The Bureau of Industry and Security is asking for public comment on ways to simplify the recordkeeping requirements in the Export Administration Regulations. The requirements relate to export control provisions, including Electronic Export Information, and “anti-boycott” provisions in the EAR. BIS is asking for comment on all aspects of the recordkeeping requirements in order to propose changes that would simplify the procedures. BIS said in its notice the comments should pertain to the following areas:

The Foreign Trade Zones Board issued the following notices for Sept. 29:

The Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) is proposing a rule to eliminate the Special Comprehensive License in the Export Administration Regulations. The SCL gives authorization to U.S. companies to consolidate activities, such as project, distribution, service supply, service facilities, aircraft and vessel repair station procedure, and special chemical handling, under one license with the potential for extension. But other changes to the EAR, including a series of amendments under the Export Control Reform regime, have “overtaken” the advantages of the SCL, said BIS. Although the SCL intended to simplify export controls, the license option is now “unduly burdensome,” said some U.S. responders in comments to a related rule in recent years, said BIS. The Strategic Trade Authorization license exception, for instance, is making the SCL obsolete, said one commenter, according to BIS. Comments are due Oct. 30.

The Foreign Trade Zones Board issued the following notices for Sept. 26:

The City of Bangor submitted an application to the Foreign-Trade Zones Board to reorganize FTZ 58 under the Alternative Site Framework, and expand the zone to cover several counties in eastern Maine. Under the reorganization, the zone's service area would cover Hancock, Penobscot, Piscataquis, Waldo and Washington Counties. The proposed reorganization under the Alternative Site Framework would streamline processes for the designation of new FTZ subzones and usage driven sites within that service area by allowing companies to request zone status through the relatively simple "minor boundary modification" process. Comments on the application are due by Nov. 28.

The Triangle J Council of Governments has applied to expand the area served by Foreign-Trade Zone 93, said a notice from the FTZ Board. The zone currently has a service area that includes Chatham, Durham, Franklin, Granville, Harnett, Johnston, Lee, Moore, Orange, Person, Vance, Wake and Warren Counties, North Carolina. Under the proposed expansion, it would also cover Sampson County. If approved, the zone’s grantee would be able to serve sites throughout the expanded service area based on companies’ needs for FTZ designation, said the FTZB. Comments are due by Nov. 28.

The Foreign Trade Zones Board issued the following notices for Sept. 24:

The Foreign Trade Zones Board issued the following notices for Sept. 18-22:

The Lewiston Auburn Economic Growth Council and the City of Waterville each submitted applications to the Foreign-Trade Zones Board to reorganize FTZ 263 and FTZ 186 under the Alternative Site Framework, respectively. The application to reorganize FTZ 263 would expand the zone to cover Androscoggin, Cumberland and Sagadahoc Counties, Maine. The application to reorganize FTZ 186 would expand it to cover Lincoln, Cumberland, Sagadahoc, Androscoggin, Kennebec, Waldo and Knox Counties, as well as part of Somerset County, Maine. The proposed reorganizations under the "Alternative Site Framework would streamline processes for the designation of new FTZ subzones and usage driven sites within each zone's service area by allowing companies to request zone status through the relatively simple "minor boundary modification" process. Comments on each application are due by Nov. 17.

The Bureau of Industry and Security denied export privileges for Ming Suan Zhang through 2023, following Zhang’s conviction of violating the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. A New York U.S. District Court sentenced Zhang to a 57-month prison term in 2013 for “knowingly, intentionally and willfully” trying to export one or more spools of Toray type M60JB-3000-50B carbon fiber to China from the U.S. Those products are controlled by the Commerce Department under the Export Administration Regulations. Zhang is serving time at the Moshannon Valley correction institution in Philipsburg, Pa.