Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 174 / Monday, September 8, 2008 / Notices 52025 

and Constitution Avenue, Washington, 

DC 20230, (202) 482–5438. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Chapter 

19 of the North American Free-Trade 

Agreement (‘‘Agreement’’) establishes a 

mechanism to replace domestic judicial 

review of final determinations in 

antidumping and countervailing duty 

cases involving imports from a NAFTA 

country with review by independent 

binational panels. When a Request for 

Panel Review is filed, a panel is 

established to act in place of national 

courts to review expeditiously the final 

determination to determine whether it 

conforms with the antidumping or 

countervailing duty law of the country 

that made the determination. 

Under Article 1904 of the Agreement, 

which came into force on January 1, 

1994, the Government of the United 

States, the Government of Canada, and 

the Government of Mexico established 

Rules of Procedure for Article 1904 

Binational Panel Reviews (‘‘Rules’’). 

These Rules were published in the 

Federal Register on February 23, 1994 

(59 FR 8686). 

A first Request for Panel Review was 

filed with the United States Section of 

the NAFTA Secretariat, pursuant to 

Article 1904 of the Agreement on 

August 29, 2008, requesting panel 

review of the determination described 

above. 

The Rules provide that: 

(a) A Party or interested person may 

challenge the final determination in 

whole or in part by filing a Complaint 

in accordance with Rule 39 within 30 

days after the filing of the first Request 

for Panel Review (the deadline for filing 

a Complaint is September 29, 2008); 

(b) A Party, investigating authority or 

interested person that does not file a 

Complaint but that intends to appear in 

support of any reviewable portion of the 

final determination may participate in 

the panel review by filing a Notice of 

Appearance in accordance with Rule 40 

within 45 days after the filing of the first 

Request for Panel Review (the deadline 

for filing a Notice of Appearance is 

October 14, 2008); and 

(c) The panel review shall be limited 

to the allegations of error of fact or law, 

including the jurisdiction of the 

investigating authority, that are set out 

in the Complaints filed in the panel 

review and the procedural and 

substantive defenses raised in the panel 

review. 

Dated: September 3, 2008. 

Valerie Dees, 

United States Secretary, NAFTA Secretariat. 

[FR Doc. E8–20738 Filed 9–5–08; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3510–GT–P 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

International Trade Administration 

Notice and Call for Applications for the 

International Buyer Program for the 

Period January 1, 2010 through 

December 31, 2010 

AGENCY: International Trade 

Administration, Department of 

Commerce. 

ACTION: Notice and Call for Applications 

for the International Buyer Program for 

the period January 1, 2010 through 

December 31, 2010. 

SUMMARY: This notice sets forth 

objectives, procedures and application 

review criteria associated with support 

for domestic trade shows by the 

International Buyer Program (IBP) of the 

U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC). 

This announcement covers selection for 

International Buyer Program 

participation for calendar year 2010 

(January 1, 2010 through December 31, 

2010). 

The International Buyer Program was 

established to bring international buyers 

together with U.S. firms by promoting 

leading U.S. trade shows in industries 

with high export potential. The 

International Buyer Program emphasizes 

cooperation between the DOC and trade 

show organizers to benefit U.S. firms 

exhibiting at selected events and 

provides practical, hands-on assistance 

such as export counseling and market 

analysis to U.S. companies interested in 

exporting. The assistance provided to 

show organizers includes worldwide 

overseas promotion of selected shows to 

potential international buyers, endusers, representatives and distributors. 

The worldwide promotion is executed 

through the offices of the DOC U.S. and 

Foreign Commercial Service (hereinafter 

referred to as the Commercial Service) 

in more than 70 countries representing 

the United States’ major trading 

partners, and also in U.S. Embassies in 

countries where the Commercial Service 

does not maintain offices. The DOC 

expects to select approximately 40 trade 

shows for the January 1, 2010 through 

December 31, 2010 period from among 

applicants to the program. Shows 

selected for the International Buyer 

Program will provide a venue for U.S. 

companies interested in expanding their 

sales into international markets. 

Successful show organizer applicants 

will be required to enter into a 

Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) 

with the DOC. The MOA constitutes an 

agreement between the DOC and the 

show organizer specifying which 

responsibilities are to be undertaken by 

the DOC as part of the International 

Buyer Program and, in turn, which 

responsibilities are to be undertaken by 

the show organizer. Anyone requesting 

application information will be sent a 

sample copy of the MOA along with the 

application and a copy of this Federal 

Register Notice. The responsibilities to 

be undertaken by the DOC will be 

carried out by the Commercial Service. 

DATES: Applications must be received 

within 60 days after the publication date 

of this Federal Register Notice. 

ADDRESSES: International Buyer 

Program, Global Trade Programs, U.S. 

and Foreign Commercial Service, 

International Trade Administration, 

U.S. Department of Commerce, 1300 

Pennsylvania Ave., Ronald Reagan 

Center, Suite 800M—Mezzanine Level—

Atrium North, Washington, DC 20004. 

Telephone (202) 482–4207; Facsimile: 

(202) 482–7800; E-mail: 

Blanche.Ziv@mail.doc.gov (for deadline 

purposes, facsimile and e-mail 

applications will be accepted as interim 

applications, to be followed by signed 

original applications to be received 

within five (5) business days after the 

application deadline). To ensure that 

applications are timely received by the 

deadline, applicants are strongly urged 

to send applications by hand delivery 

service. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Blanche Ziv, Manager, International 

Buyer Program, Global Trade Programs, 

U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service, 

International Trade Administration, 

U.S. Department of Commerce, 1300 

Pennsylvania Ave., Ronald Reagan 

Center, Suite 800M—Mezzanine Level—

Atrium North, Washington, DC 20004; 

Telephone (202) 482–4207; Facsimile: 

(202) 482–7800; E-mail: 

Blanche.Ziv@mail.doc.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The 

Commercial Service is accepting 

applications for the International Buyer 

Program for trade events taking place 

between January 1, 2010, and December 

31, 2010. A participation fee of $8,000 

for shows of five days or less is 

required. For trade shows more than 

five days in duration, or requiring more 

than one International Business Center, 

a participation fee of $14,000 is 

required. For trade shows ten days or 

more in duration, and/or requiring more 

than two International Business Centers, 

the participation fee will be negotiated, 

but shall not be less than $19,500. 

Under the International Buyer 

Program, the Commercial Service seeks 

to bring together international buyers 

with U.S. firms by selecting and 

promoting in international markets U.S. 

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52026 Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 174 / Monday, September 8, 2008 / Notices 

domestic trade shows covering 

industries with high export potential. 

Selection of a trade show is valid for 

one event, i.e., a trade show organizer 

seeking selection for a recurring event 

must submit a new application for 

selection for each occurrence of the 

event. Even if the event occurs more 

than once in the 12-month period 

covered by this announcement, the 

trade show organizer must submit a 

separate application for each event. 

The Commercial Service expects to 

select approximately 40 events from 

among applicants to the program for the 

January 1, 2010 and December 31, 2010 

period. The Commercial Service will 

select those events that are determined 

to most clearly meet the Commercial 

Service’s statutory mandate to promote 

U.S. exports, especially those of smalland medium-sized enterprises, and that 

best meet the selection criteria 

articulated below. 

The DOC selects trade shows to be 

International Buyer Program partners 

that it determines to be leading 

international trade shows appropriate 

for participation by U.S. exporting firms 

and for promotion in overseas markets 

by U.S. Embassies and Consulates. 

Selection as an International Buyer 

Program partner does not constitute a 

guarantee by the U.S. Government of the 

show’s success. International Buyer 

Program partnership status is not an 

endorsement of the show organizer 

except as to its international buyer 

activities. Non-selection should not be 

viewed as a finding that the event will 

not be successful in the promotion of 

U.S. exports. 

Exclusions: Trade shows that are 

either first-time or horizontal (nonindustry specific) events will not be 

considered. 

General Selection Criteria: The 

Commercial Service will select shows to 

be International Buyer Program partners 

that, in the judgment of the Commercial 

Service, best meet the following criteria: 

(a) Intellectual Property Rights 

Protection: The trade show organizer 

includes in the terms and conditions of 

its exhibitor contracts provisions for the 

protection of intellectual property rights 

(IPR); has procedures in place at the 

trade show to address IPR infringement, 

which, at a minimum, provides 

information to help U.S. exhibitors 

procure legal representation during the 

trade show; and agrees to assist the DOC 

to reach and educate U.S. exhibitors on 

the Strategy Targeting Organized Piracy 

(STOP!), IPR protection measures 

available during the show, and the 

means to protect IPR in overseas 

markets, as well as in the United States. 

(b) Export Potential: The trade show 

promotes products and services from 

U.S. industries that have high export 

potential, as determined by DOC 

sources, e.g., Commercial Service best 

prospects lists and U.S. export statistics 

(certain industries are rated as priorities 

by our domestic and international 

commercial officers in their Country 

Commercial Guides, available through 

the Web site, http://www.export.gov). 

(c) International Interest: The trade 

show meets the needs of a significant 

number of overseas markets and 

corresponds to marketing opportunities 

as identified by the posts in their 

Country Commercial Guides (e.g., best 

prospect lists). Previous international 

attendance at the show may be used as 

an indicator. 

(d) Scope of the Show: The event must 

offer a broad spectrum of U.S. made 

products and services for the subject 

industry. Trade shows with a majority 

of U.S. firms as exhibitors are given 

priority. 

(e) U.S. Content of Show Exhibitors: 

Trade shows with exhibitors featuring a 

high percentage of U.S. products or 

products with a high degree of U.S. 

content will be preferred. Generally, to 

have ‘‘U.S. content,’’ products and 

services to be exhibited should be: (i) 

Produced or manufactured in the United 

States; or, (ii) if produced or 

manufactured outside of the United 

States, be marketed under the name of 

a U.S. firm and have U.S. content 

representing at least 51 percent of the 

value of the finished product or service 

being exported. U.S.-sourced inputs that 

may be considered as contributing to 

U.S. content, to the extent that they are 

incorporated into the finished product 

or service being exported, may include 

but are not limited to: Materials; 

components; packaging; labor; 

production equipment and factory 

overhead; research and development; 

design; intellectual property; 

warehousing; distribution; sales; 

administration and management; 

advertising; and marketing and 

promotion. 

(f) Stature of the Show: The trade 

show is clearly recognized by the 

industry it covers as a leading event for 

the promotion of that industry’s 

products and services both domestically 

and internationally, and as a showplace 

for the latest technology or services in 

that industry. 

(g) Exhibitor Interest: There is 

demonstrated interest on the part of U.S. 

exhibitors in receiving international 

business visitors during the trade show. 

A significant number of U.S. exhibitors 

should be new-to-export (NTE) or 

seeking to expand their sales into 

additional export markets. 

(h) Overseas Marketing: There has 

been a demonstrated effort to market 

prior shows overseas. In addition, the 

applicant should describe in detail the 

international marketing program to be 

conducted for the event, and explain 

how efforts should increase individual 

and group international attendance. 

(Planned cooperation with Visit USA 

Committees overseas is desirable. For 

more information on Visit USA 

Committees go to: http://www.tia.org/ 

International/VUSA.html.) 

(i) Logistics: The trade show site, 

facilities, transportation services, and 

availability of accommodations at the 

site of the exhibition must be capable of 

accommodating large numbers of 

attendees whose native language will 

not be English. 

(j) Cooperation: The applicant 

demonstrates a willingness to cooperate 

with the Commercial Service to fulfill 

the program’s goals and adhere to the 

target dates set out in the MOA and in 

the event timetables, both of which are 

available from the program office (see 

the ‘‘FOR FURTHER INFORMATION’’ section 

above). Past experience in the 

International Buyer Program will be 

taken into account in evaluating the 

applications received for the January 1, 

2010, through December 31, 2010, 

period. 

(k) Delegation Incentives: Show 

organizers should list or identify a range 

of incentives to be offered to delegations 

and/or delegation leaders recruited by 

the Commercial Service overseas posts. 

Examples of incentives to international 

visitors and to organized delegations 

include, but are not limited to: Waived 

or reduced admission fees; special 

organized events, such as receptions, 

meetings with association executives, 

briefings, and site tours; and 

complimentary accommodations for 

delegation leaders. Waived or reduced 

admission fees are required for 

international attendees who are 

members of Commercial Service 

recruited delegations under this 

program. Delegation leaders also must 

be provided complimentary admission 

to the event. 

Legal Authority: The Commercial 

Service has the legal authority to enter 

into MOAs with show organizers 

(partners) under the provisions of the 

Mutual Educational and Cultural 

Exchange Act of 1961 (MECEA), as 

amended (22 U.S.C. sections 2455(f) and 

2458(c)). MECEA allows the 

Commercial Service to accept 

contributions of funds and services from 

firms for the purposes of furthering its 

mission. The statutory program 

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Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 174 / Monday, September 8, 2008 / Notices 52027 

authority for the Commercial Service to 

conduct the International Buyer 

Program is 15 U.S.C. 4724. 

The Office of Management and Budget 

(OMB) has approved the information 

collection requirements of the 

application to this program under the 

provisions of the Paperwork Reduction 

Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.) 

(OMB Control No. 0625–0151). 

Notwithstanding any other provision of 

law, no person is required to respond to, 

nor shall a person be subject to a 

penalty for failure to comply with, a 

collection of information subject to the 

requirements of the Paperwork 

Reduction Act, unless that collection of 

information displays a currently valid 

OMB Control Number. 

Dated: September 2, 2008. 

Blanche Ziv, 

Manager, International Buyer Program, U.S. 

and Foreign Commercial Service, 

International Trade Administration, U.S. 

Department of Commerce. 

[FR Doc. E8–20756 Filed 9–5–08; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3510–DS–P 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration 

RIN 0648–XK26 

Marine Mammals; File No. 13430 

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries 

Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 

Commerce. 

ACTION: Notice; receipt of application. 

SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that 

the NMFS National Marine Mammal 

Laboratory, (Responsible Party: Dr. John 

Bengtson, Director), Seattle, WA, has 

applied for a permit to conduct research 

on marine mammals. 

DATES: Written, telefaxed, or e-mail 

comments must be received on or before 

October 8, 2008. 

ADDRESSES: The application and related 

documents are available for review 

upon written request or by appointment 

in the following office(s): 

Permits, Conservation and Education 

Division, Office of Protected Resources, 

NMFS, 1315 East-West Highway, Room 

13705, Silver Spring, MD 20910; phone 

(301)713–2289; fax (301)427–2521; and 

Northwest Region, NMFS, 7600 Sand 

Point Way NE, BIN C15700, Bldg. 1, 

Seattle, WA 98115–0700; phone 

(206)526–6150; fax (206)526–6426. 

Written comments or requests for a 

public hearing on this application 

should be mailed to the Chief, Permits, 

Conservation and Education Division, 

F/PR1, Office of Protected Resources, 

NMFS, 1315 East-West Highway, Room 

13705, Silver Spring, MD 20910. Those 

individuals requesting a hearing should 

set forth the specific reasons why a 

hearing on this particular request would 

be appropriate. 

Comments may also be submitted by 

facsimile at (301)427–2521, provided 

the facsimile is confirmed by hard copy 

submitted by mail and postmarked no 

later than the closing date of the 

comment period. 

Comments may also be submitted by 

e-mail. The mailbox address for 

providing e-mail comments is 

NMFS.Pr1Comments@noaa.gov. Include 

in the subject line of the e-mail 

comment the following document 

identifier: File No. 13430. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Tammy Adams or Kate Swails, 

(301)713–2289. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The 

subject permit is requested under the 

authority of the Marine Mammal 

Protection Act of 1972, as amended 

(MMPA; 16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.), and the 

regulations governing the taking and 

importing of marine mammals (50 CFR 

part 216). 

The applicant proposes to conduct 

research on Pacific harbor seals (Phoca 

vitulina), California sea lions (Zalophus 

californianus), and northern elephant 

seals (Mirounga angustirostris) within 

coastal waters and on pinniped 

rookeries and haul outs of Washington 

and Oregon. Research activities would 

include aerial, vessel, and ground 

surveys; capture for collection of tissue 

samples, attachment of scientific 

instruments and application of marks 

(flipper tags, brands, etc.); and 

underwater playback experiments. The 

purpose of the research is to investigate: 

(1) abundance and distribution of harbor 

seals; (2) food habits and foraging 

ecology of harbor seals; (3) the ecology 

of contaminants, environmental toxins 

and infectious pathogens in harbor 

seals; (4) harbor seal life history 

parameters; (5) population substructure 

in harbor seals in Washington and 

Oregon; (6) abundance, distribution and 

health of California sea lions in 

Washington and Oregon; (7) California 

sea lion food habits and predation of 

threatened, endangered, and/or depleted 

fish stocks in Washington and Oregon; 

and (8) the abundance, distribution and 

health of northern elephant seals. The 

objective of the research is to provide 

information necessary for stock 

assessments and for management, 

including management of marine 

mammal predation on threatened and 

endangered salmon. The permit would 

be valid for five years and would 

authorize level B and level A 

harassment, including research-related 

mortality of limited numbers of each 

species. Please refer to the table in the 

application for the numbers of animals 

proposed for taking, and the locations 

and manner of such taking. 

In compliance with the National 

Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 

U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), a draft 

environmental assessment (EA) has 

been prepared to examine whether 

significant environmental impacts could 

result from issuance of the proposed 

scientific research permit. Based on the 

analyses in the EA, it is NMFS initial 

determination that issuance of the 

permit would not significantly impact 

the quality of the human environment 

and that preparation of an 

environmental impact statement is not 

required. 

Concurrent with the publication of 

this notice in the Federal Register, 

NMFS is forwarding copies of the 

application to the Marine Mammal 

Commission and its Committee of 

Scientific Advisors. 

Dated: September 2, 2008. 

P. Michael Payne, 

Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education 

Division, Office of Protected Resources, 

National Marine Fisheries Service. 

[FR Doc. E8–20773 Filed 9–5–08; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3510–22–S 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration 

RIN: 0648–XK28 

Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management 

Council; Public Meeting 

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries 

Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 

Commerce. 

ACTION: Notice of public meeting. 

SUMMARY: The Mid-Atlantic Council’s 

(MAFMC) Dogfish Monitoring 

Committee will hold a public meeting. 

DATES: The meeting will be held on 

Thursday, September 25, 2008, from 10 

a.m. to 4 p.m. 

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at 

the Sheraton Providence Airport Hotel, 

1850 Post Road, Warwick, RI 02886; 

telephone: (401) 738–4000. 

Council address: Mid-Atlantic Fishery 

Management Council, 300 S. New 

Street, Room 2115, Dover, DE 19904; 

telephone: (302) 674–2331. 

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