Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 234 / Tuesday, December 5, 2000 / Notices 75995

information regarding the Panel should

contact the Panel staff by:

• Mail addressed to Social Security

Administration, Ticket to Work and

Work Incentives Advisory Panel Staff,

107 Altmeyer Building, 6401 Security

Boulevard, Baltimore MD, 21235

• Telephone contact with Kristen

Breland at (410) 966–7225

• Fax at (410) 965–9063

• E-mail to TWWIIAPanel@ssa.gov

Dated: November 30, 2000.

Deborah M. Morrison,

Designated Federal Officer.

Ticket to Work and Work Incentives

Advisory Panel, Teleconference Meeting

Agenda

Tuesday, December 12, 2000

Social Security Administration, 8th Floor

Theatre Room, 500 E Street, SW,

Washington, DC 20254

1:30 p.m.

Meeting Convened by Designated Federal

Officer, Deborah M. Morrison, Sarah

Wiggins Mitchell, Chair, Presiding

1:30–3:15 p.m.

Deliberations on the Implementation of the

Ticket to Work and Work Incentives

Improvement Act

3:15–3:30 p.m.

Administrative Issues

3:30 p.m.

Adjournment

Tuesday, December 19, 2000

Social Security Administration, 8th Floor

Theatre Room, 500 E Street, SW,

Washington, DC 20254

1:30 p.m.

Meeting Convened by Deborah M. Morrison,

Designated Federal Officer, Sarah

Wiggins Mitchell, Chair, Presiding

1:30–3:15 p.m.

Deliberations on the Implementation of the

Ticket to Work and Work Incentives

Improvement Act

3:15–3:30 p.m.

Administrative Issues

3:30 p.m.

Adjournment

Ticket to Work and Work Incentives

Advisory Panel, Public Meeting Agenda

January 9 and 10, 2001

Holiday Inn-Capitol, 550 C Street, SW,

Washington, DC, 20024, (202) 479–4000,

(202) 479–4353 Fax. The hotel is located

one block from the L’Enfant Metro

Station.

Day 1—Tuesday, January 9, 2001

8:30 a.m.

Meeting Called to Order by Deborah M.

Morrison, Designated Federal Officer,

Welcome and Introductions—Sarah

Mitchell, Chair, Presiding

8:30 to 9:30 a.m.

Public Testimony Comment Period on

TWWIIA Implementation

9:30 to 10:30 a.m.

Update on TWWIIA Implementation by

Office of Employment Support Programs

10:30 to 10:45 a.m.

Break

10:45 to 11:45 a.m.

Panel Deliberations on TWWIIA

Implementation

11:45 a.m. to 1:15 p.m.

Lunch (On Your Own)

1:15 p.m.

Meeting Reconvenes, Sarah Mitchell, Chair,

Presiding

1:15 to 3:00 p.m.

Panel Deliberations on TWWIIA

Implementation

3:00 to 3:30 p.m.

Break

3:00 to 5:00 p.m.

Panel Deliberations on TWWIIA

Implementation

5:00 p.m.

Adjournment

Please note: If time allotted for public

comment exceeds the time required, the

Panel will use the time to deliberate on

TWWIIA implementation.

Day 2—Wednesday, January 10, 2001

8:30 to 9:30 a.m.

Public Testimony Comment Period on

TWWIIA Implementation

9:30 to 11:45 a.m.

Briefings on TWWIIA Implementation

11:45 a.m. to 1:15 p.m.

Lunch (On Your Own)

1:15 p.m.

Meeting Reconvenes Sarah Mitchell, Chair,

Presiding

1:15 to 3:30 p.m.

Panel Deliberations on TWWIIA

Implementation

3:30 to 3:45 p.m.

Break

3:45 to 5:00 p.m.

Business Meeting

5:00 p.m.

Adjournment by Deborah M. Morrison,

Designated Federal Officer

Please note: If time allotted for public

comment exceeds the time required, the

Panel will use the time to deliberate on

TWWIIA implementation.

[FR Doc. 00–31015 Filed 12–4–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4191–02–U

SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION

Privacy Act of 1974, as Amended; New

System of Records and Routine Use

Disclosures

AGENCY: Social Security Administration

(SSA).

ACTION: New System of Records and

Proposed New Routine Uses.

SUMMARY: In accordance with the

Privacy Act (5 U.S.C. 552a(e)(4)) and

(e)(11)), we are issuing public notice of

our intent to establish a new system of

records entitled, the Social Security

Administration’s Customer PIN/

Password (PPW) Master File System

(hereinafter referred to as the Customer

PPW Master File System) and routine

uses applicable to this system. The

proposed Customer PPW Master File

System will maintain information

collected for use in connection with

SSA’s implementation of a personal

identification number (PIN)/Password

system that allows Social Security

program applicants, beneficiaries and

other customers to conduct business

with SSA in an electronic business

environment.

The proposed Customer PPW Master

File System will provide for routine use

disclosures in connection with our

administration of the Social Security

Act or as mandated by Federal law. We

invite public comment on this proposal.

DATES: We filed a report of the proposed

new system of records with the

Chairman of the Senate Governmental

Affairs Committee, the Chairman of the

House Reform and Oversight

Committee, and the Director, Office of

Information and Regulatory Affairs,

Office of Management and Budget

(OMB) on November 28, 2000. The

proposed system of records, including

the proposed routine uses, will become

effective on January 13, 2001, unless we

receive comments that would warrant

the system of records not being

implemented.

ADDRESSES: Interested individuals may

comment on this publication by writing

to the SSA Privacy Officer, Social

Security Administration, 3–F–1

Operations Building, 6401 Security

Boulevard, Baltimore, Maryland 21235.

All comments received will be available

for public inspection at the above

address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms.

Joan Peddicord, Social Insurance Policy

Specialist, Social Security

Administration, Room 3–C–3

Operations Building, 6401 Security

Boulevard, Baltimore, Maryland 21235,

telephone (410) 966–6491.

75996 Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 234 / Tuesday, December 5, 2000 / Notices

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

1. Background and Purpose of the

Proposed Customer PPW Master File

System

SSA has a number of electronic

initiatives underway that support the

government mandate directing federal

agencies to use information technology

to offer more efficient and accessible

service channels to the public. To

support some of SSA’s electronic

initiatives, and after careful study and

development, the Agency created the

PPW infrastructure that will allow

customers to conduct transactions with

SSA on a routine basis through the

Internet and toll free automated touch

tone response telephone system. The

PPW infrastructure will enable SSA to

offer customers a specific suite of

services that require a PIN/Password

system. Using a PPW process, our

customers will be able to apply for

social security program benefits or view

and possibly change personal record

information, such as mailing address,

through secure online transactions.

Customers must elect (opt-in) to use

the PPW process to conduct electronic

transactions with SSA. Those who optin may include applicants for Social

Security benefits, current beneficiaries

in pay or non-pay status and other

customers who choose these electronic

service delivery options to conduct

business with SSA. Customers who

initially choose to use the PPW process

may later elect out (opt-out) of the

system by requesting SSA to block

access to their records. SSA will disable

the PPW capabilities to the records of

customers making this request, thus

blocking any access to the record.

Further, customers who receive

information soliciting their interest in

using the PPW process may want to

ensure that no electronic access to their

records can occur. They may also elect

out, and SSA will also disable the PPW

capabilities to the records of these

customers, thus blocking any access to

the record.

Establishment of the PPW Infrastructure

The Agency first identified and

developed the underlying principles to

support a PPW business process. These

principles intentionally focused on the

framework to implement a successful

PPW process in the various electronic

applications SSA develops for customer

service initiatives. For example, the

PPW infrastructure is designed to:

• Support all direct customer service

delivery by SSA,

• Maximize the level of automation

involved in assigning, maintaining

and using the PPW services,

• Minimize the manual intervention of

SSA employees in the PPW process,

and

• Limit customer information access to

that which is appropriate to the

means used in obtaining the

password.

SSA also established authentication

requirements for its electronic

application and transaction processes

that the PPW infrastructure is designed

to support. These authentication

requirements allow SSA to verify the

identity of users of the Internet and

automated telephone system electronic

services. The process for SSA customers

to obtain passwords and the

corresponding authentication required

to use these passwords for a determined

set of electronic services share a number

of principles:

• Customers must opt-in to the PPW

process by indicating to SSA their

interest in obtaining a password.

• A customer must have a Password

Request Code (PRC) to begin the

process of obtaining a password. A

PRC has one purpose—to identify a

customer who may wish to obtain an

SSA password.

• PRCs are electronically generated and

assigned to customers by SSA and

will only be accessible to a limited

number of SSA system employees

who maintain the PPW system.

• PRCs are sent to customers through

the US Mail.

• The authentication parameters for

various electronic services depend on

the level of sensitivity assigned to the

particular application or transaction

to be conducted and the customer’s

current relationship to the Agency.

2. Collection, Maintenance and Use of

Data in the Proposed Customer PPW

Master File System

The information maintained in this

system of records will be collected from

customers who elect to conduct

transactions with SSA in an electronic

business environment that requires the

PPW infrastructure. The information

maintained will include identifying

information such as the customer’s

name, Social Security number (SSN)

(which functions as the individual’s

PIN) and mailing address. The system

will also maintain the customer’s PRC,

the password itself and the

authorization level and associated data

(e.g., effective date of authorization).

We will also maintain transactional

data elements necessary to administer

and maintain the PPW infrastructure.

These include access profile

information such as blocked PINs, failed

access data, effective date of password

and other data linked to the required

authentication processes for Internet

and automated telephone system

applications. The information on this

system may also include archived

transaction data and historical data.

SSA will use the data in the proposed

system for management information

purposes in order to effectively

administer the PPW infrastructure used

to conduct electronic business with SSA

customers. Because we will maintain

and retrieve data from the proposed

system of records by the customer’s SSN

(which acts as the individual’s PIN), the

database will constitute a ‘‘system of

records’’ under the Privacy Act.

3. Proposed Routine Use Disclosures of

Data Maintained in the Proposed

Customer PPW Master File System

We are proposing to establish routine

uses of information that will be

maintained in the proposed system as

discussed below.

A. Disclosure to the Office of the

President for the purpose of responding

to an individual pursuant to an inquiry

received from that individual or from a

third party on his or her behalf.

We will disclose information under

this routine use only in situations in

which an individual may contact the

Office of the President, seeking that

office’s assistance in an SSA matter on

his or her behalf involving this system

of records. Information would be

disclosed when the Office of the

President makes an inquiry and presents

evidence that the office is acting on

behalf of the individual whose record is

requested.

B. Disclosure to a congressional office

in response to an inquiry from that

office made at the request of the subject

of a record.

We will disclose information under

this routine use only in situations in

which an individual may ask his her

congressional representative to

intercede in an SSA matter on his or her

behalf involving this system of records.

Information would be disclosed when

the congressional representative makes

an inquiry and presents evidence that

he or she is acting on behalf of the

individual whose record is requested.

C. To the Department of Justice (DOJ),

a court or other tribunal (either foreign

or domestic), or another party before

such tribunal when:

(a) SSA, or any component thereof; or

(b) Any SSA employee in his/her

official capacity; or

(c) Any SSA employee in his/her

individual capacity where DOJ (or SSA

where it is authorized to do so) has

agreed to represent the employee; or

Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 234 / Tuesday, December 5, 2000 / Notices 75997

(d) The United States or any agency

thereof where SSA determines that the

litigation is likely to affect the

operations of SSA or any of its

components,

is a party to the litigation or has an

interest in such litigation, and SSA

determines that the use of such records

by DOJ, the court or other tribunal is

relevant and necessary to the litigation,

provided however, that in each case,

SSA determines that such disclosure is

compatible with the purpose for which

the records were collected.

We will disclose information under

this routine use only as necessary to

enable DOJ, a court or other tribunal to

effectively defend SSA, its components

or employees in litigation involving the

proposed system of records.

D. Disclosure to contractors and other

Federal agencies, as necessary, for the

purpose of assisting SSA in the efficient

administration of its programs.

We will disclose information under

this routine use only in situations in

which SSA may enter into a contractual

agreement or similar agreement with a

third party to assist in accomplishing an

agency function relating to this system

of records.

E. Nontax return information which is

not restricted from disclosure by federal

law may be disclosed to the General

Services Administration (GSA) and the

National Archives and Records

Administration (NARA) under 44 U.S.C.

2904 and 2906, as amended by NARA

Act of 1984, for the use of those

agencies in conducting records

management studies.

The Administrator of GSA and the

Archivist of NARA are charged by 44

U.S.C. 2904 with promulgating

standards, procedures and guidelines

regarding records management and

conducting records management

studies. Section 2906 of that law, also

amended by the NARA Act of 1984,

provides that GSA and NARA are to

have access to federal agencies’ records

and that agencies are to cooperate with

GSA and NARA. In carrying out these

responsibilities, it may be necessary for

GSA and NARA to have access to this

proposed system of records. In such

instances, the routine use will facilitate

disclosure.

4. Compatibility of Proposed Routine

Uses

The Privacy Act (5 U.S.C. 552a(b)(3))

and our disclosure regulations (20 CFR

Part 401) permit us to disclose

information under a published routine

use for a purpose which is compatible

with the purpose for which we collected

the information. Section 401.150(c) of

the regulations permits us to disclose

information under a routine use where

necessary to assist in carrying out SSA

programs. Section 401.120 of the

regulations provides that we will

disclose information when a law

specifically requires the disclosure. The

proposed routine uses lettered A–D

above will ensure efficient maintenance

of the Customer PPW Master File

System; the disclosures that would be

made under routine use ‘‘E’’ are

required by Federal law. Thus, all of the

routine uses are appropriate and meet

the relevant statutory and regulatory

criteria.

5. Records Storage Medium and

Safeguards for The Proposed Customer

PPW Master File System

We will maintain information in the

proposed Customer PPW Master File

System in electronic form, computer

data systems and paper form. Only

authorized SSA personnel who have a

need for the information in the

performance of their official duties will

be permitted access to the information.

Computer firewall technology, data

encryption and other systems security

measures will ensure that the PPW

system is protected from inappropriate

access. The existing SSA firewall

architecture ensures that customers will

be limited only to electronic

transactions the Agency determines and

will not be able to access SSA’s other

systems or data.

Security measures also include the

use of access codes to enter the

computer systems that will maintain the

data and storage of the computerized

records in secured areas that are

accessible only to employees who

require the information in performing

their official duties. Any manually

maintained records will be kept in

locked cabinets or in otherwise secure

areas. Also, all buildings housing this

data are accessible to authorized

personnel only, with entrances and exits

supervised by security guards.

Contractor personnel having access to

data in the proposed system of records

will be required to adhere to SSA rules

concerning safeguards, access and use of

the data. SSA personnel having access

to the data on these systems will be

informed of the criminal penalties of the

Privacy Act for unauthorized access to

or disclosure of information maintained

in this system. See 5 U.S.C. 552a(i)(1).

6. Effect of the Proposed Customer PPW

Master File System on the Rights of

Individuals

The proposed new system will

maintain the necessary data elements to

effectively administer the PPW

infrastructure used to conduct

electronic business with SSA customers.

SSA has developed a strategy that

makes SSA electronic services more

readily available via the Internet and

automated telephone systems but with

the commensurate privacy and security

protections to ensure appropriate use of

this new system. We will not collect any

unnecessary information and will

protect the personal information that

does need to be gathered for the

Customer PPW Master File System.

There are existing security standards

that protect access to and disclosure of

records in this proposed new system.

We will not use the information in any

manner that will be adverse to the

individuals to whom it pertains. Thus,

we do not anticipate that the Customer

PPW Master File System will have any

unwarranted adverse effect on

individuals.

Dated: November 28, 2000.

Kenneth S. Apfel,

Commissioner of Social Security.

60–0290

SYSTEM NAME:

Social Security Administration’s

Customer PIN/Password (PPW) Master

File System.

SECURITY CLASSIFICATION:

None.

SYSTEM LOCATION:

Social Security Administration, Office

of Systems, 6401 Security Boulevard,

Baltimore, Maryland 21235.

CATEGORIES OF INDIVIDUALS COVERED BY THE

SYSTEM:

All SSA customers (applicants,

beneficiaries and other customers) who

elect to conduct transactions with SSA

in an electronic business environment

that requires the PPW infrastructure.

This may include customers who elect

to block PPW access to SSA electronic

transactions by requesting SSA to

disable their PPW capabilities.

CATEGORIES OF RECORDS IN THE SYSTEM:

The information maintained in this

system of records is collected from

customers who elect to conduct

transactions with SSA in an electronic

business environment that requires the

PPW infrastructure. The information

maintained includes identifying

information such as the customer’s

name, Social Security number (which

functions as the individual’s personal

identification number (PIN) and mailing

address. The system also maintains the

customer’s Password Request Code

(PRC), the password itself and the

authorization level and associated data

(e.g., effective date of authorization).

75998 Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 234 / Tuesday, December 5, 2000 / Notices

We also maintain transactional data

elements necessary to administer and

maintain the PPW infrastructure. These

include access profile information such

as blocked PINs, failed access data,

effective date of password and other

data linked to the required

authentication processes for Internet

and automated telephone system

applications. The information on this

system may also include archived

transaction data and historical data.

SSA will also use the data in the

proposed system for management

information purposes in order to

effectively administer the PPW

infrastructure used to conduct

electronic business with SSA customers.

Because we will maintain and retrieve

data from the proposed system of

records by the customer’s SSN (which

acts as the individual’s PIN), the

database will constitute a ‘‘system of

records’’ under the Privacy Act.

AUTHORITY FOR MAINTENANCE OF THE SYSTEM:

Section 205(a) of the Social Security

Act; 5 U.S.C. 552a(e)(10) of the Privacy

Act; and the Government Paperwork

Elimination Act.

PURPOSE(S):

The Customer PPW Master File

System maintains information collected

for use in connection with SSA’s

implementation of a PIN/Password

system that allows Social Security

program applicants, beneficiaries and

other customers to conduct business

with SSA in an electronic business

environment. The system of records is

designed to permit entry and retrieval of

information associated with maintaining

a PPW infrastructure that supports

SSA’s electronic initiatives requiring a

PPW entry process.

ROUTINE USES OF RECORDS MAINTAINED IN THE

SYSTEM, INCLUDING CATEGORIES OF USERS AND

THE PURPOSES OF SUCH USES:

Disclosure may be made for routine

uses as indicated below:

(1) Disclosure to the Office of the

President for the purpose of responding

to an individual pursuant to an inquiry

received from that individual or from a

third party on his or her behalf.

(2) Disclosure to a congressional office

in response to an inquiry from that

office made at the request of the subject

of a record.

(3) To the Department of Justice (DOJ),

a court, or other tribunal (either foreign

or domestic) or another party before

such tribunal when:

(a) SSA, or any component thereof; or

(b) any SSA employee in his/her

official capacity; or

(c) any SSA employee in his/her

individual capacity where DOJ (or SSA

where it is authorized to do so) has

agreed to represent the employee; or

(d) the United States or any agency

thereof where SSA determines that the

litigation is likely to affect the

operations of SSA or any of its

components, is a party to the litigation

or has an interest in such litigation, and

SSA determines that the use of such

records by DOJ, the court or other

tribunal is relevant and necessary to the

litigation, provided, however, that in

each case, SSA determines that such

disclosure is compatible with the

purpose for which the records were

collected.

(4) Disclosure to contractors and other

Federal agencies, as necessary, for the

purpose of assisting SSA in the efficient

administration of its programs.

(5) Nontax return information which

is not restricted from disclosure by

federal law may be disclosed to the

General Services Administration (GSA)

and the National Archives and Records

Administration (NARA) under 44 U.S.C.

2904 and 2906, as amended by NARA

Act of 1984, for the use of those

agencies in conducting records

management studies.

Policies and practices for storing,

retrieving, accessing, retaining and

disposing of records in the system:

STORAGE:

Data are stored in electronic and

paper form.

RETRIEVABILITY:

Records in this system are indexed

and retrieved by SSN (which acts as the

individual’s PIN).

SAFEGUARDS:

Security measures include computer

firewall technology, data encryption and

other systems security measures to

ensure that the PPW system is protected

from inappropriate access. The existing

SSA firewall architecture ensures that

customers are limited only to electronic

transactions the Agency determines and

will not be able to access SSA’s other

systems or data.

Security measures also include the

use of access codes to enter the database

and storage of the electronic records in

secured areas which are accessible only

to employees who require the

information in performing their official

duties. The paper records that result

from the data base site are kept in

locked cabinets or in otherwise secure

areas. Contractor personnel having

access to data in the system of records

are required to adhere to SSA rules

concerning safeguards, access, and use

of the data. SSA personnel having

access to the data on this system are

informed of the criminal penalties of the

Privacy Act for unauthorized access to

or disclosure of information maintained

in this system of records.

RETENTION AND DISPOSAL:

PPW information maintained in this

system is retained until notification of

the death of the account holder plus

seven years. Means of disposal is

appropriate to storage medium (e.g.,

deletion of individual records from the

data base when appropriate or

shredding of paper records that are

produced from the system).

SYSTEM MANAGER AND ADDRESS:

Social Security Administration,

Associate Commissioner, Office of

Program Benefits, 6401 Security

Boulevard, Baltimore, Maryland, 21235.

NOTIFICATION PROCEDURE:

An individual can determine if this

system contains a record about him/her

by writing to the system manager at the

above address and providing his/her

name, SSN or other information that

may be in the system of records that will

identify him/her. An individual

requesting notification of records in

person should provide the same

information, as well as provide an

identity document, preferably with a

photograph, such as a driver’s license or

some other means of identification, such

as a voter registration card, credit card,

etc. If an individual does not have any

identification document sufficient to

establish his/her identity, the individual

must certify in writing that he/she is the

person claimed to be and that he/she

understands that the knowing and

willful request for, or acquisition of, a

record pertaining to another individual

under false pretenses is a criminal

offense.

If notification is requested by

telephone, an individual must verify

his/her identity by providing identifying

information that parallels the record to

which notification is being requested. If

it is determined that the identifying

information provided by telephone is

insufficient, the individual will be

required to submit a request in writing

or in person. If an individual is

requesting information by telephone on

behalf of another individual, the subject

individual must be connected with SSA

and the requesting individual in the

same phone call. SSA will establish the

subject individual’s identity (his/her

name, SSN, address, date of birth and

place of birth along with one other piece

of information such as mother’s maiden

name) and ask for his/her permission in

providing access by telephone to the

requesting individual.

Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 234 / Tuesday, December 5, 2000 / Notices 75999

If a request for notification is

submitted by mail, an individual must

include a notarized statement to SSA to

verify his/her identity or must certify in

the request that he/she is the person

claimed to be and that he/she

understands that the knowing and

willful request for, or acquisition of, a

record pertaining to another individual

under false pretenses is a criminal

offense.

These procedures are in accordance

with SSA Regulations 20 CFR 401.45.

RECORD ACCESS PROCEDURES:

Same as notification procedures.

Requesters should also reasonably

specify the record contents being

sought. These procedures are in

accordance with SSA Regulations 20

CFR 401.50.

CONTESTING RECORD PROCEDURES:

Same as notification procedures.

Requesters should also reasonably

identify the record, specify the

information they are contesting, and

state the corrective action sought and

the reasons for the correction with

supporting justification showing how

the record is untimely, incomplete,

inaccurate, or irrelevant. These

procedures are in accordance with SSA

Regulations 20 CFR 401.65.

RECORD SOURCE CATEGORIES:

Data for the system are obtained

primarily from the individuals to whom

the record pertains.

SYSTEMS EXEMPTED FROM CERTAIN PROVISIONS

OF THE PRIVACY ACT:

None.

[FR Doc. 00–30836 Filed 12–4–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4191–02–P

OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES

TRADE REPRESENTATIVE

[Docket No. WTO/D–213]

WTO Consultations Regarding

Countervailing Duties on Certain

Corrosion-Resistant Carbon Steel Flat

Products From Germany

AGENCY: Office of the United States

Trade Representative.

ACTION: Notice; request for comments.

SUMMARY: The Office of the United

States Trade Representative (USTR) is

providing notice that on November 13,

2000, the United States received from

the European Communities (EC) a

request for consultations under the

Marrakesh Agreement Establishing the

World Trade Organization (WTO

Agreement). The request relates to the

countervailing duties imposed by the

United States on imports of certain

corrosion-resistant carbon steel flat

products from Germany (U.S.

Department of Commerce (Commerce)

case number C–428–817). In particular,

the request relates to the final results of

a full sunset review in that case carried

out by Commerce and published at 65

FR 47407 (August 2, 2000). The EC

alleges that Commerce’s finding that

revocation of the countervailing duty

order would be likely to lead to the

continuation or recurrence of a

countervailable subsidy is inconsistent

with U.S. obligations under the WTO

Agreement on Subsidies and

Countervailing Measures (SCM

Agreement), particularly Articles 10,

11.9 and 21 of that agreement. Under

Article 4.3 of the WTO Dispute

Settlement Understanding (DSU),

consultations are to take place within a

period of 30 days from the date of

receipt of the request, or within a period

otherwise mutually agreed between the

United States and the EC. USTR invites

written comments from the public

concerning the issues raised in this

dispute.

DATES: Although USTR will accept any

comments received during the course of

the dispute settlement proceedings,

comments should be submitted on or

before January 15, 2001, to be assured of

timely consideration by USTR.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments to Sandy

McKinzy, Monitoring and Enforcement

Unit, Office of the General Counsel,

Room 122, Office of the United States

Trade Representative, 600 17th Street,

NW., Washington, DC, 20508, Attn:

Corrosion-Resistant Steel Dispute.

Telephone: (202) 395–3582.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

William D. Hunter, Associate General

Counsel, Office of the United States

Trade Representative, 600 17th Street,

NW., Washington, DC, 20508.

Telephone: (202) 395–3582.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section

127(b) of the Uruguay Round

Agreements Act (URAA) (19 U.S.C.

3537(b)(1)) requires that notice and

opportunity for comment be provided

after the United States receives a request

for the establishment of a WTO dispute

settlement panel. Consistent with this

obligation, but in an effort to provide

additional opportunity for comment,

USTR is providing notice that

consultations have been requested

pursuant to the WTO Dispute

Settlement Understanding. If such

consultations should fail to resolve the

matter and a dispute settlement panel is

established pursuant to the DSU, such

panel, which would hold its meetings in

Geneva, Switzerland, would be

expected to issue a report on its findings

and recommendations within six to nine

months after it is established.

Major Issues Raised by the EC

In its consultation request, the EC

alleges that the 1 percent de minimis

standard in Article 11.9 of the SCM

Agreement applies to sunset reviews

under Article 21.3. Thus, according to

the EC, because Commerce found a

likely subsidization rate of only 0.54

percent in its sunset review of the

countervailing duty order on corrisonresistant steel from Germany, Commerce

was required to revoke the

countervailing duty order. The EC also

alleges that there is no possibility that

the rate of subsidization could increase,

because under Commerce’s ‘‘declining

balance’’ methodology for allocating

non-recurring subsidies over time, the

rate of subsidization likely will continue

to decline.

Public Comment: Requirements for

Submissions

Interested persons are invited to

submit written comments concerning

the issues raised in the dispute.

Comments must be in English and

provided in fifteen copies. A person

requesting that information contained in

a comment submitted by that person be

treated as confidential business

information must certify that such

information is business confidential and

would not customarily be released to

the public by the commenter.

Confidential business information must

be clearly marked ‘‘BUSINESS

CONFIDENTIAL’’ in a contrasting color

ink at the top of each page of each copy.

Information or advice contained in a

comment submitted, other than business

confidential information, may be

determined by USTR to be confidential

in accordance with section 135(g)(2) of

the Trade Act of 1974 (19 U.S.C.

2155(g)(2)). If the submitter believes that

information or advice may qualify as

such, the submitter—

(1) Must so designate the information

or advice;

(2) Must clearly mark the material as

‘‘SUBMITTED IN CONFIDENCE’’ in a

contrasting color ink at the top of each

page of each copy; and

(3) Is encouraged to provide a nonconfidential summary of the

information or advice.

Pursuant to section 127(e) of the

URAA (19 U.S.C. 3537(e)), USTR will

maintain a file on this dispute

settlement proceeding, accessible to the

public, in the USTR Reading Room:

Room 101, Office of the United States

Trade Representative, 600 17th Street,