[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 185 (Friday, September 22, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 57422-57423]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-24426]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Maritime Administration

[Docket Number: MARAD-2000-7935]


Requested Administrative Waiver of the Coastwise Trade Laws

AGENCY: Maritime Administration, Department of Transportation.

ACTION: Invitation for public comments on a requested administrative 
waiver of the Coastwise Trade Laws for the vessel Aboriginal.

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SUMMARY: As authorized by Pub. L. 105-383, the Secretary of 
Transportation, as represented by the Maritime Administration (MARAD), 
is authorized to grant waivers of the U.S.-build requirement of the 
coastwise laws under certain circumstances. A request for such a waiver 
has been received by MARAD. The vessel, and a description of the 
proposed service, is listed below. Interested parties may comment on 
the effect this action may have on U.S. vessel builders or businesses 
in the U.S. that use U.S.-flag vessels. If MARAD determines that in 
accordance with Pub. L. 105-383 and MARAD's regulations at 46 CFR Part 
388 (65 FR 6905; February 11, 2000) that the issuance of the waiver 
will have an unduly adverse effect on a U.S.-vessel builder or a 
business that uses U.S.-flag vessels, a waiver will not be granted.

DATES: Submit comments on or before October 23, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Comments should refer to docket number MARAD-2000-7935. 
Written comments may be submitted by hand or by mail to the Docket 
Clerk, U.S. DOT Dockets, Room PL-401, Department of Transportation, 400 
7th St., S.W., Washington, D.C. 20590-0001. You may also send comments 
electronically via the Internet at http://dmses.dot.gov/submit/. All 
comments will become part of this docket and will be available for 
inspection and copying at the above address between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m., 
E.T., Monday through Friday, except federal holidays. An electronic 
version of this document and all documents entered into this docket is 
available on the World Wide Web at http://dms.dot.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gordon Angell, U.S. Department of 
Transportation, Maritime

[[Page 57423]]

Administration, MAR-832 Room 7201, 400 Seventh Street, S.W., 
Washington, DC 20590. Telephone 202-366-5129.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Title V of Pub. L. 105-383 provides 
authority to the Secretary of Transportation to administratively waive 
the U.S.-build requirements of the Jones Act, and other statutes, for 
small commercial passenger vessels (no more than 12 passengers). This 
authority has been delegated to the Maritime Administration per 49 CFR 
Sec. 1.66, Delegations to the Maritime Administrator, as amended. By 
this notice, MARAD is publishing information on a vessel for which a 
request for a U.S.-build waiver has been received, and for which MARAD 
requests comments from interested parties. Comments should refer to the 
docket number of this notice and the vessel name in order for MARAD to 
properly consider the comments. Comments should also state the 
commenter's interest in the waiver application, and address the waiver 
criteria given in Sec. 388.4 of MARAD'S regulations at 46 CFR Part 388.

Vessel Proposed for Waiver of the U.S.-Build Requirement

    (1) Name of vessel and owner for which waiver is requested. Name of 
vessel: Aboriginal. Owner: Richard J. Connelly.
    (2) Size, capacity and tonnage of vessel. According to the 
applicant: ``It is 42 foot in length, capacity up to 12 people, weighs 
38 net ton, pursuant to 46 u.s.c.14502 State of RI.''
    (3) Intended use for vessel, including geographic region of 
intended operation and trade. According to the applicant: ``My intent 
is to use this vessel for sport fishing charters, 6 people or less out 
of Newport, RI. I will be fishing Newport and Block Island Sound and up 
to 100 miles offshore. I also intend to fish stickle rod and reel.''
    (4) Date and Place of construction and (if applicable) rebuilding. 
Date of construction: 1987. Place of construction: Taiwan, R.O.C.
    (5) A statement on the impact this waiver will have on other 
commercial passenger vessel operators. According to the applicant: 
``Currently there are approximately six other sportfishing operators in 
the Newport, RI area. Due to the large area I intend to fish, and the 
demand for charter boats in Newport; my waiver should have no adverse 
impact.''
    (6) A statement on the impact this waiver will have on U.S. 
shipyards. According to the applicant: ``Also, the U.S. shipyards would 
do any and all work or repairs on my vessel; therefore, having no 
adverse effect on U.S. shipyards.''

    Dated: September 19, 2000.

    By Order of the Maritime Administrator.
Murray A. Bloom,
Acting Secretary, Maritime Administration.
[FR Doc. 00-24426 Filed 9-21-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-81-P