81 FR 10587 - Heavy Walled Rectangular Welded Carbon Steel Pipes and Tubes From Mexico: Affirmative Preliminary Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair Value and Postponement of Final Determination
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
International Trade Administration Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 40 (March 1, 2016)
International Trade Administration
Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 40 (March 1, 2016)
| Page Range | 10587-10590 | |
| FR Document | 2016-04511 |
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 40 (Tuesday, March 1, 2016)] [Notices] [Pages 10587-10590] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2016-04511] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE International Trade Administration [A-201-847] Heavy Walled Rectangular Welded Carbon Steel Pipes and Tubes From Mexico: Affirmative Preliminary Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair Value and Postponement of Final Determination AGENCY: Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade Administration, Department of Commerce. SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce (Department) preliminarily determines that heavy walled rectangular welded carbon steel pipes and tubes (HWR pipes and tubes) from Mexico are being, or are likely to be, sold in the United States at less than fair value (LTFV), as provided in section 733(b) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (the Act). The period of investigation (POI) is July 1, 2014, through June 30, 2015. The estimated weighted-average dumping margins of sales at LTFV are shown in the ``Preliminary Determination'' section of this notice. Interested parties are invited to comment on this preliminary determination. DATES: Effective Date: March 1, 2016. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Blaine Wiltse or David Crespo, AD/CVD Operations, Office II, Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 14th Street and Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20230; telephone: (202) 482- 6345 or (202) 482-3693, respectively. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background The Department initiated this investigation on August 10, 2015.\1\ As explained in the memorandum from the Acting Assistant Secretary for Enforcement & Compliance, the Department has exercised its discretion to toll all administrative deadlines due to the recent closure of the Federal Government. All deadlines in this segment of the proceeding have been extended by four business days. The revised deadline for the preliminary determination of this investigation is now February 22, 2016.\2\ For a complete description of the events that followed the initiation of this investigation, see the memorandum that is dated concurrently with this determination and hereby adopted by this notice.\3\ A list of topics included in the Preliminary Decision Memorandum is included as Appendix II to this notice. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \1\ See Heavy Walled Rectangular Welded Carbon Steel Pipes and Tubes from the Republic of Korea, Mexico, and the Republic of Turkey: Initiation of Less-Than-Fair-Value Investigations, 80 FR 49202 (August 17, 2015) (Initiation Notice). \2\ See Memorandum to the Record from Ron Lorentzen, Acting A/S for Enforcement & Compliance, regarding ``Tolling of Administrative Deadlines As a Result of the Government Closure During Snowstorm Jonas,'' dated January 27, 2016. \3\ See Memorandum from Christian Marsh, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Operations, to Paul Piquado, Assistant Secretary for Enforcement and Compliance, entitled ``Decision Memorandum for the Preliminary Determination in the Antidumping Duty Investigation of Heavy Walled Rectangular Welded Carbon Steel Pipes and Tubes from Mexico'' (Preliminary Decision Memorandum), dated concurrently with this notice. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Preliminary Decision Memorandum is a public document and is on file electronically via Enforcement and Compliance's Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Centralized [[Page 10588]] Electronic Service System (ACCESS). ACCESS is available to registered users at https://access.trade.gov, and to all parties in the Central Records Unit, room B8024 of the main Department of Commerce building. In addition, a complete version of the Preliminary Decision Memorandum can be found at http://enforcement.trade.gov/frn/. The signed Preliminary Decision Memorandum and the electronic version of the Preliminary Decision Memorandum are identical in content. Scope of the Investigation The products covered by this investigation are HWR pipes and tubes from Mexico. For a full description of the scope of this investigation, see the ``Scope of the Investigation,'' in Appendix I of this notice. Scope Comments As noted in the Initiation Notice, we set aside a period of time for parties to raise issues regarding product coverage.\4\ On October 13, 2015, we received comments from Productos Laminados de Monterrey S.A. de C.V. (Prolamsa), a producer/exporter of HWR in Mexico, in the context of its response to the Department's questionnaire.\5\ In these comments, Prolamsa requested that the Department find that two types of HWR products are outside the scope of this investigation (i.e., HWR cut to short lengths and custom-designed HWR sold as parts). On December 1, 2015, we received a similar request from Maquilacero S.A. de C.V. (Maquilacero), also a producer/exporter of HWR in Mexico.\6\ On December 2, 2014, the petitioners \7\ objected to Maquilacero's request, noting that the products in question are within the definition of the scope.\8\ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \4\ See Initiation Notice, 80 FR at 49203; see also Antidumping Duties; Countervailing Duties; Final rule, 62 FR 27296, 27323 (May 19, 1997). \5\ See Prolamsa's October 13, 2015, submission, at A-14. \6\ See Maquilacero's December 1, 2015, submission, at 4-5. \7\ The petitioners in this proceeding are Atlas Tube, a division of JMC Steel Group; Bull Moose Tube Company; EXLTUBE; Hannibal Industries, Inc.; Independence Tube Corporation; Maruichi American Corporation; Searing Industries; Southland Tube; and Vest, Inc. \8\ See the petitioners' December 2, 2015, submission, at 1-2. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- We considered the requests noted above, as well as the petitioners' responsive comments. Absent an overarching reason to modify the scope in the petition, the Department accepts the scope as it is currently written.\9\ Consequently, we made no change to the scope with respect to cut-to-length products, as well as HWR sold as parts because: (1) These products are clearly within the scope; and (2) the petitioners intended that these products be covered. For further discussion, see the Preliminary Decision Memorandum. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \9\ Id.; see also Circular Welded Austenitic Stainless Pressure Pipe from the People's Republic of China: Preliminary Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair Value and Postponement of Final Determination, 73 FR 51788, 51789 (September 5, 2008), unchanged in Circular Welded Austenitic Stainless Pressure Pipe from the People's Republic of China: Final Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair Value, 74 FR 4913 (January 28, 2009); Notice of Final Determination of Sales at Not Less Than Fair Value: Pure Magnesium from the Russian Federation, 66 FR 49347 (September 27, 2001), and accompanying Issues and Decision memorandum, at Comment 12; and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. v. United States, 986 F. Supp. 1428, 1433-34 (CIT 1997). --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Methodology The Department is conducting this investigation in accordance with section 731 of the Act. There are two mandatory respondents participating in this investigation, Maquilacero and Prolamsa. Export price and, where appropriate, constructed export price, for these companies are calculated in accordance with section 772 of the Act. Normal value (NV) is calculated in accordance with section 773 of the Act. For a full description of the methodology underlying our preliminary conclusions, see the Preliminary Decision Memorandum. All-Others Rate Consistent with sections 733(d)(1)(A)(ii) and 735(c)(5) of the Act, the Department also calculated an estimated all-others rate. Section 735(c)(5)(A) of the Act provides that the estimated all-others rate shall be an amount equal to the weighted average of the estimated weighted-average dumping margins established for exporters and producers individually investigated, excluding any zero and de minimis margins, and any margins determined entirely under section 776 of the Act. In this investigation, we based our calculation of the all-others rate on the weighted-average of the margins calculated for Maquilacero and Prolamsa using publicly-ranged data. Because we cannot apply our normal methodology of calculating a weighted-average margin due to requests to protect business-proprietary information, we find this rate to be the best proxy of the actual weighted-average margin determined for these respondents. For further discussion of this calculation, see the memorandum entitled ``Heavy Walled Rectangular Welded Carbon Steel Pipes and Tubes from Mexico: Calculation of the Preliminary Margin for All Other Companies,'' dated concurrently with this notice. Preliminary Determination The Department preliminarily determines that the following weighted-average dumping margins exist: ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Weighted-average Exporter/manufacturer dumping margin (percent) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Maquilacero S.A. De C.V.............................. 3.99 Productos Laminados de Monterrey S.A. de C.V......... 16.31 All Others........................................... 13.65 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Suspension of Liquidation In accordance with section 733(d)(2) of the Act, we will direct U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to suspend liquidation of all entries of subject merchandise from Mexico, as described in Appendix I of this notice, which are entered, or withdrawn from warehouse, for consumption on or after the date of publication of this notice in the Federal Register. Pursuant to section 733(d) of the Act and 19 CFR 351.205(d), we will instruct CBP to require cash deposits \10\ equal to the weighted- average amount by which the NV exceeds U.S. price, as indicated in the chart above, as follows: (1) The rate for the mandatory respondents listed above will be the respondent-specific rates we determined in this [[Page 10589]] preliminary determination; (2) if the exporter is not a mandatory respondent identified above, but the producer is, the rate will be the specific rate established for the producer of the subject merchandise; and (3) the rate for all other producers or exporters will be the all others rate. These suspension of liquidation instructions will remain in effect until further notice. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \10\ See Modification of Regulations Regarding the Practice of Accepting Bonds During the Provisional Measures Period in Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Investigations, 76 FR 61042 (October 3, 2011). --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Disclosure We intend to disclose the calculations performed to interested parties in this proceeding within five days of the date of publication of this notice in accordance with 19 CFR 351.224(b). Verification As provided in section 782(i) of the Act, we intend to verify information relied upon in making our final determination. Public Comment Interested parties are invited to comment on this preliminary determination. Case briefs or other written comments may be submitted to the Assistant Secretary for Enforcement and Compliance no later than seven days after the date on which the final verification report is issued in this proceeding, and rebuttal briefs, limited to issues raised in case briefs, may be submitted no later than five days after the deadline date for case briefs.\11\ Pursuant to 19 CFR 351.309(c)(2) and (d)(2), parties who submit case briefs or rebuttal briefs in this proceeding are encouraged to submit with each argument: (1) A statement of the issue; (2) a brief summary of the argument; and (3) a table of authorities. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \11\ See 19 CFR 351.309; see also 19 CFR 351.303 (for general filing requirements). --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Pursuant to 19 CFR 351.310(c), interested parties who wish to request a hearing must submit a written request to the Assistant Secretary for Enforcement and Compliance, U.S. Department of Commerce. All documents must be filed electronically using ACCESS. An electronically-filed request must be received successfully in its entirety by ACCESS by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, within 30 days after the date of publication of this notice. Requests should contain the party's name, address, and telephone number, the number of participants, and a list of the issues to be discussed. If a request for a hearing is made, the Department intends to hold the hearing at the U.S. Department of Commerce, 14th Street and Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20230, at a time and date to be determined. Parties should confirm by telephone the date, time, and location of the hearing two days before the scheduled date. Postponement of Final Determination and Extension of Provisional Measures Section 735(a)(2) of the Act provides that a final determination may be postponed until not later than 135 days after the date of the publication of the preliminary determination if, in the event of an affirmative preliminary determination, a request for such postponement is made by exporters who account for a significant proportion of exports of the subject merchandise, or in the event of a negative preliminary determination, a request for such postponement is made by the petitioner. 19 CFR 351.210(e)(2) requires that requests by respondents for postponement of a final determination be accompanied by a request for extension of provisional measures from a four-month period to a period not more than six months in duration. Respondents Maquilacero and Prolamsa requested that, in the event of an affirmative preliminary determination in this investigation, the Department postpone its final determination by 60 days (i.e., to 135 days after publication of the preliminary determination), and agreed to extend the application of the provisional measures prescribed under section 733(d) of the Act and 19 CFR 351.210(e)(2), from a four-month period to a period not to exceed six months.\12\ In addition, the petitioners also requested that, in the event of a negative preliminary determination, the Department postpone its final determination to 135 days after the date of publication of the preliminary determination.\13\ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \12\ See letter from Prolamsa entitled, ``Heavy Walled Rectangular Welded Carbon Steel Pipes and Tubes from Mexico: Request to Postpone the Final Determination,'' dated February 5, 2016; and letter from Maquilacero entitled, ``Heavy Walled Rectangular Welded Carbon Steel Pipes and Tubes from Mexico; Maquilacero S.A. de C.V.'s Request for Postponement of Final Determination,'' dated February 11, 2016. \13\ See letter from the petitioners entitled, ``Heavy Walled Rectangular Welded Carbon Steel Pipe and Tubes from Mexico: Request to Extend Final Determination,'' dated February 4, 2016. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- In accordance with section 735(a)(2)(A) of the Act and 19 CFR 351.210(b)(2)(ii), because (1) our preliminary determination is affirmative; (2) the requesting exporters account for a significant proportion of exports of the subject merchandise; and (3) no compelling reasons for denial exist, we are postponing the final determination until no later than 135 days after the publication of this notice in the Federal Register and extending the provisional measures from a four-month period to a period not greater than six months. Accordingly, we will issue our final determination no later than 135 days after the date of publication of this preliminary determination, pursuant to section 735(a)(2) of the Act.\14\ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \14\ See 19 CFR 351.210(b)(2) and (e). --------------------------------------------------------------------------- International Trade Commission (ITC) Notification In accordance with section 733(f) of the Act, we are notifying the ITC of our affirmative preliminary determination of sales at LTFV. If our final determination is affirmative, the ITC will determine before the later of 120 days after the date of this preliminary determination or 45 days after our final determination whether these imports are materially injuring, or threaten material injury to, the U.S. industry. This determination is issued and published in accordance with sections 733(f) and 777(i)(1) of the Act and 19 CFR 351.205(c). Dated: February 22, 2016. Paul Piquado, Assistant Secretary for Enforcement and Compliance. Appendix I Scope of the Investigation The products covered by this investigation are certain heavy walled rectangular welded steel pipes and tubes of rectangular (including square) cross section, having a nominal wall thickness of not less than 4 mm. The merchandise includes, but is not limited to, the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) A-500, grade B specifications, or comparable domestic or foreign specifications. Included products are those in which: (1) Iron predominates, by weight, over each of the other contained elements; (2) the carbon content is 2 percent or less, by weight; and (3) none of the elements below exceeds the quantity, by weight, respectively indicated:2.50 percent of manganese, or 3.30 percent of silicon, or 1.50 percent of copper, or 1.50 percent of aluminum, or 1.25 percent of chromium, or 0.30 percent of cobalt, or 0.40 percent of lead, or 2.0 percent of nickel, or 0.30 percent of tungsten, or 0.80 percent of molybdenum, or 0.10 percent of niobium (also called columbium), or 0.30 percent of vanadium, or 0.30 percent of zirconium. The subject merchandise is currently provided for in item 7306.61.1000 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS). Subject merchandise may also enter under HTSUS 7306.61.3000. While the HTSUS subheadings and ASTM specification are provided for convenience [[Page 10590]] and customs purposes, the written description of the scope of this investigation is dispositive. Appendix II List of Topics Discussed in the Preliminary Decision Memorandum 1. Summary 2. Background 3. Period of Investigation 4. Postponement of Final Determination and Extension of Provisional Measures 5. Scope Comments 6. Discussion of Methodology a. Determination of the Comparison Method b. Results of the Differential Pricing Analysis 7. Date of Sale 8. Product Comparisons 9. Export Price/Constructed Export Price 10. Normal Value a. Home Market Viability b. Affiliated Party Transactions and Arm's-Length Test c. Level of Trade d. Cost of Production (COP) Analysis 1. Calculation of COP 2. Test of Comparison Market Sales Prices 3. Results of the COP Test e. Calculation of NV Based on Comparison Market Prices 11. Currency Conversion 12. Conclusion [FR Doc. 2016-04511 Filed 2-29-16; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P
![Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 40 / Tuesday, March 1, 2016 / Notices 10587
In accordance with section • 2.0 percent of nickel, or States at less than fair value (LTFV), as
735(a)(2)(A) of the Act and 19 CFR • 0.30 percent of tungsten, or provided in section 733(b) of the Tariff
351.210(b)(2)(ii), because (1) our • 0.80 percent of molybdenum, or Act of 1930, as amended (the Act). The
• 0.10 percent of niobium (also called
preliminary determination is period of investigation (POI) is July 1,
columbium), or
affirmative; (2) the requesting exporters • 0.30 percent of vanadium, or 2014, through June 30, 2015. The
account for a significant proportion of • 0.30 percent of zirconium. estimated weighted-average dumping
exports of the subject merchandise; and The subject merchandise is currently margins of sales at LTFV are shown in
(3) no compelling reasons for denial provided for in item 7306.61.1000 of the the ‘‘Preliminary Determination’’
exist, we are postponing the final Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United section of this notice. Interested parties
determination until no later than 135 States (HTSUS). Subject merchandise may are invited to comment on this
days after the publication of this notice also enter under HTSUS 7306.61.3000. While preliminary determination.
in the Federal Register and extending the HTSUS subheadings and ASTM DATES: Effective Date: March 1, 2016.
the provisional measures from a four- specification are provided for convenience
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
and customs purposes, the written
month period to a period not greater description of the scope of this investigation Blaine Wiltse or David Crespo, AD/CVD
than six months. Accordingly, we will is dispositive. Operations, Office II, Enforcement and
issue our final determination no later Compliance, International Trade
than 135 days after the date of Appendix II Administration, U.S. Department of
publication of this preliminary List of Topics Discussed in the Preliminary Commerce, 14th Street and Constitution
determination, pursuant to section Decision Memorandum Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20230;
735(a)(2) of the Act.10 1. Summary telephone: (202) 482–6345 or (202) 482–
International Trade Commission (ITC) 2. Background 3693, respectively.
3. Period of Investigation SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Notification
4. Postponement of Final Determination and
In accordance with section 733(f) of Extension of Provisional Measures Background
the Act, we are notifying the ITC of our 5. Scope Comments The Department initiated this
affirmative preliminary determination of 6. Discussion of Methodology investigation on August 10, 2015.1 As
sales at LTFV. If our final determination a. Determination of the Comparison
Method
explained in the memorandum from the
is affirmative, the ITC will determine Acting Assistant Secretary for
b. Results of the Differential Pricing
before the later of 120 days after the date Analysis Enforcement & Compliance, the
of this preliminary determination or 45 7. Date of Sale Department has exercised its discretion
days after our final determination 8. Product Comparisons to toll all administrative deadlines due
whether these imports are materially 9. Export Price/Constructed Export Price to the recent closure of the Federal
injuring, or threaten material injury to, 10. Normal Value Government. All deadlines in this
the U.S. industry. a. Home Market Viability segment of the proceeding have been
This determination is issued and b. Affiliated-Party Transactions and Arm’s
extended by four business days. The
published in accordance with sections Length Test
c. Level of Trade revised deadline for the preliminary
733(f) and 777(i)(1) of the Act and 19 d. Cost of Production Analysis determination of this investigation is
CFR 351.205(c). 1. Calculation of COP now February 22, 2016.2 For a complete
Dated: February 22, 2016. 2. Test of Comparison Market Sales Prices description of the events that followed
Paul Piquado, 3. Results of the COP Test the initiation of this investigation, see
e. Calculation of NV Based on Comparison the memorandum that is dated
Assistant Secretary for Enforcement and Market Prices
Compliance. concurrently with this determination
11. Currency Conversion and hereby adopted by this notice.3 A
Appendix I 12. Conclusion
list of topics included in the
[FR Doc. 2016–04520 Filed 2–29–16; 8:45 am] Preliminary Decision Memorandum is
Scope of the Investigation
The products covered by this investigation
BILLING CODE 3510–DS–P included as Appendix II to this notice.
are certain heavy walled rectangular welded The Preliminary Decision
steel pipes and tubes of rectangular Memorandum is a public document and
(including square) cross section, having a
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE is on file electronically via Enforcement
nominal wall thickness of not less than 4 and Compliance’s Antidumping and
mm. The merchandise includes, but is not
International Trade Administration
Countervailing Duty Centralized
limited to, the American Society for Testing [A–201–847]
and Materials (ASTM) A–500, grade B 1 See Heavy Walled Rectangular Welded Carbon
specifications, or comparable domestic or Heavy Walled Rectangular Welded Steel Pipes and Tubes from the Republic of Korea,
foreign specifications. Carbon Steel Pipes and Tubes From Mexico, and the Republic of Turkey: Initiation of
Included products are those in which: (1) Mexico: Affirmative Preliminary Less-Than-Fair-Value Investigations, 80 FR 49202
Iron predominates, by weight, over each of (August 17, 2015) (Initiation Notice).
Determination of Sales at Less Than 2 See Memorandum to the Record from Ron
the other contained elements; (2) the carbon
content is 2 percent or less, by weight; and Fair Value and Postponement of Final Lorentzen, Acting A/S for Enforcement &
(3) none of the elements below exceeds the Determination Compliance, regarding ‘‘Tolling of Administrative
Deadlines As a Result of the Government Closure
quantity, by weight, respectively indicated: AGENCY: Enforcement and Compliance, During Snowstorm Jonas,’’ dated January 27, 2016.
asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
• 2.50 percent of manganese, or International Trade Administration, 3 See Memorandum from Christian Marsh, Deputy
• 3.30 percent of silicon, or Department of Commerce. Assistant Secretary for Antidumping and
• 1.50 percent of copper, or Countervailing Duty Operations, to Paul Piquado,
• 1.50 percent of aluminum, or SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce Assistant Secretary for Enforcement and
• 1.25 percent of chromium, or (Department) preliminarily determines Compliance, entitled ‘‘Decision Memorandum for
that heavy walled rectangular welded the Preliminary Determination in the Antidumping
• 0.30 percent of cobalt, or
Duty Investigation of Heavy Walled Rectangular
• 0.40 percent of lead, or carbon steel pipes and tubes (HWR Welded Carbon Steel Pipes and Tubes from
pipes and tubes) from Mexico are being, Mexico’’ (Preliminary Decision Memorandum),
10 See 19 CFR 351.210(b)(2) and (e). or are likely to be, sold in the United dated concurrently with this notice.
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![10590 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 40 / Tuesday, March 1, 2016 / Notices
and customs purposes, the written and certification of polymeric materials. advancement of polymers, and drive
description of the scope of this investigation Participation in the Consortium is open innovation in applications where such
is dispositive. to all eligible organizations as described environmental conditions exist. The
Appendix II below. STP for UL 746 will have the ultimate
DATES: NIST will begin accepting responsibility to modify UL Standards
List of Topics Discussed in the Preliminary and introduce new test methods in the
Decision Memorandum
responses from interested parties on
March 1, 2016. The collaborative polymeric materials standards.
1. Summary activities under this Consortium will Long-term Thermal Aging: Thermal
2. Background Indices (TIs) and/or Relative Thermal
begin on March 20, 2016.
3. Period of Investigation Indices (RTIs): The UL certification
4. Postponement of Final Determination and ADDRESSES: Information in response to
this notice and request for additional program for polymeric materials has
Extension of Provisional Measures
5. Scope Comments information can be directed to NIST’s been very successful at increasing the
6. Discussion of Methodology Consortium Manager, Christopher C. safety of plastic products. The UL
a. Determination of the Comparison White, NIST’s Engineering Laboratory, certification program relating to thermal
Method Polymeric Materials Group. Information performance of polymeric materials is
b. Results of the Differential Pricing may be sent by mail to 100 Bureau based on Dr. Thomas Dakin’s proposal
Analysis Drive, Mail Stop 8615, Gaithersburg, in 1948 to treat electrical insulation
7. Date of Sale deterioration as a chemical rate
8. Product Comparisons
Maryland 20899, or by electronic mail
to christopher.white@nist.gov. phenomenon. This resulted in the
9. Export Price/Constructed Export Price Arrhenius analysis of data from the
10. Normal Value FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For
degradation of polymeric materials
a. Home Market Viability further information about partnership
b. Affiliated Party Transactions and Arm’s- exposed to multiple temperatures and
opportunities or about terms and
Length Test extrapolation to obtain an estimated use
conditions of NIST’s Cooperative
c. Level of Trade temperature. This method, while
Research and Development Agreement
d. Cost of Production (COP) Analysis increasing the safety, has also required
(CRADA), please contact NIST’s CRADA
1. Calculation of COP significant investment of time and other
and License Officer, Honeyeh Zube,
2. Test of Comparison Market Sales Prices resources. For example, a simple
3. Results of the COP Test Technology Partnerships Office, by mail
formulation change to a polymeric
e. Calculation of NV Based on Comparison to 100 Bureau Drive, Mail Stop 2200,
compound may require up to eighteen
Market Prices Gaithersburg, Maryland 20899, or by
months for recertification. This
11. Currency Conversion electronic mail to honeyeh.zube@
Consortium’s first goal is to identify and
12. Conclusion nist.gov.
provide the latest available scientific
[FR Doc. 2016–04511 Filed 2–29–16; 8:45 am] SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The knowledge for methods that reduce the
BILLING CODE 3510–DS–P objective of this Consortium is to time required to obtain a temperature
develop the science necessary to rating while maintaining the highest
support the modification of UL level of safety.
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE Standards for testing and certification of Exposure to Ultraviolet Radiation and
polymeric materials (UL Standard Moisture: UV and Humidity Ratings (f1
National Institute of Standards and Subject Numbers 746A–F), which are and f2): This Consortium’s second goal
Technology under the direction of the Standard is to evaluate polymeric materials when
Technical Panel (STP). More simultaneously exposed to UV radiation
Service Life Prediction Methodologies
information about UL Standards is and humidity. Such evaluation
and Metrologies for Commercial
available at http://ulstandards.ul.com. techniques attempt to simulate the
Polymers Consortium
The activities of NIST’s Consortium will outdoor conditions where these
AGENCY: National Institute of Standards align the latest knowledge on polymer polymeric materials could be used.
and Technology, Commerce. science with the UL Standards that Currently, exposure of polymeric
ACTION: Notice; request for information. relate to the retention of performance materials to UV and humidity are
properties after long term thermal aging evaluated separately by introducing
SUMMARY: The National Institute of (UL 746B, Safety of Polymeric specimens in a xenon chamber and in
Standards and Technology (NIST) is Materials—Long Term Property a water bath to determine the
establishing the Service Life Prediction Evaluations) and after exposure to permanence of certain properties
Methodologies and Metrologies for ultraviolet radiation and moisture (UL (typically mechanical and flammability)
Commercial Polymers Consortium 746C, Standard for Polymeric after these exposures. The specimens
(Consortium) and invites organizations Materials—Use in Electrical Equipment are not exposed in a manner that
to join the Consortium. The Consortium Evaluations). By working with industry, simulates simultaneous exposure to
will develop the science necessary to and leveraging NIST’s existing thermal, radiation and humidity. This
support the modification of standards reliability-based service life prediction Consortium will bring together expertise
for the testing and the certification of methodology for commercial polymers, and experimental capabilities to
commercial polymeric materials. This the UL Standards for polymeric evaluate the practicality of existing
notice is the initial step for the materials can provide better assessment methods in determining the (f1) and (f2)
Consortium in collaborating with of the level of protection for the ratings. NIST intends to work with
asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
organizations to develop reliability- consumer and potentially reduce the participants of the Consortium in
based service life prediction time for evaluation and certification. A several stages: The first stage will focus
methodology for commercial polymers. better understanding of the effect of on thermal-only exposures to support TI
The prediction methods will be used to thermal, radiation, and humidity and/or RTI testing and round robin
update testing standards for polymeric exposures on polymeric material will evaluation of accelerated techniques;
materials in order to better assess the allow a more expedited process for the second stage will focus on UV and
level of protection for the consumer standards updating, ensure that the humidity exposures to support (f1) and
while reducing the time for evaluation standards remain current with the (f2) ratings; and the third stage will
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Document Created: 2018-02-02 14:59:48
Document Modified: 2018-02-02 14:59:48
| 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 Date: March 1, 2016. | |
| Contact | Blaine Wiltse or David Crespo, AD/CVD Operations, Office II, Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 14th Street and Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20230; telephone: (202) 482- 6345 or (202) 482-3693, respectively. | |
| FR Citation | 81 FR 10587 |
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