[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 47 (Thursday, March 11, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Page 12208]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-6014]



[[Page 12208]]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Coast Guard
Maritime Administration
[USCG 1998-3553]


Marine Transportation System: Waterways, Ports, and Their 
Intermodal Connections

AGENCY: Coast Guard, and Maritime Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of availability; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard and the Maritime Administration, together with 
several other federal agencies, announce the availability of the 
Proceedings of the National Conference on the Marine Transportation 
System held in Warrenton, Virginia on November 17-19, 1998. 
Participants created a national vision for the system into the 21st 
century; discussed a framework for collaborative decision-making at the 
national and local levels; and examined safety, environmental, 
competitiveness, infrastructure, and security issues associated with 
the system. The conclusions and recommendations of the conference will 
be used to shape the direction and future of the Marine Transportation 
System. The conference proceedings are available for your review and 
comment.

DATES: Comments must be received by the Docket Management Facility by 
April 30, 1999.

ADDRESSES: You many mail comments to the Docket Management Facility, 
(USCG 1998-3553), U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), room PL-401, 
Seventh Street SW., Washington, DC 20590-0001, or deliver them to room 
PL-401, located on the Plaza Level of the Nassif Building at the same 
address between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except 
Federal holidays.
    The Docket Management Facility maintains the public docket for this 
notice. The comments will become part of this docket and will be 
available for inspection or copying at room PL-401, located on the 
Plaza Level of the Nassif Building at the same address between 9 a.m. 
and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. You may 
also electronically access the public docket for this notice on the 
Internet at http://dms.dot.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information on the public docket, 
contact Dorothy Walker, Chief, Dockets, telephone 202-366-5145. For 
information concerning this notice contact Ms. Margie Hegy, U.S. Coast 
Guard (G-MWP), telephone 202-267-0415 or Ms. Patricia Randall, Maritime 
Administration (MAR-830), telephone 202-366-4125.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Request for Comments

    We encourage interested persons to submit comments, written data, 
views, or other relevant documents. Persons submitting comments should 
include their names and addresses, identify this notice (USCG-1998-
3553), and the reasons for each comment. Please submit all comments and 
attachments in an unbound format, no larger than 8\1/2\x11 inches, 
suitable for copying and electronic filing to the DOT Docket Management 
Facility at the address under ADDRESSES. If you want acknowledgment of 
receipt of your comments, enclose a stamped, self-addressed post card 
or envelope.
    A copy of the Proceedings is available for review in the docket and 
may be electronically accessed on the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov. 
To request a printed copy of the Proceedings, contact Ms. Short, 
telephone 202-267-6164 or Ms. Randall at the phone number under FOR 
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.

Background

    During the Spring of 1998, the Maritime Administration and the 
Coast Guard, together with the Federal Highway Administration, Federal 
Railroad Administration, Research and Special Programs Administration, 
Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation, U.S. Army Corps of 
Engineers, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Minerals 
Management Service, National Imagery and Mapping Agency, U.S. Customs 
Service, and the Environmental Protection Agency, held seven two-day 
regional listening sessions to receive information concerning the 
current state and future needs of the U.S. marine transportation 
system--the waterways, ports, and their intermodal connections. The 
listening sessions were a first step in developing a customer-based 
strategy to work together to ensure that our waterways, ports and their 
intermodal connections meet user needs and public expectations for the 
21st century.
    The information from the seven regional listening sessions was 
presented at the November National Conference on the Marine 
Transportation System (MTS). The Secretary of Transportation hosted the 
conference attended by 144 senior public and private sector leaders. 
During the two and one-half day conference, participants created a 
national vision for the MTS into the 21st century; discussed a 
framework for collaborative decision-making at the national and local 
levels; and examined safety, environmental, competitiveness, 
infrastructure, and security issues associated with achieving the 
national vision. Participants reviewed current information and trends; 
and identified goals and recommended actions for resolving 
coordination, safety, environmental, competitiveness, infrastructure, 
and security issues.
    The conclusions and recommendations of the conference will be used 
to shape the direction and future of the MTS. The conference 
proceedings are available for your review and comment. We request 
information from the general public and system users on the action 
items recommended and how to accomplish them. Identification of 
subissues, and relevant data or other information that will assist us 
in developing strategies and action plans is also requested. In 
addition, information on relevant MTS activities that are ongoing or 
planned within the public or private section is requested.

Next Steps

    Comments received during the comment period will be considered by a 
congressionally mandated National Task Force to assess the adequacy of 
the marine transportation system. The Task Force will produce a report 
examining the critical marine transportation issues, and recommending 
strategies and plans of action to advance national interests, including 
economic competitiveness and national security in the marine 
transportation arena. The report will be submitted to Congress on July 
1, 1999, and will be available to the public at that time.

    Dated: March 4, 1999.
James M. Loy,
Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard, Commandant.
Clyde J. Hart, Jr.,
Maritime Administrator.
[FR Doc. 99-6014 Filed 3-10-99; 8:45 am]
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