[Federal Register: February 4, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 23)]
[Notices]
[Page 5360-5361]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr04fe04-91]
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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
Bureau of Customs and Border Protection
Automated Commercial Environment (ACE): Applications To Establish
Truck Carrier Accounts for Participation in a National Customs
Automation Program (NCAP) Test
AGENCY: Customs and Border Protection, DHS.
ACTION: General notice.
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SUMMARY: This document announces that the Bureau of Customs and Border
Protection (CBP) is accepting applications to establish Truck Carrier
Accounts for a National Customs Automation Program (NCAP) test for the
Automated Commercial Environment (ACE). Truck carriers who open Truck
Carrier Accounts will eventually have the ability to file truck
manifest information electronically via the ACE Secure Data Portal and/
or via electronic data interchange (EDI) messaging. These Truck Carrier
Account-holders will also have access to operational data, receive
status messages on ACE Accounts, have access to integrated Account data
from multiple system sources, manage and disseminate information in an
efficient and secure manner, and obtain release of their cargo, crew,
conveyances, and equipment via the ACE Portal or electronic data
interchange (EDI) messaging.
This notice sets forth eligibility and application requirements for
truck carriers to establish ACE Accounts, and opens the application
period for submitting applications.
Any truck carriers interested in participating in testing of
electronic truck manifest functionality will be required to have a
Truck Carrier Account and, therefore, are encouraged to apply to
establish an ACE Account. Further information on participating in
testing of the automated electronic truck manifest functionality will
be the subject of a subsequent Federal Register notice.
DATES: Applications to establish ACE Truck Carrier Accounts will be
accepted starting on February 4, 2004 and will remain open until
further notice. Further information on participation in testing of the
automated electronic truck manifest functionality will be set forth in
a subsequent Federal Register notice.
ADDRESSES: Applications to establish ACE Truck Carrier Accounts should
be submitted to Mr. Thomas Fitzpatrick via e-mail at
Thomas.Fitzpatrick@dhs.gov.
[[Page 5361]]
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information regarding the
submission of applications to establish ACE truck carrier Accounts: Mr.
Thomas Fitzpatrick, via e-mail at Thomas.Fitzpatrick@dhs.gov, or by
telephone at (202) 927-0543.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
The Customs and Border Protection Modernization Program has been
created to improve efficiency, increase effectiveness, and reduce costs
for the Bureau of Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and all of its
communities of interest. The ability to meet these objectives depends
heavily on successfully modernizing CBP business functions and the
information technology that supports those functions.
The initial thrust of the Customs and Border Protection
Modernization Program focuses on trade compliance and the development
of ACE. Development of ACE will consist of many releases. Each release,
while individually achieving critical business needs, also will set
forth the foundation for the subsequent releases. This component, part
of the third ACE release (see also 67 FR 21800 (May 1, 2002) and 67 FR
41572 (June 18, 2002)), involves establishing ACE Accounts and giving
truck carriers who plan to participate in automated electronic truck
manifest testing access to the ACE Secure Data Portal (hereinafter,
``ACE Portal'').
Truck carriers who establish Truck Carrier Accounts will be the
first truck carriers to transmit electronic manifest information in ACE
in accordance with section 343 of the Trade Act of 2002 (see 68 FR
68140, December 5, 2003). Initially, account-holders will only have
access to static data and basic Account profile information necessary
to establish an Account. Eventually, participants will derive the
following benefits:
(a) Access to operational data through the ACE Portal;
(b) electronic interaction with CBP;
(c) receipt of status messages concerning their Account;
(d) access to integrated Account data from multiple system sources;
(e) ability to manage and disseminate information in an efficient
and secure manner; and
(f) ability to electronically transmit the truck manifest and
obtain release of their cargo, crew, conveyances, and equipment via the
ACE Portal or electronic data interchange (EDI) messaging.
The authority for testing NCAP programs is set forth in 19 CFR
101.9(b), which enables the Commissioner of CBP to conduct limited test
programs or procedures designed to evaluate planned components of the
NCAP
Eligibility Criteria for Truck Carriers
To be eligible to become an ACE Account with access to the ACE
Portal for subsequent participation in testing of the electronic truck
manifest functionality, the truck carrier must simply have the
capability of connecting to the Internet.
Account Application Process
The term ``application'', as used throughout this notice, is
defined as a statement of intent from the truck carrier to establish an
ACE Account and participate in the testing of electronic truck manifest
functionality. Any truck carrier wishing to establish an ACE Account
with access to the ACE Portal must submit an application, via e-mail,
to the address specified in the ADDRESSES caption, above. Each truck
carrier must include the following information when submitting its
application to become an ACE Account:
1. Carrier Name;
2. Standard Carrier Alpha Code(s) (SCAC);
3. Statement certifying capability of connecting to the Internet;
and
4. Name, address, and e-mail of point of contact to receive further
information.
Any truck carrier providing incomplete information, or otherwise
not meeting participation requirements will be notified and given the
opportunity to resubmit its application.
Subsequent to receiving a complete application, CBP will contact a
carrier for additional information in order to update the Account
profile. Truck Carrier Account-holders will be required to acknowledge
a continuing obligation to provide CBP with any updates or changes to
the information originally submitted. All data submitted and entered
into the carrier ACE Portal is subject to the Trade Secrets Act (18
U.S.C. 1905) and is considered confidential.
Upon the issuance of a subsequent notice in the Federal Register
that will provide more information on participation in the NCAP test of
electronic truck manifest functionality, CBP will deploy an initial
group of Truck Carrier Account-holders for participation in the NCAP
test.
While CBP will accept applications to establish ACE Truck Carrier
Accounts until further notice, qualifying applications for Truck
Carrier Accounts not initially approved will be held by CBP pending
further expansion of the NCAP test of electronic truck manifest
functionality. CBP will notify truck carriers of the status of their
application.
Once approved as a Truck Carrier Account-holder, each participant
must designate one person as the ACE Portal Account Owner for the
information entered into the participant's ACE Portal account. The
Account Owner will be responsible for safeguarding the ACE Portal
account information, controlling all disclosures of that information to
authorized persons, authorizing user access to the ACE Portal account,
and ensuring that access by authorized persons to the ACE Portal
information is strictly controlled. The participant will also need to
identify a point of contact for the testing of communications and
software. Truck Carrier Account-holders are further reminded that
participation in the automated electronic truck manifest functionality
test is not confidential. Lists of approved participants will be made
available to the public.
Test Evaluation Criteria
To ensure adequate feedback, participants are required to take part
in an evaluation of this test. CBP also invites all interested parties
to comment on the design, conduct and implementation of the test at any
time. The final results will be published in the Federal Register and
the CBP Bulletin as required by Sec. 101.9(b) of the Customs
Regulations.
The following evaluation methods and criteria have been suggested:
1. Baseline measurements to be established through data analysis;
2. Questionnaires from both trade participants and CBP addressing
such issues as:
Workload impact (workload shifts/volume, cycle
times, etc.);
Cost savings (staff, interest, reduction in
mailing costs, etc.);
Policy and procedure accommodation;
Trade compliance impact;
Problem resolution;
System efficiency;
Operational efficiency;
Other issues identified by the participant
group.
Dated: January 30, 2004.
Jayson P. Ahern,
Assistant Commissioner, Office of Field Operations.
[FR Doc. 04-2253 Filed 2-3-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4820-02-P