[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 90 (Friday, May 9, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 25587-25588]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-12269]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Bureau of Export Administration


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 comments on the potential market 
impact of proposed revisions to the current Annual Materials Plan 
disposal levels of certain commodities currently held in the National 
Defense Stockpile.

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SUMMARY: This notice is to advise the public that the interagency 
National Defense Stockpile Market Impact Committee is seeking public 
comment on the potential market impact of the Department of Defense's 
proposed increase in disposal levels for Analgesics, Columbium (Ferro), 
Graphite, and Vanadium Pentoxide in the Fiscal Year (FY) 1997 and FY 
1998 Annual Materials Plans.

DATES: Comments must be received by May 27, 1997.

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, U.S. Department of 
Commerce, 14th Street and Constitution Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 
20230; FAX (202) 482-5650.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Richard V. Meyers, Office of Strategic 
Industries and Economic Security, U.S.

[[Page 25588]]

Department of Commerce, (202) 482-3634; or Richard Watkins, 
International Commodities Division, U.S. Department of State, (202) 
647-2871; co-chairs of the National Defense Stockpile Market Impact 
Committee.

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 Federal Emergency Management Agency 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.''
    Because of current industry demand and favorable market conditions, 
DOD has requested the Committee to consider proposed revisions to the 
Annual Materials Plan (AMP) disposal levels for Analgesics, Columbium 
(Ferro), Graphite, and Vanadium Pentoxide from the National Defense 
Stockpile in the Fiscal Year (FY) 1997 and (except Vanadium Pentoxide) 
FY 1998 AMPs. In order for the Committee to obtain sufficient 
information to prepare its recommendations to DOD, the Committee 
requests that interested parties provide comment on the potential 
market impact of the proposed revised disposals of these commodities as 
listed below.
    Included with the AMP listing of materials below are the proposed 
maximum disposal quantity for each material. These quantities are not 
sales target disposal quantities. They are only a statement of the 
proposed maximum disposal quantity of each 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 as well as on the quantity of material approved for 
disposal by Congress.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 Current FY   Revised FY
           Material                  Units          1997         1997   
                                                  quantity     quantity 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
               PROPOSED REVISIONS TO FISCAL YEAR 1997 AMP               
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Analgesics....................  AMA Lb                2,500       64,128
Columbium (Ferro).............  Lb Cb                60,000      200,000
Graphite......................  ST                    1,220        2,660
Vanadium Pentoxide............  ST V                    200          400
------------------------------------------------------------------------
               PROPOSED REVISIONS TO FISCAL YEAR 1998 AMP               
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Analgesics....................  AMA Lb                2,500       64,128
Columbium (Ferro).............  Lb Cb               100,000      200,000
Graphite......................  ST                    1,220        2,660
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    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 any of the 
commodities in the above lists. Although comments in response to this 
Notice must be received by May 27, 1997 to ensure full consideration by 
the Committee, interested parties are encouraged to submit additional 
comments and supporting information at any time thereafter to keep the 
Committee informed as to the market impact of the sale of the 
commodities. Public comment is 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. Material that is 
national security classified or business confidential 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: May 6, 1997.
William V. Skidmore,
Acting Director, Strategic Industries and Economic Security.
[FR Doc. 97-12269 Filed 5-8-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-33-P