[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 71 (Thursday, April 13, 1995)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 18783]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-9214]



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DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY

Customs Service

19 CFR Chapter I


Review of Customs Regulations

AGENCY: U.S. Customs Service, Department of the Treasury.

ACTION: Review of regulations.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to the President directing each agency to conduct a 
page-by-page review of all of each agency's regulations now in force to 
eliminate or revise those that are outdated or otherwise in need of 
reform, this document requests that the public assist Customs to 
identify regulations that could be modified or eliminated.

DATES: Responses should be submitted on or before April 25, 1995.

ADDRESSES: Responses (preferably in triplicate) shall be addressed to 
the Chief, Regulations Branch, U.S. Customs Service, Franklin Court, 
1301 Constitution Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20229.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Harold Singer, Regulations Branch, 
202-482-6930.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    In a memorandum for Heads of Departments and Agencies signed by the 
President on March 4, 1995, on the subject of the Regulatory 
Reinvention Initiative, President Clinton directed each agency, as one 
of four steps which are an integral part of our ongoing Regulatory 
Reform Initiative, to conduct a page-by-page review of its regulations 
now in force and eliminate or revise those that are outdated or 
otherwise in need of reform. The President requests a report of 
regulations planned to be eliminated or modified by June 1, 1995. The 
review should include careful consideration of at least the following 
issues:
    (1) Is this regulation obsolete?
    (2) Could its intended goal be achieved in more efficient, less 
intrusive ways?
    (3) Are there better private sector alternatives, such as market 
mechanisms that can better achieve the public good envisioned by the 
regulation?
    (4) Could private business, setting its own standards and being 
subject to public accountability, do the job as well?
    (5) Could the States or local governments do the job, making 
Federal regulation unnecessary?

Customs Request for Public Input

    As most of Customs customers and stakeholders are aware, Customs is 
in the midst of its own reorganization and business process 
improvement. Since the passage of the Customs Modernization Act (the 
popular name for Title VI of the North American Free Trade Agreement 
Implementation Act), which allows Customs to streamline and modernize 
its operations, Customs has been holding public meetings to determine 
how its business processes should be revised and what revision of its 
regulations are necessary to best accomplish its mission and serve the 
international trade community efficiently and effectively. Obsolete 
regulations are soon to be eliminated as Customs is targeting close to 
90 per cent of its regulations for modification. As an extension of the 
process of getting public input regarding Customs business process 
improvement and implementation of the Customs Modernization Act, and 
consistent with the President's Regulatory Reinvention Initiative, 
Customs is asking the public to assist the agency in identifying any 
sections of the Customs Regulations that are outdated or in need of 
reform.
    Please bear in mind in responding to this request for input that 
Customs is not seeking comments in this document regarding specific 
draft proposals for regulatory changes to implement the Customs 
Modernization Act or concept papers concerning Customs processes that 
are being changed pursuant to the Customs Modernization Act that have 
been publicly discussed and/or released. Persons who have commented on 
specific Customs Modernization draft proposals or concept papers need 
not further respond to this request for suggested regulatory changes. 
Public meetings will continue to be held and draft proposals will 
continue to be posted on the Customs Electronic Bulletin Board 
soliciting public input on specific Customs Modernization draft 
proposals and concept papers. What Customs is looking for in this 
exercise are particular sections of the Customs Regulations that are 
believed to be outdated or too burdensome, and that should be 
eliminated or modified, regardless of how Customs ultimately revises 
its regulatory procedures pursuant to the Customs Modernization Act.
    Customs has prepared the attached outline for use by members of the 
public who wish to offer suggestions on those Customs regulations which 
they believe can be eliminated or modified. Recommendations for 
modification or repeal should be as specific as possible. The 
information you submit is crucial to any decision to amend or repeal 
regulations and is necessary to be provided due to the time constraints 
involved in the program. The more detailed the information Customs 
receives, the easier it will be for Customs to evaluate the suggestion.
    Responses should be submitted no later than April 25, 1995. 
Comments should be sent directly to: Chief, Regulations Branch, U.S. 
Customs Service, Franklin Court, 1301 Constitution Avenue, NW., 
Washington, D.C. 20229.

Outline for Public Input

    (1) What is the subject of the regulations you are recommending be 
modified or repealed?
    (2) Which sections in particular are you recommending be modified 
or repealed?
    (3) What is the exact nature of your suggestion as how the 
regulations can be amended or repealed? If you are recommending an 
amendment, please specify the precise nature of the change.
    (4) As far as you are aware, is Customs already in the process of 
developing an amendment to these regulations based on authority granted 
to the agency by the Customs Modernization Act?
    (5) What is the expected benefit in your suggested modification or 
repeal? Specify savings in time and/or money and whether to Customs, 
the public, or both. Quantify, if possible.

    Dated: April 11, 1995.
George J. Weise,
Commissioner of Customs.
[FR Doc. 95-9214 Filed 4-12-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4820-02-P