[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 4 (Thursday, January 6, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 806-807]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-266]


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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 year 
2000. The test is being extended and not expanded at this time because 
of programming changes that will be made to the Automated Commercial 
System. When the programming changes which are scheduled to begin on 
March of 2000 have been completed, Customs will expand the program to 
all ports. Public comments concerning any aspect of the test are 
solicited.

DATES: The test is extended from January 1, 2000, until December 31, 
2000, with evaluations of the test occurring periodically. Applications 
to participate in the test and comments concerning the test will 
continue to 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 Lori.B[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 
preprocessing:
    (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, NY10048.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lori Bowers (206) 553-0452 or Cynthia 
Porter (202) 927-5399.

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 the electronic processing of quota-class apparel merchandise. 
The new procedure was designed to allow certain quota entries 
(merchandise classifiable in chapters 61 and 62 of the Harmonized 
Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS)) 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 informed the public of the new 
procedure and eligibility requirements for participation in the test, 
and solicited comments concerning any aspect of the test. The initial 
testing of the quota preprocessing program did not begin until 
September 15, 1998. The six-month time period of the original test 
expired on March 14, 1999.
    On March 25, 1999, Customs published a general notice in the 
Federal Register (64 FR 14499) announcing that the testing period for 
the quota preprocessing program was being extended through the 
remainder of 1999. The testing was extended so that Customs could 
further evaluate the program's effectiveness and determine whether the 
program should be extended to other ports. Again, the notice informed 
the public of the eligibility requirements for participation in the 
test, and solicited comments concerning any aspect of the test. The 
testing of the program is currently scheduled to expire on December 31, 
1999.
    In the future, Customs will be expanding the quota preprocessing 
program to all ports. However,

[[Page 807]]

programming changes have to be made to the Automated Commercial System 
(ACS) which would have an impact on the expansion. These ACS 
programming changes are scheduled to begin in March of 2000.
    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 2000. 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 parameters of the test will be the subject of a future Federal 
Register notice.

    Dated: January 3, 2000.
Elizabeth G. Durant,
Acting Assistant Commissioner, Office of Field Operation.
[FR Doc. 00-266 Filed 1-5-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4820-02-P