[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 15 (Tuesday, January 24, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Page 3875]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-620]


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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 
[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 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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