[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 115 (Thursday, June 13, 1996)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 30019]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-14858]




[[Page 30019]]

27 CFR Part 20

[Notice No. 827]
RIN 1512-AB57


Distribution and Use of Denatured Alcohol and Rum (95R-028P)

AGENCY: Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF), Department of 
the Treasury.

ACTION: Advance notice of proposed rulemaking.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to the President's regulatory reform initiative, ATF 
is conducting a complete review of all Federal government regulations 
relating to the distribution and use of denatured alcohol and rum. ATF 
believes that the regulations can be modernized and simplified since 
the last major revision in 1985.
    ATF is issuing this advance notice to solicit comments on ways in 
which the regulations can be simplified so as to greatly reduce or 
eliminate unnecessary regulatory burdens on industry members, while 
continuing to provide adequate protection of the revenue.

DATES: Comments must be submitted by August 12, 1996.

ADDRESSES: Submit all comments to: Chief, Wine, Beer, and Spirits 
Regulations Branch; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms; P.O. Box 
50221; Washington, DC 20091-0221. ATTN: Notice No. 827.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mary A. Wood; Wine, Beer, and Spirits 
Regulations Branch; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms; 650 
Massachusetts Avenue, NW; Washington, DC 20226; (202) 927-8210.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    ATF wishes to solicit comments from the public on its proposal to 
conduct a complete review of the regulatory requirements in Part 20 
pertaining to the distribution and use of denatured alcohol and rum. 
ATF aims to eliminate, revise, or simplify the regulations where 
necessary. ATF believes that the current regulations may contain 
unnecessary provisions and ATF desires to delete regulatory 
requirements which have become obsolete.
    ATF wants to ensure that the regulations provided for in this part 
are made as simple as possible, while still providing the necessary 
protection to the revenue. In updating the regulations, primary 
emphasis will be given to the simplification of procedures for 
qualifying as a denatured alcohol and rum distributor and user or for 
keeping records and filing reports.
    ATF solicits comments on the following issues:
    (1) Are specific regulations in Part 20 duplicative and 
unnecessary? Can specific sections of the regulations be combined to 
eliminate such duplication?
    (2) Can the permit application, approved formula or statement of 
process, or loss claim requirements in these regulations be made more 
streamlined, while continuing to provide adequate safeguards to the 
revenue?
    (3) Can the labeling requirements for articles or packages of 
specially denatured spirits be simplified?
    (4) Are there any other suggestions for providing flexibility in 
the provisions in Part 20, including the recovery of denatured spirits 
and the reuse of the recovered spirits.
    (5) Overall, ATF would like to solicit general comments on ways in 
which it could reduce recordkeeping paperwork and/or simplify 
procedures, while continuing to maintain adequate safeguards to the 
revenue.
    (6) Finally, under the current regulations, ATF may grant a 
permittee's request for an alternate method or procedure as a variance 
from some regulatory requirements. ATF is interested in comments from 
permittees concerning their experience with such variances and whether 
these regulations should be revised to incorporate some of the 
practices authorized by existing variances.

Participation

    ATF requests comments from all interested persons. All comments 
received on or before the closing date will be carefully considered. 
Comments received after that date will be given the same consideration 
if it is practical to do so, but assurance of consideration cannot be 
given except as to comments received on or before the closing date.
    ATF will not recognize any material as confidential. Comments may 
be disclosed to the public. Any material which the commenter considers 
to be confidential or inappropriate for disclosure should not be 
included in the comment. The name of the person submitting the comment 
is not exempt from disclosure.
    During the comment period, any person may request an opportunity to 
present oral testimony at a public hearing. However, the Director 
reserves the right, in light of all circumstances, to determine if a 
public hearing is necessary.

Executive Order 12866

    It has been determined that this proposed regulation is not a 
significant regulatory action as defined in Executive Order 12866. 
Accordingly, this proposal is not subject to the analysis required by 
this Executive Order.

    Drafting Information: The principal author of this document is 
Mary A. Wood of the Wine, Beer, and Spirits Regulations Branch, 
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms.

List of Subjects in 27 CFR Part 20

    Administrative practice and procedure, Advertising, Alcohol and 
alcohol beverages, Authority delegations, Claims, Excise taxes, 
Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Surety bonds.

Authority and Issuance

    This advance notice of proposed rulemaking is issued under the 
authority in 26 U.S.C. 5001, 5206, 5214, 5241-5276, 5311, 5552, 5555, 
5607, 6065, 7805.

    Signed: May 17, 1996.
Bradley A. Buckles,
Acting Director.

    Approved: May 24, 1996.
John P. Simpson,
Deputy Assistant Secretary (Regulatory, Tariff and Trade Enforcement).
[FR Doc. 96-14858 Filed 6-12-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4810-31-P