[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 50 (Wednesday, March 15, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13430-13431]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-3756]


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INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION

[Investigation No. 731-TA-1103 (Preliminary)]


Certain Activated Carbon From China

AGENCY: International Trade Commission.

ACTION: Institution of antidumping investigation and scheduling of a 
preliminary phase investigation.

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SUMMARY: The Commission hereby gives notice of the institution of an 
investigation and commencement of preliminary phase antidumping 
investigation No. 731-TA-1103 (Preliminary) under section 733(a) of the 
Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. 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 China of certain activated 
carbon,\1\ provided for in subheading 3802.10.00 of the Harmonized 
Tariff Schedule of the United States, that are alleged to be sold in 
the United States at less than fair value. Unless the Department of 
Commerce extends the time for initiation pursuant to section 
732(c)(1)(B) of the Act (19 U.S.C. 1673a(c)(1)(B)), the Commission must 
reach a preliminary determination in antidumping investigations in 45 
days, or in this case by April 24, 2006. The Commission's views are due 
at Commerce within five business days thereafter, or by May 1, 2006.
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    \1\ For purposes of this investigation, the product covered is 
certain activated carbon defined as a powdered, granular or 
pelletized carbon product obtained by ``activating'' with heat and 
steam various materials containing carbon, including but not limited 
to coal (including bituminous, lignite and anthracite), wood, 
coconut shells, olive stones, and peat. The thermal and steam 
treatments remove organic materials and create an internal pore 
structure in the carbon material. The producer can also use carbon 
dioxide gas (CO2) in place of steam in this process. The 
vast majority of the internal porosity developed during the high 
temperature steam (or CO2 gas) activation process is a 
direct result of oxidation of a portion of the solid carbon atoms in 
the raw material, converting them into a gaseous form of carbon. 
This definition covers all forms of activated carbon that are 
activated by steam or CO2, regardless of raw material, 
grade, mixture, additives, further washing or post-activation 
chemical treatment (chemical or water washing, chemical impregnation 
or other treatment), or product form. Unless specifically excluded, 
this definition covers all physical forms of certain activated 
carbon, including powdered activated carbon (``PAC''), granular 
activated carbon (``GAC''), and pelletized activated carbon.
    Excluded from this definition are chemically-activated carbons. 
The carbon-based raw material used in the chemical activation 
process is treated with a strong chemical agent, including but not 
limited to phosphoric acid or zinc chloride sulfuric acid, that 
dehydrates molecules in the raw material, and results in the 
formation of water that is removed from the raw material by moderate 
heat treatment. The activated carbon created by chemical activation 
has internal porosity developed primarily due to the action of the 
chemical dehydration agent. Chemically activated carbons are 
typically used to activate raw materials with a lignocellulosic 
component such as cellulose, including wood, sawdust, paper mill 
waste and peat.
    To the extent that an imported activated carbon product is a 
blend of steam and chemically activated carbons, products containing 
50 percent or more steam (or CO2 gas) activated carbons 
are within this definition, and those containing more than 50 
percent chemically activated carbons are outside this definition.
    Also excluded from this definition are reactivated carbons and 
activated carbon cloth. Reactivated carbons are previously used 
activated carbons that have had adsorbed materials removed from 
their pore structure after use through the application of heat, 
steam and/or chemicals. Activated carbon cloth is a woven textile 
fabric made of or containing activated carbon fibers. It is used in 
masks and filters and clothing of various types where a woven format 
is required.
    Any activated carbon meeting the physical description of subject 
merchandise provided above that is not expressly excluded from this 
definition is included within the definition.
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    For further information concerning the conduct of this 
investigation 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).

DATES: Effective Date: March 8, 2006.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jim McClure (202-205-3191), 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). The public record for this investigation may be 
viewed on the Commission's electronic docket (EDIS) at http://edis.usitc.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Background.--This investigation is being instituted in response to 
a petition filed on March 8, 2006, by Calgon Carbon Corporation, 
Pittsburgh, PA, and Norit Americas, Inc., Marshall, TX.

[[Page 13431]]

    Participation in the investigation and public service list.--
Persons (other than petitioners) wishing to participate in the 
investigation as parties must file an entry of appearance with the 
Secretary to the Commission, as provided in sections 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 Commission antidumping investigations. The Secretary will 
prepare a public service list containing the names and addresses of all 
persons, or their representatives, who are parties to this 
investigation 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 section 207.7(a) of the Commission's rules, the Secretary 
will make BPI gathered in this investigation available to authorized 
applicants representing interested parties (as defined in 19 
U.S.C.1677(9)) who are parties to the investigation under the APO 
issued in the investigation, 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 this investigation for 9:30 a.m. on 
March 30, 2006, at the U.S. International Trade Commission Building, 
500 E Street, SW., Washington, DC. Parties wishing to participate in 
the conference should contact Jim McClure (202-205-3191) not later than 
March 27, 2006, to arrange for their appearance. Parties in support of 
the imposition of antidumping duties in this investigation 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 sections 201.8 and 207.15 of 
the Commission's rules, any person may submit to the Commission on or 
before April 4, 2006, a written brief containing information and 
arguments pertinent to the subject matter of the investigation. 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 Sec. Sec.  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, except to the extent 
permitted by Sec.  201.8 of the Commission's rules, as amended, 67 FR 
68036 (November 8, 2002). Even where electronic filing of a document is 
permitted, certain documents must also be filed in paper form, as 
specified in II (C) of the Commission's Handbook on Electronic Filing 
Procedures, 67 FR 68168, 68173 (November 8, 2002).
    In accordance with Sec. Sec.  201.16(c) and 207.3 of the rules, 
each document filed by a party to the investigation must be served on 
all other parties to the investigation (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: This investigation is 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: March 10, 2006.
Marilyn R. Abbott,
Secretary to the Commission.
 [FR Doc. E6-3756 Filed 3-14-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7020-02-P