Marine Transportation System: Waterways, Ports, and Their Intermodal Connections

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.

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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

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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]

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