[Federal Register: July 28, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 144)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 40983-40988]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr28jy99-19]

[[Page 40983]]

_______________________________________________________________________

Part IV

_______________________________________________________________________

Department of the Treasury

_______________________________________________________________________

Customs Service

_______________________________________________________________________

19 CFR Parts 4, 101, 178, and 192

Automated Export System (AES); Final Rule

[[Page 40984]]

DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY

Customs Service

19 CFR Parts 4, 101, 178, and 192

[T.D. 99-57]
RIN 1515-AC42

Automated Export System (AES)

AGENCY: Customs Service, Treasury.

ACTION: Final rule.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: This document amends the Customs Regulations to make provision
for the Automated Export System (AES)--an electronic reporting system
jointly developed by the Bureau of the Census (Census) and Customs that
allows exporters to transmit commodity information contained on
Shipper's Export Declarations and sea carriers to transmit outbound
vessel manifest information. These amendments generally describe the
AES, cross-referencing the applicable Census Regulations that will
provide for the AES. They also set forth the criteria by which Customs
will determine whether to approve an exporter for the option to
transmit commodity information through AES after the carrier has left
the United States (post-departure) and the appeal procedures for AES
exporters if Customs denies the exporter the post-departure option; or,
if Customs approves the post-departure option for the AES exporter, the
grounds for revocation of the use of the option and the appeal
procedures if Customs revokes the use of that option. This document
also provides for the Sea Carrier's Module in the AES.
    These regulatory changes are designed to help exporters that
utilize the AES realize the benefits of fewer delays in the processing
of export information by Customs due to missing paperwork, and to
provide for fewer and faster inspections of export shipments as well as
reduced administration costs due to automation.

EFFECTIVE DATE: July 28, 1999.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Maritza Castro, (202) 927--0724,
Office of Field Operations, Outbound Programs.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    On February 12, 1999, Customs--in conjunction with the Bureau of
the Census (Census)--published a document in the Federal Register (64
FR 7422) that proposed to amend the Customs Regulations to allow for
the Automated Export System (AES), an electronic reporting system
jointly developed by Census and Customs that allows exporters to
transmit commodity information contained on Shipper's Export
Declarations (SEDs) and sea carriers to transmit outbound vessel
manifest information. In that document, Customs proposed to add a new
subpart B in part 192 of the Customs Regulations, which pertains to
Export Control, to generally describe the AES, cross-referencing
proposed Census Regulations providing for the AES which were published
in the same issue of the Federal Register (64 FR 7412). The document
also proposed criteria by which Customs would determine whether to
approve an exporter for the AES option to transmit commodity
information after the carrier has left the United States (post-
departure) and the appeal procedures for AES exporters if Customs
denies the exporter the post-departure option, or, if Customs has
approved the post-departure option for an AES exporter, the grounds for
revocation of the use of the option and the appeal procedures if
Customs revokes the use of the option.
    The document also proposed to create a new Sec. 4.76 in the Customs
Regulations (19 CFR 4.76) providing for the Sea Carrier's module in the
AES.
    Customs also proposed to revise the authority citation for part 192
to more clearly show the statutory basis of Customs authority to
collect and examine manifest and export data information.
    Customs also used the notice document as the vehicle to propose an
amendment to the general provisions of part 101 of the Customs
Regulations to include a definition of the term ``business day.'' While
the term ``business days'' was used in that document in reference to
filing times for sea carriers, the proposed definition would be
applicable wherever the term is used throughout the Customs Regulations
(19 CFR).
    These regulatory changes were proposed to help exporters that
utilize the AES realize the benefits of fewer delays in the processing
of export information by Customs due to missing paperwork, and to
provide for fewer and faster inspections of export shipments as well as
reduced administration costs due to automation. Comments were solicited
on the proposed regulations in general and on the economic impact of
transmitting booking information on small carriers in particular.
    The comment period closed April 13, 1999; three comments were
received, one being forwarded from Census. The comments and Customs
responses are set forth below.

Analysis of Comments

    All of the comments received concern the general requirements for
the AES proposed by the Census Regulations in their document; none of
the comments received concern the Sea Carrier's Module in AES, which
was the thrust of the subject matter proposed in the Customs document.
No comments were received on the economic impact on small carriers of
transmitting booking information.

Time Frame for Submitting Outstanding Data

    Comment: One commenter questions why Option 3 filers are given only
5 days to submit outstanding data required to be filed when Option 4
filers are allowed 10 days and inquiries of the compelling reason for
this disparity. Although the commenter states that the AES proposed
rules--published by Census--accurately represented the four options
agreed upon in the Interest Based Negotiations (IBN) between Census,
Customs, and the trade community, the commenter goes on to state that
Option 3 filers have the same invoicing and documentation problems as
Option 4 filers and that the two filing classes should have the same
time frames for submitting outstanding data required to be filed. This
comment concerns Secs. 30.61(b) and (c) of the proposed Census
Regulations.
    Customs Response: The reason Option 4 filers are allowed an
additional 5 days to submit outstanding export data required to be
filed is because Option 4 privileges are granted only to pre-approved
exporters who have provided approving agencies with basic business
information, such as type of merchandise, method of operation, and
volume. Since this business data is on file prior to departure, the
risk factor for Option 4 shipments is minimized. Filers with Option 3
status, on the other hand, do not have such business data on file, nor
do they require any prior approval from an agency. Since Option 3
filing status is available to any AES commodity filer, the risk factor
for Option 3 shipments is greatly increased. The tighter time frame for
reporting full data is designed to provide a level of control,
minimizing the risk for shipments which might require redelivery, or
for which subsequent data is filed late or not at all. It should also
help ensure a better workflow and more timely submission of crucial
trade data.
    Census has indicated that no change will be made to their
regulations based on their analysis of this comment. Customs agrees
with Census.

[[Page 40985]]

Option 4 Privileges and Shipments Required To Be Filed With Full
Predeparture Information

    Comment: Two commenters question why filers who are approved for
Option 4 to transmit all export information post-departure should be
required to transmit any export information predeparture under Option 2
or 3. Option 4 is not permitted for specific types of shipments, such
as those requiring export licenses. These commenters believe that
Option 4 was conceived as a ``blanket'' process for an exporter to
submit all data post-departure and do not see the need, even when an
export requires an export license, for predeparture reporting for
Option 4 filers, since the license itself is permission to export.
(Emphasis in comment). This comment concerns Secs. 30.61(a) and (c) of
the proposed Census Regulations.
    Customs Response: This comment reflects confusion concerning the
scope of Option 4 privileges. Option 4 filing privileges extend only to
pre-approved filers, and then only for qualified shipments. An
exporter's status as an approved Option 4 filer under Sec. 30.61(c) of
the Census Regulations does not negate the restrictions imposed when
exporting specifically exempted shipments, identified under
Sec. 30.61(a) of the Census Regulations, or shipments requiring an
export license. The specific types of shipments requiring full
predeparture information under AES Option 2 are: (1) Used, self-
propelled vehicles; (2) essential and precursor chemicals requiring a
permit from the Drug Enforcement Administration; (3) shipments defined
as ``sensitive'' by Executive Order; and (4) shipments where full
export information is required prior to exportation by a Federal
government agency. It would be the responsibility of that government
agency to approve filers to use Option 4 for those shipments.
    Census has indicated that no change will be made to their
regulations based on their analysis of this comment. Customs agrees
with Census.

Option 4 Filing Status & the Export of Used, Self-Propelled Vehicles

    Comment: One commenter requests that Sec. 30.61 of the Census
Regulations be modified to allow approved exporters to report the
export of used, self-propelled vehicles in AES under Option 4.
    Customs Response: Customs disagrees. As discussed above in the
second comment response, certain specific types of export shipments
require that full predeparture information be filed under Option 2.
These are high-risk shipments. Used, self-propelled vehicles are one of
these type of shipments. Predeparture information is required for
shipments of used, self-propelled vehicles because they are subject to
the regulatory requirements of Subpart A of Part 192 of the Customs
Regulations (19 CFR part 192, subpart A), which were promulgated
pursuant to specific statutes aimed at stopping the export of stolen
vehicles. Law enforcement concerns to counter this threat of exporting
stolen vehicles require that the original title for the vehicle be
physically presented to Customs before the export of the used, self-
propelled vehicle. See, T.D. 99-34 (64 FR 16635; published April 6,
1999). Accordingly, because full predeparture information is considered
necessary before the exportation of used, self-propelled vehicles,
Customs is not asking Census to change the regulations on this matter.
    It is noted that new self-propelled vehicles (those for which the
title has not been transferred to an ultimate purchaser) may be
reported in the AES by an approved filer using Option 4. It is also
noted that used, self-propelled vehicles shipped between the United
States and Puerto Rico are not subject to the regulatory requirements
of Subpart A of Part 192 of the Customs Regulations and are approved
commodities that may be reported in the AES by an approved filer using
Option 4. The Census Regulations have been amended to reflect this.
    Comment: Two commenters suggest that the Census Bureau program, the
Automated Export Reporting Program (AERP), should be retained. One of
these commenters further suggests that AES data formats do not conform
to the Treasury Department's International Trade Data System (ITDS),
which will replace the AES.
    Customs Response: Census and Customs have been informing the trade
community since 1995 that the AERP would expire on December 31, 1999.
Again, in a notice published in the Federal Register (63 FR 54438) on
October 9, 1998, it was announced that the AERP would expire on
December 31, 1999. This time frame was established to allow sufficient
time for AERP participants to convert to AES. The AES is able to
process trade data for all AERP companies. The AERP will not be
extended past December 31, 1999.
    In response to the comment regarding AES compatibility with ITDS,
it should be noted that AES is compatible with the functional
requirements of the ITDS and may be incorporated into that system in
the future.

Conclusion

    After careful consideration of all the comments received and
further review of the matter, Customs has decided to adopt as a final
rule, with one substantive change and minor changes for clarity, the
proposed amendments published February 12, 1999, in the Federal
Register (64 FR 7422). The one substantive change involves the
definition of the term ``business day.''
    In the proposal, Customs proposed to amend the general provisions
of Part 101 of the Customs Regulations to include a definition of the
term ``business day'' and the term ``business days'' was used in
Secs. 4.76(b), (c)(3), and (c)(4). While the definition of ``business
day'' is adopted in this final rule document because of its use at
Sec. 4.76(b), Customs has determined that the term is not appropriate
at Secs. 4.76 (c)(3) and (4) because AES programming only allows for
calculation of calendar days.
    Accordingly, the term ``business days'' is replaced with ``calendar
days'' at Sec. 4.76(c)(4).
    It is noted that in a separate document published in today's
Federal Register, the Bureau of the Census is publishing its final rule
document setting forth the general requirements for the AES in the
Census Regulations (chapter I of title 15 of the Code of Federal
Regulations) at new subpart E of part 30 (15 CFR part 30).

The Regulatory Flexibility Act and Executive Order 12866

    Pursuant to provisions of the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C.
601 et seq.), it is certified that the amendments will not have a
significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities.
Booking information is already collected in the ordinary course of
business by sea carriers and the cost of transmitting the information
electronically to Customs through AES, even if the carrier is not a
certified AES participant, is not substantial. Accordingly, the
amendments are not subject to the regulatory analysis or other
requirements of 5 U.S.C. 603 and 604. These amendments do not meet the
criteria for a ``significant regulatory action'' as specified in
Executive Order 12866.

Inapplicability of Delayed Effective Date

    Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(1) and (3), a delayed effective date is
not required for this rule. For purposes of 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(1), this
rule reflects a grant of an exemption from the normal export manifest
reporting requirements to AES

[[Page 40986]]

participants using the Sea Carrier's module. A complete outbound cargo
manifest is generally required to be delivered to a Customs port
director not later than the fourth business day after clearance of the
vessel from each port. According to this rule, a carrier can file the
manifest information with Customs via AES for each booking loaded on a
departed vessel within ten calendar days after the departure of the
vessel from each port. Because the ability to file export manifest
information electronically benefits the public, pursuant to 5 U.S.C.
553(d)(3), good cause exists for not delaying the effective date of
this rule.

Paperwork Reduction Act

    The collection of information contained in these final regulations
has been revised, reviewed, and approved by the Office of Management
and Budget (OMB) in accordance with the requirements of the Paperwork
Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3507) under control number 1515-0221.
An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to
respond to, a collection of information unless the collection of
information displays a valid control number assigned by OMB.
    The collection of information in this final rule is at Sec. 4.76.
This information is required to determine which export shipments are
high risk. This information will be used to screen shipments for
enforcement targeting. The likely respondents are sea carriers that
engage in foreign commerce and trade with the United States and are
required to submit outbound vessel manifest data. The estimated average
burden associated with the collection of information in this final rule
is one to seventy-two hours per respondent or recordkeeper. Comments
concerning the accuracy of this burden estimate and suggestions for
reducing this burden should be directed to the U.S. Customs Service,
Information Services Group, Office of Finance, 1300 Pennsylvania Ave.,
NW, Washington, DC 20229; and to OMB, Attention: Desk Officer for the
Department of the Treasury, Office of Information and Regulatory
Affairs, Washington, D.C. 20503.
    Part 178 of the Customs Regulations is amended to reflect this
paperwork requirement.

Drafting Information

    The principal author of this document was Gregory R. Vilders,
Attorney, Regulations Branch. However, personnel from other offices
participated in its development.

List of Subjects

19 CFR Part 4

    Cargo vessels, Common carriers, Customs duties and inspection,
Declarations, Exports, Foreign commerce and trade statistics, Freight,
Inspection, Maritime carriers, Merchandise, Reporting and recordkeeping
requirements, Shipping, Vessels.

19 CFR Part 101

    Customs duties and inspection, Customs ports of entry, Exports,
Foreign trade statistics, Harbors, Imports, Organization and functions
(Government agencies), Reporting and recordkeeping requirements,
Shipments, Vessels.

19 CFR Part 178

    Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.

19 CFR Part 192

    Customs duties and inspection, Electronic filing, Export control,
Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Vessels.

Amendments to the Regulations

    For the reasons stated above, parts 4, 101, 178, and 192 of the
Customs Regulations (19 CFR parts 4, 101, 178, and 192) are amended as
set forth below:

PART 4--VESSELS IN FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC TRADES

    1. The general authority citation for part 4 continues to read as
follows:

    Authority: 5 U.S.C. 301; 19 U.S.C. 66, 1431, 1433, 1434, 1624;
46 U.S.C. App. 3, 91.
* * * * *
    2. A new Sec. 4.76 is added to read as follows:

Sec. 4.76  Procedures and responsibilities of carriers filing outbound
vessel manifest information via the AES.

    (a) The sea carrier's module. The Sea Carrier's Module is a
component of the Automated Export System (AES) (see, part 192, subpart
B, of this chapter) that allows for the filing of outbound vessel
manifest information electronically (see, 15 CFR part 30). All sea
carriers are eligible to apply for participation in the Sea Carrier's
Module. Application and certification procedures for AES are found at
15 CFR 30.60. A sea carrier certified to use the module that adheres to
the procedures set forth in this section and the Census Regulations (15
CFR part 30) concerning the electronic submission of an outbound vessel
manifest information meets the outward cargo declaration filing
requirements (CF 1302-A) of Secs. 4.63 and 4.75, except as otherwise
provided in Secs. 4.75 and 4.84.
    (b) Responsibilities. The performance requirements and operational
standards and procedures for electronic submission of outbound vessel
manifest information are detailed in the AES Trade Interface
Requirements handbook (available on the Customs internet web site
(www.customs.gov)). Carriers and their agents are responsible for
reporting accurate and timely information and for responding to all
notifications concerning the status of their transmissions and the
detention and release of freight in accordance with the procedures set
forth in the AES Trade Interface Requirements handbook. Customs will
send messages to participant carriers regarding the accuracy of their
transmissions. AES participants are required to comply with the
recordkeeping requirements contained at Sec. 30.66 of the Census
Regulations (15 CFR 30.66) and any other applicable recordkeeping
requirements. Where paper SEDs have been submitted by exporters prior
to departure, participant carriers will be responsible for submitting
those SEDs to Customs within four (4) business days after the departure
of the vessel from each port, unless a different time requirement is
specified by Secs. 4.75 or 4.84. Upon written agreement with
participant sea carriers, Customs and Census can provide for an
alternative to the location filing requirement for paper SEDs set forth
in Sec. 4.75(b) by which the participant carriers are otherwise bound.
    (c) Messages required to be filed within the sea carrier's module.
Participant carriers will be responsible for transmitting and
responding to the following messages:
    (1) Booking. Booking information identifies all the freight that is
scheduled for export. Booking information will be transmitted to
Customs via AES for each shipment as far in advance of departure as
practical, but no later than seventy-two hours prior to departure for
all information available at that time. Bookings received within
seventy-two hours of departure will be transmitted to Customs via AES
as received;
    (2) Receipt of booking. When the carrier receives the cargo or
portion of the cargo that was booked, the carrier will inform Customs
so that Customs can determine if an examination of the cargo is
necessary. Customs will notify the carrier of shipments designated for
examination. Customs will also notify the carrier when the shipment

[[Page 40987]]

designated for inspection is released and may be loaded on the vessel;
    (3) Departure. No later than the first calendar day following the
actual departure of the vessel, the carrier will notify Customs of the
date and time of departure; and
    (4) Manifest. Within ten (10) calendar days after the departure of
the vessel from each port, the carrier will submit the manifest
information to Customs via AES for each booking loaded on the departed
vessel. However, if the destination of the vessel is a foreign port
listed in Sec. 4.75(c), the carrier must transmit complete manifest
information before vessel departure. Time requirements for transmission
of complete manifest information for carriers destined to Puerto Rico
and U.S. possessions are the same as the requirement for the submission
of the complete manifest as found in Sec. 4.84.
    (d) All penalties and liquidated damages that apply to the
submission of paper manifests (see, applicable provisions in this part)
apply to the electronic submission of outbound vessel manifest
information through the Sea Carrier's Module.

PART 101--GENERAL PROVISIONS

    1. The general authority citation for part 101 continues to read as
follows:

    Authority: 5 U.S.C. 301; 19 U.S.C. 2, 66, 1202 (General Note 20,
Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States), 1623, 1624, 1646a.
* * * * *
    2. In Sec. 101.1, add, in appropriate alphabetical order, the
definition of ``business day'' to read as follows:

Sec. 101.1  Definitions.

* * * * *
    Business day. A ``business day'' means a weekday (Monday through
Friday), excluding national holidays as specified in Sec. 101.6(a).
* * * * *

PART 178--APPROVAL OF INFORMATION COLLECTION REQUIREMENTS

    1. The authority citation for part 178 continues to read as
follows:

    Authority: 5 U.S.C. 301; 19 U.S.C. 1624; 44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.

    2. Section 178.2 is amended by adding, in appropriate numerical
order, a listing for Sec. 4.76 to read as follows:

Sec. 178.2  Listing of OMB control numbers.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                             OMB control
           19 CFR Section                  Description           No.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

                  *        *        *        *        *
Sec.  4.76.........................  Booking information       1515-0221
                                      for the Sea Carrier's
                                      Module of the AES.
                  *        *        *        *        *
------------------------------------------------------------------------

PART 192--EXPORT CONTROL

    1. The authority citation for part 192 is revised to read as
follows:

    Authority: 19 U.S.C. 66, 1624, 1646c. Subpart A also issued
under 19 U.S.C. 1627a, 1646a, 1646b; Subpart B also issued under 13
U.S.C. 303; 46 U.S.C. App. 91.

    2. In Sec. 192.0, a sentence is added at the end of the section to
read as follows:

Sec. 192.0  Scope.

    * * * This part also makes provision for the Automated Export
System (AES), implemented by the Census Regulations at part 30, subpart
E (15 CFR part 30, subpart E), and provides the grounds under which
Customs, as one of the reviewing agencies of the government's export
partnership, may deny an application for post-departure filing status
or revoke a participant's privilege to use such filing option, and
provides for the appeal procedures to challenge such action by Customs.
    3. A new subpart B, consisting of Secs. 192.11 through 192.13, is
added to read as follows:

Subpart B--Filing of Export Information Through the Automated
Export System (AES)

Sec.
192.11  Description of the AES.
192.12  Criteria for denial of applications requesting AES post-
departure (Option 4) filing status; appeal procedures.
192.13  Revocation of participant's AES post-departure (Option 4)
filing privileges; appeal procedures.

Subpart B--Filing of Export Information Through the Automated
Export System (AES)

Sec. 192.11  Description of the AES.

    AES is a voluntary program that allows all exporters required to
report commodity export information (see, 15 CFR 30.16) to submit such
information electronically, rather than on paper, and sea carriers to
report required outbound vessel information electronically (see,
Secs. 4.63, 4.75, and 4.76 of this chapter). Eligibility and
application procedures are found at subpart E of part 30 of the Census
Regulations (15 CFR part 30, subpart E), denominated Electronic Filing
Requirements--Exporters. These Census Regulations (15 CFR part 30,
subpart E) provide that exporters may choose to submit export
information through AES by any one of three electronic filing options
available. Only Option 4, the complete post-departure submission of
export information, requires prior approval by participating agencies
before it can be used by AES participants.

Sec. 192.12  Criteria for denial of applications requesting AES post-
departure (Option 4) filing status; appeal procedures.

    (a) Approval process. Applications for the option of filing export
commodity information electronically through AES after the vessel has
departed (Option 4 filing status) must be unanimously approved by
Customs, Census and other participating government agencies.
Disapproval by one of the participating agencies will cause rejection
of the application.
    (b) Grounds for denial. Customs may deny a participant's
application for any of the following reasons:
    (1) The applicant is not an exporter, as defined in the Census
Regulations (15 CFR 30.7(d));
    (2) The applicant has a history of non-compliance with export
regulations (e.g., exporter has a history of late electronic submission
of commodity records or a record of non-submission of required export
documentation);
    (3) The applicant has been indicted, convicted, or is currently
under an investigation, wherein Customs has developed probable cause,
for a felony involving any Customs law or any export law administered
by another government agency; or
    (4) The applicant has made or caused to be made in the ``Letter of
Intent,'' a false or misleading statement or omission with respect to
any material fact.
    (c) Notice of denial; appeal procedures. Applicants will be
notified of approval or denial in writing by Census. (Applicants whose
applications are denied by other agencies must contact those agencies
for their specific appeal procedures.) Applicants whose applications
are denied by Customs will be provided with the specific reason(s) for
non-selection. Applicants may challenge Customs decision by following
the appeal procedure provided at Sec. 192.13(b).

Sec. 192.13  Revocation of participants' AES post-departure (Option 4)
filing privileges; appeal procedures.

    (a) Reasons for revocation. Customs may revoke Option 4 privileges
of participants for the following reasons:
    (1) The exporter has made or caused to be made in the ``Letter of
Intent,'' a

[[Page 40988]]

false or misleading statement or omission with respect to any material
fact;
    (2) The exporter submitting the ``Letter of Intent'' is indicted,
convicted, or is currently under an investigation, wherein Customs has
developed probable cause, for a felony involving any Customs law or any
export law administered by another government agency;
    (3) The exporter fails to substantially comply with export
regulations; or
    (4) Continued participation in AES as an Option 4 filer would pose
a threat to national security, such that continued participation in
Option 4 should be terminated.
    (b) Notice of revocation; appeal procedures. When Customs has
decided to revoke a participant's Option 4 filing privileges, the
participant will be notified in writing of the reason(s) for the
decision. The participant may challenge Customs decision by filing an
appeal within thirty (30) calendar days of receipt of the notice of
decision. Except as stated elsewhere in this paragraph, the revocation
will become effective when the participant has either exhausted all
appeal proceedings or thirty (30) calendar days after receipt of the
notice of revocation if no appeal is filed. However, in cases of
intentional violations of any Customs law on the part of the program
participant or when required by the national security, revocations will
become effective immediately upon notification. Appeals should be
addressed to the Director, Outbound Programs, U.S. Customs, Ronald
Reagan Building, 1300 Pennsylvania Ave, NW, Room 5.4c, Washington, DC
20229. Customs will issue a written decision or notice of extension to
the participant within thirty (30) calendar days of receipt of the
appeal. If a notice of extension is forwarded, the applicant will be
provided with the reason(s) for extension of this time period and an
expected date of decision. Participants who have had their Option 4
filing privileges revoked and applicants not selected to participate in
Option 4 of AES may not reapply for this filing status for one year
following written notification of rejection or revocation.
Raymond W. Kelly,
Commissioner of Customs.

    Approved: July 22, 1999.
Timothy G. Skud,
Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Treasury.
[FR Doc. 99-19177 Filed 7-23-99; 9:55 am]
BILLING CODE 4820-02-P