[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 28 (Tuesday, February 11, 1997)] [Notices] [Pages 6166-6167] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 97-3334] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT Designation of New High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas AGENCY: Office of National Drug Contol Policy, Executive Office of the President. ACTION: Notice. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: This notice lists the five new High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTAs) designated by the Director, Office of National Drug Control Policy. HIDTAs are regions identified as having the most critical drug trafficking problems that adversely affect the United States. These new HIDTAs are designated pursuant to 21 U.S.C. 1504(c), as amended, to promote more effective coordination of drug control efforts. The additional resources provided by Congress enable task forces of local, State, and Federal officials to assess regional drug threats, design strategies to combat the threats, develop initiatives to implement the strategies, and evaluate effectiveness of these coordinated efforts. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Comments and questions regarding this notice should be directed to Mr. Richard Y. Yamamoto, Director, HIDTA, Office of National Drug Control Policy, Executive Office of the President, 750 17th Street N.W., Washington, D.C. 20503, (202) 395- 6755. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In 1990, the Director of ONDCP designated the first five HIDTAs. These original HIDTAs, areas through which most illegal drugs enter the United States, are Houston, Los Angeles, New York/New Jersey, South Florida, and the Southwest Border. In 1994, the Director designated the Washington/Baltimore HIDTA to address the extensive drug distribution networks serving hardcore drug users. Also in 1994, the Director designated Puerto Rico/U.S. Virgin Islands as a HIDTA based on the significant amount of drugs entering the United States through this region. In 1995, the Director designated three more HIDTAs in Atlanta, Chicago, and Philadelphia/Camden to target drug abuse and drug trafficking in those areas, specifically augmenting Empowerment Zone programs. The five new HIDTAs will build upon the effective efforts of previously established HIDTAs. In Fiscal Year 1997, the HIDTA program will receive $140 million in Federal resources. The program will support more than 150 co-located officer/agent task forces; strengthen mutually supporting local, State, and Federal drug trafficking and money laundering task forces; bolster information analysis and sharing networks; and, improve integration of law enforcement, drug treatment, and drug abuse prevention programs. The states and counties included in the five new HIDTAs are: (1) Cascade HIDTA: State of Washington; King, Pierce, Skagit, Snohomish, Thurston, Whatcom, and Yakima counties; (2) Gulf Coast HIDTA: State of Alabama; Baldwin, Jefferson, Mobile, and Montgomery counties; State of Louisiana; Caddo, East Baton Rouge, Jefferson, and Orleans parishes; and State of Mississippi; Hancock, Harrison, Hinds, and Jackson counties. (3) Lake County HIDTA: State of Indiana; Lake County. (4) Midwest HIDTA: State of Iowa; Muscatine, Polk, Pottawattamie, Scott, and Woodbury counties; State of Kansas; Cherokee, Crawford, Johnson, Labette, Leavenworth, Saline, Seward, and Wyandotte counties; State of Missouri; Cape Girardeau, Christian, Clay, Jackson, Lafayette, Lawrence, Ray, Scott, and St. Charles counties, and the city of St. Louis; State of Nebraska; Dakota, Dawson, Douglas, Hall, Lancaster, Sarpy, and Scott's Bluff counties; State of South Dakota; Clay, Codington, Custer, Fall River, Lawrence, Lincoln, Meade, Minnehaha, Pennington, Union, and Yankton counties. (4) Rocky Mountain HIDTA: State of Colorado; Adams, Arapahoe, Denver, Douglas, Eagle, El Paso, Garfield, Jefferson, La Plata, and Mesa counties; State of Utah; Davis, Salt Lake, Summit, Utah, and Weber counties; and State of Wyoming; Laramie, Natrona, and Sweetwater counties. [[Page 6167]] Signed at Washington, D.C. this 15th day of January, 1997. Barry R. McCaffrey, Director. [FR Doc. 97-3334 Filed 2-10-97; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3180-02-P