[Federal Register: March 25, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 57)]
[Notices]               
[Page 14499-14500]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr25mr99-127]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY

Customs Service

 
Extension of General Program Test: Quota Preprocessing

AGENCY: Customs Service, Treasury.

ACTION: General notice.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces that the testing period for the quota 
preprocessing program, which allows for the electronic processing of 
quota-class apparel merchandise, is being extended through the 
remainder of 1999. The test is being extended so that Customs can 
further evaluate the program's effectiveness and determine whether the 
program should be extended to other ports in addition to the ports 
located at New York/Newark and Los Angeles where the test is currently 
being run. Public comments concerning any aspect of the test are 
solicited.

DATES: The test is extended from March 15, 1999, until December 31, 
1999, with evaluations of the test occurring periodically. Applications 
to participate in the test and comments concerning the test will be 
accepted throughout the testing period.

ADDRESSES: Written comments regarding this notice or any aspect of this 
test should be addressed to Lori Bowers, U.S. Customs Service, QWG Team 
Leader, 1000 Second Ave., Suite 2100, Seattle, WA 98104-1020 or may be 
sent via e-mail to pre-
processing@quota.customs.sprint.com. Applications should be sent to the 
prototype coordinator at any of the four following port(s) where the 
applicant wishes to submit quota entries for processing:
    (1) Julian Velasquez, Port of Los Angeles, 300 S. Ferry St., 
Terminal Island, CA 90731;
    (2) Tony Piscitelli, Los Angeles International Airport, 11099 S. La 
Cienaga Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90045;
    (3) Barry Goldberg, JFK Airport, JFK Building 77, Jamaica, NY 
11430; and
    (4) John Lava, Ports of New York/Newark, 6 World Trade Center, New 
York, NY 10048.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lori Bowers (206) 553-0452 or Bob 
Abels (202) 927-0001.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On July 24, 1998, Customs published a 
general notice in the Federal Register (63 FR 39929) announcing the 
limited testing, pursuant to the provisions of Sec. 101.9(a) of the 
Customs Regulations (19 CFR 101.9(a)), of a new operational procedure 
regarding quota preprocessing which allows the electronic processing of 
quota-class apparel merchandise. The new procedure was designed to 
allow certain quota entries to be processed prior to carrier arrival, 
thus, reducing the quota processing time. The test was to be conducted 
at only four ports located in New York/Newark and Los Angeles and was 
to commence no earlier than August 24, 1998, and run for approximately 
six months. The notice

[[Page 14500]]

informed the public of the new procedure and eligibility requirements 
for participation in the test. The goals of the quota preprocessing 
prototype being tested, as set forth in the July 24, 1998 Federal 
Register notice are:
    (1) To reduce the processing time of quota entries;
    (2) To process quota entries submitted as part of the preprocessing 
program in the same amount of time as non-quota entries;
    (3) To increase the quantity of quota entries released within one 
calendar day of the arrival of the carrier; and
    (4) To equalize the submission of quota entries over the five-day 
work week.
    The quota preprocessing test began on September 15, 1998; the six-
month time period of the original test expires on March 14, 1999. 
Approximately 400 brokers and importers have participated in the test 
so far, and Customs has received 84 evaluations: 22 from brokers and 62 
from importers. The initial test evaluations were positive, showing 
general acceptance of the program. However, Customs would have liked 
greater participation. In fact, the biggest complaint contained in the 
evaluations received to date is that the preprocessing test occurred at 
the end of the year when many of the quotas were filled 85% or more. 
Many participants felt that had the test been conducted at the 
beginning of the year, it would have received greater participation.
    Because of this complaint that conducting the test so near to the 
end of the year was an unfair measure of the prototype, Customs is 
extending the prototype testing period through the end of this calendar 
year. This will enable the importing community to more fully 
participate in the quota preprocessing test and allow Customs to more 
fully explore the benefits and drawbacks of the program.
    Accordingly, this document announces that Customs is extending the 
test of the quota preprocessing prototype at the ports where testing is 
already underway until the end of 1999. Those ports are: the port of 
Los Angeles; the port of New York/Newark; JFK Airport; and Los Angeles 
International Airport. Anyone interested in participating in the test 
should refer to the test notice published in the July 24, 1998 Federal 
Register for eligibility and application information. Any expansion of 
the test to other ports will be the subject of another Federal Register 
notice.

    Dated: March 19, 1999.
Charles W. Winwood,
Assistant Commissioner, Office of Field Operations.
[FR Doc. 99-7238 Filed 3-24-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4820-02-P