[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 184 (Wednesday, September 23, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 50865-50867]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-25412]


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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, Department of Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of request for public comment on the potential market 
impact of proposed disposals of excess commodities currently held in 
the National Defense Stockpile under the Fiscal Year 2000 Annual 
Materials Plan (AMP) and revisions to commodities proposed for disposal 
under the FY 1999 AMP.

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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 potential market 
impact of proposed disposals of excess materials from the National 
Defense Stockpile as set forth in Attachment 1 to this notice.

DATES: Comments must be received by October 23, 1998.

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, NW, Washington, DC 
20230; FAX (202) 501-0657.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Richard V. Meyers, Office of Strategic 
Industries and Economic Security, U.S. Department of Commerce, (202) 
482-3634; or Stephen H. Muller, Office of International Energy and 
Commodity Policy, U.S. Department of State, (202) 647-3423; 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.''
    The proposed FY 2000 AMP and revisions to the FY 1999 AMP have not 
been prepared in final form, as the Committee is now considering 
Defense's Stockpile material disposal levels as listed in Attachment 1. 
The AMP materials listed in bold in Attachment 1 cannot be sold until 
Congress has approved their disposal. The Committee is seeking public 
comment on the potential market impact of the sale of these materials 
in the event that Congress does grant such disposal authority.
    The attached AMP listing includes 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.
    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 October 23, 1998 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

[[Page 50866]]

impact of the sale of these 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: September 18, 1998.
Brad I. Botwin,
Acting Director, Strategic Industries and Economic Security.

                                    Proposed FY 2000 and Revised FY 1999 AMPs
                    [The materials in bold and italic are under Congressional consideration]
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                                                                    Current  FY     Revised  FY    Proposed  FY
                Material                          Units           1998  quantity  1999  quantity  2000  quantity
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Aluminum...............................  ST                               62,881               0               0
Aluminum Oxide, Abrasive...............  ST                                6,000           6,000           6,000
Aluminum Oxide, Fused Crude............  ST                               30,000          65,000          65,000
Analgesics.............................  AMA Lb                           64,127          40,000          40,000
Antimony...............................  ST                                5,000           5,000           5,000
Asbestos (all types)...................  ST                               20,000          20,000          20,000
Bauxite, Metallurgical (Jamaican)......  LDT                           1,200,000       2,000,000       2,000,000
Bauxite, Metallurgical (Surinam).......  LDT                             800,000       1,500,000       1,500,000
Bauxite, Refractory....................  LCT                              80,000               0               0
Beryl Ore..............................  ST                                2,000           2,000           2,000
Beryllium Metal........................  ST                                    0              40              40
Beryllium Copper Master Alloy..........  ST                                1,250           1,250           1,250
Cadmium................................  LB                            1,200,000       1,200,000       1,200,000
Celestite..............................  SDT                               3,600           3,600           3,600
Chromite, Chemical.....................  SDT                             100,000         100,000         100,000
Chromite, Metallurgical................  SDT                             250,000         250,000         250,000
Chromite, Refractory...................  SDT                             100,000         100,000         100,000
Chromium, Ferro........................  ST                               50,000         150,000         150,000
Chromium, Metal........................  ST                                    0             500             500
Cobalt.................................  LB Co                         6,000,000       6,500,000       6,500,000
Columbium, Carbide Powder..............  LB Cb                                 0          21,500          21,500
Columbium Concentrates (Minerals)......  LB Cb                                 0         200,000         200,000
Columbium, Ferro.......................  LB Cb                           200,000         400,000         400,000
Diamond, Bort..........................  CT                            1,000,000          65,000          65,000
Diamond Dies, Small....................  PC                               25,473          25,473          25,473
Diamond Stone..........................  CT                            1,000,000       1,000,000       1,000,000
Fluorspar, Acid Grade..................  SDT                             180,000         100,000         100,000
Fluorspar, Metallurgical...............  SDT                              50,000          50,000          50,000
Germanium..............................  KG                                8,000           8,000           8,000
Graphite...............................  ST                                2,660           3,760           3,760
Indium.................................  TR Oz                            35,000          15,000          15,000
Iodine.................................  LB                            1,000,000       1,000,000       1,000,000
Jewel Bearings.........................  PC                           52,000,000      52,000,000      52,000,000
Kyanite................................  SDT                               1,200             150             150
Lead...................................  ST                               60,000          60,000          60,000
Manganese, Battery Grade Natural.......  SDT                              20,000          30,000          30,000
Manganese, Battery Grade Synthetic.....  SDT                               3,011           3,011           3,011
Manganese, Chemical Grade..............  SDT                              40,000          40,000          40,000
Manganese, Ferro.......................  ST                               50,000          50,000          50,000
Manganese, Metal Electrolytic..........  ST                                2,000           2,000           2,000
Manganese, Metallurgical Grade.........  SDT                             250,000         250,000         250,000
Mercury................................  FL                               20,000          20,000          20,000
Mica (All Types).......................  LB                            2,260,000       2,260,000       2,260,000
Nickel.................................  ST                               10,000           2,500           2,500
Palladium..............................  TR Oz                                 0         200,000         200,000
Platinum...............................  TR Oz                                 0         125,000         125,000
Quinidine..............................  Av Oz                           750,000         750,000         750,000
Quinine................................  Av Oz                           750,000         750,000         750,000
Rubber.................................  LT                                    0          70,000          70,000
Sebacic Acid...........................  LB                              400,000         400,000         400,000
Silicon Carbide........................  ST                                9,000           5,000           5,000
Silver (for coinage)...................  Tr Oz                         9,000,000      10,000,000      10,000,000

[[Page 50867]]

Talc...................................  ST                                1,000           1,000           1,000
Tantalum Carbide Powder................  LB Ta                             2,000           4,000           4,000
Tantalum Metal Powder..................  LB Ta                                 0          50,000          50,000
Tantalum Minerals......................  LB Ta                           100,000         200,000         200,000
Tantalum Oxide.........................  LB Ta                                 0          20,000          20,000
Thorium................................  LB                            1,000,000       1,000,000       1,000,000
Tin....................................  MT                               12,000          12,000          12,000
Titanium Sponge........................  ST                                4,000           5,000           5,000
Tungsten, Carbide Powder...............  LB W                                  0       1,000,000       1,000,000
Tungsten, Ferro........................  LB W                                  0         100,000         100,000
Tungsten, Metal Powder.................  LB W                                  0         150,000         150,000
Tungsten Ores & Concentrates...........  LB W                                  0       1,500,000       1,500,000
Vegetable Tannin Extract, Chestnut.....  LT                                7,500           3,000           3,000
Vegetable Tannin Extract, Quebrac......  LT                               10,000          10,000          10,000
Vegetable Tannin Extract, Wattle.......  LT                               10,000           7,500           7,500
Zinc...................................  ST                               50,000          50,000          50,000
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[FR Doc. 98-25412 Filed 9-22-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-33-P