Contaminated with invasive plant and insect species
Fred Brouwen, who oversees the movement of commercial vehicles and passenger-operated vehicles at the Pharr-Reynosa International Bridge that connects Pharr, Texas, to Reynosa, Tamaulipas, in Mexico, said the No. 1 crossing station for U.S.-Mexico perishables needs an agriculture and entomology laboratory, in particular, as well as more agriculture and entomology specialist agents to expedite the clearance or rejection of shipments potentially contaminated with invasive plant and insect species.
A new five-year pilot program that allows Customs to use alternative sources of funding could help meet the needs of the Pharr-Reynosa International Bridge and other ports of entry regulated by CBP or the General Services Administration. The program, established under Section 559 of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2014, grants CBP the authority to support requests for expanded services as well as improvements to infrastructure though reimbursable service agreements or donation acceptance. Customs announced today that it will begin accepting proposals for donations from Oct. 20 through Dec. 23, as it “faces a growing demand for facilities and renovations at aging ports of entry.”
Reimbursable services under Section 559 include customs, immigration and agricultural processing; salaries for additional staff; and overtime expenses at airports. The program is an expansion of the reimbursable service pilot authorized last year under Section 560, which covered the costs of customs- and immigration-related activities including the salaries of additional staff and overtime expenses.
Last year, CBP entered into five reimbursable service agreements with the city of El Paso, Texas; the city of Houston Airport System; Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport; Miami-Dade County; and the South Texas Assets Consortium under Section 560. The entities tentatively selected for Section 559 partnerships include: Los Angeles World Airports San Francisco International Airport; Greater Orlando Aviation Authority; McCarran International Airport (Las Vegas); Denver International Airport; Penn Terminals, Inc. (Philadelphia); Independent Container Line, Ltd. (Philadelphia); Network Shipping Ltd. (Philadelphia); Greenwich Terminals LLC (Philadelphia); Gloucester Terminals LLC (Philadelphia); Turbana Corporation (Philadelphia); Interoceanica Agency, Inc. (Philadelphia); Diamond State Port Corp. (Port of Wilmington, Del.); Port of Houston Authority; Broward County, Florida (Port Everglades); and South Texas Assets Consortium (STAC).