Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 4 / Wednesday, January 7, 2015 / Notices 899 

Check with the government agency 

regarding which document(s) the agency 

will accept. You may also provide the 

agency with a copy of this Federal 

Register Notice. 

Some benefit-granting agencies use 

the USCIS Systematic Alien Verification 

for Entitlements Program (SAVE) to 

verify the current immigration status of 

applicants for public benefits. If such an 

agency has denied your application 

based solely or in part on a SAVE 

response, the agency must offer you the 

opportunity to appeal the decision in 

accordance with the agency’s 

procedures. If the agency has received 

and acted upon or will act upon a SAVE 

verification and you do not believe the 

response is correct, you may make an 

InfoPass appointment for an in-person 

interview at a local USCIS office. 

Detailed information on how to make 

corrections, make an appointment, or 

submit a written request to correct 

records under the Freedom of 

Information Act can be found at the 

SAVE Web site at http://www.uscis.gov/ 

save, then by choosing ‘‘How to Correct 

Your Records’’ from the menu on the 

right. 

[FR Doc. 2015–00031 Filed 1–6–15; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 9111–97–P 

DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND 

SECURITY 

U.S. Customs and Border Protection 

eBond Test Modifications and 

Clarifications: Continuous Bond 

Executed Prior to or Outside the 

eBond Test May Be Converted to an 

eBond by the Surety and Principal, 

Termination of an eBond, Identification 

of Principal on an eBond by Filing 

Identification Number, and Email 

Address Correction 

AGENCY: U.S. Customs and Border 

Protection, Department of Homeland 

Security. 

ACTION: General notice. 

SUMMARY: This notice announces 

modifications and clarifications to U.S. 

Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP’s) 

voluntary National Customs Automation 

Program eBond test, scheduled to 

deploy January 3, 2015. This test 

provides for the transmission in 

Automated Commercial Environment of 

electronic bond contracts (eBonds) 

between principals and sureties, with 

CBP as third-party beneficiary, for the 

purpose of linking those eBonds to the 

transactions they are intended to secure. 

The modifications and clarifications to 

CBP’s eBond test concern: The method 

by which continuous bonds executed 

prior to or outside of the eBond test may 

be converted to eBonds by the surety 

and principal; a surety or principal’s 

ability to terminate an eBond; the 

identification of the principal on an 

eBond by the filing identification 

number; and an email address 

correction. 

DATES: The eBond test modifications 

and clarifications set forth in this notice 

will go into effect January 7, 2015. 

ADDRESSES: Comments and/or questions 

concerning this notice or any aspect of 

the test may be submitted to CBP via 

email to eBondTest@cbp.dhs.gov, with 

the subject line identifier reading 

‘‘Comment/Questions on eBond test.’’ 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For 

policy related questions, contact Kara 

Welty, Chief, Debt Management Branch, 

Revenue Division, Office of 

Administration, at kara.welty@dhs.gov. 

For technical questions, contact John 

Everett, Entry Summary, Accounts, and 

Revenue Branch, ACE Business Office, 

Office of International Trade, at 

john.r.everett@dhs.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background 

I. eBond Test 

In a notice published in the Federal 

Register (79 FR 70881) on November 28, 

2014, U.S. Customs and Border 

Protection (CBP) announced a plan to 

conduct a voluntary National Customs 

Automation Program (NCAP) eBond 

test. The eBond test, scheduled to 

deploy on January 3, 2015, provides for 

the transmission in Automated 

Commercial Environment (ACE) of 

electronic bond contracts (eBonds) 

between principals and sureties, with 

CBP as the third-party beneficiary, for 

the purpose of linking those eBonds to 

the transactions they are intended to 

secure (eBond system). The notice 

invited public comment concerning the 

test, described the eligibility, procedural 

and documentation requirements for 

voluntary participation in the test, and 

outlined the development and 

evaluation methodology to be used in 

the test. The eBond test terms and 

conditions set forth in 79 FR 70881 

remain in effect for the duration of the 

eBond test, subject to the modifications 

and clarifications set forth in this notice 

and any subsequent eBond test 

modifications published in the Federal 

Register. 

II. Modifications and Clarifications to 

the eBond Test 

A. Continuous Bonds Executed Prior to 

or Outside the eBond Test May Be 

Converted to eBonds by the Surety and 

Principal 

In the eBond test notice published in 

79 FR 70881 (also referred to in this 

notice as the ‘‘original eBond test 

notice’’), CBP indicated that continuous 

bonds executed prior to January 3, 2015, 

will be accessible in the eBond system 

for administration purposes but will not 

be subject to eBond test rules. Instead, 

pre-January 3, 2015 continuous bonds 

will remain subject to the CBP bond 

regulations in 19 CFR part 113, and 

riders of such bonds must be submitted 

to CBP in the format and manner 

detailed in 19 CFR part 113. Similarly, 

after the eBond test commences on 

January 3, 2015, sureties and principals 

who choose not to participate in the 

eBond test will still be able to submit 

bonds to CBP in the format and manner 

detailed in 19 CFR part 113, and those 

bonds will be accessible in the eBond 

system for administration purposes. 

This notice announces a modification 

to the eBond test to permit participating 

sureties/surety agents, acting on behalf 

of the sureties and principals, to convert 

pre-January 3, 2015 continuous bonds 

and other continuous bonds executed 

outside of the eBond test (collectively 

referred to hereinafter as ‘‘paper 

continuous bonds’’) into eBonds subject 

to the rules set forth in this notice and 

the original eBond test notice. Under the 

terms of the original eBond test notice, 

a participating surety or the surety’s 

agent may, via a CBP-approved 

Electronic Data Interchange (EDI), 

transmit limited changes to the terms 

and conditions of an active continuous 

eBond that are contractually binding on 

the principal(s) and surety(ies). At this 

time, such changes include: 

(1) Transmitting an addition eBond 

rider (clarified below to be a User 

Addition eBond rider); 

(2) Transmitting a deletion eBond 

rider (clarified below to be a User 

Deletion eBond rider); 

(3) Transmitting a reconciliation 

eBond rider; 

(4) Terminating a reconciliation 

eBond rider; 

(5) Transmitting a U.S. Virgin Islands 

eBond rider; and 

(6) Terminating the eBond. 

This notice announces a modification 

to the eBond test whereby a 

participating surety or the surety’s agent 

may also transmit, via EDI, the same 

types of limited changes to the terms 

and conditions of an active paper 


rljohnson on DSK3VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
900 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 4 / Wednesday, January 7, 2015 / Notices 

continuous bond accessible in the 

eBond system. 

In accordance with 19 U.S.C. 1623, 

and consistent with the Electronic 

Signatures in Global and National 

Commerce Act, 15 U.S.C. 7001, et seq., 

the test participant surety/surety agent’s 

act of transmitting to CBP, via EDI, a 

change to a paper continuous bond 

(including, but not limited to, the six 

types of changes described above) 

constitutes a binding representation to 

CBP that: (1) The transmitting surety/

surety agent has the authority to bind 

both the surety(ies) and the principal(s) 

to the conversion of the identified paper 

continuous bond to an eBond, including 

but not limited to the modification of 

the terms and conditions of the 

identified paper continuous bond to the 

terms and conditions of the eBond test; 

and (2) Pursuant to the transmitting 

surety/surety agent’s authority, both the 

surety(ies) and the principal(s) intend to 

be bound by the converted eBond, 

including the terms and conditions for 

the eBond set forth in the eBond test. 

Furthermore, any transaction that 

identifies or uses the converted eBond 

as security constitutes the re-affirmation 

of the principal responsible for the 

transaction that it intends to be bound 

by the terms and conditions of the 

identified or used converted eBond. 

Once the surety(ies) and principal(s), 

acting through the transmitting surety/

surety agent, have converted a paper 

continuous bond to an eBond, the 

eBond cannot be converted back into a 

paper continuous bond. 

Because the elements of paper 

continuous bonds are similar to eBonds, 

but not identical, certain elements of the 

paper continuous bond will not be used 

as part of the converted eBond. These 

unused elements are: Broker Filer Code; 

Transaction Date; Port Code; Principal 

Name and Physical Address; Principal 

Signature; Principal Seal (or check box); 

Mailing Address Requested by the 

Surety, Surety Name and Physical 

Address; Surety Signature; Surety Seal 

(or check box); Principal Name, CoPrincipal Name and Physical Address; 

Co-Principal Signature; Co-Principal 

Seal (or check box); Section III Names; 

Co-Surety Name and Physical Address; 

Co-Surety Signature; and Co-Surety Seal 

(or check box). 

B. CBP Filing Identification Number as 

Primary eBond Identification Marker 

In several places in the original eBond 

test notice, CBP referenced the concept 

of an eBond or eBond rider containing 

listed ‘‘names.’’ In that document, CBP 

also noted, at 79 FR 70885, that the 

importer identification number and 

surety number will be the primary 

eBond identification markers and CBP 

will not be collecting the name and 

address of the principal or surety on the 

eBond as this data will be available to 

CBP via other components of ACE. 

In this document, CBP is clarifying 

the eBond test terms and conditions to 

reflect that the ‘‘CBP filing identification 

number’’ (see 19 CFR 24.5), and not a 

‘‘name,’’ will be the method of 

identifying the principal on an eBond. 

Accordingly, there are several references 

to the use of eBond ‘‘names’’ that 

require clarification in the original 

eBond test notice as follows: 

• At 79 FR 70883, in the section 

entitled, ‘‘Terms and Conditions for 

eBonds,’’ the sentence reading ‘‘[T]he 

principal(s) and surety(ies) agree that 

any charge against the eBond under any 

of the listed names is as though it was 

made by the principal(s)’’ is clarified by 

changing the term ‘‘listed names’’ to 

‘‘listed CBP filing identification 

numbers.’’ 

• At 79 FR 70885, in the section 

entitled ‘‘Continuous Bonds Executed 

Prior to eBond Test Will Be Accessible 

in eBond System,’’ the sentence reading 

‘‘[T]he importer identification number 

and surety number will continue to be 

the primary identification markers used 

by CBP when verifying adequate bond 

coverage for activities that require it,’’ is 

clarified by changing the words 

‘‘importer identification number’’ to 

‘‘CBP filing identification number’’ to 

reflect that the filing identification 

number is not always associated with an 

importer. 

• At 79 FR 70884, in the section 

entitled, ‘‘Terms and Conditions for 

eBond Riders,’’ and subsections 

pertaining to ‘‘Addition’’ and 

‘‘Deletion’’ eBond riders, CBP is 

clarifying these terms and conditions by 

changing the existing reference to 

‘‘names’’ transmitted with these eBond 

riders to ‘‘CBP filing identification 

numbers’’ and further clarifying that 

these two types of eBond riders are 

‘‘user’’ riders. 

The changes are set forth below: 

(1) User Addition eBond rider. The 

principal(s) and surety(ies) agree that 

the CBP filing identification numbers 

transmitted with this eBond rider 

identify unincorporated units of the 

identified principal or trade or business 

names used by the identified principal 

in its business, that the identified eBond 

covers its business, and that the 

identified eBond covers any act done in 

those names or under the CBP filing 

identification numbers to the same 

extent as though done by the identified 

principal. The principal(s) and 

surety(ies) agree that any such act shall 

be considered to be the act of the 

identified principal. 

(2) User Deletion eBond rider. The 

principal(s) and surety(ies) agree that 

the CBP filing identification numbers 

transmitted with this eBond rider of 

unincorporated units of the identified 

principal or trade or business names 

used by the identified principal in its 

business are deleted from the identified 

eBond effective upon the date of 

approval of this eBond rider by the 

appropriate CBP bond approval official. 

C. Termination of an eBond 

In the original eBond test notice, in 

the section entitled ‘‘Termination of an 

eBond’’ located at 79 FR 70885, CBP 

prescribed the manner by which a 

surety may electronically terminate an 

eBond on which it is obligated. 

This notice announces a modification 

to the eBond test termination 

procedures whereby a surety wishing to 

terminate an eBond must notify the 

principal(s) at the same time notice of 

termination is sent to CBP. In addition, 

a surety may request that a termination 

go into effect sooner than the prescribed 

15 calendar days from the date of the 

termination notice if the surety can 

establish, to the Director of the Revenue 

Division’s satisfaction, that good cause 

exists for terminating the eBond in 

lesser time. CBP is also modifying the 

eBond test to permit a principal to 

terminate an eBond on which it is 

obligated by means of emailing a 

termination request to CBP. A principal 

may not terminate an eBond via EDI. 

The modified eBond test terms and 

conditions pertaining to termination of 

an eBond are set forth below: 

Termination of an eBond by Surety/

Surety Agent 

A surety may, with or without the 

consent of the principal(s), 

electronically terminate an eBond on 

which it is obligated. The surety must 

notify the principal(s) of the termination 

at the same time the electronic notice of 

termination is transmitted to CBP. The 

effective date of the termination must be 

stated in the electronic notice of 

termination, and must be at least 15 

calendar days from the date of the 

electronic notice of termination, unless 

the surety can show to the satisfaction 

of the Director of the Revenue Division 

(RD) that good cause exists for 

terminating the eBond in lesser time. A 

request for a termination effective date 

that is less than 15 calendar days from 

the date of the electronic notice of 

termination must be emailed to 

CBP.bondquestions@dhs.gov in 

accordance with the email conventions 

described in CBP’s Policies and 


rljohnson on DSK3VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 4 / Wednesday, January 7, 2015 / Notices 901 

Procedures for eBond (FRN eBond Test 

Participants), which is available at 

http://www.cbp.gov/trade/tradecommunity/programs-administration/

bonds/ebond. If an eBond is terminated, 

no new customs transactions may be 

charged against the eBond. The surety, 

as well as the principal, remains liable 

on a terminated eBond for obligations 

incurred prior to termination. 

Termination of an eBond by a Principal 

A request by a principal to terminate 

an eBond must be emailed to 

CBP.bondquestions@dhs.gov in 

accordance with the email conventions 

described in CBP’s Policies and 

Procedures for eBond (FRN eBond Test 

Participants), which is available at 

http://www.cbp.gov/trade/tradecommunity/programs-administration/

bonds/ebond. A principal may not 

terminate an eBond via EDI. The 

termination will take effect on the date 

requested in the termination request if 

that date is at least 15 calendar days 

from the date of the termination request. 

If no termination date is requested, the 

termination will take effect on the 15th 

calendar day following the date of the 

termination request. If an eBond is 

terminated, no new customs 

transactions may be charged against the 

eBond. The surety, as well as the 

principal, remains liable on a 

terminated eBond for obligations 

incurred prior to termination. 

D. Correction of Email Address 

The original eBond Test notice 

contained an erroneous email address 

for the contact to whom technical 

questions may be sent. Technical 

questions may be emailed to John 

Everett, Entry Summary, Accounts, and 

Revenue Branch, ACE Business Office, 

Office of International Trade, at the 

following email address: john.r.everett@

dhs.gov. 

Dated: January 2, 2015. 

Brenda Smith, 

Assistant Commissioner, Office of 

International Trade. 

[FR Doc. 2015–00029 Filed 1–6–15; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 9111–14–P 

DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND 

URBAN DEVELOPMENT 

[Docket No. FR–5756–N–44] 

60-Day Notice of Proposed Information 

Collection: Procedures for Appealing 

Section 8 Rent Adjustments; OMB 

Collection: 2502–0446 

AGENCY: Office of the Assistant 

Secretary for Housing-Federal Housing 

Commissioner, HUD. 

ACTION: Notice. 

SUMMARY: HUD is seeking approval from 

the Office of Management and Budget 

(OMB) for the information collection 

described below. In accordance with the 

Paperwork Reduction Act, HUD is 

requesting comment from all interested 

parties on the proposed collection of 

information. The purpose of this notice 

is to allow for 60 days of public 

comment. 

DATES: Comments Due Date: March 9, 

2015. 

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are 

invited to submit comments regarding 

this proposal. Comments should refer to 

the proposal by name and/or OMB 

Control Number and should be sent to: 

Colette Pollard, Reports Management 

Officer, QDAM, Department of Housing 

and Urban Development, 451 7th Street 

SW., Room 4176, Washington, DC 

20410–5000; telephone 202–402–3400 

(this is not a toll-free number) or email 

at Colette.Pollard@hud.gov for a copy of 

the proposed forms or other available 

information. Persons with hearing or 

speech impairments may access this 

number through TTY by calling the tollfree Federal Relay Service at (800) 877– 

8339. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Katherine A. Nzive, Director Program 

Administration Division, Office of Asset 

Management and Portfolio Oversight, 

202–708–2654 Katherine.A.Nzive@

hud.gov Department of Housing and 

Urban Development, 451 7th Street SW., 

Washington, DC 20410. This is not a 

toll-free number. Persons with hearing 

or speech impairments may access this 

number through TTY by calling the tollfree Federal Relay Service at (800) 877– 

8339. 

Copies of available documents 

submitted to OMB may be obtained 

from Ms. Pollard. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This 

notice informs the public that HUD is 

seeking approval from OMB for the 

information collection described in 

section A. 

A. Overview of Information Collection 

Title of Information Collection: 

Procedure for Appealing Section 8 Rent 

Adjustments. 

OMB Approval Number: 2502–0446. 

Type of Request: Extension. 

Form Number: Owners will submit 

rent appeal on owner’s letterhead 

providing a written explanation for the 

appeal. 

Description of the need for the 

information and proposed use: Title II, 

section 221, of the National Housing Act 

requires the Department of Housing and 

Urban Development (HUD) to establish 

rents for certain subsidized rental 

projects. Under this legislation, HUD is 

charged with the responsibility of 

determining the method of rent 

adjustments and with facilitating these 

adjustments. Because rent adjustments 

are considered benefits to project 

owners, HUD must also provide some 

means for owners to appeal the 

decisions made by the Department or 

the Contract Administrator. This appeal 

process and the information collection 

play an important role in preventing 

costly litigation and in ensuring the 

accuracy of the overall rent adjustment 

process. 

Respondents (i.e. affected public): 

Owners of certain subsidized 

multifamily rental projects. 

Estimated Number of Respondents: 

525. 

Estimated Number of Responses: 525. 

Frequency of Response: 1. 

Average Hours per Response: 2. 

Total Estimated Burdens: 1050. 

B. Solicitation of Public Comment 

This notice is soliciting comments 

from members of the public and affected 

parties concerning the collection of 

information described in section A on 

the following: 

(1) Whether the proposed collection 

of information is necessary for the 

proper performance of the functions of 

the agency, including whether the 

information will have practical utility; 

(2) The accuracy of the agency’s 

estimate of the burden of the proposed 

collection of information; 

(3) Ways to enhance the quality, 

utility, and clarity of the information to 

be collected; and 

(4) Ways to minimize the burden of 

the collection of information on those 

who are to respond; including through 

the use of appropriate automated 

collection techniques or other forms of 

information technology, e.g., permitting 

electronic submission of responses. 

HUD encourages interested parties to 

submit comment in response to these 

questions. 


rljohnson on DSK3VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES