[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 50 (Tuesday, March 16, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12561-12562]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-5637]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

 Customs and Border Protection


Request for Applicants for Appointment to the Advisory Committee 
on Commercial Operations of Customs and Border Protection (COAC)

AGENCY: U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Department of Homeland 
Security (DHS).

ACTION: Committee Management; request for applicants for appointment to 
the Advisory Committee on Commercial Operations of Customs and Border 
Protection (COAC).

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SUMMARY: U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is requesting 
individuals who are interested in serving on the Advisory Committee on 
Commercial Operations of Customs and Border Protection (COAC) to apply 
for appointment. COAC provides advice and makes recommendations to the 
Commissioner of CBP, Secretary of Homeland Security, and Secretary of 
the Treasury on all matters involving the commercial operations of CBP 
and related DHS functions.

DATES: Applications for membership should reach CBP on or before May 
15, 2010.

ADDRESSES: If you wish to apply for membership, your application should 
be sent to CBP by one of the following methods:
     E-mail: [email protected].
     Facsimile: 202-325-4290.
     Mail: Ms. Wanda J. Tate, Program Management Analyst, 
Office of Trade Relations, Customs and Border Protection, 1300 
Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Room 5.2A, Washington, DC 20229.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Wanda J. Tate, Program Management 
Analyst, Office of Trade Relations, Customs and Border Protection, 
(202) 344-1440, FAX (202) 325-4290.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Advisory Committee on Commercial 
Operations of Customs and Border Protection (COAC) is an advisory 
committee established in accordance with the provisions of the Federal 
Advisory Committee Act (FACA), 5 U.S.C., app.
    Purpose and Objective: The purpose of the Committee is to provide 
advice to the Commissioner of Customs and Border Protection, Secretary 
of Homeland Security, and Secretary of the Treasury on all matters 
involving the commercial operations of U.S. Customs and Border 
Protection (CBP) and related functions within the Department of 
Homeland Security (DHS) or Treasury, 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, DHS, and CBP 
officials. This is done on a regular basis in an open and candid 
atmosphere.
    Balanced Membership Plans: The members will be selected by the 
Commissioner of CBP, subject to approval by the Secretary of Homeland 
Security, jointly with the Secretary of the Treasury from 
representatives of the trade and transportation community that do 
business with CBP, or others who are directly affected by CBP 
commercial operations and related functions. In addition, members will 
represent major regions of the country, and, by statute, not more than 
ten of the twenty Committee members may be affiliated with the same 
political party.

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 (now 
CBP). The Committee is to consist of twenty members drawn from industry 
sectors affected by CBP commercial operations with balanced political 
party affiliations. The Committee's first two-year charter was filed on 
October 17, 1988, and the Committee has been renewed for subsequent 
two-year terms times since then.
    With the creation of DHS, the Secretary of the Treasury delegated a 
joint chair and Committee management role to the Secretary of Homeland 
Security (see Treasury Department Order No. 100-16, 19 CFR Part 0, 
Appendix.). In Delegation Number 7010.3 (May 2006), the Secretary of 
Homeland Security delegated to the Commissioner of CBP the authority to 
preside jointly with Treasury over the meetings of the Committee, to 
make appointments to COAC subject to approval of the Secretary of 
Homeland Security jointly with Treasury, and to receive COAC advice.
    It is expected that, during its twelfth two-year term, the 
Committee will consider issues relating to enhanced border and cargo 
supply chain security, CBP 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, CBP agricultural inspection 
and import safety.

Committee Meetings

    The Committee meets once each quarter, although additional meetings 
may be scheduled. Generally, every other meeting of the Committee may 
be held outside of Washington, DC, usually at a CBP port of entry.

Committee Membership

    Membership on the Committee is personal to the appointee and is 
concurrent with the two-year duration of the charter for the twelfth 
term. Under the Charter, a member may not send an alternate to 
represent him or her at a Committee meeting. However, since Committee 
meetings are generally 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 may be recommended for replacement on 
the Committee.
    No person who is required to register under the Foreign Agents 
Registration Act as an agent or representative of a

[[Page 12562]]

foreign principal may serve on this advisory committee.
    Members who are currently serving on the Committee are eligible to 
re-apply for membership provided that they are not in their second 
consecutive term and that they have met attendance requirements. A new 
application letter (see ADDRESSES above) is required, but it may 
incorporate by reference materials previously filed (please attach 
courtesy copies).
    Members will not be paid compensation by the Federal Government for 
their services with respect to the COAC.

Application for Advisory Committee Appointment

    There is no prescribed format for the application. Applicants may 
send a letter describing their interest and qualifications and enclose 
a resume.
    Any interested person wishing to serve on the (COAC) must provide 
the following:
     Statement of interest and reasons for application;
     Complete professional biography or resume;
     Home address and telephone number;
     Work address, telephone number, and email address;
     Political affiliation in order to ensure balanced 
representation (mandatory). If no party registration or allegiance 
exists, indicate ``independent'' or ``unaffiliated'';
     Statement agreeing to submit to pre-appointment background 
and tax checks (mandatory). A national security clearance is not 
required for the position.
    In support of the policy of DHS on gender and ethnic diversity, 
qualified women and members of minority groups are encouraged to apply 
for membership.

     Dated: March 10, 2010.
David V. Aguilar,
Acting Deputy Commissioner, U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
[FR Doc. 2010-5637 Filed 3-15-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9111-14-P