National Defense Stockpile Market Impact Committee Request for Public Comments on the Potential Market Impact of Proposed Stockpile Disposals in FY 2004 and FY 2005

Federal RegisterOct 16, 2003

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Bureau of Industry and Security

[Docket No. 030930242-3242-01]

National Defense Stockpile Market Impact Committee Request for Public Comments on the Potential Market Impact of Proposed Stockpile Disposals in FY 2004 and FY 2005

AGENCY:

U.S. Department of Commerce.

ACTION:

Notice of inquiry.

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 comments on the potential market impact of proposed changes in the disposal levels of excess materials under the Fiscal Year 2004 Annual Materials Plan and proposed disposal levels under the Fiscal Year 2005 Annual Materials Plan.

DATES:

Comments must be received by November 17, 2003.

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, Bureau of Industry and Security, U.S. Department of Commerce, 14th Street and Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20230; FAX (202) 482-5650; E-mail:

rmeyers@bis.doc.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

The co-chairs of the National Defense Stockpile Market Impact Committee. Contact either Richard V. Meyers, Office of Strategic Industries and Economic Security, Bureau of Industry and Security, U.S. Department of Commerce, (202) 482-3634; or James Steele, Office of Bilateral Trade Affairs, Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs, U.S. Department of State, (202) 647-2690.

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 Department of Homeland Security, 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 National Defense Stockpile Administrator is proposing (1) revision of the previously approved FY 2004 Annual Materials Plan (“AMP”) quantities for four materials, and (2) the new FY 2005 AMP, as set forth in Attachment 1. The Committee is seeking public comments on the potential market impact of the sale of these materials as proposed in the revision of

the FY 2004 AMP and the FY 2005 AMP.

The AMP quantities are not targets for either sale or disposal. They are only a statement of the proposed maximum disposal quantity of each listed 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 of the offering as well as on the quantity of each 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 November 17, 2003 to ensure full consideration by the Committee, interested parties are encouraged to submit comments and supporting information at any time thereafter to keep the Committee informed as to the market impact of the sale of these commodities. Public comments are 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. 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. The Committee will seek to protect such information to the extent permitted by law.

The records related to this Notice will be made accessible in accordance with the regulations published in Part 4 of Title 15 of the Code of Federal Regulations (15 CFR 4.1,

et seq.

). Specifically, the Bureau of Industry and Security's Freedom of Information Act (“FOIA”) reading room is located on its Web page, which can be found at

http://www.bis.doc.gov,

and copies of the public comments received will be maintained at that location (see Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) heading). If requesters cannot access the web site, they may call (202) 482-2165 for assistance.

Dated: October 9, 2003.

Matthew S. Borman,

Acting Assistant Secretary for Industry and Security, Bureau of Industry and Security, Department of Commerce.

Attachment 1—Proposed Revision to FY 2004 Annual Material Plan (AMP) and Proposed FY 2005 AMP

Material

Units

Current FY 2004 quantity

Revised FY 2004 quantity

Proposed FY 2005 quantity

Aluminum Oxide, Abrasive

6,000

Bauxite, Refractory

LCT

43,000

Beryl Ore

4,000

Beryllium Metal

Beryllium Copper Master Alloy

1,200

Cadmium

400,000

Celestite

SDT

12,794

6,000

Chromite, Chemical

SDT

100,000

Chromite, Refractory

SDT

100,000

Chromium, Ferro

150,000

110,000

Chromium, Metal

500

Cobalt

LB Co

6,000,000

Columbium Concentrates (Minerals)

LB Cb

560,000

Columbium Metal Ingots

LB Cb

20,000

Diamond Stone

600,000

400,000

Fluorspar, Acid Grade

SDT

12,000

Fluorspar, Metallurgical Grade

SDT

60,000

Germanium

8,000

Graphite

2,000

Iodine

1,000,000

Jewel Bearings

82,051,558

Kyanite

SDT

Lead

60,000

Manganese, Battery Grade Natural

SDT

30,000

Manganese, Battery Grade Synthetic

SDT

3,011

Manganese, Chemical Grade

SDT

40,000

Manganese, Ferro

50,000

Manganese, Metal Electrolytic

2,000

Manganese, Metallurgical Grade

SDT

250,000

Mica (All Types)

5,000,000

1,000,000

Palladium

Tr Oz

200,000

100,000

Platinum

Tr Oz

25,000

Platinum—Iridium

Tr Oz

6,000

Quartz Crystals

150,000

25,000

Quinidine

2,211,122

Sebacic Acid

600,000

Talc

1,000

Tantalum Carbide Powder

LB Ta

4,000

Tantalum Metal Ingots

LB Ta

40,000

Tantalum Metal Powder

LB Ta

40,000

Tantalum Minerals

LB Ta

500,000

Tantalum Oxide

LB Ta

20,000

20,0001

Thorium Nitrate

7,100,000

Tin

12,000

Titanium Sponge

7,000

Tungsten, Ferro

LB W

300,000

Tungsten, Metal Powder

LB W

300,000

Tungsten Ores & Concentrates

LB W

4,000,000

Vegetable Tannin Extract, Chestnut

250

Vegetable Tannin Extract, Quebracho

50,000

Vegetable Tannin Extract, Wattle

6,500

Zinc

50,000

Notes:

Actual quantity will be limited to remaining sales authority or inventory.

The radioactive nature of this material may restrict sales or disposal options. Efforts are underway to determine the environmentally and economically feasible disposition of the material.

Pending legislative authority.

[FR Doc. 03-26106 Filed 10-15-03; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3510-DR-P

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