Rooney resigns from COAC

Rooney resigns from COAC    Beth Rooney, manager of port security at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, has resigned her spot on the Commercial Operations Advisory Committee because the group has shifted its primary focus to issues such as trade compliance and facilitation.
   Jayson Ahern, acting commissioner of Customs and Border Protection, made the announcement at the group's quarterly meeting last Wednesday. The federally chartered committee is comprised of 20 industry members who provide advice to the departments of Homeland Security and Treasury on the trade implications of customs compliance and cargo security regulations.
   COAC members serve for two years, but often stay on for a second term. Rooney was selected by DHS in early 2007.
   Her resignation letter stated that stepping aside would allow someone with more expertise on trade matters to participate on COAC, Ahern said.
   Contacted by AmericanShipper.com, Rooney said it wasn't worth the time and travel expense to continue with COAC because she couldn't contribute much to non-security issues taking center stage now. She expressed her willingness to assist relevant COAC subcommittees, which bring in outside participants, as the need arises.
   Wednesday's agenda dealt with new approaches for managing importers' customs entries, advance electronic filing of importer trade data, intellectual property rights, import product safety, agricultural controls on wood product imports, air cargo security and CBP's new computer system.
   Ahern said DHS will seat a COAC replacement for Rooney in time for the Nov. 4 meeting. ' Eric Kulisch