[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 134 (Thursday, July 11, 1996)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 36497-36498]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-17662]


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PANAMA CANAL COMMISSION

35 CFR Parts 61 and 123

RIN 3207-AA34 and RIN 3207-AA35


Technical Amendments

AGENCY: Panama Canal Commission.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The Panama Canal Commission hereby amends its regulations in 
title 35, Code of Federal Regulations, part 61, to add a new paragraph 
to section 61.155 which eliminates the requirement for disinfecting 
vessels under certain conditions as set out by the World Health 
Organization (WHO). The Commission is also amending 35 CFR, part 123, 
paragraph (a) of section 123.4, by substituting the words ``in meters'' 
for ``in feet and inches'', thereby conforming to the policy of 
utilizing the metric measurement scales wherever possible.

EFFECTIVE DATE: July 11, 1996.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Captain George T. Hull, Director, 
Marine Bureau, Panama Canal Commission, telephone in Balboa, Republic 
of Panama, 011/507-272-4500, or Barbara Fuller, Assistant to the 
Secretary for Commission Affairs, Office of the Secretary, Panama Canal 
Commission, 1825 I Street NW, Suite 1050, Washington, DC 20006-5402; 
Telephone: (202) 634-6441; Facsimile: (202) 634-6439.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Panama Canal Commission hereby amends 35 
CFR Part 61 in accordance with the World Health Organization (WHO) 
guidelines. These guidelines require the owner of a vessel transiting 
the Panama Canal to assist in eliminating the spread of yellow fever 
throughout the world by disinfecting (disinsecting) his vessel whenever 
the level of Aedes aegypti mosquitos in the Republic of Panama is below 
the WHO critical infestation level of less than one percent (expressed 
as WHO index level 1.0). The change eliminates the requirement for such 
disinsecting when the index of Aedes aegypti mosquitos in Panama is 
higher than 1.0.
    The Commission is also amending its regulations in part 123, to 
substitute ``in meters'' for ``in feet and inches'' in order to replace 
existing information required of vessel customers, which conforms to 
the policy of using metric measurement scales.
    The Commission is proceeding with the issuance of a final rule 
instead of a proposed rule with a request for comments because the 
change to part 61 eliminates a requirement for transiting the Canal and 
the change to part 123 is a technical amendment.
    The Commission has been exempted from Executive Order 12866 and, 
accordingly, the provisions of that directive do not apply to this 
final rule. Even if the Order were applicable, its implementation would 
not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small 
entities as defined under that Act.
    Further, the agency has determined that implementation of the rule 
will have no adverse effect on competition, employment, investment, 
productivity, innovation, or on the ability of the United States-based 
enterprises to compete with foreign-based enterprises in domestic or 
export markets.
    Because a notice of proposed rulemaking and opportunity for public 
comment are not required to be given for this final rule by the 
Administrative Procedure Act (5 U.S.C. 553) or by any other law, under 
sections 603(a) and 604(a) of the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 
601), no initial or final regulatory flexibility analysis has to be or 
will be prepared.
    Finally, the Administrator of the Panama Canal Commission certifies 
these changes in regulations meet the applicable standards provided in 
sections 3(a) and 3(b)(2) of Executive Order No 12988.

List of Subjects

35 CFR Part 61

    Communicable Diseases, Public health.

35 CFR Part 123

    Radio, Vessels.

    Accordingly, 35 CFR Parts 61 and 123 are amended as follows:

PART 61-HEALTH, SANITATION AND COMMUNICABLE DISEASE SURVEILLANCE

    1. The authority citation for part 61 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: Issued under authority vested in the President by 
section 1701, Pub. L. 96-70, 93 Stat. 492; EO 12173, 44 FR 69271.

    2. Section 61.155 is amended by adding a new paragraph (e) as 
follows:


Sec. 61.155  Vessels; yellow fever.

* * * * *
    (e) The disinfecting required under paragraph (a) of this section 
shall be required when the index of Aedes aegypti in Panama exceeds the 
1.0 index level established by the World Health Organization (WHO).

[[Page 36498]]

PART 123--RADIO COMMUNICATION

    3. The authority for part 123 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: Issued under authority of the President by 22 U.S.C. 
3811; EO 12215, 45 FR 36043.

    4. The ``CHARLIE'' paragraph following Paragraph (a) of Sec. 123.4 
is revised to read as follows:


Sec. 123.4  Advance notification required by radio from vessels 
approaching the Canal.

    (a) * * * CHARLIE--Estimated draft upon arrival, and estimated 
transit draft if scheduled to work cargo or take bunker prior to 
transiting, in meters, fore and aft, in Tropical Fresh Water.
* * * * *
    Dated: June 27, 1996.
Gilberto Guardia F.,
Administrator, Panama Canal Commission.
[FR Doc. 96-17662 Filed 7-10-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3640-04-P