[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 185 (Monday, September 26, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58432-58433]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-20755]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Office of the Secretary

[Docket No. DOT-OST-2022-0102]


Use of Inland Ports for Storage and Transfer of Cargo Containers

ACTION: Notice of request for information.

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SUMMARY: This notice requests comments and information from 
representatives from across the supply chain, as well as the general 
public, pertaining to the feasibility of, and strategies for, 
identifying Federal and non-Federal sites for storage and transfer of 
cargo containers, to assist the Department of Transportation in 
preparing the report required by Section 24 of the Ocean Shipping 
Reform Act (OSRA), which was signed into law on June 16, 2022.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before October 26, 2022. DOT 
will consider comments filed after this date to the extent practicable.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by Docket Number DOT-OST-
2022-0102 by any of the following methods:
     Electronic Submission: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. 
Search by using the docket number (provided above). Follow the 
instructions for submitting comments on the electronic docket site.
     Mail: Docket Management Facility; U.S. Department of 
Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, West Building, Ground Floor 
(W12-140), Washington, DC 20590-0001.
     Hand Delivery: W12-140 of the Department of 
Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC, between 9 
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal Holidays.
    Instructions: All submissions must include the agency name and 
docket numbers.

    Note:  All comments received, including any personal 
information, will be posted

[[Page 58433]]

without change to the docket and is accessible via http://www.regulations.gov. Input submitted online via www.regulations.gov 
is not immediately posted to the site. It may take several business 
days before your submission is posted.


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: [email protected] or Brandon 
White at 202-366-4829.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    On June 16, 2022, President Biden signed into law S. 3580, the 
Ocean Shipping Reform Act of 2022 (OSRA). Section 24 of OSRA, titled 
``USE OF UNITED STATES INLAND PORTS FOR STORAGE AND TRANSFER OF CARGO 
CONTAINERS'', required that the U.S. Department of Transportation's 
Assistant Secretary for Transportation Policy, in consultation with the 
Administrator of the Maritime Administration and the Chairperson of the 
Federal Maritime Commission, convene a meeting of representatives of 
entities described in subsection (b) to discuss the feasibility of, and 
strategies for, identifying Federal and non-Federal land, including 
inland ports, for the purposes of storage and transfer of cargo 
containers due to port congestion. The required meeting was conducted 
September 26, 2022.
    This notice requests comments and information from representatives 
across the supply chain, and any other interested parties, pertaining 
to the feasibility of, and strategies for, identifying Federal and non-
Federal sites for storage and transfer of cargo containers, to assist 
the Department of Transportation in preparing the report required by 
OSRA. In developing this report, the Secretary will consult with the 
heads of appropriate agencies and will be assisted by the relevant 
operating administrations of the Department of Transportation.

Written Comments

    The Department seeks information from supply chain stakeholders and 
any other interested parties on the feasibility of, and strategies for, 
identifying Federal and non-Federal sites for storage and transfer of 
cargo containers, including, but not limited to, the following topics:
    1. As far as solutions to address congestion are concerned, how 
much utility do you see in identifying additional space for the storage 
and transfer of intermodal containers? What, if anything, would you 
prioritize above additional storage and transfer space in order to 
maintain fluidity?
    2. Would you consider the use of additional storage and transfer 
spaces for congestion mitigation, such as inland ports, feasible for 
your industry and geographic areas of operation?
    3. Recognizing the distribution value chain involves multiple 
stakeholders, what other entities would most benefit from additional 
inland ports?
    4. What roles do you envision the private and public sector, 
including the Federal government, offering to create the most effective 
strategy to implement congestion mitigation through greater development 
and utilization of inland ports?

    Dated: September 15, 2022.
Christopher Coes,
Assistant Secretary for Transportation Policy.
[FR Doc. 2022-20755 Filed 9-23-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-9X-P