CBP Proposes to Close LA/LB Drawback Center
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has issued a proposed rule to close the Port of Los Angeles-Long Beach's (Los Angeles) Drawback Center.
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Comments are due by December 31, 2009.
Los Angeles Receives/Processes Fewest Claims of Five Drawback Centers
In 2008, CBP evaluated the number of drawback claims processed at its current drawback centers. Out of the current five drawback centers (Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco), Los Angeles receives and processes the fewest claims.
Drawback statistics from fiscal years 2006, 2007, and 2008 reveal that only 8.4%, 9.01%, and 7.49% of all claims were filed in Los Angeles. Moreover, the claims paid out by the Los Angeles center during those years represented only 2.6%, 2.42%, and 3.15% of all drawback claims paid nationally.
Closure Would Allow CBP to Reach its Goal of Four Drawback Centers
Closing the Los Angeles Drawback Center will achieve CBP's goal of having four drawback centers to cover its key geographical areas of North, South, East, and West, and will conserve resources and promote greater uniformity in the processing of drawback claims.
Non-Liquidated LA Claims Would be Forwarded to San Francisco Center
If CBP's proposal is adopted, claims that were filed at the Los Angeles Drawback Center prior to closure that had not been liquidated that still require CBP review would be forwarded to the San Francisco Drawback Center for final processing.
(On May 27, 2008 and April 29, 2009, CBP notified the House Committees on Ways & Means and Homeland Security, and the Senate Committee on Finance of its intent to close the Los Angeles Drawback Center. The Congressional notification period expired July 27, 2009, and CBP did not receive from Congress any objections to the proposed closing of the Los Angeles Drawback Center.)
(See ITT's Online Archives or 08/25/08 news, 08082520, for BP summary announcing that CBP was considering closing its Los Angeles Drawback Center.)
CBP contact - Christine Kegley (202) 344-2319
CBP proposed rule (D/N USCBP-2009-0035, FR Pub 12/01/09) available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-28674.pdf