[Federal Register: July 8, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 130)]
[Notices]               
[Page 36969]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr08jy99-139]                         

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DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY

Customs Service

 
Fees for Customs Services at User Fee Airports

AGENCY: Customs Service, Treasury.

ACTION: General notice.

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SUMMARY: This document advises the public of an increase in the fees 
charged user fee airports by Customs for providing Customs services at 
these designated facilities. These fees are based on actual costs 
incurred by Customs in purchasing equipment and providing training and 
one Customs inspector on a full-time basis, and, thus, merely represent 
reimbursement to Customs for services rendered. The fees to be 
increased are the initial fee charged for a user fee airport's first 
year after it signs a Memorandum of Agreement with Customs to become a 
user fee airport, and the annual fee thereafter charged user fee 
airports.

EFFECTIVE DATE: The new fees will be effective on October 1, 1999, and 
will be reflected in quarterly, user fee airport billings issued on or 
after that date.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cynthia Sargent, Office of Finance 
(202-927-9181).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    Section 236 of the Trade and Tariff Act of 1984 (Pub. L. 98-573, 98 
Stat. 2992) (codified at 19 U.S.C. 58b), as amended, authorizes the 
Secretary of the Treasury to make Customs services available and charge 
a fee for the use of such services at certain specified airports and at 
any other airport, seaport, or other facility designated by the 
Secretary pursuant to specified criteria. (The list of user fee 
airports is found at Sec. 122.15 of the Customs Regulations (19 CFR 
122.15.)) The fee that is charged is an amount equal to the expenses 
incurred by the Secretary in providing the Customs services at the 
designated facility, which includes purchasing equipment and providing 
training and inspectional services, i.e., the salary and expenses of 
individuals employed by the Secretary to provide the Customs services. 
The fees being raised are the initial fee charged for a user fee 
airport's first year after it signs a Memorandum of Agreement with 
Customs to become a user fee airport (set at $105,000 in Fiscal Year 
1997), and the annual fee, thereafter, charged user fee airports (set 
at $78,500 in Fiscal Year 1997).
    These user fees for user fee airports are typically set forth in 
Memorandum of Agreements between a user fee facility and Customs. While 
the amount of these fees are agreed to be at flat rates, they are 
adjustable, as costs and circumstances change.
    The last notice concerning fees charged user fee airports was 
published on October 28, 1997, in the Federal Register (62 FR 55846).

Adjustment of User Fee Airport Fees

    As of April 30, 1999, Customs has determined that in order for the 
charged user fee to actually reimburse Customs for services provided, 
the initial fee is increased from $ 105,000 to $111,500, and that the 
recurring annual fee subsequently charged is increased from $ 78,500 to 
$80,000. The new fees will be effective October 1, 1999, and will be 
reflected in quarterly, user fee airport billings issued on or after 
that date.

    Dated: July 2, 1999.
Wayne Hamilton,
Assistant Commissioner, Office of Finance.
[FR Doc. 99-17398 Filed 7-7-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4820-02-P