Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 201 / Thursday, October 17, 2024 / Notices 83755 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The notice 

of the President’s major disaster 

declaration for the State of Virginia, 

dated October 1, 2024, is hereby 

amended to include the following areas 

as adversely affected by the disaster: 

Incident: Tropical Storm Helene. 

Incident Period: September 25, 2024 

and continuing. 

Primary Counties (Physical Damage and 

Economic Injury Loans): Bedford, 

Bland, Carroll, Pittsylvania, 

Independent City of Radford, 

Russell, Wise. 

Contiguous Counties (Economic Injury 

Loans Only): 

Virginia: Amherst, Botetourt, 

Campbell, Independent City of 

Danville, Dickenson, Franklin, 

Henry, Lee, Independent City of 

Lynchburg, Patrick, Rockbridge. 

North Carolina: Caswell, Rockingham. 

Kentucky: Harlan, Letcher, Pike. 

All other information in the original 

declaration remains unchanged. 

(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance 

Number 59008) 

Rafaela Monchek, 

Deputy Associate Administrator, Office of 

Disaster Recovery & Resilience. 

[FR Doc. 2024–23890 Filed 10–16–24; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 8026–09–P 

SURFACE TRANSPORTATION BOARD 

30-Day Notice of Intent To Seek 

Reinstatement Without Change: 

Generic Clearance for the Collection of 

Qualitative Feedback on Agency 

Service Delivery; Correction 

AGENCY: Surface Transportation Board. 

ACTION: Notice; correction. 

SUMMARY: The Surface Transportation 

Board (Board) published a document in 

the Federal Register on October 3, 2024, 

concerning the Board’s intent to request 

from the Office of Management and 

Budget (OMB) approval without change 

of the Generic Clearance for the 

Collection of Qualitative Feedback on 

Agency Service Delivery. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Chris Oehrle, PRA Officer, Surface 

Transportation Board, 395 E Street SW, 

Washington, DC 20423–0001, or pra@

stb.gov. If you require an 

accommodation under the Americans 

with Disabilities Act, please call (202) 

245–0245. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Correction 

In the Federal Register of October 3, 

2024, in FR Doc. 2024–22813, in 89 FR 

80624. On page 80625, in the first 

column, in the SUMMARY heading, the 

first sentence correcting the following 

language ‘‘approval without change of 

the six existing collections described 

below’’ to read, ‘‘approval without 

change of the existing collection 

described below.’’ Due to this 

inadvertent error, comments on the 

original information collection will be 

accepted if submitted by November 18, 

2024. 

Dated: October 11, 2024. 

Jeffrey Herzig, 

Clearance Clerk. 

[FR Doc. 2024–23933 Filed 10–16–24; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4915–01–P 

OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES 

TRADE REPRESENTATIVE 

Procedures for Requests To Exclude 

Certain Machinery Used in Domestic 

Manufacturing From Actions Pursuant 

to the Section 301 Investigation of 

China’s Acts, Policies and Practices 

Related to Technology Transfer, 

Intellectual Property and Innovation 

AGENCY: Office of the United States 

Trade Representative (USTR). 

ACTION: Notice and request for 

comments. 

SUMMARY: In a notice published on 

September 18, 2024, the U.S. Trade 

Representative announced certain 

modifications to the actions taken in the 

Section 301 investigation of China’s 

acts, policies, and practices related to 

technology transfer, intellectual 

property, and innovation. Additionally, 

the U.S. Trade Representative 

announced 14 temporary exclusions for 

solar manufacturing equipment and a 

list of subheadings eligible for 

consideration of temporary exclusion 

under an exclusion process for certain 

machinery used in domestic 

manufacturing. This notice announces 

that USTR will open an electronic portal 

for exclusion requests on October 15, 

2024, and sets out the procedures for 

submitting requests. 

DATES: 

October 15, 2024, at 12:01 a.m. EDT: 

The web portal for submitting exclusion 

requests will open at https://

comments.ustr.gov. 

March 31, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. EST: 

Deadline for submitting exclusion 

requests. Responses to individual 

exclusion requests are due 30 days after 

the exclusion request is posted on 

USTR’s online portal. Any replies to 

responses to an exclusion request are 

due the later of 15 days after the posting 

of a response, or 15 days after the 

closing of the 30-day response period. 

ADDRESSES: You must submit all 

requests, responses to requests, and 

replies to responses through the online 

portal: https://comments.ustr.gov. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For 

general questions about this notice, 

contact Philip Butler and Megan 

Grimball, Chairs of the Section 301 

Committee at 202.395.5725. For specific 

questions on customs classification, 

contact traderemedy@cbp.dhs.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

A. Background 

For background on the proceedings in 

this investigation, please see the prior 

notices including 82 FR 40213 (August 

24, 2017), 83 FR 14906 (April 6, 2018), 

83 FR 28710 (July 6, 2018), and 83 FR 

40823 (August 23, 2018). 

On September 8, 2022, USTR 

announced that in accordance with 

Section 307(c)(3) of the Trade Act (19 

U.S.C. 2417(c)(3)), the U.S. Trade 

Representative would conduct a review 

of the two actions taken, as modified, in 

this investigation. See 87 FR 55073. 

Based on information obtained during 

the review, USTR, in consultation with 

the Section 301 Committee, prepared a 

comprehensive report that included 

findings on the effectiveness of the 

actions taken in this investigation in 

achieving the objectives of the 

investigation, other actions that could 

be taken, and the effects of such actions 

on the United States economy, 

including consumers. The report, ‘‘FourYear Review of Actions Taken in the 

Section 301 Investigation: China’s Acts, 

Policies, and Practices Related to 

Technology Transfer, Intellectual 

Property, and Innovation’’ (Report), was 

published on May 14, 2024, and is 

available on the USTR website. 

On May 14, 2024, taking into 

consideration the U.S. Trade 

Representative’s findings in the Report 

and recommendations, the President 

issued a Memorandum (President’s 

Memorandum) that directed the U.S. 

Trade Representative to: ‘‘maintain, as 

appropriate and consistent with this 

memorandum, the ad valorem rates of 

duty and lists of products subject to the 

[actions] taken under the Section 301 

investigation’’ and ‘‘[t]o further 

encourage China to eliminate the acts, 

policies, and practices at issue, and to 

counteract the burden or restriction of 

these acts, policies, and practices, the 

Trade Representative shall modify the 

[actions taken in the investigation] to 

increase Section 301 ad valorem rates of 

duty’’ for certain specified products of 

China. See https://www.whitehouse.gov/ 

briefing-room/presidential-actions/ 

2024/05/14/memorandum-on-actionsVerDate Sep<11>2014 18:31 Oct 16, 2024 Jkt 265001 PO 00000 Frm 00122 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\17OCN1.SGM 17OCN1

ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1
83756 Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 201 / Thursday, October 17, 2024 / Notices 

1Notice of Extension of Certain Exclusions, 89 FR 

46948 (May 30, 2024). 

by-the-united-states-related-to-thestatutory-4-year-review-of-the-section301-investigation-of-chinas-actspolicies-and-practices-related-totechnology-transfer-intellectua/.

The President also directed the U.S. 

Trade Representative to establish a 

process by which interested persons 

may request that particular machinery 

used in domestic manufacturing 

classified within a subheading under 

chapters 84 and 85 of the Harmonized 

Tariff Schedule of the United States 

(HTSUS) be temporarily excluded from 

Section 301 tariffs, and directed the U.S. 

Trade Representative to prioritize, in 

particular, exclusions for certain solar 

manufacturing equipment. 

B. Proposed Modifications

Consistent with the President’s

direction, USTR issued a Federal 

Register notice with proposed 

modifications, including proposed 

increases in Section 301 duties on 

certain products. See 89 FR 46252 (May 

28, 2024) (May 28 notice). Additionally, 

the U.S. Trade Representative proposed 

312 subheadings eligible for 

consideration for temporary exclusion 

under a process by which interested 

persons may request that particular 

machinery used in domestic 

manufacturing and classified within 

certain subheadings under chapters 84 

and 85 of HTSUS be temporarily 

excluded. The May 28 notice 

announced that procedures for 

requesting exclusions under this process 

would be published in a separate notice. 

Finally, the U.S. Trade Representative 

proposed 19 temporary exclusions for 

solar manufacturing equipment. 

In accordance with section 307(a)(2) 

of the Trade Act (19 U.S.C. 2417(a)(2)), 

USTR invited comments from interested 

persons and opened a 30-day docket on 

May 29, 2024 (USTR–2024–0007). With 

respect to the machinery exclusion 

process, USTR requested comments on 

whether the 312 subheadings proposed 

should or should not be eligible for 

consideration in the machinery 

exclusion process and whether certain 

subheadings under Chapters 84 and 85 

that cover machinery used in domestic 

manufacturing were omitted and should 

be included. 

On September 18, 2024, the U.S. 

Trade Representative announced 

modifications to the actions, including 

certain adjustments to the modifications 

proposed in the May 28 notice. See 89 

FR 76581 (September 18 notice). 

Regarding the 19 proposed temporary 

exclusions for solar manufacturing 

equipment, the U.S. Trade 

Representative determined to adopt 14. 

The U.S. Trade Representative also 

announced five additional subheadings 

to be eligible for consideration of 

temporary exclusion under the 

machinery exclusion process. See 89 FR 

76581. 

C. Procedures To Request the Exclusion

of Particular Machinery Used in

Domestic Manufacturing

USTR invites interested persons, 

including trade associations, to submit 

requests for temporary exclusion from 

the Section 301 tariffs. The subheadings 

eligible for consideration of temporary 

exclusion under the machinery 

exclusion process are set forth in Annex 

E of the September 18 notice. 

As explained in more detail below, 

each request specifically must identify a 

particular product, and provide 

supporting data and the rationale for the 

requested exclusion. USTR will evaluate 

each request on a case-by-case basis, 

taking into account the asserted 

rationale for the exclusion, whether the 

exclusion would undermine the 

objective of the Section 301 

investigation, and whether the request 

defines the product with sufficient 

precision. Any exclusion will be 

effective starting from the date of 

publication of the exclusion 

determination in the Federal Register 

and will extend through May 31, 2025. 

USTR is accepting exclusion requests on 

a rolling basis and will periodically 

announce decisions on pending 

requests. 

The U.S. Trade Representative will 

monitor exclusions granted and the 

overall impact of exclusions, including 

the 14 temporary exclusions for solar 

manufacturing equipment announced in 

the September 28 notice, and the 

product specific exclusions extended on 

May 30, 2024,1 in maintaining the 

appropriate amount of leverage with 

China to encourage China to eliminate 

the acts, policies, and practices covered 

in the Section 301 investigation. 

Set out below is a summary of the 

information to be entered on the 

exclusion request form. Each requester 

must provide contact information, 

including the full legal name of the 

organization making the request, 

whether the requester is a third party 

(law firm, trade association, or customs 

broker) submitting on behalf of an 

organization or industry, and the 

primary point of contact (requester and/ 

or third-party submitter). The requester 

may report whether the requester’s 

business satisfies the Small Business 

Administration’s size standard for a 

small business, which are identified by 

North American Industry Classification 

Systems Codes and are found in 13 CFR 

121.201. With regard to product 

identification, any request for exclusion 

must include the following information: 

• The 10-digit subheading of the

HTSUS applicable to the manufacturing 

equipment requested for exclusion. If no 

10-digit subheading is available (i.e., the

8-digit subheading does not contain

breakouts at the 10-digit level),

requesters should use the 8-digit

subheading and add ‘‘00’’.

• A complete and detailed

description of the manufacturing 

equipment. A detailed description of the 

manufacturing equipment includes, but 

is not limited to, its physical 

characteristics (e.g., dimensions, weight, 

material composition, etc.), whether the 

manufacturing equipment is designed to 

function in or with a particular machine 

(application), the manufacturing 

equipment’s principal use, the unit 

value of the manufacturing equipment 

(please provide a range if necessary), 

and any unique physical features that 

distinguish it from other manufacturing 

equipment within the covered 10-digit 

HTSUS subheading. Requesters may 

attach images and specification sheets, 

CBP rulings, court decisions, and 

previous import documentation. 

• Whether the manufacturing

equipment of concern is subject to an 

antidumping or countervailing duty 

order issued by the U.S. Department of 

Commerce. 

• Whether the manufacturing

equipment will be used for domestic 

manufacturing, how the equipment will 

be used, and the manufacturing sector. 

• If applicable, documents showing

grant funding from, or grant application 

to, a federal investment program related 

to the domestic manufacturing at issue, 

such as the Inflation Reduction Act 

(IRA), CHIPS and Science Act, Build 

America Buy America (BABA), and 

Rural Energy for America Program 

(REAP). 

• Whether the manufacturing

equipment of concern, or comparable 

manufacturing equipment, is available 

from sources in the United States or 

third countries and any attempts of the 

requesting organization to source the 

manufacturing equipment from the 

United States or third countries. 

• Whether the requesting

organization has purchased the 

manufacturing equipment of concern 

from a source in the United States or in 

a third country in the past five years and 

why the manufacturing equipment is no 

longer available from this source. 

• Whether the manufacturing

equipment of concern is strategically 

important or related to ‘‘Made in China 


ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1
Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 201 / Thursday, October 17, 2024 / Notices 83757 

2025’’ or other Chinese industrial 

programs. 

In addressing each factor, the 

requester should provide support for 

their assertions. Requesters also may 

provide any other information or data 

that they consider relevant to an 

evaluation of the request. 

D. Responses To Requests for 

Exclusions 

After a request for exclusion of a 

particular product is posted on USTR’s 

online portal, interested persons will 

have 30 days to respond to the request, 

indicating support or opposition and 

providing reasons for their view. A 

response to a product exclusion request 

must be submitted using USTR’s online 

portal at http://comments.USTR.gov. 

Responses to exclusion requests, 

supporting or opposing, will be publicly 

available. To file a response, an 

interested party does not have to 

register. Responses may be in support of 

an exclusion request or in opposition. If 

the response is in support of the request, 

the rationale should be provided in the 

applicable field on the portal. If 

opposing the exclusion request, 

interested parties must address the 

following in a supplemental attachment 

available on USTR’s comment portal: 

• Their relationship to the 

manufacturing equipment identified 

(manufacturer, industry association, 

other). 

• Reasons for objecting to the 

exclusion request. 

• Whether the manufacturing 

equipment is currently manufactured in 

the United States or third countries, and 

the substitutability of equipment from 

the United States or third country 

sources as compared to the Chineseorigin manufacturing equipment 

identified in the exclusion request. 

• A description of the manufacturing 

equipment from the United States or 

third country sources relative to the 

description cited in the exclusion 

request. 

• Whether the objecting organization 

within the last two years attempted to 

sell, or successfully sold, the 

manufacturing equipment described in 

the exclusion request, or comparable 

manufacturing equipment, to the 

organization requesting the exclusion. 

E. Replies to Responses To Requests for 

Exclusions 

After a response is posted on USTR’s 

online portal, the requester will have 

the opportunity to reply to the response 

using the same portal. Any reply must 

be submitted within the later of 15 days 

after the posting of a response, or 15 

days after the closing of the 30-day 

response period. A reply to a response 

must be submitted using USTR’s online 

portal at http://comments.USTR.gov. 

Replies to responses will be publicly 

available. 

F. Submission Instructions 

As noted above, interested persons 

must submit requests for exclusions in 

the period between the opening of the 

portal on October 15, 2024, and the 

March 31, 2025 submission deadline. 

Any responses to those requests must be 

submitted within 30 days after the 

requests are posted. Any reply to a 

response must be submitted within 15 

days after the response is posted. 

Interested persons seeking to exclude 

two or more pieces of manufacturing 

equipment must submit a separate 

request for each product, i.e., one 

product per request. By submitting an 

exclusion request, a response, or a reply, 

the submitter certifies that the 

information provided is complete and 

correct to the best of his or her 

knowledge. 

You must submit written comments 

using the appropriate docket on the 

portal at https://comments.ustr.gov/. To 

submit written comments, use the 

docket on the portal entitled Temporary 

Exclusions for Machinery Used in 

Domestic Manufacturing, docket 

number USTR–2024–0020. To submit 

an exclusion request, requesters must 

first register on the portal at http://

comments.USTR.gov. As noted above, 

the portal will open on October 15, 

2024, at 12:01 a.m. EDT. After 

registration, the requester can fill out 

and submit one or more exclusion 

request forms. Fields on the exclusion 

request form marked with an asterisk (*) 

are required fields. 

Fields with a gray Business 

Confidential Information (BCI) notation 

are for BCI that will not be made 

publicly available. Fields with a green 

(Public) notation will be viewable by the 

public. Additionally, parties will be able 

to upload documents and indicate 

whether the documents are BCI or 

public. Requesters will be able to review 

the public version of their submission 

before the submission is posted. 

Clearly mark any page containing BCI 

as ‘BUSINESS CONFIDENTIAL’ on the 

top of that page and clearly indicate, via 

brackets, highlighting, or other means, 

the specific information that is BCI. If 

you request business confidential 

treatment, you must certify in writing 

that the information would not 

customarily be released to the public. 

Parties uploading attachments 

containing BCI also must submit a 

public version of their comments. If 

these procedures are not sufficient to 

protect BCI or otherwise protect 

business interests, please contact the 

USTR Section 301 support line at 

202.395.5725 to discuss whether 

alternative arrangements are possible. 

USTR will post attachments uploaded to 

the docket for public inspection, except 

for properly designated BCI. You can 

view submissions on USTR’s electronic 

portal at https://comments.ustr.gov. 

G. Paperwork Reduction Act 

In accordance with the requirements 

of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 

(PRA) and its implementing regulations, 

USTR submitted a request to the Office 

of Management and Budget to reinstate 

an expired information collection 

request (ICR) titled 301 Exclusion 

Requests, control number 0350–0015, 

which is now due to expire on 

September 30, 2027. 

Juan Millan, 

Acting General Counsel, Office of the United 

States Trade Representative. 

[FR Doc. 2024–23880 Filed 10–16–24; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3390–F4–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

[Docket No. FAA–2024–1228] 

Agency Information Collection 

Activities: Requests for Comments; 

Clearance of Renewed Approval of 

Information Collection: Passenger 

Facility Charge (PFC) Application 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Notice and request for 

comments. 

SUMMARY: In accordance with the 

Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, FAA 

invites public comments about our 

intention to request the Office of 

Management and Budget (OMB) 

approval to renew an information 

collection. The Federal Register Notice 

with a 60-day comment period soliciting 

comments on the following collection of 

information was published on April 26, 

2024. The collection involves the FAA’s 

administration of the Passenger Facility 

Charge (PFC) program. The information 

to be collected will be used to authorize 

public agencies to impose PFCs and use 

PFC revenue on airport-related projects 

and to ensure compliance with PFC 

program requirements. 

DATES: Written comments should be 

submitted by November 18, 2024. 

ADDRESSES: Written comments and 

recommendations for the proposed 

information collection should be sent 


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