MTS National Advisory Council
Safety and Environmental Protection Subcommittee
Minutes of the Meeting held
January 21, 2003
Held at the Offices of Troutman & Sanders
Washington, DC
The meeting was called to order at 1345 by Subcommittee Chairman, Glenn Ashe. A list of attendees is attached.
The subcommittee viewed and applauded the recently completed MTS – Making It Possible video. Ms. Hegy noted that the video would be distributed to members of Congress in the near future. She also noted that copies of the video were distributed to representatives of federal agencies and MTSNAC. Additional copies of the video are also available from Arnold & Associates, 1 Keiths Lane, Alexandria, VA 22314 (Phone: 703.837.8850). Quantity discounts are available. The subcommittee urged widespread distribution of this quality video to both the public and private sectors.
Mr. Kurz led the discussion on highlights of the most recent MTSNAC meeting referenced above. He noted that no minutes were available as yet. The subcommittee agreed that draft minutes of MTSNAC meetings need to be produced promptly after the meeting to enable the various subcommittees to efficiently organize their work assignments in sufficient time to make progress and produce working documents for the next MTSNAC meeting. It was also suggested that an “Action List” of items (and subcommittee assignments) might be a practical way to assure action based on MTSNAC decisions by the appropriate subcommittees.
The subcommittee also noted a recent Email communication from the Sponsor that announced the cancellation of the planned February 2003 MTSNAC meeting due to funding reasons. The subcommittee agreed that an additional communication would be valuable explaining the nature of the funding issues resulting in this cancellation e.g. funding under continuing resolution versus funding under (yet to be approved) budget. It was also agreed that this further communication should include the Administration’s requested funding for MTSNAC as well as the budgeted amounts in the proposed Senate and House subcommittee budgets, which have yet to be approved.
ACTION ITEM: Sponsor is requested to prepare communication to MTSNAC explaining further the budgetary reasons behind cancellation of the February 2003 meeting (no funds available under continuing resolution process), Administration’s requested amounts for MTSNAC funding, and House and Senate budget proposals for MTSNAC funding.
Mr. Hokana explained that the Criminalization of Marine Accidents resolution had been transmitted from the Sponsor to the Secretary of Transportation. He noted further that the Secretary had requested an analysis of the recommendations contained in the MTSNAC resolution by appropriate DOT agencies, noting that the US Coast Guard has questioned some of the assumptions made in the resolution and serving as the foundation for the recommendations contained in the resolution. Unanswered questions related to what the next step would be relative to addressing the concerns identified by the Coast Guard as well as the need for further action by either this subcommittee and/or MTSNAC.
No information was available as to the status of the ballast water resolution passed at the November MTSNAC meeting. Mr. Hokana agreed to provide additional information to the subcommittee on this issue as it becomes available.
The subcommittee reviewed the document entitled “MTSNAC Report and Recommendations to the Secretary of Transportation Regarding Marine Transportation Infrastructure and the SEA - 21 Initiative.” The subcommittee agreed based on its own recommendations and decisions taken at the November 2002 MTSNAC meeting that the two bullets on page 3 under the safety and environmental protection heading (“develop ballast water standard benchmark” and “significantly shorten (streamline) the length of time for a project to move from study to permitting to completion”) should be deleted from the final transmitted version of this document.
Mr. Nelson noted provisions in the document relating to TEA – 21 on page 5 (see referenced section below) and suggested that MTSNAC and its respective subcommittees should be more involved in the development of this legislation. Noting the relatively accelerated timetable of TEA – 21 (as compared to that of SEA – 21 which is not expected to be introduced until 2004, at the earliest), the subcommittee agreed that this particular section should be highlighted in the sponsor’s transmittal letter to the Secretary of Transportation.
The referenced section is as follows:
“2. Improve Connections Between Marine Transportation Infrastructure and Inland Transportation Infrastructure. There is a broad-based effort, supported by all transportation modes, the ports, shippers, and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, to ensure that the TEA – 21 surface transportation program, when it is reauthorized by the next Congress, more effectively addresses freight transportation needs, and improve the linkage of the nation’s highway system to the nation’s water and rail freight terminals. The MTSNAC is highly supportive of this initiative. Effectively connecting the nation’s ports to the inland transportation infrastructure is of paramount importance. (New Paragraph) Recommendation: Fully support the effort to elevate freight transportation projects and their importance in the TEA – 21 planning and funding process, and ensure that regional port interests are appropriately included in the planning process.”
ACTION ITEM: Subcommittee member to work with sponsor to draft transmittal letter for the document entitled “MTSNAC Report and Recommendations to the Secretary of Transportation Regarding Marine Transportation Infrastructure and the SEA - 21 Initiative” from sponsor to SecDOT highlighting the importance of MTSNAC involvement in the TEA – 21 development process and as included at page 5 of the referenced document.
Ms. Hegy provided an update on the SAIC permitting survey process, noting that a preliminary draft of the survey results is available. She further explained that MTS user requirements information will be integrated with other information sources and recommendations in the Marine Board infrastructure study which is scheduled for completion in September 2003.
Ms. Hegy briefed the subcommittee on activities associated with the Executive Order on environmental stewardship and transportation infrastructure project reviews. Based on the standing subcommittee agenda item relating to permit streamlining, the subcommittee specifically asked how MTSNAC could integrate its activities on this issue into the process expected under the Executive Order. Ms. Hegy informed the subcommittee that she has learned that the work product called for in the Executive Order has been completed and the report is to be transmitted to the White House for review. The subcommittee agreed that the report may be valuable in further MTSNAC deliberations on the issue of permit streamlining.
In a related matter, Ms. Hegy and Mr. Legatski informed the subcommittee that the ICMTS, chaired by the USCG, has initiated a process which will lead to development of a new strategic plan for addressing key MTS issues. The plan, prepared by the ICMTS steering committee, is currently in draft form and will be circulated shortly to the full ICMTS. A final document is expected in March/April of 2003 which will then be transmitted to MTSNAC for review. It is expected that the plan will include specific tasks and performance measures for plan implementation which may either be taken on by existing MTS related groups or assigned to results oriented groups e.g. working groups or tiger teams, dedicated to working with one particular task.
ACTION ITEM: SEP subcommittee to prepare a list of tasks achievable without additional legislative or regulatory mandates relative to MTS issues.
ACTION ITEM: SEP subcommittee strongly endorses development by the ICMTS of a task oriented strategic plan and supports working with the ICMTS on this project as well as urges similar commitment by the MTSNAC as a whole and its other subcommittees.
A. Ms. Hegy noted that the interagency MOU relating to participation on the ICMTS was being updated. The subcommittee noted that communication of issues both within the ICMTS (and its subcommittees) and MTSNAC (and its subcommittees) and between the two groups needs to be improved to maximize efficiency and coordination in addressing MTS issues. The subcommittee also agreed that close coordination with ICMTS counterparts is essential to development of this cooperative and consolidated effort at addressing these issues.
ACTION ITEM: MTSNAC SEP recommends involvement of ICMTS counterparts at both MTSNAC and subcommittee levels to promote dialogue and commonality of purpose throughout both organizational structures on MTS issues.
B. Ms. Hegy also briefed the subcommittee on a newly created Transportation Research Board marine environmental task force on which she will serve as Vice Chairperson. The task force will focus on port and waterway environmental management issues. The subcommittee agreed that members of the task force should be invited to future MTSNAC SEP meetings to determine areas of common interest and the prospects for cooperation on key MTS environmental issues.
C. A number of upcoming events were highlighted for the subcommittee including Maritime Day 2003 (May 22, 2003 in Washington, DC), the National Harbor Safety Committee Annual Conference (April 7/8, 2003 in New York), the Connecticut Maritime Association Annual Meeting (mid-March 2003) and the SNAME Marine Environment Technology Conference (August 21/22, 2003 in Washington, DC). Mr. Ashe noted the availability of NO COST sponsorships for the latter (SNAME) event. The subcommittee agreed that MTSNAC sponsorship should be investigated further by the Sponsor.
ACTION ITEM: SEP Chairman, Glenn Ashe to contact MTSNAC Chairman and Sponsor concerning MTSNAC sponsorship of SNAME Environment Technology Conference.
There were no public comments offered at this meeting.
The subcommittee agreed that the next meeting of the subcommittee would be coordinated with the schedule of future MTSNAC meetings.
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 1645.
MTS National Advisory Council
Safety and Environmental Protection Subcommittee
Meeting held January 21, 2003
List of Attendees
Name Affiliation
Glenn Ashe American Bureau of Shipping
Jonathan Benner Intertanko
Joe Cox Chamber of Shipping of America
Margie Hegy US Coast Guard
Michael Hokana MARAD (Sponsor)
Charles Kurz, II Keystone Shipping
Richard Legatski NOAA
Kathy Metcalf Chamber of Shipping of America
Bob Nelson Boat USA