[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 57 (Thursday, March 25, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14499-14500]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-7238]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
Customs Service
Extension of General Program Test: Quota Preprocessing
AGENCY: Customs Service, Treasury.
ACTION: General notice.
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SUMMARY: This notice announces that the testing period for the quota
preprocessing program, which allows for the electronic processing of
quota-class apparel merchandise, is being extended through the
remainder of 1999. The test is being extended so that Customs can
further evaluate the program's effectiveness and determine whether the
program should be extended to other ports in addition to the ports
located at New York/Newark and Los Angeles where the test is currently
being run. Public comments concerning any aspect of the test are
solicited.
DATES: The test is extended from March 15, 1999, until December 31,
1999, with evaluations of the test occurring periodically. Applications
to participate in the test and comments concerning the test will be
accepted throughout the testing period.
ADDRESSES: Written comments regarding this notice or any aspect of this
test should be addressed to Lori Bowers, U.S. Customs Service, QWG Team
Leader, 1000 Second Ave., Suite 2100, Seattle, WA 98104-1020 or may be
sent via e-mail to pre-
[email protected]. Applications should be sent to the
prototype coordinator at any of the four following port(s) where the
applicant wishes to submit quota entries for processing:
(1) Julian Velasquez, Port of Los Angeles, 300 S. Ferry St.,
Terminal Island, CA 90731;
(2) Tony Piscitelli, Los Angeles International Airport, 11099 S. La
Cienaga Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90045;
(3) Barry Goldberg, JFK Airport, JFK Building 77, Jamaica, NY
11430; and
(4) John Lava, Ports of New York/Newark, 6 World Trade Center, New
York, NY 10048.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lori Bowers (206) 553-0452 or Bob
Abels (202) 927-0001.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On July 24, 1998, Customs published a
general notice in the Federal Register (63 FR 39929) announcing the
limited testing, pursuant to the provisions of Sec. 101.9(a) of the
Customs Regulations (19 CFR 101.9(a)), of a new operational procedure
regarding quota preprocessing which allows the electronic processing of
quota-class apparel merchandise. The new procedure was designed to
allow certain quota entries to be processed prior to carrier arrival,
thus, reducing the quota processing time. The test was to be conducted
at only four ports located in New York/Newark and Los Angeles and was
to commence no earlier than August 24, 1998, and run for approximately
six months. The notice
[[Page 14500]]
informed the public of the new procedure and eligibility requirements
for participation in the test. The goals of the quota preprocessing
prototype being tested, as set forth in the July 24, 1998 Federal
Register notice are:
(1) To reduce the processing time of quota entries;
(2) To process quota entries submitted as part of the preprocessing
program in the same amount of time as non-quota entries;
(3) To increase the quantity of quota entries released within one
calendar day of the arrival of the carrier; and
(4) To equalize the submission of quota entries over the five-day
work week.
The quota preprocessing test began on September 15, 1998; the six-
month time period of the original test expires on March 14, 1999.
Approximately 400 brokers and importers have participated in the test
so far, and Customs has received 84 evaluations: 22 from brokers and 62
from importers. The initial test evaluations were positive, showing
general acceptance of the program. However, Customs would have liked
greater participation. In fact, the biggest complaint contained in the
evaluations received to date is that the preprocessing test occurred at
the end of the year when many of the quotas were filled 85% or more.
Many participants felt that had the test been conducted at the
beginning of the year, it would have received greater participation.
Because of this complaint that conducting the test so near to the
end of the year was an unfair measure of the prototype, Customs is
extending the prototype testing period through the end of this calendar
year. This will enable the importing community to more fully
participate in the quota preprocessing test and allow Customs to more
fully explore the benefits and drawbacks of the program.
Accordingly, this document announces that Customs is extending the
test of the quota preprocessing prototype at the ports where testing is
already underway until the end of 1999. Those ports are: the port of
Los Angeles; the port of New York/Newark; JFK Airport; and Los Angeles
International Airport. Anyone interested in participating in the test
should refer to the test notice published in the July 24, 1998 Federal
Register for eligibility and application information. Any expansion of
the test to other ports will be the subject of another Federal Register
notice.
Dated: March 19, 1999.
Charles W. Winwood,
Assistant Commissioner, Office of Field Operations.
[FR Doc. 99-7238 Filed 3-24-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4820-02-P