eBond Test Modifications and Clarifications: Continuous Bond Executed Prior to or Outside the eBond Test May Be Converted to an eBond by the Surety and Principal, Termination of an eBond, Identification of Principal on an eBond by Filing Identification Number, and Email Address Correction, 899-901 [2015-00029]
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Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 4 / Wednesday, January 7, 2015 / Notices
Check with the government agency
regarding which document(s) the agency
will accept. You may also provide the
agency with a copy of this Federal
Register Notice.
Some benefit-granting agencies use
the USCIS Systematic Alien Verification
for Entitlements Program (SAVE) to
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agency has denied your application
based solely or in part on a SAVE
response, the agency must offer you the
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and acted upon or will act upon a SAVE
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Detailed information on how to make
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submit a written request to correct
records under the Freedom of
Information Act can be found at the
SAVE Web site at https://www.uscis.gov/
save, then by choosing ‘‘How to Correct
Your Records’’ from the menu on the
right.
[FR Doc. 2015–00031 Filed 1–6–15; 8:45 am]
by which continuous bonds executed
prior to or outside of the eBond test may
be converted to eBonds by the surety
and principal; a surety or principal’s
ability to terminate an eBond; the
identification of the principal on an
eBond by the filing identification
number; and an email address
correction.
The eBond test modifications
and clarifications set forth in this notice
will go into effect January 7, 2015.
DATES:
Comments and/or questions
concerning this notice or any aspect of
the test may be submitted to CBP via
email to eBondTest@cbp.dhs.gov, with
the subject line identifier reading
‘‘Comment/Questions on eBond test.’’
ADDRESSES:
For
policy related questions, contact Kara
Welty, Chief, Debt Management Branch,
Revenue Division, Office of
Administration, at kara.welty@dhs.gov.
For technical questions, contact John
Everett, Entry Summary, Accounts, and
Revenue Branch, ACE Business Office,
Office of International Trade, at
john.r.everett@dhs.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
BILLING CODE 9111–97–P
Background
DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND
SECURITY
I. eBond Test
U.S. Customs and Border Protection
eBond Test Modifications and
Clarifications: Continuous Bond
Executed Prior to or Outside the
eBond Test May Be Converted to an
eBond by the Surety and Principal,
Termination of an eBond, Identification
of Principal on an eBond by Filing
Identification Number, and Email
Address Correction
U.S. Customs and Border
Protection, Department of Homeland
Security.
ACTION: General notice.
AGENCY:
This notice announces
modifications and clarifications to U.S.
Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP’s)
voluntary National Customs Automation
Program eBond test, scheduled to
deploy January 3, 2015. This test
provides for the transmission in
Automated Commercial Environment of
electronic bond contracts (eBonds)
between principals and sureties, with
CBP as third-party beneficiary, for the
purpose of linking those eBonds to the
transactions they are intended to secure.
The modifications and clarifications to
CBP’s eBond test concern: The method
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SUMMARY:
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In a notice published in the Federal
Register (79 FR 70881) on November 28,
2014, U.S. Customs and Border
Protection (CBP) announced a plan to
conduct a voluntary National Customs
Automation Program (NCAP) eBond
test. The eBond test, scheduled to
deploy on January 3, 2015, provides for
the transmission in Automated
Commercial Environment (ACE) of
electronic bond contracts (eBonds)
between principals and sureties, with
CBP as the third-party beneficiary, for
the purpose of linking those eBonds to
the transactions they are intended to
secure (eBond system). The notice
invited public comment concerning the
test, described the eligibility, procedural
and documentation requirements for
voluntary participation in the test, and
outlined the development and
evaluation methodology to be used in
the test. The eBond test terms and
conditions set forth in 79 FR 70881
remain in effect for the duration of the
eBond test, subject to the modifications
and clarifications set forth in this notice
and any subsequent eBond test
modifications published in the Federal
Register.
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Sfmt 4703
899
II. Modifications and Clarifications to
the eBond Test
A. Continuous Bonds Executed Prior to
or Outside the eBond Test May Be
Converted to eBonds by the Surety and
Principal
In the eBond test notice published in
79 FR 70881 (also referred to in this
notice as the ‘‘original eBond test
notice’’), CBP indicated that continuous
bonds executed prior to January 3, 2015,
will be accessible in the eBond system
for administration purposes but will not
be subject to eBond test rules. Instead,
pre-January 3, 2015 continuous bonds
will remain subject to the CBP bond
regulations in 19 CFR part 113, and
riders of such bonds must be submitted
to CBP in the format and manner
detailed in 19 CFR part 113. Similarly,
after the eBond test commences on
January 3, 2015, sureties and principals
who choose not to participate in the
eBond test will still be able to submit
bonds to CBP in the format and manner
detailed in 19 CFR part 113, and those
bonds will be accessible in the eBond
system for administration purposes.
This notice announces a modification
to the eBond test to permit participating
sureties/surety agents, acting on behalf
of the sureties and principals, to convert
pre-January 3, 2015 continuous bonds
and other continuous bonds executed
outside of the eBond test (collectively
referred to hereinafter as ‘‘paper
continuous bonds’’) into eBonds subject
to the rules set forth in this notice and
the original eBond test notice. Under the
terms of the original eBond test notice,
a participating surety or the surety’s
agent may, via a CBP-approved
Electronic Data Interchange (EDI),
transmit limited changes to the terms
and conditions of an active continuous
eBond that are contractually binding on
the principal(s) and surety(ies). At this
time, such changes include:
(1) Transmitting an addition eBond
rider (clarified below to be a User
Addition eBond rider);
(2) Transmitting a deletion eBond
rider (clarified below to be a User
Deletion eBond rider);
(3) Transmitting a reconciliation
eBond rider;
(4) Terminating a reconciliation
eBond rider;
(5) Transmitting a U.S. Virgin Islands
eBond rider; and
(6) Terminating the eBond.
This notice announces a modification
to the eBond test whereby a
participating surety or the surety’s agent
may also transmit, via EDI, the same
types of limited changes to the terms
and conditions of an active paper
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Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 4 / Wednesday, January 7, 2015 / Notices
rljohnson on DSK3VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
continuous bond accessible in the
eBond system.
In accordance with 19 U.S.C. 1623,
and consistent with the Electronic
Signatures in Global and National
Commerce Act, 15 U.S.C. 7001, et seq.,
the test participant surety/surety agent’s
act of transmitting to CBP, via EDI, a
change to a paper continuous bond
(including, but not limited to, the six
types of changes described above)
constitutes a binding representation to
CBP that: (1) The transmitting surety/
surety agent has the authority to bind
both the surety(ies) and the principal(s)
to the conversion of the identified paper
continuous bond to an eBond, including
but not limited to the modification of
the terms and conditions of the
identified paper continuous bond to the
terms and conditions of the eBond test;
and (2) Pursuant to the transmitting
surety/surety agent’s authority, both the
surety(ies) and the principal(s) intend to
be bound by the converted eBond,
including the terms and conditions for
the eBond set forth in the eBond test.
Furthermore, any transaction that
identifies or uses the converted eBond
as security constitutes the re-affirmation
of the principal responsible for the
transaction that it intends to be bound
by the terms and conditions of the
identified or used converted eBond.
Once the surety(ies) and principal(s),
acting through the transmitting surety/
surety agent, have converted a paper
continuous bond to an eBond, the
eBond cannot be converted back into a
paper continuous bond.
Because the elements of paper
continuous bonds are similar to eBonds,
but not identical, certain elements of the
paper continuous bond will not be used
as part of the converted eBond. These
unused elements are: Broker Filer Code;
Transaction Date; Port Code; Principal
Name and Physical Address; Principal
Signature; Principal Seal (or check box);
Mailing Address Requested by the
Surety, Surety Name and Physical
Address; Surety Signature; Surety Seal
(or check box); Principal Name, CoPrincipal Name and Physical Address;
Co-Principal Signature; Co-Principal
Seal (or check box); Section III Names;
Co-Surety Name and Physical Address;
Co-Surety Signature; and Co-Surety Seal
(or check box).
B. CBP Filing Identification Number as
Primary eBond Identification Marker
In several places in the original eBond
test notice, CBP referenced the concept
of an eBond or eBond rider containing
listed ‘‘names.’’ In that document, CBP
also noted, at 79 FR 70885, that the
importer identification number and
surety number will be the primary
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15:01 Jan 06, 2015
Jkt 235001
eBond identification markers and CBP
will not be collecting the name and
address of the principal or surety on the
eBond as this data will be available to
CBP via other components of ACE.
In this document, CBP is clarifying
the eBond test terms and conditions to
reflect that the ‘‘CBP filing identification
number’’ (see 19 CFR 24.5), and not a
‘‘name,’’ will be the method of
identifying the principal on an eBond.
Accordingly, there are several references
to the use of eBond ‘‘names’’ that
require clarification in the original
eBond test notice as follows:
• At 79 FR 70883, in the section
entitled, ‘‘Terms and Conditions for
eBonds,’’ the sentence reading ‘‘[T]he
principal(s) and surety(ies) agree that
any charge against the eBond under any
of the listed names is as though it was
made by the principal(s)’’ is clarified by
changing the term ‘‘listed names’’ to
‘‘listed CBP filing identification
numbers.’’
• At 79 FR 70885, in the section
entitled ‘‘Continuous Bonds Executed
Prior to eBond Test Will Be Accessible
in eBond System,’’ the sentence reading
‘‘[T]he importer identification number
and surety number will continue to be
the primary identification markers used
by CBP when verifying adequate bond
coverage for activities that require it,’’ is
clarified by changing the words
‘‘importer identification number’’ to
‘‘CBP filing identification number’’ to
reflect that the filing identification
number is not always associated with an
importer.
• At 79 FR 70884, in the section
entitled, ‘‘Terms and Conditions for
eBond Riders,’’ and subsections
pertaining to ‘‘Addition’’ and
‘‘Deletion’’ eBond riders, CBP is
clarifying these terms and conditions by
changing the existing reference to
‘‘names’’ transmitted with these eBond
riders to ‘‘CBP filing identification
numbers’’ and further clarifying that
these two types of eBond riders are
‘‘user’’ riders.
The changes are set forth below:
(1) User Addition eBond rider. The
principal(s) and surety(ies) agree that
the CBP filing identification numbers
transmitted with this eBond rider
identify unincorporated units of the
identified principal or trade or business
names used by the identified principal
in its business, that the identified eBond
covers its business, and that the
identified eBond covers any act done in
those names or under the CBP filing
identification numbers to the same
extent as though done by the identified
principal. The principal(s) and
surety(ies) agree that any such act shall
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Frm 00042
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
be considered to be the act of the
identified principal.
(2) User Deletion eBond rider. The
principal(s) and surety(ies) agree that
the CBP filing identification numbers
transmitted with this eBond rider of
unincorporated units of the identified
principal or trade or business names
used by the identified principal in its
business are deleted from the identified
eBond effective upon the date of
approval of this eBond rider by the
appropriate CBP bond approval official.
C. Termination of an eBond
In the original eBond test notice, in
the section entitled ‘‘Termination of an
eBond’’ located at 79 FR 70885, CBP
prescribed the manner by which a
surety may electronically terminate an
eBond on which it is obligated.
This notice announces a modification
to the eBond test termination
procedures whereby a surety wishing to
terminate an eBond must notify the
principal(s) at the same time notice of
termination is sent to CBP. In addition,
a surety may request that a termination
go into effect sooner than the prescribed
15 calendar days from the date of the
termination notice if the surety can
establish, to the Director of the Revenue
Division’s satisfaction, that good cause
exists for terminating the eBond in
lesser time. CBP is also modifying the
eBond test to permit a principal to
terminate an eBond on which it is
obligated by means of emailing a
termination request to CBP. A principal
may not terminate an eBond via EDI.
The modified eBond test terms and
conditions pertaining to termination of
an eBond are set forth below:
Termination of an eBond by Surety/
Surety Agent
A surety may, with or without the
consent of the principal(s),
electronically terminate an eBond on
which it is obligated. The surety must
notify the principal(s) of the termination
at the same time the electronic notice of
termination is transmitted to CBP. The
effective date of the termination must be
stated in the electronic notice of
termination, and must be at least 15
calendar days from the date of the
electronic notice of termination, unless
the surety can show to the satisfaction
of the Director of the Revenue Division
(RD) that good cause exists for
terminating the eBond in lesser time. A
request for a termination effective date
that is less than 15 calendar days from
the date of the electronic notice of
termination must be emailed to
CBP.bondquestions@dhs.gov in
accordance with the email conventions
described in CBP’s Policies and
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Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 4 / Wednesday, January 7, 2015 / Notices
Procedures for eBond (FRN eBond Test
Participants), which is available at
https://www.cbp.gov/trade/tradecommunity/programs-administration/
bonds/ebond. If an eBond is terminated,
no new customs transactions may be
charged against the eBond. The surety,
as well as the principal, remains liable
on a terminated eBond for obligations
incurred prior to termination.
Termination of an eBond by a Principal
A request by a principal to terminate
an eBond must be emailed to
CBP.bondquestions@dhs.gov in
accordance with the email conventions
described in CBP’s Policies and
Procedures for eBond (FRN eBond Test
Participants), which is available at
https://www.cbp.gov/trade/tradecommunity/programs-administration/
bonds/ebond. A principal may not
terminate an eBond via EDI. The
termination will take effect on the date
requested in the termination request if
that date is at least 15 calendar days
from the date of the termination request.
If no termination date is requested, the
termination will take effect on the 15th
calendar day following the date of the
termination request. If an eBond is
terminated, no new customs
transactions may be charged against the
eBond. The surety, as well as the
principal, remains liable on a
terminated eBond for obligations
incurred prior to termination.
D. Correction of Email Address
The original eBond Test notice
contained an erroneous email address
for the contact to whom technical
questions may be sent. Technical
questions may be emailed to John
Everett, Entry Summary, Accounts, and
Revenue Branch, ACE Business Office,
Office of International Trade, at the
following email address: john.r.everett@
dhs.gov.
Dated: January 2, 2015.
Brenda Smith,
Assistant Commissioner, Office of
International Trade.
[FR Doc. 2015–00029 Filed 1–6–15; 8:45 am]
rljohnson on DSK3VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
BILLING CODE 9111–14–P
DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND
URBAN DEVELOPMENT
[Docket No. FR–5756–N–44]
60-Day Notice of Proposed Information
Collection: Procedures for Appealing
Section 8 Rent Adjustments; OMB
Collection: 2502–0446
Office of the Assistant
Secretary for Housing-Federal Housing
Commissioner, HUD.
AGENCY:
ACTION:
Notice.
HUD is seeking approval from
the Office of Management and Budget
(OMB) for the information collection
described below. In accordance with the
Paperwork Reduction Act, HUD is
requesting comment from all interested
parties on the proposed collection of
information. The purpose of this notice
is to allow for 60 days of public
comment.
SUMMARY:
DATES:
Comments Due Date: March 9,
2015.
Interested persons are
invited to submit comments regarding
this proposal. Comments should refer to
the proposal by name and/or OMB
Control Number and should be sent to:
Colette Pollard, Reports Management
Officer, QDAM, Department of Housing
and Urban Development, 451 7th Street
SW., Room 4176, Washington, DC
20410–5000; telephone 202–402–3400
(this is not a toll-free number) or email
at Colette.Pollard@hud.gov for a copy of
the proposed forms or other available
information. Persons with hearing or
speech impairments may access this
number through TTY by calling the tollfree Federal Relay Service at (800) 877–
8339.
ADDRESSES:
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Katherine A. Nzive, Director Program
Administration Division, Office of Asset
Management and Portfolio Oversight,
202–708–2654 Katherine.A.Nzive@
hud.gov Department of Housing and
Urban Development, 451 7th Street SW.,
Washington, DC 20410. This is not a
toll-free number. Persons with hearing
or speech impairments may access this
number through TTY by calling the tollfree Federal Relay Service at (800) 877–
8339.
Copies of available documents
submitted to OMB may be obtained
from Ms. Pollard.
This
notice informs the public that HUD is
seeking approval from OMB for the
information collection described in
section A.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
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901
A. Overview of Information Collection
Title of Information Collection:
Procedure for Appealing Section 8 Rent
Adjustments.
OMB Approval Number: 2502–0446.
Type of Request: Extension.
Form Number: Owners will submit
rent appeal on owner’s letterhead
providing a written explanation for the
appeal.
Description of the need for the
information and proposed use: Title II,
section 221, of the National Housing Act
requires the Department of Housing and
Urban Development (HUD) to establish
rents for certain subsidized rental
projects. Under this legislation, HUD is
charged with the responsibility of
determining the method of rent
adjustments and with facilitating these
adjustments. Because rent adjustments
are considered benefits to project
owners, HUD must also provide some
means for owners to appeal the
decisions made by the Department or
the Contract Administrator. This appeal
process and the information collection
play an important role in preventing
costly litigation and in ensuring the
accuracy of the overall rent adjustment
process.
Respondents (i.e. affected public):
Owners of certain subsidized
multifamily rental projects.
Estimated Number of Respondents:
525.
Estimated Number of Responses: 525.
Frequency of Response: 1.
Average Hours per Response: 2.
Total Estimated Burdens: 1050.
B. Solicitation of Public Comment
This notice is soliciting comments
from members of the public and affected
parties concerning the collection of
information described in section A on
the following:
(1) Whether the proposed collection
of information is necessary for the
proper performance of the functions of
the agency, including whether the
information will have practical utility;
(2) The accuracy of the agency’s
estimate of the burden of the proposed
collection of information;
(3) Ways to enhance the quality,
utility, and clarity of the information to
be collected; and
(4) Ways to minimize the burden of
the collection of information on those
who are to respond; including through
the use of appropriate automated
collection techniques or other forms of
information technology, e.g., permitting
electronic submission of responses.
HUD encourages interested parties to
submit comment in response to these
questions.
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 4 (Wednesday, January 7, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 899-901]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-00029]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
U.S. Customs and Border Protection
eBond Test Modifications and Clarifications: Continuous Bond
Executed Prior to or Outside the eBond Test May Be Converted to an
eBond by the Surety and Principal, Termination of an eBond,
Identification of Principal on an eBond by Filing Identification
Number, and Email Address Correction
AGENCY: U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Department of Homeland
Security.
ACTION: General notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: This notice announces modifications and clarifications to U.S.
Customs and Border Protection's (CBP's) voluntary National Customs
Automation Program eBond test, scheduled to deploy January 3, 2015.
This test provides for the transmission in Automated Commercial
Environment of electronic bond contracts (eBonds) between principals
and sureties, with CBP as third-party beneficiary, for the purpose of
linking those eBonds to the transactions they are intended to secure.
The modifications and clarifications to CBP's eBond test concern: The
method by which continuous bonds executed prior to or outside of the
eBond test may be converted to eBonds by the surety and principal; a
surety or principal's ability to terminate an eBond; the identification
of the principal on an eBond by the filing identification number; and
an email address correction.
DATES: The eBond test modifications and clarifications set forth in
this notice will go into effect January 7, 2015.
ADDRESSES: Comments and/or questions concerning this notice or any
aspect of the test may be submitted to CBP via email to
eBondTest@cbp.dhs.gov, with the subject line identifier reading
``Comment/Questions on eBond test.''
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For policy related questions, contact
Kara Welty, Chief, Debt Management Branch, Revenue Division, Office of
Administration, at kara.welty@dhs.gov. For technical questions, contact
John Everett, Entry Summary, Accounts, and Revenue Branch, ACE Business
Office, Office of International Trade, at john.r.everett@dhs.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
I. eBond Test
In a notice published in the Federal Register (79 FR 70881) on
November 28, 2014, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced a
plan to conduct a voluntary National Customs Automation Program (NCAP)
eBond test. The eBond test, scheduled to deploy on January 3, 2015,
provides for the transmission in Automated Commercial Environment (ACE)
of electronic bond contracts (eBonds) between principals and sureties,
with CBP as the third-party beneficiary, for the purpose of linking
those eBonds to the transactions they are intended to secure (eBond
system). The notice invited public comment concerning the test,
described the eligibility, procedural and documentation requirements
for voluntary participation in the test, and outlined the development
and evaluation methodology to be used in the test. The eBond test terms
and conditions set forth in 79 FR 70881 remain in effect for the
duration of the eBond test, subject to the modifications and
clarifications set forth in this notice and any subsequent eBond test
modifications published in the Federal Register.
II. Modifications and Clarifications to the eBond Test
A. Continuous Bonds Executed Prior to or Outside the eBond Test May Be
Converted to eBonds by the Surety and Principal
In the eBond test notice published in 79 FR 70881 (also referred to
in this notice as the ``original eBond test notice''), CBP indicated
that continuous bonds executed prior to January 3, 2015, will be
accessible in the eBond system for administration purposes but will not
be subject to eBond test rules. Instead, pre-January 3, 2015 continuous
bonds will remain subject to the CBP bond regulations in 19 CFR part
113, and riders of such bonds must be submitted to CBP in the format
and manner detailed in 19 CFR part 113. Similarly, after the eBond test
commences on January 3, 2015, sureties and principals who choose not to
participate in the eBond test will still be able to submit bonds to CBP
in the format and manner detailed in 19 CFR part 113, and those bonds
will be accessible in the eBond system for administration purposes.
This notice announces a modification to the eBond test to permit
participating sureties/surety agents, acting on behalf of the sureties
and principals, to convert pre-January 3, 2015 continuous bonds and
other continuous bonds executed outside of the eBond test (collectively
referred to hereinafter as ``paper continuous bonds'') into eBonds
subject to the rules set forth in this notice and the original eBond
test notice. Under the terms of the original eBond test notice, a
participating surety or the surety's agent may, via a CBP-approved
Electronic Data Interchange (EDI), transmit limited changes to the
terms and conditions of an active continuous eBond that are
contractually binding on the principal(s) and surety(ies). At this
time, such changes include:
(1) Transmitting an addition eBond rider (clarified below to be a
User Addition eBond rider);
(2) Transmitting a deletion eBond rider (clarified below to be a
User Deletion eBond rider);
(3) Transmitting a reconciliation eBond rider;
(4) Terminating a reconciliation eBond rider;
(5) Transmitting a U.S. Virgin Islands eBond rider; and
(6) Terminating the eBond.
This notice announces a modification to the eBond test whereby a
participating surety or the surety's agent may also transmit, via EDI,
the same types of limited changes to the terms and conditions of an
active paper
[[Page 900]]
continuous bond accessible in the eBond system.
In accordance with 19 U.S.C. 1623, and consistent with the
Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, 15 U.S.C.
7001, et seq., the test participant surety/surety agent's act of
transmitting to CBP, via EDI, a change to a paper continuous bond
(including, but not limited to, the six types of changes described
above) constitutes a binding representation to CBP that: (1) The
transmitting surety/surety agent has the authority to bind both the
surety(ies) and the principal(s) to the conversion of the identified
paper continuous bond to an eBond, including but not limited to the
modification of the terms and conditions of the identified paper
continuous bond to the terms and conditions of the eBond test; and (2)
Pursuant to the transmitting surety/surety agent's authority, both the
surety(ies) and the principal(s) intend to be bound by the converted
eBond, including the terms and conditions for the eBond set forth in
the eBond test. Furthermore, any transaction that identifies or uses
the converted eBond as security constitutes the re-affirmation of the
principal responsible for the transaction that it intends to be bound
by the terms and conditions of the identified or used converted eBond.
Once the surety(ies) and principal(s), acting through the transmitting
surety/surety agent, have converted a paper continuous bond to an
eBond, the eBond cannot be converted back into a paper continuous bond.
Because the elements of paper continuous bonds are similar to
eBonds, but not identical, certain elements of the paper continuous
bond will not be used as part of the converted eBond. These unused
elements are: Broker Filer Code; Transaction Date; Port Code; Principal
Name and Physical Address; Principal Signature; Principal Seal (or
check box); Mailing Address Requested by the Surety, Surety Name and
Physical Address; Surety Signature; Surety Seal (or check box);
Principal Name, Co-Principal Name and Physical Address; Co-Principal
Signature; Co-Principal Seal (or check box); Section III Names; Co-
Surety Name and Physical Address; Co-Surety Signature; and Co-Surety
Seal (or check box).
B. CBP Filing Identification Number as Primary eBond Identification
Marker
In several places in the original eBond test notice, CBP referenced
the concept of an eBond or eBond rider containing listed ``names.'' In
that document, CBP also noted, at 79 FR 70885, that the importer
identification number and surety number will be the primary eBond
identification markers and CBP will not be collecting the name and
address of the principal or surety on the eBond as this data will be
available to CBP via other components of ACE.
In this document, CBP is clarifying the eBond test terms and
conditions to reflect that the ``CBP filing identification number''
(see 19 CFR 24.5), and not a ``name,'' will be the method of
identifying the principal on an eBond. Accordingly, there are several
references to the use of eBond ``names'' that require clarification in
the original eBond test notice as follows:
At 79 FR 70883, in the section entitled, ``Terms and
Conditions for eBonds,'' the sentence reading ``[T]he principal(s) and
surety(ies) agree that any charge against the eBond under any of the
listed names is as though it was made by the principal(s)'' is
clarified by changing the term ``listed names'' to ``listed CBP filing
identification numbers.''
At 79 FR 70885, in the section entitled ``Continuous Bonds
Executed Prior to eBond Test Will Be Accessible in eBond System,'' the
sentence reading ``[T]he importer identification number and surety
number will continue to be the primary identification markers used by
CBP when verifying adequate bond coverage for activities that require
it,'' is clarified by changing the words ``importer identification
number'' to ``CBP filing identification number'' to reflect that the
filing identification number is not always associated with an importer.
At 79 FR 70884, in the section entitled, ``Terms and
Conditions for eBond Riders,'' and subsections pertaining to
``Addition'' and ``Deletion'' eBond riders, CBP is clarifying these
terms and conditions by changing the existing reference to ``names''
transmitted with these eBond riders to ``CBP filing identification
numbers'' and further clarifying that these two types of eBond riders
are ``user'' riders.
The changes are set forth below:
(1) User Addition eBond rider. The principal(s) and surety(ies)
agree that the CBP filing identification numbers transmitted with this
eBond rider identify unincorporated units of the identified principal
or trade or business names used by the identified principal in its
business, that the identified eBond covers its business, and that the
identified eBond covers any act done in those names or under the CBP
filing identification numbers to the same extent as though done by the
identified principal. The principal(s) and surety(ies) agree that any
such act shall be considered to be the act of the identified principal.
(2) User Deletion eBond rider. The principal(s) and surety(ies)
agree that the CBP filing identification numbers transmitted with this
eBond rider of unincorporated units of the identified principal or
trade or business names used by the identified principal in its
business are deleted from the identified eBond effective upon the date
of approval of this eBond rider by the appropriate CBP bond approval
official.
C. Termination of an eBond
In the original eBond test notice, in the section entitled
``Termination of an eBond'' located at 79 FR 70885, CBP prescribed the
manner by which a surety may electronically terminate an eBond on which
it is obligated.
This notice announces a modification to the eBond test termination
procedures whereby a surety wishing to terminate an eBond must notify
the principal(s) at the same time notice of termination is sent to CBP.
In addition, a surety may request that a termination go into effect
sooner than the prescribed 15 calendar days from the date of the
termination notice if the surety can establish, to the Director of the
Revenue Division's satisfaction, that good cause exists for terminating
the eBond in lesser time. CBP is also modifying the eBond test to
permit a principal to terminate an eBond on which it is obligated by
means of emailing a termination request to CBP. A principal may not
terminate an eBond via EDI.
The modified eBond test terms and conditions pertaining to
termination of an eBond are set forth below:
Termination of an eBond by Surety/Surety Agent
A surety may, with or without the consent of the principal(s),
electronically terminate an eBond on which it is obligated. The surety
must notify the principal(s) of the termination at the same time the
electronic notice of termination is transmitted to CBP. The effective
date of the termination must be stated in the electronic notice of
termination, and must be at least 15 calendar days from the date of the
electronic notice of termination, unless the surety can show to the
satisfaction of the Director of the Revenue Division (RD) that good
cause exists for terminating the eBond in lesser time. A request for a
termination effective date that is less than 15 calendar days from the
date of the electronic notice of termination must be emailed to
CBP.bondquestions@dhs.gov in accordance with the email conventions
described in CBP's Policies and
[[Page 901]]
Procedures for eBond (FRN eBond Test Participants), which is available
at https://www.cbp.gov/trade/trade-community/programs-administration/bonds/ebond. If an eBond is terminated, no new customs transactions may
be charged against the eBond. The surety, as well as the principal,
remains liable on a terminated eBond for obligations incurred prior to
termination.
Termination of an eBond by a Principal
A request by a principal to terminate an eBond must be emailed to
CBP.bondquestions@dhs.gov in accordance with the email conventions
described in CBP's Policies and Procedures for eBond (FRN eBond Test
Participants), which is available at https://www.cbp.gov/trade/trade-community/programs-administration/bonds/ebond. A principal may not
terminate an eBond via EDI. The termination will take effect on the
date requested in the termination request if that date is at least 15
calendar days from the date of the termination request. If no
termination date is requested, the termination will take effect on the
15th calendar day following the date of the termination request. If an
eBond is terminated, no new customs transactions may be charged against
the eBond. The surety, as well as the principal, remains liable on a
terminated eBond for obligations incurred prior to termination.
D. Correction of Email Address
The original eBond Test notice contained an erroneous email address
for the contact to whom technical questions may be sent. Technical
questions may be emailed to John Everett, Entry Summary, Accounts, and
Revenue Branch, ACE Business Office, Office of International Trade, at
the following email address: john.r.everett@dhs.gov.
Dated: January 2, 2015.
Brenda Smith,
Assistant Commissioner, Office of International Trade.
[FR Doc. 2015-00029 Filed 1-6-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9111-14-P
