[Federal Register: March 29, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 60)]
[Notices]
[Page 15756-15757]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr29mr06-107]
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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
Bureau of Customs and Border Protection
Automated Commercial Environment (ACE): Ability of Truck Carriers
To Use Third Parties To Submit Manifest Information in the Test of the
ACE Truck Manifest System
AGENCY: Customs and Border Protection, Department of Homeland Security.
ACTION: General notice.
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SUMMARY: This document announces that the Bureau of Customs and Border
Protection (CBP) will permit truck carriers who are not Automated
Commercial Environment (ACE) Truck Carrier Accounts to use third
parties to transmit truck manifest information on their behalf
electronically in the ACE Truck Manifest system, via electronic data
interchange (EDI) messaging. Truck carriers electing to use a third
party to submit manifest information to CBP must possess a valid
Standard Carrier Alpha Code (SCAC) from the National Motor Freight
Traffic Association. Truck carriers who elect to use this transmission
method will not have access to operational data and will not receive
status messages on ACE transactions, nor will they have access to
integrated Account data from multiple system sources. These truck
carriers will be able to obtain release of their cargo, crew,
conveyances, and equipment via EDI messaging back to the transmitter of
the information. By making these changes, CBP is opening the test to
parties previously ineligible to participate.
DATES: Effective Date: Truck carriers will be able to participate in
ACE through the use of a third party transmitter starting on March 29,
2006.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. James Swanson, via e-mail at
james.d.swanson@dhs.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
On February 4, 2004 and September 13, 2004, CBP published General
Notices in the Federal Register (69 FR 55167 and 69 FR 5360) announcing
a test, in conjunction with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety
Administration (FMCSA), allowing participating truck carriers to
transmit electronic manifest data in ACE, including advance cargo
information as required by section 343(a) of the Trade Act of 2002, as
amended by the Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2002 (see 68 FR
68140). The advance cargo information requirements are detailed in the
final rule published in the Federal Register at 68 FR 68140 on December
5, 2003. Truck carriers participating in the test opened up Truck
Carrier Accounts which provided them with the ability to electronically
transmit truck manifest data and obtain release of their cargo, crew,
conveyances, and equipment via the ACE Portal or electronic data
interchange (EDI) messaging.
[[Page 15757]]
In the September 13, 2004 notice, CBP stated that, in order to be
eligible for participation in this test, a carrier must have:
1. Submitted an application (i.e., statement of intent to establish
an ACE Account and to participate in the testing of electronic truck
manifest functionality) as set forth in the February 4, 2004, Federal
Register notice (69 FR 5360);
2. Provided a Standard Carrier Alpha Code(s) (SCAC);
3. Provided the name, address, and e-mail of a point of contact to
receive further information.
In addition, participants intending to use the ACE Secure Data
Portal as the means to file the manifest must submit a statement
certifying the ability to connect to the Internet. Participants
intending to use an EDI interface are required to first test their
ability to send and receive electronic messages in either American
National Standards Institute (ANSI) X12 or United Nations / Directories
for Electronic Data Interchange for Administration, Commerce and
Transport (UN/EDIFACT) format with CBP. The September 13, 2004 notice
indicated that acceptance into this test does not guarantee eligibility
for, or acceptance into, future technical tests.
Implementation
Through this notice, CBP announces a change whereby truck carriers
no longer have to open ACE Truck Carrier Accounts to participate in the
ACE test. Specifically, truck carriers may elect to use a third party
to submit electronic manifest information via EDI to CBP. Truck
carriers participating in this fashion will not have access to
operational data and will not receive status messages on ACE Accounts,
nor will they have access to integrated Account data from multiple
system sources. These truck carriers will be able to obtain release of
their cargo, crew, conveyances, and equipment via EDI messaging back to
the transmitter of the information.
If the third party transmitting the truck manifest information to
CBP does not use EDI, but instead wishes to use the ACE portal, the
truck carrier who is submitting that information to the third party
(for transmission to CBP) must have an ACE Truck Carrier Account as
described in the February 4, 2004, General Notice (69 FR 5360).
A truck carrier using a third party to transmit via EDI cargo,
crew, conveyance and equipment information to CBP must have a Standard
Carrier Alpha Code (SCAC). Any truck carrier with a SCAC may arrange to
have a third party transmit manifest information to CBP via EDI
consistent with the requirements of the ACE Truck Manifest Test.
Previous Notices Continue To Be Applicable
All of the other aspects of the ACE Truck Manifest Test as set
forth in the September 13, 2004, notice (69 FR 55167), as modified by
the General Notice published in the Federal Register (70 FR 13514) on
March 21, 2005, continue to be applicable. (The March 21, 2005 notice
clarified that all relevant data elements are required to be submitted
in the automated truck manifest submission.) All of the aspects of the
February 4, 2004, notice (69 FR 5360) also continue to be applicable,
except as revised in this notice.
Dated: March 22, 2006.
Jayson P. Ahern,
Assistant Commissioner, Office of Field Operations.
[FR Doc. E6-4571 Filed 3-28-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9111-14-P