[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 73 (Friday, April 14, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Page 20266]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-9321]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY

Customs Service


Customs Contact for Y2K Failures

AGENCY: Customs Service, Department of the Treasury.

ACTION: General notice.

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SUMMARY: Under the Y2K Act, each executive agency of the United States 
that has the authority to impose civil penalties on small business 
concerns is required to establish a point of contact to act as a 
liaison between the agency and small business concerns regarding 
problems experienced by small business concerns resulting from the 
transition of computer programs, devices, and systems from the year 
1999 to the year 2000. Small business concerns may contact the agency, 
through the agency point of contact, with regard to Y2K transition 
problems and compliance with Federal rules or regulations. This 
document announces the contact person established by Customs for that 
purpose.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Eula Walden, Deputy Trade Ombudsman, 
(202) 927-1440.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    On July 20, 1999, the Y2K Act (Pub. L. 106-37; 113 Stat. 185) (the 
Act) was signed into law. Section 18 of the Act, codified at 15 U.S.C. 
6617, provides that each executive agency of the United States that has 
the authority to impose civil penalties on small business concerns is 
required to establish a point of contact to act as liaison between the 
agency and those small business concerns. Small business concerns may 
contact the agency liaison with respect to problems arising out of Y2K 
failures and compliance with Federal rules or regulations. (See 15 
U.S.C. 6617(b).)
    Generally, problems arising out of Y2K failures are problems 
experienced by small business concerns that result from the failure of 
any computer program, device, system (including any computer system, 
computer microchip, or integrated circuit embedded in another device), 
software, firmware, or other set or collection of processing 
instructions caused by the transition from the year 1999 to the year 
2000. (See 15 U.S.C. 6602(2).) Under the Act, a small business concern 
facing a penalty for a first-time violation of a Federal rule or 
regulation caused by a Y2K failure may obtain a waiver of that penalty 
upon meeting certain requirements, one of which is to report the first-
time violation to the appropriate agency within 5 business days of its 
discovery by the small business concern. (See 15 U.S.C. 6617(d).)
    This document, in accordance with 15 U.S.C. 6617(b)(2), announces 
the identity of the Customs point of contact who will serve as liaison 
between the agency and small business concerns. Small business concerns 
may contact Mr. Joseph M. Rees, Trade Ombudsman for the United States 
Customs Service, for purposes of addressing problems arising from Y2K 
failures and compliance with Federal rules or regulations. The 
telephone number for Mr. Rees is 202/927-1440.

    Dated: April 10, 2000.
Joseph M. Rees,
Trade Ombudsman, Office of the Trade Ombudsman.
[FR Doc. 00-9321 Filed 4-13-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4820-02-P