[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 217 (Wednesday, November 10, 1999)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 61232-61234]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-29379]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY

Customs Service

19 CFR Part 101


Extension of Port Limits of Puget Sound, WA

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 Customs by extending the 
geographical limits of the consolidated port of Puget Sound, 
Washington. This proposed change is being made 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 January 10, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Written comments may be submitted to and inspected at the 
Regulations Branch, Office of Regulations and Rulings, 1300 
Pennsylvania Avenue N.W., Third Floor, Washington, D.C. 20229, on

[[Page 61233]]

regular business days between the hours of 9 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Betsy Passuth, Office of Field 
Operations, 202-927-0795.

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 proposes to amend 
Sec. 101.3, Customs Regulations (19 CFR 101.3) by extending the 
geographical limits of the consolidated port of Puget Sound, 
Washington.
    The geographical limits of the consolidated port of Puget Sound, as 
set forth in Treasury Decision (T.D.) 96-63, published in the Federal 
Register (61 FR 43428) on August 23, 1996, include Seattle, Anacortes, 
Bellingham, Everett, Friday Harbor, Neah Bay, Olympia, Port Angeles, 
Port Townsend and Tacoma. This document proposes to amend the port 
description of Puget Sound, particularly, to extend and redefine the 
boundaries of Tacoma as described in the port limit description of the 
Puget Sound port of entry in T.D. 96-63.
    The description of Tacoma within the description of the Puget Sound 
port is proposed to be extended to include two industrial parks which 
have new facilities for clearing, storing and forwarding imported 
merchandise and require the services of Customs personnel. These 
industrial parks are : Lakewood Industrial Park, 120 acres located in 
Lakewood, Washington, southeast of the existing port limits; and Sumner 
Industrial Park, 88 acres located in Sumner, Washington, east of the 
existing port limits.

Proposed New Puget Sound Port Limits

    The geographical area within the boundaries of the consolidated 
port of Puget Sound is proposed to be as follows:
    The ports of Seattle (Section 35, Township 27 North, Range 3 East, 
West Meridian, County of Snohomish, and the geographical area beginning 
at the intersection of N.W. 205th Street and the waters of Puget Sound, 
proceeding in an easterly direction along the King County line to its 
intersection with 100th Avenue N.E., thence southerly along 100th 
Avenue N.E. and its continuation to the intersection of 100th Avenue 
S.E. and S.E. 240th Street, thence westerly along S.E. 240th Street, to 
its intersection with North Central Avenue, thence southerly along 
North Central Avenue, its continuation as South Central Avenue and 83rd 
Avenue South and its connection to Auburn Way North, thence southerly 
along Auburn Way North and its continuation as Auburn Way South to its 
intersection with State Highway 18, thence westerly along Highway 18 to 
its intersection with A Street S.E., then southerly along A Street S.E. 
to its intersection with the King County Line, then westerly along the 
King County Line to its intersection with the waters of Puget Sound and 
then northerly along the shores of Puget Sound to its intersection with 
N.W. 205th Street, the point of beginning, all within the County of 
King, State of Washington), Anacortes, Bellingham, Everett, Friday 
Harbor, Neah Bay, Olympia, Port Angeles, Port Townsend, and the 
territory in Tacoma, beginning at the intersection of the westernmost 
city limits of Steilacoom and The Narrows and proceeding easterly along 
Main Street to the intersection of Stevens Street, then southerly along 
Stevens Street to the intersection of Washington Boulevard, then 
easterly along Washington Boulevard to the intersection of Gravely Lake 
Drive S.W., then southeasterly to the intersection of Nyanza Road, SW, 
then southerly to its intersection with Pacific Highway (U.S. Route 
99), then proceeding in a northeasterly direction along Pacific Highway 
to its intersection with 112 Street East and continuing in an easterly 
direction along 112 Street East to its intersection with the northwest 
corner of McChord Air Force Base, then proceeding along the northern, 
then western, then southern boundary of McChord Air Force Base to its 
intersection, just west of Lake Mondress, with the northern boundary of 
the Fort Lewis Military Reservation, then proceeding in an easterly 
direction along the northern boundary of the Fort Lewis Military 
Reservation to its intersection with Pacific Avenue (SR-7), then 
proceeding in a southerly direction along Pacific Avenue (SR-7) to its 
intersection with SR-507, then proceeding in a southeasterly direction 
along SR-7 to its intersection with 224th Street East, then proceeding 
in an easterly direction along 224th Street East to its intersection 
with Meridian Street South (SR-161), then proceeding in a northerly 
direction along Meridian Street South (SR-161) to the intersection with 
176 Street East, then easterly along 176 Street East extended to the 
intersection with Sunrise Parkway East, then northwesterly along 
Sunrise Parkway East to the intersection with 122nd Avenue East, then 
northerly to the intersection with Old Military Road East, then 
northeasterly to the intersection with SR-162, then northerly along SR-
162 to the intersection with SR-410, then easterly along SR-410 to the 
intersection with 166th Avenue East, then northerly to the intersection 
with Sumner-Tapps Highway, continuing northeasterly along Sumner-Tapps 
Highway to 16th Street East, then easterly to 182 Avenue East, then 
northerly to the northern boundary of Pierce County, then proceeding in 
a westerly direction along the northern boundary of Pierce County to 
its intersection with Puget Sound, then proceeding in a generally 
southwesterly direction along the banks of the East Passage of Puget 
Sound, Commencement Bay, and The Narrows to the point of intersection 
with the westernmost city limits of Steilacoom, Washington, including 
all points and places on the southern boundary of the Juan de Fuca 
Strait from the eastern port limits of Neah Bay to the western port 
limits of Port Townsend, all points and places on the western boundary 
of Puget Sound, including Hood Canal, from the port limits of Port 
Townsend to the northern port limits of Olympia, all points and places 
on the southern boundary of Puget Sound from the port limits of Olympia 
to the western port limits of Tacoma, and all points and places on the 
eastern boundary of Puget Sound and contiguous waters from the port 
limits of Tacoma north to the southern port limits of Bellingham, all 
in the State of Washington.

Comments

    Prior to the adoption of this proposal, consideration will be given 
to written comments timely submitted to Customs. Submitted comments 
will be available for public inspection in accordance with the Freedom 
of Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552), section 1.4, Treasury Department 
Regulations (31 CFR 1.4), and section 103.11(b), Customs Regulations 
(19 CFR 103.11(b)), on regular business days between the hours of 9:00 
a.m. and 4:30 p.m., at the Regulations Branch, Office of Regulations 
and Rulings, 1300 Pennsylvania Avenue N.W., 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.

Regulatory Flexibility Act and Executive Order 12866

    Customs establishes, expands, and consolidates Customs ports of 
entry throughout the United States to accommodate the volume of 
Customs-related activity in various parts of the

[[Page 61234]]

country. Thus, although this document is being issued with notice for 
public comment, because it relates to agency management and 
organization it is not subject to the notice and public procedure 
requirements of 5 U.S.C. 553. 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 proposed port extension 
are not subject to 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.
Raymond W. Kelly,
Commissioner of Customs.

    Approved: October 1, 1999.
John P. Simpson,
Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Treasury.
[FR Doc. 99-29379 Filed 11-9-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4820-02-P