[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 229 (Wednesday, November 27, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 70932-70933]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-30096]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration


Notice of Open Town Meeting for Information Gathering on 
Exploring the Development of a Textile ``Marker'' System

November 22, 2002.
AGENCY: Department of Commerce, International Trade Administration.

ACTION: Notice of an open meeting.

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SUMMARY: The International Trade Administration (ITA) will hold a 
public meeting on technologies under investigation for a textile 
``marker'' system.

DATES: The meeting is scheduled for December 10, 2002, from 10:00am to 
12:00pm.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the North Carolina Center for 
Applied Textile Technology (NCCATT), 7220 Wilkinson Boulevard, Belmont, 
NC. Telephone, (704) 825-3737.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Don Niewiaroski, Jr. at (202) 482-
4058, Department of Commerce, 14th Street and Constitution Avenue, NW., 
Washington, DC 20230.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Directions to the NCCATT are as follows: 
Take Exit 27 off of I-85 South. Go left at the top of the exit ramp on 
Highway 273 for approximately 1/3 of a mile. Go left on Highway 74 for 
approximately 2/3 of a mile until you reach the NCCATT campus on your 
right. Proceed to the auditorium in the ``new building'' at 7230 
Wilkinson Boulevard. From Charlotte airport follow signs to I-85 South 
and the directions are the same as above. For further information 
please contact the North Carolina Center for Applied Textile Technology 
at (704) 825-3737.
    The meeting will be co-chaired by James C. Leonard III, Commerce 
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Textiles, Apparel and Consumer Goods 
Industries and Dr. Glenn O. Allgood, Principal Investigator, Oak Ridge 
National Laboratory. During the meeting the following agenda item will 
be discussed.
    Department of Commerce (DOC)/Department of Energy (DOE) Project to 
Explore the Development of a Special Textile ``Marker'' System
    DOE will make a presentation on the technologies under 
investigation for a textile ``marker'' system. DOE and DOC officials 
will discuss this project at the meeting, and will encourage 
participants to provide individual comments and information on these 
technologies with particular reference to: cost effectiveness; 
compatibility with U.S. manufacturing processes; the ability to survive 
foreign fabrication techniques; and compatibility with U.S. Customs 
processes and procedures. Discussion will include possibilities of and 
opportunities for plant visits by DOE personnel and other pertinent 
issues.

Background

    On October 29, 2002 the Department of Commerce entered into an 
agreement with the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge Operations Office 
to explore the development of a special ``marker'' system to track the 
presence of U.S.-made yarns and fabrics in U.S. apparel imports.
    Certain provisions of U.S. apparel import preference programs and 
free trade area agreements require the use of U.S. textile inputs. 
However, the origin of such inputs is difficult to determine and the 
development of a textile marker system is intended to ensure the use of 
U.S. fabrics and yarns in products receiving preferences.


[[Page 70933]]


Dated: November 22, 2002.
James C. Leonard III,
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Textiles, Apparel and Consumer Goods 
Industries, Department of Commerce.
[FR Doc.02-30096 Filed 11-26-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DR-S