[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 88 (Wednesday, May 7, 1997)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 24814-24815]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-11780]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY

Customs Service

19 CFR Part 122

[T.D. 97-35]


Addition of Midland International Airport to List of Designated 
Landing Locations for Private Aircraft

AGENCY: Customs Service, Treasury.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This document amends the Customs Regulations by adding the 
user-fee airport at Midland, Texas (Midland International Airport) to 
the list of designated airports at which private aircraft arriving in 
the Continental U.S. via the U.S./Mexican border, the Pacific Coast, 
the Gulf of Mexico, or the Atlantic Coast from certain locations in the 
southern portion of the Western Hemisphere must land for Customs 
processing. This amendment is made to improve the effectiveness of 
Customs enforcement efforts to combat the smuggling of drugs by air 
into the United States, and will also help to improve service to the 
community, by relieving congestion at Presidio-Lely International, Del 
Rio International, and Eagle Pass Municipal Airports, which are also 
located in Texas.

EFFECTIVE DATE: June 6, 1997.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gay Laxton, Passenger Operations 
Division, Office of Field Operations, (202) 927-5709.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    As part of Customs efforts to combat drug-smuggling efforts, 
Customs air commerce regulations were amended in 1975 to impose special 
reporting requirements and control procedures on private aircraft 
arriving in the Continental United States from certain areas south of 
the United States. T.D. 75-201. Thus, since 1975, commanders of such 
aircraft have been required to furnish Customs with timely notice of 
their intended arrival, and certain private aircraft have been required 
to land at certain airports designated by Customs for processing. In 
the last twenty years the list of designated airports for private 
aircraft has changed and the reporting requirements and control 
procedures--now contained in Subpart C of Part 122 of the Customs 
Regulations (19 CFR subpart C, part 122)--have been amended, as 
necessary.
    In response to a request from community officials from Midland, 
Texas, on December 3, 1996, Customs published a notice of proposed 
rulemaking in the Federal Register (61 FR 64041) that solicited 
comments concerning a proposal to amend Sec. 122.24(b), Customs 
Regulations (19 CFR 122.24(b)), by adding the user-fee airport at 
Midland, Texas (Midland International Airport) to the list of 
designated airports at which private aircraft arriving in the 
Continental U.S. via the U.S./Mexican border, the Pacific Coast, the 
Gulf of Mexico, or the Atlantic Coast from certain locations in the 
southern portion of the Western Hemisphere must land for Customs 
processing.
    The public comment period for the proposed amendment closed 
February 3, 1997. More than 40 comments were received from individual 
residents, local private companies, and local, state, and federal 
government officials, all offering overwhelming support for the 
proposal. Accordingly, Customs has decided to adopt the proposed 
amendment to Part 122 of the Customs Regulations.
    The addition of Midland International Airport to the list of 
designated landing sites for private aircraft will improve the 
effectiveness of Customs drug-

[[Page 24815]]

 enforcement programs relative to private aircraft arrivals, as Midland 
is adjacent to the Southwest Border of the U.S. and is on a regularly 
traveled flight path. Further, the designation will enhance the 
efficiency of the Customs Service, as the airport is close to the 
normal work location for inspectional personnel assigned to the Del 
Rio-Eagle Pass-El Paso-Laredo-Presidio Ports-area. In this regard, it 
is pointed out that the private aircraft processing services Customs 
provides at the Presidio, Del Rio, and Eagle Pass Airports will 
continue; designating Midland International Airport is meant to provide 
an alternative airport to these other airports in order to relieve air 
traffic congestion at those locations.

Inapplicability of the Regulatory Flexibility Act and Executive Order 
12291

    This amendment expands the list of designated airports at which 
private aircraft may land for Customs processing. Although before a 
determination was made to proceed with this final rule a previous 
document on this subject provided notice for public comment, this 
amendment is not subject to the notice and public procedure 
requirements of 5 U.S.C. 553 because it 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 document are exempt from 
consideration under E.O. 12866.

Drafting Information

    The principal author of this document was Gregory R. Vilders, 
Attorney, Regulations Branch.

List of Subjects in 19 CFR Part 122

    Air carriers, Air transportation, Aircraft, Airports, Customs 
duties and inspection, Drug traffic control, Organization and functions 
(Government agencies), Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, 
Security measures.

Proposed Amendment to the Regulations

    For the reasons stated above, part 122, Customs Regulations (19 CFR 
part 122), is amended as set forth below:

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. In Sec. 122.24, the listing of airports in paragraph (b) is 
amended by adding, in appropriate alphabetical order, ``Midland, TX'' 
in the column headed ``Location'' and, on the same line, ``Midland 
International Airport'' in the column headed ``Name''.

    Approved: March 26, 1997.
George J. Weise,
Commissioner of Customs.
John P. Simpson,
Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Treasury.
[FR Doc. 97-11780 Filed 5-6-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4820-02-P