---
kind: "section"
citation: "46 U.S.C. § 40304"
title: "46"
title_heading: "Shipping"
number: "40304"
heading: "Commission action"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/46/40304"
units:
  - "Subtitle IV — Regulation of Ocean Shipping"
  - "Part A — Ocean Shipping"
  - "Chapter 403 — Agreements"
---

# §40304. Commission action

- (a) **Notice of Filing.—** Not later than 7 days after the date an [agreement](/usc/46/40102.md?p=1) is filed, the Federal Maritime [Commission](/usc/46/42501.md?p=1) 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) **Preliminary Review and Rejection.—** After preliminary review, the [Commission](/usc/46/42501.md?p=1) shall reject an [agreement](/usc/46/40102.md?p=1) that it finds does not meet the requirements of sections [40302](/usc/46/40302.md) and [40303](/usc/46/40303.md) of this title. The [Commission](/usc/46/42501.md?p=1) shall notify in writing the person filing the [agreement](/usc/46/40102.md?p=1) of the reason for rejection.
- (c) **Review and Effective Date.—** Unless rejected under [subsection (b)](#b), an [agreement](/usc/46/40102.md?p=1) (other than an [assessment agreement](/usc/46/40102.md?p=3)) is effective—
  - (1) on the 45th day after filing, or on the 30th day after notice of the filing is published in the Federal Register, whichever is later; or
  - (2) if additional information or documents are requested under [subsection (d)](#d)—
    - (A) on the 45th day after the [Commission](/usc/46/42501.md?p=1) receives all the additional information and documents; or
    - (B) if the request is not fully complied with, on the 45th day after the [Commission](/usc/46/42501.md?p=1) receives the information and documents submitted and a statement of the reasons for noncompliance with the request.
- (d) **Request for Additional Information.—** Before the expiration of the period specified in [subsection (c)(1)](#c-1), the [Commission](/usc/46/42501.md?p=1) may request from the person filing the [agreement](/usc/46/40102.md?p=1) any additional information and documents the [Commission](/usc/46/42501.md?p=1) considers necessary to make the determinations required by this part.
- (e) **Modification of Review Period.—**
  - (1) **Shortening.—** On request of the party filing an [agreement](/usc/46/40102.md?p=1), the [Commission](/usc/46/42501.md?p=1) may shorten a period specified in [subsection (c)](#c), but not to a date that is less than 14 days after notice of the filing of the [agreement](/usc/46/40102.md?p=1) is published in the Federal Register.
  - (2) **Extension.—** The period specified in [subsection (c)(2)](#c-2) may be extended only by the United States District Court for the District of Columbia in a civil action brought by the [Commission](/usc/46/42501.md?p=1) under [section 41307(c) of this title](/usc/46/41307.md?p=c).
- (f) **Fixed Terms.—** The [Commission](/usc/46/42501.md?p=1) may not limit the effectiveness of an [agreement](/usc/46/40102.md?p=1) to a fixed term.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 109–304, § 7, Oct. 6, 2006, 120 Stat. 1530; Pub. L. 115–282, title VII, § 706(a), (b), Dec. 4, 2018, 132 Stat. 4295.)

## Notes

| Historical and Revision Notes |  |  |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Revised<br>Section | Source (U.S. Code) | Source (Statutes at Large) |
| 40304(a) | 46 App.:1705(a). | Pub. L. 98–237, § 6(a)–(f), Mar. 20, 1984, 98 Stat. 72. |
| 40304(b) | 46 App.:1705(b). |  |
| 40304(c) | 46 App.:1705(c) (1st sentence). |  |
| 40304(d) | 46 App.:1705(d). |  |
| 40304(e)(1) | 46 App.:1705(e). |  |
| 40304(e)(2) | 46 App.:1705(c) (last sentence). |  |
| 40304(f) | 46 App.:1705(f). |  |

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

2018—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 115–282, § 706(a), amended subsec. (a) generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “Within 7 days after an agreement is filed, the Federal Maritime Commission shall transmit a notice of the filing to the Federal Register for publication.”

Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 115–282, § 706(b), substituted “part” for “section”.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Saving Clause

Pub. L. 115–282, title VII, § 706(c), Dec. 4, 2018, 132 Stat. 4295, provided that: “Nothing in this section [amending this section], or the amendments made by this section, may be construed— 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; 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 to limit the authority of the Commission to request information under section 40304(d) of title 46, United States Code.”