83 FR 22739 - Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs

DEPARTMENT OF STATE

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 95 (May 16, 2018)

Page Range		22739-22740
FR Document		2018-10432

On May 8, 2018, the Department of State certified that 13 shrimp-harvesting nations and five fisheries have a regulatory program comparable to that of the United States governing the incidental taking of the relevant species of sea turtles in the course of commercial shrimp harvesting and that the particular fishing environments of 26 shrimp-harvesting nations, one economy, and four fisheries do not pose a threat of the incidental taking of covered sea turtles in the course of such harvesting.

Federal Register, Volume 83 Issue 95 (Wednesday, May 16, 2018)

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 95 (Wednesday, May 16, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 22739-22740]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-10432]


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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice 10410]


Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific 
Affairs

ACTION: Annual certification of shrimp-harvesting nations.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: On May 8, 2018, the Department of State certified that 13 
shrimp-harvesting nations and five fisheries have a regulatory program 
comparable to that of the United States governing the incidental taking 
of the relevant species of sea turtles in the course of commercial 
shrimp harvesting and that the particular fishing environments of 26 
shrimp-harvesting nations, one economy, and four fisheries do not pose 
a threat of the incidental taking of covered sea turtles in the course 
of such harvesting.

DATES: This notice is applicable on May 16, 2018.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Section 609 Program Manager, Office of 
Marine Conservation, Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental 
and Scientific Affairs, Department of State, 2201 C Street NW, 
Washington, DC 20520-2758; telephone: (202) 647-3263; email: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 609 of Public Law 101-162 (``Sec. 
609'') prohibits imports of certain categories of shrimp unless the 
President certifies to the Congress by May 1, 1991, and annually 
thereafter, that either: (1) The harvesting nation has adopted a 
program governing the incidental taking 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) the particular fishing environment of 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''). The 
Department's Revised Guidelines for the Implementation of Section 609 
were published in the Federal Register on July 8, 1999, at 64 FR 36946.
    On May 8, 2018, the Department certified 13 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, 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: 
Argentina, Belgium, Canada, Chile, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Iceland, 
Ireland, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Russia, Sweden, the 
United Kingdom, and Uruguay. Ten nations and Hong Kong 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 are 
the Bahamas, Belize, China, the Dominican Republic, Fiji, Jamaica, 
Oman, Peru, Sri Lanka, and Venezuela.
    A completed DS-2031 Shrimp Exporter's/Importer's Declaration must 
accompany all shipments of shrimp or products from shrimp into the 
United States. Only shrimp or products from shrimp harvested in the 39 
certified nations and one economy listed above may be accompanied by a 
DS-2031 with Box 7(B) checked. All DS-2031 forms accompanying shrimp 
imports from uncertified nations must be originals with Box 7(A)(1), 
7(A)(2), or 7(A)(4) checked, consistent with the form's instructions 
with regard to the method of harvest of the product and based on any 
relevant prior determinations by the Department, and signed by a 
responsible government official of the harvesting nation's competent 
domestic fisheries authority. The Department has not determined that 
any uncertified nation qualifies to export shrimp or products from 
shrimp harvested in a manner as described in 7(A)(3).
    Shrimp and products of 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 Box 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 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 determined that only shrimp and products from shrimp harvested in 
the Northern Prawn Fishery, the Queensland East Coast Trawl Fishery, 
and the Torres Strait Prawn Fishery in Australia, in the French Guiana 
domestic trawl fishery, and in the East Coast fishery of peninsular 
Malaysia are eligible for entry under this provision. The importation 
of TED-caught shrimp from any other uncertified nation will not be 
allowed. A responsible government official of Australia, France, or 
Malaysia must sign in Block 8 of the DS-2031 form accompanying these 
imports into the United States.
    In addition, the Department has determined that shrimp and products 
from shrimp harvested in the Spencer Gulf region in Australia, with 
shrimp baskets in Hokkaido, Japan, with ``mosquito'' nets in the 
Republic of Korea, and Mediterranean red shrimp (Aristeus antennatus) 
and products from that shrimp harvested in the Mediterranean Sea by 
Spain may be imported into the United States under the DS-2031 Box 
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.'' A responsible 
government official of Australia, Japan, the Republic of Korea, or 
Spain must sign in Block 8 of the DS-2031 form accompanying these 
imports into the United States.
    The Department has communicated these certifications and 
determinations under Sec. 609 to the Office of

[[Page 22740]]

International Trade of U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

William Gibbons-Fly,
Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Oceans and Fisheries, 
Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific 
Affairs, Department of State.
[FR Doc. 2018-10432 Filed 5-15-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4710-09-P

Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 95 / Wednesday, May 16, 2018 / Notices 22739

Overseas Security Advisory Council on prohibits imports of certain categories of government official of the harvesting
June 6, 2018. Pursuant to Section 10(d) shrimp unless the President certifies to nation’s competent domestic fisheries
of the Federal Advisory Committee Act the Congress by May 1, 1991, and authority. The Department has not
(5 U.S.C. Appendix), 5 U.S.C. annually thereafter, that either: (1) The determined that any uncertified nation
552b(c)(4), and 5 U.S.C. 552b(c)(7)(E), it harvesting nation has adopted a qualifies to export shrimp or products
has been determined that the meeting program governing the incidental taking from shrimp harvested in a manner as
will be closed to the public. The of sea turtles in its commercial shrimp described in 7(A)(3).
meeting will focus on an examination of fishery comparable to the program in
corporate security policies and effect in the United States and has an Shrimp and products of shrimp
procedures and will involve extensive incidental take rate comparable to that harvested with turtle excluder devices
discussion of trade secrets and of the United States; or (2) the particular (‘‘TEDs’’) in an uncertified nation may,
proprietary commercial information that fishing environment of the harvesting under specific circumstances, be eligible
is privileged and confidential, and will nation does not pose a threat of the for importation into the United States
discuss law enforcement investigative incidental taking of sea turtles. The under the DS–2031 Box 7(A)(2)
techniques and procedures. The agenda President has delegated the authority to provision for ‘‘shrimp harvested by
will include updated committee reports, make this certification to the commercial shrimp trawl vessels using
a global threat overview, and other Department of State (‘‘the Department’’). TEDs comparable in effectiveness to
matters relating to private sector The Department’s Revised Guidelines those required in the United States.’’
security policies and protective for the Implementation of Section 609 Use of this provision requires that the
programs and the protection of U.S. were published in the Federal Register Department determine in advance that
business information overseas. on July 8, 1999, at 64 FR 36946. the government of the harvesting nation
For more information, contact Marsha On May 8, 2018, the Department has put in place adequate procedures to
Thurman, Overseas Security Advisory certified 13 nations on the basis that monitor the use of TEDs in the specific
Council, U.S. Department of State, their sea turtle protection programs are
fishery in question and to ensure the
Washington, DC 20522–2008, phone comparable to that of the United States:
accurate completion of the DS–2031
571–345–2214. Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El
Salvador, Gabon, Guatemala, Guyana, forms. At this time, the Department has
Thomas G. Scanlon, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Nigeria, determined that only shrimp and
Executive Director, Overseas Security Panama, and Suriname. The Department products from shrimp harvested in the
Advisory Council, Department of State. also certified 26 shrimp-harvesting Northern Prawn Fishery, the
[FR Doc. 2018–10426 Filed 5–15–18; 8:45 am] nations and one economy as having Queensland East Coast Trawl Fishery,
BILLING CODE 4710–43–P fishing environments that do not pose a and the Torres Strait Prawn Fishery in
danger to sea turtles. Sixteen nations Australia, in the French Guiana
have shrimping grounds only in cold domestic trawl fishery, and in the East
DEPARTMENT OF STATE waters where the risk of taking sea Coast fishery of peninsular Malaysia are
[Public Notice 10410] turtles is negligible: Argentina, Belgium, eligible for entry under this provision.
Canada, Chile, Denmark, Finland, The importation of TED-caught shrimp
Bureau of Oceans and International Germany, Iceland, Ireland, the from any other uncertified nation will
Environmental and Scientific Affairs Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, not be allowed. A responsible
Russia, Sweden, the United Kingdom, government official of Australia, France,
ACTION: Annual certification of shrimp- and Uruguay. Ten nations and Hong
harvesting nations. or Malaysia must sign in Block 8 of the
Kong only harvest shrimp using small DS–2031 form accompanying these
SUMMARY: On May 8, 2018, the boats with crews of less than five that imports into the United States.
Department of State certified that 13 use manual rather than mechanical
means to retrieve nets or catch shrimp In addition, the Department has
shrimp-harvesting nations and five determined that shrimp and products
fisheries have a regulatory program using other methods that do not
threaten sea turtles. Use of such small- from shrimp harvested in the Spencer
comparable to that of the United States
scale technology does not adversely Gulf region in Australia, with shrimp
governing the incidental taking of the
affect sea turtles. The 10 nations are the baskets in Hokkaido, Japan, with
relevant species of sea turtles in the
Bahamas, Belize, China, the Dominican ‘‘mosquito’’ nets in the Republic of
course of commercial shrimp harvesting
and that the particular fishing Republic, Fiji, Jamaica, Oman, Peru, Sri Korea, and Mediterranean red shrimp
environments of 26 shrimp-harvesting Lanka, and Venezuela. (Aristeus antennatus) and products from
A completed DS–2031 Shrimp that shrimp harvested in the
nations, one economy, and four fisheries
Exporter’s/Importer’s Declaration must Mediterranean Sea by Spain may be
do not pose a threat of the incidental
accompany all shipments of shrimp or imported into the United States under
taking of covered sea turtles in the
products from shrimp into the United the DS–2031 Box 7(A)(4) provision for
course of such harvesting.
States. Only shrimp or products from ‘‘shrimp harvested in a manner or under
DATES: This notice is applicable on May shrimp harvested in the 39 certified
16, 2018. circumstances determined by the
nations and one economy listed above Department of State not to pose a threat
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: may be accompanied by a DS–2031 with
Section 609 Program Manager, Office of of the incidental taking of sea turtles.’’
Box 7(B) checked. All DS–2031 forms
Marine Conservation, Bureau of Oceans A responsible government official of
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES

accompanying shrimp imports from
and International Environmental and Australia, Japan, the Republic of Korea,
uncertified nations must be originals
Scientific Affairs, Department of State, or Spain must sign in Block 8 of the DS–
with Box 7(A)(1), 7(A)(2), or 7(A)(4)
2201 C Street NW, Washington, DC checked, consistent with the form’s 2031 form accompanying these imports
20520–2758; telephone: (202) 647–3263; instructions with regard to the method into the United States.
email: DS2031@state.gov. of harvest of the product and based on The Department has communicated
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section any relevant prior determinations by the these certifications and determinations
609 of Public Law 101–162 (‘‘Sec. 609’’) Department, and signed by a responsible under Sec. 609 to the Office of

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22740 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 95 / Wednesday, May 16, 2018 / Notices

International Trade of U.S. Customs and 94, required the FHWA Administrator, Issued on: May 9, 2018.
Border Protection. on behalf of the Secretary, to establish Brandye L. Hendrickson,
a MAC. The MAC is responsible for Acting Administrator, Federal Highway
William Gibbons-Fly,
providing advice and making Administration.
Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary of State
recommendations concerning [FR Doc. 2018–10416 Filed 5–15–18; 8:45 am]
for Oceans and Fisheries, Bureau of Oceans
and International Environmental and infrastructure issues related to BILLING CODE 4910–22–P
Scientific Affairs, Department of State. motorcyclist safety, including barrier
[FR Doc. 2018–10432 Filed 5–15–18; 8:45 am] design; road design, construction, and
maintenance practices; and the DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
BILLING CODE 4710–09–P
architecture and implementation of
intelligent transportation system Federal Motor Carrier Safety
technologies. On July 28, 2017, the Administration
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Secretary of Transportation appointed [Docket No. FMCSA–2018–0120]
Federal Highway Administration 10 members to the MAC, and on
December 5, 2017, the MAC held its first Agency Information Collection
[Docket No. FHWA–2017–0043] meeting in Washington, DC. Activities; Revision of an Information
Tentative Agenda: The agenda will Collection: Financial Responsibility,
Motorcyclist Advisory Council to the Trucking and Freight Forwarding
Federal Highway Administration include a topical discussion of the
infrastructure issues described above, AGENCY: Federal Motor Carrier Safety
AGENCY: Federal Highway namely: Barrier design; road design, Administration (FMCSA), DOT.
Administration (FHWA), U.S. construction, and maintenance ACTION: Notice and request for
Department of Transportation. practices; and the architecture and comments.
ACTION: Notice of public meeting. implementation of intelligent
transportation system technologies. SUMMARY: In accordance with the
SUMMARY: This notice announces the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995,
second meeting of the Motorcyclist Public Participation: This meeting
FMCSA announces its plan to submit
Advisory Council (MAC) to the FHWA. will be open to the public. Members of
the Information Collection Request (ICR)
The purpose of this meeting is to advise the public who wish to attend are asked
described below to the Office of
the Secretary of Transportation, through to send an email to MAC-FHWA@
Management and Budget (OMB) for its
the Administrator of the FHWA, on dot.gov no later than May 26, 2018, in
revision and approval and invites public
infrastructure issues of concern to order to receive access information for
comment. The ICR is related to Form
motorcyclists, including barrier design; the Web conference room. The BMC–32 titled, ‘‘Endorsement for
road design, construction, and Designated Federal Official and the Household Goods Motor Carrier Policies
maintenance practices; and the Chair of the Committee will conduct the of Insurance for Cargo Liability Under
architecture and implementation of meeting to facilitate the orderly conduct 49 U.S.C. 13906.’’
intelligent transportation system of business. If you would like to file a
DATES: We must receive your comments
technologies, pursuant to the Fixing written statement with the Committee,
on or before July 16, 2018.
America’s Surface Transportation you may do so either before or after the
(FAST) Act. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments
meeting by submitting an electronic
copy of that statement to MAC-FHWA@ identified by Federal Docket
DATES: The MAC will convene virtually,
dot.gov or the specific docket page at: Management System (FDMS) Docket
via Web conference connection, from
www.regulations.gov. If you would like Number FMCSA–2018–0120 using any
9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. EST on Thursday,
to make oral statements regarding any of of the following methods:
June 7, 2018. • Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://
ADDRESSES: The meeting will take place the items on the agenda, you should
www.regulations.gov. Follow the online
online. There is no physical address for contact Mr. Michael Griffith at the
instructions for submitting comments.
this meeting. phone number listed above or email • Fax: 1–202–493–2251.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. your request to MAC–FHWA@dot.gov. • Mail: Docket Operations; U.S.
Michael Griffith, the Designated Federal You must make your request for an oral Department of Transportation, 1200
Official, Office of Safety, 202–366–2829, statement at least 5 business days prior New Jersey Avenue SE, West Building,
(mike.griffith@dot.gov) or Ms. Guan Xu, to the meeting. Reasonable provisions Ground Floor, Room W12–140,
202–366–5892, (guan.xu@dot.gov) will be made to include any such Washington, DC 20590–0001.
Federal Highway Administration, 1200 presentation on the agenda. Public • Hand Delivery or Courier: U.S.
New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC comment will be limited to 3 minutes Department of Transportation, 1200
20590. per speaker, per topic. New Jersey Avenue SE, West Building,
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Services for Individuals with Ground Floor, Room W12–140,
Disabilities: Individuals requiring Washington, DC, 20590–0001 between 9
Electronic Access special accommodations are asked to a.m. and 5 p.m. e.t., Monday through
An electronic copy of this notice may note this when they send an email about Friday, except Federal holidays.
be downloaded from the Federal attending to MAC-FHWA@dot.gov by Instructions: All submissions must
Register’s home page at: http:// May 26, 2018. include the Agency name and docket
number. For detailed instructions on
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES

www.archives.gov; the Government Minutes: An electronic copy of the submitting comments, see the Public
Publishing Office’s database at: https:// minutes from all meetings will be
www.gpo.gov/fdsys/; or the specific Participation heading below. Note that
available for download within 60 days all comments received will be posted
docket page at: www.regulations.gov. of the conclusion of the meeting at: without change to http://
Background https://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/ www.regulations.gov, including any
Purpose of the Committee: Section motorcycles/. personal information provided. Please
1426 of the FAST Act, Public Law 114– Authority: Section 1426 of Pub. L. 114–94. see the Privacy Act heading below.

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Document Created: 2018-11-02 09:13:36
Document Modified: 2018-11-02 09:13:36

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		Annual certification of shrimp-harvesting nations.
Dates		This notice is applicable on May 16, 2018.
Contact		Section 609 Program Manager, Office of Marine Conservation, Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs, Department of State, 2201 C Street NW, Washington, DC 20520-2758; telephone: (202) 647-3263; email: [email protected]
FR Citation		83 FR 22739