2023-24048. Stanford University, et al.; Application(s) for Duty-Free Entry of Scientific Instruments

Pursuant to section 6(c) of the Educational, Scientific and Cultural Materials Importation Act of 1966 (Pub. L. 89–651, as amended by Pub. L. 106–36; 80 Stat. 897; 15 CFR part 301), we invite comments on the question of whether instruments of equivalent scientific value, for the purposes for which the instruments shown below are intended to be used, are being manufactured in the United States.

Comments must comply with 15 CFR 301.5(a)(3) and (4) of the regulations and be postmarked on or before November 21, 2023. Address written comments to Statutory Import Programs Staff, Room 3720, U.S. Department of Commerce, Washington, DC 20230. Please also email a copy of those comments to [e-mail].

Docket Number: 23–014. Applicant: Stanford University, Department of Neurosurgery, Ivan Soltesz Laboratory, 1201 Welch Road, Stanford, CA 94305. Instrument: 50 mW Fiber-coupled DPSS 473nm blue lasers (x5). Manufacturer: Shanghai Laser & Optics Century Co., Ltd., China. Intended Use: These lasers will be used to control the activity of neuronal populations in the brain of mice in order to study how altering the activity of specific neurons can lead to changes in mouse behavior and/or the emergence of pathological activity in the brain. Specifically, mice will be genetically induced to express particular optogenetic receptors in neuronal populations in the brain. These lasers will be used to deliver light into the brain via implanted fiberoptic cannula. The receptors, when activated by light, cause an increase in the activity of the neurons in which they are expressed. Lasers will be controlled through an external controller in order to only turn on in response to specific behaviors detected in the mouse. The goal of these studies is to identify specific populations of neurons responsible for the emergence of various behaviors and brain states. These insights will enable the identification of neuronal targets for future therapeutic intervention to treat various neurological disorders. Justification for Duty-Free Entry: According to the applicant, there are no instruments of the same general category manufactured in the United States. Application accepted by Commissioner of Customs, April 10, 2023.

Docket Number: 23–015. Applicant: University of Connecticut, 3107 Horsebarn Hill Road, Unit 4210, Storrs, CT 06269. Instrument: Swim Tunnel Respirometry Systems and Vertical Resting Respirometry Systems. Manufacturer: Loligo Systems, Denmark. Intended Use: Respirometry refers to the study of an organism's metabolic rates. For this research, water bath respirometry systems will be used to measure how the metabolic rates of small-bodied fish and bivalves (oysters, mussels, clams, etc.,) are influenced by the different environmental conditions including temperature change and the presence of chemical stressors such as contaminants. This scientific equipment order involves two complete swim tunnel respirometry systems (1,500 mL chamber size for small-bodied fish species) and four vertical respirometry chambers (bivalve species) which allow for the measure of an organism's metabolic rate by measuring oxygen consumption over time. This research falls under the broader scientific area of study known as organismal bioenergetics. The order is broken down into component parts (for example, chambers, pumps, tubing, temperature controls) which together comprise the complete respirometry systems. Justification for Duty-Free Entry: According to the applicant, there are no instruments of the same general category manufactured in the United States. Application accepted by Commissioner of Customs, April 22, 2023.

Dated: October 26, 2023.

Gregory W. Campbell,

Director, Subsidies and Economic Analysts, Enforcement and Compliance.