[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 78 (Wednesday, April 23, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 22758-22759]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-07673]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Maritime Administration

[Docket Number MARAD-2014-0052]


 Ship Disposal: Ex-USNS COMET

AGENCY: Maritime Administration, Department of Transportation.

ACTION: Notice: Ship Disposal Request for Comments.

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SUMMARY: The Maritime Administration (MARAD) plans to dispose of an 
obsolete vessel the ex-USNS COMET, which is currently located at its 
Suisun Bay Reserve Fleet in Benicia, California. This action 
constitutes an undertaking as defined under Section 106 of the National 
Historic Preservation Act of 1966 (16 U.S.C. 470 et seq.). Section 106 
requires Federal agencies to take into account the effects of their 
undertakings on historic properties and afford the public a reasonable 
opportunity to comment. The historic preservation review process 
mandated by Section 106 is outlined in 36 CFR Part 800 ``Protection of 
Historic Properties'' issued by the Advisory Council on Historic 
Preservation. Pursuant to 32 CFR Part 800.2(d)(2), agencies must 
provide the public with information about an undertaking and its 
effects on historic properties and seek public comment and input. If 
you have comments about the disposal of this vessel, please submit your 
comments as described in this notice.

DATES: All comments must be received on or before July 22, 2014.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by DOT Docket Number 
MARAD-2014-0052 by any of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. 
Search MARAD-2014-0052 and follow the instructions for submitting 
comments.
     Email: [email protected]. Include docket number and/or 
RIN number 2014-0052 in the subject line of the message.
     Mail: Docket Management Facility, U.S. Department of 
Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., West Building, Room W12-
140, Washington, DC 20590. If you would like to know that your comments 
reached the facility, please enclose a stamped, self-addressed postcard 
or envelope.
     Hand Delivery/Courier: Docket Management Facility, U.S. 
Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., West 
Building, Room W12-140, Washington, DC 20590. The Docket Management 
Facility is open 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, except 
on Federal holidays.

    Note:  If you mail or hand deliver your comment 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. If you 
submit your comment by mail or hand delivery, submit the comment in 
an unbound format, no larger than 8\1/2\ by 11 inches, suitable for 
copying and electronic filing.

    Instructions: All submissions received must include the agency name 
and docket number or Regulatory Information Number (RIN) for this 
rulemaking. All comments received will be posted without change to the 
docket at www.regulations.gov, including any personal information 
provided. For detailed instructions on submitting comments and 
additional information on the rulemaking process, see the section below 
entitled Public Participation.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For more information about the ex-USNS 
COMET, please visit: http://www.marad.dot.gov/documents/Comet_HAER_Report.pdf; http://www.marad.dot.gov/ships_shipping_landing_page/Ships_History/Comet.htm; and http://www.marad.dot.gov/Assets/html/usns_comet_main.html. You may contact Barbara Voulgaris, Maritime 
Administration, at (202) 366-0866, for questions relating to this 
vessel and the National Historic Preservation Act. If you have 
questions on viewing the Docket, call Cheryl Collins, Program

[[Page 22759]]

Manager, Docket Operations, telephone: (800) 647-5527.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    MARAD, in consultation with the California State Historic 
Preservation Officer, determined that the ex-USNS COMET is eligible for 
listing on the National Register of Historic Places under Criterion c. 
The ex-USNS COMET is considered to be the first purpose-built 
oceangoing ``roll-on/roll-off'' vessel. Roll-on/roll-off, or Ro/Ro, 
describes how wheeled-vehicular cargo is loaded and unloaded. This 
method was first developed during WWII for amphibious assault 
operations using short range landing craft. In the postwar period, the 
concept was refined and expanded beyond the assault class to include 
the rapid delivery by ship of vehicles carrying military supplies and 
equipment that could be immediately driven into forward staging areas. 
This eventually led to the development of the commercial Ro/Ro trade, 
particularly for cars and light trucks. The ex-USNS COMET has been 
nicknamed the ``Mother of All Ro/Ros'' in honor of its pioneering 
design.

Public Participation

    Your comments must be written and in English. To ensure that your 
comments are correctly filed in the Docket, please include the docket 
number in your comments. MARAD encourages you to provide concise 
comments. However, you may attach necessary additional documents to 
your comments. There is no limit on the length of the attachments. 
Please submit your comments, including the attachments, following the 
instructions provided under the above heading entitled ADDRESSES.
    If you wish to submit any information under a claim of 
confidentiality, you should submit three copies of your complete 
submission, including the information you claim to be confidential 
business information, to the U.S. Department of Transportation, 
Maritime Administration, Office of Legislation and Regulations, MAR-
225, W24-220, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590. When 
you send comments containing information claimed to be confidential 
information, you should include a cover letter setting forth with 
specificity the basis for any such claim.
    MARAD will consider all comments received before the close of 
business on the comment closing date indicated above under DATES. MARAD 
will not consider comments received after that date.
    For access to the docket to read background documents, including 
those referenced in this document, or to submit or read comments 
received, please go to the Docket Management Facility, U.S. Department 
of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., West Building, Room W12-
140, Washington, DC 20590. The Docket Management Facility is open 9:00 
a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, except on Federal holidays. 
To review documents, read comments or to submit comments, the docket is 
also available online at http://www.regulations.gov, keyword search 
MARAD-2014-0052.
    Please note that even after the comment period has closed, MARAD 
will continue to file relevant information in the Docket as it becomes 
available. Accordingly, MARAD recommends that you periodically check 
the Docket for new material.

Privacy Act

    Anyone is able to search the electronic form of all comments 
received 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 the DOT 
Privacy Act system of records notice for the Federal Docket Management 
System (FDMS) in the Federal Register published on January 17, 2008, 
(73 FR 3316) at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-785.pdf.

Regulation Identifier Number (RIN)

    A regulation identifier number (RIN) is assigned to each regulatory 
action listed in the Unified Agenda of Federal Regulations. The 
Regulatory Information Service Center publishes the Unified Agenda in 
April and October of each year. The RIN number contained in the heading 
of this document can be used to cross-reference this action with the 
Unified Agenda.

    Authority:  The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal 
Year 2004, Sec.  3512 of Public Law 108-136 and the National 
Historic Preservation Act, 16 U.S.C. 470 et seq.

    By Order of the Maritime Administrator.

    Dated: April 1, 2014.
Julie P. Agarwal,
Secretary, Maritime Administration.
[FR Doc. 2014-07673 Filed 4-22-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-81-P