[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 178 (Wednesday, September 13, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Page 55327]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-23537]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY

Customs Service


Fees for Customs Services at User Fee Airports

AGENCY: Customs Service, Treasury.

ACTION: General notice.

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SUMMARY: This document advises the public of an increase in the fees 
charged user fee airports by Customs for providing Customs services at 
these designated facilities. The fees are based on actual costs 
incurred by Customs in purchasing equipment and providing training and 
one Customs inspector on a full-time basis, and, thus, merely represent 
reimbursement to Customs for services rendered. The fees to be 
increased are the initial fee charged for a user fee airport's first 
year after it signs a Memorandum of Agreement with Customs to become a 
user fee airport, and the annual fee thereafter charged user fee 
airports.

EFFECTIVE DATE: The new fees will be effective October 1, 2000, and 
will be reflected in quarterly, user fee airport billings issued on or 
after that date.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: April Hovey Conti, Office of Finance, 
(202) 927-2014.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    Section 236 of the Trade and Tariff Act of 1984 (Pub. L. 98-573, 98 
Stat. 2992) (codified at 19 U.S.C. 58b), as amended, authorizes the 
Secretary of the Treasury to make Customs services available and charge 
a fee for the use of such services at certain specified airports and at 
any other airport, seaport, or other facility designated by the 
Secretary pursuant to specified criteria. (The list of user fee 
airports is found at Sec. 122.15 of the Customs Regulations (19 CFR 
122.15).) The fee that is charged is an amount equal to the expenses 
incurred by the Secretary in providing the Customs services at the 
designated facility, which includes purchasing equipment and providing 
training and inspectional services, i.e., the salary and expenses of 
individuals employed by the Secretary to provide the Customs services, 
and, thus, merely represents reimbursement to Customs for services 
rendered. The fees being raised are the initial fee charged for a user 
fee airport's first year after it signs a Memorandum of Agreement with 
Customs to become a user fee airport (currently set at $111,500), and 
the annual fee thereafter charged user fee airports (currently set at 
$80,000). The notice establishing the current user fee rates was 
published in the Federal Register on July 8, 1999 (64 FR 36969).
    The user fees charged a user fee airport are typically set forth in 
a Memorandum of Agreement between the user fee facility and Customs. 
While the amount of these fees are agreed to be at flat rates, they are 
adjustable, as costs and circumstances change.

Adjustment of User Fee Airport Fees

    As of May 31, 2000, Customs has determined that, in order for the 
user fee charged to actually reimburse Customs for services provided, 
the initial fee must be increased from $111,500 to $117,600, and the 
recurring annual fee subsequently charged must be increased from 
$80,000 to $84,500. The new fees will be effective October 1, 2000, and 
will be reflected in quarterly, user fee airport billings issued on or 
after that date.

    Dated: September 8, 2000.
Wayne Hamilton,
Assstant Commissioner, Office of Finance.
[FR Doc. 00-23537 Filed 9-12-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4820-02-P