[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 219 (Thursday, November 13, 2003)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 64296-64297]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-28544]


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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

22 CFR Parts 96 and 98

[Public Notice: 4537]
RIN 1400-AA-88 (Part 96); 1400-AB-69 (Part 98)


Hague Convention on Intercountry Adoption; Intercountry Adoption 
Act of 2000; Accreditation of Agencies; Approval of Persons; 
Preservation of Convention Records; Extension of Comment Period

AGENCY: Department of State.

ACTION: Extension of comment period.

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SUMMARY: The Department of State (the Department) is extending by 30 
days the public comment period for the proposed rules on the 
Accreditation of Agencies and Approval of Persons under the Hague 
Convention on Intercountry Adoption (the Convention) and the 
Intercountry Adoption Act of 2000 (the IAA) and on the Preservation of 
Convention Records. The proposed rules were published in part II of the 
Federal Register on September 15, 2003 (68 FR 54064; 68 FR 54119). In 
response to public requests for additional time, the Department is 
extending the public comment period closing date from November 14, 
2003, to December 15, 2003, for parts 96 and 98.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before December 15, 2003.

ADDRESSES: Commenters may send hard copy submissions or comments in 
electronic format. Commenters sending only hard copies must send an 
original and two copies referencing docket number State/AR-01/96 or 
State/AR-01/98 to: U.S. Department of State, CA/OCS/PRI, Adoption 
Regulations Docket Room, SA-29, 2201 C Street, NW., Washington, DC 
20520. Hard copy comments may also be sent by overnight courier 
services to: U.S. Department of State, CA/OCS/PRI, Adoption Regulations 
Docket Room, 2201 C Street, NW., Washington, DC 20520. Do

[[Page 64297]]

not personally hand deliver comments to the Department of State.
    Comments referencing the docket number State/AR-01/96 or State/AR-
01/98 may be submitted electronically to [email protected]. Two 
hard copies of the comments submitted electronically must be mailed 
under separate cover as well. Electronic comments must be made in the 
text of the message or submitted as a Word file avoiding the use of any 
form of encryption or use of special characters. If you submit comments 
by hard copy rather than electronically, include a disk with the 
submission if possible. Hard copy submissions without an accompanying 
disk file, however, will be accepted.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Anna Mary Coburn or Jessica Rosenbaum 
at 202-647-2826. Hearing-or speech-impaired persons may use the 
Telecommunications Devices for the Deaf (TDD) by contacting the Federal 
Information Relay Service at 1-800-877-8339.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On September 15, 2003, the Department 
published in part II of the Federal Register proposed rules to 
implement the Hague Convention on Intercountry Adoption and the IAA. 
The proposed rule for 22 CFR part 96 covered the accreditation and 
approval of agencies and persons seeking to provide adoption services 
for intercountry adoptions involving two counties party to the 
Convention (68 FR 54064). The proposed rule for 22 CFR part 98 covered 
the preservation of Convention records held by the Department and the 
Department of Homeland Security (68 FR 54119).
    You can view electronic versions of the proposed rules on http://www.regulations.gov. Comments on the proposed rules were required to be 
received on or before November 14, 2003. The Department is extending 
the comment period for an additional 30 days. Comments must be received 
on or before December 15, 2003. Anyone seeking to submit comments must 
follow the procedures specified in the ADDRESSES section of the 
proposed rules as published in the Federal Register (68 FR 54064, 
September 15, 2003).

    Dated: November 7, 2003.
Maura Harty,
Assistant Secretary for Consular Affairs, Department of State.
[FR Doc. 03-28544 Filed 11-12-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-06-P