[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 8 (Wednesday, January 13, 1999)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 2150]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-715]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Office of the Secretary

49 CFR Part 1

[OST Docket No. 1; Amendment 1-297]


Organization and Delegation of Powers and Duties; Delegations to 
the Maritime Administrator

AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The Secretary of Transportation (Secretary) is delegating his 
authority under sections 3602, 3603, and 3605 of Public Law 105-261 and 
under sections 427 and 428 of Public Law 105-383 to the Maritime 
Administrator. These sections authorize the Secretary to convey certain 
of the Maritime Administration's National Defense Reserve Fleet (NDRF) 
vessels and equipment to designated parties, or to parties selected 
under competitive procedures, as specified in the applicable section. 
The delegation should be made to the Maritime Administrator because the 
Maritime Administration has the interest, requisite expertise, 
capability and responsibility to dispose of merchant-type and similar 
vessels over 1,500 gross tons for the Federal Government.

EFFECTIVE DATE: January 13, 1999.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Richard Weaver, Chief, Division of 
Management and Organization, Maritime Administration, MAR-318, Room 
7301, 400 Seventh Street, SW, Washington, DC 20590, Phone: (202) 366-
2811; or Blane Workie, Office of General Counsel (C-50), Department of 
Transportation, Room 10424, 400 Seventh Street, SW, Washington, DC 
20590, Phone: (202) 366-9314.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Secretary of Transportation is 
delegating to the Maritime Administrator his authority under sections 
3602, 3603, and 3605 of Public Law 105-261 and under sections 427 and 
428 of Public Law 105-383. Specifically, under Public Law 105-261, 
titled the Strom Thurmond National Defense Authorization, and in 
accordance with the terms prescribed in the applicable section, the 
Secretary of Transportation may convey from the Maritime 
Administration's National Defense Reserve Fleet:

    Sec. 3602--vessel M/V BAYAMON (United States official number 
530007) to a purchaser for use as a self-propelled floating trade 
exposition to showcase United States technology, industrial 
products, and services.
    Sec. 3603--vessels BENJAMIN ISHERWOOD (TAO-191) and HENRY 
ECKFORD (TAO-192) to a purchaser for reconstruction of those vessels 
for sale or charter to a North Atlantic Treaty Organization country 
for full use as an oiler.
    Sec. 3605--vessel ex-USS LORAIN COUNTY (LST-1177) to the Ohio 
War Memorial, Inc., located in Sandusky, Ohio for use as a memorial 
to Ohio veterans; as well as any unneeded equipment from other 
vessels in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, for use to restore 
the vessel conveyed under section 3605 to museum quality.

    In addition, under Public Law 105-383, titled the Coast Guard 
Authorization Act of 1998, and in accordance with the terms prescribed 
in the applicable section, the Secretary of Transportation may convey 
from the Maritime Administration's National Defense Reserve Fleet:

    Sec. 427--vessels S.S. AMERICAN VICTORY (United States official 
number 248005) and S.S. HATTIESBURG VICTORY (United States official 
number 248651) to the Victory Ship, Inc., located in Tampa, Florida 
for use as a memorial to the Victory class of ships; as well as any 
unneeded equipment from other vessels in the National Defense 
Reserve Fleet to restore the vessel(s) conveyed under section 427 to 
museum quality.
    Sec. 428--vessel JOHN HENRY (United States official number 
599294) to a purchaser for use in humanitarian relief efforts, 
including the provision of water and humanitarian goods in 
developing nations.

    The Secretary is delegating his authority to convey certain of the 
Maritime Administration's National Defense Reserve Fleet vessels to the 
Maritime Administrator because the Maritime Administration has the 
necessary expertise to dispose of merchant-type and similar vessels 
over 1,500 gross tons for the Federal Government.
    Since this amendment relates to departmental organization, 
procedure and practice, notice and comment are unnecessary under 5 
U.S.C. 553(b). Further, since the amendment expedites the Maritime 
Administration's ability to meet the statutory intent of the sections 
covered by this delegation, the Secretary finds good cause under 5 
U.S.C. 553(d)(3) for the final rule to be effective on the date of 
publication in the Federal Register.

List of Subjects in 49 CFR Part 1

    Authority delegations (Government agencies), Organization and 
functions (Government agencies).

    In consideration of the foregoing, Part 1 of Title 49, Code of 
Federal Regulations, is amended, effective upon publication, to read as 
follows:

PART 1--[AMENDED]

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

    Authority: 49 U.S.C. 322; Public Law 101-552, 28 U.S.C. 2672; 31 
U.S.C. 3711(a)(2).

    2. In Sec. 1.66 (Delegations to Maritime Administrator) the 
following section (bb) is added at the end thereof.


Sec. 1.66  Delegations to Maritime Administrator.

* * * * *
    (bb) Carry out the functions and exercise the authorities vested in 
the Secretary by sections 3602, 3603, and 3605 of Public Law 105-261, 
titled the Strom Thurmond National Defense Authorization; and sections 
427 and 428 of Public Law 105-383, titled the Coast Guard Authorization 
Act of 1998.

    Issued at Washington, DC., this 4th day of January, 1999.
Rodney E. Slater,
Secretary of Transportation.
[FR Doc. 99-715 Filed 1-12-99; 8:45 am]
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