[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 103 (Tuesday, June 1, 2021)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 29189-29190]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-11585]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Bureau of Industry and Security

15 CFR Parts 732 and 734

[Docket No. 210527-0116]
RIN 0694-AF47


Control of Firearms, Guns, Ammunition and Related Articles the 
President Determines No Longer Warrant Control Under the United States 
Munitions List (USML); Notifying the Public of the Transfer of 
Jurisdiction of Certain Technology and Software as a Result of a 
Vacated March 6, 2020 Injunction

AGENCY: Bureau of Industry and Security, Department of Commerce.

ACTION: Notification of vacated court order.

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[[Page 29190]]

SUMMARY: The Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) is publishing this 
notification to the public concerning the transfer of jurisdiction of 
certain ``software'' and ``technology'' as a result of action by the 
Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit vacating a March 6, 2020 
preliminary injunction by the district court in Washington v. U.S. 
Dep't of State, No. 20-35391, 2021 WL 1621320, 2021 U.S. App. LEXIS 
12448 (9th Cir. Apr. 27, 2021). Pursuant to that decision, issued on 
April 27, 2021, the mandate of the Ninth Circuit was issued on May 26, 
2021 and district court's injunction was vacated. This notice also 
includes guidance to persons with technology or software that was 
previously retained on the U.S. Munitions List (USML) and controlled 
under the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) pursuant to 
the March 6 district court order, but which is now subject to the 
jurisdiction of the Export Administration Regulations (EAR).

DATES: The district court injunction of March 6, 2020 was vacated on 
May 26, 2021. As of May 26, 2021, the ``technology'' and ``software'' 
that meets the criteria in section 734.7(c) is ``subject to the EAR'' 
and is no longer controlled under the ITAR.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Steven Clagett, Office of 
Nonproliferation Controls and Treaty Compliance, Nuclear and Missile 
Technology Controls Division, tel. (202) 482-1641 or email 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Court Order of March 6, 2020

    On March 6, 2020, the U.S. District Court for the Western District 
of Washington issued an order preliminarily enjoining the U.S. 
Department of State from implementing or enforcing the final rule 
entitled International Traffic In Arms Regulations: U.S. Munitions List 
Categories I, II, and III, 85 FR 3819 (Jan. 23, 2020) ``insofar as it 
alters the status quo restrictions on technical data and software 
directly related to the production of firearms or firearm parts using a 
3D-printer or similar equipment.'' Washington v. U.S. Dep't of State 
(Case No. 2:20-cv-00111-RAJ).

Court Order of March 6, 2020 Vacated by Ninth Circuit Decision Issued 
on April 27, 2021

    On April 27, 2021, a panel of the United States Court of Appeals 
for the Ninth Circuit (Case No. 20-35391) issued a decision that 
vacated the district court's order enjoining the Department of State's 
Final Rule removing 3D-printed guns and their associated files from the 
USML; however, the preliminary injunction remained in effect until the 
mandate of the Ninth Circuit for this decision was issued on May 26, 
2021. Until the entry of the mandate, all persons engaged in 
manufacturing, exporting, temporarily importing, brokering, or 
furnishing defense services related to `technical data and software 
directly related to the production of firearms or firearm parts using a 
3D-printer or similar equipment' were required to treat such technical 
data and software as listed on the USML and controlled by the ITAR.
    On May 26, 2021, the mandate of the Ninth Circuit was issued, and 
the entirety of the Department of State's final rule published in the 
Federal Register at 85 FR 3819 went into effect.
    As a result of the vacatur of the injunction, any request for 
licenses of ``technology'' and ``software'' that fall under the U.S. 
Department of Commerce regulations, 15 CFR 732.2(b) and 734.7(c) (added 
by the Commerce January 23, 2020 rule, entitled Control of Firearms, 
Guns, Ammunition and Related Articles the President Determines No 
Longer Warrant Control Under the USML; 85 FR 4136, Jan. 23, 2020), 
should be directed to the U.S. Department of Commerce because this 
``technology'' and ``software'' are subject to the Export 
Administration Regulations (EAR).
    BIS strongly encourages any person with ``technology'' or 
``software'' that may meet the criteria in section 734.7(c) of the EAR 
to review those provisions in the Commerce January 23, 2020 rule 
closely, as well as all other applicable EAR provisions. In 
anticipation of the dismissal of the case, BIS updated Frequently Asked 
Questions (FAQs) posted on the BIS website to add twelve FAQs to assist 
public understanding of section 734.7(c), including addressing 
application questions. These FAQs are available on the BIS website at 
https://www.bis.doc.gov/index.php/documents/policy-guidance/2572-faqs-for-the-commerce-category-i-iii-firearms-rule-posted-on-bis-website-7-7-20/file. For instance, those FAQs make clear that a BIS license is 
required prior to posting on the internet of ``any file, including any 
CAD file, that can be processed by a software program into an 
electronic format, such as a CAM file, with no or minimal additional 
information or manipulation from the operator(s), and that . . . once 
converted will be in an executable code for the production of a firearm 
frame or receiver or complete firearm.''
    BIS also strongly encourages any person with questions regarding 
section 734.7(c), which they believe are not addressed sufficiently in 
the FAQs on the BIS website, to contact BIS for additional guidance. 
See the BIS contact information under the For Further Information 
Contact section of this notice. In addition, if a person is unsure 
whether the criteria of section 734.7(c) are met, including whether the 
``technology'' or ``software'' is ready for insertion into a computer 
numerically controlled machine tool, additive manufacturing equipment, 
or any other equipment, persons with such ``technology'' or 
``software'' can submit an official classification request to BIS using 
the free online submission system, called SNAP-R, available on the BIS 
website, to receive an official classification of the ``technology'' or 
``software.'' For additional information on SNAP-R, see https://www.bis.doc.gov/index.php/licensing/simplified-network-application-process-redesign-snap-r/getting-started-with-snap-r. The person 
submitting the official classification should note in the 
classification request that the classification is being submitted to 
determine whether the ``technology'' or ``software'' meets the criteria 
in section 734.7(c).

Matthew S. Borman,
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Export Administration.
[FR Doc. 2021-11585 Filed 5-27-21; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-33-P