[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 183 (Friday, September 21, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54101-54102]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-18571]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Maritime Administration


Voluntary Intermodal Sealift Agreement (VISA)/Joint Planning 
Advisory Group (JPAG)

AGENCY: Maritime Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Synopsis of August 21-24, 2007 Meeting with VISA Participants

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

    The VISA program requires that a notice of the time, place, and 
nature of each JPAG meeting be published in the Federal Register. The 
full text of the VISA program, including these requirements, is 
published in 70 FR 55947-55955, dated September 23, 2005.
    On August 21-24, 2007, the Maritime Administration and the U.S. 
Transportation Command co-hosted a JPAG meeting at the U.S. 
Transportation Command, Scott Air Force Base, Illinois. Meeting 
attendance was by invitation only, due to the nature of the information 
discussed and the need for a government-issued security clearance. Of 
the 52 U.S.-flag carrier corporate participants enrolled in the VISA 
program, 18 companies and one representative from maritime labor 
participated in the JPAG meeting. In addition, representatives from the 
Maritime Administration and the Department of Defense (DOD) attended 
the meeting.
    Margaret Leclaire, Deputy Director Strategy, Plans, Policy & 
Programs, U.S. Transportation Command, and James

[[Page 54102]]

Caponiti, Associate Administrator for National Security, Maritime 
Administration, welcomed the participants. Ms. Leclaire thanked the 
industry participants for their continued support. She remarked that 
she was pleased with the large number of attendees at the JPAG meeting. 
Ms Leclaire noted that this JPAG was a follow-up to previous JPAG 
exercises including a table-top exercise conducted in July 2006. This 
exercise, she noted, was designed to go beyond the table-top exercise 
and test the industry's ability to respond to what might occur during a 
VISA activation. The results of the JPAG would be used to validate the 
VISA activation battlebook.
    Mr. Caponiti remarked that the numerous assumptions in previous 
JPAG exercises did not always take into account events that could 
disrupt the industry's ability to meet DOD requirements. Assumptions in 
previous exercises were made to minimize disruption of commercial and 
military activities, which may not be the case in an actual VISA 
activation. He expressed a hope that this JPAG exercise would add 
realism to what actually could occur during VISA activation. Further, 
both Mr. Caponiti and Ms. Leclaire requested that participants document 
concerns and issues that would be required to improve the VISA 
activation process.
    The purpose of the JPAG exercise was to review the processes of 
VISA activation using strategic sealift requirements to support two 
military contingencies simultaneously. The exercise also focused on the 
contractual processes required for VISA activation as well as the 
subsequent communications flow required to support the activation. The 
JPAG exercise was considered a success as industry participants were 
able to provide necessary capacity and resources to meet DOD 
requirements. However, the participants identified areas that needed 
clarity and further development to improve the VISA activation process. 
The Maritime Administration, U.S. Transportation Command and industry 
participants agreed to work on the issues identified in the JPAG 
exercise to assure that they are adequately addressed for the efficient 
coordination of VISA activation procedures and contractual processes.
    The following VISA companies participated in the August 21-24, 2007 
JPAG meeting: American President Lines, Ltd.; American Roll-On Roll-Off 
Carrier, LLC; American Shipping Group; APL Marine Services, Ltd.; APL 
Maritime Ltd; Central Gulf Lines, Inc.; Farrell Lines Incorporated; 
Fidelio Limited Partnership; Hapag-Lloyd USA, LLC; Horizon Lines, LLC; 
Liberty Global Logistics, LLC; Liberty Shipping Group Limited 
Partnership; Maersk Line, Limited; Pasha Hawaii Transport Lines LLC; 
Patriot Shipping, LLC; Patriot Titan, LLC; Sealift Inc. and Waterman 
Steamship Corporation.

Contact Person for Additional Information: Mr. Taylor E. Jones II, 
Director, Office of Sealift Support, (202) 366-2323.

    Authority: 49 CFR 1.66.

By Order of the Maritime Administrator.

    Dated: September 13, 2007.
Daron T. Threet,
Secretary, Maritime Administration.
 [FR Doc. E7-18571 Filed 9-20-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-81-P