Liberalization of Export Controls for Oscilloscopes (Including Certain Transient Recorders), Affected ECCNs: 3A202, 3A292, 3E001, 3E201, and 3E292

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Bureau of Export Administration

15 CFR Parts 738, 740, and 774

[Docket No. 970703164-7164-01]

RIN 0694-AB61

Liberalization of Export Controls for Oscilloscopes (Including

Certain Transient Recorders), Affected ECCNs: 3A202, 3A292, 3E001,

3E201, and 3E292

AGENCY: Bureau of Export Administration, Commerce.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The Bureau of Export Administration maintains the Commerce

Control List (CCL, 15 CFR part 774), which appears in the Export

Administration Regulations (EAR). This rule revises the reason for

control for oscilloscopes (including certain transient recorders) from

NP Column 1 to NP Column 2, in the Commerce Country Chart (Supplement

No. 1 to 15 CFR part 738). In addition, revisions are made to NP Column

2 of the Commerce Country Chart, and Column [D:2] Nuclear of Country

Group D, to reflect that Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Comoros, Djibouti,

Micronesia, Oman, United Arab Emirates, and Vanuatu have signed the

Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. This revision will substantially

reduce the paperwork burden on the public by decreasing the number of

license applications exporters and reexporters are required to submit

for oscilloscopes.

EFFECTIVE DATE: August 6, 1997.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Joseph Chuchla, Office of Nuclear &

Missile Technology Controls, Telephone: (202) 482-4188.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

In May of 1997, the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) agreed to remove

oscilloscopes from the Annex to the ``Nuclear-Related Dual-Use

Equipment, Materials, and Related Technology List'' (the Annex)

published by the International Atomic Energy Agency and adhered to by

the United States and other subscribing governments in the NSG.

The items on the CCL that are subject to nuclear nonproliferation

controls are referred to as the Nuclear Referral List (NRL). The NRL

includes NSG-controlled items and other items subject to control for

nuclear non-proliferation reasons by the United States. This

Administration has ongoing concerns about the value and technical

significance of oscilloscopes in nuclear weapons testing; therefore,

the Administration has decided not to remove oscilloscopes from the

NRL. The U.S. proposed, and the NSG approved, a statement of NSG

members, commitment to preventing the use of oscilloscopes contrary to

the basic principle of non-proliferation. The members agreed to apply

available authority to ensure exports are not diverted or used contrary

to Annex Guidelines. The U.S., U.K., and Switzerland (the only

producers/exporters of the relevant oscilloscopes) agreed to retain

national export controls and to exercise vigilance on these items.

Where a license was required for all non-NSG member countries (NP

Column 1 of the Commerce Country Chart, Supplement No. 1 to 15 CFR part

738) and countries that have been designated terrorist countries of

concern (AT Column 1), this rule revises the license requirements for

oscilloscopes (including transient recorders other than those

controlled by 3A002.a.5) and specially designed components therefor, in

that a license will only be required for nuclear countries of concern

(NP Column 2) and countries that have been designated terrorism-

supporting countries (AT Column1).

This final rule amends the CCL (15 CFR part 774) by removing ECCN

3A202 and creating a new ECCN 3A292 to accommodate the new nuclear

level of control (NP Column 2) for oscilloscopes (including transient

recorders other than those controlled by 3A002.a.5) and specially

designed components therefor. Also, a revision is made to the heading

and the Reason for Control sections of ECCN 3E201 to remove the

reference to ECCN 3A202 and to the heading and license requirement

sections of ECCN 3E001. In addition, this rule amends the CCL by

creating a new ECCN 3E292 to accommodate the unilateral technology

controls on oscilloscopes (including transient recorders other than

those controlled by 3A002.a.5) and specially designed components

therefor.

Lastly, this rule will revise the Commerce Country Chart in

Supplement No. 1 to part 738 and Country Group D in Supplement No. 1 to

part 740 to reflect that Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Comoros, Djibouti,

Micronesia, Oman, United Arab Emirates, and Vanuatu have become

signatories to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. Therefore, the

Commerce Country Chart is amended by removing the corresponding ``x''

under the heading ``NP Column 2'' for these countries and Country Group

D is amended by removing the reference ``x'' under the heading ``[D:2]

Nuclear'' for the same countries.

Although the Export Administration Act (EAA) expired on August 20,

1994, the President invoked the International Emergency Economic Powers

Act and continued in effect, to the extent permitted by law, the

provisions of the EAA and the EAR in Executive Order 12924 of August

19, 1994, as extended by the President's notice of August 15, 1995 and

August 14, 1996 (3 CFR, 1996 Comp. 298 (1997)).

Rulemaking Requirements

1. This final rule has been determined to be not significant for

purposes of Executive Order 12866.

2. This rule involves collections of information subject to the

Paperwork Reduction Act of 1980 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.). This

collection has been approved by the Office of Management and Budget

under control number 0694-0088. The effect of this rule will decrease

license application requirements, thus decreasing the paperwork burden

on the public to the Department of Commerce. Notwithstanding any other

provision of law, no person is required to respond nor will a person be

subject to a penalty for failure to comply with a collection of

information subject to the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act

unless that collection of information displays a currently valid OMB

Control Number.

3. This rule does not contain policies with Federalism implications

sufficient to warrant preparation of a Federalism assessment under

Executive Order 12612.

4. The provisions of the Administrative Procedure Act (5 U.S.C.

553) requiring notice of proposed rulemaking, the opportunity for

public participation, and a delay in effective

[[Page 42048]]

date, are inapplicable because this regulation involves a military and

foreign affairs function of the United States (see 5 U.S.C. 553(a)(1)).

Further, no other law requires that a notice of proposed rulemaking and

an opportunity for public comment be given for this rule. Because a

notice of proposed rulemaking and an opportunity for public comment are

not required to be given for this rule by 5 U.S.C. 553, or by any other

law, the analytical requirements of the Regulatory Flexibility Act, 5

U.S.C. 601 et seq., are inapplicable.

Therefore, this regulation is issued in final form. Although there

is no formal comment period, public comments on this regulation are

welcome on a continuing basis. Comments should be submitted to Sharron

Cook, Regulatory Policy Division, Office of Exporter Services, Bureau

of Export Administration, Department of Commerce, P.O. Box 273,

Washington, D.C. 20044.

List of Subjects

15 CFR Parts 738 and 774

Exports, Foreign trade.

15 CFR Part 740

Administrative practice and procedure, Exports, Foreign trade,

Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.

Accordingly, parts 738, 740, and 774 of the Export Administration

Regulations (15 CFR parts 730-799) are amended as follows:

The authority citation for 15 CFR part 738 continues to read as

follows:

Authority: 50 U.S.C. app. 2401 et seq.; 50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.;

10 U.S.C. 720; 10 U.S.C. 7430(e); 18 U.S.C. 2510 et seq.; 22 U.S.C.

287c; 22 U.S.C. 3201 et seq.; 22 U.S.C. 6004; Sec. 201, Pub. L. 104-

58, 109 Stat. 557 (30 U.S.C. 185(s)); 30 U.S.C. 185(u); 42 U.S.C.

2139a; 42 U.S.C. 6212; 43 U.S.C. 1354; 46 U.S.C. app. 466c; 50

U.S.C. app. 5; E.O. 12924, 59 FR 43437, 3 CFR, 1994 Comp. 917

(1995); E.O. 13026, 61 FR 58767, 3 CFR, 1996 Comp. 228 (1997);

Notice of August 15, 1995, 3 CFR, 1995 Comp. 501 (1996); Notice of

August 14, 1996, 3 CFR, 1996 Comp. 298 (1997).

2. The authority citation for 15 CFR part 740 continues to read as

follows:

Authority: 50 U.S.C. app. 2401 et seq.; 50 1701 et seq.; E.O.

12924, 59 FR 43437, 3 CFR, 1994 Comp., p. 917; E.O. 13026, 61 FR

58767, 3 CFR, 1996 Comp. 228 (1997); Notice of August 15, 1995, 3

CFR, 1995 Comp. 501 (1996); Notice of August 14, 1996, 3 CFR, 1996

Comp. 298 (1997).

3. The authority citation for 15 CFR part 774 continues to read as

follows:

Authority: 50 U.S.C. app. 2401 et seq.; 50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.;

10 U.S.C. 7420; 10 U.S.C. 7430(e); 18 U.S.C. 2510 et seq.; 22 U.S.C.

287c; 22 U.S.C. 3201 et seq.; 22 U.S.C. 6004; Sec. 201, Pub. L. 104-

58, 109 Stat. 557 (30 U.S.C. 185(s)); 30 U.S.C. 185(u); 42 U.S.C.

2139a; 42 U.S.C. 6212; 43 U.S.C. 1354; 46 U.S.C. app. 466c; 50

U.S.C. app. 5; E.O. 12924, 59 FR 43437, 3 CFR, 1994 Comp., p. 917;

E.O. 13026, 61 FR 58767, 3 CFR, 1996 Comp. 228 (1997); Notice of

August 15, 1995, 3 CFR, 1995 Comp. 501 (1996); Notice of August 14,

1996, 3 CFR, 1996 Comp. 298 (1997).

PART 738--[AMENDED]

4. Supplement No. 1 to part 738, Commerce Country Chart, is amended

by removing the corresponding ``x'' under the heading ``NP Column 2''

for the following countries: Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Comoros,

Djibouti, Micronesia, Oman, United Arab Emirates, and Vanuatu.

PART 740--[AMENDED]

5. In Supplement No. 1 to part 740, Country Group D, is revised to

read as follows:

Supplement No. 1 to Part 740

* * * * *

Country Group D

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[D: 1] National [D: 3] Chemical [D: 4] Missile

Country Security [D: 2] Nuclear & Biological Technology

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Afghanistan......................... X

Albania............................. X

Algeria.............................

Andorra.............................

Angola..............................

Armenia............................. X X

Azerbaijan.......................... X X

Bahrain............................. X X

Belarus............................. X X

Bulgaria............................ X X

Burma............................... X

Cambodia............................ X

China (PRC)......................... X X X\1\

Comoros.............................

Cuba................................ X X

Djibouti............................

Egypt............................... X X

Estonia............................. X

Georgia............................. X X

India............................... X X X\1\

Iran................................ X X X\1\

Iraq................................ X X X

Israel.............................. X X X

Jordan.............................. X X

Kazakhstan.......................... X X

Korea, North........................ X X X\1\

Kuwait.............................. X X

Kyrgyzstan.......................... X X

Laos................................ X

Latvia.............................. X

Lebanon............................. X X

Libya............................... X X X

[[Page 42049]]

Lithuania........................... X

Micronesia, Federated States of.....

Moldova............................. X X

Mongolia............................ X X

Oman................................ X X

Pakistan............................ X X X\1\

Qatar............................... X X

Romania............................. X

Russia.............................. X X

Saudi Arabia........................ X X

Syria............................... X X

Taiwan.............................. X

Tajikstan........................... X X

Turkmenistan........................ X X

Ukraine............................. X X

United Arab Emirates................ X X

Uzbekistan.......................... X X

Vanuatu.............................

Vietnam............................. X X

Yemen............................... X X

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\1\ Certain Missile Technology projects have been identified in the following countries:

China--M Series Missiles CSS-2.

India--Agni, Prithvi, SLV-3 Satellite Launch Vehicle, Augmented Satellite Launch Vehicle (ASLV), Polar

Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV), Geostationary Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV).

Iran--Surface-to-Surface Missile Project, Scud Development Project.

Korea, North--No Dong I, Scud Development Project.

Pakistan--Half Series Missiles.

* * * * *

PART 774--[AMENDED]

6. In Supplement No. 1 to part 774 (the Commerce Control List),

Category 3 (Electronics Design, Development and Production) is amended

by:

a. Removing ECCN 3A202;

b. Adding a newly created ECCN 3A292, to be placed after ECCN 3A233

on the CCL;

c. Revising the Heading and the License Requirement section of ECCN

3E001 and the Heading of 3E201;

d. Adding a newly created ECCN 3E292, to be placed after ECCN

3E201, to read as follows:

Category 3--Electronics Design, Development and Production

A. Equipment, Assemblies and Components

* * * * *

3A292 Oscilloscopes and transient recorders other than those

controlled by 3A002.a.5, and specially designed components therefor

License Requirements

Reason for Control: NP, AT

Control(s) Country Chart

NP applies to entire entry................ NP Column 2

AT applies to entire entry................ AT Column 1

License Exceptions

LVS: N/A

GBS: N/A

CIV: N/A

List of Items Controlled

Unit: Number

Related Controls: N/A

Related Definitions: (a) Specially designed components specified in

this item are the following, for analog oscilloscopes:

1. Plug-in units;

2. External amplifiers;

3. Pre-amplifiers;

4. Sampling devices;

5. Cathode ray tubes.

(b) For the purpose this entry, ``Bandwidth'' is defined as the

band of frequencies over which the deflection on the cathode ray

tube does not fall below 70.7% of that at the maximum point measured

with a constant input voltage to the oscilloscope amplifier.

Items

a. Non-modular analog oscilloscopes having a bandwidth of 1 GHz

or greater;

b. Modular analog oscilloscope systems having either of the

following characteristics:

b.1. A mainframe with a bandwidth of 1 GHz or greater; or

b.2. Plug-in modules with an individual bandwidth of 4 GHz or

greater;

c. Analog sampling oscilloscopes for the analysis of recurring

phenomena with an effective bandwidth greater than 4 GHz;

d. Digital oscilloscopes and transient recorders using analog-

to-digital conversion techniques, capable of storing transients by

sequentially sampling one-shot input signals at successive intervals

of less than 1 ns (greater than 1 giga-sample per second),

digitizing to 8 bits or greater resolution, and storing 256 or more

samples.

* * * * *

3E001 ``Technology'' according to the General Technology Note for

the ``development'' or ``production'' of items controlled by 3A

(except 3A292, 3A980, 3A981, and 3A992 to 3A994), 3B (except 3B991)

or 3C

License Requirements

Reason for Control: NS, MT, NP, AT

Control(s) Country Chart

NS applies to ``technology'' for items NS Column 1

controlled by 3A001, 3A002, 3B001 to

3B008 or 3C001 to 3C004.

MT applies to ``technology'' for equipment MT Column 1

controlled by 3A001 or 3A101 for MT

reasons.

NP applies to ``technology'' for equipment NP Column 1

controlled by 3A001, 3A201, 3A225 to

3A233 for NP reasons.

AT applies to entire entry................ AT Column 1

* * * * *

[[Page 42050]]

3E201 ``Technology'' according to the General Technology Note for

the ``use'' of items controlled by 3A001.e.2, e.3, and e.5, 3A201,

3A225 to 3A233

* * * * *

3E292 ``Technology'' according to the General Technology Note for

the ``development'', ``production'', or ``use'' of items controlled

by 3A292

License Requirements

Reason for Control: NP, AT

Control(s) Country Chart

NP applies to entire entry................ NP Column 2

AT applies to entire entry................ AT Column 1

License Exceptions

CIV: N/A

TSR: N/A

List of Items Controlled

Unit: N/A

Related Controls: N/A

Related Definitions: N/A

Items: The list of items controlled is contained in the ECCN heading.

* * * * *

Dated: July 29, 1997.

Iain S. Baird,

Acting Assistant Secretary for Export Administration.

[FR Doc. 97-20415 Filed 8-4-97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3510-33-P