COAC establishes infrastructure subcommittee

COAC establishes infrastructure subcommittee    The Advisory Committee on Commercial Operations (COAC) voted to create an Infrastructure Subcommittee to provide recommendations to the Department of Homeland Security on how to finance and build roads, bridges, cargo lots and other facilities to alleviate crowded conditions at ports of entry.
   DHS officials have identified border capacity issues as a top priority. Tunnel and bridge capacity at certain border crossings with Mexico and Canada is saturated with commercial vehicles, leading to cargo delays. U.S. officials also understand they cannot deliver on promises to allow expedited clearance for importers that commit to top supply chain security controls if there is no room to build additional “green lanes” to bypass regular cargo checkpoints.
   COAC deferred a request by DHS officials at its last meeting in September to form the subcommittee because it did not want to accept new responsibilities until a new slate of industry members was onboard. Term limits required DHS to recently name 10 new COAC representatives.
   COAC members said they hoped to get a clearer definition from DHS about the subcommittee’s mandate. DHS officials have mentioned specific examples of land border crossings that need additional capacity, but COAC said the infrastructure issue extends to ocean ports and other modes of transportation.
   Elaine Dezenski, deputy assistant secretary for border and transportation security, offered to provide COAC with the names of the 103 other industry experts who applied to serve on COAC as a potential, willing force COAC can draw on to participate in the subcommittee.