[Federal Register: June 20, 2002 (Volume 67, Number 119)]
[Notices]
[Page 42101-42102]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr20jn02-142]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Maritime Administration
[Docket Number: MARAD-2002-12516]
Requested Administrative Waiver of the Coastwise Trade Laws
AGENCY: Maritime Administration, Department of Transportation.
ACTION: Invitation for public comments on a requested administrative
waiver of the Coastwise Trade Laws for the vessel Wanderbird.
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SUMMARY: As authorized by Public Law 105-383, the Secretary of
Transportation, as represented by the Maritime Administration (MARAD),
is authorized to grant waivers of the U.S.-build requirement of the
coastwise laws under certain circumstances. A request for such a waiver
has been received by MARAD. The vessel, and a description of the
proposed service, is listed below. Interested parties may comment on
the effect this action may have on U.S. vessel builders or businesses
in the U.S. that use U.S.-flag vessels. If MARAD determines that in
accordance with Public Law 105-383 and MARAD's regulations at 46 CFR
part 388 (65 FR 6905; February 11, 2000) that the issuance of the
waiver will have an unduly adverse effect on a U.S.-vessel builder or a
business that uses U.S.-flag vessels, a waiver will not be granted.
DATES: Submit comments on or before July 22, 2002.
ADDRESSES: Comments should refer to docket number MARAD-2002-12516.
Written comments may be submitted by hand or by mail to the Docket
Clerk, U.S. DOT Dockets, Room PL-401, Department of Transportation, 400
7th St., SW., Washington, DC 20590-0001. You may also send comments
electronically via the Internet at http://dmses.dot.gov/submit/. All
comments will become part of this docket and will be available for
inspection and copying at the above address between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m.,
E.T., Monday through Friday, except federal holidays. An electronic
version of this document and all documents entered into this docket is
available on the World Wide Web at http://dms.dot.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kathleen Dunn, U.S. Department of
Transportation, Maritime Administration, MAR-832 Room 7201, 400 Seventh
Street, SW., Washington, DC 20590. Telephone 202-366-2307.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Title V of Public Law 105-383 provides
authority to the Secretary of Transportation to administratively waive
the U.S.-build requirements of the Jones Act, and other statutes, for
small commercial passenger vessels (no more than 12 passengers). This
authority has been delegated to the Maritime Administration per 49 CFR
1.66, Delegations to the Maritime Administrator, as amended. By this
notice, MARAD is publishing information on a vessel for which a request
for a U.S.-build waiver has been received, and for which MARAD requests
comments from interested parties. Comments should refer to the docket
number of this notice and the vessel name in order for MARAD to
properly consider the comments. Comments should also state the
commenter's interest in the waiver application, and address the waiver
criteria given in Sec. 388.4 of MARAD'S regulations at 46 CFR part 388.
Vessel Proposed for Waiver of the U.S.-Build Requirement
(1) Name of vessel and owner for which waiver is requested. Name of
vessel: WANDERBIRD. Owner: Frederick & Karen Miles.
(2) Size, capacity and tonnage of vessel. According to the
applicant: ``Length 88 feet, beam 20 feet, draft 10 feet, Capacity 12
passengers, Tonnage 111.47 Gross Tons.''
(3) Intended use for vessel, including geographic region of
intended operation and trade. According to the applicant:
``The vessel will be used as an interactive passenger carrying
research vessel. We will conduct 4-30 day trips along the migrational
paths of whales and seabirds primarily along the Eastern Seaboard of
the Continental United Sates. This unique vessel will offer folks the
opportunity to actually contribute to ongoing research projects while
actually observing the animals and cruising in
[[Page 42102]]
their habitat. We plan to work with accredited research organizations
and operate within their research guidelines. Our mission is to support
research and conservation through educational tourism. Our hope is to
be able to operate along the complete migrational path of resident
whales and seabirds. We request an operational range of Near Coastal
USA and Territories with the primary usage to be between Eastport,
Maine and Cape Ann, Massachusetts.''
(4) Date and Place of construction and (if applicable) rebuilding.
Date of construction: 1963. Place of construction: Holland.
(5) A statement on the impact this waiver will have on other
commercial passenger vessel operators. According to the applicant:
``There are no other vessels offering this type of cruise in the
projected area of operation. * * * It is our sincere belief that our
intended operation will help to stir the public's interest in marine
ecology and preservation and bring more people to all of the operators
who offer trips to view the whales and seabirds.''
(6) A statement on the impact this waiver will have on U.S.
shipyards. According to the applicant: ``The impact this waiver will
have on US shipyards will be a positive one. The Wanderbird will be
hauled out annually at a US shipyard and all major repair and
maintenance will be done at US shipyards.''
Dated: June 17, 2002.
By Order of the Maritime Administrator.
Joel C. Richard,
Secretary, Maritime Administration.
[FR Doc. 02-15621 Filed 6-19-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-81-P