PUBLIC PARTICIPATION.

SEC. 706. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION. (a) Notice of Filing.—Section 40304(a) of title 46, United States Code, is amended to read as follows: “(a) Notice of Filing.—Not later than 7 days after the date an agreement is filed, the Federal Maritime Commission shall— “(1) transmit a notice of the filing to the Federal Register for publication; and “(2) request interested persons to submit relevant information and documents.” . (b) Request for Information and Documents.—Section 40304(d) of title 46, United States Code, is amended by striking “section” and inserting “part”. (c) [46 U.S.C. 40304 note] Saving Clause.—Nothing in this section, or the amendments made by this section, may be construed— (1) to prevent the Federal Maritime Commission from requesting from a person, at any time, any additional information or documents the Commission considers necessary to carry out chapter 403 of title 46, United States Code; (2) to prescribe a specific deadline for the submission of relevant information and documents in response to a request under section 40304(a)(2) of title 46, United States Code; or (3) to limit the authority of the Commission to request information under section 40304(d) of title 46, United States Code.