[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 250 (Thursday, December 29, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Page 81914]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-33495]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration

[C-570-980]


Crystalline Silicon Photovoltaic Cells, Whether or Not Assembled 
Into Modules, From the People's Republic of China: Postponement of 
Preliminary Determination in the Countervailing Duty Investigation

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

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gene Calvert, Jun Jack Zhao, or Emily 
Halle, AD/CVD Operations, Office 6, Import Administration, 
International Trade Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 14th 
Street and Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20230; telephone: 
(202) 482-3586, (202) 482-1396 or (202) 482-0176, respectively.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    On November 8, 2011, the Department of Commerce (the Department) 
initiated the countervailing duty investigation of crystalline silicon 
photovoltaic cells, whether or not assembled into modules, from the 
People's Republic of China.\1\ Currently, the preliminary determination 
is due no later than January 12, 2012.
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    \1\ See Crystalline Silicon Photovoltaic Cells, Whether or Not 
Assembled Into Modules, From the People's Republic of China: 
Initiation of Countervailing Duty Investigation, 76 FR 70966 
(November 16, 2011).
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Postponement of Due Date for the 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, section 
703(c)(1)(A) of the Act permits the Department to postpone making the 
preliminary determination until no later than 130 days after the date 
on which it initiated the investigation if, among other reasons, the 
petitioner makes a timely request for an extension. In the instant 
investigation, the petitioner, SolarWorld Industries America, Inc., 
made a timely request on December 16, 2011, requesting a postponement 
of the preliminary countervailing duty determination to 95 days from 
the initiation date.\2\
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    \2\ See 19 CFR 351.205(e) and the petitioner's December 16, 2011 
letter requesting postponement of the preliminary determination.
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    The Department notes that 95 days from the initiation date is 
February 11, 2012. February 11, 2012 falls on a Saturday, and it is the 
Department's long-standing practice to issue a determination the next 
business day when the statutory deadline falls on a weekend, federal 
holiday, or any other day when the Department is closed.\3\ Therefore, 
pursuant to the discretion afforded to the Department under section 
703(c)(1)(A) of the Act, and because the Department does not find any 
compelling reason to deny the request, we are extending the due date 
for the preliminary determination to no later than February 13, 2012, 
the first business day after the 95th day from initiation.
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    \3\ See Notice of Clarification: Application of ``Next Business 
Day'' Rule for Administrative Determination Deadlines Pursuant to 
the Tariff Act of 1930, As Amended, 70 FR 24533 (May 10, 2005).
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    This notice is issued and published pursuant to section 703(c)(2) 
of the Act and 19 CFR 351.205(f)(1).

    Dated: December 21, 2011.
Paul Piquado,
Assistant Secretary for Import Administration.
[FR Doc. 2011-33495 Filed 12-28-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P