[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 142 (Wednesday, July 24, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48504-48505]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-18719]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Maritime Administration

[Docket Number: MARAD-2002-12890]


Requested Administrative Waiver of the Coastwise Trade Laws

AGENCY: Maritime Administration, Department of Transportation.

ACTION: Invitation for public comments on a requested administrative 
waiver of the Coastwise Trade Laws for the vessel TORTUGA.

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SUMMARY: As authorized by Pub. L. 105-383, the Secretary of 
Transportation, as represented by the Maritime Administration (MARAD), 
is authorized to grant waivers of the U.S.-build requirement of the 
coastwise laws under certain circumstances. A request for such a waiver 
has been received by MARAD. The vessel, and a description of the 
proposed service, is listed below. Interested parties may comment on 
the effect this action may have on U.S.

[[Page 48505]]

vessel builders or businesses in the U.S. that use U.S.-flag vessels. 
If MARAD determines that in accordance with Pub. L. 105-383 and MARAD's 
regulations at 46 CFR Part 388 (65 FR 6905; February 11, 2000) that the 
issuance of the waiver will have an unduly adverse effect on a U.S.-
vessel builder or a business that uses U.S.-flag vessels, a waiver will 
not be granted.

DATES: Submit comments on or before August 23, 2002.

ADDRESSES: Comments should refer to docket number MARAD-2002-12890. 
Written comments may be submitted by hand or by mail to the Docket 
Clerk, U.S. DOT Dockets, Room PL-401, Department of Transportation, 400 
7th St., SW., Washington, DC 20590-0001. You may also send comments 
electronically via the Internet at http://dmses.dot.gov/submit/. All 
comments will become part of this docket and will be available for 
inspection and copying at the above address between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m., 
E.T., Monday through Friday, except federal holidays. An electronic 
version of this document and all documents entered into this docket is 
available on the World Wide Web at http://dms.dot.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kathleen Dunn, U.S. Department of 
Transportation, Maritime Administration, MAR-832 Room 7201, 400 Seventh 
Street, SW., Washington, DC 20590. Telephone 202-366-2307.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Title V of Pub. L. 105-383 provides 
authority to the Secretary of Transportation to administratively waive 
the U.S.-build requirements of the Jones Act, and other statutes, for 
small commercial passenger vessels (no more than 12 passengers). This 
authority has been delegated to the Maritime Administration per 49 CFR 
Sec. 1.66, Delegations to the Maritime Administrator, as amended. By 
this notice, MARAD is publishing information on a vessel for which a 
request for a U.S.-build waiver has been received, and for which MARAD 
requests comments from interested parties. Comments should refer to the 
docket number of this notice and the vessel name in order for MARAD to 
properly consider the comments. Comments should also state the 
commenter's interest in the waiver application, and address the waiver 
criteria given in Sec. 388.4 of MARAD'S regulations at 46 CFR Part 388.

Vessel Proposed for Waiver of the U.S.-Build Requirement

    (1) Name of vessel and owner for which waiver is requested.
    Name of vessel: TORTUGA. Owner: James A. Williams and Stephanie L. 
Rice.
    (2) Size, capacity and tonnage of vessel. According to the 
applicant: ``Length--48.6[min], Breadth--15.5[min], Depth--6.5[min], 
Capacity--To carry 12 or fewer passengers, Tonnage--Gross 32 tons.''
    (3) Intended use for vessel, including geographic region of 
intended operation and trade. According to the applicant: ``The 
intended use of the vessel is to carry 12 or fewer passengers for week-
end boat and breakfast charter trips.'' ``The vessel will be used in 
the Chesapeake Bay from Annapolis, Maryland down the East Coast, around 
the Florida Keys and the West Coast of Florida in the Gulf of Mexico.''
    (4) Date and Place of construction and (if applicable) rebuilding. 
Date of construction: 1971. Place of construction: Hong Kong, China.
    (5) A statement on the impact this waiver will have on other 
commercial passenger vessel operators. According to the applicant: ``To 
the best of my knowledge there will be no adverse effect on other 
commercial passenger vessel operators in the area. I am not aware of 
any commercial passengers operators doing the types of trips I plan to 
make.''
    (6) A statement on the impact this waiver will have on U.S. 
shipyards. According to the applicant: ``To the best of my knowledge 
the possible impact that my operation will have on U.S. Shipyards is 
the repair business for my vessel as a result of the approval of this 
waiver.''

    Dated: July 19, 2002.

    By Order of the Maritime Administrator.
Joel C. Richard,
Secretary, Maritime Administration.
[FR Doc. 02-18719 Filed 7-23-02; 8:45 am]
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