[Federal Register: August 10, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 153)]
[Notices]               
[Page 43383]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr10au99-91]                         

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EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT

Office of National Drug Control Policy

 
Designation of Eight (8) Counties in North Dakota as Part of the 
Midwest High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area

AGENCY: Office of National Drug Control Policy, Executive Office of the 
President.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This notice lists the counties of Burleigh, Cass, Grand Forks, 
Morton, Ramsey, Richland, Walsh, and Ward in North Dakota designated by 
the Director of The Office of National Drug Control Policy, as 
additions to the Midwest High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA). 
The Midwest HIDTA currently consists of 40 counties and municipalities 
in Kansas, Iowa, Missouri, Nebraska, and South Dakota. HIDTAs are 
domestic regions identified as having the most critical drug 
trafficking problems that adversely affect the United States. These new 
counties are designated pursuant to 21 U.S.C. 1706(b), to promote more 
effective coordination of drug control efforts. This action will 
support local, North Dakota, and Federal law enforcement officers in 
assessing regional drug threats, designing strategies to combat the 
threats, developing initiatives to implement the strategies, and 
evaluation of the effectiveness of these coordinated efforts.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Comments and questions regarding this 
notice should be directed to Mr. Joseph C. Peters, National HIDTA 
Director, Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), Executive 
Office of the President, Washington, DC 20503; 202-395-6755.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In 1990, the Director of ONDCP designated 
the first five HIDTAs. These original HIDTAs, areas through which most 
illegal drugs enter the United States, are the Southwest Border, 
Houston, Los Angeles, New York/New Jersey, and South Florida. In 1994, 
the Director designated the Washington/Baltimore HIDTA to address the 
extensive drug distribution networks serving hardcore drug users and 
the Puerto Rico/U.S. Virgin Islands HIDTA based upon the significant 
amount of drugs entering the United States through this region. In 
1995, HIDTAs were designated in Atlanta, Chicago, and Philadelphia/
Camden to target drug abuse and drug trafficking in those areas. In 
1997, the Gulf Coast HIDTA (includes parts of Alabama, Louisiana, and 
Mississippi), the Lake County HIDTA, the Midwest HIDTA (includes parts 
of Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, and South Dakota, with the focus 
on methamphetamine), the Northwest HIDTA (includes seven counties of 
Washington State), the Rocky Mountain HIDTA (includes parts of 
Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming), and the San Francisco HIDTA were 
designated. In 1998, new HIDTAs were designated in Appalachia (includes 
parts of Kentucky, Tennessee, and West Virginia), Central Florida, 
Milwaukee, North Texas, and Southeast Michigan.
    The HIDTA Program supports over 250 collocated joint task forces in 
twenty regions of the country, including the entire Southwest Border. 
The HIDTA Program strengthens local, state, and federal drug 
trafficking and money laundering task forces, bolsters drug enforcement 
information networks and, improves integration of law enforcement, drug 
treatment, and drug abuse prevention programs, where appropriate.

    Signed at Washington, DC, this 2nd of August 1999.
Barry R. McCaffrey,
Director.
[FR Doc. 99-20561 Filed 8-9-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3115-01-P