Amendments to OFAC Regulations To Remove the Former Liberian Regime of Charles Taylor Sanctions Regulations and References to Fax-on-Demand Service, 76861-76863 [2016-26717]
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Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 214 / Friday, November 4, 2016 / Rules and Regulations
d’Ivoire and Liberia were promulgated
in part to fulfill U.S. obligations and
serve collective security interests by
implementing United Nations Security
Council arms embargoes. Furthermore,
arms embargoes were imposed on Sri
Lanka and Vietnam by the United States
to advance national and regional
stability and security. Termination of
these embargoes under the EAR
recognizes progress in the security
situations in Cote d’Ivoire and Liberia,
changes in legislative mandates related
to Sri Lanka, and the evolution of U.S.
relations with Vietnam, and updates the
EAR to bring it in line with those
changes, including with international
authorities supported by the United
States and which already are in effect.
Lastly, these updates and the
recognition of India as a member of the
MTCR help to prevent confusing the
public as to the status of the named
destinations for purposes of export
controls under the EAR. 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 by 5 U.S.C. 553, 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 and is
made effective immediately upon
publication.
List of Subjects
15 CFR Part 738
Exports.
15 CFR Part 740
Administrative practice and
procedure, Exports, Reporting and
recordkeeping requirements.
15 CFR Part 742
Exports, Terrorism.
15 CFR Part 746
Exports, Reporting and recordkeeping
requirements.
Accordingly, parts 738, 740, 742 and
746 of the Export Administration
Regulations (15 CFR parts 730–774) are
amended as follows:
PART 738—[AMENDED]
7201 et seq.; 22 U.S.C. 7210; E.O. 13026, 61
FR 58767, 3 CFR, 1996 Comp., p. 228; E.O.
13222, 66 FR 44025, 3 CFR, 2001 Comp., p.
783; Notice of August 4, 2016, 81 FR 52587
(August 8, 2016).
Supplement No. 1 to Part 738—
[Amended]
2. Supplement No. 1 to part 738
‘‘Commerce Country Chart’’ is amended
by removing the footnote notation
number 1 from ‘‘Cote d’Ivoire’’ and
‘‘Liberia’’.
■
PART 740—[AMENDED]
3. The authority citation for part 740
continues to read as follows:
■
Authority: Authority: 50 U.S.C. 4601 et
seq.; 50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.; 22 U.S.C. 7201
et seq.; E.O. 13026, 61 FR 58767, 3 CFR, 1996
Comp., p. 228; E.O. 13222, 66 FR 44025, 3
CFR, 2001 Comp., p. 783; Notice of August
4, 2016, 81 FR 52587 (August 8, 2016).
Supplement No. 1 to Part 740—
[Amended]
4. Supplement No. 1 to part 740,
Country Group D, is amended by:
■ a. Removing the entries for ‘‘Cote
d’Ivoire’’, ‘‘Liberia’’ and ‘‘Sri Lanka’’;
and
■ b. Removing the ‘‘X’’ under column
D:5 ‘‘U.S. Arms Embargoed Countries’’
for ‘‘Vietnam’’.
■
PART 742—[AMENDED]
5. The authority citation for part 742
continues to read as follows:
■
Authority: 50 U.S.C. 4601 et seq.; 50
U.S.C. 1701 et seq.; 22 U.S.C. 3201 et seq.;
42 U.S.C. 2139a; 22 U.S.C. 7201 et seq.; 22
U.S.C. 7210; Sec. 1503, Pub. L. 108–11, 117
Stat. 559; E.O. 12058, 43 FR 20947, 3 CFR,
1978 Comp., p. 179; E.O. 12851, 58 FR 33181,
3 CFR, 1993 Comp., p. 608; E.O. 12938, 59
FR 59099, 3 CFR, 1994 Comp., p. 950; E.O.
13026, 61 FR 58767, 3 CFR, 1996 Comp., p.
228; E.O. 13222, 66 FR 44025, 3 CFR, 2001
Comp., p. 783; Presidential Determination
2003–23, 68 FR 26459, 3 CFR, 2004 Comp.,
p. 320; Notice of November 12, 2015, 80 FR
70667 (November 13, 2015); Notice of August
4, 2016, 81 FR 52587 (August 8, 2016).
§ 742.5
[Amended]
6. Section 742.5 is amended by
removing the clause ‘‘, and India as an
MTCR adherent,’’ from the first sentence
of paragraph (d).
■
PART 746—[AMENDED]
■
7. The authority citation for 15 CFR
part 746 continues to read as follows:
Authority: Authority: 50 U.S.C. 4601 et
seq.; 50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.; 10 U.S.C. 7420;
10 U.S.C. 7430(e); 22 U.S.C. 287c; 22 U.S.C.
3201 et seq.; 22 U.S.C. 6004; 42 U.S.C. 2139a;
15 U.S.C. 1824a; 50 U.S.C. 4305; 22 U.S.C.
Authority: 50 U.S.C. 4601 et seq.; 50
U.S.C. 1701 et seq.; 22 U.S.C. 287c; Sec 1503,
Pub. L. 108–11, 117 Stat. 559; 22 U.S.C. 6004;
22 U.S.C. 7201 et seq.; 22 U.S.C. 7210; E.O.
12854, 58 FR 36587, 3 CFR, 1993 Comp., p.
614; E.O. 12918, 59 FR 28205, 3 CFR, 1994
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■
1. The authority citation for part 738
continues to read as follows:
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76861
Comp., p. 899; E.O. 13222, 66 FR 44025, 3
CFR, 2001 Comp., p. 783; E.O. 13338, 69 FR
26751, 3 CFR, 2004 Comp., p 168;
Presidential Determination 2003–23, 68 FR
26459, 3 CFR, 2004 Comp., p. 320;
Presidential Determination 2007–7, 72 FR
1899, 3 CFR, 2006 Comp., p. 325; Notice of
May 3, 2016, 81 FR 27293 (May 5, 2016);
Notice of August 4, 2016, 81 FR 52587
(August 8, 2016).
§ 746.1
[Amended]
8. Section 746.1 is amended by
removing ‘‘Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast),’’
and ‘‘Liberia,’’ from the list of countries
in paragraph (b)(2).
■
Dated: October 28, 2016.
Kevin J. Wolf,
Assistant Secretary for Export
Administration.
[FR Doc. 2016–26535 Filed 11–3–16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–33–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
Office of Foreign Assets Control
31 CFR Parts 501 and 593 and
Appendix A to Chapter V
Amendments to OFAC Regulations To
Remove the Former Liberian Regime of
Charles Taylor Sanctions Regulations
and References to Fax-on-Demand
Service
Office of Foreign Assets
Control, Treasury
ACTION: Final rule.
AGENCY:
The Department of the
Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets
Control (OFAC) is removing from the
Code of Federal Regulations the Former
Liberian Regime of Charles Taylor
Sanctions Regulations as a result of the
termination of the national emergency
on which the regulations were based.
OFAC also is amending the Reporting,
Procedures and Penalties Regulations
and Appendix A to chapter V by making
technical changes including to remove
references to OFAC’s fax-on-demand
service in order to reflect the
discontinuation of that service.
DATES: Effective: November 4, 2016.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: The
Department of the Treasury’s Office of
Foreign Assets Control: Assistant
Director for Licensing, tel.: 202–622–
2480, Assistant Director for Regulatory
Affairs, tel.: 202–622–4855, Assistant
Director for Sanctions Compliance &
Evaluation, tel.: 202–622–2490, or the
Department of the Treasury’s Office of
the Chief Counsel (Foreign Assets
Control), Office of the General Counsel,
tel.: 202–622–2410.
SUMMARY:
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Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 214 / Friday, November 4, 2016 / Rules and Regulations
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Electronic Availability
This document and additional
information concerning OFAC are
available from OFAC’s Web site
(www.treasury.gov/ofac).
Background
rmajette on DSK2TPTVN1PROD with RULES
Removal of the Former Liberian Regime
of Charles Taylor Sanctions Regulations
On July 22, 2004, the President signed
Executive Order 13348, ‘‘Blocking
Property of Certain Persons and
Prohibiting the Importation of Certain
Goods from Liberia’’ (E.O. 13348), in
which he declared a national emergency
to deal with the unusual and
extraordinary threat posed to United
States foreign policy by the actions and
policies of former Liberian President
Charles Taylor and other persons, in
particular their unlawful depletion of
Liberian resources and their removal
from Liberia and secreting of Liberian
funds and property, which undermined
Liberia’s transition to democracy and
the orderly development of its political,
administrative, and economic
institutions and resources. The
President further noted that the
Comprehensive Peace Agreement signed
on August 18, 2003, and the related
ceasefire had not yet been universally
implemented throughout Liberia, and
that the illicit trade in round logs and
timber products was linked to the
proliferation of and trafficking in illegal
arms, which perpetuated the Liberian
conflict and fueled and exacerbated
other conflicts throughout West Africa.
E.O. 13348 blocked all property and
interests in property of the persons
listed in the Annex to E.O. 13348 and
any person determined: (1) To be or
have been an immediate family member
of Charles Taylor; (2) to have been a
senior official of the former Liberian
regime headed by Charles Taylor or
otherwise to have been or be a close ally
or associate of Charles Taylor or the
former Liberian regime; (3) to have
materially assisted, sponsored, or
provided financial, material, or
technological support for, or goods or
services in support of, the unlawful
depletion of Liberian resources, the
removal of Liberian resources from that
country, and the secreting of Liberian
funds and property by any person
whose property or interests in property
are blocked pursuant to E.O. 13348; or
(4) to be owned or controlled by, or
acting or purporting to act for or on
behalf of, directly or indirectly, any
person whose property or interests in
property are blocked pursuant to E.O.
13348. E.O. 13348 also prohibited the
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direct or indirect importation into the
United States of any round log or timber
product originating in Liberia.
On May 23, 2007, OFAC issued the
Former Liberian Regime of Charles
Taylor Sanctions Regulations, 31 CFR
part 593, as a final rule to implement
E.O. 13348 (72 FR 28855, May 23, 2007).
On November 12, 2015, the President
issued Executive Order 13710,
‘‘Termination of Emergency With
Respect to the Actions and Policies of
Former Liberian President Charles
Taylor’’ (E.O. 13710). In E.O. 13710, the
President found that the situation that
gave rise to the declaration of a national
emergency in E.O. 13348 had been
significantly altered by Liberia’s
significant advances to promote
democracy and the orderly development
of its political, administrative, and
economic institutions, including
presidential elections in 2005 and 2011,
which were internationally recognized
as freely held; the 2012 conviction of,
and 50-year prison sentence for, former
Liberian President Charles Taylor and
the affirmation on appeal of that
conviction and sentence; and the
diminished ability of those connected to
former Liberian President Charles
Taylor to undermine Liberia’s progress.
As a result, he terminated the national
emergency declared in E.O. 13348 and
revoked that order.
Accordingly, OFAC is removing the
Former Liberian Regime of Charles
Taylor Sanctions Regulations from the
Code of Federal Regulations. Pursuant
to section 202 of the National
Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1622) and
section 1 of E.O. 13710, termination of
the national emergency declared in E.O.
13348 shall not affect any action taken
or proceeding pending that was not
fully concluded or determined as of 2:00
p.m. eastern standard time on November
12, 2015 (the effective date of E.O.
13710), any action or proceeding based
on any act committed prior to the
effective date, or any rights or duties
that matured or penalties that were
incurred prior to the effective date.
Technical Changes
On June 10, 2016, OFAC announced
on its Web site that it was terminating
its fax-on-demand service due to a lack
of user demand. OFAC is making
technical changes to its regulations
including to reflect the discontinuation
of the fax-on-demand service.
The Reporting, Procedures and
Penalties Regulations, 31 CFR part 501
(RPPR), set forth standard reporting and
recordkeeping requirements and license
application and other procedures
relevant to the economic sanctions
programs administered by OFAC. OFAC
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is revising section 501.603 of the RPPR,
which covers reports on blocked
property, and section 501.801 of the
RPPR, which covers licensing, in each
case to remove references to OFAC’s
fax-on-demand service and to make
certain other technical changes.
Appendix A to chapter V (Appendix
A) sets forth information pertaining to
OFAC’s Specially Designated Nationals
and Blocked Persons List. OFAC is
making two revisions to Appendix A, in
each case to remove references to
OFAC’s fax-on-demand service.
Public Participation
Because parts 501 and 593 and
Appendix A to 31 CFR chapter V
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
Pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction
Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3507), the
collections of information contained in
the RPPR 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 Parts 501 and
593 and Appendix A to Chapter V
Administrative practice and
procedure, Banks, Banking, Blocking of
assets, Credit, Foreign trade, Imports,
Liberia, Penalties, Reporting and
recordkeeping requirements, Sanctions,
Securities.
For the reasons set forth in the
preamble, and under the authority of 3
U.S.C. 301; 50 U.S.C. 1601–1651; E.O.
13348, 69 FR 44885, 3 CFR, 2004
Comp., p. 189; E.O. 13710, 80 FR 71679,
OFAC amends 31 CFR chapter V as
follows:
PART 501—REPORTING,
PROCEDURES AND PENALTIES
REGULATIONS
1. The authority citation for part 501
continues to read as follows:
■
Authority: 8 U.S.C. 1189; 18 U.S.C. 2332d,
2339B; 19 U.S.C. 3901–3913; 21 U.S.C. 1901–
1908; 22 U.S.C. 287c; 22 U.S.C. 2370(a),
6009, 6032, 7205; 28 U.S.C. 2461 note; 31
U.S.C. 321(b); 50 U.S.C. 1701–1706; 50 U.S.C.
App. 1–44.
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Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 214 / Friday, November 4, 2016 / Rules and Regulations
2. Amend § 501.603 to revise the
second sentence of paragraph (b)(2)(ii)
to read as follows:
■
§ 501.603
a. Remove the third introductory
paragraph, which states: ‘‘Finally, the
public may obtain information on
blocking, designation, identification,
and delisting actions through OFAC’s
fax-on-demand service, at 202/622–
0077.’’
■ b. Remove the fifth sentence of note 5,
which states: ‘‘Information also is
available by fax through OFAC’s fax-ondemand service, at 202/622–0077.’’
■
Subpart C—Reports
Reports on blocked property.
*
*
*
*
*
(b) * * *
(2) * * *
(ii) * * * Copies of Form TDF 90–
22.50 may be obtained directly from the
Office of Foreign Assets Control by
downloading the form from the OFAC
Reporting and License Application
Forms page on OFAC’s Web site
(https://www.treasury.gov/resourcecenter/sanctions/Pages/formsindex.aspx). * * *
*
*
*
*
*
John E. Smith,
Acting Director, Office of Foreign Assets
Control.
[FR Doc. 2016–26717 Filed 11–3–16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4810–AL–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
Financial Crimes Enforcement Network
Subpart E—Procedures
3. Amend § 501.801 to revise the
penultimate sentence of paragraph (b)(2)
to read as follows:
31 CFR Parts 1010, 1020, 1021, 1022,
1023, 1024, 1025, and 1026
§ 501.801
Technical Amendments to Various
Bank Secrecy Act Regulations
■
Licensing.
*
*
*
*
*
(b) * * *
(2) * * * The form, which requires
information regarding the date of the
blocking, the financial institutions
involved in the transfer, and the
beneficiary and amount of the transfer,
may be obtained from the OFAC
Reporting and License Application
Forms page on OFAC’s Web site
(https://www.treasury.gov/resourcecenter/sanctions/Pages/formsindex.aspx) or the Office of Foreign
Assets Control, Licensing Division, U.S.
Department of the Treasury, 1500
Pennsylvania Avenue NW., Freedman’s
Bank Building, Washington, DC 20220.
* * *
*
*
*
*
*
PART 593—[REMOVED]
■
4. Remove part 593.
Appendix A to Chapter V—[AMENDED]
5. The authority citation for appendix
A to chapter V continues to read as
follows:
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■
Authority: 3 U.S.C. 301; 8 U.S.C. 1182,
1189; 18 U.S.C. 2339 B; 21 U.S.C. 1901–1908;
22 U.S.C. 287 c; 31 U.S.C. 321(b); 50 U.S.C.
App. 1–44; Public Law 110–286, 122 Stat.
2632 (50 U.S.C. 1701 note); Public Law 111–
195, 124 Stat. 1312 (22 U.S.C. 8501–8551);
Public Law 112–81, 125 Stat. 1298 (22 U.S.C.
8513a); Public Law 112–158, 126 Stat. 1214
(22 U.S.C. 8701–8795); Public Law 112–208,
126 Stat. 1502; Public Law 113–278, 128 Stat.
3011 (50 U.S.C. 1701 note).
6. Amend appendix A to chapter V as
follows:
■
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RIN 1506–AB32
Financial Crimes Enforcement
Network (‘‘FinCEN’’), Treasury.
ACTION: Final rule.
AGENCY:
FinCEN is issuing this final
rule to make a number of technical
amendments. This final rule updates
various sections of the regulations
implementing the Bank Secrecy Act
(‘‘BSA’’) by removing or replacing
outdated references to obsolete BSA
forms, removing references to outdated
recordkeeping storage media, and
replacing several other outdated terms
and references.
DATES: Effective November 4, 2016.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
FinCEN Resource Center at 1–800–767–
2825 or 1–703–905–3591 (not a toll free
number) and select option 3 for
regulatory questions. Email inquiries
can be sent to FRC@fincen.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
SUMMARY:
I. Statutory and Regulatory Background
The BSA, Titles I and II of Public Law
91–508, as amended, codified at 12
U.S.C. 1829b, 12 U.S.C. 1951–1959, and
31 U.S.C. 5311–5314 and 5316–5332,
authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury
(‘‘Secretary’’), among other things, to
issue regulations requiring persons to
keep records and file reports that are
determined to have a high degree of
usefulness in criminal, tax, regulatory,
and counter-terrorism matters. The
regulations implementing the BSA
appear at 31 CFR chapter X. The
Secretary’s authority to administer the
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76863
BSA has been delegated to the Director
of FinCEN.1
II. Discussion of Changes
In 2010, FinCEN reorganized the
BSA’s implementing regulations
previously appearing in part 103 of title
31 of the Code of Federal Regulations by
transferring them to a new chapter in
title 31—chapter X.2 When chapter X
was published, BSA reporting forms
were specific to particular segments of
the financial industry, and the names of
those industry-specific forms currently
appear in chapter X. FinCEN has since
revised a number of forms so that they
may be used by a range of industry
segments and no longer carry industryspecific designations. The transition
from industry-specific forms began by
replacing the various currency
transaction reports previously used by
different industry segments, with an
industry-wide, single BSA form for
currency transactions—the Bank
Secrecy Act Currency Transaction
Report. FinCEN has also replaced the
five industry-specific suspicious activity
reports with a combined suspicious
activity report, the Bank Secrecy Act
Suspicious Activity Report, which is
now used by various financial industry
segments. This final rule revises the
BSA regulations by updating them to
reflect the names of the new reports.
A number of recordkeeping
requirements in 31 CFR chapter X refer
to the use of a type of data storage
media—microfilm—that is no longer in
wide use (or in many cases not even
available) for copies of records required
to be kept. This final rule removes those
outdated references. If, however, a
financial institution continues to use
microfilm for copies, the rule change
does not require the financial institution
to use a different type of media for
copies, nor does it require existing
copies that were made on microfilm to
be transferred to newer types of media.
Finally, this final rule replaces several
other outdated terms or references
where appropriate such as the reference
to filing reports with the Commissioner
of Internal Revenue (‘‘IRS’’). Effective
July 1, 2011, all BSA reports are
electronically filed with FinCEN, not
the IRS.
III. Administrative Procedure Act and
Effective Date
Under 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(3)(B) of the
Administrative Procedure Act (‘‘APA’’),
an agency may, for good cause, find
(and incorporate the finding and a brief
statement of reasons in the rules issued)
1 Treasury
2 See
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Order 180–01 (Sept. 26, 2002).
75 FR 5806 (Oct. 26, 2010).
04NOR1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 214 (Friday, November 4, 2016)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 76861-76863]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-26717]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
Office of Foreign Assets Control
31 CFR Parts 501 and 593 and Appendix A to Chapter V
Amendments to OFAC Regulations To Remove the Former Liberian
Regime of Charles Taylor Sanctions Regulations and References to Fax-
on-Demand Service
AGENCY: Office of Foreign Assets Control, Treasury
ACTION: Final rule.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets
Control (OFAC) is removing from the Code of Federal Regulations the
Former Liberian Regime of Charles Taylor Sanctions Regulations as a
result of the termination of the national emergency on which the
regulations were based. OFAC also is amending the Reporting, Procedures
and Penalties Regulations and Appendix A to chapter V by making
technical changes including to remove references to OFAC's fax-on-
demand service in order to reflect the discontinuation of that service.
DATES: Effective: November 4, 2016.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: The Department of the Treasury's
Office of Foreign Assets Control: Assistant Director for Licensing,
tel.: 202-622-2480, Assistant Director for Regulatory Affairs, tel.:
202-622-4855, Assistant Director for Sanctions Compliance & Evaluation,
tel.: 202-622-2490, or the Department of the Treasury's Office of the
Chief Counsel (Foreign Assets Control), Office of the General Counsel,
tel.: 202-622-2410.
[[Page 76862]]
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Electronic Availability
This document and additional information concerning OFAC are
available from OFAC's Web site (www.treasury.gov/ofac).
Background
Removal of the Former Liberian Regime of Charles Taylor Sanctions
Regulations
On July 22, 2004, the President signed Executive Order 13348,
``Blocking Property of Certain Persons and Prohibiting the Importation
of Certain Goods from Liberia'' (E.O. 13348), in which he declared a
national emergency to deal with the unusual and extraordinary threat
posed to United States foreign policy by the actions and policies of
former Liberian President Charles Taylor and other persons, in
particular their unlawful depletion of Liberian resources and their
removal from Liberia and secreting of Liberian funds and property,
which undermined Liberia's transition to democracy and the orderly
development of its political, administrative, and economic institutions
and resources. The President further noted that the Comprehensive Peace
Agreement signed on August 18, 2003, and the related ceasefire had not
yet been universally implemented throughout Liberia, and that the
illicit trade in round logs and timber products was linked to the
proliferation of and trafficking in illegal arms, which perpetuated the
Liberian conflict and fueled and exacerbated other conflicts throughout
West Africa.
E.O. 13348 blocked all property and interests in property of the
persons listed in the Annex to E.O. 13348 and any person determined:
(1) To be or have been an immediate family member of Charles Taylor;
(2) to have been a senior official of the former Liberian regime headed
by Charles Taylor or otherwise to have been or be a close ally or
associate of Charles Taylor or the former Liberian regime; (3) to have
materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or
technological support for, or goods or services in support of, the
unlawful depletion of Liberian resources, the removal of Liberian
resources from that country, and the secreting of Liberian funds and
property by any person whose property or interests in property are
blocked pursuant to E.O. 13348; or (4) to be owned or controlled by, or
acting or purporting to act for or on behalf of, directly or
indirectly, any person whose property or interests in property are
blocked pursuant to E.O. 13348. E.O. 13348 also prohibited the direct
or indirect importation into the United States of any round log or
timber product originating in Liberia.
On May 23, 2007, OFAC issued the Former Liberian Regime of Charles
Taylor Sanctions Regulations, 31 CFR part 593, as a final rule to
implement E.O. 13348 (72 FR 28855, May 23, 2007).
On November 12, 2015, the President issued Executive Order 13710,
``Termination of Emergency With Respect to the Actions and Policies of
Former Liberian President Charles Taylor'' (E.O. 13710). In E.O. 13710,
the President found that the situation that gave rise to the
declaration of a national emergency in E.O. 13348 had been
significantly altered by Liberia's significant advances to promote
democracy and the orderly development of its political, administrative,
and economic institutions, including presidential elections in 2005 and
2011, which were internationally recognized as freely held; the 2012
conviction of, and 50-year prison sentence for, former Liberian
President Charles Taylor and the affirmation on appeal of that
conviction and sentence; and the diminished ability of those connected
to former Liberian President Charles Taylor to undermine Liberia's
progress. As a result, he terminated the national emergency declared in
E.O. 13348 and revoked that order.
Accordingly, OFAC is removing the Former Liberian Regime of Charles
Taylor Sanctions Regulations from the Code of Federal Regulations.
Pursuant to section 202 of the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C.
1622) and section 1 of E.O. 13710, termination of the national
emergency declared in E.O. 13348 shall not affect any action taken or
proceeding pending that was not fully concluded or determined as of
2:00 p.m. eastern standard time on November 12, 2015 (the effective
date of E.O. 13710), any action or proceeding based on any act
committed prior to the effective date, or any rights or duties that
matured or penalties that were incurred prior to the effective date.
Technical Changes
On June 10, 2016, OFAC announced on its Web site that it was
terminating its fax-on-demand service due to a lack of user demand.
OFAC is making technical changes to its regulations including to
reflect the discontinuation of the fax-on-demand service.
The Reporting, Procedures and Penalties Regulations, 31 CFR part
501 (RPPR), set forth standard reporting and recordkeeping requirements
and license application and other procedures relevant to the economic
sanctions programs administered by OFAC. OFAC is revising section
501.603 of the RPPR, which covers reports on blocked property, and
section 501.801 of the RPPR, which covers licensing, in each case to
remove references to OFAC's fax-on-demand service and to make certain
other technical changes.
Appendix A to chapter V (Appendix A) sets forth information
pertaining to OFAC's Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons
List. OFAC is making two revisions to Appendix A, in each case to
remove references to OFAC's fax-on-demand service.
Public Participation
Because parts 501 and 593 and Appendix A to 31 CFR chapter V
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
Pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3507),
the collections of information contained in the RPPR 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 Parts 501 and 593 and Appendix A to
Chapter V
Administrative practice and procedure, Banks, Banking, Blocking of
assets, Credit, Foreign trade, Imports, Liberia, Penalties, Reporting
and recordkeeping requirements, Sanctions, Securities.
For the reasons set forth in the preamble, and under the authority
of 3 U.S.C. 301; 50 U.S.C. 1601-1651; E.O. 13348, 69 FR 44885, 3 CFR,
2004 Comp., p. 189; E.O. 13710, 80 FR 71679, OFAC amends 31 CFR chapter
V as follows:
PART 501--REPORTING, PROCEDURES AND PENALTIES REGULATIONS
0
1. The authority citation for part 501 continues to read as follows:
Authority: 8 U.S.C. 1189; 18 U.S.C. 2332d, 2339B; 19 U.S.C.
3901-3913; 21 U.S.C. 1901-1908; 22 U.S.C. 287c; 22 U.S.C. 2370(a),
6009, 6032, 7205; 28 U.S.C. 2461 note; 31 U.S.C. 321(b); 50 U.S.C.
1701-1706; 50 U.S.C. App. 1-44.
[[Page 76863]]
Subpart C--Reports
0
2. Amend Sec. 501.603 to revise the second sentence of paragraph
(b)(2)(ii) to read as follows:
Sec. 501.603 Reports on blocked property.
* * * * *
(b) * * *
(2) * * *
(ii) * * * Copies of Form TDF 90-22.50 may be obtained directly
from the Office of Foreign Assets Control by downloading the form from
the OFAC Reporting and License Application Forms page on OFAC's Web
site (https://www.treasury.gov/resource-center/sanctions/Pages/forms-index.aspx). * * *
* * * * *
Subpart E--Procedures
0
3. Amend Sec. 501.801 to revise the penultimate sentence of paragraph
(b)(2) to read as follows:
Sec. 501.801 Licensing.
* * * * *
(b) * * *
(2) * * * The form, which requires information regarding the date
of the blocking, the financial institutions involved in the transfer,
and the beneficiary and amount of the transfer, may be obtained from
the OFAC Reporting and License Application Forms page on OFAC's Web
site (https://www.treasury.gov/resource-center/sanctions/Pages/forms-index.aspx) or the Office of Foreign Assets Control, Licensing
Division, U.S. Department of the Treasury, 1500 Pennsylvania Avenue
NW., Freedman's Bank Building, Washington, DC 20220. * * *
* * * * *
PART 593--[REMOVED]
0
4. Remove part 593.
Appendix A to Chapter V--[AMENDED]
0
5. The authority citation for appendix A to chapter V continues to read
as follows:
Authority: 3 U.S.C. 301; 8 U.S.C. 1182, 1189; 18 U.S.C. 2339 B;
21 U.S.C. 1901-1908; 22 U.S.C. 287 c; 31 U.S.C. 321(b); 50 U.S.C.
App. 1-44; Public Law 110-286, 122 Stat. 2632 (50 U.S.C. 1701 note);
Public Law 111-195, 124 Stat. 1312 (22 U.S.C. 8501-8551); Public Law
112-81, 125 Stat. 1298 (22 U.S.C. 8513a); Public Law 112-158, 126
Stat. 1214 (22 U.S.C. 8701-8795); Public Law 112-208, 126 Stat.
1502; Public Law 113-278, 128 Stat. 3011 (50 U.S.C. 1701 note).
0
6. Amend appendix A to chapter V as follows:
0
a. Remove the third introductory paragraph, which states: ``Finally,
the public may obtain information on blocking, designation,
identification, and delisting actions through OFAC's fax-on-demand
service, at 202/622-0077.''
0
b. Remove the fifth sentence of note 5, which states: ``Information
also is available by fax through OFAC's fax-on-demand service, at 202/
622-0077.''
John E. Smith,
Acting Director, Office of Foreign Assets Control.
[FR Doc. 2016-26717 Filed 11-3-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4810-AL-P
