The port director may immediately suspend or propose permanent revocation and cancellation of CES operations for cause as provided in this section.

(a) Immediate suspension. The port director may immediately suspend, for a temporary period of time or until revocation and cancellation proceedings are concluded pursuant to § 118.23, a CES operator's or entity's selection and the written agreement to operate the CES if:

(1) The selection and written agreement were obtained through fraud or the misstatement of a material fact; or

(2) The CES operator or an officer of a corporation which is a CES operator or a person the port director determines is exercising substantial ownership or control over such operator or officer is indicted for, convicted of, or has committed acts, which would constitute a felony, or a misdemeanor involving theft or a theft-connected crime. In the absence of an indictment or conviction, the port director must have probable cause to believe the proscribed acts occurred.

(b) Proposed revocation and cancellation. The port director may propose to revoke the selection as operator and cancel the agreement to operate a CES if:

(1) The CES operator refuses or otherwise fails to follow any proper order of a Customs officer or any Customs order, rule, or regulation relative to the operation of a CES, or fails to operate in accordance with the terms of his agreement or to comply with any of the provisions of § 118.4 of this part;

(2) The CES operator fails to retain merchandise which has been designated for examination;

(3) The CES operator does not provide secure facilities or properly safeguard merchandise within the CES;

(4) The CES operator fails to furnish a current list of names, addresses and other information required by § 118.4 of this part; or

(5) The custodial bond required by § 118.4 of this part is determined to be insufficient in amount or lacking sufficient sureties, and a satisfactory new bond with good and sufficient sureties is not furnished within a reasonable time.

(6) The CES operator or an officer of a corporation which is a CES operator or a person the port director determines is exercising substantial ownership or control over such operator or officer is indicted for, convicted of, or has committed acts, which would constitute any of the offenses listed under paragraph (a) of this section. Where adverse action is initiated by the port director pursuant to paragraph (a) of this section and continued under this paragraph, the suspension of CES activities remains in effect through the appeal procedures provided under § 118.23.

(c) Circumstance of change in employment not a bar to adverse action. Any change in the employment status of a corporate officer (for example, discharge, resignation, demotion, or promotion) prior to indictment or conviction or after committing any acts which would constitute the culpable behavior described under paragraph (a) of this section, will not preclude application of this section, but may be taken into account by the port director in exercising discretion to take adverse action. If the person whose employment status changed remains in a substantial ownership, control, or beneficial relationship with the CES operator, this factor will also be considered in exercising discretion under this section.

Adverse action pursuant to the provisions of § 118.21(a) or (b) is initiated when the port director serves written notice on the operator or entity selected to operate the CES. The notice shall be in the form of a statement specifically setting forth the grounds for the adverse action and shall inform the operator of the appeal procedures under § 118.23 of this part.

(a) Appeal to the Assistant Commissioner. Appeal of a port director's decision under § 118.21(a) or (b) must be filed with the Assistant Commissioner, Office of Field Operations, within 10 calendar days of receipt of the written notice of the adverse action. The appeal shall be filed in duplicate and shall set forth the CES operator's or entity's responses to the grounds specified by the port director in his written notice letter for the adverse action initiated. The Assistant Commissioner, Office of Field Operations, or his designee, shall render a written decision to the CES operator or entity, stating the reasons for the decision, by letter mailed within 30 working days following receipt of the appeal, unless the period for decision is extended with due notification to the CES operator or entity.

(b) Status of CES operations during appeal. During this appeal period, an immediate suspension of a CES operator's or entity's selection and written agreement pursuant to § 118.21(a) of this part shall remain in effect. A proposed revocation of a CES operator's or entity's selection and cancellation of the written agreement pursuant to § 118.21(b)(1) through (5) of this part shall not take effect unless the appeal process under this paragraph has been concluded with a decision adverse to the operator.

(c) Effect of suspension or revocation. Once a suspension or revocation action takes effect, the CES operator must cease CES operations. However, when CES operations are suspended or revoked and cancelled by Customs, it is the CES operator's responsibility to ensure that merchandise already at the CES is properly consigned to another location for inspection, as directed by the importer and approved by the port director.