[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 164 (Thursday, August 23, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 42759-42760]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-18260]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Maritime Administration

[Docket No. MARAD-2018-0127]


Requested Administrative Waiver of the Coastwise Trade Laws: 
Vessel FREEDOM; Invitation for Public Comments

AGENCY: Maritime Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Secretary of Transportation, as represented by the 
Maritime Administration (MARAD), is authorized to grant waivers of the 
U.S.-build requirements of the coastwise trade laws to allow the 
carriage of no more than twelve passengers for hire on vessels, which 
are three years old or more. A request for such a waiver has been 
received by MARAD. The vessel, and a brief description of the proposed 
service, is listed below.

DATES: Submit comments on or before September 24, 2018.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by DOT Docket Number 
MARAD 2018-0127 by any one of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Search MARAD 2018-0127 and follow the instructions 
for submitting comments.
     Mail or Hand Delivery: Docket Management Facility is in 
the West Building, Ground Floor of the U.S. Department of 
Transportation. The Docket Management Facility location address is: 
U.S. Department of Transportation, MARAD-2018-0127, 1200 New Jersey 
Avenue SE, West Building, Room W12-140, Washington, DC 20590, between 9 
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except on Federal holidays.
    Note: If you mail or hand-deliver your comments, 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.
    Instructions: All submissions received must include the agency name 
and specific docket number. 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, see the section entitled Public Participation.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bianca Carr, U.S. Department of 
Transportation, Maritime Administration, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, 
Room W23-453, Washington, DC 20590. Telephone 202-366-9309, Email 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: As described by the applicant the intended 
service of the vessel FREEDOM is:

--Intended Commercial Use of Vessel: Conducting term charters (carrying 
passengers on coastwise passages between ports) as an uninspected 
passenger vessel, greater than 100 gross tons
--Geographic Region Including Base of Operations: ``Alabama; 
Connecticut; Delaware; Florida; Georgia; Louisiana; Maine; Maryland; 
Massachusetts; Mississippi; New Hampshire; New Jersey; New York; North 
Carolina; Pennsylvania; South Carolina; Texas;

[[Page 42760]]

Virginia'' (Base of Operations New York, NY)
--Vessel Length and Type: 118' self-propelled steel barkentine

    The complete application is available for review identified in the 
DOT docket as MARAD-2018-0127 at http://www.regulations.gov. Interested 
parties may comment on the effect this action may have on U.S. vessel 
builders or businesses in the U.S. that use U.S.-flag vessels. If MARAD 
determines, in accordance with 46 U.S.C. 12121 and MARAD's regulations 
at 46 CFR part 388, that the issuance of the waiver will have an unduly 
adverse effect on a U.S.-vessel builder or a business that uses U.S.-
flag vessels in that business, a waiver will not be granted. Comments 
should refer to the vessel name, state the commenter's interest in the 
waiver application, and address the waiver criteria given in section 
388.4 of MARAD's regulations at 46 CFR part 388.

Public Participation

How do I submit comments?

    Please submit your comments, including the attachments, following 
the instructions provided under the above heading entitled ADDRESSES. 
Be advised that it may take a few hours or even days for your comment 
to be reflected on the docket. In addition, your comments must be 
written in English. We encourage you to provide concise comments and 
you may attach additional documents as necessary. There is no limit on 
the length of the attachments.

Where do I go to read public comments, and find supporting information?

    Go to the docket online at http://www.regulations.gov., keyword 
search MARAD-2018-0127 or visit the Docket Management Facility (see 
ADDRESSES for hours of operation). We recommend that you periodically 
check the Docket for new submissions and supporting material.

Will my comments be made available to the public?

    Yes. Be aware that your entire comment, including your personal 
identifying information, will be made publicly available.

May I submit comments confidentially?

    If you wish to submit comments 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 Department of Transportation, Maritime Administration, Office of 
Legislation and Regulations, MAR-225, W24-220, 1200 New Jersey Avenue 
SE, Washington, DC 20590. Include a cover letter setting forth with 
specificity the basis for any such claim and, if possible, a summary of 
your submission that can be made available to the public.

Privacy Act

    In accordance with 5 U.S.C. 553(c), DOT solicits comments from the 
public to better inform its rulemaking process. DOT posts these 
comments, without edit, to www.regulations.gov, as described in the 
system of records notice, DOT/ALL-14 FDMS, accessible through 
www.dot.gov/privacy. To facilitate comment tracking and response, we 
encourage commenters to provide their name, or the name of their 
organization; however, submission of names is completely optional. 
Whether or not commenters identify themselves, all timely comments will 
be fully considered. If you wish to provide comments containing 
proprietary or confidential information, please contact the agency for 
alternate submission instructions.

    Authority: 49 CFR 1.93(a), 46 U.S.C. Sec.  55103, 46 U.S.C. 
Sec.  12121.
* * * * *

    Dated: August 20, 2018.

    By Order of the Maritime Administrator.
T. Mitchell Hudson, Jr.
Secretary, Maritime Administration.
[FR Doc. 2018-18260 Filed 8-22-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-81-P