Importer Security Filing and Additional Carrier Requirements

AGENCY:

Customs and Border Protection, Department of Homeland Security.

ACTION:

Notice of proposed rulemaking; extension of comment period.

SUMMARY:

This document provides an additional 15 days for interested persons to submit comments on the proposed rule to amend the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) regulations to require both importers and carriers to submit additional information pertaining to cargo before the cargo is brought into the United States by vessel. The proposed rule was published in the Federal Register on January 2, 2008, and the comment period was scheduled to expire on March 3, 2008.

DATES:

Comments on the proposed rule must be received on or before March 18, 2008.

ADDRESSES:

You may submit comments, identified by docket number, by one of the following methods:

• Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov . Follow the instructions for submitting comments via docket number USCBP-2007-0077.
• Mail: Border Security Regulations Branch, Office of International Trade, Customs and Border Protection, 1300 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., (Mint Annex), Washington, DC 20229.

Instructions: All submissions received must include the agency name and document number for this rulemaking. All comments received will be posted without change to http://www.regulations.gov , including any personal information provided. For detailed instructions on submitting comments and additional information on the rulemaking process, see the “Public Participation” heading of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of the proposed rule.

Docket: For access to the docket to read the notice of proposed rulemaking, background documents, or comments received, go to http://www.regulations.gov . Submitted comments may also be inspected during regular business days between the hours of 9 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. at the Office of International Trade, Customs and Border Protection, 799 9th Street, NW., 5th Floor, Washington, DC. Arrangements to inspect submitted comments should be made in advance by calling Mr. Joseph Clark at (202) 572-8768.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Richard Di Nucci, Office of Field Operations, (202) 344-2513.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

Notice of Proposed Rulemaking

CBP published a notice of proposed rulemaking in the Federal Register (73 FR 90) on January 2, 2008, proposing to require both importers and carriers to submit additional information pertaining to cargo before the cargo is brought into the United States by vessel. Under the proposed rule, CBP must receive this information by way of a CBP-approved electronic data interchange system. The proposed regulations are specifically intended to fulfill the requirements of section 203 of the Security and Accountability for Every (SAFE) Port Act of 2006 and section 343(a) of the Trade Act of 2002, as amended by the Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2002.

The notice of proposed rulemaking invited the public to comment on the proposal. Comments on the proposed rule were requested on or before March 3, 2008.

Extension of Comment Period

In response to the proposed rule published in the Federal Register, CBP has received correspondence requesting an extension of the comment period. A decision has been made to grant an extension of 15 days. Comments are now due on or before March 18, 2008.