGRAM Priority: Other Significant CFR Citation: None Timetable: ________________________________________________________________________ Action Date FR Cite ________________________________________________________________________ Notice 05/13/04 69 FR 26547 Notice 02/15/05 70 FR 7713 Final Action To Be Determined Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: No Government Levels Affected: Federal, State Agency Contact: Catherine C. McCully Phone: 301 763-4039 RIN: 0607-AA42 _______________________________________________________________________ Department of Commerce (DOC) Completed Actions Bureau of the Census (CENSUS) _______________________________________________________________________ 309. ANNUAL TRADE SURVEY Priority: Substantive, Nonsignificant Legal Authority: 13 USC 182; 13 USC 224; 13 USC 225 CFR Citation: None Legal Deadline: None Abstract: The Census Bureau is expanding the 2005 Annual Trade Survey to include agents, brokers, and electronic markets. The Census Bureau implements this expansion at the request of the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA). The BEA considers this information vital to its accurate measurement of sales and value added for wholesale trade. Timetable: ________________________________________________________________________ Action Date FR Cite ________________________________________________________________________ NPRM 09/20/05 70 FR 55104 NPRM Comment Period End 10/20/05 Notice of Determination 11/15/05 70 FR 69310 Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: No Small Entities Affected: Businesses Government Levels Affected: None Agency Contact: John R Trimble, Chief, Annual Trade and Special Projects Branch, Service Sector Statistics Div., Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, 4700 Silver Hill Road, Room 2633-3, Washington, DC 20233 Phone: 301 763-7223 Email: [email protected] RIN: 0607-AA45 _______________________________________________________________________ Department of Commerce (DOC) Final Rule Stage Economic Development Administration (EDA) _______________________________________________________________________ 310. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION REGULATIONS Priority: Other Significant Legal Authority: 42 USC 3121 et seq; 19 USC 2341 et seq; 42 USC 6701; 42 USC 5184; 42 USC 5121 et seq; 42 USC 3123; 42 USC 6709; 42 USC 6101 et seq; 29 USC 794; 42 USC 2000d-1 CFR Citation: 13 CFR 300 to 315 Legal Deadline: None Abstract: The Economic Development Administration will be considering and modifying its regulations to reflect the requirements of its reauthorizing legislation passed in 2004. The revisions will implement the changes made to PWEDA by the reauthorizing legislation. Timetable: ________________________________________________________________________ Action Date FR Cite ________________________________________________________________________ Interim Final Rule 08/11/05 70 FR 47002 Interim Final Rule Effective 10/01/05 Interim Final Rule Comment Period End 11/14/05 Second Interim Final Rule 12/15/05 70 FR 74193 Second Interim Final Rule Effective 12/15/05 Final Action 07/00/06 Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: No Small Entities Affected: Governmental Jurisdictions, Organizations Government Levels Affected: Local, State, Tribal URL For More Information: www.eda.gov Agency Contact: Otto B Bird, Chief, Counsel, Department of Commerce, Economic Development Administration, Office of the Chief Counsel, 1401 Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20230 Phone: 202 482-4687 Fax: 202-482-5671 Email: [email protected] RIN: 0610-AA63 [[Page 22389]] _______________________________________________________________________ Department of Commerce (DOC) Final Rule Stage General Administration (ADMIN) _______________________________________________________________________ 311. DISCLOSURE OF GOVERNMENT INFORMATION Priority: Substantive, Nonsignificant Legal Authority: 5 USC 552; 5 USC 552a; 5 USC 301; 5 USC 553; 31 USC 3717; 44 USC 3101 CFR Citation: 15 CFR 4 Legal Deadline: None Abstract: This final rule amends the Department of Commerce's (Department) Privacy Act (PA) regulations (15 CFR Part 4) by adding an additional method of authorization to determine the identification of individuals seeking access to records under the Privacy Act. Timetable: ________________________________________________________________________ Action Date FR Cite ________________________________________________________________________ Final Action 04/00/06 Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: No Government Levels Affected: None Agency Contact: Brenda Dolan, Departmental Freedom of Information and Privacy Act Officer, Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Ave, NW., Washington, DC 20230 Phone: 202 482-3258 Email: [email protected] RIN: 0605-AA19 _______________________________________________________________________ Department of Commerce (DOC) Completed Actions General Administration (ADMIN) _______________________________________________________________________ 312. DISCLOSURE OF GOVERNMENT INFORMATION; ADDITION OF DESIGNATING OFFICIAL Priority: Substantive, Nonsignificant Legal Authority: 5 USC 301; 5 USC 552; 5 USC 552a; 5 USC 553; 31 USC 3717; 44 USC 3101; Reorg. Plan No. 5 of 1950; . . . CFR Citation: 15 CFR 4 Legal Deadline: None Abstract: This final rule amends the Department of Commerce's (Department) Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) regulations (15 CFR Part 4) by adding an official authorized to deny requests for records under the Freedom of Information Act, and requests for correction or amendment under the Privacy Act (PA), for the Technology Administration. Timetable: ________________________________________________________________________ Action Date FR Cite ________________________________________________________________________ Final Action 12/21/05 70 FR 75729 Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: No Small Entities Affected: No Government Levels Affected: None Agency Contact: Philip J Greene, Freedom of Information Officer, Department of Commerce, 14th and Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20230 Phone: 202 482-1984 Fax: 202 482-0253 Email: [email protected] RIN: 0605-AA21 _______________________________________________________________________ Department of Commerce (DOC) Proposed Rule Stage International Trade Administration (ITA) _______________________________________________________________________ 313. PROCEDURES FOR CONDUCTING FIVE-YEAR (SUNSET) REVIEWS OF ANTIDUMPING AND COUNTERVAILING DUTY ORDERS Priority: Substantive, Nonsignificant Legal Authority: 19 USC 1671 et seq; 19 USC 1673 et seq; 19 USC 1303 CFR Citation: 19 CFR 351 Legal Deadline: None Abstract: On May 19, 1997 (62 FR 27296), the Department of Commerce (the Department) published final rules on inter alia procedures for conducting antidumping and countervailing duty proceedings to conform the Department's existing regulations to the Uruguay Round Agreements Act (URAA). Although these regulations contain provisions on the conduct of sunset reviews, the Department is planning to amend the regulations to provide more guidance on the procedures for conducting sunset reviews. Specifically, the Department proposes to amend the procedural regulations for participation in, and conduct of, sunset reviews to add two definitions to provide shorthand expressions for 120-day and 240-day sunset reviews; provide deadlines for certain submissions; clarify the information to be provided by parties participating in a sunset review; clarify when the Department will conduct a 120-day or a 240-day sunset review; and provide time limits for actions to be taken by the Department. Timetable: ________________________________________________________________________ Action Date FR Cite ________________________________________________________________________ Interim Final Rule 03/20/98 63 FR 13516 Interim Final Rule Effective 03/20/98 NPRM 05/00/06 Final Action 05/00/07 Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: No Small Entities Affected: No Government Levels Affected: Federal Agency Contact: Stacy Ettinger, Attorney, Department of Commerce, International Trade Administration, 14th & Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20230 Phone: 202 482-4618 RIN: 0625-AA51 [[Page 22390]] _______________________________________________________________________ Department of Commerce (DOC) Long-Term Actions International Trade Administration (ITA) _______________________________________________________________________ 314. COMMERCIAL AVAILABILITY OF FABRIC AND YARN Priority: Substantive, Nonsignificant CFR Citation: 15 CFR 345 Timetable: ________________________________________________________________________ Action Date FR Cite ________________________________________________________________________ NPRM To Be Determined Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes Small Entities Affected: Businesses Government Levels Affected: None Agency Contact: Janet Heinzen Phone: 202 482-4006 RIN: 0625-AA59 _______________________________________________________________________ 315. PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO REGULATION CONCERNING CERTIFICATION OF FACTUAL INFORMATION TO IMPORT ADMINISTRATION DURING ANTIDUMPING AND COUNTERVAILING DUTY PROCEEDINGS Priority: Substantive, Nonsignificant CFR Citation: 19 CFR 351 Timetable: ________________________________________________________________________ Action Date FR Cite ________________________________________________________________________ NPRM 09/22/04 69 FR 56738 Next Action Undetermined Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: No Government Levels Affected: None Agency Contact: Robert E. Nielsen Phone: 202 482-5340 Email: [email protected] RIN: 0625-AA66 _______________________________________________________________________ Department of Commerce (DOC) Completed Actions International Trade Administration (ITA) _______________________________________________________________________ 316. STEEL IMPORT MONITORING AND ANALYSIS SYSTEM Priority: Other Significant Legal Authority: 13 USC 301(a); 13 USC 302 CFR Citation: 19 CFR 360 Legal Deadline: None Abstract: The Department of Commerce amends its regulations to enhance the Steel Import Monitoring and Analysis System (SIMA). The Department is seeking to improve the system in order to provide the public with accurate and timely information on imports of certain steel products. Timetable: ________________________________________________________________________ Action Date FR Cite ________________________________________________________________________ ANPRM 08/25/04 69 FR 52211 Interim Final Rule 03/11/05 70 FR 12133 Final Rule 12/05/05 70 FR 72373 Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: No Small Entities Affected: No Government Levels Affected: Federal Additional Information: SIMA system expanded to cover all steel mill products and extended until March 2009. Agency Contact: Julie Al-Saadawi, Department of Commerce, International Trade Administration, 14th & Constitution Ave., NW., Room 3713, Washington, DC 20230 Phone: 202 482-1930 RIN: 0625-AA64 _______________________________________________________________________ 317. IMPORTS OF CERTAIN WORSTED WOOL FABRIC: IMPLEMENTATION OF TARIFF RATE QUOTA ESTABLISHED UNDER TITLE V OF THE TRADE AND DEVELOPMENT ACT OF 2000 Priority: Substantive, Nonsignificant Legal Authority: PL 108-429 CFR Citation: 15 CFR 335; 15 CFR 340 Legal Deadline: None Abstract: The Department of Commerce amends its regulation to implement the amendment to the Trade Act included in the Miscellaneous Trade Act of 2004 (Public Law 108-429). Principally, this rule amends the regulations to specify which HTS categories may be allocated as TRQs and to eliminate Commerce's authority to modify these quotas. Timetable: ________________________________________________________________________ Action Date FR Cite ________________________________________________________________________ Interim Final Rule 05/16/05 70 FR 25774 Interim Final Rule Comment Period End 07/15/05 Final Action 10/24/05 70 FR 61363 Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: No Government Levels Affected: None Agency Contact: Sergio Botero, Industry Economist, Department of Commerce, International Trade Administration, Office of Textiles and Apparel, 14th and Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20230 Phone: 202 482-4058 Fax: 202 482-0667 RIN: 0625-AA67 _______________________________________________________________________ 318. CHANGES IN THE INSULAR POSSESSIONS WATCH, WATCH MOVEMENT, AND JEWELRY PROGRAMS Priority: Substantive, Nonsignificant Legal Authority: PL 97-446; PL 103-465; PL 94-241; PL 106-36; PL 108- 429 CFR Citation: 15 CFR 303 Legal Deadline: None Abstract: The Department of Commerce is proposing to amend 19 CFR 303 in order to make technical changes required by passage of the miscellaneous Trade and Technical Corrections Act of 2004. Such changes include, for example, extending duty-refund benefits to include the value of usual and customary health and life insurance and pension benefits. Timetable: ________________________________________________________________________ Action Date FR Cite ________________________________________________________________________ NPRM 07/06/05 70 FR 38828 Final Action 11/08/05 70 FR 67645 Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: No Small Entities Affected: No Government Levels Affected: None Agency Contact: Irene H. Chen, Attorney-Advisor, Department of Commerce, International Trade Administration, 14th Street & Pennsylvania Avenue NW., Washinton, DC 20230 Phone: 202 482-1411 Email: [email protected] RIN: 0625-AA68 [[Page 22391]] _______________________________________________________________________ 319. PROCEDURES FOR CONDUCTING FIVE-YEAR (``SUNSET'') REVIEWS OF ANTIDUMPING AND COUNTERVAILING DUTY ORDERS Priority: Substantive, Nonsignificant Legal Authority: 19 USC 1671 et seq; 19 USC 3538 CFR Citation: 19 CFR 351 Legal Deadline: None Abstract: The Department takes this action to revise and clarify current procedures for participation in, and conduct of, sunset reviews. Section 123 of the Uruguay Round Agreements Act (URAA) governs the process for changes to the Department's regulations where a dispute settlement panel and/or the Appellate Body finds a regulatory provision to be inconsistent with any of the WTO agreements. Consistent with section 123(g)(1)(C), the Department is planning to publish proposed amendments to its regulations related to sunset reviews to conform the existing regulations to the U.S. obligations under Articles 6.1, 6.2, and 11.3 of the Antidumping Agreement. The regulations would amend the ``waiver'' provisions which govern treatment of interested parties who do not provide a complete substantive response to the Department's notice of initiation of a sunset review and clarify the basis for parties' participation in a public hearing in an expedited sunset review. Timetable: ________________________________________________________________________ Action Date FR Cite ________________________________________________________________________ NPRM 08/15/05 70 FR 47738 NPRM Comment Period End 09/14/05 Final Action 10/28/05 70 FR 62061 Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: No Government Levels Affected: None Agency Contact: Stacy Ettinger, Attorney, Department of Commerce, International Trade Administration, 14th & Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20230 Phone: 202 482-4618 RIN: 0625-AA69 _______________________________________________________________________ Department of Commerce (DOC) Prerule Stage Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) _______________________________________________________________________ 320. REVISIONS TO THE DPAS REGULATION AND ASSOCIATED NOTICES Priority: Substantive, Nonsignificant Legal Authority: 50 USC App. 2061 et seq; 42 USC 5195 et seq.; 10 USC 2538; 50 USC 82; EO 12919 ; EO 13286; EO 12742; EO 12656 CFR Citation: 15 CFR 700 Legal Deadline: None Abstract: BIS is reviewing and revising the Defense Priorities and Allocations Systems regulation to streamline the provisions of the regulation and remove outdated or obsolete sections. To ascertain the impact of possible deletions and amendments, BIS may be issuing notices of inquiry and requests for public comment, in addition to regulations in proposed form. Timetable: ________________________________________________________________________ Action Date FR Cite ________________________________________________________________________ ANPRM 04/00/06 Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Undetermined Government Levels Affected: Federal, Local, State, Tribal Federalism: Undetermined Agency Contact: Mr. Michael J. Vacarro, Senior Program Manager, Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security, 1401 Constitution Avenue, NW, Mailstop 3876, Washington, DC 20230 Phone: 202 482-8232 Fax: 202-482-5650 Email: [email protected] RIN: 0694-AD69 _______________________________________________________________________ Department of Commerce (DOC) Proposed Rule Stage Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) _______________________________________________________________________ 321. SHORT SUPPLY CONTROLS: CRUDE OIL EXPORTS Priority: Substantive, Nonsignificant Legal Authority: 10 USC 7420, 7430(e); 30 USC 185(s), 185(u); 42 USC 6212; 43 USC 1354 CFR Citation: 15 CFR 750; 15 CFR 754 Legal Deadline: None Abstract: The Bureau of Industry and Security is amending the short supply provisions of the Export Administration Regulations to revise the restrictions on exports of crude oil. Timetable: ________________________________________________________________________ Action Date FR Cite ________________________________________________________________________ NPRM 12/00/06 Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: No Government Levels Affected: None Agency Contact: Willard Fisher, Export Administration Specialist, Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security, 14th & Pennsylvania Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20230 Phone: 202 482-2440 Fax: 202 482-3355 Email: [email protected] RIN: 0694-AC25 _______________________________________________________________________ 322. ADDITIONAL PROTOCOL REGULATIONS Priority: Other Significant Legal Authority: 22 USC 6701; 50 USC 1601; 50 USC 1701; EO 13128; EO 12938; EO 13094; . . . CFR Citation: 15 CFR 781; 15 CFR 782; 15 CFR 783; 15 CFR 784; 15 CFR 785; 15 CFR 786; 15 CFR 787; 15 CFR 788 Legal Deadline: None Abstract: Following ratification by the United States of the Protocol Additional to the Agreement Between the United States of America and the International Atomic Energy Agency for the Application of Safeguards in the United States of America (AP or [[Page 22392]] Protocol), the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) proposes to establish the Additional Protocol Regulations (APR) to implement the provisions of the Protocol affecting U.S. industry and other U.S. persons. In the aftermath of the 1991 Persian Gulf War, international inspectors determined that Iraq had been engaged in a clandestine nuclear weapons development program at locations not directly subject to International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) safeguards. The international community determined that the safeguards system needed to be strengthened and negotiated a model Additional Protocol to amend existing bilateral safeguards agreements. The model Additional Protocol requires enhanced information collection and access to provide IAEA inspectors with greater ability to detect clandestine nuclear activities in non-nuclear weapons states (NNWS), and covers almost all of a state's nuclear fuel cycle. The United States, as a nuclear weapons state (NWS) party to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), is not obligated to accept IAEA safeguards on its nuclear activities. However, the United States voluntarily signed the U.S. Additional Protocol on June 12, 1998. In this U.S. Additional Protocol, the United States accepts all of the measures of the Model Protocol, except where their application would result in access by the IAEA to activities with direct national security significance to the United States or to locations or information associated with such activities. By submitting itself to the same safeguards on all of its civil nuclear activities that NNWS are subject to (except those of national security significance), the United States intends to demonstrate that adherence to the model Additional Protocol does not place other countries at a commercial disadvantage. Declarations submitted under the U.S. Additional Protocol would provide the IAEA with information about additional aspects of the U.S. nuclear fuel cycle, including mining and milling of nuclear materials, nuclear- related equipment manufacturing, nuclear-related imports and exports, research and development not involving nuclear material, and other nuclear material activities not currently subject to the U.S. Safeguards Agreement. There are no routine inspections under the U.S. Additional Protocol, but IAEA inspectors may be provided access (referred to as ``complementary access'') to the U.S. nuclear fuel cycle to assure the absence of undeclared nuclear material and activities or where there is a question or an inconsistency about the completeness or correctness of the U.S. declaration, which could relate to declared or undeclared industrial locations. Access to most industrial locations is predicated upon an IAEA request for clarification of a declaration. As with the U.S.-IAEA Safeguards Agreement, the IAEA would not be required to seek access to any U.S. locations. In carrying out the responsibilities delegated to it for implementation of the U.S. Additional Protocol, the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) will apply a philosophy of ensuring compliance while minimizing intrusion and the burden on commercial activities and emphasizing the protection of confidential business, national security, and other critical information to the maximum extent possible. Timetable: ________________________________________________________________________ Action Date FR Cite ________________________________________________________________________ NPRM 12/00/06 Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: No Small Entities Affected: No Government Levels Affected: None Agency Contact: Willard Fisher, Export Administration Specialist, Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security, 14th & Pennsylvania Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20230 Phone: 202 482-2440 Fax: 202 482-3355 Email: [email protected] Related RIN: Related to 0694-AD27 RIN: 0694-AD26 _______________________________________________________________________ 323. CLARIFICATION OF DEEMED EXPORT RELATED REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS Priority: Substantive, Nonsignificant Legal Authority: 50 USC 1701; 50 USC 2401; EO 12938; EO 13020; . . . CFR Citation: 15 CFR 734; 15 CFR 772 Legal Deadline: None Abstract: The Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) has reviewed the public comments received in response to the ``Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking: Revision and Clarification of Deemed Export Related Regulatory Requirements'' (ANPR) published in the Federal Register on March 28, 2005 (70 FR 15607; comment period extended, 70 FR 30655). The ANPR identified recommendations contained in the U.S. Department of Commerce Office of Inspector General (OIG) Report entitled ``Deemed Export Controls May Not Stop the Transfer of Sensitive Technology to Foreign Nationals in the U.S.`` (Final Inspection Report No. IPE-16176- March 2004). This notice states that the current BIS licensing requirement related to deemed exports is appropriate and confirms that the existing definition of ''use`` adequately reflects the underlying export controls policy rationale in the EAR. This notice also clarifies the scope of the fundamental research provisions in the EAR. In addition, this notice announces the proposed establishment of a Deemed Export Advisory Committee (DEAC) to ensure an ongoing dialogue between BIS and the regulated community. Timetable: ________________________________________________________________________ Action Date FR Cite ________________________________________________________________________ ANPRM 03/28/05 70 FR 15607 Comment Period Extended 05/27/05 70 FR 30655 NPRM 10/00/06 Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: No Small Entities Affected: No Government Levels Affected: None Agency Contact: Marcus Cohen, Regulatory Policy Analyst, Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security, 14th St. & PA Ave., N.W., Room 2705, Washington, DC 20230 Phone: 202 482-2440 Email: [email protected] RIN: 0694-AD29 _______________________________________________________________________ 324. REMOVAL OF LICENSE EXCEPTION GBS AND TSR ELIGIBILITY FOR CERTAIN MICROWAVE MONOLITHIC INTEGRATED CIRCUIT POWER AMPLIFIERS AND RELATED SOFTWARE AND TECHNOLOGY Priority: Substantive, Nonsignificant Legal Authority: 50 USC 2401; 50 USC 1701; 10 USC 7420; EO 13026; . . . CFR Citation: 15 CFR 774 Legal Deadline: None [[Page 22393]] Abstract: This rule proposes to amend the Export Administration Regulations by removing License Exception GBS for certain microwave monolithic integrated circuit (MMICs) power amplifiers that can be used in phased array radar systems and TSR eligibility for related software and technology controlled on the Commerce Control List. License Exception GBS authorizes exports and reexports to Country Group B destinations when a commodity requires a license to such destinations for national security reasons only. License Exception TSR permits exports and reexports of technology and software to Group B destinations where the Commerce Country Chart (Supplement No. 1 to part 738 of the EAR) indicates a license for national security reasons only. Such license exception changes are being made because these MIMIC devices could potentially be used in military radar, surveillance, communications, and electronic warfare by countries of concern and, thus, pose a national security concern. Timetable: ________________________________________________________________________ Action Date FR Cite ________________________________________________________________________ NPRM 06/00/06 Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: No Small Entities Affected: No Government Levels Affected: None Agency Contact: Jeffery Lynch, Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security, 14th & Pennsylvania Avenue NW., Room 2705, Washington, DC 20230 Phone: 202 482-3451 Fax: 202 482-3355 Email: [email protected] RIN: 0694-AD36 _______________________________________________________________________ 325. CHEMICAL WEAPONS CONVENTION REGULATIONS: UDOC ``CHANGE IN INSPECTION STATUS FORM'' Priority: Substantive, Nonsignificant Legal Authority: 22 USC 6701; EO 13128 CFR Citation: 15 CFR 715; 15 CFR 716 Legal Deadline: None Abstract: This rule would amend the Chemical Weapons Convention Regulations (CWCR) to expedite the collection of information concerning the inspection status of plant sites that produce unscheduled discrete organic chemicals (UDOCs) subject to the declaration requirements of the CWCR. The CWCR include requirements to report certain activities, involving scheduled chemicals and unscheduled discrete organic chemicals (UDOCs), and to provide access for on-site verification by international inspectors of certain facilities and locations in the United States. Specifically, this rule would amend the CWCR by revising the annual declaration requirements for UDOCs to permit a ``declared'' plant site currently subject to inspection, which anticipates that its production of UDOCs during the current calendar year will be below the inspection threshold level indicated in the CWCR, to submit a ``Change in Inspection Status Form'' to BIS by December 15th of the current calendar year. The information provided to BIS by this new form would ensure that the plant site would not be subject to inspection during the first 90 days of the next calendar year, which is the period when the United States compiles its annual declaration on past activities for submission to the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW). Any such plant site containing at least one plant that anticipates producing an individual PSF chemical, in quantities that exceed the declaration threshold for such chemicals, will have the option of submitting its ``Annual Declaration on Past Activities,'' in lieu of a ``Change in Inspection Status Form,'' by December 15th of the current calendar year; otherwise, the CWCR require that the ``Annual Declaration on Past Activities'' be submitted by February 28th of the following year. This rule would create an expedited mechanism for determining which UDOC plant sites would be subject to inspection, thereby allowing the United States to notify the OPCW concerning the inspection status of UDOC plant sites prior to the submission of the U.S. declaration to the OPCW and enabling the OPCW to schedule inspections of UDOC facilities in the United States on a year-round basis. Timetable: ________________________________________________________________________ Action Date FR Cite ________________________________________________________________________ NPRM 07/00/06 Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: No Small Entities Affected: No Government Levels Affected: None Agency Contact: Willard Fisher, Export Administration Specialist, Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security, 14th & Pennsylvania Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20230 Phone: 202 482-2440 Fax: 202 482-3355 Email: [email protected] RIN: 0694-AD53 _______________________________________________________________________ 326. VOLUNTARY DISCLOSURE PROVISIONS AND ADMINISTRATIVE CASE SETTLEMENT GUIDANCE RELATED TO RESTRICTIVE TRADE PRACTICES OR BOYCOTTS Priority: Info./Admin./Other Legal Authority: 50 USC app 2401 et seq; 50 USC 1701 et seq; EO 13222 CFR Citation: 15 CFR 764; 15 CFR 766 Legal Deadline: None Abstract: This rule sets forth procedures for making voluntary self disclosures of violations of part 760 of the Export Administration Regulations (Restrictive Trade Practices or Boycotts) and related recordkeeping violations (collectively referred to as antiboycott violations). This rule also provides guidance about BIS typically exercises its discretion regarding whether to pursue an administrative case regarding antiboycott violations, and what administrative sanctions to seek in settling such a case. Timetable: ________________________________________________________________________ Action Date FR Cite ________________________________________________________________________ NPRM 04/00/06 Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: No Small Entities Affected: No Government Levels Affected: None Agency Contact: William Arvin, Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security, HCHB Room 2096, 14th & Pennsylvania Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20230 Phone: 202 482-2440 Fax: 202 482-3355 Email: [email protected] RIN: 0694-AD63 [[Page 22394]] _______________________________________________________________________ 327. REMOVAL OF LICENSE EXCEPTION ``ADDITIONAL PERMISSIVE REEXPORTS'' (APR) ELIGIBILITY FOR REEXPORTS OF COMMODITIES CONTROLLED FOR NATIONAL SECURITY REASONS TO COUNTRY GROUP D:1 DESTINATIONS Priority: Substantive, Nonsignificant. Major status under 5 USC 801 is undetermined. Legal Authority: 50 USC app. 2401 et seq; 50 USC 1701 et seq.; PL 106- 387; EO 13026; EO 13222 CFR Citation: 15 CFR 740 Legal Deadline: None Abstract: Section 740.16 Export Administration Regulations (EAR) provides some exceptions to license requirements that apply to reexports (transmission or shipment from one foreign country to another ) of an item that is subject to the EAR but not to exports from the United States. This proposed rule addresses the reexport exception set forth in Section 740.16(a)(3)(ii), which authorizes items controlled on the Commence Control List for national security reasons to be reexported from Countries listed in Country Group A:1 and cooperating countries to destinations listed in country Group D:1 other than Cambodia, Laos or North Korea. Country Groups A:1 and D:1 are listed in Supplement No. 1 to part 740 of the EAR. Country Group A:1 and Cooperating countries generally are countries that implement export controls for national security reasons consistent with U.S. controls. Country Group D:1 countries are countries of concern for national security reasons. The License Exception set forth in section 740.16(a)(3)(ii) was originally implemented when the predecessor organization to the Wassenaar Arrangement, the Coordinating Committee (COCOM) harmonized national security-based export controls through, among other things, a list of countries that were the objects of export controls by all members. The U.S. Government chose to rely on the license decisions of COCOM members in lieu of U.S. Government review for certain reexports of national security- controlled commodities to destinations that are currently listed in Country Group D:1, with certain exceptions. In addition, reexports of sensitive national security controlled commodities (generally the kinds of commodities that currently are controlled on the Commerce Control List with a reason for control of NS Column 1) to destinations that are now part of Country Group D:1 were subject to COCOM consensus reviews in which the United States participated. Any member of COCOM, including the United States, could block such a sale. The ``successor'' to COCOM is the Wassenaar Arrangement. However, the Wassenaar Arrangement includes among its members countries that are not in Country Group A:1 or Cooperating Countries, and the Wassenaar Arrangement has neither a common list of countries that its controls target nor a practice of consensus review of very sensitive items prior to export. Because the underlying rationale for this license exception no longer exists, BIS is proposing to abolish it. Timetable: ________________________________________________________________________ Action Date FR Cite ________________________________________________________________________ NPRM 07/00/06 Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: No Government Levels Affected: None Agency Contact: William Arvin, Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security, HCHB Room 2096, 14th & Pennsylvania Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20230 Phone: 202 482-2440 Fax: 202 482-3355 Email: [email protected] RIN: 0694-AD70 _______________________________________________________________________ Department of Commerce (DOC) Final Rule Stage Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) _______________________________________________________________________ 328. CHEMICAL WEAPONS CONVENTION REGULATIONS Priority: Other Significant Legal Authority: 50 USC app 2401 et seq; 50 USC 1701 et seq; 22 USC 3201 et seq; 42 USC 2139a; EO 12002; EO 12058; EO 12214; EO 12938; EO 13026; EO 13222 CFR Citation: 15 CFR 710 et seq Legal Deadline: None Abstract: The Chemical Weapons Convention Implementation Act of 1998 (the Act or CWCIA) (22 U.S.C. 6701 et seq.), enacted on October 21, 1998, authorizes the United States to require the U.S. chemical industry and other private entities to submit declarations, notifications and other reports and also to provide access for on-site inspections conducted by inspectors sent by the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW). Executive Order (E.O.) 13128 delegates authority to the Department of Commerce to promulgate regulations, obtain and execute warrants, provide assistance to certain facilities, and carry out appropriate functions to implement the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), consistent with the Act. The Department of Commerce implements CWC import restrictions under the authority of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, the National Emergencies Act, and E.O. 12938, as amended by E.O. 13128. The Departments of State and Commerce have implemented the CWC export restrictions under their respective export control authorities. E.O. 13128 designates the Department of State as the United States National Authority (USNA) for purposes of the CWC and the Act. On December 30, 1999, the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), U.S. Department of Commerce, published an interim rule that established the Chemical Weapons Convention Regulations (CWCR) (15 CFR parts 710 to 722). The CWCR implemented the provisions of the CWC, affecting U.S. industry and U.S. persons, in accordance with the provisions of the Act. This rule updates the CWCR to include additional requirements identified as necessary for the implementation of certain CWC provisions and amends the CWCR to clarify other CWC requirements. Timetable: ________________________________________________________________________ Action Date FR Cite ________________________________________________________________________ NPRM 07/21/99 64 FR 39193 Interim Final Rule 12/30/99 64 FR 73744 Second NPRM 12/07/04 69 FR 70754 [[Page 22395]] Final Rule 04/00/06 Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: No Small Entities Affected: Businesses Government Levels Affected: Federal Agency Contact: Willard Fisher, Export Administration Specialist, Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security, 14th & Pennsylvania Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20230 Phone: 202 482-2440 Fax: 202 482-3355 Email: [email protected] RIN: 0694-AB06 _______________________________________________________________________ 329. DE MINIMIS EXPANSION OF ELIGIBILITY: U.S.-ORIGIN SOFTWARE INCORPORATED INTO FOREIGN-MADE COMMODITIES Priority: Substantive, Nonsignificant Legal Authority: 50 USC app 2401 et seq; 50 USC 1701 et seq; 22 USC 3201 et seq; 42 USC 2139a; EO 12002; EO 12058; EO 12214; EO 12938; EO 13026; EO 13222; . . . CFR Citation: 15 CFR 730 to 774 Legal Deadline: None Abstract: This rule amends the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) by allowing foreign-made commodities that incorporate a de minimis, i.e., low percentage, value of controlled U.S.-origin software to be considered ``not subject'' to the Export Administration Regulations (EAR). Timetable: ________________________________________________________________________ Action Date FR Cite ________________________________________________________________________ Interim Final Rule 07/00/06 Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: No Small Entities Affected: No Government Levels Affected: None Agency Contact: Sharron Cook, Policy Analyst, Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security, 14th & Pennsylvania Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20230 Phone: 202 482-2440 Fax: 202 482-3355 Email: [email protected] RIN: 0694-AC17 _______________________________________________________________________ 330. LICENSE EXCEPTION AVS: CLARIFICATIONS Priority: Substantive, Nonsignificant Legal Authority: 50 USC app 2401 et seq; 50 USC 1701 et seq; 22 USC 3201 et seq; 42 USC 2139a; EO 12002; EO 12058; EO 12214; EO 12938; EO 13026; EO 13222; . . . CFR Citation: 15 CFR 740 Legal Deadline: None Abstract: The Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) is amending the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) to clarify the scope of certain License Exception AVS provisions. Timetable: ________________________________________________________________________ Action Date FR Cite ________________________________________________________________________ Interim Final Rule 12/00/06 Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: No Small Entities Affected: No Government Levels Affected: None Agency Contact: Willard Fisher, Export Administration Specialist, Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security, 14th & Pennsylvania Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20230 Phone: 202 482-2440 Fax: 202 482-3355 Email: [email protected] RIN: 0694-AC33 _______________________________________________________________________ 331. CLARIFICATIONS TO PART 752: SPECIAL COMPREHENSIVE LICENSE REQUIREMENTS Priority: Substantive, Nonsignificant Legal Authority: 50 USC app 2401 et seq; 50 USC 1701 et seq; 22 USC 3201 et seq; 42 USC 2139a; EO 12002; EO 12058; EO 12214; EO 12938; EO 13026; EO 13222; . . . CFR Citation: 15 CFR 700 to 799 Legal Deadline: None Abstract: The Bureau of Industry and Security administers the Special Comprehensive License (SCL) program to provide an effective export control mechanism for exporters who routinely ship to multiple end- users. This rule amends the SCL provisions of the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) to conform with changes in the SCL licensing process and to provide SCL applicants and consignees with additional guidance on how to fill out the forms required to submit a license application or to request changes in their SCLs. This rule also creates two new elements for SCL internal control programs. These new elements require the establishment of procedures for screening customers and items to ensure that SCL transactions conform with the antiboycott provisions of the EAR and with EAR provisions concerning entities involved in weapons of mass destruction activities. Timetable: ________________________________________________________________________ Action Date FR Cite ________________________________________________________________________ Final Action 12/00/06 Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: No Small Entities Affected: No Government Levels Affected: None Agency Contact: Willard Fisher, Export Administration Specialist, Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security, 14th & Pennsylvania Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20230 Phone: 202 482-2440 Fax: 202 482-3355 Email: [email protected] RIN: 0694-AC34 _______________________________________________________________________ 332. IMPOSITION OF LICENSE REQUIREMENT FOR EXPORTS AND REEXPORTS OF MISSILE TECHNOLOGY (MT)-CONTROLLED ITEMS TO CANADA Priority: Substantive, Nonsignificant Legal Authority: 50 USC app 2401 et seq; 50 USC 1701 et seq; 10 USC 7420; 10 USC 7430(e); 18 USC 2501 et seq; . . . CFR Citation: 15 CFR 738; 15 CFR 742 Legal Deadline: None Abstract: This rule revises the existing license exemption in the Export Administration Regulations for the export of missile technology controlled items to Canada. It implements recommendations contained in the General Accounting Office report entitled Export Controls: Regulatory Change Needed to Comply with Missile Technology Licensing Requirements (GA-01-530). Timetable: ________________________________________________________________________ Action Date FR Cite ________________________________________________________________________ ANPRM 12/20/01 66 FR 65666 NPRM 05/24/05 70 FR 29660 Comment Period End 06/23/05 Final Action 04/00/06 [[Page 22396]] Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: No Small Entities Affected: No Government Levels Affected: None Agency Contact: Matthew Blaskovich, Export Policy Analyst, Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security, 14th & Pennsylvania Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20230 Phone: 202 482-2440 Fax: 202 482-3355 Email: [email protected] RIN: 0694-AC48 _______________________________________________________________________ 333. EXPORT AND REEXPORT CONTROLS ON IRAQ Priority: Substantive, Nonsignificant Legal Authority: 50 USC app 2401; 50 USC 1701; 10 USC 7420; 10 USC 7430; 18 USC 2510; 22 USC 287; 22 USC 3201; 22 USC 6004; 30 USC 185; 42 USC 2139; 42 USC 6212; 43 USC 1354; 46 USC 466; 50 USC app 5; PL 106- 387; PL 107-56; EO 13026; EO 13222 CFR Citation: 15 CFR 732; 15 CFR 738; 15 CFR 740; 15 CFR 742; 15 CFR 744; 15 CFR 746; 15 CFR 750; 15 CFR 752; 15 CFR 758; 15 CFR 762; 15 CFR 774 Legal Deadline: None Abstract: This rule establishes the new export control policy for exports to Iraq under the licensing responsibility of the Bureau of Industry and Security. The new export control policy reflects the changed circumstances in Iraq and is consistent with changes in U.S. legal authorities concerning Iraq and actions taken by the United Nations Security Council with respect to the embargo against Iraq. Timetable: ________________________________________________________________________ Action Date FR Cite ________________________________________________________________________ Interim Final Rule 07/30/04 69 FR 46060 Final Action 06/00/06 Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: No Small Entities Affected: No Government Levels Affected: None Agency Contact: Sheila Quarterman, Export Policy Analyst, Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security, 14th & Pennsylvania Avenue NW., HCHB Room 2096, Washington, DC 20230 Phone: 202 482-2440 Email: [email protected] RIN: 0694-AC84 _______________________________________________________________________ 334. KNOWLEDGE DEFINITION, SAFE HARBOR, RED FLAGS Priority: Other Significant Legal Authority: 50 USC app 2401 et seq; 50 USC 1701 et seq; EO 12938; EO 13020; EO 13026; EO 13222 CFR Citation: 15 CFR 732; 15 CFR 736; 15 CFR 744; 15 CFR 752; 15 CFR 764; 15 CFR 772 Legal Deadline: None Abstract: This rule revises the knowledge definition in the Export Administration Regulations to incorporate a ``reasonable person'' standard and replaces the phrase ``high probability'' with the phrase ``more likely than not.'' It also updates the ``red flags'' guidance and would provide a safe harbor from liability arising from knowledge under that definition. Timetable: ________________________________________________________________________ Action Date FR Cite ________________________________________________________________________ NPRM 01/13/04 69 FR 60829 NPRM Comment Period Extended 11/15/04 69 FR 65555 Final Action 12/00/06 Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: No Government Levels Affected: None Agency Contact: William Arvin, Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security, HCHB Room 2096, 14th & Pennsylvania Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20230 Phone: 202 482-2440 Fax: 202 482-3355 Email: [email protected] RIN: 0694-AC94 _______________________________________________________________________ 335. CLARIFICATION OF ``SPACE-QUALIFIED'' PARTS, COMPONENTS, AND TECHNOLOGY SUBJECT TO THE EXPORT ADMINISTRATION REGULATIONS Priority: Substantive, Nonsignificant Legal Authority: 50 USC app 2401 et seq; 50 USC 1701 et seq; 10 USC 7420; 10 USC 7430(e); 18 USC 2510 et seq; 22 USC 287c; 22 USC 3201 et seq; 22 USC 6004; 30 USC 185(s) and 185(u); 42 USC 2139a; 42 USC 6212; 43 USC 1354; 46 USC app 466c; 50 USC app 5; PL 106-387; PL 107-56; EO 13026; EO 13222 CFR Citation: 15 CFR 744 Legal Deadline: None Abstract: This rule amends the Export Administration Regulations (EAR), Commerce Control List entry for space launch vehicles and ``spacecraft'' to remove outdated notes and to clarify that ``space qualified'' parts, components and technology subject to the EAR are controlled under other entries. Timetable: ________________________________________________________________________ Action Date FR Cite ________________________________________________________________________ Final Action 08/00/06 Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: No Small Entities Affected: No Government Levels Affected: None Agency Contact: Jeffery Lynch, Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security, 14th & Pennsylvania Avenue NW., Room 2705, Washington, DC 20230 Phone: 202 482-3451 Fax: 202 482-3355 Email: [email protected] RIN: 0694-AD07 _______________________________________________________________________ 336. CUBA: CLARIFICATION OF PERSONAL BAGGAGE RULES Priority: Other Significant Legal Authority: 50 USC app 2401 et seq; 50 USC 1701 et seq; PL 106- 387; EO 13026; EO 13222 CFR Citation: 15 CFR 740 Legal Deadline: None Abstract: This rule clarifies the policy implemented in a rule that BIS published on June 22, 2004 (RIN 0694-AD17, 69 FR 34565). That rule, inter alia, placed a limit of 44 pounds on the amount of baggage that most travelers to Cuba are allowed to take under License Exception BAG. This rule clarifies that restriction by excluding wearing apparel and articles of personal adornment worn by the traveler while traveling to Cuba, and personal safety and medical commodities for use by the traveler, including wheelchairs, walkers, canes, crutches, portable medical devices (e.g., oxygen tanks), and child safety seats and strollers for use by a child traveler from that 44 pound limit. Timetable: ________________________________________________________________________ Action Date FR Cite ________________________________________________________________________ Final Rule 04/00/06 Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: No [[Page 22397]] Small Entities Affected: No Government Levels Affected: None Agency Contact: William Arvin, Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security, HCHB Room 2096, 14th & Pennsylvania Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20230 Phone: 202 482-2440 Fax: 202 482-3355 Email: [email protected] Related RIN: Related to 0694-AD17 RIN: 0694-AD23 _______________________________________________________________________ 337. LICENSE EXCEPTION GOV EXPORTS AND REEXPORTS FOR OFFICIAL IAEA INTERNATIONAL INSPECTION AND VERIFICATION USE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE U.S.-IAEA SAFEGUARDS AGREEMENT, AS AMENDED BY THE ADDITIONAL PROTOCOL Priority: Substantive, Nonsignificant Legal Authority: 50 USC 2401; 50 USC 1701; EO 13026; EO 13222; PL 106- 387; . . . CFR Citation: 15 CFR 740 Legal Deadline: None Abstract: This rule amends the License Exception GOV provisions in the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) to authorize exports and reexports of certain items for official International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspection and verification use in accordance with the terms of the Agreement Between the United States of America and the International Atomic Energy Agency for the Application of Safeguards in the United States, and Protocol Thereto (U.S.-IAEA Safeguards Agreement), as amended by the U.S.-IAEA Additional Protocol (Additional Protocol). These new License Exception GOV provisions authorize exports and reexports of a broader range of items than those currently eligible under the IAEA-Euratom provisions of License Exception GOV, because exports and reexports under these new License Exception GOV provisions are authorized only in connection with official international inspection and verification activities by the IAEA under the terms of the U.S.-IAEA Safeguards Agreement, as amended by the Additional Protocol. Timetable: ________________________________________________________________________ Action Date FR Cite ________________________________________________________________________ Final Rule 12/00/06 Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: No Small Entities Affected: No Government Levels Affected: None Agency Contact: Willard Fisher, Export Administration Specialist, Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security, 14th & Pennsylvania Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20230 Phone: 202 482-2440 Fax: 202 482-3355 Email: [email protected] Related RIN: Related to 0694-AD26 RIN: 0694-AD27 _______________________________________________________________________ 338. REVISIONS AND CLARIFICATION OF LICENSE EXCEPTION AVAILABILITY FOR CERTAIN CRIME CONTROL ITEMS AND REMOVAL OF LICENSE REQUIREMENTS ON OTHER CRIME CONTROL ITEMS Priority: Substantive, Nonsignificant Legal Authority: 50 USC app 2401 et seq; 50 USC 1701 et seq; 18 USC 2510 et seq; 22 USC 3201 et seq; 42 USC 2139a; PL 106-387; PL 107-56; PL 108-11; EO 12058; EO 12851; EO 12938; EO 13026; EO 13222 CFR Citation: 15 CFR 740; 15 CFR 742; 15 CFR 774 Legal Deadline: None Abstract: This rule expands and clarifies the availability of License Exceptions for items listed on the Commerce Control List (CCL) for Crime Control reasons. It also removes some such items from the CCL altogether by removing four Export Control Classification Numbers (ECCN) from that list. BIS is making these changes because it has concluded that the License Exception exclusions that this rule removes and the license requirements that were imposed pursuant to the ECCNs that this rule removes from the CCL are not necessary for the continued support of U.S. foreign policy to promote human rights throughout the world. Such support is the basis for crime control export license requirements as stated in section 742.7 of the EAR. This rule also reiterates and emphasizes BIS policy of treating specially designed implements of torture and similar items differently than crime control items that have legitimate law enforcement uses by creating a separate paragraph in section 740.2 excluding the former from all license exceptions. Finally this rule makes technical corrections in several ECCNs. Timetable: ________________________________________________________________________ Action Date FR Cite ________________________________________________________________________ Final Action 04/00/06 Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: No Small Entities Affected: No Government Levels Affected: None Agency Contact: William Arvin, Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security, HCHB Room 2096, 14th & Pennsylvania Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20230 Phone: 202 482-2440 Fax: 202 482-3355 Email: [email protected] RIN: 0694-AD47 _______________________________________________________________________ 339. EXPANSION OF REQUIREMENT OF PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA (PRC) END- USER CERTIFICATES UNDER THE EAR; ELIMINATION OF SUBMISSION REQUIREMENT Priority: Substantive, Nonsignificant Legal Authority: 50 USC 2401; 50 USC 1701; EO 13026; EO 13222; . . . CFR Citation: 15 CFR 748 Legal Deadline: None Abstract: The Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) is amending the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) to expand the requirement for obtaining People's Republic of China (PRC) End-User Certificates as support documents for license applications. This final rule requires that exporters obtain an End-User Certificate, issued by the PRC Ministry of Commerce, for all items that require a license to the PRC for any reason on the Commerce Control List (CCL) and that exceed a total value of $5,000. This expansion is necessary to allow BIS to conduct end-use checks (pre-license checks or post-shipment verifications) on exports or reexports of such items, consistent with an agreement with the Government of the PRC. To minimize the impact that this expanded support document requirement will have on exporters, this rule eliminates the requirement that exporters submit the PRC End- User Certificate as a required support document to BIS with the license application. Instead, this rule requires exporters to include the serial number of the PRC End-User certificate in the [[Page 22398]] appropriate field of the license application, and to retain the PRC End-User Certificate in accordance with the recordkeeping provisions of the EAR. This rule also updates the name and contact information of the government entity in the People's Republic of China (PRC) that issues PRC End-User Certificates. This rule removes and reserves a paragraph that is obsolete since it was primarily used for the Import Certificate/Delivery Verification (IC/DV) system implemented during the Coordinating Committee for Multilateral Export Controls (COCOM), which is no longer in operation. Timetable: ________________________________________________________________________ Action Date FR Cite ________________________________________________________________________ Final Action 06/00/06 Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: No Small Entities Affected: No Government Levels Affected: None Agency Contact: Timothy Mooney, Export Policy Analyst, Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security, 14th & Pennsylvania Avenue NW., Mail Stop 2705, Washington, DC 20230 Phone: 202 482-2440 Email: [email protected] RIN: 0694-AD52 _______________________________________________________________________ 340. TECHNICAL AMENDMENTS TO THE EXPORT ADMINISTRATION REGULATIONS Priority: Substantive, Nonsignificant Legal Authority: 50 USC app 2401 et seq; 50 USC 1701 et seq; 22 USC 2151 (note); PL 108-175; EO 12938; EO 13020; EO 13026; EO 13222; EO 13338 CFR Citation: 15 CFR 732; 15 CFR 736; 15 CFR 740; 15 CFR 746; 15 CFR 748; 15 CFR 774 Legal Deadline: None Abstract: This rule removes an obsolete in-transit license requirement, makes BIS policy regarding certain exceptions to export and reexport license requirements more explicit, corrects some omissions in two sections that summarize license requirements regarding Iran, clarifies support document requirements regarding the People's Republic of China, removes two instances of two ECCN's applying to a single commodity, conforms some software and technology Export Control Classification Numbers (ECCNs) more closely to their related commodity ECCNs and makes technical changes. Timetable: ________________________________________________________________________ Action Date FR Cite ________________________________________________________________________ Final Action 07/00/06 Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: No Small Entities Affected: No Government Levels Affected: None Agency Contact: William Arvin, Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security, HCHB Room 2096, 14th & Pennsylvania Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20230 Phone: 202 482-2440 Fax: 202 482-3355 Email: [email protected] RIN: 0694-AD54 _______________________________________________________________________ 341. REVISIONS AND CLARIFICATIONS TO THE EXPORT ADMINISTRATION REGULATIONS Priority: Substantive, Nonsignificant Legal Authority: 50 USC app 2401 et seq; 50 USC 1701 et seq; 18 USC 2510 et seq; 22 USC 3201 et seq; 50 USC app 5; PL 106-387, sec 901 to 911 ; PL 107-56, sec 221; PL 108-11, sec 1503; EO 12058; EO 12851; EO 12938; EO 13026; EO 13222; 50 USC app 2401 et seq; 50 USC 1701 et seq; 10 USC 7420; 10 USC 7430(e); 22 USC 287c; 22 USC 6004; 30 USC 185(s); 30 USC 185(u); 42 USC 2139a; 42 USC 6212; 43 USC 1354; 46 USC app 466c; . . . CFR Citation: 15 CFR 742; 15 CFR 748; 15 CFR 774 Legal Deadline: None Abstract: This final rule removes reference to ``Advisory Notes'' from the Export Administration Regulations (EAR). This rule also removes the Advisory Note from the entry on the Commerce Control List (CCL) that controls specialized machinery, equipment, gear, and specially designed parts and for the examination, manufacture, testing, and checking of arms, appliances, machines, and implements of war. In addition, it revises License Exceptions GBS and CIV in that CCL entry to include certain equipment used to determine the safety data of explosives. Finally, it revises certain ECCN headings to reflect the current name of the Wassenaar Arrangement Munitions List. Timetable: ________________________________________________________________________ Action Date FR Cite ________________________________________________________________________ Final Action 08/00/06 Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: No Government Levels Affected: None Agency Contact: Marcus Cohen, Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security, 14th & Pennsylvania Avenue NW., Mail Stop 2705, Washington, DC 20230 Phone: 202 482-2440 Fax: 202-482-3355 Email: [email protected] RIN: 0694-AD55 _______________________________________________________________________ 342. ESTABLISHMENT OF NEW LICENSE EXCEPTION FOR THE EXPORT OR REEXPORT TO LIBYA OF CERTAIN ITEMS CONTROLLED FOR ANTI-TERRORISM REASONS ON THE COMMERCE CONTROL LIST Priority: Other Significant Legal Authority: 50 USC 1701 et seq; 18 USC 2510 et seq; 22 USC 3201 et seq; 42 USC 2139; 50 USC App 2401 et seq; PL 106-387; PL 107-56; PL 108-11,117; EO 12058; EO 12851; EO 12938; EO 13026; EO 13222 CFR Citation: 15 CFR 740; 15 CFR 742; 15 CFR 772; 15 CFR 774 Legal Deadline: None Abstract: In this interim rule, the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) amends the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) to implement changes to export and reexport controls with respect to Libya. Specifically, in this rule, BIS establishes a License Exception authorizing the export or reexport to U.S. persons in Libya of certain items listed on the Commerce Control List and controlled for anti- terrorism (AT) reasons. This rule is consistent with the President's decision to modify United States' sanctions against Libya, in response to Libya's continuing efforts to dismantle its weapons of mass destruction and missile programs and its renunciation of terrorism. Timetable: ________________________________________________________________________ Action Date FR Cite ________________________________________________________________________ Interim Final Rule 11/16/05 70 FR 69432 Final Action 06/00/06 Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: No Small Entities Affected: No [[Page 22399]] Government Levels Affected: None Agency Contact: Sheila Quarterman, Export Policy Analyst, Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security, 14th & Pennsylvania Avenue NW., HCHB Room 2096, Washington, DC 20230 Phone: 202 482-2440 Email: [email protected] Related RIN: Related to 0694-AD14 RIN: 0694-AD57 _______________________________________________________________________ 343. IMPLEMENTATION OF THE UNDERSTANDINGS REACHED AT THE 2004 GOTEBARG AND 2005 OSLO NUCLEAR SUPPLIER GROUP (NSG) PLENARY MEETINGS Priority: Substantive, Nonsignificant Legal Authority: 50 USC app 2401 et seq; 50 USC 1701 et seq; 10 USC 7420; 10 USC 7430(e); 18 USC 2510 et seq; 22 USC 287c; 22 USC 3201 et seq; 22 USC 6004; 30 USC 185(s), 185(u); 42 U.S; 50 USC app 2401 et seq; 50 USC 1701 et seq; Sec 901-911, PL 106-387; EO 13026; EO 13222; 50 USC app 2401 et seq; 50 USC 1701 et seq; 18 USC 2510 et seq; 22 USC 3201 et seq; 42 USC 2139a; Sec 901-911, PL 106-387; Sec 221, PL 107-56; Sec 1503, PL 108-11; 50 USC app 2401 et seq; 50 USC 1701 et seq; EO 13222; 50 USC app 2401 et seq; 50 USC 1701 et seq; 10 USC 7420; 10 USC 7430(e); 18 USC 2510 et seq; 22 USC 287c, 22 USC 3201 et seq, 22 USC 6004; 30 USC 185(s), 185(u) CFR Citation: 15 CFR part 742 ; 15 CFR part 772 ; 15 CFR part 774 Legal Deadline: None Abstract: The Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) is publishing this rule to amend the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) to implement the understandings reached at the 2004 Gotebarg and 2005 Oslo Nuclear Supplier Group (NSG) Plenary Meetings. This rule amends the EAR to reflect the addition of Croatia, Estonia, Lithuania, Malta, and the Peoples Republic of China to the Nuclear Supplier Group and updates the definition of ``Nuclear Supplier Group'' in the EAR to include a current listing of all participating countries. This rule amends the EAR licensing policies for items that require a license for NP reasons by adding an additional licensing factor. The rule also amends the EAR to implement changes to the NSG Annex to the ``Guidelines for Transfer of Nuclear-Related Dual-Use Equipment, Materials, Software and Related Technology'' (The Annex) by revising heading for the Technical Notes at the beginning of Category 2, Section B (TEST, INSPECTION, AND PRODUCTION) on the Commerce Control List (CCL). It also revises two entries in Category 2 on the CCL that control dimensional inspection or measuring systems and equipment and machine tools for removing or cutting metals, ceramics, or ``composites.'' Timetable: ________________________________________________________________________ Action Date FR Cite ________________________________________________________________________ Final Action 04/00/06 Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: No Small Entities Affected: No Government Levels Affected: Federal Agency Contact: Jeffery Lynch, Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security, 14th & Pennsylvania Avenue NW., Room 2705, Washington, DC 20230 Phone: 202 482-3451 Fax: 202 482-3355 Email: [email protected] RIN: 0694-AD58 _______________________________________________________________________ 344. CONFORMING CHANGES TO CERTAIN END-USER/END-USE BASED CONTROLS IN THE EAR; CLARIFICATION OF EXPORT CLEARANCE REQUIREMENTS UNDER THE EAR Priority: Substantive, Nonsignificant Legal Authority: 50 USC 2401; 50 USC 1701; 22 USC 3201; 42 USC 2139a; EO 12058; . . . CFR Citation: 15 CFR 744; 15 CFR 758 Legal Deadline: None Abstract: The Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) is amending the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) by making conforming changes in certain end-user/end-use controls in the EAR to ensure that the terminology used to describe each type of end-user/end-use control is consistent, to the fullest extent possible, with the terminology in other such controls in the EAR. In addition, this rule amends the EAR to clarify that a party cannot proceed with an export, reexport, or transfer (in-country) that is in transit at the time the party is informed by BIS that a license is required (in accordance with certain end-user/end-use controls in the EAR), unless that party first obtains a license from BIS authorizing the completion of the transaction. This rule also amends the export clearance requirements in the EAR to clarify that BIS has the authority to order the return or unloading of U.S.-origin items that are being transshipped to another country, when there are reasonable grounds to believe a violation of the EAR may occur, and that this authority extends to U.S.-origin items that may have briefly entered the territory of a foreign country, but that have yet to be considered in the official jurisdiction of that foreign country. Timetable: ________________________________________________________________________ Action Date FR Cite ________________________________________________________________________ Final Action 06/00/06 Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: No Government Levels Affected: None Agency Contact: Timothy Mooney, Export Policy Analyst, Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security, 14th & Pennsylvania Avenue NW., Mail Stop 2705, Washington, DC 20230 Phone: 202 482-2440 Email: [email protected] RIN: 0694-AD59 _______________________________________________________________________ 345. REVISED APPEAL PROCEDURE FOR PERSONS DESIGNATED AS RELATED PERSONS TO DENIAL ORDERS ISSUED PURSUANT TO SECTION 766.25 OF THE EXPORT ADMINISTRATION REGULATIONS Priority: Substantive, Nonsignificant Legal Authority: 50 USC app 2401 et seq; 50 USC 1701 et seq; EO 13222 CFR Citation: 15 CFR 756; 15 CFR 766 Legal Deadline: None Abstract: Section 766.23 of the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) provides that ``[i]n order to prevent evasion'' orders denying export privileges may be made applicable to ``persons then or thereafter related to the respondent [in a denial order proceeding] by ownership, control, position of responsibility, affiliation, or other connection in the conduct of trade or business.'' Section 766.23 may be used to make applicable to a related person an order denying export privileges issued pursuant to any provision of part 766. Prior to [[Page 22400]] publication of this rule, section 766.23(c) provided that any such related person ``may file an appeal with the administrative law judge'' and that ``[t]he recommended decision and order of the administrative law judge shall be reviewed by the Under Secretary in accordance with the procedures set forth in section 766.22 of this part.'' This rule revises section 766.23(c) to eliminate three procedural inconsistencies involving either appeal by a related person of an order imposed under section 766.25 for violation of a specified statute, a decision by the administrative law judge that makes an order issued for a violation of part 760 applicable to a related person, or an order issued pursuant to section 766.24 to prevent an imminent violation of the Export Administration Act, the Export Administration Regulations, or any order, license or authorization issued thereunder. Prior to publication of this rule, a person named as a related person to an order issued pursuant to section 766.25 had a right of appeal to the administrative law judge. However, the respondent in an order issued pursuant to section 766.25 had a right of appeal to the Under Secretary under part 756 of the EAR. These separate and distinct appeals procedures could unnecessarily bifurcate administrative proceedings. Section 766.25 provides the procedure for imposing denials of export privileges for up to ten years for persons convicted of statutes specified in section 11(h) for the Export Administration Act. Prior to publication of this rule, section 766.23(c) provided that any decision of the administrative law judge making an order applicable to a related person ``shall be reviewed by the Under Secretary'' in accordance with the procedures set forth in section 766.22 . . . (emphasis added).`` Such procedure for related persons is consistent with the procedure for respondents in orders issued for violations of the EAR that are not related to part 760. However, the provision for the respondent to appeal the administrative law judge's order for a violation related to part 760 (restrictive trade practices and boycotts) is section 766.21, which provides that such decision may be appealed to the Under Secretary. This situation could also create unnecessarily inconsistent and bifurcated proceedings, as the administrative law judge decision making an order issued for a violation related to part 760 applicable to a related person would be subject to mandatory Under Secretary review whereas the decision of the administrative law judge with respect to the respondent in that same order would become the final agency action absent an appeal to the Under Secretary. Prior to publication of this rule, section 766.24(d)(3)(ii) stated that a person designated as a related person to a denial order issued pursuant to section 766.24 might file an appeal in accordance with section 766.2(3)(c) (sic). Section 766.23(c) provided that recommended decisions of the administrative law judge be reviewed in accordance with the procedures set forth in section 766.22. Those procedures differ from the procedures for review of recommended decisions by the administrative law judge with respect to orders issued pursuant to section 766.24. Timetable: ________________________________________________________________________ Action Date FR Cite ________________________________________________________________________ Final Rule 04/00/06 Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: No Small Entities Affected: No Government Levels Affected: None Agency Contact: William Arvin, Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security, HCHB Room 2096, 14th & Pennsylvania Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20230 Phone: 202 482-2440 Fax: 202 482-3355 Email: [email protected] RIN: 0694-AD60 _______________________________________________________________________ 346. IMPLEMENTATION OF UNILATERAL CHEMICAL/BIOLOGICAL CONTROLS ON CERTAIN BIOLOGICAL AGENTS AND TOXINS SELECTED FOR DOMESTIC CONTROL BY CDC AND APHIS; CLARIFICATION OF CONTROLS ON CERTAIN MEDICAL PRODUCTS Priority: Substantive, Nonsignificant Legal Authority: 50 USC 2401; 50 USC 1701; 18 USC 2510; 22 USC 3201; 42 USC 2139a; PL 106-387; PL 107-56; EO 12058; EO 13026; EO 13222 CFR Citation: 15 CFR 742; 15 CFR 774 Legal Deadline: None Abstract: This rule amends the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) to establish export and reexport controls on certain biological agents and toxins (i.e., ``select agents and toxins'') that have been determined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), U.S. Department of Agriculture, to have the potential to pose a severe threat to human, animal and plant life, as well as certain sectors of the U.S. economy (e.g., agriculture). Specifically, this rule adds a new entry to the Commerce Control List (CCL) to control those CDC and/or APHIS ``select agents and toxins'' (including associated genetic elements, recombinant nucleic acids, and recombinant organisms) not specified elsewhere on the CCL. The export/reexport controls imposed by this rule complement the controls that CDC and APHIS have imposed on the possession, use, and transfer of these items within the United States. This rule also amends the EAR to clarify controls on certain medical products containing Australia Group (AG) controlled toxins, other than ricin or saxitoxin, by defining them to include pharmaceutical formulations, prepackaged for distribution as clinical or medical products, that have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use as an ``Investigational New Drug'' (IND). This clarification is consistent with the AG exemption for such clinical and medical products, which may be designed for testing, as well as human administration, in the treatment of medical conditions. In addition, this rule removes license requirements for exports and reexports to St. Kitts and Nevis of items that require a license for export or reexport only to countries of concern for chemical and biological weapons reasons, since St. Kitts and Nevis is not listed among the countries of concern in Country Group D:3. Finally, this rule updates the list of countries that currently are States Parties to the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) by adding Antigua and Barbuda, Bhutan, Cambodia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Grenada, Honduras, and Vanuatu. Timetable: ________________________________________________________________________ Action Date FR Cite ________________________________________________________________________ Final Action 04/00/06 Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: No [[Page 22401]] Small Entities Affected: No Government Levels Affected: None Agency Contact: Willard Fisher, Export Administration Specialist, Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security, 14th & Pennsylvania Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20230 Phone: 202 482-2440 Fax: 202 482-3355 Email: [email protected] RIN: 0694-AD62 _______________________________________________________________________ 347. CLARIFICATION OF LICENSING REQUIREMENTS FOR CERTAIN PHOTOVOLTAIC ARRAYS AND RELATED SOFTWARE AND TECHNOLOGY Priority: Substantive, Nonsignificant Legal Authority: 50 USC app. 2401 et seq; 50 USC 1701 et seq; 10 USC 7420; 10 USC 7430(e); 18 USC 2510 et seq; 22 USC 287c; 22 USC 3201 et seq; 22 USC 6004; 30 USC 185(s), 185(u); 42 USC 2139a; 42 USC 6212; 43 USC 1354; 46 USC app. 466c; 50 USC app. 5; PL 106-387; PL 107-56; EO 13026; EO 13222 CFR Citation: 15 CFR 774 Legal Deadline: None Abstract: This rule amends the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) to clarify that the term ``photovoltaic arrays'' as used in three Export Control Classification Numbers (ECCNs) in the Commerce Control List applies to any individual cell, array of cells or panel of arrays that otherwise meet the specifications of those ECCNs. This rule also clarifies that the word ``photovoltaic'' and ``solar'' have the same meaning in those ECCNs when describing a cell, array or panel. This clarification is needed to promote understanding that license requirements apply to a photovoltaic array that includes only one cell when it meets the relevant specification and that in the ECCNs modified by this rule, the word ``solar'' is synonymous with the word ``photovoltaic.'' Timetable: ________________________________________________________________________ Action Date FR Cite ________________________________________________________________________ Final Rule 06/00/06 Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: No Small Entities Affected: No Government Levels Affected: None Agency Contact: William Arvin, Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security, HCHB Room 2096, 14th & Pennsylvania Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20230 Phone: 202 482-2440 Fax: 202 482-3355 Email: [email protected] RIN: 0694-AD64 _______________________________________________________________________ 348. REVISIONS TO THE EXPORT ADMINISTRATION REGULATIONS BASED ON THE 2005 MISSILE TECHNOLOGY CONTROL REGIME PLENARY AGREEMENTS Priority: Substantive, Nonsignificant Legal Authority: 50 USC app. 2401 et seq;; 50 USC 1701 et seq;; Sec. 901-911, Pub. L. 106-387;; EO 13026, 61 FR 58767, 3 CFR, 1996 Comp., p. 228; . . . CFR Citation: 15 CFR 740; 15 CFR 772; 15 CFR 774 Legal Deadline: None Abstract: The Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) is amending the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) to reflect changes to the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) Annex that were agreed to by MTCR member countries at the September 2005 Plenary in Madrid, Spain. The amendments set forth in this rule also reflect a change taken at national discretion by the United States to make one additional missile technology (MT) controlled item available for certain license exceptions. Timetable: ________________________________________________________________________ Action Date FR Cite ________________________________________________________________________ Final Action 04/00/06 Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: No Small Entities Affected: No Government Levels Affected: None Agency Contact: Timothy Mooney, Export Policy Analyst, Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security, 14th & Pennsylvania Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20230 Phone: 202 482-3371 Email: [email protected] RIN: 0694-AD65 _______________________________________________________________________ 349. IMPLEMENTATION OF NEW FORMULA FOR CALCULATING COMPUTER PERFORMANCE: ADJUSTED PEAK PERFORMANCE (APP) IN WEIGHTED TERAFLOPS; BULGARIA; XP AND NP CONTROLS Priority: Other Significant Legal Authority: 50 USC 2401; 50 USC 1701; EO 13026; EO 13222; . . . CFR Citation: 15 CFR 732; 15 CFR 734; 15 CFR 740; 15 CFR 742; . . . Legal Deadline: None Abstract: The Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) maintains the Commerce Control List (CCL), which identifies items subject to Department of Commerce export controls. This final rule implements the Wassenaar Arrangement agreement to revise the formula for calculating computer performance from Composite Theoretical Performance (CTP) measured in Millions of Operations Per Second (MOPS) to Adjusted Peak Performance (APP) measured in Weighted TeraFLOPS (WT). In addition, the rule makes conforming changes to the EAR based on the new computer parameter, such as revising the name of License Exception CTP to License Exception APP, as well as, the parameters for eligibility. This rule also moves Bulgaria from Computer Tier 3 to Computer Tier 1. Additionally, this rule removes High Performance Computer (XP) and Nuclear Non-proliferation (NP) controls from certain Export Control Classification Numbers (ECCNs) in Category 4 of the Commerce Control List. This rule also removes and reserves section 742.12, which was dedicated to high performance computer controls. Timetable: ________________________________________________________________________ Action Date FR Cite ________________________________________________________________________ Final Action 04/00/06 Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: No Small Entities Affected: No Government Levels Affected: None Agency Contact: Sharron Cook, Policy Analyst, Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security, 14th & Pennsylvania Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20230 Phone: 202 482-2440 Fax: 202 482-3355 [[Page 22402]] Email: [email protected] RIN: 0694-AD66 _______________________________________________________________________ 350. CLARIFICATION TO THE EXPORT ADMINISTRATION REGULATIONS; GENERAL ORDER TO IMPLEMENT THE SYRIA ACCOUNTABILITY AND LEBANESE SOVEREIGNTY ACT Priority: Substantive, Nonsignificant Legal Authority: 50 USC App 2401 et seq; 50 USC 1701 et seq; 22 USC 3201 et seq; 42 USC 2139; PL 106-387; PL 107-56; PL 108-11,117; EO 12058; EO 13222; . . . CFR Citation: 15 CFR 742; 15 CFR 746 Legal Deadline: None Abstract: This final rule amends the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) by adding two cross-references to the General Order Implementing the Syria Accountability and Lebanese Sovereignty Act (Syria General Order) to clarify that provisions of the Syria General Order set forth special controls on exports and reexports to Syria and supersede other provisions in the EAR specific to Syria. Timetable: ________________________________________________________________________ Action Date FR Cite ________________________________________________________________________ Final Action 04/00/06 Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: No Small Entities Affected: No Government Levels Affected: None Agency Contact: Sheila Quarterman, Export Policy Analyst, Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security, 14th & Pennsylvania Avenue NW., HCHB Room 2096, Washington, DC 20230 Phone: 202 482-2440 Email: [email protected] Related RIN: Related to 0694-AC99 RIN: 0694-AD68 _______________________________________________________________________ 351. REVISIONS TO LICENSE REQUIREMENTS FOR CERTAIN THERMAL IMAGING CAMERAS INCORPORATING FOCAL PLANE ARRAYS Priority: Substantive, Nonsignificant. Major status under 5 USC 801 is undetermined. Legal Authority: 50 USC app. 2401 et seq.; 50 USC 1701 et seq; 18 USC 2510 et seq.; 22 USC 3201 et seq.; 42 USC 2139a; PL 106-387; PL 107-56; PL 108-11; EO 12058 ; EO 12851 ; EO 12938; EO 13026; EO 13222 CFR Citation: 15 CFR 742; 15 CFR 744 Legal Deadline: None Abstract: This rule removes the regional stability reason for control from certain thermal imaging cameras that incorporate focal plane arrays and the regional stability reason for control for other such cameras. This rule describes the cameras affected by this change in terms of performance level measured by frame rate and pixel count. These reductions in unilateral U.S. license requirements for exports and reexports of certain thermal imaging cameras are warranted by increased foreign production of cameras with performance capabilities equal to or better than the cameras affected by this rule. BIS has concluded that these circumstances warrant a limited revision, based on performance level, of regional stability controls on thermal imaging cameras that incorporate focal plane arrays. Accordingly, this rule removes regional stability as a reason for control from certain relatively lower performance level cameras and replaces the RS 1 reason for control with a RS 2 reason for control for certain higher performance level cameras. This rule retains the RS 1 reason for control for cameras with high levels of performance. These revised licensing requirements remove the license requirement for exports and reexports of certain thermal imaging cameras to regions that already produce thermal imaging cameras in significant volumes or can readily obtain such cameras from other countries without an export license. Timetable: ________________________________________________________________________ Action Date FR Cite ________________________________________________________________________ Final Rule 07/00/06 Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: No Small Entities Affected: No Government Levels Affected: None Agency Contact: William Arvin, Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security, HCHB Room 2096, 14th & Pennsylvania Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20230 Phone: 202 482-2440 Fax: 202 482-3355 Email: [email protected] RIN: 0694-AD71 _______________________________________________________________________ 352. REVISIONS TO LICENSE EXCEPTIONS TMP AND BAG: EXPANSION OF ELIGIBLE ITEMS Priority: Substantive, Nonsignificant Legal Authority: 50 USC app 2401 et seq; 50 USC 1701 et seq;; Sec 901- 911, Pub L 106-387; EO 13026, 61 FR 58767, 3 CFR, 1996 Comp, p 228;; EO 13222, 66 FR 44025, 3 CFR, 2001 Comp, p 783; Notice of August 2, 2005, 70 FR 45273 (August 5, 2005) CFR Citation: 15 CFR 740 Legal Deadline: None Abstract: The Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) is amending the Export Administration Regulations (EAR), to clarify the scope of the tools of trade provisions of License Exceptions TMP and BAG. Timetable: ________________________________________________________________________ Action Date FR Cite ________________________________________________________________________ Final Action 06/00/06 Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: No Small Entities Affected: No Government Levels Affected: None Agency Contact: Timothy Mooney, Export Policy Analyst, Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security, 14th & Pennsylvania Avenue NW., Mail Stop 2705, Washington, DC 20230 Phone: 202 482-2440 Email: [email protected] RIN: 0694-AD72 [[Page 22403]] _______________________________________________________________________ Department of Commerce (DOC) Long-Term Actions Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) _______________________________________________________________________ 353. EXPORT ADMINISTRATION REGULATIONS: SUPPORT DOCUMENTATION CONSOLIDATION AND REORGANIZATION Priority: Substantive, Nonsignificant CFR Citation: 15 CFR 748; . . . Timetable: ________________________________________________________________________ Action Date FR Cite ________________________________________________________________________ Interim Final Rule To Be Determined Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Undetermined Small Entities Affected: Businesses Government Levels Affected: Undetermined Agency Contact: Timothy Mooney Phone: 202 482-2440 Email: [email protected] RIN: 0694-AC04 _______________________________________________________________________ 354. EXPORTS AND REEXPORTS TO SUDAN Priority: Substantive, Nonsignificant CFR Citation: 15 CFR 732; 15 CFR 738; 15 CFR 742; 15 CFR 746; 15 CFR 774 Timetable: ________________________________________________________________________ Action Date FR Cite ________________________________________________________________________ Final Rule To Be Determined Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: No Government Levels Affected: None Agency Contact: William Arvin Phone: 202 482-2440 Fax: 202 482-3355 Email: [email protected] RIN: 0694-AC05 _______________________________________________________________________ 355. EXPANSION OF LICENSE EXCEPTION GOV; EXPORTS AND REEXPORTS TO INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS Priority: Substantive, Nonsignificant CFR Citation: 15 CFR 730 to 774 Timetable: ________________________________________________________________________ Action Date FR Cite ________________________________________________________________________ Final Action To Be Determined Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: No Small Entities Affected: No Government Levels Affected: None Agency Contact: Sheila Quarterman Phone: 202 482-2440 Email: [email protected] RIN: 0694-AC15 _______________________________________________________________________ 356. MANDATORY ELECTRONIC FILING OF LICENSE APPLICATIONS, CLASSIFICATION REQUESTS, AND LICENSE EXCEPTIONS NOTIFICATIONS VIA BIS'S SIMPLIFIED NETWORK APPLICATION PROCESS (SNAP) Priority: Substantive, Nonsignificant CFR Citation: 15 CFR 740; 15 CFR 742; 15 CFR 743; 15 CFR 748; 15 CFR 754; 15 CFR 772 Timetable: ________________________________________________________________________ Action Date FR Cite ________________________________________________________________________ NPRM 11/12/03 68 FR 64009 NPRM Comment Period End 01/12/04 Final Action To Be Determined Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: No Small Entities Affected: No Government Levels Affected: None Agency Contact: William Arvin Phone: 202 482-2440 Fax: 202 482-3355 Email: [email protected] RIN: 0694-AC20 _______________________________________________________________________ 357. REVISION TO THE EXPORT ADMINISTRATION REGULATIONS: REPLACEMENT LICENSES Priority: Substantive, Nonsignificant CFR Citation: 15 CFR 748 to 750 Timetable: ________________________________________________________________________ Action Date FR Cite ________________________________________________________________________ Final Action To Be Determined Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: No Small Entities Affected: No Government Levels Affected: None Agency Contact: Sharron Cook Phone: 202 482-2440 Fax: 202 482-3355 Email: [email protected] RIN: 0694-AC23 _______________________________________________________________________ 358. CHEMICAL WEAPONS CONVENTION: REVISIONS TO THE EXPORT ADMINISTRATION REGULATIONS Priority: Substantive, Nonsignificant CFR Citation: 15 CFR 700 to 799 Timetable: ________________________________________________________________________ Action Date FR Cite ________________________________________________________________________ Final Action To Be Determined Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: No Small Entities Affected: No Government Levels Affected: None Agency Contact: Willard Fisher Phone: 202 482-2440 Fax: 202 482-3355 Email: [email protected] RIN: 0694-AC35 _______________________________________________________________________ 359. GENERAL ORDER PROVIDING FOR NOTIFICATION TO STOP SPECIFIC EXPORT OR REEXPORT UNDER DESIGNATION NLR Priority: Substantive, Nonsignificant CFR Citation: 15 CFR 732; 15 CFR 736; 15 CFR 740; 15 CFR 748; 15 CFR 758 Timetable: ________________________________________________________________________ Action Date FR Cite ________________________________________________________________________ Final Action To Be Determined Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: No Government Levels Affected: None Agency Contact: Timothy Mooney Phone: 202 482-3371 Email: [email protected] RIN: 0694-AC47 _______________________________________________________________________ 360. REVISIONS OF AIRCRAFT EXPORT LICENSING JURISDICTION BASED ON REVIEW OF THE U.S. MUNITIONS LIST Priority: Substantive, Nonsignificant CFR Citation: 15 CFR 748; 15 CFR 774 Timetable: ________________________________________________________________________ Action Date FR Cite ________________________________________________________________________ Final Rule To Be Determined Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: No Government Levels Affected: None Agency Contact: William Arvin Phone: 202 482-2440 Fax: 202 482-3355 Email: [email protected] RIN: 0694-AC74 _______________________________________________________________________ 361. IMPOSITION OF FOREIGN POLICY CONTROLS ON SURREPTITIOUS COMMUNICATIONS INTERCEPTING DEVICES Priority: Substantive, Nonsignificant CFR Citation: 15 CFR 738; 15 CFR 740; 15 CFR 742; 15 CFR 746; 15 CFR 752; . . . [[Page 22404]] Timetable: ________________________________________________________________________ Action Date FR Cite ________________________________________________________________________ Final Action To Be Determined Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: No Small Entities Affected: No Government Levels Affected: None Agency Contact: Sheila Quarterman Phone: 202 482-2440 Email: [email protected] Related RIN: Related to 0694-AB41 RIN: 0694-AC82 _______________________________________________________________________ 362. EXPORT ADMINISTRATION REGULATIONS: REMOVAL OF COUNTRY GROUPS Priority: Substantive, Nonsignificant CFR Citation: 15 CFR 732; 15 CFR 724; 15 CFR 736; 15 CFR 738; 15 CFR 740; 15 CFR 742; 15 CFR 744; 15 CFR 748; 15 CFR 750; 15 CFR 752; 15 CFR 758; 15 CFR 770; 15 CFR 772; 15 CFR 774 Timetable: ________________________________________________________________________ Action Date FR Cite ________________________________________________________________________ NPRM To Be Determined Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Undetermined Government Levels Affected: None Agency Contact: Sharron Cook Phone: 202 482-2440 Fax: 202 482-3355 Email: [email protected] RIN: 0694-AD09 _______________________________________________________________________ 363. IMPLEMENTATION OF THE WASSENAAR ARRANGEMENT STATEMENT OF UNDERSTANDING ON THE CONTROL OF NON-LISTED DUAL-USE ITEMS Priority: Other Significant CFR Citation: 15 CFR 740; 15 CFR 744; 15 CFR 746; 15 CFR 748 Timetable: ________________________________________________________________________ Action Date FR Cite ________________________________________________________________________ Interim Final Rule To Be Determined Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: No Small Entities Affected: No Government Levels Affected: None Agency Contact: Sheila Quarterman Phone: 202 482-2440 Email: [email protected] RIN: 0694-AD10 _______________________________________________________________________ 364. EXPORT ADMINISTRATION REGULATIONS: ESTABLISH SPECIAL INTRA-COMPANY LICENSE (SIL) Priority: Substantive, Nonsignificant CFR Citation: 15 CFR 730; 15 CFR 732; 15 CFR 738; 15 CFR 753; . . . Timetable: ________________________________________________________________________ Action Date FR Cite ________________________________________________________________________ Interim Final Rule To Be Determined Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: No Small Entities Affected: No Government Levels Affected: None Agency Contact: Sharron Cook Phone: 202 482-2440 Fax: 202 482-3355 Email: [email protected] RIN: 0694-AD22 _______________________________________________________________________ 365. DECEMBER 2005 WASSENAAR ARRANGEMENT PLENARY AGREEMENT IMPLEMENTATION: CATEGORIES 1, 2, 3, 5 PART I (TELECOMMUNICATIONS), 5 PART II (INFORMATION SECURITY), 6, 8, AND 9 OF THE COMMERCE CONTROL LIST; W Priority: Substantive, Nonsignificant Legal Authority: 50 USC 2401; 50 USC 1701; EO 13222; EO 13026; . . . CFR Citation: 15 CFR 740; 15 CFR 743; 15 CFR 772; 15 CFR 774 Legal Deadline: None Abstract: The Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) maintains the Commerce Control List (CCL), which identifies items subject to Department of Commerce export controls. This final rule revises certain entries controlled for national security reasons in Categories 1, 2, 3, 5 part I (telecommunications), 5 part II (Information Security), 6, 8, and 9, and Definitions to conform with changes in the Wassenaar Arrangement's List of Dual-Use Goods and Technologies and Statements of Understanding maintained and agreed to by governments participating in the Wassenaar Arrangement on Export Controls for Conventional Arms and Dual-Use Goods and Technologies (Wassenaar Arrangement). The Wassenaar Arrangement focuses on implementation of effective export controls on strategic items with the objective of improving regional and international security and stability. The purpose of this final rule is to make the necessary changes to the CCL, definitions of terms used in the Export Administration Regulations (EAR), and Wassenaar reporting requirements to implement Wassenaar List revisions that were agreed upon in the December 2005 Wassenaar Arrangement Plenary Meeting. In addition, this rule adds Croatia, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, South Africa, and Malta to the list of Wassenaar participating states in the EAR, which brings the total number of participating states to 39. This rule also adds or expands unilateral U.S. controls, nuclear nonproliferation controls, and national security controls on certain items consistent with the amendments made to implement the Wassenaar Arrangement's decisions. Timetable: ________________________________________________________________________ Action Date FR Cite ________________________________________________________________________ Final Action To Be Determined Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: No Small Entities Affected: No Government Levels Affected: None Agency Contact: Sharron Cook, Policy Analyst, Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security, 14th & Pennsylvania Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20230 Phone: 202 482-2440 Fax: 202 482-3355 Email: [email protected] RIN: 0694-AD73 [[Page 22405]] _______________________________________________________________________ Department of Commerce (DOC) Completed Actions Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) _______________________________________________________________________ 366. LICENSE EXCEPTION APR FOR REEXPORTS TO, FROM, AND AMONG COUNTRIES IN COUNTRY GROUP A:1 Priority: Substantive, Nonsignificant Legal Authority: 50 USC app 2401; 50 USC 1701; PL 106-387; EO 13026; EO 13222; 67 FR 53721 CFR Citation: 15 CFR 740 Legal Deadline: None Abstract: This action will solicit public comments on the potential impact of proposals to amend the Export Administration Regulations to clarify the scope of items for which License Exception APR is available and, possibly, to narrow the scope of this license exception. The transactions that such an amendment could affect are all described in 15 CFR 740.16(a) and (b). These paragraphs deal with transactions to, from, and among countries in Country Group A:1 and cooperating countries as defined in 15 CR part 740, supp. no. 1. Timetable: ________________________________________________________________________ Action Date FR Cite ________________________________________________________________________ Withdrawn 02/06/06 Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: No Government Levels Affected: None Agency Contact: William Arvin, Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security, HCHB Room 2096, 14th & Pennsylvania Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20230 Phone: 202 482-2440 Fax: 202 482-3355 Email: [email protected] Related RIN: Related to 0694-AD71 RIN: 0694-AC69 _______________________________________________________________________ 367. REVISIONS TO LICENSE EXCEPTION TSR: EXPANSION TO SCOPE OF ELIGIBLE COUNTRIES Priority: Substantive, Nonsignificant Legal Authority: 50 USC app 2401; 50 USC 1701; 10 USC 7420; 10 USC 7430; 18 USC 2510; 22 USC 287c; 22 USC 3201; 22 USC 6004; 30 USC 185; 42 USC 2139; 42 USC 6212; 43 USC 1354; 46 USC app 466c; PL 106-387; PL 107-56; EO 13026; EO 13222 CFR Citation: 15 CFR 774 Legal Deadline: None Abstract: This rule amends the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) to increase the number of countries to which certain technology and software may be exported or reexported under License Exception TSR. Timetable: ________________________________________________________________________ Action Date FR Cite ________________________________________________________________________ Withdrawn 01/25/06 Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: No Government Levels Affected: None Agency Contact: Matthew Blaskovich, Export Policy Analyst, Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security, 14th & Pennsylvania Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20230 Phone: 202 482-2440 Fax: 202 482-3355 Email: [email protected] RIN: 0694-AC71 _______________________________________________________________________ 368. REVISIONS AND CLARIFICATIONS TO THE EXPORT ADMINISTRATION REGULATIONS Priority: Substantive, Nonsignificant Legal Authority: 50 USC 2401; 50 USC 1701; 10 USC 2151; 10 USC 7420; 10 USC 7430(e); . . . CFR Citation: 15 CFR 736; 15 CFR 738; 15 CFR 742; 15 CFR 744; . . . Legal Deadline: None Abstract: This rule amends the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) by deleting a redundant paragraph and redesignating the remaining paragraphs in one section for clarity; inserting material inadvertently omitted from previous rules in three places in the EAR; clarifying instructions for applying for authorization to transfer items subject to the EAR in-country; adding an alias for a previously listed entity on the Entity List; and removing references to two Export Control Classification Numbers (ECCNs) that do not exist. The purpose of these amendments is to make corrections and clarifications to the EAR so the public will find them easier to use. Timetable: ________________________________________________________________________ Action Date FR Cite ________________________________________________________________________ Final Action 09/16/05 70 FR 54626 Final Action 10/31/05 70 FR 62237 Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: No Small Entities Affected: No Government Levels Affected: None Agency Contact: Timothy Mooney, Export Policy Analyst, Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security, 14th & Pennsylvania Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20230 Phone: 202 482-3371 Email: [email protected] RIN: 0694-AD30 _______________________________________________________________________ 369. CLARIFICATION ON LICENSE EXCEPTION RESTRICTIONS AS RELATING TO EXPORTS AND REEXPORTS OF CRIME CONTROL AND DETECTION INSTRUMENT EQUIPMENT, AND RELATED TECHNOLOGY AND SOFTWARE Priority: Substantive, Nonsignificant Legal Authority: 50 USC app 2401 et seq; 50 USC 1701 et seq; PL 106- 387; EO 13026; EO 13222 CFR Citation: 15 CFR 740 Legal Deadline: None Abstract: The Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) is amending the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) by clarifying the listing of countries which are exempt from the license exception restriction imposed on exports and reexports of specially designed crime control and detection instrument equipment. This rule also authorizes the usage of License Exception GOV on shipments of the aforementioned equipment. Finally, this rule expands the license exception restriction for crime control reasons to include all items (commodities, technology, and software) instead of only commodities. Timetable: ________________________________________________________________________ Action Date FR Cite ________________________________________________________________________ Merged With 01/25/06 Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: No Small Entities Affected: No Government Levels Affected: None Agency Contact: Matthew Blaskovich, Export Policy Analyst, Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security, 14th & Pennsylvania Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20230 Phone: 202 482-2440 Fax: 202 482-3355 Email: [email protected] Related RIN: Merged with 0694-AD47 RIN: 0694-AD33 [[Page 22406]] _______________________________________________________________________ 370. REMOVAL OF CERTAIN NIGHT VISION DEVICES FROM ELIGIBILITY FOR LICENSE EXCEPTION APR FOR REEXPORTS TO, FROM, AND AMONG COUNTRY GROUP A:1 Priority: Substantive, Nonsignificant Legal Authority: 50 USC app 2401 et seq; 50 USC 1701 et seq; PL 106- 387; EO 13026; EO 13222 CFR Citation: 15 CFR 740 Legal Deadline: None Abstract: Paragraphs (a) and (b) of License Exception APR allow reexports of certain commodities to, from, and among destinations in Country Group A:1 (Supp. No. 1 to part 740 of the EAR) even in some situations in which no license exception would be eligible for similar exports from the United States to the same destination. Some commodities are excluded from the provisions of paragraphs (a) and (b) of License Exception APR. This rule adds some night vision related equipment to those exclusions. BIS is taking this action because of the importance of night vision equipment in military operations and its potential use by terrorists. Timetable: ________________________________________________________________________ Action Date FR Cite ________________________________________________________________________ Withdrawn 02/06/06 Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: No Small Entities Affected: No Government Levels Affected: None Agency Contact: William Arvin, Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security, HCHB Room 2096, 14th & Pennsylvania Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20230 Phone: 202 482-2440 Fax: 202 482-3355 Email: [email protected] Related RIN: Related to 0694-AD71 RIN: 0694-AD34 _______________________________________________________________________ 371. REVISIONS TO THE IMPORT CERTIFICATE REQUIREMENTS IN THE EXPORT ADMINISTRATION REGULATIONS Priority: Substantive, Nonsignificant Legal Authority: 50 USC 2401; 50 USC 1701; EO 13026; EO 13222; . . . CFR Citation: 15 CFR 748 Legal Deadline: None Abstract: The Bureau of Industry and Security is removing the requirement to obtain an Import Certificate in support of an export or reexport licence when the ultimate consignee or purchaser is a foreign government or agency of Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, and India. The requirement is being removed for Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Romania, and Slovakia because of their membership in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and their commitment to export controls, as is reflected by their membership in multiple export control regimes, such as the Wassenaar Arrangement, the Australia Group, the Missile Technology Control Regime, and Nuclear Suppliers Group. This requirement is being removed for India because of the actions it has taken under the U.S.- India Next Steps in Strategic Partnership. Timetable: ________________________________________________________________________ Action Date FR Cite ________________________________________________________________________ Final Action 12/01/05 70 FR 72073 Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: No Small Entities Affected: No Government Levels Affected: None Agency Contact: Timothy Mooney, Export Policy Analyst, Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security, 14th & Pennsylvania Avenue NW., Mail Stop 2705, Washington, DC 20230 Phone: 202 482-2440 Email: [email protected] RIN: 0694-AD50 _______________________________________________________________________ 372. REMOVAL OF RESTRICTION ON CERTAIN EXPORTS OF CRIME CONTROL COMMODITIES WHEN BEING EXPORTED FOR OFFICIAL USE OF U.S. GOVERNMENT AGENCIES Priority: Substantive, Nonsignificant Legal Authority: 50 USC app 2401; 50 USC 1701; PL 106-387; EO 13026; EO 13222 CFR Citation: 15 CFR 740 Legal Deadline: None Abstract: This rule allows items that are on the Commerce Control List for crime control reasons to be exported or reexported anywhere in the world under License Exception GOV if consigned to and for the official use of a U.S. Government agency. This rule exempts such exports and reexports from a geographical restriction that applies to the use of most License Exceptions with respect to crime control commodities. This rule will, among other things, enable exporters and reexporters to ship items controlled for crime control reasons to U. S. armed forces in Iraq under License Exception GOV rather than having to apply for a license. Timetable: ________________________________________________________________________ Action Date FR Cite ________________________________________________________________________ Withdrawn 02/06/06 Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: No Small Entities Affected: No Government Levels Affected: None Agency Contact: William Arvin, Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security, HCHB Room 2096, 14th & Pennsylvania Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20230 Phone: 202 482-2440 Fax: 202 482-3355 Email: [email protected] Related RIN: Merged with 0694-AD47 RIN: 0694-AD56 _______________________________________________________________________ 373. REVISION OF NATIONAL SECURITY BASED LICENSE REQUIREMENTS AND LICENSING POLICY, INCREASED AVAILABILITY OF LICENSE EXCEPTIONS FOR CERTAIN NATO MEMBER STATES Priority: Substantive, Nonsignificant Legal Authority: 50 USC app 2401 et seq; 50 USC 1701 et seq; 18 USC 2510 et seq; 22 USC 3201 et seq; 42 USC 2139a; PL 106-387; PL 107-56; PL 108-11,117; EO 12058; EO 12851; EO 12938; EO 13026; EO 13222 CFR Citation: 15 CFR 736; 15 CFR 738; 15 CFR 740; 15 CFR 742; 15 CFR 774 Legal Deadline: None Abstract: This rule revises certain provisions of the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) that affect Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Estonia, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia to treat those counties in the same manner as other NATO members with respect to national security based license requirements, national security licensing policy, availability of License Exceptions, and in- transit license requirements. This [[Page 22407]] rule removes the license requirement for items listed on the Commerce Control List with a reason for control of NS (national security) Column 2 for exports and reexports to Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Iceland, Latvia, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia. This rule removes the restriction on use of license exceptions to export or reexport commodities listed on the Commerce Control List for crime control reasons to Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Latvia, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, and Slovenia. This rule makes License Exceptions LVS, GBS and TSR available for exports and reexports to Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Romania that meet all of the requirements of those License Exceptions and that are not prohibited by the restrictions on all license exceptions in section 740.2 of the EAR. This rule removes from Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, or Romania from country Group D:1. That action removes certain restriction on use of four license exceptions (section 740.9, Temporary imports, exports and reexport (TMP), section 740.10 Servicing and replacement of parts and equipment (RPL); section 740.12 Gift parcels and humanitarian donations (GFT); section 740.14, Baggage (BAG), and section 740.15 Aircraft and vessels (AVS)) when exporting or reexporting to those countries. Removal from Country Group D:1 also means that application for items controlled for national security reasons will no longer be evaluated based on the likelihood of diversion of contribution to the military potential of Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, or Romania. This rule removes Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania from a list of countries for which a license is required for an item to travel through that country if a license would be required to send that same item to a final destination in that country. Timetable: ________________________________________________________________________ Action Date FR Cite ________________________________________________________________________ Final Rule 11/07/05 70 FR 67346 Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: No Small Entities Affected: No Government Levels Affected: None Agency Contact: William Arvin, Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security, HCHB Room 2096, 14th & Pennsylvania Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20230 Phone: 202 482-2440 Fax: 202 482-3355 Email: [email protected] RIN: 0694-AD61 _______________________________________________________________________ 374. CORRECTIONS AND CLARIFICATIONS TO THE EXPORT ADMINISTRATION REGULATIONS Priority: Substantive, Nonsignificant Legal Authority: 50 USC app. 2401 et seq.; 50 USC 1701 et seq.; 22 USC 3201 et seq.; 42 USC 2139a; PL 106-387; PL 107-56; EO 12058; EO 12851; EO 12938; EO 12947; EO 13026; EO 13099; EO 13222; EO 13224 CFR Citation: 15 CFR 740; 15 CFR 744 ; 15 CFR 766; 15 CFR 770 Legal Deadline: None Abstract: The Bureau of Industry and Security proposes this rule to correct two transposition errors that incorrectly restricted use of two license exceptions based on country of destination and reason for control of the item being exported; correct two citation errors in a section that describes license application review policy for exports and reexports to certain entities sanctioned by the Department of State; correct the address for serving papers on the administrative law judge in proceedings related to temporary denial orders; and remove an interpretation that is obsolete because the commodities to which it applied are no longer on the Commerce Control List. Timetable: ________________________________________________________________________ Action Date FR Cite ________________________________________________________________________ Final Action 03/21/06 71 FR 14097 Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: No Small Entities Affected: No Government Levels Affected: None Agency Contact: William Arvin, Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security, HCHB Room 2096, 14th & Pennsylvania Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20230 Phone: 202 482-2440 Fax: 202 482-3355 Email: [email protected] RIN: 0694-AD67 _______________________________________________________________________ Department of Commerce (DOC) Final Rule Stage National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) _______________________________________________________________________ 375. CHANGES TO FEDERAL INFORMATION PROCESSING STANDARD (FIPS) PUBLICATION 201, STANDARD FOR PERSONAL IDENTITY VERIFICATION OF FEDERAL EMPLOYEES AND CONTRACTORS Priority: Other Significant Legal Authority: 40 USC 11331(a); 15 USC 278g-3(a)(c); HSPD 12 CFR Citation: None Legal Deadline: None Abstract: The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) announces proposed changes to Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS) Publication 201, Standard for Personal Identity Verification of Federal Employees and Contractors. The changes to Section 2.2, PIV Identify Proofing and Registration Requirements, and to Section 5.3.1, PIV Card Issuance, will clarify the identity proofing and registration process that departments and agencies should follow when issuing identity credentials. These changes are required to make FIPS 201 consistent with the Memorandum for All Departments and Agencies (M-05- 24), issued by the Office of Management and Budget on August 5, 2005, Implementation of Homeland Security Presidential Directive (HSPD) 12 -- Policy for a Common Identification Standard for Federal Employees and Contractors. Before recommending these proposed changes to FIPS 201 to the Secretary of Commerce for review and approval, NIST invites comments from the public, users, the information technology industry, and Federal, State and local government organizations concerning the proposed changes. Timetable: ________________________________________________________________________ Action Date FR Cite ________________________________________________________________________ Notice 09/08/05 70 FR 53346 [[Page 22408]] Notice 03/31/06 71 FR 16289 Final Action 04/00/06 Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: No Government Levels Affected: Federal Agency Contact: Michael R. Rubin, Deputy Chief Counsel, Department of Commerce, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Admin Building, Gaithersburg, MD 20899 Phone: 301 975-2803 RIN: 0693-AB56 _______________________________________________________________________ Department of Commerce (DOC) Proposed Rule Stage National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) _______________________________________________________________________ NATIONAL MARINE FISHERIES SERVICE ________________________________ 376. AMENDMENT 18A TO THE FISHERY MANAGEMENT PLAN FOR THE REEF FISH RESOURCES OF THE GULF OF MEXICO Priority: Substantive, Nonsignificant Legal Authority: 16 USC 1801 et seq CFR Citation: 50 CFR 622 Legal Deadline: Final, Statutory, February 2006, Final regulations to be published within 30 days of end of NPRM comment period. Abstract: Amendment 18A would address several administrative, enforcement, and monitoring issues in the Gulf of Mexico Reef Fish Fishery including: (1) The use of VMS, (2) the use of reef fish as bait, (3) the simultaneous possession of commercial and charter vessel permits on a vessel, and (4) maximum crew size on a charter vessel when fishing commercially. Additionally, the amendment would address release gear and protocols for releasing sea turtles and update the framework procedure for setting total allowable catch. Timetable: ________________________________________________________________________ Action Date FR Cite ________________________________________________________________________ NPRM 05/00/06 NPRM Comment Period End 07/00/06 Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes Small Entities Affected: Businesses Government Levels Affected: None Agency Contact: Roy Crabtree, Regional Administrator, Southeast Region, Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 263 13th Avenue South, St. Petersburg, FL 33701 Phone: 727 824-5305 Fax: 727 824-5308 RIN: 0648-AN09 _______________________________________________________________________ 377. MEASURES TO PREVENT OR MITIGATE AND CONSERVE, MANAGE, AND ALLOW FULL UTILIZATION OF SHARKS Priority: Substantive, Nonsignificant Legal Authority: 16 USC 1801 et seq CFR Citation: 50 CFR 660 Legal Deadline: None Abstract: This rule would implement amendment 9 to the western Pacific pelagics FMP, which would establish trip limit for non-blue sharks in the Hawaii-based longline fishery, establish a new definition for bottom longline, and prohibit its use in the Hawaiian Islands and other management measures to protect and conserve shark resources in the region. Timetable: ________________________________________________________________________ Action Date FR Cite ________________________________________________________________________ NPRM 10/00/06 NPRM Comment Period End 12/00/06 Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Undetermined Small Entities Affected: Businesses Government Levels Affected: Undetermined Agency Contact: Alvin Katekaru, Assistant Regional Administrator, Sustainable Fisheries, Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 1601 Kapiolani Boulevard, Honolulu, HI 96814 Phone: 808 944-2207 RIN: 0648-AN76 _______________________________________________________________________ 378. ATLANTIC MACKEREL, SQUID, AND BUTTERFISH FISHERIES; AMENDMENT 9 Priority: Substantive, Nonsignificant Legal Authority: 16 USC 1801 et seq CFR Citation: 50 CFR 648 Legal Deadline: None Abstract: Amendment 9 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Atlantic mackerel, squid, and butterfish fisheries would address essential fish habitat and revise the Illex quota procedures. Timetable: ________________________________________________________________________ Action Date FR Cite ________________________________________________________________________ NPRM 10/00/06 NPRM Comment Period End 11/00/06 Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes Small Entities Affected: Businesses, Organizations Government Levels Affected: None Agency Contact: Patricia A. Kurkul, Regional Administrator, Northeast Region, NMFS, Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, One Blackburn Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930 Phone: 978 281-9200 RIN: 0648-AP60 _______________________________________________________________________ 379. IMPLEMENTATION OF THE REGULATORY CHANGES RESULTING FROM THE AMENDMENTS AND EXTENSION OF THE SOUTH PACIFIC TUNA ACT Priority: Substantive, Nonsignificant Legal Authority: Not Yet Determined CFR Citation: 50 CFR 300 Legal Deadline: None Abstract: This rulemaking would implement the regulatory changes resulting from the recently renegotiated Treaty on Fisheries between the governments of Certain Pacific Island States and the Government of the United States, as authorized under the South Pacific Tuna Act. These changes include the implementation of an electronic vessel monitoring system for U.S. purse seine vessels licensed to fish within the Treaty Area. The location information will be provided to the Forum Fisheries Agency, located in Honiara, Solomon Islands, as well as [[Page 22409]] NOAA Fisheries. This rule would eliminate the prohibition of duly authorized U.S. longline vessels from fishing in the high seas areas within the Treaty Area. Additionally, it will impose minor modifications in the various reporting requirements, as well as modify the areas of fishing allowed in the exclusive economic zones of the Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea. Timetable: ________________________________________________________________________ Action Date FR Cite ________________________________________________________________________ NPRM 11/00/06 NPRM Comment Period End 12/00/06 Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Undetermined Government Levels Affected: None Agency Contact: Dr. Charles Karnella, Pacific Islands Area Office, Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 1601 Kapiolani Boulevard, Suite 1110, Honolulu, HI 96814-4700 Phone: 808 973-2985 RIN: 0648-AP61 _______________________________________________________________________ 380. AMENDMENT 71A TO THE FISHERY MANAGEMENT PLAN FOR THE GROUNDFISH FISHERY OF THE BERING SEA AND ALEUTIAN ISLANDS AREA Priority: Substantive, Nonsignificant Legal Authority: 16 USC 1801 et seq CFR Citation: 50 CFR 679 Legal Deadline: None Abstract: This action would revise regulations governing the process under which a portion of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands quotas for groundfish, prohibited species, crab, and halibut are allocated to groups representing Western Alaska communities eligible for the Community Development Quota (CDQ) Program. The action also would revise administrative regulations for the economic development aspects of the CDQ Program. It would also allow the CDQ groups to invest in non- fisheries projects. Timetable: ________________________________________________________________________ Action Date FR Cite ________________________________________________________________________ NPRM 01/00/07 NPRM Comment Period End 02/00/07 Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes Small Entities Affected: Businesses, Governmental Jurisdictions, Organizations Government Levels Affected: Federal, State Agency Contact: Robert Mecum, Acting Administrator, Alaska Region, Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802 Phone: 907 586-7221 Fax: 907 586-7249 RIN: 0648-AP67 _______________________________________________________________________ 381. REGULATORY AMENDMENT TO SECTION 679 PERMITS OR PERMIT-RELATED ISSUES Priority: Substantive, Nonsignificant Legal Authority: 16 USC 1801 et seq CFR Citation: 50 CFR 679 Legal Deadline: None Abstract: This rulemaking would revise several sections of regulations that pertain to permits or permit-related issues by technical edits and clarifications to existing requirements, removal of obsolete text, and clarification and simplification of text. In addition, this rulemaking would combine the registered buyer permit with the Federal processor permit when a shoreside processor does both IFQ and groundfish. This would be accomplished by adding an endorsement to the Federal processor permit. Timetable: ________________________________________________________________________ Action Date FR Cite ________________________________________________________________________ NPRM 11/00/06 NPRM Comment Period End 12/00/06 Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: No Government Levels Affected: None Agency Contact: Robert Mecum, Acting Administrator, Alaska Region, Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802 Phone: 907 586-7221 Fax: 907 586-7249 RIN: 0648-AQ07 _______________________________________________________________________ 382. REGULATORY AMENDMENT TO ADJUST PERMIT RENEWAL REQUIREMENTS AND TRANSFERABILITY RESTRICTIONS IN NWHI'S HOOMALU ZONE AND MAU LIMITED ACCESS PROGRAMS Priority: Substantive, Nonsignificant Legal Authority: 16 USC 1801 et seq CFR Citation: 50 CFR 660 Legal Deadline: None Abstract: This regulatory amendment under the Bottomfish FMP would remove annual landings requirement for permit renewal, revise permit transferability restrictions, establish permit eligibility for the Mau Zone, and establish a mechanism to facilitate permits through a community development program in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands bottomfish limited access programs. Timetable: ________________________________________________________________________ Action Date FR Cite ________________________________________________________________________ NPRM 10/00/06 NPRM Comment Period End 11/00/06 Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes Small Entities Affected: Businesses Government Levels Affected: None Agency Contact: Alvin Katekaru, Assistant Regional Administrator, Sustainable Fisheries, Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 1601 Kapiolani Boulevard, Honolulu, HI 96814 Phone: 808 944-2207 Related RIN: Merged with 0648-AK82 RIN: 0648-AQ20 _______________________________________________________________________ 383. FISHERIES OF THE UNITED STATES; NATIONAL STANDARD 1 Priority: Other Significant Legal Authority: 16 USC 1801 et seq CFR Citation: 50 CFR 600 Legal Deadline: None Abstract: NMFS is considering revisions to the national standard guidelines for National Standard 1 (NS1) that specify criteria for determining overfishing and establishing rebuilding schedules. There have been concerns expressed by the scientific community, fisheries managers, the fishing industry, and environmental groups regarding the [[Page 22410]] appropriateness of some aspects of these guidelines. Timetable: ________________________________________________________________________ Action Date FR Cite ________________________________________________________________________ ANPRM 02/14/03 68 FR 7492 ANPRM Comment Period End 03/17/03 Comment Period Extended 03/03/03 68 FR 9967 NPRM 06/22/05 70 FR 36240 Comment Period Extended 08/15/05 70 FR 47777 NPRM Comment Period End 08/22/05 Proposed Rule 10/00/06 Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: No Government Levels Affected: None Agency Contact: Mark Millikin, Fishery Management Specialist, Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Silver Spring, MD 20910 Phone: 301 713-2341 RIN: 0648-AQ63 _______________________________________________________________________ 384. AMENDMENT 1 TO THE ATLANTIC HERRING FISHERY MANAGEMENT PLAN Priority: Substantive, Nonsignificant Legal Authority: 16 USC 1801 et seq CFR Citation: 50 CFR 648 Legal Deadline: None Abstract: This action would implement a limited access program, implement management measures to management area 1A, and make other adjustments to the Atlantic Herring FMP. Timetable: ________________________________________________________________________ Action Date FR Cite ________________________________________________________________________ NPRM 06/00/06 NPRM Comment Period End 07/00/06 Final Action 10/00/06 Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes Small Entities Affected: Businesses Government Levels Affected: None Agency Contact: Patricia A. Kurkul, Regional Administrator, Northeast Region, NMFS, Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, One Blackburn Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930 Phone: 978 281-9200 RIN: 0648-AQ87 _______________________________________________________________________ 385. AMENDMENT 62 TO THE FISHERY MANAGEMENT PLAN FOR THE GROUNDFISH FISHERY OF THE GULF OF ALASKA AND AMENDMENT 62 TO THE FMP FOR THE GROUNDFISH FISHERY OF THE BERING SEA AND ALEUTIAN ISLANDS AREA (BSAI) Priority: Substantive, Nonsignificant Legal Authority: 16 USC 1801 et seq CFR Citation: 50 CFR 679 Legal Deadline: None Abstract: This rulemaking would implement American Fisheries Act (AFA) single geographic location allowing AFA-qualified inshore floating processors the flexibility to relocate between reporting weeks rather than between fishing years for the purpose of processing targeted Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands pollock. In addition, this rulemaking would address obsolete and inconsistent inshore/offshore language in both the BSAI and GOA groundfish FMPs and recommend removing the GOA inshore/offshore allocation sunset date. Timetable: ________________________________________________________________________ Action Date FR Cite ________________________________________________________________________ NPRM 11/00/06 NPRM Comment Period End 12/00/06 Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: No Government Levels Affected: None Agency Contact: Robert Mecum, Acting Administrator, Alaska Region, Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802 Phone: 907 586-7221 Fax: 907 586-7249 RIN: 0648-AR06 _______________________________________________________________________ 386. REGULATORY RULEMAKING TO REVISE ACCOUNTING FOR EXTERNALLY TAGGED HALIBUT AND SABLEFISH Priority: Substantive, Nonsignificant Legal Authority: 16 USC 1801 et seq CFR Citation: 50 CFR 679 Legal Deadline: None Abstract: This rulemaking would revise accounting procedures when deducting halibut catch or sablefish catch from the Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) or Community Development Quota (CDQ). Only those halibut or sablefish with external tags are excluded from IFQ or CDQ deduction. Timetable: ________________________________________________________________________ Action Date FR Cite ________________________________________________________________________ NPRM 03/29/06 71 FR 15687 NPRM Comment Period End 04/28/06 Final Action 07/00/06 Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: No Government Levels Affected: None Agency Contact: Robert Mecum, Acting Administrator, Alaska Region, Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802 Phone: 907 586-7221 Fax: 907 586-7249 RIN: 0648-AR09 _______________________________________________________________________ 387. CATCHER VESSEL ELECTRONIC REPORT Priority: Substantive, Nonsignificant Legal Authority: 16 USC 1801 et seq CFR Citation: 50 CFR 679 Legal Deadline: None Abstract: NMFS revises it regulations to allow the operator of a catcher vessel the option of using an NMFS-approved electronic version of the logbook in place of the paper logbook. Currently, paper daily fishing logbooks are required from catcher vessels greater than 60 feet in length overall. Requirements for completion and submittal of the logbooks exist in the regulations at 50 CFR part 679. Recent advances in technology have allowed catcher vessels to use an electronic version of the logbook to record the required information. The current regulations would be changed to reflect the different options available to catcher vessels when submitting data. The use of the electronic logbooks would not be required by NMFS at this time. Timetable: ________________________________________________________________________ Action Date FR Cite ________________________________________________________________________ NPRM 11/00/06 NPRM Comment Period End 12/00/06 Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: No Government Levels Affected: None [[Page 22411]] Agency Contact: Robert Mecum, Acting Administrator, Alaska Region, Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802 Phone: 907 586-7221 Fax: 907 586-7249 RIN: 0648-AR30 _______________________________________________________________________ 388. ATLANTIC STRIPED BASS FISHERIES IN THE EEZ; MODIFICATION OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS Priority: Other Significant Legal Authority: 16 USC 1851 CFR Citation: 50 CFR 697 Legal Deadline: None Abstract: NMFS announces that it is considering, and seeking public comment on, revisions to Federal Atlantic striped bass regulations for the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) in response to recommendations from the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (Commission) to the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary). The Commission recommended that the Secretary remove the moratorium on the harvest of Atlantic striped bass in the EEZ after a 13-year closure; implement a 28-inch minimum size limit for the recreational and commercial Atlantic striped bass fisheries in the EEZ; and allow States the ability to adopt more restrictive rules for fishermen and vessels licensed in their jurisdiction. NMFS is soliciting comments with this notice regarding possible management measures and issues that NMFS should consider relative to these recommendations. Timetable: ________________________________________________________________________ Action Date FR Cite ________________________________________________________________________ ANPRM 07/21/03 68 FR 43074 ANPRM Comment Period End 08/20/03 Comment Period Extended 08/26/03 68 FR 51232 Notice of Intent 10/20/03 68 FR 59906 NPRM 06/00/06 NPRM Comment Period End 08/00/06 Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes Small Entities Affected: Businesses Government Levels Affected: Federal, State Agency Contact: Patricia A. Kurkul, Regional Administrator, Northeast Region, NMFS, Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, One Blackburn Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930 Phone: 978 281-9200 RIN: 0648-AR33 _______________________________________________________________________ 389. MAXIMIZE RETENTION AND MONITORING PROGRAM IN THE SHORE-BASED PACIFIC WHITING FISHERY Priority: Substantive, Nonsignificant Legal Authority: 16 USC 1801 et seq CFR Citation: 50 CFR 660 Legal Deadline: None Abstract: The Pacific Fishery Management Council (Pacific Council) at their October 21-25, 1996, meeting in San Francisco, California addressed the treatment and disposition of salmon in the groundfish trawl fisheries, specifically the shore-based whiting fishery. At that meeting, the Pacific Council discussed the retention of salmon in the shore-based whiting fishery and took action to maintain a viable shore- based whiting fishery by using exempted fishing permits (EFPs). These EFPs allowed the shore-based whiting fleet to temporarily deliver unsorted catch to processing plants and provided for the monitoring of incidentally taken salmon until a permanent monitoring program could be implemented. In keeping with the Pacific Council's recommendation, NMFS is proceeding with implementing a monitoring program for the shore- based whiting fishery. This action will aid in the sustainable management of Pacific Coast salmon and groundfish fisheries while providing an important economic opportunity to those associated with the harvest, processing, and selling of whiting taken by the shore- based whiting fleet. The need for implementing a permanent monitoring program in the shore-based Pacific whiting fishery is to provide for a full retention fishery by enabling the shore-based whiting fleet, comprised exclusively of catcher vessels, to deliver unsorted catch to processing plants. This practice is necessary to ensure that whiting landings are of market quality, while abiding by Federal groundfish regulations and those implementing the Pacific Coast salmon and groundfish fishery management plans (FMPs). Timetable: ________________________________________________________________________ Action Date FR Cite ________________________________________________________________________ NPRM 12/00/06 NPRM Comment Period End 01/00/07 Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes Small Entities Affected: Businesses Government Levels Affected: None Agency Contact: D. Robert Lohn, Regional Administrator, Northwest Region, NMFS, Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 7600 Sand Point Way NE., Building 1, Seattle, WA 48115- 0070 Phone: 206 526-6150 Fax: 206 526-6426 RIN: 0648-AR63 _______________________________________________________________________ 390. AMENDMENT 72 TO THE FISHERY MANAGEMENT PLAN FOR THE GROUNDFISH OF THE GULF OF ALASKA Priority: Substantive, Nonsignificant Legal Authority: 16 USC 1801 et seq CFR Citation: 50 CFR 679 Legal Deadline: None Abstract: This action would eliminate an existing requirement under the Improved Retention/Improved Utilization (IR/IU) program that groundfish fisheries retain shallow water flatfish in the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action may relieve some harvesting and utilization restrictions on GOA groundfish harvesting and processing operations. It follows a parallel action taken in the BSAI to relieve those groundfish fisheries from requirements to retain all IR/IU flatfish species. Timetable: ________________________________________________________________________ Action Date FR Cite ________________________________________________________________________ NPRM 11/00/06 NPRM Comment Period End 12/00/06 Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: No Small Entities Affected: No Government Levels Affected: None Agency Contact: Robert Mecum, Acting Administrator, Alaska Region, Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802 [[Page 22412]] Phone: 907 586-7221 Fax: 907 586-7249 RIN: 0648-AR72 _______________________________________________________________________ 391. REVISIONS TO THE DEFINITIONS OF EXEMPTED FISHING AND SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH Priority: Substantive, Nonsignificant Legal Authority: 16 USC 1801 et seq CFR Citation: 50 CFR 600 Legal Deadline: None Abstract: NMFS amends the regulations at 50 CFR 600.745. The action is intended to provide clearer guidance to the public for obtaining appropriate acknowledgments and permits and to facilitate the timely conduct of research to address bycatch and habitat issues in the fisheries. Timetable: ________________________________________________________________________ Action Date FR Cite ________________________________________________________________________ NPRM 11/00/06 NPRM Comment Period End 12/00/06 Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes Small Entities Affected: Businesses Government Levels Affected: None Agency Contact: Alan Risenhoover, Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 1315 East-West Highway, Room 13362, Silver Spring, MD 20910 Phone: 301 713-2334 RIN: 0648-AR78 _______________________________________________________________________ 392. INDIVIDUAL FISHING QUOTA FOR GUIDED RECREATIONAL CHARTER HALIBUT FISHERY Priority: Substantive, Nonsignificant Legal Authority: 16 USC 773 et seq; 16 USC 1801 et seq; 16 USC 1540 CFR Citation: 50 CFR 679 Legal Deadline: None Abstract: This action would establish a control date announcing that anyone entering the Charter sport fishery for Pacific halibut in and off Alaska after December 9, 2005, (control date), will not be assured of future access to that fishery if a management regime that limits the number of participants is developed and implemented under the authority of the Northern Pacific Halibut Act of 1982 (Halibut Act). Timetable: ________________________________________________________________________ Action Date FR Cite ________________________________________________________________________ ANPRM 02/08/06 71 FR 6442 NPRM 09/00/06 Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: No Small Entities Affected: No Government Levels Affected: None Agency Contact: Robert Mecum, Acting Administrator, Alaska Region, Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802 Phone: 907 586-7221 Fax: 907 586-7249 RIN: 0648-AR96 _______________________________________________________________________ 393. COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT QUOTA REGULATORY AMENDMENT TO MODIFY SEVERAL FISHERY MANAGEMENT ELEMENTS OF THE CDQ PROGRAM Priority: Substantive, Nonsignificant Legal Authority: 16 USC 1801 CFR Citation: 50 CFR 679 Legal Deadline: None Abstract: This regulatory amendment would modify several fishery management elements of the CDQ Program, including: how to address which annual CDQ reserves should be allocated among CDQ groups; relaxing strict quota accountability standards; and determining a means to accommodate changes made in the annual specifications process to preexisting CDQ percentage allocations. Timetable: ________________________________________________________________________ Action Date FR Cite ________________________________________________________________________ NPRM 05/00/06 NPRM Comment Period End 06/00/06 Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Undetermined Government Levels Affected: None Agency Contact: Robert Mecum, Acting Administrator, Alaska Region, Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802 Phone: 907 586-7221 Fax: 907 586-7249 RIN: 0648-AS13 _______________________________________________________________________