00-27426. Waiver of Advance Notification Requirement to Import Acetone, 2-Butanone (MEK), and Toluene

AGENCY:

Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Justice.

ACTION:

Proposed Rule.

SUMMARY:

DEA is proposing the amendment of its regulations to waive the advance notification requirement to import the solvents acetone, 2-Butanone (MEK), and toluene, which DEA regulates as List I chemicals. DEA has determined that the advance notification requirement is not necessary for these chemicals for chemical diversion control. DEA currently receives, on average, 2000 advance notifications per year to import these solvents. This change will now require only the submission of 400 summary reports annually. This change to the regulations will ease regulatory burdens for the regulated industry and administrative burdens for DEA.

DATES:

Written comments must be submitted on or before December 26, 2000.

ADDRESSES:

Comments should be submitted in triplicate to the Deputy Assistant Administrator, Office of Diversion Control, Drug Enforcement Administration, Washington, DC 20537, Attention: DEA Federal Register Representative/CCR.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Patricia M. Good, Chief, Liaison and Policy Section, Office of Diversion Control, Drug Enforcement Administration, Washington, DC 20537, telephone [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

 

What Is the Impact of This Proposed Rule?

The intent of the chemical control provisions of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) is to curb the diversion of regulated chemicals to the illicit manufacture of controlled substances. This diversion can occur through distribution, importation and exportation of these chemicals. One of the principal components of chemical control with respect to imports and exports is the requirement that advance notification be provided to DEA prior to an importation or exportation of a listed chemical (21 U.S.C. 971). This advance notification allows DEA an opportunity to review the transaction and determine whether it might result in diversion of the chemical to the illicit manufacture of a controlled substance. The advance notification requirement is conditioned by the provision that DEA can waive the requirement for imports or exports of listed chemicals for which the Administrator determines that such advance notification is not necessary for effective chemical diversion control (21 U.S.C. 971(e)(3), 21 CFR 1313.12(c)(2) and 21 CFR 1313.21(c)(2)). DEA has determined that the advance notification requirement for imports of acetone, 2-Butanone (MEK), and toluene (the solvents) is not necessary for effective chemical diversion control. Therefore, pursuant to its authority under 21 U.S.C. 971(e)(3), DEA is proposing to amend 21 CFR 1313.12 to waive the 15-day advance notification requirement for these transactions.

Why Is DEA Proposing To Waive the Advance Notification Requirement for Importation of Acetone, 2-Butanone (MEK), and Toluene?

Acetone, 2-Butanone (MEK) and toluene are widely used as industrial chemicals in the United States. DEA found between 1996 and 1999 that approximately two thirds of all chemical imports reported to DEA were for these three listed chemicals.

The principal concern for DEA in regard to these solvents is their use in the illicit manufacture of cocaine. Cocaine is manufactured overseas; at this time, it is not manufactured in the United States. Diversion of these solvents for illegal manufacture of controlled substances has not been identified as a significant problem in the United States. Therefore, DEA's concerns have focused on the exportation of these solvents to cocaine producing regions and DEA has determined that control of imports of these solvents through the advance notification requirement is not necessary for effective chemical diversion control.

With waiver of the advance notification requirement, importers of acetone, 2-Butanone (MEK) and toluene will not be required to submit individual DEA Form 486s in advance of each importation. Instead, importers will submit summary quarterly reports of all import transactions as described in 21 CFR 1313.12(e) pursuant to 21 U.S.C. 971(e)(3).

Technical Corrections to the Regulations

While preparing this proposed rule, DEA noted the following technical corrections in this part of the CFR for which amendments are being proposed. DEA is taking this opportunity to make these technical corrections.

In 21 CFR 1313.12(b) and 21 CFR 1313.21(b) the reference to the “Drug Control Section” is being changed to the “Chemical Control Section” to reflect organizational changes within DEA. In 21 CFR 1313.21(e), the text noting that no DEA Form 486 is required for exportations subject to 21 CFR 1313.21(c)(2) was inadvertently omitted. This text has been reinserted. Further, an error occurred in 21 CFR 1313.21(e) relating to exports where the word “importation”, rather than the word “exportation”, was inadvertently used in the sentence: “The report shall contain the following information regarding each individual importation:”. The word “exportation” will be substituted to correct this error.

Reduction of Regulatory Burden

By proposing these amendments, DEA will be reducing the paperwork burden for the regulated industry. Approximately two thirds of all 15-day advance notifications of importation, on average 2000 advance notifications annually, are for the solvents acetone, 2-Butanone (MEK), and toluene, equating to an initial paperwork burden reduction of 420 hours. In lieu of this paperwork requirement, DEA is requiring that importers of acetone, 2-Butanone (MEK) and toluene complete a quarterly summary report of all transactions. This quarterly summary report is estimated to impose a regulatory burden of 200 hours per year. Therefore, this proposed change creates a net reduction of 220 annual paperwork burden hours for the regulated industry.

Regulatory Certifications

Regulatory Flexibility Act

The Deputy Assistant Administrator hereby certifies that this proposed rulemaking has been drafted in a manner consistent with the principles of the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.). It will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small business entities. Waiving the 15-day advance notification requirement for imports of acetone, 2-Butanone, and toluene will ease the regulatory burden for the regulated industry.

Executive Order 12866

The Deputy Assistant Administrator further certifies that this proposed rulemaking has been drafted in accordance with the principles in Executive Order 12866 section 1(b). DEA has determined that this is not a significant rulemaking action. This rulemaking will ease regulatory burdens for the regulated industry. Therefore, this action has not been reviewed by the Office of Management and Budget.

Executive Order 12988

This regulation meets the applicable standards set forth in Sections 3(a) and 3(b)(2) of Executive Order 12988—Civil Justice Reform.

Executive Order 13132

This rulemaking does not preempt or modify any provision of state law; nor does it impose enforcement responsibilities on any state; nor does it diminish the power of any state to enforce its own laws. Accordingly, this rulemaking does not have federalism implications warranting the application of Executive Order 13132.

Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995

This rule will not result in the expenditure by state, local, and tribal governments, in the aggregate, or by the private sector, of $100,000,000 or more in any one year, and will not significantly or uniquely affect small governments. Therefore, no actions were deemed necessary under the provisions of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995.

Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996

This rule is not a major rule as defined by Section 804 of the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996. This rule will not result in an annual effect on the economy of $100,000,000 or more; a major increase in costs or prices; or significant adverse effects on competition, employment, investment, productivity, innovation, or on the ability of United States-based companies to compete with foreign-based companies in domestic and export markets.

Plain Language Instructions

The Drug Enforcement Administration makes every effort to write clearly. If you have suggestions as to how to improve the clarity of this regulation, call or write Patricia M. Good, Chief, Liaison and Policy Section, Office of Diversion Control, Drug Enforcement Administration, Washington, DC 20537, telephone [phone].

List of Subjects in 21 CFR Part 1313

• Administrative practice and procedure
• Drug traffic control
• Exports
• Imports
• List I and List II chemicals
• Reporting and recording requirements

For the reasons set out above, 21 CFR Part 1313 is proposed to be amended as follows:

PART 1313—[AMENDED]

1. The authority citation for Part 1313 continues to read as follows:

Authority: 21 U.S.C. 802, 830, 871(b), 971.

2. Section 1313.12 is proposed to be amended by revising paragraphs (b) and (f) to read as follows:

§ 1313.12

Requirement of authorization to import.

* * * * *

(b) A completed DEA Form 486 must be received at the following address not later than 15 days prior to the importation: Drug Enforcement Administration, P.O. Box 28346, Washington, DC 20038. A copy of the completed DEA Form 486 may be transmitted directly to the Drug Enforcement Administration, Chemical Control Section, through electronic facsimile media not later than 15 days prior to the importation.

* * * * *

(f) The 15 day advance notification requirement set forth in paragraph (a) has been waived for imports of the following listed chemicals:

(1) Acetone

(2) 2-Butanone (or Methyl Ethyl Ketone or MEK)

(3) Toluene.

3. Section 1313.21 is proposed to be amended by revising paragraphs (b) and (e) to read as follows:

§ 1313.21

Requirement of authorization to export.

* * * * *

(b) A completed DEA Form 486 must be received at the following address not later than 15 days prior to the exportation: Drug Enforcement Administration, P.O. Box 28346, Washington, DC 20038. A copy of the completed DEA Form 486 may be transmitted directly to the Drug Enforcement Administration, Chemical Control Section, through electronic facsimile media not later than 15 days prior to the exportation.

* * * * *

(e) For exportations where advance notification is waived pursuant to paragraph (c)(2) of this section, no DEA Form 486 is required, however, the regulated person shall file quarterly reports to the Drug Enforcement Administration, Chemical Control Section, P.O. Box 28346, Washington, DC 20038, by no later than the 15th day of the month following the end of each quarter. The report shall contain the following information regarding each individual exportation:

* * * * *

Dated: October 12, 2000.

John H. King,

Deputy Assistant Administrator, Office of Diversion Control.