[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 55 (Tuesday, March 21, 2000)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 15115]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-6996]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY

Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms

27 CFR Parts 200, 270, 275 and 290

[Notice No. 893: Ref: Notice No. 887]
RIN 1512-AB99


Implementation of Public Law 105-33, Section 9302, Relating to 
Tobacco Importation Restrictions, Markings, Minimum Manufacturing 
Requirements, and Penalty Provisions (98R-369P)

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. 887, a 
notice of proposed rulemaking cross-referenced to temporary 
regulations, published in the Federal Register on December 22, 1999. 
ATF has received several 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 by April 20, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments to: Chief, Regulations Division, 
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, P.O. Box 50221, Washington, DC 
20091-0221; Notice No. 893.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Daniel J. Hiland, Regulations 
Division, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, 650 Massachusetts 
Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20226; Telephone (202) 927-8210.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On December 22, 1999, ATF published a notice 
of proposed rulemaking cross-referenced to temporary regulations in the 
Federal Register. The notice solicited comments from all interested 
persons regarding temporary regulations that implemented several 
provisions of the Balanced Budget Act of 1997. Section 9302 of the new 
law: (1) Places restrictions on the importation of previously exported 
tobacco products, (2) requires markings on tobacco products or 
cigarette papers and tubes removed or transferred without payment of 
the federal excise tax, (3) provides penalties for selling, relanding, 
or receiving, within the jurisdiction of the United States, tobacco 
products or cigarette papers and tubes which have been labeled and 
shipped for exportation and were removed after the effective date, and 
(4) authorizes the Secretary to prescribe minimum capacity or activity 
requirements as a criteria for issuance of a manufacturer's permit. 
These new provisions of law became effective on January 1, 2000.
    The temporary rule implemented these changes in law by providing 
new and amended regulations in parts 200, 270, 275 and 290 of title 27 
of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR). Additionally, the Bureau of 
Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) made several other clarifying 
changes to the tobacco regulations. The temporary rule will remain in 
effect until superseded by final regulations.
    The comment period for Notice 887 closed on February 22, 2000. 
Prior to the close of the comment period, ATF received several requests 
to extend the comment period for an additional 30 days. Several 
interested parties stated that they would need additional time to 
prepare a full response for their company or client.
    In consideration of the above, ATF finds that a reopening of the 
comment period is warranted. Therefore, the comment period is being 
reopened for an additional 30 days until April 20, 2000. The Bureau 
believes that a comment period totaling 90 days is a sufficient amount 
of time for all interested parties to respond.

Disclosure

    Copies of this notice, Notice No. 887, 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. This notice was written by Mr. Daniel Hiland, 
Regulations Division, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms.

List of Subjects

27 CFR Part 200

    Administrative practice and procedure, Authority delegations.

27 CFR Part 270

    Administrative practice and procedure, Authority delegations, 
Cigarette papers and tubes, Claims, Electronic fund transfer, Excise 
taxes, Labeling, Packaging and containers, Penalties, Reporting 
requirements, Seizures and forfeitures, Surety bonds, Tobacco products.

27 CFR Part 275

    Administrative practice and procedure, Authority delegations, 
Cigarette papers and tubes, Claims, Customs duties and inspection, 
Electronic fund transfer, Excise taxes, Imports, Labeling, Packaging 
and containers, Penalties, Reporting requirements, Seizures and 
forfeitures, Surety bonds, Tobacco products, U.S. possessions, 
Warehouses.

27 CFR Part 290

    Administrative practice and procedure, Aircraft, Authority 
delegations, Cigarette papers and tubes, Claims, Customs duties and 
inspection, Excise taxes, Exports, Foreign trade zones, Labeling, 
Packaging and containers, Penalties, Surety bonds, Tobacco products, 
Vessels, Warehouses.

Authority and Issuance.

    This notice is issued under the authority in 26 U.S.C. 7805.

    Dated: March 15, 2000.
Bradley A. Buckles,
Director, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms.
[FR Doc. 00-6996 Filed 3-20-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4810-31-U