[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 17 (Friday, January 27, 2017)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 8588-8589]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-01580]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

U.S. Customs and Border Protection

19 CFR Parts 4, 7, 10, 11, 12, 24, 54, 101, 102, 103, 113, 132, 
133, 134, 141, 142, 143, 144, 145, 146, 147, 151, 152, 158, 159, 
161, 162, 163, 173, 174, 176, and 181

[Docket No. USCBP-2016-0075; CBP Dec. No. 16-26]
RIN 1651-AB02


Regulatory Implementation of the Centers of Excellence and 
Expertise

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

ACTION: Interim final rule; extension of comment period.

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SUMMARY: This document provides an additional 60 days for interested 
parties to submit comments on the interim final rule that amended the 
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) regulations establishing the 
Centers of Excellence and Expertise (``Centers'') as a permanent 
organizational component of the agency and transitioning certain 
additional trade functions to the Centers. The interim final rule was 
published in the Federal Register on December 20, 2016, with comments 
due on or before January 19, 2017. To have as much public participation 
as possible in the formulation of the final rule, CBP is extending the 
comment period to March 20, 2017.

DATES: The comment period for the interim final rule published December 
20, 2016, at 81 FR 92978, effective January 19, 2017, is extended. 
Comments must be received on or before March 20, 2017.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by docket number, by one 
of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the instructions for submitting comments via docket number 
USCBP-2016-0075.
     Mail: Trade and Commercial Regulations Branch, Regulations 
and Rulings, Office of Trade, Customs and Border Protection, 90 K 
Street NE., 10th Floor, Washington, DC 20229-1177.
    Instructions: All submissions received must include the agency name 
and docket number for this rulemaking. All comments received will be 
posted without change to http://www.regulations.gov, including any 
personal information provided. For detailed instructions on submitting 
comments and additional information on the rulemaking process, see the 
``Public Participation'' heading of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION 
section of this document.
    Docket: For access to the docket to read background documents or 
comments received, go to http://www.regulations.gov. Submitted comments 
may be inspected during regular business days between the hours of 9 
a.m. and 4:30 p.m. at the Trade and Commercial Regulations Branch, 
Regulations and Rulings, Office of Trade, Customs and Border 
Protection, 90 K Street NE., 10th Floor, Washington, DC. Arrangements 
to inspect submitted comments should be made in advance by calling Mr. 
Joseph Clark at (202) 325-0118.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lori Whitehurst, CBP Office of Field 
Operations by telephone (202) 344-2536 or by email, 
[email protected]; or Susan S. Thomas, CBP Office of Field 
Operations by telephone (202) 344-2511 or by email, 
[email protected].

[[Page 8589]]


SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Public Participation

    Interested persons are invited to participate in this rulemaking by 
submitting written data, views, or arguments on all aspects of the 
interim rule. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) also invites 
comments that relate to the economic, environmental, or federalism 
effects that might result from this interim rule. Comments that will 
provide the most assistance to CBP will reference a specific portion of 
the interim rule, explain the reason for any recommended change, and 
include data, information, or authority that support such recommended 
change. See ADDRESSES above for information on how to submit comments.

II. Background

    On December 20, 2016, CBP published in the Federal Register (81 FR 
92978) an Interim Final Rule (CBP Dec. No. 16-26) that amended the CBP 
regulations establishing the Centers of Excellence and Expertise 
(``Centers'') as a permanent organizational component of the agency and 
transitioning certain additional trade functions to the Centers. The 
document solicited public comments in the interim rule, and requested 
that submitted comments be received by CBP on or before January 19, 
2017. The effective date of the interim rule is January 19, 2017.

Extension of Comment Period

    With the goal of establishing the most effective and transparent 
procedures as possible for CBP to establish the Centers as a permanent 
organizational component of the agency, CBP believes that it is very 
important to have as much public participation as possible in the 
formulation of the final rule that establishes those procedures for 
CBP. Therefore, CBP has decided to allow additional time for the public 
to submit comments on the final rule. Accordingly, the comment period 
is extended to March 20, 2017.

    Dated: January 18, 2017.
Richard F. DiNucci,
Executive Director, Cargo and Conveyance Security, Office of Field 
Operations.
[FR Doc. 2017-01580 Filed 1-26-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 9111-14-P