Declaration Zone Test, 48436-48438 [2021-18584]
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48436
Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 165 / Monday, August 30, 2021 / Notices
for shipments potentially eligible for
release under Section 321 of the Tariff
Act of 1930 (‘‘section 321 shipments’’).
The data pilot tests the feasibility of
collecting data elements, beyond those
required by current regulations, and
from non-traditional entities, such as
online marketplaces. The purpose of
this data pilot is to improve CBP’s
ability to target efficiently and assess the
security risks posed by section 321
shipments.
The July 2019 notice provided a
comprehensive description of the
program and its purpose, eligibility
requirements, and the application
process for participation. 84 FR 35405.
Specifically, the July 2019 notice stated
that the data pilot applied only to
section 321 shipments arriving by air,
truck, or rail and was set to conclude on
August 22, 2020. 84 FR 35405. On
December 9, 2019, CBP published
another notice in the Federal Register
(84 FR 67279) (hereafter referred to as
the ‘‘December 2019 notice’’). This
notice expanded the pilot to include
section 321 shipments arriving by ocean
and international mail covered in 19
CFR part 145, extended the pilot
through August 2021, and provided
clarification with respect to the
misconduct portion of the data pilot. 84
FR 67279.
II. Extension of the Section 321 Data
Pilot Period
CBP will extend the test for another
two years to continue further evaluation
of the 321 Data Pilot program and the
risks associated with section 321
shipments. The pilot will now run
through August 2023.
III. Applicability of Initial Test Notice
All provisions found in the July 2019
notice remain applicable, subject to the
time period extension herein and the
amendments provided in the December
2019 notice. Furthermore, CBP reiterates
that it is not waiving any regulations for
purposes of the pilot. All existing
regulations continue to apply to pilot
participants.
khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES
IV. Signing Authority
Troy A. Miller, the Acting
Commissioner, 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.
VerDate Sep<11>2014
18:40 Aug 27, 2021
Jkt 253001
Dated: August 25, 2021.
Robert F. Altneu,
Director, Regulations & Disclosure Law
Division, Regulations & Rulings, Office of
Trade, U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
[FR Doc. 2021–18655 Filed 8–27–21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9111–14–P
DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND
SECURITY
U.S. Customs and Border Protection
Declaration Zone Test
U.S. Customs and Border
Protection, DHS.
ACTION: General notice.
AGENCY:
This document announces
that U.S. Customs and Border Protection
(CBP) will conduct a Declaration Zone
test at cruise terminal facilities at
participating sea ports of entry (POEs) to
fulfill a regulatory declaration
requirement and allow for streamlined
processing. Current CBP regulations
require each traveler to provide an oral
or written declaration of all articles
brought into the United States to a CBP
officer. The test will provide arriving
travelers with an alternative method to
meet this requirement by allowing a
demonstrative initial declaration.
During the test, CBP will establish two
queues for travelers entering the country
to choose from: Items to Declare or No
Items to Declare. Known as Declaration
Zones, these queues will allow travelers
entering the country to make their
initial declaration simply by choosing
which queue to enter. This notice
describes the test, while setting forth
requirements for participating in the
test, the duration of the test, and how
CBP will evaluate the test. This notice
also invites public comment on any
aspect of the test.
DATES: The test will begin no earlier
than September 27, 2021, and will run
for approximately two years. The start
date may vary at each location in
accordance with the resumption of
passenger operations suspended due to
COVID–19.
ADDRESSES: Written comments
concerning program, policy, and
technical issues may be submitted at
any time during the test period via
email to simplifytravel@cbp.dhs.gov.
Please use ‘‘Comment on Declaration
Zone Test’’ in the subject line of the
email.
SUMMARY:
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Sung Hyun Ha, Acting Director, Sea
Innovation, Mobility, and Biometric
Advancement, Office of Field
PO 00000
Frm 00052
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
Operations, sung.hyun.ha@cbp.dhs.gov
or (202) 215–9429.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background and Purpose
Current CBP regulations require each
traveler to provide an oral or written
declaration of all articles brought into
the United States to a CBP officer. See
part 148, subpart B of title 19 of the
Code of Federal Regulations (19 CFR
part 148, subpart B). At a sea POE cruise
terminal facility, travelers collect their
luggage and subsequently proceed
through a queuing process (dependent
on the facility). A CBP officer then
verifies the traveler’s identity against
the traveler’s travel documents. The
CBP officer also takes an oral
declaration or collects a written
declaration via CBP Form 6059B if a
traveler completes one. See 19 CFR
148.12 and 148.13. The CBP officer then
determines whether the declaration
requires a payment of duty or further
examination. If either are required, the
CBP officer refers the traveler to
secondary inspection. When personnel
are available, CBP officers also perform
roving enforcement operations within
the baggage area and egress area. At any
point prior to exiting the facility, a
traveler may be questioned by a CBP
officer and referred for secondary
inspection. Travelers referred to
secondary inspection may be directed to
complete CBP Form 6059B.
In recent years, cruise ship capacities
have increased to over 8500 passengers
and crew per ship. Accordingly, new
and innovative methods of processing
are necessary. CBP has partnered with
cruise lines to deploy facial comparison
technology to verify biometrically the
identities of expected travelers and crew
upon arrival to the United States. The
voluntary facial biometric debarkation
(FBD) program replaces manual
comparisons between travelers and their
travel documents. To participate in the
FBD program, cruise lines must provide
enhanced data including select
reservation, manifest, and voyage
information directly to CBP that will be
used for targeting and enforcement
vetting. Enhanced targeting coupled
with biometric verification of identity
facilitates the ability for CBP officers to
shift focus from administrative tasks to
roving enforcement operations. This
shift allows for amplified enforcement
operations while enabling the growing
flow of travelers through sizeconstrained facilities.
The greater capacity for enforcement
that results from participation in the
FBD program would also allow for
further streamlining processing through
the implementation of declaration
E:\FR\FM\30AUN1.SGM
30AUN1
Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 165 / Monday, August 30, 2021 / Notices
zones. Declaration zones are an
established concept in several countries
whereby travelers provide an initial
declaration via selection of a departure
queue. Declaration zones facilitate the
processing of travelers by separating
those who need to go directly to a CBP
officer for additional processing from
those who do not. With declaration
zones, travelers select from one of two
clearly marked departure queues, either
that they have items to declare or no
items to declare. This selection acts as
travelers’ initial declaration simply
through the queue that they choose.
This addition of a physical,
demonstrative form of declaration
would allow CBP officers to shift focus
from conducting administrative tasks
such as taking oral declarations from
compliant, low-risk, and highly vetted
travelers to roving enforcement
operations. Roving officers would be
able to use their observation skills, as
well as their knowledge of trends and
smuggling techniques, to actively
monitor and select individuals for
inspection.
khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES
The Declaration Zone Test
CBP will conduct a Declaration Zone
Test to fulfill the declaration
requirement under CBP regulations,
while also allowing for streamlined
processing. Current CBP regulations
require each traveler to provide an oral
or written declaration of all articles
brought into the United States to a CBP
officer. See 19 CFR part 148, subpart B.
The test will provide arriving travelers
with an alternative method to meet this
requirement by allowing a
demonstrative initial declaration
through the use of declaration zones at
cruise terminal facilities at certain sea
POEs.
Description and Procedures
Within a cruise terminal facility, two
distinct customs declaration zone
queues will be established for entering
the egress area: one for No Items to
Declare and another for Items to
Declare. Signage will be posted to
clearly label the queues at the entrance
to the egress area after travelers collect
their luggage. The physical act of
selecting the No Items to Declare queue
or the Items to Declare queue in and of
itself will constitute an initial
demonstrative declaration. CBP officers
will conduct roving enforcement
operations within the baggage collection
and egress area to ensure traveler
compliance.
No Items To Declare Queue
Travelers who determine they have
nothing to declare will enter the No
VerDate Sep<11>2014
18:40 Aug 27, 2021
Jkt 253001
Items to Declare queue and proceed
through the egress area to the facility
exit. CBP officers will conduct roving
operations in the No Items to Declare
zone to affirm traveler compliance,
receive oral declarations, and make
referrals to secondary inspection as
necessary. Travelers who are not
questioned by CBP officers conducting
roving operations proceed to the exit.
Items To Declare Queue
Travelers with items to declare will
enter the Items to Declare queue and
will present before a CBP officer to
make an oral declaration. The CBP
officer will make a determination if duty
is owed by the traveler or if additional
inspection is warranted. The CBP officer
will then direct the traveler accordingly.
Referral to Secondary Inspection
If a traveler is referred to secondary
inspection at any point, CBP officers
will follow standard procedures,
including collecting oral and/or written
declarations during the referral and
inspection. CBP officers will also follow
current agency policy on declaration
amendment opportunities.
Eligibility and Participation
Requirements
The test allowing demonstrative
declaration to be an acceptable
declaration method will begin at two sea
POEs: Miami, Florida, and Bayonne,
New Jersey. CBP may choose to expand
this test to other sea POEs during the
two-year test period. Any such
expansion will be announced on the
CBP website, https://www.cbp.gov. The
test will be restricted to closed loop
cruises participating in FBD.
CBP will provide directional signage
for use in the implementation of the
declaration zones. Port management
will coordinate with the port authority/
terminal managers for the printing and
posting of the directional signage and
establishing the corresponding queues.
The signage is ancillary to the statutory
signage currently posted within cruise
terminal facilities and the Federal
Inspection Services (FIS) area. These
directional signs will facilitate the
declaration zone process and help
travelers understand the expectation
when entering a specific queue.
CBP will also work with each cruise
line at eligible POEs to develop
educational materials to provide to
travelers regarding U.S. customs
declaration responsibilities and how
travelers should navigate both the FBD
process and declaration zones.
PO 00000
Frm 00053
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
48437
Authorization for the Test
The test described in this notice is
authorized pursuant to 19 CFR 101.9(a),
which allows the Commissioner of CBP
to impose requirements different from
those specified in the CBP Regulations
for purposes of conducting a test
program or procedure designed to
evaluate the effectiveness of new
operational procedures regarding the
processing of passengers. This test is
authorized pursuant to this regulation as
it is designed to evaluate whether
allowing a demonstrative initial
declaration is a feasible way to fulfill
the declaration requirement and allow
for streamlined processing.
Waiver of Certain Regulatory
Requirements
CBP regulations require each traveler
to provide an oral or written declaration
of all articles brought into the United
States to a CBP officer. See 19 CFR
148.12 and 148.13. The test will provide
arriving travelers with an alternative
method to meet this requirement by
allowing a demonstrative initial
declaration. All other requirements of
19 CFR part 148, subpart B, regarding
declarations, including those provided
by 19 CFR 148.18, regarding failure to
declare, and 19 CFR 148.19, regarding
false or fraudulent statements, still
apply.
Duration of Test
This test will run for approximately
two years, beginning no earlier than
September 27, 2021. The start date may
vary at each location in accordance with
the resumption of passenger operations
suspended due to COVID–19. While the
test is ongoing, CBP will evaluate the
results and determine whether the test
will be extended or otherwise modified.
CBP reserves the right to discontinue
this test at any time in CBP’s sole
discretion. CBP will announce any
modifications to the duration of the test
by notice in the Federal Register.
Evaluation of Declaration Zone Test
CBP will use the results of this test to
assess the operational feasibility of
allowing an initial demonstrative
declaration to be an acceptable
declaration method. CBP will evaluate
this test based on a number of criteria,
including:
• Evaluation of cruise line customer
satisfaction surveys gathering feedback
on the debarkation process; and
• Comparison of year-over-year
enforcement statistics for each test
period to ensure no impact to duty
collection or to the frequency of
enforcement activities.
E:\FR\FM\30AUN1.SGM
30AUN1
48438
Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 165 / Monday, August 30, 2021 / Notices
[FR Doc. 2021–18584 Filed 8–27–21; 8:45 am]
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.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Colette Pollard, Reports Management
Officer, QDAM, Department of Housing
and Urban Development, 451 7th Street
SW, Washington, DC 20410; email
Colette Pollard at Colette.Pollard@
hud.gov or telephone 202–402–3400.
This is not a toll-free number. Persons
with hearing or speech impairments
may access this number through TTY by
calling the toll-free Federal Relay
Service at (800) 877–8339.
Copies of available documents
submitted to OMB may be obtained
from Ms. Pollard.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This
notice informs the public that HUD is
seeking approval from OMB for the
information collection described in
Section A.
BILLING CODE 9111–14–P
A. Overview of Information Collection
Paperwork Reduction Act
The Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA)
of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3507(d)) requires that
CBP consider the impact of paperwork
and other information collection
burdens imposed on the public. As
there is no new collection of
information required in this document,
the provisions of the PRA are
inapplicable.
Signing Authority
Troy A. Miller, the Acting
Commissioner, 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 25, 2021.
Robert F. Altneu,
Director, Regulations & Disclosure Law
Division, Regulations & Rulings, Office of
Trade, U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND
URBAN DEVELOPMENT
[Docket No. FR–7038–N–16; OMB Control
No.: 2502–0619]
60-Day Notice of Proposed Information
Collection: COVID–19 Supplemental
Payment Requests
Office of the Assistant
Secretary for Housing—Federal Housing
Commissioner, HUD.
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
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: October 29,
2021.
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
khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES
ADDRESSES:
VerDate Sep<11>2014
18:40 Aug 27, 2021
Jkt 253001
Title of Information Collection:
COVID–19 Supplemental Payment
Requests.
OMB Approval Number: 2502–0619.
OMB Expiration Date: 09/30/2021.
Type of Request: Revision of a
currently approved collection.
Form Number: HUD Form 52671–E.
Description of the need for the
information and proposed use: The
proposed Form 52671–E will be
completed by owners of properties with
Section 8 Housing Assistance Payment
contracts, Section 202 and Section 811
Project Rental Assistance contracts,
Section 202/162 Project Assistance
contracts, and Section 202 Senior
Preservation Rental Assistance contacts,
who wish to receive a supplemental
payment to offset operating cost
increases to prevent, prepare, and
respond to the effects of COVID–19.
Respondents: Business or other forprofit.
Estimated Number of Respondents:
4,150.
Estimated Number of Responses:
12,450.
Frequency of Response: 3.
Average Hours per Response: 1.1
hours per response.
Total Estimated Burden: 13,695.
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:
PO 00000
Frm 00054
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
(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.
C. Authority
Section 3507 of the Paperwork
Reduction Act of 1995, 44 U.S.C. 3507.
Janet M. Golrick,
Acting, Chief of Staff for the Office of
Housing—Federal Housing Administration.
[FR Doc. 2021–18563 Filed 8–27–21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4210–67–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[212 LLHQ640000L18200000.XP0000; OMB
Control No. 1004–0204]
Agency Information Collection
Activities; Bureau of Land
Management Resource Advisory
Council Application
Bureau of Land Management,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice of information collection;
request for comment.
AGENCY:
In accordance with the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995
(PRA), the Bureau of Land Management
(BLM) proposes to renew an information
collection.
DATES: Interested persons are invited to
submit comments on or before
September 29, 2021.
ADDRESSES: Written comments and
recommendations for the proposed
information collection should be sent
within 30 days of publication of this
notice to www.reginfo.gov/public/do/
PRAMain. Find this particular
information collection by selecting
‘‘Currently under 30-day Review—Open
for Public Comments’’ or by using the
search function.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To
request additional information about
SUMMARY:
E:\FR\FM\30AUN1.SGM
30AUN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 165 (Monday, August 30, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48436-48438]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-18584]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
U.S. Customs and Border Protection
Declaration Zone Test
AGENCY: U.S. Customs and Border Protection, DHS.
ACTION: General notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: This document announces that U.S. Customs and Border
Protection (CBP) will conduct a Declaration Zone test at cruise
terminal facilities at participating sea ports of entry (POEs) to
fulfill a regulatory declaration requirement and allow for streamlined
processing. Current CBP regulations require each traveler to provide an
oral or written declaration of all articles brought into the United
States to a CBP officer. The test will provide arriving travelers with
an alternative method to meet this requirement by allowing a
demonstrative initial declaration. During the test, CBP will establish
two queues for travelers entering the country to choose from: Items to
Declare or No Items to Declare. Known as Declaration Zones, these
queues will allow travelers entering the country to make their initial
declaration simply by choosing which queue to enter. This notice
describes the test, while setting forth requirements for participating
in the test, the duration of the test, and how CBP will evaluate the
test. This notice also invites public comment on any aspect of the
test.
DATES: The test will begin no earlier than September 27, 2021, and will
run for approximately two years. The start date may vary at each
location in accordance with the resumption of passenger operations
suspended due to COVID-19.
ADDRESSES: Written comments concerning program, policy, and technical
issues may be submitted at any time during the test period via email to
[email protected]. Please use ``Comment on Declaration Zone
Test'' in the subject line of the email.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sung Hyun Ha, Acting Director, Sea
Innovation, Mobility, and Biometric Advancement, Office of Field
Operations, [email protected] or (202) 215-9429.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background and Purpose
Current CBP regulations require each traveler to provide an oral or
written declaration of all articles brought into the United States to a
CBP officer. See part 148, subpart B of title 19 of the Code of Federal
Regulations (19 CFR part 148, subpart B). At a sea POE cruise terminal
facility, travelers collect their luggage and subsequently proceed
through a queuing process (dependent on the facility). A CBP officer
then verifies the traveler's identity against the traveler's travel
documents. The CBP officer also takes an oral declaration or collects a
written declaration via CBP Form 6059B if a traveler completes one. See
19 CFR 148.12 and 148.13. The CBP officer then determines whether the
declaration requires a payment of duty or further examination. If
either are required, the CBP officer refers the traveler to secondary
inspection. When personnel are available, CBP officers also perform
roving enforcement operations within the baggage area and egress area.
At any point prior to exiting the facility, a traveler may be
questioned by a CBP officer and referred for secondary inspection.
Travelers referred to secondary inspection may be directed to complete
CBP Form 6059B.
In recent years, cruise ship capacities have increased to over 8500
passengers and crew per ship. Accordingly, new and innovative methods
of processing are necessary. CBP has partnered with cruise lines to
deploy facial comparison technology to verify biometrically the
identities of expected travelers and crew upon arrival to the United
States. The voluntary facial biometric debarkation (FBD) program
replaces manual comparisons between travelers and their travel
documents. To participate in the FBD program, cruise lines must provide
enhanced data including select reservation, manifest, and voyage
information directly to CBP that will be used for targeting and
enforcement vetting. Enhanced targeting coupled with biometric
verification of identity facilitates the ability for CBP officers to
shift focus from administrative tasks to roving enforcement operations.
This shift allows for amplified enforcement operations while enabling
the growing flow of travelers through size-constrained facilities.
The greater capacity for enforcement that results from
participation in the FBD program would also allow for further
streamlining processing through the implementation of declaration
[[Page 48437]]
zones. Declaration zones are an established concept in several
countries whereby travelers provide an initial declaration via
selection of a departure queue. Declaration zones facilitate the
processing of travelers by separating those who need to go directly to
a CBP officer for additional processing from those who do not. With
declaration zones, travelers select from one of two clearly marked
departure queues, either that they have items to declare or no items to
declare. This selection acts as travelers' initial declaration simply
through the queue that they choose. This addition of a physical,
demonstrative form of declaration would allow CBP officers to shift
focus from conducting administrative tasks such as taking oral
declarations from compliant, low-risk, and highly vetted travelers to
roving enforcement operations. Roving officers would be able to use
their observation skills, as well as their knowledge of trends and
smuggling techniques, to actively monitor and select individuals for
inspection.
The Declaration Zone Test
CBP will conduct a Declaration Zone Test to fulfill the declaration
requirement under CBP regulations, while also allowing for streamlined
processing. Current CBP regulations require each traveler to provide an
oral or written declaration of all articles brought into the United
States to a CBP officer. See 19 CFR part 148, subpart B. The test will
provide arriving travelers with an alternative method to meet this
requirement by allowing a demonstrative initial declaration through the
use of declaration zones at cruise terminal facilities at certain sea
POEs.
Description and Procedures
Within a cruise terminal facility, two distinct customs declaration
zone queues will be established for entering the egress area: one for
No Items to Declare and another for Items to Declare. Signage will be
posted to clearly label the queues at the entrance to the egress area
after travelers collect their luggage. The physical act of selecting
the No Items to Declare queue or the Items to Declare queue in and of
itself will constitute an initial demonstrative declaration. CBP
officers will conduct roving enforcement operations within the baggage
collection and egress area to ensure traveler compliance.
No Items To Declare Queue
Travelers who determine they have nothing to declare will enter the
No Items to Declare queue and proceed through the egress area to the
facility exit. CBP officers will conduct roving operations in the No
Items to Declare zone to affirm traveler compliance, receive oral
declarations, and make referrals to secondary inspection as necessary.
Travelers who are not questioned by CBP officers conducting roving
operations proceed to the exit.
Items To Declare Queue
Travelers with items to declare will enter the Items to Declare
queue and will present before a CBP officer to make an oral
declaration. The CBP officer will make a determination if duty is owed
by the traveler or if additional inspection is warranted. The CBP
officer will then direct the traveler accordingly.
Referral to Secondary Inspection
If a traveler is referred to secondary inspection at any point, CBP
officers will follow standard procedures, including collecting oral
and/or written declarations during the referral and inspection. CBP
officers will also follow current agency policy on declaration
amendment opportunities.
Eligibility and Participation Requirements
The test allowing demonstrative declaration to be an acceptable
declaration method will begin at two sea POEs: Miami, Florida, and
Bayonne, New Jersey. CBP may choose to expand this test to other sea
POEs during the two-year test period. Any such expansion will be
announced on the CBP website, https://www.cbp.gov. The test will be
restricted to closed loop cruises participating in FBD.
CBP will provide directional signage for use in the implementation
of the declaration zones. Port management will coordinate with the port
authority/terminal managers for the printing and posting of the
directional signage and establishing the corresponding queues. The
signage is ancillary to the statutory signage currently posted within
cruise terminal facilities and the Federal Inspection Services (FIS)
area. These directional signs will facilitate the declaration zone
process and help travelers understand the expectation when entering a
specific queue.
CBP will also work with each cruise line at eligible POEs to
develop educational materials to provide to travelers regarding U.S.
customs declaration responsibilities and how travelers should navigate
both the FBD process and declaration zones.
Authorization for the Test
The test described in this notice is authorized pursuant to 19 CFR
101.9(a), which allows the Commissioner of CBP to impose requirements
different from those specified in the CBP Regulations for purposes of
conducting a test program or procedure designed to evaluate the
effectiveness of new operational procedures regarding the processing of
passengers. This test is authorized pursuant to this regulation as it
is designed to evaluate whether allowing a demonstrative initial
declaration is a feasible way to fulfill the declaration requirement
and allow for streamlined processing.
Waiver of Certain Regulatory Requirements
CBP regulations require each traveler to provide an oral or written
declaration of all articles brought into the United States to a CBP
officer. See 19 CFR 148.12 and 148.13. The test will provide arriving
travelers with an alternative method to meet this requirement by
allowing a demonstrative initial declaration. All other requirements of
19 CFR part 148, subpart B, regarding declarations, including those
provided by 19 CFR 148.18, regarding failure to declare, and 19 CFR
148.19, regarding false or fraudulent statements, still apply.
Duration of Test
This test will run for approximately two years, beginning no
earlier than September 27, 2021. The start date may vary at each
location in accordance with the resumption of passenger operations
suspended due to COVID-19. While the test is ongoing, CBP will evaluate
the results and determine whether the test will be extended or
otherwise modified. CBP reserves the right to discontinue this test at
any time in CBP's sole discretion. CBP will announce any modifications
to the duration of the test by notice in the Federal Register.
Evaluation of Declaration Zone Test
CBP will use the results of this test to assess the operational
feasibility of allowing an initial demonstrative declaration to be an
acceptable declaration method. CBP will evaluate this test based on a
number of criteria, including:
Evaluation of cruise line customer satisfaction surveys
gathering feedback on the debarkation process; and
Comparison of year-over-year enforcement statistics for
each test period to ensure no impact to duty collection or to the
frequency of enforcement activities.
[[Page 48438]]
Paperwork Reduction Act
The Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3507(d))
requires that CBP consider the impact of paperwork and other
information collection burdens imposed on the public. As there is no
new collection of information required in this document, the provisions
of the PRA are inapplicable.
Signing Authority
Troy A. Miller, the Acting Commissioner, 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 25, 2021.
Robert F. Altneu,
Director, Regulations & Disclosure Law Division, Regulations & Rulings,
Office of Trade, U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
[FR Doc. 2021-18584 Filed 8-27-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9111-14-P
