[Federal Register: January 24, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 15)]
[Notices]
[Page 3875]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr24ja06-106]
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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
Bureau of Customs and Border Protection
Automated Commercial Environment (ACE): National Customs
Automation Program Test of Automated Truck Manifest for Truck Carrier
Accounts; Deployment Schedule
AGENCY: Customs and Border Protection; Department of Homeland Security.
ACTION: General notice.
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SUMMARY: The Bureau of Customs and Border Protection, in conjunction
with the Department of Transportation, Federal Motor Carrier Safety
Administration, is currently conducting a National Customs Automation
Program (NCAP) test concerning the transmission of automated truck
manifest data. This document announces the next two groups, or
clusters, of ports to be deployed for this test.
DATES: Effective Dates: The ports identified in this notice, in the
state of Texas, are expected to deploy in two clusters no earlier than
January 2006, as provided in this notice. Comments concerning this
notice and all aspects of the announced test may be submitted at any
time during the test period.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. James Swanson via e-mail at
James.Swanson@dhs.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
The National Customs Automation Program (NCAP) test concerning the
transmission of automated truck manifest data for truck carrier
accounts was announced in a General Notice published in the Federal
Register (69 FR 55167) on September 13, 2004. That notice stated that
the test of the Automated Truck Manifest would be conducted in a phased
approach, with primary deployment scheduled for no earlier than
November 29, 2004. The document identified the ports of Blaine,
Washington, and Buffalo, New York, as the original deployment sites.
The September 13, 2004, notice stated that subsequent deployment of
the test would occur at Champlain, New York; Detroit, Michigan; Laredo,
Texas; Otay Mesa, California; and Port Huron, Michigan, on dates to be
announced. The notice stated that the Bureau of Customs and Border
Protection (CBP) would announce the implementation and sequencing of
truck manifest functionality at these ports as they occur and further
stated that additional participants and ports would be selected
throughout the duration of the test. The test is to be expanded
eventually to include ACE Truck Carrier Account participants at all
land border ports, and subsequent releases of ACE will include all
modes of transportation.
Implementation of the Test
The test commenced in Blaine, Washington in December 2004, but not
at Buffalo, New York. In light of experience with the implementation of
the test in Blaine, Washington, CBP decided to change the
implementation schedule and published a General Notice in the Federal
Register on May 31, 2005 (70 FR 30964) announcing the changes.
As noted in the May 31, 2005, General Notice, the next deployment
sites will be brought up as clusters. In some instances, one site in
the cluster will be identified as the ``model site'' or ``model port''
for the cluster. This deployment strategy will allow for more efficient
equipment set-up, site checkouts, port briefings and central training.
The ports identified belonging to the first cluster announced in
the May 31, 2005, notice included the original port of implementation:
Blaine, Washington. Sumas, Washington, was designated as the model
port. The other ports of deployment in the cluster included the
following: Point Roberts, WA; Oroville, WA (including sub ports);
Boundary, WA; Danville, WA; Ferry, WA; Frontier, WA; Laurier, WA;
Metaline Falls, WA; Nighthawk, WA; and Lynden, WA.
In a notice published in the Federal Register (70 FR 43892) on July
29, 2005, CBP announced that the test was being further deployed, in
two clusters, at ports in the States of Arizona and North Dakota. CBP
stated that the test would be deployed at the following ports in
Arizona as of July 25, 2005: Douglas, AZ; Naco, AZ; Lukeville, AZ;
Sasabe, AZ; and Nogales, AZ. Douglas, AZ was designated as the model
port. The test was also to be deployed, according to information
provided in the notice, at the following ports in North Dakota as of
August 15, 2005: Pembina, ND; Neche, ND; Noyes, ND; Walhalla, ND;
Maida, ND; Hannah, ND; Sarles, ND; and Hansboro, ND. Pembina, ND, was
designated as the model port.
In a General Notice published in the Federal Register (70 FR 60096)
on October 14, 2005, CBP announced that the test was to be further
deployed in a cluster of ports, in the State of Michigan, no earlier
than the dates indicated as follows (all in the year 2005): Windsor
Tunnel, October 4; Barge Transport, October 5; Ambassador Bridge,
October 7; Port Huron, October 14; Marine City, October 18; Algonac,
October 18; and Sault St. Marie, October 28. No port in this cluster
was designated as a ``model port.''
New Clusters
Through this notice, CBP announces the next two clusters of ports
to be brought up for purposes of implementation of the test. The test
will be deployed at the following cluster of ports no earlier than
January 2006: Eagle Pass, Texas and Del Rio, Texas. The test will also
be deployed no earlier than January 2006 at the following cluster of
ports: Brownsville, Texas; Pharr, Texas; Progresso, Texas; Rio Grande
City, Texas; and Roma, Texas. No ports in these clusters are designated
as ``model ports.''
Previous NCAP Notices Not Concerning Deployment Schedules
On Monday, March 21, 2005, a General Notice was published in the
Federal Register (70 FR 13514) announcing a modification to the NCAP
test to clarify that all relevant data elements are required to be
submitted in the automated truck manifest submission. That notice did
not announce any change to the deployment schedule and is not affected
by publication of this notice. All requirements and aspects of the
test, as set forth in the September 13, 2004 notice, as modified by the
March 21, 2005 notice, continue to be applicable.
Dated: January 12, 2006.
William S. Heffelfinger III,
Acting Assistant Commissioner, Office of Field Operations.
[FR Doc. 06-620 Filed 1-23-06; 8:45 am]
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