80 FR 30318 - Certifications Pursuant to Section 609 of Public Law 101-162

DEPARTMENT OF STATE

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 101 (May 27, 2015)

Page Range		30318-30319
FR Document		2015-12750

On April 27, 2015, the Department of State certified, pursuant to Section 609 of Public Law 101-162, that 14 nations have adopted programs to reduce the incidental capture of sea turtles in their shrimp fisheries comparable to the program in effect in the United States. The Department also certified that the fishing environments in 26 other countries and one economy do not pose a threat of the incidental taking of sea turtles protected under Section 609.

Federal Register, Volume 80 Issue 101 (Wednesday, May 27, 2015)

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 101 (Wednesday, May 27, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 30318-30319]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-12750]


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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

 [Public Notice: 9147]


Certifications Pursuant to Section 609 of Public Law 101-162

SUMMARY: On April 27, 2015, the Department of State certified, pursuant 
to Section 609 of Public Law 101-162, that 14 nations have adopted 
programs to reduce the incidental capture of sea turtles in their 
shrimp fisheries comparable to the program in effect in the United 
States. The Department also certified that the fishing environments in 
26 other countries and one economy do not pose a threat of the 
incidental taking of sea turtles protected under Section 609.

DATES: Effective on Publication.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Stephen J. Wilger, Office of Marine 
Conservation, Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and 
Scientific Affairs, Department of State, Washington, DC 20520-7818; 
telephone: (202) 647-3263; email: wilgersj2@state.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 609 of Public Law 101-162 (``Section 
609'') prohibits imports of certain categories of shrimp unless the 
President certifies to the Congress by May 1, 1991, and annually 
thereafter, either: (1) That the harvesting nation has adopted a 
program governing the incidental capture of sea turtles in its 
commercial shrimp fishery comparable to the program in effect in the 
United States and has an incidental take rate comparable to that of the 
United States; or (2) that the fishing environment in the harvesting 
nation does not pose a threat of the incidental taking of sea turtles. 
The President has delegated the authority to make this certification to 
the Department of State (``the Department''). Revised State Department 
guidelines for making the required certifications were published in the 
Federal Register on July 2, 1999 (Vol. 64, No. 130, Public Notice 
3086).
    On April 27, 2015, the Department certified 14 nations on the basis 
that their sea turtle protection programs are comparable to that of the 
United States: Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Gabon, 
Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Pakistan, 
Panama, and Suriname. The Department also certified 26 shrimp 
harvesting nations and one economy as having fishing environments that 
do not pose a danger to sea turtles. Sixteen nations have shrimping 
grounds only in cold waters where the risk of taking sea turtles is 
negligible. They are: Argentina, Belgium, Canada, Chile, Denmark, 
Finland, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, the Netherlands, New Zealand, 
Norway, Russia, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and Uruguay. Ten nations 
and one economy only harvest shrimp using small boats with crews of 
less than five that use manual rather than mechanical means to retrieve 
nets, or catch shrimp using other methods that do not threaten sea 
turtles. Use of such small-scale technology does not adversely affect 
sea turtles. The 10 nations and one economy are: The Bahamas, Belize, 
China, the Dominican Republic, Fiji, Hong Kong, Jamaica, Oman, Peru, 
Sri Lanka, and Venezuela. The Department of State has communicated the 
certifications under Section 609 to the Office of Field Operations of 
U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
    All DS-2031 forms accompanying shrimp imports from uncertified 
nations must be originals and signed by the competent domestic 
fisheries authority.
    Shrimp harvested with turtle excluder devices (TEDs) in an 
uncertified nation may, under specific circumstances, be eligible for 
importation into the United States under the DS-2031 section 7(A)(2) 
provision for ``shrimp harvested by commercial shrimp trawl vessels 
using TEDs comparable in effectiveness to those required in the United 
States.'' Use of this provision requires that the Department of State 
determine in advance that the government of the harvesting nation has 
put in place adequate procedures to monitor the use of TEDS in the 
specific fishery in question and to ensure the accurate completion of 
the DS-2031 forms. At this time, the Department has made such a 
determination only with respect to specific and limited fisheries in 
Australia and France. Thus, the importation of TED-caught shrimp from 
any other uncertified nation will not be allowed. For Australia, shrimp 
harvested in the Exmouth Gulf Prawn Fishery, the Northern Prawn 
Fishery,

[[Page 30319]]

the Queensland East Coast Trawl Fishery, and the Torres Strait Prawn 
Fishery are eligible for entry under this provision. For France, shrimp 
harvested in the French Guiana domestic trawl fishery are eligible for 
entry under this provision. An official of the competent domestic 
fisheries authority for the country where the shrimp were harvested 
must sign the DS-2031 form accompanying these imports into the United 
States.
    In addition, the Department has determined that shrimp harvested in 
the Spencer Gulf region in Australia and Mediterranean red shrimp 
(Aristeus antennatus) harvested in the Mediterranean Sea by Spain may 
be exported to the United States under the DS-2031 section 7(A)(4) 
provision for ``shrimp harvested in a manner or under circumstances 
determined by the Department of State not to pose a threat of the 
incidental taking of sea turtles.'' An official of the Government of 
Australia or Spain must certify the DS-2031 form accompanying these 
imports into the United States.

    Dated: May 20, 2015.
David A. Balton,
Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Oceans and Fisheries, 
Department of State.
[FR Doc. 2015-12750 Filed 5-26-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4710-09-P

Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 101 / Wednesday, May 27, 2015 / Notices 30319

the Queensland East Coast Trawl DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Title 23, Code of Federal Regulations,
Fishery, and the Torres Strait Prawn section 635.410 requires that steel or
Fishery are eligible for entry under this Federal Highway Administration iron materials (including protective
provision. For France, shrimp harvested coatings) that will be permanently
in the French Guiana domestic trawl Buy America Waiver Notification incorporated in a Federal-aid project
fishery are eligible for entry under this AGENCY: Federal Highway must be manufactured in the U.S. For
provision. An official of the competent Administration (FHWA), Department of FHWA, this means that all the processes
domestic fisheries authority for the Transportation (DOT). that modified the chemical content,
country where the shrimp were ACTION: Notice.
physical shape or size, or final finish of
harvested must sign the DS–2031 form the material (from initial melting and
accompanying these imports into the SUMMARY: This notice provides mixing, continuing through the bending
United States. information regarding FHWA’s finding and coating) occurred in the U.S. The
In addition, the Department has that a Buy America waiver is statute and regulations create a process
determined that shrimp harvested in the appropriate for the obligation of for granting waivers from the Buy
Spencer Gulf region in Australia and Federal-aid funds for 21 State projects America requirements when its
Mediterranean red shrimp (Aristeus involving the acquisition of vehicles application would be inconsistent with
antennatus) harvested in the and equipment on the condition that the public interest or when satisfactory
Mediterranean Sea by Spain may be they be assembled in the U.S. quality domestic steel and iron products
exported to the United States under the DATES: The effective date of the waiver are not sufficiently available. In 1983,
DS–2031 section 7(A)(4) provision for is May 28, 2015. FHWA determined that it was both in
‘‘shrimp harvested in a manner or under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For the public interest and consistent with
circumstances determined by the questions about this notice, please the legislative intent to waive Buy
Department of State not to pose a threat contact Mr. Gerald Yakowenko, FHWA America for manufactured products
of the incidental taking of sea turtles.’’ Office of Program Administration, 202– other than steel manufactured products.
An official of the Government of 366–1562, or via email at However, FHWA’s national waiver for
Australia or Spain must certify the DS– gerald.yakowenko@dot.gov. For legal manufactured products does not apply
2031 form accompanying these imports questions, please contact Mr. Jomar to the requests in this notice because
into the United States. Maldonado, FHWA Office of the Chief they involve predominately steel and
Counsel, 202–366–1373, or via email at iron manufactured products. The
Dated: May 20, 2015.
jomar.maldonado@dot.gov. Office hours FHWA’s Buy America requirements do
David A. Balton, not have special provisions for applying
Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for
for the FHWA are from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30
p.m., e.t., Monday through Friday, Buy America to ‘‘rolling stock’’ such as
Oceans and Fisheries, Department of State. vehicles or vehicle components (see 49
[FR Doc. 2015–12750 Filed 5–26–15; 8:45 am]
except Federal holidays.
U.S.C. 5323(j)(2)(C), 49 CFR 661.11, and
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
BILLING CODE 4710–09–P 49 U.S.C. 24405(a)(2)(C) for examples of
Electronic Access Buy America rolling stock provisions for
An electronic copy of this document other DOT agencies).
DEPARTMENT OF STATE
may be downloaded from the Federal Based on all the information available
Register’s home page at http:// to the agency, FHWA concludes that
[Public Notice: 9148] there are no domestic manufacturers
www.archives.gov and the Government
Printing Office’s database at http:// that produce the vehicles and vehicle
Determination and Certification Under
www.access.gpo.gov/nara. components identified in this notice in
Section 40A of the Arms Export
such a way that their steel and iron
Control Act Background elements are manufactured
Pursuant to section 40A of the Arms This notice provides information domestically. The FHWA’s Buy America
Export Control Act (22 U.S.C. 2781), and regarding FHWA’s finding that a Buy requirements were tailored to the types
Executive Order 13637, as amended, I America waiver is appropriate for the of products that are typically used in
hereby determine and certify to the obligation of Federal-aid funds for 21 highway construction, which generally
Congress that the following countries State projects involving the acquisition meet the requirement that steel and iron
are not cooperating fully with United of vehicles (including sedans, vans, materials be manufactured domestically.
States antiterrorism efforts: pickups, trucks, buses, and street In today’s global industry, vehicles are
sweepers) and equipment (such as assembled with iron and steel
Eritrea snooper truck and trail grooming components that are manufactured all
Iran equipment) on the condition that they over the world. The FHWA is not aware
Democratic People’s Republic of Korea be assembled in the U.S. The waiver of any domestically produced vehicle
(DPRK, or North Korea) would apply to approximately 249 on the market that meets FHWA’s Buy
vehicles. The requests, available at America requirement to have all its iron
Syria http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/construction/ and steel be manufactured exclusively
Venezuela contracts/cmaq150325.cfm, are in the U.S. For example, the Chevrolet
This determination and certification incorporated by reference into this Volt, which was identified by many
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES

shall be transmitted to the Congress and notice. These projects are being commenters in a November 21, 2011,
published in the Federal Register. undertaken to implement air quality Federal Register Notice (76 FR 72027)
improvement, safety, and mobility goals as a car that is made in the U.S., is
Dated: May 11, 2015. under FHWA’s Congestion Mitigation comprised of only 45 percent of U.S.
John Kerry, and Air Quality Improvement Program; and Canadian content according to the
Secretary of State. National Bridge and Tunnel Inventory National Highway Traffic Safety
[FR Doc. 2015–12747 Filed 5–26–15; 8:45 am] and Inspection Program; and the Administration’s Part 583 American
BILLING CODE 4710–10–P Recreational Trails Program. Automobile Labeling Act Report Web

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Document Created: 2015-12-15 15:35:57
Document Modified: 2015-12-15 15:35:57

Category		Regulatory Information
Collection		Federal Register
sudoc Class		AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106:
Publisher		Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
Section		Notices
Dates		Effective on Publication.
Contact		Stephen J. Wilger, Office of Marine Conservation, Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs, Department of State, Washington, DC 20520-7818; telephone: (202) 647-3263; email: [email protected]
FR Citation		80 FR 30318