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Department of Transportation, Maritime Administration: Maritime Security Program

GAO-04-1007R Jul 29, 2004
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Highlights

GAO reviewed the Department of Transportation, Maritime Administration's (MARAD) new rule on the Maritime Security Program. GAO found that (1) the interim final rule would implement provisions of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2004, the Maritime Security Act of 2003, which authorizes the creation of a new Maritime Security Program that establishes a fleet of active, commercially viable, privately owned vessels to meet national defense and other security requirements to maintain a United States presence in international commercial shipping; and (2) MARAD complied with applicable requirements in promulgating the rule.

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Department of Transportation, Maritime Administration: Maritime Security Program, GAO-04-1007R, July 29, 2004

B-294340

July 29, 2004

The Honorable John McCain
Chairman
The Honorable Ernest F. Hollings
Ranking Minority Member
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
United States Senate

The Honorable Don Young
Chairman
The Honorable James L. Oberstar
Ranking Minority Member
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
House of Representatives

Subject: Department of Transportation, Maritime Administration: Maritime Security Program

Pursuant to section 801(a)(2)(A) of title 5, United States Code, this is our report on a major rule promulgated by the Department of Transportation, Maritime Administration (MARAD), entitled Maritime Security Program (RIN: 2133-AB62). We received the rule on July 19, 2004. It was published in the Federal Register as an interim final rule and request for comments on July 20, 2004. 69 Fed. Reg. 43328.

The interim final rule implements provisions of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2004, the Maritime Security Act of 2003 (MSA 2003). The MSA 2003 authorizes the creation of a new Maritime Security Program that establishes a fleet of active, commercially viable, privately owned vessels to meet national defense and other security requirements to maintain a United States presence in international commercial shipping.

Enclosed is our assessment of MARADs compliance with the procedural steps required by section 801(a)(1)(B)(i) through (iv) of title 5 with respect to the rule. Our review indicates that MARAD complied with the applicable requirements.

If you have any questions about this report, please contact James W. Vickers, Assistant General Counsel, at (202) 512-8210. The official responsible for GAO evaluation work relating to the subject matter of the rule is Michael Gryszkowiec, Managing Director, Physical Infrastructure. Mr. Gryszkowiec can be reached at (202) 512-2834.

signed

Kathleen E. Wannisky
Managing Associate General Counsel

Enclosure

cc: Daron Threet
Attorney-Advisor
Maritime Administration
Department of Transportation


ENCLOSURE

ANALYSIS UNDER 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(B)(i)-(iv) OF A MAJOR RULE
ISSUED BY THE
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION,
MARITIME ADMINISTRATION
ENTITLED
"MARITIME SECURITY PROGRAM"
(RIN: 2133-AB62)

(i) Cost-benefit analysis

To support the operation of up to 60 U.S.-flag vessels in the foreign commerce of the United States, the Maritime Security Act of 2003 authorizes156 million annually for fiscal years 2006, 2007, and 2008; $174 million annually for fiscal years 2009, 2010, and 2011; and $186 million annually for fiscal years 2012, 2013, 2014, and 2015. Payments are subject to annual appropriations.

(ii) Agency actions relevant to the Regulatory Flexibility Act, 5 U.S.C. 603-605, 607, and 609

Since the interim final rule was not preceded by a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, the requirements of the Regulatory Flexibility Act do not apply.

(iii) Agency actions relevant to sections 202-205 of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995, 2 U.S.C. 1532-1535

The interim final rule does not contain either an intergovernmental or private sector mandate, as defined in title II, of more than100 million in any one year.

(iv) Other relevant information or requirements under acts and executive orders

Administrative Procedure Act, 5 U.S.C. 551 et seq .

Section 3533 of the MSA 2003 permitted MARAD to issue the rule as an interim final rule without soliciting comments. However, before the rule is issued as a final rule, MARAD will consider comments submitted by August 19, 2004.

Paperwork Reduction Act, 44 U.S.C. 3501-3520

The interim final rule contains an information collection that is subject to review by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under the Paperwork Reduction Act. While OMB has previously approved the collection and assigned OMB No. 2133-0525, MARAD has revised the burden estimate because of the increased participation in the program. MARAD estimates that the total annual burden will be 224 hours with a total annual burden cost of10,726.65.

Statutory authorization for the rule

The interim final rule is promulgated under the authority found at Subtitle C, Maritime Security Fleet Program, Title XXXV of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2004, the Maritime Security Act of 2003 (Pub. L. 108-136).

Executive Order No. 12866

The interim final rule was reviewed by OMB and found to be an economically significant regulatory action under the order.

Executive Order No. 13132 (Federalism)

MARAD has determined that the interim final rule does not have sufficient federalism implications to warrant the preparation of a federalism summary impact statement.

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