[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 229 (Tuesday, November 30, 1999)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 66769-66770]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-30905]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF STATE

22 CFR Part 22

[Public Notice 3163]


Bureau of Consular Affairs; Schedule of Fees for Consular 
Services, Department of State and Overseas Embassies and Consulates

AGENCY: Bureau of Consular Affairs, State Department.

ACTION: Final rule.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: This final rule amends the Department's Schedule of Fees for 
Consular Services by adding to regulations containing the list of 
certifications and fees and to regulations on the requests for services 
the certification of documents relating to births, marriages, and 
deaths of citizens of the United States and foreign nationals from 
records maintained by the former Canal Zone Government prior to 
September 30, 1979, and transferred as of December 1, 1999, from the 
Panama Canal Commission to the Department of State.

DATES: This rule becomes effective December 1, 1999.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: William Crawford, Passport Services 
Correspondence Branch, Bureau of Consular Affairs, Department of State, 
Washington, DC 20524, telephone (202) 955-0307; telefax (202) 955-0300.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    From 1904 until 1979, when the vital records function was 
transferred to the Republic of Panama, the U.S.-administered Canal Zone 
Government recorded all civil acts of birth, marriage and death of 
United States citizens and foreign nationals within the Canal Zone. The 
Panama Canal Commission was created in 1979 as an agency of the U.S. 
Government for the operation, management and improvement of the Canal 
Area. Since October 1, 1979, it has processed requests from the public 
for certified copies of certificates of birth, marriage or death 
recorded prior to September 30, 1979, concerning both United States 
citizens and foreign nationals born, married or deceased in the former 
Canal Zone while it was under United States administration.
    The Panama Canal Commission will cease to exist on December 31, 
1999, when the Canal Area is transferred to the Panama Canal Authority, 
a Panamanian agency. By December 1, 1999, the records will be 
transferred to the Department of State as the custodian for such 
documents issued abroad. This rule provides that, as successor 
custodian, the Department upon request will provide certified copies of 
those records, for both U.S. citizens and foreign nationals, under 
procedures similar to the certification of documents relating to 
births, marriages and deaths abroad of U.S. citizens issued by a U.S. 
Embassy or Consulate, and as currently provided for in the regulations. 
This rule also identifies the Department's office to which requests are 
to be made.
    Section 9701 of Title 31, United States Code requires charging a 
fee for services provided to individuals that are not generally for the 
benefit of all the public, and Executive Order 10718 of June 27, 1957, 
authorizes the Secretary of State to establish fees to be charged for 
official services by embassies and consulates. All consular fees and 
exemptions therefrom must be reflected in the Schedule of Fees for 
Consular Services. Therefore, the Department is revising paragraph (c) 
under item 36 (certifications) of 22 CFR Subchapter C--Fees and Funds, 
Part 22--Schedule of Fees for Consular Services--Department of State 
and Foreign Service, Sec. 22.1. The Department has established the fee 
for processing and

[[Page 66770]]

certifying Panama Canal Zone vital records at $20.00 for the initial 
certified copy under official seal, with a fee of $10.00 for each 
additional copy thereof, for each request. This fee is the same as the 
fee charged for the certification of consular records issued abroad for 
United States citizens, and reflects the actual costs incurred to 
provide this service.
    Since the rule provides a benefit to the class of affected persons 
for a fee that recovers the cost of the service, the Department has 
determined that prepublication notice and comment are unnecessary and 
is exempted by 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B), the ``good cause'' exemption.
    The Department does not consider this rule to be a major rule for 
purposes of E.O. 12291. These changes to the regulations are hereby 
certified as not expected to have a significant impact on a substantial 
number of small entities under the criteria of the Regulatory 
Flexibility Act, 5 U.S.C. 605(b). This rule does not impose information 
collection requirements under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction 
Act, 44 U.S.C., Chapter 35. Nor does the rule have federalism 
implications warranting the application of Executive Order No. 12372 
and No.13132. This rule is exempt from E.O. 12866, but the Department 
has reviewed the rule to ensure consistency with the objectives of the 
Executive Order, as well as with E.O. 12988, and the Office of 
Management and Budget has determined this rule would not constitute a 
significant regulatory action under E.O. 12866.

Final rule

List of Subjects in 22 CFR Part 22

    Foreign Service, Fees, Passports and visas.

    Accordingly, this rule amends 22 CFR Part 22 as follows:

PART 22--[AMENDED]

    1. The authority citation for Part 22 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 8 U.S.C. 1153 note. 1351, 1351 note; 22 U.S.C. 214, 
4201, 4206, 4215, 4219; 31 U.S.C. 9701; E.O. 10718, 22 FR 4632, 3 
CFR, 1954-1958 Comp., p. 382; E.O. 11295, 31 FR 10603, 3 CFR, 1966-
1970 Comp., p. 570.

    2. Section 22.1 is amended by revising paragraph (c) at item (36) 
to read as follows:


Sec. 22.1  Schedule of Fees

------------------------------------------------------------------------
           Item No.                               Fee
------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
*                  *                  *                  *
         *                  *                  *
                          Documentary Services
 
*                  *                  *                  *
         *                  *                  *
36. Certifications:
    (c) Certifying the fact    Fee: $20.00; each additional copy $10.00.
     of issuance of a Report
     of Birth Abroad of a
     Citizen of the United
     States and certifying
     copies of documents
     relating to births,
     marriages, and deaths of
     citizens abroad issued
     by a U.S. Embassy or
     Consulate (obtainable
     from the Department of
     State, Washington,
     D.C.); and, certifying
     copies of documents
     relating to births,
     marriages, and deaths of
     citizens of the United
     States or foreign
     nationals within the
     former Canal Zone of
     Panama from records
     maintained by the Canal
     Zone Government from
     1904 to September 30,
     1979 (obtainable from
     the Department of State,
     Washington, D.C.).
 
*                  *                  *                  *
                  *                  *                  *
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    3. Section 22.2(a) is revised to read as follows:


Sec. 22.2  Requests for services in the United States.

    (a) Requests for records. Requests by the file subject or the 
individual's authorized agent for services involving U.S. passport 
applications and related records, including consular birth, marriage 
and death records and authentication of other passport file documents, 
as well as records of births, marriages and deaths within the former 
Canal Zone of Panama recorded and maintained by the Canal Zone 
Government from 1904 to September 30, 1979, shall be addressed to 
Passport Services, Correspondence Branch, Department of State, 
Washington, D.C. 20524. Requests for consular birth records should 
specify whether a Consular Report of Birth (Form FS 240, or long form) 
or Certification of Birth (Form DS 1350, or short form) is desired. 
Advance remittance of the exact fee is required for each service.
* * * * *
    Dated: November 15, 1999.
Bonnie R. Cohen,
Under Secretary for Management.
[FR Doc. 99-30905 Filed 11-29-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-06-P