[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 202 (Friday, October 20, 2017)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 48760]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-22782]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Economic Development Administration

13 CFR Part 313

[Docket No.: 170828819-7819-01]
RIN 0610-AA70


Elimination of Regulations Implementing Community Trade 
Adjustment Assistance Program

AGENCY: Economic Development Administration, U.S. Department of 
Commerce.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: Through this final rule, the Economic Development 
Administration (``EDA''), U.S. Department of Commerce, eliminates the 
regulations implementing the Community Trade Adjustment Assistance 
(``CTAA'') Program. Established in 2009 under the Trade Act of 1974, 
the CTAA Program was subsequently eliminated by Congress in 2011. 
Implementing regulations for this now-defunct Program are thus 
unnecessary. This final rule is a ``deregulatory action'' pursuant to 
the April 5, 2017, Office of Management and Budget (``OMB'') guidance 
memorandum implementing Executive Order 13771.

DATES: This rule is effective October 20, 2017.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jeffrey Roberson, Deputy Chief 
Counsel, Office of the Chief Counsel, Economic Development 
Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue 
NW., Suite 72023, Washington, DC 20230; telephone: (202) 482-1315.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    The CTAA Program was enacted as part of the Trade Act of 1974 (19 
U.S.C. 2101 et seq.) by the Trade and Globalization Adjustment 
Assistance Act of 2009, which was included as subtitle I (letter ``I'') 
of title I of Division B of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act 
of 2009 (Pub. L. 111-5). CTAA was intended to help communities respond 
to job losses resulting from international trade impacts. EDA's 
implementing regulations for CTAA, located at 13 CFR part 313, became 
effective August 18, 2009 (74 FR 41592). For Fiscal Year 2010, the only 
year in which EDA made awards under CTAA, EDA awarded $36,768,000 in 
grants to 36 recipients. The CTAA Program was subsequently repealed by 
section 222 of the Trade Adjustment Assistance Extension Act of 2011 
(Pub. L. 112-40) ``because it was considered duplicative of other 
federal programs. . . .'' See CRS Report R41922, Trade Adjustment 
Assistance (TAA) and Its Role in U.S. Trade Policy, Aug. 5, 2013, p. 
14. With the elimination of the CTAA Program by Congress, EDA's 
implementing regulations are now unnecessary.
    This elimination of 13 CFR part 313 is a ``deregulatory action'' 
pursuant to the April 5, 2017, OMB guidance memorandum implementing 
Executive Order 13771. Since the program is already defunct, there are 
no cost savings associated with this elimination.

Classification

Administrative Procedure Act and Regulatory Flexibility Act

    Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B), there is good cause to waive prior 
notice and an opportunity for public comment on this action, as notice 
and comment are unnecessary. This rule removes obsolete regulations 
implementing the CTAA Program, which has been eliminated by Congress. 
Therefore, public comment would serve no purpose and is unnecessary. 
There is also good cause under 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3) to waive the 30-day 
delay in effectiveness. This rule does not alter the rights or 
responsibilities of any party, and delaying implementation of this rule 
serves no purpose.
    Because prior notice and an opportunity for public comment are not 
required pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553, or any other law, the analytical 
requirements of the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.) 
are inapplicable. Therefore, a regulatory flexibility analysis has not 
been prepared.

Executive Orders No. 12866, 13563, and 13771

    This final rule was drafted in accordance with Executive Orders 
12866, 13563, and 13771. OMB has determined that this rule is not 
significant for purposes of Executive Orders 12866. This final rule is 
a ``deregulatory action'' pursuant to the April 5, 2017, OMB guidance 
memorandum implementing Executive Order 13771 (M-17-21).

Congressional Review Act

    This final rule is not major under the Congressional Review Act (5 
U.S.C. 801 et seq.).

Executive Order No. 13132

    This final rule does not contain policies that have federalism 
implications.

Paperwork Reduction Act

    The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.) 
(``PRA'') requires that a Federal agency consider the impact of 
paperwork and other information collection burdens imposed on the 
public and, under the provisions of PRA section 3507(d), obtain 
approval from OMB for each collection of information it conducts, 
sponsors, or requires through regulations. 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 PRA unless that collection displays a 
currently valid OMB Control Number. This final rule does not require 
the collection of any information.

List of Subjects in 13 CFR Part 313

    Trade adjustment assistance for communities, Impacted community, 
Petition and affirmative determination requirements, Strategic plan, 
Implementation grant.


0
For the reasons discussed above, and under the authority of 19 U.S.C. 
2341-2372, EDA is removing and reserving 13 CFR part 313.

PART 313--[REMOVED AND RESERVED]

    Dated: October 16, 2017.
Dennis Alvord,
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Regional Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2017-22782 Filed 10-19-17; 8:45 am]
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