82 FR 34319 - Extension of the Air Cargo Advance Screening (ACAS) Pilot Program

DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
U.S. Customs and Border Protection

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 140 (July 24, 2017)

Page Range		34319-34320
FR Document		2017-15441

On October 24, 2012, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) published a notice in the Federal Register that announced the formalization and expansion of the Air Cargo Advance Screening (ACAS) pilot program that would run for six months. CBP subsequently published several notices extending the pilot period and/or reopening the application period to new participants for limited periods. The most recent notice extended the pilot period through July 26, 2017. This document announces that CBP is extending the pilot period for an additional year. The ACAS pilot is a voluntary test in which participants submit a subset of required advance air cargo data to CBP at the earliest point practicable prior to loading of the cargo onto the aircraft destined to or transiting through the United States.

Federal Register, Volume 82 Issue 140 (Monday, July 24, 2017)

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 140 (Monday, July 24, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 34319-34320]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-15441]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

U.S. Customs and Border Protection


Extension of the Air Cargo Advance Screening (ACAS) Pilot Program

AGENCY: U.S. Customs and Border Protection, DHS.

ACTION: General notice.

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SUMMARY: On October 24, 2012, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) 
published a notice in the Federal Register that announced the 
formalization and expansion of the Air Cargo Advance Screening (ACAS) 
pilot program that would run for six months. CBP subsequently published 
several notices extending the pilot period and/or reopening the 
application period to new participants for limited periods. The most 
recent notice extended the pilot period through July 26, 2017. This 
document announces that CBP is extending the pilot period for an 
additional year. The ACAS pilot is a voluntary test in which 
participants submit a subset of required advance air cargo data to CBP 
at the earliest point practicable prior to loading of the cargo onto 
the aircraft destined to or transiting through the United States.

DATES: CBP is extending the ACAS pilot program through July 26, 2018. 
Comments concerning any aspect of the announced test may be submitted 
at any time during the test period.

ADDRESSES: Written comments concerning program, policy, and technical 
issues may be submitted via email to [email protected]. In the subject 
line of the email, please use ``Comment on ACAS pilot''.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Craig Clark, Cargo and Conveyance 
Security, Office of Field Operations, U.S. Customs & Border Protection, 
via email at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    On October 24, 2012, CBP published a general notice in the Federal 
Register (77 FR 65006, corrected in 77 FR 65395\1\) that announced the 
formalization and expansion of the ACAS pilot. The notice provided a 
description of the ACAS pilot, set forth eligibility requirements for 
participation, and invited public comments on any aspect of the test. 
In brief, the ACAS pilot revises the time frame for pilot participants 
to transmit a subset of mandatory advance electronic information for 
air cargo. CBP regulations implementing the Trade Act of 2002 specify 
the required data elements and the time frame for submitting them to 
CBP. Pursuant to title 19, Code of Federal Regulations (19 CFR) 
122.48a, the required advance information for air cargo must be 
submitted no later than the time of departure of the aircraft for the 
United States (from specified locations) or four hours prior to arrival 
in the United States for all other locations.
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    \1\ This Federal Register notice, published on October 26, 2012, 
corrected the email address under the ADDRESSES heading for 
submitting applications or comments. The correct email address is 
[email protected].
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The ACAS pilot is a voluntary test in which participants agree to 
submit a subset of the required 19 CFR 122.48a data elements (ACAS 
data) at the earliest point practicable prior to loading of the cargo 
onto the aircraft destined to or transiting through the United States. 
The ACAS data is used to target high-risk air cargo. CBP intends to 
amend the CBP regulations to incorporate ACAS as an ongoing regulatory 
program. The results of the ACAS pilot will help determine the relevant 
data elements, the time frame within which data must be submitted to 
permit CBP to effectively target, identify and mitigate any risk with 
the least practicable impact on trade operations, and any other related 
procedures and policies.

Extension of the ACAS Pilot Period

    The October 2012 notice announced that the ACAS pilot would run for 
six months. The notice provided that if CBP determined that the pilot 
period should be extended, CBP would publish another notice in the 
Federal Register. The October 2012 notice also stated that applications 
for new ACAS pilot participants would be accepted until November 23, 
2012. CBP subsequently published several notices extending the pilot 
period and/or reopening the application period to new participants for 
limited periods. On December 26, 2012, CBP published a notice in the 
Federal Register (77 FR 76064) reopening the application period for new 
participants until January 8, 2013. On January 3, 2013, the Federal 
Register published a correction (78 FR 315) stating that the correct 
date of the close of the reopened application period was

[[Page 34320]]

January 10, 2013. On April 23, 2013, CBP published a notice in the 
Federal Register (78 FR 23946) extending the ACAS pilot period through 
October 26, 2013, and reopening the application period through May 23, 
2013. On October 23, 2013, CBP published a notice in the Federal 
Register (78 FR 63237) extending the ACAS pilot period through July 26, 
2014, and reopening the application period through December 23, 2013. 
On July 28, 2014, CBP published a notice in the Federal Register (79 FR 
43766) extending the ACAS pilot period through July 26, 2015, and 
reopening the application period through September 26, 2014. On July 
27, 2015, CBP published a notice in the Federal Register (80 FR 44360) 
extending the ACAS pilot period through July 26, 2016, and reopening 
the application period through October 26, 2015. Finally, on July 22, 
2016, CBP published a notice in the Federal Register (81 FR 47812) 
extending the ACAS pilot period through July 26, 2017, without 
reopening the application period.
    Each extension of the pilot period and reopening of the application 
period allowed for a significant increase in the diversity and number 
of pilot participants. The current pilot participants now represent a 
strong sample size of the air cargo community and new pilot 
participants are not being accepted.
    To address air cargo security vulnerabilities, CBP intends to amend 
the CBP regulations to incorporate ACAS as an ongoing regulatory 
program. The regulation will take into account the results of the pilot 
and the concerns of industry. CBP would like the pilot to continue 
during the rulemaking process to provide continuity in the flow of 
advance air cargo security information and serve as a partial stop-gap 
security measure. CBP would also like to continue to provide pilot 
participants with the additional opportunity to adjust and test 
business procedures and operations in preparation for the forthcoming 
rule.
    For these reasons, CBP is extending the ACAS pilot period through 
July 26, 2018.

    Date: July 18, 2017.
Todd C. Owen,
Executive Assistant Commissioner, Office of Field Operations.
[FR Doc. 2017-15441 Filed 7-21-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 9111-14-P

34320 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 140 / Monday, July 24, 2017 / Notices

January 10, 2013. On April 23, 2013, DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rick
CBP published a notice in the Federal SECURITY Sacbibit, Chief, Engineering Services
Register (78 FR 23946) extending the Branch, Federal Insurance and
ACAS pilot period through October 26, Federal Emergency Management Mitigation Administration, FEMA, 400
2013, and reopening the application Agency C Street SW., Washington, DC 20472,
period through May 23, 2013. On [Docket ID FEMA–2017–0002; Internal (202) 646–7659, or (email)
October 23, 2013, CBP published a Agency Docket No. FEMA–B–1736] patrick.sacbibit@fema.dhs.gov; or visit
notice in the Federal Register (78 FR the FEMA Map Information eXchange
63237) extending the ACAS pilot period Proposed Flood Hazard (FMIX) online at
through July 26, 2014, and reopening Determinations www.floodmaps.fema.gov/fhm/fmx_
the application period through main.html.
AGENCY: Federal Emergency
December 23, 2013. On July 28, 2014, Management Agency, DHS. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: FEMA
CBP published a notice in the Federal proposes to make flood hazard
ACTION: Notice.
Register (79 FR 43766) extending the determinations for each community
ACAS pilot period through July 26, SUMMARY: Comments are requested on listed below, in accordance with section
2015, and reopening the application proposed flood hazard determinations, 110 of the Flood Disaster Protection Act
period through September 26, 2014. On which may include additions or of 1973, 42 U.S.C. 4104, and 44 CFR
July 27, 2015, CBP published a notice in modifications of any Base Flood 67.4(a).
the Federal Register (80 FR 44360) Elevation (BFE), base flood depth, These proposed flood hazard
Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) determinations, together with the
extending the ACAS pilot period
boundary or zone designation, or floodplain management criteria required
through July 26, 2016, and reopening
regulatory floodway on the Flood by 44 CFR 60.3, are the minimum that
the application period through October
Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs), and are required. They should not be
26, 2015. Finally, on July 22, 2016, CBP construed to mean that the community
published a notice in the Federal where applicable, in the supporting
Flood Insurance Study (FIS) reports for must change any existing ordinances
Register (81 FR 47812) extending the that are more stringent in their
ACAS pilot period through July 26, the communities listed in the table
below. The purpose of this notice is to floodplain management requirements.
2017, without reopening the application The community may at any time enact
seek general information and comment
period. stricter requirements of its own or
regarding the preliminary FIRM, and
Each extension of the pilot period and where applicable, the FIS report that the pursuant to policies established by other
reopening of the application period Federal Emergency Management Agency Federal, State, or regional entities.
allowed for a significant increase in the (FEMA) has provided to the affected These flood hazard determinations are
diversity and number of pilot communities. The FIRM and FIS report used to meet the floodplain
participants. The current pilot are the basis of the floodplain management requirements of the NFIP
participants now represent a strong management measures that the and also are used to calculate the
sample size of the air cargo community community is required either to adopt appropriate flood insurance premium
and new pilot participants are not being or to show evidence of having in effect rates for new buildings built after the
accepted. in order to qualify or remain qualified FIRM and FIS report become effective.
for participation in the National Flood The communities affected by the
To address air cargo security flood hazard determinations are
Insurance Program (NFIP). In addition,
vulnerabilities, CBP intends to amend provided in the tables below. Any
the FIRM and FIS report, once effective,
the CBP regulations to incorporate request for reconsideration of the
will be used by insurance agents and
ACAS as an ongoing regulatory others to calculate appropriate flood revised flood hazard information shown
program. The regulation will take into insurance premium rates for new on the Preliminary FIRM and FIS report
account the results of the pilot and the buildings and the contents of those that satisfies the data requirements
concerns of industry. CBP would like buildings. outlined in 44 CFR 67.6(b) is considered
the pilot to continue during the an appeal. Comments unrelated to the
rulemaking process to provide DATES: Comments are to be submitted flood hazard determinations also will be
continuity in the flow of advance air on or before October 23, 2017. considered before the FIRM and FIS
cargo security information and serve as ADDRESSES: The Preliminary FIRM, and report become effective.
a partial stop-gap security measure. CBP where applicable, the FIS report for Use of a Scientific Resolution Panel
would also like to continue to provide each community are available for (SRP) is available to communities in
pilot participants with the additional inspection at both the online location support of the appeal resolution
opportunity to adjust and test business and the respective Community Map process. SRPs are independent panels of
Repository address listed in the tables experts in hydrology, hydraulics, and
procedures and operations in
below. Additionally, the current other pertinent sciences established to
preparation for the forthcoming rule.
effective FIRM and FIS report for each review conflicting scientific and
For these reasons, CBP is extending community are accessible online technical data and provide
the ACAS pilot period through July 26, through the FEMA Map Service Center recommendations for resolution. Use of
2018. at www.msc.fema.gov for comparison. the SRP only may be exercised after
You may submit comments, identified FEMA and local communities have been
mstockstill on DSK30JT082PROD with NOTICES

Date: July 18, 2017.
Todd C. Owen,
by Docket No. FEMA–B–1736, to Rick engaged in a collaborative consultation
Sacbibit, Chief, Engineering Services process for at least 60 days without a
Executive Assistant Commissioner, Office of Branch, Federal Insurance and mutually acceptable resolution of an
Field Operations.
Mitigation Administration, FEMA, 400 appeal. Additional information
[FR Doc. 2017–15441 Filed 7–21–17; 8:45 am] C Street SW., Washington, DC 20472, regarding the SRP process can be found
BILLING CODE 9111–14–P (202) 646–7659, or (email) online at http://floodsrp.org/pdfs/srp_
patrick.sacbibit@fema.dhs.gov. fact_sheet.pdf.

VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:13 Jul 21, 2017 Jkt 241001 PO 00000 Frm 00046 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\24JYN1.SGM 24JYN1

Document Created: 2017-07-22 01:19:55
Document Modified: 2017-07-22 01:19:55

Category		Regulatory Information
Collection		Federal Register
sudoc Class		AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106:
Publisher		Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
Section		Notices
Action		General notice.
Dates		CBP is extending the ACAS pilot program through July 26, 2018. Comments concerning any aspect of the announced test may be submitted at any time during the test period.
Contact		Craig Clark, Cargo and Conveyance Security, Office of Field Operations, U.S. Customs & Border Protection, via email at [email protected]
FR Citation		82 FR 34319

82 FR 34319 - Extension of the Air Cargo Advance Screening (ACAS) Pilot Program

DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITYU.S. Customs and Border Protection

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 140 (July 24, 2017)

DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
U.S. Customs and Border Protection