[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 138 (Friday, July 18, 2003)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 42650-42651]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-18173]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Bureau of Customs and Border Protection

19 CFR Part 101


Extension of Port Limits of Chicago, IL

AGENCY: Customs and Border Protection; Homeland Security.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.

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SUMMARY: This document proposes to amend the Customs Regulations 
pertaining to the field organization of the Bureau of Customs and 
Border Protection (CBP) by extending the geographical limits of the 
port of Chicago, Illinois. The change is being proposed as part of 
CBP's continuing program to obtain more efficient use of its personnel, 
facilities, and resources, and to provide better service to carriers, 
importers, and the general public.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before September 16, 2003.

ADDRESSES: Written comments must be submitted to the Bureau of Customs 
and Border Protection, Office of Regulations and Rulings, (Attention: 
Regulations Branch), 1300 Pennsylvania Avenue NW., Washington, DC 
20229. Submitted comments may be inspected at the CBP, 799 9th Street, 
NW., Washington, DC during regular business hours. Arrangements to 
inspect submitted comments should be made in advance by calling Mr. 
Joseph Clark at (202) 572-8768.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lorraine Henderson, Office of Field 
Operations, (202) 927-1424.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    In order to facilitate the clearance of international freight at an 
intermodal facility in the City of Elwood, Illinois, CBP is proposing 
to amend Sec.  101.3(b)(1) by extending the port limits of the port 
limits of the port of Chicago, to include certain parts of the City of 
Elwood, Illinois, as described below. The proposed extension of the 
port limits to include the specified territory will provide better 
service to importers and the rail transportation industry in central 
Illinois.

Current Port Limits of Chicago, Illinois

    The current port limits of Chicago, Illinois, are described as 
follows in Treasury Decision (T.D.) 71-121 of May 3, 1971:
    Beginning at the point where the northern limits of Cook County, 
Illinois, intersect Lake Michigan, thence westerly along the Cook 
County-Lake County Line to the point where State Highway Fifty-Three 
(52) intersects this Line, thence in a southerly direction along State 
Highway Fifty-Three (53) to the point where this highway intersects the 
Dupage County-Will County Line, thence in a general easterly and 
southerly direction along the northern and eastern limits of Will 
County, Illinois, to the point where the Will County-Cook County Line 
intersects the Illinois-Indiana State Line, thence northerly along the 
Illinois-Indiana State Line to the point near Dyer, Indiana, where U.S. 
Route Thirty (30) intersects this Line, thence easterly along U.S. 
Route Thirty (30) to a point where this highway and Indiana State 
Highway Forty-Nine (49) intersect, thence in a northerly direction 
along Indiana State Highway Forty-Nine (49) to the place where the 
highway meets Lake Michigan.

Proposed Port Limits of Chicago, Illinois

    CBP proposes to extend the port limits of the port of Chicago, 
Illinois, to include additional territory in the City of Elwood, 
Illinois so that the description of the port limits would read as 
follows:
    Beginning at the point where the northern limits of Cook County, 
Illinois, intersect Lake Michigan, thence westerly along the Cook 
County-Lake County Line to the point where Illinois Highway Fifty-Three 
(53) intersects this Line, thence in a southerly direction along 
Illinois State Highway Fifty-Three (53) to the point where this highway 
intersects Interstate Highway Fifty-Five (55), thence southwesterly 
along Interstate Highway Fifty-Five (55) to the point where this 
highway intersects the north bank of the Kankakee River, thence 
southeasterly to the point where the Kankakee River intersects State 
Highway Fifty-Three (53), thence northeasterly to the point where this 
highway intersects Interstate Highway Eighty (80), thence easterly to 
the point where this highway intersects the Cook County-Will County 
Line, thence in a general easterly and southerly direction along the 
northern and eastern limits of Will County, Illinois, to the point 
where the Will County-Cook County Line intersects the Illinois-Indiana 
State Line, thence northerly along the Illinois-Indiana State Line to 
the point near Dyer, Indiana, where U.S. Route Thirty (30) intersects 
this Line, thence easterly along U.S. Route Thirty (30) to the point 
where this highway and the Indiana State Highway Forty-Nine (49) 
intersect, thence in a northerly direction along Indiana State Highway 
Forty-Nine (49) to a place where this highway meets Lake Michigan.

Authority

    This change is proposed under the authority of 5 U.S.C. 301 and 19 
U.S.C. 2, 66 and 1624.

Comments

    Before adopting this proposal, consideration will be given to any 
written comments that are timely submitted to CBP. All such comments 
received from the public pursuant to this notice of proposed rulemaking 
will be available for public inspection in accordance with the Freedom 
of Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552) and Sec.  103.11(b), Customs 
Regulations (19 CFR 103.11(b)) during regular business days between the 
hours of 9 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. at the Regulations Branch, Office of 
Regulations and Rulings, Customs and Border Protection, Department of 
Homeland Security, 799 9th Street, NW., Washington, DC.

Regulatory Flexibility Act and Executive Order 12866

    CBP establishes, expands and consolidates CBP ports of entry 
throughout the United States to accommodate the volume of CBP-related 
activity in various parts of the country. Thus, although this document 
is being issued with notice for public comment, because it relates to 
agency management and organization it is not subject to the notice and 
public procedure requirements of 5 U.S.C. 553. Accordingly, this 
document is not subject to the provisions of the Regulatory Flexibility 
Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.). Agency organization matters such as this 
proposed port extension are exempt from consideration under Executive 
Order 12866.

Drafting Information

    The principal author of this document was Janet L. Johnson, 
Regulations Branch. However, personnel from other offices participated 
in its development.


[[Page 42651]]


    Dated: July 14, 2003.
Robert C. Bonner,
Commissioner, Customs and Border Protection.
Tom Ridge,
Secretary, Department of Homeland Security.
[FR Doc. 03-18173 Filed 7-17-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4820-02-P