[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 218 (Monday, November 14, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-28034]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: November 14, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Coast Guard

46 CFR Part 197

[CGD 88-103]
RIN 2115-AD16

 

Controlling the Hazard of Asbestos in the Industrial Maritime 
Environment

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of termination.

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SUMMARY: This rulemaking was initiated to revise and incorporate into 
regulation the guidance the Coast Guard has issued on exposure to 
asbestos aboard certain vessels and at outer continental shelf (OCS) 
facilities and deepwater ports. The Coast Guard guidance was based on 
the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) general 
industry asbestos exposure guidelines published in 1986. Since the 
Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM) was published for this 
Coast Guard rulemaking, OSHA has revised its asbestos exposure 
guidelines and issued industry-specific guidance for shipyard workers. 
This new OSHA shipyard regulation is a modified version of the 1986 
OSHA standards and appears to be adaptable to shipboard application 
with minor modifications. This rulemaking project is terminated pending 
an investigation by the Coast Guard of the feasibility of applying the 
OSHA shipyard standards to shipboard use.

DATES: This rulemaking is terminated on November 14, 1994.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lieutenant Commander Charles F. 
Barker, Project Manager, Office of Marine Safety, Security and 
Environmental Protection (G-MVI-2), (202) 267-1181.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On October 7, 1992, the Coast Guard 
published an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM) (57 FR 
46126) titled ``Controlling the Marine Asbestos Hazard,'' docket number 
(CGD 88-103), which solicited comments on a proposed asbestos control 
rulemaking. Nineteen comments were received. The comment were nearly 
unanimous in recommending that the Coast Guard adopt the OSHA asbestos 
exposure limits and concentrate on developing safe work practices and 
training to reduce shipboard asbestos exposure. The comments stated 
that the OSHA standards were based on exhaustive studies and took into 
account the limits of current measuring devices. They contended that 
the Coast Guard lacked justification for lowering exposure limits based 
on the potential for a mariner to be exposed to asbestos up to 24 hours 
per day. The comments also pointed out that the risk of asbestos 
exposure aboard vessels has been steadily decreasing over the years due 
to increased hazard awareness and the substitution of non-asbestos 
containing materials during vessel renovations conducted in shipyards. 
Comments from the OCS industry supported shoreside OSHA standards for 
offshore platforms.
    The Coast Guard has determined that the best course of action at 
this point is to terminate this rulemaking, issue policy guidance on 
the adaptation of the new OSHA shipyard standard to the marine 
industry, and reexamine the necessity of a rulemaking at some point in 
the future. Therefore, the Coast Guard is terminating further 
rulemaking under docket number 88-103.

    Dated: November 4, 1994.
J.C. Card,
Rear Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard, Chief, Office of Marine Safety, 
Security and Environmental Protection.
[FR Doc. 94-28034 Filed 11-10-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-14-M