[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 176 (Thursday, September 10, 2020)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 55801]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-20037]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
International Trade Administration
19 CFR Part 351
[Docket No. 200904-0234]
RIN 0625-AB10
Regulations To Improve Administration and Enforcement of
Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Laws; Extension of Comment Period
To Allow Submissions of Rebuttal Comments and Requirement of Electronic
Submission of Comments and Rebuttal Comments
AGENCY: Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade Administration,
Department of Commerce.
ACTION: Proposed rule; extension of comment period for rebuttal
comments and requirement of electronic submissions.
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SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce (Commerce) is extending the comment
period for the proposed rule, entitled ``Regulations to Improve
Administration and Enforcement of Antidumping and Countervailing Duty
Laws,'' which published in the Federal Register on August 13, 2020,
solely to allow parties the opportunity to submit rebuttal comments.
During the extension period, parties may only submit rebuttals to
comments that were submitted by other parties as of September 14, 2020.
Additionally, Commerce will only be able to accept electronically
submitted comments following the publication of this document in the
Federal Register.
DATES: To be assured of consideration, written comments must be
received no later than September 14, 2020, and written rebuttal
comments must be received no later than September 28, 2020. The
September 14, 2020 deadline for comments on the proposed rule is
unchanged. ADDRESSES: Following publication of this document in the
Federal Register, submit comments and rebuttal comments only through
the Federal eRulemaking Portal at http://www.Regulations.gov, Docket
No. ITA-2020-0001. Due to the COVID-19 situation, the Department is not
able to accept comments submitted by mail or hand-delivery at this
time.
All rebuttal comments submitted during the additional 14-day period
permitted by this document will be a matter of public record and will
generally be available on the Federal eRulemaking Portal at http://www.Regulations.gov. Commerce will not accept response comments
accompanied by a request that part or all of the material be treated
confidentially because of its business proprietary nature or for any
other reason. Therefore, do not submit confidential business
information or otherwise sensitive or protected information.
Any questions concerning the process for submitting comments should
be submitted to Enforcement & Compliance (E&C) Communications office at
(202) 482-0063 or ECCOMMS@trade.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Scott McBride at (202) 482-6292; David
Mason at (202) 482-5051; or Jessica Link at (202) 482-1411.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On August 13, 2020 (85 FR 49472), Commerce
published a proposed rule entitled ``Regulations to Improve
Administration and Enforcement of Antidumping and Countervailing Duty
Laws'' in the Federal Register with a comment period ending no later
than September 14, 2020. Commerce has subsequently received requests
for two extensions of time--one for comments on the proposed rule and
an additional extension for parties to submit comments in response to
comments made by other parties on the proposed rule (available on the
Federal eRulemaking Portal at http://www.Regulations.gov, Docket No.
ITA-2020-0001).
Commerce has determined that no extension of time is warranted for
comments on the proposed rule because the existing comment period
allows adequate time for interested persons to fully consider the
proposal and submit comments. Thus, Commerce will not grant an
extension for the submission of such comments.
However, Commerce agrees that the public and the agency would
benefit if parties have the opportunity to submit rebuttal comments in
response to comments filed by other parties on the proposed rule.
Accordingly, Commerce is granting an extension of time solely for the
purpose of allowing the public to file such rebuttal comments. Commerce
will consider all rebuttal comments submitted by September 28, 2020.
Submissions received after September 14, 2020 must respond to comments
which were filed on or before that date and should not include original
arguments regarding the proposed rule. Otherwise, Commerce will
disregard submissions during that period of time in drafting its final
rule which do not respond to comments submitted by other parties.
Thus, comments on the proposed rule are due on September 14, 2020.
Commerce will not modify this deadline. However, as stated above,
Commerce has determined to allow parties to submit rebuttals to
comments on the proposed rule that were submitted on or before
September 14, 2020. Such rebuttal comments will be due September 28,
2020. Commerce will not consider comments on the proposed rule
submitted after September 14, 2020, which are not responsive to
comments submitted by other parties on or before September 14, 2020.
Furthermore, although the proposed rule indicated that comments
might also be submitted by mail or hand delivery/courier, due to the
COVID-19 situation Commerce will not be able to receive such
submissions. Accordingly, from the date of publication of this document
in the Federal Register, all comments and rebuttal comments must be
submitted through the Federal eRulemaking Portal at http://www.Regulations.gov.
Dated: September 4, 2020.
Jeffrey I. Kessler,
Assistant Secretary for Enforcement and Compliance.
[FR Doc. 2020-20037 Filed 9-9-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P