[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 218 (Thursday, November 12, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 63286-63287]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-30157]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
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, U.S. Department of Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of request for public comment on the potential market
impact of proposed disposals of excess commodities from the National
Defense Stockpile. The Department of Defense plans to further revise
certain material quantities included in the proposed Fiscal Year (FY)
1999 and the FY 2000 Annual Materials Plans (AMP). Defense has
requested that the Committee consider the proposed revisions to the AMP
disposal levels.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: This notice is to advise the public that the National Defense
Stockpile Market Impact Committee seeks comments concerning the
potential market impact of disposals of excess materials from the
Stockpile. The Departments of Commerce and State co-chair the
Committee. The FY 1999 and proposed FY 2000 AMP materials under review
are Bauxite (refractory), Tungsten (Ferro), Columbium Metal Ingots,
Platinum-Iridium, and Tantalum Metal Ingots.
DATE: The Commerce Department must receive comments by December 14,
1998.
ADDRESSES: Please send all written comments 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, N.W., Washington, D.C.
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) 647-2871; co-chairs
of the National Defense Stockpile Market Impact Committee.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Department of Defense, 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. The stockpile
was established under the authority of the Strategic and Critical
Materials Stock Piling Act (50 U.S.C. 98 et seq.). Defense is required
by law to refrain from causing undue market disruption, while at the
same time protecting the U.S. Government against avoidable loss, when
disposing and acquiring materials.
The President appointed an Interagency Market Impact Committee (the
Committee) under the FY 1993 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA)
(50 U.S.C. 98h-1) 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 Committee requests that interested parties provide comment on
the potential market impact of the proposed revised disposals of these
commodities. This information will enhance the quality of advice that
the Committee offers to Defense.
The AMP listing below 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.
Proposed Revision to FY 1999 AMP and to Proposed FY 2000 AMP
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Current Revised Revised
Material Units FY 1999 FY 1999 FY 2000
quantity quantity quantity
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bauxite (Refractory)......... LCT..... 0 29,000 29,000
Columbium Metal Ingots....... Lb Cb... 0 20,000 20,000
Tantalum Metal Ingots........ Lb Ta... 0 40,000 40,000
Tungsten (Ferro)............. Lb W.... 100,000 400,000 400,000
Platinum-Iridium............. Tr Oz... 0 4,450 4,450
------------------------------------------------------------------------
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. Public comments in response to this Notice must be
received by December 14, 1998 to ensure the Committee's full
consideration. Interested parties are encouraged to submit additional
comments and supporting information at any time thereafter to keep the
Committee informed of any market impact resulting from 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
[[Page 63287]]
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 Mr. Henry Gaston, the Bureau of Export
Administration's Freedom of Information Officer, at the above address
and telephone number.
Dated: November 4, 1998.
R. Roger Majak,
Assistant Secretary for Export Administration.
[FR Doc. 98-30157 Filed 11-10-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-33-P
