[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 145 (Friday, July 29, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43892-43893]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-15046]


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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

[[Page 43893]]

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.

EFFECTIVE DATES: The cluster of ports identified individually in this 
notice, deploying in the State of Arizona, was deployed as of July 25, 
2005. The cluster of ports identified individually in this notice, 
deploying in the State of North Dakota, will be deployed as of August 
15, 2005. 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. Thomas Fitzpatrick via e-mail at 
[email protected].

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 will 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 will 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. 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. The September 13, 2004, 
notice announced that additional participants and ports will be 
selected throughout the duration of the test.

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. One site in the cluster will be 
identified as the ``model site'' 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, General 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.

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 
was deployed as of July 25, 2005 at the following ports in the State of 
Arizona: Douglas, AZ; Naco, AZ; Lukeville, AZ; Sasabe, AZ; and Nogales, 
AZ. Douglas, AZ, will be the model port for this cluster. The cluster 
of ports in the State of North Dakota, at which the test will be 
deployed on August 15, 2005, will consist of: Pembina, ND; Neche, ND; 
Noyes, ND; Walhalla, ND; Maida, ND; Hannah, ND; Sarles, ND; and 
Hansboro, ND. Pembina, ND, will be the model port for this cluster.

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: July 20, 2005.
Jayson P. Ahern,
Assistant Commissioner, Office of Field Operations.
[FR Doc. 05-15046 Filed 7-28-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4820-02-P