40450 Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 145 / Tuesday, July 29, 1997 / Rules and Regulations

TABLE FIVE

Vessel No.

Masthead

lights not

over all

other lights

and obstructions.

Annex I,

sec. 2(f)

Forward

masthead

light not in

forward

quarter of

ship. Annex

I, sec. 3(a)

After masthead light

less than 1⁄2

ship’s

length aft of

forward

masthead

light. Annex

I, sec. 3(a)

Percentage

horizontal

separation

attained

* * * * * * *

USS PEARL HARBOR ............................................................................. LSD 52 X 63.9

* * * * * * *

Dated: June 26, 1997.

R.R. Pixa,

Captain, JAGC, U.S. Navy, Deputy Assistant

Judge Advocate, General (Admiralty).

[FR Doc. 97–19831 Filed 7–28–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3810–FF–P

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Patent and Trademark Office

37 CFR Parts 1 and 2

[Docket No. 970410086–7174–02]

RIN 0651–AA92

Revision of Patent and Trademark

Fees for Fiscal Year 1998

AGENCY: Patent and Trademark Office,

Commerce.

ACTION: Final rule.

SUMMARY: The Patent and Trademark

Office (PTO) is amending the rules of

practice in patent and trademark cases

to adjust certain patent fee and

trademark service fee amounts to reflect

fluctuations in the Consumer Price

Index (CPI) and to recover costs of

operation.

EFFECTIVE DATE: October 1, 1997.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Matthew Lee by telephone at (703) 305–

8051, fax at (703) 305–8007, or by mail

marked to his attention and addressed

to the Commissioner of Patents and

Trademarks, Office of Finance, Crystal

Park 1, Suite 802, Washington, DC

20231.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This rule

change is designed to adjust PTO fees in

accordance with the applicable

provisions of title 35, United States

Code; section 31 of the Trademark

(Lanham) Act of 1946 (15 U.S.C. 1113);

and section 10101 of the Omnibus

Budget Reconciliation Act of 1990 (as

amended by section 8001 of Public Law

103–66), all as amended by the Patent

and Trademark Office Authorization Act

of 1991 (Pub. L. 102–204).

When the ‘‘Revision of Patent and

Trademark Fees for Fiscal Year 1998’’

was published as a proposed rule, the

PTO assumed that the fee revisions

would not become effective until after

the ‘‘1996 Changes to Patent Practice

and Procedure’’ (hereinafter

‘‘Miscellaneous Changes’’). See 61 FR

49819 (Sept. 23, 1996) (proposed

Miscellaneous Changes rule). The

changes proposed in the fee revision

notice of proposed rulemaking have

been modified to take into account that

the fee revision rule will become

effective before the Miscellaneous

Changes rulemaking.

Background

Statutory Provisions

Patent fees are authorized by 35

U.S.C. 41 and 35 U.S.C. 376. A fifty

percent reduction in the fees paid under

35 U.S.C. 41 (a) and (b) by independent

inventors, small business concerns, and

nonprofit organizations who meet

prescribed definitions is required by 35

U.S.C. 41(h).

Subsection 41(f) of title 35, United

States Code, provides that fees

established under 35 U.S.C. 41 (a) and

(b) may be adjusted on October 1, 1992,

and every year thereafter, to reflect

fluctuations in the Consumer Price

Index (CPI) over the previous twelve

months.

Section 10101 of the Omnibus Budget

Reconciliation Act of 1990 (amended by

section 8001 of Public Law 103–66)

provides that there shall be a surcharge

on all fees established under 35 U.S.C.

41(a) and (b) to collect $119 million in

fiscal year 1998.

Subsection 41(d) of title 35, United

States Code, authorizes the

Commissioner to establish fees for all

other processing, services, or materials

related to patents to recover the average

cost of providing these services or

materials, except for the fees for

recording a document affecting title, for

each photocopy, and for each black and

white copy of a patent.

Section 376 of title 35, United States

Code, authorizes the Commissioner to

set fees for patent applications filed

under the Patent Cooperation Treaty

(PCT).

Subsection 41(g) of title 35, United

States Code, provides that new fee

amounts established by the

Commissioner under section 41 may

take effect thirty days after notice in the

Federal Register and the Official

Gazette of the Patent and Trademark

Office.

Section 31 of the Trademark (Lanham)

Act of 1946, as amended (15 U.S.C.

1113), authorizes the Commissioner to

establish fees for the filing and

processing of an application for the

registration of a trademark or other

mark, and for all other services and

materials relating to trademarks and

other marks.

Section 31(a) of the Trademark

(Lanham) Act of 1946 (15 U.S.C.

1113(a)), as amended, allows trademark

fees to be adjusted once each year to

reflect, in the aggregate, any fluctuations

during the preceding twelve months in

the CPI.

Section 31 also allows new trademark

fee amounts to take effect thirty days

after notice in the Federal Register and

the Official Gazette of the Patent and

Trademark Office.

Recovery Level Determinations

This rule adjusts patent fee and

trademark service fee amounts for a

planned recovery of $763,391,000 in

fiscal year 1998, as proposed in the

Administration’s budget request to the

Congress.

The patent statutory fees established

by 35 U.S.C. 41 (a) and (b) will be

adjusted on October 1, 1997, to reflect

any fluctuations occurring during the

previous twelve months in the

Consumer Price Index for all urban

consumers (CPI–U). In calculating these
Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 145 / Tuesday, July 29, 1997 / Rules and Regulations 40451

fluctuations, the Office of Management

and Budget (OMB) has determined that

the PTO should use CPI–U data as

determined by the Secretary of Labor.

However, the Department of Labor does

not make public the CPI–U until

approximately twenty-one days after the

end of the month being calculated.

Therefore, the latest CPI–U information

available is for the month of June 1997.

In accordance with previous rulemaking

methodology, the PTO uses the

Administration’s projected CPI–U for

the twelve-month period ending

September 30, 1997, which is 2.6

percent. Based on this projection, patent

statutory fees will be adjusted by 2.6

percent. Before the final fee schedule is

published, the fees may be adjusted

slightly based on updated data available

from the Department of Labor.

Certain non-statutory patent

processing fees established under 35

U.S.C. 41(d) and PCT processing fees

established under 35 U.S.C. 376 will be

adjusted to recover their estimated

average costs in fiscal year 1998.

Three patent service fees that are set

by statute will not be adjusted. The

three fees that are not being adjusted are

assignment recording fees, printed

patent copy fees and photocopy charge

fees.

Certain trademark service fees

established under 15 U.S.C. 1113 will be

adjusted to recover their estimated

average costs in fiscal year 1998.

The fee amounts were rounded by

applying standard arithmetic rules so

that the amounts rounded would be

convenient to the user. Fees of $100 or

more were rounded to the nearest $10.

Fees between $2 and $99 were rounded

to an even number so that any

comparable small entity fee would be a

whole number.

Workload Projections

Determination of workload varies by

fee. Principal workload projection

techniques are as follows:

Patent application workloads are

projected from statistical regression

models using recent application filing

trends. Patent issues are projected from

an in-house patent production model

and reflect examiner production

achievements and goals. Patent

maintenance fee workloads utilize

patents issued 3.5, 7.5 and 11.5 years

prior to payment and assume payment

rates of 78 percent, 54 percent and 32

percent, respectively. Service fee

workloads follow linear trends from

prior years’ activities.

General Procedures

Any fee amount that is paid on or

after the effective date of the proposed

fee increase would be subject to the new

fees then in effect. For purposes of

determining the amount of the fee to be

paid, the date of mailing indicated on a

proper Certificate of Mailing or

Transmission, where authorized under

37 CFR 1.8, will be considered to be the

date of receipt in the PTO. A Certificate

of Mailing or Transmission under § 1.8

is not proper for items which are

specifically excluded from the

provisions of § 1.8. Section 1.8 should

be consulted for those items for which

a Certificate of Mailing or Transmission

is not proper. Such items include, inter

alia, the filing of national and

international applications for patents

and the filing of trademark applications.

However, the provisions of 37 CFR 1.10

relating to filing papers and fees using

the ‘‘Express Mail’’ service of the United

States Postal Service (USPS) do apply to

any paper or fee (including patent and

trademark applications) to be filed in

the PTO. If an application or fee is filed

by ‘‘Express Mail’’ with a date of deposit

with the USPS (shown by the ‘‘date in’’

on the ‘‘Express Mail’’ mailing label)

which is dated on or after the effective

date of the rules, as amended, the

amount of the fee to be paid would be

the fee established by the amended

rules.

In order to ensure clarity in the

implementation of the new fees, a

discussion of specific sections is set

forth below.

Discussion of Specific Rules

37 CFR 1.16 National Application

Filing Fees

Section 1.16, paragraphs (a), (b), (d),

and (f) through (i), is revised to adjust

fees established therein to reflect

fluctuations in the CPI.

37 CFR 1.17 Patent Application

Processing Fees

Section 1.17, paragraphs (b) through

(g), (m), (r) and (s), is revised to adjust

fees established therein to reflect

fluctuations in the CPI.

Section 1.17, paragraphs (j) and (n)

through (p), is revised to adjust fees

established therein to recover costs.

37 CFR 1.18 Patent Issue Fees

Section 1.18, paragraphs (a) through

(c), is revised to adjust fees established

therein to reflect fluctuations in the CPI.

37 CFR 1.19 Document Supply Fees

Section 1.19, paragraphs (a)(2) and

(a)(3), is revised to adjust fees

established therein to recover costs.

37 CFR 1.20 Post-Issuance Fees

Section 1.20, paragraphs (c), (i), and

(j), is revised to adjust fees established

therein to recover costs.

Section 1.20, paragraphs (e) through

(g), is revised to adjust fees established

therein to reflect fluctuations in the CPI.

37 CFR 1.21 Miscellaneous Fees and

Charges

Section 1.21, paragraphs (a)(1)(ii),

(a)(6) and (j), is revised to adjust fees

established therein to recover costs.

37 CFR 1.445 International

Application Filing, Processing, and

Search Fees

Section 1.445, paragraph (a), is

revised to adjust the fees authorized by

35 U.S.C. 376 to recover costs and

reflect current business practices.

37 CFR 1.482 International

Preliminary Examination Fees

Section 1.482, paragraphs (a)(1)(i),

(a)(1)(ii), and (a)(2)(ii), is revised to

adjust the fees authorized by 35 U.S.C.

376 to recover costs.

37 CFR 1.492 National Stage Fees

Section 1.492, paragraphs (a), (b) and

(d), is revised to adjust fees established

therein to reflect fluctuations in the CPI.

37 CFR 2.6 Trademark Fees

Section 2.6, paragraphs (b)(4) and

(b)(10), is revised to adjust fees

established therein to recover costs.

Response to Comments on the Rules

A notice of proposed rulemaking to

adjust patent fee and trademark service

fee amounts was published in the

Federal Register on May 7, 1997, at 62

FR 24865 and in the Official Gazette of

the United States Patent and Trademark

Office on May 27, 1997, at 1198 OG 97.

Comment: A respondent stated that

many of the elements comprising the

U.S. Department of Labor’s Consumer

Price Index (CPI) have no effect on

PTO’s costs of operation. The

respondent also stated that fee increases

should reflect only that portion of the

CPI affecting PTO’s costs of operation.

Response: The PTO is required by law

to base its inflationary fee increases on

fluctuations in the CPI over the twelve

months prior to the effective date of the

fee increase. While it is true that some

of the elements that constitute the CPI

have no effect on the cost of operations

of the PTO, the CPI itself has

considerable impact on the PTO. Salary

increases for Federal employees have

increased at rates that closely match the

CPI, and employee compensation alone

accounts for over 55 percent of PTO’s

annual costs. The PTO, just like any
40452 Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 145 / Tuesday, July 29, 1997 / Rules and Regulations

other public or private organization,

must procure supplies, pay rent and

utilities, and incur numerous other

expenses in the course of operations.

Unfortunately, these costs rarely decline

with each passing year.

Comment: A respondent stated that

the PTO should adjust fees that are less

than $100 in increments of at least $5

to avoid having amounts which make

the calculation of fees inconvenient to

the users.

Response: In the Recovery Level

Determinations section of this rule

package, it states that ‘‘Fees between $2

and $99 were rounded to an even

number so that any comparable small

entity fee would be a whole number.’’

This rounding methodology enables the

PTO to set large and small entity fee

amounts which are convenient overall

to the users.

Other Considerations

This rulemaking contains no

information collection within the

meaning of the Paperwork Reduction

Act of 1995, 44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq. This

rule has been determined to be not

significant for purposes of Executive

Order 12866. The PTO has determined

that this rule change has no Federalism

implications affecting the relationship

between the National Government and

the States as outlined in Executive

Order 12612.

The Assistant General Counsel for

Legislation and Regulation of the

Department of Commerce has certified

to the Chief Counsel for Advocacy,

Small Business Administration, that the

rule change would not have a significant

impact on a substantial number of small

entities (Regulatory Flexibility Act, 5

U.S.C. 605(b)). The rule change

increases fees to reflect the change in

the CPI as authorized by 35 U.S.C. 41(f).

Further, the principal impact of the

major patent fees has already been taken

into account in 35 U.S.C. 41(h), which

provides small entities with a fifty

percent reduction in the major patent

fees.

A comparison of existing and new fee

amounts is included as an Appendix to

this final rule.

Lists of Subjects

37 CFR Part 1

Administrative practice and

procedure, Inventions and patents,

Reporting and record keeping

requirements, Small businesses.

37 CFR Part 2

Administrative practice and

procedure, Courts, Lawyers, Trademarks

For the reasons set forth in the

preamble, the PTO is amending title 37

of the Code of Federal Regulations, Parts

1 and 2, as set forth below.

PART 1—RULES OF PRACTICE IN

PATENT CASES

1. The authority citation for 37 CFR

part 1 would continue to read as

follows:

Authority: 35 U.S.C. 6, unless otherwise

noted.

2. Section 1.16 is amended by revising

paragraphs (a), (b), (d), and (f) through

(i) to read as follows:

§ 1.16 National application filing fees.

(a) Basic fee for filing each application for

an original patent, except provisional, design

or plant applications:

By a small entity (§ 1.9(f))....................$395.00

By other than a small entity ................$790.00

(b) In addition to the basic filing fee in an

original application, except provisional

applications, for filing or later presentation of

each independent claim in excess of 3:

By a small entity (§ 1.9(f))......................$41.00

By other than a small entity ..................$82.00

* * * * *

(d) In addition to the basic filing fee in an

original application, except provisional

applications, if the application contains, or is

amended to contain, a multiple dependent

claim(s), per application:

By a small entity (§ 1.9(f))....................$135.00

By other than a small entity ................$270.00

* * * * *

(f) Basic fee for filing each design

application:

By a small entity (§ 1.9(f))....................$165.00

By other than a small entity ................$330.00

(g) Basic fee for filing each plant

application, except provisional applications:

By a small entity (§ 1.9(f))....................$270.00

By other than a small entity ................$540.00

(h) Basic fee for filing each reissue

application:

By a small entity (§ 1.9(f))....................$395.00

By other than a small entity ................$790.00

(i) In addition to the basic filing fee in a

reissue application, for filing or later

presentation of each independent claim

which is in excess of the number of

independent claims in the original patent:

By a small entity (§ 1.9(f))......................$41.00

By other than a small entity ..................$82.00

* * * * *

3. Section 1.17 is amended by revising

paragraphs (b) through (g), (j), (m)

through (p), (r), and (s) to read as

follows:

§ 1.17 Patent application processing fees.

* * * * *

(b) Extension fee for response within

second month pursuant to § 1.136(a):

By a small entity (§ 1.9(f))....................$200.00

By other than a small entity ................$400.00

(c) Extension fee for response within third

month pursuant to § 1.136(a):

By a small entity (§ 1.9(f))....................$475.00

By other than a small entity ................$950.00

(d) Extension fee for response within

fourth month pursuant to § 1.136(a):

By a small entity (§ 1.9(f))....................$755.00

By other than a small entity .............$1,510.00

(e) For filing a notice of appeal from the

examiner to the Board of Patent Appeals and

Interferences:

By a small entity (§ 1.9(f))....................$155.00

By other than a small entity ................$310.00

(f) In addition to the fee for filing a notice

of appeal, for filing a brief in support of an

appeal:

By a small entity (§ 1.9 (f))...................$155.00

By other than a small entity ................$310.00

(g) For filing a request for an oral hearing

before the Board of Patent Appeals and

Interferences in an appeal under 35 U.S.C.

134:

By a small entity (§ 1.9(f))....................$135.00

By other than a small entity ................$270.00

* * * * *

(j) For filing a petition to institute a public

use proceeding under

§ 1.292 ...............................................$1,510.00

* * * * *

(m) or filing a petition:

(1) For revival of an unintentionally

abandoned application, or (2) For the

unintentionally delayed payment of the fee

for issuing a patent:

By a small entity (§ 1.9(f))....................$660.00

By other than a small entity .............$1,320.00

(n) For requesting publication of a statutory

invention registration prior to the mailing of

the first examiner’s action pursuant to

§ 1.104—$920.00 reduced by the amount of

the application basic filing fee paid.

(o) For requesting publication of a statutory

invention registration after the mailing of the

first examiner’s action pursuant to § 1.104—

$1,840.00 reduced by the amount of the

application basic filing fee paid.

(p) For submission of an information

disclosure statement under

§ 1.97(c) ................................................$240.00

* * * * *

(r) For entry of a submission after final

rejection under § 1.129(a):

By a small entity (§ 1.9(f))....................$395.00

By other than a small entity ................$790.00

(s) For each additional invention requested

to be examined under § 1.129(b):

By a small entity (§ 1.9(f))....................$395.00

By other than a small entity ................$790.00

4. Section 1.18 is revised to read as

follows:

§ 1.18 Patent issue fees.

(a) Issue fee for issuing each original or

reissue patent, except a design or plant

patent:

By a small entity (§ 1.9(f))....................$660.00

By other than a small entity .............$1,320.00

(b) Issue fee for issuing a design patent:

By a small entity (§ 1.9(f))....................$225.00

By other than a small entity ................$450.00

(c) Issue fee for issuing a plant patent:

By a small entity (§ 1.9(f))....................$335.00

By other than a small entity ................$670.00

5. Section 1.19 is amended by revising

paragraphs (a)(2) and (a)(3) to read as

follows:

§ 1.19 Document supply fees.

(a) * * *

(2) Printed copy of a plant patent in
Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 145 / Tuesday, July 29, 1997 / Rules and Regulations 40453

color .................................................$15.00

(3) Copy of a utility patent or statutory

invention registration containing

color drawing (see § 1.84(a)(2)) .......$25.00

* * * * *

6. Section 1.20 is amended by revising

paragraphs (c), (e) through (g), (i)(1),

(i)(2), and (j)(1) through (j)(3) to read as

follows:

§ 1.20 Post issuance fees.

* * * * *

(c) For filing a request for

reexamination (§ 1.510(a))..........$2,520.00

* * * * *

(e) For maintaining an original or reissue

patent, except a design or plant patent, based

on an application filed on or after December

12, 1980, in force beyond four years; the fee

is due by three years and six months after the

original grant:

By a small entity (§ 1.9(f))....................$525.00

By other than a small entity .............$1,050.00

(f) For maintaining an original or reissue

patent, except a design or plant patent, based

on an application filed on or after December

12, 1980, in force beyond eight years; the fee

is due by seven years and six months after

the original grant:

By a small entity (§ 1.9(f)).................$1,050.00

By other than a small entity .............$2,100.00

(g) For maintaining an original or reissue

patent, except a design or plant patent, based

on an application filed on or after December

12, 1980, in force beyond twelve years; the

fee is due by eleven years and six months

after the original grant:

By a small entity (§ 1.9(f)).................$1,580.00

By other than a small entity .............$3,160.00

* * * * *

(i) * * *

(1) Unavoidable....................................$700.00

(2) Unintentional ..............................$1,640.00

(j) * * *

(1) Application for extension under

§ 1.740 .........................................$1,120.00

(2) Initial application for interim

extension under § 1.790. ...............$420.00

(3) Subsequent application for interim

extension under § 1.790 ................$220.00

7. Section 1.21 is amended by revising

paragraphs (a)(1)(ii), (a)(6) and (j) to read

as follows:

§ 1.21 Miscellaneous fees and charges.

(a) * * *

(1) * * *

(ii) Registration examination fee .........$310.00

* * * * *

(6) For requesting regrading of an

examination under § 10.7(c):

(i) Regrading of morning section (PTO

Practice and Procedure) ................$230.00

(ii) Regrading of afternoon section

(Claim Drafting) .............................$540.00

* * * * *

(j) Labor charges for services, per hour

or fraction thereof ............................$40.00

* * * * *

8. Section 1.445 is amended by

revising paragraph (a) to read as follows:

§ 1.445 International application filing,

processing and search fees.

(a) The following fees and charges for

international applications are

established by the Commissioner under

the authority of 35 U.S.C. 376:

(1) A transmittal fee (see 35 U.S.C.

361(d) and PCT Rule 14) ...............$240.00

(2) A search fee (see 35 U.S.C. 361(d)

and PCT Rule 16):

(i) Where a corresponding prior United

States National application filed

under 35 U.S.C. 111(a) with the

filing fee under 37 CFR 1.16(a) has

been filed .......................................$450.00

(ii) For all situations not provided for

in (a)(2)(i) of this section ...............$700.00

(3) A supplemental search fee when

required, per additional invention

........................................................$210.00

* * * * *

9. Section 1.482 is amended by

revising paragraphs (a)(1)(i), (a)(1)(ii),

and (a)(2)(ii) to read as follows:

§ 1.482 International preliminary

examination fees.

(a) * * *

(1) * * *

(i) Where an international search fee as

set forth in § 1.445(a)(2) has been

paid on the international

application to the United States

Patent and Trademark Office as an

International Searching Authority,

a preliminary examination fee of

........................................................$490.00

(ii) Where the International Searching

Authority for the international

application was an authority other

than the United States Patent and

Trademark Office, a preliminary

examination fee of .........................$750.00

(2) * * *

(ii) Where the International Searching

Authority for the international

application was an authority other

than the United States Patent and

Trademark Office...........................$270.00

* * * * *

10. Section 1.492 is amended by

revising paragraphs (a), (b) and (d) to

read as follows:

§ 1.492 National stage fees.

* * * * *

(a) The basic national fee:

(1) Where an international preliminary

examination fee as set forth in § 1.482 has

been paid on the international application to

the United States Patent and Trademark

Office:

By a small entity (§ 1.9(f))....................$360.00

By other than a small entity ................$720.00

(2) Where no international preliminary

examination fee as set forth in § 1.482 has

been paid to the United States Patent and

Trademark Office, but an international search

fee as set forth in § 1.445(a)(2) has been paid

on the international application to the United

States Patent and Trademark Office as an

International Searching Authority:

By a small entity (§ 1.9(f))....................$395.00

By other than a small entity ................$790.00

(3) Where no international preliminary

examination fee as set forth in § 1.482 has

been paid and no international search fee as

set forth in § 1.445(a)(2) has been paid on the

international application to the United States

Patent and Trademark Office:

By a small entity (§ 1.9(f))....................$535.00

By other than a small entity .............$1,070.00

(4) Where an international preliminary

examination fee as set forth in § 1.482 has

been paid to the United States Patent and

Trademark Office and the international

preliminary examination report states that

the criteria of novelty, inventive step (nonobviousness), and industrial applicability, as

defined in PCT Article 33 (1) to (4) have been

satisfied for all the claims presented in the

application entering the national stage (see

§ 1.496(b)):

By a small entity (§ 1.9(f))......................$49.00

By other than a small entity ..................$98.00

(5) Where a search report on the

international application has been prepared

by the European Patent Office or the Japanese

Patent Office:

By a small entity (§ 1.9(f))....................$465.00

By other than a small entity ................$930.00

(b) In addition to the basic national fee, for

filing or later presentation of each

independent claim in excess of 3:

By a small entity (§ 1.9(f))......................$41.00

By other than a small entity ..................$82.00

* * * * *

(d) In addition to the basic national fee, if

the application contains, or is amended to

contain, a multiple dependent claim(s), per

application:

By a small entity (§ 1.9(f))....................$135.00

By other than a small entity ................$270.00

* * * * *

PART 2—RULES OF PRACTICE IN

TRADEMARK CASES

1. The authority citation for 37 CFR

Part 2 would continue to read as

follows:

Authority: 15 U.S.C. 1123; 35 U.S.C. 6,

unless otherwise noted.

2. Section 2.6 is amended by revising

paragraphs (b)(4) and (b)(10) to read as

follows:

§ 2.6 Trademark fees.

* * * * *

(b) Trademark service fees.

* * * * *

(4) Certified copy of a registered mark,

showing title and/or status:

(i) Regular service ..................................$15.00

(ii) Expedited local service....................$30.00

* * * * *

(10) Labor charges for services, per

hour or fraction thereof ...................$40.00

* * * * *

Dated: July 22, 1997.

Bruce A. Lehman,

Assistant Secretary of Commerce and

Commissioner of Patents and Trademarks.

Note—The following appendix is provided

as a courtesy to the public, but is not a
40454 Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 145 / Tuesday, July 29, 1997 / Rules and Regulations

substitute for the rules. It will not appear in

the Code of Federal Regulations.

Appendix A—Comparison of Existing and Revised Fee Amounts

37 CFR Sec. Description Pre-Oct

1997 Oct 1997

1.16(a) ............... Basic Filing Fee ............................................................................................................................... $770 $790

1.16(a) ............... Basic Filing Fee (Small Entity) ......................................................................................................... 385 395

1.16(b) ............... Independent Claims ......................................................................................................................... 80 82

1.16(b) ............... Independent Claims (Small Entity) .................................................................................................. 40 41

1.16(c) ............... Claims in Excess of 20 .................................................................................................................... 22 —

1.16(c) ............... Claims in Excess of 20 (Small Entity) .............................................................................................. 11 —

1.16(d) ............... Multiple Dependent Claims .............................................................................................................. 260 270

1.16(d) ............... Multiple Dependent Claims (Small Entity) ....................................................................................... 130 135

1.16(e) ............... Surcharge—Late Filing Fee ............................................................................................................. 130 —

1.16(e) ............... Surcharge—Late Filing Fee (Small Entity) ...................................................................................... 65 —

1.16(f) ................ Design Filing Fee ............................................................................................................................. 320 330

1.16(f) ................ Design Filing Fee (Small Entity) ...................................................................................................... 160 165

1.16(g) ............... Plant Filing Fee ................................................................................................................................ 530 540

1.16(g) ............... Plant Filing Fee (Small Entity) ......................................................................................................... 265 270

1.16(h) ............... Reissue Filing Fee ........................................................................................................................... 770 790

1.16(h) ............... Reissue Filing Fee (Small Entity) ..................................................................................................... 385 395

1.16(i) ................ Reissue Independent Claims ........................................................................................................... 80 82

1.16(i) ................ Reissue Independent Claims (Small Entity) .................................................................................... 40 41

1.16(j) ................ Reissue Claims in Excess of 20 ...................................................................................................... 22 —

1.16(j) ................ Reissue Claims in Excess of 20 (Small Entity) ............................................................................... 11 —

1.16(k) ............... Provisional Application Filing Fee .................................................................................................... 150 —

1.16(k) ............... Provisional Application Filing Fee (Small Entity) ............................................................................. 75 —

1.16(l) ................ Surcharge—Incomplete Provisional App. Filed ............................................................................... 50 —

1.16(l) ................ Surcharge—Incomplete Provisional App. Filed (Small Entity) ......................................................... 25 —

1.17(a) ............... Extension—First Month .................................................................................................................... 110 —

1.17(a) ............... Extension—First Month (Small Entity) ............................................................................................. 55 —

1.17(b) ............... Extension—Second Month ............................................................................................................... 390 400

1.17(b) ............... Extension—Second Month (Small Entity) ........................................................................................ 195 200

1.17(c) ............... Extension—Third Month ................................................................................................................... 930 950

1.17(c) ............... Extension—Third Month (Small Entity) ............................................................................................ 465 475

1.17(d) ............... Extension—Fourth Month ................................................................................................................ 1,470 1,510

1.17(d) ............... Extension—Fourth Month (Small Entity) .......................................................................................... 735 755

1.17(e) ............... Notice of Appeal ............................................................................................................................... 300 310

1.17(e) ............... Notice of Appeal (Small Entity) ........................................................................................................ 150 155

1.17(f) ................ Filing a Brief ..................................................................................................................................... 300 310

1.17(f) ................ Filing a Brief (Small Entity) .............................................................................................................. 150 155

1.17(g) ............... Request for Oral Hearing ................................................................................................................. 260 270

1.17(g) ............... Request for Oral Hearing (Small Entity) .......................................................................................... 130 135

1.17(h) ............... Petition—Not All Inventors ............................................................................................................... 130 —

1.17(h) ............... Petition—Correction of Inventorship ................................................................................................ 130 —

1.17(h) ............... Petition—Decision on Questions ..................................................................................................... 130 —

1.17(h) ............... Petition—Suspend Rules ................................................................................................................. 130 —

1.17(h) ............... Petition—Expedited License ............................................................................................................ 130 —

1.17(h) ............... Petition—Scope of License .............................................................................................................. 130 —

1.17(h) ............... Petition—Retroactive License .......................................................................................................... 130 —

1.17(h) ............... Petition—Refusing Maintenance Fee .............................................................................................. 130 —

1.17(h) ............... Petition—Refusing Maintenance Fee—Expired ...............................................................................

Patent ...........................................................................................................................................

130 —

1.17(h) ............... Petition—Interference ....................................................................................................................... 130 —

1.17(h) ............... Petition—Reconsider Interference ................................................................................................... 130 —

1.17(h) ............... Petition—Late Filing of Interference ................................................................................................ 130 —

1.20(b) ............... Petition—Correction of Inventorship ................................................................................................ 130 —

1.17(h) ............... Petition—Refusal to Publish SIR ..................................................................................................... 130 —

1.17(i) ................ Petition—For Assignment ................................................................................................................ 130 —

1.17(i) ................ Petition—For Application .................................................................................................................. 130 —

1.17(i) ................ Petition—Late Priority Papers .......................................................................................................... 130 —

1.17(i) ................ Petition—Suspend Action ................................................................................................................ 130 —

1.17(i) ................ Petition—Divisional Reissues to Issue Separately .......................................................................... 130 —

1.17(i) ................ Petition—For Interference Agreement ............................................................................................. 130 —

1.17(i) ................ Petition—Amendment After Issue .................................................................................................... 130 —

1.17(i) ................ Petition—Withdrawal After Issue ..................................................................................................... 130 —

1.17(i) ................ Petition—Defer Issue ....................................................................................................................... 130 —

1.17(i) ................ Petition—Issue to Assignee ............................................................................................................. 130 —

1.17(i) ................ Petition—Accord a Filing Date Under § 1.53 ................................................................................... 130 —

1.17(i) ................ Petition—Accord a Filing Date Under § 1.62 ................................................................................... 130 —

1.17(i) ................ Petition—Make Application Special ................................................................................................. 130 —

1.17(j) ................ Petition—Public Use Proceeding ..................................................................................................... 1,470 1,510

1.17(k) ............... Non-English Specification ................................................................................................................ 130 —
Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 145 / Tuesday, July 29, 1997 / Rules and Regulations 40455

37 CFR Sec. Description Pre-Oct

1997 Oct 1997

1.17(l) ................ Petition—Revive Abandoned Appl. .................................................................................................. 110 —

1.17(l) ................ Petition—Revive Abandoned Appl. (Small Entity) ........................................................................... 55 —

1.17(m) .............. Petition—Revive Unintentionally Abandoned Appl. ......................................................................... 1,290 1,320

1.17(m) .............. Petition—Revive Unintent Abandoned Appl. (Small entity) ............................................................. 645 660

1.17(n) ............... SIR—Prior to Examiner’s Action ...................................................................................................... 900 920

1.17(o) ............... SIR—After Examiner’s Action .......................................................................................................... 1,790 1,840

1.17(p) ............... Submission of an Information Disclosure Statement (§ 1.l97) ......................................................... 230 240

1.17(q) ............... Petition—Correction of Inventorship (Prov. App.) ............................................................................ 50 —

1.17(q) ............... Petition—Accord a filing date (Prov. App.) ...................................................................................... 50 —

1.17(q) ............... Petition—Entry of submission after final rejection (Prov. App.) ....................................................... 50 —

1.17(r) ................ Filing a submission after final rejection (1.129(a)) ........................................................................... 770 790

1.17(r) ................ Filing a submission after final rejection (1.129(a)) (Small Entity) .................................................... 385 395

1.17(s) ............... Per add’l invention to be examined (1.129(b)) ................................................................................ 770 790

1.17(s) ............... Per add’l invention to be examined (1.129(b)) (Small Entity) .......................................................... 385 395

1.18(a) ............... Issue Fee ......................................................................................................................................... 1,290 1,320

1.18(a) ............... Issue Fee (Small Entity) ................................................................................................................... 645 660

1.18(b) ............... Design Issue Fee ............................................................................................................................. 440 450

1.18(b) ............... Design Issue Fee (Small Entity) ...................................................................................................... 220 225

1.18(c) ............... Plant Issue Fee ................................................................................................................................ 650 670

1.18(c) ............... Plant Issue Fee (Small Entity) ......................................................................................................... 325 335

1.19(a)(1)(i) ....... Copy of Patent ................................................................................................................................. 3 —

1.19(a)(1)(ii) ....... Patent Copy—Overnight delivery to PTO Box or overnight fax ...................................................... 6 —

1.19(a)(1)(iii) ...... Patent Copy Ordered by Expedited Mail or Fax—Exp. service ...................................................... 25 —

1.19(a)(2) ........... Plant Patent Copy ............................................................................................................................ 12 15

1.19(a)(3)(i) ....... Copy of Utility Patent or SIR in Color .............................................................................................. 24 25

1.19(b)(1)(i) ....... Certified Copy of Patent Application as Filed .................................................................................. 15 —

1.19(b)(1)(ii) ....... Certified Copy of Patent Application as Filed, Expedited ................................................................ 30 —

1.19(b)(2) ........... Cert. or Uncert. Copy of Patent-Related File Wrapper/Contents .................................................... 150 —

1.19(b)(3) ........... Cert. or Uncert. Copies of Office Records, Per Document ............................................................. 25 —

1.19(b)(4) ........... For Assignment Records, Abstract of Title and Certification ........................................................... 25 —

1.19(c) ............... Library Service ................................................................................................................................. 50 —

1.19(d) ............... List of Patents in Subclass .............................................................................................................. 3 —

1.19(e) ............... Uncertified Statement-Status of Maintenance Fee Payment ........................................................... 10 —

1.19(f) ................ Copy of Non-U.S. Patent Document ................................................................................................ 25 —

1.19(g) ............... Comparing and Certifying Copies, Per Document, Per Copy ......................................................... 25 —

1.19(h) ............... Duplicate or Corrected Filing Receipt .............................................................................................. 25 —

1.20(a) ............... Certificate of Correction ................................................................................................................... 100 —

1.20(c) ............... Reexamination ................................................................................................................................. 2,460 2,520

1.20(d) ............... Statutory Disclaimer ......................................................................................................................... 110 —

1.20(d) ............... Statutory Disclaimer (Small Entity) .................................................................................................. 55 —

1.20(e) ............... Maintenance Fee—3.5 Years .......................................................................................................... 1,020 1,050

1.20(e) ............... Maintenance Fee—3.5 Years (Small Entity) .................................................................................... 510 525

1.20(f) ................ Maintenance Fee—7.5 Years .......................................................................................................... 2,050 2,100

1.20(f) ................ Maintenance Fee—7.5 Years (Small Entity) .................................................................................... 1,025 1,050

1.20(g) ............... Maintenance Fee—11.5 Years ........................................................................................................ 3,080 3,160

1.20(g) ............... Maintenance Fee—11.5 Years (Small Entity) ................................................................................. 1,540 1,580

1.20(h) ............... Surcharge—Maintenance Fee—6 Months ....................................................................................... 130 —

1.20(h) ............... Surcharge—Maintenance Fee—6 Months (Small Entity) ................................................................ 65 —

1.20(i)(1) ............ Surcharge—Maintenance After Expiration—Unavoidable ............................................................... 680 700

1.20(i)(2) ............ Surcharge—Maintenance After Expiration—Unintentional .............................................................. 1,600 1,640

1.20(i)(1) ............ Extension of Term of Patent Under 1.740 ....................................................................................... 1,090 1,120

1.20(j)(2) ............ Initial Application for Interim Extension Under 1.790 ....................................................................... 410 420

1.20(j)(3) ............ Subsequent Application for Interim Extension Under 1.790 ............................................................ 210 220

1.21(a)(1)(i) ....... Application Fee (non-refundable) ..................................................................................................... 40 —

1.21(a)(1)(ii) ....... Registration examination fee ........................................................................................................... 300 310

1.21(a)(2) ........... Registration to Practice .................................................................................................................... 100 —

1.21(a)(3) ........... Reinstatement to Practice ................................................................................................................ 40 —

1.21(a)(4) ........... Certificate of Good Standing ............................................................................................................ 10 —

1.21(a)(4) ........... Certificate of Good Standing, Suitable Framing .............................................................................. 20 —

1.21(a)(5) ........... Review of Decision of Director, OED ............................................................................................... 130 —

1.21(a)(6)(i) ....... Regrading of A.M. section (PTO Practice and Procedure) ............................................................. 225 230

1.21(a)(6)(ii) ....... Regrading of P.M. section (Claim Drafting) ..................................................................................... 530 540

1.21(b)(1) ........... Establish Deposit Account ............................................................................................................... 10 —

1.21(b)(2) ........... Service Charge Below Minimum Balance ........................................................................................ 25 —

1.21(b)(3) ........... Service Charge Below Minimum Balance ........................................................................................ 25 —

1.21(c) ............... Filing a Disclosure Document .......................................................................................................... 10 —

1.21(d) ............... Box Rental ........................................................................................................................................ 50 —

1.21(e) ............... International Type Search Report .................................................................................................... 40 —

1.21(g) ............... Self-Service Copy Charge ............................................................................................................... .25 —

1.21(h) ............... Recording Patent Property ............................................................................................................... 40 —

1.21(i) ................ Publication in the OG ....................................................................................................................... 25 —

1.21(j) ................ Labor Charges for Services ............................................................................................................. 30 40

1.21(k) ............... Unspecified Other Services ............................................................................................................. (1) —
40456 Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 145 / Tuesday, July 29, 1997 / Rules and Regulations

37 CFR Sec. Description Pre-Oct

1997 Oct 1997

1.21(k) ............... Terminal Use APS–CSIR (per hour) ................................................................................................ 50 —

1.21(l) ................ Retaining abandoned application ..................................................................................................... 130 —

1.21((m) ............. Processing Returned Checks .......................................................................................................... 50 —

1.21(n) ............... Handling Fee—Incomplete Application ............................................................................................ 130 —

1.21(o) ............... Terminal Use APS-TEXT ................................................................................................................. 40 —

1.24 ................... Coupons for Patent and Trademark Copies .................................................................................... 3 —

1.296 ................. Handling Fee—Withdrawal SIR ....................................................................................................... 130 —

1.445(a)(1) ......... Transmittal Fee ................................................................................................................................ 230 240

1.445(a)(2)(i) ..... PCT Search Fee—Prior U.S. Application ........................................................................................ 440 450

1.445((a)(2)(ii) ... PCT Search Fee—No U.S. Application ........................................................................................... 680 700

1.445(a)(3) ......... Supplemental Search ....................................................................................................................... 200 210

1.482(a)(1)(i) ..... Preliminary Exam Fee ...................................................................................................................... 480 490

1.482(a)(1)(ii) ..... Preliminary Exam Fee ...................................................................................................................... 730 750

1.482(a)(2)(i) ..... Additional Invention .......................................................................................................................... 140 —

1.482(a)(2)(ii ...... Additional Invention .......................................................................................................................... 260 270

1.492(a)(1) ......... Preliminary Examining Authority ...................................................................................................... 700 720

1.492(a)(1) ......... Preliminary Examining Authority (Small Entity) ............................................................................... 350 360

1.492((a)(2) ....... Searching Authority .......................................................................................................................... 770 790

1.492((a)(2) ....... Searching Authority (Small Entity) ................................................................................................... 385 395

1.492(a)(3) ......... PTO Not ISA nor IPEA .................................................................................................................... 1,040 1,070

1.492(a)(3) ......... PTO Not ISA nor IPEA (Small Entity) .............................................................................................. 520 535

1.492(a)(4) ......... Claims—IPEA ................................................................................................................................... 96 98

1.492(a)(4) ......... Claims—IPEA (Small Entity) ............................................................................................................ 48 49

1.492(a)(5) ......... Filing with EPO/JPO Search Report ................................................................................................ 910 930

1.492((a)(5) ....... Filing with EPO/JPO Search Report (Small Entity) ......................................................................... 455 465

1.492(b) ............. Claims—Extra Individual (Over 3) ................................................................................................... 80 82

1.492(b) ............. Claims—Extra Individual (Over 3) (Small Entity) ............................................................................. 40 41

1.492(c) ............. Claims—Extra Total (Over 20) ......................................................................................................... 22 —

1.492(c) ............. Claims—Extra Total (over 20) (Small Entity) ................................................................................... 11 —

1.492(d) ............. Claims—Multiple Dependents .......................................................................................................... 260 270

1.492((d) ............ Claims—Multiple Dependents (Small Entity) ................................................................................... 130 135

1.492((e) ............ Surcharge ......................................................................................................................................... 130 —

1.492(e) ............. Surcharge (Small Entity) .................................................................................................................. 65 —

1.492(f) .............. English Translation—After 20 Months ............................................................................................. 130 —

2.6(a)(1) ............. Application for Registration, Per Class ............................................................................................ 245 —

2.6(a)(2) ............. Amendment to Allege Use, Per Class ............................................................................................. 100 —

2.6(a)(3) ............. Statement of Use, Per Class ........................................................................................................... 100 —

2.6(a)(4) ............. Extension for Filing Statement of Use, Per Class ........................................................................... 100 —

2.6(a)(5) ............. Application for Renewal, Per Class ................................................................................................. 300 —

2.6(a)(6) ............. Surcharge for Late Renewal, Per Class .......................................................................................... 100 —

2.6(a)(7) ............. Publication of Mark Under § 12(c), Per Class ................................................................................. 100 —

2.6(a)(8) ............. Issuing New Certificate of Registration ............................................................................................ 100 —

2.6(a)(9) ............. Certificate of Correction of Registrant’s Error .................................................................................. 100 —

2.6(a)(10) ........... Filing Disclaimer to Registration ...................................................................................................... 100 —

2.6(a)(11) ........... Filing Amendment to Registration .................................................................................................... 100 —

2.6(a)(12) ........... Filing Affidavit Under Section, 8 Per Class ...................................................................................... 100 —

2.6(a)(13) ........... Filing Affidavit Under Section 15, Per Class .................................................................................... 100

2.6(a)(14) ........... Filing Affidavit Under Sections 8 & 15, Per Class ........................................................................... 200 —

2.6(a)(15) ........... Petitions to the Commissioner ......................................................................................................... 100 —

2.6(a)(16) ........... Petition to Cancel, Per Class ........................................................................................................... 200 —

2.6(a)(17) ........... Notice of Opposition, Per Class ....................................................................................................... 200 —

2.6(a)(18) ........... Ex Parte Appeal to the TTAB, Per Class ........................................................................................ 100 —

2.6(a)(19) ........... Dividing an Application, Per New Application Created .................................................................... 100 —

2.6(b)(1)(i) ......... Copy of Registered Mark ................................................................................................................. 3 —

2.6(b)(1)(ii) ......... Copy of Registered Mark, overnight delivery to PTO box or fax .................................................... 6 —

2.6(b)(1)(iii) ........ Copy of Reg. Mark Ordered Via Exp. Mail or Fax, Exp. Svc .......................................................... 25 —

2.6(b)(2)(i) ......... Certified Copy of TM Application as Filed ....................................................................................... 15 —

2.6(b)(2)(ii) ......... Certified Copy of TM Application as Filed, Expedited ..................................................................... 30 —

2.6(b)(b)(3) ........ Cert. or Uncert. Copy of TM-Related File Wrapper/Contents ......................................................... 50 —

2.6(b)(4)(i) ......... Cert. Copy of Registered Mark, Title or Status ............................................................................... 10 15

2.6(b)(4)(ii) ......... Cert. Copy of Registered Mark, Title or Status—Expedited ............................................................ 20 30

2.6(b)(5) ............. Certified or Uncertified Copy of TM Records ................................................................................... 25 —

2.6(b)(6) ............. Recording Trademark Property, Per Mark, Per Document ............................................................. 40 —

2.6(b)(6) ............. For Second and Subsequent Marks in Same Document ................................................................ 25 —

2.6(b)(7) ............. For Assignment Records, Abstracts of Title and Cert ..................................................................... 25 —

2.6(b)(8) ............. Terminal Use X-SEARCH ................................................................................................................ 40 —

2.6(b)(9) ............. Self-Service Copy Charge ............................................................................................................... 0.25 —

2.6(b)(10) ........... Labor Charges for Services ............................................................................................................. 30 —

2.6(b)(11) ........... Unspecified Other Services ............................................................................................................. 1 —

—These fees are not affected by this rulemaking.

1Actual cost.
Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 145 / Tuesday, July 29, 1997 / Rules and Regulations 40457

[FR Doc. 97–19901 Filed 7–28–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3501–16–U–M

LIBRARY OF CONGRESS

Copyright Office

37 CFR Part 201

Copyright Rules and Regulations

AGENCY: Copyright Office, Library of

Congress.

ACTION: Correction; technical

amendments.

SUMMARY: The Copyright Office is

making one correction to the nonsubstantive housekeeping amendments

to its regulations published in the

Federal Register July 1, 1997. The

correction amends the address for the

Licensing Division of the Copyright

Office.

EFFECTIVE DATE: July 29, 1997.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Marilyn J. Kretsinger, Assistant General

Counsel, or Patricia L. Sinn, Senior

Attorney, Copyright GC/I&R, P.O. Box

70400, Southwest Station, Washington,

DC 20024. Telephone: (202) 707–8380.

Fax: (202) 707–8366.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The

Copyright Office is correcting the

address it published for the Office’s

Licensing Division in the July 1, 1997,

edition of the Federal Register. The

corrected address is effective

immediately, and will appear in the

Code of Federal Regulations at 37 CFR

201.1(b) as soon as possible.

List of Subjects in 37 CFR Part 201

Copyright, General Provisions.

Final Rule

Accordingly, 37 CFR Chapter II is

corrected by making the following

correction and amendment.

PART 201—GENERAL PROVISIONS

1. The authority citation for Part 201

continues to read as follows:

Authority: 17 U.S.C. 702, 17 U.S.C. 1003.

§ 201.1 [Amended]

2. Section 201.1(b) is amended by

removing ‘‘Licensing Division, LM–454,

Library of Congress, Copyright Office,

101 Independence Avenue, SE.,

Washington, DC 20559–6000.’’ and

adding in its place ‘‘Library of Congress,

Copyright Office, Licensing Division,

101 Independence Avenue, SE.,

Washington, DC 20557–6400.’’

Dated: July 23, 1997.

Marilyn J. Kretsinger,

Assistant General Counsel.

[FR Doc. 97–19904 Filed 7–28–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 1410–30–P

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

AGENCY

40 CFR Part 52

[MD 038–3016; FRL–5864–9]

Approval and Promulgation of Air

Quality Implementation Plans;

Maryland; 15% Rate of Progress Plan

and Contingency Measures for the

Cecil County Nonattainment Area

AGENCY: Environmental Protection

Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Final rule.

SUMMARY: EPA is granting full approval

of the State Implementation Plan (SIP)

revision submitted by the State of

Maryland, for Cecil County, part of the

Philadelphia-Wilmington-Trenton

severe ozone nonattainment area, to

meet the 15 percent reasonable further

progress (RFP, or 15% plan)

requirements of the Clean Air Act (the

Act). EPA is granting approval of the

15% plan and contingency measures,

submitted by the State of Maryland,

because the plan achieves the required

15% emission reduction. This action is

being taken under section 110 of the

Clean Air Act.

EFFECTIVE DATE: This final rule is

effective on August 28, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the documents

relevant to this action are available for

public inspection during normal

business hours at the Air, Radiation,

and Toxics Division, U.S.

Environmental Protection Agency,

Region III, 841 Chestnut Building,

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19107; and

the Maryland Department of the

Environment, 2500 Broening Highway,

Baltimore, Maryland 21224.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Carolyn M. Donahue, (215) 566–2095, at

the EPA Region III address above.

Information may also be requested via email at the following address:

donahue.carolyn@epamail.epa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

Section 182(b)(1) of the Act requires

ozone nonattainment areas classified as

moderate or above to develop plans to

reduce volatile organic compounds

(VOC) emissions by fifteen percent from

1990 baseline levels. Cecil County, as

part of the Philadelphia-WilmingtonTrenton nonattainment area, is

classified as severe and is subject to the

15% plan requirement.

The State of Maryland submitted the

15% plan SIP revision for Cecil County

on July 12, 1995. On June 5, 1997, EPA

published a notice of proposed

rulemaking (NPR) in the Federal

Register proposing approval of the 15%

plan [62 FR 30818]. EPA’s rationale for

granting approval to the Maryland 15%

plan for the Cecil County nonattainment

area, and the details of the July 12, 1995

submittal are contained in the June 5,

1997 NPR and the accompanying

technical support document and will

not be restated here. No public

comments were received on the NPR.

II. Final Action

EPA is today granting approval of the

15% plan and contingency measures for

the Cecil County severe ozone

nonattainment area as a revision to the

Maryland SIP.

Nothing in this action should be

construed as permitting or allowing or

establishing a precedent for any future

request for revision to any state

implementation plan. Each request for

revision to the state implementation

plan shall be considered separately in

light of specific technical, economic,

and environmental factors and in

relation to relevant statutory and

regulatory requirements.

The Office of Management and Budget

(OMB) has exempted this regulatory

action from E.O. 12866 review.

Under the Regulatory Flexibility Act,

5 U.S.C. 600 et seq., EPA must prepare

a regulatory flexibility analysis

assessing the impact of any proposed or

final rule on small entities. 5 U.S.C. 603

and 604. Alternatively, EPA may certify

that the rule will not have a significant

impact on a substantial number of small

entities. Small entities include small

businesses, small not-for-profit

enterprises, and government entities

with jurisdiction over populations of

less than 50,000.

SIP approvals under section 110 and

subchapter I, part D of the Clean Air Act

do not create any new requirements but

simply approve requirements that the

State is already imposing. Therefore,

because the Federal SIP approval does

not impose any new requirements, the

EPA certifies that it does not have a

significant impact on any small entities

affected. Moreover, due to the nature of

the Federal-State relationship under the

Act, preparation of a flexibility analysis

would constitute Federal inquiry into

the economic reasonableness of state

action. The Clean Air Act forbids EPA

to base its actions concerning SIPs on

such grounds. Union Electric Co. v. U.S.