[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 25 (Tuesday, February 6, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Page 9067]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-3059]



[[Page 9067]]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Bureau of Export Administration


Initiation of National Security Investigation of Imports of Iron 
Ore and Semi-Finished Steel

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

ACTION: Notice of initiation of national security investigation and 
request for public comments.

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SUMMARY: This notice is to advise the public that an investigation has 
been initiated under section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, as 
amended (19 U.S.C. 1862), to determine the effects on the national 
security of imports of iron ore and semi-finished steel. Interested 
parties are invited to submit written comments, opinions, data, 
information, or advice relative to the investigation to the Bureau of 
Export Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce.

DATES: Comments must be received by April 9, 2001.

ADDRESSES: Send three copies of written comments to Brad Botwin, 
Director, Strategic Analysis Division, Bureau of Export Administration, 
U.S. Department of Commerce, Room 3876, Washington, DC 20230.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Brad Botwin, Director, Strategic 
Analysis Division, Bureau of Export Administration, U.S. Department of 
Commerce, (202) 482-4060, [email protected] or Michael Vaccaro, Trade 
and Industry Analyst, Bureau of Export Administration, U.S. Department 
of Commerce, (202) 482-8232, [email protected]. For more information 
about the section 232 program, including the regulations and the text 
of previous investigations, see www.doc-bxa.bmpcoe.org under 
``Programs.''

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    On February 1, 2001, the Department of Commerce initiated an 
investigation under section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, as 
amended (19 U.S.C. 1862), to determine the effects on the national 
security of imports of iron ore and semi-finished steel. The findings 
and recommendations of the investigation are to be reported by the 
Secretary of Commerce to the President not later than October 29, 2001.
    The iron ore and semi-finished steel products to be investigated 
include:
    1. Iron Ore:

--Briquettes
--Pellets
--Sinter

    2. Semi-finished Steel

--Ingots
--Billets
--Blooms
--Slab

    This investigation is being undertaken in accordance with part 705 
of the National Security Industrial Base Regulations (15 CFR parts 700 
to 709) (the ``regulations''). Interested parties are invited to submit 
written comments, opinions, data, information, or advice relevant to 
this investigation to the Office of Strategic Industries & Economic 
Security, U.S. Department of Commerce, no later than April 9, 2001. The 
Department is particularly interested in comments and information 
directed to the criteria listed in Sec. 705.4 of the regulations as 
they affect national security, including the following: (a) Quantity of 
the article in question or other circumstances related to the 
importation of the articles subject to the investigation; (b) Domestic 
production and productive capacity needed for those articles to meet 
protected national defense requirements; (c) Existing and anticipated 
availability of human resources, products, raw materials, production 
equipment, and facilities to produce these items; (d) Growth 
requirements of domestic industries to meet national defense 
requirements and/or requirements to assure such growth; (e) The impact 
of foreign competition on the economic welfare of the domestic 
industry; and (f) The displacement of any domestic products causing 
substantial unemployment, decrease in the revenues of government, loss 
of investment or specialized skills and productive capacity, or other 
serious effects.
    Those wishing to comment should submit three copies of all 
materials. Material that is national security classified information or 
business confidential information will be exempted from public 
disclosure as provided for by Sec. 705.6 of the regulations. Anyone 
submitting business confidential information should clearly identify 
the business confidential portion of the submission, then file a 
statement justifying nondisclosure and reference to the specific legal 
authority claimed, and provide a non-confidential submission which can 
be placed in the public file. Communications from agencies of the 
United States Government will not be made available for public 
inspection.
    If public hearings are held in support of this investigation, a 
separate Federal Register notice will be published.
    The Bureau of Export Administration does not maintain a separate 
public inspection facility. Requesters should first view the Bureau's 
webpage, which can be found at http://www.bxa.doc.gov (see FOIA 
heading). If requesters cannot access the website, they may call 202-
482-2165 for assistance. The records related to this assessment are 
made accessible in accordance with the regulations published in part 4 
of title 15 of the Code of Federal Regulations (15 CFR 4.1 et seq.).

    Dated: February 1, 2001.
Matthew Borman,
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Export Administration.
[FR Doc. 01-3059 Filed 2-5-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-JT-P