[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 20 (Friday, January 30, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5126-5128]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-01822]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

U.S. Customs and Border Protection


Modification of National Customs Automation Program (NCAP) Test 
Concerning Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) Document Image System 
(DIS) Relating to Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) 
Document Submissions

AGENCY: U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Department of Homeland 
Security.

ACTION: General notice.

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SUMMARY: This document announces U.S. Customs and Border Protection's 
(CBP's) plan to modify part of the National Customs Automation Program 
(NCAP) test concerning document imaging, known as Phase III of the 
Document Image System (DIS) test. Phase III of the DIS test allows 
Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) participants to submit 
electronic images of a specific set of CBP and Partner Government 
Agency (PGA) forms and supporting information to CBP via a CBP-approved 
Electronic Data Interchange (EDI). This notice announces that ACE 
participating importers and brokers may now submit DIS test-supported 
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) documents, in 
Portable Document Format (PDF) file format, via email, to 
[email protected].

DATES: The modified DIS test will commence no earlier than February 17, 
2015, and will continue until concluded by way of announcement in the 
Federal Register.

ADDRESSES: Comments concerning this notice and any aspect of the test 
may be submitted at any time during the test via email to Monica 
Crockett at [email protected]. In the subject line of your 
email, please indicate ``Comment on Document Image System (DIS)''.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For policy-related questions, contact 
Monica Crockett at [email protected]. For technical 
questions related to ABI transmissions, contact your assigned client 
representative. Any partner government agency (PGA) interested in 
participating in DIS should contact Elizabeth McQueen at 
[email protected]. Interested parties without an assigned 
client representative should direct their questions to Steven Zaccaro 
at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    This test notice, and the Customs related electronic functions it 
describes, are part of the National Customs Automation Program (NCAP). 
NCAP was established in Subtitle B of Title VI--Customs Modernization, 
in the North American Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act (Pub. L. 
103-182, 107 Stat. 2057, 2170, December 8, 1993) (Customs Modernization 
Act). See 19 U.S.C. 1411. Through NCAP, the initial focus of customs 
modernization was on trade compliance and the development of the 
Automated Commercial Environment (ACE), the planned successor to the 
legacy Customs Automated Commercial System (ACS). ACE is an automated 
and electronic system for commercial trade processing. ACE will 
streamline business processes, facilitate growth in trade, ensure cargo 
security, and foster participation in global commerce, while ensuring 
compliance with U.S. laws and regulations and reducing costs for CBP 
and all its communities of interest. The ability to meet these 
objectives depends upon successfully modernizing CBP's business 
functions and the information technology that supports those functions. 
CBP's modernization efforts are accomplished through phased releases of 
ACE component functionality, designed to introduce a new capability or 
to replace a specific legacy ACS function. Each release will begin with 
a test, and will end with mandatory compliance with the new ACE 
feature, thus retiring the legacy ACS function. Each release builds on 
previous releases, and sets the foundation for subsequent releases. For 
the convenience of the public, all Federal Register publications 
detailing ACE test developments in Entry, Summary, Accounts, and 
Revenue (ESAR) are listed chronologically at the end of this notice, in 
the section ``Development of ACE Prototypes.''
    One of the phased releases is for the Document Imaging System (DIS) 
feature, which allows participants to submit certain information 
electronically instead of submitting that information via a paper 
document. The DIS test allows ACE participants to submit electronic 
images of a specific set of CBP and Partner Government Agency (PGA) 
forms and supporting information to CBP. Specifically, importers and 
brokers are allowed to submit specified official CBP documents and 
specified PGA documents via a CBP-approved Electronic Data Interchange 
(EDI). The first phase of the DIS test, Phase I, enabled participating 
importers and brokers to transmit images of specified

[[Page 5127]]

CBP and PGA forms with supporting information via a CBP approved EDI in 
an Extensible Markup Language (XML) file format, in lieu of 
conventional paper methods. See 77 FR 20835 (April 6, 2012). In the 
second phase, Phase II, CBP reduced the number of metadata elements 
required for each document and specified forms that were eligible to be 
submitted earlier, i.e. at the time of manifest, or transmitted via a 
CBP-approved EDI to support ACE Cargo Release filings (previously known 
as Simplified Entry filings). In Phase II CBP also expanded the pool of 
eligible participants to include software providers, who only 
electronically transmit data that they had received for transmission to 
CBP. See 78 FR 44142 (July 23, 2013).
    On June 25, 2014, CBP published in the Federal Register a notice 
announcing the third phase of the DIS test, Phase III, which added to 
the list of documents supported by the DIS test. See 79 FR 36083 (June 
25, 2014). The DIS test supports certain PGA forms and supporting 
information, which include ones that the Animal and Plant Health 
Inspection Service (APHIS) requires. See 79 FR 36083 for the complete 
list of CBP and PGA documents, which the DIS test supports as of the 
date of this notice.
    Pursuant to Phase III of the DIS test, parties who file entry 
summaries in ACE are allowed to submit specified CBP and PGA documents 
via a CBP-approved EDI. DIS capabilities will continue to be delivered 
in multiple phases.
    CBP will continue to publish in the Federal Register announcements 
to notify ACE participants when they may submit any new CBP or PGA 
documents into the DIS test, or when they may send any other DIS test-
supported documents via email in PDF file format. All other eligibility 
criteria, technical specifications, recordkeeping requirements, and 
rules for submitting to DIS, as specified in prior DIS test notices, 
remain the same. See 79 FR 36083.

Authorization for the Test

    The Customs Modernization provisions in the North American Free 
Trade Agreement Implementation Act provide the Commissioner of CBP with 
authority to conduct limited test programs or procedures designed to 
evaluate planned components of the NCAP. This test is authorized 
pursuant to Sec.  101.9(b) of the CBP Regulations (19 CFR 101.9(b)) 
which provides for the testing of NCAP programs or procedures. See 
Treasury Decision (T.D.) 95-21.

Modification of Phase III of the Document Image System (DIS) Test 
Program

    This notice announces that, as an addition to Phase III, CBP is now 
allowing brokers and importers, who are also ACE participants, to file 
DIS test-supported APHIS documents, in Portable Document Format (PDF) 
file format, via email, to this email address: [email protected].
    The DIS test-supported APHIS documents, which ACE-participating 
brokers and importers may send in PDF file format to [email protected], 
are:

 APHIS STAT Supporting Statement
 APHIS Import Permit
 APHIS Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ) Form 368, Notice 
of Arrival (of a restricted article at the port of entry)
 APHIS PPQ Form 203, Foreign Site Certificate of Inspection 
and/or Treatment
 APHIS PPQ Form 586, Application for Permit to Transit Plants 
and/or Plant Products, Plant Pests, and/or Associated Soil through the 
United States
 APHIS PPQ Form 587, Application for Permit to Import Plants or 
Plant Products
 APHIS Transit Permit
 Foreign Government Sanitary Certificate (Veterinary Health 
Certificate) (used by APHIS)
 Ingredients List (used by APHIS)
 Phytosanitary Certificates (used by APHIS)
 Proof of origin (for origin shipments of milk and milk 
products) (used by APHIS)

Test Participation

    All other eligibility criteria, technical specifications, 
recordkeeping requirements, and rules for submitting to DIS remain the 
same. For more information about the eligibility criteria, technical 
specifications, recordkeeping requirements, and rules for submitting to 
DIS, see 79 FR 36083.

Development of ACE Prototypes

    A chronological listing of Federal Register publications, which 
describe ESAR ACE test developments, is provided, below.
     ACE Portal Accounts and Subsequent Revision Notices: 67 FR 
21800 (May 1, 2002); 69 FR 5360 and 69 FR 5362 (February 4, 2004); 69 
FR 54302 (September 8, 2004); 70 FR 5199 (February 1, 2005).
     ACE System of Records Notice: 71 FR 3109 (January 19, 
2006).
     Terms/Conditions for Access to the ACE Portal and 
Subsequent Revisions: 72 FR 27632 (May 16, 2007); 73 FR 38464 (July 7, 
2008).
     ACE Non-Portal Accounts and Related Notice: 70 FR 61466 
(October 24, 2005); 71 FR 15756 (March 29, 2006).
     ACE Entry Summary, Accounts and Revenue (ESAR I) 
Capabilities: 72 FR 59105 (October 18, 2007).
     ACE Entry Summary, Accounts and Revenue (ESAR II) 
Capabilities: 73 FR 50337 (August 26, 2008); 74 FR 9826 (March 6, 
2009).
     ACE Entry Summary, Accounts and Revenue (ESAR III) 
Capabilities: 74 FR 69129 (December 30, 2009).
     ACE Entry Summary, Accounts and Revenue (ESAR IV) 
Capabilities: 76 FR 37136 (June 24, 2011).
     Post-Entry Amendment (PEA) Processing Test: 76 FR 37136 
(June 24, 2011).
     ACE Announcement of a New Start Date for the National 
Customs Automation Program Test of Automated Manifest Capabilities for 
Ocean and Rail Carriers: 76 FR 42721 (July 19, 2011).
     ACE Simplified Entry: 76 FR 69755 (November 9, 2011).
     National Customs Automation Program (NCAP) Tests 
Concerning Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) Document Image System 
(DIS): 77 FR 20835 (April 6, 2012).
     National Customs Automation Program (NCAP) Tests 
Concerning Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) Simplified Entry: 
Modification of Participant Selection Criteria and Application Process: 
77 FR 48527 (August 14, 2012).
     Modification of NCAP Test Regarding Reconciliation for 
Filing Certain Post-Importation Preferential Tariff Treatment Claims 
under Certain FTAs: 78 FR 27984 (May 13, 2013).
     Modification of Two National Customs Automation Program 
(NCAP) Tests Concerning Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) Document 
Image System (DIS) and Simplified Entry (SE): 78 FR 44142 (July 23, 
2013).
     Modification of Two National Customs Automation Program 
(NCAP) Tests Concerning Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) Document 
Image System (DIS) and Simplified Entry (SE); Correction: 78 FR 53466 
(August 29, 2013).
     Modification of NCAP Test Concerning Automated Commercial 
Environment (ACE) Cargo Release (formerly known as Simplified Entry): 
78 FR 66039 (November 4, 2013).
     Post-Summary Corrections to Entry Summaries Filed in ACE 
Pursuant to the ESAR IV Test: Modifications and

[[Page 5128]]

Clarifications: 78 FR 69434 (November 19, 2013).
     National Customs Automation Program (NCAP) Test Concerning 
the Submission of Certain Data Required by the Environmental Protection 
Agency and the Food Safety and Inspection Service Using the Partner 
Government Agency Message Set Through the Automated Commercial 
Environment (ACE): 78 FR 75931 (December 13, 2013).
     Modification of National Customs Automation Program (NCAP) 
Test Concerning Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) Cargo Release 
for Ocean and Rail Carriers: 79 FR 6210 (February 3, 2014).
     Modification of National Customs Automation Program (NCAP) 
Test Concerning Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) Cargo Release To 
Allow Importers and Brokers To Certify From ACE Entry Summary: 79 FR 
24744 (May 1, 2014).
     Modification of National Customs Automation Program (NCAP) 
Test Concerning Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) Cargo Release 
for Truck Carriers: 79 FR 25142 (May 2, 2014).
     Modification of National Customs Automation Program (NCAP) 
Test Concerning Automated Commercial Environment Document Image System: 
79 FR 36083 (June 25, 2014).
     eBond Test: 79 FR 70881 (November 28, 2014); 80 FR 899 
(January 7, 2015).

    Dated: January 27, 2015.
Brenda Smith,
Assistant Commissioner, Office of International Trade.
[FR Doc. 2015-01822 Filed 1-29-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9111-14-P