[Federal Register: September 9, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 174)] [Notices] [Page 49041-49042] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr09se99-91] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Coast Guard Maritime Administration [USCG 1998-3553] Marine Transportation System: Waterways, Ports, and Their Intermodal Connections AGENCY: Coast Guard, and Maritime Administration, DOT. ACTION: Notice of availability; request for comments. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The Coast Guard and the Maritime Administration announce the availability of the Report to Congress ``An Assessment of the Marine Transportation System''. A task force comprised of private and public members prepared the Report, which was mandated in the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 1998. The Report is available for your review and comment. DATES: Comments must be received by the Docket Management Facility by November 8, 1999. ADDRESSES: To make sure your comments and related material are not entered more than once in the docket, please submit them by only one of the following means: (1) By mail to the Docket Management Facility, (USCG 1998-3553), U.S. Department of Transportation, room PL-401, 400 Seventh Street SW., Washington, DC 20590-0001. (2) By hand delivery to room PL-401 on the Plaza level of the Nassif Building, 400 Seventh Street SW., Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The telephone number is 202-366-9329. (3) By fax to the Docket Management Facility at 202-493-2251. (4) Electronically through the Web Site for the Docket Management System at http://dms.dot.gov. The Docket Management Facility maintains the public docket for this notice. The comments will become part of this docket and will be available for inspection or copying at room PL-401, located on the Plaza level of the Nassif Building at the same address between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. You may also electronically access the public docket for this notice on the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For questions on this notice, or the Marine Transportation System initiative, contact Ms. Margie Hegy, U.S. Coast Guard (G-MW), telephone 202-267-0415 or Mr. John Swank, Maritime Administration (MAR-240), telephone 202-366-5807. For questions on viewing or submitting material to the docket, call Dorothy Walker, Chief, Dockets, Department of Transportation, telephone 202-366-9329. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Request for Comments We encourage you to submit comments and related material on the Report. If you do so, please include your name and address, identify the docket number for this notice (USCG-1998-3553), and give the reasons for each comment. You may submit your comments and material by mail, hand delivery, fax, or electronic means to the Docket Management Facility at the address under ADDRESSES; but please submit your comments and material by only one means. If you submit them by mail or hand delivery, submit them in an unbound format, no larger than 8\1/2\ x 11 inches, suitable for copying and electronic filing. If you submit them by mail and would like to know they reached the Facility, please enclose a stamped, self-addressed postcard or envelope. We will consider all comments and material received during the comment period. A copy of the Report is available for review in the docket and may be electronically accessed on the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov. To request a printed copy of the Report, contact Ms. Joyce Short, telephone 202-267-6164, or Ms. Joann Spittle, telephone 202-366-4357. Background On November 13, 1998, the U.S. Congress directed, in Section 308 of the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 1998, that ``The Secretary of Transportation, through the Coast Guard and the Maritime Administration, shall, in consultation with the National Ocean Service of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Corps of Engineers, and other interested Federal agencies and departments, establish a task force to assess the adequacy of the Nation's marine transportation system (including ports, waterways, harbor approach channels, and their intermodal connections) to operate in a safe, efficient, secure, and environmentally sound manner.'' The task force was to consider the capability of the MTS, the adequacy of the depth of channels and harbors, and the cost to the Federal government of accommodating projected increases in foreign and domestic traffic over the next 20 years. Evaluations of the Nation's capability to dispose of dredged materials and the future of the navigational aid system were additional components of this effort. This Report summarizes the results of the task force's assessment and constitutes the response to Congress. The Report reflects a highly collaborative effort among public sector agencies, private sector organizations, and other stakeholders in the MTS. The process began with seven regional listening sessions in spring 1998, hosted by the U.S. Coast Guard, the Maritime Administration, and 12 other Federal agencies. The purpose of these sessions was to learn what users, stakeholders, and the public perceived to be the current state of the MTS and its future needs. The input received at the regional listening sessions became the basis for a National Conference on the Marine Transportation System hosted by the Secretary of Transportation in November 1998. Executives from industry, labor, and government participated in this conference. Through breakout groups and plenary sessions, the participants addressed two overarching issues--the development of a shared national vision for the MTS and public and private sector coordination of MTS activities. Participants also addressed specific MTS issues concerning safety, competitiveness, infrastructure, security, and the environment. After the National Conference, the Secretary established the Congressionally mandated MTS Task Force. The Task Force included MTS users and service providers, such as Federal agencies and departments, ports, commercial carriers, shippers, labor, recreational boaters, fishermen, environmental organizations, and other MTS stakeholders. The Report is available for your review and comment. We request information from the general public and system users on the strategic areas of action recommended and how to accomplish them. Identification of sub-issues and relevant data or other information that will assist us in developing strategies and action plans is [[Page 49042]] also requested. In addition, information on relevant MTS activities that are ongoing or planned within the public or private sector is requested. Next Steps The Report is just another step in our process and is not intended to recommend absolute solutions. Comments received during the comment period will be considered by the Interagency Committee for the Marine Transportation System (ICMTS) as it begins the work to implement the recommendations. There is much work ahead for the public/private partnership that has emerged from this initiative. James M. Loy, Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard, Commandant. Clyde J. Hart, Jr., Maritime Administrator. [FR Doc. 99-23422 Filed 9-8-99; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910-15-P