[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 177 (Thursday, September 12, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Page 57866]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-23232]


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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. These 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, 2002, and 
will be reflected in quarterly, user fee airport billings issued on or 
after that date.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cynthia Sargent, Budget Division, 
Office of Finance (202) 927-0609.

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 at certain 
specified airports and at any other airport, seaport, or other facility 
designated by the Secretary pursuant to specified criteria, and to 
charge a fee for providing such services. (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 in an amount equal to the expenses 
incurred by the Secretary in providing 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. 
The fees being raised are the initial fee charged a user fee airport 
after it signs a Memorandum of Agreement with Customs so that it can 
begin operations (currently set at $118,000), and the annual fee 
subsequently charged so that user fee airports can continue to offer 
Customs services at their facilities (currently set at $88,500). The 
notice announcing the current user fee rates was published in the 
Federal Register (66 FR 48739) on September 21, 2001. 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 periodically 
adjustable, as costs and circumstances change.

Adjustment of User Fee Airport Fees

    Customs has determined that, in order for the user fee to fully 
reimburse Customs for expenses incurred in providing requested 
services, the initial fee must be increased from $118,000 to $129,125, 
and the recurring annual fee subsequently charged must be increased 
from $88,500 to $115,400. Since inception, Headquarters has 
administered the program through the assignment of resources on a part 
time basis. The Headquarters' costs have been included in the fees. The 
program has experienced significant growth and, consequently, related 
costs for providing Headquarters' administrative services have 
increased to a level necessary for Customs to dedicate a permanent 
resource at Headquarters to manage and administer the program on a full 
time basis. The added resource will enable Customs to more adequately 
and efficiently manage the program. The increase in the recurring 
annual fee covers the increased costs. The new fees will be effective 
October 1, 2002, and will be reflected in quarterly, user fee airport 
billings issued on or after that date.

    Dated: September 6, 2002.
Carol A. Dunham,
Acting Assistant Commissioner, Office of Finance.
[FR Doc. 02-23232 Filed 9-11-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4820-02-P