[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 144 (Monday, July 27, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 45297-45298]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-16235]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Maritime Administration


Voluntary Tanker Agreement Program; Notice of Public Meeting

AGENCY: Maritime Administration, Department of Transportation.

ACTION: Notice of public meeting.

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SUMMARY: The Maritime Administration (MARAD) announces a public meeting 
for the purpose of developing the final text of the Voluntary Tanker 
Agreement (VTA). The public meeting will be held via teleconference and 
web conference. Teleconference and web conference access information 
will be provided once meeting participants register to attend as 
provided for in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section below.

DATES: The public meeting via teleconference and web conference will 
take place on August 18, 2020 from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Eastern 
Daylight Time (EDT). Requests to participate must be received no later 
than 5:00 p.m. EDT on August 14, 2020. If you wish to speak during the 
meeting, you must submit a written copy of your remarks via email to 
[email protected] no later than August 14, 2020.
    Attendees should register with MARAD by 12:00 p.m. on August 14, 
2020 by providing their name, telephone number, email address, title, 
and organization to the person listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION 
CONTACT section below. Requests for accommodations for a disability 
must be received by August 14, 2020.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held via teleconference and web 
conference. Access information will be provided upon registration.

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. Office 
Telephone (202) 366-0688; Cell Phone (202) 570-0062, or 
[email protected]. Members of the public who wish to register, 
request accommodations for a disability, or speak during the 
teleconference, must contact Rhonda Davis at (202)-309-9775 or 
[email protected], with their contact information and affiliations 
by the timelines in the DATES section above. Once the participant has 
registered, Ms. Davis will email the participant teleconference and web 
access information unless another form of MARAD response communication 
is requested at the time of registration (e.g. by telephone).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    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. Regulations governing 
Voluntary Tanker Agreements (VTAs) appear at 44 CFR part 332. The 
proposed agreement will revise and replace the VTA that was published 
in Volume 73 of the Federal Register at page 51692 (Sept. 4, 2008).
    Because the proposed VTA 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 by contacting the 
persons listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section above. 
The complete draft text of the proposed agreement was published in the 
Federal Register on November 1, 2019, 84 FR 58824-58829. Copies of the 
draft text are also available to the public upon request.

II. Agenda

    The agenda will include: (1) Welcome, opening remarks, and 
introductions; (2) brief remarks by the Associate Administrator for 
Strategic Sealift or Director, Office of Sealift Support; (3) 
administrative items; (4) review of public docket comments; (5) oral 
participation from the public; and (6) closing remarks.

III. Public Participation

    The meeting will be open to the public.
    Public Comments: The public comment period at the meeting will 
commence at approximately 1:30 p.m. on August 18, 2020. To provide time 
for as many people to speak as possible, speaking time for each 
individual will be limited to five minutes. Speakers will be placed on 
the agenda in the order in which the notifications are received. If 
time allows, additional speakers will be permitted. Persons wishing to 
speak during public meeting should refer to the DATES section, above.
    Written comments: Written comments should be submitted via email by 
August 14, 2020. See FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section above. 
Also, MARAD is extending the period for the submission of written 
comments established in its Federal Register notice of November 1, 2019 
(84 FR 58824) from December 2, 2019 to August 14, 2020. Comments 
submitted after the August 14, 2020 will be accepted as is practical. 
Written comments submitted after the meeting may be submitted as 
follows:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://regulations.gov. 
Search MARAD-2019-0183 and follow the instructions for submitting 
comments.
     Mail: The Docket Management Facility is in the West 
Building, Ground Floor of the U.S. Department of Transportation. The 
Docket Management Facility address is: U.S.

[[Page 45298]]

Department of Transportation, MARAD-2019-0183, 1200 New Jersey Avenue 
SE, West Building, Room W12-140, Washington, DC 20590. Facility hours 
are 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, except on Federal 
holidays.
    Services for Individuals with Disabilities: The U.S. Department of 
Transportation is committed to providing equal access to this 
teleconference for all participants. If you need alternative formats or 
services because of a disability, such as sign language, 
interpretation, or other ancillary aids, please contact Rhonda Davis at 
[email protected].

(Authority: 50 U.S.C. 4558, 49 CFR 1.93(l), 44 CFR 332)

    Dated: July 22, 2020.

    By Order of the Maritime Administrator.
T. Mitchell Hudson, Jr.,
Secretary, Maritime Administration.
[FR Doc. 2020-16235 Filed 7-24-20; 8:45 am]
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