[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 250 (Friday, December 27, 1996)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 68200-68201]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-32902]


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FEDERAL MARITIME COMMISSION

46 CFR Part 586

[Docket No. 96-20]


Port Restrictions and Requirements in the United States/Japan 
Trade

AGENCY: Federal Maritime Commission.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rule; extension of comment period.

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SUMMARY: This extends the comment deadline in regard to the 
Commission's proposed imposition of fees on liner vessels operated by 
Japanese carriers calling at United States ports in an effort to adjust 
or meet apparent unfavorable conditions caused by Japanese port 
restrictions and requirements.

DATES: Comments due on or before January 20, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Send comments (original and fifteen copies) to: Joseph C. 
Polking, Secretary, Federal Maritime Commission, 800 North Capitol 
Street, NW., Washington, DC 20573, (202) 523-5725.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

[[Page 68201]]

Robert D. Bourgoin, General Counsel, Federal Maritime Commission, 800 
North Capitol Street, NW., Washington, DC 20573, (202) 523-5740.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Commission's Notice of proposed 
rulemaking in this proceeding, published November 13, 1996 (61 FR 
58160), proposed countervailing burdens on Japanese ocean carriers 
designed to adjust or meet apparent unfavorable conditions caused by 
Japanese port restrictions and requirements. Sixty days were allowed 
for filing comments. The current deadline is January 13, 1997.
    Counsel for the Japanese Lines now has filed a request for a 45-day 
enlargement of the comment period to February 27, 1997. Counsel cite as 
justification for their request intergovernmental meetings regarding 
this matter scheduled for January 6-7, 1997, a week before comments are 
due, and the intervening holiday schedule. Counsel for Sea-Land 
Service, Inc. and American President Lines, Ltd. have responded in 
general opposition to the request, but state that they have no 
objection to a one-week extension of the filing deadline.
    The Commission has determined that an extension limited to one week 
should be granted. This would move the filing deadline to January 20, 
1997, which would provide roughly two weeks after completion of the 
intergovernmental meetings for parties to finalize and submit comments. 
This should be sufficient in the circumstances.

    By the Commission
Ronald D. Murphy,
Assistant Secretary.
[FR Doc. 96-32902 Filed 12-26-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6730-01-M