CBP's ACAS Pilot Plan Issued, Automating of Trusted Shippers Sought

28 Month, Multi-Phased Approach for ACAS Contingent on Industry Resources

The document describes the multi-phased approach for implementation that is expected to take about 28 months. Implementation of the pilot's notional phases is contingent upon the industry's resource availability to operationalize availability to operationalize ACAS data transmission, screening, and response protocols. The six phases of implementation are:

• Phase 1: Initial Expansion to Passenger Air Carriers and Freight Forwarders and Amend Transportation Security Administration (TSA) SSPs
  • Phase 1 is the most comprehensive phases as industry participants will help to determine the appropriate and attainable advance data filing options. CBP and TSA will measure progress by tracking and reporting data transmission along with the date and carrier/forwarder.
• Phase 2: Expansion to Additional Passenger Air Carriers and Freight Forwarders
  • The pilot program will be expanded to include additional freight forwarders and passenger air carriers. During this time the heavy all-cargo air carrier phase will begin to work through ATS challenges
• Phase 3: Incorporating Trusted Shipper Concept into ATS
  • Coordinate with CBP C-TPAT, Targeting and Analysis Systems Program Office (TASPO), and TSA to outline a framework to combine the C-TPAT / “Trusted Shipper” benefits into ACAS.
• Phases 4: Expansion to Remaining High Cargo Volume Passenger Air Carriers and Freight Forwarders
  • Expansion to include remaining passenger air carriers and forwarders with higher cargo volumes.
• Phase 5: Expansion to Small/Medium Cargo Volume Passenger Air Carriers and Freight Forwarder
  • Expansion to include all remaining smaller passenger carriers and small and medium forwards. It's expected that industry may develop a web portal to streamline communication between CBP and smaller passenger air carriers and freight forwarders to facilitate pre-loading ACAS transmissions to help ACAS messaging responses.
• Phase 6: Expansion to Heavy All-Cargo Carriers
  • Global implementation

Future ACAS Rulemaking

A rulemaking will be required to trigger mandatory submissions of data. The Department of Homeland Security recognizes the importance of public participation in the design of this rulemaking process. Consistent with Executive Order 13563, CBP recognizes that the rulemaking process should not only protect the public health and welfare but also promote economic growth, innovation, competitiveness, and job creation. CBP will actively engage the public during the drafting process with a goal of making certain the proposed rulemaking is informed and improved by public comment. TSA may not implement formal rulemaking, but will issue SSI security programs to regulate industry screening procedures and incorporate the usage of ACAS procedures

ACAS as International Model for Air Cargo Security

CBP and TSA also propose to use ACAS as a model for the international community as a way to increase air cargo security. International harmonization would enhance security worldwide. The U.S. has also engaged the Universal Postal Union (UPU) to expand the use of electronic data interchange for postal shipments. The UPU Congress has adopted that U.S. proposal.

Upcoming Simplified Entry Pilot to Parallel ACAS

CBP is also planning for the Simplified Entry pilot to parallel ACAS. The SE pilot will leverage the use of additional data received through current trade filings, conceptually providing enhanced analysis of additional shipment information, with possible improvements in the processing of both ACAS shipment verification before loading, and release of import shipments upon receipt of the wheels-up message.

Inbound "Trusted Shipper" Concept also Being Developed

CBP and TSA plan to implement an automated international inbound "Trusted Shipper" Concept using pre-loading advance information based on the existing Security Directives/ Emergency Amendments for all-cargo air carriers with cargo inbound to the U.S. This data includes a sub-set of Trade Act filing data to include: shipper name and address, consignee name and address, cargo description, weight, and piece count. The TSA will integrate these criteria into its Standard Security Programs (SSPs) for passenger and all-cargo air carriers, and CBP would incorporate the criteria into its ATS. Integration with ATS will enable the “Trusted Shipper” concept to move from a system that requires the air carrier to determine whether a particular shipper is ''trusted,'' to an automated data-driven "trusted shipper" determination made by CBP and TSA.

Automation will also more readily enable industry to apply appropriate tiered screening protocols, assisting both passenger carriers and all-cargo carriers in processing “non-trusted” shipments for additional screening measures outlined in the appropriate security program. The automation of the “Trusted Shipper” concept may be implemented through ACAS.

(See ITT’s Online Archives 12030804 for Transportation Security Information discussion of the pilot. See ITT's Online Archives 12030524 for TSA and CBP Officials' Discussion of the pilot at a recent COAC meeting.)

Contacts --

Chris Kenally - CBP Office of Field Operations (202) 344-2476

James McLaughlin - CBP Targeting and Analysis Systems Program Office (571) 468-2540

Warren Miller - TSA Air Cargo Policy and Strategic Information Management(202) 205-3193