Advance Electronic Transmission Of Inbound Rail Cargo Data

Customs Announces Advance Electronic Transmission of Inbound Rail Cargo Data U.S. Customs and Border Protection announced Monday that advance electronic transmission of commercial inbound rail cargo data, required under its Trade Act of 2002 security rules, will begin on 12 July. "Advance cargo information is necessary to protect the United States from terrorists and terrorist weapons. The data will allow [Customs] officers to identify rail shipments that could pose a potential risk to the U.S.," said Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Robert Bonner. The approved electronic data interchange system is in place and operational at 24 rail ports of entry. Rail carriers must electronically transmit cargo data to Customs and Border Protection at least 2 hours before the cargo enters the United States.

(Monday, April 12, 2004)

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced today in the Federal Register the implementation dates for the advance electronic transmission of commercial inbound rail cargo data required under its Trade Act of 2002 cargo security rules.

"Advance cargo information is necessary to protect the United States from terrorists and terrorist weapons. The data will allow CBP officers to identify rail shipments that could pose a potential risk to the U.S.," said CBP Commissioner Robert C. Bonner. "The approved electronic data interchange system is now in place and operational at twenty-four rail-crossing ports of entry. The initial implementation will begin at these ports on July 12."

CBP must electronically receive from the rail carrier certain information concerning incoming cargo no later than 2 hours prior to the cargo reaching the first port of arrival in the United States. The compliance dates vary depending on the port of entry at which the rail carrier will be arriving in the United States.

(1) First Implementation

Effective July 12, 2004, rail carriers must commence the advance electronic transmission to CBP of required cargo information for inbound cargo at the following twenty-four ports of entry (corresponding port code and field office location in parenthesis):

(1) Buffalo, NY (0901, Buffalo); (2) Detroit, MI (3801, Detroit); (3) Richford, VT (0203, Boston); (4) Ft. Covington/Trout River, NY (0715, Buffalo); (5) Norton, VT (0211, Boston); (6) Highgate Springs, VT (0212, Boston); (7) Champlain-Rouses Point, NY (0712, Buffalo); (8) Brownsville, TX (2301, Laredo); (9) Eagle Pass, TX (2303, Laredo); (10) Laredo, TX (2304, Laredo); (11) El Paso, TX (2402, El Paso); (12) Calexico, CA (2503, San Diego); (13) Nogales, AZ (2604, Tucson); (14) Blaine, WA (3004, Seattle/Tacoma); (15) Sumas, WA (3009, Seattle/Tacoma); (16) Eastport, ID (3302, Seattle/Tacoma); (17) Sweetgrass, MT (3310, Seattle/Tacoma); (18) Noyes, MN (3402, Seattle/Tacoma); (19) Portal, ND (3403, Seattle/Tacoma); (20) Frontier/Boundary, WA (3015, Seattle/Tacoma); (21) Laurier, WA (3016, Seattle/Tacoma); (22) International Falls, MN (3604, Chicago); (23) Port Huron, MI (3802, Detroit); (24) Sault Ste. Marie, MI (3803, Detroit).

(2) Second Implementation

Effective August 10, 2004, rail carriers must commence the advance electronic transmission to CBP of required cargo information for inbound cargo at the following four ports of entry: (25) Jackman, ME (0104, Boston); (26) Van Buren, ME (0108, Boston); (27) Vanceboro, ME (0105, Boston); (28) Calais, ME (0115, Boston).

(3) Third Implementation

Effective September 9, 2004, rail carriers must commence the advance electronic transmission to CBP of required cargo information for inbound cargo at the following three ports of entry: (29) Tecate, CA (2505, San Diego); (30) Otay Mesa, CA (2506, San Diego); (31) Presidio, TX (2403, El Paso).

For more information on the Federal Register notice and the rule requiring electronic transmission of cargo information, please visit the U.S. Customs and Border Protection web site at http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/import/communications_to_industry/
advance_info/.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the protection of our nation's borders. CBP unified Customs, Immigration, and Agriculture Inspectors and the Border Patrol into one border agency for the United States.