[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 11 (Tuesday, January 19, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2938-2939]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-1111]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Maritime Administration


U.S. Foreign Waterborne Transportation Statistics Program

AGENCY: Maritime Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of meeting

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SUMMARY: The Maritime Administration and the U.S. Army Corps of 
Engineers, the agencies currently responsible for the U.S. Foreign 
Waterborne Transportation Statistics Program, are holding a public 
meeting to receive information from private sector U.S. maritime data 
users as to their ongoing requirements for such data. This information-
gathering is part of the first step in development of a plan to improve 
the data collection, production and public access, without imposing any 
new reporting burden on the public. A questionnaire is available for 
all interested persons to indicate their data requirements, whether or 
not they attend the meeting.

DATES: March 4, 1999, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

LOCATION: National Academy of Sciences, Lecture Room, 2101 Constitution 
Avenue NW, Washington, DC.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Susan Hassett, U.S. Army Corps of 
Engineers, Waterborne Commerce Statistics Center, PO Box 61280, New 
Orleans, LA 70161-1280 [fax: 504-862-1423; phone: 504-862-1453; e-mail: 
[email protected]]; or, Norman Tague, Maritime 
Administration, Office of Statistical and Economic Analysis, MAR-450, 
400 Seventh Street SW, Washington, DC 20590 [fax: 202-366-8886; phone: 
202-366-2316; e-mail: [email protected]].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    Following a review of the U.S. Foreign Waterborne Transportation 
Statistics program, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 
designated the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) as the ``central 
collection agency'' for the program, and transferred program 
responsibility to the Corps, with operational support from the Maritime 
Administration (MARAD), effective October 1, 1998. The Corps collects 
and publishes the data pursuant to its authority under the 1922 River 
and Harbor Act, as amended (33 U.S.C. 555), by which it has 
historically collected and published waterborne commerce statistics.
    The Corps and MARAD have assumed complete responsibility for the 
ongoing production of official monthly and annual U.S. foreign 
waterborne transportation statistics. Under the new arrangement, 
monthly and annual vessel movement and cargo data previously produced 
by the Bureau of the Census (Census) are now available through the 
Corps/MARAD.
    The public data products contain movement data on all vessels 
engaged in U.S. foreign trade and cargo data by type of service, U.S. 
and foreign port, country of origin/destination, commodity, value, 
weight, and containerized cargo. These products include: monthly and 
annual ``Vessel Movements'' (formerly TM/TA385 and 785), ``Waterborne 
Databank'' (formerly TM/TA305 and 705), quarterly and annual ``U.S. 
Waterborne Exports and General Imports'' (formerly TQ/TA985) and the 
annual ``Vessel Entrances and Clearances'' (formerly TA987).
    To ensure the continuity of data, these products are currently 
identical to those formerly produced by Census. However,

[[Page 2939]]

the long-term goal is to meet customer data requirements through 
improved data collection, production and access. This information-
gathering is the beginning of that process, and provides an opportunity 
for public input into the redesign of the program. This is consistent 
with the principles of the National Performance Review to provide 
better delivery of Federal services.

Meeting Registration Process

    Users of U.S. maritime data as well as any other interested persons 
are encouraged to participate in this information-gathering initiative. 
A questionnaire has been developed for pre-registration of attendees, 
to facilitate preparation for the meeting, and to afford an opportunity 
for input to persons unable to attend. This questionnaire may be 
obtained on the Internet at

http://www.wrsc.usace.army.mil/ndc or
http://marad.dot.gov/statistics or from:
Ms. Sandy Schafer, Waterborne Commerce Statistics Center, 504-862-1404, 
504-862-1423 (fax) e-mail:, [email protected], PO Box 
61280, New Orleans, LA 70123-1289.

    Persons completing the questionnaire are urged to mail, or fax it 
to Ms. Sandy Schafer by February 18, 1999, so that all data 
requirements can be adequately addressed at the meeting. The completed 
questionnaire will also serve as your pre-registration for the meeting, 
if you so indicate on the questionnaire. If you plan to attend the 
meeting, but are not completing a questionnaire, please notify Ms. 
Sandy Schafer by mail, e-mail, or fax. This will assist us in 
estimating attendance, and organizing meeting space.

Format of the Meeting

    The meeting will be structured through the use of a facilitator to 
provide each participant with an overview of the existing program and 
production process, the results of the questionnaire, clarification of 
any of the data elements involved, and a thorough discussion of the 
issues.
    It is an opportunity for private sector data users to describe 
their data needs and to share any views and insights as to how the U.S. 
Foreign Waterborne Transportation Statistics Program might be improved. 
Discussion should be extremely focused, in terms of specific data 
elements required, why it is needed and how it is used.

    By Order of the Maritime Administrator.

    Dated: January 13, 1999.
Joel C. Richard,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 99-1111 Filed 1-15-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-81-P