Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 33 / Friday, February 16, 2001 / Notices 10745

INTERNATIONAL TRADE

COMMISSION

[Investigation 332–426]

Natural Gas Services: Recent Reforms

in Selected Markets

AGENCY: United States International

Trade Commission.

ACTION: Institution of investigation.

EFFECTIVE DATE: February 8, 2001.

SUMMARY: Following receipt of a request

on January 16, 2001, from the United

States Trade Representative (USTR), the

Commission instituted investigation No.

332–426, Natural Gas Services: Recent

Reforms in Selected Markets, under

section 332(g) of the Tariff Act of 1930

(19 U.S.C. 1332(g)).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Information specific to this investigation

may be obtained from Mr. Christopher

Melly, Project Leader (202–205–3461;

cmelly@usitc.gov), Ms. Joann Tortorice,

Deputy Project Leader (202–205–3032;

jtortorice@usitc.gov), or Mr. Richard

Brown, Chief, Services and Investment

Division (202–205–3438;

rbrown@usitc.gov), Office of Industries,

U.S. International Trade Commission,

Washington, DC, 20436. For information

on the legal aspects of this investigation,

contact William Gearhart of the Office of

the General Counsel (202–205–3091;

wgearhart@usitc.gov). Hearing impaired

individuals are advised that information

on this matter can be obtained by

contacting the TDD terminal on (202)

205–1810.

Background

In a letter dated January 16, 2001, the

USTR requested that the Commission,

pursuant to section 332(g) of the Tariff

Act of 1930, conduct an investigation of

the natural gas services markets in

countries where significant market

reform, privatization, and liberalization

has occurred or is ongoing. The foreign

markets to be examined are: Argentina,

Australia, Brazil, Canada, Korea, Japan,

Mexico, Spain, and the United

Kingdom. As requested, in its report, the

Commission will (1) describe the nature

of reform, including, but not limited to

the extent of privatization, vertical and

horizontal restructuring, and consumer

choice, as applicable; (2) examine

current market access conditions,

including, but not limited to measures

affecting network access, investment,

and trading (i.e., the exchange of natural

gas contracts through financial markets),

as applicable; and (3) identify common

regulatory practices adopted by multiple

countries, insofar as they exist. For the

purpose of this study, natural gas

services will focus on the downstream

natural gas market, including the

following segments: transmission

(including transport and storage);

distribution; wholesale and retail

supply; and trading.

This letter follows a similar request

made by the USTR in November 1999

for the Commission to conduct an

investigation of the electric power

services markets in Argentina, Australia,

Brazil, Canada, Chile, the European

Union, Japan, New Zealand, and

Venezuela. The Commission submitted

its report to the USTR on November 23,

2000, copies of which may be obtained

by contacting the Office of the Secretary

at 202–205–2000 or by accessing the

USITC Internet server (http://

www.usitc.gov). The USTR asked that

the Commission furnish the natural gas

report by October 16, 2001, and that the

Commission make the report available

to the public in its entirety.

Public Hearing

A public hearing in connection with

the investigation will be held at the U.S.

International Trade Commission

Building, 500 E Street SW, Washington,

DC, beginning at 9:30 a.m. on April 3,

2001. All persons shall have the right to

appear, by counsel or in person, to

present information and to be heard.

Requests to appear at the public hearing

should be filed with the Secretary,

United States International Trade

Commission, 500 E Street SW,

Washington, DC 20436, no later than

5:15 p.m., March 20, 2001. Any

prehearing briefs (original and 14

copies) should be filed not later than

5:15 p.m., March 22, 2001; the deadline

for filing post-hearing briefs or

statements is 5:15 p.m., April 25, 2001.

In the event that, as of the close of

business on March 20, 2001, no

witnesses are scheduled to appear at the

hearing, the hearing will be canceled.

Any person interested in attending the

hearing as an observer or nonparticipant may call the Secretary of the

Commission (202–205–1806) after

March 20, 2001, to determine whether

the hearing will be held.

Written Submissions

In lieu of or in addition to

participating in the hearing, interested

parties are invited to submit written

statements (original and 14 copies)

concerning the matters to be addressed

by the Commission in its report on this

investigation. Commercial or financial

information that a submitter desires the

Commission to treat as confidential

must be submitted on separate sheets of

paper, each clearly marked

‘‘Confidential Business Information’’ at

the top. All submissions requesting

confidential treatment must conform

with the requirements of section 201.6

of the Commission’s Rules of Practice

and Procedure (19 CFR 201.6). All

written submissions, except for

confidential business information, will

be made available in the Office of the

Secretary of the Commission for

inspection by interested parties. To be

assured of consideration by the

Commission, written statements relating

to the Commission’s report should be

submitted to the Commission at the

earliest practical date and should be

received no later than the close of

business on April 25, 2001. All

submissions should be addressed to the

Secretary, United States International

Trade Commission, 500 E Street SW,

Washington, DC 20436. The

Commission’s rules do not authorize

filing submissions with the Secretary by

facsimile or electronic means. Persons

with mobility impairments who will

need special assistance in gaining access

to the Commission should contact the

Office of the Secretary at 202–205–2000.

General information concerning the

Commission may also be obtained by

accessing its Internet server (http://

www.usitc.gov).

List of Subjects

WTO, GATS, Energy services, Market

access, Natural gas, Trade in services.

Issued: February 9, 2001.

By order of the Commission.

Donna R. Koehnke,

Secretary.

[FR Doc. 01–3891 Filed 2–15–01; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 7020–02–P

INTERNATIONAL TRADE

COMMISSION

[Inv. No. 337–TA–436]

In the Matter of Certain WAPCompatible Wireless Communication

Devices, Components Thereof, and

Products Containing Same; Notice of

Commission Decision Not to Review

an Initial Determination Terminating

the Investigation on the Basis of a

Settlement Agreement and Withdrawal

of the Complaint

AGENCY: International Trade

Commission.

ACTION: Notice.

SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that

the U.S. International Trade

Commission has determined not to

review the presiding administrative law

judge’s (‘‘ALJ’s’’) initial determination

(‘‘ID’’) terminating the above-captioned