Extension to Application Period For The General Test Regarding The International Trade Prototype

DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY

Customs Service

Extension to Application Period For The General Test Regarding

The International Trade Prototype

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

ACTION: General notice.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces that Customs will allow a 30-day

extension to importers and exporters wishing to apply to participate

in, or provide written comments on, the International Trade Prototype

(ITP). The ITP was previously announced in the Federal Register on June

3, 1998.

DATES: To apply for participation in the ITP, parties must submit the

necessary information as outlined in the Federal Register notice of

June 3, 1998 on or before August 7, 1998. Comments concerning the ITP

must be submitted on or before August 7, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Applications for voluntary participation in, or written

comments regarding, the ITP should be addressed to the U.S. Customs

Service, International Trade Prototype Team, Attn: Linda LeBaron

Grasley, 4455 Genesee Street, Bldg. 10, Room 342,

Buffalo, New York 14225. Note that all comments received by U.S.

Customs will be part of the public record.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For any prototype or participation

questions please contact Daniel Buchanan, U.S. Customs Service at (617)

565-6236, or Linda LeBaron Grasley, U.S. Customs Service at (716) 626-

0400 x 204, or Kevin Franklin, United Kingdom, Her Majesty's Custom and

Excise at 011 44 171 865 4728 in London, England.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

On June 3, 1998, Customs published a document in the Federal

Register (63 FR 30288) announcing what is expected to be a series of

prototypes collectively called the International Trade Prototype (ITP).

This notice invited public comments concerning any aspect of the

planned prototype, informed interested members of the public of the

eligibility requirements for voluntary participation in the first phase

of the first prototype called International Trade Prototype 1 (ITP1)

and outlined the development and evaluation methodology to be used in

the test. It was announced that in order to participate in ITP1, the

necessary information, as outlined in that notice, must be filed with

Customs and approval granted.

The June 3, 1998, notice announced that the first phase would

commence no earlier than June 8, 1998, and would run for approximately

six months with evaluations of the prototype occurring periodically.

Comments concerning any aspect of this phase were requested to be

received on or before July 6, 1998. Importers and exporters who wish to

participate were to have submitted an

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application on or before July 6, 1998, including information that was

set forth in the notice.

Today's document announces that Customs will allow a 30-day

extension to importers and exporters wishing to provide comments or

apply to participate in the International Trade Prototype. To apply for

participation for the ITP or submit comments regarding the ITP, parties

now have until August 7, 1998.

Dated: July 6, 1998.

Samuel H. Banks,

Acting Commissioner of Customs.

[FR Doc. 98-18233 Filed 7-8-98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4820-02-P