[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