[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 248 (Tuesday, December 24, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Page 67872]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-32585]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY

Review of Interim List of Records Required to be Maintained and 
Produced Under 19 U.S.C. 1509 (a)(1)(a)

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

ACTION: General Notice of plan to review Interim ``(a)(1)(A) list''.

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SUMMARY: An interim list of entry records or entry information required 
to be maintained and produced under section 509(a)(1)(A) of the Tariff 
Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. 1509(a)(1)(A)), as amended by title VI of the 
North American Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act, was published 
in the Customs Bulletin on January 3, 1996, and subsequently reproduced 
in the Federal Register on July 15, 1996. Since publication of the 
list, the Customs Service has received numerous comments suggesting 
that the content of its Interim (a)(1)(A) list is excessive. In 
response to these comments, Customs has initiated a project intended to 
remove from the list any and all entry records and information 
requirements that are clearly unnecessary in today's environment. To 
assist it in achieving this objective, Customs is soliciting input from 
businesses impacted by the (a)(1)(A) list, trade associations, and 
other agencies.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before January 23, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Comments in triplicate should be addressed to the Office of 
Regulations and Rulings, U.S. Customs Service, 1301 Constitution Avenue 
NW (Franklin Court), Washington, D.C. 20229, Attention: (a)(1)(A) List 
Review Project. Comments may be inspected at the Office of Regulations 
and Rulings, Suite 4000W, 1099 14th Street NW, Washington, DC 20005. 
Comments submitted will be available for public inspection in 
accordance with the Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552), 
Sec. 1.4, Treasury Department Regulations (31 CFR 1.4), and 
Sec. 103.11(b), Customs Regulations (19 CFR 103.11(b)), during regular 
business days between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Stuart Seidel, Assistant Commissioner, 
Office of Regulations and Rulings at (202) 482-6920 or Jerry Laderberg, 
Chief, Entry Procedures & Carriers Branch, Office of Regulations and 
Rulings at (202) 482-6940.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    Section 509(a)(1)(A) of the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. 
1509(a)(1)(A)) as amended by section 615 of title VI of the North 
American Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act (generally referred to 
as the ``Customs Modernization Act'') requires the maintenance and 
production of a record if ``such record is required by law or 
regulation for the entry of merchandise (whether or not the Customs 
Service required its presentation at the time of entry).'' Section 509 
contains a new subsection (e) which requires the Customs Service to 
identify and publish a list of records or entry information that is 
required to be maintained and produced under section 509(a)(1)(A)--
commonly referred to as ``the (a)(1)(A) list.'' On September 12, 1994, 
Customs invited comments on a ``proposed'' (a)(1)(A) list that it 
posted on the Customs Electronic Bulletin Board. Subsequently, on 
September 21, 1994, Customs published a Customs Bulletin containing 
this same list and invitation for comments. Eleven comments were 
received. After reviewing these comments and modifying its ``proposed'' 
(a)(1)(A) list, the Customs Service published an Interim (a)(1)(A) list 
in the Customs Bulletin on January 3, 1996. This same list was posted 
on the Customs Electronic Bulletin Board on January 4, 1996, and it was 
reproduced in the Federal Register on July 15, 1996.
    Recognizing that almost one year has passed since publication of 
its Interim (a)(1)(A) list and in response to a significant number of 
comments suggesting that the list contains too many records, Customs is 
undertaking a complete review of the list and the underlying 
regulations. Customs objective is to remove from the list any and all 
records and information requirements that are clearly unnecessary in 
today's environment. To assist it in achieving this objective, Customs 
is soliciting input from businesses impacted by the (a)(1)(A) list, 
trade associations, and other agencies.
    Customs interest is not in receiving general comments recommending 
that particular record or information requirements be eliminated from 
the list. Customs interest is in receiving comments that specifically 
identify why a particular record or information requirement can be 
eliminated from the (a)(1)(A) list without modification of existing 
statutes. In the conduct of its review, the Customs Service intends to 
reconsider comments previously submitted. Accordingly, resubmission of 
such comments will be unnecessary.

    Dated: December 18, 1996.
Stuart P. Seidel,
Assistant Commissioner, Office of Regulations and Rulings.
[FR Doc. 96-32585 Filed 12-23-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4820-02-P