[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 53 (Monday, March 18, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11063-11064]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-6394]



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DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

Drug Enforcement Administration
[DEA #144I]


Controlled Substances: 1996 Aggregate Production Quotas

AGENCY: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Justice.

ACTION: Interim notice establishing 1996 aggregate production quotas 
and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: This interim notice establishes revised 1996 aggregate 
production quotas for heroin and levorphanol, Schedules I and II 
controlled substances, as required under the Controlled Substances Act 
of 1970.

DATES: This is effective on March 18, 1996. Comments must be submitted 
on or before April 17, 1996.


[[Page 11064]]

ADDRESSES: Send comments or objections to the Administrator, Drug 
Enforcement Administration, Washington, D.C. 20537, Attn: DEA Federal 
Register Representative/CCR.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Howard McClain, Jr., Chief, Drug and Chemical Evaluation Section, Drug 
Enforcement Administration, Washington, D.C. 20537, (202) 307-7183.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 306 of the Controlled Substances 
Act, (21 U.S.C. 826), requires the Attorney General to establish 
aggregate production quotas for controlled substances in Schedules I 
and II each year. This responsibility has been delegated to the 
Administrator of the DEA pursuant to Section 0.100 of Title 28 of the 
Code of Federal Regulations. The Administrator, in turn, has 
redelegated this function to the Deputy Administrator of the DEA 
pursuant to Section 0.104 of Title 28 of the Code of Federal 
Regulations.
    The DEA established initial 1996 aggregate production quotas for 
controlled substances in Schedules I and II, including heroin and 
levorphanol, in a Federal Register notice published on November 21, 
1995 (60 FR 57808). Since publication of the initial 1996 aggregate 
production quotas, DEA has received information which necessitates an 
immediate increase in the initial 1996 aggregate production quotas for 
heroin and levorphanol. The initial 1996 aggregate production quotas 
for heroin was established at zero, however a company requires heroin 
for the manufacture of reference standards which are currently not 
available in the United States. The increase for levorphanol is 
necessary to meet the estimated 1997 through 2000 medical needs of the 
United States, since the only bulk manufacturer of levorphanol is 
discontinuing production in 1996. For these reasons, an interim notice 
is being published.
    Therefore, under the authority vested in the Attorney General by 
Section 306 of the Controlled Substances Act of 1970 (21 U.S.C. 826), 
delegated to the Administrator of the DEA by Section 0.100 of Title 28 
of the Code of Federal Regulations, and redelegated to the Deputy 
Administrator, pursuant to Section 0.104 of Title 28 of the Code of 
Federal Regulations, the Deputy Administrator hereby establishes the 
following revised 1996 aggregate production quotas for the listed 
controlled substances, expressed in grams of anhydrous base:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                            Established 
                       Basic class                         revised 1996 
                                                               quota    
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Heroin..................................................               5
Levorphanol.............................................          34,000
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    All interested persons are invited to submit their comments in 
writing regarding this interim notice.
    The Office of Management and Budget has determined that notices of 
aggregate production quotas are not subject to centralized review under 
Executive Order 12866. This action has been analyzed in accordance with 
the principles and criteria contained in Executive Order 12612, and it 
has been determined that this matter does not have sufficient 
federalism implications to warrant the preparation of a Federalism 
Assessment.
    The Deputy Administrator hereby certifies that this action will 
have no significant impact upon small entities whose interests must be 
considered under the Regulatory Flexibility Act, 5 U.S.C. 601, et seq. 
The establishment on annual aggregate production quotas for Schedules I 
and II controlled substances is mandated by law and by international 
treaty obligations. While aggregate production quotas are of primary 
importance to large manufacturers, their impact upon small entities is 
neither negative nor beneficial. Accordingly, the Deputy Administrator 
has determined that this action does not require a regulatory 
flexibility analysis.

Stephen H. Greene,
Deputy Administrator.
[FR Doc. 96-6394 Filed 3-15-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4410-09-M