[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 121 (Friday, June 23, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Page 36062]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-9942]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Bureau of Industry and Security

[Docket No. 060606153-6153-01]


National Defense Stockpile Market Impact Committee Request for 
Public Comments on the Potential Market Impact of Increasing the 
Proposed Fiscal Year 2007 Disposal Level for Tantalum Carbide Powder

AGENCY: Bureau of Industry and Security, Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of inquiry.

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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 comments on the potential market 
impact of increasing the National Defense Stockpile's proposed Fiscal 
Year 2007 Annual Materials Plan disposal level for tantalum carbide 
powder.

DATES: To be considered, written comments must be received by July 24, 
2006.

ADDRESSES: Address all comments concerning this notice to Michael 
Vaccaro, U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security, 
Office of Strategic Industries and Economic Security, 1401 Constitution 
Avenue, NW., Room 3876, Washington, DC 20230, fax: (202) 482-5650 
(Attn: Michael Vaccaro), e-mail: [email protected]; or Stanley Specht, 
U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs, 
Office of International Energy and Commodity Policy, Washington, DC 
20520, fax: (202) 647-8758 (Attn: Stanley Specht), or e-mail: 
[email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Eddy Aparicio, Office of Strategic 
Industries and Economic Security, Bureau of Industry and Security, U.S. 
Department of Commerce, Telephone: (202) 482-8234.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    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 (NDAA) (50 U.S.C. 98h-1) 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, the 
Treasury, and Homeland Security, and is co-chaired by the Departments 
of Commerce and State. The FY 1993 NDAA directs the Committee to 
consult with industry representatives that produce, process, or consume 
the materials contained in the stockpile.
    The Committee is seeking public comments on the potential market 
impact of increasing the National Defense Stockpile's proposed Fiscal 
Year 2007 Annual Materials Plan disposal level for tantalum carbide 
powder from 4,000 pounds to 13,000 pounds. Public comments are an 
important element of the Committee's market impact review process.
    The quantity listed for tantalum carbide powder is not a disposal 
or sales target quantity, but rather a statement of the proposed 
maximum disposal quantity of the material that may be sold in a 
particular fiscal year by the DNSC. The quantity of the material that 
will actually be offered for sale will depend on the market for the 
material at the time of the offering as well as on the quantity of the 
material approved for disposal by Congress.

Submission of Comments

    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 this 
material. All comments must be submitted to the address indicated in 
this notice. All comments submitted through e-mail must include the 
phrase ``Market Impact Committee Notice of Inquiry'' in the subject 
line.
    The Committee encourages interested persons who wish to comment to 
do so at the earliest possible time. The period for submission of 
comments will close on July 24, 2006. The Committee will consider all 
comments received before the close of the comment period. Comments 
received after the end of the comment period will be considered, if 
possible, but their consideration cannot be assured.
    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 
record. The Committee will seek to protect such information to the 
extent permitted by law. All comments submitted in response to this 
notice will be made a matter of public record and will be available for 
public inspection and copying.
    The Office of Administration, Bureau of Industry and Security, U.S. 
Department of Commerce, displays public comments on the BIS Freedom of 
Information Act (FOIA) Web site at http://www.bis.doc.gov/foia. This 
office does not maintain a separate public inspection facility. If you 
have technical difficulties accessing this Web site, please call BIS's 
Office of Administration at (202) 482-1900 for assistance.

    Dated: June 15, 2006.
Eileen Albanese,
Director, Office of Exporter Services.
[FR Doc. E6-9942 Filed 6-22-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-33-P