[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 218 (Thursday, November 12, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 63286-63287]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-30157]


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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 comment on the potential market 
impact of proposed disposals of excess commodities from the National 
Defense Stockpile. The Department of Defense plans to further revise 
certain material quantities included in the proposed Fiscal Year (FY) 
1999 and the FY 2000 Annual Materials Plans (AMP). Defense has 
requested that the Committee consider the proposed revisions to the AMP 
disposal levels.

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SUMMARY: This notice is to advise the public that the National Defense 
Stockpile Market Impact Committee seeks comments concerning the 
potential market impact of disposals of excess materials from the 
Stockpile. The Departments of Commerce and State co-chair the 
Committee. The FY 1999 and proposed FY 2000 AMP materials under review 
are Bauxite (refractory), Tungsten (Ferro), Columbium Metal Ingots, 
Platinum-Iridium, and Tantalum Metal Ingots.

DATE: The Commerce Department must receive comments by December 14, 
1998.

ADDRESSES: Please send all written comments 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) 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) 647-2871; co-chairs 
of the National Defense Stockpile Market Impact Committee.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Department of Defense, 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. The stockpile 
was established under the authority of the Strategic and Critical 
Materials Stock Piling Act (50 U.S.C. 98 et seq.). Defense is required 
by law to refrain from causing undue market disruption, while at the 
same time protecting the U.S. Government against avoidable loss, when 
disposing and acquiring materials.
    The President appointed an Interagency Market Impact Committee (the 
Committee) under the FY 1993 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) 
(50 U.S.C. 98h-1) 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 Committee requests that interested parties provide comment on 
the potential market impact of the proposed revised disposals of these 
commodities. This information will enhance the quality of advice that 
the Committee offers to Defense.
    The AMP listing below 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.

      Proposed Revision to FY 1999 AMP and to Proposed FY 2000 AMP
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                          Current    Revised    Revised
           Material              Units    FY 1999    FY 1999    FY 2000
                                          quantity   quantity   quantity
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bauxite (Refractory).........  LCT.....          0     29,000     29,000
Columbium Metal Ingots.......  Lb Cb...          0     20,000     20,000
Tantalum Metal Ingots........  Lb Ta...          0     40,000     40,000
Tungsten (Ferro).............  Lb W....    100,000    400,000    400,000
Platinum-Iridium.............  Tr Oz...          0      4,450      4,450
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    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. Public comments in response to this Notice must be 
received by December 14, 1998 to ensure the Committee's full 
consideration. Interested parties are encouraged to submit additional 
comments and supporting information at any time thereafter to keep the 
Committee informed of any market impact resulting from 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

[[Page 63287]]

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 Mr. Henry Gaston, the Bureau of Export 
Administration's Freedom of Information Officer, at the above address 
and telephone number.

    Dated: November 4, 1998.
R. Roger Majak,
Assistant Secretary for Export Administration.
[FR Doc. 98-30157 Filed 11-10-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-33-P