[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 50 (Tuesday, March 16, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12561-12562]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-5637]
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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
Customs and Border Protection
Request for Applicants for Appointment to the Advisory Committee
on Commercial Operations of Customs and Border Protection (COAC)
AGENCY: U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Department of Homeland
Security (DHS).
ACTION: Committee Management; request for applicants for appointment to
the Advisory Committee on Commercial Operations of Customs and Border
Protection (COAC).
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SUMMARY: U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is requesting
individuals who are interested in serving on the Advisory Committee on
Commercial Operations of Customs and Border Protection (COAC) to apply
for appointment. 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 May
15, 2010.
ADDRESSES: If you wish to apply for membership, your application should
be sent to CBP by one of the following methods:
E-mail: [email protected].
Facsimile: 202-325-4290.
Mail: Ms. Wanda J. Tate, Program Management Analyst,
Office of Trade Relations, Customs and Border Protection, 1300
Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Room 5.2A, Washington, DC 20229.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Wanda J. Tate, Program Management
Analyst, Office of Trade Relations, Customs and Border Protection,
(202) 344-1440, FAX (202) 325-4290.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Advisory Committee on Commercial
Operations of Customs and Border Protection (COAC) is an advisory
committee established in accordance with the provisions of the Federal
Advisory Committee Act (FACA), 5 U.S.C., app.
Purpose and Objective: The purpose of the Committee is to provide
advice to the Commissioner of Customs and Border Protection, Secretary
of Homeland Security, and Secretary of the Treasury on all matters
involving the commercial operations of U.S. Customs and Border
Protection (CBP) and related functions within the Department of
Homeland Security (DHS) or Treasury, and 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, jointly with the Secretary of the Treasury from
representatives of the trade and transportation community that do
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 twenty Committee 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 twenty members drawn from industry
sectors affected by CBP 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 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,
Appendix.). 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 to COAC subject to approval of the Secretary of
Homeland Security jointly with Treasury, and to receive COAC advice.
It is expected that, during its twelfth two-year term, the
Committee will consider issues relating to enhanced border and cargo
supply chain security, 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, CBP agricultural inspection
and import safety.
Committee Meetings
The Committee meets 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 twelfth
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 generally 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 may 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
[[Page 12562]]
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 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.
Any interested person wishing to serve on the (COAC) must provide
the following:
Statement of interest and reasons for application;
Complete professional biography or resume;
Home address and telephone number;
Work address, telephone number, and email address;
Political affiliation in order to ensure balanced
representation (mandatory). If no party registration or allegiance
exists, indicate ``independent'' or ``unaffiliated'';
Statement agreeing to submit to pre-appointment background
and tax checks (mandatory). A national security clearance is not
required for the position.
In support of the policy of DHS on gender and ethnic diversity,
qualified women and members of minority groups are encouraged to apply
for membership.
Dated: March 10, 2010.
David V. Aguilar,
Acting Deputy Commissioner, U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
[FR Doc. 2010-5637 Filed 3-15-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9111-14-P