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Tariff of Tolls
Note: EPA no longer updates this information, but it may be useful as a reference or resource.
[Federal Register: December 20, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 244)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 76228-76230]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr20de06-32]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation
33 CFR Part 402
[Docket No. SLSDC 2006-26584]
RIN 2135-AA25
Tariff of Tolls
AGENCY: Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation, DOT.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.
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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 is revising its regulations to reflect the fees and
charges levied by the SLSMC in Canada starting in the 2007 navigation
season, which are effective only in Canada. An amendment to increase
the minimum charge per lock for those vessels that are not pleasure
craft or subject in Canada to tolls under items 1 and 2 of the Tariff
for full or partial transit of the Seaway will apply in the U.S. Also,
the SLSDC is proposing to change the toll charged per pleasure craft
using the U.S. locks from $25 U.S. or $30 Canadian to $30 U.S. or $30
Canadian. Several minor editorial corrections are being made in section
402.3, ``Interpretation.'' and section 402.6, ``Description and weight
of cargo.'' (See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.)
DATES: Any party wishing to present views on the proposed amendment may
file comments with the Corporation on or before January 19, 2007.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments [identified by DOT DMS Docket Number
SLSDC 2006-26584]
by any of the following methods:
? Web Site: http://dms.dot.gov. Follow the instructions for
submitting comments on the DOT electronic docket site.
? Fax: 1-202-493-2251.
? Mail: Docket Management Facility; U.S. Department of
Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Nassif Building, Room PL-401,
Washington, DC 20590-001.
? Hand Delivery: Room PL-401 on the plaza level of the
Nassif Building, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC, between 9
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
? Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov.
Follow the online instructions for submitting comments.
Instructions: All submissions must include the agency name and
docket number or Regulatory Identification Number (RIN) for this
rulemaking. Note that all comments received will be posted without
change to http://dms.dot.gov, including any personal information
provided. Please see the
[[Page 76229]]
Privacy Act heading under Regulatory Notices.
Docket: For access to the docket to read background documents or
comments received, go to http://dms.dot.gov at any time or to Room
PL-401 on the plaza level of the Nassif Building, 400 Seventh Street, SW.,
Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday,
except Federal holidays.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Craig H. Middlebrook, Acting Chief
Counsel, Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation, 400 Seventh
Street, SW., Washington, DC 20590, (202) 366-0091.
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 (Schedule
of Fees and Charges in Canada) 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 is proposing to revise 33 CFR 402.8,
``Schedule of tolls'', to reflect the fees and charges levied by the
SLSMC in Canada beginning in the 2007 navigation season. With one
exception, the changes affect the tolls for commercial vessels and are
applicable only in Canada. The collection of tolls by the SLSDC on
commercial vessels transiting the U.S. locks is waived by law (33
U.S.C. 988a(a)). Accordingly, no notice or comment is necessary on
these amendments.
The SLSDC is proposing to amend 33 CFR 402.8, ``Schedule of
tolls'', to increase the minimum charge per vessel per lock for full or
partial transit of the Seaway from $20.40 to $25.00. This charge is for
vessels that are not pleasure craft or subject in Canada to the tolls
under items 1 and 2 of the Tariff. This increase is due to higher
operating costs at the locks.
The SLSDC is proposing to modify its practice regarding the
collection of pleasure craft tolls by allowing pleasure craft operators
to pay the toll for transiting the U.S. locks, Eisenhower and Snell, in
either $30 U.S. or $30 Canadian. Currently the toll is payable in $25
U.S. or $30 Canadian, however this has resulted in confusion to
pleasure craft operators when transiting both Canadian and U.S. locks.
With almost eighty (80) percent of the tolls for pleasure crafts being
paid in Canadian dollars and little disparity between the U.S. and
Canadian exchange rates, the SLSDC is streamlining the pleasure craft
toll collection process by allowing for payment in either $30 U.S. or
$30 Canadian. Additionally, the SLSDC is proposing to make several
minor editorial changes to 33 CFR 402.3 and 33 CFR 402.5
Regulatory Notices: Privacy Act: Anyone is able to search the
electronic form of all comments received into any of our dockets by the
name of the individual submitting the comment (or signing the comment,
if submitted on behalf of an association, business, labor union, etc.).
You may review DOT's complete Privacy Act Statement in the Federal
Register published on April 11, 2000 (Volume 65, Number 70; Pages
19477-78) or you may visit http://dms.dot.gov.
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
I certify 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 relate 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 seq.) because it is not a major federal action significantly
affecting the quality of the 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 this proposal 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 continues to read as follows:
Authority: 33 U.S.C. 983(a), 984(a)(4) and 988, as amended; 49
CFR 1.52.
2. Section 402.3 is amended by revising paragraphs (a)(5), (b)(1),
and (f) to read as follows
Sec. 402.3 Interpretation.
* * * * *
(a) * * *
(5) Ores and minerals (crude, screened, sized or concentrated, but
not otherwise processed) loose or in sacks, including alumina, bauxite,
gravel, phosphate rock, sand, stone and sulphur;
* * * * *
(b) * * *
(1) Empty containers or the tare weight of loaded containers;
* * * * *
(f) General cargo means goods other than bulk cargo, grain,
government aid cargo, steel slabs and coal.
* * * * *
3. Section 402.5 is amended by revising paragraph (b) to read as
follows:
Sec. 402.5 Description and weight of cargo.
(b) The cargo tonnage shall be rounded to the nearest 1,000
kilograms (2,204.62 pounds.)
4. Section 402.8 is revised to read as follows:
Sec. 402.8 Schedule of tolls.
[[Page 76230]]
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Column 1 Column 2 Column 3
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rate ($) Welland
Rate ($) Montreal Canal--Lake
to or from Lake Ontario to or
Item Description of charges Ontario (5 locks) from Lake Erie
(8 locks)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Subject to item 3, for
complete transit of
the Seaway, a
composite toll,
comprising:
(1) a charge per gross 0.0966............ 0.1568
registered ton of the
ship, applicable
whether the ship is
wholly or partially
laden, or is in
ballast, and the gross
registered tonnage
being calculated
according to
prescribed rules for
measurement or under
the International
Convention on Tonnage
Measurement of Ships,
1969, as amended from
time to time.
(2) a charge per metric
ton of cargo as
certified on the
ship's manifest or
other document, as
follows:
(a) bulk cargo 1.0012............ 0.6634
(b) general cargo 2.4124............ 1.0616
(c) steel slab 2.1833............ 0.7600
(d) containerized 1.0012............ 0.6634
cargo
(e) government aid n/a............... n/a
cargo
(f) grain 0.6151............ 0.6634
(g) coal 0.5911............ 0.6634
(3) a charge per 1.4233............ 1.4233
passenger per lock.
(4) a charge per lock
for transit of the
Welland Canal in
either direction by
cargo ships:
(a) loaded n/a............... 529.79
(b) in ballast n/a............... 391.43
2. Subject to item 3, for 20 percent perlock 13 percent per
partial transit of the of the applicable lock of the
Seaway. charge under applicable
items 1(1) and charge under
(2) plus the items 1(1) and
applicable charge (2) plus the
under items 1(3) applicable
and (4). charge under
items 1(3) and
(4).
3. Minimum charge per ship 25.00............. 25.00
per lock transited for
full or partial
transit of the Seaway.
4. A rebate applicable to n/a............... n/a
the rates of item 1 to
3.
5. A charge per pleasure 25.00............. 25.00
craft per lock
transited for full or
partial transit of the
Seaway, including
applicable federal
taxes \1\.
6. Subject to item 3, in
lieu of item 1(4), for
vessel carrying new
cargo on the Welland
Canal or returning
ballast after carrying
new cargo on the
Welland Canal, a
charge per gross
registered ton of the
ship, the gross
registered tonnage
being calculated
according to item
1(1):
(a) loaded n/a............... 0.1561
(b) in ballast n/a............... 0.1144
7. Subject to item 3, in 0.0000............ n/a
lieu of item 1(1), for
vessel carrying new
cargo on the MLO
section or returning
ballast after carrying
new cargo on the MLO
Section, a charge per
gross registered ton
of the ship, the gross
registered tonnage
being calculated
according to item 1(1).
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ The applicable charge at the Saint Lawrence Seaway Development
Corporation's locks (Eisenhower, Snell) for pleasure craft is $30 U.S.
or $30 Canadian per lock. The applicable charge under item 3 at the
Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation's locks (Eisenhower,
Snell) will be collected in U.S. dollars. The other amounts are in
Canadian dollars and are for the Canadian Share of tolls. The
collection of the U.S. portion of tolls for commercial vessels is
waived by law (33 U.S.C. 988a(a)).
Issued at Washington, DC, on December 11, 2006.
Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation.
Collister Johnson, Jr.,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. E6-21743 Filed 12-19-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-61-P