Rule2021-25802
Syrian Sanctions Regulations
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
November 26, 2021
Effective
November 26, 2021
Issuing agencies
Treasury DepartmentForeign Assets Control Office
Abstract
The Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) is adopting a final rule amending the Syrian Sanctions Regulations to expand an existing authorization related to certain activities of nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) in Syria.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 86 Issue 225 (Friday, November 26, 2021)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 225 (Friday, November 26, 2021)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 67324-67325]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2021-25802]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
Office of Foreign Assets Control
31 CFR Part 542
Syrian Sanctions Regulations
AGENCY: Office of Foreign Assets Control, Treasury.
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: The Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets
Control (OFAC) is adopting a final rule amending the Syrian Sanctions
Regulations to expand an existing authorization related to certain
activities of nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) in Syria.
DATES: This rule is effective November 26, 2021.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: OFAC: Assistant Director for
Licensing, 202-622-2480; Assistant Director for Regulatory Affairs,
202-622-4855; or Assistant Director for Sanctions Compliance &
Evaluation, 202-622-2490.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Electronic Availability
This document and additional information concerning OFAC are
available on OFAC's website: <a href="http://www.treasury.gov/ofac">www.treasury.gov/ofac</a>.
Background
On April 5, 2005, OFAC issued the Syrian Sanctions Regulations, 31
CFR part 542 (70 FR 17201, April 5, 2005) (``the Regulations''), to
implement Executive Order (E.O.) 13338 of May 11, 2004, ``Blocking
Property of Certain Persons and Prohibiting the Export of Certain Goods
to Syria'' (69 FR 26751, May 13, 2004). OFAC thereafter amended the
Regulations on May 2, 2014 (79 FR 25414, May 2, 2014) to implement six
additional Executive orders related to Syria.
OFAC, in consultation with the State Department, is amending the
Regulations to expand the existing general license at Sec. 542.516 to
authorize NGOs to engage in certain assistance-related investment
activities in support of certain not-for-profit activities in Syria,
including (i) new investment in Syria that would be prohibited by Sec.
542.206; (ii) additional dealings with a limited subset of the
Government of Syria as defined in Sec. 542.305(a) that would be
prohibited by Sec. 542.201(a)(1); and (iii) the purchase of refined
petroleum products of Syrian origin that would be prohibited by Sec.
542.209. Consistent with the Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act of
2019 (Pub. L. 116-92, Div. F, Title LXXIV, 133 Stat. 2290, 22 U.S.C.
8791 note) (``the Caesar Act''), Section 7425(b), OFAC is also amending
the general license at Sec. 542.516 to reflect that it does not apply
to any foreign person that has been designated as a foreign terrorist
organization under section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act
(8 U.S.C. 1189), or otherwise designated as a terrorist organization by
the Secretary of State, in consultation with or upon the request of the
Attorney General or the Secretary of Homeland Security. Finally, OFAC
is adding the Caesar Act to the authority citation of 31 CFR part 542.
Public Participation
Because the amendment of the Regulations involves a foreign affairs
function, the provisions of E.O. 12866 of September 30, 1993,
``Regulatory Planning and Review'' (58 FR 51735, October 4, 1993), and
the Administrative Procedure Act (5 U.S.C. 553) requiring notice of
proposed rulemaking, opportunity for public participation, and delay in
effective date are inapplicable. Because no notice of proposed
rulemaking is required for this rule, the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5
U.S.C. 601-612) does not apply.
Paperwork Reduction Act
The collections of information related to the Regulations are
contained in 31 CFR part 501 (the ``Reporting, Procedures and Penalties
Regulations''). Pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44
U.S.C. 3507), those collections of information have been approved by
the Office of Management and Budget under control number 1505-0164. An
agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to
respond to, a collection of information unless the collection of
information displays a valid control number.
List of Subjects in 31 CFR Part 542
Administrative practice and procedure, Banks, Banking, Blocking of
assets, Credit, Exports, Foreign trade, Investments, Nongovernmental
organizations, Penalties, Petroleum, Reporting and recordkeeping
requirements, Sanctions, Security, Services, Syria.
For the reasons set forth in the preamble, OFAC amends 31 CFR part
542 as follows:
PART 542--SYRIAN SANCTIONS REGULATIONS
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1. The authority citation for part 542 is revised to read as follows:
Authority: 3 U.S.C. 301; 31 U.S.C. 321(b); 18 U.S.C. 2332d; 22
U.S.C. 287c; 50 U.S.C. 1601-1651, 1701-1706; Pub. L. 101-410, 104
Stat. 890, as amended (28 U.S.C. 2461 note); Pub. L. 116-92, Div. F,
Title LXXIV, 133 Stat. 2290 (22 U.S.C. 8791 note); E.O. 13338, 69 FR
26751, 3 CFR, 2004 Comp., p. 168; E.O. 13399, 71 FR 25059, 3 CFR,
2006 Comp., p. 218; E.O. 13460, 73 FR 8991, 3 CFR 2008 Comp., p.
181; E.O. 13572, 76 FR 24787, 3 CFR 2011 Comp., p. 236; E.O. 13573,
76 FR 29143, 3 CFR 2011 Comp., p. 241; E.O. 13582, 76 FR 52209, 3
CFR 2011 Comp., p. 264; E.O. 13606, 77 FR 24571, 3 CFR 2012 Comp.,
p. 243.
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2. Amend Sec. 542.516 as follows:
[[Page 67325]]
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a. Remove paragraph (d).
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b. Redesignate paragraphs (a), (b), and (c) as paragraphs (b), (c), and
(d), respectively.
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c. Add new paragraph (a).
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d. Revise newly redesignated paragraph (b) introductory text.
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e. In newly redesignated paragraph (c):
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i. Remove the text ``, except as authorized by paragraph (d) of this
section,'';
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ii. Remove the text ``the Government of Syria or any other'' and add in
its place ``any''; and
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iii. Add ``other than persons who meet the definition of the term
Government of Syria, as defined in Sec. 542.305(a)'' after ``Sec.
542.201(a)''.
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f. Revise newly redesignated paragraph (d) and paragraph (e).
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g. Add paragraph (f).
The additions and revisions read as follows:
Sec. 542.516 Certain services in support of nongovernmental
organizations' activities authorized.
(a) Nongovernmental organizations are authorized to engage in the
following transactions and activities in support of the not-for-profit
activities described in paragraph (b) of this section:
(1) Transactions with persons who meet the definition of the term
Government of Syria, as defined in Sec. 542.305(a), that would be
prohibited by Sec. 542.201(a)(1);
(2) New investment in Syria that would be prohibited by Sec.
542.206;
(3) The exportation or reexportation of services to Syria that
would be prohibited by Sec. 542.207; and
(4) The purchase of refined petroleum products of Syrian origin for
use in Syria that would be prohibited by Sec. 542.209.
(b) The not-for-profit activities referenced in paragraph (a) of
this section are:
* * * * *
(d) U.S. persons engaging in transactions or processing transfers
of funds to or from Syria in support of activities described in
paragraph (b)(5) of this section are required to file quarterly reports
no later than 30 days following the end of the calendar quarter with
OFAC. The reports should include complete information on all activities
and transactions undertaken pursuant to paragraphs (a) and (c) of this
section in support of the activities described in paragraph (b)(5) of
this section that took place during the reporting period, including the
parties involved, the value of the transactions, the services provided,
and the dates of the transactions. The reports should be submitted via
email to <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#afe0e9eeecddcadfc0dddbefdbddcacedcdaddd681c8c0d9"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="f3bcb5b2b08196839c8187b3878196928086818add949c85">[email protected]</span></a> or via U.S. mail to the Office of
Foreign Assets Control, Licensing Division, U.S. Treasury Department,
1500 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Freedman's Bank Building, Washington, DC
20220.
(e) This section does not authorize:
(1) Any transactions or activities involving any person whose
property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to Sec.
542.201(a), other than persons who meet the definition of the term
Government of Syria, as defined in Sec. 542.305(a);
(2) The importation into the United States of petroleum or
petroleum products of Syrian origin prohibited by Sec. 542.208; or
(3) Any transactions or dealings in or related to petroleum or
petroleum products of Syrian origin prohibited by Sec. 542.209, except
as authorized in paragraph (a) of this section.
(f) Nothing in this section authorizes nongovernmental
organizations to undertake any transaction or dealing that involves any
foreign person that has been designated as a foreign terrorist
organization under section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act
(8 U.S.C. 1189), or otherwise designated as a terrorist organization,
by the Secretary of State, in consultation with or upon the request of
the Attorney General or the Secretary of Homeland Security.
* * * * *
Dated: November 22, 2021.
Bradley T. Smith,
Acting Director, Office of Foreign Assets Control.
[FR Doc. 2021-25802 Filed 11-24-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4810-AL-P
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