Tariff of Tolls

AGENCY:

Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation, DOT.

ACTION:

Notice of proposed rulemaking.

SUMMARY:

The Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation (SLSDC) and the St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation (SLSMC) of Canada, under international agreement, jointly publish and presently administer the St. Lawrence Seaway Tariff of Tolls in their respective jurisdictions. The Tariff sets forth the level of tolls assessed on all commodities and vessels transiting the facilities operated by the SLSDC and the SLSMC. The SLSDC will be revising its regulations to reflect the fees and charges charged by the SLSMC in Canada starting in the 2004 navigation season, which are effective only in Canada. The SLSDC also proposes an amendment to increase the minimum charge per lock transited for full or partial transit of the Seaway to be charged by the SLSDC for transit through the U.S. locks of vessels that are not pleasure craft or vessels subject in Canada to the tolls under items 1 and 2 of the Tariff. Since this latter proposed amendment would be of applicability in the United States, comments are invited on only on this. (See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.)

DATES:

Any party wishing to present views on the proposed amendment may file comments with the Corporation on or before April 1, 2004.

ADDRESSES:

Signed, written comments should refer to the docket number appearing at the top of this document and must be submitted to the Docket Clerk, U.S. DOT Dockets, Room PL-401, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC 20590-0001. Written comments may also be submitted electronically at http://dmses.dot.gov/submit/BlankDSS.asp. All comments received will be available for examination between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., e.t., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. Those desiring notification of receipt of comments must include a self-addressed, stamped envelope or postcard.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Marc C. Owen, Chief Counsel, Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC 20590, (202) 366-6823.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

The Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation (SLSDC) and the St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation (SLSMC) of Canada, under international agreement, jointly publish and presently administer the St. Lawrence Seaway Tariff of Tolls in their respective jurisdictions. (The Tariff is called the Schedule of Fees and Charges in Canada.) The proposed amendments are described in the following summary.

The Tariff sets forth the level of tolls assessed on all commodities and vessels transiting the facilities operated by the SLSDC and the SLSMC. The SLSDC is proposing to revise § 402.8, “Schedule of Tolls,” to reflect the fees and charges charged by the SLSMC in Canada starting in the 2004 navigation season. With one exception, the changes affect the tolls for commercial vessels and are applicable only in Canada as the collection of the U.S. portion of tolls for commercial vessels is waived by law (33 U.S.C. 988a(a)). Accordingly, no notice and comment is necessary on these amendments. The SLSDC also proposes an amendment to increase the minimum charge per lock transited for full or partial transit of the Seaway to be charged by the SLSDC for transit through the U.S. locks of vessels that are not pleasure craft or vessels subject in Canada to the tolls under items 1 and 2 of the Tariff. Since only this latter proposed amendment would be of applicability in the United States, comments are invited on only on this. The specific change proposed is to amend § 402.8, “Schedule of Tolls”, to increase the per lock charge for transit through a U.S. lock from $16.44 to $16.77. This increase is due to higher operating costs at the locks.

Regulatory Evaluation

This proposed regulation involves a foreign affairs function of the United States and therefore Executive Order 12866 does not apply and evaluation under the Department of Transportation's Regulatory Policies and Procedures is not required.

Regulatory Flexibility Act Determination

The Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation certifies that this proposed regulation will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. The St. Lawrence Seaway Tariff of Tolls primarily relates to commercial users of the Seaway, the vast majority of whom are foreign vessel operators. Therefore, any resulting costs will be borne mostly by foreign vessels.

Environmental Impact

This proposed regulation does not require an environmental impact statement under the National Environmental Policy Act (49 U.S.C. 4321, et reg.) because it is not a major Federal action significantly affecting the quality of human environment.

Federalism

The Corporation has analyzed this proposed rule under the principles and criteria in Executive Order 13132, Dated August 4, 1999, and has determined that it does not have sufficient federalism implications to warrant a Federalism Assessment.

Unfunded Mandates

The Corporation has analyzed this proposed rule under title II of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-4, 109 Stat. 48) and determined that it does not impose unfunded mandates on State, local, and tribal governments and the private sector requiring a written statement of economic and regulatory alternatives.

Paperwork Reduction Act

This proposed regulation has been analyzed under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 and does not contain new or modified information collection requirements subject to the Office of Management and Budget review.

List of Subjects in 33 CFR Part 402

• Vessels
• Waterways

Accordingly, the Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation proposes to amend 33 CFR part 402, Tariff of Tolls, as follows:

PART 402—TARIFF OF TOLLS

1. The authority citation for part 402 would continue to read as follows:

Authority: 33 U.S.C. 983(a), 984(a)(4), and 988, as amended; 49 CFR 1.52.

2. Section 402.8 would be revised to read as follows: