[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