Now that one stumbling block is out of the way, U.S. Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., and Commissioner of Customs and Border Protection Alan Bersin discussed with local officials and activists from both sides of the U. S.-Canadian border ways to promote extended hours — and use — of the Port of Wild Horse north of Havre.

Tester told the group Tuesday in Havre that the Canadian Border Services Agency has agreed to allow commercial traffic through the port 8 a. m. to 9 p. m., the same as passenger traffic.

Normally, commercial traffic only is allowed through 8 a. m. to 5 p. m. at permit ports, unless a $25 fee is paid to pass through during evening hours when personnel are at the port.

A group of Havre-area and Albertan officials and supporters of upgrading the port to a 24-hour commercial operation applauded the news, although they said it just is the start.

“CBP will use this time to evaluate whether to expand the hours of the port for good, as we work toward the ultimate goal of a 24-hour commercial port, ” Tester said. “In that time it is our responsibility to make sure there’s an awareness about the extended hours. ”

Bersin said he believes the pilot period will give good data to evaluate what extended hours means in increased traffic.

Michelle James, Seattle director of field operations for CBP, said the agency has been working to advertise the expanded summer hours, running this year from March 1 to Oct. 31 instead of the normal May 15 to Sept. 30 summer hours.

“Where you’ve said we haven’t had enough outreach, we’ve really tried to pour that on, ” she said, adding that her office will continue to work with the Wild Horse Border Committee to promote the expansion.

Paul Tuss, executive director of Bear Paw Development Corp., said it is crucial to work to expand the port to a full-time commercial operation. He cited a study showing that the upgrade would bring millions of dollars in disposable income to the state, and hundreds of new jobs — and more new residents — to the area.

Ryan McCormick of the Montana Grain Growers Association said the upgrade could have a significant impact from just one area. Urea is brought in from Medicine Hat, Alberta, for use in fertilizers. Now, to bring the urea to the Havre area, truckers generally have to detour for several hours through the Port of Sweetgrass north of Shelby.

Len Mitzel, who represents Medicine Hat in the Alberta Legislative Assembly, agreed.

Now, the shipments amount to 12,000 loads a year, not just to Montana but throughout the central part of the United States.

“They want to ramp that up to 18,000 loads, ” he said.

The group agreed to a suggestion from Bob Kaul of Havre that a meeting similar to what was held in Havre Tuesday should be held in Canada. Closer collaboration would make the pilot program function better, and would prevent problems like Canada’s not mirroring the extension of summer hours last fall and not including commercial traffic this month, Kaul said.

Kevin Hewson of Canada Border Services Agency said he has been attending meetings of the Wild Horse Border Committee in Alberta, and that he is not opposed to the group trying to arrange a similar high-level meeting in Alberta.

Bersin agreed that a cross-border discussion would be a good idea.