U.S. Customs and Border Protection – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) of the Department of Homeland Security will be submitting the following information collection request to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act: NAFTA Regulations and Certificate of Origin. This is a proposed revision and extension of an information collection that was previously approved. CBP is proposing that this information collection be revised with a change to the burden hours. This document is published to obtain comments from the public and affected agencies. This proposed information collection was previously published in the Federal Register (77 FR 76983) on December 9, 2011, allowing for a 60-day comment period. This notice allows for an additional 30 days for public comments. This process is conducted in accordance with 5 CFR 1320.10.

Certain vessels and aircraft owned or chartered by the Department of Defense (DoD) are exempt from entry requirements and, in some cases, reporting requirements upon their arrival in the United States from a foreign place. This rule proposes to expand those exemptions to include additional DoD-owned or chartered vessels and aircraft when transporting certain cargo or passengers.

This notice announces that the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is designating an approved Native American Tribal Card issued by the Kootenai Tribe of Idaho (Kootenai Tribe) to U.S. and Canadian citizens as an acceptable travel document for purposes of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative. The approved card may be used to denote identity and citizenship of Kootenai Tribe members entering the United States from contiguous territory or adjacent islands at land and sea ports of entry.

As part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, CBP invites the general public and other Federal agencies to comment on an information collection requirement concerning Transfer of Cargo to a Container Station. This request for comment is being made pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13).

As part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, CBP invites the general public and other Federal agencies to comment on an information collection requirement concerning the Passenger List/Crew List (CBP Form I-418). This request for comment is being made pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13; 44 U.S.C. 3505(c)(2)).

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is advising the public that a draft Programmatic Environmental Assessment (PEA) for Low Energy X-Ray Inspection Systems (LEXRIS) at CBP operational areas has been prepared and is available for public review. The draft PEA analyzes the potential environmental impacts due to the deployment and use of LEXRIS. CBP seeks public comment on the draft PEA. CBP will consider comments before issuing a final PEA.

Notice is hereby given that, pursuant to 19 CFR 151.13, Altol Petroleum Product Service, Calle Gregorio Ledesma HN-55 Urb. Levittown, Toa Baja, PR 00949, has been approved to gauge petroleum, petroleum products, organic chemicals and vegetable oils for customs purposes, in accordance with the provisions of 19 CFR 151.13. Anyone wishing to employ this entity to conduct gauger services should request and receive written assurances from the entity that it is approved by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection to conduct the specific gauger service requested. Alternatively, inquiries regarding the specific gauger service this entity is approved to perform may be directed to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection by calling (202) 344-1060. The inquiry may also be sent to cbp.labhq@dhs.gov. Please reference the Web site listed below for a complete listing of CBP approved gaugers and accredited laboratories: https://cbp.gov/xp/cgov/import/operations support/labsscientificsvcs/commercialgaugers/.

Notice is hereby given that, pursuant to 19 CFR 151.12 and 19 CFR 151.13, Saybolt LP, 2321 Burnett Blvd., Wilmington, NC 28401, has been approved to gauge and accredited to test petroleum and petroleum products, organic chemicals and vegetable oils for customs purposes, in accordance with the provisions of 19 CFR 151.12 and 19 CFR 151.13. Anyone wishing to employ this entity to conduct laboratory analyses and gauger services should request and receive written assurances from the entity that it is accredited or approved by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection to conduct the specific test or gauger service requested. Alternatively, inquiries regarding the specific test or gauger service this entity is accredited or approved to perform may be directed to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection by calling (202) 344-1060. The inquiry may also be sent to cbp.labhq@dhs.gov. Please reference the Web site listed below for a complete listing of CBP approved gaugers and accredited laboratories. https://cbp.gov/xp/cgov/import/operations support/lablsscientificsvcs/commercialgaugers/.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) of the Department of Homeland Security will be submitting the following information collection request to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act: the Small Vessel Reporting System (SVRS). CBP is proposing that the SVRS be established as a new collection of information. This document is published to obtain comments from the public and affected agencies. This proposed information collection was previously published in the Federal Register (76 FR 65206) on October 20, 2011, allowing for a 60- day comment period. This notice allows for an additional 30 days for public comments. This process is conducted in accordance with 5 CFR 1320.10.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) of the Department of Homeland Security will be submitting the following information collection request to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act: Entry/Immediate Delivery Application (Forms 3461 and 3461 ALT) and Simplified Entry. This is a proposed revision and extension of an information collection that was previously approved. CBP is proposing that this information collection be revised and extended with a change to the burden hours and to the information collected. This document is published to obtain comments from the public and affected agencies. This proposed information collection was previously published in the Federal Register (76 FR 66740) on October 27, 2011, allowing for a 60- day comment period. This notice allows for an additional 30 days for public comments. This process is conducted in accordance with 5 CFR 1320.10.

This document provides notice that U.S. Customs and Border Protection (``CBP'') has issued a final determination concerning the country of origin of laser-based multi-function office machines. Based upon the facts presented, CBP has concluded in the final determination that the assembly and programming operations together convey the essential character of the laser-based multi-function office machine, and it is at their assembly and programming where the last substantial transformation occurs. Therefore, when the laser-based multi-function office machines are assembled and programmed in Mexico, the country of origin for purposes of U.S. government procurement is Mexico.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) of the Department of Homeland Security will be submitting the following information collection request to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act: Entry and Manifest of Merchandise Free of Duty, Carrier's Certificate and Release (CBP Form 7523). This is a proposed extension of an information collection that was previously approved. CBP is proposing that this information collection be extended with no change to the burden hours. This document is published to obtain comments from the public and affected agencies. This proposed information collection was previously published in the Federal Register (76 FR 62086) on October 6, 2011, allowing for a 60-day comment period. This notice allows for an additional 30 days for public comments. This process is conducted in accordance with 5 CFR 1320.10.

As part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, CBP invites the general public and other Federal agencies to comment on an information collection requirement concerning the Declaration of Owner and Declaration of Consignee When Entry is made by an Agent (Forms 3347 and 3347A). This request for comment is being made pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13).

This document announces the completion of the Broker Self- Assessment (BSA) Outreach Pilot (BSA Pilot), a voluntary partnership with the customs brokerage community, which began in July 2009. CBP has decided to end the BSA pilot without a plan to proceed with another Importer Self-Assessment type model. CBP and the National Customs Brokers and Forwarders Association of America (NCBFAA) have agreed to pursue other avenues to collaborate pertaining to trade modernization efforts.

This final rule amends the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) regulations to reflect an extension of import restrictions on certain archaeological and ethnological material from Bolivia. The restrictions, which were originally imposed by Treasury Decision (T.D.) 01-86 and last extended by CBP Dec. 06-26, are due to expire on December 4, 2011. The Acting Assistant Secretary for Educational and Cultural Affairs, United States Department of State, has determined that conditions continue to warrant the imposition of import restrictions. Accordingly, these import restrictions will remain in effect for an additional 5 years, and the CBP regulations are being amended to reflect this extension through December 4, 2016. These restrictions are being extended pursuant to determinations of the United States Department of State made under the terms of the Convention on Cultural Property Implementation Act in accordance with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property. T.D. 01-86 contains the Designated List of archaeological and ethnological material from Bolivia to which the restrictions apply.

The Advisory Committee on Commercial Operations of Customs and Border Protection (COAC) will meet on December 7, 2011, in Washington, DC. The meeting will be open to the public. As an alternative to on- site attendance, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will also offer a live webcast of the COAC meeting via the Internet.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is advising the public of the availability of a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for its support of U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) research and field release of two insects, the Arundo scale and the Arundo wasp as biological control agents for the non-native and invasive Carrizo cane in the continental United States. To reach this FONSI, CBP examined two Environmental Assessments (EAs) prepared by USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), performed independent analyses of those EAs, and reached its own findings. The two EAs (APHIS 2009 and 2010) are also being made available through CBP.

This document announces U.S. Customs and Border Protection's (CBP's) plan to conduct a National Customs Automation Program (NCAP) test concerning Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) entry capability. This new capability will include functionality specific to the filing of entry data for formal and informal consumption entries. This functionality will simplify the entry process by allowing participants to submit 12 required and three (3) optional data elements to CBP at any time prior to the arrival of the merchandise on the conveyance transporting the cargo to the United States. This data will fulfill merchandise entry requirements and will allow for earlier release decisions and more certainty for the importer in determining the logistics of cargo delivery. This initial phase of the test will be open to entries filed in the air transportation mode only. This notice invites parties to participate in the test, seeks public comment concerning any aspect of the planned test, describes the eligibility requirements for participation in the test, and outlines the development and evaluation methodology to be used in the test. This notice will be referred to as the Simplified Entry Notice.

As part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, CBP invites the general public and other Federal agencies to comment on an information collection requirement concerning the Entry Summary (CBP Form 7501). This request for comment is being made pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13).

This rule amends the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) regulations on an interim basis to implement the preferential tariff treatment and other customs-related provisions of the United States- Peru Trade Promotion Agreement.

As part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, CBP invites the general public and other Federal agencies to comment on an information collection requirement concerning Prior Disclosure. This request for comment is being made pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13).

This document amends the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) regulations by adding provisions for the use of sampling methods in CBP audits and prior disclosure cases and for the offsetting of overpayments and over-declarations when an audit involves a calculation of lost duties, taxes, or fees or monetary penalties under 19 U.S.C. 1592. The sampling provision may be used by both CBP and private parties in certain circumstances. The offsetting provision is in accordance with CBP's authority under 19 U.S.C. 1509(b)(6).