[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 194 (Friday, October 6, 1995)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 52359]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-24920]



=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Coast Guard

46 CFR Part 25

[CGD 87-016b]
RIN 2115-AC69


Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons for Uninspected 
Vessels

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of withdrawal.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: This rulemaking was intended to require emergency position 
indicating radio beacons (EPIRBs) to be carried on certain uninspected 
passenger vessels and assistance towing vessels. The proposed EPIRB 
requirements would have applied to vessels operating on the high seas 
and on the Great Lakes beyond three miles from the coastline. The Coast 
Guard also proposed requiring visual distress signals on all 
uninspected vessels not presently required to carry them, when those 
vessels operate in coastal waters. The Coast Guard has decided to 
withdraw this project because existing regulations generally fulfill 
the intended purpose of the underlying statute and the Coast Guard 
needs to focus its available resources on other regulatory projects.

DATES: This withdrawal is effective on October 6, 1995.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Mr. Robert Markle, Project Manager, Office of Marine Safety, Security, 
and Environmental Protection (G-MMS-4), (202) 267-1444.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Public Law 100-540, known as the ``EPIRB's 
On Uninspected Vessels Requirements Act'' (102 Stat. 2719, October 28, 
1988), amended 46 U.S.C. 4102 by revising paragraph (e) to require 
uninspected commercial vessels operating on the high seas and on the 
Great Lakes beyond three miles from the coastline to carry the number 
and type of alerting and locating equipment, including emergency 
position indicating radio beacons (EPIRBs) as prescribed by the 
Secretary of Transportation.
    On March 10, 1993, the Coast Guard published a Final Rule requiring 
EPIRBs on certain uninspected vessels, excluding uninspected passenger 
vessels and assistance towing vessels (58 FR 13364). The preamble of 
that final rule explained that a Supplemental Notice of Proposed 
Rulemaking (SNPRM) would propose new EPIRB regulations and visual 
distress signal requirements for uninspected vessels not presently 
required to carry them.
    On February 17, 1994, the Coast Guard published an SNPRM titled 
``Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons and Visual Distress 
Signals for Uninspected Vessels'' (59 FR 8100). The SNPRM proposed 
EPIRB requirements for a limited category of uninspected passenger 
vessels and assistance towing vessels, and proposed the carriage of 
visual distress signals for certain uninspected vessels not currently 
required to carry them.
    The Coast Guard has completed a comprehensive review of its 
regulations and is withdrawing some proposed regulations resources on 
the highest priority projects. In reviewing this regulatory project, it 
was noted that the Coast Guard had required many uninspected vessels to 
carry EPIRBs under the Final Rule of March 10, 1993, and had therefore 
largely fulfilled its obligations under P.L. 100-540. The Coast Guard 
has therefore determined that the best course of action is to withdraw 
this rulemaking.
    Dated: September 26, 1995.
Joseph J. Angelo,
Acting Chief, Office of Marine Safety, Security and Environmental 
Protection.
[FR Doc. 95-24920 Filed 10-5-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-14-M