[Federal Register: October 16, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 200)]
[Notices]
[Page 59581-59583]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr16oc03-27]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Bureau of Industry and Security
[Docket No. 030930242-3242-01]
National Defense Stockpile Market Impact Committee Request for
Public Comments on the Potential Market Impact of Proposed Stockpile
Disposals in FY 2004 and FY 2005
AGENCY: U.S. Department of Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of inquiry.
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SUMMARY: This notice is to advise the public that the National Defense
Stockpile Market Impact Committee (co-chaired by the Departments of
Commerce and State) is seeking public comments on the potential market
impact of proposed changes in the disposal levels of excess materials
under the Fiscal Year 2004 Annual Materials Plan and proposed disposal
levels under the Fiscal Year 2005 Annual Materials Plan.
DATES: Comments must be received by November 17, 2003.
ADDRESSES: Written comments should be sent to Richard V. Meyers, Co-
Chair, Stockpile Market Impact Committee, Office of Strategic
Industries and Economic Security, Room 3876, Bureau of Industry and
Security, U.S. Department of Commerce, 14th Street and Constitution
Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20230; FAX (202) 482-5650; E-mail: rmeyers@bis.doc.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: The co-chairs of the National Defense
Stockpile Market Impact Committee. Contact either Richard V. Meyers,
Office of Strategic Industries and Economic Security, Bureau of
Industry and Security, U.S. Department of Commerce, (202) 482-3634; or
James Steele, Office of Bilateral Trade Affairs, Bureau of Economic and
Business Affairs, U.S. Department of State, (202) 647-2690.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the authority of the Strategic and
Critical Materials Stock Piling Act of 1979, as amended, (50 U.S.C. 98
et seq.), the Department of Defense (``DOD''), as National Defense
Stockpile Manager, maintains a stockpile of strategic and critical
materials to supply the military, industrial, and essential civilian
needs of the United States for national defense. Section 3314 of the
Fiscal Year (``FY'') 1993 National Defense Authorization Act (``NDAA'')
(50 U.S.C. 98h-1) formally established a Market Impact Committee (``the
Committee'') to ``advise the National Defense Stockpile Manager on the
projected domestic and foreign economic effects of all acquisitions and
disposals of materials from the stockpile * * *'' The Committee must
also balance market impact concerns with the statutory requirement to
protect the Government against avoidable loss.
The Committee is comprised of representatives from the Departments
of Commerce, State, Agriculture, Defense, Energy, Interior, Treasury,
and the Department of Homeland Security, and is co-chaired by the
Departments of Commerce and State. The FY 1993 NDAA directs the
Committee to ``consult from time to time with representatives of
producers, processors and consumers of the types of materials stored in
the stockpile.''
The National Defense Stockpile Administrator is proposing (1)
revision of the previously approved FY 2004 Annual Materials Plan
(``AMP'') quantities for four materials, and (2) the new FY 2005 AMP,
as set forth in Attachment 1. The Committee is seeking public comments
on the potential market impact of the sale of these materials as
proposed in the revision of
[[Page 59582]]
the FY 2004 AMP and the FY 2005 AMP.
The AMP quantities are not targets for either sale or disposal.
They are only a statement of the proposed maximum disposal quantity of
each listed material that may be sold in a particular fiscal year. The
quantity of each material that will actually be offered for sale will
depend on the market for the material at the time of the offering as
well as on the quantity of each material approved for disposal by
Congress.
The Committee requests that interested parties provide written
comments, supporting data and documentation, and any other relevant
information on the potential market impact of the sale of these
commodities. Although comments in response to this Notice must be
received by November 17, 2003 to ensure full consideration by the
Committee, interested parties are encouraged to submit comments and
supporting information at any time thereafter to keep the Committee
informed as to the market impact of the sale of these commodities.
Public comments are an important element of the Committee's market
impact review process.
Public comments received will be made available at the Department
of Commerce for public inspection and copying. Anyone submitting
business confidential information should clearly identify the business
confidential portion of the submission and also provide a non-
confidential submission that can be placed in the public file. The
Committee will seek to protect such information to the extent permitted
by law.
The records related to this Notice will be made accessible in
accordance with the regulations published in Part 4 of Title 15 of the
Code of Federal Regulations (15 CFR 4.1, et seq.). Specifically, the
Bureau of Industry and Security's Freedom of Information Act (``FOIA'')
reading room is located on its Web page, which can be found at http://www.bis.doc.gov
, and copies of the public comments received will be
maintained at that location (see Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)
heading). If requesters cannot access the web site, they may call (202)
482-2165 for assistance.
Dated: October 9, 2003.
Matthew S. Borman,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Industry and Security, Bureau of
Industry and Security, Department of Commerce.
Attachment 1--Proposed Revision to FY 2004 Annual Material Plan (AMP) and Proposed FY 2005 AMP
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Current FY Revised FY Proposed FY
Material Units 2004 quantity 2004 quantity 2005 quantity
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Aluminum Oxide, Abrasive.............. ST...................... 6,000 .............. \1\ 6,000
Bauxite, Refractory................... LCT..................... \1\ 43,000 .............. \1\ 43,000
Beryl Ore............................. ST...................... \1\ 4,000 .............. \1\ 4,000
Beryllium Metal....................... ST...................... 40 .............. 40
Beryllium Copper Master Alloy......... ST...................... \1\ 1,200 .............. \1\ 1,200
Cadmium............................... LB...................... \1\ 400,000 .............. 0
Celestite............................. SDT..................... \1\ 12,794 .............. \1\ 6,000
Chromite, Chemical.................... SDT..................... \1\ 100,000 .............. \1\ 100,000
Chromite, Refractory.................. SDT..................... \1\ 100,000 .............. \1\ 100,000
Chromium, Ferro....................... ST...................... 150,000 110,000 110,000
Chromium, Metal....................... ST...................... 500 .............. 500
Cobalt................................ LB Co................... 6,000,000 .............. 6,000,000
Columbium Concentrates (Minerals)..... LB Cb................... 560,000 .............. 560,000
Columbium Metal Ingots................ LB Cb................... 20,000 .............. 20,000
Diamond Stone......................... ct...................... \1\ 600,000 .............. \1\ 400,000
Fluorspar, Acid Grade................. SDT..................... \1\ 12,000 .............. \1\ 12,000
Fluorspar, Metallurgical Grade........ SDT..................... \1\ 60,000 .............. \1\ 60,000
Germanium............................. KG...................... 8,000 .............. 8,000
Graphite.............................. ST...................... \1\ 2,000 .............. 0
Iodine................................ LB...................... 1,000,000 .............. 1,000,000
Jewel Bearings........................ PC...................... \1\ 82,051,558 .............. \1\ 82,051,558
Kyanite............................... SDT..................... 0 50 0
Lead.................................. ST...................... 60,000 .............. \1\ 60,000
Manganese, Battery Grade Natural...... SDT..................... 30,000 .............. 30,000
Manganese, Battery Grade Synthetic.... SDT \1\ 3,011........... .............. \1\ 3,011
Manganese, Chemical Grade............. SDT..................... 40,000 .............. \1\ 40,000
Manganese, Ferro...................... ST...................... 50,000 .............. 50,000
Manganese, Metal Electrolytic......... ST...................... 2,000 .............. \1\ 2,000
Manganese, Metallurgical Grade........ SDT..................... \1\ 250,000 .............. \1\ 250,000
Mica (All Types)...................... LB...................... \1\ 5,000,000 .............. \1\ 1,000,000
Palladium............................. Tr Oz................... \1\ \3\ .............. \1\ \3\
200,000 100,000
Platinum.............................. Tr Oz................... \1\ 25,000 .............. \1\ 25,000
Platinum--Iridium..................... Tr Oz................... 6,000 .............. 6,000
Quartz Crystals....................... LB...................... \1\ 150,000 .............. \1\ 25,000
Quinidine............................. Oz...................... \1\ 2,211,122 .............. 0
Sebacic Acid.......................... LB...................... 600,000 .............. \1\ 600,000
Talc.................................. ST...................... \1\ 1,000 .............. \1\ 1,000
Tantalum Carbide Powder............... LB Ta................... \1\ 4,000 \1\ 4,000
Tantalum Metal Ingots................. LB Ta................... \1\ 40,000 .............. \1\ 40,000
Tantalum Metal Powder................. LB Ta................... \1\ 40,000 .............. \1\ 40,000
Tantalum Minerals..................... LB Ta................... 500,000 .............. \1\ 500,000
Tantalum Oxide........................ LB Ta................... 20,000 .............. 20,0001
Thorium Nitrate....................... LB...................... \1\ \2\ .............. \1\ \2\
7,100,000 7,100,000
Tin................................... MT...................... 12,000 .............. 12,000
Titanium Sponge....................... ST...................... 7,000 .............. \1\ 7,000
Tungsten, Ferro....................... LB W.................... 300,000 .............. 300,000
[[Page 59583]]
Tungsten, Metal Powder................ LB W.................... 300,000 .............. 300,000
Tungsten Ores & Concentrates.......... LB W.................... 4,000,000 .............. 4,000,000
Vegetable Tannin Extract, Chestnut.... LT...................... 0 250 \1\ 250
Vegetable Tannin Extract, Quebracho... LT...................... 50,000 .............. \1\ 50,000
Vegetable Tannin Extract, Wattle...... LT...................... 0 6,500 \1\ 6,500
Zinc.................................. ST...................... 50,000 .............. 50,000
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Notes:
\1\ Actual quantity will be limited to remaining sales authority or inventory.
\2\ The radioactive nature of this material may restrict sales or disposal options. Efforts are underway to
determine the environmentally and economically feasible disposition of the material.
\3\ Pending legislative authority.
[FR Doc. 03-26106 Filed 10-15-03; 8:45 am]