CBP Again Revises its Trade Update on Hurricane Katrina
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has again revised its Trade Update for Hurricane Katrina. Among other things, CBP's new Trade Update provides new contact information for certain CBP offices and employees and also contains new information concerning entry summary filing.
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Highlights of CBP's Latest Hurricane Katrina Update
The revised version of CBP's Hurricane Katrina Trade Update reflects several changes, some of which are highlighted below:
New phone and fax numbers for CBP at Port of New Orleans. CBP has provided updated phone and fax numbers for its officials at the Port of New Orleans. The phone number is (504) 467-1713 (rather than (703) 921-7786) and the fax is now (504) 441-9179 (rather than (703) 921-7788).
Additional information on entry summary filing. CBP has added the following information to the "Entry Summary Filing" section of its Trade Update: Entry summaries and duty collections that could not be filed in the Ports of News Orleans, Gramercy, Baton Rouge, Mobile, Gulfport, and Pascagoula prior to closure due to Hurricane Katrina will not be deemed late or assessed penalties.
CBP continues to state that entry summaries for cargo released prior to Hurricane Katrina and the duties are due but were not paid because of the closure of the CBP Office in New Orleans may now be filed in New Orleans. CBP also continues to state that notices for unpaid duties have been mailed to the importer and filer, who will have 90-days from the date of the notices to make payment on duties owed or request an extension in writing. CBP now adds that for those entry summaries where there has been no response to the 90-day notice or a written request for an extension, a notice for liquidated damages will be issued. The recipient of that liquidated damages notice should immediately contact the issuing office.
Atlanta no longer accepting protests, PEAS, or SILs for affected area. CBP now states that the Port of Atlanta is no longer accepting protests, post entry amendments (PEAs), and supplemental information letters (SILs). CBP continues to state that such items are to be filed at the appropriate port of entry in Louisiana, Arkansas, and Tennessee, Mississippi, or Alabama.
Updated contact information regarding fines, penalties and forfeiture cases. CBP states that all questions and concerns regarding Fines Penalties & Forfeiture (FP&F) cases at the Ports of New Orleans, LA should be directed to Ms. Leslie Dillman, whose updated contact information is (504) 467-1713, ext. 235 (rather than (703) 921-7778).
Miscellaneous CBP contact information updated. CBP has updated contact information for the following individuals/issues at the Port of New Orleans:
Daily trade operational issues concerning the Port of New Orleans may be directed to Mr. Merlin Hymel, Assistant Port Director-Trade, at (504) 467-1713, ext. 207 (rather than (703) 921-7786).
Entry control issues may be directed to Ms. Patty Burke, Supervisory Entry Control Officer at (504) 467-1713 ext. 206 (rather than (504) 441-9214). (Subscribers should note that CBP also lists a Ms. Patricia Burke for entry control questions with a contact number of (504) 467-1713 ext. 205.)
Questions concerning daily tactical operations may be directed to Ms. Eileen Shaw, Assistant Port Director, Tactical at (504) 269-6128 (rather than (504) 269-6128).
CBP also notes that daily operational issues concerning port operations in Arkansas, Tennessee, and Alabama may be directed to the local Port Director.
Several topics deleted that were in prior trade update. Several topics were deleted from CBP's most recent priorTrade Update concerning Hurricane Katrina, including: Remote Location Filing, In-bond shipments, Jones Act Waiver for petroleum and refined petroleum products, vessel diversions, vessel repair, cargo/trade operations in affected ports, ABI, liquidation bulletin, account management, broker local and national permits, and filer code issuance.
(See ITT's Online Archives or 12/15/05 news, 05121515, for BP summary of the most recent previous CBP Trade Update on Hurricane Katrina.)
CBP Trade Update (dated 01/17/06) available athttp://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/import/communications_to_trade/katrina/trade_update_katrina.xml