Seaway regulations and rules: Tariff of tolls,

[Federal Register: April 29, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 82)]

[Rules and Regulations]

[Page 22614-22616]

From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

[DOCID:fr29ap03-16]

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation

33 CFR Part 402

[Docket No. SLSDC 2003-14687]

RIN 2135-AA17

Tariff of Tolls

AGENCY: Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation, DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

SUMMARY: The Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation (SLSDC) and the St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation (SLSMC) of Canada, under international agreement, jointly publish and presently administer the St. Lawrence Seaway Tariff of Tolls in their respective jurisdictions. The Tariff sets forth the level of tolls assessed on all commodities and vessels transiting the facilities operated by the SLSDC and the SLSMC. The SLSDC is revising its regulations to reflect the fees and charges charged by the SLSMC in Canada starting in the 2003 navigation season, which are effective only in Canada. The SLSDC also is amending the regulations to increase the minimum charge per lock transited for full or partial transit of the Seaway to be charged by the SLSDC for transit

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through the U.S. locks of vessels that are not pleasure craft or vessels subject in Canada to the tolls under items 1 and 2 of the Tariff. Since this latter proposed amendment would be of applicability in the United States, comments were invited on only on this. (See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.) The Tariff of Tolls is in effect in Canada. For consistency, because these are, under international agreement, joint regulations, and to avoid confusion among users of the Seaway, the SLSDC finds that there is good cause to make this U.S. version of the amendments effective upon publication.

DATES: This rule is effective on April 29, 2003.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Marc C. Owen, Chief, Counsel, Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC 20590, (202) 366-6823.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation (SLSDC) and the St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation (SLSMC) of Canada, under international agreement, jointly publish and presently administer the St. Lawrence Seaway Tariff of Tolls in their respective jurisdictions. (The Tariff is called the Schedule of Fees and Charges in Canada.) The amendments are described in the following summary.

The Tariff sets forth the level of tolls assessed on all commodities and vessels transiting the facilities operated by the SLSDC and the SLSMC. The SLSDC is revising Sec. 402.8, ``Schedule of Tolls,'' to reflect the fees and charges charged by the SLSMC in Canada starting in the 2003 navigation season. With one exception, the changes affect the tolls for commercial vessels and are applicable only in Canada as the collection of the U.S. portion of tolls for commercial vessels is waived by law (33 U.S.C. 988a(a)). Accordingly, no notice and comment was necessary on these amendments. The SLSDC also is amending the regulations to increase the minimum charge per lock transited for full or partial transit of the Seaway to be charged by the SLSDC for transit through the U.S. locks of vessels that are not pleasure craft or vessels subject in Canada to the tolls under items 1 and 2 of the Tariff. Since only this latter proposed amendment would be of applicability in the United States, comments were invited on only on this. A Notice of Proposed Rulemaking was published on March 17, 2003 (67 FR 12644). Interested parties have been afforded an opportunity to participate in the making of the amendment applicable in the United States. No comments were received. That amendment is described in the following summary.

The specific change is the amendment of Sec. 402.8, ``Schedule of Tolls'', to increase the per lock charge for transit through a U.S. lock from $16.24 to $16.44. This increase is due to higher operating costs at the locks. The footnote to Sec. 402.8 is also amended to clarify that this charge will be collected by the SLSDC for the U.S. locks in U.S. funds instead of at par.

Regulatory Evaluation

This regulation involves a foreign function of the United States and therefore Executive Order 12866 does not apply and evaluation under the Department of Transportation's Regulatory Policies and Procedures is not required.

Regulatory Flexibility Act Determination

The Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation certifies that this regulation will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. The St. Lawrence Seaway Tariff of Tolls primarily relates to commercial users of the Seaway, the vast majority of whom are foreign vessel operators. Therefore, any resulting costs will be borne mostly by foreign vessels.

Environmental Impact

This regulation does not require an environmental impact statement under the National Environmental Policy Act (49 U.S.C. 4321, et reg.) because it is not a major federal action significantly affecting the quality of human environment.

Federalism

The Corporation has analyzed this rule under the principles and criteria in Executive Order 13132, Dated August 4, 1999, and has determined that it does not have sufficient federalism implications to warrant a Federalism Assessment.

Unfunded Mandates

The Corporation has analyzed this rule under title II of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-4, 109 Stat. 48) and determined that it does not impose unfunded mandates on State, local, and tribal governments and the private sector requiring a written statement of economic and regulatory alternatives.

Paperwork Reduction Act

This regulation has been analyzed under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 and does not contain new or modified information collection requirements subject to the Office of Management and Budget review.

List of Subjects in 33 CFR Part 402

Vessels, Waterways.

0 Accordingly, the Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation is amending 33 CFR part 402, Tariff of Tolls, as follows:

PART 402--TARIFF OF TOLLS

0 1. The authority citation for part 402 continues to read as follows:

Authority: 33 U.S.C. 983(a), 984(a)(4), and 988, as amended; 49 CFR 1.52.

0 2. Sec. 402.8 is revised to read as follows:

Sec. 402.8 Schedule of tolls.

Column 3 Rate ($) Column 2 Rate ($) Welland Canal--Lake Item

Column 1 Description of charges Montreal to or from Ontario to or from Lake Ontario (5 locks) Lake Erie (8 locks)

1. Subject to item 3, for complete transit of the Seaway, a composite toll, comprising: (1) A charge per gross

0.0894................ 0.1453 registered ton of the ship, applicable whether the ship is wholly or partially laden, or is in ballast, and the gross registered tonnage being calculated according to prescribed rules for measurement in the United States or under the International Convention on Tonnage Measurement of Ships, 1969, as amended from time to time.

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(2) A charge per metric ton of cargo as certified on the ship's manifest or other document, as follows: (a) Bulk cargo.................. 0.9275................ 0.6145 (b) General cargo............... 2.2348................ 0.9834 (c) Steel slab.................. 2.0225................ 0.7040 (d) Containerized cargo......... 0.9275................ 0.6145 (e) Government aid cargo........ N/a................... N/a (f) Grain....................... 0.5698................ 0.6145 (g) Coal........................ 0.5475................ 0.6145 (3) A charge per passenger per 1.3185................ 1.3185 lock. (4) A charge per lock for transit of the Welland Canal in either direction by cargo ships: (a) Loaded...................... N/a................... 490.79 (b) In ballast.................. N/a................... 362.62 2............................. Subject to item 3, for partial 20 percent per lock of 13 percent per lock of transit of the Seaway.

the applicable charge the applicable charge under items 1 (1) and under items 1 (1) and (2) plus the

(2) plus the applicable charge applicable charge under items 1 (3) and under items 1 (3) and (4).

(4) 3............................. Minimum charge per ship per lock 16.44................. 16.44 transited for full or partial transit of the Seaway. 4............................. A rebate applicable for the 2003 Rebate of 0%.......... Rebate of 0% navigation season to the rates of item 1 to 3. 5............................. A charge per pleasure craft per 20.00................. 20.00 lock transited for full or partial transit of the Seaway, including applicable federal taxes. \1\

\1\ The applicable charge at the Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation's locks (Eisenhower, Snell) for pleasure craft is $20 U.S. or $30 Canadian per lock. The applicable charge under item 3 at the Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation's locks (Eisenhower, Snell) will be collected in U.S. dollars. The other amounts are in Canadian dollars and are for the Canadian share of tolls. The collection of the U.S. portion of tolls for commercial vessels is waived by law (33 U.S.C. 988a(a)).

Issued at Washington, DC on April 22, 2003.

Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation. Albert S. Jacquez, Administrator.

[FR Doc. 03-10324 Filed 4-28-03; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910-61-M