Federal Register / Vol. 61, No. 92 / Friday, May 10, 1996 / Notices 21537

participants in this prototype; however,

a limited number of participants will be

selected. This prototype will be limited

to 25 Reconciliations, due to the

minimal automated programming

available to support this test. We stress

that those applicants not selected for

participation, and any interested parties,

are invited to comment on the design,

conduct, and evaluation of this

prototype. Participants selected will be

notified in writing. The list of

participants will be made available on

the Customs Electronic Bulletin Board

and the 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. Interim

evaluations of the prototype will be

published on the Customs Electronic

Bulletin Board, and the results of the

final prototype evaluation will be

published in the Federal Register as

required by 19 CFR 101.9(b). The

following evaluation methods and

criteria have been suggested:

1. Baseline measurements to be

established through dataqueries and

questionnaires;

2. Reports to be run through use of

dataquery throughout the prototype; and

3. Questionnaires from both trade and

Customs participants to be used before,

during, and after the prototype period.

Preliminary suggestions for evaluation

criteria are workload impact (workload

shifts, cycle time, etc.), cost savings

(staff, interest, issuance of fewer checks

or bills, tracking refunds or bills,

reduction in contingent liabilities, etc.),

policy and procedural accommodation,

trade compliance impact, problem

solving and system efficiency.

Customs will request that test

participants be active in the evaluation,

identifying costs and savings

experienced in this prototype.

Customs intends to conduct several

prototypes of the reconciliation

component of the NCAP. These tests

will determine the system and

operational design of reconciliation

which will allow all filers to participate

in this type of entry process at a

national level. At this time, how the

final reconciliation program will operate

is unknown. Prototype participants

must recognize that these are true

prototypes to test the benefits and

potential problems of reconciliation 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.

The next reconciliation prototype is

tentatively scheduled to commence no

sooner than January, 1997. This

subsequent prototype will continue to

address operational impact and

procedures, and begin addressing

additional systemic needs. This

prototype is intended to include AD/

CVD, as well as other issues which lend

themselves to processing by

reconciliation. The experience gained

from the reconciliation prototype for

AD/CVD transactions will be

incorporated into subsequent

prototypes.

Dated: May 6, 1996.

Samuel H. Banks,

Assistant Commissioner, Office of Field

Operations.

[FR Doc. 96–11734 Filed 5–9–96; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4820–02–P

[T.D. 96–38]

Tuna Fish—Tariff-Rate Quota

AGENCY: U.S. Customs Service,

Department of the Treasury.

ACTION: Announcement of the quota

quantity for tuna for Calendar Year

1996.

SUMMARY: This document sets forth the

tariff-rate quota for the Calendar Year

1996, on tuna classifiable under item

1604.14.20, Harmonized Tariff Schedule

of the United States.

EFFECTIVE DATES: The 1996 tariff-rate

quota is applicable to tuna fish entered,

or withdrawn from warehouse, for

consumption during the period January

1 through December 31, 1996.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Karen L. Cooper, Chief, Quota Branch,

Technical Programs Division, Trade

Compliance Team, Office of Field

Operations, U.S. Customs Service,

Washington, D.C. 20229, (202) 927–

5401.

Background

Each year the tariff-rate quota for tuna

fish described in item 1604.14.20,

Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the

United States (HTSUS), is based on the

United States canned tuna production

for the preceding calendar year. This

document sets forth the tariff-rate quota

for the Calendar Year 1996. It has now

been determined that 36,300,379

kilograms of tuna may be entered for

consumption or withdrawn from

warehouse for consumption during the

Calendar Year 1996, at the rate of 6

percent ad valorem under item

1604.14.20, HTSUS. Any such tuna

which is entered, or withdrawn from

warehouse, for consumption during the

current calendar year in excess of this

quota will be dutiable at the rate of 12.5

percent ad valorem under item

1604.14.30 HTSUS. (OFO–TC:T:Q)

Dated: May 6, 1996.

Michael H. Lane,

Acting Commissioner.

[FR Doc. 96–11733 Filed 5–9–96; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4820–02–P

Fiscal Service

[Dept. Circ. 570, 1995 Rev., Supp. No. 12]

Surety Companies Acceptable on

Federal Bonds; Capital Reinsurance

Company

A Certificate of Authority as an

acceptable reinsurer on Federal Bonds is

hereby issued to the following company

under Sections 9304 to 9308, Title 31,

of the United States Code. Federal bondapproving officers should annotate their

reference copies of the Treasury Circular

570, 1995 Revision, on page 34450 to

reflect this addition:

Capitol Reinsurance Company.

BUSINESS ADDRESS: 1325 Avenue of

the Americas, New York, NY 10019.

PHONE: (212) 974–0100.

UNDERWRITING LIMITATION b/:

$27,928,000. INCORPORATED IN:

Maryland.

Certificates of Authority expire on

June 30 each year, unless revoked prior

to that date. The Certificates are subject

to subsequent annual renewal as long as

the companies remain qualified (31

CFR, Part 223). A list of qualified

companies is published annually as of

July 1 in Treasury Department Circular

570, with details as to underwriting

limitations.

Copies of the Circular may be

obtained by calling the U.S. Department

of the Treasury, Financial Management

Service, computerized public bulletin

board system (FMS Inside Line) at (202)

874–6817/7034/6953/6872 or by

purchasing a hard copy from the

Government Printing Office (GPO),

Washington, DC, telephone (202) 512–

0132. When ordering the Circular from

GPO, use the following stock number:

048–000–00489–0.

Questions concerning this Notice may

be directed to the U.S. Department of

the Treasury, Financial Management

Service, Funds Management Division,

Surety Bond Branch, 3700 East-West

Highway, Room 6F04, Hyattsville, MD

20782, telephone (202) 874–6507.