[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 149 (Friday, August 2, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 37902-37904]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-16582]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

U.S. Customs and Border Protection


COBRA Fees To Be Adjusted for Inflation in Fiscal Year 2020 CBP 
Dec. 19-08

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

ACTION: General notice.

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SUMMARY: This document announces that U.S. Customs and Border 
Protection (CBP) is adjusting certain customs user fees and 
corresponding limitations established by the Consolidated Omnibus 
Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) for Fiscal Year 2020 in accordance 
with the Fixing America's Surface Transportation Act (FAST Act) as 
implemented by CBP regulations.

DATES: The adjusted amounts of customs COBRA user fees and their 
corresponding limitations set forth in this notice for Fiscal Year 2020 
are required as of October 1, 2019.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tina Ghiladi, Director--Office of 
Finance, 202-344-3722, [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    On December 4, 2015, the Fixing America's Surface Transportation 
Act (FAST Act, Pub. L. 114-94) was signed into law. Section 32201 of 
the FAST Act amended section 13031 of the Consolidated Omnibus Budget 
Reconciliation Act (COBRA) of 1985 (19 U.S.C. 58c) by requiring certain 
customs COBRA user fees and corresponding limitations to be adjusted by 
the Secretary of the Treasury (Secretary) to reflect certain increases 
in inflation.
    Sections 24.22 and 24.23 of title 19 of the Code of Federal 
Regulations (19 CFR 24.22 and 24.23) describe the procedures that 
implement the requirements of the FAST Act. Specifically, paragraph (k) 
in section 24.22 (19 CFR 24.22(k)) sets forth the methodology to 
determine the change in inflation as well as the factor by which the 
fees and limitations will be adjusted, if necessary. The fees and 
limitations subject to adjustment, which are set forth in Appendix A 
and Appendix B of part 24, include the commercial vessel arrival fees, 
commercial truck arrival fees, railroad car arrival fees, private 
vessel arrival fees, private aircraft arrival fees, commercial aircraft 
and vessel passenger arrival fees, dutiable mail fees, customs broker 
permit user fees, barges and other bulk carriers arrival fees, and 
merchandise processing fees, as well as the corresponding limitations.

Determination of Whether an Adjustment Is Necessary for Fiscal Year 
2020

    In accordance with 19 CFR 24.22, CBP must determine annually 
whether the fees and limitations must be adjusted to reflect inflation. 
For fiscal year 2020, CBP is making this determination by comparing the 
average of the Consumer Price Index--All Urban Consumers, U.S. All 
items, 1982-84 (CPI-U) for the current year (June 2018-May 2019) with 
the average of the CPI-U for the comparison year (June 2017-May 2018) 
to determine the change in inflation, if any. If there is an increase 
in the CPI of greater than one (1) percent, CBP must adjust the customs 
COBRA user fees and corresponding limitations using the methodology set 
forth in 19 CFR 24.22(k). Following the steps provided in paragraph 
(k)(2) of section 24.22, CBP has determined that the increase in the 
CPI between the most recent June to May 12-month period (June 2018-May 
2019) and the comparison year (June 2017-May 2018) is 2.02 \1\ percent. 
As the increase in the CPI is greater than one (1) percent, the customs 
COBRA user fees and corresponding limitations must be adjusted for 
Fiscal Year 2020.
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    \1\ The figures provided in this notice may be rounded for 
publication purposes only. The calculations for the adjusted fees 
and limitations were made using unrounded figures, unless otherwise 
noted.
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Determination of the Adjusted Fees and Limitations

    Using the methodology set forth in section 24.22(k)(2) of the CBP 
regulations (19 CFR 24.22(k)), CBP has determined that the factor by 
which the base fees and limitations will be adjusted is 7.167 percent 
(base fees and limitations can be found in Appendix A and B to part 24 
of title 19). In reaching this determination, CBP calculated the values 
for each variable found in

[[Page 37903]]

paragraph (k) of 19 CFR 24.22 as follows:
     The arithmetic average of the CPI-U for June 2018-May 
2019, referred to as (A) in the CBP regulations, is 252.922;
     The arithmetic average of the CPI-U for Fiscal Year 2014, 
referred to as (B), is 236.009;
     The arithmetic average of the CPI-U for the comparison 
year (June 2017-May 2018), referred to as (C), is 247.540;
     The difference between the arithmetic averages of the CPI-
U of the comparison year (June 2017-May 2018) and the current year 
(June 2018-May 2019), referred to as (D), is 5.382;
     This difference rounded to the nearest whole number, 
referred to as (E), is 5;
     The percentage change in the arithmetic averages of the 
CPI-U of the comparison year (June 2017-May 2018) and the current year 
(June 2018-May 2019), referred to as (F), is 2.02 percent;
     The difference in the arithmetic average of the CPI-U 
between the current year (June 2018-May 2019) and the base year (Fiscal 
Year 2014), referred to as (G), is 16.914; and
     Lastly, the percentage change in the CPI-U from the base 
year (Fiscal Year 2014) to the current year (June 2018-May 2019), 
referred to as (H), is 7.167 percent.

Announcement of New Fees and Limitations

    The adjusted amounts of customs COBRA user fees and their 
corresponding limitations for Fiscal Year 2020 as adjusted by 7.167 
percent set forth below are required as of October 1, 2019. Table 1 
provides the fees and limitations found in 19 CFR 24.22 as adjusted for 
Fiscal Year 2020 and Table 2 provides the fees and limitations found in 
19 CFR 24.23 as adjusted for Fiscal Year 2020.
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    \2\ The Commercial Truck Arrival fee is the CBP fee only, it 
does not include the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) 
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) agricultural 
quarantine and inspection (AQI) fee that is collected by CBP on 
behalf of USDA. See 7 CFR 354.3(c) and 19 CFR 24.22(c)(1). Once 19 
Single Crossing Fees have been paid and used for a vehicle 
identification number (VIN)/vehicle in a Decal and Transponder 
Online Procurement System (DTOPS) account within a calendar year, 
the payment required for the 20th (and subsequent) single-crossing 
is only the APHIS/AQI fee and no longer includes the CBP Commercial 
Truck Arrival fee (for the remainder of that calendar year).
    \3\ The Commercial Truck Arrival fee is adjusted down from $5.89 
to the nearest lower nickel. See 82 FR 50523 (November 1, 2017).
    \4\ See footnote 2 above.

     Table 1--Customs COBRA User Fees and Limitations Found in 19 CFR 24.22 as Adjusted for Fiscal Year 2020
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                                                                                                    New fee/
                                                                                                   limitation
          19 U.S.C. 58c                     19 CFR 24.22             Customs COBRA user fee/       adjusted in
                                                                            limitation           accordance with
                                                                                                  the FAST Act
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(a)(1)..........................  (b)(1)(i)......................  Fee: Commercial Vessel                $468.32
                                                                    Arrival Fee.
(b)(5)(A).......................  (b)(1)(ii).....................  Limitation: Calendar Year            6,381.77
                                                                    Maximum for Commercial
                                                                    Vessel Arrival Fees.
(a)(8)..........................  (b)(2)(i)......................  Fee: Barges and Other Bulk             117.88
                                                                    Carriers Arrival Fee.
(b)(6)..........................  (b)(2)(ii).....................  Limitation: Calendar Year            1,607.50
                                                                    Maximum for Barges and
                                                                    Other Bulk Carriers
                                                                    Arrival Fees.
(a)(2)..........................  (c)(1).........................  Fee: Commercial Truck                \3\ 5.85
                                                                    Arrival Fee \2\.
(b)(2)..........................  (c)(2) and (3).................  Limitation: Commercial                 107.17
                                                                    Truck Calendar Year
                                                                    Prepayment Fee \4\.
(a)(3)..........................  (d)(1).........................  Fee: Railroad Car Arrival                8.84
                                                                    Fee.
(b)(3)..........................  (d)(2) and (3).................  Limitation: Railroad Car               107.17
                                                                    Calendar Year Prepayment
                                                                    Fee.
(a)(4)..........................  (e)(1) and (2).................  Fee and Limitation: Private             29.47
                                                                    Vessel or Private Aircraft
                                                                    First Arrival/Calendar
                                                                    Year Prepayment Fee.
(a)(6)..........................  (f)............................  Fee: Dutiable Mail Fee.....              5.89
(a)(5)(A).......................  (g)(1)(i)......................  Fee: Commercial Vessel or                5.89
                                                                    Commercial Aircraft
                                                                    Passenger Arrival Fee.
(a)(5)(B).......................  (g)(1)(ii).....................  Fee: Commercial Vessel                   2.07
                                                                    Passenger Arrival Fee
                                                                    (from one of the
                                                                    territories and
                                                                    possessions of the United
                                                                    States).
(a)(7)..........................  (h)............................  Fee: Customs Broker Permit             147.89
                                                                    User Fee.
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     Table 2--Customs COBRA User Fees and Limitations Found in 19 CFR 24.23 as Adjusted for Fiscal Year 2020
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                                                                                                    New fee/
                                                                                                   limitation
          19 U.S.C. 58c                     19 CFR 24.23             Customs COBRA user fee/       adjusted in
                                                                            limitation           accordance with
                                                                                                  the FAST Act
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(b)(9)(A)(ii)...................  (b)(1)(i)(A)...................  Fee: Express Consignment                $1.07
                                                                    Carrier/Centralized Hub
                                                                    Facility Fee, Per
                                                                    Individual Waybill/Bill of
                                                                    Lading Fee.
(b)(9)(B)(i)....................  (b)(1)(i)(B)(2)................  Limitation: Minimum Express              0.38
                                                                    Consignment Carrier/
                                                                    Centralized Hub Facility
                                                                    Fee \5\.
(b)(9)(B)(i)....................  (b)(1)(i)(B)(2)................  Limitation: Maximum Express              1.07
                                                                    Consignment Carrier/
                                                                    Centralized Hub Facility
                                                                    Fee.
(a)(9)(B)(i); (b)(8)(A)(i)......  (b)(1)(i)(B)(1)................  Limitation: Minimum                     26.79
                                                                    Merchandise Processing Fee
                                                                    \6\.
(a)(9)(B)(i); (b)(8)(A)(i)......  (b)(1)(i)(B)(1)................  Limitation: Maximum                    519.76
                                                                    Merchandise Processing Fee
                                                                    \7\ \8\.
(b)(8)(A)(ii)...................  (b)(1)(ii).....................  Fee: Surcharge for Manual                3.21
                                                                    Entry or Release.
(a)(10)(C)(i)...................  (b)(2)(i)......................  Fee: Informal Entry or                   2.14
                                                                    Release; Automated and Not
                                                                    Prepared by CBP Personnel.
(a)(10)(C)(ii)..................  (b)(2)(ii).....................  Fee: Informal Entry or                   6.43
                                                                    Release; Manual and Not
                                                                    Prepared by CBP Personnel.
(a)(10)(C)(iii).................  (b)(2)(iii)....................  Fee: Informal Entry or                   9.64
                                                                    Release; Automated or
                                                                    Manual; Prepared by CBP
                                                                    Personnel.

[[Page 37904]]

 
(b)(9)(A)(ii)...................  (b)(4).........................  Fee: Express Consignment                 1.07
                                                                    Carrier/Centralized Hub
                                                                    Facility Fee, Per
                                                                    Individual Waybill/Bill of
                                                                    Lading Fee.
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    \5\ Although the minimum limitation is published, the fee 
charged is the fee required by 19 U.S.C. 58c(b)(9)(A)(ii).
    \6\ Only the limitation is increasing; the ad valorem rate of 
0.3464% remains the same. See 82 FR 32661 (July 17, 2017).
    \7\ Id.
    \8\ For monthly pipeline entries, see: https://www.cbp.gov/trade/entry-summary/pipeline-monthly-entry-processing/pipeline-line-qa.
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    Tables 1 and 2, setting forth the adjusted fees and limitations for 
Fiscal Year 2020, will also be maintained for the public's convenience 
on the CBP website at www.cbp.gov.

    Dated: July 30, 2019.
Robert E. Perez,
Deputy Commissioner.
[FR Doc. 2019-16582 Filed 8-1-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9111-14-P