[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 143 (Friday, July 25, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Page 43530]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-17611]



[[Page 43530]]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Maritime Administration


Meeting Notice (Closed)--Marine Transportation System National 
Advisory Council

AGENCY: Maritime Administration, Department of Transportation.

ACTION: Notice of closed advisory council meeting.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) and Maritime 
Administration (MARAD) announce that the Marine Transportation System 
National Advisory Council (MTSNAC) will hold a closed door meeting on 
August 14, 2014. After a review of all comments received from the 
interested public during its two national maritime symposiums, MARAD is 
now planning to provide the council a compilation of select concepts 
for further consideration. In January 2014, MARAD held a three-day 
National Maritime Strategy Symposium to discuss issues facing U.S.-flag 
vessels. The purpose of this initial public meeting was to generate 
ideas to improve, strengthen, and sustain the cargo opportunities and 
sealift capacity of the U.S.-flagged fleet engaged in international 
commercial trade. A second symposium was held in May which focused on 
domestic shipping, shipbuilding, ports and the needs of maritime 
stakeholders on the inland waterways, Great Lakes, gulf and coastwise 
trade. The August 14 meeting will be held to obtain the opinions and 
views of council members with respect to the value and impact of 
certain strategy options gathered through MARAD outreach. The input 
MARAD expects to receive from the council will be part of its on-going 
deliberations as it prepares a long term maritime strategy.

DATES: The MTSNAC closed meeting will take place August 14, 2014, from 
2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. via teleconference.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Richard Lolich, (202) 366-0704; 
Maritime Administration, MAR-540, Room W21-310, 1200 New Jersey Ave. 
SE., Washington, DC 20590-0001; [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Marine Transportation System National 
Advisory Council (MTSNAC) is a chartered, non-federal body that 
responds to requests from the Maritime Administrator to identify and 
seek solutions, provide advice and make recommendations on certain 
maritime matters. The MTSNAC is comprised of 29 leaders from commercial 
transportation firms, port and water stakeholders, labor, and Federal, 
state and local public entities. The Council provides an industry 
stakeholder and academic prospective to Departmental policies that 
affect efficient and environmentally friendly waterborne freight and 
passenger movements.
    This meeting notice is being given pursuant to section 10 of the 
Federal Advisory Committee Act of 1972. A determination, as required by 
section 10(d) of the Federal Advisory Committee Act, has been made that 
this meeting may be closed to the public in accordance with subsection 
(c)(3) of section 552b, title 5, the Government in Sunshine Act of 
1976. In this instance, the (c)(3) exemption applies because matters to 
be considered by the advisory committee concern pre-decisional and 
deliberative internal information. The policy purposes for withholding 
this sort of information from the public are 1. To encourage open, 
frank discussions on matters of policy between subordinates and 
superiors; 2. To protect against premature disclosure of proposed 
policies before they are actually adopted; and 3. To protect against 
public confusion that might result from disclosure of reasons and 
rationales that are not in fact ultimately relied on by MARAD. 
Accordingly, the meeting will not be open to the public.

    Authority: 46 U.S.C. 51312; 5 U.S.C. app. 552b; 41 CFR parts 
102-3.140 through 102-3.165)
* * * * *

    Dated: July 22, 2014.

    By Order of the Maritime Administrator.
Julie P. Agarwal,
Secretary, Maritime Administration.
[FR Doc. 2014-17611 Filed 7-24-14; 8:45 am]
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