[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 165 (Friday, August 23, 1996)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 43428-43429]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-21487]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY

Customs Service

19 CFR Part 101

[T.D. 96-63]


Extension of Port Limits of Puget Sound, Washington

AGENCY: U.S. Customs Service, Department of the Treasury.

ACTION: Final rule.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: This document amends the Customs Regulations pertaining to the 
field organization of Customs by extending the geographical limits of 
the consolidated port of entry of Puget Sound, Washington. The current 
boundaries have been extended to include the portion of King County, 
Washington, which lies between the boundaries of the Port of Seattle 
and the Port of Tacoma. The boundaries have been changed because 
various commercial operations requiring the services of Customs 
personnel have been established in areas beyond the current limits of 
the consolidated port.

EFFECTIVE DATE: September 23, 1996.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Patricia M. Duffy, Office of Field 
Operations, 202-927-0540.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    As part of a continuing program to obtain more efficient use of its 
personnel, facilities, and resources, and to provide better service to 
carriers, importers, and the general public, Customs is extending the 
geographical limits of the consolidated port of entry of Puget Sound, 
Washington. The geographical limits of the consolidated Port of Puget 
Sound include Seattle, Anacortes, Bellingham, Everett, Friday Harbor, 
Neah Bay, Olympia, Port Angeles, Port Townsend and Tacoma. This 
document amends the port description of Puget Sound to include within 
the port description of Seattle the portion of King County, Washington, 
which before this document was between the boundaries of the Port of 
Seattle and the Port of Tacoma. The boundaries are being changed to 
help serve the various commercial operations located in the area which 
require the services of Customs personnel.
    The decision to extend the port limits of Seattle, and accordingly, 
the port limits of the consolidated Port of Puget Sound, has been made 
after a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking concerning this matter was 
published in the Federal Register (60 FR 47504) on September 13, 1995, 
requesting comments from the public and no comments were received.
    In accordance with the decision to extend the port limits, the list 
of Customs ports of entry in 19 CFR 101.3 (b)(1) is amended as 
described below.

New Puget Sound Port Limits

    The geographical area within the boundaries of the Consolidated 
Port of Puget Sound are as follows:
    The ports of Seattle (Section 35, Township 27 North, Range 3 East, 
West Meridian, County of Snohomish, and the geographical area beginning 
at the intersection of NW. 205th Street and the waters of Puget Sound, 
proceeding in an easterly direction along the King County line to its 
intersection with 100th Avenue N.E., thence southerly along 100th 
Avenue N.E. and its continuation to the intersection of 100th Avenue 
S.E. and S.E. 240th Street, thence westerly along S.E. 240th Street, to 
its intersection with North Central Avenue, thence southerly along 
North Central Avenue, its continuation as South Central Avenue and 83rd 
Avenue South and its connection to Auburn Way North, thence southerly 
along Auburn Way North and its continuation as

[[Page 43429]]

Auburn Way South to its intersection with State Highway 18, thence 
westerly along Highway 18 to its intersection with A Street S.E., then 
southerly along A Street S.E. to its intersection with the King County 
Line, then westerly along the King County Line to its intersection with 
the waters of Puget Sound and then northerly along the shores of Puget 
Sound to its intersection with N.W. 205th Street, the point of 
beginning, all within the County of King, State of Washington), 
Anacortes, Bellingham, Everett, Friday Harbor, Neah Bay, Olympia, Port 
Angeles, Port Townsend, and the territory in Tacoma beginning at the 
intersection of the westernmost city limits of Tacoma and The Narrows 
and proceeding in an easterly, then southerly, then easterly direction 
along the city limits of Tacoma to its intersection with Pacific 
Highway (U.S. Route 99), then proceeding in a southerly direction along 
Pacific Highway to its intersection with Union Avenue Extended and 
continuing in a southerly direction along Union Avenue Extended to its 
intersection with the northwest corner of McChord Air Force Base, then 
proceeding along the northern, then western, then southern boundary of 
McChord Air Force Base to its intersection, just west of Lake Mondress, 
with the northern boundary of the Fort Lewis Military Reservation, then 
proceeding in an easterly direction along the northern boundary of the 
Fort Lewis Military Reservation to its intersection with Pacific 
Avenue, then proceeding in a southerly direction along Pacific Avenue 
to its intersection with National Park Highway, then proceeding in a 
southeasterly direction along National Park Highway to its intersection 
with 224th Street, East, then proceeding in an easterly direction along 
244th Street, East, to its intersection with Meridian Street, South, 
then proceeding in a northerly direction along Meridian Street to the 
northern boundary of Pierce County, then proceeding in a westerly 
direction along the northern boundary of Pierce County to its 
intersection with Puget Sound, then proceeding in a generally 
southwesterly direction along the banks of the East Passage of Puget 
Sound, Commencement Bay, and The Narrows to the point of intersection 
with the westernmost city limits of Tacoma, including all points and 
places on the southern boundary of the Juan de Fuca Strait from the 
eastern port limits of Neah Bay to the western port limits of Port 
Townsend, all points and places on the western boundary of Puget Sound, 
including Hood Canal, from the port limits of Port Townsend to the 
northern port limits of Olympia, all points and places on the southern 
boundary of Puget Sound from the port limits of Olympia to the western 
port limits of Tacoma, and all points and places on the eastern 
boundary of Puget Sound and contiguous waters from the port limits of 
Tacoma north to the southern port limits of Bellingham, all in the 
State of Washington.

Regulatory Flexibility Act and Executive Order 12866

    Although Customs solicited public comments on this port extension, 
no notice of proposed rulemaking was required pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553 
because the port extension relates to agency management and 
organization. Accordingly, this document is not subject to the 
provisions of the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq). 
Agency organization matters such as this port extension are exempt from 
consideration under 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.

List of Subjects in 19 CFR Part 101

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

Amendments to the Regulations

    Accordingly, Part 101 of the Customs Regulations is amended as set 
forth below:

PART 101--GENERAL PROVISIONS

    1. The general authority citation for Part 101 and the specific 
authority citation for Sec. 101.3 continue 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), 1623, 1624.

    Sections 101.3 and 101.4 also issued under 19 U.S.C. 1 and 58b;
* * * * *


Sec. 101.3  [Amended]

    2. Section 101.3(b)(1) is amended by removing the reference ``T. D. 
83-146'' in the ``Limits of port'' column adjacent to the entry of 
Puget Sound in the ``Ports of entry'' column under the state of 
Washington and by adding the reference ``T. D. 96-63'' in its place.

    Approved: July 29, 1996.
George J. Weise,
Commissioner of Customs.
Dennis M. O'Connell,
Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Treasury.
[FR Doc. 96-21487 Filed 8-22-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4820-02-P