U.S. Customs and Border Protection has issued a general notice, effective September 8, 2008, announcing its decision to formally terminate the test of the semi-monthly filing and statement processing prototype program that was initiated in April 1998, as part of the National Customs Automation Program (NCAP).

U.S. Customs and Border Protection has posted to its Unified Business Resumption Messaging Web site messages providing port status updates in the wake of Hurricane Ike. The Port of Key West is closed. CBP also posted an alert on the current port conditions due to Ike. (UBRM messages available at http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/trade/trade_outreach/bus_resumption/maritime/; Ike alert available at http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/newsroom/alerts/port_conditions/port_conditions_ike.xml)

U.S. Customs and Border Protection has issued a CSMS message announcing its deployment of Phase 2 of "ad hoc" capabilities as an enhancement to the Automated Commercial Environment reports.

CBP has posted a CSMS message, Unified Business Resumption Messaging messages, and alerts providing port status updates in the wake of Hurricane Gustav. According to the most recent information, the only port that remains closed as of September 5, 2008 is Morgan City, LA.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection has posted an updated version of its comprehensive document on the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) entitled "ACE Frequently Asked Questions."

CBP has issued a CSMS message stating that Hurricane Gustav, which came ashore on Monday, September 1, 2008, has affected most of southern Louisiana and coastal areas of Mississippi. Due to the evacuation of CBP personnel in these areas and subsequent damage as a result of the storm, the ports of Gulfport, Mississippi and Gramercy, Lake Charles, Morgan City, and New Orleans, Louisiana were closed on Tuesday, September 2, 2008.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection has posted to its Unified Business Resumption Messaging Web site messages providing a port status update in the wake of Hurricane Gustav. The most recent message (dated September 2, 2008 at 9:00 a,m. EST) provides details on the situation for the affected ports/terminals. CBP also posted an alert stating that Gustav may affect CBP operations and employees along the Gulf of Mexico. (UBRM update, dated 09/02/08, available at http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/trade/trade_outreach/bus_resumption/maritime/marine_gustav_3_4.xml; CBP alert, dated 08/29/08, available at http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/newsroom/highlights/hurricane_gustav.xml.)

CBP has posted an updated version of its "ACE on the Road" event schedule, which includes the following events:

U.S. Customs and Border Protection has issued a notice and press releases announcing that it will hold its 9th annual Trade Symposium on October 29-31, 2008 at the JW Marriott in Washington, DC.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection has issued a general notice announcing its plans to conduct a National Customs Automation Program (NCAP) voluntary test concerning new Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) Entry Summary, Accounts, and Revenue (ESAR) capabilities, including functionality specific to entry summary filing and processing of formal consumption entries and informal entries.