Customs proposes new Port of Entry for Tennessee Tri-Cities area

Customs proposes new Port of Entry for Tennessee Tri-Cities area    The Bureau of Customs and Border Protection has issued a notice of proposed rulemaking that would lead to establishing the Tri-Cities area of northeast Tennessee and southwest Virginia as a new port of entry.
   The Tri-Cities area, which includes Johnson City, Kingsport, and Bristol, Tenn., plus the twin city of Bristol, Va., would revamp the CBP field organization for the area by creating a port of entry to replace the current User Fee Port 2082. The user fee status of the Tri-Cities Regional Airport, located in Blountville, Tenn., would be terminated.
   The area is home to Eastman Chemical's Tennessee operations in Kingsport, one of the largest chemical manufacturing sites in North America.
   A statement from CPB said the change would allow CBP to 'provide better service to carriers, importers, and the general public.'
   Interested parties must submit comments to the CBP by Sept. 27.