CSMS Message: 94-000945

TO : ALL ABI BROKERS.

FROM : DALE SNELL

SUBJECT : CUSTOMS BULLETIN NOTICE

DATE : 09/19/94

CUSTOMS BULLETIN NOTICE

SUMMARY: THIS NOTICE ANNOUNCES U.S. CUSTOMS INTENTION TO USE
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY TO INCREASE PUBLIC AWARENESS AND INVITE
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION IN THE FORMULATION OF MAJOR CONCEPTS,
(SYSTEMS) AND REGULATIONS NECESSITATED BY ENACTMENT OF THE
"MOD ACT," OR TITLE VI OF THE NORTH AMERICAN FREE TRADE
AGREEMENT IMPLEMENTATION ACT (PUBLIC LAW 103-182).

PRIOR TO INITIATING RULEMAKING AS PROVIDED FOR UNDER THE
ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES ACT, U.S. CUSTOMS WILL GENERALLY
POST ON AN ELECTRONIC BULLETIN BOARD ITS THOUGHTS, CONCERNS,
DRAFT PROPOSALS, AND OPTIONS FOR IMPLEMENTING MAJOR PROVISIONS
OF THE MOD ACT. TO THE EXTENT POSSIBLE, PUBLIC COMMENTS
RECEIVED WITHIN 30 CALENDAR DAYS OF POSTING ON CUSTOMS
ELECTRONIC BULLETIN BOARD WILL BE DEEMED TIMELY AND QUALIFIED
FOR CONSIDERATION IN IMPROVING EXISTING OR DRAFTING NEW
REGULATORY PROPOSALS.

THIS ACTION IS BEING TAKEN IN KEEPING WITH THE SPIRIT OF THE
"MOD ACT" AND THE ADMINISTRATION'S INTEREST IN STREAMLINING
THE RULEMAKING PROCEDURES.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: DALE SNELL, "MOD ACT" TASK
FORCE, U.S. CUSTOMS SERVICE, FRANKLIN COURT, 1301 CONSTITUTION
AVENUE, N.W., WASHINGTON, D.C. 20229. PHONE: (202) 482-6990;
FAX: (202) 482-6994.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

BACKGROUND

ON DECEMBER 8, 1993, THE PRESIDENT SIGNED THE NORTH AMERICAN
FREE TRADE AGREEMENT IMPLEMENTATION ACT. THE CUSTOMS
MODERNIZATION PORTION OF THIS ACT (TITLE VI OF PUBLIC LAW
103-182, 107 STAT. 2057, CODIFIED AT 19 U.S.C. 3301 NOTE)
POPULARLY KNOWN AS THE CUSTOMS MODERNIZATION ACT OR "MOD ACT,"
BECAME EFFECTIVE WHEN IT WAS SIGNED.

IN KEEPING WITH THE SPIRIT OF THE MOD ACT AND THE
ADMINISTRATION'S INTEREST IN STREAMLINING THE RULEMAKING
PROCESS AS DOCUMENTED IN "IMPROVING REGULATORY SYSTEMS," A
MONOGRAPH ISSUED IN SUPPORT OF VICE PRESIDENT GORE'S NATIONAL
PERFORMANCE REVIEW REPORT, THE CUSTOMS SERVICE HEREWITH
ANNOUNCES ITS INTENTION TO USE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY TO
INCREASE PUBLIC AWARENESS AND PARTICIPATION IN THE FORMULATION
OF MAJOR CONCEPTS, (SYSTEMS) AND REGULATIONS.

CUSTOMS GOAL

CUSTOMS GOAL IS TO SHARE WITH THE PUBLIC ITS THOUGHTS,
CONCERNS, PROPOSALS, AND OPTIONS FOR IMPLEMENTING MAJOR
PROVISIONS OF THE MOD ACT AND OBTAIN PUBLIC REACTION TO SAME
IN ADVANCE OF COMMENCEMENT OF THE RULEMAKING PROCESS AS
PROVIDED FOR UNDER THE ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES ACT. IT IS
NOT CUSTOMS GOAL TO CIRCUMVENT NOR SUBSTITUTE ITS OWN PROCESS
FOR THAT REQUIRED UNDER THE ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES ACT.

TO ACCOMPLISH THE AFOREMENTIONED GOAL, DOCUMENTS DETAILING
CUSTOMS THOUGHTS, CONCERNS, DRAFT PROPOSALS AND OR OPTIONS
REGARDING MAJOR PROVISIONS OF THE MOD ACT WILL GENERALLY BE
POSTED ON THE CUSTOMS ELECTRONIC BULLETIN BOARD (CEBB) FOR
PUBLIC REVIEW, DOWNLOADING AND COMMENT. DURING THE 30
CALENDAR DAY PERIOD FOLLOWING THE POSTING OF SUCH DOCUMENTS,
CUSTOMS WILL ACCEPT PUBLIC COMMENTS AND SUGGESTIONS. AT THE
CONCLUSION OF THIS 30 DAY PERIOD, CUSTOMS WILL FORECLOSE
CONSIDERATION OF COMMENTS AND INITIATE THE RULEMAKING PROCESS.

TO THE EXTENT POSSIBLE, CUSTOMS WILL USE COMMENTS AND
SUGGESTIONS THAT ARE RECEIVED TIMELY AND DEEMED APPROPRIATE
FOR IMPROVING EXISTING OR DRAFTING NEW REGULATORY PROPOSALS.
TO EXPEDITE THE PROCESS, CUSTOMS WILL NOT RESPOND ORALLY OR IN
WRITING TO PUBLIC COMMENTS RECEIVED IN RESPONSE TO DOCUMENTS
POSTED ON THE CEBB.

DATED: SEPTEMBER 19, 1994

SIGNED

SAMUEL H. BANKS
ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER
OFFICE OF COMMERCIAL OPERATIONS