EPA and PHMSA Sign Agreement to Join CBP Import Safety Center
The Environmental Protection Agency and DOT's Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration have signed agreements with U .S. Customs and Border Protection to join the Import Safety Commercial Targeting and Analysis Center (CTAC), a multi-agency center for targeting commercial shipments that pose potential threats to health and safety.
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(EPA states that CTAC provides an avenue for agencies with import safety authority to stream-line national operations and to share targeting expertise, tools and best practices. It also allows for a more targeted response to public safety threats, while simultaneously reducing duplicative examinations.)
EPA Already Partnering with CBP on Consumer Protection Efforts
According to EPA, it has been a partner with CBP in numerous consumer protection efforts. EPA’s inclusion in the CTAC will enhance interagency communication and collaboration to prevent the import of products which may pose a human health or environmental risk.
PHMSA Has Interest in Safe Fireworks, Batteries and Energy Products
EPA states that PHMSA protects the American public and the environment through a national field investigation program that ensures compliance with federal regulations covering safe and secure movement of hazardous materials, such as fireworks, batteries and energy products, throughout the U.S. by all transportation modes, including the nation’s pipelines.
7 Agencies Now Part of Effort to Target High-Risk Commercial Shipments
The addition of EPA and PHMSA brings the total number of agencies that are part of CTAC's effort to target high risk commercial shipments to seven. The original CTAC partnership included the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the Department of Agriculture's Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS) and the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), and CBP. These agencies—each with their own statutory responsibilities for public safety—work as a team to better target imports that should be examined for possible safety violations.