[Federal Register: July 17, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 136)]
[Notices]
[Page 40528-40530]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr17jy06-81]
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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
Customs and Border Protection Bureau
Request for Applicants for Appointment to the Departmental
Advisory Committee on Commercial Operations of Customs and Border
Protection and Related Homeland Security Functions (COAC)
AGENCY: Customs and Border Protection, Department of Homeland Security
(DHS).
ACTION: Committee Management; request for applicants for appointment to
the Departmental Advisory Committee on Commercial Operations of Customs
and Border Protection and Related Homeland Security Functions (COAC).
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SUMMARY: Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is requesting individuals
who are interested in serving on the Departmental Advisory Committee on
Commercial Operations of Customs and Border Protection and Related
Homeland Security Functions (formerly known as the ``Commercial
[[Page 40529]]
Operations Advisory Committee'' or ``COAC'') to apply for appointment.
CBP will continue to use ``COAC'' as the acronym for this Advisory
Committee. COAC provides advice and makes recommendations to the
Commissioner of CBP, Secretary of Homeland Security, and Secretary of
the Treasury on all matters involving the commercial operations of CBP
and related DHS functions.
DATES: Applications for membership should reach CBP on or before
September 15, 2006.
ADDRESSES: If you wish to apply for membership, your application should
be sent to CBP by one of the following methods:
E-mail: Traderelations@dhs.gov.
Facsimile: (202) 344-1969.
Mail: Ms. Wanda J. Tate, Program Management Specialist,
Office of Trade Relations, Customs and Border Protection, 1300
Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Room 4.2A, Washington, DC 20229.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Wanda J. Tate, Program Management
Specialist, Office of Trade Relations, Customs and Border Protection,
(202) 344-1440, FAX (202) 344-1969.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Departmental Advisory Committee on
Commercial Operations of Customs and Border Protection and Related
Homeland Security Functions (COAC) is an advisory committee established
in accordance with the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act
(FACA), 5 U.S.C. App. 2. ``COAC'' was the acronym for the former
``Commercial Operations Advisory Committee'' which existed prior to the
merger of the former U.S. Customs Service into DHS. CBP will continue
to use ``COAC'' as the acronym for the Departmental Advisory Committee.
Purpose and Objective: The purpose of the Committee is to provide
advice to the Commissioner of CBP, the Secretary of Homeland Security,
and the Secretary of the Treasury on all matters involving the
commercial operations of CBP and related functions within DHS or
Treasury. The committee is required to submit an annual report to
Congress describing its operations and setting forth any
recommendations. The Committee provides a critical and unique forum for
distinguished representatives of diverse industry sectors to present
their views and advice directly to senior Treasury, DHS, and CBP
officials. This is done on a regular basis in an open and candid
atmosphere.
Balanced Membership Plans: The members will be selected by the
Commissioner of CBP (subject to approval by the Secretary of Homeland
Security and the Secretary of the Treasury) from representatives of the
trade and transportation community that does business with CBP, or
others who are directly affected by CBP commercial operations and
related functions. In addition, members will represent major regions of
the country, and, by statute, not more than ten of the committee's 20
members may be affiliated with the same political party.
Background
In the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1987 (Pub. L. 100-203),
Congress directed the Secretary of the Treasury to create an Advisory
Committee on Commercial Operations of the Customs Service (now CBP).
The Committee is to consist of 20 members drawn from industry sectors
affected by Customs commercial operations with balanced political party
affiliations. The Committee's first two-year charter was filed on
October 17, 1988, and the committee has been renewed for subsequent
two-year terms eight times since then.
With the creation of DHS, the Secretary of the Treasury delegated a
joint chair and Committee management role to the Secretary of Homeland
Security (see Treasury Department Order No. 100-16, 19 CFR part 0
Appx.). In Delegation Number 7010.3 (May, 2006), the Secretary of
Homeland Security delegated to the Commissioner of CBP the authority to
preside jointly with Treasury over the meetings of the Committee, to
make appointments (subject to approval of the Secretary of Homeland
Security) to COAC jointly with Treasury, and to receive COAC advice.
It is expected that, during its tenth two-year term, the Committee
will consider issues relating to enhanced border and cargo supply chain
security. COAC will continue to provide advice and report such matters
as on CBP modernization and automation, informed compliance and
compliance assessment, account-based processing, commercial enforcement
and uniformity, international efforts to harmonize customs practices
and procedures, strategic planning, northern border and southern border
issues, and relationships with foreign customs authorities.
Committee Meetings
The Committee meets at least once each quarter, although additional
meetings may be scheduled. Generally, every other meeting of the
Committee may be held outside of Washington, DC, usually at a CBP port
of entry.
Committee Membership
Membership on the Committee is personal to the appointee and is
concurrent with the two-year duration of the charter for the tenth
term. Under the Charter, a member may not send an alternate to
represent him or her at a Committee meeting. However, since Committee
meetings are open to the public, another person from a member's
organization may attend and observe the proceedings in a
nonparticipating capacity. Regular attendance is essential; the Charter
provides that a member who is absent for two consecutive meetings or
two meetings in a calendar year shall be recommended for replacement on
the Committee.
No person who is required to register under the Foreign Agents
Registration Act as an agent or representative of a foreign principal
may serve on this advisory committee.
Members who are currently serving on the Committee are eligible to
re-apply for membership provided that they are not in their second
consecutive term and that they have met attendance requirements. A new
application letter (see ADDRESSES above) is required, but it may
incorporate by reference materials previously filed (please attach
courtesy copies).
Members of COAC will be appointed and serve as Special Government
Employees (SGE) as defined in section 202(a) of title 18, United States
Code. As a candidate for appointment as a SGE, applicants are required
to complete a Confidential Financial Disclosure Report (OGE Form 450).
CBP, DHS, and Treasury may not release the report or the information in
it to the public except under an order issued by a Federal court or as
otherwise provided under the Privacy Act (5 U.S.C. 552a).
Members will not be paid compensation by the Federal Government for
their services with respect to the COAC.
Application for Advisory Committee Appointment
There is no prescribed format for the application. Applicants may
send a letter describing their interest and qualifications and enclose
a resume. Applicants may state the basis on which they believe they
qualify for membership, such as their status as stakeholders.
Any interested person wishing to serve on the (COAC) must provide
the following:
Statement of interest and reasons for application;
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Complete professional biography or resume;
Political affiliation, in order to ensure balanced
representation. (If no party registration or allegiance exists,
indicate ``independent'' or ``unaffiliated'').
In addition, all applicants must state in their applications that
they agree to submit to pre-appointment background and tax checks.
However, a national security clearance is not required for the
position.
In support of the policy of the Department of Homeland Security on
gender and ethnic diversity, qualified women and members of minority
groups are encouraged to apply for membership.
Dated: July 12, 2006.
W. Ralph Basham,
Commissioner, Customs and Border Protection.
[FR Doc. E6-11285 Filed 7-14-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9111-14-P