[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 229 (Wednesday, November 27, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 65458-65459]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-25710]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Maritime Administration

[Docket Number MARAD-2019-0193]


Waiver Request for Aquaculture Support Operations for the 2020 
Calendar Year: COLBY PERCE, RONJA CARRIER, SADIE JANE, MISS MILDRED 1, 
KC COMMANDER

AGENCY: Maritime Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to a delegation of authority from the Secretary of 
Transportation, the Maritime Administrator is authorized to issue 
waivers allowing documented vessels with registry endorsements or 
foreign flag vessels to be used in operations that treat aquaculture 
fish or protect aquaculture fish from disease, parasitic infestation, 
or other threats to their health when suitable vessels of the United 
States are not available that could perform those services. A request 
for such a waiver has been received by the Maritime Administration 
(MARAD). This notice is being published to solicit comments intended to 
assist MARAD in determining whether suitable vessels of the United 
States are available that could perform the required services. If no 
suitable U.S.-flag vessels are available, the Maritime Administrator 
may issue a waiver in accordance with USCG regulations on Aquaculture. 
A brief description of the proposed aquaculture support service is 
listed in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section below.

DATES: Submit comments on or before December 27, 2019.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by DOT Docket Number 
MARAD-2019-0193 by any of the following methods:
     On-line via the Federal Electronic Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. Search using ``MARAD-2019-0193'' and follow the 
instructions for submitting comments.
     Mail/Hand-Delivery/Courier: Docket Management Facility; 
U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Room W12-
140, Washington, DC 20590. Submit comments in an unbound format, no 
larger than 8\1/2\ by 11 inches, suitable for copying and electronic 
filing.
    Reference Materials and Docket Information: You may view the 
complete application, including the aquaculture support technical 
service requirements, and all public comments at the DOT Docket on-line 
via http://www.regulations.gov. Search using ``MARAD-2019-0193.'' All 
comments received will be posted without change to the docket, 
including any personal information provided. The Docket Management 
Facility is open 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, except 
on Federal holidays.

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]. If you have questions on viewing the Docket, call 
Docket Operations, telephone: (800) 647-5527.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: As a result of the enactment of the Coast 
Guard Authorization Act of 2010, codified at 46 U.S.C. 12102, the 
Secretary of Transportation has the discretionary authority to issue 
waivers allowing documented vessels with registry endorsements or 
foreign flag vessels to be used in operations that treat aquaculture 
fish for or protect aquaculture fish from disease, parasitic 
infestation, or other threats to their health when suitable vessels of 
the United States are not available that could perform those services. 
The Secretary has delegated this authority to the Maritime 
Administrator. Pursuant to this authority, MARAD is providing notice of 
the service requirements proposed by Cooke Aquaculture (Cooke) in order 
to make a U.S.-flag vessel availability determination. Specifics can be 
found in Cooke's application letter posted in the docket.
    To comply with USCG Aquaculture Support regulations at 46 CFR part 
106, Cooke is seeking a MARAD Aquaculture Waiver to operate the 
vessels, COLBY PERCE, RONJA CARRIER, SADIE JANE, MISS MILDRED 1 and the 
KC COMMANDER as follows:

--Intended Commercial Use of Vessel: ``to use highly-specialized 
foreign-flag vessels referred to as a ``wellboat'' (or ``live fish 
carrier'') to treat Cooke's swimming inventory of farmed Atlantic 
salmon in the company's salt-water grow-out pens off Maine's North 
Atlantic Coast. This treatment prevents against parasitic infestation 
by sea lice that is highly destructive to the salmon's health.''
--Geographic Region: ``off Maine's North Atlantic Coast''
--Requested Time Period: ``2020 calendar year, from January 1, 2020 to 
December 31, 2020''

    Interested parties may submit comments providing detailed 
information relating to the availability of U.S.-flag vessels to 
perform the required aquaculture support services. If MARAD determines, 
in accordance with 46 U.S.C. 12102(d)(1) and MARAD's regulations at 46 
CFR part 388, that suitable U.S.-flag vessels are available to perform 
the required services, a waiver will not be granted. Comments should 
refer to the docket number of this notice and the vessel name in order 
for MARAD to properly consider the comments. Comments should also state 
the commenter's interest in the waiver application, and address the 
waiver criteria set forth in 46 CFR 388.4.

Privacy Act

    In accordance with 5 U.S.C. 553(c), MARAD solicits comments from 
the public to inform its process to determine the availability of 
suitable vessels. 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. In order 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

[[Page 65459]]

the agency for alternate submission instructions.

(Authority: 49 CFR 1.93(w))
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    Dated: November 21, 2019.
    By Order of the Maritime Administrator.

T. Mitchell Hudson, Jr.,
Secretary, Maritime Administration.
[FR Doc. 2019-25710 Filed 11-26-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-81-P