SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

Pursuant to Treasury Order 120-01 (formerly 221), dated June 6, 1972, the Secretary of the Treasury delegated to the Director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF), the authority to enforce, among other laws, the provisions of chapter 51 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (IRC) and the Federal Alcohol Administration (FAA) Act. The Director has subsequently delegated certain of these authorities to appropriate subordinate officers by way of various means, including by regulation, ATF delegation orders, regional directives, or similar delegation documents. As a result, to ascertain which particular officer is authorized to perform a particular function under chapter 51 of the IRC or the FAA Act, each of these various delegation instruments must be consulted. Similarly, each time a delegation of authority is revoked or redelegated, each of the delegation documents must be reviewed and amended as necessary.

ATF has determined that this multiplicity of delegation instruments complicates and hinders the task of determining which ATF officer is authorized to perform a particular function. ATF also believes these multiple delegation instruments exacerbate the administrative burden associated with maintaining up-to-date delegations, resulting in an undue delay in reflecting current authorities.

Accordingly, this final rule rescinds all authorities of the Director in part 252 that were previously delegated and places those authorities with the “appropriate ATF officer.” Most of the authorities of the Director that were not previously delegated are also placed with the “appropriate ATF officer.” Along with this final rule, ATF is publishing ATF Order 1130.27, Delegation of the Director's Authorities ( printed page 18087) in 27 CFR part 252, Exportation of Liquors, which delegates certain of these authorities to the appropriate organizational level. The effect of these changes is to consolidate all delegations of authority in part 252 into one delegation instrument. This action both simplifies the process for determining which ATF officer is authorized to perform a particular function and facilitates the updating of delegations in the future. As a result, delegations of authority will be reflected in a more timely and user-friendly manner.

In addition, this final rule also eliminates all references in the regulations that identify the specific ATF officer with whom an ATF form is filed. This action is taken because ATF forms will indicate the officer with whom they must be filed. Similarly, this final rule also amends part 252 to provide that the submission of documents other than ATF forms (such as letterhead applications, notices and reports) must be filed with the “appropriate ATF officer” identified in ATF Order 1130.27. These changes will help identify the officer with whom forms and other required submissions are filed.

This final rule also makes various technical amendments to Subpart A—Scope of 27 CFR Part 252. First, a new § 252.4 is added to recognize the authority of the Director to delegate regulatory authorities in part 252 and to identify ATF Order 1130.27 as the instrument reflecting such delegations. Second, § 252.2 is amended to provide that the instructions for an ATF form identify the ATF officer with whom it must be filed.

ATF has made or will make similar changes in delegations to all other parts of Title 27 of the Code of Federal Regulations through separate rulemakings.

Corrections and Miscellaneous Changes

In the definition of “district director of customs” in 27 CFR 252.11 we have removed the repetition of the word “district”.

In four sections of part 252, we are correcting references of “part 240” to “part 24.”

Throughout 27 CFR part 252, we are revising ATF form numbers to reflect the correct numbers as shown on the following table:

We are removing § 252.195a since any claims filed for drawback on spirits tax determined before January 1, 1980, should have been filed.

Paperwork Reduction Act

The provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13, 44 U.S.C. Chapter 35, and its implementing regulations, 5 CFR part 1320, do not apply to this final rule because there are no new or revised recordkeeping or reporting requirements.

Regulatory Flexibility Act

Because no notice of proposed rulemaking is required for this rule, the provisions of the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.) do not apply. A copy of this final rule was submitted to the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Small Business Administration in accordance with 26 U.S.C. 7805(f). No comments were received.

Executive Order 12866

It has been determined that this rule is not a significant regulatory action because it will not: (1) Have an annual effect on the economy of $100 million or more or adversely affect in a material way the economy, a sector of the economy, productivity, competition, jobs, the environment, public health or safety, or State, local or tribal governments or communities; (2) create a serious inconsistency or otherwise interfere with an action taken or planned by another agency; (3) materially alter the budgetary impact of entitlements, grants, user fees, or loan programs or the rights and obligations of recipients thereof; or (4) raise novel legal or policy issues arising out of legal mandates, the President's priorities, or the principles set forth in Executive Order 12866.

Administrative Procedure Act

Because this final rule merely makes technical amendments and conforming changes to improve the clarity of the regulations, it is unnecessary to issue this final rule with notice and public procedure under 5 U.S.C. 553(b). Similarly it is unnecessary to subject this final rule to the effective date limitation of 5 U.S.C. 553(d).

Drafting Information

The principal author of this document is Robert Ruhf, Regulations Division, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms.

Authority and Issuance

Title 27, Code of Federal Regulations is amended as follows:

Paragraph 1. The authority citation for part 252 continues to read as follows:

Authority: 5 U.S.C. 552(a); 19 U.S.C. 81c, 1202; 26 U.S.C. 5001, 5007, 5008, 5041, 5051, 5054, 5061, 5111, 5112, 5114, 5121, 5122, 5124, 5201, 5205, 5207, 5232, 5273, 5301, 5313, 5555, 6302, 7805; 27 U.S.C. 203, 205; 44 U.S.C. 3504(h).

Par. 2. Remove the word “Director” each place it appears and add, in substitution, the words “appropriate ATF officer” in the following places:

(a) Section 252.2(a); and

(b) Section 252.20(a)(2) introductory text, (a)(3) and (a)(4).

Par. 3. Amend § 252.2 by adding a sentence at the end of paragraph (a) and revising paragraph (b) to read as follows:

Par. 4. In Subpart A—Scope, a new § 252.4 is added as follows:

Par. 5. Section 252.11 is amended by:

a. Removing the definitions of “ATF officer”, “Region”, and “Regional Director (compliance)”; and

b. Adding a new definition of “Appropriate ATF officer” and revising the definition of “Bonded wine cellar” and removing the definition of “District district director of customs” and adding in its place a definition of “District director of customs” to read as follows:

Par. 6. Amend § 252.20 by revising the heading and the first and second sentences of paragraph (a)(1) and revising paragraph (c) to read as follows:

Par. 7. Remove the words “regional director (compliance)”, “regional director's (compliance)”, or “regional directors (compliance)” and add, in substitution, the words “appropriate ATF officer”, “appropriate ATF officer's” or “appropriate ATF officers”, respectively, each place it occurs in the following places:

a. Section 252.20(b)(1), (b)(2) introductory text and (b)(3);

b. The last two sentences of § 252.22;

c. The undesignated paragraph of § 252.36;

d. Section 252.37;

e. Section 252.38;

f. Section 252.43(a)(6) and (b)(3);

g. Section 252.52a;

h. Section 252.55;

i. The introductory text of § 252.56;

j. The last sentence of § 252.58(c);

k. Section 252.62(b);

l. Section 252.67;

m. Section 252.70;

n. Section 252.71;

o. The second and third sentences of § 252.72;

p. Section 252.74;

q. Section 252.96;

r. Section 252.103(b);

s. The last sentence of § 252.117;

t. Section 252.122(c) and (d);

u. Section 252.123(b);

v. Section 252.125;

w. The last sentence of § 252.131;

x. Section 252.146;

y. The last sentence of § 252.147;

z. The last sentence of § 252.162;

aa. The last sentence of § 252.171;

bb. Paragraphs (b) and (c) of § 252.195b;

cc. The last sentence of § 252.211;

dd. Section 252.218;

ee. The last sentence of § 252.221;

ff. Section 252.226;

gg. The second sentence of § 252.265;

hh. Section 252.266;

ii. Section 252.269(c);

jj. Section 252.275;

kk. Section 252.282;

ll. The third sentence of § 252.285;

mm. The last sentence of the introductory text of § 252.290;

nn. Section 252.301;

oo. Section 252.302;

pp. The last sentence of § 252.303;

qq. Section 252.304;

rr. Section 252.310;

ss. Section 252.315;

tt. Section 252.316;

uu. The last sentence of § 252.317;

vv. Section 252.320;

ww. Section 252.321;

xx. Section 252.331;

yy. Section 252.332;

zz. Section 252.333; and

aaa. Section 252.335.

Par. 8. Add the numbers and parentheses “(5120.24)” after the characters “1582-A” each place they occur in the following places:

a. Section 252.22;

b. Section 252.36(c);

c. Section 252.65;

d. Section 252.214;

e. Section 252.215;

f. Section 252.218;

g. Section 252.220(b);

h. Section 252.220a;

i. Section 252.250(a)(4);

j. Section 252.261;

k. Section 252.264;

l. Section 252.265;

m. Section 252.267;

n. Section 252.269(a), (b) and (c);

o. Section 252.275;

p. Section 252.281;

q. Section 252.290 introductory text:

r. Section 252.331; and

s. Section 252.333.

Par. 9. Add the numbers and parentheses “(5130.6)” after the characters “1582-B” each place they occur in the following places:

a. Section 252.22;

b. Section 252.36(c);

c. Section 252.43(a)(1), (a)(2), (b)(1) and (b)(2);

d. Section 252.222;

e. Section 252.225 introductory text;

f. Section 252.226;

g. Section 252.227;

h. Section 252.261;

i. Section 252.264;

j. Section 252.265;

k. Section 252.267;

l. Section 252.269(a) and (c);

m. Section 252.275;

n. Section 252.282;

o. Section 252.290 introductory text;

p. Section 252.295; and ( printed page 18089)

q. Section 252.333.

Par. 10. Add the numbers and parentheses “(5130.12)” after the numbers “1689” each place they occur in the following places:

a. Section 252.22;

b. Section 252.36(c);

c. Section 252.43(a)(1), (a)(2), (b)(1) and (b)(2);

d. Section 252.142;

e. Section 252.146;

f. Section 252.147;

g. Section 252.261;

h. Section 252.264;

i. The last sentence of § 252.265;

j. The third sentence of § 252.267;

k. Section 252.269(a) and (c);

l. Section 252.275;

m. Section 252.282;

n. Section 252.290 introductory text;

o. Section 252.295; and

p. Section 252.320(a).

Par. 11. In the seventh sentence of § 252.22 remove the words “to the regional director (compliance) designated thereon” and add, in substitution, the words “according to its instructions”.

Par. 12. In the first sentence of § 252.23 remove the words “Assistant regional commissioners” and add, in substitution, the words “The appropriate ATF officer”.

Par. 13. Remove the words “regional director (compliance) of the region in which the zone is located” and add, in substitution, the words “appropriate ATF officer” each place they occur in the following places:

a. Second sentence of § 252.35; and

b. Introductory text of § 252.36.

Par. 14. In § 252.36(c) remove the words “claim number assigned thereto by the regional director (compliance)” and add, in substitution the words “ATF assigned claim number”.

Par. 15. Add the word “appropriate” before the words “ATF officer” or “ATF officers” each place it appears in the following places:

a. Section 252.45; and

b. The second sentence of § 252.104;

Par. 16. Revise § 252.51 to read as follows:

Par. 16. In the first sentence of § 252.57 remove the words “regional director (compliance)” and add, in substitution, the words “appropriate ATF officer”.

Par. 17. In § 252.59 remove the number “700” and add, in substitution the number “5120.36” each place it appears.

Par. 18. Remove the words “with the regional director (compliance)” each place they occur in the following places:

a. The first sentence of § 252.61;

b. Section 252.62(a);

c. Section 252.63; and

d. The first two sentences of § 252.64(a).

Par. 19. In § 252.62(c) remove the words “for approval by the Director of Industry Operations (DIO)” and add, in substitution, the words “in accordance with its instructions”.

Par. 20. Add the numbers and parentheses “(5100.12)” after the numbers “2736” each place they appear in the following places:

a. Section 252.63;

b. Section 252.70; and

c. Section 252.73(a).

Par. 21. Add the numbers and parentheses “(5110.67)” after the numbers “2737” each place they occur in the following places:

a. Section 252.64;

b. Section 252.71;

c. Section 252.72; and

d. Section 252.73(b).

Par. 22. In the last sentence of § 252.64(b) remove the words “for approval by the regional regulatory administrator” and add, in substitution, the words “in accordance with its instructions”.

Par. 23. In the introductory text of § 252.65 remove the words “by the regional regulatory administrator” and the words “with the regional regulatory administrator”.

Par. 24. Add the numbers and punctuation “(5110.68)” after the numbers “2738” each place they occur in the following places:

a. Section 252.65;

b. Section 252.71;

c. Section 252.72;

d. Section 252.73(b);

e. Section 252.250 introductory text; and

f. Section 252.331.

Par. 25. Add the numbers and parentheses “(5120.25) after the numbers “2734” each place they occur in the following places:

a. Section 252.70; and

b. Section 252.73(a).

Par. 26. Add the numbers and parentheses “(5100.30)” after the numbers “2735” each place they occur in the following places:

a. Section 252.71;

b. Section 252.72; and

c. Section 252.73(b).

Par. 27. In the first sentence of § 252.72 remove the words “regional director (compliance) in whose office the bond is on file” and add, in substitution, the words “appropriate ATF officer”.

Par. 28. In § 252.92(a) remove the phrase “to the regional director (compliance) of the region in which the distilled spirits plant is located” and add, in substitution, the words “in accordance with instructions for the form”.

Par. 29. Amend § 252.104 by:

a. In the third sentence by removing the words “The issuing” and adding, in substitution, the words “Such”; and

b. In the third and fourth sentences adding the numbers and parentheses “(5110.58) after the numbers “2177”.

Par. 30. In the introductory text of § 252.116 remove the words “regional director (compliance) for the region in which the plant is located” and add, in substitution the words “appropriate ATF officer”.

Par. 31. Revise § 252.122(a) and (b) to read as follows:

Par. 32. In § 252.123(b) remove the words “regional director (compliance)” and adding, in substitution the words “appropriate ATF officer”.

Par. 33. In the introductory text of § 252.131 remove the words “regional director (compliance) for the region in which his premises are located” and add, in substitution the words “appropriate ATF officer”.

Par. 34. Amend § 252.133 by:

a. In the second sentence removing the words “regional director (compliance) of the region in which his premises are located” and adding, in substitution, the words “appropriate ATF officer”; and

b. In the last sentence removing the words “part 240” and adding, in substitution, the words “part 24”.

Par. 35. Remove from § 252.152 the punctuation and words “, Upon removal of the denatured spirits from the bonded premises, a copy of the form shall be submitted to the regional director (compliance).”

Par. 36. Remove from the introductory text of § 252.161 the words “regional director (compliance) for the region in which his plant is located” and add, in substitution, the words “appropriate ATF officer”.

Par. 37. Remove § 252.195a.

Par. 38. Remove the words “regional director (compliance) for the region in which the claim for drawback of tax was filed” and add, in substitution, the words “appropriate ATF officer” each place they appear in the following places:

a. The introductory text of § 252.198; and

b. The introductory text of § 252.220.

Par. 39. Remove the words “regional director (compliance) identified thereon” and add, in substitution the words “appropriate ATF officer” each place they appear in the following places:

a.The last sentence of § 252.199; and

b.The last sentence of § 252.220a.

Par. 40. Revise the heading, second, and third sentences of § 252.215 to read as follows:

Par. 41. Add the numbers and parentheses “(5120.20)” after the number “2605” each place they occur in the following places:

a. The first and last sentence of § 252.215;

b. The last sentence of § 252.331; and

c. The last sentence of § 252.333.

Par. 42. Remove the words “regional director (compliance) of his region” and add, in substitution the words “appropriate ATF officer” each place they appear in the following places:

a. The introductory text of § 252.225; and

b. The last sentence of § 252.227.

Par. 43. In § 252.247 remove the words “regional director (compliance)” and add, in substitution the words “ATF officer”.

Par. 44. Amend § 252.250 by:

a. In the introductory text by removing the words “with the regional director (compliance) with whom the notice and claim is filed” and adding, in substitution, the words “appropriate ATF officer” each place they appear; and

b. In the last sentence by removing the words “regional director (compliance) with whom the application, notice, or notice and claim is filed” and adding, in substitution, the words “appropriate ATF officer”.

Par. 45. In the second sentence of § 252.262 remove the words “regional director (compliance) of the region from which the shipment was made” and add, in substitution, the words “appropriate ATF officer”.

Par. 46. In the first sentence of § 252.265 remove the words “regional director (compliance) within whose region the port of export is located” and add, in substitution, the words “appropriate ATF officer”.

Par. 47. In the first sentence of § 252.268 remove the words “regional director (compliance) with whom the application, notice, or notice and claim is filed” and add, in substitution, the words “appropriate ATF officer”.

Par. 48. In the last sentence of § 252.286 remove the words “to the regional regulatory administrator” and add, in substitution, the words “as required by the instructions on the form”.

Par. 49. Remove the words “with the regional director (compliance),” and add the numbers and parentheses “(5620.8)” after the numbers 2635 each place they occur from the following places:

a. Introductory text of § 252.303; and

b. Introductory text of § 252.317.

Par. 50. Amend § 252.334 by:

a. Revising the first sentence to read as follows:

b. In the third sentence removing the words “part 240” and adding, in substitution, the words “part 24”.