Federal Register Roundup: Fisheries, Trade, Veterinary Biologics, and Agency Personnel Actions

Queets River Chinook Salmon Rebuilding Plan Takes Effect

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has published a final rule implementing a rebuilding plan for the overfished Queets River Spring/Summer Chinook salmon stock, effective October 28, 2026. The rule amends 50 CFR part 660 and was developed in response to NMFS's October 2023 determination that the stock met the overfished criteria of the Pacific Coast Salmon Fishery Management Plan (FMP) and the Magnuson-Stevens Act. According to the rule, "overfished" is defined in the FMP as when the 3-year geometric mean of a salmon stock's annual spawning escapements falls below the minimum stock size threshold (MSST). The rule states that the 3-year geometric mean spawning escapement for Queets sp/su Chinook salmon for the 2019–2021 period was 314, which is less than the stock's MSST of 350.

The rebuilding plan was recommended by the Pacific Fishery Management Council and transmitted to NMFS for approval and implementation. NMFS published a proposed rule on February 19, 2026, and solicited public comments through March 23, 2026. The agency received four public comments during the open comment period; according to the rule, all comments addressed matters outside the scope of the rulemaking and no changes were made to the final rule in response to public comments. The rule adds paragraph (b) to 50 CFR § 660.413, specifying that the Queets River Natural Spring/Summer Chinook salmon stock will be considered rebuilt when the 3-year geometric mean of natural-area adult escapement meets or exceeds S-MSY, the default criterion in the Salmon FMP. The rule notes that it was developed after consultation with Tribal officials on the Council and the Northwest Indian Fish Commission, who agreed with the rebuilding plan.

ITC Schedules Final Phase of Tin Mill Products Trade Investigations

The International Trade Commission (ITC) has announced the scheduling of the final phase of antidumping and countervailing duty investigation Nos. 701-TA-792 and 731-TA-1786-1788, covering tin mill products from China, Taiwan, and Turkey. The investigations were requested in petitions filed on April 9, 2026, by United States Steel Corporation (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) and the United Steel, Paper and Forestry, Rubber, Manufacturing, Energy, Allied Industrial and Service Workers International Union (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania).

The final phase is being scheduled pursuant to sections 705(b) and 731(b) of the Tariff Act of 1930, following affirmative preliminary determinations by the Department of Commerce that certain benefits constituting subsidies are being provided to manufacturers, producers, or exporters in China of tin mill products. Commerce's preliminary determinations with respect to tin mill products from Taiwan and Turkey, alleged to be sold in the United States at less-than-fair-value, are described as pending. The Commission defines the subject merchandise as tin mill flat-rolled products coated or plated with tin, chromium, or chromium oxides — including tinplate (coated with tin) and tin-free steel or electrolytic chromium-coated steel (coated with chromium or chromium oxides) — across all thicknesses, widths, forms, and coating types. The scope excludes certain single-reduced electrolytically chromium-coated steel tape meeting seven specified technical requirements. Parties wishing to participate in the final phase must file an entry of appearance no later than 21 days prior to the hearing date, and all filings must be made electronically through the Commission's Electronic Document Information System (EDIS).

USDA Extends Veterinary Biologics Modernization Comment Period

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is extending by 20 days the public comment period on its Request for Information (RFI) seeking input on modernizing regulations in 9 CFR parts 101–118 and 123–124. The RFI was originally published on September 11, 2026, and established a 30-day comment period ending October 13, 2026. According to the notice, USDA received public input during the initial comment period asking for an extension, with the agency noting that additional time would allow for careful and thoughtful consideration on a multitude of subjects. The extended deadline for comments is now November 2, 2026.

The RFI is being conducted by USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) Center for Veterinary Biologics as it seeks to modernize its veterinary biologics regulations under the Virus-Serum-Toxin Act.

IRS Corrects Qualified Opportunity Zone Proposed Rule Deadline

The Internal Revenue Service has issued a correction to a proposed rule published on September 11, 2026, regarding information reporting for Qualified Opportunity Zones and updated Qualified Opportunity Fund certification and decertification procedures (affecting 26 CFR Parts 1 and 301). According to the correction notice, in the DATES section of that document, "October 16, 2026" should read "October 26, 2026."

NARA Appoints Performance Review Board Members

The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) has announced the appointment of members to its Senior Executive Service Performance Review Board (PRB), effective September 28, 2026. The appointed members are: Ovnelle Millwood, Chief Human Capital Officer; Jay Trainer, Chief Operating Officer; Valorie F. Findlater, Chief of Management and Administration; and Matt Dummermuth, General Counsel. The notice states that these appointments supersede all previous appointments.

The authority for the notice is 5 U.S.C. 4314(c), which requires each agency to establish one or more SES Performance Review Boards. According to the notice, the Board shall review the initial appraisal of a senior executive's performance by the supervisor and recommend final action to the appointing authority regarding matters related to senior executive performance. The notice was dated September 21, 2026, and signed by Bradford P. Wilson, Archivist of the United States.

What to Watch

• October 28, 2026 — NOAA's final rule implementing the Queets River Spring/Summer Chinook salmon rebuilding plan takes effect; parties wishing to participate in the ITC tin mill products final-phase investigations must file entries of appearance no later than 21 days before the hearing date.
• November 2, 2026 — Extended deadline for public comments on USDA's RFI on modernizing 9 CFR parts 101–118 and 123–124.
• October 26, 2026 — Corrected comment deadline for the IRS proposed rule on Qualified Opportunity Zone information reporting (as corrected from October 16, 2026).

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