Regulatory Matters » United States Coast Guard
Proposed Rulemakings
NONE
Final Rulemakings
April 12, 2012 By this direct final rule, the Coast Guard is revising regulations for the inspection and certification of seagoing barges to align with the language of the applicable statutes. The statutory language exempts certain seagoing barges from inspection. Through this rule, the Coast Guard seeks to make the language of the regulation consistent with the language of the statute. 76 FR 77712, (December 14, 2011), (USCG-2011-0363).
Agency Notices.
January 30, 2012 The Coast Guard is developing a supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking (SNPRM) to finalize a 1992 interim rule that set forth the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (OPA 90) claims procedures and removed certain conflicting and superseded regulations from the Code of Federal Regulations. Before publishing the SNPRM, the Coast Guard is inviting members of the public to respond to questions and offer comments on their experience to date with the OPA 90 claims procedures and on whether additional pre-OPA 90 rules should be removed from the Code of Federal Regulations. The Coast Guard is also inviting the public to provide background information and cost data that will better inform the regulatory assessment for this rulemaking. Comments accepted. 76 FR 67385, (November 1, 2011), (USCG-2004-17697).
January 31, 2012 The U.S. Coast Guard is reopening the comment period to further its outreach efforts and solicit additional comments concerning its Port Access Route Study being conducted along the Atlantic Coast from Maine to Florida. Comments accepted. 76 FR 76927, (December 9, 2011), (USCG-2011-0351).
February 1, 2012 The Coast Guard seeks applications for membership on the Houston/Galveston Navigation Safety Advisory Committee (HOGANSAC). This Committee provides advice and makes recommendations to the Coast Guard on matters relating to the safe transit of vessels and products through Galveston Bay, and to and from the Ports of Galveston, Houston, Texas City, and Galveston Bay. Applications accepted. 77 FR 1077, (January 9, 2012), (USCG-2011-1032).
February 1, 2012 Under existing statutes, at least 75% of the ownership of vessels eligible to engage in the coastwise or fisheries trades must be vested in United States citizens. The Coast Guard is seeking comments and information on the various mechanisms that publicly traded companies have chosen to employ in order to assure compliance with those citizenship requirements. Although the Coast Guard may use information obtained in response to this notice to inform future rulemakings, we are not presently developing a new or revised regulation on this subject. Comments accepted. 76 FR 68203, (November 3, 2011), (USCG-2011-0619).
February 6, 2012 The Coast Guard seeks applications for membership on the Merchant Marine Personnel Advisory Committee (MERPAC). This Committee advises the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security on matters related to personnel in the U.S. merchant marine, including but not limited to training, qualifications, certification, documentation and fitness standards. Applications accepted. 76 FR 76429, (December 7, 2011), (USCG-2011-1103).
February 10, 2012 The Coast Guard is establishing an alternate size threshold based on the measurement system established under the International Convention of Tonnage Measurement of Ships, 1969, for Oil Spill Response Vessels (OSRVs), which are properly certificated under 46 CFR Subchapter L. The present size threshold of 500 gross registered tons is based on the U.S. regulatory measurement system. This rule provides an alternative for owners and operators of offshore supply vessels (OSVs) that may result in an increase in oil spill response capacity and capability. This interim rule is effective December 12, 2011. Comments accepted. 76 FR 77128, (December 12, 2011), (USCG-2011-0966).
February 13, 2012 In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 the U.S. Coast Guard is forwarding two Information Collection Requests to the Office of Management and Budget, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs requesting an extension of their approval for the ICRs. The ICRs are entitled: (1) Course Approval and Records for Merchant Marine Training Schools; and (2) Ballast Water Management for Vessels with Ballast Tanks Entering U.S. Waters. Comments accepted. 77 FR 1942, (January 12, 2012), (USCG-2011-1014).
February 13, 2012 By this direct final rule, the Coast Guard is revising regulations for the inspection and certification of seagoing barges to align with the language of the applicable statutes. The statutory language exempts certain seagoing barges from inspection. Through this rule, the Coast Guard seeks to make the language of the regulation consistent with the language of the statute. This rule is effective April 12, 2012, unless an adverse comment, or notice of intent to submit an adverse comment, is received by the Coast Guard. If an adverse comment, or notice of intent to submit an adverse comment is received the Coast Guard will withdraw this direct final rule and publish a timely notice of withdrawal in the Federal Register. Comments accepted. 76 FR 77712, (December 14, 2011), (USCG-2011-0363).
March 15, 2012 The Coast Guard has set the calendar year 2012 minimum random drug testing rate at 50 percent of covered crewmembers. The minimum random drug testing rate is effective January 1, 2012 through December 31, 2012. Marine employers must submit their 2011 Management Information System (MIS) reports no later than March 15, 2012. 76 FR 79204, (December 21, 2011), (USCG-2009-0973).
March 19, 2012 The Coast Guard announces the availability of a draft Navigation and Inspection Circular (NVIC) that sets forth the Coast Guard’s policies and procedures regarding the inspection and certification of vessels under the Maritime Security Program (MSP). The draft NVIC provides a comprehensive approach to the MSP inspection process through the establishment of two levels of MSP inspection and oversight. This notice solicits public comment on the impacts that the policies and procedures contained in this draft NVIC would have on applicable vessels and other affected parties. Comments accepted. 77 FR 2741, (January 19, 2012), (USCG-2011-1156).
March 20, 2012 The Coast Guard is considering revising the regulations governing chemical (drug and alcohol) testing of mariners. In support of that effort, the Coast Guard would like input from mariners, marine employers, service agents, and substance abuse professionals on a number of questions relating to the administration of chemical testing programs for mariners by mariner employers. Comments accepted. 77 FR 2935, (January 20, 2012), (USCG-2010-1064).
April 2, 2012 On November 3, 2011, the Coast Guard published a Notice and Request for Comments regarding the mechanisms of compliance with United States citizenship requirements for the ownership of vessels eligible to engage in restricted trades by public trades companies. In that notice, the public comment period was set to expire on February 1, 2012. In this action, the Coast Guard is providing notice that the public comment period is extended until April 2, 2012. This extension will provide the public with additional time and opportunity to provide the Coast Guard with information regarding the relevant compliance mechanisms employed by companies with a wide variety of complex organizational structures and trading practices. Comments accepted. 77 FR 2988, (January 20, 2012), (USCG-2011-0619).
Meetings
January 31, 2012 The Merchant Marine Personnel Advisory Committee (MERPAC) will conduct an intercessional meeting to facilitate working group discussion of Task Statement 76, entitled “Review of Performance Measures (Assessment Criteria),” and Task Statement 77, entitled “Development of Performance Measures (Assessment Criteria).” This meeting will be open to the public and will be held from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. at the STAR Center, 2 West Dixie Highway, Dania Beach, FL. 77 FR 1944, (January 12, 2012), (USCG-2012-0011).
February 1, 2012 The Merchant Marine Personnel Advisory Committee (MERPAC) will conduct an intercessional meeting to facilitate working group discussion of Task Statement 76, entitled “Review of Performance Measures (Assessment Criteria),” and Task Statement 77, entitled “Development of Performance Measures (Assessment Criteria).” This meeting will be open to the public and will be held from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. at the STAR Center, 2 West Dixie Highway, Dania Beach, FL. 77 FR 1944, (January 12, 2012), (USCG-2012-0011).