Federal Register / Vol. 60, No. 66 / Thursday, April 6, 1995 / Notices 17605

Public Information Collection

Requirements Submitted to OMB for

Review.

March 28, 1995.

The Department of Treasury has

submitted the following public

information collection requirement(s) to

OMB for review and clearance under the

Paperwork Reduction Act of 1980,

Public Law 96–511. Copies of the

submission(s) may be obtained by

calling the Treasury Bureau Clearance

Officer listed. Comments regarding this

information collection should be

addressed to the OMB reviewer listed

and to the Treasury Department

Clearance Officer, Department of the

Treasury, room 2110, 1425 New York

Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20220.

Special Request: In order to conduct

the satisfaction survey described below

in a timely manner, the Department of

Treasury is requesting Office of

Management and Budget (OMB) review

and approval of this information

collection by March 31, 1995. To obtain

a copy of this survey, please write to the

IRS Clearance Officer at the address

listed below.

Internal Revenue Service (IRS)

OMB Number: 1545–1432

Survey Project Number: IRS PC:V 95–

006–G

Type of Review: Revision

Title: Sacramento Info California

(InfoCal) Kiosk Survey

Description: Recently, the State of

California deployed a computer-based,

touch-screen, multi-media kiosk

system—called Info California

(InfoCal)—that offers the public a wide

range of government services and

assistance. InfoCal is designed to offer

customers a ‘‘one-stop’’ opportunity to

transact whatever governmental services

and assistance they need regardless of

whether it is at the federal, state or local

government level. This survey will

provide qualitative information from

customers who have had a need to visit

a kiosk. Specifically, IRS will collect

data regarding what topics customers

want on the kiosk which are presently

absent, as well as valuable feedback

about the nature and adequacy of

current topics and ease of kiosk use.

Respondents: Individuals or

households.

Estimated Number of Respondents:

200.

Estimated Burden Hours Per

Respondent: 5 minutes.

Frequency of Response: Other.

Estimated Total Reporting Burden: 17

hours.

Clearance Officer: Garrick Shear (202)

622–3869, Internal Revenue Service,

room 5571, 1111 Constitution

Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20224.

OMB Reviewer: Milo Sunderhauf (202)

395–7340, Office of Management and

Budget, room 10226, New Executive

Office Building, Washington, DC

20503.

Lois K. Holland,

Departmental Reports, Management Officer.

[FR Doc. 95–8463 Filed 4–5–95; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4830–01–P

Customs Service

Announcement of National Customs

Automation Program Test Regarding

Remote Location Filing

AGENCY: Customs Service, Department

of the Treasury.

ACTION: General notice.

SUMMARY: This notice announces

Customs plan to conduct the first of at

least two prototype tests regarding

remote location filing. This notice

invites public comments concerning any

aspect of the planned test, informs

interested members of the public of the

eligibility requirements for voluntary

participation in the testing of the first

prototype, and describes the basis on

which Customs will select participants.

EFFECTIVE DATE: The test of the first

prototype will commence no earlier

than June 1, 1995, and will run for

approximately six months. Comments

concerning the methodology of the first

remote filing prototype must be received

on or before May 8, 1995. To participate

in the first prototype test, the necessary

information, as outlined in this notice,

must be filed with Customs on or before

May 8, 1995.

ADDRESSES: Written comments

regarding this notice and information

submitted to be considered for

voluntary participation on the first

prototype should be addressed to the

Remote Filing Team, U.S. Customs

Service, 1301 Constitution Avenue,

N.W., Room 1322, Washington, D.C.

20229–0001.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For

systems or automation issues: Russ

Lanouette (202) 927–0322, or Jackie

Jegels (202) 927–0201.

For operational or policy issues:

Linda LeBaron (202) 927–0424.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

Title VI of the North American Free

Trade Agreement Implementation Act

(the Act), Public Law 103–182, 107 Stat.

2057 (December 8, 1993), contains

provisions pertaining to Customs

Modernization (107 Stat. 2170). Subtitle

B of title VI establishes the National

Customs Automation Program (NCAP)—

an automated and electronic system for

the processing of commercial

importations. Section 631 in Subtitle B

of the Act creates sections 411 through

414 of the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C.

1411–1414), which define and list the

existing and planned components of the

NCAP (section 411), promulgate

program goals (section 412), provide for

the implementation and evaluation of

the program (section 413), and provide

for remote location filing (RLF) (section

414). Section 101.9(b) of the Customs

Regulations (19 CFR 101.9(b)),

implements the testing of NCAP

components. See, T.D. 95–21 (60 FR

14211, March 16, 1995).

I. Description of Proposed Test

The Concept of Remote Location Filing

Remote Location Filing (RLF) will

allow a program participant to file

electronically an entry of merchandise

with Customs from a location within the

United States other than at the port of

arrival or location of examination. Due

to the nature of this prototype test,

certain Customs Regulations pertaining

to brokers permits, surety bonds, and

the entry of merchandise will be

suspended.

Since June of 1994, the Customs

Remote Team has shared Customs RLF

concept through many public meetings

and concept papers, and other

information on RLF has been distributed

on the Customs Electronic Bulletin

Board and the Customs Administrative

Message System.

Customs intends to conduct at least

two prototypes of the RLF component of

the NCAP. These tests will determine

the system and operational design of the

RLF, which will allow all filers to

participate in this type of entry process

at a national level. At this time, how the

final RLF program will operate is

unknown. Prototype participants must

recognize that these are true prototypes

to test the benefits and potential

problems of RLF for Customs, the trade

community, and other parties impacted

by this program. It is important to note

that time and money spent on these

prototypes may not carry forward to the

final program.

Description of RLF Program

Customs plans to implement RLF are

based on blending the experiences of

the planned remote prototypes with

other Customs initiatives such as the

Reorganization, ACS Redesign (ACE),

and Trade Compliance Process
17606 Federal Register / Vol. 60, No. 66 / Thursday, April 6, 1995 / Notices

Improvement. The Customs RLF team’s

objectives are:

(1) To work with the trade

community, other agencies, and other

parties impacted by this program in the

design, conduct and evaluation of a

limited prototype test of RLF;

(2) To obtain experience through

prototype tests of remote location filing

for use in the design of operational

procedures, automated systems, and

regulations that are supportive and

compatible with the Customs

Reorganization, the Trade Compliance

Process Improvement, and the ACE

redesign; and

(3) To implement RLF on a national

level after the completion of the

Reorganization, the Trade Compliance

Process Improvement, and the ACE

Redesign.

The first RLF prototype (Prototype

One) will commence no sooner than

June 1, 1995, and is scheduled to run for

approximately six months. Prototype

One will be conducted with a very

limited number of participants at

limited locations. This is due to the fact

that this prototype will be conducted

with minimal system changes thereby

requiring Customs to intervene

manually in tracking and processing.

All procedures and processes will be

closely coordinated with all selected

and affected parties. The intent of this

prototype is to test such operational

issues as communication, cargo

movement and release, and service to

and from remote locations. This

prototype will also test features such as

filing from a remote location, alternate

exam location, and possibly entry

summary workload distribution.

The second remote prototype

(Prototype Two) is tentatively scheduled

to commence no sooner than June 1,

1996. Prototype Two will continue to

evaluate operational impact and

procedures, and begin addressing

additional systemic needs. The work

completed by Customs Trade

Compliance process improvement teams

and the Automated Commercial

Environment (ACE or the ACS

Redesign), and experience gained from

Prototype One will be incorporated into

this prototype.

Regulatory Provisions Suspended

Certain provisions in Part 111,

pertaining to Customs brokers, Part 113,

pertaining to Customs bonds, and Part

141, pertaining to the entry of

merchandise, of the Customs

Regulations (19 CFR Parts 111, 113, and

141) will be suspended during this

prototype test to allow remote filings by

brokers in districts where they currently

do not hold permits, and to allow for the

movement of cargo from its port of

arrival to a designated examination site.

II. Eligibility Criteria

Note that participation in this testing

will not constitute confidential

information and that lists of participants

will be made available to the public

upon written request.

In order to qualify for filing from a

remote location, a program participant

in the prototype must have the

capability to provide, on an entry-byentry basis, the electronic entry of

merchandise; the electronic entry

summary of required information; the

electronic transmission of invoice

information (ABI/AII or EDIFACT); and

the electronic payment of duties fees,

and taxes (ACH). Other requirements

and conditions are as follows:

1. Participants and requested Customs

locations must have operational

experience with the Customs Electronic

Invoice Program (EIP) with either ABI/

AII or EDIFACT. Locations available for

prototype participation are those ports

currently operating with EIP release and

summary processing. It is possible that

additional ports may be available when

the first prototype commences. The

following are locations currently

operational with EIP. (S/P indicates

summary processing location and R/P

indicates release processing location).

DDPP location Electronic processing

status

0101 Portland ME ..... S/P.

0106 Houlton ME ...... R/P, S/P done in

0101.

0115 Calais ME ........ R/P, S/P done in

0101.

0401 Boston .............. R/P.

0901 Buffalo .............. S/P.

0903 Rochester ......... R/P, S/P done in

0901.

1001 New York Seaport.R/P, S/P.

1101 Philadelphia ..... R/P, S/P.

1102 Chester PA ...... R/P, S/P done in

1101.

1103 Wilmington DE . R/P, S/P done in

1101.

1108 Philadelphia Airport.R/P, S/P done in

1101.

1303 Baltimore Seaport.R/P, S/P.

1401 Norfolk .............. R/P.

1601 Charleston ........ R/P.

1703 Savannah ......... R/P.

1803 Jacksonville ...... R/P.

2002 New Orleans .... R/P.

2304 Laredo .............. R/P, S/P.

2704 Los Angeles ..... R/P, S/P done in Terminal Island, CA.

2809 San Francisco .. R/P.

3001 Seattle .............. R/P.

3701 Milwaukee ........ R/P.

3801 Detroit .............. R/P.

3901 Chicago ............ R/P.

4101 Cleveland ......... S/P.

DDPP location Electronic processing

status

4102 Cincinnati ......... R/P, S/P done in

4101.

41## Louisville ........... R/P, S/P done in

4101.

4601 Newark ............. R/P, S/P.

4701 JFK ................... R/P, S/P.

5201 Miami ............... R/P, S/P.

5203 Port Everglades R/P, S/P done in

5201.

5206 Miami Airport .... R/P, S/P done in

5201.

5301 Houston ............ R/P.

2. Participants must be operational on

the Automated Clearing House (ACH) 30

days before Prototype One commences;

3. Only entry types 01 (consumption)

and 11 (informal) will be accepted;

4. Cargo release must be certified from

the entry summary (EI) transaction with

the exception of immediate delivery

explained in #5;

5. Participants will be allowed to file

Immediate Delivery releases for direct

arrival road and rail freight at the land

border (essentially 19 CFR 142.21(a))

with use of paper invoices under Line

Release, Border Cargo Selectivity (BCS),

or Cargo Selectivity (CS). Submission of

all line items at the time of release will

be required of northern border filers, if

the release is effected using BCS or CS.

If an examination is required for a line

release transaction, the filer must

submit all relevant line item

information through BCS or CS. Under

BCS and CS, the examination will be

performed at the port of arrival with the

use of paper invoices. If the filer wishes

the examination to be performed at an

alternate site, full entry summary

information (EI transaction) with

electronic invoice must be transmitted;

6. Participants will not be allowed to

file an RLF against cargo that has been

moved in-bond;

7. Participants will be required to use

OGA interfaces where they are

available; and

8. If an examination is determined

necessary, cargo will be examined at the

Customs port of arrival, or, at Customs

discretion, a filer’s requested designated

examination site which would be a

Customs port which is at or nearest the

final destination. This movement of

cargo to a designated examination port

will be under the importer’s bond.

9. A participant must maintain an

average of 1–2 entries per day

throughout the testing of the prototype.

Customs will work with participants

to ensure that:

(1) Customs contacts and problem

solving teams are established.

(2) Procedures for remote entry and

entry summary processing are prepared.
Federal Register / Vol. 60, No. 66 / Thursday, April 6, 1995 / Notices 17607

(3) Notification to the participant’s

contact person of the examination site is

arranged.

Prototype One Application

This notice requests importers or

brokers on behalf of importers to

voluntarily apply for participation in

Prototype One by submitting the

following information to the Remote

Filing Team, U.S. Customs Service,

1301 Constitution Avenue, N.W. Room

1322, Washington, D.C. 20229–0001 on

or before the date set forth in the

effective date paragraph at the beginning

of this notice:

1. Importer name and, if applicable,

broker name, address, and filer code.

2. Supplier name, address, and

manufacturer’s number.

3. Types of commodities to be

imported.

4. Other agency requirements.

5. Port(s) of arrival.

6. Designated examination site(s)

(location nearest the final destination).

7. Monthly volume anticipated.

8. Requested entry summary

processing location(s), if different from

the port of arrival.

9. Electronic Invoicing Program status

and projected start date.

10. Electronic Payment (ACH) status

and projected start date.

11. Main contact person and

telephone number for participation

questions.

12. Any comments on prototype

participation.

Basis for Participant Selection

Eligible importers or importers with

brokers will be considered for selection

as participants in Prototype One.

Customs is looking for a variety of

circumstances and participants in this

first prototype; however, only a small

number of participants will be selected.

We stress that those not selected for

participation will be invited to comment

on the design, conduct, and evaluation

of this prototype. Selection will be

based on EIP operational experience,

volume anticipated, electronic abilities,

and available electronic interfaces with

other agencies import requirements.

Participants selected will be notified by

means of the Customs Electronic

Bulletin Board and the Customs

Administrative Message System.

III. Test evaluation criteria

Once participants are selected,

Customs and the participants will meet

to review all public comments received

concerning any aspect of the test

program or procedures, finalize

procedures in light of those comments,

form problem-solving teams, and

establish baseline measures and

evaluation methods and criteria. At 90

days and 180 days after commencement,

evaluations of the prototype will be

conducted, with the final results

published in the Federal Register as

required by § 101.9(b). The following

evaluation methods and criteria have

been suggested:

1. Baseline measurements will be

established through dataqueries and

questionnaires.

2. Reports will be run through use of

dataquery throughout the prototype.

3. Questionnaires will be conducted

before, during, and after the prototype

period.

Preliminary ideas for evaluation criteria

for Customs and other government

agencies are workload impact (workload

shifts, cycletime, etc.), policy and

procedural accommodation, trade

compliance impact, alternate exam site

issues (workload shift, coordination/

communication, etc.), problem solving,

system efficiency, and the collection of

statistics. Criteria ideas for the trade are

service in cargo clearance and problem

resolution, cost benefits, system

efficiency, operational efficiency, and

other items identified by the participant

group.

In conclusion, it is emphasized that if

a company is interested in filing

remotely, they must first be operational

with the Electronic Invoicing Program

(EIP). For information on the Electronic

Invoicing Program (EIP), please contact

your ABI Client Representative.

Dated: March 30, 1995.

Samuel H. Banks,

Assistant Commissioner, Office of Field

Operations.

[FR Doc. 95–8429 Filed 4–5–95; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4820–02–P

[T.D. 95–25]

Country of Origin Marking of Products

From the West Bank and Gaza

AGENCY: U.S. Customs Service,

Department of Treasury.

ACTION: Notice of Policy.

SUMMARY: This document notifies the

public that, for country of origin

marking purposes, goods which are

produced in the West Bank and Gaza

Strip shall be properly marked as ‘‘West

Bank,’’ ‘‘Gaza’’ or ‘‘Gaza Strip’’ and shall

not contain the words ‘‘Israel,’’ ‘‘Made

in Israel,’’ ‘‘Occupied Territories-Israel,’’

or words of similar meaning.

EFFECTIVE DATE: For those persons

whose ruling is revoked, the position set

forth in this document is effective for

merchandise entered or withdrawn from

warehouse for consumption on or after

June 19, 1995; for all other persons, this

document is effective on April 6, 1995.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Wende Schuster, Special Classification

and Marking Branch (202) 482–6980.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

Section 304 of the Tariff Act of 1930,

as amended (19 U.S.C. 1304), provides

that, unless excepted, every article of

foreign origin (or its container) imported

into the U.S. shall be marked in a

conspicuous place as legibly, indelibly,

and permanently as the nature of the

article (or its container) will permit, in

such a manner as to indicate to the

ultimate purchaser in the U.S. the

English name of the country of origin of

the article. Failure to mark an article in

accordance with the requirements of 19

U.S.C. 1304 shall result in the levy of a

duty of ten percent ad valorem. Part

134, Customs Regulations (19 CFR Part

134), implements the country of origin

marking requirements and exceptions of

19 U.S.C. 1304.

Past Policy

In the past, Customs has taken the

position that in order for the country of

origin marking of a good which is

produced in the West Bank or Gaza

Strip to be considered acceptable, it

must be marked with the words

‘‘Israel,’’ ‘‘Product of Israel,’’ or ‘‘IsraeliOccupied West Bank (or Gaza),’’ or

words of similar meaning. In all such

instances, Customs required that the

word ‘‘Israel’’ must appear in the

marking designation. For instance, in

HRL 718329 dated December 21, 1981,

Customs held that it is acceptable to

mark goods which were produced on

the West Bank of the Jordan River with

the phrase ‘‘Israeli-Occupied West

Bank,’’ ‘‘Made in Israel,’’ or ‘‘Israel’’ and

to indicate such marking designation on

the Certificate of Origin Form A for

purposes of the Generalized System of

Preferences (GSP). In another case

concerning goods produced on the West

Bank of the Jordan River (HRL 718125

dated November 12, 1981), Customs

held that these goods must be marked

with the designators ‘‘Israeli-Occupied

West Bank’’, ‘‘Made in Israel’’, or

‘‘Israel’’ for purposes of indicating the

country of origin of the merchandise

pursuant to 19 U.S.C. 1304. In addition,

in HRL 730094 dated January 30, 1987,

Customs held that the proper country of

origin marking designation for soap

which is produced in the West Bank is

‘‘Israeli-occupied West Bank’’ or simply

‘‘Israel’’. Finally, in HRL 734609 dated

May 26, 1992, which concerned the