[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 16 (Wednesday, January 24, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 4607-4608]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-01354]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

FEDERAL MARITIME COMMISSION

[Docket No. FMC-2024-0003]


Informal Public Hearing on the Impact of Current Conditions in 
the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden Regions

AGENCY: Federal Maritime Commission.

ACTION: Notice of informal public hearing and request for information.

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

SUMMARY: The Federal Maritime Commission will hold an informal public 
hearing on February 7, 2024, and continuing February 8, 2024, if 
needed, to examine how conditions in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden 
regions are impacting commercial shipping and global supply chains. At 
this hearing, the Commission will hear from stakeholders in the supply 
chain on how operations have been disrupted by attacks on commercial 
shipping, steps taken in response to these events, and the resulting 
effects.

DATES: The informal public hearing will be held on February 7, 2024, 
beginning at 10 a.m. EST, and continuing February 8, 2024, at 10 a.m. 
EST, if needed. This hearing will be open for public attendance and 
will be streamed live. Stakeholders who wish to present testimony at 
the hearing must send a request to testify by email addressed to 
[email protected] and received no later than 5 p.m. EST on January 31, 
2024. Submission of written testimony by hearing stakeholders is 
optional; any such written testimony, and written comments by any other 
interested persons, must be submitted to the Commission by email at 
[email protected] and received no later than 5 p.m. EST on January 31, 
2024.

ADDRESSES: The informal public hearing will be held in the Hearing Room 
at the Surface Transportation Board, 395 E Street SW, Washington, DC 
20423, and will be streamed live. All requests to present testimony at 
the hearing, and submissions of written testimony and comments for the 
hearing should be addressed to the Commission and emailed to 
[email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: David Eng, Secretary; Phone: (202) 
523-5725; Email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Background

    The Commission will hold an informal public hearing to examine how 
conditions in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden regions are impacting 
commercial shipping and global supply chains. The hearing will allow 
stakeholders in the supply chain to communicate with the Commission 
regarding how operations have been disrupted by attacks on commercial 
shipping, steps taken in response to these events, and the resulting 
effects. In addition, the hearing will allow the Commission to gather 
information and identify any new issues related to these disruptions 
that might be subject to Commission statutes and regulations.
    The hearing will be held on February 7, 2024, beginning at 10 a.m. 
EST, and continuing February 8, 2024, at 10 a.m. EST, if needed, in the 
Hearing Room at the Surface Transportation Board. This hearing will be 
open for public attendance and will also be streamed live. More 
information about accessing the live stream will be posted on the 
Commission's web page at www.fmc.gov. If technical issues prevent the 
Commission from streaming live, the Commission will post a recording of 
the meeting as soon as possible on the Commission's web page at 
www.fmc.gov. Any person wishing to attend the hearing in person should 
report to the Surface Transportation Board with enough time to clear 
building security procedures before the scheduled start time.

II. Public Participation at the Hearing

How do I participate at the hearing?

    This hearing will be open for public attendance and will also be 
streamed live. Stakeholders who wish to present testimony at the 
hearing must send a request to testify by email addressed to 
[email protected] and received no later than 5 p.m. EST on January 31, 
2024. The request should include the name, company name and job title, 
street address, email address, phone number of the requester, a summary 
of how operations have been disrupted by attacks on commercial 
shipping, steps

[[Page 4608]]

taken in response to these events, and the resulting effects, as 
applicable. Testifying stakeholders must appear at the hearing in 
person; there is no virtual option for presentations.
    There may not be sufficient time for all interested stakeholders to 
present testimony, and the Commission will notify stakeholders selected 
to testify no later than February 2, 2024. To ensure a diversity of 
views and perspectives from vessel-operating common carriers and 
shippers, the Commission may also extend invitations to testify. The 
panels and stakeholders selected to testify will be announced at a 
later date on the Commission's web page at www.fmc.gov.

III. Written Testimony and Comment

How do I submit written testimony or a comment for the hearing?

    Any person wishing to submit written testimony or a comment for the 
hearing must submit their testimony or comment to the Commission by 
email at [email protected] and received no later than 5 p.m. EST on 
January 31, 2024.

What will the Commission do with my written testimony or comment?

    All written testimony and comments received will be posted without 
change, including any personal information provided, at https://www.regulations.gov, and will be included in the record and made 
available to the public. Please do not include personally identifiable 
information (such as name, address, or other contact information) or 
confidential business information that you do not want publicly 
disclosed.

How do I submit confidential information?

    The Commission will provide confidential treatment for identified 
confidential information to the extent allowed by law. If you would 
like to request confidential treatment of any written testimony or 
comment, you must submit the following, by email, to [email protected]:
     A transmittal letter requesting confidential treatment 
that identifies the specific information in the written testimony or 
comment for which protection is sought and demonstrates that the 
information is a trade secret or other confidential research, 
development, or commercial information.
     A confidential copy of your written testimony or comment, 
consisting of the complete filing with a cover page marked 
``Confidential-Restricted,'' and the confidential material clearly 
marked on each page.
     A public version of your written testimony or comment with 
the confidential information excluded. The public version must state 
``Public Version--confidential materials excluded'' on the cover page 
and on each affected page and must clearly indicate any information 
withheld.

How can I read written testimony and comments submitted by others?

    You may read the written testimony and comments received by the 
Commission at www.regulations.gov under Docket No. FMC-2024-0003.

Alanna Beck,
Federal Register Alternate Liaison Officer, Federal Maritime 
Commission.
[FR Doc. 2024-01354 Filed 1-23-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6730-02-P