[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 156 (Friday, August 13, 2004)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 50107-50108]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-18514]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Bureau of Customs and Border Protection

19 CFR part 101


Extension of Port Limits of Rockford, IL

AGENCY: Customs and Border Protection; Department of Homeland Security.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.

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SUMMARY: This document proposes to amend the Customs and Border 
Protection (CBP) Regulations pertaining to the field organization of 
CBP by extending the geographical limits of the port of Rockford, 
Illinois, to include the City of Rochelle, Illinois. The Union Pacific 
Railroad Company has a new intermodal facility in Rochelle. The 
proposed change is part of CBP's continuing program to more efficiently 
utilize 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 October 12, 2004.

ADDRESSES: Comments must be submitted to Bureau of Customs and Border 
Protection, Office of Regulations and Rulings (Attention: Regulations 
Branch), 1300 Pennsylvania Avenue NW., (Mint Annex), Washington, DC 
20229. Submitted comments may be inspected at 799 9th Street, NW., 
Washington, DC during regular business hours.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dennis Dore, Office of Field 
Operations, 202-927-6871.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The Union Pacific Railroad Company has a new state-of-the-art 
intermodal rail facility that is located 25 miles south of Rockford in 
Rochelle, Illinois. This facility provides the capacity necessary to 
support the efficient interchange of shipments to and from rail 
connections, and expedite the operations of trains and containers. In 
order to accommodate this new facility and provide better service to 
carriers, importers, and the public, the Bureau of Customs and Border 
Protection (CBP) is proposing to extend the port limits of the port of 
Rockford, Illinois, to include the City of Rochelle, Illinois.

Current Port Limits of Rockford, Illinois

    The current port limits of Rockford, Illinois, are described as 
follows in Treasury Decision (T.D.) 95-62 of August 14, 1995:
    Bounded to the north by the Illinois/Wisconsin border; bounded to 
the west by Illinois State Route 26; bounded to the south by Illinois 
State Route 72; and bounded to the east by Illinois State Route 23 
north to the Wisconsin/Illinois border.

Proposed Port Limits of Rockford, Illinois

    The new port limits of Rockford, Illinois, are proposed as follows: 
Bounded to the north by the Illinois/Wisconsin border; bounded to the 
west by Illinois State Route 26; bounded to the south by Interstate 
Route 88; bounded to the east by Illinois State Route 23 to the 
Wisconsin/Illinois border.

Proposed Amendment to CBP Regulations

    If the proposed port limits are adopted, CBP will amend Sec.  
101.3(b)(1), CBP Regulations (19 CFR 101.3(b)(1)) to reflect the new 
boundaries of the Rockford, Illinois port of entry.

Authority

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

Signing Authority

    The signing authority for this document falls under Sec.  0.2(a), 
CBP Regulations (19 CFR 0.2(a)) because this port extension is not 
within the bounds of those regulations for which the Secretary of the 
Treasury has retained sole authority. Accordingly, the notice of 
proposed rulemaking may be signed by the Secretary of Homeland Security 
(or his or her delegate).

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), CBP 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. Arrangements to inspect 
submitted documents should be made in advance by calling Mr. Joseph 
Clark at 202-572-8768.

[[Page 50108]]

The 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 Christopher W. Pappas, 
Regulations Branch, Office of Regulations and Rulings, CBP. However, 
personnel from other offices participated in its development.

Robert C. Bonner,
Commissioner, Customs and Border Protection.
Tom Ridge,
Secretary, Department of Homeland Security.
[FR Doc. 04-18514 Filed 8-12-04; 8:45 am]
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