[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 252 (Tuesday, December 31, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Page 69133]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-33107]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY

Customs Service


Extension of National Customs Automation Test Regarding 
Electronic Protest Filing

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

ACTION: General notice.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces Customs plan to extend the test of its 
electronic filing of protests and to expand the number of test ports. 
The test will not be opened to new participants at this time. The 
notice invites public comments concerning any aspect of the test.

EFFECTIVE DATE: The test of electronic filing of protests, which was 
scheduled to end on October 31, 1996, is now scheduled to extend 
through April, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Written comments regarding this notice or any aspect of the 
test of the electronic protest system should be addressed to the Chief, 
Commercial Compliance Branch, U.S. Customs Service, 1301 Constitution 
Avenue, N.W., Room 1313, Washington, D.C. 20229-0001.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For operational or policy issues: Neil 
Shannon (202)927-0300. For protest system or automation issues: Steve 
Linnemann (202) 927-0436.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    On January 30, 1996, a document was published by Customs in the 
Federal Register (61 FR 3086) announcing, as part of the National 
Customs Automation Program (NCAP), a test regarding the electronic 
filing of protests. The test, which began on May 1, 1996 and was to 
last six months, involved transaction sets for the Automated Broker 
Interface (ABI) allowing the following to be filed electronically and 
their status to be tracked electronically:
    (1) Protests against decisions of the Customs Service under 19 
U.S.C. 1514;
    (2) Claims for refunds of Customs duties or corrections of errors 
requiring reliquidation pursuant to 19 U.S.C. 1520(c) and (d); and
    (3) Interventions in an importer's protest by an exporter or 
producer of merchandise from a country that is a party to the North 
American Free Trade Agreement under Sec. 181.115 of the Customs 
Regulations.
    A total of seventeen entities, consisting of importers, brokers, 
legal firms and sureties, volunteered to participate in the test. Six 
of these volunteers are currently operational. Eight ports were 
originally selected for the tests: Baltimore, Buffalo, Chicago, Los 
Angeles, Laredo, Los Angeles Airport, New York and Philadelphia.

Extension of Test

    The purpose of this notice is to inform the public that Customs has 
extended the test of electronic filing and query of protests. The test 
is now extended through April 1997. While the test will not be opened 
to new participants at this time, Customs will consider expanding the 
number of ports at which electronic protests may be filed. Customs is 
considering expanding the test to one or more of the following ports: 
Charleston (South Carolina), Dallas, El Paso, Houston, Seattle, Miami 
and New Orleans.

    Dated: December 24, 1996.
Albert W. Tennant,
Acting Assistant Commissioner, Office of Field Operations.
[FR Doc. 96-33107 Filed 12-30-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4820-02-P