Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 235 / Wednesday, December 6, 2000 / Rules and Regulations 76153

liability with a timely filed return for

the return period.

The de minimis threshold is being

raised as part of the IRS and Treasury’s

continued efforts to reduce burden on

the small business community. On June

16, 1998, temporary regulations (TD

8771) that raised the de minimis

threshold from $500 to $1,000 were

published in the Federal Register (63

FR 32735). This increase of the

threshold to $1,000 was made final on

June 17, 1999, (TD 8822) in regulations

published in the Federal Register (64

FR 32408).

Having conducted further study, the

IRS now seeks additional changes in

deposit requirements to reduce taxpayer

burden. The IRS and Treasury have

determined that another increase in the

de minimis threshold is a simple and

straightforward step that will reduce

burden on small businesses.

Special Analyses

It has been determined that this

Treasury decision is not a significant

regulatory action as defined in

Executive Order 12866. Therefore, a

regulatory assessment is not required. It

also has been determined that section

553(b) of the Administrative Procedure

Act (5 U.S.C. chapter 5) does not apply

to these regulations, and, because these

regulations do not impose a collection

of information on small entities, the

Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C.

chapter 6) does not apply. Pursuant to

section 7805(f) of the Internal Revenue

Code, these regulations will be

submitted to the Chief Counsel for

Advocacy of the Small Business

Administration for comment on their

impact on small businesses.

Drafting Information

The principal author of the

regulations is Brinton T. Warren of the

Office of Associate Chief Counsel,

Procedure and Administration

(Administrative Provisions and Judicial

Practice Division). However, other

personnel from the IRS and Treasury

Department participated in their

development.

List of Subjects in 26 CFR Part 31

Employment taxes, Income taxes,

Penalties, Pensions, Railroad retirement,

Reporting and recordkeeping

requirements, Social security,

Unemployment compensation.

Adoption of Amendments to the

Regulations

Accordingly, 26 CFR part 31 is

amended as follows:

PART 31—EMPLOYMENT TAXES AND

COLLECTION OF INCOME TAX AT

SOURCE

Paragraph 1. The authority citation

for part 31 is amended by adding an

entry in numerical order to read in part

as follows:

Authority: 26 U.S.C. 7805 * * *

Section 31.6302–1T also issued under 26

U.S.C. 6302(a) and (c). * * *

Par. 2. In § 31.6302–1, a new sentence

is added at the end of paragraph (f)(4)

to read as follows:

§ 31.6302–1 Federal tax deposit rules for

withheld income taxes and taxes under the

Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA)

attributable to payments made after

December 31, 1992.

* * * * *

(f) * * *

(4) * * * For guidance regarding de

minimis amounts for quarterly or

annual return periods beginning on or

after January 1, 2001, see § 31.6302–

1T(f)(4).

* * * * *

Par. 3. Section 31.6302–1T is added

to read as follows:

§ 31.6302–1T Federal tax deposit rules for

withheld income taxes and taxes under the

Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA)

attributable to payments made after

December 31, 1992 (temporary).

(a) through (f)(3). [Reserved] For

further guidance, see § 31.6302–1(a)

through (f)(3).

(f)(4) De Minimis rule. For quarterly

and annual return periods beginning on

or after January 1, 2001, if the total

amount of accumulated employment

taxes for the return period is less than

$2,500 and the amount is fully

deposited or remitted with a timely filed

return for the return period, the amount

deposited or remitted will be deemed to

have been timely deposited.

(f)(5) through (n). [Reserved] For

further guidance, see § 31.6302–1(f)(5)

through (n).

Approved: November 21, 2000.

Charles O. Rossotti,

Commissioner of Internal Revenue.

Jonathan Talisman,

Acting Assistant Secretary for Tax Policy.

[FR Doc. 00–30791 Filed 12–5–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4830–01–U

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 100

[CGD 05–00–053]

Special Local Regulations for Marine

Events; Approaches to Annapolis

Harbor, Spa Creek, and Severn River,

Annapolis, Maryland

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of implementation.

SUMMARY: The Coast Guard is

implementing the special local

regulations at 33 CFR 100.511 for the

Eastport Yacht Club Lighted Boat

Parade, a marine event to be held

December 9, 2000, on the waters of Spa

Creek and the Severn River at

Annapolis, Maryland. These special

local regulations are necessary to

control vessel traffic due to the confined

nature of the waterway and expected

vessel congestion during the event. The

effect will be to restrict general

navigation in the regulated area for the

safety of spectators and vessels

transiting the event area.

DATES: 33 CFR 100.511 is effective from

4:45 p.m. to 9:15 p.m. on December 9,

2000.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Chief Warrant Officer R. L. Houck,

Marine Events Coordinator,

Commander, Coast Guard Activities

Baltimore, 2401 Hawkins Point Road,

Baltimore, MD 21226–1971, (410) 576–

2674.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The

Eastport Yacht Club will sponsor a

lighted boat parade on the waters of the

Severn River and Spa Creek at

Annapolis, Maryland. The event will

consist of approximately 50 vessels,

ranging in length from 20 to 55 feet,

traveling at slow speed along two

separate parade routes in Annapolis

Harbor. In order to ensure the safety of

participants, spectators and transiting

vessels, 33 CFR 100.511 will be in effect

for the duration of the event. Under

provisions of 33 CFR 100.511, vessels

may not enter the regulated area without

permission from the Coast Guard Patrol

Commander. Spectator vessels may

anchor outside the regulated area but

may not block a navigable channel.

Because these restrictions will only be

in effect for a limited period, they

should not result in a significant

disruption of maritime traffic.

76154 Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 235 / Wednesday, December 6, 2000 / Rules and Regulations

Dated: November 21, 2000.

T.C. Paar,

Captain, U.S. Coast Guard, Acting

Commander, Fifth Coast Guard District.

[FR Doc. 00–31045 Filed 12–5–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910–15–U

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 117

[CGD01–00–247]

Mystic River, CT, Drawbridge

Operation Regulations:

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of temporary deviation

from regulations.

SUMMARY: The Commander, First Coast

Guard District, has issued a temporary

deviation from the drawbridge operation

regulations governing the operation of

AMTRAK railroad bridge, at mile 2.4,

across the Mystic River at Mystic,

Connecticut. This deviation allows the

bridge owner to open the bridge only

three times a day at 6:30 a.m. to 7:30

a.m., 12:30 p.m. to 1 p.m., and 6:15 p.m.

to 7 p.m. from December 11, 2000 to

December 13, 2000. This action is

necessary to facilitate replacement of

the pinion at the bridge.

EFFECTIVE DATES: This deviation is

effective from December 11, 2000, to

December 13, 2000.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Joe

Arca, Project Officer, First Coast Guard

District, at (212) 668–7165.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The

AMTRAK railroad bridge, at mile 2.4,

across the Mystic River, has a vertical

clearance of 4 feet at mean high water,

and 7 feet at mean low water in the

closed position. The existing

drawbridge operating regulations are

listed at 33 CFR 117.211(a).

The bridge owner requested a

temporary deviation from the

drawbridge operating regulations to

open the bridge only three times a day

at 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m. to

1 p.m., and 6:15 p.m. to 7 p.m., from

December 11, 2000 to December 13,

2000, to facilitate the replacement of the

pinion at the bridge. Vessels that can

pass under the bridge without an

opening may do so at all times during

the closed period.

In accordance with 33 CFR 117.35(c),

this work will be performed with all due

speed in order to return the bridge to

normal operation as soon as possible.

This deviation from the operating

regulations is authorized under 33 CFR

117.35.

Dated: November 24, 2000.

Gerald M. Davis,

Captain, U.S. Coast Guard, Acting

Commander, First Class Guard District.

[FR Doc. 00–31096 Filed 12–5–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910–15–M

POSTAL SERVICE

39 CFR Part 20

Global Express Guaranteed

AGENCY: Postal Service.

ACTION: Final rule.

SUMMARY: On April 19, 1999, the Postal

Service published an interim rule

introducing Priority Mail Global

Guaranteed service on a test basis. The

Postal Service has since amended that

interim rule on four occasions, with the

last amendment being announced on

September 29, 2000, and amending the

interim rule to rename the service

Global Express Guaranteed service

(GXG), establishing it as a permanent

international service and expanding the

service to include a new classification

for Non-Document (merchandise)

shipments. That amendment to the

interim rule also established and

published separate rates for the NonDocument service. The Postal Service

hereby gives notice that it is

implementing the interim rule as

amended on a permanent basis.

EFFECTIVE DATE: November 30, 2000.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Malcolm E. Hunt, (770) 360–1104.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On April

19, 1999, the Postal Service announced

in the Federal Register (64 FR 19039–

19042) the introduction of Priority Mail

Global Guaranteed (PMGG) service on

an interim basis. With PMGG, the USPS

provided customers with a fully

featured premium international service

for documents with full track and trace

capability. This service was initially

available from 3,000 retail locations for

delivery to a total of 19 countries.

On November 4, 1999, the Postal

Service announced in the Federal

Register (64 FR 60106–60109) the

expansion of PMGG service to permit

acceptance at a total of 10,000 retail

locations, with destination locations

expanded to 65 countries and territories.

On May 26, 2000, the Postal Service

announced in the Federal Register (65

FR 34096–34101) the further expansion

of PMGG service to a total of 202

destinating countries and territories. A

revised rate structure was also

introduced.

On August 28, 2000, the Postal

Service announced in the Federal

Register (65 FR 52023–52028) a further

expansion of PMGG service. The

number of retail locations was increased

to a total of 20,000, Document service

rates were adjusted, optional document

reconstruction insurance was increased

to $2499, and delivery service was

extended to China. An incorrect listing

of three-digit ZIP Codes was included in

the list of participating post offices in

this rule. The correct list of participating

post offices by three-digit ZIP Code is

incorporated in the final rule.

On September 29, 2000, the Postal

Service announced in the Federal

Register (65 FR 58350–58359) a further

expansion of PMGG service based on

the successive and successful

expansions of PMGG service. The Postal

Service established it as a permanent

international mail service. To effectuate

this change, the Postal Service changed

the name of the service to Global

Express Guaranteed (GXG) and

completed the expansion to include a

new classification for merchandise

shipments. GXG now consists of two

mail classifications:

a. GXG Document service

b. GXG Non-Document service

The GXG Document service mail

classification is for shipments that

contain only documents and general

correspondence for which no duty is

assessed by the customs authority of the

destinating country. This mail

classification is a designated letter mail

class pursuant to 39 U.S.C. 3623(d) and,

as such, is sealed against inspection by

the Postal Service. These Document

service shipments may be subject to

inspection in the destinating country for

purposes of compliance with the

customs requirements of the destinating

country. The rate structure for

Document service is separate and

distinct from the rate structure for NonDocument service.

The GXG Non-Document service mail

classification is for shipments that do

not contain documents or general

correspondence and for which duty may

be assessed by the customs authority of

the destinating country. Merchandise

and all other dutiable items may be

shipped using only this GXG

classification. As such, this mail

classification is not a letter mail class

pursuant to 39 U.S.C. 3623(d). In order

to provide for expedited customs

clearance of these dutiable shipments,

Non-Document service shipments will

be subject to inspection by the Postal

Service and its designated agents for

purposes of air security and to

determine that the contents are eligible

for shipment via Non-Document service

and that the contents are adequately