[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 130 (Thursday, July 8, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36919-36920]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-17376]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION

[Investigations Nos. 701-TA-397-400 (Preliminary) and 731-TA-842-845 
(Preliminary)]


Certain Crude Petroleum Oil Products From Iraq, Mexico, Saudi 
Arabia, and Venezuela

AGENCY: United States International Trade Commission.

ACTION: Institution of countervailing duty and antidumping duty 
investigations and scheduling of preliminary phase investigations.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Commission hereby gives notice of the institution of 
investigations and commencement of preliminary phase countervailing 
duty investigations Nos. 701-TA-397-400 (Preliminary) and antidumping 
investigations Nos. 731-TA-842-845 (Preliminary) under sections 703(a) 
and 733(a), respectively, of the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. 1671b(a) 
and 1673b(a)) (the Act) to determine whether there is a reasonable 
indication that an industry in the United States is materially injured 
or threatened with material injury, or the establishment of an industry 
in the United States is materially retarded, by reason of imports from 
Iraq, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, and Venezuela of crude petroleum oils and 
oils obtained from bituminous minerals above or below 25 degrees 
A.P.I., as provided for in subheadings 2709.00.10 and 2709.00.20 of the 
Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States, that are alleged to be 
subsidized by the Governments of Iraq, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, and 
Venezuela and to be sold in the United States at less than fair value. 
Unless the Department of Commerce extends the time for initiation 
pursuant to sections 702(c)(1)(B) or 732(c)(1)(B) of the Act (19 U.S.C. 
1671a(c)(1)(B) or 19 U.S.C. 1673a(c)(1)(B)), the Commission must reach 
preliminary determinations in these investigations in 45 days, or in 
this case by August 13, 1999. The Commission's views are due at the 
Department of Commerce within five business days thereafter, or by 
August 20, 1999.
    For further information concerning the conduct of these 
investigations and rules of general application, consult the 
Commission's rules of practice and procedure, part 201, subparts A 
through E (19 CFR part 201), and part 207, subparts A and B (19 CFR 
part 207).

EFFECTIVE DATE: June 29, 1999.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Fred Ruggles (202-205-3187), Office of 
Investigations, U.S. International Trade Commission, 500 E Street SW., 
Washington, DC 20436. Hearing-impaired persons can obtain information 
on this matter by contacting the Commission's TDD terminal on 202-205-
1810. Persons with mobility impairments who will need special 
assistance in gaining access to the Commission should contact the 
Office of the Secretary at 202-205-2000. General information concerning 
the Commission may also be obtained by accessing its internet server 
(http://www.usitc.gov).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Background.--These investigations are being instituted in response 
to a petition filed on June 29, 1999, by an incorporated consortium of 
independent domestic crude petroleum oil producers.
    Participation in the investigations and public service list.--
Persons (other than petitioners) wishing to participate in the 
investigations as parties must file an entry of appearance with the 
Secretary to the Commission, as provided in Secs. 201.11 and 207.10 of 
the Commission's rules, not later than seven days after publication of 
this notice in the Federal Register. Industrial users and (if the 
merchandise under investigation is sold at the retail level) 
representative consumer organizations have the right to appear as 
parties in these investigations. The Secretary will prepare a public 
service list containing the names and addresses of all persons, or 
their representatives, who are parties to these investigations upon the 
expiration of the period for filing entries of appearance.
    Limited disclosure of business proprietary information (BPI) under 
an administrative protective order (APO) and BPI service list.--
Pursuant to Sec. 207.7(a) of the Commission's rules, the Secretary will 
make BPI gathered in these investigations available to authorized 
applicants representing interested parties (as defined in 19 U.S.C. 
1677(9)) who are parties to the

[[Page 36920]]

investigations under the APO issued in the investigations, provided 
that the application is made not later than seven days after the 
publication of this notice in the Federal Register. A separate service 
list will be maintained by the Secretary for those parties authorized 
to receive BPI under the APO.
    Conference.--The Commission's Director of Operations has scheduled 
a conference in connection with these investigations for 9:30 a.m. on 
July 20, 1999, at the U.S. International Trade Commission Building, 500 
E Street SW., Washington, DC. Parties wishing to participate in the 
conference should contact Fred Ruggles (202-205-3187) not later than 
July 16, to arrange for their appearance. Parties in support of the 
imposition of countervailing duties and/or antidumping duties in these 
investigations and parties in opposition to the imposition of such 
duties will each be collectively allocated one hour within which to 
make an oral presentation at the conference. A nonparty who has 
testimony that may aid the Commission's deliberations may request 
permission to present a short statement at the conference.
    Written submissions.--As provided in Secs. 201.8 and 207.15 of the 
Commission's rules, any person may submit to the Commission on or 
before July 23, 1999, a written brief containing information and 
arguments pertinent to the subject matter of the investigations. 
Parties may file written testimony in connection with their 
presentation at the conference no later than three days before the 
conference. If briefs or written testimony contain BPI, they must 
conform with the requirements of Secs. 201.6, 207.3, and 207.7 of the 
Commission's rules. The Commission's rules do not authorize filing of 
submissions with the Secretary by facsimile or electronic means.
    In accordance with Secs. 201.16(c) and 207.3 of the rules, each 
document filed by a party to the investigations must be served on all 
other parties to the investigations (as identified by either the public 
or BPI service list), and a certificate of service must be timely 
filed. The Secretary will not accept a document for filing without a 
certificate of service.

    Authority: These investigations are being conducted under 
authority of title VII of the Tariff Act of 1930; this notice is 
published pursuant to Sec. 207.12 of the Commission's rules.

    By order of the Commission.

    Issued: June 30, 1999.
Donna R. Koehnke,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 99-17376 Filed 7-7-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7020-02-P