[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 45 (Monday, March 9, 1998)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 11383-11384]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-5990]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY

Customs Service

19 CFR PART 122


Withdrawal of International Airport Designation-Akron Fulton 
Airport

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

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.

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SUMMARY: This document proposes to amend the Customs Regulations 
pertaining to the field organization of the Customs Service by 
withdrawing the international airport designation of Akron Municipal 
Airport (now functioning as Akron Fulton Airport) and by designating 
Akron Fulton Airport as a landing rights airport instead. The change is 
being proposed as part of Customs 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.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before May 8, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Written comments (preferably in triplicate) may be submitted 
to and inspected at the Regulations Branch, Office of Regulations and 
Rulings, U.S. Customs Service, 1300 Pennsylvania Avenue NW., Third 
Floor, Washington, D.C. 20229.


[[Page 11384]]


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Harry Denning, Office of Field 
Operations, 202-927-0196.

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 proposing to 
amend Secs. 122.13 and 122.24, Customs Regulations (19 CFR 122.13 and 
122.24), by withdrawing the international airport designation of Akron 
Fulton Airport (formerly known as Akron Municipal Airport) and by 
designating the airport as a landing rights airport instead. Akron 
Municipal Airport (currently known as Akron Fulton Airport) is 
presently listed as an international airport of entry under 
Sec. 122.13, Customs Regulations (19 CFR 122.13).
    An international airport, as defined by the Customs Regulations, is 
an airport designated officially as a port of entry for international 
flights, for entry of alien citizens, and as a place for quarantine 
inspection.
    A landing rights airport is any airport, other than an 
international airport or a user fee airport, at which flights from a 
foreign country are given permission by Customs to land.
    According to the Customs Regulations, designation as an 
international airport may be withdrawn for various reasons. One reason 
is lack of sufficient international travel through the airport. Another 
reason is failure of the airport operator to maintain an adequate 
facility. Both of these factors apply to Akron Fulton Airport. The City 
of Akron sold the building containing Customs office; Customs has no 
office space on site at the airport. Furthermore, only two aircraft 
were processed by Customs in 1996 and 1997 (none in 1996 and two in 
1997). Under these circumstances, the Customs Service Port Director of 
Middleburg Heights, Ohio, has requested that Akron Fulton Airport's 
designation as an international airport for Customs purposes be 
withdrawn.
    Customs will continue to provide service at Akron Fulton Airport on 
a landing rights basis, but there is no need to maintain two separate 
operations in Akron. The Customs inspectors stationed adjacent to the 
Akron-Canton Regional Airport (where they process the vast majority of 
private aircraft arrivals) will be able to provide Customs services to 
international aircraft at the Akron Fulton Airport on an as-needed 
basis.

Proposal

    The Customs designation of the Akron Fulton Airport as an 
international airport is proposed to be withdrawn; the list of 
international airports in Sec. 122.13, Customs Regulations (19 CFR 
122.13), is proposed to be amended by deleting the entry ``Akron, Ohio-
Akron Municipal Airport'' from the Location and Name column. In 
addition, the list of landing rights airports in Sec. 122.24(b), 
Customs Regulations (19 CFR 122.24(b)), is proposed to be amended by 
adding, in proper alphabetical order, the words ``Akron, Ohio'' in the 
Location column and the words ``Akron Fulton Airport'' opposite them in 
the Name column.

Comments

    Before adopting this proposal, consideration will be given to any 
written comments timely submitted to Customs. 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)), on regular business days between the hours of 9 a.m. 
and 4:30 p.m. at the Regulations Branch, U.S. Customs Service, 1300 
Pennsylvania Avenue NW., Third Floor, Washington, D.C., 20229.

Authority

    This change is proposed under the authority of 5 U.S.C. 301 and 19 
U.S.C. 2, 66 and 1624.

The Regulatory Flexibility Act and Executive Order 12866

    Customs establishes, expands, consolidates, and makes other changes 
to Customs ports of entry throughout the United States to accommodate 
the volume of Customs-related activity in various parts of the country. 
Although this document is being issued for public comment, it 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 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.
Samuel H. Banks,
Acting Commissioner of Customs.

    Approved: February 23, 1998.
Dennis M. O'Connell,
Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Treasury.
[FR Doc. 98-5990 Filed 3-6-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4820-02-P