[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 199 (Monday, October 17, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-25540]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: October 17, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
 

National Defense Stockpile Market Impact Committee Request for 
Public Comments

AGENCY: Office of Strategic Industries and Economic Security, Bureau of 
Export Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of request for public comment on the market impact of: 
(1) proposed disposals of excess commodities currently held in the 
National Defense Stockpile under the Fiscal Year 1996 Annual Materials 
Plan, and (2) revisions to commodities proposed for disposal under the 
fiscal Year 1995 Annual Materials Plan.

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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 comment on the market impact of 
proposed disposals of excess materials currently held in the National 
Defense Stockpile.

DATE: Comments must be received not later than November 16, 1994.

ADDRESSES: Written comments (10 copies) should be addressed to Richard 
V. Meyers, Co-Chair, Stockpile Market Impact Committee, Office of 
Strategic Industries and Economic Security, Room 3878, U.S. Department 
of Commerce, 14th Street and Constitution Avenue, N.W., Washington, 
D.C. 20230.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Richard V. Meyers, Office of Strategic Industries and Economic 
Security, U.S. Department of Commerce, (202) 482-3634 or Stephen G. 
Brundage, Office of International Commodities, U.S. Department of 
State, (202) 647-2871 (co-chairs of the National Defense Stockpile 
Market Impact Committee).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Strategic and Critical Materials Stock 
Piling Act of 1979, as amended, (50 U.S.C. 98 et seq.) authorizes the 
maintenance of strategic and critical materials in the National Defense 
Stockpile ``to decrease and to preclude, when possible, a dangerous and 
costly dependence by the United States upon foreign sources of supplies 
of such materials in times of national emergency.'' The Department of 
Defense, as National Defense Stockpile Manager, may dispose of 
materials in the stockpile that have previously been authorized for 
disposal by law and have been determined to be excess to national 
security requirements. In managing the stockpile, Defense must protect 
the United States against avoidable loss while at the same time 
``efforts shall be made * * * to avoid undue disruption of the usual 
markets of producers, processors, and consumers of such materials.''
    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 includes representatives from the 
Departments of Commerce, State, Agriculture, Defense, Energy, Interior, 
Treasury and the Federal Emergency Management Agency and is co-chaired 
by the Departments of Commerce and State. The NDAA for Fiscal Year 1993 
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.''
    It is Defense's intent that the National Defense Stockpile be a 
dependable, long term source of material. The material will be sold as 
close to market prices as the conditions of sale permit (e.g., 
consideration will be given for the certifiable quality of the 
materials being sold, and any appropriate transportation differential). 
In order to protect the United States against avoidable loss, Defense 
intends to exercise restraint regarding the quantities and timing of 
any offers of excess materials for sale.
    The Committee will soon begin its consideration of Defense's FY 
1996 annual Materials Plan (AMP) of proposed disposals and acquisitions 
of stockpile materials and will also consider revisions to the FY 1995 
AMP. The following, with exceptions noted, are the materials for which 
Defense has been granted disposal authority by Congress, and which 
therefore may be included in the FY 1996 AMP.
    Commodities which May be Included in FY 1996 AMP.

Aluminum Oxide, Abrasive
Aluminum Oxide, Fused Crude
Analgesics
Asbestos (all types)
Antimony
Bauxite, Metallurgical (Jamaican)
Bauxite, Metallurgical (Surinam)
Bauxite, Refractory
Beryl Ore
Bismuth
Cadmium
Celestite
Chromite, Chemical
Chromite, Metallurgical
Chromite, Refractory
Chromium, Ferro Alloys\1\
Cobalt
Diamond Bort
Diamond Stone
Fluorspar, Acid
Fluorspar, Metallurgical
Graphite, Natural Malagasy
Graphite, Natural Other
Iodine
Lead
Manganese, Battery Grade Natural
Manganese, Chemical Grade
Manganese, Electrolytic
Manganese, Ferro Alloys\1\
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    \1\Commodities have not received Congressional approval for 
disposal.
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Manganese, Metallurgical Grade
Mercury
Mica, Muscovite Block
Mica, Muscovite Film
Mica, Muscovite Splittings
Mica, Phlogopite Splittings
Nickel
Quinidine
Quinine
Quartz Crystals, Natural
Sapphire & Ruby
Sebacic Acid
Silicon Carbide
Silver (for coinage)
Talc
Tin
Thorium Nitrate
Vegetable Tannin Extract, Chestnut
Vegetable Tannin Extract, Quebracho
Vegetable Tannin Extract, Wattle
Zinc

    Listed below are the materials in the FY 1995 AMP for which 
Defense proposes disposal revisions:

Aluminum Oxide, Abrasive
Antimony
Cadmium
Chromite, Refractory
Diamond Bort
Fluorspar, Acid
Fluorspar, Metallurgical
Jewel Bearings
Kyanite
Lead
Manganese, Metallurgical
Mercury
Mica, Muscovite Film
Rutile
Sapphire & Ruby
Talc
Vegetable Tannin Extract, Wattle
Zinc

    In order for the Committee to obtain sufficient information to 
prepare its recommendations to Defense, the Committee hereby requests 
that interested parties provide comments on the potential market impact 
of stockpile disposals of the materials which have been identified 
above as possible candidates for sales in FY 1996 as well as the 
materials in the FY 1995 AMP for which Defense proposes to revise 
disposals.
    Although comments, in response to this notice must be received by 
________, ______, 1994 (30 days after publication) for the Committee to 
consider them in its evaluation of the FY 1996 AMP and the proposed 
revisions to the FY 1995 AMP, the Committee would welcome further 
comments as the sales proceed. Interested parties are invited to submit 
written comments, opinions, data, information, or any advice that would 
be useful to the Committee in reviewing proposed schedules and 
quantities of Stockpile sales. All materials should be submitted with 
10 copies.
    Public information will be made available at the Department of 
Commerce for public inspection and copying. Material that is national 
security classified or business confidential information will be 
exempted from public disclosure. 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. 
Communications from agencies of the United States Government will not 
be made available for public inspection.
    The public record concerning this notice will be maintained in the 
Bureau of Export Administration's Records Inspection Facility, Room 
4525, U.S. Department of Commerce, 14th Street and Constitution Avenue, 
NW, Washington, DC 20230, telephone (202) 482-5653. The records in this 
facility may be inspected and copied in accordance with the regulations 
published in Part 4 of Title 15 of the Code of Federal Regulations (15 
CFR 4.1 et seq.).
    Information about the inspection and copying of records at the 
facility may be obtained from Ms. Margaret Cornejo, the Bureau of 
Export Administration's Freedom of Information Officer, at the above 
address and telephone number.

    Dated: October 11, 1994.
John A. Richards,
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Strategic Industries and Economic 
Security.
[FR Doc. 94-25540 Filed 10-14-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DT-M