§40304 Commission Action

Summary

Within 7 days after an agreement is filed, the Federal Maritime Commission must send a notice to the Federal Register and ask interested people to send relevant information and documents. After a quick review, the Commission must reject any agreement that does not meet the rules in sections 40302 and 40303, and it must tell the filer in writing why it was rejected. If not rejected, an agreement (not an assessment agreement) becomes effective either on the 45th day after filing or on the 30th day after the Federal Register notice appears, whichever is later. If the Commission asks for more information before that time, the agreement starts 45 days after the Commission gets all the requested materials, or 45 days after it gets what was submitted plus a written explanation for any missing items. The Commission may ask for extra information before the waiting time ends. At the filer’s request the Commission may shorten the waiting time, but not to less than 14 days after the Federal Register notice. The waiting period tied to additional information may be extended only by the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia in a civil action the Commission brings under section 41307(c). The Commission may not make an agreement effective only for a fixed term.