82 FR 10546 - Delegation of Authority Concerning Mutual Legal Assistance

DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
Office of the Attorney General

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 29 (February 14, 2017)

Page Range		10546-10547
FR Document		2017-02955

The Attorney General has delegated to the Assistant Attorney General for the Criminal Division, with certain restrictions, the authority to perform the functions of the ``Central Authority'' or ``Competent Authority'' under treaties and executive agreements between the United States and other countries on mutual assistance in criminal matters that designate the Attorney General or the Department of Justice as such authority. The Assistant Attorney General for the Criminal Division is authorized to re-delegate this authority to the Deputy Assistant Attorneys General and to the Director and Deputy Directors of the Office of International Affairs (OIA). This final rule will expand the scope of persons to whom this authority may be re- delegated to include OIA's Associate Directors.

Federal Register, Volume 82 Issue 29 (Tuesday, February 14, 2017)

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 29 (Tuesday, February 14, 2017)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 10546-10547]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-02955]


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DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

Office of the Attorney General

28 CFR Part 0

[Docket No. CRM 116; AG Order No. 3847-2017]


Delegation of Authority Concerning Mutual Legal Assistance

AGENCY: Department of Justice.

ACTION: Final rule.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Attorney General has delegated to the Assistant Attorney 
General for the Criminal Division, with certain restrictions, the 
authority to perform the functions of the ``Central Authority'' or 
``Competent Authority'' under treaties and executive agreements between 
the United States and other countries on mutual assistance in criminal 
matters that designate the Attorney General or the Department of 
Justice as such authority. The Assistant Attorney General for the 
Criminal Division is authorized to re-delegate this authority to the 
Deputy Assistant Attorneys General and to the Director and Deputy 
Directors of the Office of International Affairs (OIA). This final rule 
will expand the scope of persons to whom this authority may be re-
delegated to include OIA's Associate Directors.

DATES: Effective February 14, 2017.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Vaughn Ary, Director, Office of 
International Affairs, Criminal Division, U.S. Department of Justice, 
Washington, DC 20005; Telephone (202) 616-1503.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Office of International Affairs (OIA) 
serves as the United States Central Authority with respect to all 
requests for information and evidence received from and made to foreign 
authorities under Mutual Legal Assistance Treaties and multilateral 
conventions regarding assistance in criminal matters. OIA's inventory 
of pending mutual legal assistance (MLA) requests has grown 
substantially in recent years. OIA received over 6,000 new requests in 
FY16, the most since OIA's inception in 1979. With only three senior 
leaders (the Director and two Deputy Directors) authorized to sign 
outgoing MLA requests, it can be difficult for OIA to process these MLA 
requests expeditiously. To address this issue, the Department of 
Justice is modifying its delegation of authority in 28 CFR 0.64-1 to 
add the Associate Directors who supervise OIA's regional teams and 
designated units as persons who may sign MLA requests. Associate 
Directors represent the most

[[Page 10547]]

experienced attorneys within the organization and are responsible for 
providing legal and policy guidance to the Assistant Attorney General 
and Deputy Assistant Attorney General, approving the arrest of 
international fugitives, providing oversight of extradition litigation 
in U.S. and foreign courts, and participating in the negotiation of 
bilateral and multilateral law enforcement treaties. Authorizing these 
senior supervisory attorneys to sign outgoing MLA requests is 
commensurate with their existing duties and provides OIA with the 
capability to more efficiently process these requests, avoid 
unnecessary delays, and effectively satisfy MLA requests.

Administrative Procedure Act--5 U.S.C. 553

    This rule is a rule of agency organization and relates to a matter 
relating to agency management and is therefore exempt from the 
requirements of prior notice and comment and a 30-day delay in the 
effective date. See 5 U.S.C. 553(a)(2), 553(b)(3)(A).

Regulatory Flexibility Act

    The Attorney General, in accordance with the Regulatory Flexibility 
Act (5 U.S.C. 605(b)), has reviewed this regulation and by approving it 
certifies that this regulation will not have a significant economic 
impact on a substantial number of small entities because it pertains to 
personnel and administrative matters affecting the Department. Further, 
a Regulatory Flexibility Analysis is not required to be prepared for 
this final rule because the Department was not required to publish a 
general notice of proposed rulemaking for this matter. 5 U.S.C. 604(a).

Executive Order 12866--Regulatory Planning and Review

    This action has been drafted and reviewed in accordance with 
Executive Order 12866, Regulatory Planning and Review, section 1(b), 
Principles of Regulation. This rule is limited to agency organization, 
management, and personnel as described in section 3(d)(3) of Executive 
Order 12866 and, therefore, is not a ``regulation'' or ``rule'' as 
defined by the order. Accordingly, this action has not been reviewed by 
the Office of Management and Budget.

Executive Order 13132--Federalism

    This rule will not have substantial direct effects on the States, 
on the relationship between the national government and the States, or 
on distribution of power and responsibilities among the various levels 
of government. Therefore, in accordance with Executive Order 13132, it 
is determined that this rule does not have sufficient federalism 
implications to warrant the preparation of a Federalism Assessment.

Executive Order 12988--Civil Justice Reform

    This rule was drafted in accordance with the applicable standards 
set forth in sections 3(a) and 3(b)(2) of Executive Order 12988.

Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995

    This rule will not result in the expenditure by State, local and 
tribal governments, in the aggregate, or by the private sector of 
$100,000,000 or more in any one year, and it will not significantly or 
uniquely affect small governments. Therefore, no actions were deemed 
necessary under the provisions of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 
1995.

Congressional Review Act

    This action pertains to agency management, personnel, and 
organizations and does not substantially affect the rights or 
obligations of non-agency parties and, accordingly, is not a ``rule'' 
as that term is used by the Congressional Review Act, 5 U.S.C. 
804(3)(B). Therefore, the reporting requirement of 5 U.S.C. 801 does 
not apply.

List of Subjects in 28 CFR Part 0

    Authority delegations (Government agencies), Counterterrorism, 
Crime, Government employees, Law enforcement, National security 
information, Organization and functions (Government agencies), Privacy, 
Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Terrorism, Whistleblowing.

    Accordingly, by virtue of the authority vested in me as Attorney 
General, including 5 U.S.C. 301 and 28 U.S.C. 509 and 510, title 28 of 
the Code of Federal Regulations is amended as follows:

PART 0--ORGANIZATION OF THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

0
1. The authority citation for part 0 continues to read as follows:

    Authority:  5 U.S.C. 301; 28 U.S.C. 509, 510, 515-519.


0
2. Revise the last sentence of Sec.  0.64-1 to read as follow:


Sec.  0.64-1   Central or Competent Authority under treaties and 
executive agreements on mutual assistance in criminal matters.

    * * * The Assistant Attorney General, Criminal Division, is 
authorized to re-delegate this authority to the Deputy Assistant 
Attorneys General, Criminal Division, and to the Director, Deputy 
Directors, and Associate Directors of the Office of International 
Affairs, Criminal Division.

    Dated: February 8, 2017.
Dana J. Boente,
Acting Attorney General.
[FR Doc. 2017-02955 Filed 2-13-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4410-14-P

Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 29 / Tuesday, February 14, 2017 / Rules and Regulations 10547

experienced attorneys within the accordance with Executive Order 13132, § 0.64–1 Central or Competent Authority
organization and are responsible for it is determined that this rule does not under treaties and executive agreements on
providing legal and policy guidance to have sufficient federalism implications mutual assistance in criminal matters.
the Assistant Attorney General and to warrant the preparation of a * * * The Assistant Attorney
Deputy Assistant Attorney General, Federalism Assessment. General, Criminal Division, is
approving the arrest of international authorized to re-delegate this authority
fugitives, providing oversight of Executive Order 12988—Civil Justice to the Deputy Assistant Attorneys
extradition litigation in U.S. and foreign Reform General, Criminal Division, and to the
courts, and participating in the Director, Deputy Directors, and
This rule was drafted in accordance Associate Directors of the Office of
negotiation of bilateral and multilateral
with the applicable standards set forth International Affairs, Criminal Division.
law enforcement treaties. Authorizing
these senior supervisory attorneys to in sections 3(a) and 3(b)(2) of Executive
Dated: February 8, 2017.
sign outgoing MLA requests is Order 12988.
Dana J. Boente,
commensurate with their existing duties Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of Acting Attorney General.
and provides OIA with the capability to 1995 [FR Doc. 2017–02955 Filed 2–13–17; 8:45 am]
more efficiently process these requests,
BILLING CODE 4410–14–P
avoid unnecessary delays, and This rule will not result in the
effectively satisfy MLA requests. expenditure by State, local and tribal
Administrative Procedure Act—5 governments, in the aggregate, or by the
private sector of $100,000,000 or more ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
U.S.C. 553 AGENCY
in any one year, and it will not
This rule is a rule of agency significantly or uniquely affect small
organization and relates to a matter 40 CFR Part 180
governments. Therefore, no actions were
relating to agency management and is deemed necessary under the provisions [EPA–HQ–OPP–2015–0795, EPA–HQ–OPP–
therefore exempt from the requirements of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act 2015–0796 and EPA–HQ–OPP–2015–0797;
of prior notice and comment and a 30- FRL–9957–22]
of 1995.
day delay in the effective date. See 5
U.S.C. 553(a)(2), 553(b)(3)(A). Congressional Review Act Hexythiazox; Pesticide Tolerances
Regulatory Flexibility Act AGENCY: Environmental Protection
This action pertains to agency
Agency (EPA).
The Attorney General, in accordance management, personnel, and
ACTION: Final rule.
with the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 organizations and does not substantially
U.S.C. 605(b)), has reviewed this affect the rights or obligations of non- SUMMARY: This regulation establishes
regulation and by approving it certifies agency parties and, accordingly, is not tolerances for residues of the ovicide/
that this regulation will not have a a ‘‘rule’’ as that term is used by the miticide hexythiazox in or on beet,
significant economic impact on a Congressional Review Act, 5 U.S.C. sugar, root, and beet, sugar, dried pulp
substantial number of small entities 804(3)(B). Therefore, the reporting and establishes tolerances associated
because it pertains to personnel and requirement of 5 U.S.C. 801 does not with regional registrations for residues
administrative matters affecting the apply. on Bermuda grass, forage and Bermuda
Department. Further, a Regulatory grass, hay. This regulation also modifies
Flexibility Analysis is not required to be List of Subjects in 28 CFR Part 0
the existing tolerances associated with
prepared for this final rule because the regional registrations in or on alfalfa,
Authority delegations (Government
Department was not required to publish forage; and alfalfa, hay. Gowan
agencies), Counterterrorism, Crime,
a general notice of proposed rulemaking Company requested these tolerances
for this matter. 5 U.S.C. 604(a). Government employees, Law
enforcement, National security under the Federal Food, Drug, and
Executive Order 12866—Regulatory information, Organization and functions Cosmetic Act (FFDCA). The regulation
Planning and Review (Government agencies), Privacy, also removes the existing time-limited
Reporting and recordkeeping tolerance for residues on beet, sugar,
This action has been drafted and
requirements, Terrorism, root because it is superseded by the new
reviewed in accordance with Executive
beet, sugar, root tolerance and removes
Order 12866, Regulatory Planning and Whistleblowing.
the tolerance for residues ‘‘Fruit, citrus
Review, section 1(b), Principles of
Accordingly, by virtue of the group 10’’ of 0.35 ppm because it is
Regulation. This rule is limited to
authority vested in me as Attorney superseded by the existing tolerance for
agency organization, management, and
General, including 5 U.S.C. 301 and 28 ‘‘Fruit, citrus group 10–10’’ of 0.6 ppm.
personnel as described in section 3(d)(3)
of Executive Order 12866 and, therefore, U.S.C. 509 and 510, title 28 of the Code DATES: This regulation is effective
is not a ‘‘regulation’’ or ‘‘rule’’ as of Federal Regulations is amended as February 14, 2017. Objections and
defined by the order. Accordingly, this follows: requests for hearings must be received
action has not been reviewed by the on or before April 17, 2017, and must
PART 0—ORGANIZATION OF THE be filed in accordance with the
Office of Management and Budget.
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE instructions provided in 40 CFR part
Executive Order 13132—Federalism 178 (see also Unit I.C. of the
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with RULES

This rule will not have substantial ■ 1. The authority citation for part 0 SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION).
direct effects on the States, on the continues to read as follows: ADDRESSES: The dockets for this action,
relationship between the national Authority: 5 U.S.C. 301; 28 U.S.C. 509, identified by docket identification (ID)
government and the States, or on 510, 515–519. numbers EPA–HQ–OPP–2015–0795,
distribution of power and EPA–HQ–OPP–2015–0796 and EPA–
responsibilities among the various ■ 2. Revise the last sentence of § 0.64– HQ–OPP–2015–0797, are available at
levels of government. Therefore, in 1 to read as follow: http://www.regulations.gov or at the

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Document Created: 2017-02-13 23:40:12
Document Modified: 2017-02-13 23:40:12

Category		Regulatory Information
Collection		Federal Register
sudoc Class		AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106:
Publisher		Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
Section		Rules and Regulations
Action		Final rule.
Dates		Effective February 14, 2017.
Contact		Vaughn Ary, Director, Office of International Affairs, Criminal Division, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC 20005; Telephone (202) 616-1503.
FR Citation		82 FR 10546
CFR Associated		Authority Delegations (government Agencies); Counterterrorism; Crime; Government Employees; Law Enforcement; National Security Information; Organization and Functions (government Agencies); Privacy; Reporting and Recordkeeping Requirements; Terrorism and Whistleblowing

82 FR 10546 - Delegation of Authority Concerning Mutual Legal Assistance

DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICEOffice of the Attorney General

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 29 (February 14, 2017)

DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
Office of the Attorney General