Department of State April 5, 2012 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Secretary of State designation of ``countries of particular concern'' for religious freedom violations. Pursuant to Section 408(a) of the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 (Pub. L. 105-292), as amended (the Act), notice is hereby given that, on August 18, 2011, the Secretary of State, under authority delegated by the President, has designated each of the following as a ``country of particular concern'' (CPC) under section 402(b) of the Act, for having engaged in or tolerated particularly severe violations of religious freedom: Burma, China, Eritrea, Iran, North Korea, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, and Uzbekistan. The Secretary simultaneously designated the following Presidential actions for these CPCs: For Burma, the existing ongoing arms embargo referenced in 22 CFR 126.1(a), pursuant to section 402(c)(5) of the Act; For China, the existing ongoing restrictions on exports to China of crime control and detection instruments and equipment, under Public Law 101-246 and the Foreign Relations Authorization Act of 1990 and 1991, pursuant to section 402(c)(5) of the Act; For Eritrea, the existing ongoing arms embargo referenced in 22 CFR 126.1(a), pursuant to section 402(c)(5) of the Act; For Iran, the existing ongoing restrictions on certain imports from and exports to Iran, in accordance with section 103(b) of the Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability, and Divestment Act of 2010 (Pub. L. 111-195), pursuant to section 402(c)(5) of the Act; For North Korea, the existing ongoing restrictions to which North Korea is subject, pursuant to sections 402 and 409 of the Trade Act of 1974 (the Jackson-Vanik Amendment), pursuant to section 402(c)(5) of the Act; For Saudi Arabia, a waiver to ``further the purposes of the Act,'' pursuant to section 407 of the Act; For Sudan, the restriction on making certain appropriated funds available for assistance to the Government of Sudan in the annual Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, currently set forth in section 7070(f) of the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2010 (Div. F, Pub. L. 111-117), as carried forward by the Full-Year Continuing Appropriations Act, 2011 (Div. B, Pub. L. 112-10) and any provision of law that is the same or substantially the same as this provision, pursuant to section 402(c)(5) of the Act; and For Uzbekistan, a waiver to ``further the purposes of the Act,'' pursuant to section 407 of the Act.

The Department of State is seeking Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval for the information collections described below. The purpose of this notice is to allow 60 days for public comment in the Federal Register preceding submission to OMB. We are conducting this process in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. These collections were published for public comment on December 19, 2011 (see 76 FR 78578). On that occasion, public comment was sought in the context of the proposed rule regarding the revision of part 129 of the International Traffic in Arms Regulations, which covers brokering of defense articles and services, and is the regulatory basis for these collections. The Department of State is now seeking OMB approval of the current collections, without reference to the changes in the proposed rule. The revised collections will be submitted for OMB review and approval in conjunction with the brokering final rule. Title of Information Collection: Brokering Prior Approval (License). OMB Control Number: 1405-0142. Type of Request: Extension of Currently Approved Collection. Originating Office: Bureau of Political-Military Affairs, Directorate of Defense Trade Controls, PM/DDTC. Form Number: None. Respondents: Business and Nonprofit Organizations. Estimated Number of Respondents: 1,515. Estimated Number of Responses: 150. Average Hours per Response: 2 hours. Total Estimated Burden: 300 hours. Frequency: On Occasion. Obligation to Respond: Required to Obtain Benefits.