Foreign Repairs to American Vessels

DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY

Customs Service

19 CFR PARTS 4 AND 159

RIN 1515-AC30

Foreign Repairs to American Vessels

AGENCY: Customs Service, Department of the Treasury.

ACTION: Proposed rule; extension of comment period.

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SUMMARY: This document provides an additional 30 days for interested

members of the public to submit comments on proposed amendments to the

Customs Regulations concerning foreign repairs to American vessels. The

proposed amendments would revise the regulations regarding the

declaration, entry, assessment of duty and processing of petitions for

relief from duty for vessels of the United States that undergo foreign

shipyard operations. The proposed amendments to the vessel repair

regulations are intended to accurately reflect current statutory law,

as well as legal and policy determinations made as a result of judicial

decisions and administrative enforcement experience.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before July 21, 1999.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be addressed to the Regulations Branch, U.S.

Customs Service, 1300 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., 3rd Floor, Washington

D.C. 20229. All comments submitted will be available for public

inspection in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C.

552), Sec. 1.4, Treasury Department Regulations (31 CFR 1.4), and

Sec. 103.11(b), Customs Regulations (19

[[Page 29976]]

CFR 103.11(b)), between 9:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. on normal business days

at the above address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Larry L. Burton, Office of Regulations

and Rulings, 202-927-1287.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

Customs published a document in the Federal Register (64 FR 19508)

on April 21, 1999, inviting the public to comment on proposed

amendments to its regulations concerning foreign repairs to American

vessels. Specifically, the proposed amendments would revise the Customs

Regulations regarding the declaration, entry, assessment of duty and

processing of petitions for relief from duty for vessels of the United

States that undergo foreign shipyard operations. The proposed

amendments to the vessel repair regulations are intended to accurately

reflect current statutory law, as well as legal and policy

determinations made as a result of judicial decisions and

administrative enforcement experience.

Comments on the proposed rule were due on or before June 21, 1999.

However, a request has been made on behalf of a large shipping concern

to extend the period of time for comments on the proposed rule for an

additional 30 days (until July 21, 1999). The additional time is

requested so that a thorough and meaningful comment may be prepared, in

light of the fact that the proposal involves a major revision of the

vessel repair regulations.

Customs has concluded under the circumstances that this request has

merit. Accordingly, the period of time for the submission of public

comments on the proposed rule is being extended as requested.

Dated: June 1, 1999.

Stuart P. Seidel,

Assistant Commissioner, Office of Regulations and Rulings.

[FR Doc. 99-14167 Filed 6-3-99; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4820-02-P