13864 Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 46 / Thursday, March 8, 2001 / Proposed Rules

DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY

Internal Revenue Service

26 CFR Part 1

[REG–116468–00]

RIN 1545–AY43

Minimum Cost Requirement Permitting

the Transfer of Excess Assets of a

Defined Benefit Pension Plan to a

Retiree Health Account; Hearing

Cancellation

AGENCY: Internal Revenue Service (IRS),

Treasury.

ACTION: Cancellation of notice of public

hearing on proposed rulemaking.

SUMMARY: This document provides

notice of cancellation of a public

hearing on proposed Income Tax

Regulations relating to the minimum

cost requirement under section 420,

which permits the transfer of excess

assets of a defined benefit pension plan

to a retiree health account.

DATES: The public hearing originally

scheduled for March 15, 2001, at 10

a.m., is canceled.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Treena Garrett of the Regulations Unit,

Office of Special Counsel

(Modernization & Strategic Planning),

(202) 622–7180 (not a toll-free number).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A notice

of proposed rulemaking and notice of

public hearing that appeared in the

Federal Register on January 5, 2001 (66

FR 1066), announced that a public

hearing was scheduled for March 15,

2001, at 10 a.m., in Auditorium, Internal

Revenue Service Building, 1111

Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington,

DC. The subject of the public hearing is

proposed regulations under section 420

of the Internal Revenue Code. The

public comment period for these

proposed regulations expired on March

6, 2001.

The notice of proposed rulemaking

and notice of public hearing, instructed

those interested in testifying at the

public hearing to submit a request to

speak and an outline of the topics to be

addressed. As of March 5, 2001, no one

has requested to speak. Therefore, the

public hearing scheduled for March 15,

2001, is canceled.

Cynthia E. Grigsby,

Chief, Regulations Unit, Office of Special

Counsel (Modernization and Strategic

Planning).

[FR Doc. 01–5770 Filed 3–7–01; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4830–01–P

DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY

Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and

Firearms

27 CFR Part 275

[Notice No. 912]

RIN 1512–AC24

Puerto Rican Tobacco Products and

Cigarette Papers and Tubes Shipped

From Puerto Rico to the United States

AGENCY: Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco

and Firearms (ATF), Treasury.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking

cross-referenced to temporary

regulations.

SUMMARY: In the Rules and Regulations

portion of this Federal Register, the

Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and

Firearms (ATF) is issuing temporary

regulations to eliminate ATF on-site

supervision of tobacco products and

cigarette papers and tubes of Puerto

Rican manufacture shipped from Puerto

Rico to the United States and related

ATF forms. Specifically, the temporary

rule eliminates the requirements that

persons who ship such articles notify

ATF prior to the shipment and that an

ATF officer inspects, certifies that the

amount of tax on such articles has been

calculated correctly for, and releases,

each shipment. Consequently, four ATF

forms are eliminated. However, the rule

requires that persons who ship such

articles maintain records so that the

amount of tax is calculated and

recorded for ATF audit and

examination. Also, the temporary rule

revises certain sections to simplify and

clarify and corrects a few typographical

errors. This notice of proposed

rulemaking invites comments on the

temporary rule.

DATES: Written comments must be

received on or before May 7, 2001.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments to:

Chief, Regulations Division, Bureau of

Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, Room

5003, 650 Massachusetts Avenue, NW.,

Washington, DC 20226, (Attention:

Notice Number 912). See the Public

Participation section of this notice for

alternative means of commenting.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Robert Ruhf, Regulations Division, 650

Massachusetts Avenue, NW.,

Washington, DC 20226; (202) 927–8210;

or alcohol/tobacco@atfhq.atf.treas.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

1. Temporary Regulations

The temporary regulations in this

issue of the Federal Register amend the

regulations in 27 CFR part 275. For the

text of the temporary regulations see

T.D. ATF–444, published in the Rules

and Regulations section of this issue of

the Federal Register.

2. Public Participation

Who May Comment on This Notice?

ATF requests comments on the

temporary regulations from all

interested persons. 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 practicable to

do so. However assurance of

consideration can only be given if

comments are received on or before the

closing date.

Will ATF Keep My Comments

Confidential?

ATF cannot recognize any material in

comments as confidential. Comments

may be disclosed to the public. If you

consider your material to be

confidential or inappropriate for

disclosure to the public, you should not

include it in the comment. We may also

disclose the name of any person who

submits a comment.

Can I Review Comments Received?

Yes. You may view and copy written

comments on this project during normal

business hours in the ATF Public

Reading Room, Room 6480, 650

Massachusetts Avenue, NW.,

Washington, DC 20226, telephone (202)

927–8480. For information on filing a

Freedom of Information Act request for

a copy of the comments, please call

(202) 927–8480, FAX (202) 927–8866 or

E-mail: FOIAMail@atfhq.atf.treas.gov.

(ATF cannot accept FOIA requests via

E-mail).

How Do I Send Facsimile Comments?

You may submit comments of not

more than three pages of facsimile

transmission to (202) 927–8525.

Facsimile comments must:

• Be legible;

• Be 8 1⁄2′′ × 11′′ in size;

• Contain a legible written signature;

and

• Be not more than three pages.

We will not acknowledge receipt of

facsimile transmissions. We will treat

facsimile transmissions as originals.

How Do I Send Comments by E-Mail?

If you send an e-mail, you must

follow these instructions. E-mail

comments must:

• Contain your name, mailing

address, and e-mail address;

• Contain the word ‘‘Notice’’ and its

number in the subject or reference line

of the e-mail;

Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 46 / Thursday, March 8, 2001 / Proposed Rules 13865

• Contain your company or

association affiliation, if pertinent to

your comment, and your reason for

commenting (manufacturer, importer,

consumer, etc.);

• Be legible when printed in a 81⁄2′′ ×

11′′ size (no special characters or

symbols); and

• Be addressed to

nprm@atfhg.atf.treas.gov.

We will not acknowledge receipt of email. We will treat e-mail as originals.

How Do I Send Comments Through the

ATF Internet Web Site?

Comments may be submitted

electronically using ATF’s web site. You

may comment on this proposed notice

by using the form provided through

ATF’s web site. You can reach this

notice and the comment form through

the address http://www.atf.treas.gov/

tobacco/rules/index.htm.

Can I Request a Public Hearing?

If you desire the opportunity to

comment orally at a public hearing on

this proposed regulation, you must

submit a request in writing to the

Director within the 60-day comment

period. The Director reserves the right,

in light of all circumstances, to

determine if a public hearing is

necessary.

3. Regulatory Analyses and Notices

Is This a Significant Regulatory Action

as Defined by Executive Order 12866?

It has been determined that this

proposed rule is not a significant

regulatory action as defined by

Executive Order 12866. Therefore, a

regulatory assessment is not required.

How does the Regulatory Flexibility Act

Apply to this Proposed Rule?

It is hereby certified that these

proposed regulations will not have a

significant economic impact on a

substantial number of small entities.

The proposed changes reduce regulatory

burdens for the three firms that

currently ship tobacco products from

Puerto Rico to the United States.

Does the Paperwork Reduction Act

Apply to this Proposed Rule?

The collection of information

contained in this notice of proposed

rulemaking has been submitted to the

Office of Management and Budget for

review in accordance with the

Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44

U.S.C. 3507(d)). Comments on the

collection(s) of information should be

sent to the Office of Management and

Budget, Attention: Desk Officer for the

Department of the Treasury, Bureau of

Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF),

Office of Information and Regulatory

Affairs, Washington, DC, 20503, with

copies to the Chief, Document Services

Branch, Room 3450, Bureau of Alcohol,

Tobacco and Firearms, 650

Massachusetts Avenue, NW.,

Washington, DC 20226. Comments are

specifically requested concerning:

• Whether the proposed collection of

information is necessary for the proper

performance of the functions of the

Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and

Firearms, including whether the

information will have practical utility;

• The accuracy of the estimated

burden associated with the proposed

collection of information;

• How the quality, utility, and clarity

of the information to be collected may

be enhanced; and

• How the burden of complying with

the proposed collection of information

may be minimized, including through

the application of automated collection

techniques or other forms of information

technology.

The collection of information in this

proposed regulation is in 27 CFR

275.106, 275.110 and 275.121. This

information is required to ensure proper

excise payment of taxes on Puerto Rican

tobacco products and cigarette papers

and tubes shipped from Puerto Rico to

the United States and that a person who

defers taxes on such shipments does not

exceed the amount of the bond allowing

the person to defer taxes. This

information will be used to determine

whether excise taxes have been properly

paid and that any bonds for deferring

taxes are in a sufficient amount. The

collection of information is mandatory.

The likely respondents may include

small businesses or organizations.

The estimated annual burden per

respondent will vary depending on the

number of shipments of Puerto Rican

tobacco products and cigarette papers

and tubes from Puerto Rico to the

United States. Estimated total annual

recordkeeping burden for each year is 1

hour. Estimated average annual burden

2 hours per respondent and/or

recordkeeper is 20 minutes. The

estimated number of recordkeepers is

three (3).

An agency may not conduct or

sponsor, and a person is not required to

respond to, a collection of information

unless it displays a valid control

number assigned by the Office of

Management and Budget.

4. Drafting Information

The principal author of this document

is Robert Ruhf, Regulations Division,

Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and

Firearms. However, other personnel of

ATF and the Treasury Department

participated in developing the

document.

Signed: February 5, 2001.

Bradley A. Buckles,

Director.

Approved: February 13, 2001.

Timothy E. Skud,

Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary

(Regulatory, Tariff and Trade Enforcement).

[FR Doc. 01–5425 Filed 3–7–01; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4810–31–U

DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY

31 CFR Part 1

Internal Revenue Service: Privacy Act;

Proposed Implementation

AGENCY: Office of the Secretary,

Department of the Treasury.

ACTION: Proposed rule.

SUMMARY: In accordance with the

requirements of the Privacy Act of 1974,

as amended, 5 U.S.C. 552a, the

Department of the Treasury gives notice

of a proposed amendment to this section

to exempt a proposed new Internal

Revenue Service (IRS) system of

records, the Employee Tax Compliance

Records (ETC—Treasury/IRS 36.888,

from certain provisions of the Privacy

Act. The exemption is intended to

increase the value of the system of

records for law enforcement purposes.

DATES: Comments must be received no

later than April 9, 2001.

ADDRESSES: Please submit comments to

the National Director, Governmental

Liaison and Disclosure, 1111

Constitution Avenue, Washington, DC

20224. Comments will be made

available for inspection at the IRS

Freedom of Information Reading Room

also located at Room 1621, 1111

Constitution Avenue, NW. The

telephone number for the Reading Room

is (202) 622–5164.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

David Silverman, Office of

Governmental Liaison and Disclosure,

IRS, 1111 Constitution Avenue, NW.,

Washington, DC 20224. Telephone

number (202) 622–6200. This is not a

toll free number.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under 5

U.S.C. 552a(k)(2), the head of an agency

may promulgate rules to exempt a

system of records from certain

provisions of 5 U.S.C. 552a if the system

is investigatory material compiled for

law enforcement purposes. The IRS is

hereby giving notice of a proposed rule

to exempt the Employee Tax

Compliance Records (ETC)—IRS 36.888,

from certain provisions of the Privacy