[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 215 (Friday, November 6, 1998)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 59921-59922]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-29746]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY

Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms

27 CFR Parts 4, 19, 24, 194, 250 and 251

[Notice No. 869; Ref: Notice No. 859]
RIN 1512-AB71


Implementation of Public Law 105-34, Sections 908, 910 and 1415, 
Related to Hard Cider, Semi-generic Wine Designations, and Wholesale 
Liquor Dealers' Signs (97-2523)

AGENCY: Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF), Department of 
the Treasury.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking; reopening of comment period.

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SUMMARY: This notice reopens the comment period for Notice No. 859, a 
notice of proposed rulemaking, published in the Federal Register on 
August 21, 1998. ATF has received requests to extend the comment period 
in order to provide sufficient time for all interested parties to 
respond to the issues raised in the notice.

DATES: Written comments must be received on or before December 7, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments to: Chief, Regulations Division; 
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms; P.O. Box 50221; Washington, DC 
20091-0221; ATTN: Notice No. 859. See the Public Participation section 
of this notice for alternative means of commenting.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Marjorie D. Ruhf, Regulations 
Division, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, 650 Massachusetts 
Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20226 (202-927-8230), 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    On August 21, 1998, ATF published a temporary rule and an 
associated notice of proposed rulemaking in the Federal Register 
soliciting comments from the public and industry on three sections of 
the Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997, (Treasury Decision ATF-398, 63 FR 
44779, and Notice No. 859, 63 FR 44819).
    The comment period for Notice No. 859 closed on October 20, 1998. 
Prior to the close of the comment period ATF received requests from Ms. 
Cheryl A. Lau, a cider industry representative, Mr. Kirk Seggie, Winery 
Manager of Andres Wines (B.C.) Ltd., Mr. Kenton E. Kidd, of the 
California Apple Commission, and Mr. Thomas E. Dalldorf, Sr., Publisher 
of Celebrator Beer News, to extend the comment period for a short time. 
All these writers stated that potential commenters in the apple 
industry were in the middle of the apple harvest and would not be able 
to take time to provide the sort of historical and technical 
information requested in the notice. They suggested an extension until 
late November to afford these interested persons an opportunity to 
comment. In consideration of the above, ATF finds that a reopening of 
the comment period is warranted.

Public Participation

    ATF requests comments on the temporary regulations published in 
Treasury decision ATF-398 (63 FR 44779) from all interested persons. 
Comments received on or before the closing date will be carefully 
considered. Comments received after that date will be given the same 
consideration if it is practicable to do so, but assurance of 
consideration cannot be given except as to comments received on or 
before the closing date.
    Comments may be submitted by facsimile transmission (FAX) to (202) 
927-8602, provided the comments: (1) Are legible, (2) are 8\1/
2\'' x 11'' in size, (3) contain a written signature, and (4) are three 
pages or less in length. This limitation is necessary to assure 
reasonable access to the equipment. Comments sent by FAX in excess of 
three pages will not be accepted. Facsimile transmitted comments will 
be treated as originals.
    Comments may also be sent by electronic mail (e-mail) to 
[email protected], provided (1) the message is entitled 
``Comment on Notice No. 859; (2) the name and company affiliation, if 
any, of the commenter is contained in the body of the message; and (3) 
the message contains no attachments, special characters or encryption. 
E-mail comments will be printed and filed with comments submitted on 
paper and by facsimile transmission.
    Receipt of comments will not be acknowledged. ATF will not 
recognize any material in comments as confidential. Comments may be 
disclosed to the public. Any material which the commenter considers to 
be 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. During the comment period, any 
person may request an opportunity to present oral testimony at a public 
hearing. However, the Director reserves the right, in light

[[Page 59922]]

of all circumstances, to determine if a public hearing is necessary.

Disclosure

    Copies of this notice, Notice No. 859, and the written comments 
will be available for public inspection during normal business hours 
at: ATF Public Reading Room, Room 6480, 650 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, 
Washington, DC.

Drafting Information

    The author of this document is Marjorie D. Ruhf, Regulations 
Division, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms.

List of Subjects

27 CFR Part 4

    Advertising, Consumer protection, Customs duties and inspection, 
Imports, Labeling, Packaging and containers, Wine.

27 CFR Part 19

    Administrative practice and procedure, Alcohol and alcoholic 
beverages, Authority delegations, Chemicals, Claims, Customs duties and 
inspections, Electronic funds transfers, Excise taxes, Exports, 
Gasohol, Imports, Labeling, Liquors, Packaging and containers, Puerto 
Rico, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Research, Security 
measures, Spices and flavorings, Stills, Surety bonds, Transportation, 
Vinegar, Virgin Islands, Warehouses, Wine.

27 CFR Part 24

    Administrative practice and procedure, Authority delegations, 
Claims, Electronic fund transfers, Excise taxes, Exports, Food 
additives, Fruit juices, Labeling, Liquors, Packaging and containers, 
Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Research, Scientific 
equipment, Spices and flavoring, Surety bonds, Taxpaid wine bottling 
house, Transportation, Vinegar, Warehouses, Wine.

27 CFR Part 194

    Alcohol and alcoholic beverages, Authority delegations, Beer, 
Claims, Excise taxes, Exports, Labeling, Liquors, Packaging and 
containers, Penalties, Reporting requirements, Wine.

27 CFR Part 250

    Administrative practice and procedure, Alcohol and alcoholic 
beverages, Authority delegations (Government agencies), Beer, Claims, 
Customs duties and inspections, Drugs, Electronic funds transfers, 
Excise taxes, Foods, Liquors, Packaging and containers, Puerto Rico, 
Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Spices and flavorings, Surety 
bonds, Transportation, Wine.

27 CFR Part 251

    Administrative practice and procedure, Alcohol and alcoholic 
beverages, Authority delegations, Beer, Customs duties and inspections, 
Excise taxes, Imports, Labeling, Liquors, Packaging and containers, 
Perfume, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Transportation, 
Wine.

Authority and Issuance

    This notice is issued under the authority in 26 U.S.C. 5301, 7805, 
and 27 U.S.C. 205.

    Signed: October 29, 1998.
John W. Magaw,
Director.
[FR Doc. 98-29746 Filed 11-5-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4810-31-U