[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 26 (Tuesday, February 8, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 6254-6255]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-2724]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY

Customs Service


Solicitation of Applications for Membership on Customs Cobra Fees 
Advisory Committee

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

ACTION:  General notice.

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SUMMARY:  This notice establishes criteria and procedures for the 
selection of members and requests applications for membership on the 
Customs COBRA Fees Advisory Committee.

DATES:  Applications will be accepted until March 9, 2000.

ADDRESSES:  Applications should be addressed to Richard Coleman, Trade 
Compliance Team, United States Customs Service, 1300 Pennsylvania 
Avenue NW., Room 5.2, Washington, DC 20229, Attention: COBRA 1999.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  Richard Coleman, Trade Compliance 
Team, U.S. Customs Service, 202-927-0563.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    By enactment of Pub. L. 106-36, the Miscellaneous Trade and 
Technical Corrections Act of 1999, section 13031 of the Consolidated 
Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) of 1985 (19 U.S.C. 58c) was 
amended by adding language which directs the Commissioner of Customs to 
establish an advisory committee (the Customs COBRA Fees Advisory 
Committee) whose membership shall consist of representatives from the 
airline, cruise ship and other transportation industries who may be the 
subject of fees under section 13031.
    The Committee will advise the Commissioner of Customs on issues 
related to the performance of inspectional services of the United 
States Customs Service. Such advice shall include, but not be limited 
to, such issues as the time periods during which such services should 
be performed, the proper number and deployment of inspectional 
officers, the level of fees and the appropriateness of any proposed 
fee.
    The Committee will consist of eight industry members and one U.S. 
Customs representative. The Deputy Commissioner of the U.S. Customs 
Service will be the Customs representative and chair the Committee. Two 
senior managers representing the Office of Finance and the Office of 
Field Operations of the U.S. Customs Service will serve as technical 
representatives to the chairperson. The Committee shall be in existence 
unless, or until, such time as its establishment is repealed by 
Congress.
    The members shall be selected by the Commissioner of Customs from 
applicants representing the transportation industry served by Customs, 
such as but not limited to, the following: commercial cargo vessels, 
commercial passenger vessels, rail transportation, trucking 
transportation, air passenger, barge operators and general aviation.
    The members must demonstrate professional or personal 
qualifications relevant to the purpose, functions and tasks of the 
Committee. Appointments will be made with the objective of creating a 
diverse and balanced body with a variety of interests, backgrounds and 
viewpoints represented. In addition, the members shall represent as 
much as possible all geographical regions of the country. Persons who 
serve on another advisory committee will not be eligible to serve on 
this Committee.
    The Deputy Commissioner may designate another official to serve in 
his absence as Acting Chairperson for purposes of presiding over a 
meeting of the Committee or performing any other duty of the 
chairperson. Not more than four meetings will be held during a two year 
period, in accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act. Regular 
meetings will be held at six

[[Page 6255]]

month intervals. An occasional special meeting may be held at the 
discretion of the chairperson and the members. Meetings will generally 
be held at the U.S. Customs Service headquarters in Washington, DC. On 
occasion, meetings may be held outside of Customs Headquarters, 
generally at a Customs port.
    The meetings are open to public observers, including the press, 
unless special procedures have been followed to close a meeting to the 
public. The Committee may elect to receive oral or written 
presentations by parties not directly represented by a member of the 
Committee where such presentations would contribute to committee 
deliberations.
    No person who is required to register under the Foreign Agents 
Registration Act as an agent or representative of a foreign principal 
may serve on the advisory committee. Members shall not be paid 
compensation, nor shall they be considered federal government employees 
for any reason. No per diem, transportation or other expenses will be 
reimbursed for the cost of attending committee meetings at any 
location.
    Membership on the Committee is personal to the appointees. Regular 
attendance is essential to the effective operation of the Committee. 
Members are selected based on their individual credentials and 
qualifications. Members may not designate alternates to represent them 
at Committee meetings. In the event of an unavoidable absence of a 
member, even if the meeting is closed to the public, a representative 
of the member's organization may attend the session as a 
nonparticipating observer.
    Initially, four members will be appointed for a term of twelve 
months and four members will be appointed for a term of twenty four 
months. Thereafter members will serve for a period of twenty four 
months. Members who served on the Committee during a prior two year 
term or terms are eligible to reapply for membership. However, it is 
expected that approximately half of the seats on the Committee will be 
filled with new members.
    Any interested person wishing to serve on the Customs COBRA Fees 
Advisory Committee must provide the following: a statement of interest 
and reasons for application and a complete professional biography or 
resume. In addition, applicants must state in their applications that 
they agree to submit to preappointment security and tax checks. There 
is no prescribed format for the application. Applicants may send a 
cover letter describing their interest and qualifications, along with a 
resume.

    Dated: February 2, 2000.
Raymond W. Kelly,
Commissioner of Customs.
[FR Doc. 00-2724 Filed 2-7-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4820-02-P