The Committee on the Marine Transportation System (CMTS) is a Federal inter-departmental committee which is chaired by the Secretary of Transportation and the purpose of which is to create a partnership of Federal Departments and agencies with responsibility for the Marine Transportation System (MTS). The CMTS is directed to ensure the development and implementation of national MTS policies consistent with national needs and report to the President its views and recommendations for improving the MTS. The authority to establish this Committee derives from a directive in the U.S. Ocean Action Plan, issued December 17, 2004, “Supporting Marine Transportation.”
According to the CMTS Charter, effective August, 2005, the Committee on the Marine Transportation System and its constituent sub-organizations are responsible for the following:
In addition to the Cabinet-level leadership provided with the full Committee, the CMTS is supported by a high-level Coordinating Board. The Coordinating Board is made up of the heads of MTS-related agencies such as the Commandant of the US Coast Guard, the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Director for Civil Works of the US Army Corps of Engineers, and the Administrator of the Maritime Administration. The Chair of the Board rotates yearly among the four mentioned agencies. In 2008, the Chair is Sean T. Connaughton, Administrator of the Maritime Administration. The Board meets quarterly to consider, approve, and review the CMTS work plan tasks. Over twenty different agencies or Departmental offices with MTS interests are represented on the Coordinating Board.
The Executive Secretariat – which is under the US Department of Transportation - is the staff office which supports the activities of the CMTS, Coordinating Board and task teams. The Director of the Executive Secretariat also acts as the Executive Secretary of the Coordinating Board and reports to the Under Secretary for Policy at DOT. MTS-related agencies are providing additional, high-level staff support to the Executive Secretariat.
The work plan tasks – or Integrated Action Teams (IATs) are led and supported by the members. Current IATs include: the MTS National Strategy; An assessment of the MTS; Maritime Data Coordination and Information Management; and Navigation Technology Integration & Coordination. While not directed in the CMTS Charter, the Executive Secretariat operates a “Working Group” through which multi-agency staff participation and work efforts are encouraged and managed.
The following chart displays the three levels of organization for the Committee on the Marine Transportation System.
CMTS Organization Chart
Integrated Action Teams (IATs)
National Strategy for the Marine Transportation System: Rajiv Khandpur, rajiv.khandpur@uscg.mil and Paul.M.Stocklin@uscg.mil
Federal Maritime Data Coordination: Richard Lolich, Richard.lolich@dot.gov and Tom Bryan, tom.bryan@dot.gov
Assessment of the Marine Transportation System: David Grier, david.v.grier@usace.army.mil
Navigation Technology Integration and Coordination: Capt. David MacFarland, david.macfarland@noaa.gov
Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund Review: Carla Sullivan, Carla.sullivan@noaa.gov and Jim Walker, James.E.Walker@usace.army.mil
Great Lakes Cross Lake Ferries: Craig Middlebrook, craig.middlebrook@sls.dot.gov
Arctic Maritime Transportation Policy: Richard Lolich, Richard.lolich@dot.gov and Jennifer Mehaffey, Jennifer.mehaffey@cmts.gov
Federal MTS Budget Review: Ryan Olsen, Ryan.Olsen@dot.gov and Jennifer Mehaffey, Jennifer.mehaffey@cmts.gov
CMTS Communications Team: Gary Magnuson, Magnuson@cmts.gov and Susan Clark, susan.clark@dot.gov
Helen Brohl, Director, is ex-officio of all CMTS subcommittees and may be contacted at Helen.Brohl@cmts.gov.
| Secretary of Transportation, Chair | Secretary of Agriculture |
|---|---|
| Secretary of Commerce | Attorney General |
| Secretary of Defense | Secretary of Labor |
| Secretary of Homeland Security | Secretary of Energy |
| Secretary of the Treasury | Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff |
| Secretary of State | Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency |
| Secretary of the Interior | Chairman of the Federal Maritime Commission |
The head of any other Federal agency that the Committee Chair, with the approval of a majority of the voting members of the Committee, determines can further the purpose and activities of the Committee.
The CMTS also includes the following ex-officio members, who can participate as non-voting members:
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Last updated: 08/06/2008