CSMS Message: 96-000919

TO : ALL ABI BROKERS.
FROM : EILEEN ZZ-KASTAVA

SUBJECT : RAIL AMS

DATE : 10/31/96

ON OCTOBER 11, 1996, A MEETING WAS HELD IN WASHINGTON D.C. WITH
REPRESENTATIVES FROM U.S. CUSTOMS HEADQUARTERS AND DETROIT/PORT
HURON PORT OFFICES, CANADIAN PACIFIC (CP), CANADIAN NATIONAL
(CN), AND THE NORTHERN BORDER BROKERS ASSOCIATION, TO DISCUSS
RAIL AMS ISSUES, SPECIFICALLY THE IMPLEMENTATION OF RAIL AMS IN
DETROIT AND PORT HURON.

THIS LETTER WILL SERVE AS A MEANS TO RESTATE THE ISSUES ADDRESSED
AT THIS MEETING AND WHAT ACTIONS NEED TO BE TAKEN BY U.S.
CUSTOMS, THE BROKERAGE COMMUNITY, AND THE RAIL CARRIERS, TO
ENSURE A SUCCESSFUL IMPLEMENTATION OF RAIL AMS AT DETROIT/PORT
HURON AND FUTURE IMPLEMENTATIONS OF RAIL AMS AT DESIGNATED PORTS
ALONG THE NORTHERN BORDER.

1. AS DISCUSSED, THE PROBLEM OF QUANTITY DISCREPANCIES MUST BE
RESOLVED BY THE BROKERS AND CARRIERS BEFORE CUSTOMS GETS INVOLVED.
THE BROKERS HAVE THE CAPABILITY TO ACCESS BILL DATA, VIA
THE BILL OF LADING UPDATE APPLICATION (LN), TO CORRECT THE
QUANTITIES. THE CARRIERS GET THEIR QUANTITIES FROM THE SHIPPER
AND TRANSMIT TO CUSTOMS AS DEFINED IN THE X12 M1103 ELEMENT.

2. BROKER PROCEDURES NEED TO BE DEFINED FOR HANDLING MISMATCHES
FOR UNIQUE BILL OF LADING NUMBERS SO THAT BILLS DO NOT STAY OPEN
IN THE SYSTEM.

3. MANUAL LINE RELEASE WILL BE DISCONTINUED BEGINNING NOVEMBER
18, 1996, FOR ALL RAIL AMS ENTRIES. PORTS THAT ARE OPERATIONAL
ON RAIL AMS WILL STOP PROCESSING MANUAL LINE RELEASE BEGINNING
JUNE 16, 1997, FOR NONAUTOMATED RAIL CARRIERS.

4. AS OF JANUARY 13, 1997, THE FOLLOWING DATA ELEMENTS ARE
REQUIRED BY U.S. CUSTOMS FROM ALL ENTRY FILERS WHO SUBMIT RAIL
BCS ENTRIES IN AN AUTOMATED MANIFEST PORT:
- CARRIER CODE
- ISSUER CODE
- BILL OF LADING
- QUANTITY
- CORRECT MODE OF TRANSPORTATION (MOT)

5. THE BROKERS NEED TO UTILIZE "LN" APPLICATION. IT IS
IMPERATIVE THAT THE BROKER DOWNLOAD BE USED CORRECTLY AND
CONSISTENTLY.

AS PREVIOUSLY EXPRESSED AT OUR MEETINGS WITH THE TRADE COMMUNITY
AND CARRIERS, WE NEED COOPERATION FROM ALL PARTIES INVOLVED IN
RAIL AMS TO MAKE THE DETROIT AND PORT HURON IMPLEMENTATIONS
SUCCESSFUL AND OPERATIONALLY SOUND. WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK
WITH THE RAIL CARRIERS AND THE TRADE COMMUNITY TO FULFILL OUR
COMMITMENT TO IMPLEMENT RAIL AMS ON THE DATES THAT WERE DECIDED
UPON AT THE OCTOBER 11TH MEETING. DETROIT WILL IMPLEMENT RAIL
AMS ON NOVEMBER 18, 1996. PORT HURON WILL IMPLEMENT RAIL AMS ON
DECEMBER 9, 1996. THESE DATES ARE PREDICATED ON BROKER
PARTICIPATION BEING AT THE LEVEL REQUIRED BEFORE RAIL AMS CAN
BECOME OPERATIONAL IN THESE PORTS. IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS OR
REQUIRE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT MS. EILEEN
KASTAVA, OF MY STAFF; SHE MAY BE REACHED AT (202) 927-0983.

SINCERELY,

PHILIP METZGER
DIRECTOR
TRADE COMPLIANCE