83_FR_53235 83 FR 53032 - Subsidy Programs Provided by Countries Exporting Softwood Lumber and Softwood Lumber Products to the United States; Request for Comment

83 FR 53032 - Subsidy Programs Provided by Countries Exporting Softwood Lumber and Softwood Lumber Products to the United States; Request for Comment

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
International Trade Administration

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 203 (October 19, 2018)

Page Range53032-53033
FR Document2018-22841

The Department of Commerce (Commerce) seeks public comment on any subsidies, including stumpage subsidies, provided by certain countries exporting softwood lumber or softwood lumber products to the United States during the period January 1, 2018, through June 30, 2018.

Federal Register, Volume 83 Issue 203 (Friday, October 19, 2018) 
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 203 (Friday, October 19, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 53032-53033]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-22841]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration


Subsidy Programs Provided by Countries Exporting Softwood Lumber 
and Softwood Lumber Products to the United States; Request for Comment

AGENCY: Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade Administration, 
Department of Commerce.

SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce (Commerce) seeks public comment on 
any subsidies, including stumpage subsidies, provided by certain 
countries exporting softwood lumber or softwood lumber products to the 
United States during the period January 1, 2018, through June 30, 2018.

DATES: Comments must be submitted within 30 days after publication of 
this notice.

ADDRESSES: See the Submission of Comments section below.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kristen Johnson or Eric B. Greynolds, 
Office III, Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade 
Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue 
NW, Washington, DC 20230; telephone: (202) 482-4793 or (202) 482-6071, 
respectively.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    On June 18, 2008, section 805 of Title VIII of the Tariff Act of 
1930 (the Softwood Lumber Act of 2008) was enacted into law. Under this 
provision, the Secretary of Commerce is mandated to submit to the 
appropriate Congressional committees a report every 180 days on any 
subsidy provided by countries exporting softwood lumber or softwood 
lumber products to the United States, including stumpage subsidies.
    Commerce submitted its last subsidy report on June 20, 2018. As 
part of its newest report, Commerce intends to include a list of 
subsidy programs identified with sufficient clarity by the public in 
response to this notice.

Request for Comments

    Given the large number of countries that export softwood lumber and 
softwood lumber products to the United States, we are soliciting public 
comment only on subsidies provided by countries whose exports accounted 
for at least one percent of total U.S. imports of softwood lumber by 
quantity, as classified under Harmonized Tariff Schedule code 4407.1001 
(which accounts for the vast majority of imports), during the period 
January 1, 2018, through June 30, 2018. Official U.S. import data 
published by the United States International Trade Commission's Tariff 
and Trade DataWeb indicate that four countries (Brazil, Canada, 
Germany, and Sweden) exported softwood lumber to the United States 
during that time period in amounts sufficient to account for at least 
one percent of U.S. imports of softwood lumber products. We intend to 
rely on similar previous six-month periods to identify the countries 
subject to future reports on softwood lumber subsidies. For example, we 
will rely on U.S. imports of softwood lumber and softwood lumber 
products during the period July 1, 2018, through December 31, 2018, to 
select the countries subject to the next report.
    Under U.S. trade law, a subsidy exists where an authority: (i) 
Provides a financial contribution; (ii) provides any form of income or 
price support within the meaning of Article XVI of the GATT 1994; or 
(iii) makes a payment to a funding mechanism to provide a financial 
contribution to a person, or entrusts or directs a private entity to 
make a financial contribution, if providing the contribution would 
normally be vested in the government and the practice does not differ 
in substance from practices normally followed by governments, and a 
benefit is thereby conferred.\1\
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    \1\ See section 771(5)(B) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended.
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    Parties should include in their comments: (1) The country which 
provided the subsidy; (2) the name of the subsidy program; (3) a brief 
description (no more than 3-4 sentences) of the subsidy program; and 
(4) the government body or authority that provided the subsidy.

Submission of Comments

    As specified above, to be assured of consideration, comments must 
be received no later than 30 days after the publication of this notice 
in the Federal Register. All comments must be submitted through the 
Federal eRulemaking Portal at http://www.regulations.gov, Docket No. 
ITA-2018-0002, unless the commenter does not have access to the 
internet. The materials in the docket will not be edited to remove 
identifying or contact information, and Commerce cautions against 
including any information in an electronic submission that the 
submitter does not want publicly disclosed. Attachments to electronic 
comments will be accepted in Microsoft Word, Excel, or Adobe PDF 
formats only.
    Commenters who do not have access to the internet may submit the 
original and one electronic copy of each set of comments by mail or 
hand delivery/courier.
    All comments should be addressed to Gary Taverman, Deputy Assistant 
Secretary for Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Operations performing 
the non-exclusive functions and duties of the Assistant Secretary for 
Enforcement and Compliance, at U.S. Department of Commerce, Room 18022, 
1401 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20230.


[[Page 53033]]


    Dated: October 15, 2018.
James Maeder,
Associate Deputy Assistant Secretary for Antidumping and Countervailing 
Duty Operations, performing the duties of Deputy Assistant Secretary 
for Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Operations.
[FR Doc. 2018-22841 Filed 10-18-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P

53032 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 203 / Friday, October 19, 2018 / Notices to submit with each argument: (1) A exporting softwood lumber or softwood 31, 2018, to select the countries subject statement of the issue; (2) a brief lumber products to the United States to the next report. summary of the argument; and (3) a during the period January 1, 2018, Under U.S. trade law, a subsidy exists table of authorities. through June 30, 2018. where an authority: (i) Provides a Pursuant to 19 CFR 351.310(c), DATES: Comments must be submitted financial contribution; (ii) provides any interested parties who wish to request a within 30 days after publication of this hearing, limited to issues raised in the form of income or price support within notice. the meaning of Article XVI of the GATT case and rebuttal briefs, must submit a ADDRESSES: See the Submission of written request to the Assistant 1994; or (iii) makes a payment to a Comments section below. funding mechanism to provide a Secretary for Enforcement and FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: financial contribution to a person, or Compliance, U.S. Department of Kristen Johnson or Eric B. Greynolds, entrusts or directs a private entity to Commerce, within 21 days after the date Office III, Enforcement and Compliance, make a financial contribution, if of publication of this notice. Requests International Trade Administration, providing the contribution would should contain the party’s name, U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 normally be vested in the government address, and telephone number, the Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, and the practice does not differ in number of participants, whether any DC 20230; telephone: (202) 482–4793 or substance from practices normally participant is a foreign national, and a (202) 482–6071, respectively. followed by governments, and a benefit list of the issues to be discussed. If a request for a hearing is made, Commerce SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: is thereby conferred.1 intends to hold the hearing at the U.S. Background Parties should include in their Department of Commerce, 1401 comments: (1) The country which On June 18, 2008, section 805 of Title Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, provided the subsidy; (2) the name of VIII of the Tariff Act of 1930 (the DC 20230, at a time and date to be the subsidy program; (3) a brief Softwood Lumber Act of 2008) was determined. Parties should confirm by description (no more than 3–4 enacted into law. Under this provision, telephone the date, time, and location of the Secretary of Commerce is mandated sentences) of the subsidy program; and the hearing two days before the to submit to the appropriate (4) the government body or authority scheduled date. Congressional committees a report every that provided the subsidy. Notification to Interested Parties 180 days on any subsidy provided by countries exporting softwood lumber or Submission of Comments This determination is issued and published in accordance with sections softwood lumber products to the United As specified above, to be assured of 781(c) of the Act and 19 CFR 351.225(f). States, including stumpage subsidies. consideration, comments must be Commerce submitted its last subsidy received no later than 30 days after the Dated: October 15, 2018. report on June 20, 2018. As part of its Christian Marsh, publication of this notice in the Federal newest report, Commerce intends to Deputy Assistant Secretary for Enforcement Register. All comments must be include a list of subsidy programs and Compliance. submitted through the Federal identified with sufficient clarity by the public in response to this notice. eRulemaking Portal at http:// Appendix www.regulations.gov, Docket No. ITA– List of Topics Discussed in the Preliminary Request for Comments 2018–0002, unless the commenter does Decision Memorandum Given the large number of countries not have access to the internet. The I. Summary that export softwood lumber and materials in the docket will not be II. Background softwood lumber products to the United edited to remove identifying or contact III. Scope of the Order information, and Commerce cautions IV. Statutory and Regulatory Framework States, we are soliciting public comment V. Prior Anti-Circumvention Determination only on subsidies provided by countries against including any information in an VI. Parameters of the Anti-Circumvention whose exports accounted for at least one electronic submission that the submitter Inquiry percent of total U.S. imports of softwood does not want publicly disclosed. VII. Arguments from Interested Parties lumber by quantity, as classified under Attachments to electronic comments VIII. Analysis Harmonized Tariff Schedule code will be accepted in Microsoft Word, IX. Recommendation 4407.1001 (which accounts for the vast Excel, or Adobe PDF formats only. [FR Doc. 2018–22843 Filed 10–18–18; 8:45 am] majority of imports), during the period Commenters who do not have access BILLING CODE 3510–DS–P January 1, 2018, through June 30, 2018. to the internet may submit the original Official U.S. import data published by and one electronic copy of each set of the United States International Trade DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE comments by mail or hand delivery/ Commission’s Tariff and Trade DataWeb courier. indicate that four countries (Brazil, International Trade Administration Canada, Germany, and Sweden) All comments should be addressed to exported softwood lumber to the United Gary Taverman, Deputy Assistant Subsidy Programs Provided by States during that time period in Secretary for Antidumping and Countries Exporting Softwood Lumber amounts sufficient to account for at least Countervailing Duty Operations and Softwood Lumber Products to the United States; Request for Comment one percent of U.S. imports of softwood performing the non-exclusive functions lumber products. We intend to rely on and duties of the Assistant Secretary for amozie on DSK3GDR082PROD with NOTICES1 AGENCY: Enforcement and Compliance, similar previous six-month periods to Enforcement and Compliance, at U.S. International Trade Administration, identify the countries subject to future Department of Commerce, Room 18022, Department of Commerce. reports on softwood lumber subsidies. 1401 Constitution Avenue NW, SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce For example, we will rely on U.S. Washington, DC 20230. (Commerce) seeks public comment on imports of softwood lumber and any subsidies, including stumpage softwood lumber products during the 1 See section 771(5)(B) of the Tariff Act of 1930, subsidies, provided by certain countries period July 1, 2018, through December as amended. VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:25 Oct 18, 2018 Jkt 247001 PO 00000 Frm 00006 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\19OCN1.SGM 19OCN1

Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 203 / Friday, October 19, 2018 / Notices 53033 Dated: October 15, 2018. state lead agency for purposes of the one-year renewal that could be issued James Maeder, California Environmental Quality Act under certain circumstances and if all Associate Deputy Assistant Secretary for (CEQA), previously released a joint final requirements are met, as described in Antidumping and Countervailing Duty environmental impact review/ Request for Public Comments at the end Operations, performing the duties of Deputy environmental impact statement (EIR/ of this notice. NMFS will consider Assistant Secretary for Antidumping and EIS) that analyzes the potential effects public comments prior to making any Countervailing Duty Operations. on the physical and human final decision on the issuance of the [FR Doc. 2018–22841 Filed 10–18–18; 8:45 am] environment of the proposed Monterey requested MMPA authorization and BILLING CODE 3510–DS–P Peninsula Water Supply Project. agency responses will be summarized in the final notice of our decision. II. Errata Document DATES: Comments and information must DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE The purpose of this notice is to inform be received no later than November 19, the public that the errata document for 2018. National Oceanic and Atmospheric the Final Environmental Impact Report/ ADDRESSES: Comments should be Administration Environmental Impact Statement (FEIR/ addressed to Jolie Harrison, Chief, Proposed Monterey Peninsula Water EIS) for the project is available for Permits and Conservation Division, Supply Project; Notice of Availability of public inspection. It is available Office of Protected Resources, National Errata Document for the Final electronically on the website listed in Marine Fisheries Service. Physical Environmental Impact Report/ the ADDRESSES section of this notice. It comments should be sent to 1315 East- Environmental Impact Statement is also available by email by writing to West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910 the addresses identified in the FOR and electronic comments should be sent AGENCY: Office of National Marine FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section of to ITP.pauline@noaa.gov. Sanctuaries (ONMS), National Ocean this notice. Instructions: NMFS is not responsible Service (NOS), National Oceanic and for comments sent by any other method, Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1431 et seq.; 42 Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), U.S.C. 4321 et seq. to any other address or individual, or Department of Commerce. received after the end of the comment Dated: September 13, 2018. ACTION: Notice of availability of Errata period. Comments received for the final environmental impact John Armor, electronically, including all report/environmental impact statement. Director for the Office of National Marine attachments, must not exceed a 25- Sanctuaries. megabyte file size. Attachments to SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that [FR Doc. 2018–22863 Filed 10–18–18; 8:45 am] electronic comments will be accepted in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric BILLING CODE 3510–NK–P Microsoft Word or Excel or Adobe PDF Administration (NOAA) has published file formats only. All comments an errata document for the Final received are a part of the public record Environmental Impact Report/ DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE and will generally be posted online at Environmental Impact Statement (FEIR/ https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/ EIS) for a permit application to NOAA’s National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration national/marine-mammal-protection/ Monterey Bay National Marine incidental-take-authorizations- Sanctuary (MBNMS) submitted by RIN 0648–XG454 construction-activities without change. California American Water Company All personal identifying information (CalAm) to construct and operate Takes of Marine Mammals Incidental to (e.g., name, address) voluntarily Monterey Peninsula Water Supply Specified Activities; Taking Marine submitted by the commenter may be Project, a reverse osmosis (RO) Mammals Incidental to US 101/ publicly accessible. Do not submit desalination facility project (Project) in Chehalis River Bridge-Scour Repair in confidential business information or Monterey County, California. A notice Washington State otherwise sensitive or protected of availability (NOA) of the final EIR/ information. EIS was published in the Federal AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Register on March 30, 2018 (83 FR Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rob 13737). Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Pauline, Office of Protected Resources, Commerce. NMFS, (301) 427–8401. Electronic DATES: This notice is applicable October ACTION: Notice; proposed incidental copies of the application and supporting 19, 2018. documents may be obtained online at: harassment authorization; request for ADDRESSES: Copies of the FEIR/EIS and https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/ comments on proposed authorization the Errata document can be downloaded national/marine-mammal-protection/ and possible renewal. or viewed on the internet at https:// incidental-take-authorizations- montereybay.noaa.gov/resourcepro/ SUMMARY: NMFS has received a request construction-activities. In case of resmanissues/desal-projects.html. from the Washington State Department problems accessing these documents, FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: of Transportation (WSDOT) for please call the contact listed above. Karen Grimmer at 99 Pacific Ave., Bldg. authorization to take marine mammals SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 455a, Monterey, CA 93940, or call 831– incidental to the US 101/Chehalis River 647–4253, or email: montereybay@ Bridge-Scour Repair Project in Background noaa.gov. Washington State. Pursuant to the The MMPA prohibits the ‘‘take’’ of amozie on DSK3GDR082PROD with NOTICES1 SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Marine Mammal Protection Act marine mammals, with certain (MMPA), NMFS is requesting comments exceptions. Sections 101(a)(5)(A) and I. Background on its proposal to issue an incidental (D) of the MMPA (16 U.S.C. 1361 et NOAA, as the Federal lead agency for harassment authorization (IHA) to seq.) direct the Secretary of Commerce purposes of the National Environmental incidentally take marine mammals (as delegated to NMFS) to allow, upon Policy Act (NEPA), and the California during the specified activities. NMFS is request, the incidental, but not Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), the also requesting comments on a possible intentional, taking of small numbers of VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:25 Oct 18, 2018 Jkt 247001 PO 00000 Frm 00007 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\19OCN1.SGM 19OCN1


Document Created: 2018-10-19 01:25:05
Document Modified: 2018-10-19 01:25:05
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionNotices
DatesComments must be submitted within 30 days after publication of this notice.
ContactKristen Johnson or Eric B. Greynolds, Office III, Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20230; telephone: (202) 482-4793 or (202) 482-6071, respectively.
FR Citation83 FR 53032 
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