[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 130 (Thursday, July 8, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Page 36969]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-17398]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
Customs Service
Fees for Customs Services at User Fee Airports
AGENCY: Customs Service, Treasury.
ACTION: General notice.
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SUMMARY: This document advises the public of an increase in the fees
charged user fee airports by Customs for providing Customs services at
these designated facilities. These fees are based on actual costs
incurred by Customs in purchasing equipment and providing training and
one Customs inspector on a full-time basis, and, thus, merely represent
reimbursement to Customs for services rendered. The fees to be
increased are the initial fee charged for a user fee airport's first
year after it signs a Memorandum of Agreement with Customs to become a
user fee airport, and the annual fee thereafter charged user fee
airports.
EFFECTIVE DATE: The new fees will be effective on October 1, 1999, and
will be reflected in quarterly, user fee airport billings issued on or
after that date.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cynthia Sargent, Office of Finance
(202-927-9181).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
Section 236 of the Trade and Tariff Act of 1984 (Pub. L. 98-573, 98
Stat. 2992) (codified at 19 U.S.C. 58b), as amended, authorizes the
Secretary of the Treasury to make Customs services available and charge
a fee for the use of such services at certain specified airports and at
any other airport, seaport, or other facility designated by the
Secretary pursuant to specified criteria. (The list of user fee
airports is found at Sec. 122.15 of the Customs Regulations (19 CFR
122.15.)) The fee that is charged is an amount equal to the expenses
incurred by the Secretary in providing the Customs services at the
designated facility, which includes purchasing equipment and providing
training and inspectional services, i.e., the salary and expenses of
individuals employed by the Secretary to provide the Customs services.
The fees being raised are the initial fee charged for a user fee
airport's first year after it signs a Memorandum of Agreement with
Customs to become a user fee airport (set at $105,000 in Fiscal Year
1997), and the annual fee, thereafter, charged user fee airports (set
at $78,500 in Fiscal Year 1997).
These user fees for user fee airports are typically set forth in
Memorandum of Agreements between a user fee facility and Customs. While
the amount of these fees are agreed to be at flat rates, they are
adjustable, as costs and circumstances change.
The last notice concerning fees charged user fee airports was
published on October 28, 1997, in the Federal Register (62 FR 55846).
Adjustment of User Fee Airport Fees
As of April 30, 1999, Customs has determined that in order for the
charged user fee to actually reimburse Customs for services provided,
the initial fee is increased from $ 105,000 to $111,500, and that the
recurring annual fee subsequently charged is increased from $ 78,500 to
$80,000. The new fees will be effective October 1, 1999, and will be
reflected in quarterly, user fee airport billings issued on or after
that date.
Dated: July 2, 1999.
Wayne Hamilton,
Assistant Commissioner, Office of Finance.
[FR Doc. 99-17398 Filed 7-7-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4820-02-P
