[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 115 (Thursday, June 13, 1996)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 30013-30014]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-14851]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms
27 CFR Parts 0 and 70
[Notice No. 824]
RIN 1512-AB54
Recodification of the Statement of Procedural Rules in Part 70
(96R-007P)
AGENCY: Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF), Department of
the Treasury.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.
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SUMMARY: As part of a regulatory reform initiative, the Bureau of
Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) is proposing to revise the
statement of procedural rules in subpart E of 27 CFR Part 70, and
recodify this statement as a new part 0 of 27 CFR. ATF solicits
comments on its proposals and suggestions for further improvements in
the statement of procedural rules.
DATES: Written comments must be received by August 12, 1996.
ADDRESSES: Send written comments to: Chief, Wine, Beer and Spirits
Regulations Branch, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, P.O. Box
50221, Washington, DC 20091-0221, Attn: Notice No. 824. Copies of
written comments received in response to this notice of proposed
rulemaking will be available for public inspection during normal
business hours at: ATF Reference Library, Office of Public Affairs and
Disclosure, Room 6480, 650 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, DC
20226.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Marjorie D. Ruhf, Wine, Beer and
Spirits Regulations Branch, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms,
650 Massachusetts Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20226 (202-927-8230).
[[Page 30014]]
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
On February 21, 1995, President Clinton announced a regulatory
reform initiative. As part of this initiative, each Federal agency was
instructed to conduct a page by page review of all agency regulations
to identify those which are obsolete or burdensome and those whose
goals could be better achieved through the private sector, self-
regulation or state and local governments. In cases where the agency's
review disclosed regulations which should be revised or eliminated, the
agency would propose administrative changes to its regulations. In
addition, on April 13, 1995, the Bureau published Notice 809 (60 FR
18783) requesting comments from the public regarding which ATF
regulations could be improved or eliminated.
No specific comments were received in response to that notice
concerning the content or arrangement of the statement of procedural
rules in subpart E of 27 CFR Part 70. The Bureau, in its own review,
determined that the statement of procedural rules should be removed
from its present location and placed in a location which reflects its
unique function as a summary statement of the regulations and the
formal and informal procedures applicable to the activities conducted
under the laws administered and enforced by ATF. In addition, the
statement of procedural rules will soon need substantial revision to
reflect ongoing projects consolidating, eliminating and revising other
parts of the regulations. Finally, ATF wishes to improve the usefulness
of the statement of procedural rules to the public and regulated
industries as a guide to agency operations.
Proposed Changes
When the pending regulatory reform projects are complete, ATF plans
to revise the statement of procedural rules in order to provide current
descriptions and citations. At the same time, ATF proposes to move the
statement of procedural rules from its current location as sections
70.411 to 70.462 of subpart E of 27 CFR Part 70 to a new location as 27
CFR Part 0 at the beginning of 27 CFR for ease of use. We also plan to
restructure the statement. We believe the statement will be more
helpful and easier to use as a reference tool if it is divided into
more sections, to allow for better indexing, and arranged by commodity,
so that all provisions relating to a particular subject will be
together. For example, instead of having information pertaining to wine
labels mixed in with discussions of nonindustrial use of distilled
spirits and establishment of breweries, we will adopt an arrangement
which will place descriptions of all ATF procedural rules which affect
wine labeling together in one location.
Public Participation
ATF requests comments from all interested persons on the proposals
presented in this notice. We particularly request suggestions for any
additional information which should be placed in the statement of
procedural rules to make it more useful, and any suggestions for
arrangement or indexing of the information already contained in the
statement.
After consideration of all comments and suggestions, ATF may issue
a Treasury decision. The proposals discussed in this notice may be
modified due to comments and suggestions received.
Comments received on or before the closing date will be carefully
considered. Comments received after the closing date will be given the
same consideration if it is practical to do so, but assurance of
consideration cannot be given except as to comments received on or
before the closing date. ATF will not recognize any material or
comments as confidential. All comments submitted in response to this
notice will be available for public inspection. Any material that the
commenter considers confidential or inappropriate for disclosure to the
public should not be included in the comment. The name of the person
submitting the comment is not exempt from disclosure.
Executive Order 12866
It has been determined that this document is not a significant
regulatory action as defined in E.O. 12866; therefore, a regulatory
assessment is not required.
Regulatory Flexibility Act
It is hereby certified that these proposed regulations will not
have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small
entities. Accordingly, a regulatory flexibility analysis is not
required. The changes proposed are for the purpose of clarifying the
existing regulations and making them easier to use. No substantive
changes are proposed. Pursuant to section 7805(f) of the Internal
Revenue Code, this proposed regulation has been submitted to the Chief
Counsel for Advocacy of the Small Business Administration for comment
on its impact on small business.
Paperwork Reduction Act
Although the information collections described in sections 70.411
through 70.414, 70.431 and 70.433 of subpart E of Part 70 merely
summarize and reference the parts of Title 27 CFR where the information
collections are imposed, these sections were reviewed and approved by
the Office of Management and Budget under control numbers 1512-0141 and
1512-0472. These control numbers were in effect on October 1, 1995, the
effective date of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. Any comments on
these collections of information may be sent to the Office of
Management and Budget, Attention: Desk officer for the Department of
the Treasury, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, Office of
Information and Regulatory Affairs, Washington, DC 20503, with copies
to the Chief, Document Services Branch, Room 3450, Bureau of Alcohol,
Tobacco and Firearms, 650 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, DC
20226. No additional requirement to collect information is proposed in
this document.
Drafting Information: The principal author of this document is
Marjorie D. Ruhf of the Wine, Beer and Spirits Regulations Branch,
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms.
List of Subjects in 27 CFR Part 70
Administrative practice and procedure, Alcohol and alcoholic
beverages, Authority delegations, Bankruptcy, Claims, Disaster
assistance, Excise taxes, Firearms and ammunition, Government
employees, Law enforcement, Law enforcement officers, Penalties,
Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Seizures and forfeitures,
Surety bonds, Tobacco.
Authority: This notice of proposed rulemaking is issued under
the authority in 18 U.S.C. 847 and 926; 26 U.S.C. 7805; 27 U.S.C.
201-219a.
Signed: May 21, 1996.
John W. Magaw,
Director.
Approved: May 24, 1996.
John P. Simpson,
Deputy Assistant Secretary (Regulatory, Tariff and Trade Enforcement).
[FR Doc. 96-14851 Filed 6-12-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4810-31-U