FMC rolls out new regulatory reform website

The U.S. Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) has set up a new page on its website to provide the public with updates on its regulatory reform initiative.    The U.S. Federal Maritime Commission has set up a new page on its website to provide the public with updates on its regulatory reform initiative.
   Earlier this year, the FMC launched its regulatory reform initiative in line with President Trump’s Executive Order 13771, Reducing Regulations and Controlling Regulatory Costs, and Executive Order 13777, Enforcing the Regulatory Reform Agenda. The two presidential orders do not apply to independent regulatory agencies, such as the FMC. However, the FMC decided to undertake its regulatory reform in the “spirit” of those executive orders.
   On March 13, FMC Acting Chairman Michael A. Khouri put Karen V. Gregory, the agency’s managing director, in charge of establishing the Regulatory Reform Task Force (RRTF), which comprised of five members, with the job of evaluating existing FMC regulations and making recommendations regarding their repeal, replacement, or modification.
   On May 26, the commission published a notice of inquiry to solicit regulatory reform recommendations from the industry. The comment period has concluded and the FMC’s Regulatory Reform Task Force is currently reviewing filed comments.
   “I am pleased with the level of interest from stakeholders in this effort and thank each stakeholder for participating,” Khouri said in a statement. “I resolve that the commission will act quickly to identify areas where we can deliver relief from outdated, unnecessary, unreasonably burdensome, or ineffective regulations.”
   All regulatory changes will require action by the commission, and may require rulemaking. “The RRTF will continue to meet as reform efforts progress,” the agency said.