[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 67 (Thursday, April 8, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17902-17903]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-8056]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration

[C-570-966]


Drill Pipe from the People's Republic of China: Notice of 
Postponement of Preliminary Determination in the Countervailing Duty 
Investigation

AGENCY: Import Administration, International Trade Administration, 
Department of Commerce.

EFFECTIVE DATE: April 8, 2010.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Eric B. Greynolds, AD/CVD Operations, 
Office 3, Import Administration, International Trade Administration, 
U.S. Department of Commerce, 14th Street and Constitution Avenue, NW, 
Washington, DC 20230; telephone (202) 482-6071.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    On January 20, 2010, the Department of Commerce (Department) 
initiated the countervailing duty investigation of drill pipe from the 
People's Republic of China. See Drill Pipe from the People's Republic 
of China: Initiation of Countervailing Duty Investigation, 75 FR 4345 
(January 27, 2010) (Initiation). Currently, the preliminary 
determination is due no later than April 2, 2010.\1\
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    \1\ We note that the original deadline of the preliminary 
determination was March 26, 2010. However, as a result of the 
snowstorms that occurred in the Washington, D.C., area during the 
month of February 2010, this deadline was tolled 7 days pursuant to 
the Memorandum issued by the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Import 
Administration. See Memorandum to the Record from Ronald K 
Lorentzen, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Import Administration, 
regarding ``Tolling of Administrative Deadlines As a Result of the 
Government Closure During the Recent Snowstorm,'' dated February 12, 
2010 (Tolling Memorandum) a public document on the record of this 
proceeding that is available in room 1117 of the Central Records 
Unit (CRU) of the main Commerce Building.

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[[Page 17903]]

Postponement of Due Date for Preliminary Determination

    Section 703(b)(1) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (the Act), 
requires the Department to issue the preliminary determination in a 
countervailing duty investigation within 65 days after the date on 
which the Department initiated the investigation. However, if the 
Department concludes that the parties concerned in the investigation 
are cooperating and determines that the investigation is 
extraordinarily complicated, section 703(c)(1)(B) of the Act allows the 
Department to postpone making the preliminary determination until no 
later than 130 days after the date on which the administering authority 
initiated the investigation.
    The Department has determined that the parties involved in the 
proceeding are cooperating and that the investigation is 
extraordinarily complicated. See section 703(c)(1)(B) of the Act. 
Specifically, the Department is currently investigating alleged subsidy 
programs involving loans, grants, income tax incentives, and the 
provision of goods or services for less than adequate remuneration. Due 
to the number and complexity of the alleged countervailable subsidy 
practices being investigated, it is not practicable to complete the 
preliminary determination of this investigation within the original 
time limit (i.e., by April 2, 2010). Therefore, in accordance with 
section 703(c)(1)(B) of the Act, we are fully extending the due date 
for the preliminary determination to no later than 137 days after the 
day on which the investigation was initiated.\2\ However, as that date 
falls on a Saturday, the deadline for completion of the preliminary 
results is now June 7, 2010, the next business day.
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    \2\ Normally, under section 703(c)(1)(B) of the Act, the 
Department extends the due date of a preliminary determination to no 
later than 130 days after the day on which the investigation was 
initiated. However, pursuant to the Tolling Memorandum, we are 
extending the due date of the preliminary determination to no later 
than 137 days after the day on which the Department initiated the 
investigation.
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    This notice is issued and published pursuant to section 703(c)(2) 
of the Act.

    Dated: April 2, 2010.
John M. Andersen,
Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Import Administration.
[FR Doc. 2010-8056 Filed 4-7-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-S