[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 204 (Wednesday, October 22, 2003)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 60301-60302]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-26576]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Bureau of the Census
15 CFR Part 30
[Docket Number 031009254-3254-01]
RIN 0607-AA38
Mandatory Automated Export System (AES) Filing for all Shipments
Requiring Shipper's Export Declaration Information
AGENCY: Bureau of the Census, Commerce.
ACTION: Advance notice of proposed rulemaking and request for comments.
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SUMMARY: The U.S. Census Bureau (Census Bureau) is issuing this advance
notice of proposed rulemaking to announce and to solicit comments on
the Census Bureau's intent to propose a rule that would make mandatory
the filing of all export shipments requiring Shipper's Export
Declaration (SED) information on the Automated Export System (AES)/
AESDirect. The Census Bureau also requests comment on its intention,
subject to agreement with the Bureau of Customs and Border Protection
(CBP) and other federal agencies participating in the AES, to modify
the AES Option 4 post-departure filing program. The Census Bureau
welcomes any comments or concerns regarding the impact of these
intended changes on the export community.
DATES: Submit written comments regarding this document on or before
November 21, 2003.
ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to the Director, U.S. Census
Bureau, Room 2049, Federal Building 3, Washington, DC 20233.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information
should be directed to C. Harvey Monk, Jr., Chief, Foreign Trade
Division, U.S. Census Bureau, Room 2104, Federal Building 3,
Washington, DC 20233-6700, (301) 763-2255, by fax (301) 457-2645, or by
e-mail c.harvey.monk,[email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The AES is the electronic method to file the
information required on the paper SED and the ocean manifest
information directly with the CBP. AESDirect is the Census Bureau's
free Internet-based system for filing SED information on the AES.
Further references to the AES cover both the AES and AESDirect.
Filing on the AES will become mandatory for all export shipments
required to be filed under Title 13, United States Code (U.S.C.),
Chapter 9. On September 30, 2002, the President signed H.R. 1646 into
law (Public Law 107-228). The short title to this law is the Foreign
Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Year 2003. Division B is the
Security Assistance Act of 2002. Section 1404--Improvements to the
Automated Export System--amends Title 13, U.S.C., Chapter 9.
The AES mandatory electronic filing requirement and penalty
authority are set forth in Public Law 107-228. This law directs the
Secretary of Commerce, with the concurrence of the Secretary of State
and the Secretary of Treasury, to publish regulations in the Federal
Register requiring, upon the effective date of these regulations, that
all persons who are required to file export information under Title 13,
U.S.C., Chapter 9, file such information through the AES. The filing of
SED information on paper will be eliminated (Option 1). This law also
imposes penalties for delayed filings, for failure to file, filing of
false or misleading information and for furthering other unlawful
activities. A full description of Public Law 107-228, Section 1404, can
be found at no cost on the Library of Congress Web site at http://www.thomas.gov.
In the future, the Census Bureau will issue proposed and final
rules in the Federal Register, providing for implementation of the AES
mandatory filing requirement and allowing the public to comment. The
Census Bureau also will issue regulations regarding imposition of the
penalties, both civil and criminal, for the late filing, failure to
file, and false filing of export information and furtherance of other
illegal activities through the AES. These regulations will provide for
[[Page 60302]]
administrative proceedings for imposition of a civil penalty for
violation(s) of Public Law 107-228. The authority to enforce penalty
provisions of Public Law 107-228 will be delegated to the Office of
Export Enforcement of the Bureau of Industry and Security, U.S.
Department of Commerce, and/or the U.S. Department of Homeland
Security.
In addition, the Census Bureau will address other issues in the
forthcoming rulemaking process discussed above. Because the changes
discussed above will result in a major revision of the Foreign Trade
Statistics Regulations, we plan to use this as an opportunity to
improve the regulations' clarity and readability. It is possible that
we could make some additional changes to the rules as part of this
process.
An additional purpose of this notice is to announce and request
comment on the Census Bureau's intention, subject to agreement with the
CBP and other federal agencies participating in the AES, to modify the
AES Option 4 post-departure filing program. Currently, Option 4 is a
method of post-departure filing that considers the trade community's
business practices and also provides for an approval process that
ensures that only the most compliant companies are approved for this
method of filing. With Option 4 privileges, shipment information can be
transmitted to the AES no later than ten working days from the date of
exportation. (Refer to Foreign Trade Statistics Regulations, title 15,
Code of Federal Regulations, part 30, sections 30.61 and 30.62, for
information on AES filing Option 4.)
The Census Bureau also has had numerous discussions over the past
several months with the trade community and several federal government
agencies regarding a proposal to develop and implement the AES Filer
Licensing and Permit Program. After consultation both internally and
externally, the Census Bureau has decided not to move forward with the
development and implementation of an AES filer licensing program
concurrently with requiring full mandatory electronic filing of export
information through the AES. However, the Census Bureau will continue
to explore the need for an AES filer licensing program.
Executive Orders
This program notice has been determined to be not significant for
purposes of Executive Order (E.O.) 12866. This notice does not contain
policies with Federalism implications sufficient to warrant preparation
of a Federalism assessment under E.O. 13132.
Paperwork Reduction Act
Notwithstanding any other provisions of law, no person is required
to respond to, nor shall a person be subject to a penalty for failure
to comply with a collection of information subject to the requirements
of the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA), unless that collection of
information displays a current valid Office of Management and Budget
(OMB) control number. The forthcoming rules will contain a collection
of information subject to the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction
Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.). In accordance with the PRA, this
collection of information will be submitted to OMB for approval.
Program Change
The actual effective date of full AES mandatory filing requirements
and implementation of the penalty provision regarding mandatory filing
are dependent upon the publication and implementation of final
regulatory amendments by the Census Bureau. Proposed and final rules
defining the regulatory revisions that will be made to implement the
legislation will be published in the Federal Register, as discussed
above.
Dated: October 16, 2003.
Charles Louis Kincannon,
Director, Bureau of the Census.
[FR Doc. 03-26576 Filed 10-21-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P