[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 139 (Thursday, July 20, 1995)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 37419]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-17875]



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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
46 CFR Parts 25, 26, and 162

[CGD 74-284]
RIN 2115-AA08


Fixed Fire-Extinguishing Systems for Pleasure Craft and Other 
Uninspected Vessels

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of withdrawal.

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SUMMARY: This rulemaking was initiated to establish standards and 
procedures for approving gaseous-type fixed fire-extinguishing systems 
for pleasure craft and other uninspected vessels. At the time, most 
fixed systems for pleasure craft used Halon 1301 and Halon 1211 as the 
extinguishing agents, and several of the provisions of this rulemaking 
specifically would have allowed (though not required) the use of 
halons. Since that time, halons have been identified as an ozone-
depleting substance; on January 1, 1995, their production was 
terminated. The Coast Guard considered redrafting this rulemaking to 
allow the use of halon replacement gases instead of halons. However, 
the development and evaluation of these gases is incomplete. The Coast 
Guard has decided to withdraw this project. It may initiate new 
rulemaking under a new docket-number when the development and 
evaluation are complete.

DATES: This withdrawal is effective on July 20, 1995.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Mr. Klaus Wahle, Project Manager, Office of Marine Safety, Security, 
and Environmental Protection (G-MVI-3), (202) 267-1444.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On January 9, 1991, the Coast Guard 
published a Supplementary Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (SNPRM) [56 FR 
829] titled ``Fixed Fire-Extinguishing Systems for Pleasure Craft and 
Other Uninspected Vessels'' [CGD 74-284]. The SNPRM contained approval 
standards for voluntary fixed systems using halon and carbon dioxide, 
and depended in large part on standards of industry such as ANSI/UL 
1058 of Underwriters Laboratories, Inc., titled ``Halogenated Agent 
Extinguishing System Units'' (Second Edition; October 6, 1989). The 
termination of halon production due to environmental concerns and the 
development and evaluation of halon replacement gases will require some 
changes in the rulemaking to delete references to halons and address 
the properties of the new gases instead. Since several of these gases 
are still being developed and evaluated, not enough information is 
available to redraft the approval standards contained in the SNPRM.
    The Coast Guard has therefore determined that the best course of 
action at this point is to withdraw this rulemaking, and examine the 
necessity of a distinct rulemaking at some point in the future. The 
Coast Guard withdraws all rulemaking under docket-number 74-284.

    Dated: July 7, 1995.
G.N. Naccara,
Captain, U.S. Coast Guard, Acting Chief, Office of Marine Safety, 
Security and Environmental Protection.
[FR Doc. 95-17875 Filed 7-19-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-14-M