U.S. CUSTOMS’ AUTOMATED FINANCIAL PROCEDURES PASS Y2K HURDLE

   U.S. Customs’ automated financial procedures have proven themselves ready to operate 2000.
   Customs staffers were on heightened alert at the agency’s Emergency
Response Center in Newington, Va., on Friday, because many of the agency’s databases and programs shifted into year 2000 mode.
   "We experienced no Y2K-related problems with our financial systems," said John B. Hill, director of applications development for Customs’ Automated Commercial System. "We’re in good shape."
   Customs says the Oct. 1 milestone was especially significant because its financial systems collect about $65 million a day and credit this money to the agency’s general ledger.
   "The handling of money is very complex," Hill said. "There was a lot of
things that could have gone wrong, but it all went smoothly."
   The agency will continue to monitor other Y2K hurdles in the coming
months. The next major dates are Dec. 10, when some payment dates cross into 2000, and New Year’s Eve.