CBP Official Testifies on "Post-Incident" Business Resumption Planning

Testifying at the hearing were representatives from U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), the Port of New Orleans, and the Reform Institute.

CBP's Role in Post-Incident Planning

CBP's Executive Director for Cargo and Conveyance Security's written statement highlights CBP's role of ensuring the continuity of international trade in the event of an incident.

Business resumption planning. CBP is conducting comprehensive business resumption planning in the event of a significant disruption in the flow of trade to ensure actions are taken to maintain communication and coordination of CBP processes at U.S. borders with U.S. government and foreign government stakeholders, as well as the trade community.

Unified Business Resumption Messaging. CBP states that a critical part of business resumption is identifying methods for communicating reliable, timely, and factual information to the trade community. CBP has created a web-based mechanism for communicating with the trade community and has tested it during multiple exercises with industry representatives (Unified Business Resumption Messaging). The content of the messages is tailored to all modes of transportation. The UBRM capability is a direct result of exercises with the trade community to understand the information needed to make informed business decisions in a post-event environment.

CBP Incident Management Coordination Directive. CBP has created the CBP Incident Management Directive in order to ensure that all CBP offices are effective, coordinated, and responsive during and after an incident.

Canada. In accordance with the Security & Prosperity Partnership Initiative, a significant amount of planning has been done with Canada Border Service Agency (CBSA) to address significant disruptions at the shared land border. CBP and CBSA have developed the overarching planning protocols, as well as the more detailed Joint CBSA/CBP Business Resumption Communication and Coordination Plan. This plan is intended to provide guidance and points of contact for communications between CBP and CBSA from the field level up to headquarters and the CBP Commissioner and CBSA President. Both sets of these protocols have been tested at joint tabletop exercises, with participation from CBP, CBSA, state and local governments, and members of the trade community.

CBP and Coast Guard protocols. CBP has been working with USCG and has signed CBP/USCG Joint Protocols for the Expeditious Recovery of Trade. The purpose of these protocols is to establish national-level processes and procedures by which the USCG, CBP, and other federal agencies will have a forum for joint intergovernmental and joint government/private sector dialogues to identify and act on important issues to facilitate rapid maritime transportation system (MTS) recovery and the resumption of commerce at U.S. borders.

(See ITT's Online Archives or 08/23/07 and 06/18/07 news, 07082310 and 07061805, for previous BP summaries on CBP's UBRM system.)

Witness written statements and link to video feed of the hearing available at http://homeland.house.gov/Hearings/index.asp?ID=135.

BP Note

The CBP written statement also discusses the multi-layered approach to security taken by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) which reduces reliance on any single point or program that could be compromised, extends the zone of security outwards, and facilitates resiliency and resumption of critical trade after an event of national significance. The multi-layered approach includes:

Advanced information under the 24-hour rule and Trade Act of 2002

Screening the information through the Automated Targeting System (ATS)

Government-industry partnerships such as the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT)

Partnerships with the international community such as the Container Security Initiative (CSI) and the Secure Freight Initiative (SFI)

Use of non-intrusive inspection technology and mandatory exams for all high risk shipments