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MAINE CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION URGES CUSTOMS & BORDER PROTECTION TO ASSIGN AGRICULTURAL SPECIALIST FOR U.S.-CANADIAN BORDER CROSSING AT JACKMAN

Nearest Commercial Crossing is 10 Hours Round-Trip to Houlton, Calais

Contact: Antonia Ferrier/ (202) 224-5344
Friday, July 23, 2004

WASHINGTON, D.C. – After hearing the concerns of truckers, farmers and neighboring communities, U.S. Senators Olympia J. Snowe (R-ME) and Susan Collins (R-ME) with Representatives Tom Allen (D-ME) and Michael Michaud (D-ME) petitioned U.S. Customs & Border Protection to immediately install an Agricultural Specialist at the U.S.-Canadian border crossing in Jackman. Since July 13th, the lack of the specialized Customs personnel has caused a halt in grain and feed shipments in and out of Maine.

“Livestock and dairy farmers in Maine rely on grain feed shipped from Canada through the Jackman border crossing. The lack of an Agricultural Specialist has resulted in a 10 hour round trip to the next nearest commercial crossing for anyone wishing to import products that fall into the USDA Guideline for Importation. Potentially, the jobs and businesses related to the grain trucking industry may soon be lost. Additionally, hundreds of farmers in rural Maine are severely feeling the impact of higher feed costs caused by this increased travel time,” the Maine Congressional delegation wrote in a letter to U.S. Customs & Border Protection Commissioner Robert Bonner.

For grain imports entering Maine from Canada, the nearest Agricultural Specialist is 10 hours away round-trip to either the Houlton or Calais border crossings. According to Customs, the Specialist position for Jackman has been filled, pending the 3-6 month pre-hiring screening process. Maine’s Congressional delegation has requested Commissioner Bonner to expedite this timetable for the Jackman border crossing.

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