[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 205 (Wednesday, October 23, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 63237-63238]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-24856]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

U.S. Customs and Border Protection


Extension of the Air Cargo Advance Screening (ACAS) Pilot Program 
and Reopening of Application Period for Participation

AGENCY: U.S. Customs and Border Protection, DHS.

ACTION: General notice.

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SUMMARY: On October 24, 2012, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) 
published a notice in the Federal Register that announced the 
formalization and expansion of the Air Cargo Advance Screening (ACAS) 
pilot program that would run for six months. On April 23, 2013, CBP 
published a notice in the Federal Register extending the pilot period 
for another six months. This document announces that CBP is extending 
the pilot period for an additional nine months and reopening the 
application period for new participants for 60 days. The ACAS pilot is 
a voluntary test in which participants submit a subset of required 
advance air cargo data to CBP at the earliest point practicable prior 
to loading of the cargo onto the aircraft destined to or transiting 
through the United States.

DATES: CBP is extending the ACAS pilot program through July 26, 2014, 
and reopening the application period to accept applications from new 
ACAS pilot participants through December 23, 2013. Comments concerning 
any aspect of the announced test may be submitted at any time during 
the test period.

ADDRESSES: Applications to participate in the ACAS pilot must be 
submitted via email to [email protected]. Written comments concerning 
program, policy, and technical issues may also be submitted via email 
to [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Regina Park, Cargo and Conveyance 
Security, Office of Field Operations, U.S. Customs & Border Protection, 
via email at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    On October 24, 2012, CBP published a general notice in the Federal 
Register (77 FR 65006, corrected in 77 FR 65395 \1\) announcing that 
CBP is formalizing and expanding the ACAS pilot to include other 
eligible participants in the air cargo environment. The notice provides 
a description of the ACAS pilot, sets forth eligibility requirements 
for participation, and invites public comments on any aspect of the 
test. In brief, the ACAS pilot revises the time frame for pilot 
participants to transmit a subset of mandatory advance electronic 
information for air cargo. CBP regulations implementing the Trade Act 
of 2002 specify the required data elements and the time frame for 
submitting them to CBP. Pursuant to 19 CFR 122.48a, the required 
advance information for air cargo must be submitted no later than the 
time of departure of the aircraft for the United States (from specified 
locations) or four hours prior to arrival in the United States for all 
other locations.
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    \1\ This Federal Register notice, published on October 26, 2012, 
corrected the email address under the ADDRESSES heading for 
submitting applications or comments. The correct email address is 
[email protected].
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    The ACAS pilot is a voluntary test in which participants agree to 
submit a subset of the required 19 CFR 122.48a data elements (ACAS 
data) at the earliest point practicable prior to loading of the cargo 
onto the aircraft destined to or transiting through the United States. 
The ACAS data is used to target high-risk air cargo. CBP is considering 
possible amendments to the regulations regarding advance information 
for air cargo. The results of the ACAS pilot will help determine the 
relevant data elements, the time frame within which data must be 
submitted to permit CBP to effectively target, identify and mitigate 
any risk with the least impact practicable on trade operations, and any 
other related procedures and policies.

Extension of the ACAS Pilot Period and Reopening of the Application 
Period

    The October 2012 notice announced that the ACAS pilot would run for 
six months. The notice provided that if CBP determined that the pilot 
period should be extended, CBP would publish another notice in the 
Federal Register. The October 2012 notice also stated that applications 
from new ACAS pilot participants would be accepted until November 23, 
2012. On December 26, 2012, CBP published a notice in the Federal 
Register (77 FR 76064) reopening the application period for new 
participants until January 8, 2013. On January 3, 2013, the Federal 
Register published a correction (78 FR 315) stating that the correct 
date of the close of the reopened application period was January 10, 
2013. On April 23, 2013, CBP published a notice in the Federal Register 
(78 FR 23946) extending the ACAS pilot period through October 26,

[[Page 63238]]

2013, and reopening the application period through May 23, 2013.
    CBP continues to see an increase in the diversity and number of 
pilot participants representing a strong sample size of the air cargo 
community. However, CBP also continues to receive requests to 
participate in the pilot. In order to provide greater opportunity for a 
wide range of the air cargo community to participate in the ACAS pilot 
and to prepare for possible proposed regulatory changes, CBP is 
extending the ACAS pilot period through July 26, 2014, and reopening 
the application period through December 23, 2013.
    Anyone interested in participating in the ACAS pilot should refer 
to the notice published in the Federal Register on October 24, 2012, 
for additional application information and eligibility requirements

    Dated: October 18, 2013.
Susan T. Mitchell,
Acting Assistant Commissioner, Office of Field Operations.
[FR Doc. 2013-24856 Filed 10-22-13; 8:45 am]
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