98-25412. National Defense Stockpile Market Impact Committee Request for Public Comments  

  • [Federal Register Volume 63, Number 184 (Wednesday, September 23, 1998)]
    [Notices]
    [Pages 50865-50867]
    From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
    [FR Doc No: 98-25412]
    
    
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    DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
    
    Bureau of Export Administration
    
    
    National Defense Stockpile Market Impact Committee Request for 
    Public Comments
    
    AGENCY: Office of Strategic Industries and Economic Security, Bureau of 
    Export Administration, Department of Commerce.
    
    ACTION: Notice of request for public comment on the potential market 
    impact of proposed disposals of excess commodities currently held in 
    the National Defense Stockpile under the Fiscal Year 2000 Annual 
    Materials Plan (AMP) and revisions to commodities proposed for disposal 
    under the FY 1999 AMP.
    
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    SUMMARY: This notice is to advise the public that the National Defense 
    Stockpile Market Impact Committee (co-chaired by the Departments of 
    Commerce and State) is seeking public comment on the potential market 
    impact of proposed disposals of excess materials from the National 
    Defense Stockpile as set forth in Attachment 1 to this notice.
    
    DATES: Comments must be received by October 23, 1998.
    
    ADDRESSES: Written comments should be sent to Richard V. Meyers, Co-
    Chair, Stockpile Market Impact Committee, Office of Strategic 
    Industries and Economic Security, Room 3876, U.S. Department of 
    Commerce, 14th Street and Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 
    20230; FAX (202) 501-0657.
    
    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Richard V. Meyers, Office of Strategic 
    Industries and Economic Security, U.S. Department of Commerce, (202) 
    482-3634; or Stephen H. Muller, Office of International Energy and 
    Commodity Policy, U.S. Department of State, (202) 647-3423; co-chairs 
    of the National Defense Stockpile Market Impact Committee.
    
    SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the authority of the Strategic and 
    Critical Materials Stock Piling Act of 1979, as amended, (50 U.S.C. 98 
    et seq.), the Department of Defense (DOD), as National Defense 
    Stockpile Manager, maintains a stockpile of strategic and critical 
    materials to supply the military, industrial, and essential civilian 
    needs of the United States for national defense. Section 3314 of the 
    Fiscal Year (FY) 1993 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) (50 
    U.S.C. 98h-1) formally established a Market Impact Committee (the 
    Committee) to ``advise the National Defense Stockpile Manager on the 
    projected domestic and foreign economic effects of all acquisitions and 
    disposals of materials from the stockpile. . . .'' The Committee must 
    also balance market impact concerns with the statutory requirement to 
    protect the Government against avoidable loss.
        The Committee is comprised of representatives from the Departments 
    of Commerce, State, Agriculture, Defense, Energy, Interior, Treasury 
    and the Federal Emergency Management Agency and is co-chaired by the 
    Departments of Commerce and State. The FY 1993 NDAA directs the 
    Committee to ``consult from time to time with representatives of 
    producers, processors and consumers of the types of materials stored in 
    the stockpile.''
        The proposed FY 2000 AMP and revisions to the FY 1999 AMP have not 
    been prepared in final form, as the Committee is now considering 
    Defense's Stockpile material disposal levels as listed in Attachment 1. 
    The AMP materials listed in bold in Attachment 1 cannot be sold until 
    Congress has approved their disposal. The Committee is seeking public 
    comment on the potential market impact of the sale of these materials 
    in the event that Congress does grant such disposal authority.
        The attached AMP listing includes the proposed maximum disposal 
    quantity for each material. These quantities are not sales target 
    disposal quantities. They are only a statement of the proposed maximum 
    disposal quantity of each material that may be sold in a particular 
    fiscal year. The quantity of each material that will actually be 
    offered for sale will depend on the market for the material at the time 
    as well as on the quantity of material approved for disposal by 
    Congress.
        The Committee requests that interested parties provide written 
    comments, supporting data and documentation, and any other relevant 
    information on the potential market impact of the sale of these 
    commodities. Although comments in response to this Notice must be 
    received by October 23, 1998 to ensure full consideration by the 
    Committee, interested parties are encouraged to submit additional 
    comments and supporting information at any time thereafter to keep the 
    Committee informed as to the market
    
    [[Page 50866]]
    
    impact of the sale of these commodities. Public comment is an important 
    element of the Committee's market impact review process.
        Public comments received will be made available at the Department 
    of Commerce for public inspection and copying. Material that is 
    national security classified or business confidential will be exempted 
    from public disclosure. Anyone submitting business confidential 
    information should clearly identify the business confidential portion 
    of the submission and also provide a non-confidential submission that 
    can be placed in the public file. Communications from agencies of the 
    United States Government will not be made available for public 
    inspection.
        The public record concerning this notice will be maintained in the 
    Bureau of Export Administration's Records Inspection Facility, Room 
    4525, U.S. Department of Commerce, 14th Street and Constitution Avenue, 
    NW, Washington, DC 20230, telephone (202) 482-5653. The records in this 
    facility may be inspected and copied in accordance with the regulations 
    published in part 4 of Title 15 of the Code of Federal Regulations (15 
    CFR 4.1 et seq.).
        Information about the inspection and copying of records at the 
    facility may be obtained from Ms. Margaret Cornejo, the Bureau of 
    Export Administration's Freedom of Information Officer, at the above 
    address and telephone number.
    
        Dated: September 18, 1998.
    Brad I. Botwin,
    Acting Director, Strategic Industries and Economic Security.
    
                                        Proposed FY 2000 and Revised FY 1999 AMPs
                        [The materials in bold and italic are under Congressional consideration]
    ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                        Current  FY     Revised  FY    Proposed  FY
                    Material                          Units           1998  quantity  1999  quantity  2000  quantity
    ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Aluminum...............................  ST                               62,881               0               0
    Aluminum Oxide, Abrasive...............  ST                                6,000           6,000           6,000
    Aluminum Oxide, Fused Crude............  ST                               30,000          65,000          65,000
    Analgesics.............................  AMA Lb                           64,127          40,000          40,000
    Antimony...............................  ST                                5,000           5,000           5,000
    Asbestos (all types)...................  ST                               20,000          20,000          20,000
    Bauxite, Metallurgical (Jamaican)......  LDT                           1,200,000       2,000,000       2,000,000
    Bauxite, Metallurgical (Surinam).......  LDT                             800,000       1,500,000       1,500,000
    Bauxite, Refractory....................  LCT                              80,000               0               0
    Beryl Ore..............................  ST                                2,000           2,000           2,000
    Beryllium Metal........................  ST                                    0              40              40
    Beryllium Copper Master Alloy..........  ST                                1,250           1,250           1,250
    Cadmium................................  LB                            1,200,000       1,200,000       1,200,000
    Celestite..............................  SDT                               3,600           3,600           3,600
    Chromite, Chemical.....................  SDT                             100,000         100,000         100,000
    Chromite, Metallurgical................  SDT                             250,000         250,000         250,000
    Chromite, Refractory...................  SDT                             100,000         100,000         100,000
    Chromium, Ferro........................  ST                               50,000         150,000         150,000
    Chromium, Metal........................  ST                                    0             500             500
    Cobalt.................................  LB Co                         6,000,000       6,500,000       6,500,000
    Columbium, Carbide Powder..............  LB Cb                                 0          21,500          21,500
    Columbium Concentrates (Minerals)......  LB Cb                                 0         200,000         200,000
    Columbium, Ferro.......................  LB Cb                           200,000         400,000         400,000
    Diamond, Bort..........................  CT                            1,000,000          65,000          65,000
    Diamond Dies, Small....................  PC                               25,473          25,473          25,473
    Diamond Stone..........................  CT                            1,000,000       1,000,000       1,000,000
    Fluorspar, Acid Grade..................  SDT                             180,000         100,000         100,000
    Fluorspar, Metallurgical...............  SDT                              50,000          50,000          50,000
    Germanium..............................  KG                                8,000           8,000           8,000
    Graphite...............................  ST                                2,660           3,760           3,760
    Indium.................................  TR Oz                            35,000          15,000          15,000
    Iodine.................................  LB                            1,000,000       1,000,000       1,000,000
    Jewel Bearings.........................  PC                           52,000,000      52,000,000      52,000,000
    Kyanite................................  SDT                               1,200             150             150
    Lead...................................  ST                               60,000          60,000          60,000
    Manganese, Battery Grade Natural.......  SDT                              20,000          30,000          30,000
    Manganese, Battery Grade Synthetic.....  SDT                               3,011           3,011           3,011
    Manganese, Chemical Grade..............  SDT                              40,000          40,000          40,000
    Manganese, Ferro.......................  ST                               50,000          50,000          50,000
    Manganese, Metal Electrolytic..........  ST                                2,000           2,000           2,000
    Manganese, Metallurgical Grade.........  SDT                             250,000         250,000         250,000
    Mercury................................  FL                               20,000          20,000          20,000
    Mica (All Types).......................  LB                            2,260,000       2,260,000       2,260,000
    Nickel.................................  ST                               10,000           2,500           2,500
    Palladium..............................  TR Oz                                 0         200,000         200,000
    Platinum...............................  TR Oz                                 0         125,000         125,000
    Quinidine..............................  Av Oz                           750,000         750,000         750,000
    Quinine................................  Av Oz                           750,000         750,000         750,000
    Rubber.................................  LT                                    0          70,000          70,000
    Sebacic Acid...........................  LB                              400,000         400,000         400,000
    Silicon Carbide........................  ST                                9,000           5,000           5,000
    Silver (for coinage)...................  Tr Oz                         9,000,000      10,000,000      10,000,000
    
    [[Page 50867]]
    
    Talc...................................  ST                                1,000           1,000           1,000
    Tantalum Carbide Powder................  LB Ta                             2,000           4,000           4,000
    Tantalum Metal Powder..................  LB Ta                                 0          50,000          50,000
    Tantalum Minerals......................  LB Ta                           100,000         200,000         200,000
    Tantalum Oxide.........................  LB Ta                                 0          20,000          20,000
    Thorium................................  LB                            1,000,000       1,000,000       1,000,000
    Tin....................................  MT                               12,000          12,000          12,000
    Titanium Sponge........................  ST                                4,000           5,000           5,000
    Tungsten, Carbide Powder...............  LB W                                  0       1,000,000       1,000,000
    Tungsten, Ferro........................  LB W                                  0         100,000         100,000
    Tungsten, Metal Powder.................  LB W                                  0         150,000         150,000
    Tungsten Ores & Concentrates...........  LB W                                  0       1,500,000       1,500,000
    Vegetable Tannin Extract, Chestnut.....  LT                                7,500           3,000           3,000
    Vegetable Tannin Extract, Quebrac......  LT                               10,000          10,000          10,000
    Vegetable Tannin Extract, Wattle.......  LT                               10,000           7,500           7,500
    Zinc...................................  ST                               50,000          50,000          50,000
    ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    
    [FR Doc. 98-25412 Filed 9-22-98; 8:45 am]
    BILLING CODE 3510-33-P
    
    
    

Document Information

Published:
09/23/1998
Department:
Export Administration Bureau
Entry Type:
Notice
Action:
Notice of request for public comment on the potential market impact of proposed disposals of excess commodities currently held in the National Defense Stockpile under the Fiscal Year 2000 Annual Materials Plan (AMP) and revisions to commodities proposed for disposal under the FY 1999 AMP.
Document Number:
98-25412
Dates:
Comments must be received by October 23, 1998.
Pages:
50865-50867 (3 pages)
PDF File:
98-25412.Pdf