[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 252 (Tuesday, December 31, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Page 69133]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-33107]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
Customs Service
Extension of National Customs Automation Test Regarding
Electronic Protest Filing
AGENCY: U.S. Customs Service, Department of the Treasury.
ACTION: General notice.
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SUMMARY: This notice announces Customs plan to extend the test of its
electronic filing of protests and to expand the number of test ports.
The test will not be opened to new participants at this time. The
notice invites public comments concerning any aspect of the test.
EFFECTIVE DATE: The test of electronic filing of protests, which was
scheduled to end on October 31, 1996, is now scheduled to extend
through April, 1997.
ADDRESSES: Written comments regarding this notice or any aspect of the
test of the electronic protest system should be addressed to the Chief,
Commercial Compliance Branch, U.S. Customs Service, 1301 Constitution
Avenue, N.W., Room 1313, Washington, D.C. 20229-0001.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For operational or policy issues: Neil
Shannon (202)927-0300. For protest system or automation issues: Steve
Linnemann (202) 927-0436.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
On January 30, 1996, a document was published by Customs in the
Federal Register (61 FR 3086) announcing, as part of the National
Customs Automation Program (NCAP), a test regarding the electronic
filing of protests. The test, which began on May 1, 1996 and was to
last six months, involved transaction sets for the Automated Broker
Interface (ABI) allowing the following to be filed electronically and
their status to be tracked electronically:
(1) Protests against decisions of the Customs Service under 19
U.S.C. 1514;
(2) Claims for refunds of Customs duties or corrections of errors
requiring reliquidation pursuant to 19 U.S.C. 1520(c) and (d); and
(3) Interventions in an importer's protest by an exporter or
producer of merchandise from a country that is a party to the North
American Free Trade Agreement under Sec. 181.115 of the Customs
Regulations.
A total of seventeen entities, consisting of importers, brokers,
legal firms and sureties, volunteered to participate in the test. Six
of these volunteers are currently operational. Eight ports were
originally selected for the tests: Baltimore, Buffalo, Chicago, Los
Angeles, Laredo, Los Angeles Airport, New York and Philadelphia.
Extension of Test
The purpose of this notice is to inform the public that Customs has
extended the test of electronic filing and query of protests. The test
is now extended through April 1997. While the test will not be opened
to new participants at this time, Customs will consider expanding the
number of ports at which electronic protests may be filed. Customs is
considering expanding the test to one or more of the following ports:
Charleston (South Carolina), Dallas, El Paso, Houston, Seattle, Miami
and New Orleans.
Dated: December 24, 1996.
Albert W. Tennant,
Acting Assistant Commissioner, Office of Field Operations.
[FR Doc. 96-33107 Filed 12-30-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4820-02-P
