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Morses Line

Potential Closing of Morses Line Border Station
October 2011

U.S. Customs and Border Protection has posted a notice of potential closure for the Morses Line Border Station. Your comments are welcome and encouraged! It is important that CBP hear from are residents before making a decision that impacts our communities. Comments must be received on or before December 5, 2011.

The full notice can be seen at: http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2011-10-05/pdf/2011-25748.pdf

The notice reads in part: U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) currently operates a border crossing known as Morses Line, Vermont, located within the port limits of the port of entry of Highgate Springs/Alburg, Vermont. CBP officers are stationed at the Morses Line border crossing to accept entries of merchandise, collect duties, and enforce various provisions of the customs and immigration laws. The Morses Line border crossing is an aging facility that requires extensive upgrades and significant financial resources to update the facility to today's modern standards of border crossings. Based on internal analyses, feedback from many individuals in the local community, and consultation with members of Congress, CBP is evaluating the potential closure of the Morses Line border crossing. CBP is seeking public comment on this potential closure.

 

How to Submit Comments

Online - http://www.regulations.gov
Follow the instructions for submitting comments via docket number USCBP-2011-0016. Detailed instructions are also available.

Mail - In order to be considered as part of the decision, all letters must contain the following:
• the agency name- U.S. Customs and Border Protection, DHS, and
• docket number- USCBP-2011-0016

Letters will be posted online, without change, including any personal information provided. Send written comments to:
Border Security Regulations Branch
Office of International Trade
Customs and Border Protection
Regulations and Rulings
Attention: Border Security Regulations Branch
799 9th Street NW.
5th Floor
Washington, DC 20229-1179

For further information about the federal notice, contact: Roger Kaplan, CBP Office of Field Operations, telephone (202) 325-4543. You may also visit CBP's Morses Line Web site at http://www.cbp.gov/MorsesLineInfo.

 

Written Comments taken from the
Morses Line Public Assembly
September 25, 2010

  1. "It is very important that the Morses Line remain open for very many reasons.  Hope it works out for everyone."
    2.  
  2. "What are the Homeland Security minimum requirements for border crossing?  Size? Area? Time of opening?"
     
  3. "I’m all for the Border Line Port to remain open. I’m not doing for me, but the younger generations.  Also for the Franklin General Store who would lose business.  Also for our 2 countries to still communicate together.  It would divide our friends from Quebec.  Plus all the travel that goes through.  May God Bless and do the right thing."
    4.  
  4. "Twenty three years ago we moved here from the Northeast Kingdom.  Friends took us across Morses Line to picks strawberries and since then we go every spring.  Each year we seem to encourage more friends to go over the border from strawberries.  We pick next to Quebec neighbors as well as see our Franklin County friends there, too."
     
    "Because Morses Line is so convenient to go through we have explored, shopped and enjoyed Quebec.  When visitors come to our home, we take them to Canada for cross-cultural experiences.  Some friends come visit us just for that! We are homeschoolers and have learned history and French by crossing through Morses Line for years.  I have led many field trips with our co-op to share in the Biodome, Dunham, Brom, Sutton, Standbridge, etc.  All of these expeditions have through Morses Line."
    5.  
  5. "Doesn’t common sense reign anymore?!  Isn’t our government run by the people and for the people?  Oh, I forget it’s politics!"
    6.  
  6. "Very interesting – do not close the Morses Line!"
    7.  
  7. "United Border crossing like W. Alburg, U.S. and Canada in same building."
    8.  
  8. "I live about 1 ½ miles from the border crossing.  I have followed with interest the debate over the last several month.  My concern after first reading the study at Haston Library is the magnitude and cost of the present.  We need the crossing, we do not need a $15M price tag or even a $5 M price tag.  We need a reasonable solution to the upgrade.  We need open minds not democratic dogma."
    9.  
  9. "Convenient Store.  I to see a lot of Canadian traffic to the store not just for the business but the relationship we have working together.  I like to add to the Tyler Place cyclist that the round trip to Bedford across Morses Line to Highgate and back in Highgate Springs.  What will they do now?"
    10.  
  10. "My daughter and I come over at least once a week to buy groceries and spen at least $80 each.  We also go to Highgate Store for meat.  We would not be doing this if we had to go to Highgate Port and wait about 1-2 hours.  I hope to be able to keep doing this. Keep the border open.  Thanks."
    11.  
  11. "We Have The Best Neighbors that we can have.  Canada is a wonderful place and friendly.  Let’s keep it that way.  Please do not install barriers or walls that will disturb our friends to the North."
    12.  
  12. "Keep the border open!  Modify the existing building or a small joint Canadia/U.S. building.  Use common sense and diplomacy!"
    13.  
  13. "Dear Senators Leahy and Sanders, Congressman Welch, My husband and I own a fertilizer business within 5 miles of the Morses Line Border in Franklin.  We live in Highgate Center, VT."
     
    "We rely heavily on the border crossing for our fertilizer deliveries from Montreal, Que.  When our delivery trucks have to go to the Highgate Springs border, the wait is always at least 2 hours.  With such a wait, we all know that time is money therefore our transport fees are much higher than need be if only they could all come thru Morses Line where there is virtually no down time.  When the border delays are long, we can only receive 1 delivery a day when in fact in the busy fertilizing season we need tat least 2 and sometimes 3 loads a day which is impossible for our supplier to do if he is indeed limited to the Highgate Springs Border.  Without having to invest in a lot more overhead expenses, it is essential to our highly competitive business to maintain as efficient delivery system as poss and that means:"
     
    "WE NEED TO KEEP THE MORSES LINE BORDER OPEN."
     
    "We sincerely implore your careful consideration in this matter. The border is existing and should be maintained. I do not feel the Rainville Family should have to just up the 2.2 acres without compensation but please update the border if absolutely necessary and let us continue on with our businesses as usual."
     
    "We Thank You in advance in your time."
    14.  
  14. "I live on Morses Line Road last house before border. I certainly don’t want it closed."
    15.  
  15. "I support keeping Morses Line port open."
    16.  
  16. "My wife & I use the Morses line crossing to visit the dentist in Bedford. Closing the crossing would cause us to drive an extra 40 miles or more on our round trip. We should be trying to reduce driving & gas usage, not increasing it. Please keep the Morses line open."
    17.  
  17. "I attended the meeting on Saturday September 25 and would like to make the following comment. I felt there were many compelling reasons given for keeping the port open. My concern from the beginning was the cost of the proposed project. There was a comment at the end of the hearing suggesting a combined port of entry shared between the USA and Canada. This makes so much sense especially if the Canadians are rebuilding route 235. The terminus at the border could then be integrated into the design of the port and the entry into the United States could reflect the updated design of route 235 that continues into Franklin, Vermont."
     
    "We need the port, we do not need a $15,000,000 port."
 

Mailed in Comments
(Names of commenters are on file at the NRPC)

  1. "We cannot attend the Assembly regarding the Proposed Closure of Morses Line Port of Entry to be held on Saturday, September 25 - But please consider us there in spirit and in saying NO to the proposed closure. We are Canadians with a cottage in Highgate Springs. We and many other "campers" and Vermonters really value this Port of Entry. As long as you have no plans to infringe in any way on the Rainville Farm. We ask you to KEEP IT OPEN. Thank you."
    2.  
  2. "Having been residents of the town of Franklin in the past, we believe both the social and economic effects of closing Morse’s Line would be detrimental to both Canadian and American interests. While we lived in Franklin, we used the existing passage many times as others we know did. Even though we now live in Enosburg Falls, we still would use Morse’s Line to go to Canada and feel that closing that port would be a hardship to many on both sides of the line. Keep it Open!!!"
     
  3. "To whom it may concern,
    I travel often to Franklin Vt. and always use the Morses Line Border . A part of my families (live) there since 1955. I was really (surprised) when I heard (that) the (government) wants to close Morses Line. I hope you will find a way to leave the Morses Line open. It's easier with children to go (through) that border, the waiting is shorter. I think Canadians and Americans, who (live on) both side(s) of the border will be really happy to have less travelling to do every day for work, or shopping."
     
  4. "I am <name omitted> the manager of Franklin Telephone Company a small independent family owned and operated telephone company."
     
    "I am thankful and proud that we live in a free country and are given this opportunity.  We have a government that is elected to represent us.  I expect diplomacy from our government.  I do not expect eminent domain and the government authoritatively making one-sided decisions and threats if they don’t get their way.  There are usually several options and solutions if open discussions can take place that will meet everyone needs.  I strongly encourage open communications for a solution.  There are many solutions available such as remodel the existing facility or have a joint building with Canada."
     
    "The current border crossing meets our needs."
     
    "Franklin Telephone Company serves rural Vermont and has offered broadband since 2002, long distance and telephone service for over 100 years.  We have significant long distance usage to Canada that is a mixture of personal and business.  Franklin Telephone installed fiber optic cable to the Morses Line border crossing.  This was installed at our own expense.  We made a commitment to invest and meet the state of art communications needs of the border." 
     
    "Closing the border financially impacts our business.  We would immediately lose 10% of our gross revenue for the year."
     
    "Closing the border doesn’t solve anything unless the intent was to hurt the communities and businesses.  Thank you for this opportunity."
    5.  
  5. "Dear NRPC,"
     
    "The Morse’s Line Customs Station should remain open so as to maintain the community and connections that are served by it."
     
    "While I do not live in the immediately surrounding communities, I travel to Québec often to see friends. Not only would the loss of the Morse’s Line station be a personal inconvenience, but it is contrary to the spirit of those friendships. Yes, My friends and I would remain friends, but it would be in spite of not supported by a border with community-scale border crossings. No amount of Governmental babbling about the importance of the relationships can replace the day-to-day exchanges, and no amount of rigid national security thinking will ever replace the very real national security gained from the deep connections of our communities that extend on both sides and across the border."
     
    "So, please keep it simple, upgrade the station, but in a smaller scale way that is consistent with communities of Vermont and Québec."
     
  6. "Closing the Morses Line border crossing would be a tremendous inconvenience. Does your Commission know why Homeland Security needs to take 10 acres of land to construct an updated border crossing? The cost sounds prohibitive too. Taxpayers should demand an audit of the current proposal and your Commission should try to bring some common sense to the problem. "
     
  7. "Those who claim only "outsiders" spoke at the first town meeting are WRONG. I attended and can say at least half are from local area including two former Inspectors who spent 30 years working at the port, and a former District Director who was in charge of it. If keeping it open means spending $15. million dollars or stealing someone's land, then close it! No way are there 17000 vehicles crossing there in a year. This is a perfect example of gov't waste and lies. They just suspended construction of a new port in NY state because they "discovered" that the Canadian port was about to close. $15. for each of 42 ports is an outrageous waste of taxpayer money. The Highgate faciclity was constructed at a cost of $8. million 10 years ago and it has a bus lane/building, truck lane/warehouse, 5 traffic lanes, 4 inside garages and a 2 story building open 24 hours/day. How many gold toilets are going into these new facilities?"
     
  8. "I would like to echo the many supportive comments already posted advocating keeping the crossing station open at Morses Line. We often cross here on returning from visiting Montreal. It is a friendly well run station and it allows us to visit several farmstands on the way home. It also brings one back into the country through some of the most beautiful farmland in the state. I do not believe that our security will be enhanced by closing off access, especially with Canada. Openness and appropriate access especially across a border that has been a great example of neighborliness and economic cooperation for generations should be maintained."
     

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To have your comments posted on this website please e-mail us at morseslinevt@gmail.com or mail us a letter at 155 Lake Street, St. Albans, VT 05478.