Extension of Port Limits of Puget Sound, Washington

DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY

Customs Service

19 CFR Part 101

[T.D. 96-63]

Extension of Port Limits of Puget Sound, Washington

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

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This document amends the Customs Regulations pertaining to the

field organization of Customs by extending the geographical limits of

the consolidated port of entry of Puget Sound, Washington. The current

boundaries have been extended to include the portion of King County,

Washington, which lies between the boundaries of the Port of Seattle

and the Port of Tacoma. The boundaries have been changed because

various commercial operations requiring the services of Customs

personnel have been established in areas beyond the current limits of

the consolidated port.

EFFECTIVE DATE: September 23, 1996.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Patricia M. Duffy, Office of Field

Operations, 202-927-0540.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

As part of a continuing program to obtain more efficient use of its

personnel, facilities, and resources, and to provide better service to

carriers, importers, and the general public, Customs is extending the

geographical limits of the consolidated port of entry of Puget Sound,

Washington. The geographical limits of the consolidated Port of Puget

Sound include Seattle, Anacortes, Bellingham, Everett, Friday Harbor,

Neah Bay, Olympia, Port Angeles, Port Townsend and Tacoma. This

document amends the port description of Puget Sound to include within

the port description of Seattle the portion of King County, Washington,

which before this document was between the boundaries of the Port of

Seattle and the Port of Tacoma. The boundaries are being changed to

help serve the various commercial operations located in the area which

require the services of Customs personnel.

The decision to extend the port limits of Seattle, and accordingly,

the port limits of the consolidated Port of Puget Sound, has been made

after a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking concerning this matter was

published in the Federal Register (60 FR 47504) on September 13, 1995,

requesting comments from the public and no comments were received.

In accordance with the decision to extend the port limits, the list

of Customs ports of entry in 19 CFR 101.3 (b)(1) is amended as

described below.

New Puget Sound Port Limits

The geographical area within the boundaries of the Consolidated

Port of Puget Sound are as follows:

The ports of Seattle (Section 35, Township 27 North, Range 3 East,

West Meridian, County of Snohomish, and the geographical area beginning

at the intersection of NW. 205th Street and the waters of Puget Sound,

proceeding in an easterly direction along the King County line to its

intersection with 100th Avenue N.E., thence southerly along 100th

Avenue N.E. and its continuation to the intersection of 100th Avenue

S.E. and S.E. 240th Street, thence westerly along S.E. 240th Street, to

its intersection with North Central Avenue, thence southerly along

North Central Avenue, its continuation as South Central Avenue and 83rd

Avenue South and its connection to Auburn Way North, thence southerly

along Auburn Way North and its continuation as

[[Page 43429]]

Auburn Way South to its intersection with State Highway 18, thence

westerly along Highway 18 to its intersection with A Street S.E., then

southerly along A Street S.E. to its intersection with the King County

Line, then westerly along the King County Line to its intersection with

the waters of Puget Sound and then northerly along the shores of Puget

Sound to its intersection with N.W. 205th Street, the point of

beginning, all within the County of King, State of Washington),

Anacortes, Bellingham, Everett, Friday Harbor, Neah Bay, Olympia, Port

Angeles, Port Townsend, and the territory in Tacoma beginning at the

intersection of the westernmost city limits of Tacoma and The Narrows

and proceeding in an easterly, then southerly, then easterly direction

along the city limits of Tacoma to its intersection with Pacific

Highway (U.S. Route 99), then proceeding in a southerly direction along

Pacific Highway to its intersection with Union Avenue Extended and

continuing in a southerly direction along Union Avenue Extended to its

intersection with the northwest corner of McChord Air Force Base, then

proceeding along the northern, then western, then southern boundary of

McChord Air Force Base to its intersection, just west of Lake Mondress,

with the northern boundary of the Fort Lewis Military Reservation, then

proceeding in an easterly direction along the northern boundary of the

Fort Lewis Military Reservation to its intersection with Pacific

Avenue, then proceeding in a southerly direction along Pacific Avenue

to its intersection with National Park Highway, then proceeding in a

southeasterly direction along National Park Highway to its intersection

with 224th Street, East, then proceeding in an easterly direction along

244th Street, East, to its intersection with Meridian Street, South,

then proceeding in a northerly direction along Meridian Street to the

northern boundary of Pierce County, then proceeding in a westerly

direction along the northern boundary of Pierce County to its

intersection with Puget Sound, then proceeding in a generally

southwesterly direction along the banks of the East Passage of Puget

Sound, Commencement Bay, and The Narrows to the point of intersection

with the westernmost city limits of Tacoma, including all points and

places on the southern boundary of the Juan de Fuca Strait from the

eastern port limits of Neah Bay to the western port limits of Port

Townsend, all points and places on the western boundary of Puget Sound,

including Hood Canal, from the port limits of Port Townsend to the

northern port limits of Olympia, all points and places on the southern

boundary of Puget Sound from the port limits of Olympia to the western

port limits of Tacoma, and all points and places on the eastern

boundary of Puget Sound and contiguous waters from the port limits of

Tacoma north to the southern port limits of Bellingham, all in the

State of Washington.

Regulatory Flexibility Act and Executive Order 12866

Although Customs solicited public comments on this port extension,

no notice of proposed rulemaking was required pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553

because the port extension relates to agency management and

organization. Accordingly, this document is not subject to the

provisions of the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq).

Agency organization matters such as this port extension are exempt from

consideration under Executive Order 12866.

Drafting Information: The principal author of this document was

Janet L. Johnson, Regulations Branch. However, personnel from other

offices participated in its development.

List of Subjects in 19 CFR Part 101

Customs duties and inspection, Exports, Imports, Organization and

functions (Government agencies).

Amendments to the Regulations

Accordingly, Part 101 of the Customs Regulations is amended as set

forth below:

PART 101--GENERAL PROVISIONS

1. The general authority citation for Part 101 and the specific

authority citation for Sec. 101.3 continue to read as follows:

Authority: 5 U.S.C. 301; 19 U.S.C. 2, 66, 1202 (General Note 20,

Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States), 1623, 1624.

Sections 101.3 and 101.4 also issued under 19 U.S.C. 1 and 58b;

* * * * *

Sec. 101.3 [Amended]

2. Section 101.3(b)(1) is amended by removing the reference ``T. D.

83-146'' in the ``Limits of port'' column adjacent to the entry of

Puget Sound in the ``Ports of entry'' column under the state of

Washington and by adding the reference ``T. D. 96-63'' in its place.

Approved: July 29, 1996.

George J. Weise,

Commissioner of Customs.

Dennis M. O'Connell,

Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Treasury.

[FR Doc. 96-21487 Filed 8-22-96; 8:45 am]

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