[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 172 (Thursday, September 4, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51647-51648]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-20496]


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INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION

[Investigation No. 731-TA-1143 (Final)]


Small Diameter Graphite Electrodes From China

AGENCY: United States International Trade Commission.

ACTION: Scheduling of the final phase of an antidumping investigation.

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SUMMARY: The Commission hereby gives notice of the scheduling of the 
final phase of antidumping investigation No. 731-TA-1143 (Final) under 
section 735(b) of the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. 1673d(b)) (the Act) 
to determine whether 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 
less-than-fair-value imports from China of small diameter graphite 
electrodes, provided for in subheading 8545.11.00 of the Harmonized 
Tariff Schedule of the United States.\1\
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    \1\ For purposes of this investigation, the Department of 
Commerce has defined the subject merchandise as ``all small diameter 
graphite electrodes of any length, whether or not finished, of a 
kind used in furnaces, with a nominal or actual diameter of 400 
millimeters (16 inches) or less, and whether or not attached to a 
graphite pin joining system or any other type of joining system or 
hardware. Small diameter graphite electrodes are most commonly used 
in primary melting, ladle metallurgy, and specialty furnace 
applications in industries including foundries, smelters, and steel 
refining operations.''
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    For further information concerning the conduct of this phase of the 
investigation, hearing procedures, 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 C 
(19 CFR part 207).

DATES: Effective Date: August 21, 2008.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Fred Ruggles (202-205-3187 or 
[email protected]), 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.--The final phase of this investigation is being 
scheduled as a result of an affirmative preliminary determination by 
the Department of Commerce that imports of small diameter graphite 
electrodes from China are being sold in the United States at less than 
fair value within the meaning of section 733 of the Act (19 U.S.C. 
1673b). The investigation was requested in a petition filed on January 
17, 2008, with the Commission and Commerce by SGL Carbon LLC, 
Charlotte, NC, and Superior Graphite Co., Chicago, IL.
    Participation in the investigation and public service list.--
Persons, including industrial users of the subject merchandise and, if 
the merchandise is sold at the retail level, representative consumer 
organizations, wishing to participate in the final phase of this 
investigation as parties must file an entry of appearance with the 
Secretary to the Commission, as provided in section 201.11 of the 
Commission's rules, no later than 21 days prior to the hearing date 
specified in this notice. A party that filed a notice of appearance 
during the preliminary phase of the investigation need not file an 
additional notice of appearance during this final phase. The Secretary 
will maintain a public service list containing the names and addresses 
of all persons, or their representatives, who are parties to the 
investigation.
    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 the final phase of this investigation 
available to authorized applicants under the APO issued in the 
investigation, provided that the application is made no later than 21 
days prior to the hearing date specified in this notice. Authorized 
applicants must represent interested parties, as defined by 19 U.S.C. 
1677(9), who are parties to the investigation. A party granted access 
to BPI in the preliminary phase of the investigation need not reapply 
for such access. A separate service list will be maintained by the 
Secretary for those parties authorized to receive BPI under the APO.
    Staff report.--The prehearing staff report in the final phase of 
this investigation will be placed in the nonpublic record on December 
16, 2008, and a public version will be issued thereafter, pursuant to 
section 207.22 of the Commission's rules.
    Hearing.--The Commission will hold a hearing in connection with the 
final phase of this investigation beginning at 9:30 a.m. on January 6, 
2009, at the U.S. International Trade Commission Building. Requests to 
appear at the hearing should be filed in writing with the Secretary to 
the Commission on or before December 23, 2008. A nonparty who has 
testimony that may aid the Commission's deliberations may request 
permission to present a short statement at the hearing. All parties and 
nonparties desiring to appear at the hearing and make oral 
presentations should attend a prehearing conference to be held at 9:30 
a.m. on December 30, 2008, at the U.S. International Trade Commission 
Building. Oral testimony and written materials to be submitted at the 
public hearing are governed by sections 201.6(b)(2), 201.13(f), and 
207.24 of the Commission's rules. Parties must submit any request to 
present a portion of their hearing testimony in camera no later than 7

[[Page 51648]]

business days prior to the date of the hearing.
    Written submissions.--Each party who is an interested party shall 
submit a prehearing brief to the Commission. Prehearing briefs must 
conform with the provisions of section 207.23 of the Commission's 
rules; the deadline for filing is December 29, 2008. Parties may also 
file written testimony in connection with their presentation at the 
hearing, as provided in section 207.24 of the Commission's rules, and 
posthearing briefs, which must conform with the provisions of section 
207.25 of the Commission's rules. The deadline for filing posthearing 
briefs is January 13, 2009; witness testimony must be filed no later 
than three days before the hearing. In addition, any person who has not 
entered an appearance as a party to the investigation may submit a 
written statement of information pertinent to the subject of the 
investigation, including statements of support or opposition to the 
petition, on or before January 13, 2009. On January 29, 2009, the 
Commission will make available to parties all information on which they 
have not had an opportunity to comment. Parties may submit final 
comments on this information on or before February 2, 2009, but such 
final comments must not contain new factual information and must 
otherwise comply with section 207.30 of the Commission's rules. All 
written submissions must conform with the provisions of section 201.8 
of the Commission's rules; any submissions that contain BPI must also 
conform with the requirements of sections 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 section 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).
    Additional written submissions to the Commission, including 
requests pursuant to section 201.12 of the Commission's rules, shall 
not be accepted unless good cause is shown for accepting such 
submissions, or unless the submission is pursuant to a specific request 
by a Commissioner or Commission staff.
    In accordance with sections 201.16(c) and 207.3 of the Commission's 
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 section 207.21 of the Commission's rules.

    By order of the Commission.

    Issued: August 29, 2008.
Marilyn R. Abbott,
Secretary to the Commission.
 [FR Doc. E8-20496 Filed 9-3-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7020-02-P