21812 Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 84 / Tuesday, May 1, 2001 / Notices

the first priority would be to replace or

retrofit those angle cocks manufactured

between 1993 and 1996, as those are

without friction discs and modified

handle assemblies. Ellcon-National has

accounted for approximately 16,700

angle cocks applied during this period

as original equipment on new freight

cars. However, Ellcon-National notified

the AAR that between January 1993 and

March 2000 approximately 97,000 angle

cocks that have a potential for failure

were applied to cars.

Ellcon-National is offering handle

assembly torque kits upon request, as

well as field service support. For more

information, contact Mr. Brian Driggers

or Inside Sales Department personnel at

Ellcon-National at 864–277–5000 or Email: sales@ellcon-national.com. The

AAR requests that each removed part be

tagged with the car’s initials and

number, and that Ellcon-National be

contacted to arrange for disposition or

return of accumulated angle cocks or

handle assemblies.

Action Recommended by FRA

• FRA recommends that all railroads

and private car owners obtain a copy of

AAR’s Early Warning EW–177 (C–9296)

issued on March 29, 2001, and review

the document’s extensive listing of cars

that had the subject angle cocks

installed as original equipment.

• FRA also recommends that cars

found with the original angle cocks still

installed have the angle cocks replaced,

at both ends, or be retrofitted with a

handle assembly torque kit in

accordance with AAR’s guidance. AAR

has applied Severity Code ‘‘MG,’’ which

means ‘‘See Early Warning Letter for

Instructions.’’

It should be noted that the AAR in

conjunction with railroads, private car

owners, and Ellcon-National has also

developed an action plan to focus on

and accelerate the angle cock

modifications on the cars equipped with

the above noted angle cocks. For more

information, FRA recommends that

railroads and private car owners contact

Mr. Patrick T. Ameen, Assistant Vice

President Technical Services,

Association of American Railroads, 50 F

street, NW., Washington, DC 20001–

1564, (202) 639–2141.

FRA may modify Safety Advisory

2001–03, issue additional safety

advisories, or take other appropriate

action to ensure the highest level of

safety on the Nation’s railroads.

Issued in Washington, DC on April 26,

2001.

George A. Gavalla,

Associate Administrator for Safety.

[FR Doc. 01–10978 Filed 4–30–01; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910–06–P

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Maritime Administration

Voluntary Intermodal Sealift

Agreement (VISA)/Joint Planning

Advisory Group (JPAG)

AGENCY: Maritime Administration,

Department of Transportation.

ACTION: Synopsis of April 19, 2001

meeting with VISA participants.

On April 19, 2001, the Maritime

Administration (MARAD) and the

United States Transportation Command

(USTRANSCOM) co-hosted a meeting of

the VISA JPAG at MARAD headquarters,

Washington, DC.

Meeting attendance was by invitation

only, due to the nature of the

information discussed and the need for

a government-issued security clearance.

Of the 55 U.S.-flag carrier corporate

participants currently enrolled in VISA,

23 VISA carrier representative

companies participated in the JPAG. In

addition, JPAG attendance included

representatives from the Department of

Defense (DOD), the Military Traffic

Management Command, Military Sealift

Command, USTRANSCOM and

MARAD.

Following opening remarks by Acting

Deputy Maritime Administrator Bruce J.

Carlton and Mr. Daniel F. McMillin,

Deputy Director, Plans and Policy

Directorate (TCJ5) USTRANSCOM,

Government representatives provided

participants with an overview of

expected outcomes. The JPAG objectives

included: (1) Familiarization of VISA

participants with the specific

procedures to be used during a VISA

activation; (2) validation of DOD

planning assumptions for VISA carrier

liner routes; (3) an examination of VISA

carriers ability to fulfill potential

contingency requirements as well as

identification of equipment capabilities

and/or shortfalls; and (4) an update on

progress made toward training U.S.

civilian mariners to operate in a

chemical/biological warfare

environment.

During the JPAG, VISA participants

convened in separate work groups with

Government analysts to offer solutions

and recommendations to satisfy DOD

requirements. Afterwards, the groups

met together to discuss the results. The

VISA participants were also briefed on

the USTRANSCOM sponsored Exercise

‘‘Turbo Challenge 2001’’.

The full text of the VISA program is

published in 66 FR 10938–10947, dated

February 20, 2001. One of the program

requirements is that MARAD

periodically publish a list of VISA

participants in the Federal Register. As

of April 19, 2001, the following

commercial U.S.-flag vessel operators

were enrolled in VISA with MARAD:

Alaska Cargo Transport Inc., American

Automar, Inc., American President

Lines, Ltd., American Roll-On Roll-Off

Carrier, LLC, American Ship

Management, L.L.C., Automar

International Car Carrier, Inc., Beyel

Brothers Inc., Central Gulf Lines, Inc.,

Cook Inlet Marine, Crowley Liner

Services, Inc., Crowley Marine Services,

Inc., CSX Lines, LLC, Donjon Marine

Co., Double Eagle Marine, LLC, E-Ships,

Inc., Farrell Lines Incorporated, First

American Bulk Carrier Corp., First

Ocean Bulk Carrier-I, LLC, First Ocean

Bulk Carrier-II, LLC, First Ocean Bulk

Carrier-III, LLC, Foss Maritime

Company, Gimrock Maritime, Inc.,

Lockwood Brothers, Inc., Liberty

Shipping Group Limited Partnership,

Lykes Lines Limited, LLC., Lynden

Incorporated, Maersk Line, Limited,

Matson Navigation Company, Inc.,

Maybank Navigation Company, LLC,

McAllister Towing & Transportation

Company, Inc., Moby Marine

Corporation, Moran Towing

Corporation, NPR, Inc., Ocean Marine

Shipping, Inc., Odyssea Shipping Line

LLC, OSG Car Carriers, Inc., Resolve

Towing & Salvage, Inc., Samson Tug &

Barge Company, Inc., Sea Star Line,

LLC, Seacor Marine International Inc.,

Sealift Inc., Signet Maritime

Corporation, Smith Maritime, STEA

Corporation, Stevens Towing Co., Inc.,

Superior Marine Services, Inc., Totem

Ocean Trailer Express, Inc., Trailer

Bridge, Inc., TransAtlantic Lines LLC,

Trico Marine Operators, Inc., Troika

International, Ltd., U.S. Ship

Management, Inc., Van Ommeren

Shipping (USA) LLC, Waterman

Steamship Corporation, and Weeks

Marine, Inc.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr.

William F. Trost, Acting Director, Office

of Sealift Support, (202) 366–2323.

Dated: April 25, 2001.

By Order of the Maritime Administrator.

Joel C. Richard,

Secretary.

[FR Doc. 01–10801 Filed 4–30–01; 8:45 am]

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