Maritime Administration May 2020 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Maritime Administration (MARAD) announces a public meeting of the U.S. Maritime Transportation System National Advisory Committee (MTSNAC) to discuss advice and recommendations for the U.S. Department of Transportation on issues related to the marine transportation system.

The Secretary of Transportation, as represented by the Maritime Administration (MARAD), is authorized to grant waivers of the U.S.-build requirements of the coastwise trade laws to allow the carriage of no more than twelve passengers for hire on vessels, which are three years old or more. A request for such a waiver has been received by MARAD. The vessel, and a brief description of the proposed service, is listed below.

The Secretary of Transportation, as represented by the Maritime Administration (MARAD), is authorized to grant waivers of the U.S.-build requirements of the coastwise trade laws to allow the carriage of no more than twelve passengers for hire on vessels, which are three years old or more. A request for such a waiver has been received by MARAD. The vessel, and a brief description of the proposed service, is listed below.

By Federal Register notice of Friday, February 7, 2020, titled Deepwater Port License Application: SPOT Terminal Services LLC, the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), in coordination with the Maritime Administration (MARAD), announced the availability of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the SPOT Terminal Services LLC (SPOT) deepwater port license application for the export of oil from the United States to nations abroad. Publication of that notice began a 45-day public comment period, which began on February 7, 2020 and ended on March 23, 2020. On April 28, 2020, the same notice was inadvertently published in the Federal Register. Additionally, both notices announced the date and location of an informational open house and public meeting that was held in Lake Jackson, Texas, on February 26, 2020, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., and was preceded by an open house from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. However, nationwide impacts of the public health emergency under section 319 of the Public Health Services Act in response to Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), the President's declaration of a national emergency due to the COVID-19 outbreak, and state and local actions in response to COVID-19, have impacted the public's ability to assemble and provide feedback on the SPOT deepwater port license application DEIS. Therefore, this notice supplants the April 28, 2020 notice and extends the public comment period for the SPOT DEIS 30-days from the publication date of this Federal Register notice.