CBP Discusses the Automated Targeting System, 10 2, and Radiation Detection

The purpose of the hearing was to review the Department of Homeland Security's implementation and administration of several port and cargo security programs authorized in the Security and Accountability for Every (SAFE) Port Act, the Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2002, and the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Act of 2004.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection's Assistant Commissioner of the Office of Field Operations testified at the hearing and discussed issues related to 10 2, the Automated Targeting System (ATS), and domestic radiation detection. See future issues of ITT for additional CBP topics discussed at the hearing.

SF (10 2) Data and Maritime Targeting for ATS

According to CBP, the SAFE Port Act requires it to seek additional data elements for ATS as well as to evaluate the entire ATS system. The additional advance data elements for maritime cargo are proposed to consist of 12 Security Filing (SF, 10 2) data elements.

(At a recent WESCCON event, the CBP Commissioner projected that 10 2 would begin in early 2008 using a phased approach; however, the proposed rule has yet to be issued, and prior to issuing the final rule, CBP must consider all comments submitted on the proposed rule. According to trade sources, comments could result in amendments to SF.

See ITT's Online Archives or 08/21/07 news, 07082110, for BP summary of Secretary of Homeland Security remarks which indicated that he would like to see phased-in implementation of 10 2 begin in 2007.)

ATS maritime targeting. CBP's Office of Field Operations (OFO) National Targeting and Security (NTS) office and the Office of Information Technology Targeting and Analysis Systems Program Office (TASPO) have been working together to enhance the ATS Maritime rule set capabilities for ocean cargo targeting. Under the direction of the OFO, TASPO placed the updated rule sets into production on March 21, 2007, to conduct initial assessments. Since that time, OFO subject matter experts and members of the Maritime Targeting Working Group have provided feedback to NTS, which resulted in further refinements and enhancements to the maritime rule set.

Currently NTS is modeling several versions of the new Country of Interest list to include iterations of different scores and scenarios to include entity concepts such as first time, unknown, and high volume. OFO is currently using the updated rule set for maritime threshold targeting.

Radiation Detection

CBP notes that the SAFE Port Act mandates that all containers entering through the top 22 seaports be scanned for radiation. CBP states that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has deployed radiation detection equipment to each of these 22 ports; however, due to unique operational considerations at some of these ports, not every terminal within a port is currently equipped with such equipment. CBP states that DHS continues to work with these considerations, and by the end of calendar year 2007 will scan approximately 98% of all containerized cargo at these 22 seaports.

According to CBP, it currently scans 91% of the cargo and 81% of the passenger vehicles arriving from Canada; 97% of the cargo and 92% of the passenger vehicles arriving from Mexico, as well as 93% of arriving sea-borne cargo containers.

DHS testing next generation of radiation detection at 8 U.S. locations. CBP also notes that DHS is currently testing the next generation of radiation detection equipment known as Advanced Spectroscopic Portals (ASPs) at eight locations nationwide - at Piers A and J in Long Beach, at the APM and PNCT Terminals in Newark, at the Colombia and World Trade bridges in Laredo, at the Blue Water Bridge in Port Huron, and at the Fort Street crossing in Detroit. Future deployments of ASPs, pending Secretarial certification, will allow CBP to quickly differentiate between benign materials, while determining which shipments pose a true risk.

(See ITT's Online Archives or 09/05/07 news, 07090505, for BP summary on a request by various Senators asking the DHS Secretary to hold off on acquisition of ASP radiation monitors until questions about their reliability, performance, and effectiveness have been addressed.

See ITT's Online Archives or 10/10/07 and 10/12/07 news, 07101005 and 07101205, for BP summaries of the C-TPAT and in-bond aspects of CBP's testimony.)

CBP written hearing statement (dated 10/04/07) available at http://commerce.senate.gov/public/_files/CBPSenateCommerceWrittenStatement100407000.pdf.

NCBFAA release on Commissioner's 102 statement, available at http://www.ncbfaa.org/News/eBriefingArticleDetail.cfm?ItemNumber=2452