Public Meeting on Customs ``MOD ACT''

DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY

Customs Service

Public Meeting on Customs ``MOD ACT''

AGENCY: U.S. Customs Service, Department of the Treasury.

ACTION: Notice of meeting.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces the scheduling of a final public meeting

in Washington, DC, on portions of the Customs ``Mod Act.'' The purpose

of this meeting is to (1) give Customs managers an opportunity to share

revised implementation proposals relating to carrier manifest

requirements and entry and clearance procedures, and (2) give

participants an opportunity to ask questions, make suggestions, and

provide the Customs Service with informal input relative to

implementing the Customs Modernization provisions of the North American

Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act. To control attendance, those

planning to attend are requested to notify Customs in advance.

DATES: The meeting is scheduled on August 26, 1994, from 8:30 a.m. to

5:00 p.m.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the Renaissance Hotel, 999 9th

Street, NW., Washington, DC.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Debra Rutter, Office of Inspection and

Control, U.S. Customs Service, 1301 Constitution Avenue, NW.,

Washington, DC 20229. Phone: (202) 927-0510; FAX: (202) 927-1356.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

On December 8, 1993, the President signed the North American Free

Trade Agreement Implementation Act. The Customs modernization portion

of this Act (Title VI of Public Law 103-182, 107 Stat. 2057, codified

at 19 U.S.C. 3301 note), popularly known as the Customs Modernization

Act or ``Mod Act,'' became effective when it was signed. In order to

share ``straw man'' implementation proposals specific to carrier

manifest requirements and entry and clearance procedures, remote

filing, and general order procedures, and to invite informal dialogue

relative to implementation plans and issues, the Office of Inspection

and Control conducted a series of public meetings throughout the

country. These meetings were announced in other Federal Register

notices, e.g., 59 FR 15498, dated April 1, 1994, and 59 FR 27306, dated

May 26, 1994. Comments and suggestions received on the ``straw man''

proposals have been reviewed, analyzed, and, in some cases,

incorporated into the revised proposals that will be presented at a

final public meeting scheduled to be held on August 26, 1994, in

Washington, DC, at the Renaissance Hotel, located at 999 9th Street,

NW., from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

The meeting will begin with a general briefing covering the Office

of Inspection and Control's progress to date, including a review of the

discussions from previous public meetings and future plans to implement

``Mod Act'' provisions. Following this general briefing, staff members

from the Office of Inspection and Control will present revised

proposals concerning vessels, air, truck and rail, general orders, and

remote entry filing (for release purposes). Among the topics to be

discussed at this session will be: carrier manifest requirements,

electronic transmission of data, carrier entry and clearance

procedures, and carrier liability issues. Presentations on the status

of the In-bond Task Force and the Automated Export System Development

Team will be provided by members of those teams. Participants will be

given ample opportunity to ask questions and provide suggestions. In

addition, the Director of the ``Mod Act'' Task Force will report on the

present status of implementing provisions of the ``Mod Act.''

Persons planning to attend are requested to pre-register by FAX at

(202) 927-1356. Individuals not having access to facsimile equipment

may pre-register by telephoning the Office of Cargo Enforcement and

Facilitation at (202) 927-0510.

Attendees are encouraged to arrive approximately 15 minutes in

advance of the meeting.

Dated: July 22, 1994.

Harvey B. Fox,

Director, Office of Regulations and Rulings.

[FR Doc. 94-18244 Filed 7-26-94; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4820-02-P