[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 244 (Wednesday, December 18, 1996)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 66616-66618]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-32064]


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FEDERAL MARITIME COMMISSION

46 CFR Parts 501, 502, 504, 514, 552, and 560

[Docket No. 96-23]


Regulations Affecting Maritime Carriers and Related Activities in 
Domestic Commerce

AGENCY: Federal Maritime Commission.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The Federal Maritime Commission (``FMC'' or ``Commission'') is 
removing its rules governing the financial reporting and agreement 
activity of, and rate proceedings involving, vessel-operating common 
carriers by water in the domestic offshore trades. Jurisdiction over 
the port to port operations of those carriers has been transferred to 
the Surface Transportation Board. The Commission is also amending 
various other parts of its regulations to delete references to the 
removed parts.

EFFECTIVE DATE: December 18, 1996.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Austin L.Schmitt, Director, Bureau of 
Economics and Agreement Analysis, Federal Maritime Commission, 800 
North Capitol Street, N.W., Washington, DC 20573-0001, 202-523-5787.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The ICC Termination Act of 1995, Public Law 
No. 104-88, 109 Stat. 803 (``ICC Termination Act''), transferred 
jurisdiction over port to port operations in the noncontiguous domestic 
trade, which formerly had been regulated by the FMC under the 
Intercoastal Shipping Act, 1933, 46 U.S.C. app. 843-848 (``1933 Act'') 
and the Shipping Act, 1916, 46 U.S.C. app. 801-842 (``1916 Act''), to 
the Surface Transportation Board (``Board''). Accordingly, the 
Commission is removing its major regulations governing domestic 
offshore carriers, namely Part 552--Financial Reports of Vessel 
Operating Common Carriers by Water in the Domestic Offshore Trades, 
Part 560--Agreements by Common Carriers and Other Persons Subject to 
the Shipping Act, 1916, and 46 CFR 502.67--Proceedings under section 
3(a) of the Intercoastal Shipping Act, 1933. Only these major 
regulations governing domestic carriers and references thereto are 
being deleted at this time. All remaining references to the domestic 
offshore trades in 46 CFR and any technical conforming amendments 
necessary will be made at a later date.
    The Federal Maritime Commission certifies, pursuant to section 
605(b) of the Regulatory Flexibility Act, 5 U.S.C. 605(b), that this 
final rule will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial 
number of small entities, including small businesses, small 
organizational units, and small governmental organizations.
    The removal of Parts 552, 560 and Sec. 502.67, and references 
thereto, is housekeeping in nature and will not impact a substantial 
number of small entities.
    This final rule does not contain any collection of information 
requirements as defined by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, as 
amended. Therefore, OMB review is not required.
    Notice and opportunity for public comment are not necessary prior 
to issuance of these amendments because they reduce existing 
requirements by deleting rules to reflect statutory changes to the 
Commission's jurisdiction. For the same reason, the amendments are 
effective upon publication in the Federal Register, rather than being 
delayed for 30 days. 5 U.S.C. 553.

List of Subjects

46 CFR Part 501

    Organization and functions, Delegation of authority, Seals and 
insignia.

46 CFR Part 502

    Administrative practice and procedure, Claims, Equal access to 
justice, Investigations, Lawyers, Reporting and recordkeeping 
requirements.

46 CFR Part 504

    Environmental impact statements, Reporting and recordkeeping 
requirements.

46 CFR Part 514

    Freight, Harbors, Maritime carriers, Reporting and recordkeeping 
requirements.

46 CFR Part 552

    Maritime Carriers, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, 
Uniform System of Accounts.

46 CFR Part 560

    Administrative practice and procedure, Antitrust, Freight, Maritime 
carriers, Penalties, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.

    Therefore, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553; and Pub. L. 104-88, 109 Stat. 
803, chapter IV of title 46 of the Code of Federal Regulations is 
amended as follows:

PART 501--THE FEDERAL MARITIME COMMISSION--GENERAL

    1. The authority citation for Part 501 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 5 U.S.C. 551-557, 701-706, 2903 and 6304; 31 U.S.C. 
3721; 41 U.S.C. 414 and 418; 44 U.S.C. 501-520 and 3501-3520; 46 
U.S.C. app. 801-848, 876, 1111, and 1701-1720; Reorganization Plan 
No. 7 of 1961, 26 FR 7315, August 12, 1961; Pub.L. 89-56, 79 Stat. 
195; 5 CFR Part 2638.

    2. In Sec. 501.5, paragraph (e) is amended by removing the words 
``Shipping Act, 1916'' and the comma immediately thereafter; and 
paragraph (g) is revised; and the second sentence of paragraph (h) is 
revised to read as follows:


Sec. 501.5  Functions of the organizational components of the Federal 
Maritime Commission.

* * * * *
    (g) Under the direction and management of the Bureau Director, the

[[Page 66617]]

Bureau of Economics and Agreement Analysis develops and administers 
programs in connection with the anticompetitive and cooperative 
arrangements and practices of common carriers by water, freight 
forwarders and terminal operators in the foreign commerce of the U.S., 
including the filing of ocean common carrier agreements under section 5 
of the Shipping Act of 1984, and the filing of agreements by marine 
terminal operators under section 5 of the Shipping Act of 1984. The 
Bureau provides expert economic testimony and support in formal 
proceedings, particularly regarding unfair foreign shipping practices 
under section 19 of the Merchant Marine Act, 1920, and the Foreign 
Shipping Practices Act of 1988.
    (h) * * * These programs carry out provisions of the Shipping Act 
of 1984; and Public Law 89-777, as implemented under Parts 510, 514, 
540, 582 and 583 of this chapter. * * *
* * * * *
    3. In Sec. 501.24, paragraph (e) is revised to read as follows; and 
paragraph (h) is removed and reserved.


Sec. 501.24  Delegation to the Secretary.

* * * * *
    (e) Authority to prescribe a time limit for the submission of 
written comments with reference to agreements filed pursuant to section 
5 of the Shipping Act of 1984.
* * * * *
    4. In Sec. 501.26, paragraphs (a) through (d) are removed and 
reserved; paragraph (l) introductory text is amended by removing the 
words ``the Shipping Act, 1916, or''; paragraph (m) is amended by 
removing the words ``section 15 of the Shipping Act, 1916, or''; and 
paragraph (p) is removed.

PART 502--RULES OF PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE

    5. The authority citation for Part 502 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 5 U.S.C. 504, 551, 552, 553, 556(c), 559, 561-569, 
571-596; 12 U.S.C. 1141j(a); 18 U.S.C. 207; 26 U.S.C. 501(c)(3); 28 
U.S.C. 2112(a); 31 U.S.C. 9701; 46 U.S.C. app. 817, 820, 821, 826, 
841a, 1114(b), 1705, 1707-1711, 1713-1716; E.O. 11222 of May 8, 1965 
(30 FR 6469); 21 U.S.C. 853a; and Pub. L. 88-777 (46 U.S.C. app. 
817d, 817e).

    6. In Sec. 502.41, the third sentence is revised to read as 
follows.


Sec. 502.41  Parties; how designated.

    * * * A party against whom relief or other affirmative action is 
sought in any proceeding commenced under Sec. 502.62 or Sec. 502.66, or 
a party named in an order of investigation issued by the Commission, 
shall be designated as ``respondent,'' except that in investigations 
instituted under section 11(c) of the Shipping Act of 1984, the parties 
to the agreement shall be designated as ``proponents'' and the parties 
protesting the agreement shall be designated as ``protestants.'' * * *


Sec. 502.67  [Removed and Reserved]

    7. Section 502.67 is removed and reserved.


Sec. 502.74  [Amended]

    8. In Sec. 502.74, paragraph (b) is amended by removing the words 
``protests seeking suspension of tariffs (Sec. 502.67)'' and the comma 
immediately thereafter.
    9. Section 502.111 is amended by revising the first two sentences 
of paragraph (b) to read as follows:


Sec. 502.111  Form and appearance of documents filed with Commission.

* * * * *
    (b) Filings by facsimile will not be accepted. Photocopies of 
facsimile transmissions of signature pages on filings will be 
tentatively accepted for the purpose of meeting filing deadlines 
pending receipt of the original within seven working days. * * *


Sec. 502.114  [Amended]

    10. In Sec. 502.114, paragraph (c) is amended by removing the words 
``protests pursuant to Sec. 502.67''.


Sec. 502.118  [Amended]

    11. In Sec. 502.118, paragraph (b)(5) is amended by removing the 
words ``Sec. 502.67(d) and''.
    12. Section 502.155 is revised to read as follows.


Sec. 502.155  Burden of proof.

    In all cases, as prescribed by the Administrative Procedure Act, 5 
U.S.C. 556(d), the burden of proof shall be on the proponent of the 
rule or order. [Rule 155.]


Sec. 502.227  [Amended]

    13. In Sec. 502.227, paragraph (a)(6) is amended by removing the 
words ``Sec. 502.67 and''.


Sec. 502.271  [Amended]

    14. In Sec. 502.271, paragraph (b) is removed and reserved.

PART 504--PROCEDURES FOR ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY ANALYSIS

    15. The authority citation for Part 504 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 5 U.S.C. 552, 553; secs. 21 and 43 of the Shipping 
Act, 1916 (46 U.S.C. app. 820 and 841a); secs. 13 and 17 of the 
Shipping Act of 1984 (46 U.S.C. app. 1712 and 1716); sec. 102 of the 
National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4332(2)(b)) and 
sec. 382(b) of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act of 1975 (42 
U.S.C. 6362).

    16. In Sec. 504.4, paragraph (a)(5) is amended by removing the 
words ``and domestic''; paragraph (a)(8) is removed and reserved; 
paragraph (a)(9) is amended by removing the words ``section 15 of the 
Shipping Act, 1916 or''; paragraphs (a)(17) and (a)(21) are removed and 
reserved; and paragraph (a)(22) is amended by removing the words ``the 
Shipping Act, 1916 or''.

PART 514--TARIFFS AND SERVICE CONTRACTS

    17. The authority citation for Part 514 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 5 U.S.C. 552 and 553; 31 U.S.C. 9701; 46 U.S.C. app. 
804, 812, 814-817(a), 820, 833a, 841a, 843, 844, 845, 845a, 845b, 
847, 1702-1712, 1714-1716, 1718, 1721 and 1722; and sec. 2(b) of 
Pub. L. 101-92, 103 Stat. 601.

    18. In Sec. 514.1, the last sentence of paragraph (d)(1) and 
paragraph (d)(2) are revised to read as follows:


Sec. 514.1  Scope, purpose, requirements, penalties and fees.

* * * * *
    (d)(1) * * * The mere filing of a tariff does not excuse the tariff 
owner or publisher from the obligations of the 1984 Act or this 
chapter, regardless of whether these obligations preceded or followed 
the filing of the tariff in question.
    (2) Any tariff matter submitted for filing, including service 
contracts and their essential terms, which fails in any respect to 
conform with the applicable shipping statutes, with the provisions of 
this part, or with a Commission Order, is subject to rejection or 
partial rejection after filing.
* * * * *


Sec. 514.2  [Amended]

    19. In Sec. 514.2, the definition of conference is amended by 
removing ``Sec. 560.307(b) and''; the definition of marine terminal 
services agreement is amended by removing ``Sec. 560.308(a) or''; the 
definition of round trip excursion voyage is removed; and the text of 
the definition of through transportation (domestic offshore commerce) 
is amended by removing the last two sentences.
    20. In Sec. 514.3, the first sentence of paragraph (a)(1) is 
revised to read as follows; paragraphs (a)(3), (a)(5) and (a)(6) are 
removed and reserved; the introductory text of paragraph (a)(7) is 
revised to read as follows; paragraph

[[Page 66618]]

(a)(8)(ii) is amended by removing ``Sec. 560.308(a) or'' and 
``Sec. 560.307(b) and'; paragraph (a)(10) is removed and reserved; the 
text of paragraphs (b)(3) and (b)(5) is revised to read as follows; and 
paragraph (e) is amended by removing the words ``under parts 515, 550, 
580 and/or 581 of this chapter''.


Sec. 514.3  Exemptions and exclusions.

* * * * *
    (a) * * *
    (1) * * * Equipment-interchange agreements between common carriers 
subject to this part and inland carriers, where such agreements are not 
referred to in the carriers' tariffs and do not affect the tariff 
rates, charges or practices of the carriers, are exempt from the tariff 
filing requirements of the 1984 Act and the rules of this part. * * *
* * * * *
    (7) Terminal barge operators in Pacific Slope States. 
Transportation provided by terminal barge operators in Pacific Slope 
States barging containers and containerized cargo by barge between 
points in the United States are exempt from the tariff filing 
requirements of 1984 Act and the rules of this part, where:
* * * * *
    (b) * * *
    (3) * * * Transportation of used military household goods and 
personal effects by non-vessel-operating common carriers is exempt from 
the filing requirements of the 1984 Act and the rules of this part.
* * * * *
    (5) * * * Transportation of used military household goods and 
personal effects by non-vessel-operating common carriers shipped by 
federal civilian executive agencies under the International Household 
Goods Program administered by the General Services Administration is 
exempt from the filing requirements of the 1984 Act and the rules of 
this part.
* * * * *
    21. In Sec. 514.9, paragraph (b)(1)(i)(A) is redesignated as 
paragraph (b)(1)(i), and paragraph (b)(1)(i)(B) is removed; the text of 
paragraph (b)(7) is revised to read as follows; paragraph (b)(9)(i)(A) 
is redesignated as paragraph (b)(9)(i), and paragraph (b)(9)(i)(B) is 
removed; and paragraph (b)(24)(ii)(B) is removed and reserved.


Sec. 514.9  Filing/Amendment codes and required notice periods.

* * * * *
    (b) * * *
    (7) * * * Amendments of domestic offshore tariffs which change 
rates, fares, charges, Tariff Rules, or other tariff provisions and 
which constitute a general increase or decrease in rates, shall be 
filed at least 60 days prior to their effective date and shall use the 
symbol ``G.''
* * * * *

PART 552--[REMOVED]

    22. Part 552 is removed.

PART 560--[REMOVED]

    23. Part 560 is removed.

    By the Commission.
Joseph C. Polking,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 96-32064 Filed 12-17-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6730-01-P