[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 246 (Monday, December 22, 2008)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 78180-78183]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-30384]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Bureau of Industry and Security

15 CFR Parts 710, 711, 712, 716, 718, 719, and 720

[Docket No. 080625781-8790-01]
RIN 0694-AE39


Chemical Weapons Convention Regulations: Additions to the List of 
States Parties; Updates to Contact Information for the Treaty 
Compliance Division; Editorial Corrections

AGENCY: Bureau of Industry and Security, Commerce.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) is publishing this 
final rule to amend the Chemical Weapons Convention Regulations (CWCR) 
by updating the address for submitting declarations, reports, and 
advance notifications under the CWCR and for submitting chemical 
determination requests, and requests to obtain the forms needed to 
complete the declarations and reports. This final rule also updates the 
telephone and facsimile numbers for contacting, or providing 
information to, BIS's Treaty Compliance Division (TCD), which 
administers the requirements contained in the CWCR. In addition, this 
rule updates the e-mail addresses in the CWCR for submitting chemical 
determination requests or requests for BIS to provide written 
interpretations of CWCR requirements. These changes are being 
implemented by BIS to reflect the recent relocation of TCD.
    This rule also updates the list of countries that currently are 
States Parties to the CWC by adding ``Congo (Republic of the),'' 
``Guinea-Bissau,'' and ``Lebanon,'' which recently became States 
Parties.
    Finally, this rule revises a number of references in the CWCR to 
the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) to indicate the correct 
legal citation for the EAR.

DATES: This rule is effective December 22, 2008. Although there is no 
formal comment period, public comments on this regulation are welcome 
on a continuing basis.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by RIN 0694-AE39, by any 
of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
     E-mail: bis.doc.gov">publiccomments@bis.doc.gov. Include ``RIN 0694-
AE39'' in the subject line of the message.
     Fax: (202) 482-3355. Please alert the Regulatory Policy 
Division, by calling (202) 482-2440, if you are faxing comments.
     Mail or Hand Delivery/Courier: Willard Fisher, U.S. 
Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security, Regulatory 
Policy Division, 14th St. & Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Room 2705, 
Washington, DC 20230, ATTN: RIN 0694-AE39.

Send comments regarding this collection of information, including 
suggestions for reducing the burden, to Jasmeet Seehra, Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB), by e-mail to [email protected], or by fax to (202) 395-7285; and to the Regulatory 
Policy Division, Bureau of Industry and Security, Department of 
Commerce, 14th Street & Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Room 2705, 
Washington, DC 20230. Comments on this collection

[[Page 78181]]

of information should be submitted separately from comments on the 
final rule (i.e., RIN 0694-AE39)--all comments on the latter should be 
submitted by one of the three methods outlined above.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For questions of a general or 
regulatory nature, contact the Regulatory Policy Division, telephone: 
(202) 482-2440. For program information on declarations, reports, 
advance notifications, chemical determinations, recordkeeping, 
inspections and facility agreements, contact the Treaty Compliance 
Division, Office of Nonproliferation and Treaty Compliance, telephone: 
(202) 482-1001; for legal questions, contact Rochelle Woodard, Office 
of the Chief Counsel for Industry and Security, telephone: (202) 482-
5301.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    This final rule amends the Chemical Weapons Convention Regulations 
(CWCR) (15 CFR Parts 710-721) by updating the address for submitting 
declarations, reports, and advance notifications that are required 
under the CWCR and for submitting chemical determination requests, as 
well as requests for obtaining the forms needed to complete 
declarations and reports. This final rule also updates the telephone 
and facsimile numbers indicated in the CWCR for contacting, or 
providing information to, the Treaty Compliance Division (TCD), Office 
of Nonproliferation and Treaty Compliance, which is the organization 
within the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) that administers the 
requirements contained in the CWCR. In addition, this rule updates the 
e-mail addresses in the CWCR that may be used to submit chemical 
determination requests or requests for BIS to provide written 
interpretations of CWCR requirements by changing the domain for these 
addresses from ``cwc.gov'' to ``bis.doc.gov.'' These changes are being 
implemented by BIS to reflect the recent relocation of TCD to new 
office space.
    This rule also amends Supplement No. 1 to Part 710 of the CWCR 
(titled ``States Parties to the Convention on the Prohibition of the 
Development, Production, Stockpiling, and Use of Chemical Weapons and 
on Their Destruction'') by adding ``Congo (Republic of the),'' 
``Guinea-Bissau,'' and ``Lebanon,'' which became States Parties to the 
CWC on January 2, 2008, June 18, 2008, and December 20, 2008, 
respectively. As a result of this change, the CWCR declaration and 
reporting requirements for these two countries will be the same as 
those that apply to other States Parties.
    Finally, this rule revises a number of references in the CWCR to 
the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) (15 CFR Parts 730-774) to 
indicate the correct legal citation for the EAR. Previously, the 
citation for the EAR read ``(15 CFR Parts 730 through 799).'' The EAR, 
as well as the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), are 
referenced in the CWCR because both contain certain CWC-related 
requirements in addition to those described in the CWCR.

Rulemaking Requirements

    1. This final rule has been determined to be not significant for 
purposes of Executive Order 12866.
    2. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no person is 
required to respond 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 of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et. seq.) (PRA), unless 
that collection of information displays a currently valid Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) Control Number. This rule involves a 
collection of information subject to the requirements of the PRA. This 
collection has been approved by OMB under Control Number 0694-0091 
(Chemical Weapons Convention--Declaration and Report Forms), which 
carries burden hour estimates of 10.6 hours for Schedule 1 Chemicals 
(including declarations, reports, and amendments), 11.9 hours for 
Schedule 2 chemicals (including declarations, reports, and amendments), 
2.5 hours for Schedule 3 chemicals (including declarations, reports, 
and amendments), 5.3/5.1/5.1 hours for unscheduled discrete organic 
chemicals (depending upon whether an Annual Declaration on Past 
Activities or an amendment thereto, a No Changes Authorization Form, or 
a Change in Inspection Status Form, respectively, is required), 1.7 
hours for compliance review requests, and 0.17 hours for Schedule 1 
notifications. BIS anticipates that this rule will not change these 
burden hour estimates, nor will it change the total estimated burden 
hours for the approved collection (i.e., 4,501.6 burden hours).
    Comments are invited on: (i) Whether the collection of information 
is necessary for the functions of the agency, including whether the 
information shall have practical utility; (ii) the accuracy of the 
agency's estimate of the information collection burden; (iii) ways to 
enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be 
collected; and (iv) ways to minimize the burden of the collection on 
respondents, including through the use of automated collection 
techniques or other forms of information technology.
    Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of 
this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing the 
burden to Jasmeet Seehra, Office of Management and Budget (OMB), and to 
the Regulatory Policy Division, Bureau of Industry and Security, 
Department of Commerce, as indicated in the ADDRESSES section of this 
rule.
    3. This rule does not contain policies with Federalism implications 
as that term is defined in Executive Order 13132.
    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 
for the amendments contained in this rule that involve updates to 
contact information for the Treaty Compliance Division. The provisions 
of the Administrative Procedure Act requiring notice of proposed 
rulemaking, the opportunity for public participation, and a delay in 
effective date are inapplicable for those changes because those 
revisions relate to rules of agency organization, procedure, or 
practice.
    BIS finds that there is good cause under 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B) to 
waive the provisions of the Administrative Procedure Act requiring 
prior notice and the opportunity for public comment for the corrections 
to references to the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) (15 CFR 
Parts 730-774), because prior notice and the opportunity for public 
comment are unnecessary. These revisions are administrative in nature 
and do not affect the rights and obligations of the public. Since these 
revisions do not constitute substantive changes to the CWCR, it is 
unnecessary to provide notice and opportunity for public comment. For 
the reason stated above, BIS finds good cause to waive the 30-day delay 
in effectiveness required by 5 U.S.C. 553(d) for the revisions to the 
references to the EAR.
    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, do not apply to the 
amendments contained in this rule that involve the addition of three 
countries (i.e., Republic of the Congo, Guinea-Bissau, and Lebanon) to 
the list of CWC States Parties in Supplement No. 1 to part 710 of the 
CWCR, because these revisions involve

[[Page 78182]]

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 rule. Because a 
notice of proposed rulemaking and an opportunity for public comment are 
not required to be given for this rule under the Administrative 
Procedure Act or by any other law, the analytical requirements of the 
Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et. seq.) are not applicable.
    Therefore, this regulation is issued in final form. Although there 
is no formal comment period, public comments on this regulation are 
welcome on a continuing basis. You may submit comments, identified by 
RIN 0694-AE39, to Willard Fisher, Regulatory Policy Division, Bureau of 
Industry and Security, Department of Commerce, as indicated in the 
ADDRESSES section of this rule.

List of Subjects

15 CFR Part 710

    Chemicals, Exports, Foreign Trade, Imports, Treaties.

15 CFR Part 711

    Chemicals, Confidential business information, Reporting and 
recordkeeping requirements.

15 CFR Part 712

    Chemicals, Exports, Foreign Trade, Imports, Reporting and 
recordkeeping requirements.

15 CFR Part 716

    Chemicals, Confidential business information, Reporting and 
recordkeeping requirements, Search warrant, Treaties.

15 CFR Part 718

    Confidential business information, Reporting and recordkeeping 
requirements.

15 CFR Part 719

    Administrative proceedings, Exports, Imports, Penalties, 
Violations.

15 CFR Part 720

    Penalties, violations.

0
Accordingly, Parts 710, 711, 712, 716, 718, 719, and 720 of the 
Chemical Weapons Convention Regulations (15 CFR Parts 710-721) are 
amended as follows:

PART 710--[AMENDED]

0
1. The authority citation for 15 CFR Part 710 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 22 U.S.C. 6701 et seq.; E.O. 13128, 64 FR 36703, 3 
CFR 1999 Comp., p. 199.


Sec.  710.1  [Amended]

0
2. Section 710.1 is amended:
0
a. By removing the parenthetical phrase ``(15 CFR parts 730 through 
799)'' from the fourth sentence of definition of ``Advance 
Notification'' and adding, in its place, the parenthetical phrase ``(15 
CFR parts 730 through 774)''; and
0
b. By removing the parenthetical phrase ``(15 CFR parts 730-799)'' from 
the definition of ``EAR'' and adding, in its place, the parenthetical 
phrase ``(15 CFR parts 730 through 774)''.


Sec.  710.6  [Amended]

0
3. Section 710.6 is amended by removing the parenthetical phrase ``(15 
CFR parts 730 through 799)'' from the second sentence and adding, in 
its place, the parenthetical phrase ``(15 CFR parts 730 through 774)''.

Supplement No. 1 to Part 710--[Amended]

0
4. Supplement No. 1 to Part 710 is amended:
0
a. By revising the undesignated center heading ``List of States Parties 
as of November 1, 2006'' to read ``List of States Parties as of 
December 20, 2008'';
0
b. By adding in alphabetical order the countries ``Congo (Republic of 
the)'', ``Guinea-Bissau'', and ``Lebanon''; and
0
c. By removing the parenthetical phrase ``(15 CFR parts 730-799)'' from 
the first footnote that follows the List of States Parties and adding, 
in its place, the parenthetical phrase ``(15 CFR parts 730 through 
774)''.

PART 711--[AMENDED]

0
5. The authority citation for 15 CFR Part 711 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 22 U.S.C. 6701 et seq.; E.O. 13128, 64 FR 36703, 3 
CFR 1999 Comp., p. 199.

0
6. Section 711.4 is amended by revising the second sentence in 
paragraph (a)(1) and by revising paragraph (b) to read as follows:


Sec.  711.4  Assistance in determining your obligations.

    (a) * * *
    (1) * * * Such requests must be sent via facsimile to (202) 482-
1731, e-mailed to bis.doc.gov">cdr@bis.doc.gov, or mailed to the Treaty Compliance 
Division, Bureau of Industry and Security, U.S. Department of Commerce, 
Room 4515, 14th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 
20230, and must be marked ``Attn: Chemical Determination.'' * * *
* * * * *
    (b) Other inquiries. If you need assistance in interpreting the 
provisions of the CWCR or need assistance with declaration, forms, 
reporting, advance notification, inspection or facility agreement 
issues, contact BIS's Treaty Compliance Division by phone at (202) 482-
1001. If you require a response from BIS in writing, submit a detailed 
request to BIS that explains your question, issue, or request. Send the 
request to the address or facsimile included in paragraph (a) of this 
section, or e-mail the request to bis.doc.gov">cwcqa@bis.doc.gov. Your request must 
be marked, ``ATTN: CWCR Assistance.''


Sec.  711.6  [Amended]

0
7. Section 711.6 is amended by removing the phrase ``1555 Wilson Blvd., 
Suite 700, Arlington, VA 22209-2405, Telephone: (703) 605-4400'' from 
the first sentence of paragraph (a) and adding, in its place, the 
phrase ``Room 4515, 14th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., 
Washington, DC 20230, Telephone: (202) 482-1001''.
0
8. Section 711.7 is revised to read as follows:


Sec.  711.7  Where to submit declarations, reports and advance 
notifications.

    Declarations, reports and advance notifications required by the 
CWCR must be sent either by fax to (202) 482-1731 or by mail or courier 
delivery to the following address: Treaty Compliance Division, Bureau 
of Industry and Security, U.S. Department of Commerce, Room 4515, 14th 
Street and Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20230, Telephone: 
(202) 482-1001. Specific types of declarations and reports and due 
dates are outlined in Supplement No. 2 to parts 712 through 715 of the 
CWCR.


Sec.  711.8  [Amended]

0
9. Section 711.8 is amended by removing the telephone number ``(703) 
235-1335'' from the first sentence of paragraph (b)(2)(iv)(A) and 
adding, in its place, the telephone number ``(202) 482-1001''.

PART 712--[AMENDED]

0
10. The authority citation for 15 CFR Part 712 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 22 U.S.C. 6701 et seq.; 50 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.; 50 
U.S.C. 1701 et seq.; E.O. 12938, 59 FR 59099, 3 CFR, 1994 Comp., p. 
950, as amended by E.O. 13094, 63 FR 40803, 3 CFR, 1998 Comp., p. 
200; E.O. 13128, 64 FR 36703, 3 CFR 1999 Comp., p. 199.

[[Page 78183]]

Sec.  712.2  [Amended]

0
11. Section 712.2(b) is amended by removing the parenthetical phrase 
``(15 CFR parts 730 through 799)'' from the first sentence of Note 2 to 
Sec.  712.2(b) and adding, in its place, the parenthetical phrase ``(15 
CFR parts 730 through 774)''.
0
12. Section 712.6 is amended by revising paragraph (a)(2) to read as 
follows:


Sec.  712.6  Advance notification and annual report of all exports and 
imports of Schedule 1 chemicals to, or from, other States Parties.

    (a) * * *
    (2) Send the advance notification either by fax to (202) 482-1731 
or by mail or courier delivery to the following address: Treaty 
Compliance Division, Bureau of Industry and Security, U.S. Department 
of Commerce, Room 4515, 14th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., 
Washington, DC 20230, and mark it ``Attn: Advance Notification of 
Schedule 1 Chemical [Export] [Import].''
* * * * *

PART 716--[AMENDED]

0
13. The authority citation for 15 CFR Part 716 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 22 U.S.C. 6701 et seq.; E.O. 13128, 64 FR 36703, 3 
CFR 1999 Comp., p. 199.


Sec.  716.6  [Amended]

0
14. Section 716.6 is amended by removing the phrase ``1555 Wilson 
Blvd., Suite 700, Arlington, VA 22209, Telephone: (703) 605-4400'' from 
paragraph (d) and adding, in its place, the phrase ``Room 4515, 14th 
Street and Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20230, Telephone: 
(202) 482-1001''.

PART 718--[AMENDED]

0
15. The authority citation for 15 CFR Part 718 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 22 U.S.C. 6701 et seq.; E.O. 13128, 64 FR 36703, 3 
CFR 1999 Comp., p. 199.


Sec.  718.3  [Amended]

0
16. Section 718.3 is amended by removing the parenthetical phrase ``(15 
CFR parts 730 through 799)'' from paragraphs (a) and (b)(1) and adding, 
in its place, the parenthetical phrase ``(15 CFR parts 730 through 
774)''.

PART 719--[AMENDED]

0
17. The authority citation for 15 CFR Part 719 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 22 U.S.C. 6701 et seq.; 50 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.; 50 
U.S.C. 1701 et seq.; E.O. 12938, 59 FR 59099, 3 CFR 1994, Comp., p. 
950; E.O. 13128, 64 FR 36703, 3 CFR 1999 Comp., p. 199.


Sec.  719.1  [Amended]

0
18. Section 719.1(a) is amended by removing the parenthetical phrase 
``(15 CFR parts 730 through 799)'' from the Note to Sec.  719.1(a) and 
adding, in its place, the parenthetical phrase ``(15 CFR parts 730 
through 774)''.

PART 720--[AMENDED]

0
19. The authority citation for 15 CFR Part 720 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 22 U.S.C. 6701 et seq.; E.O. 13128, 64 FR 36703, 3 
CFR 1999 Comp., p. 199.


Sec. Sec.  720.2, 720.3, and 720.4  [Amended]

0
20. Part 720 is amended by removing the parenthetical phrase ``(15 CFR 
parts 730 through 799)'' and adding, in its place, the parenthetical 
phrase ``(15 CFR parts 730 through 774)'' in the following places:
    a. Section 720.2(a), second sentence;
    b. Section 720.3(b), fourth sentence; and
    c. Section 720.4, first sentence.

    Dated: December 16, 2008.
Christopher R. Wall,
Assistant Secretary for Export Administration.
[FR Doc. E8-30384 Filed 12-19-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-33-P