[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 189 (Monday, September 30, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51710-51711]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-21215]


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

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Maritime Administration


Voluntary Intermodal Sealift Agreement--5 Year Extension

AGENCY: Maritime Administration, Department of Transportation.

ACTION: Notice.

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

SUMMARY: The Maritime Administration (MARAD) announces the extension of 
the Voluntary Intermodal Sealift Agreement (VISA) until October 1, 
2024, pursuant to section 708 of the Defense Production Act of 1950, as 
amended. The purpose of the VISA is to make intermodal shipping 
services/systems, including ships, ships' space, intermodal facilities 
and equipment, and related management services, available to the 
Department of Defense as required to support the emergency deployment 
and sustainment of U.S. Armed Forces. This is to be accomplished 
through cooperation among the maritime industry, the

[[Page 51711]]

Department of Transportation and the Department of Defense.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: William G. McDonald, Office of Sealift 
Support, Room W25-310, Maritime Administration, 1200 New Jersey Avenue 
SE, Washington, DC 20590, [email protected], (202) 366-2323, Fax 
(202) 366-5904.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant 50 U.S.C. 4558(f)(2), the VISA may 
be extended for an additional period of 5 years provided (a) the 
Maritime Administrator (Administrator) certifies by publication in the 
Federal Register that the VISA is necessary for the national defense or 
preparedness programs and (b) the Attorney General (after consultation 
with the Chairman of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC)) finds that 
such purpose may not reasonably be achieved through a voluntary 
agreement or plan of action having less anticompetitive effects or 
without any voluntary agreement.
    By this notice, the Administrator determines that conditions exist 
which may pose a direct threat to the national defense of the United 
States or its preparedness programs and certifies that the VISA, a 
standby agreement for utilization of intermodal shipping services/
systems, is necessary for the national defense or preparedness 
programs. The Attorney General, after consultation with the Chairman of 
the FTC, found the national defense or preparedness programs may not 
reasonably be achieved through a voluntary agreement or plan of action 
having less anticompetitive effects or without any voluntary agreement. 
Publication of these findings in this notice satisfies the publication 
requirements of 50 U.S.C. 4558(f). Accordingly, the VISA, as published 
in the Federal Register on October 29, 2014 (79 FR 64462), is extended 
until October 1, 2024. Current VISA participants are therefore not 
required to submit a new VISA application pursuant to this extension.
    Copies of the VISA are available to the public upon request.

    Authority:  50 U.S.C. 4558; E.O. 13603, 77 FR 16651; E.O. 12656, 
55 FR 47491; 49 CFR 1.93(l), 49 CFR 1.81(a)(10).

    Dated: September 25, 2019.

    By Order of the Maritime Administrator.
T. Mitchell Hudson, Jr.,
Secretary, Maritime Administration.
[FR Doc. 2019-21215 Filed 9-27-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-81-P