[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 170 (Friday, August 31, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 53233-53234]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-21492]


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INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION

[Investigation No. 332-534]


Renewable Energy and Related Services: Recent Developments

AGENCY: United States International Trade Commission.

ACTION: Institution of investigation and scheduling of public hearing.

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SUMMARY: Following receipt of a request on July 30, 2012 from the U.S. 
Trade Representative (USTR) 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. 332-534, Renewable Energy and 
Related Services: Recent Developments.

DATES: 
    November 15, 2012: Deadline for filing requests to appear at the 
public hearing.
    November 19, 2012: Deadline for filing pre-hearing briefs and 
statements.
    November 29, 2012: Public hearing.
    December 17, 2012: Deadline for filing post-hearing briefs and 
statements.
    March 1, 2013: Deadline for filing all other written submissions.
    June 28, 2013: Transmittal of Commission report to USTR.

ADDRESSES: All Commission offices, including the Commission's hearing 
rooms, are located in the United States International Trade Commission 
Building, 500 E Street SW., Washington, DC. All written submissions 
should be addressed to the Secretary, United States International Trade 
Commission, 500 E Street SW., Washington, DC 20436. The public record 
for this investigation may be viewed on the Commission's electronic 
docket (EDIS) at https://edis.usitc.gov/edis3-internal/app.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Project Leader Lisa Alejandro (202-
205-3486 or [email protected]) or Deputy Project Leader Samantha 
Brady Pham (202-205-3459 or [email protected]) for information 
specific to this investigation. For information on the legal aspects of 
this investigation, contact William Gearhart of the Commission's Office 
of the General Counsel (202-205-3091 or [email protected]). 
The media should contact Margaret O'Laughlin, Office of External 
Relations (202-205-1819 or [email protected]). Hearing-
impaired individuals may obtain information on this matter by 
contacting the Commission's TDD terminal at 202-205-1810. General 
information concerning the Commission may also be obtained by accessing 
its Internet server (http://www.usitc.gov). 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.
    Background: In his letter the USTR requested that the Commission 
prepare two reports, one on environmental and related services, and a 
second on renewable energy and related services, and deliver the 
reports in 8 and 11 months, respectively, after receipt of the letter. 
This notice announces the institution of an investigation and schedule, 
including the date for a public hearing, relating to the preparation of 
the second report, on renewable energy and related services; the 
Commission published notice of the institution of the first 
investigation, No. 332-533, Environmental and Related Services, in the 
Federal Register of August 21, 2012.
    As requested by the USTR, the Commission will provide a report on 
renewable energy and related services that, to the extent practicable:
     Defines types of renewable energy and related services, 
identifies leading suppliers, and generally describes the relationship 
of renewable energy services to the development of renewable energy 
projects worldwide;
     Estimates the size of the U.S. and global markets for 
certain renewable energy services, identifies key export and import 
markets for such services, and describes factors affecting supply and 
demand;
     Examines U.S. and global renewable energy services trade 
during 2007-11, and highlights recent trends in investment in renewable 
energy projects and firms, including new business strategies or 
practices;
     Identifies barriers to U.S. trade and investment in 
renewable energy services, and examines recent efforts to liberalize 
trade in leading markets for such services; and
     Examines the role of clean energy incentive programs in 
encouraging investment in and creating markets for renewable energy 
goods and services.

[[Page 53234]]

    As requested by the USTR, the report will focus on services 
incidental to the development, generation, and distribution of 
renewable energy, with particular emphasis on wind energy (onshore and 
offshore) and solar energy, and other technologies that the 
Commission's research shows to be of significance. The USTR defined 
such services to include scientific and technical consulting, services 
incidental to energy distribution, professional services, construction 
and engineering services, management consulting and related services, 
and maintenance and repair of equipment, among others.
    As requested, the Commission expects to deliver this second report 
to the USTR no later than June 28, 2013.
    Public Hearing: A public hearing in connection with this 
investigation will be held at the U.S. International Trade Commission 
Building, 500 E Street SW., Washington, DC, beginning at 9:30 a.m. on 
November 29, 2012. Requests to appear at the public hearing should be 
filed with the Secretary no later than 5:15 p.m., November 19, 2012. 
All pre-hearing briefs and statements should be filed no later than 
5:15 p.m. November 6, 2012 and all post-hearing briefs and statements 
should be filed no later than 5:15 p.m., December 17, 2012. All pre- 
and post-hearing briefs and statements must be filed in accordance with 
the requirements in the ``Written Submissions'' section below. In the 
event that no witnesses are scheduled to appear at the hearing as of 
the close of business on November 15, 2012, the hearing will be 
canceled. Any person interested in attending the hearing as an observer 
or nonparticipant should contact the Office of the Secretary at 202-
205-2000 after November 1, 2012, for information concerning whether the 
hearing will be held.
    Written Submissions: In lieu of or in addition to participating in 
the hearing, interested parties are invited to file written submissions 
concerning this investigation. All written submissions (other than 
those related to the hearing) should be addressed to the Secretary, and 
should be received no later than 5:15 p.m., March 1, 2013. 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). Section 
201.8 and the Commission's Handbook on Filing Procedures require that 
interested parties file documents electronically on or before the 
filing deadline and submit eight (8) true paper copies by 12:00 p.m. 
eastern time on the next business day. In the event that confidential 
treatment of a document is requested, interested parties must file, at 
the same time as the eight paper copies, at least four (4) additional 
true paper copies in which the confidential information must be deleted 
(see the following paragraph for further information regarding 
confidential business information). Persons with questions regarding 
electronic filing should contact the Secretary (202-205-2000).
    Any submissions that contain confidential business information 
(CBI) must also conform with the requirements in section 201.6 of the 
Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure (19 CFR 201.6). 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 ``non-confidential'' 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 the request letter, the USTR stated that his office intends to 
make the Commission's report available to the public in its entirety, 
and asked that the Commission not include any confidential business 
information or national security classified information in the report. 
Any confidential business information received by the Commission in 
this investigation and used in preparing this report will not be 
published in a manner that would reveal the operations of the firm 
supplying the information.

    By order of the Commission.

    Issued: August 27, 2012.
Lisa R. Barton,
Acting Secretary to the Commission.
[FR Doc. 2012-21492 Filed 8-30-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7020-02-P