[Federal Register: June 18, 2002 (Volume 67, Number 117)]
[Notices]               
[Page 41572]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr18jn02-140]                         


[[Page 41572]]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY

Customs Service

 
Reopening of Application Period for Participation in a National 
Customs Automation Program Test: First Phase of the Automated 
Commercial Environment (ACE) for the ACE Account Portal

AGENCY: Customs Service, Treasury.

ACTION: General notice.

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SUMMARY: A notice appeared in the Federal Register on May 1, 2002, 
announcing a 30 day application period for participation in the 
National Customs Automation Program test of the first phase of the 
Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) for the Account Portal. The 
testing of this ACE Account Portal is scheduled to commence no earlier 
than October 28, 2002 and will run for approximately two years. The 
test will allow participating importers and authorized parties to 
access their Customs data via a web-based Account Portal. The test is 
the first step toward the full electronic processing of commercial 
importations in the ACE with a focus on defining and establishing the 
importer's account structure. This document announces a reopening of 
the application period.

EFFECTIVE DATES: The test application period is reopened until August 
1, 2002, for purposes of establishing the initial forty importers to 
participate in the test. Comments concerning this notice and all 
aspects of the announced test may be submitted at any time.

ADDRESSES: Written comments regarding this notice may be submitted to 
Ms. Hedwig Lock at U.S. Customs Service, 2850 Eisenhower Ave.--First 
Floor, Alexandria, Virginia 22314; e:mail address: 
eisenhower@customs.treas.gov; FAX number: (703) 329-5235. Applications 
to participate will only be accepted via e:mail sent to 
eisenhower@customs.treas.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Hedwig Lock, U.S. Customs Service, 
Office Of Field Operations, Trade Programs, Commercial Compliance, 
Account Management; Tel. (703) 317-3657; e:mail address: 
eisenhower@customs.treas.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    On May 1, 2002, Customs published a general notice in the Federal 
Register (67 FR 21800) announcing Customs plan to conduct a National 
Customs Automation Program (NCAP) test of the first phase of the 
Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) for the Account Portal. The 
testing of this ACE Account Portal is scheduled to commence no earlier 
than October 28, 2002 and will run for approximately two years. The 
test will allow participating importers and authorized parties to 
access their Customs data via a web-based Account Portal. The test is 
the first step toward the full electronic processing of commercial 
importations in the ACE with a focus on defining and establishing the 
importer's account structure. The Account Portal has the ability to 
access, manage, and disseminate information in an efficient and secure 
manner.
    Participants in this test will eventually have the opportunity to 
use the account management functions such as account access to their 
profile and transactional data via the web portal. Eventually the 
account owner will also have the option to delegate portal access. In 
the initial phase of the test program participants will only have 
access to static data and basic account profile information necessary 
to establish an account. In the later stages of the test, participants 
will have access to more extensive operational transaction data through 
the web portal.
    In the notice announcing the test, Customs stated that it planned 
to select approximately forty importer accounts from the list of 
qualified applicants for the initial deployment of this test and stated 
that to be considered as eligible as one of the initial participants, 
applications must be received by June 1, 2002. (A primary benefit for 
the initial participants will be an early opportunity to provide direct 
input into the initial design of the Account Portal.) Customs also 
stated that additional participants may be selected throughout the 
duration of this test.
    Because of insufficient applications received by Customs within the 
initial 30-day time frame, Customs is extending the application period 
until August 1, 2002, for those desiring to be one of the initial 
participants. While applications for participation may be submitted to 
Customs at any time, any applications received after Customs has 
selected forty participants will be considered on a waiting list basis 
pending expansion of the technology.
    Anyone interested in participating in the test should refer to the 
test notice published in the Federal Register on May 1, 2002, for 
eligibility and application information.

    Dated: June 13, 2002.
Bonni G. Tischler,
Assistant Commissioner, Office of Field Operations.
[FR Doc. 02-15337 Filed 6-17-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4820-02-P