[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 61 (Thursday, March 28, 1996)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 13763-13764]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-7364]



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DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
28 CFR Part 50

[AG ORDER NO. 2013-96]
RIN 1105-AA40


Removal of Procedures for Receipt and Consideration of Written 
Comments Submitted Under Subsection 2(b) of the Antitrust Procedures 
and Penalties Act

AGENCY: Department of Justice.


[[Page 13764]]

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This rule removes procedures for receipt and consideration of 
written comments submitted under subsection 2(b) of the Antitrust 
Procedures and Penalties Act from the Code of Federal Regulations. The 
regulation is unnecessary, and its removal will help to streamline the 
Code of Federal Regulations.

EFFECTIVE DATE: This final rule is effective March 28, 1996.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Howard Blumenthal, Assistant Chief, 
Legal Policy Section, Antitrust Division, Room 3121 Main Justice 
Building, 10th & Pennsylvania Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20530; 
telephone (202) 514-2513.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 28 CFR 50.13 was promulgated pursuant to 
section 2 of the Antitrust Procedures and Penalties Act (``Tunney Act'' 
or ``Act''), Pub. L. No. 93-528 (codified at 15 U.S.C. 16(b)-(h), as 
amended). The Tunney Act requires that the Department of Justice 
(``Department'') file proposed consent judgments in civil cases brought 
under the antitrust laws with the district court before which such 
cases are pending for a judicial determination that entry of such 
judgments would be in the public interest. At least 60 days prior to 
the effective date of any such judgment, the Department must publish in 
the Federal Register the proposed judgment and a competitive impact 
statement (``CIS'') setting forth certain additional information 
including the background of the violation, an explanation of the 
proposed consent judgment, and an evaluation of alternatives to the 
proposed judgment actually considered by the United States. Summaries 
of the judgment and CIS must also be published in several appropriate 
newspapers. Both the Federal Register and newspaper notices must 
solicit public comments concerning the proposed consent judgment. The 
Department must supply the court with, and publish in the Federal 
Register, copies of any comments received and the response of the 
Department of such comments.
    The Act requires the Attorney General or his designee to establish 
procedures to carry out the Act's provisions concerning the receipt and 
consideration of comments. 15 U.S.C. 16(d). In response, the Department 
promulgated 28 CFR 50.13, which provides that comments should be 
directed to the chief of the litigating section of the Antitrust 
Division (``Division'') to which the case is assigned, and sets out 
certain general procedures for handling such comments once they have 
been received by the Division.
    This regulation is not necessary, nor is it particularly helpful. 
First, while the regulation provides generally that comments should be 
sent to the chief of the section of the Antitrust Division handling the 
case, the name and address of the Division attorney to whom comments 
should be sent concerning particular proposed consent judgments is 
always set out in the Federal Register and newspaper notices requesting 
such comments. Second, more complete Division procedures for handling 
Tunney Act comments once they have been received than are set out in 28 
CFR 50.13 can be established by the Department without the need for a 
regulation, and these procedures can then be adjusted without the need 
formally to revise a regulation.
    Therefore, because 28 CFR 50.13 is unnecessary and is not required 
to be promulgated by the Tunney Act, the Department is removing this 
provision from the Code of Federal Regulations.

Administrative Procedure Act, 5 U.S.C. 553

    Because this regulation imposes no new requirements or 
restrictions, the Department of Justice finds good cause for exempting 
it from the provisions of the Administrative Procedure Act (5 U.S.C. 
553) requiring notice of proposed rulemaking, the opportunity for 
public comment, and delay in effective date.

Regulatory Flexibility Act

    The Attorney General, in accordance with the Regulatory Flexibility 
Act (5 U.S.C. 605(b)), has reviewed this regulation and by approving it 
certifies that this regulation will not have a significant economic 
impact on a substantial number of small entities.

Executive Order 12612

    This regulation will not have substantial direct effects on the 
states, on the relationship between the national government and the 
states, or on the distribution of power and responsibilities among the 
various levels of government. Therefore, in accordance with E.O. 12612, 
it is determined that this rule does not have sufficient federalism 
implications to warrant the preparation of a Federalism Assessment.

Executive Order 12866

    This regulation has been drafted and reviewed in accordance with 
E.O. 12866, Sec. 1(b), Principles of Regulation. The Department of 
Justice has determined that this rule is not a ``significant regulatory 
action'' under E.O. 12866, Sec. 3(f), and accordingly this rule has not 
been reviewed by the Office of Management and Budget.

List of Subjects in 28 CFR Part 50

    Administrative practice and procedure, Antitrust.

    Accordingly, for the reasons set forth in the preamble, part 50 of 
chapter I of title 28 of the Code of Federal Regulations is amended as 
follows:

PART 50--STATEMENTS OF POLICY

    1. The authority citation for part 50 is revised to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 5 U.S.C. 301, 552, 552a; 21 U.S.C. 881(f)(2); 28 
U.S.C. 508, 509, 510, 516, 517, 518, 519; E.O. 12250, 45 FR 72995, 3 
CFR, 1980 Comp., p. 298.


Sec. 50.13  [Removed]

    2. Section 50.13 is removed.

    Dated: March 19, 1996.
Janet Reno,
Attorney General.
[FR Doc. 96-7364 Filed 3-27-96; 8:45 am]
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