[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 206 (Friday, October 23, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Page 67517]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-23527]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration

[A-821-802]


Agreement Suspending the Antidumping Investigation on Uranium 
From the Russian Federation: Rescission of 2018-2019 Administrative 
Review

AGENCY: Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade Administration, 
Department of Commerce.

SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Commerce (Commerce) is rescinding the 
administrative review of the Agreement Suspending the Antidumping 
Investigation on Uranium from the Russian Federation (Agreement) for 
the period of review (POR) from October 1, 2018 through September 30, 
2019, based on withdrawal of the request for review.

DATES: Applicable October 23, 2020.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sally C. Gannon or Jill Buckles, 
Bilateral Agreements Unit, Enforcement and Compliance, International 
Trade Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution 
Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20230; telephone: (202) 482-0162 or (202) 
482-6230, respectively.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    On October 1, 2019, Commerce notified interested parties of the 
opportunity to request an administrative review of the Agreement.\1\ On 
October 11, 2019, domestic interested party Louisiana Energy Services 
LLC (LES) submitted a request for an administrative review of the 
Agreement.\2\ On December 11, 2019, Commerce published in the Federal 
Register a notice initiating an administrative review of the Agreement 
for the POR October 1, 2018 through September 30, 2019.\3\
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    \1\ See Antidumping or Countervailing Duty Order, Finding, or 
Suspended Investigation; Opportunity To Request Administrative 
Review, 83 FR 49358 (October 1, 2018).
    \2\ See Letter from LES, ``Uranium from Russia: Request for 
Administrative Review,'' dated October 11, 2019.
    \3\ See Initiation of Antidumping and Countervailing Duty 
Administrative Reviews, 84 FR 67712 (December 11, 2019).
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    Pursuant to 19 CFR 351.213(d)(1), Commerce will rescind an 
administrative review, in whole or in part, if the party or parties 
that requested a review withdraws the request within 90 days of the 
publication date of the notice of initiation of the requested review. 
Furthermore, Commerce may extend this time limit if Commerce decides 
that it is reasonable to do so. The deadline for a party to withdraw a 
request for review was on March 10, 2020.
    On October 6, 2020, LES submitted a request to withdraw its request 
for the administrative review of the Agreement.\4\ Although this review 
was initiated more than 90 days prior to its request for withdrawal, 
i.e., on December 11, 2019, LES requests that Commerce exercise its 
discretion to rescind this review. In its letter, LES explains that it 
is reasonable to rescind it in light of the recent amendment to the 
Agreement reached on October 5, 2020.\5\ LES argues that the 2020 
Amendment aims at correcting statutory deficiencies of the Agreement at 
issue in the review and that Commerce need not expend additional 
resources in the conduct of this review.\6\ LES further notes that 
Commerce has not yet issued the preliminary results of review.
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    \4\ See Letter from LES, ``Uranium from the Russian Federation: 
Withdrawal of Request for Administrative Review,'' dated October 6, 
2020 (LES Withdrawal Request).
    \5\ Id. at 2; see also 2020 Amendment to the Agreement 
Suspending the Antidumping Investigation on Uranium From the Russian 
Federation, 85 FR 64112 (October 9, 2020) (2020 Amendment).
    \6\ See LES Withdrawal Request at 2-3.
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    LES has stated that it is withdrawing its request for review based 
upon its conclusion that rescission is reasonable in light of the 
recently issued 2020 Amendment to the Agreement. In addition, given 
that the basis for LES's withdrawal is the issuance of the 2020 
Amendment to the Agreement, and that the 2020 Amendment was issued 
after the expiration of the 90-day time limit for withdrawal, we find 
it reasonable to extend the period of time for withdrawal of the review 
request. Therefore, Commerce is extending the time limit pursuant to 19 
CFR 351.213(d)(1) and permitting LES to withdraw its request for an 
administrative review.

Rescission of the Administrative Review

    As discussed above, pursuant to 19 CFR 351.213(d)(1), Commerce has 
considered LES's request to withdraw its request for a review of the 
Agreement beyond the established time limit and, based on the reasons 
provided by LES and the circumstances presented, determines that it is 
reasonable to extend the deadline and permit LES to withdraw its review 
request. Accordingly, as LES has withdrawn its request for review, 
Commerce is rescinding this review of the Agreement for the POR October 
1, 2018 through September 30, 2019 in accordance with 19 CFR 
351.213(d)(1).

Administrative Protective Orders

    This notice serves as a reminder to all parties subject to 
administrative protective order (APO) of their responsibility 
concerning the return or destruction of proprietary information 
disclosed under APO in accordance with 19 CFR 351.305. Timely written 
notification of the return/destruction of APO materials or conversion 
to judicial protective order is hereby requested. Failure to comply 
with the regulations and terms of an APO is a violation which is 
subject to sanction.

Notification to Interested Parties

    This notice is issued and published in accordance with sections 
751(a)(1) and 777(i)(1) of the Act and 19 CFR 351.213(d)(4).

    Dated: October 19, 2020.
Jeffrey I. Kessler,
Assistant Secretary for Enforcement and Compliance.
[FR Doc. 2020-23527 Filed 10-22-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P