[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 169 (Wednesday, September 1, 1999)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 47666-47669]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-22768]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Bureau of Export Administration

15 CFR Parts 742 and 774

[Docket No. 990811214-9214-01]
RIN 0694-AB79


Exports and Reexports of Commercial Charges and Devices 
Containing Energetic Materials

AGENCY: Bureau of Export Administration, Commerce.

ACTION: Interim rule with request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The Bureau of Export Administration (BXA) maintains the 
Commerce Control List (CCL), which identifies those items subject to 
the Department of Commerce export controls. This interim rule amends 
the CCL by revising and clarifying controls on certain commercial 
charges and devices containing energetic materials commonly used in 
mining and oil well development as well as in air bags and fire 
extinguishers and also certain pyrotechnic/explosive devices, of the 
type commonly used by the U.S. motion picture and television industry. 
Specifically, this rule revises Export Control Classification Numbers 
(ECCNs) 1C018 and 1C992 to better distinguish the types of charges and 
explosive devices controlled by these entries and to provide clear 
thresholds of control. Military explosive devices or charges that 
utilize United States Munitions List (USML) controlled energetic 
materials are subject to the export licensing authority of the 
Department of State. In addition, individual USML controlled energetic 
materials, even when compounded with other materials, are subject to 
the export licensing authority of the Department of State, when not 
incorporated into explosive devices or charges controlled by ECCNs 
1C018 or 1C992. Commercial charges and devices containing energetic 
materials that are not subject to the export licensing authority of the 
Department of State or are not controlled by ECCN 1C018 are controlled 
by ECCN 1C992 for anti-terrorism reasons.
    This rule removes ECCN 1C998. Items previously controlled by ECCN 
1C998 have been moved to ECCN 1C992.
    In addition, this rule corrects an inadvertent error to License 
Exception LVS for ECCN 0A018 that was published on July 14, 1998 (63 FR 
37767).

DATES: Effective Date: This rule is effective September 1, 1999.

COMMENT DATES: Comments on this rule must be received on or before 
October 18, 1999.

ADDRESSES: Written comments on this rule should be sent to Hillary 
Hess, Regulatory Policy Division, Bureau of Export Administration, 
Department of Commerce, P.O. Box 273, Washington, DC 20044.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tanya Mottley, Director, Strategic 
Trade Division, Bureau of Export Administration, Telephone: (202) 482-
1837.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    Although the Export Administration Act (EAA) expired on August 20, 
1994, the President invoked the International Emergency Economic Powers 
Act and continued in effect, the Export Administration Regulations and, 
to the extent permitted by law, the provisions of the EAA in Executive 
Order 12924 of August 19, 1994, as extended by the President's notices 
of August 15, 1995 (60 FR 42767), August 14, 1996 (61 FR 42527), August 
13, 1997 (62 FR 43629), August 13, 1998 (63 FR 44121), and August 10, 
1999 (64 FR 44101, August 13, 1999.

Rulemaking Requirements

    1. This interim rule has been determined to be not significant for 
purposes of E.O. 12866.
    2. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no person is 
required to, nor shall any person be subject to a penalty for failure 
to comply with a collection of information, subject to the Paperwork 
Reduction Act (PRA), unless that collection of information displays a 
currently valid OMB Control Number. This rule involves a collection of 
information approved by the Office of Management and Budget under 
control number 0694-0088, ``Multi-Purpose Application,'' which carries 
a burden hour estimate of 45 minutes manually per submission and 40 
minutes electronically, per submission. These estimates include the 
time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, 
gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing 
the collections of information. Send comments regarding these burden 
estimates or any other aspect of these collections of information, 
including suggestions for reducing the burden, to OMB Desk Officer, New 
Executive Office Building, Washington, DC 20503; and to the Regulatory 
Policy Division, Bureau of Export Administration, Department of

[[Page 47667]]

Commerce, P.O. Box 273, Washington, DC 20044 .
    3. This rule does not contain policies with Federalism implications 
sufficient to warrant preparation of a Federalism assessment under 
Executive Order 12612.
    4. The provisions of the Administrative Procedure Act (5 U.S.C. 
553) requiring notice of proposed rulemaking, the opportunity for 
public participation, and a delay in effective date, are inapplicable 
because this regulation involves a military and foreign affairs 
function of the United States (Sec. 5 U.S.C. 553(a)(1)). Further, no 
other law requires that a notice of proposed rulemaking and an 
opportunity for public comment be given for this interim rule. Because 
a notice of proposed rulemaking and an opportunity for public comment 
are not required to be given for this rule under 5 U.S.C. 553 or by any 
other law, the analytical requirements of the Regulatory Flexibility 
Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.) are not applicable.
    However, because of the importance of the issues raised by these 
regulations, this rule is being issued in interim form and BXA will 
consider comments in the development of the final regulations.
    Accordingly, the Department encourages interested persons who wish 
to comment to do it at the earliest possible time to permit the fullest 
consideration of their views.
    The period for submission of comments will close October 18, 1999. 
The Department will consider all comments received before the close of 
the comment period in developing final regulations. Comments received 
after the end of the comment period will be considered if possible, but 
their consideration cannot be assured. The Department will not accept 
public comments accompanied by a request that a part or all of the 
material be treated confidentially because of its business proprietary 
nature or for any other reason. The Department will return such 
comments and materials to the persons submitting the comments and will 
not consider them in the development of final regulations. All public 
comments on these regulations will be a matter of public record and 
will be available for public inspection and copying. In the interest of 
accuracy and completeness, the Department requires comments in written 
form.
    Oral comments must be followed by written memoranda, which will 
also be a matter of public record and will be available for public 
review and copying. Communications from agencies of the United States 
Government or foreign governments will not be available for public 
inspection.
    The public record concerning these regulations will be maintained 
in the Bureau of Export Administration Freedom of Information Records 
Inspection Facility, Room 6883, Department of Commerce, 14th Street and 
Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20230. Records in this 
facility, including written public comments and memoranda summarizing 
the substance of oral communications, may be inspected and copied in 
accordance with regulations published in part 4 of Title 15 of the Code 
of Federal Regulations. Information about the inspection and copying of 
records at the facility may be obtained from Henry Gaston, Bureau of 
Export Administration Freedom of Information Officer, at the above 
address or by calling (202) 482-0500.

List of Subjects

15 CFR Part 742

    Exports, Foreign trade.

15 CFR Part 774

    Exports, Foreign trade, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.

    Accordingly, parts 742 and 774 of the Export Administration 
Regulations (15 CFR parts 730-799) are amended as follows:
    1. The authority citation for part 742 is revised to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 50 U.S.C. app. 2401 et seq.; 50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.; 
18 U.S.C. 2510 et seq.; 22 U.S.C. 3201 et seq.; 42 U.S.C. 2139a; 
E.O. 12058, 43 FR 20947, 3 CFR, 1978 Comp., p. 179; E.O. 12851, 3 
CFR, 1993 Comp., p. 608; E.O. 12924, 59 FR 43437, 3 CFR, 1994 Comp., 
p. 917; E.O. 12938, 3 CFR, 1994 Comp., p. 950; E.O. 13020, 3 CFR, 
1996 Comp. p. 219; E.O. 13026, 3 CFR, 1996 Comp., p. 228; Notice of 
August 13, 1997 (62 FR 43629, August 15, 1997); Notice of August 13, 
1998 (63 FR 44121, August 13, 1998); and Notice of August 10, 1999 
(64 FR 44101, August 13, 1999).

    2. The authority citation for part 774 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 50 U.S.C. app. 2401 et seq.; 50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.; 
10 U.S.C. 720; 10 U.S.C. 7430(e); 18 U.S.C. 2510 et seq.; 22 U.S.C. 
287c; 22 U.S.C. 3201 et seq.; 22 U.S.C. 6004; 30 U.S.C. 185(s), 
185(u); 42 U.S.C. 2139a; 42 U.S.C. 6212; 43 U.S.C. 1354; 46 U.S.C. 
app. 466c; 50 U.S.C. app. 5; E.O. 12924, 59 FR 43437, 3 CFR, 1994 
Comp., p. 917; Notice of August 15, 1995, 60 FR 42767, 3 CFR, 1995 
Comp., p. 501; Notice of August 14, 1996, 61 FR 42527, 3 CFR, 1996 
Comp., p. 298; Notice of August 13, 1997, 62 FR 43629, 3 CFR, 1997 
Comp. p. 306; Notice of August 13, 1998, 63 FR 44121, 3 CFR, 1998 
Comp. p. 294; and Notice of August 10, 1999 (64 FR 44101, August 13, 
1999).

PART 742--[AMENDED]

    3. Section 742.9 is amended by adding a new paragraph (b)(1)(vii), 
to read as follows:


Sec. 742.9  Anti-terrorism: Syria

* * * * *
    (b) * * *
    (1) * * *
    (vii) Commercial charges and devices controlled under ECCN 1C992.
* * * * *
    4. Section 742.10 is amended by adding a new paragraph (b)(1)(vii), 
to read as follows:


Sec. 742.10  Anti-terrorism: Sudan

* * * * *
    (b) * * *
    (1) * * *
    (vii) Commercial charges and devices controlled under ECCN 1C992.
* * * * *

PART 774--[AMENDED]

    5. In Supplement No. 1 to part 774, the Commerce Control List, 
Category 0 (Nuclear Materials, Facilities, and Equipment [and 
Miscellaneous Items]), Export Control Classification Number (ECCN) 
0A018 is amended by revising the License Exceptions section to read as 
follows:


0A018  Items on the International Munitions List.

* * * * *

LICENSE EXCEPTIONS

LVS:
    $5000 for 0A018.a and .b
    $3000 for 0A018.c
    $1500 for 0A018.d through .f
    $0 for Rwanda and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Serbia and 
Montenegro)
GBS: N/A
CIV: N/A
* * * * *
    6. In Supplement No. 1 to part 774, the Commerce Control List, 
Category 1 (Materials, Chemicals, Microorganisms, and Toxins), the 
following Export Control Classification Numbers (ECCNs) are amended:
    a. By revising the entry heading and the List of Items Controlled 
section ECCN 1C018;
    b. By revising ECCN 1C992; and
    c. By removing ECCN 1C998, to read as follows:


1C018  Commercial charges and devices containing energetic materials on 
the International Munitions List.

* * * * *

List of Items Controlled

    Unit: Number.

[[Page 47668]]

    Related Controls: (1) Explosive devices or charges that utilize 
USML controlled energetic materials (See 22 CFR 121.1, Category V) are 
subject to the licensing authority of the U.S. Department of State, 
Office of Defense Trade Controls if they have been specifically 
designed, developed, configured, adapted, or modified for a military 
application. (2) With the exception of slurries, cutters and severing 
tools, if the USML controlled materials utilized in devices and charges 
controlled by this entry can be easily extracted without destroying the 
device or charge, then they are subject to the export licensing 
authority of the U.S. Department of State, Office of Defense Trade 
Controls. (3) Commercial prefabricated slurries and emulsions 
containing greater than 35% of USML controlled energetic materials are 
subject to the export licensing authority of the U.S. Department of 
State, Office of Defense Trade Control. (4) The individual USML 
controlled energetic materials, even when compounded with other 
materials, remain subject to the export licensing authority of the 
Department of State when not incorporated into explosive devices or 
charges controlled by this entry or 1C992. (5) See also ECCNs 1C011, 
1C111, and 1C239 for additional controlled energetic materials.
    Related Definitions: (1) For purposes of this entry, the term 
``controlled materials'' means controlled energetic materials (see 
ECCNs 1C011, 1C111, 1C239 and 22 CFR 121.1, Category V). (2) For 
purposes of this entry, the mass of aluminum powder, potassium 
perchlorate, and any of the substances listed in the note to the USML 
(see 22 CFR Part 121.12) (such as ammonium pictrate, black powder, 
etc.) contained in commercial explosive devices and in the charges are 
omitted when determining the total mass of controlled material.
    Items:
    a. Shaped charges specially designed for oil well operations, 
utilizing one charge functioning along a single axis, that upon 
detonation produce a hole; and

a.1. Contain any controlled materials;
a.2. Have a uniform shaped conical liner with an included angle of 90 
degrees or less;
a.3. Have more than 0.090 kg but not more that 2.0 kg of controlled 
materials; and
a.4. Have a diameter not exceeding 4.5 inches.

    b. Detonating cord or shock tubes containing greater than 0.064 kg 
per meter (300 grains per foot), but not more than 0.1 kg per meter 
(470 grains per foot) of controlled materials;
    c. Cartridge power devices containing greater than 0.70 kg, but not 
more than 1.0 kg of controlled materials;
    d. Detonators (electric or nonelectric) and assemblies thereof 
containing greater than 0.01 kg, but not more than 0.1 kg of controlled 
materials;
    e. Igniters containing greater than 0.01 kg, but not more than 0.1 
kg of controlled materials;
    f. Oil well cartridges containing greater than 0.015 kg, but not 
more than 0.1 kg of controlled materials;
    g. Commercial cast or pressed boosters containing greater than 1.0 
kg, but not more than 5.0 kg of controlled materials;
    h. Commercial prefabricated slurries and emulsions containing 
greater than 10 kg and less than or equal to thirty-five percent by 
weight of USML controlled materials;
    i. Cutters and severing tools containing greater than 3.5 kg, but 
not more than 10 kg of controlled materials;
    j. Pyrotechnic devices when designed exclusively for commercial 
purposes (e.g., theatrical stages, motion picture special effects, and 
fireworks displays), and containing greater than 3.0 kg, but not more 
than 5.0 kg of controlled materials; or
    k. Other commercial explosive devices and charges, not controlled 
by 1C018.a through g above, when used for commercial applications and 
containing greater than 1.0 kg but not more than 5.0 kg of controlled 
materials.


1C992  Commercial charges and devices containing energetic materials, 
n.e.s.

License Requirements

    Reason for Control: AT, UN.

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               Control(s)                         Country chart
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AT applies to entire entry.............  AT Column 1
UN applies to 1C992. b through k.......  Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
                                          (Serbia and Montenegro)
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License Exceptions

LVS: N/A
GBS: N/A
CIV: N/A

List of Items Controlled

    Unit: $ value.
    Related Controls: Commercial charges and devices containing USML 
controlled energetic materials that exceed the quantities noted or that 
are not covered by this entry are controlled under 1C018.
    Related Definitions: (1) Items controlled by this entry 1C992 are 
those materials not subject to the licensing authority of the U.S. 
Department of State, Office of Defense Trade Controls (see 22 CFR part 
121) or controlled by ECCN 1C018. (2) For purposes of this entry, the 
term ``controlled materials'' means controlled energetic materials (see 
ECCNs 1C011, 1C111, 1C239 and 22 CFR 121.1, Category V). (3) The 
individual USML controlled energetic materials, even when compounded 
with other materials, remain subject to the export licensing authority 
of the Department of State when not incorporated into explosive devices 
or charges controlled by this entry. (4) Commercial prefabricated 
slurries and emulsions containing greater than 35% of USML controlled 
energetic materials are subject to the export licensing authority of 
the U.S. Department of State, Office of Defense Trade Control. (5) For 
purposes of this entry, the mass of aluminum powder, potassium 
perchlorate, and any of the substances listed in the note to the USML 
(see 22 CFR 121.12) (such as ammonium pictrate, black powder, etc.) 
contained in commercial explosive devices and in the charges are 
omitted when determining the total mass of controlled material.
    Items:
    a. Shaped charges specially designed for oil well operations, 
utilizing one charge functioning along a single axis, that upon 
detonation produce a hole, and

 a.1. Contain any formulation of controlled materials;
a.2. Have only a uniform shaped conical liner with an included angle of 
90 degrees or less;
a.3. Contain more than 0.010 kg but less than or equal to 0.090 kg of 
controlled materials; and
a.4. Have a diameter not exceeding 4.5 inches;

    b. Shaped charges specially designed for oil well operations 
containing less than or equal to 0.010 kg of controlled materials;
    c. Detonation cord or shock tubes containing less than or equal to 
0.064 kg per meter (300 grains per foot) of controlled materials;
    d. Cartridge power devices, that contain less than or equal to 0.70 
kg of controlled materials in the deflagration material;
    e. Detonators (electric or nonelectric) and assemblies thereof, 
that contain less than or equal to 0.01 kg of controlled materials;
    f. Igniters, that contain less than or equal to 0.01 kg of 
controlled materials;
    g. Oil well cartridges, that contain less than or equal to 0.015 kg 
of controlled energetic materials;

[[Page 47669]]

    h. Commercial cast or pressed boosters containing less than or 
equal to 1.0 kg of controlled materials;
    i. Commercial prefabricated slurries and emulsions containing less 
than or equal to 10.0 kg and less than or equal to thirty-five percent 
by weight of USML controlled materials;
    j. Cutters and severing tools containing less than or equal to 3.5 
kg of controlled materials;
    k. Pyrotechnic devices when designed exclusively for commercial 
purposes (e.g., theatrical stages, motion picture special effects, and 
fireworks displays) and containing less than or equal to 3.0 kg of 
controlled materials; or
    l. Other commercial explosive devices and charges not controlled by 
1C992.a through .k containing less than or equal to 1.0 kg of 
controlled materials.

    Note: 1C992.l includes automotive safety devices; extinguishing 
systems; cartridges for riveting guns; explosive charges for 
agricultural, oil and gas operations, sporting goods, commercial 
mining, or public works purposes; and delay tubes used in the 
assembly of commercial explosive devices.

    Dated: August 27, 1999.
Iain S. Baird,
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Export Administration.
[FR Doc. 99-22768 Filed 8-31-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-33-P