[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 23 (Wednesday, February 4, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5360-5361]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-2253]


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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 
[email protected].

[[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 [email protected], 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