[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 212 (Friday, November 1, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58824-58829]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-23908]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Maritime Administration

[Docket Number MARAD-2019-0183]


Renewal of the Voluntary Tanker Agreement Program; Agreement 
Development Proposal

AGENCY: Maritime Administration, Department of Transportation.

ACTION: Notice of availability; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The Maritime Administration (MARAD) is developing a voluntary 
agreement necessary to renew the Voluntary Tanker Agreement Program, 
pursuant to the authority contained in Section 708 of the Defense 
Production Act of 1950 (DPA), as amended. This notice invites comments 
on the draft proposed Voluntary Tanker Agreement (VTA). The proposed 
text is intended to replace the Agreement as it was last published in 
Volume 73 of the Federal Register at page 51692 (September 4, 2008). 
Because the proposed agreement will contain changes, both former and 
new participants must submit a new application once the final text is 
published. VTA applications are available from MARAD. The complete, 
draft text of the VTA is published below. Copies of the draft text are 
also available to the public upon request. MARAD will hold an open 
meeting for the purpose of developing the final text of the VTA at its 
headquarters located at 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 
20590. MARAD will announce the open meeting by publication in the 
Federal Register.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before December 2, 2019. MARAD 
will consider comments filed after this date to the extent practicable.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by DOT Docket Number 
MARAD-2019- 0183 any one of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Search MARAD-2019-0183 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-2019-0183, 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

[[Page 58825]]

submitting comments, see the section entitled Public Participation.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: William G. McDonald, Director, Office 
of Sealift Support, U.S. Department of Transportation, Maritime 
Administration, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590. 
Telephone (202) 366-0688; Fax (202) 366-5904, or 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

DRAFT Text of the Proposed Voluntary Tanker Agreement

Table of Contents

Preface
I. Purpose
II. Authorities
    A. Maritime Administration
    B. U.S. Transportation Command
III. General
    A. Participation
    B. Effective Date and Duration of Participation
    C. Withdrawal From the Agreement
    D. Rules and Regulations
    E. Amendment of the Agreement
    F. Administrative Expenses
    G. Recordkeeping
    H. Requisition of Ships of Non-Participants
    I. Waivers
    J. Temporary Replacement Vessel
IV. Antitrust Defense
V. Terms and Conditions
    A. Agreement by Participants
    B. Proportionate Contribution of Capacity
    C. Reports of Controlled Tonnage
    D. Freight Rates Under the Agreement
    E. War Risk Insurance
VI. Activation of Agreement
    A. Determination of Necessity
    B. Tanker Requirements Committee
    C. Tanker Charters
    D. Termination of Charters Under the Agreement
VII. Application and Agreement

Preface

    Pursuant to the authority contained in Section 708 of the Defense 
Production Act of 1950 (DPA), as amended (50 U.S.C. 4558), the Maritime 
Administrator (Administrator), after consultation with the Department 
of Defense (DoD) and representatives of the tanker industry, has 
developed this Voluntary Tanker Agreement (VTA). The Agreement 
establishes the terms, conditions, and procedures under which 
Participants agree voluntarily to make tankers available to DoD. The 
Agreement further affords Participants defenses to civil and criminal 
actions for violations of antitrust laws when carrying out the 
Agreement. The Agreement is designed to create a close working 
relationship among the Administrator, the Commander, U.S. 
Transportation Command (the DoD-designated representative for purposes 
of this Agreement), and the Participants through which DoD requirements 
and the needs of the civil economy can be met through cooperative 
action. The Agreement affords Participants flexibility to respond to 
defense requirements and adjust their commercial operations to minimize 
disruption whenever possible.
    The Secretary of Defense (SecDef) has approved this Agreement as an 
Emergency Preparedness Program (EPP) pursuant to 46 U.S.C. 53107.
    This Agreement replaces the VTA that was published in Volume 73 of 
the Federal Register at page 51692 (Sept. 4, 2008). Because this 
replacement contains new substantive provisions, those wishing to 
participate in the Agreement shall submit new applications.

Voluntary Tanker Agreement

I. Purpose

    The Administrator has determined, in accordance with Section 
708(c)(1) of the DPA, that conditions exist which may pose a direct 
threat to the national defense of the United States or its preparedness 
programs and, under the provisions of Section 708, has certified to the 
Attorney General of the United States (Attorney General) that a standby 
agreement for the utilization of tanker capacity is necessary for the 
national defense. The Attorney General, in consultation with the 
Chairman of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), has issued a finding 
that tanker capacity to meet national defense requirements cannot be 
provided by the industry through a voluntary agreement having fewer 
anticompetitive effects or without a voluntary agreement.
    The purpose of the Agreement is to provide a responsive transition 
from peace to contingency operations through procedures agreed upon in 
advance to provide tanker capacity to support DoD contingency 
requirements. The Agreement establishes procedures for the commitment 
of tanker capacity to satisfy such requirements. The Agreement is 
intended to promote and facilitate DoD's use of existing commercial 
tanker resources in a manner which minimizes disruption to commercial 
operations whenever possible.
    The Agreement will change from standby to active status upon 
activation by appropriate authority as described in Section VI.

II. Authorities

A. Maritime Administration (MARAD)

    1. Section 708, DPA (50 U.S.C. 4558); 46 U.S.C. 53107; Executive 
Order (E.O.) 13603, 77 FR 16651 (March 22, 2012); 49 CFR 1.93 (l).
    2. Section 401 of E.O. 13603, delegated the authority of the 
President under Section 708 of the DPA to the Secretary of 
Transportation (SecTrans), among others. SecTrans delegated to the 
Administrator the authority under which the Voluntary Tanker Agreement 
is sponsored in 49 CFR 1.93(l).

B. U.S. Transportation Command (USTRANSCOM)

    1. Sections 113, 161-169 of Title 10 of the United States Code.
    2. DoD Directive 5158.4 designating Commander USTRANSCOM to provide 
air, land, and sea transportation for the DoD.

III. General

A. Participation

    1. Operators of tanker vessels greater than 20,000 deadweight tons 
(DWT) may become Participants in this Agreement by submitting an 
executed copy of the form specified in Section VII of this Agreement 
that is approved by MARAD.
    2. Operators of Integrated Tug-Barges (ITBs) and Articulated Tug-
Barges (ATBs) greater than 20,000 DWT may become Participants in this 
Agreement by submitting an executed copy of the form specified in 
Section VII of this Agreement that is approved by MARAD.
    3. Operators of tankers or ITB and ATB vessels of less than 20,000 
deadweight tons may also submit an application and become Participants 
if such vessels are deemed to meet U.S. national security requirements 
or the needs of MARAD and the U.S. Transportation Command, and MARAD 
accepts the application.
    4. For the purposes of this Agreement, ``Participant'' includes the 
corporate entity entering into this Agreement and all United States 
subsidiaries and affiliates of that entity which own or operate ships 
in the course of their regular business and in which that entity has 
more than fifty (50) percent control either by stock ownership or 
otherwise.
    5. A list of Participants will be published annually in the Federal 
Register.
    6. For the purposes of this Agreement, ``Operator'' shall mean a 
person that either owns and controls an eligible vessel or that 
charters and operates an eligible vessel through a demise charter that 
transfers virtually all the rights and obligations of the vessel owner 
to the demise charterer, such as that of crewing, supplying, 
maintaining, insuring, and navigating the vessel.

[[Page 58826]]

B. Effective Date and Duration of Participation

    This Agreement is effective upon execution of the application form 
(see Section VII below) by the Participant and the Administrator or 
their authorized designees and shall remain in effect until terminated 
in accordance with 44 CFR 332.4.

C. Withdrawal From the Agreement

    Participants may withdraw from this Agreement, subject to the 
fulfillment of obligations incurred under the Agreement prior to the 
date such withdrawal becomes effective, by giving written notice to the 
Administrator. Withdrawal from this Agreement will not deprive a 
Participant of an antitrust defense otherwise available to it in 
accordance with Section 708 of the DPA for the fulfillment of 
obligations incurred prior to withdrawal.

D. Rules and Regulations

    Participants acknowledge and agree to abide by all provisions of 
Section 708 of the DPA, as amended, and regulations related thereto 
which are promulgated by the SecTrans, the Attorney General, the FTC, 
and the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Standards and procedures 
pertaining to voluntary agreements have been promulgated in 44 CFR part 
332. The Administrator shall inform Participants of new rules and 
regulations as they are issued.

E. Amendment of the Agreement

    1. The Attorney General may modify this Agreement, in writing, 
after consultation with the Chairman of the FTC, SecTrans, through her 
representative MARAD, and SecDef, through his representative, Commander 
USTRANSCOM. The Administrator, Commander USTRANSCOM, and Participants 
may modify this Agreement at any time by mutual agreement, but only in 
writing with the approval of the Attorney General and the Chairman of 
the FTC.
    2. A Participant may propose amendments to the Agreement at any 
time.

F. Administrative Expenses

    Administrative and out-of-pocket expenses incurred by Participants 
shall be borne solely by Participants.

G. Record Keeping

    1. MARAD and the DoD have primary responsibility for maintaining 
records in accordance with 44 CFR part 332.
    2. The Director, Office of Sealift Support, MARAD, shall be the 
official custodian of records related to the carrying out of this 
Agreement, except records of direct dealings between the DoD and 
Participants.
    3. For direct dealings between the DoD and Participants, the 
designee of the SecDef shall be the official custodian of records, but 
the Director, Office of Sealift Support, MARAD shall have complete 
access thereto.
    4. In accordance with 44 CFR 332.3(d), each Participant shall 
maintain for five years all minutes of meetings, transcripts, records, 
documents, and other data, including any communications with other 
Participants or with any other member of the industry, related to the 
carrying out of this Agreement. Each Participant agrees to make 
available to the Administrator, the Commander USTRANSCOM, the Attorney 
General, and the Chairman of the FTC for inspection and copying at 
reasonable times and upon reasonable notice any item that this section 
requires the Participant to maintain. Any record maintained under this 
section shall be available for public inspection and copying, unless 
exempted on the grounds specified in 5 U.S.C. 552(b)(1), (3) or (4) or 
identified as privileged and confidential information in accordance 
with Section 705(e) of the DPA, as amended, and 44 CFR part 332.5.

H. Requisition of Ships of Non-Participants

    The Administrator, upon Presidential authorization, may requisition 
ships of non-Participants to supplement capacity made available for 
defense operations under this Agreement and to balance the economic 
burden of defense support among companies operating in U.S. trade. Non-
Participant owners of requisitioned tankers shall not participate in 
the Tanker Requirements Committee and shall not enjoy the immunities 
provided by this Agreement.

I. Waivers

    In situations where the activation of the Agreement deprives a 
Participant of all or a portion of its [U.S. coastwise qualified vessel 
capacity] and, at the same time, creates a general shortage of U.S. 
coastwise qualified vessel capacity on the market, the Administrator 
may request that the Assistant Commissioner, Office of Regulations and 
rulings, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Department of Homeland 
Security, grant a temporary waiver pursuant to section 501 of title 46, 
to permit a Participant to charter or otherwise utilize non-U.S. 
coastwise qualified vessel capacity. The capacity for which such 
waivers are requested will be approximately equal to the U.S. coastwise 
qualified vessel capacity chartered to the DoD. Any waiver that may be 
granted pursuant to this paragraph shall be effective for the period 
that the U.S. coastwise qualified vessel capacity is on charter to the 
DoD plus a reasonable time for termination of the replacement capacity 
charters as determined by the Administrator.

J. Temporary Replacement Vessel

    Notwithstanding 10 U.S.C. 2631, 46 U.S.C. 55304, 55305, 55312 or 
any other cargo preference law of the United States--
    1. A Participant that is also a contractor under the Maritime 
Security Program, 46 U.S.C. 53101, et seq., (MSP) may operate or employ 
in foreign commerce a foreign-flag vessel or foreign-flag vessel 
capacity as a temporary replacement for a United States-documented 
vessel or United States-documented vessel capacity that is activated by 
the SecDef under this Agreement.
    2. Such replacement vessel or vessel capacity shall be eligible 
during the replacement period to transport preference cargoes subject 
to 10 U.S.C. 2631, and 46 U.S.C. 55304, 55305, or 55312 to the same 
extent as the eligibility of the vessel or vessel capacity replaced.

IV. Antitrust Defense

    Under the provisions of Subsection 708(j) of the DPA, each 
Participant in this Agreement shall have available as a defense to any 
civil or criminal action brought for violation of the antitrust laws 
with respect to any act or omission to act to develop or carry out this 
Agreement, that such act or omission to act was taken by the 
Participant in the course of developing or carrying out this Agreement, 
that the Participant fully complied with the provisions of the DPA and 
the rules promulgated thereunder, and that the Participant acted in 
accordance with the terms of this Agreement. This defense shall not be 
available to the Participant for any act or omission occurring after 
the termination of this Agreement, nor shall it be available, upon the 
modification of this Agreement, with respect to any subsequent act or 
omission that is beyond the scope of the modified Agreement, except 
that no such termination or modification shall be accomplished in a way 
that will deprive Participants of this antitrust defense for the 
fulfillment of obligations incurred. This defense shall be available 
only if and to the extent that the Participants asserting it 
demonstrate that the action, which includes a discussion or agreement, 
was within the scope of the Agreement. The person asserting the

[[Page 58827]]

defense bears the burden of proof. The defense shall not be available 
if the person against whom it is asserted shows that the action was 
taken for the purpose of violating the antitrust laws of the United 
States.

V. Terms and Conditions

A. Agreement by Participants

    1. Each Participant agrees to contribute tanker capacity as 
requested by the Administrator in accordance with Section V. B. below 
at such times and in such amounts as the Administrator, as requested by 
DoD, shall determine to be necessary to meet the essential needs of the 
DoD for the transportation of DoD petroleum and petroleum products in 
bulk by sea.
    2. Each Participant further agrees to make tankers and tanker 
capacity available to other Participants when requested by the 
Administrator, on the advice of the Tanker Requirements Committee, in 
order to ensure that contributions to meet DoD requirements are made on 
a proportionate basis whenever possible or to ensure that no 
participating tanker operator is disproportionately hampered in meeting 
the needs of the civil economy.

B. Proportionate Contribution of Capacity

    1. Any entity receiving payments under the MSP shall become a 
Participant with respect to all tankers enrolled in the MSP at all 
times until the date the MSP operating agreement would have terminated 
according to 46 U.S.C. 53104(a). Such participation shall satisfy the 
requirement for an MSP participant to be enrolled in an emergency 
preparedness program approved by SecDef as provided in 46 U.S.C. 53107.
    2. Participants hereto not receiving MSP payments under the MSP, 
agree to contribute tanker capacity under the Agreement in the 
proportion that its ``controlled tonnage'' bears to the total 
``controlled tonnage'' of all Participants. Because exact proportions 
may not be feasible, each Participant agrees that variances are 
permissible at the discretion of the Administrator.
    3. ``Clean Tankers'' and ``Clean Tonnage'' shall mean tankers that 
are inspected and approved by DLA Energy Quality Assurance 
Representatives (QAR), capable of meeting DoD quality standards, and 
able to carry refined petroleum products.
    a. Chemical tankers and tankers in dirty trade may contribute Clean 
Tanker capacity only after being certified as being able to meet DoD 
quality standards to carry refined petroleum products to meet DoD 
requirements.
    4. ``Controlled Tonnage'' shall mean tankers, ITBs, and ATBs of 
over 20,000 DWT capacity, which are:
    a. Militarily useful in the transportation of refined DoD cargoes 
pursuant to the requirements of associated warplans;
    b. Vessels in which, as of the effective date of the activation of 
this Agreement, the Participant or any of its U.S. subsidiaries or 
affiliates has a controlling interest and which are registered in any 
of the following countries: The United States, Liberia, Panama, 
Honduras, the Bahamas, or the Marshall Islands; and shall include:
    i. Vessels on charter or under contract to such Participant for a 
period of six (6) months or more from the effective date of activation 
of the Agreement, regardless of flag of registry, exclusive of tonnage 
available to the Participant under contracts of affreightment and 
consecutive voyage charter; provided that, in the event an owner of a 
vessel terminates a time charter in accordance with a war clause, the 
affected tonnage will be excluded from the chartering Participant's 
Controlled Tonnage; and
    ii. Any other non-U.S.-flag tonnage which a Participant may offer 
to designate as Controlled Tonnage and which the Tanker Requirements 
Committee accepts;
    c. And shall not include:
    i. Tankers described in subparagraph b. which are chartered out or 
under contract to others for a remaining period of six (6) months or 
more from the effective date of activation of this Agreement; or
    ii. Certain vessels which are fitted with special gear and are on 
permanent station for the storage of crude oil from a production 
platform and vessels which may have a dual role of production storage 
and transportation use to a limited location.
    5. This Agreement shall not be deemed to commit any vessel with 
respect to which the law of the country of registration requires the 
approval of the government before entering into this Agreement of 
furnishing such vessel under the terms of this Agreement until such 
time as the required approval has been obtained.
    6. The obligations of Participants to contribute Clean Tanker 
capacity under the Agreement shall be calculated on a proportionate 
basis wherever possible among the Participants by the Tanker 
Requirements Committee.
    7. A vessel on charter to a Participant shall not be subject to a 
relet to the DoD in the case where the period of the relet would be 
longer than the term of the Participant's charter or in the case where 
the relet would otherwise breach the terms of the charter, but such 
tonnage shall be included in the calculation of the Participant's 
Controlled Tonnage.
    8. The Administrator retains the right under law to requisition 
ships of Participants. A Participant's ships which are directly 
requisitioned by the U.S. Government or which are called up pursuant to 
other U.S. Government voluntary arrangements shall be credited against 
the Participant's proportionate contribution under this Agreement. 
Ships on charter to the DoD when this Agreement is activated shall not 
be so credited.

C. Reports of Controlled Tonnage

    Twice annually, or upon request of the Administrator and in such 
form as may be requested, each Participant shall submit information as 
to ``controlled tonnage'' necessary for the carrying out of this 
Agreement. Information which a Participant identifies as privileged and 
confidential shall be withheld from public disclosure in accordance 
with Sections 708(h)(3) (50 U.S.C. 4558) and 705(e) (50 U.S.C. 4555) of 
the DPA, as amended, and 44 CFR part 332.5.

D. Freight Rates Under the Agreement

    1. The rate of charter hire applicable to each charter under this 
Agreement shall be the ``prevailing market rate'' effective at the time 
of the proposed loading of the vessel. The ``prevailing market rate'' 
shall be determined by the Military Sealift Command (MSC) Contracting 
Officer utilizing the price analysis techniques set forth in FAR Part 
15.4 to determine that the negotiated rates are fair and reasonable, 
utilizing market or previous contract prices. Time charter hire rates, 
for either U.S. or foreign-flag tankers, shall be expressed in terms of 
a per diem rate(s).
    2. The rate of charter hire fixed with respect to each charter 
shall apply for the entire period of the charter, except that:
    a. For a consecutive voyage charter, the rate of charter shall be 
increased or decreased to reflect increases or decreases in the price 
of bunker fuel applicable in the area of the vessel's trade; and
    b. Reimbursement for increased war risk insurance premiums will be 
made in accordance with Section V.E.

E. War Risk Insurance

    1. Increased War risk insurance premiums for time chartered vessels 
will be paid by DoD, or MARAD war risk insurance policies will be 
implemented.
    2. For voyage and consecutive voyage charters, the Participant 
shall be

[[Page 58828]]

reimbursed for increases in war risk insurance premiums that are 
applicable to the actual voyage but are announced after the charter 
rate is established by the broker panel.
    3. For any ship chartered under this Agreement, the SecDef may 
procure from the SecTrans war risk insurance on hull and machinery, war 
risk protection and indemnity insurance, and Second Seaman's War Risk 
Insurance, subject to 46 U.S.C. 53905.

VI. Activation of the Agreement

A. Determination of Necessity

    This Agreement may be activated at the request of the Commander 
USTRANSCOM, with the approval of SecDef, to support Contingency 
operations when there is a tanker capacity emergency. A tanker capacity 
emergency shall be deemed to exist when the Commander USTRANSCOM finds 
that tanker capacity required to support operations of U.S. forces 
outside the continental United States cannot be supplied through the 
commercial tanker charter market in accordance with applicable laws and 
regulations or other voluntary arrangements. The Administrator shall 
notify the Attorney General and the Chairman of the FTC when such a 
finding is made.

B. Tanker Requirements Committee

    1. There is established a Tanker Requirements Committee (the 
``Committee'') to provide USTRANSCOM, MARAD, and Participants a forum 
to:
    a. Analyze DoD Contingency tanker requirements;
    b. Identify commercial tanker capacity that may be used to meet DoD 
requirements related to Contingencies and, as requested by USTRANSCOM, 
exercises and special movements;
    c. Develop and recommend Concepts of Operations (CONOPS) to meet 
DoD-approved Contingency requirements and, as requested by USTRANSCOM, 
exercises and special movements; and
    d. Advise the Administrator on the tanker capacity that each 
Participant controls which is capable of meeting Contingency 
requirements.
    2. The Committee will be co-chaired by MARAD and USTRANSCOM and 
will convene as jointly determined by the co-chairs.
    3. The Committee will not be used for contract negotiations and/or 
contract discussions between carriers and DoD; such negotiations and/or 
discussions will be in accordance with applicable DoD contracting 
policies and procedures.
    4. The Committee will consist of designated representatives from 
MARAD, USTRANSCOM, to include Military Sealift Command, Defense 
Logistics Agency-Energy, each Participant, and maritime labor. Other 
attendees may be invited at the discretion of the co-chairs. 
Representatives will provide technical advice and support to ensure 
maximum coordination, efficiency, and effectiveness in the use of 
Participants' resources. All Participants will be invited to open 
Committee meetings. For selected Committee meetings, attendance may be 
limited to designated Participants to meet specific operational 
requirements.
    5. The Committee co-chairs shall:
    a. Notify the Attorney General, the Chairman of the FTC, and all 
Participants of the time, place, and nature of each meeting and of the 
proposed agenda of each meeting to be held to carry out this Agreement;
    b. Provide for publication in the Federal Register of a notice of 
the time, place, and nature of each meeting. If a meeting is open, a 
Federal Register notice will be published reasonably in advance of the 
meeting. If a meeting is closed, a Federal Register notice will be 
published within ten (10) days of the meeting and will include the 
reasons why the meeting is closed;
    c. Establish the agenda for each meeting and be responsible for 
adherence to the agenda;
    d. Provide for a written summary or other record of each meeting 
and provide copies of transcripts or other records to the Attorney 
General, the Chairman of the FTC, and all Participants; and
    e. Take necessary actions to protect from public disclosure any 
data discussed with or obtained from Participants which a Participant 
has identified as privileged and confidential in accordance with 
Sections 708(h)(3) and 705(e) of the DPA, as amended, or which 
qualifies for withholding under 44 CFR part 332.5.

C. Tanker Charters

    MSC, as designated by USTRANSCOM, will deal directly with tanker 
operators in the making of charter parties and other arrangements to 
meet the defense requirement, keeping the Administrator informed. To 
reduce risk to owners and to control cost to the government, all 
government charters shall be time charters, unless specifically 
designated as voyage charters by the Contracting Officer. If vessels 
are chartered between Participants, Participants shall keep the 
Administrator informed. The Administrator shall keep the Attorney 
General and the Chairman of the FTC informed of the actions taken under 
this Agreement.

D. Termination of Charters Under the Agreement

    MSC, as the contracting officer, shall notify the Administrator as 
far as possible in advance of the prospective termination of the need 
for tanker capacity under this Agreement.

VII. Application and Agreement

    The Administrator has adopted and makes available a form on which 
tanker operators may apply for and become Participants in this 
Agreement (``Application and Agreement to Participate in the Voluntary 
Tanker Agreement''). The form shall incorporate by reference the terms 
of this Agreement.

Application and Agreement To Participate in the Voluntary Tanker 
Agreement

    The applicant identified below hereby applies to participate in the 
Maritime Administration's agreement entitled ``Voluntary Tanker 
Agreement.'' The text of said Agreement is published in __ Federal 
Register ___, ___, 2018. This Agreement is authorized under Section 708 
of the Defense Production Act of 1950, as amended. Regulations 
governing this Agreement appear at 44 CFR part 332 and as reflected at 
49 CFR 1.93(l).
    The applicant, if selected, hereby acknowledges and agrees to the 
incorporation by reference into this Application and Agreement of the 
entire text of the Voluntary Tanker Agreement published in __ Federal 
Register ___, ___, 2019, as though said text were physically recited 
herein.
    The applicant, as Participant, agrees to comply with the provisions 
of Section 708 of the Defense Production Act of 1950, as amended, the 
regulations of 44 CFR part 332 and as reflected at 49 CFR 1.93(l), and 
the terms of the Voluntary Tanker Agreement. Further, the applicant, if 
selected as a Participant, hereby agrees to contractually commit to 
make vessels or capacity available for use by the Department of Defense 
and to other Participants for the purpose of meeting national defense 
requirements.

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(Corporate Secretary)

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(Applicant-Corporate Name)

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(Name, please print)

(CORPORATE SEAL or Notary)

By:--------------------------------------------------------------------

[[Page 58829]]

(Signature)

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(Position Title, please print)

Effective Date:--------------------------------------------------------

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION MARITIME 
ADMINISTRATION

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(MARAD Secretary)

By:--------------------------------------------------------------------
Maritime Administrator

(SEAL)
* * * * *

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.
    Please note that even after the comment period has closed, MARAD 
will continue to file relevant information in the Docket as it becomes 
available.

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-2019-0183 or visit us in person at 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, W24-302, 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: 50 U.S.C. 4558, 49 CFR 1.93(a) and (l), 44 CFR 332.
* * * * *

    Dated: October 29, 2019.

    By Order of the Maritime Administrator.
T. Mitchell Hudson, Jr.,
Secretary, Maritime Administration.
[FR Doc. 2019-23908 Filed 10-31-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-81-P