[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 231 (Friday, December 1, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 69588-69589]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-20374]
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INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION
[Investigation No. 332-481]
Industrial Biotechnology: Development and Adoption by the U.S.
Chemical and Biofuel Industries
AGENCY: United States International Trade Commission.
ACTION: Institution of investigation.
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EFFECTIVE DATE: November 27, 2006.
SUMMARY: Following receipt on November 2, 2006, of a request from the
Committee on Finance of the U.S. Senate (Committee) under section
332(g) of the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. 1332(g)), the U.S.
International Trade Commission (Commission) instituted investigation
No. 332-481, Industrial Biotechnology: Development and Adoption by the
U.S. Chemical and Biofuel Industries.
Background: As requested by the Committee, the Commission will
institute an investigation under section 332(g) with respect to the
competitive conditions affecting certain industries that are developing
and adopting new biotechnology processes and products. The Commission
will transmit its report to the Committee by July 2, 2008.
As requested by the Committee, the Commission's report will focus--
to the extent practicable--on firms in the U.S. chemical industry that
are developing bio-based products (e.g., fibers and plastics) and
renewable chemical platforms, as well as U.S. producers of liquid
biofuels. The Commission will--
1. Describe and compare government policies in the United States
and key competitor countries throughout the world relating to the
development of products by these industries;
2. Analyze the extent of business activity in these industries,
including, but not limited to, trends in production, financial
performance, investment, research and development, and impediments to
development and trade;
3. Examine factors affecting the development of bio-based products,
including liquid biofuels, and renewable chemical platforms being
developed by the U.S. chemical industry, including, but not limited to,
globalization of supply chains, capital investment sources, strategic
alliances, intellectual property rights, and technology transfer
mechanisms;
4. Determine, to the extent feasible, how the adoption of
industrial biotechnology processing and products impacts the
productivity and competitiveness of firms in these industries; and
5. Assess how existing U.S. government programs may affect the
production and utilization of agricultural feedstocks for liquid
biofuels as well as bio-based products and renewable chemical platforms
being developed by the U.S. chemical industry.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT:
Project Leader, David Lundy (202-205-3439 or [email protected])
Deputy Project Leader, Elizabeth R. Nesbitt (202-205-3355 or
[email protected])
Deputy Project Leader, Laura Polly (202-205-3408 or
[email protected])
Industry-specific information may be obtained from the above
persons. For more information on legal aspects of the investigation,
contact William Gearhart of the Commission's Office of the General
Counsel at 202-205-3091 or [email protected]. The media should
contact Margaret O'Laughlin, Office of External Relations at 202-205-
1819 or [email protected]. Hearing impaired individuals are
advised that information on this matter can be obtained by contacting
the TDD terminal on 202-205-1810. General information concerning the
Commission may also be obtained by accessing its Internet server
(http://www.usitc.gov). The public record for these investigations may
be viewed on the Commission's electronic docket (EDIS-ONLINE) at http://edis.usitc.gov/hvwebex.
Public Hearing: A public hearing in connection with this
investigation is scheduled to begin at 9:30 a.m. on April 24, 2007, at
the U.S. International Trade Commission Building, 500 E Street, SW.,
Washington, DC. Requests to appear at the public hearing should be
filed with the Secretary no later than 5:15 p.m., April 3, 2007, in
accordance with the requirements in the ``Submissions'' section below.
In the event that, as of the close of business on April 3, 2007, no
witnesses are scheduled to appear, the hearing will be canceled. Any
person interested in attending the hearing as an observer or
nonparticipant may call the Secretary (202-205-2000) after April 3,
2007, to determine whether the hearing will be held.
Request for Certain Information: The Commission is interested in
receiving information regarding the five topics in the ``Background''
section of this notice above, and any other relevant information
relating to the development and adoption of industrial biotechnology
products and processes by the U.S. chemical and biofuels industries,
and requests that interested
[[Page 69589]]
parties provide such information in their hearing testimony and pre-
and posthearing briefs and other submissions, to the extent they can.
Statements and Briefs: In lieu of or in addition to participating
in the hearing, interested parties are invited to submit written
statements or briefs concerning this investigation in accordance with
the requirements in the ``Submissions'' section below. Any pre-hearing
briefs or statements should be filed not later than 5:15 p.m., April
10, 2007; the deadline for filing post-hearing briefs or statements is
5:15 p.m., May 2, 2007.
Submissions: All written submissions, including requests to appear
at the hearing, statements, and briefs, should be addressed to the
Secretary, United States International Trade Commission, 500 E Street,
SW., Washington, DC 20436. All written submissions must conform with
the provisions of section 201.8 of the Commission's Rules of Practice
and Procedure (19 CFR 201.8); any submission that contains confidential
business information must also conform with the requirements of section
201.6 of the Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure (19 CFR
201.6). Section 201.8 of the rules require that a signed original (or a
copy designated as an original) and fourteen (14) copies of each
document be filed. In the event that confidential treatment of the
document is requested, at least four (4) additional copies must be
filed, in which the confidential information must be deleted. Section
201.6 of the rules requires that the cover of the document and the
individual pages be clearly marked as to whether they are the
``confidential'' or ``nonconfidential'' version, and that the
confidential business information be clearly identified by means of
brackets. All written submissions, except for confidential business
information, will be made available for inspection by interested
parties.
In its request letter, the Committee stated that it intends to make
the Commission's report available to the public in its entirety, and
asked that the Commission not include any confidential business or
national security confidential information in the report it sends to
the Committee. The report that the Commission sends to the Committee
will not contain any such information. Any confidential business
information received by the Commission in this investigation and used
in preparing the report will not be published in a manner that would
reveal the operations of the firm supplying the information.
Persons with mobility impairments who will need special assistance
in gaining access to the Commission should contact the Secretary at
202-205-2000.
By order of the Commission.
Issued: November 28, 2006.
Marilyn R. Abbott,
Secretary to the Commission.
[FR Doc. E6-20374 Filed 11-30-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7020-02-P