Environmental statements; availability, etc.: Marine Transportation System; conference proceedings,

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Federal Register: March 11, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 47)NoticesPage 12208From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

DOCID:fr11mr99-95

[Page 12208]

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Coast Guard Maritime Administration

USCG 1998-3553Marine 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, together with several other federal agencies, announce the availability of the Proceedings of the National Conference on the Marine Transportation System held in Warrenton, Virginia on November 17-19, 1998. Participants created a national vision for the system into the 21st century; discussed a framework for collaborative decision-making at the national and local levels; and examined safety, environmental, competitiveness, infrastructure, and security issues associated with the system. The conclusions and recommendations of the conference will be used to shape the direction and future of the Marine Transportation System. The conference proceedings are available for your review and comment.

DATES: Comments must be received by the Docket Management Facility by April 30, 1999.

ADDRESSES: You many mail comments to the Docket Management Facility, (USCG 1998-3553), U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), room PL-401, Seventh Street SW., Washington, DC 20590-0001, or deliver them to 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.

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 information on the public docket, contact Dorothy Walker, Chief, Dockets, telephone 202-366-5145. For information concerning this notice contact Ms. Margie Hegy, U.S. Coast Guard (G-MWP), telephone 202-267-0415 or Ms. Patricia Randall, Maritime Administration (MAR-830), telephone 202-366-4125.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Request for Comments

We encourage interested persons to submit comments, written data, views, or other relevant documents. Persons submitting comments should include their names and addresses, identify this notice (USCG-1998- 3553), and the reasons for each comment. Please submit all comments and attachments in an unbound format, no larger than 8\1/2\x11 inches, suitable for copying and electronic filing to the DOT Docket Management Facility at the address under ADDRESSES. If you want acknowledgment of receipt of your comments, enclose a stamped, self-addressed post card or envelope.

A copy of the Proceedings 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 Proceedings, contact Ms. Short, telephone 202-267-6164 or Ms. Randall at the phone number under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.

Background

During the Spring of 1998, the Maritime Administration and the Coast Guard, together with the Federal Highway Administration, Federal Railroad Administration, Research and Special Programs Administration, Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Minerals Management Service, National Imagery and Mapping Agency, U.S. Customs Service, and the Environmental Protection Agency, held seven two-day regional listening sessions to receive information concerning the current state and future needs of the U.S. marine transportation system--the waterways, ports, and their intermodal connections. The listening sessions were a first step in developing a customer-based strategy to work together to ensure that our waterways, ports and their intermodal connections meet user needs and public expectations for the 21st century.

The information from the seven regional listening sessions was presented at the November National Conference on the Marine Transportation System (MTS). The Secretary of Transportation hosted the conference attended by 144 senior public and private sector leaders. During the two and one-half day conference, participants created a national vision for the MTS into the 21st century; discussed a framework for collaborative decision-making at the national and local levels; and examined safety, environmental, competitiveness, infrastructure, and security issues associated with achieving the national vision. Participants reviewed current information and trends; and identified goals and recommended actions for resolving coordination, safety, environmental, competitiveness, infrastructure, and security issues.

The conclusions and recommendations of the conference will be used to shape the direction and future of the MTS. The conference proceedings are available for your review and comment. We request information from the general public and system users on the action items recommended and how to accomplish them. Identification of subissues, and relevant data or other information that will assist us in developing strategies and action plans is also requested. In addition, information on relevant MTS activities that are ongoing or planned within the public or private section is requested.

Next Steps

Comments received during the comment period will be considered by a congressionally mandated National Task Force to assess the adequacy of the marine transportation system. The Task Force will produce a report examining the critical marine transportation issues, and recommending strategies and plans of action to advance national interests, including economic competitiveness and national security in the marine transportation arena. The report will be submitted to Congress on July 1, 1999, and will be available to the public at that time.

Dated: March 4, 1999. James M. Loy, Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard, Commandant. Clyde J. Hart, Jr., Maritime Administrator.

FR Doc. 99-6014Filed3-10-99; 8:45 amBILLING CODE 4910-15-M

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