Document Headings

                    Document headings vary by document type but may contain                    the following:                  
                -                       the agency or agencies that issued and signed a document                    
                -                       the number of the CFR title and the number of each part                      the document amends, proposes to amend, or is directly                      related to                    
                -                       the agency docket number / agency internal file number                    
                -                       the RIN which identifies each regulatory action listed in                      the Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory                      Actions                    

                    See the                                          Document Drafting Handbook                                        for more details.                  

###### Department of Commerce

###### Bureau of Industry and Security 

          - 15 CFR Chapter VII 
          - [Docket No. 040913263-4263-01] 

# 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 licensing procedures set forth in the Export Administration Regulations for the export of agricultural commodities to Cuba. BIS will include a description of these comments in its biennial report to the Congress, required by the Trade Sanctions Reform and Export Enhancement Act of 2000. 

# DATES:

Comments must be received by October 28, 2004. 

# 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, or to e-mail                         *SQuarter@bis.doc.gov*. Comments may also be e-mailed to Brian Nilsson, Office of Nonproliferation and Treaty Compliance, at                         *BNilsson@bis.doc.gov*.                     

# FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

                        Brian Nilsson, Foreign Policy Controls Division, Bureau of Industry and Security, Telephone: (202) 482-4252. Additional information on BIS procedures and our previous biennial report under the Trade Sanctions Reform and Export Enhancement Act, as amended, is available at                         *http://www.bis.doc.gov/​licensing/​TSRA_​TOC.html*. Copies of these materials may also be requested by contacting the Office of Nonproliferation and Treaty Compliance.                     

# SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

The Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) authorizes exports of agricultural commodities to Cuba pursuant to section 906(a) of the Trade Sanctions Reform and Export Enhancement Act of 2000 (TSRA) (22 U.S.C. 7205(a)), under the procedures set forth in § 740.18 of the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) (15 CFR 740.18). These are the only licensing procedures currently in effect pursuant to the requirements of section 906(a) of TSRA. 

Under the provisions of section 906(c) of TSRA (22 U.S.C. 7205(c)), BIS must submit a biennial report to the Congress on the operation of the licensing system implemented pursuant to section 906(a) 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 during a 30-day public comment period about the effectiveness of the licensing procedures. BIS is currently preparing a biennial report on the operation of the licensing system for the two-year period from October 1, 2002 to September 30, 2004. 

By this notice, BIS requests public comments on the effectiveness of the licensing procedures for the export of agricultural commodities to Cuba set forth under § 740.18 of the EAR. 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; (202) 482-2165. The Office of Administration displays these public comments on BIS's Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Web site at                     *http://www.bis.doc.gov/​foia*. This office does not maintain a separate public inspection facility. If you have technical difficulties accessing this Web site, please call BIS's Office of Administration at (202) 482-2165 for assistance.                 

Dated: September 17, 2004. 

Peter Lichtenbaum, 

Assistant Secretary for Export Administration. 

[FR Doc. 04-21733 Filed 9-27-04; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3510-33-P