[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 249 (Thursday, December 26, 1996)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 67952-67953]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-32723]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Office of the Secretary

49 CFR Part 1

[OST Docket No. 1; Amdt. 1-281]


Organization and Delegation of Powers and Duties; Delegation to 
the Commandant; United States Coast Guard

AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The Secretary of Transportation is delegating to the 
Commandant, United States Coast Guard, the authority contained in 46 
U.S.C. Chapter 33, pertaining to the delegation of authority to 
classification societies to review and approve commercial vessel plans 
and conduct commercial vessel inspections and examinations. In order 
that the Code of Federal Regulations reflect this delegation, a change 
is necessary.

EFFECTIVE DATE: December 26, 1996.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: LCDR George P. Cummings, Marine Safety 
and Environmental Protection (G-MSE-1), (202) 267-2997, U.S. Coast 
Guard, 2100 Second Street, SW, Washington, DC 20593; or Ms. Gwyneth 
Radloff, Office of the General Council, C-50, (202) 366-9305, 
Department of Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW, Washington, DC 
20590.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Public Law 104-324 is the Coast Guard 
Authorization Act of 1996, (hereafter referred to as the Act). Section 
3316 of title 46, U.S. Code, was amended by the Act to allow the 
Secretary to delegate to the American Bureau of Shipping or another 
classification society the authority to approve vessel plans, conduct 
vessel inspections, and issue a certificate of inspection and other 
related documents. The Secretary of Transportation is delegating his 
authority under the Act to the Commandant of the Coast Guard.
    This rule adds a specific delegation of authority to 49 CFR 1.46, 
thus amending the codification to reflect the Secretarial delegation of 
authority to the Commandant of the Coast Guard.
    Since this amendment relates to departmental management, 
organization, procedure, and practice, notice and comment on it are 
unnecessary under 5 U.S.C. 553(b). Further, since the amendment 
expedites the Coast Guard's ability to meet the needs of the U.S. 
maritime industry, the Secretary finds good cause under 5 U.S.C. 
553(d)(3) for the final rule to be effective on the date of publication 
in the Federal Register.

List of Subjects in 49 CFR Part 1

    Authority delegations (Government agencies), Organization and 
functions (Government agencies).

    In consideration of the foregoing, Part 1 of Title 49, Code of 
Federal Regulations, is amended as follows:

PART 1--[AMENDED]

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

    Authority: 49 U.S.C. 322; Pub. L. 101-552, 28 U.S.C. 2672, 31 
U.S.C. 3711(a)(2).

    2. Section 1.46 is amended by adding a new paragraph (ddd) to read 
as follows:


Sec. 1.46   Delegations to Commandant of the Coast Guard.

* * * * *
    (ddd) Carry out the functions and exercise the authority vested in 
the Secretary by 46 U.S. Code Chapter 33 pertaining to the delegation 
of authority to classification societies to review and approve 
commercial vessel plans and conduct commercial vessel inspections and 
examinations, as enacted by the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 1996, 
title 46, section 3316 (classification

[[Page 67953]]

societies), Pub. L. 104-324, 110 Stat. 3901.

    Issued at Washington, DC, this 18th day of December, 1996.
Federico Pena,
Secretary of Transportation.
[FR Doc. 96-32723 Filed 12-24-96; 8:45 am]
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