Comment submitted by J. F. Odendahl

RE: Proposed Regulation USCBP-2005-0005-0001 RIN-1651-AA66 Documents Required for Travel Within the Western Hemisphere To the Customs and Border Protection Bureau, U.S. Department of State and Other Interested Parties: I am writing to express concern over the proposed rule to require passports, or other alternative documents, for United States citizens entering the United States from Canada. I strongly recommend that an alternative form of identification such as a current driver?s license, birth certificate or other similar verifiable document be permitted as an alternative document under the rule. These documents have been used effectively safely and effectively for many years by citizens returning to the United States from Canada. I am former employee and current volunteer for Laketrails Base Camp, a non-profit youth camp in the Northwest Angle area of Minnesota. Laketrails is a nonprofit camp for teenagers which has operated continuously since 1952. The Camp's program centers on a camping experience which takes place largely in southwestern Ontario. The Camp experience is designed to help youth build self-esteem, develop leadership skills, learn how to live in community, and develop interest and skills in caring for the natural environment. While Laketrails is located in Minnesota, just to reach Laketrails, youth must cross into Manitoba, then back into the United States near its location in the Northwest Angle of Minnesota. Each summer, anywhere from 250-350 teenaged youth participate in the Laketrails program, and all make this same crossing into Canada and back to the United States. Many of the youth served by the Laketrails program are disadvantaged youth. Each summer approximately one-half (and sometimes as much as two-thirds) of the camper population are economically disadvantaged youth. Many of the youth Laketrails serves do not and will not have easy access to passports or any type of documentation that require significant expense or sophistication to acquire. Currently, Camp requires a birth certificate and a photo I.D. for those over age 15. Even these documents are sometimes a struggle to obtain. Since September 11, 2001, crossing the International border with Canada has understandably become increasingly burdensome. Now, however, while I understand the reasons for many of the steps taken, the proposed regulations, if enacted without significant accommodation for alternative documents, will have a catastrophic effect on Laketrails. Simply put, under the proposed rule, Laketrails will not be able to operate and hundreds of teenaged youth each summer will be denied access to a program that has changed the lives of thousands of young people over the past 54 years. I strongly urge that reasonable alternative forms of identification such as a valid driver?s license or birth certificate be permitted under the rule. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, Jeffrey F. Odendahl