[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 179 (Thursday, September 16, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 56504-56506]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-23029]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Bureau of Industry and Security


Action Affecting Export Privileges; Rigel Optics, Inc. and Donald 
Wayne Hatch; Order Denying Export Privileges

    In the Matter of: Rigel Optics, Inc., 477 South 28th Street, 
Suite 3, Washougal, WA 98607, Respondent; Donald Wayne 
Hatch, 2602 NW 35th Circle, Camas, WA 98607, Related Person.

A. Denial of Export Privileges of Rigel Optics, Inc.

    On May 12, 2009, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern 
District of Iowa, Rigel Optics, Inc. (``Rigel Optics'') pled guilty to, 
and was convicted of, violating Section 38 of the Arms Export Control 
Act (22 U.S.C. 2778 (2000)) (``AECA''). Specifically, Rigel Optics pled 
guilty to knowingly and willfully exporting and causing to be exported 
from the United States to Italy Rigel 3502 Gen 2+ Night Vision Goggles, 
which were designated as a defense

[[Page 56505]]

article on the United States Munitions List, without having first 
obtained from the Department of State a license for such export or 
written authorization for such export. Rigel Optics was ordered to pay 
a $90,000 criminal fine and a $400.00 special assessment. Rigel Optics 
is also listed on the Department of State's Debarred List.
    Section 766.25 of the Export Administration Regulations (``EAR'' or 
``Regulations'')\1\ provides, in pertinent part, that ``[t]he Director 
of the Office of Exporter Services, in consultation with the Director 
of the Office of Export Enforcement, may deny the export privileges of 
any person who has been convicted of a violation of the [Export 
Administration Act (``EAA'')], the EAR, of any order, license or 
authorization issued thereunder; any regulation, license, or order 
issued under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 
1701-1706); 18 U.S.C. 793, 794 or 798; section 4(b) of the Internal 
Security Act of 1950 (50 U.S.C. 783(b)), or section 38 of the Arms 
Export Control Act (22 U.S.C. 2778).'' 15 CFR 766.25(a); see also 
Section 11(h) of the EAA, 50 U.S.C. app. section 2410(h). The denial of 
export privileges under this provision may be for a period of up to 10 
years from the date of the conviction. 15 CFR 766.25(d); see also 50 
U.S.C. app. section 2410(h). In addition, Section 750.8 of the 
Regulations states that the Bureau of Industry and Security's Office of 
Exporter Services may revoke any Bureau of Industry and Security 
(``BIS'') licenses previously issued in which the person had an 
interest in at the time of his conviction.
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    \1\ The Regulations are currently codified in the Code of 
Federal Regulations at 15 CFR Parts 730-774 (2010). The Regulations 
issued pursuant to the EAA (50 U.S.C. app. sections 2401-2420 
(2000)). Since August 21, 2001, the EAA has been in lapse and the 
President, through Executive Order 13222 of August 17, 2001 (3 CFR 
part 2001 Comp. 783 (2002)), which has been extended by successive 
Presidential Notices, the most recent being that of August 12, 2010 
(75 FR 50681, August 16, 2010), has continued the Regulations in 
effect under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 
U.S.C. 1701 et seq. (2000)).
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    I have received notice of Rigel Optics's conviction for violating 
the AECA, and have provided notice and an opportunity for Rigel Optics 
to make a written submission to BIS, as provided in Section 766.25 of 
the Regulations. I have not received a submission from Rigel Optics. 
Based upon my review and consultations with BIS's Office of Export 
Enforcement, including its Director, and the facts available to BIS, I 
have decided to deny Rigel Optics's export privileges under the 
Regulations for a period of 10 years from the date of Rigel Optics's 
conviction. I have also decided to revoke all licenses issued pursuant 
to the Act or Regulations in which Rigel Optics had an interest at the 
time of its conviction.

B. Denial of Export Privileges of Related Person

    Pursuant to Sections 766.25(h) and 766.23 of the Regulations, the 
Director of BIS's Office of Exporter Services, in consultation with the 
Director of BIS's Office of Export Enforcement, may take action to name 
persons related to a Respondent by ownership, control, position of 
responsibility, affiliation, or other connection in the conduct of 
trade or business in order to prevent evasion of a denial order. Donald 
Wayne Hatch (``Hatch'') is the President and co-owner of Rigel Optics 
and primarily controlled the activities of the business from his 
residence in the State of Washington. Hatch pleaded guilty to, and was 
convicted of, making false statements on a Shipper's Export Declaration 
(18 U.S.C. 1001 (2000). He was ordered to serve a term of two years 
probation and pay a criminal fine of $5,000.00 with a special 
assessment of $100.00. Hatch is related to Rigel Optics by ownership, 
control, position of responsibility, affiliation, or other connection 
in the conduct of trade or business. BIS believes that naming Hatch as 
a related person to Rigel Optics is necessary to avoid evasion of the 
denial order against Rigel Optics.
    As provided in Section 766.23 of the Regulations, I gave notice to 
Hatch that his export privileges under the Regulations could be denied 
for up to 10 years due to his relationship with Rigel Optics and that 
BIS believes naming him as a person related to Rigel Optics would be 
necessary to prevent evasion of a denial order imposed against Rigel 
Optics. In providing such notice, I gave Hatch an opportunity to oppose 
his addition to the Rigel Optics Denial Order as a related party. 
Having received no submission, I have decided, following consultations 
with BIS's Office of Export Enforcement, including its Director, to 
name Hatch as a Related Person to the Rigel Optics Denial Order, 
thereby denying his export privileges for 10 years from the date of 
Rigel Optics's conviction.
    I have also decided to revoke all licenses issued pursuant to the 
Act or Regulations in which the Related Person had an interest at the 
time of Rigel Optics's conviction. The 10-year denial period will end 
on May 12, 2019.
    Accordingly, It is hereby ordered
    I. Until May 12, 2019, Rigel Optics, Inc., with a last known 
address at: 477 South 28th Street, Suite 3, Washougal, WA 
98607, and when acting for or on behalf of Rigel Optics, its successors 
or assigns, agents, or employees, (``the Denied Person'') and the 
following person related to the Denied Person as defined by Section 
766.23 of the Regulations: Donald Wayne Hatch, with a last known 
address at: 2602 NW 35th Circle, Camas, WA 98607, and when acting for 
or on his behalf, employees, agents or representatives, (``the Related 
Person'') (together, the Denied Person and the Related Person are 
``Persons Subject To This Order'') may not, directly or indirectly, 
participate in any way in any transaction involving any commodity, 
software or technology (hereinafter collectively referred to as 
``item'') exported or to be exported from the United States that is 
subject to the Regulations, or in any other activity subject to the 
Regulations, including but not limited to:
    A. Applying for, obtaining, or using any license, License 
Exception, or export control document;
    B. Carrying on negotiations concerning, or ordering, buying, 
receiving, using, selling, delivering, storing, disposing of, 
forwarding, transporting, financing, or otherwise servicing in any way, 
any transaction involving any item exported or to be exported from the 
United States that is subject to the Regulations, or in any other 
activity subject to the Regulations; or
    C. Benefitting in any way from any transaction involving any item 
exported or to be exported from the United States that is subject to 
the Regulations, or in any other activity subject to the Regulations.
    II. No person may, directly or indirectly, do any of the following:
    A. Export or reexport to or on behalf of the Persons Subject to 
this Order any item subject to the Regulations;
    B. Take any action that facilitates the acquisition or attempted 
acquisition by the Persons Subject to this Order of the ownership, 
possession, or control of any item subject to the Regulations that has 
been or will be exported from the United States, including financing or 
other support activities related to a transaction whereby the Persons 
Subject to this Order acquire or attempt to acquire such ownership, 
possession or control;
    C. Take any action to acquire from or to facilitate the acquisition 
or attempted acquisition from the Persons Subject to this Order of any 
item subject to the Regulations that has been exported from the United 
States;
    D. Obtain from the Persons Subject to this Order in the United 
States any item subject to the Regulations with

[[Page 56506]]

knowledge or reason to know that the item will be, or is intended to 
be, exported from the United States; or
    E. Engage in any transaction to service any item subject to the 
Regulations that has been or will be exported from the United States 
and which is owned, possessed or controlled by the Persons Subject to 
this Order, or service any item, of whatever origin, that is owned, 
possessed or controlled by the Persons Subject to this Order if such 
service involves the use of any item subject to the Regulations that 
has been or will be exported from the United States. For purposes of 
this paragraph, servicing means installation, maintenance, repair, 
modification or testing.
    III. In addition to the Related Person named above, after notice 
and opportunity for comment as provided in section 766.23 of the 
Regulations, any other person, firm, corporation, or business 
organization related to the Denied Person by affiliation, ownership, 
control, or position of responsibility in the conduct of trade or 
related services may also be made subject to the provisions of this 
Order if necessary to prevent evasion of the Order.
    IV. This Order does not prohibit any export, reexport, or other 
transaction subject to the Regulations where the only items involved 
that are subject to the Regulations are the foreign-produced direct 
product of U.S.-origin technology.
    V. This Order is effective immediately and shall remain in effect 
until May 12, 2019.
    VI. In accordance with Part 756 of the Regulations, Rigel Optics 
may file an appeal of this Order with the Under Secretary of Commerce 
for Industry and Security. The appeal must be filed within 45 days from 
the date of this Order and must comply with the provisions of Part 756 
of the Regulations.
    VII. In accordance with Part 756 of the Regulations, the Related 
Person may also file an appeal of this Order with the Under Secretary 
of Commerce for Industry and Security. The appeal must be filed within 
45 days from the date of this Order and must comply with the provisions 
of Part 756 of the Regulations.
    VIII. A copy of this Order shall be delivered to the Denied Person 
and the Related Person. This Order shall be published in the Federal 
Register.

    Issued this 7th day of September, 2010.
Bernard Kritzer,
Director, Office of Exporter Services.
[FR Doc. 2010-23029 Filed 9-15-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DT-P