National Firearms Commerce and Trafficking Assessment (NFCTA): Crime Guns - Volume Two Report

This temporary rule implements some of the provisions of the Balanced Budget Act of 1997. The new law sets forth the requirement that, beginning January 1, 2000, importers of tobacco products qualify for a permit to conduct that activity. Implementing changes, including a transitional rule, are made to part 275. In addition, clarifying changes are made to part 275. In the Proposed Rules section of this Federal Register, ATF is also issuing a notice of proposed rulemaking inviting comments on this temporary rule for a 60-day period following the publication of this temporary rule.

This document contains a correcting amendment to the temporary regulations, which were published in the Federal Register on December 22, 1999, (64 FR 71947). The temporary regulations relate to implementing certain provisions of the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 that set forth requirements that, beginning January 1, 2000, importers of tobacco products must qualify for a permit to conduct that activity.

This final rule places most ATF authorities contained in parts 4, 5, and 7, title 27 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), with the “appropriate ATF officer” and requires that persons file documents required by parts 4, 5, and 7, title 27 CFR, with the “appropriate ATF officer” or in accordance with the instructions on the ATF form. Also, this final rule removes the definitions of, and references to, specific officers subordinate to the Director. Concurrently with this Treasury Decision, ATF Order 1130.2A is being published.

In Treasury Decision ATF–424, ATF issued temporary regulations requiring manufacturers and importers to mark packages of roll-your-own tobacco as either ‘‘roll-your-own tobacco’’ or ‘‘Tax Class J.’’ The temporary regulations provided a use up period until April 1, 2000 for manufacturers who used packages that did not meet the marking requirements, provided they used the packages before January 1, 2000.

This final rule implements the provision of the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 requiring that manufacturers of roll-your-own tobacco obtain a permit.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) is establishing a viticultural area located within the State of Oregon, to be known as ‘‘Applegate Valley.’’ The petition for this viticultural area was filed by Mr. Barnard E. Smith, President, The Academy of Wine of Oregon Inc.

This final rule places most ATF authorities contained in parts 17 and 18, title 27 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), with the ‘‘appropriate ATF officer’’ and requires that persons file documents required by parts 17 and 18, title 27 Code of Federal  Regulations (CFR), with the ‘‘appropriate ATF officer’’ or in accordance with the instructions on the ATF form. Also, this final rule removes the definitions of, and references to, specific officers subordinate to the Director.

This document makes one correction to a final rule published in the Federal Register of January 19, 2001, regarding delegation of authorities contained in part 25, title 27 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR).

This final rule places all ATF authorities contained in part 170, title 27 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), with the ‘‘appropriate ATF officer’’ and requires that persons file documents required by 27 CFR part 170, with the ‘‘appropriate ATF officer.’’  also, this final rule removes the definitions of, and references to, specific officers subordinate to the Director.

This temporary rule eliminates ATF on-site supervision of tobacco products and cigarette papers and tubes of Puerto Rican manufacture that are shipped from Puerto Rico to the United States and related ATF forms. Specifically, this temporary rule eliminates the requirements that persons who ship such articles notify ATF prior to the shipment and that an ATF officer inspects, certifies that the amount of tax on such articles has been calculated correctly for, and releases, each shipment.