50652 Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 187 / Friday, September 26, 1997 / Notices

These measures included, but were not

limited to, the following: (1) Tariff Code

9958, which prohibits the importation

into Canada of certain periodicals; (2)

Part V.1 of the Excise Tax Act, as

enacted by Bill C–103 of December 15,

1995, which imposed an excise tax on

certain so-called ‘‘split-run’’ periodicals,

and (3) application of two types of

discriminatory postal rates in favor of

certain Canadian periodicals. As

required under section 303(a) of the

Trade Act, the USTR requested

consultations with the Government of

Canada under the procedures of the

WTO Understanding on Rules and

Procedures Governing the Settlement of

Disputes (DSU).

Pursuant to Section 304(a)(1)(A) of the

Trade Act, the USTR must determine in

this case whether any act, policy or

practice of the Government of Canada

violates, or otherwise denies benefits to

which the United States is entitled to

under, any trade agreement. If that

determination is affirmative, the USTR

must take action under section 301 of

the Trade Act, subject to the specific

direction of the President, if any, unless,

inter alia, the United States finds that

the foreign country is taking satisfactory

measures to grant the rights of the

United States under the trade

agreement.

Reasons for Determinations

(1) Canada’s Acts, Policies and Practices

The WTO panel in this case circulated

its report on March 14, 1997. The panel

found that the following three Canadian

measures violated Canada’s obligations

under the GATT: (1) Canada’s import

ban on certain periodicals; (2) Canada’s

80 percent excise tax on so-called ‘‘splitrun’’ periodicals, and (3) Canada’s

discriminatory ‘‘commercial’’ postal

rates. Canada appealed the WTO panel’s

finding regarding the 80 percent excise

tax, and the United States crossappealed the panel’s conclusion that a

fourth Canadian measure—Canada’s

discriminatory ‘‘funded’’ postal rates—

were a subsidy exempt from GATT

national treatment requirements. The

Appellate Body upheld the WTO

panel’s findings on the excise tax, but

reversed the panel’s finding (agreeing

with the United States) regarding

Canada’s ‘‘funded’’ postal rates. The

DSB adopted the WTO panel and

Appellate Body reports on July 30, 1997.

Thus, based on the results of the WTO

dispute settlement proceedings, the

public comments received and

appropriate consultations, the USTR has

determined pursuant to section

304(a)(1)(A)(ii) of the Trade Act that

certain acts, policies and practices of the

Government of Canada violate, or

otherwise deny benefits to which the

United States is entitled to under, GATT

1994.

(2) U.S. Action

Upon affirmative determination of the

denial of rights under a trade agreement,

the USTR must decide pursuant to

section 304(a)(1)(B) of the Trade Act to

take action unless, inter alia, the USTR

finds that the foreign country is taking

satisfactory measures to grant the rights

of the United States under the trade

agreement. On August 29, 1997, Canada

submitted a letter to the DSB stating that

it will meet its WTO obligations and

will comply with the WTO panel and

Appellate Body reports within a

reasonable period of time. The USTR

has determined that, in light of Canada’s

letter of intention, Canada is taking

satisfactory measures to grant the rights

of the United States under GATT. Thus,

the USTR will not take action under

section 301 of the Trade Act at this time

and has determined this investigation.

Pursuant to section 306 of the Trade

Act, the USTR will monitor Canada’s

compliance with the WTO panel and

Appellate Body report and will take

action under section 304(a) of the Trade

Act if Canada does not come into

compliance.

Irving A. Williamson,

Chairman, Section 301 Committee.

[FR Doc. 97–25586 Filed 9–25–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3190–01–M

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Coast Guard

[CGD 97–063]

National Boating Safety Advisory

Council

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of meetings.

SUMMARY: The National Boating Safety

Advisory Council (NBSAC) will meet to

conduct a comprehensive review of

currently effective boating safety

regulations as previously announced.

Special subcommittees will meet to

review boating safety regulations

dealing with manufacturer

requirements, boat and equipment

standards and operator requirements.

Additionally, Council subcommittees on

boat occupant protection, navigation

lights, and personal flotation device-life

saving index will meet to discuss

various issues relating to recreational

boating. All meetings will be open to the

public.

DATES: NBSAC will meet on Monday

and Tuesday, October 27 and 28, 1997,

from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. The

Manufacturer Requirements, Boat and

Equipment Standards, and Operator

Requirements Regulations Review

Subcommittees will meet on Saturday,

October 25, 1997, from 1:30 p.m. to 5

p.m. and on Sunday, October 26 from

1:30 to 5:00 p.m. The Navigation Light

and the Personal Flotation Device-Life

Saving Index Subcommittees will meet

from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m., and the Boat

Occupant Protection Subcommittee

from 10:00 a.m. to noon, on Sunday,

October 26, 1997 .Written material and

requests to make oral presentations

should reach the Coast Guard on or

before October 20, 1997. Requests to

have a copy of your material distributed

to each member of the committee or

subcommittee in advance of a meeting

should reach the Coast Guard on or

before October 14, 1997.

ADDRESSES: NBSAC will meet at the

Holiday Inn Hotel and Conference

Center, 210 Holiday Court, Annapolis,

Maryland. The subcommittee meetings

will be held at the same address. Send

written material and requests to make

oral presentations to Mr. Albert J.

Marmo, Commandant (G–OPB–1), U.S.

Coast Guard Headquarters, 2100 Second

Street SW, Washington, DC 20593–0001.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr.

Albert J. Marmo, Executive Director of

NBSAC, telephone 202–267–0950, fax

202–267–4285. You may obtain a copy

of this notice by calling the U.S. Coast

Guard Infoline at 1–800–368–5647, or

read it on the Internet, at the Web Site

for the Office of Boating Safety, at URL

address www.uscgboating.org/.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Notice of

these meetings is given under the

Federal Advisory Committee Act, 5

U.S.C. App. 2. A Notice of Request for

Comments concerning the review of

currently effective boating safety

regulations by NBSAC was published in

the Federal Register on May 28, 1997

(62 FR 28824).

Agendas of Meetings

National Boating Safety Advisory

Council (NBSAC). The agenda includes

the following:

(1) Executive Director’s report.

(2) Chairman’s session.

(3) Manufacturer Requirements

Regulations Review Subcommittee

report.

(4) Boat and Equipment Standards

Regulations Review Subcommittee

report.

(5) Operator Requirements

Regulations Review Subcommittee

report.
Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 187 / Friday, September 26, 1997 / Notices 50653

(6) Boat Occupant Protection

Subcommittee report.

(7) Navigation Light Subcommittee

report.

(8) Personal Flotation Device—Life

Saving Index Subcommittee report.

(10) Recreational Boating Safety

Program report.

(11) Canadian Coast Guard report.

(12) National Association of State

Boating Law Administrators report.

(13) Coastal Zone Mission Analysis

discussion.

(14) Fire extinguisher labeling

discussion.

(15) Update on mandatory personal

flotation device wearing requirements

and mandatory boating safety education

requests for comments.

(16) Update on Global Maritime

Distress and Safety System and National

Distress System Modernization Project

Issues.

(17) Report on personal flotation

device conspicuity research.

Manufacturer Requirements

Regulations Review Subcommittee

The agenda includes the following:

(1) Review recreational boating safety

regulations concerning capacity;

flotation; certification; hull

identification number, and defect

notification.

(2) Present recommendation to the

Council as to whether the current

recreational boating safety regulations

need to be changed or removed based on

a review of need, technical accuracy,

cost/benefit, problems and alternatives.

Boat and Equipment Standards

Regulations Review Subcommittee

The agenda includes the following:

(1) Review recreational boating safety

regulations concerning fuel and

electrical systems, ventilation; start-ingear protection; and backfire flame

control.

(2) Present recommendations to the

Council as to whether the current

recreational boating safety regulations

need to be changed or removed based on

a review of need, technical accuracy,

cost/benefit, problems and alternatives.

Operator Requirements Regulations

Review Subcommittee

The agenda includes the following:

(1) Review recreational boating safety

regulations concerning intoxicated

operation; regattas and marine parades;

personal flotation devices; visual

distress signals; correction of especially

hazardous conditions; numbering;

accident reporting; and fire

extinguishers.

(2) Present recommendations to the

Council as to whether the current

recreational boating safety regulations

need to be changed or removed based on

a review of need, technical accuracy,

cost/benefit, problems and alternatives.

Boat Occupant Protection

Subcommittee

The agenda includes the following:

(1) Review and discuss boat occupant

protection study issues.

(2) Discuss risk avoidance

alternatives.

(3) Discuss planned study research

efforts.

Navigation Light Subcommittee

The agenda includes the following:

(1) Review and discuss issues

concerning regulatory controls for

navigation lights for recreational

vessels.

(2) Discuss and make

recommendations regarding the conduct

of a study to improve the visibility and

display of navigation lights focusing on

hardware issues.

Personal Flotation Device—Life Saving

Index Subcommittee

The agenda includes the following:

(1) Assist in the development of a

consensus standard for application of

the life saving index to various types of

personal flotation devices.

(2) Review personal flotation device

(PFD) conspicuity issues and

recommend a course of action.

(3) Review the status of inflatable PFD

inflation systems.

Procedural

All meetings are open to the public.

At the Chair’s discretion, members of

the public may make oral presentations

during the meetings. If you would like

to make an oral presentation at a

meeting, please notify the Executive

Director no later than October 20, 1997.

If you would like a copy of your

material distributed to each member of

the committee or subcommittees in

advance of a meeting, please submit 25

copies to the Executive Director no later

than October 14, 1997.

Information on Services for Individuals

With Disabilities

For information on facilities or

services for individuals with disabilities

or to request special assistance at the

meetings, contact the Executive Director

as soon as possible.

Dated: September 22, 1997.

Ernest R. Riutta,

Rear Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard Assistant

Commandant for Operations.

[FR Doc. 97–25571 Filed 9–25–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910–14–M

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

Advisory Circular 25.812–2. Floor

Proximity Emergency Escape Path

Marking Systems Incorporating

Photoluminscent Elements

AGENCY: Federal Aviation

Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of issuance of advisory

circular.

SUMMARY: This notice announces the

issuance of Advisory Circular (AC)

25.812–2, Floor Proximity Emergency

Escape Path Marking Systems

Incorporating Photoluminescent

Elements. This AC provides guidance

material for use in demonstrating

compliance with the provisions of part

25 of the Federal Aviation Regulations

(FAR) regarding floor proximity

emergency escape path marking systems

(FPEEPMS) which incorporate

photoluminesent elements. Like all ACs,

it is not regulatory but is to provide

guidance for applicants in

demonstrating compliance with the

objective safety standards set forth in

the rule.

DATES: Advisory Circular 25.812–2 was

issued by the Manager, Transport

Airplane Directorate, Aircraft

Certification Service, ANM–100, on July

24, 1997.

HOW TO OBTAIN COPIES: A copy may be

obtained by writing to the U.S.

Department of Transportation,

Subsequent Distribution Office, DOT

Warehouse, SVC–121.23, 3341Q 75th

Ave., Landover, MD 20785, telephone

301–322–5377, or faxing your request to

the warehouse at 301–386–5394.

Issued in Renton, Washington, on

September 15, 1997.

James V. Devany,

Acting Manager, Transport Airplane

Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service,

ANM–100.

[FR Doc. 97–25510 Filed 9–25–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910–13–M

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

Air Traffic Procedures Advisory

Committee

AGENCY: Federal Aviation

Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of meeting.

SUMMARY: The FAA is issuing this notice

to advise the public that a meeting of

the Federal Aviation Administration Air

Traffic Procedures Advisory Committee