[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 32 (Thursday, February 15, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Page 6057]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-3387]



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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Office of the Secretary
Maritime Administration
[Docket No. OST-96-1066]


Request for Public Comment on Competition in the Noncontiguous 
Domestic Maritime Trades

Agency: Office of the Secretary, Maritime Administration, United States 
Department of Transportation.

Action: Notification of Open Docket for Public Comment.

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Summary: Section 407 of the ``ICC Termination Act of 1995'' calls for 
the Department of Transportation to conduct a study of competition in 
the noncontiguous domestic maritime trades to Hawaii, Alaska, Puerto 
Rico, and Guam. The Department seeks information on market conditions 
in each of these trades, including the composition of traffic, the 
extent of entry and exit, rates charged, the importance of liner 
service to the economic well-being of local economies, and any other 
institutional or economic factor that could influence competition in 
these markets.
    Information is requested on the following specific issues: (1) 
carrier competition in both the regulated and unregulated portions of 
each of the trades, (2) the rate structure that exists in each trade, 
(3) the impact of tariff filing on marine carrier pricing, (4) the 
extent of parallel pricing, and (5) the impact on domestic cargo prices 
on foreign cargo services. The Department is also soliciting comments 
as to whether additional protections are needed to protect shippers 
from the abuse of market power and the extent to which there needs to 
be continued reliance on tariff filing and rate regulation to further 
the transportation policy of meeting the Nation's commercial and 
defense waterborne needs.

Dates: Comments should be received by Monday, April 15, 1996. Comments 
that are received after that date will be considered to the extent 
possible.

Addresses: To facilitate our review, we would appreciate having four 
copies of comments sent to: Docket Clerk, Docket No. OST-96-1066, Room 
PL-401, United States Department of Transportation, 400 7th Street, 
SW., Washington, DC 20590.

For Further Information Contact: Laurence T. Phillips or Thomas E. 
Marchessault, P-37, Office of the Secretary, U.S. Department of 
Transportation, Washington DC 20590. Phone: (202) 366-5412; fax: (202) 
366-3393; John Pisani, MAR 830, Office of Ports and Domestic Shipping, 
Maritime Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation, Washington 
DC. Phone: (202) 366-5123.
Joseph F. Canny,
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Transportation Policy.
[FR Doc. 96-3387 Filed 2-14-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-62-P