[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 198 (Thursday, October 14, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Page 63258]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-25840]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Maritime Administration
[Docket No. MARAD 2010-0086, 2010-0087, 2010-0088]
Vessel Re-Designations
AGENCY: U.S. Department of Transportation, Maritime Administration.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: On September 4, 2009, the United States Department of
Agriculture (USDA), the United States Department of Transportation's
Maritime Administration (MARAD), and the United States Agency for
International Development (USAID) entered into a Memorandum of
Understanding (MOU) regarding the proper implementation of the Cargo
Preference Act (CPA). The MOU was published in the Federal Register in
74 FR 47308 (Sept. 15, 2009). The MOU is also available at http://www.marad.dot.gov/documents/MAR730.AG-2009-02.pdf.
That MOU establishes procedures and standards by which owners and
operators of oceangoing cargo ships may seek to designate each of their
vessels as either a dry bulk carrier or a dry cargo liner, according to
specified service-based criteria. This Notice both announces that MARAD
has received an application to re-designate three vessels and invites
comments there on from interested parties. MARAD will thereafter
consider all the information submitted regarding the requested re-
designation and other evidence in the record in reaching its decision
on the appropriate vessel classification.
DATES: Comments are due October 25, 2010.
ADDRESSES: All comments should prominently refer to the docket assigned
to the vessel to which they pertain. Interested persons are strongly
encouraged to submit their comments electronically via the Internet at
http://www.regulations.gov. Enter the docket number provided below that
pertains to the relevant vessel and follow instructions for submitting
comments. Comments may also be submitted via Fax or by hand or express
delivery. Fax: (202) 493-2251. Hand or express delivery: Docket Clerk,
U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30, West
Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE.,
Washington, DC 20590.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael Yarrington, Maritime
Administration, 1200 New Jersey Ave., SE., Washington, DC 20590; phone:
(202) 366-1915; fax: (202) 366-5522; or e-mail:
[email protected]. Persons who use a telecommunications device
for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Information Relay Service
(FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339 to contact the above individuals during
business hours. The FIRS is available twenty-four hours a day, seven
days a week, to leave a message or question with the above individuals.
You will receive a reply during normal business hours.
Background
The CPA requires that federal agencies take ``necessary and
practicable'' steps to ensure that privately-owned U.S.-flag vessels
transport at least 50 percent of the gross tonnage of cargo sponsored
under Federal programs ``(computed separately for dry bulk carriers,
dry cargo liners, and tankers) to the extent such vessels are available
at fair and reasonable rates for commercial vessels of the United
States, in a manner that will ensure a fair and reasonable
participation of commercial vessels of the United States in those
cargoes by geographic areas.'' 46 U.S.C. 55305(b). An additional 25
percent of gross tonnage of certain food assistance programs is to be
transported in accordance with the requirements of 46 U.S.C. 55314.
The MOU adopts standards and procedures to be used to classify the
vessels transporting preference cargo. Owners and operators of the
vessels listed below have submitted applications to re-designate their
ships as cargo liners. Each vessel has been assigned a separate docket
containing the materials submitted. Interested persons are invited to
submit comments regarding these vessels to the appropriate docket no
later than 5 p.m. EDT on [Insert ten days after date of publication].
Commentators are advised to address their comments to the service-based
criteria listed in the MOU.
Applications to Re-Designate
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Docket Owner/operator Vessel
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MARAD-2010-0086........................ Liberty Maritime Corp.... M/VLIBERTY EAGLE.
MARAD-2010-0087........................ Liberty Maritime Corp.... M/VLIBERTY GLORY.
MARAD-2010-0088........................ Liberty Maritime Corp..... M/VLIBERTY GRACE.
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MARAD will issue such determinations no later than 15 calendar days
from the close of the comment period. Vessel owners and operators who
object to MARAD's designation may appeal to the MARAD Administrator
within 10 calendar days. MARAD will issue its final determination in
such cases within 30 calendar days after consultation with USAID, USDA,
and the U.S. Department of State.
By Order of the Maritime Administrator.
Dated: October 7, 2010.
Christine Gurland,
Secretary, Maritime Administration.
[FR Doc. 2010-25840 Filed 10-13-10; 8:45 am]
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