[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 156 (Monday, August 14, 1995)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 41804]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-19951]



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DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY

Customs Service

19 CFR Parts 101 and 122

[T. D. 95-62]


Establishment of New Port-Rockford, Illinois

AGENCY: Customs Service, Department of the Treasury.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This document amends the Customs Regulations pertaining to 
Customs field organization by establishing a new port of entry in the 
Customs District of Chicago, Illinois, North Central Region at 
Rockford, Illinois, and by deleting Greater Rockford Airport from the 
list of user fee airports. The new port of entry will include Greater 
Rockford Airport, which is currently operated as a user fee airport. 
This change will assist the Customs Service in its continuing efforts 
to achieve more efficient use of its personnel, facilities, and 
resources, and to provide better service to carriers, importers, and 
the general public.

EFFECTIVE DATE: September 13, 1995.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Brad Lund, Office of Field 
Operations, 202-927-0192.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    In order to achieve more efficient use of its personnel, 
facilities, and resources, and in order to provide better service to 
carriers, importers, and the public in the North Central Region, 
Customs is amending its regulations to include Rockford, Illinois, as a 
port of entry. The new port of entry will include Greater Rockford 
Airport, which is currently, but will no longer be, a user fee airport. 
Section 101.3, Customs Regulations (19 CFR 101.3) is amended to add 
Rockford, Illinois to the list of Customs ports, and Sec. 122.15, 
Customs Regulations (19 CFR 122.15) is amended by removing Greater 
Rockford Airport from the list of user fee airports.
    In a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking published in the Federal 
Register on October 5, 1994 (59 FR 50717), Customs proposed these 
regulatory changes because it believes that there is sufficient 
justification for the establishment of a new port of entry at Rockford, 
Illinois.

Analysis of Comments

    In its Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, Customs invited the public to 
comment on the proposed establishment of Rockford as a new port. One 
comment was received. The commenter stated that importer costs were 
reduced and that the time for Customs clearance and delivery of goods 
was reduced from 3 or 4 days to 1 day once Rockford became a user fee 
airport. He predicted that once Rockford becomes a full port of entry, 
the perceived permanency of the operation would encourage more 
companies to clear their imports at Rockford, thereby reducing the 
workload at other ports. He concluded that Rockford's new port status 
would benefit both Rockford and the Customs Service.

Conclusion

    Inasmuch as the only comment received from the public was a 
positive one, the proposed amendments are adopted.

Description of Port Limits

    The geographical limits of the new port of Rockford, Illinois, 
which include Greater Rockford Airport, are as follows:

    Bounded to the north by the Illinois/Wisconsin border; bounded 
to the west by Illinois State Route 26; bounded to the south by 
Illinois State Route 72; and bounded to the east by Illinois State 
Route 23 north to the Wisconsin/Illinois border.

Regulatory Flexibility Act and Executive Order 12866

    Customs routinely establishes, expands, and consolidates Customs 
ports of entry throughout the United States to accommodate the volume 
of Customs-related activity in various parts of the country. Thus, 
although a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking was issued with notice for 
public comment, because this matter relates to agency management and 
organization it is not subject to the notice and public procedure 
requirements of 5 U.S.C. 553. Accordingly, this document is not subject 
to the provisions of the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et 
seq.).
    Because this document relates to agency organization and 
management, it is not subject to Executive Order 12866.

Drafting Information

    The principal author of this document was Janet L. Johnson, 
Regulations Branch. However, personnel from other offices participated 
in its development.

Lists of Subjects

19 CFR Part 101

    Customs duties and inspection, Exports, Imports, Organization and 
functions (Government agencies).

19 CFR Part 122

    Air carriers, Aircraft, Airports, Customs duties and inspection, 
Freight.

Amendments to the Regulations

    For the reasons set forth above, parts 101 and 122 of the Customs 
Regulations (19 CFR parts 101 and 122) are amended as set forth below.

PART 101--GENERAL PROVISIONS

    1. The general authority citation for part 101 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 5 U.S.C. 301; 19 U.S.C. 2, 66, 1202 (General Note 20, 
Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS)), 1623, 
1624.


Sec. 101.3  [Amended]

    2. Section 101.3(b) containing the list of Customs regions, 
districts and ports of entry is amended by adding ``Rockford, Ill. 
(T.D. 95-62)'' in the appropriate alphabetical order in the ``Ports of 
Entry'' column in the Chicago, Illinois district of the North Central 
Region.

PART 122--AIR COMMERCE REGULATIONS

    1. The authority citation for part 122 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 5 U.S.C. 301; 19 U.S.C. 58b, 66, 1433, 1436, 1459, 
1590, 1594, 1623, 1624, 1644; 49 U.S.C. App. 1509.

    2. The list of user fee airports in Sec. 122.15(b) is amended by 
removing the words ``Rockford, Ill.'' from the ``Location'' column and 
by removing the words ``Greater Rockford Airport'' on the same line 
from the adjacent ``Name'' column.
George J. Weise,
Commissioner of Customs.
    Approved: July 31, 1995.
John P. Simpson,
Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Treasury.
[FR Doc. 95-19951 Filed 8-11-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4820-02-P