[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 31 (Tuesday, February 15, 1994)] [Unknown Section] [Page 0] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 94-3520] [[Page Unknown]] [Federal Register: February 15, 1994] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Coast Guard 33 CFR Parts 151, 154, and 155 [CGD 85-026] RIN 2115-AC11 Pollution Prevention; Implementation of Amendments to Annex I of MARPOL 73/78 AGENCY: Coast Guard, DOT. ACTION: Notice of termination. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The Coast Guard is terminating all rulemaking under docket number CGD 85-026. It published a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) that proposed to amend the oil pollution prevention regulations for ships in order to implement the amendments to and interpretations of Annex I of the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, 1973, as modified by the protocol of 1978 (``MARPOL 73/ 78''). It is now terminating that rulemaking because of intervening developments, but it will continue to evaluate the need for another such rulemaking. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: LCDR M. McEwen, Project Manager, Marine Environmental Protection Division, U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters, (202) 267-6714. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On February 7, 1986 (51 FR 4768), the Coast Guard published an NPRM concerning the oil pollution prevention regulations for ships. The NPRM proposed to implement the amendments to and interpretations of Annex I of the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, 1973, as modified by the protocol of 1978. The protocol was adopted at the 29th session of the Marine Environmental Protection Committee of the International Maritime Organization (IMO). The NPRM also proposed to correct the final rulemaking of October 6, 1983 [48 FR 45704], implementing MARPOL 73/78. The Coast Guard received three comments in response to the proposed rule. In general, all three supported the stated goals of the NPRM: to implement the interpretations of MARPOL 73/78, Annex I. Two comments felt that the Coast Guard should issue oil pollution prevention regulations beyond those required by MARPOL 73/78, Annex I, while one comment took issue with a statement made in the NPRM, that the Coast Guard ``strongly discourages the discharge of oil into bilges.'' (The comment asserted that there is no place for that type of statement in a rulemaking. The Coast Guard notes that it has been a long-standing policy of the Coast Guard to discourage the discharge of oil into bilges.) Since publishing the NPRM, the Coast Guard has issued numerous oil pollution prevention regulations. Of particular note are those implementing the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (OPA 90) [Pub. L. 101-380]. The Coast Guard has determined that, in the view of regulatory and statutory activity since the publication of the NPRM, it is appropriate to terminate the rulemaking and evaluate the need for another like it. Subsequent rulemakings have accomplished many of the changes called for by MARPOL 73/78. In addition, legislation, such as OPA 90, has required oil pollution prevention regulations that exceed those in the NPRM; these have been or are being implemented by separate rulemakings. The Coast Guard will continue to track changes made to all annexes of MARPOL 73/78 to which the United States is a party. It will initiate separate rulemakings, as needed, to bring domestic regulations implementing MARPOL 73/78 into conformance with the Convention. Dated: February 8, 1994. A.E. Henn, Rear Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard Chief, Office of Marine Safety, Security and Environmental Protection. [FR Doc. 94-3520 Filed 2-14-94; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910-14-M