[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 166 (Monday, August 26, 1996)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 43685]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-21736]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Coast Guard

46 CFR Parts 70, 71, 75, 77, 78, and 199

[CGD 84-069]
RIN 2115-AB72


Lifesaving Equipment

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of public meeting, request for comments; reopening of 
comment period.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard is holding a public meeting on its interim 
rule for lifesaving equipment to receive views on the requirements for 
passenger vessels. The Coast Guard is also reopening the comment period 
for this rulemaking until October 31, 1996. The effective dates of the 
requirements listed in the interim rule will not change.

DATES: The meeting will be held September 26, 1996, from 10 a.m. to 5 
p.m. Written material must be received not later than September 25, 
1996. Comments on the interim rule must be received on or before 
October 31, 1996.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held in room 166, O'Hare Lake Office 
Plaza, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Great Lakes Regional 
Office, 2300 East Devon Avenue, DesPlaines, IL 60018. Written comments 
may be mailed to the Executive Secretary, Marine Safety Council (G-
LRA)[CGD84-069], 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 9:30 a.m. and 2 p.m., Monday through Friday, except 
Federal holidays. The telephone number is (202) 267-1477.
    The Executive Secretary maintains the public docket for this 
rulemaking. Comments will become part of this docket and will be 
available for inspection or copying at room 3406, U.S. Coast Guard 
Headquarters, between 9:30 a.m. and 2 p.m., Monday through Friday, 
except Federal holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Mr. Robert Markle, Chief, Lifesaving and Fire Safety Standards Division 
(G-MSE-4), U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters, 2100 Second Street SW., 
Washington, DC 20593-0001, telephone (202) 267-1444, fax (202) 267-
1069. Normal office hours are between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Persons wishing 
to make oral presentations during the meeting should contact Ms. Tanya 
Lyle at (202) 267-0995. Copies of the interim rule may be obtained by 
submitting a request by fax at (202) 267-1069.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background Information

    The Coast Guard published an advance notice of proposed rulemaking 
in the Federal Register on December 31, 1984 (49 FR 50745). That notice 
described the major changes under consideration and invited comments on 
the project.
    The Coast Guard published a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) 
for the rulemaking in the Federal Register on April 21, 1989 (54 FR 
16196), and invited comments on its proposals.
    A public hearing was held to receive comments on the proposed 
rules, particularly the provisions affecting passenger ferries. The 
hearing was announced in a Federal Register notice on October 5, 1989 
(54 FR 41124), and held in Seattle, Washington, on October 17, 1989.
    On May 20, 1996, the Coast Guard published an interim rule in the 
Federal Register (61 FR 25272) entitled, ``Lifesaving Equipment.'' The 
project is part of the President's Regulatory Review Initiative to 
remove or revise unnecessary government regulations. The interim rule 
removes numerous obsolete sections from the Code of Federal Regulations 
and eliminates duplication of other provisions by consolidating the 
lifesaving requirements for most U.S. inspected vessels into the new 
subchapter W. The rule also revises the lifesaving equipment 
regulations for U.S. inspected vessels. It implements the provisions of 
Chapter III of the Safety of Life at Sea Convention (SOLAS) 1974, as 
amended, and revises lifesaving regulations for Great Lakes vessels and 
certain vessels in domestic trade which are not covered by SOLAS. The 
rule also replaces many prescriptive regulations with performance-based 
alternatives. Because it had been more than 5 years since publication 
of the NPRM, the Coast Guard requested public comment on the interim 
rule. The Coast Guard is holding this public meeting in response to 
comments received relating to the requirements for passenger vessels in 
domestic service.

Public Meeting

    Attendance is open to the public. Persons who are hearing impaired 
may request sign translation by contacting the person under FOR FURTHER 
INFORMATION CONTACT at least 1 week before the meeting. 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 notify the person listed under FOR FURTHER 
INFORMATION CONTACT no later than the day before the meeting. Written 
material may be submitted prior to, during, or after the meeting. 
Persons unable to attend the public meetings are encouraged to submit 
written comments as outlined in the interim rule prior to October 31, 
1996.

    Dated: August 20, 1996.
Joseph J. Angelo,
Director of Standards, Marine Safety and Environmental Protection.
[FR Doc. 96-21736 Filed 8-23-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-14-M