Saratoga, N.Y. - Today, House Republican Leadership Chairwoman Elise Stefanik requested Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem designate Plattsburgh International Airport (PBG) as a port of entry (POE). The Plattsburgh International Airport is a vital economic engine within the 21st Congressional District of New York and provides essential transportation services for Upstate New York and North Country families as well as tourists visiting our region.
In the letter, Stefanik states, “Plattsburgh International Airport is one of only two primary commercial service airports in close proximity to a northern or southern border land crossing designated as a user-fee airport, which requires the airport to pay out of pocket for U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) services such as security screenings, cargo security and examinations, and immigration inspections. Even though PBG qualifies as a port of entry under CBP’s criteria, CBP still designates it as a user-fee airport. This creates a significant disadvantage for PBG by imposing user fees of approximately $800,000 annually, a substantial financial burden on the airport and for travelers flying in and out.”
Stefanik continues, “As you are aware, Treasury Decision (T.D.) 82-37 (Revision of Customs Criteria for Establishing Ports of Entry and Stations, 47 FR 10137), as revised by T.D. 86-14 (51 FR4559) and T.D. 87-65 (52 FR 16328) sets criteria for establishing a new port of entry. In accordance with this, the criteria that are considered when establishing ports of entry include the actual or potential volume of import business and customs workload in an area. The current passenger volume of Plattsburgh International Airport and land border crossings within 30 miles of PBG is sufficient to be designated as a port of entry.
Using criteria outlined in T.D. 82-37, CBP has terminated the user-fee status of airports in the past and established them as ports of entry, including successfully changing the designation of the New River Valley Airport in Dublin, Virginia. CBP explicitly stated in its final rulemaking that the potential customs volume in the region supported CBP’s final rule establishing a port of entry at New River Valley Airport. Given the authority provided in T.D. 82-37 and CBP’s precedent in changing user-fee status airports to ports of entry when warranted, I respectfully request that you designate Plattsburgh International Airport as a port of entry.”
Read the full letter HERE.
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