[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 148 (Wednesday, August 2, 1995)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 39268]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-19007]



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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
46 CFR Part 160

[CGD 94-110]
RIN 2115-AE96


Recreational Inflatable Personal Flotation Device Standards

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of meeting; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard published an interim rule (IR) on Recreational 
Inflatable Personal Flotation Device (PFD) Standards on June 23, 1995, 
which introduced a new concept for approval of PFDs, the ``Life-Saving 
Index'' (LSI). Comments on the IR indicate that there is some confusion 
and uncertainty about use of the LSI. The Coast Guard will conduct a 
public meeting to discuss the use of the LSI in the approval of 
inflatable PFDs. This meeting is intended for PFD and inflation system 
manufacturers and technical experts knowledgeable in the field as well 
as other interested parties.

DATES: The meeting will be held August 28, 1995, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. 
Notice of interest in participation should be made by August 23, 1995 
to ensure adequate space is available. Written material must be 
received not later than October 23, 1995.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters, 
Room 2415, 2100 Second Street, SW, Washington, DC 20593-0001. Persons 
having an interest in participating in the meeting, should notify the 
Coast Guard by contacting Mr. Samuel Wehr, Office of Marine Safety, 
Security and Environmental Protection, Attn: G-MVI-3/14, 2100 Second 
Street, SW, Washington, DC 20593-0001, telephone (202) 267-1444 between 
the hours of 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Friday except Federal 
holidays, or facsimile (202) 267-1069.
    Written comments may be mailed to the Executive Secretary, Marine 
Safety Council (G-LRA) (CGD 94-110), U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters, 
2100 Second Street SW., Washington, DC 20593-0001, or may be delivered 
to room 3406 at the same address between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m., Monday 
through Friday, except Federal holidays. The telephone number is (202) 
267-1477. Comments will become part of this docket and will be 
available for inspection or copying at room 3406, U.S. Coast Guard 
Headquarters, between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m., Monday through Friday, except 
Federal holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Mr. Samuel E. Wehr, Office of Marine Safety, Security and Environmental 
Protection, Attn: G-MVI-3/14, 2100 Second Street, SW, Washington, DC 
20593-0001, telephone (202) 267-1444 between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4 
p.m. Monday through Friday except Federal holidays, or facsimile (202) 
267-1069.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Coast Guard has received comments 
indicating that the ``Life-Saving Index'' (LSI) provisions of the 
Recreation Inflatable Personal Flotation Device Standards IR published 
in the Federal Register on June 23, 1995 (60 FR 32836) are confusing 
and have caused uncertainty for manufacturers. Appendix A to the Draft 
Regulatory Evaluation, which is on file as part of the docket where 
indicated under ADDRESSES and was sent to manufacturers, provides a 
great deal of guidance on how to apply the LSI provisions in the 
approval process. However, to facilitate the use of this method for 
approval so that as wide a variety as possible of inflatable PFDs can 
be approved, the Coast Guard is holding this meeting.
    The agenda for the August 28, 1995 meeting will include the 
following topics:
    (1) Overview of Appendix A to the Draft Regulatory Evaluation.
    (2) Response to questions on the information in Appendix A to the 
Draft Regulatory Evaluation.
    (3) Sample calculations of LSIs for representative PFD designs.
    (4) Discussion of methods to standardize the LSI model.
    (5) Discussion of potential methods to demonstrate increased 
wearability values for inflatable PFDs.
    (6) Coast Guard policy on annual review and revision of the minimum 
LSI value required for approval and impact on existing approvals issued 
under the LSI.
    (7) Discussion of PFD information pamphlet requirements and 
standardization.
    Attendance is open to the public, but notice of intent to attend 
the meeting is requested in order that adequate space and audio/visual 
aids can be provided. In order to determine what accommodations need to 
be arranged, persons wishing to attend the meeting should notify Mr. 
Samuel Wehr at the number listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT 
by August 23, 1995.
    Participants are reminded that discussion of issues outside the 
above agenda may be limited by the Coast Guard.
    With advance notice and as time permits, members of the public may 
make oral presentations during the meeting. Persons wishing to make 
oral presentations should make notification no later than 4 p.m. 
Thursday, August 24, 1995. Individuals making oral presentations at the 
meeting are encouraged to submit a written copy of their remarks for 
the rulemaking docket.
    Interested persons are also invited to participate by providing 
written comments as requested in response to the IR cited above.
    If as an outgrowth of this meeting, a standard is developed for the 
LSI Model, which provides a suitable basis for the evaluation of 
inflatable PFDs under 46 CFR 160.076-27, notice of proposed rulemaking 
(NPRM) or supplemental NPRM (SNPRM) in which the Coast Guard discusses 
and proposes adoption of all or part of it, will be published in the 
Federal Register.

    Dated: July 27, 1995.
J.C. Card,
Rear Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard, Chief, Office of Marine Safety, 
Security and Environmental Protection.
[FR Doc. 95-19007 Filed 8-1-95; 8:45 am]
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