[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 228 (Wednesday, November 26, 2014)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 70462-70464]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-28010]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

U.S. Customs and Border Protection

19 CFR Part 4

[CBP Dec. 14-11]


Technical Amendment: Boarding of Vessels at CBP Ports

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

ACTION: Final rule; technical amendment.

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SUMMARY: This document amends the U.S. Customs and Border Protection 
(CBP) regulations to conform to U.S. Coast Guard implementing 
regulations regarding certain boardings of vessels under the Maritime 
Transportation Act of 2002, as amended (MTSA). Under MTSA, any person 
boarding a vessel arriving at a CBP port after that vessel is taken in 
charge by a CBP officer must comply with Transportation Worker 
Identification Credential requirements. This document also updates 
terminology and removes obsolete language in the relevant regulatory 
section.

DATES: Effective November 26, 2014.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Craig Clark, Office of Field 
Operations, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, (202) 344-3052, [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    It is the policy of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to 
periodically review title 19 of the Code of Federal Regulations (19 
CFR) to ensure that it is accurate and up-to-date so that the general 
public is aware of CBP requirements and procedures. As part of this 
review policy, CBP has determined that certain corrections affecting 
part 4 of the CBP regulations (19 CFR part 4) are necessary.

A. Maritime Transportation Act of 2002

    The Maritime Transportation Act of 2002 (MTSA), Pub. L. 107-295, 
116 Stat. 2064, as amended by the Security and Accountability for Every 
Port Act of

[[Page 70463]]

2006 (SAFE Port Act), Public Law 109-347, 120 Stat. 1884, requires DHS 
to promulgate regulations addressing maritime security. Specifically, 
section 102 of the MTSA (46 U.S.C. 70105) requires DHS to issue 
regulations to prevent individuals from entering secure areas of 
vessels or MTSA-regulated port facilities unless such individuals are 
authorized to be in the secure areas and either hold biometric 
transportation security cards issued under section 102 or are 
accompanied by another individual who holds such a transportation 
security card.

B. MTSA Implementing Regulations

    In 2003, DHS, through the U.S. Coast Guard (Coast Guard), issued 
two rules amending various regulations to implement the maritime 
security provisions of the MTSA.\1\ The MTSA regulations set out 
specific requirements for owners and operators of vessels, facilities, 
and Outer Continental Shelf facilities that are identified by the 
Secretary of Homeland Security as posing a high risk of being involved 
in a transportation security incident. The regulations require such 
owners and operators to implement security measures to ensure that a 
system is established for checking the identification of vessel and 
facility personnel or other persons seeking access to the vessel or 
facility. Also in 2003, the Coast Guard and Transportation Security 
Administration (TSA) were in the process of developing the 
Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC), a biometrically 
enabled common credential to be used by U.S. transportation workers 
requiring unescorted access to secure areas throughout the maritime 
sector.\2\
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    \1\ See ``Implementation of National Maritime Security 
Initiatives'' temporary interim rule, 68 FR 39240, July 1, 2003 and 
``Implementation of National Maritime Security Initiatives'' final 
rule, 68 FR 60448, October 22, 2003, amending 33 CFR parts 101 and 
102.
    \2\ See Id.
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    On January 25, 2007, DHS, through the Coast Guard and theTSA, 
published a final rule and request for comments in the Federal Register 
(72 FR 3492) establishing the regulatory requirements implementing TWIC 
as mandated by the MTSA and the SAFE Port Act. On May 7, 2008, DHS, 
through the Coast Guard and TSA, published another final rule in the 
Federal Register (73 FR 25562) realigning the compliance date 
established in the aforementioned rule and requiring mariners to obtain 
a TWIC no later than April 15, 2009. This rule also established April 
15, 2009, as the final date by which owners and operators of vessels, 
facilities, and outer continental shelf facilities must implement 
access control procedures utilizing TWIC. These rules amended the Coast 
Guard regulations regarding vessel and facility security to incorporate 
the TWIC requirements as an access control measure. See 33 CFR 101.105 
and 101.514. These sections include a definition of TWIC and other 
relevant terms, the requirements for unescorted access to a vessel or 
facility, and the requirements for persons requiring escorted access to 
a vessel or facility.
    Coast Guard regulations also provide that an individual not in 
possession of a TWIC must present personal identification in order to 
gain entry to a Coast Guard-regulated vessel or facility.\3\ The 
personal identification must, at a minimum, meet the following 
requirements: (1) Be laminated or otherwise secure against tampering; 
(2) contain the individual's full name; (3) contain a photo that 
accurately depicts the individual's current facial appearance; and (4) 
bear the name of the issuing authority.\4\ Additionally, the individual 
must be under escort while inside a secure area.
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    \3\ See 33 CFR 101.515.
    \4\ See 33 CFR 101.515.
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C. Explanation of Amendments

    CBP has determined that the MTSA and the implementing regulations, 
as discussed above, require conforming technical corrections to 19 CFR 
4.1. Current Sec.  4.1 prescribes the procedures regarding the boarding 
of vessels arriving at a CBP port and permits the CBP port director to 
grant unescorted access to these vessels to certain unscreened parties. 
Section 4.1(c) allows a port director to use his or her discretion to 
issue passes (referred to as cutter passes) on ``Customs Form 3093'' to 
allow certain persons to board incoming vessels. Section 4.1(f) allows 
a port director to use his or her discretion to issue term cutter and 
dock passes to persons on official business and certain news reporters 
and newspaper photographers for a period not to exceed one year. These 
provisions, which allow unescorted access to these vessels contradict 
the maritime security measures for access control required by the MTSA, 
the SAFE Port Act, and the implementing Coast Guard regulations 
mentioned above. In fact, CBP has not used Customs Form 3093 or issued 
cutter and dock passes for many years. Rather, CBP determines vessel 
access according to the applicable Coast Guard regulations. This 
technical correction updates the CBP regulations to conform to the 
current requirements and updates outdated terminology.
    Specifically, CBP is amending 19 CFR 4.1 by:
    (1) Removing the obsolete reference to cutter and dock passes from 
the section heading;
    (2) Revising the entire section to reflect that ``Customs'' is now 
known as ``CBP'';
    (3) Amending paragraph (c) by removing the obsolete language 
regarding cutter passes and Customs Form 3093 and by revising the 
paragraph to cross-reference the relevant Coast Guard regulations;
    (4) Deleting the previously reserved paragraph (e); and
    (5) Deleting the obsolete paragraph (f).
    CBP is also abolishing the Customs Form 3093.

II. Statutory and Regulatory Requirements

A. Inapplicability of Notice and Delayed Effective Date Requirements

    Because the technical corrections set forth in this document merely 
conform the regulatory text to existing law and update terminology, 
this document neither imposes additional burdens on nor takes away any 
existing rights or privileges from the public. Therefore, CBP finds 
that good cause exists for dispensing with notice and public procedure 
as unnecessary under 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B). For this same reason, pursuant 
to 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3), CBP finds that good cause exists for dispensing 
with the requirement for a delayed effective date.

B. Regulatory Flexibility Act

    Because this document is not subject to the notice and public 
procedure requirements of 5 U.S.C. 553, it is not subject to the 
provisions of the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.).

C. Executive Orders 12866 and 13563

    This rule is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under section 
3(f) of Executive Order 12866, Regulatory Planning and Review, as 
supplemented by Executive Order 13563. The change is intended to remove 
obsolete discretionary provisions from the regulations to conform to 
existing law and update terminology. There are no new costs to the 
public associated with this rule. Accordingly, this rule has not been 
reviewed by the Office of Management and Budget.

D. Signing Authority

    The signing authority for this document falls under 19 CFR 0.2(a) 
because the Secretary of Homeland

[[Page 70464]]

Security has authority to regulate the boarding of vessels. The 
Secretary of Homeland Security has designated the Commissioner of U.S. 
Customs and Border Protection as the signatory on this technical 
amendment.

List of Subjects in 19 CFR Part 4

    Customs duties and inspection, Exports, Freight, Harbors, Maritime 
carriers, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Vessels.

Amendments to Regulations

    For the reasons stated in the preamble, part 4 of title 19 of the 
Code of Federal Regulations is amended as set forth below:

PART 4--VESSELS IN FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC TRADES

0
1. The general authority citation for part 4 continues and the specific 
authority citation for Sec.  4.1 is revised to read as follows:

    Authority: 5 U.S.C. 301; 19 U.S.C. 66, 1431, 1433, 1434, 1624, 
2071 note; 46 U.S.C. 70105.
    Section 4.1 also issued under 19 U.S.C. 1581(a); 46 U.S.C. 
60101; 46 U.S.C. 70105.
* * * * *

0
2. Section 4.1 is amended as follows:
0
a. Revise the section heading;
0
b. Amend paragraphs (a) and (b) by removing the word ``Customs'' and 
adding in its place ``CBP'', except where the word ``Customs'' is 
followed by the word ``territory'' or ``formality'', and where the word 
``Customs'' is followed by the word ``territory'' or ``formality'', 
removing the word ``Customs'' and adding in its place ``customs'';
0
c. Revise paragraph (c); and
0
d. Remove paragraphs (e) and (f).
    The revision reads as follows:


Sec.  4.1  Boarding of vessels.

* * * * *
    (c) Persons seeking to board an incoming vessel after it has been 
inspected by the quarantine authorities and taken in charge by a CBP 
officer must comply with any applicable Coast Guard regulations 
regarding the Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC)/
personal identification requirements as prescribed in 33 CFR 101.105 
and 101.514-515.
* * * * *

    Dated: November 20, 2014.
R. Gil Kerlikowske,
Commissioner.
[FR Doc. 2014-28010 Filed 11-25-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9111-14-P