Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 185 / Friday, September 22, 2000 / Notices 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

§ 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 § 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

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Maritime Administration

[Docket Number: MARAD–2000–7936]

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

Lucky Dog.

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–2000–7936.

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., SW., Washington, DC 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

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

§ 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 § 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: Lucky Dog. Owner: Relentless

Charters Inc.

(2) Size, capacity and tonnage of

vessel. According to the applicant: ‘‘The

vessel is 34 feet in length and 13 feet 7

inches in breadth. Gross tonnage as

determined by 46 CFR 69 subpart E is

21.65.’’

(3) Intended use for vessel, including

geographic region of intended operation

and trade. According to the applicant:

‘‘The intended use for the vessel is

operating as an uninspected passenger

vessel pursuant to 46 CFR 10.205. This

regulation calls for a maximum of 6

passengers and a range of no more than

100 miles from shore. Charter services

will be offered for the purpose of scuba

diving and sport fishing. The geographic

region of operation will be the Gulf of

Mexico from Sarasota Florida to

Bayonet Point Florida, extending 100

miles into the gulf.’’

(4) Date and Place of construction and

(if applicable) rebuilding. Date of

construction: 1973. Place of

construction: Omastrand Norway.

(5) A statement on the impact this

waiver will have on other commercial

passenger vessel operators. According to

the applicant: ‘‘I believe that granting

this waiver will not unduly adversely

affect other commercial passenger vessel

57424 Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 185 / Friday, September 22, 2000 / Notices

1BRRRA is a political subdivision of the State of

Minnesota.

2BRRRA’s line is a segment of a 65.6-mile rail

line previously owned and abandoned by the

Chicago and North Western Transportation

Company. See Chicago and North Western

Transportation Company—Abandonment in Nobles

and Rock Counties, MN, and Minnehaha County,

SD, Docket No. AB–1 (Sub-No. 202) (ICC served

June 16, 1988). According to BRRRA, it acquired the

line after consummation of the abandonment in

Docket No. AB–1 (Sub-No. 202) but never operated

the line itself.

As noted in page 2 of the notice, BRRRA

alternatively requested that, should the Board

determine that BRRRA is an existing rail carrier, the

notice of exemption for operation of the line should

be deemed to be filed under 49 CFR 1150.41. Based

on the representations made by BRRRA, use of the

exemption at 49 CFR 1150.31 from the requirements

of 49 U.S.C. 10901 is appropriate.

3Nobles Rock Railroad Co. (NRRC) currently

provides common carrier rail service over the line

pursuant to Nobles Rock Railroad Co.—Lease and

Operation Exemption—Buffalo Ridge Regional

Railroad Authority, Finance Docket No. 32368 (ICC

operators. The area where I will be

operating attracts numerous tourists

from around the world, many of whom

are interested in fishing or diving local

waters. It has been my observation that

the demand for charter services far

exceeds the supply in this area. I

currently do not advertise and in spite

of my low profile, I am solicited to

charter nearly every week. Obviously, I

decline since I lack the appropriate

documentation.’’

(6) A statement on the impact this

waiver will have on U.S. shipyards.

According to the applicant: ‘‘I believe

that the impact to U.S. shipyards is

positive. I do not think that a vessel that

is 27 years old carries any impact on

shipyards that produce new vessels. On

the other hand, using this vessel for

commercial use will necessitate

refurbishment and repowering that will

benefit U.S. shipyards that perform this

type of work.’’

Dated: September 19, 2000.

By Order of the Maritime Administrator.

Murray A. Bloom,

Acting Secretary, Maritime Administration.

[FR Doc. 00–24427 Filed 9–21–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910–81–P

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Research and Special Programs

Administration

RSPA–00–7795

Pipeline Safety: Meeting of the

Integrity Management Communication

Team

AGENCY: Research and Special Programs

Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of Integrity Management

Communication Team meeting.

SUMMARY: The Research and Special

Programs Administration’s (RSPA)

Office of Pipeline Safety (OPS) hereby

gives notice that the Integrity

Management Communication Team will

meet to discuss the content and delivery

of pipeline information to be conveyed

to local officials and members of the

public in or near high consequence

areas.

DATES: The meeting will be held on

October 10, 2000, from 8:30 a.m. until

5:00 p.m.

ADDRESSES: Members of the public may

attend the meeting at the Department of

Transportation, Nassif Building, 400

Seventh Street, SW., Room 3200,

Washington, DC 20590. After team

members have discussed each topic, an

opportunity will be provided for the

public to make short statements.

Anyone wishing to make an oral

statement or to participate by

conference call should notify Mary Jo

Cooney, (202) 366–4774, no later than

October 5, 2000. Those wishing to make

an oral statement must notify OPS of the

topic of the statement and the time

requested for the presentation. Those

wishing to participate by conference call

will be notified of the call-in number

prior to the meeting.

Information on Services for

Individuals With Disabilities: For

information on facilities or services for

individuals with disabilities or to

request special assistance during the

telephone conference calls, contact

Mary-Jo Cooney at (202) 366–4774.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Mary Jo Cooney, OPS, (202) 366–4774.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background Information

In connection with the proposed rule

on Pipeline Integrity Management in

High Consequence Areas, OPS plans to

propose related rules governing operator

communications with local public

officials and agencies. To assist in this

effort, the OPS Technical Advisory

Committees created an Integrity

Management Communications

Subcommittee to focus on

communications issues and to report

back to the full Advisory Committee.

OPS expanded this Subcommittee to

form a team with equal representation

from the public, government agencies,

and the pipeline industry, and to

consolidate several related efforts.

The Team will provide feedback,

insight, and information to the Advisory

Committee on the content and delivery

of information conveyed to local

officials and the public about pipeline

operations, systems, and the risks they

pose in or near high consequence areas.

The Advisory Committee will provide

pipeline communication

recommendations to OPS for

consideration in drafting the Integrity

Management Communications

rulemaking. The Team will also assist

OPS in finalizing a primer to educate

local officials on pipelines and their

operations.

The topics for discussion for this

meeting include discussions of the

following: Information that is needed by

various groups: landowners/tenants

along pipeline rights-of-way; local and

regional emergency response officials;

excavators and the general public;

review of existing materials used by

pipeline operators for public education;

results from a public awareness survey

conducted by the American Petroleum

Institute and focus groups sponsored by

the Interstate Natural Gas Association of

America; Office of Pipeline Safety

website materials; information currently

available under the Freedom of

Information Act; and pending pipeline

legislative proposals for community

right-to-know.

Documents relating to this initiative

may be viewed on the OPS website,

ops.dot.gov. Click on Integrity

Management and then click on

Communications Rule. Scroll down to

view background documents.

Issued in Washington, DC on September

18, 2000.

Jeffrey D. Wiese,

Manager, Program Development, Office of

Pipeline Safety.

[FR Doc. 00–24383 Filed 9–21–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910–60–P

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Surface Transportation Board

[STB Finance Docket No. 33925]

Buffalo Ridge Regional Railroad

Authority—Operation Exemption—Rail

Line Between Manley and Worthington,

MN

Buffalo Ridge Regional Railroad

Authority (BRRRA),1 a noncarrier, has

filed a verified notice of exemption

(notice) under 49 CFR 1150.31 to

operate over its own rail line between

milepost 0.0, at or near Agate, MN, and

milepost 41.44, at or near Manley, MN,

a distance of approximately 41.44 miles

(line).2 In addition, BRRRA will operate,

pursuant to incidental trackage rights,

over a 3.4-mile rail line owned by Union

Pacific Railroad Company between

Agate and Worthington, MN, for a total

of 44.84 miles.3