[Federal Register: November 26, 2002 (Volume 67, Number 228)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 70706]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr26no02-22]
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Proposed Rules
Federal Register
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This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of
the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these
notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in
the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules.
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[[Page 70706]]
DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
Customs Service
19 CFR Chapter I
Public Meetings: Development of Regulations Regarding Mandatory
Advanced Electronic Cargo Information
AGENCY: Customs Service, Department of the Treasury.
ACTION: Notice of meetings.
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SUMMARY: This document announces that Customs will hold a series of
public meetings in accordance with section 343(a) of the Trade Act of
2002 to assist in the development of proposed regulations to provide
for the mandatory collection by Customs of electronic cargo information
prior to importation into or exportation from the United States.
Separate meetings will be held to address specific importation/
exportation issues pertaining to air, sea, truck and rail cargo. The
meetings are open to interested members of the trade community.
DATES: The meetings to discuss mandatory advanced collection of
electronic information pertaining to cargo are scheduled for the
following dates:
[sbull] Air cargo: January 14, 2003;
[sbull] Truck cargo: January 16, 2003;
[sbull] Rail cargo: January 21, 2003; and
[sbull] Sea cargo: January 23, 2003.
ADDRESSES: All meetings will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in room
B1.5-10 of the Ronald Reagan Building located at 1300 Pennsylvania
Avenue, NW., Washington, DC. Interested parties must provide Customs
with notice of intent to attend a particular meeting at least five
business days prior to the scheduled date for that meeting. Notice may
be provided to Robyn Day at (202) 927-1440 or via e-mail at
traderelations@customs.treas.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robyn Day, U.S. Customs Service,
Office of Trade Relations, at (202) 927-1440 or via e-mail at
traderelations@customs.treas.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
Section 343(a) of the Trade Act of 2002 (the Act), Public Law 107-
210, was signed into law on August 6, 2002. Section 343(a) directs the
Secretary of the Treasury to promulgate regulations, within one year of
enactment of the Act, to provide for the mandatory collection by
Customs of electronic cargo information prior to importation into or
exportation from the United States. In the course of developing such
regulations, section 343(a) directs the Secretary to solicit comments
from and consult with a broad range of parties likely to be affected by
the regulations, including importers, exporters, carriers, customs
brokers, and freight forwarders.
Section 343(a) requires that the electronic cargo information
required under the regulations be reasonably necessary to ensure
aviation, maritime and surface transportation safety and security
pursuant to those laws enforced and administered by Customs. The
requirements to provide particular information generally is to be
imposed on the party (e.g. exporter, importer, carrier, broker) most
likely to have direct knowledge of the cargo information. Additionally,
the statute requires the Secretary to take specific factors into
consideration in the development and promulgation of the regulations,
including:
[sbull] The existence of competitive relationships among parties
upon which the information collection requirements will be imposed;
[sbull] Differences among cargo carriers that arise from varying
modes of transportation, different commercial practices and operational
characteristics, and the technological capacity to collect and transmit
information;
[sbull] The need for interim requirements to reflect the technology
that is available at the time of promulgation of the regulations for
purposes of transmitting/receiving/analyzing electronic information;
and
[sbull] The need for transition periods and differences in
transition times among modes of transportation.
This notice announces that Customs will hold a series of public
meetings to assist in the development of proposed regulations
pertaining to the mandatory advanced collection of electronic cargo
information, with particular emphasis on the specific issues addressed
above. Separate meetings will be held to address specific importation/
exportation issues pertaining to air, sea, truck and rail cargo. The
meetings are open to interested members of the trade community, however
space is limited. The meetings are scheduled for the following dates:
[sbull] Air cargo: January 14, 2003;
[sbull] Truck cargo: January 16, 2003;
[sbull] Rail cargo: January 21, 2003; and
[sbull] Sea cargo: January 23, 2003.
All meetings will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in room B1.5-10 of
the Ronald Reagan Building located at 1300 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW.,
Washington, DC. Interested parties must provide Customs with notice of
their intent to attend a particular meeting at least five business days
prior to the scheduled date for that meeting. Notice may be provided to
Robyn Day at (202) 927-1440 or via e-mail at
traderelations@customs.treas.gov. It is suggested that interested
parties provide advance notice of intent to attend a particular
meeting, as space is limited and attendance may be restricted
accordingly.
It is noted that proposed legislation is currently pending (S.
1214, the Maritime Transportation Security Act) which may amend section
343 of the Trade Act of 2002. Any updates pertaining to either the
substance or logistics of the scheduled meetings will be available on
the Customs Internet Web site at http://www.customs.treas.gov/rlf.
Dated: November 20, 2002.
Michael Schmitz,
Assistant Commissioner, Office of Regulations and Rulings.
[FR Doc. 02-29931 Filed 11-25-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4820-02-P