Gianforte, Daines announce CBP reversal on proposed border port reduced hours

From the Office of Rep. Greg Gianforte 

WASHINGTON — Rep. Greg Gianforte, R-Mont., and Sen. Steve Daines, R-Mont., said Friday that U.S. Customs and Border Protection announced that it backed off of its initial proposal to cut hours of operation at four Montana ports of entry, although three ports still will have reduced summer hours.

“CBP’s initial heavy-handed approach ignored Montanans and produced a wrongheaded proposal. Working together, we brought them to the table and had them listen to Montanans describe the harm CBP’s proposed cuts would cause,” Gianforte said. “CBP changed its course, maintaining around-the-clock service at the Raymond port and reducing cuts in service to others. I’ll continue working with folks along the Hi-Line to hold CBP accountable and to improve operations at our Montana ports.”

“I’m glad to see CBP listen to the concerns of our local communities and reverse their decision to change the hours of the ports of entry,” Daines said. “I’ll continue working with CBP and the local communities to find solutions that don’t harm Montana’s rural economy.”

CBP officials released a plan Feb. 28 to cut hours of service at four Montana ports of entry, effective April 14.

The hours at the Port of Raymond, north of Raymond, were 24 hours a day.

At the Port of Opheim the hours were 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sept. 15 to May 31 and 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. June 1 to Sept. 14.

The hours at the Port of Scobey were 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sept. 15 to May 31 and 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. June 1 to Sept. 14.

The hours at the Port of Morgan north of Malta were 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sept. 15 to May 31 and 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., June 1 to Sept. 14. 

The hours at each port matched the hours of the Canadian ports on the other side of the border.

The proposed changes were to make

• Port of Raymond to 8 a.m. to midnight, 18 hours per day

• Port of Morgan to 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. year-round, nine hours per day

• Port of Opheim to 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. year-round, nine hours per day

• Port of Scobey to 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. year-round, ten hours per day

Canadian officials at the time said Canada Border Services Agency had no plans to change hours of operations for the Canadian ports.

CPB, which had announced in 2015 it was reducing hours at Port of Raymond then reversed itself in 2016 after opposition including from Daines and Sen. Jon Tester, cut the hours at Raymond this year temporarily.

After again receiving opposition, including from Daines, Gianforte and Tester and Montana residents, it temporarily reversed that decision pending more public meetings.

Tester’s office announced Thursday that Raymond was staying open 24-hours-a-day, and Daines and Gianforte announced Friday the schedule for all four ports, saying CBP officials announced Thursday the agency’s revised plan, effective June 1.

Along with maintaining the 24-hour-a-day schedule at Raymond, the plans include Morgan and Opheim having one-hour longer schedules in the winter but Morgan, Opheim and Scobey having reduced hours in the summer, with all three open 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. year-round.

CBP also affirmed it will remain flexible with communities having special events and will continue to have processes to allow for emergency vehicle crossing, Daines and Gianforte said.

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Havre Daily News staff contributed to this report.