Search Results for keywords:"Commerce Department"

The National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), part of the Commerce Department, is inviting public comments on the collection of information related to permits for scientific research and enhancement under the Endangered Species Act. They are specifically looking for input on whether the collected information is useful, the time and cost involved, and how the reporting can be made easier. Comments must be submitted by February 18, 2025, and the feedback will help NOAA in managing information collection more effectively while ensuring that activities have minimal impact on endangered species.

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) announced a change in the fee rate for the Pacific Coast Groundfish fishery to help repay a loan related to their fishing capacity reduction program. Starting January 1, 2025, the fee rate will be lowered from 3.5% to 2.25% for all groundfish landings. This adjustment is necessary to make sure the loan is paid off within the planned 30-year period. Payments for these fees will be due by February 14, 2025.

The United States Patent and Trademark Office, part of the Department of Commerce, is requesting comments on the information collection for the admission and roster of registered patent attorneys and agents. This process involves a series of forms required for registration, reinstatement, and practice before the USPTO. The estimated total annual burden for respondents is 18,188 hours, with an additional non-hour cost of $875,706. The submissions help the USPTO assess the qualifications of individuals wishing to represent applicants in patent processes.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is seeking public comments on its information collection activities related to the U.S. Pacific Highly Migratory Hook and Line Logbook. These activities require U.S. fishermen who hold a permit to complete and submit logbooks documenting their fishing activities. The public has 60 days to provide input on this collection process, which aims to assess and minimize the reporting burden on respondents. The information gathered will support fisheries management and negotiations with foreign nations on highly migratory species.

The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is asking for public comments on keeping and revising an information collection related to the National Medal of Technology and Innovation Nomination Application. They aim to gather opinions on the necessity, burden, and practicality of the information being collected. The comments are meant to help improve the collection process. The USPTO expects that completing the application will take about 40 hours, and there are no associated costs for respondents.

The U.S. Department of Commerce has updated its regulations to improve the management of antidumping and countervailing duty (AD and CVD) laws. These changes aim to make the rules clearer and increase transparency by detailing how duties are applied and calculated. The amendments address issues like determining duty rates for nonmarket economies and handling subsidies from foreign governments. These new rules will take effect on January 15, 2025, to better enforce fair trade practices.

The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is seeking public comments on its information collection for the Patents for Humanity Program and Trademarks for Humanity Program, which are initiatives aimed at encouraging the use of patents and trademarks to address humanitarian issues. The Patents for Humanity Program incentivizes patent holders to distribute technology for humanitarian purposes, offering award certificates that can accelerate patent matters. In 2023, the USPTO introduced the Trademarks for Humanity Program, which recognizes brand owners using trademarks to tackle societal challenges. Public comments are invited on these programs to help the USPTO assess and reduce reporting burdens.

The Department of Commerce is collecting public comments on the Annual Business Survey (ABS), which gathers data to better understand business dynamics in the U.S. The survey, conducted by the Census Bureau, includes information on business owners' demographics, and research and development activities, particularly aiming to improve minority and disadvantaged groups' access to resources. For 2021, the survey will expand to cover more nonprofit organizations, adding to its 308,000 respondents. The collected data will support government programs and agencies, enhance business support services, and contribute to national economic analyses.

The Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), part of the Department of Commerce, has issued a notice regarding the mandatory Quarterly Survey of Transactions in Selected Services and Intellectual Property with Foreign Persons (BE-125). This survey collects data to measure the U.S.'s trade in services and its impact on the economy. U.S. individuals or organizations meeting certain sales or purchase thresholds with foreign persons are required to report. The survey must be submitted within 30 days after each fiscal quarter ends, except for the final quarter, which has a 45-day deadline. The survey process is approved by the Office of Management and Budget under control number 0608-0067.

The Department of Commerce is inviting comments on a survey designed to study how small- and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) are coping during the COVID-19 pandemic and planning for future disasters. This survey, known as the "Small and Medium-Sized Business Complex Event COVID-19 Survey (Wave 3)," is a part of ongoing research to understand business resilience. The feedback will be used to assess the impact of data collection and reduce any reporting burden on the public. Interested parties can comment until March 22, 2021, and participation in the survey is voluntary.