03-18173. Extension of Port Limits of Chicago, IL

AGENCY:

Customs and Border Protection; Homeland Security.

ACTION:

Notice of proposed rulemaking.

SUMMARY:

This document proposes to amend the Customs Regulations pertaining to the field organization of the Bureau of Customs and Border Protection (CBP) by extending the geographical limits of the port of Chicago, Illinois. The change is being proposed as part of CBP's continuing program to obtain more efficient use of its personnel, facilities, and resources, and to provide better service to carriers, importers, and the general public.

DATES:

Comments must be received on or before September 16, 2003.

ADDRESSES:

Written comments must be submitted to the Bureau of Customs and Border Protection, Office of Regulations and Rulings, (Attention: Regulations Branch), 1300 Pennsylvania Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20229. Submitted comments may be inspected at the CBP, 799 9th Street, NW., Washington, DC during regular business hours. Arrangements to inspect submitted comments should be made in advance by calling Mr. Joseph Clark at [phone].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Lorraine Henderson, Office of Field Operations, [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

In order to facilitate the clearance of international freight at an intermodal facility in the City of Elwood, Illinois, CBP is proposing to amend § 101.3(b)(1) by extending the port limits of the port limits of the port of Chicago, to include certain parts of the City of Elwood, Illinois, as described below. The proposed extension of the port limits to include the specified territory will provide better service to importers and the rail transportation industry in central Illinois.

Current Port Limits of Chicago, Illinois

The current port limits of Chicago, Illinois, are described as follows in Treasury Decision (T.D.) 71-121 of May 3, 1971:

Beginning at the point where the northern limits of Cook County, Illinois, intersect Lake Michigan, thence westerly along the Cook County-Lake County Line to the point where State Highway Fifty-Three (52) intersects this Line, thence in a southerly direction along State Highway Fifty-Three (53) to the point where this highway intersects the Dupage County-Will County Line, thence in a general easterly and southerly direction along the northern and eastern limits of Will County, Illinois, to the point where the Will County-Cook County Line intersects the Illinois-Indiana State Line, thence northerly along the Illinois-Indiana State Line to the point near Dyer, Indiana, where U.S. Route Thirty (30) intersects this Line, thence easterly along U.S. Route Thirty (30) to a point where this highway and Indiana State Highway Forty-Nine (49) intersect, thence in a northerly direction along Indiana State Highway Forty-Nine (49) to the place where the highway meets Lake Michigan.

Proposed Port Limits of Chicago, Illinois

CBP proposes to extend the port limits of the port of Chicago, Illinois, to include additional territory in the City of Elwood, Illinois so that the description of the port limits would read as follows:

Beginning at the point where the northern limits of Cook County, Illinois, intersect Lake Michigan, thence westerly along the Cook County-Lake County Line to the point where Illinois Highway Fifty-Three (53) intersects this Line, thence in a southerly direction along Illinois State Highway Fifty-Three (53) to the point where this highway intersects Interstate Highway Fifty-Five (55), thence southwesterly along Interstate Highway Fifty-Five (55) to the point where this highway intersects the north bank of the Kankakee River, thence southeasterly to the point where the Kankakee River intersects State Highway Fifty-Three (53), thence northeasterly to the point where this highway intersects Interstate Highway Eighty (80), thence easterly to the point where this highway intersects the Cook County-Will County Line, thence in a general easterly and southerly direction along the northern and eastern limits of Will County, Illinois, to the point where the Will County-Cook County Line intersects the Illinois-Indiana State Line, thence northerly along the Illinois-Indiana State Line to the point near Dyer, Indiana, where U.S. Route Thirty (30) intersects this Line, thence easterly along U.S. Route Thirty (30) to the point where this highway and the Indiana State Highway Forty-Nine (49) intersect, thence in a northerly direction along Indiana State Highway Forty-Nine (49) to a place where this highway meets Lake Michigan.

Authority

This change is proposed under the authority of 5 U.S.C. 301 and 19 U.S.C. 2, 66 and 1624.

Comments

Before adopting this proposal, consideration will be given to any written comments that are timely submitted to CBP. All such comments received from the public pursuant to this notice of proposed rulemaking will be available for public inspection in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552) and § 103.11(b), Customs Regulations (19 CFR 103.11(b)) during regular business days between the hours of 9 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. at the Regulations Branch, Office of Regulations and Rulings, Customs and Border Protection, Department of Homeland Security, 799 9th Street, NW., Washington, DC.

Regulatory Flexibility Act and Executive Order 12866

CBP establishes, expands and consolidates CBP ports of entry throughout the United States to accommodate the volume of CBP-related activity in various parts of the country. Thus, although this document is being issued with notice for public comment, because it relates to agency management and organization it is not subject to the notice and public procedure requirements of 5 U.S.C. 553. Accordingly, this document is not subject to the provisions of the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.). Agency organization matters such as this proposed port extension are exempt from consideration under Executive Order 12866.

Drafting Information

The principal author of this document was Janet L. Johnson, Regulations Branch. However, personnel from other offices participated in its development.

Dated: July 14, 2003.

Robert C. Bonner,

Commissioner, Customs and Border Protection.

Tom Ridge,

Secretary, Department of Homeland Security.