[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 57 (Monday, March 26, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14128-14129]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-5431]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Bureau of Customs and Border Protection


New Test Program Regarding Electronic Foreign Trade Zone 
Admission Applications

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

ACTION: General notice.

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SUMMARY: In a document published in the Federal Register on August 19, 
2005, the Bureau of Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced its 
plan to conduct a voluntary program to test the viability of submitting 
electronic FTZ admission applications (CBP Form 214--``FTZ Admission 
and/or Status Designation'') to CBP via the Automated Broker Interface 
(ABI). The test program was intended to run for a period of 
approximately 6 months from the program's September 30, 2005 
commencement date with a final evaluation to take place at the end of 
that period. This notice informs interested members of the public that 
after CBP's initial evaluation of the test program, it was determined 
that due to the insufficient data collected the test should be run 
again for a period of approximately 6 months from March 26, 2007. The 
new test program is intended to encourage greater participation in the 
prototype by the trade and thereby provide CBP with more meaningful 
data by which to assess the feasibility of implementing the test 
program on a permanent basis.

DATES: The Electronic FTZ Admission Application test program will 
resume for a period of 6 months from March 26, 2007. CBP may extend the 
test for additional periods of time by way of announcement in the 
Federal Register. Comments concerning this notice and any aspect of the 
prototype may be submitted at any time during the test period.

ADDRESSES: Written comments regarding this notice should be addressed 
to Customs and Border Protection, Office of Field Operations, Cargo 
Control Branch, 1300 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Room 5.2C, Washington, 
DC 20229.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sonja Grant, Customs and Border 
Protection, Office of Field Operations, via e-mail at 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

Electronic Foreign Trade Zone Admission Application Test Program: 
Planned Component of the National Customs Automation Program

    Title VI of the North American Free Trade Agreement Implementation 
Act (the Act), Public Law 103-182, 107 Stat. 2057 (December 8, 1993), 
contains provisions pertaining to Customs Modernization (107 Stat. 
2170). Subpart B of Title VI of the Act concerns the National Customs 
Automation Program (NCAP), an electronic system for the processing of 
commercial importations. Within subpart B, section 631 of the Act added 
section 411 to the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. 1411-1414), which 
defines the NCAP, provides for the establishment of and participation 
in the NCAP, and includes a list of existing and planned components. 
Section 411(a)(2)(G) identifies any program initiated by Customs and 
Border Protection to carry out the automation goals of this subpart as 
a planned NCAP component. The planned test program described in this 
document falls within this category of planned NCAP component. Section 
101.9(b) of title 19 of the Code of Federal Regulations (19 CFR 
101.9(b)) provides for the testing of NCAP planned components. The 
Electronic Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ) Admissions Application prototype is 
being tested in accordance with this provision.

[[Page 14129]]

Description of the Test Program

    A notice describing the Electronic FTZ Admissions Application test 
program and setting forth the program's terms and conditions was 
published in the Federal Register (70 FR 48774) on August 19, 2005. The 
voluntary test program permitted the electronic filing of FTZ admission 
applications (CBP Form 214--``FTZ Admission and/or Status 
Designation'') with CBP via the Automated Broker Interface (ABI). That 
document stated that the test program was to commence no earlier than 
September 30, 2005, and continue to run for a period of approximately 6 
months with a final evaluation to take place at the end of that period.
    This notice informs interested members of the public that after 
CBP's initial evaluation of the test program, it was determined that 
due to the insufficient data collected the test should be run again for 
a period of approximately 6 months from March 26, 2007. The new test 
program is intended to encourage greater participation in the prototype 
by the trade and thereby provide CBP with more meaningful data by which 
to assess the feasibility of implementing the test program on a 
permanent basis. A final evaluation will take place at the end of the 
test period.
    All of the Electronic FTZ Admissions Application test program terms 
and conditions set forth in the August 19, 2005, Federal Register 
notice will be in effect.

    Dated: March 15, 2007.
Jayson P. Ahern,
Assistant Commissioner, Office of Field Operations.
[FR Doc. E7-5431 Filed 3-23-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9111-14-P