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827 Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 4 / Wednesday, January 7, 1998 / Notices C. 1993 European Commission Funds We initiated on this program based on information in the petition indicating that the EC may have funded bailouts for state-owned and private-owned steel producers in Italy. However, based on information submitted on the record of this proceeding, the EC was examining the GOI’s program. Therefore, it appears this program is identical to the Pre- Privatization Assistance program discussed above in the ‘‘Programs Preliminarily Determined To Be Countervailable’’ section of this notice. Verification In accordance with section 782(i) of the Act, we will verify the information submitted by respondents prior to making our final determination. Suspension of Liquidation In accordance with section 703(d)(1)(A)(i) of the Act, we have calculated individual rates for each of the companies under investigation. As discussed in the ‘‘Affiliated Parties’’ section of this notice, we calculated a single rate for Valbruna/Bolzano. To calculate the ‘‘all others’’ rate, we weight-averaged the company rates by each company’s exports of the subject merchandise to the United States. In accordance with section 703(d) of the Act, we are directing the U.S. Customs Service to suspend liquidation of all entries of certain stainless steel wire rod from Italy, which are entered or withdrawn from warehouse, for consumption on or after the date of the publication of this notice in the Federal Register, and to require a cash deposit or bond for such entries of the merchandise in the amounts indicated below. This suspension will remain in effect until further notice. We also note that pursuant to section 705(a)(1) of the Act, this investigation is now aligned with the antidumping investigations of certain stainless steel wire rod. Ad Valorem Rate Producer/Exporter Net sub- sidy rate % CAS ............................................... 30.47 Valbruna/Bolzano .......................... 1.22 All Others ...................................... 19.48 ITC Notification In accordance with section 703(f) of the Act, we will notify the ITC of our determination. In addition, we are making available to the ITC all nonprivileged and nonproprietary information relating to this investigation. We will allow the ITC access to all privileged and business proprietary information in our files, provided the ITC confirms that it will not disclose such information, either publicly or under an administrative protective order, without the written consent of the Assistant Secretary, Import Administration. If our final determination is affirmative, the ITC will make its final determination within 45 days after the Department makes its final determination. Public Comment In accordance with 19 CFR 351.310, we will hold a public hearing, if requested, to afford interested parties an opportunity to comment on this preliminary determination. The hearing is tentatively scheduled to be held on March 9, 1998, at the U.S. Department of Commerce, 14th Street and Constitution Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20230. Individuals who wish to request a hearing must submit a written request within 30 days of the publication of this notice in the Federal Register to the Assistant Secretary for Import Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, Room B– 099, 14th Street and Constitution Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC 20230. Parties should confirm by telephone the time, date, and place of the hearing 48 hours before the scheduled time. Requests for a public hearing should contain: (1) the party’s name, address, and telephone number; (2) the number of participants; and, (3) to the extent practicable, an identification of the arguments to be raised at the hearing. In addition, six copies of the business proprietary version and six copies of the nonproprietary version of the case briefs must be submitted to the Assistant Secretary no later than 50 days from the date of publication of the preliminary determination. As part of the case brief, parties are encouraged to provide a summary of the arguments not to exceed five pages and a table of statutes, regulations, and cases cited. Six copies of the business proprietary version and six copies of the nonproprietary version of the rebuttal briefs must be submitted to the Assistant Secretary no later than 55 days from the date of publication of the preliminary determination. An interested party may make an affirmative presentation only on arguments included in that party’s case or rebuttal briefs. Written arguments should be submitted in accordance with 19 CFR 351.309 and will be considered if received within the time limits specified above. This determination is published pursuant to section 703(f) of the Act. Dated: December 29, 1997. Robert S. LaRussa, Assistant Secretary for Import Administration. [FR Doc. 98–271 Filed 1–6–98; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–DS–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration [I.D. 122297C] Corals and Reef Associated Plants and Invertebrates of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare a draft supplemental environmental impact statement (DSEIS); request for comments. SUMMARY: NMFS announces the intent of the Caribbean Fishery Management Council (Council) to prepare a DSEIS on Amendment 1 to the Fishery Management Plan for Corals and Reef Associated Plants and Invertebrates of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands (FMP). Amendment 1 would establish a Marine Conservation District (MCD), approximately 20 square nautical miles in area, in Federal waters south of St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI). The purpose of this notice is to solicit public comments on the scope of the issues to be addressed in the DSEIS. DATES: Written comments on the scope of the DSEIS must be received on or before February 6, 1998. ADDRESSES: Comments on the scope of the DSEIS and requests for additional information on Amendment 1 should be sent to Miguel A. Rolon, Executive Director, Caribbean Fishery Management Council, 268 Munoz Rivera Avenue, Suite 1108, San Juan, Puerto Rico 00918–2577. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Graciela Garcia-Moliner, 787–766–5926, or Georgia Cranmore, 813–570–5305. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In 1993, the Council’s Marine Reserve Zoning Committee recommended the establishment of the first MCD in the U.S. Caribbean, in Federal waters south of St. John, USVI, seaward of the Virgin Islands National Park. A MCD is an area designed to protect coral reef resources, reef fish stocks, and their habitats. Fishing would be prohibited within the MCD, and the Council is considering a ban on the anchoring of fishing vessels 828 Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 4 / Wednesday, January 7, 1998 / Notices in the MCD. Expected benefits include: (1) Establishment of a refuge and resource replenishment area to increase abundance and diversity of reef resources; (2) protection of critical spawning stock and recruits from overfishing, thus helping to ensure continued abundance of fishery resources; (3) physical protection of the coral reef structures; and (4) improvement of opportunities for eco- tourism that does not damage coral. Disadvantages include displacement of fishing effort to other areas and possible short-term loss of revenues for commercial fishermen, especially reef fish trap fishermen. Scoping Process Public hearings were held on these issues during March 1996 and October 1997 in the USVI. No additional scoping meetings are scheduled. The Council is requesting written comments on the scope of the issues to be addressed in the DSEIS. Timetable for DSEIS Preparation and Decisionmaking Schedule The Council intends to accept public comments on the completed DSEIS, prepare a final supplemental environmental impact statement (FSEIS), and submit the FSEIS to NMFS when it submits Amendment 1 for NMFS’ review, approval, and implementation. Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. Dated: December 31, 1997. Gary C. Matlock, Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 98–288 Filed 1–6–98; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–F DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration [Docket No. 97–1114270–7270–01; I.D. 111397A] RIN 0648–ZA35 Financial Assistance for Research and Development Projects in the Gulf of Mexico and Off the U.S. South Atlantic Coastal States; Marine Fisheries Initiative (MARFIN) AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: ACTION: Notice. SUMMARY: Subject to the availability of funds, NMFS will continue MARFIN to assist persons in carrying out research and development projects that optimize the use of fisheries in the Gulf of Mexico and off the South Atlantic States of North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida involving the U.S. fishing industry (recreational and commercial), including fishery biology, resource assessment, socio-economic assessment, management and conservation, selected harvesting methods, and fish handling and processing. NMFS issues this notice describing the conditions under which applications will be accepted and how NMFS will select applications for funding. Areas of emphasis for MARFIN were formulated from recommendations received from non-Federal scientific and technical experts, and from NMFS research and operations officials. DATES: Applications for funding under this program will be accepted between January 7, 1998 and 5 p.m. eastern daylight time on March 9, 1998. Applications received after that time will not be considered for funding. No facsimile applications will be accepted. Applications may be inspected at the NMFS Southeast Regional Office (see ADDRESSES) from March 13, 1998, through March 16, 1998. ADDRESSES: Send applications to: Ellie Francisco Roche, Competitive Programs Manager, State/Federal Liaison Office, Southeast Regional Office, NMFS, 9721 Executive Center Drive, N., St. Petersburg, FL 33702. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ellie Francisco Roche, 813–570–5324. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: I. Authority The Secretary of Commerce (Secretary) is authorized under 15 U.S.C. 713c–3(d) to carry out a national program of research and development addressed to such aspects of U.S. fisheries (including, but not limited, to harvesting, processing, marketing and to associated infrastructures), if not adequately covered by projects assisted under 15 U.S.C. 713c–3(c), as the Secretary deems appropriate. II. Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) This program is described in the ‘‘Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance’’ (CFDA) under program number 11.433, Marine Fisheries Initiative. III. Program Description MARFIN is a competitive Federal assistance program that promotes and endorses programs that seek to optimize research and development benefits from U.S. marine fishery resources through cooperative efforts that involve the best research and management talents to accomplish priority activities. Projects funded under MARFIN are focused into cooperative efforts that provide answers for fishery needs covered by the NMFS Strategic Plan, available from the Southeast Regional Office (see ADDRESSES), particularly those goals relating to rebuilding overfished marine fisheries, maintaining currently productive fisheries, and integrating conservation of protected species and fisheries management. Emphasis will be placed upon funding projects that have the greatest probability of recovering, maintaining, improving, or developing fisheries; improving the understanding of factors affecting recruitment success; and/or generating increased values and recreational opportunities from fisheries. Projects will be evaluated as to the likelihood of achieving these benefits through both short- and long- term research efforts, with consideration of the magnitude of the eventual economic or social benefits that may be realized. Short-term projects that may yield more immediate benefits and projects yielding longer-term benefits will receive equal consideration. IV. Funding Availability This solicitation announces that funding of approximately $1.10 million may be available in fiscal year (FY) 1998. MARFIN financial assistance started in FY 1986 for financial assistance to conduct research for fishery resources in the Gulf of Mexico and off the South Atlantic states of North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida. There is no guarantee that sufficient funds will be available to make awards for all approved projects. Project proposals accepted for funding for a project period over 1 year that include multiple project components and severable tasks to be funded during each budget period will not compete for funding in subsequent budget periods within the approved project period. However, funding for subsequent project components is contingent upon the availability of funds from Congress and satisfactory performance and will be at the sole discretion of the agency. Publication of this notice does not obligate NMFS to award any specific cooperative agreement or to obligate all or any parts of the available funds. V. Matching Requirements Applications must reflect the total budget necessary to accomplish the project, including contributions and/or donations. Cost-sharing is not required