[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 178 (Friday, September 15, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Page 43395]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-19669]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

U.S. Customs and Border Protection


Delay of Transition of Test Program Regarding Electronic Foreign 
Trade Zone; Admission Applications From the Automated Commercial System 
to the Automated Commercial Environment

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

ACTION: Delay of transition of test program.

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SUMMARY: On August 16, 2017, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) 
published a notice in the Federal Register announcing plans to make the 
Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) the sole electronic data 
interchange (EDI) system authorized by the Commissioner of CBP for 
processing electronic Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ) admission applications. 
The changes announced in that notice were to become operational on 
September 16, 2017. This notice announces that the date for the 
transition to ACE as the sole CBP-authorized EDI system for electronic 
FTZ admission applications is delayed until December 9, 2017.

DATES: As of December 9, 2017, ACE will be the sole CBP-authorized EDI 
system for processing electronic FTZ admission applications, and the 
Automated Commercial System (ACS) will no longer be a CBP-authorized 
EDI system for purposes of processing these filings.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For operational questions, contact 
Lydia Jackson, Cargo & Conveyance Security, Office of Field Operations, 
U.S. Customs and Border Protection, via email at 
[email protected]. For technical questions, contact Tonya 
Perez, Cargo Systems Program Directorate, Office of Information and 
Technology, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, via email at 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:  On August 16, 2017, U.S. Customs and Border 
Protection (CBP) published a notice in the Federal Register (82 FR 
38923) announcing plans to make the Automated Commercial Environment 
(ACE) the sole electronic data interchange (EDI) system authorized by 
the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) for 
processing electronic Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ) admission applications, 
as of September 16, 2017. The document also announced that, on 
September 16, 2017, the Automated Commercial System (ACS) would no 
longer be a CBP-authorized EDI system for purposes of processing these 
electronic filings. Further, the document announced that the test 
program would be extended until a decision is reached to implement the 
program on a permanent basis and/or to conclude the test. Finally, the 
notice clarified that the list of data elements required for the 
electronic FTZ admission application must include the ``Zone ID,'' and 
reminded test participants that they must provide the data elements 
``Steel Import License Number'' and ``Kimberley Process Certificate 
Number'' to CBP.
    CBP has been assessing stakeholder readiness for the mandatory 
transition of electronic FTZ admission applications from ACS to ACE. 
CBP has determined that industry partners need additional time to 
prepare for the transition to electronic capabilities in ACE.
    Accordingly, all the changes announced in the August 16, 2017 
Federal Register notice, including the transition to ACE as the sole 
CBP-authorized EDI system for electronic FTZ admission applications, 
will not be operational until December 9, 2017.

    Dated: September 11, 2017.
Todd C. Owen,
Executive Assistant Commissioner, Office of Field Operations.
[FR Doc. 2017-19669 Filed 9-14-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 9111-14-P