02-21161. Effectiveness of Licensing Procedures for Agricultural Commodities to Cuba

AGENCY:

Bureau of Industry and Security, Commerce.

ACTION:

Request for comments.

SUMMARY:

The Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) is requesting public comments on the effectiveness of its licensing procedures as defined in the Export Administration Regulations for the export of agricultural commodities to Cuba. BIS is required to submit a biennial report to the Congress on the operation of the licensing system for such exports, which was created to implement the Trade Sanctions Reform and Export Enhancement Act of 2000. To help make this assessment, BIS is seeking public comments on the effectiveness of these measures.

DATES:

Comments must be received by September 20, 2002.

ADDRESSES:

Written comments (three copies) should be sent to Sheila Quarterman, Regulatory Policy Division, Bureau of Industry and Security, Department of Commerce, P.O. Box 273, Washington, DC 20044. Comments may also be e-mailed to Brian Nilsson, Office of Strategic Trade and Foreign Policy Controls, at [e-mail].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Joan Roberts, Director, Foreign Policy Controls Division, Bureau of Industry and Security, Telephone: [phone]. Additional information on BIS procedures is available under the heading “Trade Sanctions Reform and Export Enhancement Act” at www.bis.doc.gov. Copies of this material may also be requested by contacting the Office of Strategic Trade and Foreign Policy Controls.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

The current procedures of the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) for authorizing the export of agricultural commodities to Cuba are set forth in § 740.18 of the Export Administration Regulations (EAR). Under the provisions of section 906(c) of the Trade Sanctions Reform and Export Enhancement Act of 2000 (TSRA) (Pub. L. 106-387), as amended, BIS must submit a report to the Congress on the operation of the licensing system under Section 906 of TSRA for the preceding two-year period. This report is to include the number and types of licenses applied for, the number and types of licenses approved, the average amount of time elapsed from the date of filing of a license application until the date of its approval, the extent to which the licensing procedures were effectively implemented, and a description of comments received from interested parties about the extent to which the licensing procedures were effective, after holding a public 30-day comment period. This notice serves as public notice to solicit such comments.

Parties submitting comments are asked to be as specific as possible. All comments received by the close of the comment period will be considered by BIS in developing the report to Congress. All information relating to the notice will be a matter of public record and will be available for public inspection and copying. In the interest of accuracy and completeness, BIS requires written comments. Oral comments must be followed by written memoranda, which will also be a matter of public record and will be available for public review and copying.

Copies of the public record concerning these regulations may be requested from: Bureau of Industry and Security, Office of Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, Room 6883, 1401 Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20230; [phone]. This component does not maintain a separate public inspection facility. Requesters should first view BIS's website (which can be reached through www.bis.doc.gov). If requesters cannot access BIS's website, please call the number above for assistance.

James J. Jochum,

Assistant Secretary for Export Administration.