OIG: CBP Continues to Experience Challenges Managing Searches of Electronic Devices - Hstoday - HSToday

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CBP’s Office of Field Operations (OFO) continues to experience challenges managing searches of electronic devices, like those identified in its first audit report, CBP’s Searches of Electronic Devices at Ports of Entry, issued in December 2018, the Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General said.

Specifically, OFO did not properly document and conduct searches of electronic devices, fully assess the effectiveness of the electronic device search program, or adequately manage electronic device search equipment, OIG said. This occurred because, although it plans to do so, OFO has not yet fully implemented corrective actions for four of the five recommendations in the previous audit report, including establishing training for staff.

According to an OFO official, there have been delays fully implementing the prior recommendations due to reviews of existing policy and a capabilities analysis report, and the need to develop additional training. In addition, OFO did not have adequate processes for auditing electronic device searches, track prosecutions and convictions resulting from referrals to other federal agencies, or adequately monitor search equipment usage, functionality, and inventory.

Unless it corrects previously identified deficiencies and better manages searches and equipment, OFO will limit its ability to detect and deter illegal activities related to terrorism; national security; human, drug, and bulk cash smuggling; and child pornography, OIG concluded.

OIG made five recommendations to improve CBP’s oversight of searches of electronic devices at POEs. CBP concurred with all five recommendations.

The Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act of 2015 (TFTEA) requires U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to establish standard operating procedures (SOP) for searching, reviewing, retaining, and sharing information in communication, electronic, or digital devices at U.S. ports of entry (POE). TFTEA also requires the Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General to conduct three annual audits to determine to what extent CBP conducted searches of electronic devices at POEs in accordance with its SOPs. This is the second audit in the series.

Read the OIG report

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Ford Invests Billions in New Electric Vehicle and Electric Vehicle Battery Factories - Environment + Energy Leader

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(Credit: Ford Media Center)

Ford Motor Company announced Monday that it is partnering with South Korea-based energy company SK Innovations to construct two large manufacturing campuses for electric vehicles that will employ an estimated 11,000 workers. The campuses will comprise three EV battery manufacturing plants and a factory to build electric pickup trucks. To this end, the two companies are investing $11.4 billion, $7 billion of which Ford is fronting. According to the automaker, it is the largest ever manufacturing investment at one time by any automotive manufacturer in the U.S.

The larger, 3,600-acre campus in Stanton, Tennessee will house one battery plant and the EV factory, while the smaller, 1,500-acre campus in Glendale, Kentucky will house the other two battery plants. Combined, the plants will enable 129 gigawatt hours a year of U.S. production capacity for Ford. The campuses are expected to start production in 2025. 

Anticipating electric vehicle growth in the coming years, Ford allotted open space at the Tennessee campus for future development, citing the need to “to be able to grow capacity as the EV market expands.”

Going a step further, Ford plans to make the Tennessee campus both carbon neutral and zero waste. With regard to the latter, Ford will capture materials and production scrap at an on-site collection center to sort and route materials for recycling or processing either at the plant or at off-site facilities. With the help of battery-recycling startup Redwood Materials, Ford will also repurpose spent batteries, which it says will “make electric vehicles more sustainable and affordable by localizing the supply chain.”

Ford also plans to invest $525 million in Texas over the next five years to train a workforce of highly competent EV technicians.

In comparison to automakers such as GM, Volvo, and Jaguar, who have already committed to phasing out fossil fuel–powered vehicles, Ford projects that 40% of its sales, worldwide, to be fully electric vehicles by 2030.

In a recent investor report, Jefferies noted that Ford’s $30 billion EV investment plan suggests the company is “hoping to benefit from any potential associated ESG premia that may be enjoyed by relative leaders such as GM today.”

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