The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has issued a press release stating that it has lowered the national threat level for the mass transit portion of the transportation sector from Code Orange, or "high," to Code Yellow or "elevated." According to the release, this change took effect at 8:00 pm local time on August 12, 2005, at the discretion of state and local authorities. Concurrently, the release states that the Coast Guard lowered the Maritime Security level for large passenger ferries from level two to level one, which corresponds to Code Yellow. (See ITT's Online Archives or 07/08/05 news, 05070899 1 for BP summary on July 7, 2005 raising of threat levels.) Press release, dated 08/12/05, available at http://www.dhs.gov/dhspublic/display?content=4726 )
The Journal of Commerce reports that the Long Beach Harbor Commission voted to reduce free time for the storage of containers and to impose a hefty fine on those who violate the amended tariff. According to the article, other ports, such as New York-New Jersey, Vancouver, WA, and Los Angeles have also tightened free-time rules in an effort to reduce congestion. (JoC, dated 06/27/05, www.joc.com.)
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has issued a set of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) regarding the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service's (APHIS) new wood packaging material (WPM) regulations that take effect September 16, 2005.
According to The Journal of Commerce, DHS Secretary Chertoff's "Secure Freight" concept is a heads-up to importers to prepare for the day they'll be asked to submit information about the origin and nature of their shipments for security screening. According to JoC, the concept of an additional layer of shipment information over and above manifest data has been steadily gaining currency within the government as well as a COAC maritime subcommittee, which last fall recommended that importers be required to supply nine additional data elements before cargo is loaded onto a vessel. (JoC, dated 08/01/05, www.joc.com)
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has issued a notice stating that Canadian beef for personal consumption is not admissible into the U.S., and that no ruminant products from Canada may currently enter the U.S. without a permit, including frozen, cooked, canned or otherwise processed beef, lamb, and veal.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has issued a press release stating that on September 16, 2005 it will begin enforcement of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA's) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) import regulation for wood packaging material (WPM).
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has issued a proposed rule which would establish a new port-of-entry in the Tri-Cities areas of the States of Tennessee and Virginia, including the Tri-Cities Regional Airport. According to CBP, this new port-of-entry would include the same geographical boundaries of the current CBP User Fee Port No. 2082, which encompasses Sullivan County, TN; Washington County, TN; and Washington County, VA. The user fee status of Tri-Cities Regional Airport, located in Blountville, TN would be terminated. Comments must be received on or before September 27, 2005. (D/N DHS-2005-0050, FR Pub 07/29/05, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20051800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2005/pdf/05-15045.pdf)
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has issued a notice announcing that it will hold a public meeting on August 24, 2005 in Riverdale, MD to introduce, and obtain feedback on, one portion of its proposed ePermits system.
According to press releases from PierPASS Inc., customers were not charged for containers moving during peak hours for two additional days, July 27-28, 2005, and collection of the Traffic Mitigation Fee (TMF) was expected to begin at 3 a.m. on Friday, July 29, 2005. (See ITT's Online Archives or 07/26/05 news, 05072610 for BP summary that OffPeak began on July 23, 2005, and that PierPASS waived the TMF through July 26, 2005.)(PierPASS press releases, dated 07/26/05 and 07/27/05, available at www.pierpass.org )
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has issued a statement announcing that on July 14, 2005 the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals lifted the preliminary injunction that blocked implementation of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service's (APHIS') final rule as amended1 (final rule) to establish a category of regions that present a minimal risk of introducing bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) into the U.S. via live ruminants and ruminant products and by-products, and to add Canada to this category.