Deployment of ACE/NCAP Test of Automated Truck Manifest in Vermont Completed (Not Yet Mandatory)
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has issued a general notice announcing that the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE)/National Customs Automation Program (NCAP) test concerning the transmission of automated truck manifest data for truck carrier accounts was deployed in the state of Vermont effective December 31, 20061.
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(CBP also refers to this NCAP test as ACE Release 4 (Truck Manifest).)
ACE e-Manifest: Truck Not Yet Mandatory at Vermont Ports
CBP states that this deployment is only for purposes of the test of the transmission of automated truck manifest data; the ACE Truck Manifest System (e-Manifest: Truck) is not yet the mandated transmission system for these ports.
90 Days Advance Notice Will be Given Before e-Manifest: Truck is Mandatory
CBP adds that ACE e-Manifest: Truck will only become mandatory 90 days after notice is published in the Federal Register. (See ITT's Online Archives or 10/30/06 news, 06103005, for BP summary of CBP's notice on mandatory e-Manifest, which states, among other things, that 90 days notice is required and the ports of Vermont will be phased in to mandatory e-Manifest.)
All Other Previously Announced Requirements/Aspects of Test Continue to Apply
CBP states that all requirements and aspects of this ACE/NCAP test, as set forth in its September 2004 notice announcing the test and as modified by its March 2005 notice clarifying that all relevant data elements, except marks and numbers, are required to be submitted in the automated truck manifest submission, continue to apply.
(See ITT's Online Archives or 09/14/04 and 09/15/04 news, 04091410 and 04091515, for BP summaries of the September 2004 notice announcing the NCAP test. See ITT's Online Archives or 03/22/05 news, 05032205, for BP summary of the March 2005 notice modifying the test.)
(CBP has previously stated that this NCAP test allows participating truck carrier accounts to transmit electronic manifest data in ACE (including advance cargo information as required by Section 343 of the Trade Act of 2002, as amended by the Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2002 (MTSA)). CBP has also previously stated that truck carrier accounts that participate in this test have the ability to electronically transmit truck manifest data and obtain release of their cargo, crew, conveyances, and equipment via the ACE Secure Data Portal or electronic data interchange (EDI) messaging.)
1 The Federal Register notice, which was dated December 26, 2006, stated that the test was expected to be deployed by December 31, 2006. CBP sources have confirmed that the NCAP was deployed by that date.
(See ITT's Online Archives or 11/28/06 news, 06112845 1, for BP summary of ACE installation completion in Vermont.
See ITT's Online Archives or 08/01/05 news, 05080110, for BP summary of CBP's notice on deploying this NCAP test to the Douglas, Arizona and Pembina, North Dakota clusters.
See ITT's Online Archives or 10/17/05 news, 05101705 for BP summary of deploying this NCAP test to Michigan.
See ITT's Online Archives or 01/25/06 news, 06012505, for BP summary of deploying this NCAP test to two Texas clusters.
See ITT's Online Archives or 04/21/06 news, 06042105, for BP summary of CBP's announcement that it would implement "Phase 4" enforcement of mandatory advance cargo information for truck carriers at ACE border ports on May 15, 2006, etc.
See ITT's Online Archives or 04/26/06 news, 06042610, for BP summary of deploying this NCAP test to Texas and California.
See ITT's Online Archives or 07/26/06 news, 06072605, for BP summary of deploying this NCAP test to New York).
- comments on this notice may be submitted at any time during the test
CBP contact - James Swanson, james.d.swanson@dhs.gov
CBP general notice (FR Pub 12/26/06) available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20061800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2006/pdf/E6-22036.pdf