80 FR 38501 - Generalized System of Preferences (GSP): Notice of a GSP Product Review, Including Possible Actions Related to Competitive Need Limitations
OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 128 (July 6, 2015)
Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 128 (July 6, 2015)
| Page Range | 38501-38504 | |
| FR Document | 2015-16498 |
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 128 (Monday, July 6, 2015)] [Notices] [Pages 38501-38504] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2015-16498] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE Generalized System of Preferences (GSP): Notice of a GSP Product Review, Including Possible Actions Related to Competitive Need Limitations AGENCY: Office of the United States Trade Representative. [[Page 38502]] ACTION: Notice of hearing and solicitation of petitions and comments. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: This notice announces a review of products under the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) program that based on full-year 2014 import data, are subject to certain actions related to competitive need limitations (CNLs). The review will also consider the proposed designation for GSP eligibility of five cotton products from least developed beneficiary developing countries (LDBDCs). The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) will accept petitions by interested parties seeking waivers of CNLs for certain products submitted by July 31, 2015. USTR will also accept comments from the public submitted by July 31, 2015, regarding: (1) Possible de minimis CNL waivers, (2) possible redesignations of articles not currently eligible for GSP benefits, (3) possible revocation of CNL waivers, and (4) the proposed designation for GSP eligibility for LDBDCs of the five cotton products. This notice also sets forth the schedule for submitting comments and for a public hearing on prospective CNL waiver petitions and the proposed designation of the cotton products. DATES: July 31, 2015: Deadline for petitions requesting waivers of CNLs and for all other written comments in response to this notice. July 31, 2015: Deadline for pre-hearing briefs and requests to appear at the August 11 public hearing regarding CNL waiver petitions and the proposed designation of the cotton products. August 11, 2015: The GSP Subcommittee of the Trade Policy Staff Committee (TPSC) will convene a public hearing on CNL waiver petitions and the proposed designation of the cotton products. August 18, 2015: Deadline for submission of post-hearing briefs and comments. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Marin Weaver, GSP Program, Office of the United States Trade Representative. The telephone number is (202) 395-2974, the fax number is (202) 395-9674, and the email address is MWeaver@ustr.eop.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: I. Competitive Need Limitations The GSP program provides for the duty-free importation of designated articles imported from designated beneficiary developing countries (BDCs). The GSP program is authorized by Title V of the Trade Act of 1974 (19 U.S.C. 2461, et seq.), as amended (``the 1974 Act''). The GSP program expired on July 31, 2013. GSP was reauthorized on June 29, 2015, by the Trade Preferences Extension Act of 2015. The GSP program is now effective through December 31, 2017, with retroactive effect through July 31, 2013. Section 503(c)(2)(A) of the 1974 Act sets out the two CNLs. When the President determines that a BDC exported to the United States during a calendar year either: (1) A quantity of a GSP-eligible article having a value in excess of the applicable amount for that year ($165 million for 2014), or (2) a quantity of a GSP-eligible article having a value equal to or greater than 50 percent of the value of total U.S. imports of the article from all countries (the ``50 percent'' CNL), the President must terminate GSP duty-free treatment for that article from that BDC by no later than July 1 of the next calendar year, unless a waiver is granted. The Trade Preferences Extension Act of 2015 provides that the applicable deadline for all CNL-related actions based on import data from 2014, will be October 1, 2015. De minimis waivers: Under section 503(c)(2)(F) of the 1974 Act, the President may waive the 50 percent CNL with respect to an eligible article imported from a BDC if the value of total imports of that article from all countries during the calendar year did not exceed the applicable de minimis amount for that year ($22 million for 2014). Redesignations: Under section 503(c)(2)(C) of the 1974 Act, if imports of an eligible article from a BDC ceased to receive duty-free treatment due to exceeding a CNL in a prior year, the President may, subject to the considerations in sections 501 and 502 of the 1974 Act, redesignate such an article for duty-free treatment if imports in the most recently completed calendar year did not exceed the CNLs. CNL waiver revocation: Under Section 503(d)(5) of the 1974 Act, a CNL waiver remains in effect until the President determines that it is no longer warranted due to changed circumstances. Section 503(d)(4)(B)(ii) of the 1974 Act, as amended by Public Law 109-432, also provides that, ``[n]ot later than July 1 of each year, the President should revoke any waiver that has then been in effect with respect to an article for five years or more if the beneficiary developing country has exported to the United States (directly or indirectly) during the preceding calendar year a quantity of the article--(I) having an appraised value in excess of 1.5 times the applicable amount set forth in subsection (c)(2)(A)(ii) for that calendar year ($247.5 million in 2012); or (II) exceeding 75 percent of the appraised value of the total imports of that article into the United States during that calendar year.'' Pursuant to the Trade Preferences Extension Act of 2015, exclusions from GSP duty-free treatment where CNLs have been exceeded for calendar year 2014 will be effective October 1, 2015, unless granted a waiver by the President. Any CNL-based exclusions, CNL waiver revocations, and decisions with respect to de minimis waivers and redesignations will be based on full 2014 calendar year import data. II. 2014 Import Statistics In order to provide notice of articles that have exceeded the CNLs for 2014 and to afford an opportunity for comment regarding (1) potential de minimis waivers, (2) potential redesignations, and (3) the potential revocation of waivers for articles exceeding the CNL waiver thresholds for 2014, USTR has posted product lists on the USTR Web site at https://ustr.gov/issue-areas/trade-development/preference-programs/generalized-system-preference-gsp/current-review-0 under the title ``GSP: 2014/2015 Limited Product Review.'' These lists can also be found at www.regulations.gov in Docket Number USTR-2015-0007. Full 2014 calendar year data for individual tariff subheadings may also be viewed on the Web site of the U.S. International Trade Commission at http://dataweb.usitc.gov. The lists available on the USTR Web site contain, for each article, the Harmonized Tariff System (HTS) of the United States subheading and BDC country of origin, the value of imports of the article from the subject BDC for the 2014 calendar year, and that country's share of total U.S. imports of that article. List I on the USTR Web site shows the following two GSP-eligible articles--both from Thailand--that exceeded a CNL in 2014 by having been exported in a quantity equal to or greater than 50 percent of the total U.S. import value, in 2014:HTS 2008.19.15--Coconuts otherwise prepared or preserved; and HTS 7408.29.10--Copper alloys (other than brass, cupro-nickel or nickel-silver), wire, coated or plated with metal These products will be removed from eligibility for GSP for the subject countries on October 1, 2015, unless the President grants a waiver for the product for Thailand in response to a petition filed by an interested party. List II identifies GSP-eligible articles from BDCs that are above the 50 percent [[Page 38503]] CNL, but that are eligible for a de minimis waiver of the 50 percent CNL. Articles eligible for de minimis waivers are automatically considered in the GSP annual review process, without the filing of a petition. List III shows GSP-eligible articles from certain BDCs that are currently not receiving GSP duty-free treatment but that may be considered for GSP redesignation based on 2014 trade data and consideration of certain statutory factors. List IV shows the following three articles from specified BDCs that are subject to CNL waiver revocation based on the provisions of Section 503(d)(4)(B)(ii) of the 1974 Act, as amended by Public Law 109-432: HTS 4412.31.40--(for Indonesia) Certain plywood sheets not over 6 mm thick; HTS 7413.00.10--(for Turkey) Certain copper, stranded wire; HTS 7413.00.50--(for Turkey) Certain copper cables and plaited bands. Petitions from interested parties seeking a waiver of the application of CNLs for the two products on List I, and comments from the public in support of or in opposition to CNL waivers, revocations of CNL waivers, and redesignation of products are invited in accordance with the Requirements for Submissions below. III. Possible Designation of New Products Pursuant to authority granted to the President in Section 202 of the Trade Preferences Extension Act of 2015 and consistent with USTR's December 2011 announcement of trade initiatives intended to enable least-developed countries to benefit more fully from global trade, five cotton products are being considered for GSP eligibility for LDBDCs at the initiative of USTR. These include: HTS 5201.00.18, 5201.00.28, and 5201.00.38--Certain cotton, not carded or combed, of various specified staple lengths HTS 5202.99.30--Certain cotton card strips made from cotton waste; and HTS 5203.00.30--Certain cotton fibers, carded or combed. Comments from the public in support of or in opposition to designation of the proposed product additions are invited in accordance with the Requirements for Submissions below. IV. Petitions and Public Comments The GSP regulations (15 CFR part 2007) provide the schedule of dates for conducting an annual review unless otherwise specified in a notice published in the Federal Register. The schedule for the 2015 GSP Annual Review will be notified at a later date in the Federal Register. In the interim, and pursuant to Section 203 of the Trade Preferences Extension Act of 2015, the GSP Subcommittee of the TPSC will conduct a limited GSP review encompassing products that, based on full-year 2014 import data, are subject to CNL-related actions, including exclusions, waivers, and revocation of waivers, as well as redesignations. These products appear on Lists I--IV described above. In addition, the review will also consider the designation of the five cotton products mentioned above as eligible for GSP benefits for LDBDCs of the GSP program. As part of this limited GSP product review, the GSP Subcommittee will accept petitions from interested parties seeking a waiver of the application of CNLs for the two products on List I, described above. The GSP Subcommittee also invites comments in support of or in opposition to: (1) The CNL waiver petitions which it is anticipated will be submitted for the two products on List I; (2) de minimis waivers of CNLs (see List II); (3) redesignations of products that were previously excluded from certain countries based on CNLs (see List III); (4) revocation of CNL waivers (see List IV); and (5) the proposed addition to GSP eligibility for LDBDCs only of the five cotton products listed above. Procedures for submission of both petitions and written comments are described in Section VI below. V. Notice of Public Hearing In addition to comments from the public on the matters listed above, the GSP Subcommittee of the TPSC will convene a public hearing at 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday, August 11, 2015, to receive testimony related to (1) the CNL waiver petitions for products on List I, and (2) the proposed designation of the five cotton products. The hearing will not address de minimis waivers, product redesignations, or CNL waiver revocations. The hearing will be held at 1724 F Street NW., Washington, DC 20508 and will be open to the public and to the press. A transcript of the hearing will be made available on http://www.regulations.gov within approximately two weeks of the hearing. All interested parties wishing to make an oral presentation at the hearing must submit, following the ``Requirements for Submissions'' set out below, the name, address, telephone number, and email address, if available, of the witness(es) representing their organization by 5 p.m., Friday, July 31, 2015. Requests to present oral testimony must be accompanied by a written brief or summary statement, in English, and also must be received by 5 p.m., Friday, July 31, 2015. Oral testimony before the GSP Subcommittee will be limited to five-minute presentations that summarize or supplement information contained in briefs or statements submitted for the record. Post-hearing briefs or statements will be accepted if they conform with the requirements set out below and are submitted, in English, by 5 p.m., Tuesday, August 18, 2015. Parties not wishing to appear at the public hearing may submit pre-hearing and post-hearing briefs or comments by the aforementioned deadlines. VI. Requirements for Submissions Written comments submitted in response to this notice, including petitions for CNL waivers, must be submitted electronically by 5:00 p.m., July 31, 2015, using www.regulations.gov, docket number USTR- 2015-0007. Instructions for submitting business confidential versions are provided below. Hand-delivered submissions will not be accepted. Comments must be submitted in English to the Chairman of the GSP Subcommittee of the TPSC. For CNL waiver petitions only: CNL waiver petitions must conform to the GSP regulations set forth at 15 CFR part 2007, except as modified below. These regulations are available on the USTR Web site at http://www.ustr.gov/trade-topics/trade-development/preference-programs/generalized-system-preference-gsp/gsp-program-inf. Any person or party submitting a CNL waiver petition is strongly advised to review the GSP regulations as well as the GSP Guidebook, which is available at the same link. The requirements for CNL waiver petitions do not apply to other written submissions in response to this notice. To make a written comment or to submit a CNL waiver petition using http://www.regulations.gov, enter the docket number for this review-- USTR-2015-0007--in the ``Search for'' field on the home page and click ``Search.'' The site will provide a search-results page listing all documents associated with this docket. Find a reference to this notice by selecting ``Notice'' under ``Document Type'' in the ``Filter Results by'' section on the left side of the screen and click on the link entitled ``Comment Now.'' The http://www.regulations.gov Web site offers the option of providing comments by filling in a ``Type Comment'' field or by attaching a [[Page 38504]] document using the ``Upload file(s)'' field. The GSP Subcommittee prefers that submissions be provided in an attached document. At the beginning of the submission, or on the first page (if an attachment), please note that the submission is in response to this Federal Register notice and indicate the specific product(s) that is the subject of the comment and on which of the relevant lists described above, (e.g., List I) it appears. Submissions should not exceed 30 single-spaced, standard letter-size pages in 12-point type, including attachments. Any data attachments to the submission should be included in the same file as the submission itself, and not as separate files. Each submitter will receive a submission tracking number upon completion of the submissions procedure at http://www.regulations.gov. The tracking number will be the submitter's confirmation that the submission was received into http://www.regulations.gov. The confirmation should be kept for the submitter's records. USTR is not able to provide technical assistance for the Web site. Documents not submitted in accordance with these instructions may not be considered in this review. If an interested party is unable to provide submissions as requested, please contact the GSP program at USTR to arrange for an alternative method of transmission. Business Confidential Submissions An interested party requesting that information contained in a submission be treated as business confidential information must certify that such information is business confidential and would not customarily be released to the public by the submitter. Confidential business information must be clearly designated as such. The submission must be marked ``BUSINESS CONFIDENTIAL'' at the top and bottom of the cover page and each succeeding page, and the submission should indicate, via brackets, the specific information that is confidential. Additionally, ``Business Confidential'' must be included in the ``Type Comment'' field. For any submission containing business confidential information, a non-confidential version must be submitted separately (i.e., not as part of the same submission with the confidential version), indicating where confidential information has been redacted. The non-confidential version will be placed in the docket and open to public inspection. Public Viewing of Review Submissions Submissions in response to this notice, except for information granted ``business confidential'' status under 15 CFR 2003.6, will be available for public viewing pursuant to 15 CFR 2007.6 at http://www.regulations.gov upon completion of processing. Such submissions may be viewed by entering the country-specific docket number in the search field at http://www.regulations.gov. William D. Jackson, Deputy Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for the Generalized System of Preferences, Office of the U.S. Trade Representative. [FR Doc. 2015-16498 Filed 7-2-15; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3290-F5-P
![Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 128 / Monday, July 6, 2015 / Notices 38501
SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION other Federal, State, or local government D. CATEGORIES OF RECORDS AND PERSONS
records. It requires Federal agencies COVERED BY THE MATCHING PROGRAM
[Docket No. SSA 2014–0051]
involved in computer matching 1. SYSTEMS OF RECORDS
Privacy Act of 1974, as Amended; programs to: VA will provide us with electronic
Computer Matching Program (Social (1) Negotiate written agreements with files containing compensation and
Security Administration (SSA)/ the other agency or agencies pension payment data from its system of
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), participating in the matching programs; records (SOR) entitled ‘‘Compensation,
Veterans Benefits Administration (2) Obtain approval of the matching Pension, Education, and Vocational
(VBA))—Match Number 1309 agreement by the Data Integrity Boards Rehabilitation and Employment
of the participating Federal agencies; Records–VA’’ (58VA/21/22/28),
AGENCY: Social Security Administration republished with updated name at 74
(SSA). (3) Publish notice of the computer
FR 14865 (April 1, 2009) and last
ACTION: Notice of a renewal of an matching program in the Federal
amended at 77 FR 42593 (July 19, 2012).
existing computer matching program Register; We will match the VA data with our
that will expire on April 01, 2015. (4) Furnish detailed reports about SOR 60–0321, Medicare Database
matching programs to Congress and (MDB), last published at 71 FR 42159
SUMMARY: In accordance with the OMB; (July 25, 2006).
provisions of the Privacy Act, as
(5) Notify applicants and beneficiaries
amended, this notice announces a 2. NUMBER OF RECORDS
that their records are subject to
renewal of an existing computer VA’s data file will consist of
matching; and
matching program that we are currently approximately 4.9 million electronic
conducting with VA/VBA. (6) Verify match findings before records. Our comparison file contains
DATES: We will file a report of the
reducing, suspending, terminating, or approximately 90 million records
subject matching program with the denying a person’s benefits or obtained from the MDB. The number of
Committee on Homeland Security and payments. people who apply for Extra Help
Governmental Affairs of the Senate; the B. SSA Computer Matches Subject to the determines in part the number of
Committee on Oversight and Privacy Act records matched.
Government Reform of the House of 3. SPECIFIED DATA ELEMENTS
Representatives; and the Office of We have taken action to ensure that
Information and Regulatory Affairs, all of our computer matching programs We will conduct the match using the
Office of Management and Budget comply with the requirements of the Social Security number, name, date of
(OMB). The matching program will be Privacy Act, as amended. birth, and VA claim number on both the
effective as indicated below. VA file and the MDB.
Kirsten J. Moncada,
ADDRESSES: Interested parties may Executive Director, Office of Privacy and 4. FREQUENCY OF MATCHING
comment on this notice by either Disclosure, Office of the General Counsel. VA will furnish us with an electronic
telefaxing to (410) 966–0869 or writing file containing VA compensation and
to the Executive Director, Office of Notice of Computer Matching Program, pension payment data monthly. The
SSA With the Department of Veterans
Privacy and Disclosure, Office of the actual matching will take place
Affairs (VA), Veterans Benefits
General Counsel, Social Security Administration (VBA) approximately the first week of every
Administration, 617 Altmeyer Building, month.
6401 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, MD A. PARTICIPATING AGENCIES
E. INCLUSIVE DATES OF THE MATCHING PROGRAM
21235–6401. All comments received
will be available for public inspection at SSA and VA/VBA The effective date of this matching
this address. program is April 02, 2015 provided that
B. PURPOSE OF THE MATCHING PROGRAM the following notice periods have
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: The
Executive Director, Office of Privacy The purpose of this matching program lapsed: 30 days after publication of this
and Disclosure, Office of the General is to provide us with VA compensation notice in the Federal Register and 40
Counsel, as shown above. and pension payment data. This days after notice of the matching
disclosure will provide us with program is sent to Congress and OMB.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
information necessary to verify an The matching program will continue for
A. General individual’s self-certification of 18 months from the effective date and,
eligibility for the Extra Help with if both agencies meet certain conditions,
The Computer Matching and Privacy
Medicare Prescription Drug Plan Costs it may extend for an additional 12
Protection Act of 1988 (Pub. L.100–503),
program (Extra Help). It will also enable months thereafter.
amended the Privacy Act (5 U.S.C. 552a) [FR Doc. 2015–16433 Filed 7–2–15; 8:45 am]
by describing the conditions under us to identify individuals who may
which computer matching involving the qualify for Extra Help as part of our BILLING CODE 4191–02–P
Federal government could be performed Medicare outreach efforts.
and adding certain protections for
persons applying for, and receiving, C. AUTHORITY FOR CONDUCTING THE MATCHING OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES
Federal benefits. Section 7201 of the
PROGRAM TRADE REPRESENTATIVE
Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of The legal authority for VA to disclose
Generalized System of Preferences
Lhorne on DSK7TPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
1990 (Pub. L. 101–508) further amended information under this agreement is
(GSP): Notice of a GSP Product
the Privacy Act regarding protections for 1631(f) of the Social Security Act (Act)
Review, Including Possible Actions
such persons. (42 U.S.C. 1383(f)). The legal authorities
Related to Competitive Need
The Privacy Act, as amended, for us to conduct this computer
Limitations
regulates the use of computer matching matching are 1860D–14(a)(3), 1144(a)(1),
by Federal agencies when records in a and 1144(b)(1) of the Act (42 U.S.C. AGENCY: Office of the United States
system of records are matched with 1395w–114 and 1320b–14). Trade Representative.
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ACTION: Notice of hearing and 1974 Act’’). The GSP program expired or (II) exceeding 75 percent of the
solicitation of petitions and comments. on July 31, 2013. GSP was reauthorized appraised value of the total imports of
on June 29, 2015, by the Trade that article into the United States during
SUMMARY: This notice announces a Preferences Extension Act of 2015. The that calendar year.’’
review of products under the GSP program is now effective through Pursuant to the Trade Preferences
Generalized System of Preferences December 31, 2017, with retroactive Extension Act of 2015, exclusions from
(GSP) program that based on full-year effect through July 31, 2013. GSP duty-free treatment where CNLs
2014 import data, are subject to certain Section 503(c)(2)(A) of the 1974 Act have been exceeded for calendar year
actions related to competitive need sets out the two CNLs. When the 2014 will be effective October 1, 2015,
limitations (CNLs). The review will also President determines that a BDC unless granted a waiver by the
consider the proposed designation for exported to the United States during a President. Any CNL-based exclusions,
GSP eligibility of five cotton products calendar year either: (1) A quantity of a CNL waiver revocations, and decisions
from least developed beneficiary GSP-eligible article having a value in with respect to de minimis waivers and
developing countries (LDBDCs). excess of the applicable amount for that redesignations will be based on full
The Office of the United States Trade year ($165 million for 2014), or (2) a 2014 calendar year import data.
Representative (USTR) will accept quantity of a GSP-eligible article having
petitions by interested parties seeking a value equal to or greater than 50 II. 2014 Import Statistics
waivers of CNLs for certain products percent of the value of total U.S. imports In order to provide notice of articles
submitted by July 31, 2015. USTR will of the article from all countries (the ‘‘50 that have exceeded the CNLs for 2014
also accept comments from the public percent’’ CNL), the President must and to afford an opportunity for
submitted by July 31, 2015, regarding: terminate GSP duty-free treatment for comment regarding (1) potential de
(1) Possible de minimis CNL waivers, (2) that article from that BDC by no later minimis waivers, (2) potential
possible redesignations of articles not than July 1 of the next calendar year, redesignations, and (3) the potential
currently eligible for GSP benefits, (3) unless a waiver is granted. The Trade revocation of waivers for articles
possible revocation of CNL waivers, and Preferences Extension Act of 2015 exceeding the CNL waiver thresholds
(4) the proposed designation for GSP provides that the applicable deadline for for 2014, USTR has posted product lists
eligibility for LDBDCs of the five cotton all CNL-related actions based on import on the USTR Web site at https://
products. This notice also sets forth the data from 2014, will be October 1, 2015. ustr.gov/issue-areas/trade-development/
schedule for submitting comments and De minimis waivers: Under section preference-programs/generalized-
for a public hearing on prospective CNL 503(c)(2)(F) of the 1974 Act, the system-preference-gsp/current-review-0
waiver petitions and the proposed President may waive the 50 percent under the title ‘‘GSP: 2014/2015 Limited
designation of the cotton products. CNL with respect to an eligible article Product Review.’’ These lists can also be
DATES: imported from a BDC if the value of found at www.regulations.gov in Docket
July 31, 2015: Deadline for petitions total imports of that article from all Number USTR–2015–0007. Full 2014
requesting waivers of CNLs and for all countries during the calendar year did calendar year data for individual tariff
other written comments in response to not exceed the applicable de minimis subheadings may also be viewed on the
this notice. amount for that year ($22 million for Web site of the U.S. International Trade
July 31, 2015: Deadline for pre- 2014). Commission at http://dataweb.usitc.gov.
hearing briefs and requests to appear at Redesignations: Under section The lists available on the USTR Web
the August 11 public hearing regarding 503(c)(2)(C) of the 1974 Act, if imports site contain, for each article, the
CNL waiver petitions and the proposed of an eligible article from a BDC ceased
Harmonized Tariff System (HTS) of the
designation of the cotton products. to receive duty-free treatment due to
United States subheading and BDC
August 11, 2015: The GSP exceeding a CNL in a prior year, the
country of origin, the value of imports
Subcommittee of the Trade Policy Staff President may, subject to the
of the article from the subject BDC for
Committee (TPSC) will convene a considerations in sections 501 and 502
the 2014 calendar year, and that
public hearing on CNL waiver petitions of the 1974 Act, redesignate such an
country’s share of total U.S. imports of
and the proposed designation of the article for duty-free treatment if imports
that article.
cotton products. in the most recently completed calendar
List I on the USTR Web site shows the
August 18, 2015: Deadline for year did not exceed the CNLs.
CNL waiver revocation: Under Section following two GSP-eligible articles—
submission of post-hearing briefs and both from Thailand—that exceeded a
comments. 503(d)(5) of the 1974 Act, a CNL waiver
remains in effect until the President CNL in 2014 by having been exported in
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: determines that it is no longer a quantity equal to or greater than 50
Marin Weaver, GSP Program, Office of warranted due to changed percent of the total U.S. import value, in
the United States Trade Representative. circumstances. Section 503(d)(4)(B)(ii) 2014:
The telephone number is (202) 395– of the 1974 Act, as amended by Public • HTS 2008.19.15—Coconuts otherwise
2974, the fax number is (202) 395–9674, Law 109–432, also provides that, ‘‘[n]ot prepared or preserved; and
and the email address is MWeaver@ later than July 1 of each year, the • HTS 7408.29.10—Copper alloys (other
ustr.eop.gov. President should revoke any waiver that than brass, cupro-nickel or nickel-
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: has then been in effect with respect to silver), wire, coated or plated with
an article for five years or more if the metal
I. Competitive Need Limitations beneficiary developing country has These products will be removed from
Lhorne on DSK7TPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
The GSP program provides for the exported to the United States (directly eligibility for GSP for the subject
duty-free importation of designated or indirectly) during the preceding countries on October 1, 2015, unless the
articles imported from designated calendar year a quantity of the article— President grants a waiver for the
beneficiary developing countries (I) having an appraised value in excess product for Thailand in response to a
(BDCs). The GSP program is authorized of 1.5 times the applicable amount set petition filed by an interested party.
by Title V of the Trade Act of 1974 (19 forth in subsection (c)(2)(A)(ii) for that List II identifies GSP-eligible articles
U.S.C. 2461, et seq.), as amended (‘‘the calendar year ($247.5 million in 2012); from BDCs that are above the 50 percent
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document using the ‘‘Upload file(s)’’ Public Viewing of Review Submissions horizontal landing Concept X and
field. The GSP Subcommittee prefers Submissions in response to this Concept Z reusable launch vehicles
that submissions be provided in an notice, except for information granted (RLVs). To operate a commercial space
attached document. At the beginning of ‘‘business confidential’’ status under 15 launch site, HAS must obtain a
the submission, or on the first page (if CFR 2003.6, will be available for public commercial space launch site operator
an attachment), please note that the viewing pursuant to 15 CFR 2007.6 at license from the FAA. Under the
submission is in response to this http://www.regulations.gov upon Proposed Action addressed in the Final
Federal Register notice and indicate the completion of processing. Such EA, the FAA would: (1) Issue a launch
specific product(s) that is the subject of submissions may be viewed by entering site operator license to HAS for the
the comment and on which of the the country-specific docket number in operation of a commercial space launch
relevant lists described above, (e.g., List the search field at http:// site at EFD; (2) issue launch licenses to
I) it appears. Submissions should not www.regulations.gov. prospective commercial space launch
operators that would allow them to
exceed 30 single-spaced, standard letter-
William D. Jackson, conduct launches of horizontal take-off
size pages in 12-point type, including
Deputy Assistant U.S. Trade Representative and horizontal landing Concept X and
attachments. Any data attachments to for the Generalized System of Preferences, Concept Z RLVs from EFD, and (3)
the submission should be included in Office of the U.S. Trade Representative. provide unconditional approval to the
the same file as the submission itself, [FR Doc. 2015–16498 Filed 7–2–15; 8:45 am] Airport Layout Plan (ALP)
and not as separate files. BILLING CODE 3290–F5–P modifications that reflect the
Each submitter will receive a designation of a spaceport boundary and
submission tracking number upon construction of planned spaceport
completion of the submissions DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION facilities and infrastructure. Proposed
procedure at http:// launch operations would begin in 2015
www.regulations.gov. The tracking Federal Aviation Administration and continue through 2019 in
number will be the submitter’s accordance with the terms of the launch
confirmation that the submission was Office of Commercial Space site operator license. HAS proposes to
received into http:// Transportation; Notice of Availability provide RLV operators the ability to
www.regulations.gov. The confirmation of the Final Environmental conduct up to 50 launches and landings
Assessment (Final EA), Finding of No (or 100 operations) per year, with
should be kept for the submitter’s
Significant Impact (FONSI), and Record approximately five percent of the
records. USTR is not able to provide
of Decision (ROD) for the Houston operations expected to occur during
technical assistance for the Web site.
Spaceport, City of Houston, Harris night-time hours.
Documents not submitted in accordance County, Texas The Final EA addresses the potential
with these instructions may not be environmental impacts of implementing
considered in this review. If an AGENCY: Federal Aviation the Proposed Action and the No Action
interested party is unable to provide Administration (FAA), Department of Alternative. Under the No Action
submissions as requested, please contact Transportation. Alternative, the FAA would not issue a
the GSP program at USTR to arrange for ACTION: Notice of Availability of the launch site operator license to HAS, and
an alternative method of transmission. Final EA and FONSI/ROD. thus no launch licenses would be issued
Business Confidential Submissions In accordance with the
SUMMARY:
to individual commercial space launch
National Environmental Policy Act of vehicle operators to operate at EFD.
An interested party requesting that 1969, as amended (NEPA; 42 United Also, there would be no need to update
information contained in a submission States Code 4321 et seq.), Council on the EFD ALP, and thus there would be
be treated as business confidential Environmental Quality NEPA no FAA approval of a revised ALP.
information must certify that such Existing operations would continue at
implementing regulations (40 Code of
information is business confidential and Federal Regulations parts 1500 to 1508), EFD, which is currently classified as a
would not customarily be released to general aviation reliever airport.
and FAA Order 1050.1E, Change 1, The environmental impact categories
the public by the submitter. Environmental Impacts: Policies and
Confidential business information must Procedures, the FAA is announcing the considered in the Final EA include air
quality; climate; coastal resources;
be clearly designated as such. The availability of the Final EA and FONSI/ compatible land use; Department of
submission must be marked ‘‘BUSINESS ROD for the Houston Spaceport.
Transportation Act: Section 4(f); fish,
CONFIDENTIAL’’ at the top and bottom FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr.
wildlife, and plants; floodplains;
of the cover page and each succeeding Daniel Czelusniak, Office of Commercial hazardous materials, pollution
page, and the submission should Space Transportation, Federal Aviation prevention, and solid waste; historical,
indicate, via brackets, the specific Administration, 800 Independence Ave. architectural, archaeological, and
information that is confidential. SW., Suite 325, Washington DC 20591; cultural resources; light emissions and
Additionally, ‘‘Business Confidential’’ phone (202) 267–5924; or email visual impacts; natural resources and
must be included in the ‘‘Type Daniel.Czelusniak@faa.gov. energy supply; noise; socioeconomics,
Comment’’ field. For any submission SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Final environmental justice, and children’s
containing business confidential EA was prepared to analyze the environmental health and safety risks;
information, a non-confidential version potential environmental impacts of water quality; and wetlands. The Final
Lhorne on DSK7TPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
must be submitted separately (i.e., not as Houston Airport System’s (HAS’s) EA also considers the potential
part of the same submission with the proposal to establish and operate a secondary (induced) impacts and
confidential version), indicating where commercial space launch site at the cumulative impacts.
confidential information has been Ellington Airport (EFD), in Houston, The FAA has posted the Final EA and
redacted. The non-confidential version Texas and offer the site to prospective FONSI/ROD on the FAA Office of
will be placed in the docket and open commercial space launch operators for Commercial Space Transportation Web
to public inspection. the operation of horizontal take-off and site: http://www.faa.gov/about/
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Document Created: 2015-12-15 13:17:20
Document Modified: 2015-12-15 13:17:20
| 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 | |
| Action | Notice of hearing and solicitation of petitions and comments. | |
| Dates | July 31, 2015: Deadline for petitions requesting waivers of CNLs and for all other written comments in response to this notice. | |
| Contact | Marin Weaver, GSP Program, Office of the United States Trade Representative. The telephone number is (202) | |
| FR Citation | 80 FR 38501 |
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