[Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions]
[Federal Maritime Commission Semiannual Regulatory Agenda
]
[From the U.S. Government Printing Office, www.gpo.gov]


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Part LVI





Federal Maritime Commission





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Semiannual Regulatory Agenda

[[Page 31380]]



FEDERAL MARITIME COMMISSION (FMC)






_______________________________________________________________________

FEDERAL MARITIME COMMISSION

46 CFR Ch. IV

Unified Agenda

AGENCY: Federal Maritime Commission.

ACTION: Semiannual regulatory agenda.

_______________________________________________________________________

SUMMARY: Pursuant to section 4(b) of Executive Order 12866 and the 
Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.), the Commission 
anticipates having under consideration, during the period from April 1, 
2003, to March 31, 2004, actions in the areas listed below.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information concerning 
Commission rulemaking proceedings or the status of any matter listed 
below, contact: Bryant L. VanBrakle, Secretary, Federal Maritime 
Commission, 800 North Capitol Street NW., Washington, DC 20573, (202) 
523-5725.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 602 of the Regulatory Flexibility 
Act (5 U.S.C. 602) requires the publication of an agenda of items for 
which regulatory agencies may propose or promulgate a rule which is 
likely to have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of 
small entities. Section 4(b) of Executive Order 12866 also requires 
agencies to publish a regulatory agenda. The agenda includes 
information on regulatory activities being conducted or reviewed during 
the succeeding 12 months by the Commission.

     The following is the Commission's unified regulatory agenda. 
The agenda does not necessarily include all petitions for 
rulemakings that are under staff review.

     In addition, the Commission maintains a compilation of the 
status of pending rulemaking proceedings and a listing of rules 
that have become final since the publication of the most recent 
regulatory agenda. This will be made available to the public, 
including the press and interested persons.

 Bryant L. VanBrakle,

Secretary.

                                Federal Maritime Commission--Proposed Rule Stage
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                    Regulation
 Sequence                                          Title                                          Identification
  Number                                                                                              Number
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4037        Content of Ocean Common Carrier and Marine Terminal Operator Agreements Subject to       3072-AC11
            the Shipping Act of 1984 (Docket No. 99-13).........................................
4038        Impact of Government Paperwork Elimination Act and Electronic Signatures in Global       3072-AC17
            and National Commerce Act (Docket No. 01-08)........................................
4039        Common Carrier Status Under the Shipping Act of 1984................................     3072-AC21
4040        Passenger Vessel Financial Responsibility (Docket No. 02-15)........................     3072-AC22
4041        Revisions to Commission's Regulations Regarding the Filing of Agreement Minutes.....     3072-AC23
4042        Revisions to the Information Form and Monitoring Report Regulations for Carrier          3072-AC24
            Agreements..........................................................................
4043        Amendment to Service Contract Regulations...........................................     3072-AC25
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


                                 Federal Maritime Commission--Long-Term Actions
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                    Regulation
 Sequence                                          Title                                          Identification
  Number                                                                                              Number
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4044        Coloading Practices and Possible Section 16 Exemption for Coloading (Docket Nos. 93-     3072-AB75
            22 and 94-26).......................................................................
4045        Port Restrictions and Requirements in the United States/Japan Trade (Docket No. 96-      3072-AB97
            20).................................................................................
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

_______________________________________________________________________


Federal Maritime Commission (FMC)                   Proposed Rule Stage






_______________________________________________________________________




4037. CONTENT OF OCEAN COMMON CARRIER AND MARINE TERMINAL OPERATOR 
AGREEMENTS SUBJECT TO THE SHIPPING ACT OF 1984 (DOCKET NO. 99-13)

Priority: Substantive, Nonsignificant

Legal Authority: 46 USC app 1701 et seq; PL 105-258

CFR Citation: 46 CFR 535

Legal Deadline: None

Abstract: The FMC issued an inquiry to solicit comments concerning the 
appropriate content of agreements filed with the Commission pursuant to 
the Shipping Act of 1984, as amended by the Ocean Shipping Reform Act 
of 1998. The comments received will assist the Commission in preparing 
a rule to update or refine the existing content standards.

Timetable:
________________________________________________________________________

Action                            Date                      FR Cite

________________________________________________________________________

Notice of Inquiry               08/03/99                    64 FR 42057
Inquiry Comment Period End      10/04/99
NPRM                            06/00/03
NPRM Comment Period End         08/00/03

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: No

Small Entities Affected: No

Government Levels Affected: None

Agency Contact: Amy W. Larson, Acting General Counsel, Federal Maritime 
Commission
Phone: 202 523-5740
Fax: 202 523-5738

[[Page 31381]]

Email: [email protected]

RIN: 3072-AC11
_______________________________________________________________________




4038. IMPACT OF GOVERNMENT PAPERWORK ELIMINATION ACT AND ELECTRONIC 
SIGNATURES IN GLOBAL AND NATIONAL COMMERCE ACT (DOCKET NO. 01-08)

Priority: Substantive, Nonsignificant

Legal Authority: PL 105-277, Government Paperwork Elimination Act; PL 
106-229, Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act

CFR Citation: 46 CFR 500 et seq

Legal Deadline: Final, Statutory, October 21, 2003.

Abstract: The Federal Maritime Commission is issuing this inquiry to 
solicit information and comments concerning the impact of the 
Government Paperwork Elimination Act and the Electronic Signatures in 
Global and National Commerce Act on all sectors of the U.S. ocean 
shipping industry. These comments will assist the Commission as it 
analyzes the use and acceptance of documents in electronic form, as 
well as other means of engaging in electronic transactions. The 
Commission, via a rulemaking, plans to provide individuals or entities 
with the option to submit information or transact business with the 
Commission electronically, where practicable, and to maintain records 
electronically when practicable.

Timetable:
________________________________________________________________________

Action                            Date                      FR Cite

________________________________________________________________________

Notice of Inquiry               07/18/01                    66 FR 37468
Comments Due                    08/17/01
Comment Period Extended to 09/
17/2001                         08/17/01                    66 FR 43261
NPRM                            08/00/03
NPRM Comment Period End         10/00/03

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: No

Small Entities Affected: Businesses

Government Levels Affected: None

Agency Contact: Austin L. Schmitt, Deputy Executive Director, Federal 
Maritime Commission, 800 North Capitol Street NW, Washington, DC 20573
Phone: 202 523-5800
Fax: 202 523-5827
Email: [email protected]

RIN: 3072-AC17
_______________________________________________________________________




4039. COMMON CARRIER STATUS UNDER THE SHIPPING ACT OF 1984

Priority: Other Significant

Legal Authority: 5 USC 553; 46 USC app 1701 et seq; PL 105-258

CFR Citation: 46 CFR 515; 46 CFR 520; 46 CFR 530; 46 CFR 535

Legal Deadline: None

Abstract: The Federal Maritime Commission is proposing to amend its 
rules to address the criteria that it will use to establish ocean 
common carrier status under the Shipping Act of 1984.

Timetable:
________________________________________________________________________

Action                            Date                      FR Cite

________________________________________________________________________

NPRM                            06/00/03
NPRM Comment Period End         07/00/03

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: No

Small Entities Affected: Businesses

Government Levels Affected: None

Agency Contact: Florence A. Carr, Director, Bureau of Trade Analysis, 
Federal Maritime Commission, 800 North Capitol Street NW, Washington, 
DC 20573
Phone: 202 523-5796
Fax: 202 523-4372
Email: [email protected]

Vern W. Hill, Director, Bureau of Enforcement, Federal Maritime 
Commission, 800 North Capitol Street NW, Washington, DC 20573
Phone: 202 523-5783
Fax: 202 523-5785
Email: [email protected]

RIN: 3072-AC21
_______________________________________________________________________




4040. PASSENGER VESSEL FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY (DOCKET NO. 02-15)

Priority: Other Significant

Legal Authority: 5 USC 552 to 553; 46 USC app 817d to 817e; 46 USC 
1716; 31 USC 9701

CFR Citation: 46 CFR 540

Legal Deadline: None

Abstract: The FMC proposes to amend its rules regarding the 
establishment of passenger vessel financial responsibility under 
sections 2 (Casualty) and 3 (Performance) of Public Law 89-777. The 
amendments would: Eliminate the current ceiling on required Performance 
coverage; adjust the amount of coverage required by providing for 
consideration of the obligations of credit card issuers; provide for 
the use of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR), including the 
Commission's ADR program, in resolving passenger Performance claims; 
revise the application form; and make a number of technical adjustments 
to the Performance and Casualty rules.

Timetable:
________________________________________________________________________

Action                            Date                      FR Cite

________________________________________________________________________

NPRM                            10/31/02                    67 FR 66352
NPRM Comment Period End         01/08/03
NPRM Comment Period Extended    12/27/02                    67 FR 79029
NPRM Comment Period End         04/08/03
NPRM Comment Period Extended    04/08/03                    68 FR 17003
NPRM Comment Period End         05/30/03
Notice of Public Hearing To Be 
Held 06/11/2003                 05/00/03
Requests To Participate in 
Public Hearing Due              05/28/03
Final Action                    12/00/03
Final Action Effective          02/00/04

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: No

Small Entities Affected: Businesses

Government Levels Affected: None

Agency Contact: Sandra L. Kusumoto, Director, Bureau of Consumer 
Complaints & Licensing, Federal Maritime Commission, 800 North Capitol 
Street NW, Washington, DC 20573
Phone: 202 523-5787
Fax: 202 523-5830
Email: [email protected]

Ronald D. Murphy, Commission Dispute Resolution Specialist, Federal 
Maritime Commission
Phone: 202 523-5787
Email: [email protected]

Amy W. Larson, Acting General Counsel, Federal Maritime Commission
Phone: 202 523-5740
Fax: 202 523-5738
Email: [email protected]

RIN: 3072-AC22

[[Page 31382]]

_______________________________________________________________________




4041. [bull] REVISIONS TO COMMISSION'S REGULATIONS REGARDING THE FILING 
OF AGREEMENT MINUTES

Priority: Substantive, Nonsignificant

Legal Authority: 5 USC 553; 46 USC app 1701 to 1707; 46 USC app 1709 to 
1710; 46 USC app 1712; 46 USC app 1714 to 1718; ...

CFR Citation: 46 CFR 535

Legal Deadline: None

Abstract: The FMC is considering amending its regulations governing the 
filing of minutes and related documents by carrier agreements. The 
minutes reporting regulations require that certain types of agreements 
on file with the FMC submit a report of each meeting held, describing 
all matters discussed or considered within the scope of the agreement. 
The FMC is considering changing the rules to ensure that it receives 
relevant information to enable it to assess the competitive 
consequences of agreement discussions. The modifications would clarify 
the level of detail adequate to describe matters discussed or 
considered at agreement meetings, and update, refine, and simplify the 
regulations.

Timetable:
________________________________________________________________________

Action                            Date                      FR Cite

________________________________________________________________________

NPRM                            06/00/03
NPRM Comment Period End         08/00/03

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Undetermined

Small Entities Affected: Businesses

Government Levels Affected: None

Agency Contact: Florence A. Carr, Director, Bureau of Trade Analysis, 
Federal Maritime Commission, 800 North Capitol Street NW, Washington, 
DC 20573
Phone: 202 523-5796
Fax: 202 523-4372
Email: [email protected]

RIN: 3072-AC23
_______________________________________________________________________




4042. [bull] REVISIONS TO THE INFORMATION FORM AND MONITORING REPORT 
REGULATIONS FOR CARRIER AGREEMENTS

Priority: Substantive, Nonsignificant

Legal Authority: 5 USC 553; 46 USC app 1701 to 1707; 46 USC app 1709 to 
1710; 46 USC app 1712; 46 USC app 1714 to 1718; ...

CFR Citation: 46 CFR 535

Legal Deadline: None

Abstract: The FMC is considering amending its regulations governing the 
requirements for Information Forms and Monitoring Reports submitted by 
parties to carrier agreements filed with the Commission. The revisions 
being considered would seek to ensure that the Commission receives the 
most relevant and reliable data from agreement carriers so that the 
competitive impact of these agreements can be assessed as accurately as 
possible. The modifications would update, refine, and simplify the 
regulations to require data essential to the Agency's agreement review 
process and monitoring program.

Timetable:
________________________________________________________________________

Action                            Date                      FR Cite

________________________________________________________________________

NPRM                            06/00/03
NPRM Comment Period End         08/00/03

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Undetermined

Small Entities Affected: Businesses

Government Levels Affected: None

Agency Contact: Florence A. Carr, Director, Bureau of Trade Analysis, 
Federal Maritime Commission, 800 North Capitol Street NW, Washington, 
DC 20573
Phone: 202 523-5796
Fax: 202 523-4372
Email: [email protected]

RIN: 3072-AC24
_______________________________________________________________________




4043. [bull] AMENDMENT TO SERVICE CONTRACT REGULATIONS

Priority: Substantive, Nonsignificant

Legal Authority: 5 USC 553; 46 USC app 1704 to 1707; 46 USC app 1716

CFR Citation: 46 CFR 530

Legal Deadline: None

Abstract: The FMC proposes to amend its regulations on the electronic 
filing of service contracts for ocean transportation under the Shipping 
Act of 1984, as amended by the Ocean Shipping Reform Act of 1998. The 
amendments would add a provision to permit persons authorized to 
transmit electronically service contract filings for vessel-operating 
common carriers, conferences and agreements, to correct within 48 hours 
an original service contract filing (or an amendment) that is defective 
due to electronic transmission errors. The revision would allow a 
``corrected transmission'' of the original service contract or 
amendment submission to be designated as such and filed in the 
Commission's electronic service contract filing system (SERVCON).

Timetable:
________________________________________________________________________

Action                            Date                      FR Cite

________________________________________________________________________

NPRM                            04/02/03                    68 FR 15978
NPRM Comment Period End         05/02/03
Final Action                    08/00/03
Final Action Effective          09/00/03

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: No

Small Entities Affected: Businesses

Government Levels Affected: None

Agency Contact: Florence A. Carr, Director, Bureau of Trade Analysis, 
Federal Maritime Commission, 800 North Capitol Street NW, Washington, 
DC 20573
Phone: 202 523-5796
Fax: 202 523-4372
Email: [email protected]

RIN: 3072-AC25

[[Page 31383]]

_______________________________________________________________________


Federal Maritime Commission (FMC)                     Long-Term Actions






_______________________________________________________________________




4044. COLOADING PRACTICES AND POSSIBLE SECTION 16 EXEMPTION FOR 
COLOADING (DOCKET NOS. 93-22 AND 94-26)

Priority: Substantive, Nonsignificant

CFR Citation: 46 CFR 520.11

Timetable:
________________________________________________________________________

Action                            Date                      FR Cite

________________________________________________________________________

NPRM                            11/24/93                    58 FR 62077
NPRM Comment Period End         03/11/94                     59 FR 5974
Notice of Inquiry (Docket No. 
94-26)                          11/09/94                    59 FR 55826
Comment Period End for NOI 
(Docket No. 94-26)              12/27/94
NOI Comment Period Extended to 
01/23/95                        12/28/94                    59 FR 66880
Final Action                     To Be                       Determined

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: No

Government Levels Affected: None

Agency Contact: Amy W. Larson
Phone: 202 523-5740
Fax: 202 523-5738
Email: [email protected]

RIN: 3072-AB75
_______________________________________________________________________




4045. PORT RESTRICTIONS AND REQUIREMENTS IN THE UNITED STATES/JAPAN 
TRADE (DOCKET NO. 96-20)

Priority: Other Significant

CFR Citation: 46 CFR 551

Timetable:
________________________________________________________________________

Action                            Date                      FR Cite

________________________________________________________________________

NPRM                            11/13/96                    61 FR 58160
Comment Period Extended to 01/
20/97                           12/27/96                    61 FR 68200
NPRM Comment Period End         01/13/97
Final Rule - Report Due 08/26/
1999 and Every 180 Days 
Thereafter                      03/04/97                     62 FR 9696
Final Rule Effective            04/14/97
Status Reports and Comments Due 
08/05/97                        04/16/97                    62 FR 18433
Amendment to Final Rule         04/16/97                    62 FR 18532
Final Rule Effectiveness 
Extended to 09/04/97            04/16/97                    62 FR 18533
Status Reports and Comments Due 
07/01/97                        04/16/97                    62 FR 18533
Amendment to Final Rule - Denial 
of Petition                     10/20/97                    62 FR 54396
Final Rule Effectiveness 
Suspended 11/13/97              11/19/97                    62 FR 61648
Final Rule Removed              06/07/99                    64 FR 30245
Final Rule Removed Effective    06/07/99
Requirement for Reporting 
Revised                         08/15/01                    66 FR 42859
Report Due 11/07/2001 and Every 
180 Days Thereafter             08/15/01


Next Action Undetermined

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: No

Government Levels Affected: None

Agency Contact: Amy W. Larson
Phone: 202 523-5740
Fax: 202 523-5738
Email: [email protected]

RIN: 3072-AB97
[FR Doc. 03-7441 Filed 05-23-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6730-01-S