[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 80 (Thursday, April 25, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20577-20578]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-10205]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY


Treasury Advisory Committee on Commercial Operations of the 
Customs Service

AGENCY: Departmental Offices, Treasury.

ACTION: Solicitation of applications for membership in the Treasury 
Advisory Committee on Commercial Operations of the Customs Service.

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SUMMARY: This notice establishes criteria and procedures for the 
selection of members and provides public notice of the Department's 
intent to file a Charter for the committee's eighth two year term.
    Title: The Treasury Advisory Committee on Commercial Operations of 
the U.S. Customs Service.
    Purpose: The purpose of the Committee is to provide advice to the 
Secretary of the Treasury on all matters involving the commercial 
operations of the U.S. Customs Service and to submit an annual report 
to Congress describing its operations and setting forth any 
recommendations. The Committee provides a critical and unique forum for 
distinguished representatives of diverse industry sectors to present 
their views and advice directly to senior Treasury and Customs 
officials. This is done on a regular basis in an open and candid 
atmosphere.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    In the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1987 (Pub. L. 100-203), 
Congress directed the Secretary of the Treasury to create an Advisory 
Committee on Commercial Operations of the Customs Service. The 
Committee is to consist of 20 members drawn from industry sectors 
affected by Customs commercial operations with balanced political party 
affiliations. The Committee's first two-year charter was filed on 
October 17, 1988 and six additional charters have been filed for two-
year terms. The current charter will expire on October 6, 2002. The 
Treasury Department plans to file a new charter by that date, renewing 
the Committee for an eighth two-year term.

Objective, Scope and Description of the Committee

    The Committee's objective is to advise the Secretary of the 
Treasury on issues relating to the commercial operations of the Customs 
Service. It is expected that, during its eighth two-year term, the 
Committee will consider issues relating to enhanced border and cargo 
supply chain security, Customs modernization and automation, informed 
compliance and compliance assessment, account based processing, 
commercial enforcement and uniformity, international efforts to 
harmonize customs practices and procedures, strategic planning, 
northern border and southern border issues, and relationships with 
foreign Customs authorities. As directed by Congress, the Committee 
will be presided over by the Assistant Secretary of the Treasury for 
Enforcement. During the two-year charter, the Committee will meet 
approximately eight times (quarterly). Additional special meetings of 
the full Committee or a subcommittee thereof may be convened if 
necessary. The meetings will generally be held in the Treasury 
Department, Washington, DC. However, typically, one or two meetings per 
year are held outside of Washington at a Customs port.
    The meetings are open to public observers, including the press, 
unless special procedures have been followed to close a meeting. During 
the last two-year term none of the Committee meetings have been closed.
    The members shall be selected by the Secretary of the Treasury from 
representatives of the trade or transportation community that do 
business with Customs, the general public, or others who are directly 
affected by Customs commercial operations. In addition, members shall 
represent major regions of the country, and, by statute, not more than 
ten members may be affiliated with the same political party. 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 this 
advisory committee. Members shall not be paid compensation nor shall 
they be considered Federal Government employees for any purpose. No per 
diem, transportation, or other expenses are reimbursed for the cost of 
the public service of attending Committee meetings at any location.
    Membership on the Committee is personal to the appointee. Under the 
Charter, a member may not send an alternate to represent him or her at 
a Committee meeting. However, since Committee meetings are open to the 
public, another person from a member's organization may attend and 
observe the proceedings in a nonparticipating capacity. Regular 
attendance is essential; the Charter provides that a member who is 
absent for two consecutive meetings or two meetings in a calendar year 
shall lose his or her seat on the Committee. Members who are serving on 
the Committee during its expiring two-year term are eligible to reapply 
for membership provided that they are not in their second consecutive 
term and that they have met attendance requirements. A new application 
letter and updated resume are required.

Application for Advisory Committee Appointment

    Any interested person wishing to serve on the Treasury Advisory 
Committee on Commercial Operations of the U.S. Customs Service must 
provide the following:
     Statement of interest and reasons for application;
     Complete professional biography or resume;
     Political affiliation, in order to ensure balanced 
representation. (Mandatory. If no party registration or allegiance 
exists, indicate ``independent'' or ``unaffiliated'').
    In addition, applicants must state in their applications that they 
agree to submit to pre-appointment background and tax checks. 
(Mandatory). However, a national security clearance is not required for 
the position.
    There is no prescribed format for the application. Applicants may 
send a letter describing their interest and qualifications and enclose 
a resume.
    The application period for interested candidates will extend to 
June 17, 2002. Applications should be submitted in sufficient time to 
be received by the

[[Page 20578]]

close of business on the closing date by Gordana S. Earp, Office of 
Regulatory, Tariff and Trade Enforcement, Office of the Under Secretary 
(Enforcement), Room 4004, Department of the Treasury, 1500 Pennsylvania 
Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20220, ATT: COAC 2002.

    Dated: April 22, 2002.
Timothy E. Skud,
Deputy Assistant Secretary, (Regulatory, Tariff, and Trade 
Enforcement).
[FR Doc. 02-10205 Filed 4-24-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4810-25-M