Belarus Sanctions Regulations, 5482-5483 [2011-2178]

Download as PDF 5482 Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 21 / Tuesday, February 1, 2011 / Rules and Regulations 105. Section 70.443(a)(1) introductory text is amended by removing the reference ‘‘part 178’’ and adding, in its place, the reference ‘‘part 478’’. Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (Department of Justice), contact the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Office of Public and Governmental Affairs, 99 New York Avenue, NE., Washington, DC 20226, or view the contact information posted online at https://www.atf.gov/contact/. § 70.444 § 70.486 ‘‘Part 179’’ and adding, in its place, the reference ‘‘Part 479’’. § 70.443 [Amended] ■ [Amended] 106. The introductory text of § 70.444 is amended by removing the reference ‘‘Part 47’’ wherever it occurs and adding in its place the reference ‘‘Part 447’’, and by removing the reference ‘‘parts 178 and 179’’ and adding, in its place, the reference ‘‘parts 478 and 479’’. ■ § 70.445 [Amended] 107. The introductory text of § 70.445 is amended by removing the reference ‘‘Part 55’’ and adding, in its place, the reference ‘‘Part 555’’. ■ § 70.448 [Amended] 108. Section 70.448(a)(1) is amended by removing the reference ‘‘part 179’’ and adding, in its place, the reference ‘‘part 479’’. ■ § 70.462 109. Section 70.462 is amended by removing the words ‘‘27 CFR part 196 relating to stills;’’. ■ 110. Section 70.471 is revised to read as follows: wwoods2 on DSK1DXX6B1PROD with RULES_PART 1 Rulings. (a) Requests for rulings. Any person who is in doubt as to any matter arising in connection with the following may request a ruling thereon by addressing a letter to the appropriate TTB officer: (1) Operations or transactions in the alcohol tax area (26 U.S.C. chapter 51), the Federal Alcohol Administration Act (27 U.S.C. chapter 8, including the Alcohol Beverage Labeling Act of 1988), or the Webb-Kenyon Act (27 U.S.C. 122); (2) Operations or transactions in the tobacco tax area (26 U.S.C. chapter 52); (3) Operations or transactions in the firearms and ammunition manufacturers excise tax area (26 U.S.C. 4181–4182); (4) Subchapters F and G of chapter 32 of the IRC insofar as they relate to activities administered and enforced with respect to sections 4181 and 4182 of the IRC; and (5) Subtitle F of the IRC insofar as it relates to any of the foregoing. (b) Routine requests for information. Routine requests for information should be addressed to the appropriate TTB officer. (c) Matters under ATF jurisdiction. For rulings on matters under the jurisdiction of the Bureau of Alcohol, VerDate Mar<15>2010 14:25 Jan 31, 2011 111. Section 70.486 is amended by removing the words ‘‘an TTB employee’’ and adding, in their place, the words ‘‘a TTB employee’’. ■ § 70.701 [Amended] 112. In § 70.701: a. Paragraph (d)(2)(i)(A) is amended by removing the words ‘‘An ‘‘TTB Ruling’’ ’’ and adding, in their place, the words ‘‘A ‘‘TTB Ruling’’ ’’; and ■ b. Paragraph (d)(2)(i)(B) is amended by removing the words ‘‘An ‘‘TTB Procedure’’ ’’ and adding, in their place, the words ‘‘A ‘‘TTB Procedure’’ ’’. ■ 113. In § 70.802, paragraph (g) is revised to read as set forth below. ■ ■ § 70.802 Rules for disclosure of certain specified matters. * [Amended] ■ § 70.471 [Amended] Jkt 223001 * * * * (g) Comments received in response to a notice of proposed rulemaking. (1) The Bureau will post written comments received in response to a notice of proposed rulemaking to the appropriate rulemaking docket on the Regulations.gov Web site at https:// www.regulations.gov. The Bureau reserves the right not to post lengthy paper comments or attachments requiring scanning, although a notice regarding the receipt of any such nonposted comments or attachments will be made to Regulations.gov. TTB will not post duplicate or anonymous comments to Regulations.gov. (2) All comments and attachments received in response to a notice of proposed rulemaking may be inspected by any person in the Bureau’s public reading room by appointment during normal business hours. Copies of comments (or portions therefore) also may be obtained. Appointment and copy requests may be addressed to the appropriate TTB officer in writing to the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau, Washington, DC 20220, or by telephone at 202–453–2270. A person requesting copies should allow a reasonable time for processing the request. The provisions of 31 CFR 1.7, relating to fees, apply to requests made in accordance with this paragraph. * * * * * § 70.803 ■ [Amended] 114. In § 70.803(f): PO 00000 Frm 00016 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 4700 a. The first sentence is amended by removing the word ‘‘TTBF’’ and adding, in its place, the word ‘‘TTB’’; and ■ b. The second sentence is amended by removing the word ‘‘ATF’’ each place it occurs and adding, in its place, the word ‘‘TTB’’. ■ PART 71—RULES OF PRACTICE IN PERMIT PROCEEDINGS 115. The authority citation for part 71 continues to read as follows: ■ Authority: 26 U.S.C. 5271, 5181, 5712, 5713, 7805, 27 U.S.C. 204. § 71.27 [Amended] 116. Section § 71.27 is amended by removing ‘‘appeal’’ at the end of the section and adding, in its place, ‘‘appeal)’’. ■ § 71.108 [Amended] 117. Section 71.108(a) is amended by removing the parenthetical phrase ‘‘(Form 1430–B)’’ and adding, in its place, the parenthetical phrase ‘‘(on TTB F 5000.5)’’. ■ § 71.110 ■ [Removed] 118. Remove § 71.110. Signed: October 15, 2010. John J. Manfreda, Administrator. Approved: October 22, 2010. Timothy E. Skud, Deputy Assistant Secretary (Tax, Trade, and Tariff Policy). [FR Doc. 2011–1279 Filed 1–31–11; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4810–31–P DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY Office of Foreign Assets Control 31 CFR Part 548 Belarus Sanctions Regulations Office of Foreign Assets Control, Treasury. ACTION: Final rule. AGENCY: The Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (‘‘OFAC’’) is amending the Belarus Sanctions Regulations in the Code of Federal Regulations to revoke a general license authorizing U.S. persons to engage until May 31, 2011, in otherwise prohibited transactions with two blocked entities, Lakokraska OAO and/or Polotsk Steklovolokno OAO. DATES: Effective Date: This rule is effective February 11, 2011. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Assistant Director for Compliance, SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\01FER1.SGM 01FER1 Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 21 / Tuesday, February 1, 2011 / Rules and Regulations Outreach & Implementation, tel.: 202/ 622–2490, Assistant Director for Licensing, tel.: 202/622–2480, Assistant Director for Policy, tel.: 202/622–4855, Office of Foreign Assets Control, or Chief Counsel (Foreign Assets Control), tel.: 202/622–2410, Office of the General Counsel, Department of the Treasury (not toll free numbers). SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: wwoods2 on DSK1DXX6B1PROD with RULES_PART 1 Electronic and Facsimile Availability This document and additional information concerning OFAC are available from OFAC’s Web site (https:// www.treas.gov/ofac). Certain general information pertaining to OFAC’s sanctions programs also is available via facsimile through a 24-hour fax-ondemand service, tel.: 202/622–0077. Background Following the December 19, 2010 presidential elections in Belarus and the announcement by state-run media on election night that President Lukashenko had received approximately 80 percent of the vote, some opposition candidates and their supporters gathered at Independence Square in the Belarusian capital, Minsk, to protest. Belarusian riot police beat and arrested over 600 protesters, including most of the opposition candidates and many journalists, human rights activists, and civil society representatives. Press reports indicate that as of January 18, at least 31 protesters (including several opposition candidates) remain in jail, facing up to 15 years in prison on charges of organizing or participating in mass riots. Since the demonstration, the government has engaged in a further crackdown against offices and members of political parties, civil society and independent media. While the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe’s (OSCE) Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) noted that the presidential election showed certain improvements over previous elections, ODIHR observed significant flaws during the vote count. ODIHR determined that the lack of transparency in the vote count undermined any improvements in the electoral process. The post-election violence further marred the presidential elections and drew condemnation from the United States and the European Union. On December 23, 2010, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and EU High Representative Catherine Ashton issued a joint statement calling for the immediate release of all opposition protesters taken into custody following the presidential elections. Secretary Clinton and High Representative Ashton VerDate Mar<15>2010 14:25 Jan 31, 2011 Jkt 223001 also deemed the flawed vote count and post-election violence an ‘‘unfortunate step backwards’’ for democracy and human rights in Belarus. In light of these recent developments and the decision by the Government of Belarus to close the Minsk office of the OSCE, OFAC is amending the Belarus Sanctions Regulations, 31 CFR part 548 (the ‘‘Regulations’’), to revoke the general license in section 548.509 authorizing U.S. persons to engage until May 31, 2011, in all otherwise prohibited transactions with two blocked entities, Lakokraska OAO and/ or Polotsk Stoklovolokno OAO. This license had been issued in 2008 in response to the Belarusian Government’s release of its political prisoners. The revocation of the general license in section 548.509 of the Regulations will be effective on February 11, 2011. This delayed effective date gives U.S. persons a reasonable period of time to wind down and terminate any transactions previously entered into with Lakokraska OAO and/or Polotsk Stoklovolokno OAO under section 548.509 of the Regulations. Public Participation Because the amendments of the Regulations involve a foreign affairs function, the provisions of Executive Order 12866 and the Administrative Procedure Act (5 U.S.C. 553) requiring notice of proposed rulemaking, opportunity for public participation, and delay in effective date are inapplicable. Because no notice of proposed rulemaking is required for this rule, the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601–612) does not apply. Paperwork Reduction Act The collections of information related to the Regulations are contained in 31 CFR part 501 (the ‘‘Reporting, Procedures and Penalties Regulations’’). Pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3507), those collections of information have been approved by the Office of Management and Budget under control number 1505– 0164. An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a collection of information unless the collection of information displays a valid control number. List of Subjects in 31 CFR Part 548 Administrative practice and procedure, Banks, Banking, Belarus, Blocking of assets, Credit, Foreign trade, Penalties, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Securities, Services. For the reasons set forth in the preamble, the Department of the PO 00000 Frm 00017 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 4700 5483 Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control amends 31 CFR part 548 as follows: PART 548—BELARUS SANCTIONS REGULATIONS 1. The authority citation for part 548 continues to read as follows: ■ Authority: 3 U.S.C. 301; 31 U.S.C. 321(b); 50 U.S.C. 1601–1651, 1701–1706; Pub. L. 101–410, 104 Stat. 890 (28 U.S.C. 2461 note); Pub. L. 110–96, 121 Stat. 1011 (50 U.S.C. 1705 note); E.O. 13405, 71 FR 35485; 3 CFR, 2007 Comp., p. 231. Subpart E—Licenses, Authorizations, and Statements of Licensing Policy § 548.509 ■ [Removed] 2. Remove § 548.509. Dated: January 25, 2011. Adam J. Szubin, Director, Office of Foreign Assets Control. [FR Doc. 2011–2178 Filed 1–31–11; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4810–AL–P DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration 49 CFR Parts 171 and 173 [Docket No. PHMSA–2010–0017 (HM–245)] RIN 2137–AE56 Hazardous Materials: Incorporation of Certain Cargo Tank Special Permits Into Regulations Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), DOT. ACTION: Final rule. AGENCY: The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration is amending the Hazardous Materials Regulations by incorporating provisions contained in certain widely used or longstanding cargo tank special permits that are granted to multiple parties and have established safety records. Special permits allow a company or individual to package or ship a hazardous material in a manner that varies from the regulations provided an equivalent level of safety is maintained. The revisions are intended to provide wider access to the regulatory flexibility offered in the special permits and eliminate the need for numerous renewal requests, thereby facilitating commercial activity and reducing paperwork burdens while continuing to maintain an appropriate level of safety. DATES: Effective date: The effective date of this final rule is March 3, 2011. SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\01FER1.SGM 01FER1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 21 (Tuesday, February 1, 2011)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 5482-5483]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-2178]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY

Office of Foreign Assets Control

31 CFR Part 548


Belarus Sanctions Regulations

AGENCY: Office of Foreign Assets Control, Treasury.

ACTION: Final rule.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets 
Control (``OFAC'') is amending the Belarus Sanctions Regulations in the 
Code of Federal Regulations to revoke a general license authorizing 
U.S. persons to engage until May 31, 2011, in otherwise prohibited 
transactions with two blocked entities, Lakokraska OAO and/or Polotsk 
Steklovolokno OAO.

DATES: Effective Date: This rule is effective February 11, 2011.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Assistant Director for Compliance,

[[Page 5483]]

Outreach & Implementation, tel.: 202/622-2490, Assistant Director for 
Licensing, tel.: 202/622-2480, Assistant Director for Policy, tel.: 
202/622-4855, Office of Foreign Assets Control, or Chief Counsel 
(Foreign Assets Control), tel.: 202/622-2410, Office of the General 
Counsel, Department of the Treasury (not toll free numbers).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Electronic and Facsimile Availability

    This document and additional information concerning OFAC are 
available from OFAC's Web site (https://www.treas.gov/ofac). Certain 
general information pertaining to OFAC's sanctions programs also is 
available via facsimile through a 24-hour fax-on-demand service, tel.: 
202/622-0077.

Background

    Following the December 19, 2010 presidential elections in Belarus 
and the announcement by state-run media on election night that 
President Lukashenko had received approximately 80 percent of the vote, 
some opposition candidates and their supporters gathered at 
Independence Square in the Belarusian capital, Minsk, to protest. 
Belarusian riot police beat and arrested over 600 protesters, including 
most of the opposition candidates and many journalists, human rights 
activists, and civil society representatives. Press reports indicate 
that as of January 18, at least 31 protesters (including several 
opposition candidates) remain in jail, facing up to 15 years in prison 
on charges of organizing or participating in mass riots. Since the 
demonstration, the government has engaged in a further crackdown 
against offices and members of political parties, civil society and 
independent media.
    While the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe's 
(OSCE) Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) 
noted that the presidential election showed certain improvements over 
previous elections, ODIHR observed significant flaws during the vote 
count. ODIHR determined that the lack of transparency in the vote count 
undermined any improvements in the electoral process. The post-election 
violence further marred the presidential elections and drew 
condemnation from the United States and the European Union. On December 
23, 2010, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and EU High 
Representative Catherine Ashton issued a joint statement calling for 
the immediate release of all opposition protesters taken into custody 
following the presidential elections. Secretary Clinton and High 
Representative Ashton also deemed the flawed vote count and post-
election violence an ``unfortunate step backwards'' for democracy and 
human rights in Belarus.
    In light of these recent developments and the decision by the 
Government of Belarus to close the Minsk office of the OSCE, OFAC is 
amending the Belarus Sanctions Regulations, 31 CFR part 548 (the 
``Regulations''), to revoke the general license in section 548.509 
authorizing U.S. persons to engage until May 31, 2011, in all otherwise 
prohibited transactions with two blocked entities, Lakokraska OAO and/
or Polotsk Stoklovolokno OAO. This license had been issued in 2008 in 
response to the Belarusian Government's release of its political 
prisoners. The revocation of the general license in section 548.509 of 
the Regulations will be effective on February 11, 2011. This delayed 
effective date gives U.S. persons a reasonable period of time to wind 
down and terminate any transactions previously entered into with 
Lakokraska OAO and/or Polotsk Stoklovolokno OAO under section 548.509 
of the Regulations.

Public Participation

    Because the amendments of the Regulations involve a foreign affairs 
function, the provisions of Executive Order 12866 and the 
Administrative Procedure Act (5 U.S.C. 553) requiring notice of 
proposed rulemaking, opportunity for public participation, and delay in 
effective date are inapplicable. Because no notice of proposed 
rulemaking is required for this rule, the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 
U.S.C. 601-612) does not apply.

Paperwork Reduction Act

    The collections of information related to the Regulations are 
contained in 31 CFR part 501 (the ``Reporting, Procedures and Penalties 
Regulations''). Pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 
U.S.C. 3507), those collections of information have been approved by 
the Office of Management and Budget under control number 1505-0164. An 
agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to 
respond to, a collection of information unless the collection of 
information displays a valid control number.

List of Subjects in 31 CFR Part 548

    Administrative practice and procedure, Banks, Banking, Belarus, 
Blocking of assets, Credit, Foreign trade, Penalties, Reporting and 
recordkeeping requirements, Securities, Services.

    For the reasons set forth in the preamble, the Department of the 
Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control amends 31 CFR part 548 as 
follows:

PART 548--BELARUS SANCTIONS REGULATIONS

0
1. The authority citation for part 548 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 3 U.S.C. 301; 31 U.S.C. 321(b); 50 U.S.C. 1601-1651, 
1701-1706; Pub. L. 101-410, 104 Stat. 890 (28 U.S.C. 2461 note); 
Pub. L. 110-96, 121 Stat. 1011 (50 U.S.C. 1705 note); E.O. 13405, 71 
FR 35485; 3 CFR, 2007 Comp., p. 231.

Subpart E--Licenses, Authorizations, and Statements of Licensing 
Policy


Sec.  548.509  [Removed]

0
2. Remove Sec.  548.509.

    Dated: January 25, 2011.
Adam J. Szubin,
Director, Office of Foreign Assets Control.
[FR Doc. 2011-2178 Filed 1-31-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4810-AL-P

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