[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 249 (Friday, December 27, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 79071-79073]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-31095]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Maritime Administration

[Docket No. MARAD-2013-0101]


National Maritime Strategy Symposium: Cargo Opportunities and 
Sealift Capacity

AGENCY: Maritime Administration, Department of Transportation.

ACTION: Notice of public meeting.

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SUMMARY: On October 28, 2013, the Maritime Administration (MARAD) 
published a notice in the Federal Register inviting the public and 
other Marine Transportation System stakeholders to participate in a 
discussion intended to develop a robust national maritime strategy. 
Stakeholders were asked to provide their ideas for improving the 
Nation's cargo opportunities and sealift capacity while ensuring future 
sustainability. After careful consideration of the views and ideas 
provided, this notice includes the public meeting agenda along with 
detailed information for those interested in attending the event in 
person, via phone, or by Internet connection.

DATES: The public meeting will be held from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., on 
January 14th and 15th, and 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. on January 16th.
    Key Date: The deadline to register to attend or speak at the 
meeting or to submit presentation materials is January 8, 2014.
    The following are other important anticipated dates and deadlines:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Deadline to register to attend the       January 8, 2014.
 public meeting in person.
Deadline to register to speak in         January 8, 2014.
 person, speak by calling in, or to
 listen only by phone.
Deadline to submit digital presentation  January 8, 2014.
 materials.
Call-in and listen-only information      January 10, 2014.
 distributed to registrants.
National Maritime Strategy Symposium-    January 14-15, 2014, 9:00 a.m.
 Public Meeting.                          to 4:30 p.m.
                                         January 16, 2014, 9:00 a.m.
                                          to12:00 p.m.
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ADDRESSES: The public meeting will be held in the U.S. Department of 
Transportation (DOT) West Atrium, located on the ground floor of 1200 
New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590. Overflow seating will be 
available in adjacent conference rooms.

    Note:  MARAD has opened a docket to assist the public in 
obtaining information and in providing comments. For on-line access 
to the MARAD Docket to read background documents or comments 
received, go to http://www.regulations.gov and query ``MARAD-2013-
0101'' at any time or visit our docket in person at Room W12-140 of 
the Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., 
Washington, DC, between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through 
Friday, except Federal Holidays. If you have questions on viewing 
the Docket, call Cheryl Collins, Program Manager, Docket Operations, 
telephone: (800) 647-5527.

    [See also Submitting Your Comments and Ideas section.]

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Christine S. Gurland, Assistant Chief 
Counsel for Legislation and Regulations, Office of Chief Counsel, MAR-
225, Maritime Administration, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, 
DC 20590; (202) 366-5157; email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    The Marine Transportation System is a core component of the United 
States' economic and national security. While it has proven to be 
strong and resilient, there is a need to improve and grow the industry 
to ensure the availability and viability of a U.S. merchant marine in 
the future. The historic strength of the United States as a maritime 
Nation relies on its global, coastal, and inland commercial fleet, its 
ports and intermodal facilities, the national security establishment, 
and the maritime workforce that supports and operates U.S.-flagged 
vessels. The purpose of this initial public meeting is to generate 
ideas that will improve, strengthen, and sustain the cargo 
opportunities and sealift capacity of the U.S.-flagged fleet engaged in 
international commercial trade. Those ideas will necessarily be focused 
on the U. S. Marine Transportation System.

Public Meeting Agenda

    NATIONAL MARITIME STRATEGY SYMPOSIUM 1--Growing the US-Flag Fleet Engaged in International Trade
                                               14-16 JANUARY 2014
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Time                       14 January 2014             15 January 2014          16 January 2014
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
0900-1030.........................  PLENARY: Growing the        PLENARY: Shipper's          PLENARY (1000-1200)
                                     International Fleet:        Perspective.                Wrap Up & Next
                                     Opportunities &                                         Steps
                                     Challenges.
1030-1200.........................  BREAKOUT SESSION 1 The Need for a US-      i>2C-Same as 2A.   continued.
                                     Flag International Fleet-
                                     National Security-
                                     Economy & Jobs.
1200-1330.........................  LUNCH/KEYNOTES............  LUNCH/KEYNOTES............  ....................
1330-1500.........................  BREAKOUT SESSIONS 2A.
                                      --Creating Cargo            --Open Session (Times
                                    Opportunities               will be allotted for
                                                                individual presentations
                                                                upon registration.)
                                      --Increasing
                                    Competiveness in
                                    International Trade
                                      --Tax, Regulation &
                                    Finance Reform
                                      --Training & Retaining
                                    the Maritime Workforce

[[Page 79072]]

 
                                      --International Issues
                                    and Agreements
1500-1630.........................  BREAKOUT SESSIONS 2B-Same As 2A.   i>3 Domestic Policies,
                                                                 Industry & Infrastructure
                                                                 Supporting the
                                                                 International Fleet.
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About the Public Meeting

    1. The Acting Maritime Administrator will preside over the public 
meeting. Senior Department and MARAD officials will also attend this 
meeting to receive comments from the public. During the meeting, we may 
ask questions that will clarify statements or gather more information 
or data to help us understand the issues raised by commenters.
    2. The meeting is designed to solicit public views and gather 
additional information, insights and experience to assist in the 
development of a National Maritime Strategy. Therefore, the meeting 
will be conducted in an informal and non-adversarial manner. To allow 
for more detailed discussion, this initial meeting will focus on the 
opportunities and challenges of growing the U.S.-flagged international 
fleet.
    3. The public meeting will be broadcast live via web streaming and 
a listen-only telephone line. The public may access the live web 
streaming by a link from http://www.marad.dot.gov. Listen-only 
telephone line participants must register in order to obtain the 
telephone number.
    4. Members of the public are invited to make comments in person at 
the venue, through a call-in number, or by entry in the MARAD Docket. 
When registering to speak in person or by telephone, please estimate 
the amount of time that you would like to use for your presentation; 
final times will be allotted to participants based on the time 
available and the issues raised.
    5. Comments are welcome at the MARAD Docket leading up to the event 
as well as during the event or on conclusion of the symposium. If you 
would like to make a comment to the docket go to http://www.regulations.gov and type in the docket number (MARAD-2013-0101) in 
the ``SEARCH'' box and then click ``SEARCH.'' Once you arrive at the 
National Maritime Strategy Symposium docket, click ``Submit a Comment'' 
and follow the guidance provided. [See also Submitting Your Comments 
and Ideas section.]
    6. To ensure that comments are most useful in informing the 
development of the U.S.-flagged international fleet as part of a 
national maritime strategy, please include the docket number (MARAD-
2013-0101), any specific citations, a detailed description of your 
concerns or ideas, and any supporting information that would assist 
MARAD in considering the issues raised. [See also Submitting Your 
Comments and Ideas section.]
    7. Those who wish to speak during the meeting are requested to 
advise, at the time of registration, what topic or topics they would 
like to comment on; amplifying information will be welcome but is not 
required. For example, comments may focus on, but are not limited to, 
the following topics: Creating Cargo Opportunities; Increasing 
Competitiveness in International Trade; Tax, Regulation & Finance 
Reform; Training & Retaining the Maritime Workforce; International 
Issues and Agreements; and Domestic Policies, Industry & Infrastructure 
Supporting the International Fleet.
    8. Any digital presentation materials for the meeting should be 
submitted to Mickalyn Valentine, Office of the Executive Director, MAR-
120, Maritime Administration, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, 
DC 20590; (202) 366-3907; [email protected] no later than 
January 8, 2014. [See Registration section for contact information.]
    9. We hope to be able to accommodate everyone who would like to 
speak at the meeting, but if there are more interested participants 
than time available, we will limit participants in order of date and 
time of registration. If available, time will be allotted to those 
attending the meeting in person to speak, even if they had not 
previously registered to speak. For those who wish to make comments, 
but for whom there is not time available or who do not wish to speak, 
it will be possible to post comments to the public docket. [See also 
Submitting Your Comments and Ideas section.]
    10. A transcript of the public meeting will be made available on 
our Web site http://www.marad.dot.gov and posted to the docket at 
http://www.regulations.gov.
    11. The recorded webcast video will remain available following the 
meeting via a link from our Web site at http://www.marad.dot.gov.

Arrival and Admission Information

    1. In-person attendees are encouraged to arrive at least 45 minutes 
prior to the meeting for processing through building security. All in-
person attendees must enter through the New Jersey Avenue entrance 
(West Building--at the corner of New Jersey Avenue SE. and M Street 
SE.). Anyone exiting the building for any reason will be required to 
re-enter through the security checkpoint at the New Jersey Avenue 
Entrance.
    2. Due to security requirements, all in-person attendees must bring 
a Government-issued form of identification (e.g., driver's license) to 
ensure access to the building. In-person attendees who have Federal 
government identification are required to register to attend due to 
space constraints. Foreign National in-person attendees must bring 
their passports with them. To facilitate security screening, all in-
person attendees are encouraged to limit bags and other items (e.g., 
mobile phones, laptops, cameras, etc.) they bring into the building.
    3. Due to space limitations no outside videotaping will be allowed.
    4. The Department of Transportation (DOT) and MARAD are not able to 
offer visitor parking; we suggest that attendees consider using 
alternative means of transportation to the building. DOT Headquarters/
MARAD is served by Metrorail (Navy Yard station), Metrobus, DC 
Circulator, and taxi service. There are a number of private parking 
lots near the DOT building, but MARAD cannot guarantee the availability 
of parking spaces.
    5. For information on facilities or services for persons with 
disabilities, or to request special assistance at the meeting, contact 
Mickalyn Valentine, Office of the Executive Director, MAR-120, Maritime 
Administration, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590; (202) 
366-3907 as soon as possible.

[[Page 79073]]

Registration

    All in-person attendees, whether or not they are planning to 
provide their views to the participants, must register with Mickalyn 
Valentine, Office of the Executive Director, Maritime Administration, 
1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590; (202) 366-3907; 
[email protected] no later than January 8, 2014. You may 
locate the symposium registration form and agenda via a link from 
MARAD's Web site at http://[email protected].
    Any person wishing to present an oral statement via telephone, or 
any person who would like to listen to the meeting over a listen-only 
telephone line must also register with Ms. Valentine by January 8, 
2014. Call-in and listen-only telephone numbers will be distributed to 
registered participants on January 10, 2014. Foreign National 
registrants must provide full name, title, country of citizenship, date 
of birth, passport number, and passport expiration date when 
registering.
    Because seating space is limited, we may have to limit the number 
of attendees in order of date and time of registration.

Submitting Your Comments and Ideas

    To ensure that comments are most useful in informing the 
development of a national
    maritime strategy, you should include the docket number (MARAD-
2013-0101), any specific citations, a detailed description of your 
concerns or ideas, and any supporting information that would assist 
MARAD in considering the issues raised.
    In order to provide the public with alternative means of providing 
feedback to MARAD in ways that may better suit their needs, we have 
provided a docket at http://www.regulations.gov to allow for 
submissions to MARAD in a less formal manner. The MARAD Docket provides 
members of the public who do not wish to make a presentation, cannot 
make a presentation, or who wish to add other comments an opportunity 
to submit their ideas.
    Comments are welcome at the MARAD Docket leading up to the event as 
well as during the event or on conclusion of the symposium. If you 
would like to make a comment on-line, go to http://www.regulations.gov 
and type in the docket number (MARAD-2013-0101) in the ``SEARCH'' box 
and then click ``SEARCH.'' Once you arrive at the National Maritime 
Strategy Symposium Docket, click ``Submit a Comment'' and follow the 
guidance provided.
    If you submit a comment or idea on-line via www.regulations.gov, 
please know that comments submitted to www.regulations.gov are not 
immediately posted to the site. It may take several business days 
before your submission will be posted on the electronic docket. If you 
have questions on viewing the Docket, call Cheryl Collins, Program 
Manager, Docket Operations, telephone: (800) 647-5527.
    In addition to providing comments on-line via www.regulations.gov, 
you may submit comments and ideas to DOT Docket Number MARAD-2013-0101 
by any of the following methods as well: Fax, Mail or Hand Delivery. 
However, please use only one means for each submission. Specific 
instructions follow:
     For submission by facsimile/Fax, transmit your comment or 
idea to (202) 493-2251. Be sure to identify the submission by DOT 
Docket Number MARAD-2013-0101.
     Submissions by Mail or Hand Delivery should go to Docket 
Management Facility, U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey 
Avenue SE., West Building, Room W12-140, Washington, DC 20590, between 
9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, except on Federal 
holidays. If you submit your inputs by mail or hand delivery, submit 
them in an unbound format, no larger than 8\1/2\ by 11 inches, suitable 
for copying and electronic filing. If you submit comments by mail and 
would like to know that they reached the facility, please enclose a 
stamped, self-addressed postcard or envelope.
    If you Fax, mail or hand deliver your input we recommend that you 
include your name and a mailing address, an email address or a 
telephone number in the body of your document so that we can contact 
you if we have questions regarding your submission.
    Note: All comments or ideas submitted for this purpose, including 
any personal information provided, will be posted without change to 
http://www.regulations.gov.

Follow-Up Action by MARAD

    Your comments will provide meaningful and significant information 
for senior DOT and MARAD officials developing the national maritime 
strategy. Following the symposium, you will be able to access the event 
transcript on-line from our docket or from a link on our home page at 
http://[email protected]. The transcript of the meeting will be a 
Maritime Administration posting entitled ``National Maritime Strategy 
Symposium 2014 Transcript.'' To access the transcript on-line at 
www.regulations.gov, go to ``SEARCH'' and enter MARAD-2013-0101 and 
click enter. You will arrive at our docket and the transcript of the 
meeting will be a Maritime Administration posting entitled ``National 
Maritime Strategy Symposium 2014 Transcript.'' Go to that posting and 
click on the attachment. MARAD will host or participate in future 
forums to discuss the domestic aspects of a national maritime strategy.

Privacy Act Statement

    Anyone is able to search all comments entered into any of our 
dockets by the name of the individual submitting the comment (or 
signing the comment, if submitted on behalf of an association, 
business, labor union, etc.). You may review DOT's complete Privacy Act 
Statement in the Federal Register published on April 11, 2000 (65 FR 
19476, 04/11/2011) or at http://www.dot.gov/privacy.html.

    Authority: 5 U.S.C. 610; E.O., 13563, 76 FR 3821, Jan. 21 2011; 
E.O. 12866, 58 FR51735, Oct. 4, 1993.
    * * *

    Dated: December 23, 2013.

    By Order of the Maritime Administrator.
T. Mitchell Hudson, Jr.,
Acting Secretary, Maritime Administration.
[FR Doc. 2013-31095 Filed 12-26-13; 8:45 am]
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