FMC Proposes Changes to Handling of Third-Party Comments
The Federal Maritime Commission requested public comments on proposed changes to the agency's regulations for handling third-party comments on agreements by or among ocean common carriers and/or terminal operators, the FMC said in a notice (here). Following a review of…
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comments submitted to the FMC after a proposal issued earlier this year (see 1602290029), the agency now seeks further comments on adding regulatory language to detail the agency's handling of the third-party comments, it said. Currently, "when the Commission receives a comment on a filed agreement, it is distributed internally to the Commissioners and relevant staff. If the commenter requests confidential treatment, the Secretary will make a prompt determination as to the Commission's ability to protect any comment or portion of a comment from disclosure and inform the submitter," the agency said. "If a member of the public, press, or agreement counsel request a copy of a comment, the Office of the Secretary will provide any comment or part of a comment unless the Secretary has determined that the comment or part of the comment should be afforded confidential treatment." The FMC also seeks comments on any "modifications that should be considered."