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 Department of Transportation Maritime Administration
 AGENCY: U.S. Department of Transportation, Maritime Administration.
 ACTION: Notice.
 SUMMARY: On September 4, 2009, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), the United States Department of Transportation's Maritime Administration (MARAD), and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) regarding the proper implementation of the Cargo Preference Act (CPA). That MOU, inter alia, establishes procedures and standards by which owners and operators of oceangoing cargo ships may seek to designate each of their vessels as either a dry bulk carrier or a dry cargo liner, according to specified service-based criteria. This Notice both announces that MARAD has received such self-designation applications for particular vessels from their owners and operators, and invites comments thereon from interested parties. MARAD will thereafter consider all the information submitted in support of a requested self-designation and other evidence in the record in reaching its own decision on the appropriate vessel classification.
 DATES: Comments are due on October 19, 2009. Background The CPA requires that federal agencies take “necessary and practicable” steps to ensure that privately-owned U.S.-flag vessels transport at least 50 percent of the gross tonnage of cargo sponsored under Federal programs “(computed separately for dry bulk carriers, dry cargo liners, and tankers) * * * to the extent such vessels are available at fair and reasonable rates for commercial vessels of the United States, in a manner that will ensure a fair and reasonable participation of commercial vessels of the United States in those cargoes by geographic areas.” 46 U.S.C. 55305(b). An additional 25 percent of gross tonnage of certain food assistance programs is to be transported in accordance with the requirements of 46 U.S.C. 55314. The MOU referenced above, as well as an accompanying explanatory notice, were published by MARAD in the 
                    **Federal Register**
                     on September 15, 2009. The MOU adopts standards and procedures to be used to classify the vessels transporting preference cargo. This Notice marks the first use of those standards and procedures. Owners and operators of the vessels listed below have submitted applications to self-designate their ships as either dry bulk vessels or as dry cargo liners. Each vessel has been assigned a separate docket containing the materials submitted. Interested persons are invited to submit comments regarding these vessels to the appropriate docket no later than 5 p.m. EDT on October 19, 2009. Commentators are advised to address their comments to the service-based criteria listed in the September 15 
                    **Federal Register**
                     notice that will determine the ultimate classification of each vessel. Applications to Self-Designate
Docket
Owner/Operator
VesselMARAD-2009-0093
U.S. United Ocean Serv.
M/VSheila McDevitt.MARAD-2009-0097
U.S. United Ocean Serv.
M/VMary Ann Hudson.MARAD-2009-0094
Liberty Maritime Corp
M/VLiberty Eagle.MARAD-2009-0095
Liberty Maritime Corp
M/VLiberty Glory.MARAD-2009-0096
Liberty Maritime Corp
M/VLiberty Grace.MARAD-2009-0098
APL Maritime Limited
APL Ireland.MARAD-2009-0099
APL  Maritime Limited
APL New York.MARAD-2009-0100
APL Maritime Limited
APL Arabia.MARAD-2009-0101
APL Maritime Limited
APL Virginia.MARAD-2009-0102
APL Maritime Limited
APL Egypt.MARAD-2009-0103
APL Maritime Limited
APL Jade.MARAD-2009-0104
APL Maritime Limited
APL Japan.MARAD-2009-0105
APL Maritime Limited
APL Pearl.MARAD-2009-0106
APL Maritime Limited
APL Cyprine.( print page 51656)MARAD-2009-0107
APL Maritime Limited
APL Agate.MARAD-2009-0108
APL Maritime Limited
APL Agaman.MARAD-2009-0109
APL Maritime Limited
APL Amazonite.MARAD-2009-0110
APL Maritime Limited
APL Alexandrite.MARAD-2009-0111
APL Maritime Limited
APL Germany.MARAD-2009-0112
APL Maritime Limited
APL Hong Kong.MARAD-2009-0113
APL Maritime Limited
APL Vietnam.MARAD-2009-0114
APL Maritime Limited
APL Malaysia.MARAD-2009-0115
APL Maritime Limited
APL Denmark.MARAD-2009-0116
APL Maritime Limited
APL Sardonyx.MARAD-2009-0117
APL Maritime Limited
APL Canada.MARAD-2009-0118
APL Maritime Limited
APL Holland.MARAD-2009-0119
APL Maritime Limited
APL Belgium.MARAD-2009-0120
APL Maritime Limited
APL Spain.MARAD-2009-0121
APL Maritime Limited
APL Garnet.MARAD-2009-0122
APL Maritime Limited
APL Sweden.MARAD-2009-0123
APL Maritime Limited
APL India.MARAD-2009-0124
APL Maritime Limited
APL Australia.MARAD-2009-0125
APL Maritime Limited
APL Amman.MARAD-2009-0126
APL Maritime Limited
APL Italy.MARAD-2009-0127
APL Maritime Limited
APL Atlanta.MARAD-2009-0128
Hapag Lloyd USA LLC
FF Dubai Express.MARAD-2009-0129
Hapag Lloyd USA LLC
FF Lahore Express.MARAD-2009-0130
Hapag Lloyd USA LLC
FF New Delhi Express.MARAD-2009-0131
Hapag Lloyd USA LLC
US Charleston Express.MARAD-2009-0132
Hapag Lloyd USA LLC
US Philadelphia Express.MARAD-2009-0133
Hapag Lloyd USA LLC
US St. Louis Express.MARAD-2009-0134
Hapag Lloyd USA LLC
US Washington Express.MARAD-2009-0135
Hapag Lloyd USA LLC
US Yorktown Express.
 The self-designations sought by vessel owners and operators will remain effective unless MARAD reaches a different determination. MARAD will issue such determinations no later than 15 calendar days from the close of the comment period, that is, no later than November 3, 2009. Vessel owners and operators who object to MARAD's designation may appeal to the MARAD Administrator within 10 calendar days, or no later than 5 p.m. EDT on November 13, 2009. MARAD will issue its final determination in such cases within 30 calendar days, or no later than December 14, 2009, after consultation with USAID, USDA, and the U.S. Department of State. Pursuant to the terms of the MOU, vessels for which no applications for self-designation are submitted will retain the classification found on the existing vessel list maintained by MARAD unless and until MARAD makes a contrary designation. The MARAD list may be found at: 
                    *http://marad.dot.gov/​documents/​MAR730_​Master VesselList forCargo Preference.pdf.*
 ADDRESSES: All comments should prominently refer to the docket assigned to the vessel to which they pertain. Interested persons are strongly encouraged to submit their comments electronically via the Internet at 
                        *http://www.regulations.gov.*
                         Enter the docket number provided above that pertains to the relevant vessel and follow instructions for submitting comments. Comments may also be submitted via Fax or by hand or express delivery. Fax: (202) 493-2251. Hand or express delivery: Docket Clerk, U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590.
 FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jean E. McKeever, Associate Administrator for Business and Workforce Development, Maritime Administration, 1200 New Jersey Ave., SE., Washington, DC 20590; 
                        *phone:*
                         (202) 366-5737; 
                        *fax:*
                         (202) 366-6988; or 
                        *e-mail: jean.mckeever@dot.gov.*
                         Persons who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339 to contact the above individuals during business hours. The FIRS is available twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, to leave a message or question with the above individuals. You will receive a reply during normal business hours. By Order of the Acting Maritime Administrator. Dated: October 2, 2009. Julie P. Agarwal, Acting Secretary, Maritime Administration.


[FR Doc. E9-24165 Filed 10-6-09; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910-81-P