[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 207 (Thursday, October 25, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 53981-53983]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-26910]


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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 revisions to disposals of excess commodities 
currently held in the National Defense Stockpile under the Fiscal Year 
2002 Annual Material Plan (AMP), and proposed commodity disposals under 
the Fiscal Year 2003 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. The 
Fiscal Year 1993 National Defense Authorization Act requires this 
Committee to consult with representatives of producers, processors and 
consumers of the types of materials stored in the stockpile.

DATES: Comments must be received by November 26, 2001.

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) 482-5650. Comments submitted via e-mail will not be 
accepted.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Richard V. Meyers, Office of Strategic 
Industries and Economic Security, U.S. Department of Commerce, (202) 
482-3634; or Terri L. Robl, 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 (hereinafter 
``NDAA'') (50 U.S.C. 98h-l) 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 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.''
    Attachment 1 lists the current FY 2002 AMP quantities (previously 
approved by the Committee), proposed revisions to the FY 2002 AMP 
quantities for seven materials, and the proposed FY 2003 AMP. The 
Committee is seeking public comment on the potential market impact of 
the sale of these materials as proposed in the revised FY 2002 AMP and 
FY 2003 AMP.
    The quantities listed in Attachment 1 are not sales target disposal 
quantities. They are only a statement of the proposed maximum disposal 
quantity of each listed 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 each 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 November 26, 2001 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 these 
commodities. Public comment is an important element of the Committee's 
market impact review process.
    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. The Committee will seek to protect such information to the extent 
permitted by law.
    The records related to this Notice will be 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.). Specifically, the 
Bureau of Export Administration's FOIA reading room is located on its 
Web page, which can be found at http://www.bxa.doc.gov, and copies of 
the public comments received will be maintained at that location (see 
Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) heading). If requesters cannot access 
the web site, they may call (202) 482-2165 for assistance.


[[Page 53982]]


    Dated: October 22, 2001.
James J. Jochum,
Assistant Secretary for Export Administration.

        Attachment 1.--Proposed Revisions to FY 2002 Annual Materials Plan (AMP) and Proposed FY 2003 AMP
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                                                                             Revised
            Material                Unit      Current FY      Revised FY       FY02      Proposed FY      FY03
                                             2002 quantity   2002 quantity    notes     2003 quantity    notes
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Aluminum Oxide, Abrasive.......  ST                  6,000  ..............  .........           6,000  .........
Antimony.......................  ST                  5,000  ..............  .........           5,000          1
Bauxite, Metallurgical Jamaican  LDT             2,000,000  ..............  .........       1,540,000          1
Bauxite, Refractory............  LCT                 5,000          43,000        1/3          43,000        1/3
Beryl Ore......................  ST                  4,000  ..............  .........           3,000          1
Beryllium Metal................  ST                     40  ..............  .........              40  .........
Beryllium Copper Master Alloy..  ST                  2,200  ..............  .........           1,000          1
Cadmium........................  LB              1,200,000  ..............  .........       1,200,000  .........
Celestite......................  SDT                 3,600  ..............  .........           3,600  .........
Chromite, Chemical.............  SDT               100,000  ..............          1         100,000          1
Chromite, Metallurgical........  SDT               100,000  ..............          1         100,000          1
Chromite, Refractory...........  SDT               100,000  ..............  .........         100,000  .........
Chromium, Ferro................  ST                150,000  ..............  .........         150,000  .........
Chromium, Metal................  ST                    500  ..............  .........             500  .........
Cobalt.........................  LB Co           6,000,000  ..............  .........       6,000,000  .........
Columbium Carbide Powder.......  LB Cb              21,500  ..............          1          21,500          1
Columbium Concentrates.........  LB Cb             560,000  ..............  .........         560,000  .........
Columbium Metal Ingots.........  LB Cb              20,000  ..............  .........          20,000  .........
Diamond Stone..................  ct                510,000       1,300,000          1         600,000          1
Fluorspar, Acid Grade..........  SDT                12,000  ..............          1          12,000          1
Fluorspar, Metallurgical Grade.  SDT                60,000  ..............  .........          60,000          1
Germanium......................  Kg                  8,000  ..............  .........           8,000  .........
Graphite.......................  ST                  3,760  ..............  .........           3,760          1
Iodine.........................  LB              1,000,000  ..............  .........       1,000,000  .........
Jewel Bearings.................  PC             52,000,000      82,051,558        1/3      82,051,558        1/3
Kyanite........................  SDT                   150  ..............          1             150          1
Lead...........................  ST                 60,000  ..............  .........          60,000  .........
Manganese, Battery Grade,        SDT                30,000  ..............  .........          30,000  .........
 Natural.
Manganese, Battery Grade,        SDT                 3,011  ..............          1           3,011          1
 Synthetic.
Manganese, Chemical Grade......  SDT                40,000  ..............  .........          40,000  .........
Manganese, Ferro...............  ST                 75,000  ..............  .........          75,000  .........
Manganese, Metal, Electrolytic.  ST                  2,000  ..............  .........           2,000  .........
Manganese, Metallurgical Grade.  SDT               250,000  ..............  .........         250,000  .........
Mica, All......................  LB              4,000,000       8,500,000        1/4       8,500,000          1
Palladium......................  Tr Oz             600,000  ..............  .........         250,000          1
Platinum.......................  Tr Oz              95,000         140,000  .........          30,000          1
Platinum--Iridium..............  Tr Oz                   0           6,000          3           6,000          3
Quartz crystals................  Lb                      0         216,648        1/3         216,648        1/3
Quinidine......................  OZ                750,000  ..............  .........         750,000  .........
Rubber.........................  LT                 75,000  ..............          1          70,000          1
Sebacic Acid...................  LB              1,000,000  ..............  .........         600,000  .........
Silver (Coins).................  Tr Oz           5,000,000       8,000,000          1       5,000,000          1
Talc...........................  ST                  2,000  ..............          1           2,000          1
Tantalum Carbide Powder........  LB Ta               4,000  ..............  .........           4,000  .........
Tantalum Metal Ingots..........  LB Ta              40,000  ..............  .........          40,000  .........
Tantalum Metal Powder..........  LB Ta              50,000  ..............          1          50,000          1
Tantalum Minerals..............  LB Ta             500,000  ..............  .........         500,000  .........
Tantalum Oxide.................  LB Ta              20,000  ..............  .........          20,000  .........
Thorium........................  LB              7,093,464  ..............        1/2       7,095,065        1/2
Tin............................  MT                 12,000  ..............  .........          12,000  .........
Titanium Sponge................  ST                  5,000           7,000          4           7,000  .........
Tungsten Ferro.................  LB W              300,000  ..............  .........         300,000  .........
Tungsten Metal Powder..........  LB W              300,000  ..............  .........         300,000  .........
Tungsten Ores & Concentrates...  LB W            4,000,000  ..............  .........       4,000,000  .........
VTE, Chestnut..................  LT                    250  ..............          1             250          1
VTE, Quebracho.................  LT                 50,000  ..............  .........          50,000  .........
VTE, Wattle....................  LT                  6,500  ..............          1           6,500          1
Zinc...........................  ST                 50,000  ..............  .........          50,000  .........
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Notes:
1. Actual quantity will be limited to remaining sales authority or inventory.
2. The radioactive nature of this material may restrict sales or disposal options. Efforts are underway to
  determine the environmentally and economically feasible disposition of the material.
3. Pending Congressional authority.
4. Previously approved by the Market Impact Committee. Revision in process for current FY 2002.


[[Page 53983]]

[FR Doc. 01-26910 Filed 10-24-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-33-P