[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 8 (Wednesday, January 12, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 1908-1909]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-751]


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INTERAGENCY COMMISSION ON CRIME AND SECURITY IN U.S. SEAPORTS


Public Meetings

AGENCY: Interagency Commission on Crime and Security in U.S. Seaports.

ACTION: Notice of Public meetings.

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SUMMARY: The Interagency Commission on Crime and Security in U.S. 
Seaports announces that it will be holding three public meetings/
listening sessions to receive input and feedback from the private 
sector concerning the significant issues involving crime, security, and 
terrorism in U.S. seaports.

DATES: The public meetings/listening sessions will be held on February 
2, 2000, in the Norfolk/Hampton Roads, Virginia area; February 16, 
2000, in the Oakland/San Francisco, California area; and March 1, 2000, 
in the Houston, Texas area.

ADDRESSES: The Norfolk/Hampton Roads session on February 2, 2000 will 
be held at the Ramada Inn, 615 Atlantic Ave., Virginia Beach, Virginia 
23451. The Oakland/San Francisco meeting on February 16, 2000 will be 
held at the Holiday Inn Financial District, 750 Kearney St., San 
Francisco, California 94108. The Houston meeting on March 1, 2000 will 
be held at the Radisson Conference Center, 9100 Gulf Freeway, Houston, 
Texas 77017. All meetings/sessions are scheduled to begin at 9 A.M. and 
conclude at 1:00 P.M.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. James Kelly, Interagency 
Commission on Crime and Security in U.S. Seaports, (202) 927-3741.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Interagency Commission on Crime and 
Security in U.S. Seaports, which is comprised of representatives from 
several different Federal Agencies, was established by Executive 
Memorandum on April 27, 1999. The President's Memorandum is printed in 
the Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents, Vol. 35 (1999), page 
755. The Commission is co-chaired by representatives from the 
Department of the Treasury, Department of Transportation, and 
Department of Justice.
    By a document published in the Federal Register on June 16, 1999 
(64 FR 32211), the Commission announced that it was established to 
conduct a comprehensive study of the nature and extent of crime and the 
overall state of security in U.S. seaports, and the ways in which 
Federal, State and local governments were responding to this problem. 
The Commission's study is intended to address all serious crime 
occurring in the maritime context, including but not limited to drug 
trafficking, cargo theft, and the smuggling of contraband and aliens. 
The Commission is responsible for submitting a report by April 27, 
2000, which provides: an analysis of the nature and extent of serious 
crime and the overall state of security in U.S. seaports; an overview 
of the specific missions and authorities of Federal, state and local 
agencies as well as the private sector in U.S. seaports; an assessment 
of the effectiveness of coordination amongst government agencies; and 
recommendations for addressing seaport-related crimes. Additional 
information about the Commission and its activities may be

[[Page 1909]]

obtained by contacting the Commission's website address (http://
www.seaportcommission.gov).
    The Commission will hold three public meetings/listening sessions 
to receive input and feedback from the private sector concerning the 
significant issues involving crime, security, and terrorism in U.S. 
seaports. During the course of these public meetings, the members of 
the Commission will also be interested in hearing about private sector 
solutions and recommendations for addressing issues related to crime, 
terrorism and security in seaports. Presenters will be required to 
advise the Commission at least 24 hours in advance (at 202 927-2700) if 
they intend to make an oral statement at a meeting, and will be 
required to submit written statements that reflect their views and 
recommendations in advance of the meetings. Some ``observations'' of 
the working group and Commissioners during their recent visits to 
selected seaports in the United States include: internal conspiracies 
are an issue at many seaports; there is a lack of vulnerability 
assessments for seaports; access to seaports is frequently 
uncontrolled, allowing vulnerability to terrorism and criminal 
activity; security-related meetings are not held in most ports; and 
equipment and technology is lacking at many ports. The Commission is 
also interested in hearing the public's response to the following 
questions: What is the appropriate role for the Federal, state, and 
local government in seaports? Do we need nationwide security 
``standards'' for seaports? If so, should these standards be voluntary 
or mandatory? Whose responsibility is it to fund security enhancements 
at seaports?
    Parties interested in attending the meetings are requested to 
inform The Interagency Commission of their intention to attend the 
sessions to assure adequate accommodations are provided to the public. 
The notice may be given in writing or telephonically. Written notices 
should be sent to: The Interagency Commission on Crime and Security in 
U.S. Seaports, Suite 1301 N, 1331 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W., Washington, 
D.C. 20004. Telephone replies may be made to Ms. Barbara Ferrell at 
(202) 927-2700.
    In the interest of assuring that all participants at the meetings 
are allowed the opportunity to be heard, the Commission reserves the 
right to limit the amount of time speakers may have to make oral 
statements. The Commission is also requesting that one person from each 
organization, or firm, speak on behalf of all their members in 
attendance at the meetings.

    Dated: January 7, 2000.
D. Lynn Gordon,
Executive Director, Interagency Commission on Crime and Security in 
U.S. Seaports.
[FR Doc. 00-751 Filed 1-11-00; 8:45 am]
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