Maritime Administration October 9, 2008 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The purpose of this interim final rule is to solicit recommendations for short sea transportation routes to be designated as Marine Highway Corridors and to solicit applications from interested parties to participate in a short sea transportation Project, as required by section 55605(c) of Public Law 110-140, the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007. Section 55601(d) specifically states, that ``[t]he Secretary may designate a project to be a short sea transportation project if the Secretary determines that the project mayoffer a waterborne alternative to available landside transportation services using documented vessels; and provide transportation services for passengers or freight (or both) that may reduce congestion on landside infrastructure using documented vessels.'' Further, section 55605 defines short sea transportation as meaning ``the carriage by vessel of cargo that is contained in intermodal cargo containers and loaded by crane on the vessel or loaded on the vessel by means of wheeled technology; and that is loaded at a port in the United States and unloaded either at another port in the United States or at a port in Canada located in the Great Lakes Saint Lawrence Seaway System; or loaded at a port in Canada located in the Great Lakes Saint Lawrence Seaway System and unloaded at a port in the United States.'' Section 55605(c) directs the Secretary of Transportation to promulgate interim regulations not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act. The Secretary of Transportation will delegate authority to the Maritime Administrator to administer this program. Final regulations are to be issued no later than October 1, 2008. The program established in Section 55605 will be titled ``America's Marine Highway Program.'' A final regulation will be published following this public comment period. Solicitations from applicants desiring Marine Highway Project designation will be initiated through notification in the Federal Register at a future date.