[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 198 (Friday, October 14, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 60096-60097]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-20579]


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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 group, or cluster, of 
ports to be deployed for this test.

EFFECTIVE DATES: The ports identified in this notice, all in the State 
of Michigan, are expected to deploy in October, 2005, 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. 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. In most 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, 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.
    In a General 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. The test was to be deployed at the following ports in Arizona 
on 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 
to be deployed at the following ports in North Dakota on 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.

New Cluster

    Through this Notice, CBP announces the next cluster of ports to be 
brought up for purposes of implementation of the test. The test will be 
deployed at the following ports, in the State of Michigan, no earlier 
than the dates indicated (all in the year 2005): Windsor Tunnel, 
October 4; Barge Transport, October 5; Ambassador Bridge, October

[[Page 60097]]

7; Port Huron, October 14; Marine City, October 18; Algonac, October 
18; and Sault St. Marie, October 28. No port in this cluster is 
designated as the ``model port.''

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: October 6, 2005.
Jayson P. Ahern,
Assistant Commissioner, Office of Field Operations.
[FR Doc. 05-20579 Filed 10-13-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110-06-P