[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 172 (Thursday, September 4, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51692-51697]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-20392]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Maritime Administration

[Docket Number: MARAD-2008-0083]


Final Text of the Voluntary Tanker Agreement

AGENCY: Maritime Administration, Department of Transportation.

ACTION: Notice of Publication of Final Text of the Voluntary Tanker 
Agreement.

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[[Page 51693]]

SUMMARY: The Maritime Administration announces the publication below of 
the final text of its Voluntary Tanker Agreement (VTA). The Agreement 
below replaces a prior version that was last published in Volume 48 of 
the Federal Register at page 38715 (August 25, 1983) and is issued in 
accordance with the provisions of 44 CFR 332. The proposed text of the 
VTA was initially published in Volume 72 of the Federal Register at 
page 41099 (July 26, 2007). Thereafter, a public hearing on the 
proposed text of the VTA was held on August 29, 2007, at the U.S. 
Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, 
DC 20590. No comments requesting changes to the proposed text were 
received. Consequently, the final text is unchanged from the text 
considered at the public hearing.
    The Department of Justice has issued a finding that the VTA as 
published below satisfies the statutory criteria of the Defense 
Production Act [50 U.S.C. App. Section 2158(f)(1)(B)] required for its 
creation. See Volume 73 of the Federal Register at page 46335 (August 
8, 2008).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tanker owners/operators that wish to 
participate in the VTA may request an enrollment package from Thomas 
Christensen, Director Office of Emergency Preparedness, Room W23-304, 
Maritime Administration, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 
20590, (202) 366-5909, [email protected]. The enrollment package 
may also be found on the Maritime Administration Web site, http://www.marad.dot.gov, under ``Ships & Shipping'' and ``Voluntary Tanker 
Agreement.''

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Text of the Voluntary Tanker Agreement

Table of Contents

    Preface
I. Purpose
II. Authorities
    A. Maritime Administration
    B. U.S. Transportation Command
III. General
    A. Participation
    B. Effective Date and Duration of Participation
    C. Withdrawal from the Agreement
    D. Rules and Regulations
    E. Amendment of the Agreement
    F. Administrative Expenses
    G. Recordkeeping
    H. Requisition of Ships of Non-Participants
    I. Jones Act Waivers
    J. Temporary Replacement Vessel
IV. Antitrust Defense
V. Terms and Conditions
    A. Agreement by Participants
    B. Proportionate Contribution of Capacity
    C. Reports of Controlled Tonnage
    D. Freight Rates under the Agreement
    E. War Risk Insurance
VI. Activation of Agreement
    A. Determination of Necessity
    B. Tanker Requirements Committee
    C. Tanker Charters
    D. Termination of Charters under the Agreement
VII. Application and Agreement

Preface

    Pursuant to the authority contained in Section 708, Defense 
Production Act of 1950 as amended (50 App. U.S.C. 2158) the Maritime 
Administrator (``the Administrator''), after consultation with the 
Department of Defense (DoD) and representatives of the tanker industry, 
has developed this Voluntary Tanker Agreement. The Agreement 
establishes the terms, conditions and procedures under which 
Participants agree voluntarily to make tankers available to DoD. The 
Agreement further affords Participants defenses to civil and criminal 
actions for violations of antitrust laws when carrying out the 
Agreement. The Agreement is designed to create a close working 
relationship among the Administrator, the Commander of U.S. 
Transportation Command (the DoD-designated representative for purposes 
of this Agreement) and the Participants through which DoD requirements 
and the needs of the civil economy can be met through cooperative 
action. The Agreement affords Participants flexibility to respond to 
defense requirements and adjust their commercial operations to minimize 
disruption whenever possible.
    The Secretary of Defense (SecDef) has approved this Agreement as an 
Emergency Preparedness Program (EPP) pursuant to 46 U.S.C. 53107.
    This is a replacement for the Agreement as it first appeared in 
Volume 48 of the Federal Register at page 38715 (August 25, 1983). 
Because this replacement contains new substantive provisions, those 
wishing to participate in the Agreement should submit new applications.

Voluntary Tanker Agreement

I. Purpose

    The Administrator has determined, in accordance with Section 
708(c)(1) of the Defense Production Act of 1950 (DPA), that conditions 
exist which may pose a direct threat to the national defense of the 
United States or its preparedness programs and, under the provisions of 
Section 708, has certified to the Attorney General that a standby 
agreement for the utilization of tanker capacity is necessary for the 
national defense. The Attorney General, in consultation with the 
Chairman of the Federal Trade Commission, has issued a finding that 
tanker capacity to meet national defense requirements cannot be 
provided by the industry through a voluntary agreement having less 
anticompetitive effects or without a voluntary agreement.
    The purpose of the Agreement is to provide a responsive transition 
from peace to contingency operations through procedures agreed in 
advance to provide tanker capacity to support DoD contingency 
requirements. The Agreement establishes procedures for the commitment 
of tanker capacity to satisfy such requirements. The Agreement is 
intended to promote and facilitate DoD's use of existing commercial 
tanker resources in a manner which minimizes disruption to commercial 
operations whenever possible.
    The Agreement will change from standby to active status upon 
activation by appropriate authority as described in Section VI.

II. Authorities

A. Maritime Administration (MARAD)
    1. Sections 101 and 708, DPA (50 App. U.S.C. 2158); E.O. 12919, 59 
FR 29525 (June 7, 1994); E.O. 12148, 3 CFR 1979 Comp., p. 412, as 
amended; 46 CFR Part 340; DOT Order 1900.9.
    2. Section 501 of E.O.12919, as amended, delegated the authority of 
the President under Section 708 of the DPA to the Secretary of 
Transportation (SecTrans), among others. SecTrans delegated to the 
Administrator the authority under which the Voluntary Tanker Agreement 
is sponsored in DOT Order 1900.9.
B. U.S. Transportation Command (USTRANSCOM)
    1. Section 113 and Chapter 6 of Title 10 of the United States Code.
    2. DoD Directive 5158.4 designating Commander USTRANSCOM to provide 
air, land, and sea transportation for the DoD.

III. General

A. Participation
    1. Tanker operators of vessels greater than 20,000 deadweight tons 
may become Participants in this Agreement by submitting an executed 
copy of the form specified in Section VII of this Agreement.
    2. Owners and operators of Integrated Tug-Barges (ITBs) and 
Articulated Tug-Barges (ATBs) greater than 20,000

[[Page 51694]]

deadweight tons (DWT) may become Participants in this Agreement.
    3. For the purposes of this Agreement, ``Participant'' includes the 
corporate entity entering into this Agreement and all United States 
subsidiaries and affiliates of that entity which own or operate ships 
in the course of their regular business and in which that entity has 
more than fifty (50) percent control either by stock ownership or 
otherwise.
    4. Vessels of a Participant subject to the provisions of this 
Agreement shall not be subject to the provisions of any other DoD 
Sealift Readiness Program (SRP).
    5. A list of Participants will be published annually in the Federal 
Register.
B. Effective Date and Duration of Participation
    Participation in this Agreement is effective upon execution of the 
application form by the Participant and the Administrator or their 
authorized designees and remains in effect until terminated in 
accordance with 44 CFR 332.4.
C. Withdrawal From the Agreement
    Participants may withdraw from this Agreement subject to the 
fulfillment of obligations incurred under the Agreement prior to the 
date such withdrawal becomes effective, by giving written notice to the 
Administrator. Withdrawal from this Agreement will not deprive a 
Participant of an antitrust defense otherwise available to it in 
accordance with DPA Section 708 for the fulfillment of obligations 
incurred prior to withdrawal. A Participant otherwise subject to the 
DoD SRP that voluntarily withdraws from this Agreement will become 
subject again to the DoD SRP.
D. Rules and Regulations
    Participants acknowledge and agree to abide by all provisions of 
Section 708, DPA, as amended (50 App. U.S.C. 2158), and regulations 
related thereto which are promulgated by the SecTrans, the Attorney 
General, and the Chairman of the Federal Trade Commission. Standards 
and procedures pertaining to voluntary agreements have been promulgated 
in 44 CFR Part 332. The Administrator shall inform Participants of new 
rules and regulations as they are issued.
E. Amendment of the Agreement
    1. The Attorney General may modify this Agreement, in writing, 
after consultation with the Chairman of the Federal Trade Commission, 
SecTrans, through her representative MARAD, and SecDef, through his 
representative, Commander USTRANSCOM. The Administrator, Commander 
USTRANSCOM and Participants may modify this Agreement at any time by 
mutual agreement, but only in writing with the approval of the Attorney 
General and the Chairman of the Federal Trade Commission.
    2. A Participant may propose amendments to the Agreement at any 
time.
F. Administrative Expenses
    Administrative and out-of-pocket expenses incurred by Participants 
shall be borne solely by participants.
G. Record Keeping
    1. MARAD and the DoD have primary responsibility for maintaining 
records in accordance with 44 CFR Part 332.
    2. The Director, Office of Emergency Preparedness, MARAD, shall be 
the official custodian of records related to the carrying out of this 
Agreement, except records of direct dealings between the DoD and 
Participants.
    3. For direct dealings between the DoD and Participants, the 
designee of the SecDef shall be the official custodian of the record 
but the Director of the Office of Emergency Preparedness, MARAD shall 
have complete access thereto.
    4. In accordance with 44 CFR 332.3(d), each Participant shall 
maintain for five years all minutes of meetings, transcripts, records, 
documents, and other data, including any communications with other 
Participants or with any other member of the industry, related to the 
carrying out of this Agreement. Each Participant agrees to make 
available to the Administrator, the Commander USTRANSCOM, the Attorney 
General, the Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and 
the Chairman of the Federal Trade Commission for inspection and copying 
at reasonable times and upon reasonable notice any item that this 
section requires the Participant to maintain. Any record maintained 
under this subsection shall be available for public inspection and 
copying, unless exempted on the grounds specified in 5 U.S.C. 552(b)(1) 
and (3) or identified as privileged and confidential information in 
accordance with Section 705(e) of the DPA, as amended, and 94 CFR Part 
332.
H. Requisition of Ships of Non-Participants
    The Administrator upon presidential authorization may requisition 
ships of non-Participants to supplement capacity made available for 
defense operations under this Agreement and to balance the economic 
burden of defense support among companies operating in U.S. trade. Non-
Participant owners of requisitioned tankers will not participate in the 
Tanker Requirements Committee and will not enjoy the immunities 
provided by this Agreement.
I. Jones Act Waivers
    In situations where the activation of the Agreement deprives a 
Participant of all or a portion of its Jones Act tonnage and, at the 
same time, creates a general shortage of Jones Act tonnage on the 
market, the Administrator may request that the Assistant Commissioner, 
Office of Regulations and rulings, U. S. Customs and Border Protection, 
Department of Homeland Security grant a temporary waiver of the 
provisions of the Jones Act to permit a Participant to charter or 
otherwise utilize non-Jones Act tonnage. The tonnage for which such 
waivers are requested will be approximately equal to the Jones Act 
tonnage chartered to the DoD and any waiver that may be granted will be 
effective for the period that the Jones Act tonnage is on charter to 
the DoD plus a reasonable time for termination of the replacement 
tonnage charters as determined by the Administrator.
J. Temporary Replacement Vessel
    Notwithstanding 10 U.S.C. 2631, 46 U.S.C. 55304 (formerly Public 
Resolution 17), 46 U.S.C. 55302, 55305, 55312 or 55314 (formerly 
Sections 901(a), 901(b), and 901b of the Merchant Marine Act, 1936), or 
any other cargo preference law of the United States--
    1. A Participant may operate or employ in foreign commerce a 
foreign-flag vessel or foreign-flag vessel capacity as a temporary 
replacement for a United States-documented vessel or United States-
documented vessel capacity that is activated by the SecDef under an 
Emergency Preparedness Agreement or under a primary DoD-approved SRP; 
and
    2. Such replacement vessel or vessel capacity shall be eligible 
during the replacement period to transport preference cargoes subject 
to 10 U.S.C. 2631, 46 U.S.C. 55304 (formerly Public Resolution 17), and 
46 U.S.C. 55302, 55305, 55312 or 55314 (formerly Sections 901(a), 
901(b), and 901b of the Merchant Marine Act, 1936) to the same extent 
as the eligibility of the vessel or vessel capacity replaced.

IV. Antitrust Defense

    Under the provisions of Subsection 708(j), DPA, as amended (50 App. 
U.S.C. 2158(j)), each Participant in this

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Agreement shall have available as a defense to any civil or criminal 
action brought for violation of the antitrust laws, with respect to any 
act or omission to act to develop or carry out this Agreement, that 
such act or omission to act was taken in good faith by the Participant 
in the course of developing or carrying out this Agreement and that the 
Participant fully complied with the provisions of the Act, and the 
rules promulgated thereunder, and acted in accordance with the terms of 
this Agreement. This defense shall not be available to the Participant 
for any act or omission occurring after the termination of this 
Agreement, nor shall it be available, upon the modification of this 
Agreement, with respect to any subsequent act or omission that is 
beyond the scope of the modified Agreement, except that no such 
termination or modification will be accomplished in a way that will 
deprive Participants of antitrust defense for the fulfillment of 
obligations incurred. This defense shall be available only if and to 
the extent that the Participants asserting it demonstrate that the 
action, which includes a discussion or agreement, was within the scope 
of the Agreement. The person asserting the defense bears the burden of 
proof. The defense shall not be available if the person against whom it 
is asserted shows that the action was taken for the purpose of 
violating the antitrust laws.

V. Terms and Conditions

A. Agreement by Participants
    1. Each Participant agrees to contribute tanker capacity as 
requested by the Administrator in accordance with Section V. B. below, 
at such times and in such amounts as the Administrator, as requested by 
DoD, shall determine to be necessary to meet the essential needs of the 
DoD for the transportation of DoD MILSPEC petroleum and petroleum 
products in bulk by sea.
    2. Each Participant further agrees to make tankers and tanker 
capacity available to other Participants when requested by the 
Administrator, on the advice of the Tanker Requirements Committee, in 
order to ensure that contributions to meet DoD requirements are made on 
a proportionate basis whenever possible or to ensure that no 
participating tanker operator is disproportionately hampered in meeting 
the needs of the civil economy in accordance with priorities 
established by authority of the President.
B. Proportionate Contribution of Capacity
    1. Any entity receiving payments under the Maritime Security 
Program (MSP) pursuant to the Maritime Security Act of 2003 (MSA 2003) 
(Pub. L. 108-136) shall become a Participant with respect to all 
tankers enrolled in the MSP at all times until the date the MSP 
operating agreement would have terminated according to its original 
terms. Such participation will satisfy the requirement for an MSP 
participant to be enrolled in an emergency preparedness program 
approved by SecDef as provided in 46 U.S.C. 53107.
    2. Participants hereto not receiving MSP payments pursuant to MSA 
2003 agree to contribute tanker capacity under the Agreement in the 
proportion that its ``controlled tonnage'' bears to the total 
``controlled tonnage'' of all Participants. Because exact proportions 
may not be feasible, each Participant agrees that variances are 
permissible at the discretion of the Administrator.
    3. Clean tankers and clean tonnage shall mean tankers inspected and 
approved by DESC Quality Representatives, capable of meeting DoD 
quality standards, and able to carry refined MILSPEC petroleum 
products.
    a. Chemical tankers and tankers in dirty trade may contribute clean 
tanker capacity only after being certified as being able to meet DoD 
quality standards to carry refined MILSPEC petroleum products.
    4. ``Controlled tonnage'' shall mean tankers, including ITBs and 
ATBs of over 20,000 DWT capacity and present military usefulness in the 
transportation of refined DoD cargoes pursuant to the requirements of 
associated warplans:
    a. In which, as of the effective date of the activation of this 
Agreement, the Participant or any of its U.S. subsidiaries or 
affiliates has a controlling interest and which are registered in any 
of the following countries: The United States, Liberia, Panama, 
Honduras, the Bahamas, or the Marshall Islands; PLUS
    b. Ships which are on charter or under contract to such Participant 
for a period of six (6) months or more from the effective date of 
activation of the Agreement, regardless of flag of registry, exclusive 
of tonnage available to the Participant under contracts of 
affreightment and consecutive voyage charter; provided that, in the 
event an owner of a vessel terminates a time charter in accordance with 
a war clause, the affected tonnage will be excluded from the chartering 
Participant's controlled tonnage; PLUS
    c. Any other non-U.S.-flag tonnage which a Participant may offer to 
designate as ``controlled tonnage'' and which the Tanker Requirements 
Committee accepts; MINUS
    d. Tankers described in subparagraphs, a. and b. which are 
chartered out or under contract to others for a remaining period of six 
(6) months or more from the effective date of activation of this 
Agreement: MINUS
    e. Certain vessels which are fitted with special gear and are on 
permanent station for the storage of crude oil from a production 
platform and vessels which may have a dual role of production storage 
and transportation use to a limited location.
    5. This Agreement shall not be deemed to commit any vessel with 
respect to which the law of the country of registration requires the 
approval of the government before entering into this Agreement of 
furnishing such vessel under the terms of this Agreement until such 
time as the required approval has been obtained.
    6. The obligations of Participants to contribute clean capacity 
under the Agreement shall be calculated on a proportionate basis 
wherever possible among the Participants by the Tanker Requirements 
Committee.
    7. A vessel on charter to a Participant shall not be subject to a 
relet to the DoD in the case where the period of the relet would be 
longer than the term of the Participant's incharter or in the case 
where the relet would otherwise breach the terms of the incharter, but 
such tonnage shall be included in the calculation of the Participant's 
``controlled tonnage''.
    8. The Administrator retains the right under law to requisition 
ships of Participants. A Participant's ships which are directly 
requisitioned by the U.S. Government or which are called up pursuant to 
other U.S. Government voluntary arrangements shall be credited against 
the Participant's proportionate contribution under this Agreement. 
Ships on charter to the DoD when this Agreement is activated shall not 
be so credited.
C. Reports of Controlled Tonnage
    Twice annually, or upon request of the Administrator and in such 
form as may be requested, each Participant shall submit information as 
to ``controlled tonnage'' necessary for the carrying out of this 
Agreement. Information which a Participant identifies as privileged and 
confidential shall be withheld from public disclosure in accordance 
with Sections 708(h)(3) and 705(e) of the DPA, as amended, and 44 CFR 
Part 332.

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D. Freight Rates Under the Agreement
    1. The rate of charter hire applicable to each charter under this 
Agreement shall be the ``prevailing market rate'' effective at the time 
of the proposed loading of the vessel. The ``prevailing market rate'' 
shall be determined by the Military Sealift Command (MSC) Contracting 
Officer utilizing the price analysis techniques set forth in FAR Part 
15.4 to determine that the negotiated rates are fair and reasonable, 
utilizing market or previous contract prices. Time charter hire rates, 
for either U.S. or foreign-flag tankers, shall be expressed in terms of 
a per diem rate(s).
    2. The rate of charter hire fixed with respect to each charter 
shall apply for the entire period of the charter, except that:
    a. For a consecutive voyage charter, the rate of charter shall be 
increased or decreased to reflect increases or decreases in the price 
of bunker fuel applicable in the area of the vessel's trade;
    b. Reimbursement for increased war risk insurance premiums will be 
made in accordance with section V.E.;
E. War Risk Insurance
    1. Increased War risk insurance premiums for time chartered vessels 
will be paid by DoD or MARAD war risk insurance policies will be 
implemented.
    2. For voyage and consecutive voyage charters, the Participant will 
be reimbursed for increases in war risk insurance premiums that are 
applicable to the actual voyage but are announced after the charter 
rate is established by the broker panel.
    3. For any ship chartered under this Agreement, the SecDef may 
procure from the SecTrans war risk insurance on hull and machinery, war 
risk protection and indemnity insurance, and Second Seaman's War Risk 
Insurance, subject to 46 U.S.C. 53905 (formerly Section 1203 of the 
Merchant Marine Act, 1936).

VI. Activation of the Agreement

A. Determination of Necessity
    This Agreement may be activated at the request of The Commander 
USTRANSCOM, with the approval of SecDef, to support Contingency 
operations when there is a tanker capacity emergency. A tanker capacity 
emergency will be deemed to exist when tanker capacity required to 
support operations of U.S. forces outside the continental United States 
cannot be supplied through the commercial tanker charter market in 
accordance with applicable laws and regulations or other voluntary 
arrangements. The Administrator shall notify the Attorney General and 
the Chairman of the Federal Trade Commission, when such a finding is 
made.
B. Tanker Requirements Committee
    1. There is established a Tanker Requirements Committee (the 
``Committee'') to provide USTRANSCOM, MARAD and Participants a forum 
to:
    a. Analyze DoD Contingency tanker requirements.
    b. Identify commercial tanker capacity that may be used to meet DoD 
requirements related to Contingencies and, as requested by USTRANSCOM, 
exercises, and special movements.
    c. Develop and recommend Concepts of Operations (CONOPS) to meet 
DoD-approved Contingency requirements and, as requested by USTRANSCOM, 
exercises and special movements.
    d. Advise the Administrator on the tanker capacity that each 
Participant controls and is capable of meeting Contingency 
requirements.
    2. The Committee will be co-chaired by MARAD and USTRANSCOM and 
will convene as jointly determined by the co-chairs.
    3. The Committee will not be used for contract negotiations and/or 
contract discussions between carriers and DoD; such negotiations and/or 
discussions will be in accordance with applicable DoD contracting 
policies and procedures.
    4. The Committee will consist of designated representatives from 
MARAD, USTRANSCOM, to include Military Sealift Command, Defense Energy 
Support Center, each Participant, and maritime labor. Other attendees 
may be invited at the discretion of the co-chairs. Representatives will 
provide technical advice and support to ensure maximum coordination, 
efficiency and effectiveness in the use of Participants resources. All 
Participants will be invited to open Committee meetings. For selected 
Committee meetings, attendance may be limited to designated 
Participants to meet specific operational requirements.
    5. The Committee co-chairs shall:
    a. Notify the Attorney General, the Chairman of the Federal Trade 
Commission, and all Participants of the time, place and nature of each 
meeting and of the proposed agenda of each meeting to be held to carry 
out this Agreement:
    b. Provide for publication in the Federal Register of a notice of 
the time, place and nature of each meeting. If a meeting is open, a 
Federal Register notice will be published reasonably in advance of the 
meeting. If a meeting is closed, a Federal Register notice will be 
published within ten (10) days of the meeting and will include the 
reasons why the meeting is closed;
    c. Establish the agenda for each meeting and be responsible for 
adherence to the agenda;
    d. Provide for a written summary or other record of each meeting 
and provide copies of transcripts or other records to the Attorney 
General, the Chairman of the Federal Trade Commission, and all 
Participants; and
    e. Take necessary actions to protect confidentiality of data 
discussed with or obtained from Participants.
C. Tanker Charters
    MSC, as designated by USTRANSCOM, will deal directly with tanker 
operators in the making of charter parties and other arrangements to 
meet the defense requirement, keeping the Administrator informed. To 
reduce risk to owners and to control cost to the government, all 
government charters will be time charters, unless specifically 
designated as voyage charter by the Contracting Officer. If vessels are 
chartered between Participants, Participants will keep the 
Administrator informed. The Administrator will keep the Attorney 
General and the Chairman of the Federal Trade Commission informed of 
the actions taken under this Agreement.
D. Termination of Charters Under the Agreement
    MSC, as the contracting officer, will notify the Administrator as 
far as possible in advance of the prospective termination of the need 
for tanker capacity under this Agreement.

VII. Application and Agreement

    The Administrator has adopted and makes available a form on which 
tanker operators may apply for and become Participants in this 
Agreement (``Application and Agreement to Participate in the Voluntary 
Tanker Agreement''). The form will incorporate by reference the terms 
of this Agreement.
Application and Agreement To Participate in the Voluntary Tanker 
Agreement
    The applicant identified below hereby applies to participate in the 
Maritime Administration's agreement entitled ``Voluntary Tanker 
Agreement.'' The text of said Agreement is published in 72 FR 41099, 
July 26, 2007. This Agreement is authorized under Section 708 of the 
Defense Production Act of 1950, as amended (50 App. U.S.C.

[[Page 51697]]

2158). Regulations governing is Agreement appear at 44 CFR Part 332 and 
are reflected at 49 CFR Subtitle A.
    The applicant, if selected, hereby acknowledges and agrees to the 
incorporation by reference into this Application and Agreement of the 
entire text of the Voluntary Tanker Agreement published in 72 FR 41099, 
July 26, 2007, as though said text were physically recited herein.
    The applicant, as Participant, agrees to comply with the provisions 
of Section 708 of the Defense Production Act of 1950, as amended, the 
regulations of 44 CFR Part 332 and as reflected at 49 CFR Subtitle A, 
and the terms of the Voluntary Tanker Agreement. Further, the 
applicant, if selected as a Participant, hereby agrees to contractually 
commit to make vessels or capacity available for use by the Department 
of Defense and to other Participants for the purpose of meeting 
national defense requirements.

    By order of the Maritime Administrator.

    Dated: August 25, 2008.
Leonard Sutter,
Secretary,Maritime Administration.
 [FR Doc. E8-20392 Filed 9-3-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-81-P