Request for Applicants for Appointment to the Commercial Customs Operations Advisory Committee (COAC), 54588 [2020-19413]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
• U.S. Customs and Border Protection

[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 171 (Wednesday, September 2, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Page 54588]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-19413]



[[Page 54588]]

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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

U.S. Customs and Border Protection

[Docket No. USCBP-2020-0037]


Request for Applicants for Appointment to the Commercial Customs 
Operations Advisory Committee (COAC)

AGENCY: U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Department of Homeland 
Security (DHS).

ACTION: Committee Management; request for applicants for appointment to 
the COAC.

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SUMMARY: U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is requesting that 
individuals who are interested in serving on the Commercial Customs 
Operations Advisory Committee (COAC) apply for membership. COAC 
provides advice and makes recommendations to the Secretaries of the 
Department of the Treasury (Treasury) and Department of Homeland 
Security (DHS) on all matters involving the commercial operations of 
CBP and related functions.

DATES: Applications for membership should be submitted to CBP at the 
address below on or before October 19, 2020.

ADDRESSES: If you wish to apply for membership, your application should 
be submitted by one of the following means:
     Email: [email protected].
     Fax: 202-325-4290.
     Mail: Ms. Florence Constant-Gibson, Office of Trade 
Relations, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, 1300 Pennsylvania Avenue 
NW, Room 3.5A, Washington, DC 20229.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Florence Constant-Gibson, U.S. 
Customs and Border Protection, 1300 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Room 3.5A, 
Washington, DC 20229. Email: [email protected]; 
telephone 202-344-1440; facsimile 202-325-4290.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 109 of the Trade Facilitation and 
Trade Enforcement Act of 2015 (Pub. L. 114-125, 130 Stat. 122, February 
24, 2016) re-established the COAC. The COAC is an advisory committee 
established in accordance with the provisions of the Federal Advisory 
Committee Act, 5 U.S.C. Appendix. The COAC advises the Secretaries of 
the Treasury and DHS on the commercial operations of CBP and related 
Treasury and DHS functions. In accordance with Section 109 of the Trade 
Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act, the COAC shall:
    (1) Advise the Secretaries of the Treasury and DHS on all matters 
involving the commercial operations of CBP, including advising with 
respect to significant changes that are proposed with respect to 
regulations, policies, or practices of CBP;
    (2) provide recommendations to the Secretaries of the Treasury and 
DHS on improvements to the commercial operations of CBP;
    (3) collaborate in developing the agenda for COAC meetings; and
    (4) perform such other functions relating to the commercial 
operations of CBP as prescribed by law or as the Secretaries of the 
Treasury and DHS jointly direct.

Balanced Membership Plans

    The COAC consists of 20 members who are selected from 
representatives of the trade or transportation community served by CBP, 
or others who are directly affected by CBP commercial operations and 
related functions. The members shall represent the interests of 
individuals and firms affected by the commercial operations of CBP, and 
be appointed without regard to political affiliation. The members will 
be appointed by the Secretaries of the Treasury and DHS from candidates 
recommended by the Commissioner of CBP. In addition, members will 
represent major regions of the country.

COAC Meetings

    The COAC meets at least once each quarter, although additional 
meetings may be scheduled. Generally, every other public meeting of the 
COAC may be held outside of Washington, DC, usually at a CBP port of 
entry. The members are not reimbursed for travel or per diem.

COAC Membership

    Membership on the COAC is personal to the appointee and a member 
may not send an alternate to represent him or her at a COAC meeting. 
Appointees will serve a one- to three-year term of office, determined 
at the discretion of the appointing officials. Regular attendance is 
essential; a member who is absent for two consecutive meetings, or does 
not participate in the committee's work, may be recommended for 
replacement on the COAC.
    Members who are currently serving on the COAC are eligible to re-
apply for membership provided that they are not in their second 
consecutive term and that they have met the attendance requirements. A 
new application letter is required, and may incorporate copies of 
previously filed application materials noted herein. Members will not 
be considered Special Government Employees and will not be paid 
compensation by the Federal Government for their representative 
services with respect to the COAC.

Application for COAC Appointment

    Any interested person wishing to serve on the COAC must provide the 
following:
     Statement of interest and reasons for application;
     Complete professional resume;
     Home address and telephone number;
     Work address, telephone number, and email address;
     Statement of the industry you represent; and
     Statement agreeing to submit to pre-appointment mandatory 
background and tax checks.
    A national security clearance is not required for the position. DHS 
does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, 
national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, 
disability and genetic information, age, membership in an employee 
organization, or other non-merit factor. DHS strives to achieve a 
widely diverse candidate pool for all of its recruitment actions.

Signing Authority

    The Chief Operating Officer and Senior Official Performing the 
Duties of the Commissioner, Mark A. Morgan, having reviewed and 
approved this document, is delegating the authority to electronically 
sign this document to Robert F. Altneu, who is the Director of the 
Regulations and Disclosure Law Division for CBP, for purposes of 
publication in the Federal Register.

    Dated: August 28, 2020.
Robert F. Altneu,
Director, Regulations & Disclosure Law Division, Regulations & Rulings, 
Office of Trade, U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
[FR Doc. 2020-19413 Filed 9-1-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9111-14-P