Commercial Truck Single-Crossing User Fee Automation and Prepayment Pilot, 26573-26575 [2016-10348]
Download as PDF
<![CDATA[
Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 85 / Tuesday, May 3, 2016 / Notices
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
(3) Fax: 202–395–6566. To ensure
your comments are received in a timely
manner, mark the fax, attention Desk
Officer for the Coast Guard.
A copy of the ICR is available through
the docket on the Internet at https://
www.regulations.gov. Additionally,
copies are available from:
COMMANDANT (CG–612), ATTN:
PAPERWORK REDUCTION ACT
MANAGER, U.S. COAST GUARD, 2703
MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. AVE. SE.,
STOP 7710, WASHINGTON, DC 20593–
7710.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Contact Mr. Anthony Smith, Office of
Information Management, telephone
202–475–3532, or fax 202–372–8405, for
questions on these documents.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Public Participation and Request for
Comments
This Notice relies on the authority of
the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995;
44 U.S.C. Chapter 35, as amended. An
ICR is an application to OIRA seeking
the approval, extension, or renewal of a
Coast Guard collection of information
(Collection). The ICR contains
information describing the Collection’s
purpose, the Collection’s likely burden
on the affected public, an explanation of
the necessity of the Collection, and
other important information describing
the Collection. There is one ICR for each
Collection.
The Coast Guard invites comments on
whether this ICR should be granted
based on the Collection being necessary
for the proper performance of
Departmental functions. In particular,
the Coast Guard would appreciate
comments addressing: (1) The practical
utility of the Collection; (2) the accuracy
of the estimated burden of the
Collection; (3) ways to enhance the
quality, utility, and clarity of
information subject to the Collection;
and (4) ways to minimize the burden of
the Collection on respondents,
including the use of automated
collection techniques or other forms of
information technology. These
comments will help OIRA determine
whether to approve the ICR referred to
in this Notice.
We encourage you to respond to this
request by submitting comments and
related materials. Comments to Coast
Guard or OIRA must contain the OMB
Control Number of the ICR. They must
also contain the docket number of this
request, [USCG–2015–0757], and must
be received by June 2, 2016.
Submitting Comments
We encourage you to submit
comments through the Federal
VerDate Sep<11>2014
18:53 May 02, 2016
Jkt 238001
eRulemaking Portal at https://
www.regulations.gov. If your material
cannot be submitted using https://
www.regulations.gov, contact the person
in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
CONTACT section of this document for
alternate instructions. Documents
mentioned in this notice, and all public
comments, are in our online docket at
https://www.regulations.gov and can be
viewed by following that Web site’s
instructions. Additionally, if you go to
the online docket and sign up for email
alerts, you will be notified when
comments are posted.
We accept anonymous comments. All
comments received will be posted
without change to https://
www.regulations.gov and will include
any personal information you have
provided. For more about privacy and
the docket, you may review a Privacy
Act notice regarding the Federal Docket
Management System in the March 24,
2005 issue of the Federal Register (70
FR 15086).
OIRA posts its decisions on ICRs
online at https://www.reginfo.gov/public/
do/PRAMain after the comment period
for each ICR. An OMB Notice of Action
on each ICR will become available via
a hyperlink in the OMB Control
Number: 1625–0041.
Previous Request for Comments
This request provides a 30-day
comment period required by OIRA. The
Coast Guard published the 60-day
notice (80 FR 72446, November 19,
2015) required by 44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2).
That Notice elicited no comments.
Accordingly, no changes have been
made to the Collections.
Information Collection Request
Title: Various International
Agreement Pollution Prevention
Certificates and Documents, and
Equivalency Certificates.
OMB Control Number: 1625–0041.
Summary: Required by the adoption
of the International Convention for the
Prevention of Pollution from Ships
(MARPOL 73/78) and other
international treaties, these certificates
and documents are evidence of
compliance for U.S. vessels on
international voyages. Without the
proper certificates or documents, a U.S.
vessel could be detained in a foreign
port.
Need: Compliance with treaty
requirements aids in the prevention of
pollution from ships.
Forms: CG–5352, International Oil
Pollution Prevention Certificates; CG–
5352A, Supplement to the International
Oil Pollution Prevention Certificate
(IOPP Certificate); CG–5352B,
PO 00000
Frm 00048
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
26573
Supplement to the International Oil
pollution Prevention Certificate (IOPP
Certificate); CG–6047, International
Sewage Pollution Prevention
Equivalency Certificate; CG–6047A,
Statement of Voluntary Compliance for
Sewage Pollution Prevention; CG–6056,
International Air Pollution Prevention
Certificate; CG–6056A, Supplement to
International Air Pollution Prevention
Certificate (IAPP Certificate); CG–6056B,
Statement of Voluntary Compliance for
ANNEX VI of MARPOL 73/78; CG–
6056C, Supplement to Statement of
Voluntary Compliance for ANNEX VI of
MARPOL 73/78, CG–6057, Statement of
Voluntary Compliance, CG–6059,
International Anti-Fouling Systems
Certificate; CG–6059A, Record of AntiFouling Systems; CG–6060,
International Energy Efficiency (IEE
Certificate); and CG–6060A,
Supplement to the International Energy
Efficiency Certificate (IEE Certificate).
Respondents: Owners, operators, or
masters of vessels.
Frequency: On occasion.
Hour Burden Estimate: The estimated
burden has increased from 2,738 hours
to 73,900 hours a year due to an
increase in the estimated annual
number of responses of the initial one
year burden for the Ship-to-Ship
Operations Plan.
Authority: The Paperwork Reduction Act
of 1995; 44 U.S.C. Chapter 35, as amended.
Dated: April 26, 2016.
Thomas P. Michelli,
U.S. Coast Guard, Deputy Chief Information
Officer.
[FR Doc. 2016–10311 Filed 5–2–16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110–04–P
DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND
SECURITY
U.S. Customs and Border Protection
Commercial Truck Single-Crossing
User Fee Automation and Prepayment
Pilot
U.S. Customs and Border
Protection; Department of Homeland
Security.
ACTION: General notice.
AGENCY:
This document announces
that U.S. Customs and Border Protection
(CBP) intends to conduct a pilot test
program pursuant to its authority under
19 CFR 101.9(a) to allow a new payment
option for commercial truck singlecrossing user fees. The CBP regulations
specify the applicable user fee for
commercial trucks upon arrival into the
United States and the methods of
payment, which include payment on an
SUMMARY:
E:\FR\FM\03MYN1.SGM
03MYN1
26574
Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 85 / Tuesday, May 3, 2016 / Notices
annual basis or on a per crossing basis.
Although commercial truck carriers can
electronically prepay the user fees on an
annual basis, carriers who opt for the
single-crossing user fee must pay the fee
upon arrival at a U.S. port of entry. This
pilot will enable the owner, agent, or
person in charge of a commercial truck
to prepay the single-crossing user fee
online prior to arrival at a port of entry.
This notice describes the pilot, its
purpose, how it will be implemented,
the duration of the pilot, and invites
public comment on any aspect of the
pilot. This pilot will not affect the
annual commercial truck user fee
payment option.
DATES: The pilot will begin at the
Buffalo, Detroit and El Paso ports of
entry starting on June 2, 2016. If it is
determined that the pilot is working
successfully at these initial ports, the
pilot would be expanded to all U.S. land
border ports of entry that process
commercial trucks. The exact date of the
expansion to all U.S. land border ports
of entry would be announced on the
CBP Web site, https://www.cbp.gov. The
pilot will run for approximately one
year. Comments concerning this notice
and all aspects of the pilot may be
submitted at any time during the pilot
period.
ADDRESSES: Written comments
concerning any aspect of the pilot
should be submitted to James Pattan,
Program Manager, Office of Field
Operations, U.S. Customs and Border
Protection, via email at
James.Pattan@dhs.gov. In the subject
line of your email, please indicate
‘‘Comment on Commercial Truck
Single-Crossing User Fee Pilot’’.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
James Pattan, Program Manager, Office
of Field Operations, U.S. Customs and
Border Protection, by telephone at (202)
344–2293 or by email at
James.Pattan@dhs.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
Commercial Truck User Fees
CBP collects user fees to pay for the
costs incurred in providing customs
services. These user fees offset
inspection costs that were previously
funded solely by general taxpayer
revenue. Pursuant to the Consolidated
Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of
1985 (COBRA), § 13031, Public Law 99–
272, 110 Stat. 82 (1986), codified at 19
U.S.C. 58c, CBP shall charge and collect
certain processing fees for air and sea
passengers, commercial trucks, rail cars,
private vessels, dutiable mail packages,
and Customs broker permits.
VerDate Sep<11>2014
18:53 May 02, 2016
Jkt 238001
Sections 24.22(b)–(e) and (g) of the
CBP implementing regulations (19 CFR
24.22(b)–(e) and (g)) provide that, under
certain circumstances, user fees must be
paid upon arrival into the United States
of certain commercial vessels, barges,
and other bulk carriers from Canada or
Mexico; commercial trucks; railroad
cars; certain private vessels or private
aircraft; and passengers aboard
commercial vessels and commercial
aircraft.
Section 24.22(c) sets forth the
regulations pertaining to the user fees
for commercial trucks upon arrival into
the United States. The total commercial
truck user fee consists of an Animal and
Plant Health Inspection Service/
Agricultural Quarantine Inspection
(APHIS/AQI) fee collected on behalf of
the U.S. Department of Agriculture and
a CBP fee.1 CBP collects the APHIS/AQI
user fee and the CBP user fee together
as one commercial truck user fee.
Current Payment Options
Section 24.22(c) provides commercial
truck carriers with two alternatives to
pay the required user fee. The
commercial truck carrier may either
prepay the fee for all arrivals of that
truck during a calendar year (annual
commercial truck user fee) 2 or pay a per
crossing fee each time the truck enters
the United States (single-crossing user
fee).
The owner, agent, or person in charge
of the commercial truck can prepay the
annual commercial truck user fee online
through the Internet portal, ‘‘Decal and
Transponder Online Procurement
System (DTOPS)’’,3 or by mail.4 After
the annual user fee is paid, a
transponder is issued, which is affixed
to the vehicle’s windshield to reflect the
prepayment.
Carriers that have not prepaid the
annual commercial truck user fee are
required to pay a per crossing fee each
time the truck enters the United States.
The user fee is collected when the truck
arrives at the U.S. port of entry. The
driver or other person in charge of the
commercial truck is required to pay the
user fee during primary processing or
1 The APHIS/AQI fee collected on behalf of the
U.S. Department of Agriculture is authorized by 21
U.S.C. 136a. The APHIS/AQI fee amount is set forth
in Section 354.3 of title 7 of the Code of Federal
Regulations (7 CFR 354.3).
2 For user fee collection purposes, a
‘‘transponder’’ is a plastic card which contains a
chip that electronically transmits confirmation that
applicable user fees for commercial trucks have
been paid for the calendar year.
3 The DTOPS portal allows CBP to process user
fee prepayment requests and accept electronic
payments.
4 CBP Form 339C (Annual User Fee Decal
Request—Commercial Vehicle).
PO 00000
Frm 00049
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
during referral to the administrative
office.5 Payment may be by cash or
credit card.
Commercial Truck Single-Crossing
User Fee Automation and Prepayment
Pilot
Purpose of the Pilot
The purpose of the pilot is to
streamline the payment of the
commercial truck single-crossing user
fees by introducing a new payment
option. Specifically, CBP is working
towards the elimination of cash and
credit card collections of the
commercial truck single-crossing user
fee during commercial truck primary
processing by automating and allowing
prepayment of the fee.
This will provide benefits to both CBP
and to commercial truck carriers. Cash
and credit card collection at the port of
entry is a manual, burdensome, and
time-consuming process. The
automation and prepayment option for
the single-crossing user fee will reduce
wait times, improve primary processing,
save costs to truck carriers associated
with idling time (such as gas and lost
driving hours), and alleviate CBP
officers of the administrative functions
pertaining to the collection, accounting
and transmittal of user fee collections.
Description and Implementation of the
Pilot
Currently, when a commercial truck
arrives at a U.S. port of entry and the
annual user fee has not been prepaid,
the driver or other person in charge of
the truck pays the single-crossing user
fee upon arrival. This pilot provides an
additional payment option that will
allow the owner, agent, or person in
charge of a commercial truck to prepay
the single-crossing user fee online via
the DTOPS portal prior to the truck
arriving at a U.S. port of entry.6 This
pilot will allow the owner, agent, or
person in charge of a commercial truck
to access the DTOPS portal via a
desktop computer (https://
dtops.cbp.dhs.gov/) or a smartphone
app to pay the required single-crossing
user fee before arriving at the U.S. port
of entry. After accessing the DTOPS
portal, the Vehicle Identification
Number (VIN) must be registered and
the required user fee paid by credit card
for each truck that will transit the U.S.
border. After payment is accepted,
DTOPS will provide an electronic
5 The method of payment for the commercial
truck single-crossing user fee is currently
dependent on the logistics of the particular U.S.
port of entry.
6 The prepayment of the annual commercial truck
user fee is already automated via the DTOPS portal.
E:\FR\FM\03MYN1.SGM
03MYN1
26575
Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 85 / Tuesday, May 3, 2016 / Notices
receipt that may be printed. When the
commercial truck arrives at primary
processing, the CBP officer will check
the Automated Commercial
Environment (ACE) system to ensure
that the user fee was prepaid. If the user
fee was not prepaid, the driver or other
person in charge of the truck will be
required to pay the fee at the port of
entry using cash or a credit card.
Duration of the Pilot
The pilot will begin at the Buffalo,
Detroit and El Paso land ports of entry
starting on June 2, 2016. If it is
determined that the pilot is working
successfully at these initial ports, the
pilot would be expanded to all U.S. land
border ports of entry that process
commercial trucks. The exact date of the
expansion to all U.S. land border ports
of entry would be announced on the
CBP Web site, https://www.cbp.gov. The
pilot will run for approximately one
year. Any owner, agent, or person in
charge of a commercial truck can
participate in the pilot. No application
is needed to participate in the pilot.
When sufficient pilot analysis has been
conducted, and the comments analyzed,
CBP will then consider whether to begin
rulemaking to add the single-crossing
commercial truck user fee prepayment
option to 19 CFR 24.22(c).
Privacy
CBP will ensure that all Privacy Act
requirements and applicable policies are
adhered to during the implementation
of this pilot.
Paperwork Reduction Act
An agency may not conduct or
sponsor, and a person is not required to
respond to, a collection of information
unless it displays a valid control
number assigned by OMB. The
collections of information in this notice
will be submitted for OMB approval
1651–0052 (User Fees).
Authorization for the Pilot
For
technical information on the
methodology used to develop FMRs or
a listing of all FMRs, please call the
HUD USER information line at 800–
245–2691 or access the information on
the HUD USER Web site: https://
www.huduser.gov/portal/datasets/
fmr.html. FMRs are listed at the 40th or
50th percentile in Schedule B. For
informational purposes, 40th percentile
recent-mover rents for the areas with
50th percentile FMRs will be provided
in the HUD FY 2016 FMR
documentation system at https://
www.huduser.gov/portal/datasets/fmr/
fmrs/docsys.html?data=fmr16 and 50th
percentile rents for all FMR areas are
published https://www.huduser.gov/
portal/datasets/50per.html.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
This pilot adds a payment option for
commercial truck single-crossing user
fees in addition to the payment method
specified in 19 CFR 24.22(c). It is being
conducted in accordance with § 101.9(a)
of the CBP regulations (19 CFR
101.9(a)), which authorizes the
Commissioner to impose requirements
different from those specified in the
CBP regulations for the purposes of
conducting a test program or procedure
designed to evaluate the effectiveness of
new technology or operational
procedures regarding the processing of
passengers, vessels, or merchandise.
Dated: April 28, 2016.
R. Gil Kerlikowske,
Commissioner.
[FR Doc. 2016–10348 Filed 5–2–16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9111–14–P
DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND
URBAN DEVELOPMENT
[Docket No. FR–5885–N–05]
Final Fair Market Rents for the Housing
Choice Voucher Program and
Moderate Rehabilitation Single Room
Occupancy Program Fiscal Year 2016;
Revised
Office of the Assistant
Secretary for Policy Development and
Research, HUD.
ACTION: Notice of Final Fiscal Year (FY)
2016 Fair Market Rents (FMRs), update.
AGENCY:
Today’s notice updates the FY
2016 FMRs for Burlington-South
Burlington, VT Metropolitan Statistical
Area (MSA), based on a survey of rents
conducted in February, 2016, by the
area public housing agencies (PHAs).
The FY 2016 FMRs for these areas
reflect the estimated 40th percentile rent
levels trended to April 1, 2016.
DATES: Effective Date: The FMRs
published in this notice are effective on
May 3, 2016.
SUMMARY:
Questions related to use of FMRs or
voucher payment standards should be
directed to the respective local HUD
program staff. Questions on how to
conduct FMR surveys or concerning
further methodological explanations
may be addressed to Marie L. Lihn or
Peter B. Kahn, Economic and Market
Analysis Division, Office of Economic
Affairs, Office of Policy Development
and Research, telephone 202–402–2409.
Persons with hearing or speech
impairments may access this number
through TTY by calling the toll-free
Federal Relay Service at 800–877–8339.
(Other than the HUD USER information
line and TDD numbers, telephone
numbers are not toll-free.)
The FMRs
appearing in the following table
supersede the values found in Schedule
B that became effective on December 11,
2015, and were printed in the December
11, 2015 (80 FR 77124) Federal Register
(available from HUD at: https://
www.huduser.gov/portal/datasets/
fmr.html).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
The FMRs for the affected area are
revised as follows:
FMR by number of bedrooms in unit
2016 Fair market rent area
0 BR
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
Burlington-South Burlington, VT MSA .....................................................
1 BR
2 BR
3 BR
4 BR
868
1038
1356
1796
1988
Dated: April 19, 2016.
Katherine M. O’Regan,
Assistant Secretary for Policy Development
& Research.
[FR Doc. 2016–10333 Filed 5–2–16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4210–67–P
VerDate Sep<11>2014
18:53 May 02, 2016
Jkt 238001
PO 00000
Frm 00050
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
E:\FR\FM\03MYN1.SGM
03MYN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 85 (Tuesday, May 3, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 26573-26575]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-10348]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
U.S. Customs and Border Protection
Commercial Truck Single-Crossing User Fee Automation and
Prepayment Pilot
AGENCY: U.S. Customs and Border Protection; Department of Homeland
Security.
ACTION: General notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: This document announces that U.S. Customs and Border
Protection (CBP) intends to conduct a pilot test program pursuant to
its authority under 19 CFR 101.9(a) to allow a new payment option for
commercial truck single-crossing user fees. The CBP regulations specify
the applicable user fee for commercial trucks upon arrival into the
United States and the methods of payment, which include payment on an
[[Page 26574]]
annual basis or on a per crossing basis. Although commercial truck
carriers can electronically prepay the user fees on an annual basis,
carriers who opt for the single-crossing user fee must pay the fee upon
arrival at a U.S. port of entry. This pilot will enable the owner,
agent, or person in charge of a commercial truck to prepay the single-
crossing user fee online prior to arrival at a port of entry. This
notice describes the pilot, its purpose, how it will be implemented,
the duration of the pilot, and invites public comment on any aspect of
the pilot. This pilot will not affect the annual commercial truck user
fee payment option.
DATES: The pilot will begin at the Buffalo, Detroit and El Paso ports
of entry starting on June 2, 2016. If it is determined that the pilot
is working successfully at these initial ports, the pilot would be
expanded to all U.S. land border ports of entry that process commercial
trucks. The exact date of the expansion to all U.S. land border ports
of entry would be announced on the CBP Web site, https://www.cbp.gov.
The pilot will run for approximately one year. Comments concerning this
notice and all aspects of the pilot may be submitted at any time during
the pilot period.
ADDRESSES: Written comments concerning any aspect of the pilot should
be submitted to James Pattan, Program Manager, Office of Field
Operations, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, via email at
James.Pattan@dhs.gov. In the subject line of your email, please
indicate ``Comment on Commercial Truck Single-Crossing User Fee
Pilot''.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: James Pattan, Program Manager, Office
of Field Operations, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, by telephone
at (202) 344-2293 or by email at James.Pattan@dhs.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
Commercial Truck User Fees
CBP collects user fees to pay for the costs incurred in providing
customs services. These user fees offset inspection costs that were
previously funded solely by general taxpayer revenue. Pursuant to the
Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 (COBRA), Sec.
13031, Public Law 99-272, 110 Stat. 82 (1986), codified at 19 U.S.C.
58c, CBP shall charge and collect certain processing fees for air and
sea passengers, commercial trucks, rail cars, private vessels, dutiable
mail packages, and Customs broker permits.
Sections 24.22(b)-(e) and (g) of the CBP implementing regulations
(19 CFR 24.22(b)-(e) and (g)) provide that, under certain
circumstances, user fees must be paid upon arrival into the United
States of certain commercial vessels, barges, and other bulk carriers
from Canada or Mexico; commercial trucks; railroad cars; certain
private vessels or private aircraft; and passengers aboard commercial
vessels and commercial aircraft.
Section 24.22(c) sets forth the regulations pertaining to the user
fees for commercial trucks upon arrival into the United States. The
total commercial truck user fee consists of an Animal and Plant Health
Inspection Service/Agricultural Quarantine Inspection (APHIS/AQI) fee
collected on behalf of the U.S. Department of Agriculture and a CBP
fee.\1\ CBP collects the APHIS/AQI user fee and the CBP user fee
together as one commercial truck user fee.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ The APHIS/AQI fee collected on behalf of the U.S. Department
of Agriculture is authorized by 21 U.S.C. 136a. The APHIS/AQI fee
amount is set forth in Section 354.3 of title 7 of the Code of
Federal Regulations (7 CFR 354.3).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Current Payment Options
Section 24.22(c) provides commercial truck carriers with two
alternatives to pay the required user fee. The commercial truck carrier
may either prepay the fee for all arrivals of that truck during a
calendar year (annual commercial truck user fee) \2\ or pay a per
crossing fee each time the truck enters the United States (single-
crossing user fee).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\2\ For user fee collection purposes, a ``transponder'' is a
plastic card which contains a chip that electronically transmits
confirmation that applicable user fees for commercial trucks have
been paid for the calendar year.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The owner, agent, or person in charge of the commercial truck can
prepay the annual commercial truck user fee online through the Internet
portal, ``Decal and Transponder Online Procurement System (DTOPS)'',\3\
or by mail.\4\ After the annual user fee is paid, a transponder is
issued, which is affixed to the vehicle's windshield to reflect the
prepayment.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\3\ The DTOPS portal allows CBP to process user fee prepayment
requests and accept electronic payments.
\4\ CBP Form 339C (Annual User Fee Decal Request--Commercial
Vehicle).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Carriers that have not prepaid the annual commercial truck user fee
are required to pay a per crossing fee each time the truck enters the
United States. The user fee is collected when the truck arrives at the
U.S. port of entry. The driver or other person in charge of the
commercial truck is required to pay the user fee during primary
processing or during referral to the administrative office.\5\ Payment
may be by cash or credit card.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\5\ The method of payment for the commercial truck single-
crossing user fee is currently dependent on the logistics of the
particular U.S. port of entry.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commercial Truck Single-Crossing User Fee Automation and Prepayment
Pilot
Purpose of the Pilot
The purpose of the pilot is to streamline the payment of the
commercial truck single-crossing user fees by introducing a new payment
option. Specifically, CBP is working towards the elimination of cash
and credit card collections of the commercial truck single-crossing
user fee during commercial truck primary processing by automating and
allowing prepayment of the fee.
This will provide benefits to both CBP and to commercial truck
carriers. Cash and credit card collection at the port of entry is a
manual, burdensome, and time-consuming process. The automation and
prepayment option for the single-crossing user fee will reduce wait
times, improve primary processing, save costs to truck carriers
associated with idling time (such as gas and lost driving hours), and
alleviate CBP officers of the administrative functions pertaining to
the collection, accounting and transmittal of user fee collections.
Description and Implementation of the Pilot
Currently, when a commercial truck arrives at a U.S. port of entry
and the annual user fee has not been prepaid, the driver or other
person in charge of the truck pays the single-crossing user fee upon
arrival. This pilot provides an additional payment option that will
allow the owner, agent, or person in charge of a commercial truck to
prepay the single-crossing user fee online via the DTOPS portal prior
to the truck arriving at a U.S. port of entry.\6\ This pilot will allow
the owner, agent, or person in charge of a commercial truck to access
the DTOPS portal via a desktop computer (https://dtops.cbp.dhs.gov/) or
a smartphone app to pay the required single-crossing user fee before
arriving at the U.S. port of entry. After accessing the DTOPS portal,
the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) must be registered and the
required user fee paid by credit card for each truck that will transit
the U.S. border. After payment is accepted, DTOPS will provide an
electronic
[[Page 26575]]
receipt that may be printed. When the commercial truck arrives at
primary processing, the CBP officer will check the Automated Commercial
Environment (ACE) system to ensure that the user fee was prepaid. If
the user fee was not prepaid, the driver or other person in charge of
the truck will be required to pay the fee at the port of entry using
cash or a credit card.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\6\ The prepayment of the annual commercial truck user fee is
already automated via the DTOPS portal.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Duration of the Pilot
The pilot will begin at the Buffalo, Detroit and El Paso land ports
of entry starting on June 2, 2016. If it is determined that the pilot
is working successfully at these initial ports, the pilot would be
expanded to all U.S. land border ports of entry that process commercial
trucks. The exact date of the expansion to all U.S. land border ports
of entry would be announced on the CBP Web site, https://www.cbp.gov.
The pilot will run for approximately one year. Any owner, agent, or
person in charge of a commercial truck can participate in the pilot. No
application is needed to participate in the pilot. When sufficient
pilot analysis has been conducted, and the comments analyzed, CBP will
then consider whether to begin rulemaking to add the single-crossing
commercial truck user fee prepayment option to 19 CFR 24.22(c).
Privacy
CBP will ensure that all Privacy Act requirements and applicable
policies are adhered to during the implementation of this pilot.
Paperwork Reduction Act
An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required
to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a valid
control number assigned by OMB. The collections of information in this
notice will be submitted for OMB approval 1651-0052 (User Fees).
Authorization for the Pilot
This pilot adds a payment option for commercial truck single-
crossing user fees in addition to the payment method specified in 19
CFR 24.22(c). It is being conducted in accordance with Sec. 101.9(a)
of the CBP regulations (19 CFR 101.9(a)), which authorizes the
Commissioner to impose requirements different from those specified in
the CBP regulations for the purposes of conducting a test program or
procedure designed to evaluate the effectiveness of new technology or
operational procedures regarding the processing of passengers, vessels,
or merchandise.
Dated: April 28, 2016.
R. Gil Kerlikowske,
Commissioner.
[FR Doc. 2016-10348 Filed 5-2-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9111-14-P
