[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 165 (Tuesday, August 26, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Page 50981]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-20305]


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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 Department of Transportation and the Maritime 
Administration (MARAD) announces that the Marine Transportation System 
National Advisory Council (MTSNAC) will meet on September 11, 2014. 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. This meeting 
will be closed pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 552b(c)(3) in order to deliberate 
on pre-decisional Agency policy documents containing selected concepts 
submitted to MARAD from interested members of the public during the two 
symposiums and as comments in response to meeting notices published in 
the Federal Register to facilitate the development of a National 
Maritime Strategy (NMS). The input MARAD receives from the Council will 
be part of its on-going deliberations as it prepares a long term 
maritime strategy. As this national maritime strategy develops, MARAD 
will continue to provide additional opportunities for the public to 
comment.

DATES: The meeting will be held on Thursday, September 11, 2014, from 
8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held in the Media Center at the U.S. 
Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Ave. SE., Washington, DC 
20590.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Richard Lolich, (202) 366-0704; 
Maritime Administration, 1200 New Jersey Ave. SE., MAR-540, Room W21-
310, 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 a broad maritime 
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 Government information. The policy purposes for 
withholding this sort of information from the public are 1. To 
encourage open and frank discussions on matters of MARAD policy between 
subordinates and superiors; 2. To protect against premature disclosure 
of proposed MARAD 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, this meeting will not be open to the public.

    Authority:  46 U.S.C. 51312; 5 U.S.C. 552b; 41 CFR parts 102-
3.140 through 102-3.165; 5 U.S.C. app. Sections 1-16.
* * * * *

    By Order of the Maritime Administrator.

    Dated: August 21, 2014.
Thomas M. Hudson,
Secretary, Maritime Administration.
[FR Doc. 2014-20305 Filed 8-25-14; 8:45 am]
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