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MATERIALS PROCESSING EQUIPMENT TECHNICAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE

HCHB, Room 3884

Washington, DC 20230

December 13, 2007

OPENING REMARKS

Chairman Paul Warndorf called the meeting to order and requested all present to introduce themselves.

PRESENTATION OF PAPERS AND COMMENTS BY THE PUBLIC

Bill Root noted that he had submitted a paper to the RPTAC with recommendations for changes or clarifications relative to ambiguities in the current regulations. The recommendations address areas such as a clearer understanding as to what agency had jurisdiction over various items in the EAR. He also provided suggestions on how to make ITAR more user friendly. After a brief discussion, Mr. Root agreed to send the paper to the Chairman of the MPETAC for consideration for future work efforts.

DISCUSSION ON 2008 WASSENAAR PROPOSALS

The Chairman provided a brief overview of potential proposals that were being considered for submittal to Wassenaar. It was reported that:

The MPETAC proposal on the decontrol of certain 5-axis machine tools was still being considered for submittal to Wassenaar. This proposal sets positioning accuracy limits for the control of 5-axis machine tools.
There is a proposal under consideration on changing 2.B.2 from identifying specific optical finishing processes to only stating finish and form parameters.
There are two proposals being considered relative to Coordinate Measuring Machines (CMM). The first is a proposal to add a Technical Note to 2.B.6.a to limit the control of CMM equipment to the “useful” range used during inspections (a formula is provided for determining the “useful” range). The second is a proposal to add a Technical Note to 2.B.6 stating a permissible error of indication for the probe used in making the permissible error of indication measurement for the CMM.
A proposal is being considered to address Additive Material Manufacturing (AMM) equipment capable of directly making metal components.
A proposal is also under consideration to delete item 2.B.5 from the list on the basis of foreign availability of the type of equipment controlled in that item.
There is a proposal to add an additional note to the Technical Notes in 2.B to provide a definition for “positioning accuracy” for Category 2.B.
The final proposal being discussed is one that addresses filament winding, tape laying and tow placement equipment controlled in item 1.B.1. The purpose of the proposal is to decontrol equipment that has less then 5-axes of motion for these types of machines.

The Chairman noted that these proposals have not been fully reviewed in interagency meetings, therefore, it can not be stated as to which proposals will continue through the 2008 Wassenaar proposal process.

REPORT ON PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE EXPORT ADMINISTRATION REGULATION

The Department of Commerce reviewed changes that were made to the Export Administration Regulation (EAR) since the last MPETAC meeting. These included changes to 2.B.2, 2.B.8, 2.B.6, and 2.B.7. It was also noted that there are companies now on the Verified End User (VEU) list for China. This list identifies specific companies and the specific ECCN items that can be sold to that company that does not need an export control license.

OTHER BUSINESS

There was no other business discussed.

NEXT MEETING

The following are proposed dates for MPETAC meetings during 2008:

March 13
August 7
October 16
December 18

CLOSED SESSION

Following the open session there was a closed session addressing matters determined to be exempt from the provisions relating to public meetings.